In Asakusa, Tokyo, a popular tourist destination visited by people from all around the world, the diversity of food options is expanding.
One eatery accommodating the varying food needs of international visitors to Japan is “Tempura Asakusa SAKURA,” a tempura restaurant.
The most popular item on the menu, a wagyū beef tempura rice bowl, uses halal-certified wagyu beef.
The wagyu tempura rice bowl is a satisfying set that allows you to fully enjoy tempura in two different ways: first as a tempura rice bowl, and then by pouring dashi broth over it to create an ochazuke dish.
Instead of a pre-made bowl, it’s served with eight types of tempura, including wagyu and vegetables on a plate, allowing you to create your own custom tempura rice bowl.
“ハラル和牛のサーロイン天丼（並）,” Halal Wagyu Sirloin Luxurious Tempura Bowl (Casual) 3,800 JPY (tax included)
Crispy tempura fried in gluten-free batter
The tempura at Tempura Asakusa SAKURA, made with meticulous care in both the batter and frying oil, boasts an excellent texture and flavor.
The batter is made primarily from rice flour, making it gluten-free, and the frying oil is a completely plant-based blend of white sesame oil and canola oil.
Because they use a special fryer that significantly reduces the amount of oil absorbed by the batter, the texture is particularly crispy. The low oil absorption rate of the batter ensures that the aftertaste is not overly greasy or heavy.
You can clearly taste the natural flavors of each tempura ingredient, savoring a variety of delicious tastes.
Shiso (Perilla leaf) tempura
The special fryer truly shines when it comes to wagyu tempura.
Although sirloin with a lot of marbling might seem overwhelming when fried, the low oil absorption rate of the batter creates a perfect balance of flavors.
A key point is that the batter is lightly coated, so the crispy surface texture complements the tender, high-quality meat of the sirloin.
Halal-friendly wagyu tempura
The “Halal Wagyu Sirloin Luxurious Tempura Bowl” comes in three sizes – “Casual,” “Classic,” and “Mt. Fuji” – based on the amount of wagyu tempura.
The Classic size has twice as much wagyu tempura as the Casual, and the Mt. Fuji has three times as much, allowing you to order according to your appetite.
“Classic” wagyu tempura
Customize your own rice bowl with your favorite tempura
When eating tempura on top of rice as a tempura rice bowl, the sauce used is essential. At the halal-certified Tempura Asakusa SAKURA, a special sauce made without alcohol is provided.
To create a deep richness, the restaurant adds a dashi broth made from seafood to the sauce, which is the secret to its deliciousness and their point of pride.
Furthermore, they add tempura crumbs and let it mature for a week, resulting in a mellow flavor.
If you generously pour it over the tempura, the sauce seeps into the rice, creating a burst of sweet and savory flavors with every bite.
Another surprise is the change in taste when you add wasabi, chopped green onions, and shredded nori seaweed.
The green onions and nori add aroma, while the wasabi adds a kick that further brings out the sweetness of the sauce.
The taste impression changes so much from eating it with just the sauce that it might not be an exaggeration to call it a completely different dish!
Finish with ochazuke!
After enjoying the tempura rice bowl, you can finish off your meal by turning it into ochazuke.
Following the restaurant’s recommendation to top the ochazuke with kakiage (mixed tempura) and wagyu, these two types of tempura are the best choices.
When you pour the dashi broth made from bonito flakes into the bowl, an appetizing aroma wafts up.
Salt and soy sauce are added, making the saltiness of the broth just right, with a soft mouthfeel.
The sweet marbling of the wagyu melts into the broth, creating an even deeper flavor.
The kakiage is also delicious, understandably recommended by the restaurant. It becomes soft after absorbing plenty of broth, releasing umami with each bite!
Kakiage
Delicious whether you have halal needs or not
“It’s delicious, whether it’s halal or not.”
These are the confident words of Takehiro Iida, the owner of Tempura Asakusa SAKURA.
The Halal Wagyu Sirloin Luxurious Tempura Bowl was born after much trial and error, working within restrictions such as not using alcohol or pork.
With a flavor that has been enhanced by the best balance of seasonings and ingredients, you’re sure to be impressed.
Tempura Asakusa SAKURA offers dishes that everyone can enjoy, regardless of dietary restrictions.
Tempura Asakusa SAKURA’s interior
Information
| Store name | Tempura Asakusa SAKURA |
|---|---|
| Address | THE CITY Asakusa Kaminarimon 7F, 2-18-16 Kaminarimon, Taito-ku, Tokyo
|
| Access |
Asakusa Station Short walk from Exit A4
|
| Phone number | 03-6284-7307 |
| Reservations | Accepted Phone, official website, Tabelog, Ikyu Restaurant, Ozmall |
| Payment |
|
| Service charge/Table charge | None |
| Hours | 12:00-15:00（last order 14:30）, 17:00-20:00（last order 19:30） |
| Closed | No fixed holidays Unscheduled holidays |
| Seating | 10 counter seats |
| Smoking | All seats are non-smoking |
| Official website | https://tempura-asakusa.com/ |
| Other information/th> |
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※Menu contents, prices, store information, etc. are current as of August 2024.
