Traditional tempura served fresh and hot in Akihabara

While being a sanctuary for electronics shops, pop culture and various unique cafés, Akihabara also offers bunch of traditional Japanese foods. Since Akihabara was located near a city gate of Edo (old Tokyo) and was a home to craftsmen, tradesmen and cooks throughout the ages, it has a tradition of offering various traditional foods.

Among numerous traditional eateries, Tempura Hisago in the Akihabara UDX Building is a popular Japanese restaurant offering tasty tempura at a reasonable price.

With a wide, well-arranged kitchen situated above the eat-in counters, the restaurant interior has a cozy and traditional atmosphere.

Watching skilled chefs frying tempura tactfully and beautifully over the counter only increases my appetite. The chefs serve the tempura fresh out of the fryer, so it’s as hot and fresh as possible. The lightly-buttered tempura has an extremely crispy texture while the ingredients are very tender and juicy. The dipping broth made from multiple dashi stocks adds a nice, sweet flavor.

I usually order Tempura Lunch Set for 1,410 yen ($12), made up of tempura of two shrimps, three fish and four vegetables, along with rice, miso soup, salad and pickles. This gorgeous lunch set tastes great and is very filling for the price.

You can refill rice and miso soup for free, too.

Drop by Hisago when you visit Akihabara. And, be sure to sit at the counter! 

Tempura Hisago

Hours: 11 a.m.-3 p.m., 5 – 10:30 p.m.

Location: Akihabara UDX Building 3F, 4-14-1 Sotokanda, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo (2-minute walk from JR Akihabara Station) 

Tel: 050-5869-4746