Sometimes it just amazes me how food bring same-same-but-different people together. Even when there's only a limited menu like this at Tendon Kohaku where you have the signature Kohaku Tendon and vegetable Tendon, both in original and spicy versions, the 3 of us ordered different combinations. From left to right: Spicy Kohaku Tendon with 16 multi grains + nanatsuboshi Hokkaido rice, Original Kohaku Tendon with 16 multi grains + nanatsuboshi Hokkaido rice and Original Kohaku Tendon with nanatsuboshi Hokkaido rice.

I have always been curious about the long queue but ever since trying this after a 40-min wait, I was pretty impressed by this tendon. For $15++, you get 10 pieces of tempura that include prawns, squid, chicken, baby corn, portobello mushroom, pumpkin, long beans. Seated at the bar counter, I witnessed how each bowl of Tendon was carefully prepared, how the ingredients were meticulously dipped into the batter before frying and how professionally the tempura were placed before drizzling the sauce.

The tempura batter felt greaseless yet retained the crispiness. What surprised us the most was the chicken breast that we thought would be hard and dry, turned out to be moist and tender. As a seafood lover, I enjoyed the succulent prawns and squid the most. But I would have preferred if they added more of the sweet savory brown sauce to the rice as it was quite dry at the bottom. I am glad I chose the original version as the spicy one was really spicy for me!

Before leaving, we had a closer look at the 16 multi grains placed at the counter, attempting to identify those we ate in our bowls. But the staff explained that they were all mixed thoroughly, especially with the white rice, and it wasn't possible for us to find all 16 types.

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