When you think of a Japanese chef in Korea, you usually think of them holding sushi, but in fact, tempura is considered one level in Japan. In Japan, tempura is also classified into different types, but “tempura,†which is considered the most luxurious, refers to deep-frying the ingredients covered with a batter made from water, flour, and eggs. Using the moisture of the ingredients themselves in a thin dough to bring out the aroma and flavor, the frying method and temperature of each ingredient are different, requiring advanced skills. There are also omakase shops that cost close to 800,000 won per person.
“Kushikatsu†is a deep-fried dish where ingredients are put on skewers, then covered with a batter mixed with flour, egg, and water, and deep-fried with bread crumbs at the end. You can think of it as a tempura dish that you can enjoy more casually than tempura, but you can think of high-class kushiage, which is popular in Korea these days, as a specialty store that serves dishes created with more diverse sauces and ingredients along with kushikatsu.
High-end tempura restaurants from Japan were introduced in the country around 2010, and are becoming popular again due to the recent gourmet boom. Let's stop making tteokbokki friends and take a look at the spectacular transformation of tempura and kushiage omakase restaurants.
Tempura/Kushiage Omakase restaurants include Kushimasa Temple in Nonhyeon, Dogok Kushikawa, Garosu-gil Kiiro, Yeoksam Tempura Lab, Cheongdam Kushiagejin, Apgujeong Rodeo Shirakawa Tempura, Mangwon Kushikatsukushien, Namdaemun Hilton Hotel Gusang Nosakaba, Hannam Kushimasa Hannam Branch, Hongdae Sangsu Kushimura, Bangbae Kushi Ho, Anyang Pyeongchon Kushikatsu Kuma, Busan Haeundae Kushigahada.
1. The most popular tempura course, “Kiiro†on the tree-lined street
Image source: soljik.food's Instagram
Image source: soljik.food's Instagram
Image source: soljik.food's Instagram
If sushi has Aruhi and a one-table restaurant has chef Kim Tae-hong, Kiiro is definitely the most popular restaurant in tempura omakase. Reservations were already closed by the beginning of '23. They fry about 10 main ingredients, including 2 types of tsumami, at a very reasonable price of 40,000 won. Thanks to the 3 cleansers provided in the middle of the course, you can enjoy it until the end without feeling it.
[Tips for eating]
â–²Location: 51, Nonhyeon-ro 153-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 13:00 for lunch, 19:00 for dinner, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Tempura omakase 40,000 won (flat price for lunch and dinner)
â–²Review (Shikigami Pinkholic 1225): The biggest drawback is that it is difficult to make a reservation, but I am very satisfied with the price. A place where you will unconditionally make a reservation for the next time you visit
2. Yeoksam's 'Tung Yi Woo Lab', the beginning of premium tempura omakase
Image source: adagiomanontanto's Instagram
Image source: adagiomanontanto's Instagram
Image source: adagiomanontanto's Instagram
A tempura omakase specialty store made in Gangnam, a famous Korean beef omakase legend. Fresh seasonal ingredients are fried in oil mixed with soybean oil and raw perilla oil. They fry a variety of ingredients, including arched shrimp tempura, which indicates that they have arrived at the tempura wrap, as well as hanchi, Korean beef sirloin, barley paste, and kimbugak. Like a brand that has strengths in meat, the rich juiciness and unique flavor of shiso roll sirloin tempura is unusual. Korean beef omakase is served in the room, and only tempura omakase is served at the counter seat.
[Tips for eating]
â–²Location: 231 Teheran-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: Part 1 15:00 – 17:30, Part 2 19:30 – 22:00, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Tempura omakase 160,000 won
▲Testimonial (Shikigami HIPSONG ♥): Hot tempura that is deep-fried right away is delicious no matter how you eat it, but you must try it here. Sometimes I'm more satisfied if I go to a discount event.
3. Unconventional Kushiage Omakase, Cheongdam “Kushiage Jinâ€
Image source: comingssun's Instagram
Image source: comingssun's Instagram
Image source: comingssun's Instagram
Chef Kim Hyung Joon's Kushiage omakase specialty store. It's a deep-fried course meal, but if you add a cleanser that refreshes your mouth in the middle and a smartly recommended wine, you can enjoy it until the end without feeling it. The dishes that stand out for their creativity, with a focus on frying techniques, are interesting. The “chicken burger†at the end of the course is very popular. It's a good idea to enjoy it spicy by sprinkling it with tabasco sauce.
[Tips for eating]
â–²Location: 52-10, Seolleung-ro 148-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 18:00 – 21:00 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Kushiage Omakase 120,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Chicken I want to eat shikigin chicken): The deep-fried shari sushi topped with tuna and soy sauce jelly made me laugh as soon as I saw the piece. I think the chef is really creative. The chicken burger was a bit spicy in my mouth, but it was delicious because I didn't notice it.
4. Reasonably priced tempura omakase, Apgujeong's “Shirakawa tempuraâ€
Image source: colin_beak's Instagram
Image source: colin_beak's Instagram
A casual tempura specialty store located in Apgujeong Rodeo. In addition to omakase, which offers 10 types of tempura, you can also choose the tempura of your choice as a single item. Various seasonal ingredients such as negidoro, shiitake, lotus root, shrimp, cuttlefish, turnip, chicken tenderloin, stewed radish, and anago are perfectly deep-fried. Butter sweet potato fritters, where pieces of butter are placed on top of moist deep-fried sweet potato fries, finish off with a sweet, spicy, and savory flavor.
[Tips for eating]
â–²Location: 7 Seolleung-ro 161-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 17:00 – 23:00 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: 10 types of tempura omakase 33,000 won, pickled cherry tomatoes 5,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami Positive Powell): Everything was delicious, but the last buttery sweet potato tempura haha! I did it. It's so delicious. I think I can eat 10 of them. I recommend pickled cherry tomatoes as a cleanser.
5. Kushikatsu made with high-quality ingredients, and “Kushimasa†in Nonhyeon
Image source: lazy_matzip's Instagram
Image source: lazy_matzip's Instagram
Image source: lazy_matzip's Instagram
A kushikatsu specialty store that is faithful to the basics. Rather than using extravagant finesse, they focus on the kushikatsu itself, and generously use high-quality ingredients such as truffles, sea urchin, and caviar. All seats are counter seats, so it's nice to enjoy a meal while talking about Dorando. The signature seagull-shaped shrimp tempura is delicious with a tangy yet savory flavor. Due to the large number of regular fans, the Nonhyeon main store only operates on a membership basis and can be used after making a reservation at Nonhyeon's 2nd store, which is located directly across the street.
[Tips for eating]
â–²Location: 36 Nonhyeon-ro 150-gil, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
â–²Opening hours: 18:00 – 21:30 every day, closed on Sundays
â–²Price: Kushiage Omakase 160,000 to 200,000 won
â–²Testimonial (Shikigami Roselow): It's not a cheap price, but I was satisfied because there were plenty of ingredients suitable for this price. It's a great place to go and make a reservation every time something good happens. It's getting harder and harder to make a reservation here too.
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