Tempura @ Tempura no Ten An, Maizuru, Fukuoka

 

Being somewhat of a fried food fanatic, I am always looking for the ultimate grease bomb. Ironically, the best fried foods are not meant to be greasy. Rather, they should be light, has little oil, and provides a deep and satisfying crunch. It has been a while since I had good tempura. Oftentimes, I end up with some oil slick monstrosity which made me feel unsatisfied but over-encumbered. Fortunately, I found an old grandpa that could sort me out well. 

Blast from the past!

Ten An Tempura is a simple corner shop restaurant that is managed by an elderly couple with only one thing on the menu, which is obviously tempura. The menu is relatively simple, where you can choose the normal lunch rice set of 1000 yen or the special of 1300 yen. The shop is also quite simple but charming, giving off vibes of a bygone era. In case you were wondering, I got the 1000 yen standard set.

Lunch is ready!

Expertly fried by an incredibly skilled old uncle, the fried treats here are worth fighting for. Once you make your order he will start battering up various morsels before dropping them into a deep wok loaded with oil. The gentle bubbling sound was ASMR-like and was like an appetizer to the ears. Unlike the rigorous eruption of most kitchens, it was as though the hot oil was given a coaxing of heat rather than incineration. And the best part is that due to the gentle heat, the oil does not sputter everywhere. So rest assured you would not smell like your lunch after this. 

What a close up

The gentle and careful frying then leads to something equally delicate and delicious. And soon enough a batch of golden brown goodness will be plated up for your enjoyment. Despite the price, this was an incredibly generous meal. With a variety of fried vegetables and seafood, I felt like this was a great steal. 

Crunch time!

One of my favourites was the fried anago, or river eel in English. It was flaky and smooth, which contrasted with the crunchy shell it was in. Another one was the squid which had a chewy and vibrant flavour and texture, which offsets its golden skin. In fact, everything tasted great. The ingredients tasted very fresh, from the peppers and eggplant to prawns and everything else in between. 

Not exactly liquid gold, but very close. 

Each set comes with a sweet and salty dipping sauce, which added a huge level of depth to the experience. It also helped moisten the batter, which made the chowing down even more delectable. Padding it all with some rice and miso soup, you get a very satisfying meal. 

The simple menu outside 

Long story short, this is a place that I can easily give two thumbs up. With a cozy environment full of character and fried treats worth dying for, this is a place I would probably come to again. It is also quite easy to get to as it is within walking distance from Akasaka station and within the Fukuoka city proper. So if you fancy a go, then the address is as follows:

3 Chome-1-1 Maizuru, Chuo Ward, Fukuoka, 810-0073

Front of the house. You can't miss it.