Tempura at Miyakawa, Aoyama

Miyagawa is a lovely little restaurant in Aoyama that serves Kansai-style tempura and apparently has had a loyal following of regulars for over 40 years.

My favourite place to sit is at the counter so that I can watch the chefs work, but there are a couple of tables if you prefer.

For lunch there are two options: ten-don [delicious rice topped with mouth watering tempura, 1500 yen] and tempura lunch set [2300 yen]. The chef was happy to make mine vegetarian and the result was inspirational!

The seasonal flowers and vegetables were fresh [as was the seafood on display] and the tempura, crisp and light. Included that day was a chrysanthamum flower, crysanthamum leaves, ginger flower buds, garlic cloves, a clump of mushrooms, green chilli, eggplant, pumpkin, a type of sweet potato and a small round green vegetable threaded onto a skewer [a type of eggplant?]. Soup, tea and 3 kinds of pickles are also served with the set.

The service is great and the staff are really friendly. Well of course we had to go back for a second time!

Nearest station: Omote - Sando [Cross to the other side of the street and continue left away from the intersection. Continue down the street past Prada and Comme de Garcons until you reach the main road. Miyakawa sits on this corner in a small, white building. The entry is through a single door at the top of a few stairs.]

Address: Palace Aoyama 1 F 6-1-6 Minumi-Aoyama, Minato-Ku, Tokyo

Telephone: 03-3400-3722

Hours: 11.30am-2.00pm, 5.00pm-9.00pm; Closed Sunday