Ippoh Honten (Osaka)

December 2009

1-18-35 Edobori, Nishi-ku, Osaka

Tel: 06-6443-9135

www.ippoh.com

We went to Ippoh Honten for lunch. It is a 1-Michelin star tempura restaurant located in the small streets near Higobashi station. Once inside the main gate, we had to walk through a beautiful small garden within the compound which was a contrast to the hustle and bustle of the busy streets on the other side of the compound walls.

Ippoh is a purely kansai tempura restaurant, and we dined in a private room whereby a chef would come in from time to time to cook some tempura for us. After some starters, e.g. tofu topped with uni, some obligatory greens and sashimi,the chef came in to start on the tempura.

The tempura was probably the best I've had (which isn't saying much as I am not a big fan and have not eaten at that many specialist tempura restaurants), with the batter light and the seafood/vegetables very fresh.

We finished off with some rice and a panna cotta (strange choice of dessert in a traditional restaurant). Sad to say, I was still hungry after lunch. Somehow, I am accustomed to tempura being a side dish in a more substantive kaiseki meal and this meal, good as it was, made me feel that the main course was missing.

Food: Can't complain about the tempura, its as good as we've tasted. But we're still not big fans of tempura

Wines: N/A.

Ambience: It was a traditional tea-ceremony-styled private room

Service: Discreet and attentive