Tendon Kohaku at Clarke Quay Central brings authentic Japanese tempura artistry to Singapore's vibrant riverside dining district, specializing in traditional tendon bowls that showcase the perfect marriage of crispy tempura and expertly seasoned rice. Located at 6 Eu Tong Sen Street #B1-52/53, this specialized Japanese restaurant derives its name from the Japanese word for amber, reflecting the beautiful golden-brown color achieved through their expert tempura preparation techniques. As part of an international chain with locations across Tokyo, Singapore, Philippines, and Malaysia, Tendon Kohaku maintains strict authenticity standards while adapting to local preferences, creating an accessible introduction to traditional Japanese tempura culture for Singapore diners seeking genuine Japanese culinary experiences.
The restaurant specializes in tendon, a traditional Japanese dish that combines tempura with donburi by serving hot rice topped with an artful arrangement of crispy tempura including prawns, squid, crabstick, seasonal vegetables, and premium proteins. Their signature Kohaku Tendon Set features prawns, crabstick, squid, long beans, baby corn, pumpkin, shiitake mushroom, and chicken breast, all expertly battered and fried using their special blended oil and unique flour mixture that creates superior crispiness and flavor retention. Premium offerings include the Jumbo Unagi Tendon with deep-fried unagi tempura and the Seafood Tendon Set that showcases the restaurant's expertise with fresh seafood preparations. Each tempura piece is prepared using traditional Japanese techniques, lightly battered and fried to golden-brown perfection to achieve the ideal contrast between crispy exterior and tender interior.
Operating within Clarke Quay Central's dynamic dining environment, Tendon Kohaku provides both authentic Japanese dining and convenient access to Singapore's historic riverside entertainment district. The restaurant offers excellent value with most items priced affordably, making authentic Japanese tempura accessible to both casual diners and tempura connoisseurs. With multiple Singapore locations including Boat Quay, Suntec, and Chinatown Point, Tendon Kohaku has demonstrated the appeal of their authentic approach to traditional Japanese cuisine. Customer reviews consistently praise the quality of their tempura preparation, generous portion sizes, and authentic flavors that transport diners to Japan while enjoying the convenience and atmosphere of Clarke Quay's vibrant dining scene. The restaurant successfully bridges traditional Japanese culinary excellence with Singapore's diverse food culture, creating a unique dining experience that celebrates both authenticity and accessibility.
Got the Signature Tendon with their Japanese multigrain. The batter is slightly thicker than expected, but it was fried well. The inside of each tempura, however, was pretty dry and not “juicy,” except for the chicken, which was delicious. Portion size is generous, but the overall bowl was super dry—a small sauce drizzle, as shown in the photo, left the rice and tempura beneath it just extremely dry. They provide soy sauce and chili powder on your table, but I would have preferred some complementing dipping sauce on the side. It’s hard to ask for any service, as the only guy who works the floor there stays in the kitchen when not serving. Do NOT go if you are sensitive to sound or have a headache, as they blast their continuous music for some reason (refer to video), and it gets quite unpleasant after a while.
Positive Reviews
Kegan Lim
It’s a good experience to dine here. The place is spacious, neat, and tidy. I’m so glad I brought my son along with me for dinner. He’s enjoying it so much.
Angeline
I think this is still the best place for tempura in Singapore! The batter is thin and does not stick to the shrimp, thereby preserving its plump texture. I was also surprised by the chicken breast; it wasn't dry and was still juicy. The only negative point was that the mala sauce didn't blend well. I will be less adventurous when I come back next time.
Tamara Boon
Very tasty and good value for money!
Might have to wait a while during peak dining times, but if you come off-peak, it’s a pretty good experience overall.
Tay Pek
I absolutely enjoyed the Umi Tendon set! I will definitely be coming back for more. The tendon is perfectly crispy without being dry, and the sauce strikes a great balance between sweetness and saltiness. Additionally, the restaurant is spotless and well-lit, creating a pleasant dining atmosphere.
Ethan Lim
Super value for money! The meal featured a massive portion with fresh ingredients, a light and crispy batter, and delicious chawanmushi. Well done!
Jing Jing
The donburi features generous portions and is well-balanced with a flavorful sauce. Fast service and a cozy atmosphere make it perfect for a quick, satisfying meal.
Aina Azali
Everything was nice about this restaurant. Went there on the weekend but still could get a seat without queueing up. Tendon was amazing, almost the same as the one I had in Japan.
Teck Hong Koh
Founded in 2016, Kohaku is a Singapore-born specialty shop for tendon (tempura rice bowls), now also in Malaysia, the Philippines, Australia, Canada, and Washington State in the U.S.
琥珀天丼／KOHAKU Tendon:
A beautifully stacked tempura bowl, served over Hokkaido Nanatsuboshi rice and topped with freshly fried shrimp, chicken breast, white fish, shiitake mushrooms, green beans, eggplant, and more.
You can choose between their original KOHAKU sauce or a spicy version.
The quality is just as good as what you'd find in Japan!
George Chua
Awesome food, and the service is much improved from when I first came here. Keep up the great work. For those of you who are coming here for the 1st time, I highly recommend the premium set. Just one small request: if they could change the music playing in the background, as it can be quite distracting. Thank you 😜
Vivian Yong
Food was good but the serving time took quite long. But hey good food takes time! Waitress was on point in refilling our green tea. She deserves a raise!
Sophia Chang
I really enjoy the food at Tendon Kohaku — the tempura is consistently crispy, the portions are satisfying, and the **flavors** are spot on. It’s one of the better places for a good tendon bowl, and I appreciate the quality ingredients and presentation.
That said, I do think it’s a little stingy that they don’t allow ingredient swaps. Sometimes it’d be nice to **customize** just a little (for dietary preferences or simply to avoid an item you don’t enjoy), and the inflexibility takes away from an otherwise great dining experience.
Still, **it's** worth a visit if you’re craving a solid tendon meal — just be prepared to take the bowl as it comes.
Nina Ee
Seriously, this place is awesome for lunch! The food and service are both top-notch. And the tempura? You have to try it all – it's all delicious. Definitely worth checking out for a weekday lunch.
Zachary Chen
Excellent food! I had the half-half set – a half portion of tendon and a half portion of udon. Both were delicious. The tempura items were crispy and light, a delight to eat. The chilli flakes provided added a nice kick. Highly recommended!
Ni Ke Chia
Blown away by the taste of everything. Usually, these dishes are either too soggy, have too much rice, or are too dry. Here, the rice portion is just right and chewy. The chicken breast is tender and not dry. All the crispy batter is so good, and the spicy tendon sauce is my favourite. It's always great, even over the years! Good quality and fast service.
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Our Menu
Menu Images
Menu Highlights
Tendon Sets
PREMIUM TENDON SET
$28.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
VEGITABLE TENDON SET
$18.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
SEAFOOD TENDON SET
$23.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
TRUFFLE KAKIAGE TENDON SET
$20.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
PRAWN TENDON SET
6P $18.80 / 10P $26.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
ASSORTED SASHIMI TENDON SET
$23.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
ASSORTED BEEF STEAK TENDON
$23.80
Tendon + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea.
Extra Items
EXTRA RICE
$0.90++
SOFT BOIL EGG
$1.80++
PRAWN TEMPURA (1PCS)
$2.90++
PUMPKIN TEMPURA
$0.90++
BABYCONE TEMPURA
$0.90++
SHIITAKE MUSHROOM TEMPURA
$0.90++
CHICKEN TEMPURA (1PCS)
$2.20++
CRABSTICK TEMPURA
$1.90++
SQUID TEMPURA
$1.90++
ASPARAGUS TEMPURA
$2.90++
SCALLOP TEMPURA
$2.90++
DORY FISH TEMPURA (2PCS)
$4.90++
IKURA
$4.90++
Menu Highlights
Curry Sets
KOHAKU CURRY SET
$18.80
Curry + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea
PORK CUTLET CURRY SET
$17.80
Curry + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea
BEEF STEAK CURRY SET
$19.80
Curry + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea
BEEF SUKIYAKI CURRY SET
$18.80
Curry + Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea
Menu Highlights
Udon & Half Tendon Sets
KITSUNE UDON + HALF TENDON SET
$19.80
Half tendon + Udon + Chawanmushi + Japanese pickles + Green tea
CURRY UDON + HALF TENDON SET
$19.80
Half tendon + Udon + Chawanmushi + Japanese pickles + Green tea
SEAFOOD CREAM SOUP UDON + HALF TENDON SET
$19.80
Half tendon + Udon + Chawanmushi + Japanese pickles + Green tea
BEEF SUKIYAKI UDON + HALF TENDON SET
$19.80
Half tendon + Udon + Chawanmushi + Japanese pickles + Green tea
Individual Dishes
BEEF SUKIYAKI UDON
$17.80
PRAWN CURRY UDON
$19.80
Add-ons
SET MINI UDON
+$10.00
Add mini udon noodles to a set
Menu Highlights
NON ALCOHOL
GREEN TEA (HOT / COLD)
$2.00++
緑茶
COLA
$3.00++
コーラ
COLA LIGHT
$3.00++
コーラ・ライト
SPRITE
$3.00++
スプライト
ICE LEMON TEA
$3.00++
アイスティー
ALCOHOL
SAPPORO PREMIUM BEER
$6.50
サッポロプレミアム
SUNTORY KAKU HIGH BALL
$8.00
サントリー角ハイボール
DAIGINJO KAMOTSURU (SAKE)
$30.00
大吟醸 賀茂鶴
Menu Highlights
Weekly Special
HAMBURG CURRY SET
$18.80++
The soft and juicy hamburger steak and homemade curry go perfectly together! A popular combination in Japan!
Set Details
CHAWANMUSHI
MISO SOUP
JAPANESE PICKLES
GREEN TEA
Menu Highlights
Set Menu
COLD UDON + TEMPURA SET
$17.80++
Chawanmushi + Miso soup + Japanese pickles + Green tea
Menu Highlights
Weekly Special
TUNA IKURA DON + TEMPURA SET
$21.80++
A cute tuna bowl and seasonal tempura combination. Experience the Japanese atmosphere with this tuna don and tempura. The tempura varies with the season.
Set Details
CHAWANMUSHI
MISO SOUP
JAPANESE PICKLES
GREEN TEA
Menu Highlights
Collaboration Menu
KAISEN TENDON
$26.5+
A collaboration dish featuring fresh seafood and tempura.
Includes Chawanmushi, Miso soup, Japanese pickles, and Green tea. The cold udon and tempura are very light and easy to eat! Please dip the tempura in the tempura sauce before eating! That's the Japanese way!
Chawanmushi / Miso Soup / Yuzu Radish Pickles. Includes 2 Prawns, Squid, A Pair of French Beans, Pumpkin, Baby Corn, Chicken Breast, Crab Meat Stick.
VEGETABLE TENDON SET
$16.80 (a la carte $13.80)
Chawanmushi / Miso Soup / Yuzu Radish Pickles. Includes A Pair of French Beans, Pumpkin, Baby Corn, Shiitake, Asparagus, Eggplant, Capsicum, Maitake, Lady Finger.
SEAFOOD TENDON SET
$23.80 (a la carte $20.80)
Chawanmushi / Miso Soup / Yuzu Radish Pickles. Includes Prawn x2, Squid, Scallop, White Fish, A Pair of French Beans, Baby Corn, Seaweed, Lotus Root, Ikura.
TRUFFLE KAKIAGE TENDON SET
$19.80 (a la carte $16.80)
Chawanmushi / Miso Soup / Yuzu Radish Pickles. Includes Shrimp, Mini Scallop, French Beans, Shiitake, Pumpkin, Onion, Carrot, Truffle.
Topping
HALF BOILED EGG TEMPURA
$2.00
Additional
SMOOTH INANIWA UDON NOODLE
$4.50
Side Dish
EXTRA RICE (100GM)
$1
CHAWANMUSHI
$3
MISO SOUP
$3
YUZU RADISH PICKLES
$3
WASABI PASTE
$3
Menu Highlights
Tendon Sets
KOHAKU TENDON
$18.80
Frozen 1-2 Squid, Scallop, White Fish, A Pair of French Beans, Pumpkin, Baby Corn, Shiitake, Chicken Breast, Crab Meat Stick
VEGETABLE TENDON SET
$17.80
Chawanmushi/Miso Soup, A Pair of French Beans, Pumpkin, Baby Corn, Shiitake, Chicken Breast, Crab Meat Stick
SEAFOOD TENDON SET
$23.80
Chawanmushi/Miso Soup, Frozen 1-2 Squid, Scallop, White Fish, A Pair of French Beans, Baby Corn, Seaweed, Lotus Root, Ikura
