Kappo Hongo

The lunchtime tempura set meal is a complete spread, with a small appetiser, tempura, rice, pickles, red miso soup and fruit. Diners have commented on the light batter and the flavours of the ingredients, as well as the aroma of the miso soup. It is a good option for lunch when you want tempura as the centrepiece of a full meal.

For a wider selection, the Shirasagi set includes sashimi, while another option pairs tempura with a seasonal kaiseki bento. The seasonal bento may include side dishes, sashimi, simmered dishes, rice and red miso soup, and is also available with tempura. One lunchtime diner enjoyed seasonal young ayu with the bento. The small fish had been grilled with salt and served with tade vinegar, and they ate it whole, head and all. They recalled that it was tender and had no noticeable fishy smell, and also praised the broth in the bento’s simmered dish.

The menu also pairs tempura with hot soba or Inaniwa udon and rice balls, for a noodle-focused meal that is lighter than a set. Lunch options include tendon and a tuna rice bowl, too, so diners can choose between a kaiseki-style meal and a rice bowl to suit the occasion.

One group that gathered in a tatami room remembered the tempura, rolled omelette and sashimi, as well as the rice served with chirimen sansho—small dried fish seasoned with Japanese pepper. The restaurant has private rooms and is described as suitable for groups, making it an option not only for a set lunch but also for a meal shared around the table.