Standing Tempura Bars in Tokyo 天ぷら - KIKUYA 喜久や, TACHITENMARU 立天○

There are many kinds of standing bars in Japan, but standing tempura bars are rare.
I will introduce 2 tempura bars in Tokyo that uses high quality ingredients such as seafood and oil.
If you have the same quality tempura at a seating style luxury restaurant, you may pay the bill much higher.

Table of Contents

KIKUYA 喜久や
TACHITENMARU 立天○

KIKUYA 喜久や

Prawn 海老 Ebi 300 yen

Octopus 蛸 Tako 280 yen

Sillago (White-meat fish) 鱚 Kisu 280 yen

This is a cup of Tentsuyu which is Japanese-style broth with grated Japanese daikon radish to eat tempura. Dip tempura into Tentsuyu.

Eating tempura with salt is also nice. There are three kinds of salt.

Bottle beer 580 yen サッポロラガー赤星瓶 Sapporo-lager-akaboshi

Maybe, this menu is changed. The latest menu is available on their official website in Japanese.

A tempura costs between 150 and 500 yen.
An example of budget:
If you have 6 kinds of tempura and 2 drinks, it may cost about 3500 yen.

Standing style bar

Standing bar name
KIKUYA 喜久や

Website (in Japanese)

Kikuya Jp

Tradition

No cover charge / No service fee
Tax is not included in the prices.
Credit card is accepted.
Because the restaurant is crowded, it may take a while to be served. (At Ebisu bar, There is only one chef and a few waiters. We appreciate your patience.)

There are 4 bars of KIKUYA in downtown Tokyo.

Hibiya 日比谷

The nearest station is Hibiya 日比谷 Station in Tokyo.

Ebisu 恵比寿

The nearest station is Ebisu 恵比寿 Station in Tokyo.

Azabujuban 麻布十番 near Roppongi 六本木

Jiyugaoka 自由が丘

Photos of KIKUYA were taken in 2016.

TACHITENMARU 立天○

Some ingredients for tempura are displayed in front of the counter.

Sillago (White-meat fish) 鱚 Kisu

Prawn 海老 Ebi 80 yen

Pumpkin かぼちゃ

Maitake mushroom 舞茸
It has unique flavor. I like it.

Soy sauce and 4 kinds of salt for tempura

Grated daikon radish and tentsuyu.

If you can't read and speak Japanese I recommend you order set meals which include chef's recommendation of tempura.

山陰セット Sanin-set 1200 yen
生ビール、刺身二種盛、天ぷら四品
Draft beer, 2 kinds of sashimi, 4 kinds of tempura

ハイ酎セット Haichu-set 780 yen
ハイボール又はサワー、天ぷら四品
Highiball (Whiskey soda) or Sour (Cocktail), 4 kinds of tempura

Standing bar name
TACHITENMARU 立天○ （たちてんまる）
* The bar on the right of the photo

Business hours
Monday - Friday
Lunch 11:30 am 2:00 pm
Dinner 5:00 pm - 10:30 pm
Saturday, Holiday
5:00 pm 10:00 pm
Sunday is closed except consecutive holidays. (Monday is closed instead.)

This bar is closed for a while from November 2019.

No service fee / No cover charge
No smoking
Capacity: 8 people
At lunch time, they offer only lunch menu such as tempura bowls and set meals. (Around 500 - 800 yen)
English menu is not available.

A chef of this tempura bar told me that you can also say how much you'd be willing to spend and then ask for chef's recommendation of tempura for your budget.
Example for 2000 yen:
天ぷら2000円分おまかせでお願いします。
Tempura Ni-senen-bun omakasede onegaishimasu.

This bar is located near Shinbashi 新橋 Station.

Photos of TACHITENMARU were taken in 2018. Prices and information are as of in 2018.

If you are traveling on a budget, it would be a good idea to go to another tempura restaurant Tendon-Tenya 天丼てんや instead of these bars. It is a tempura restaurant chain and their food is really inexpensive.