Japans Restaurant Tempura

Lovely restaurant. Good food, good vibe, fairly authentic. Lurked away near Artis it stands out from the overcrowded hypestaurants imo.

You get authentic stuff here. The japanese beer, the miso soups, the sauces, the dumplings and the noodles. I never really understand these exotic foods but the super friendly staff are always ready to help.
I did get the feeling that it was more korean than japanese, but I was reminded that I would’t know what the differences are, so I guess it’s a discussion I’ll need to have with the old lady owner again, after some research.
All in all 4 stars, partly pressure from who accompanied me: p

Prompt service and lots of menu choices makes for a popular Japanese choice to eat. Nice atmosphere for a friendly night out or a semi romantic date (there were a lot of couples dining while I was there). Looks small but there are more tables upstairs. One waiter spoke English and the others enough to take order (correctly). Prices were good — I had the vegetarian menu — the others were for two diners. The food was served too hot so it was either wait or burn your tongue. I chose the latter option. Beer and sake available, green tea was served with a tea bag; I would have preferred brewed in a small pot instead. Overall a bit too salty even for Japanese fare. Wasabi was super strong! Beware!

Unfortunately, good sushi places in Amsterdam are few and far between. Tempura is one of the better ones.
Tempura, like other Japanese restaurants in Amsterdam, is very traditional and serves quality but ordinary food in an impeccable yet distinctly unstylish setting.
The décor is simple, mostly white and brown and with no adornments other then a few Japanese beckoning cats and lanterns in the window and an emergency exit sign above the door. The dining room is small with less than 15 tables and has a cozy feel.
The service is somewhat quirky but always very friendly. Small misunderstandings when ordering or making reservations can create a disorganized appearance but always do so in a charming way.
The food is very good. Sushi and sashimi are prepared well from fresh fish. The meat of the yakitori is tender and their sauce just sweetish enough. And — at least for Amsterdam standards — there are a few more interesting dishes such as large shrimp in a sweetened almond crust or the spicy shrimp tempura maki.