There’s a place that had been on my mind for a long time, and I finally got the chance to go. It’s the one Zagat Survey rated as the best value for money (and honestly, given the price, there can’t be another place like it). It’s called Imoya, a tendon shop, in other words a tempura rice bowl place, but it’s only open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. and closed on Sundays, so it had never been easy to get there.
The storefront
It sits in a small alley inside the Ochanomizu used-bookstore district.
The entrance
It’s not very big. There’s nothing but a counter with about 15 seats. When I went in, it wasn’t even peak time, yet people kept coming and going. At lunchtime you might have to queue.
Green tea
At restaurants in Japan, green tea is usually what you get to drink. I prefer barley tea, though…
Miso soup
A simple, homely taste.
Tendon
Superb tempura that brings out the flavor of the ingredients perfectly. I didn’t expect this level of frying skill… They don’t use fancy ingredients, but it beats the tempura on a 2,000 to 3,000 yen tendon. And the clincher: it costs 500 yen. For the tempura alone, I doubt any shop in Tokyo could compete.
That’s not to say the menu has nothing to improve. The biggest issue is probably how minimal it is: just tempura and tendon. Eating good tempura always makes you crave a draft beer, but there’s no alcohol on the menu at all. And since they’re only open at lunchtime, the vibe is basically “just eat your rice.” Also, tendon sauce is usually on the sweet side to go with the rice, but here they use a sauce that’s almost like straight soy sauce to bring out the flavor of the tempura.
To sum up, this place is ideal for a quick meal, but it falls short for anything else. I’d recommend it if you happen to be around Ochanomizu and can’t find a good spot for lunch, or if you want to find out what top-class tempura tastes like for a low price.
Ochanomizu at dusk
Ochanomizu is my favorite neighborhood in Tokyo. It’s packed with used bookstores and music CD shops. It has a long history, so there are quite a few good places to eat too. It’s a shame most of the good spots around here close on Sundays, though. It had been a while since my last visit, but hardly anything had changed. It felt great to be back. Kore kara mo yoroshiku, Ochanomizu.