Tentsuru

Tentsuru is a Japanese tempura restaurant on level 2 of The St. Regis Singapore, on Tanglin Road. Meals are served omakase style at a counter. The chef fries each piece in front of you and passes it over while it is still hot.

The restaurant is led by Master Chef Daiki Kawaguchi. He has cooked in tempura restaurants in Japan, Bangkok and Singapore. He also has a background in kaiseki, Japan's formal multi-course cooking.

What to order

You choose a set course rather than ordering dish by dish. The main omakase courses are named Tsuzumi, Uguisu and Tsuru. The two larger ones add one or two of the chef's signature pieces. Lunch has a shorter set with fewer pieces.

Most of the produce comes from different parts of Japan and changes with the seasons. The batter is a blend of potato starch, corn starch and wheat flour from Hokkaido. It is kept thin, so the coating stays light and crisp. Pieces that reviewers have described include:

• Kuruma ebi: Japanese tiger prawn
• Kisu: whiting, a delicate white fish often used for tempura
• Anago: saltwater eel
• Sea urchin and snow crab: two of the richer seafood pieces
• A5 Miyazaki wagyu: sirloin from Japan's Miyazaki prefecture
• Vegetables: seasonal items such as maitake mushroom, ginkgo nuts and sweet potato

Each piece comes with condiments such as plum, yuzu pepper, curry salt and sea salt. The meal ends with a rice course. You can usually choose tendon, a tempura rice bowl, or tencha, a rice soup topped with a kakiage fritter. A small dessert follows.

The setting

Seats run along the counter, so you can watch the frying up close. There is also a private room, which works well for a family group or a business meal.

Good to know before you go

• Book ahead: reservations are taken through TableCheck or by phone.
• Allow time: pieces are fried and served one at a time, so the meal moves at the chef's pace.
• Dietary needs: the courses are set, so mention any allergies when you book.
• Finding it: the restaurant is on level 2 of the hotel, not on the ground floor.

Nearby

Tentsuru sits inside The St. Regis Singapore, near the western end of Orchard Road. Four Seasons Hotel Singapore is another luxury option a short walk away. For other Japanese meals in the Tanglin, Dempsey and Holland area, look at Ginkyō by Kinki or Sushi Sato. You can also browse all Japanese restaurants in Singapore. After lunch, the Singapore Botanic Gardens make an easy outing. See every restaurant in Dempsey, Tanglin and Holland for more ideas nearby.