The tempura restaurant scene in Singapore is really heating up, with new tempura and tendon spots popping up all over the place. The landscape is evolving so rapidly that it’s hard to settle on a favourite — just when you think you’ve found one, another exciting contender appears. For a long time, my go-to was the Asakusa-based Tenya restaurant. However, I’ve noticed that the quality of their tempura has declined over the years. Recently, I discovered a new favourite: Tempura Makino.
Tempura Makino was established in 2006 in Hyogo Prefecture, Japan. Their specialty is serving handcrafted, premium-quality tempura at affordable prices. In their Singapore outlets, they use A-grade rice from Hokkaido, which is said to be light-tasting — and I definitely noticed the difference.
I visited their VivoCity outlet during lunchtime, and the place was buzzing with patrons. Fortunately, I managed to get a seat and had the chance to browse their comprehensive menu. Prices are slightly higher than at Tenya, but I didn’t mind — as long as the food is good, I’m happy to pay a little more.
I ordered the Prawn and Vegetable Tempura Set ($21), with an additional $3 for soba noodles. I also tried the Chawanmushi Zuwai Kani Ankake ($4.50) — a chawanmushi topped with snow crab gravy — and a Genmai tea ($3.50), which was refillable.
I’m not exaggerating when I say this is the best tempura I’ve had in Singapore. The batter was light and crisp, the prawns were fresh, juicy, and sweet, and every bite was satisfying. I especially loved the tempura French bean — it had a great crunch and paired beautifully with the dipping sauce. The pumpkin tempura was massive — possibly the biggest I’ve ever had — and wonderfully sweet. The mushroom tempura was chewy and flavorful, with that same delicate, non-greasy batter.
The soba noodles were a bit rough in texture, but still delicious. However, the soup was definitely on the salty side. It had a pleasant sweetness, but I found myself reaching for my tea more than once to quench my thirst. I think they could tone down the saltiness a little, especially for those mindful of their sodium intake.
The chawanmushi, while tasty, was disappointingly small — not even half the size of a typical serving. That said, the snow crab topping was generous and delicious. The crab meat was soft and sweet, and the egg custard itself had a lovely umami depth, with hints of mirin adding sweetness and fragrance. There were also a couple of small pieces of tender chicken, though again, the portion size could’ve been more satisfying.
If I had to point out one downside to Tempura Makino, it would be the service. It was noticeably slow, likely due to a manpower shortage — only two waitresses were managing the entire floor. That said, one of the waitresses was particularly courteous and friendly, which helped make up for the wait.
Overall, Tempura Makino is, in my opinion, one of the best places in Singapore for tempura — especially for a chain restaurant. While it’s a bit pricier, the quality more than justifies the cost. If you’re craving top-notch tempura, I highly recommend giving this place a try.
Rating:
Food: 9/10
Service: 7/10
Value: 10/10
Tempura Makino
1 HarbourFront Walk, #02-111 VivoCity,
Singapore 098585
Opening hours: Daily from 11am-10pm
Other Outlets Include Suntec City, Jewel Changi Airport and Great World City
