Tenshima

Tenshima is a Japanese tempura restaurant on the ground floor of Millenia Walk, near Marina Bay. Chef Takahiro Shima runs an omakase counter where every piece is fried to order and handed straight to you. Each service is limited to about ten guests.

Tenshima gained one Michelin star in the Michelin Guide Singapore 2026, its first. The inspectors point to the chef's close control of oil heat and timing, and a light batter that never feels oily.

The chef

Chef Shima has more than 16 years of experience in kaiseki, the Japanese style of multi-course dining. Before Tenshima, he worked at tempura restaurants including Ginza Tenharu in Tokyo and Tentsuru at The St. Regis Singapore. He brings that course-by-course style to tempura, so the meal follows the seasons.

What to expect from the menu

There is a set course at lunch and another at dinner, and the chef decides what you eat. Michelin notes that ingredients arrive from Japan several times a week. Items that food writers have described include:

• Kumamoto tiger prawns
• Sea urchin with caviar on seaweed
• A5 Miyazaki wagyu beef
• Seasonal vegetables such as corn and asparagus
• Small fish such as smelt

Before frying, you may be shown the raw ingredients. The kitchen fries in sunflower oil. You season each piece with house salts, such as Okinawa pink salt or a curry salt. Writers have also described sweet potato that is steamed for hours and then dry-aged for two days. Menus change with the seasons, so expect some differences.

The setting

The room is calm and simple, with granite and washi paper touches. Guests sit at a counter of hinoki, a Japanese cypress, facing the chef. The sizzle of the fryer sets the mood. Tableware is handmade in Japan and chosen by the chef. Michelin also lists it as a good choice for solo diners.

Good to know before you go

• Book ahead: with so few seats, it is wise to book well in advance. Reservations are taken through TableCheck, linked from the Tenshima website, or by email.
• Seating times: lunch and dinner have set seating times, so check yours when you book.
• Dietary needs: the menu is set by the chef, so mention any allergies when you reserve.
• Parking: car parking is available, according to Michelin.

Nearby

Millenia Walk is also home to Sushi Sakuta, a Japanese sushi restaurant. For Cantonese food, try Kai Garden in Marina Square. The Ritz-Carlton Millenia Singapore is close by, as is the Singapore Flyer. See our lists of Japanese restaurants and fine dining in Singapore for more ideas.