Tempura Endo

Tempura Endo Restaurant Review:

Tempura Endo in Beverly Hills is the first American outpost of Tempura Yasaka Endo in Kyoto, Japan. Guests enjoy multi-course tasting menus of tempura, followed by a Japanese tea ceremony. You'll really feel like you are in Japan. The wood décor is all handmade at this intimate establishment with only eight seats at the bar and a small dining room that can accommodate another eight guests. Expect personalized service and fresh ingredients with unusual tempura recipes including California Chardonnay in the batter. You may choose from three menus --- Yasaka ($150), Kiyomizu ($200) and Higashiyama ($280) --- or order à la carte if it's after 9 p.m. Sake, Moët & Chandon Brut Imperial Champagne and California wines are offered from a limited wine menu. Few restaurants in Los Angeles offer this type of experience. General Manager Tak Yamamoto and his team of kimono-clad angels will entrust a classic, authentic Japanese dining experience. Chef Satoshi Masuda uses cotton seed, sesame and safflower oils in his preparations at the bar behind a copper hood. Not all dishes in the progression are fried, as in the Kyoto eggplant in ginger dashi gelée, a sashimi sampler, live scampi tempura, a sea urchin roll, sesame tofu and Wagyu. Your place setting will be laced with a selection of house-prepared salts of which you will be directed to use with each course.