Hyperlocal Tokyo

I made a reservation by phone for around 8 PM on a Friday. The restaurant is spacious with a large number of seats, and the window seats offer a view of the Ginza area's cityscape while you enjoy your yakiniku. This time, I opted for a la carte instead of a set menu. From the complimentary water kimchi to each piece of meat, everything was delicious. This was my first time having yakiniku with broth, and it was surprisingly refreshing thanks to the broth, making it easier to eat than usual. I ended up eating more than I expected. The staff's attentiveness was also commendable, but the speed at which they cleared the dishes after the last order was quite fast, making me feel a bit rushed to leave. Nevertheless, I was satisfied with the delicious meat.

Established in 1965 in the Gion district of Kyoto, this restaurant serves yakiniku (grilled meat) with a dipping sauce that resembles dashi (Japanese soup stock). This style of eating is now known as "Kyoto Yakiniku." Tendan's dipping sauce is a clear, golden broth made with beef bone soup, offering a refreshing yet rich flavor that enhances the taste of the meat. The unique style involves dipping the marinated meat into the broth before eating. While the quality and quantity of the meat are good, the price is quite high, perhaps due to the location. Honestly, nothing stood out as particularly memorable. The portions were small, and frankly, the value for money felt lacking. There are many other places that offer both high quality and good value for the price, so I'd say it's worth visiting once.

I heard that the Kyoto style of eating yakiniku involves dipping the meat in a broth-like sauce instead of the usual yakiniku sauce. This is the first time I've heard the term "Kyoto Yakiniku." As a yakiniku sauce native, I can't help but worry that the sauce that comes with the meat will be washed away by the broth. The renowned yakiniku restaurant is located on the 10th floor of a building towering over the Mihara Bridge intersection, opposite the Kabuki-za Theatre. The restaurant claims to be a "renowned" establishment, not that I'm saying so. When I was seated at a counter seat by the window, I was treated to a breathtaking city view. At night, it would be a romantic setting, but for me, romance is less important than the romance of delicious food. The signature Tendan Roast Lunch is a Kyoto-style yakiniku that you can enjoy with the broth sauce. The plate features two large pieces of roast. Personally, I would prefer it if they were cut in half to make four pieces, as it would feel more valuable, but this is the Kyoto style. The meat is lightly seared on the hot plate, changing color instantly. It's ready to eat right away. I eagerly dipped it in the broth sauce, and it was exactly as I expected. The broth was definitely flavorful. I wonder what kind of broth it was. It had a slightly sour, refreshing taste. The sourness and light flavor didn't go well with the rice. For the second piece, I cut the meat in half and tried it without the sauce. Hmm, I prefer this. It's the standard yakiniku sauce. It's a shame to wash it away with the broth sauce. But that's Kyoto yakiniku for you. Regardless of personal preference, I would have liked another piece of meat. ************************** Tendan Roast Lunch: ¥1,650 Coffee or Hojicha included Yakiniku no Meimon Tendan Ginza Mon-Sat 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM Sun & Holidays 11:30 AM - 3:00 PM 5:00 PM - 10:00 PM Closed: None **************************

For my wife's birthday, we went to Tendan Ginza, a renowned yakiniku restaurant known for its dashi (broth) based grilling, which I had been wanting to try for a while. Located in the building right across from the Kabuki-za Theatre, they advertised their Kyoto-style dashi grilling, so I was very excited to visit. We were seated at a table with a stunning view from the window. We ordered a variety of meats, including beef tongue, harami (skirt steak), Tendan sirloin, and mille-feuille sirloin. I was curious about how the dashi would affect the grilling, but the service was a bit off-putting. The staff handed us the meat directly at the table, and despite the meat being grilled, they were slow to bring out the signature dashi. We eventually had to ask for it. I was curious about how the dashi would change the flavor, but it ended up tasting like shabu-shabu (Japanese hot pot), leaving me wondering if the dashi was really necessary. After a while, we decided to leave as we didn't feel like there was much more to experience. The meat itself was delicious, but it was a bit disappointing considering our high expectations.

The building was incredibly beautiful, offering a stunning panoramic view of Ginza's night lights. The food was also fantastic, and the service from the waitresses was exceptional. They were incredibly attentive, noticing things I hadn't even thought of, like suggesting the best way to order certain dishes. They even asked if I wanted something brought out now or later, which was very thoughtful. Despite being busy, they were quick and efficient, which I really appreciated. A place with such attentive and capable women is sure to thrive. They even gave me a souvenir, which was a lovely touch. The quality of the meat was excellent, and it was absolutely delicious.