Tendon Kohaku - Downtown

Tempura donburi restaurant · Downtown

Tendon Kohaku - Downtown

Tempura donburi restaurant · Downtown

1

840 Howe St #190, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2S9, Canada

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Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null
Tendon Kohaku - Downtown by null

Highlights

Bright, modern spot in downtown Vancouver serving perfectly crispy Japanese tempura bowls, savory sides, creamy udon, and dreamy Hokkaido milk tea.  

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840 Howe St #190, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2S9, Canada Get directions

kohakutendon.com

CA$20–30 · Menu

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840 Howe St #190, Vancouver, BC V6Z 2S9, Canada Get directions

+1 604 416 3936
kohakutendon.com
KohakuTendonVancouver

CA$20–30 · Menu

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Last updated

Jul 30, 2025

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Tempura tendon

Vancouver foood
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Michelle Siaril

Google
A place in downtown that I passed through a lot, yet had never been since lots of their tempura contained shrimp. Regardless, my friend and I stopped by late at night one random weekday and were pleasantly surprised. Price was decent by Vancouver standard and I really like the high ceiling decor. We ordered using a tablet which was a pretty seamless experience, but food and drinks took a while to get served. Overall, a pretty nice casual spot for lunch or dinner. Vegetables Tendon ($14.25) Pretty good tempura, batter was crisp and light, crunchy without being greasy. Standard types of vegetables tempura (mushroom, squash, etc) and pretty plain without the sauce. I do think the tendon sauce that they have on the table is way too concentrated versus the standard though, will be good to have it more diluted. Katsu Curry ($16.95) + omelette on rice ($4.75) Despite being mostly known for their tempura, the katsu curry was really decent and the extra egg looked very insta worthy. The level 1 spicy was as expected not spicy at all, but curry tasted pretty rich, nothing too mind blowing but a really comforting meal.

JJ L

Google
Went as a party of two at around 7:30PM on a weekday. At the time it was starting to fill up but there was still space. There are both booth seating for groups as well as individual tables. I like how they utilize plexiglass partitions to divide up a large table into 2 separate groups. The ordering process is done via tablet which is clamped down to the table. The stand rotates and you can select from the get go whether it will be one bill or separate. The tablet does become a bit of an obstruction when the servers are placing the (large plated) dishes on the table though, especially if it's clamped to the edge of the table. The food was very delicious, comforting and I would say worth the price. I ordered the pumpkin soup because it was recommended and it was creamy and smooth. The atmosphere I would say is best for even groups of 2 or 4s, as a casual meet-up with friends or as a date location as there is minimal server interaction. There is also outdoor patio seating which is probably best if you are going as a family with strollers, I did notice a family having a bit of struggle finding a space to park their stroller inside restaurant space.

Philip Raymond Lim

Google
Tendon Kohaku is one of those spots with a fancy interior, yet the prices are surprisingly reasonable. They specialize in tempura, showcasing the skill and precision of Japanese cooking—the batter is always light, crispy, and perfectly fried. The quality is great, and the service is always on point. I’ve been coming here many times and always enjoy the experience. That said, it would be nice to see some new additions to the menu, as the offerings haven’t changed much over time. I still come here but not as much for that reason I got tired of ordering the same stuff. Still, a solid go-to for a satisfying tendon fix!

Phil Kelly

Google
We ordered Curry Udon and the Prawn Tempura Udon. I'd recommend sticking to their classic Tendon. This was my first time and both udons were alright. Decent enough, but nothing special. I got 1 spice level for the curry and it was a hint of a kick. You could taste there was some spice, definitely mild. I don't mind but maybe a level 2 might be more your thing. The prawn tempura however, was amazing. Makes me wish I got a proper bowl / order of their tempura. If I stuck with that, I'd probably give a 5 star rating. Also ordered the Hokkaido Milk Tea and Kohaku Refresher. The milk tea was a touch sweet, and tasted similar to Royal Milk Tea (but it's been a while since I last had a can/powder mix of it so maybe I'm wrong) But overall it was good. I didn't like the Kohaku refresher but my partner found it refreshing (but didn't have anything else positive to say)

Punyawee Sukrongpang

Google
The right kind of Tendon. Everything was crispy and not oily. Their spicy sauce added some kick if you can handle spicy, we love it. You can easily have a full meal with just one bowl that costs around $15-18. Which is a very good price for the quality you get. Or you can go with an extra $2.99 and get bottomless Rice, Salad, and Miso soup, which I did and added some extra toppings as well. Couldn't be happier. Also tried Chicken Karaage and Takoyaki. Both were great additions to the meal, but I would stick with their tempura next time and I like it better. Only 4 stars for the atmosphere since the table was pretty small for two and we felt cramped. Worse if there is another couple next to you since they use a plastic partition to split the table into two halves.

inky Lalita

Google
Good spot for eating and hanging out with friends. The food was good, and you can add rice, salad, and miso soup for $2.99 (refillable). However, they should offer an à la carte option for miso soup. The staff were friendly, and the restaurant was cozy. You can order items from the screen. There were 5 of us, so I made a reservation in advance. By the way, the menu was a bit confusing because of the pictures. We thought all the sets came with salad and soup, as shown in the photos, and that if you wanted refills, it would cost $2.99. But actually, the set only came with rice and tempura.

Khoa Ngo

Google
Super delicious tempura (tendon) rice bowls here! It was a cute place, had a cool upside down wheat ceiling, and the service was great. You just sit down, order on the tablet, and the food comes out. Great little lunch place that you should try out!

Alexander

Google
The vibes at Tendon Kohaku were awesome, the food was.. less awesome. I ordered the beef rice bowl and it was good, but I was expecting a bit more variety in the flavor and found it quite plain. However, they have excellent prices so I can't complain too much. Their service was good; they use screens to order but all the staff are kind and were very accommodating. The ice cream is Japanese style, so the flavour may not be what you're used to, but it's good too! The ice cream spoons were really cool 🪏
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James Y.

Yelp
Never had a kokanee beer, it was mildly fruity, crisp, light, had a mild flavor of fuji apple. Very yummy. The tendon (classic) was crispy, crunchy, and easy to devour by yourself. I added 2 additional shrimp pieces for an additional price, but worth it! I put a piece of shrimp tempura into my mouth, and daaaamn, it is HOT! Haha! Very good! Wouldve liked it to be more tempura-y (like flakes of tempura batter on the actual tempura). Overall good! This place is very family friendly, and some 4 tops are divided by a plexiglass to make it into 2 top seating. Clean atmosphere!
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Tiffany C.

Yelp
Came here for dinner on a weeknight. Street parking only. Restaurant was not busy. We got seated in the back right away. Waiter gave us a menu but it is a self order menu using the iPad. Our waiter was very attentive and always checking if we need anything else. Ordered the XL spicy creamy udon and added shrimp tempura. Also ordered their soft serve ice cream. It was so good and creamy! Came in a huge ceramic bowl but it is not filled all the way to the top. Udon came with 3 slices of baguettes. Noodles had a good chew and cooked perfectly. It is very creamy and too spicy for me. Overall I enjoyed the creamy chewy udon. I would definitely come back and try the non spicy version and try other items as well.
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Lindsey D.

Yelp
We had two orders of the Abi Tempura Rice combo (comes with 1 piece of Kombucha Squash). Positive: Very quick from order to pickup as we parked right outside the restaurant. They packed it very meticulously and the design of the take away box is ingenious. The texture of the crunch is very nice, along with the rice is perfectly cooked and served. Cons: There is almost no flavour, lack salt for my palate, the soy sauce based dipping sauce is strange to me (feels like it was dark soy, with sugar and kelp)- however there is no harmony and just confusion. I'd rather have less quantity as in protein than eating more crunchy batter. The shrimp was the same tier as the tempura shrimp at Costco frozen section. Last note: very polite staff as we picked up near closing.
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Jamie K.

Yelp
Really taste bowl and high quality tempura. Tendon is recommended but there's so much other stuff on the menu to choose from! Fresh wasabi was a nice touch to bring authenticity to the dish. The restaurant is smaller but really cute and intimate. iPad based service and ordering at your table makes it fast and seamless. Would recommend trying!

Kirk O.

Yelp
After a long travel day to Vancouver, we were soo satisfied with our dinner here ! We got the kohaku tendon , katsu curry - and pumpkin soup . All dishes were excellent. Service was attentive and friendly Restaurant bright / modern . Highly recommend!
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Emma C.

Yelp
I love the layout of the restaurant which feels modern, clean and filled with light. I also like that you can order by iPad and it makes the bill very convenient for splitting with people. I ended up getting the katsu curry. I love that the katsu was lightly breaded and the meat was tender and moist. The egg was still fluffy and not overcooked. I felt like the shrimp tempera breading soaked up a bit too much oily and was a bit heavy. The Hokkaido milk ice cream on the other hand was so good. It was so smooth and tasted very pure, like just milk and sugar. I would come back again just for that.
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Dar O.

Yelp
Located in downtown Vancouver. Cool and contemporary interior at this restaurant. Servers are extremely friendly and helpful. Got the tendon (tempura) and the items were nicely battered - light and crispy. Also tried a Japanese version of steamed egg - very light and smooth. If you like tea, get their house tea which is a brown rice type tea - delish. I think I had 10 refills! Told them I was going to stay till closing to enjoy their tea and they said, sure! I did t, but I did have a lot of tea. Enjoyed coming here and the food and service were very satisfying.
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Bea F.

Yelp
A little sad about the changes that have been to this place since my last visit. It fulfilled my tempura craving and the service remained friendly, however the addition of screen ordering/menu changes made me less inclined to visit again. The tempura rice bowls now come al la carte, with the option to add unlimited soup/salad for $2.99. However, this is pretty misleading, as the photos of the rice bowls on the menu include soup/salad. They used to include these for free in the past. My ebi tendon came out to just over $20 after tip. While it tasted fine, I felt a bit disappointed by the lack of sides and probably wouldn't pay this price again for a simple rice bowl.
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Megan D.

Yelp
I've been seeing this place all over social media, so I had to give it a try! We ordered the Kohaku tendon, and it was really good. The tempura pieces were perfectly crunchy--just how I like them. I like the sauce with the tempura, I got it on the side so it wouldn't make my tempura soggy. I also liked eating the soft boiled egg with some rice. We also decided to share a mentaiko udon, since I wanted to try it out. You can even upgrade to an XXL size for free, which is a nice perk. The udon was interesting in a good way--a bit creamy and salty. I saw other locations do it with the big fish eggs, and that looks like it would have been better, but I'm glad that I tried it regardless.
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Taylor P.

Yelp
Tendon craving satisfied!!! We were in town for a cruise and made it our mission to eat here before going home. We got the sashimi tendon combo and the anago (eel) tendon combo + the chawanmushi (steamed egg) + salmon hand roll. There's an option for spicy sauce and we opted for those - it definitely had a lil kick! Overall, the tempura pieces were plenty, cooked to perfection and the portion of rice was just enough. The added combo option gives you unlimited rice, cabbage salad and miso soup but we didn't have to refill once lol. The cabbage salad was surprisingly very very good and I loved including it into my bite of tempura and rice. I'm very glad I got the anago/eel because WOW, it was incredible. The sashimi portion was decent and tasted fresh. The chawanmushi was a little too salty for me but my bf loved it. The salmon hand roll was ehhh - it didn't have much flavor; I'd skip this next time and try to eat more cabbage salad! 4 stars for the service. We order everything on an iPad. Food came out at a decent time. But we had to ask for water at least 3 times. Either leave a jug at each table or give us bigger cups, so you don't need to refill so often??? Also, the decor was cute but the booths were a little tight (I'm a big-ish gal lol), so we had to move tables. All in all; great food, I would go again!!
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Terrance Y.

Yelp
Tendon Kohaku was authentic on a different level. I was a little concerned about showing up with our 2-year-old and a 5-year-old. But the staff's friendliness made it work. From the moment we walked in, the staff were absolute champs. They handed our kids coloring pages, which is a Godsent. Let's get to business,. The tempura was so tender and juicy, I swear I was momentarily transported to Tokyo. It did not feel too greasy. I basically wipe the bowl clean. Even my picky eater (the 5-year-old who insists that anything green is yucky devoured his rice and shrimp. Even a simple sashimi roll stood out because of how fresh it was. As a lifelong Angeleno from Cali, it pains me to say this, but Vancouver has some pretty authethenic Japanese food, may be better than LA! I know, I know--sacrilege! But wow, that someone serve me a second serving of that chawanmushi. Next time I'm in Vancouver, I'm pretty sure I'm going to make a stop at Tendon Kohaku. Delicious food, a kid-friendly vibe, and a side of peace and quiet? Sign me up every time!
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Al M.

Yelp
I love tendon. I thought it was a little too much sauce; might be me but I'd recommend ordering it on the side and add as you go. I'd like a bit more veggies with the standard tendon set-renkon would be nice addition.. overall nice and clean place for tendon.
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Iris Z.

Yelp
Quite possibly one of the freshest and most value rice bowls I ever had!! My friends and I last minute decided to have dinner at Tendon Kohaku however, I came almost an hour before closing since I wasn't ready by the time they wanted to eat. Graciously, the restaurant staff still seated us down so we were grateful for that. I ordered the Sashimi Amori tendon which came with a variety of fresh sashimi and tempura over a bed of rice. My friends, who came here earlier than me, let me try their Hokkaido Milk Tea and it was super yummy and creamy. Unfortunately when I tried to order it, they were already sold out for the night so I opted for their peach sparkling refresher instead. The Sashimi Amori tendon was so good and I loved how fresh the sashimi was! Raw scallops were included and I didn't taste any fishiness, it just melted in your mouth. The tempura was also super crispy and tasted so well with their house-made sauce. It was such a filling meal for a great price too! The restaurant itself is on the smaller side so if you want to come here with a big party, be prepared to be separated into smaller tables or call/reserve well in advance.
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Jaeden Y.

Yelp
Stopped by for dinner and it was SO GOOD! After a long day of traveling, this tempura hit! Nice, clean little restaurant in downtown! You order on the little tablet at the table and friendly servers bring your food and drinks. Portions are on the smaller side, but we are from the U.S. so we had to order more food. Prices are reasonable. What I ordered: -Kohaku Tendon: This had such a great variety of tempura! My favorites were the prawns and shiitake mushroom. The crunch was perfect and the sauce was delish! Definitely some of the best tempura I've ever had. You actually get a lot of food for the price. 5/5 -My family ordered the large beef bowl and beef curry and they were very small. We are American and so maybe we're used to larger portions sizes but it was definitely not enough for my dad and brother. The curry had only a few pieces of meat in it which was very odd. Overall, this place has solid tempura, a nice aesthetic, and friendly staff. Prices are good, portions are on the smaller side. I would definitely come back when visiitng downtown again!
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Nami N.

Yelp
I came w my hubby for dinner at 5:30 pm Friday. I didn't make a reservation but we were seated immediately. But the chair was too low for me. The inside of the store has a nice atmosphere. We ordered Anago Tendon and added combo(include miso soup and salad) and Sashimi Aimori Tendon and added combo too. Also Nagoya Chicken Wings and Organic Kyoto Matcha Softserve with cup. I would have liked a bit more sauce on both of the tempura bowls. It's too flavorless. The sashimi also had no flavour, so I tried making some wasabi soy sauce with it, but it still wasn't great and I was disappointed. But the Nagoya chicken wings were delicious! I ordered a matcha softserve to refresh my mouth and really liked the bitterness and the taste of matcha. The staff all provided very good service.
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Esther L.

Yelp
We went for a late lunch on a Monday. We found street parking 1-2 blocks away. There seemed to be people coming in and dining throughout our time there. All of the ordering was done via tablet, with the waiter coming over to check IDs for the drinks and to pour more water or hot tea. The Nagoya wings were pretty good, there was a nice kick to them and the meat was moist and flavorful. The anago (eel) tendon was yummy, though the amount of rice that came in the bowl was less than expected. The tempura was fried to perfection and didn't feel overly greasy as we were eating. The two cocktails we ordered (a sparkling umeshu and a peach highball) were kind of disappointing though. The sparkling umeshu tasted like cherry medicine though it got a bit better as it got watered down. The peach highball tasted more like sparkling water and it took a bit of effort to mix in the peach flavoring at the bottom because it didn't mix very well. Overall, it wasn't bad.
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Mei Jie W.

Yelp
The seats were very large. It was able to fit a party of 6 and they had a high chair for baby accommodation. I ordered the regular sized udon bowl, it was really good but the portion of meat was smaller than it looks.
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Marilyn V.

Yelp
Heard of this place since they opened but never got to try it until now. Am not a fan of tempura but have to admit that this place changed my mind. Their version of tempura is far from the "tasteless thick flour which after a few bites gives you a carb-rich oily kind of fullness." The Mentaiko Cream Udon was not impressive at all - bland and barely any trace of mentaiko. Restaurant seemed smaller than what I had imagined from pictures. But don't let this stop you from trying.
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Tiffany V.

Yelp
Lovely atmosphere with very friendly servers. Seated us ~40mins before closing! 4/5 Prawn Udon - good chew to the udon, but I've had better at other spots in the NYC/Boston area. Burdock root deep fried was a great touch! Wish the broth had a greater depth of flavor as well. 4/5 Kohaku Tendon -- loved the variety of veggies and the crisp fry was great! The sauce runs too salty for my preference
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Laurra H.

Yelp
Great packaging for my take out order. Soup and sauce didn't spill. Food tastes as expected. I ordered the classic two shrimp mixed vegetables tempura. Tiny bit heavy handed with the salt. Highly recommend ordering takeout or delivery. Atmosphere is kind of simple classy. Its opened just late enough for people to rush over after orpheum lets out. Very helpful service. Thank
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Kris N.

Yelp
The food is good comparing to the original in Canada but the wait line is so ridiculous... advance reservation is like a month ahead!!! I might forget the date by then! But I do recommend to try if you cannot make it to Canada... ‍
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Jennifer D.

Yelp
Best meal when visiting Vancouver! We ordered the following: Chawanmushi Nagoya Chicken Wings Japanese Beef Udon Kohaku Tendon Vegetable Tendon I ordered the Kohaku Tendon and really liked it! I've never had a tempura bowl like this before and loved each item in my bowl especially the egg. I thought everything was well fried and the sauce that was drizzled over everything completed the dish. They also gave us the option to have water or hot tea which I liked! Having hot tea helps with consuming all the fried food so I am glad they offered it. They also have a spicy powder on all the sides if you want to make your dish a bit spicier. Definitely recommend when visiting Vancouver!
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Stephanie M.

Yelp
We came on a Saturday at around 6:30pm. It was quite packed inside but we had reservations so we were seated right away. I got the basic bowl that just comes with tempura and rice. The rice was nice and chewy but cold when it got to the table. The tempura was crispy and I liked the sweet soy sauce on top. I wish it came with a little thing of pickles so that I could off set the oiliness Overall for the price I would not get it again
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Mark Y.

Yelp
Really enjoy this place and the tendon is by far one of the best around! I had the classic tendon with tempura shrimp and we also had the vegetable tendon. Each comes loaded with a variety of deep fried vegetable yumminess. We also had the pumpkin soup and the smooth creamy flavor the pumpkin extract was awesome. The service was good and our server came back to check on us and filled our water. There are pads on each table for you to order. The interior is adorned with nice wooden tables and chairs and there is ample seating. We live in Seattle what I enjoy most is that unlike the Bellevue location there are no Disneyland like long lines to get in!
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Idy C.

Yelp
I love tempura and we ordered door dash to our hotel room after a long night to visit the garden light during Christmas time. Food is good however, it does not come with any utenil. I understand we want to save the world by using less plastic but consider we are in the hotel and we have nothing in our hotel room, it creates so much trouble to find a fork in the evening. Tempura is crispy even we ordered to go and delivered after 30 mins later! I will go to their restaruant next time to have dine in experience and give an update on this review.
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Jenny W.

Yelp
I haven't been here in awhile and I must say that I noticed the bowl portion was smaller than before. It still tastes great but I'm disappointed with the portion now. It used to be a solid 5 stars for me but now it's a 3 to 4 stars. I don't think I'll be back...at least not anytime soon.
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Mandy T.

Yelp
This location is located on the quieter corner of Smithe. The interior is high ceiling, bright lights, lots of windows and clean wooden feel. Its a comfortable place to dine. I came with the fam for dinner. The presentation of the food looks great. The lightly battered tempura were not oily, but also not very flavorful. Maybe because they didn't mix in the sauce. They provided 2 different type of sauce for us on the side to mix ourselves since one is spicy and the kids won't be able to eat that but us adults still wanted the spicy. The bowl was also rather small. We also ordered the Tempura Udon and got the XL size but even though it was served in a giant bowl, the amount of udon actually in it was like regular size elsewhere... we should have gotten the XXL. The udon tasted ok but we weren't a fan of the bamboo shoots which meant there was very little topping for us to enjoy with the udon. Overall, nice ambiance, average service, average food, but small portion sizes for the price so not likely to go back soon.
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Anita Z.

Yelp
I went to Tendon Kohaku with a friend as we were in the area and the last time we were there together was two years ago. We weren't too hungry, so we decided to split the Sashimi Aimori Tendon ($18.65) and an order of unlimited rice, miso, and salad refills ($2.99). I was a bit worried because I've been to places where it is required that each person has to order their own "unlimited refill" item and does not allow sharing (I completely understand this). However, not only did the waitress refill our rice and miso, she even asked us if we wanted a second refill! We had to say no since we were quite full, but it was very nice of her to do so. I always love the ambiance here as the entire restaurant follows a light wood, wheat, and rice aesthetic and plays piano music (this time it was piano Christmas songs)! We were lucky to arrive when we did (around 5:00 PM) because as we were leaving, there was a long line outside the door. I think this restaurant is definitely one of my favourites in Vancouver!
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Calista C.

Yelp
Melon cream sodas were bogo so we decided to try and it didn't disappoint! Tasted just like melona! Got the eel set and two tendon kohaku sets which were delicious and a large portion - very worth it. Highly recommend getting the combo as their miso soup and cabbage salad are unlimited (+$3) Very friendly service! However, they forgot a combo and were quite busy later on and it took a while to get extra refills and the check.
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Nelly H.

Yelp
Ever since Bellevue, WA opened a Tendon Kohaku, my social media page has been bombed with videos non-stop. I have friends that went there and say the line can take up to 2 hours! I was waiting for it to cool off a bit before trying. I had to run an errand in Vancouver, BC and they have a Tendon Kohaku with no line. Ordered the best selling Kohaku Tendon with prawn, chicken, baby corn, french beans, shiitake mushroom, pumpkin, and runny egg tempura. It certainly did not live up to the hype I think the tempura batter was coated too thick and unevenly, lukewarm, and overly greasy. The drizzled sauce also made them soggy before I could eat them all. I did like my runny egg mixed with the rice though, but that's about it. This is more like a tempura Yoshinoya meal for me. Not bad for a quick casual lunch break, but I'm definitely not recommending or waiting in line for this.
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Alyssa Mae L.

Yelp
This was my first meal in Vancouver! I had bookmarked this place and decided to try it out since it was right around the block from my hotel. When I arrived around 6pm on a Friday night, the place was busy but I didn't have to wait as a table opened for a party of 1. Service was quick and attentive. I ordered the spicy Kohaku Tendon as a combo - which comes with bottomless cabbage salad and miso soup. The food arrived so quickly! The cabbage salad was surprisingly addicting and a refreshing add to the meal. The miso soup was good, nothing special. Not sure if it was because I ordered it spicy, but my tempura became soggy as I continued my meal. The flavors were delicious and I really loved the runny egg (it was so delicious mixed into my rice). However, I wished the tempura was more crispy. Overall, a really filling and good meal for a decent price in downtown. I am happy to have tried it!
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Julia S.

Yelp
TLDR: service is 10/10, food is 8.5/10 I came in as a solo diner on a Thursday afternoon around peak dinner time (6:00pm). I was immediately greeted upon entry, and within a few minutes escorted to a table. I was sat next to a couple (there's a small glass divider in most booths), and I was offered tea and water, which is fairly standard. The servers here definitely have their workflow down; I was given just the right amount of time to review the menu and make up my mind. I opted for a milk tea and the spicy udon soup with tempura prawns. The server kindly reminded me that all bowls cost the same irrespective of size (options: regular, XL, XXL). Not even 10 minutes after the server took my order, my food was on my table! I stuck with the regular portion size, and it was more than enough for a hungry person!Given that the bowls they serve the udon in are MASSIVE, it really does entice you to just keep eating (cause it doesn't look like much!) In general, I thought the food was good and it was well worth it for the price point. The tempura was DELICIOUS (best tempura I've had!) the udon was a tier above okay but not quite great. I didn't love the flavor of the minced pork on top. Had they offered me a dessert menu, I probably would've eaten less of my food and ordered something. If I were to come again, I'd probably try their rice bowls
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Maya Mayuko T.

Yelp
I haven't visited Kohaku since their opening in the Burnaby location. I heard they have a new menu available, so I decided to try it out for a casual dining experience over the weekend. We ordered the Anago Tendon (a classic menu item) and the Carbonara Udon, which is a new addition to the menu. The Anago Tendon was a great choice. The batter was crispy, not too thick, and the sauce, although slightly on the sweet side, was acceptable. It fulfilled our expectations in terms of portion, flavor, and ingredients. The Carbonara Udon was just okay. Despite the large plate, the portion size was very small. The taste was fine, the bacon was tasty, but overall, it didn't offer anything particularly special. We decided that for our next visit, we should try another new item but stick with the classic Tendon menu. I definitely recommend it for casual dining if you're in the mood for Tendon or other appetizers.
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Dom K.

Yelp
The tempura selection is great, the kohaku set is has a bit of everything. The tempura quality is good, but could be fluffier and crunchier, but I love the mix of meat and vegetables. The kabocha salad was creamy, nutty, and potent with pumpkin flavor. Their servers are accommodating and the space looks beautiful, worthy of higher end restaurants.
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Grace L.

Yelp
As our first meal in Vancouver, Tendon Kohaku did not disappoint! My party of two arrived for a late dinner, and we were seated immediately. The wooden walls and hanging wheat created a calming atmosphere. We ordered the chawanmushi, miso soup, tendon kohaku, and sashimi aimori tendon. I loved how silky, umami, and seafood-forward the steamed egg was. The dishes had an effective presentation with the standing tempura and double bowls. The most unique tempura was the runny egg, and the tempura batter was unlike any that I've had. Instead of the traditional flaky texture, it had the crunchiness of something that's hard fried yet was still light. The sweet and salty Kohaku sauce tied all the components together well. Only knock was that the sashimi cubes were a bit small, but overall, it was a great meal!
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Joe L.

Yelp
We came here for a late lunch on a Wednesday around 1430 so we were surprised to see that the restaurant was bustling at that hour. We walked in and there a table that just got cleared. The tables seemed to turn over quite quickly. I ordered the sashimi aimori tendon. The sashimi bit pieces were quite fresh and the tempura pieces were lukewarm. Presentation was pretty.
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kimberly C.

Yelp
Our first meal in Vancouver- udon and curry was delicious. It has just the right amount of spiciness. Highly recommend for a happy stomach.

Carly I.

Yelp
If you're looking for tasty Japanese food in downtown Vancouver, this is a must-try spot! Although the restaurant is busy during dinnertime, the staff works quickly to serve guests to ensure the wait time isn't too long. We ordered the tempura bowls, spicy rose cream udon, katsu curry udon, and katsu curry rice. Every dish was very flavorful and absolutely delicious. Each table has a tablet where you can place your order and call your server if needed. The workers were very polite and attentive, creating a great experience with great food!
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Linda D.

Yelp
The temporary way too over done. Each piece was crispy and that's it, literally could not taste the actual item. The milk tea was overly sweet. You order at the table via a tablet and the servers are attentive. Lunch was really quiet/slow.
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Xichen J.

Yelp
My friends recommended this place to me so I decided to give it a try for lunch. I went around 4 PM on Sunday, so street parking was easy to find. Once inside, we were seated promptly. The inside is brightly lit and clean. The food came out after 10 minutes of ordering. I found the Sashimi Aimori Tendon to be the best. I also tried their Japanese beef over rice for $11.99, which was ok. You can add $2.99 for the combo option, which gives you unlimited salad and soup. Overall, I had a good experience here and would visit again.
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Rae A.

Yelp
I wish I could recommend this higher than 5 stars. Truly the best thing I ate in Vancouver. I have been craving those tendons (Tempura rice bowls) since it got on my YouTube algorithm. Ordering is easy and simple. Decor is clean and minimalistic. I got the original bowl + the tempura egg and was in love. Everything about it was delicious. Nicely crispy, not too oily, and a good price. Please open one in Southern California. People would love this. We also got the matcha soft serve which really made me consider moving. Not too sweet and strong matcha flavor. Plus the shovel was a cute serving spoon. 1000/5 Parking (not sure we ubered) and wasn't crowded during dinner time around 8
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Jessica Y.

Yelp
This place is amazing!! The food is spot on delicious and I enjoyed every item I tried. The Hokkaido soft serve is a MUST TRY! The interior is very clean and sleek, I enjoyed the experience here and my family did as well. If you love Japanese food come here!
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Jeremy C.

Yelp
2nd visit here after going for the first time back in 2021 and I'm convinced it's still one of my favorite meals to get when visiting Vancouver. I decided to go with the Veggie Tendon since I saw that I actually like all of the individual vegetables that are included in this option. The tendon comes nicely presented atop white rice and you get a choice of regular or spicy sauce and I went with the spicy. The sauce is very tasty, kind of like a spicy teriyaki but even better. It does not seem very spicy at first since you get that sweet flavor initially, but it's a prevalent spice that I enjoy. It's so good that I wish they gave more rice in the bowl since you can easily eat more with just the sauce. I'm not a tendon expert, but I'll just say it's like tempura, but better, at least here. It's fried so well and fresh and pairs well with the sauce. Oh and there is extra sauce (not spicy) along with chili powder at the table. It's been a while since I've been back but I thought the miso soup and cabbage slaw already came with the meal and you just have to pay to get them unlimited. I was a little confused that you have to add these items to your meal and in doing so, you get them unlimited. They should include unlimited rice with this option. It looks like if you go earlier there is no real wait, but for dinner, there is always a wait. Also, they don't seem to have a wait list really and you just have to stand in line and your entire party has to be there to get seated. They are located right across from Robson Square in downtown so be prepared to look out for street parking. The service was fine, nothing spectacular but not bad. I get that they are trying to seat as many parties as possible, so they have the usual 4 person tables split with those plexiglass (covid) dividers. But honestly, it just ruins the aesthetic and those dividers always look dirty whenever I see them. Besides that it's an appealing interior and moderately sized restaurant. Besides the few flaws, I really enjoy this meal and will come again when I'm in Vancouver.
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Clement R.

Yelp
The last night we are in town and so we wanted to try something more unique. We did some research around where we were staying and decided to give this place a try after a stroll thru the hip part of Vancouver. After a nice walk from the hotel, we finally found it. When my wife and I walked in, we were totally amazed with the decor of this place. We were walk-ins and we were given a seat shortly after. The service team is on the ball and very polite. Also explained to us how the process works with how to enjoy the food. So after browsing the menu, we ordered a Kohaku Udon and Kohaku Tendon with a side of chawan-mushi. The steamed egg came first and we adored it. Shortly after, the main dishes came and we were amazed. The tempura is crunchy yet not oily. And all the ingredients were flavourful yet not heavy. The udon definitely didn't tastes like the frozen stuff and tasted fresh. The tendon's rice is chewy and the sauce is yummy. Overall very satisfied and a nice end to our stay in Vancouver.
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Jeff C.

Yelp
really good tendon, and good amount of seating for big parties. Decorate is modern and clean.
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Anna C.

Yelp
Great service and very generous portion. Both adults and kids enjoyed our meal very much at Tendon Kohaku! Don't forget to ask for their XXL portion for udons and add the bottomless miso soup and cold slaw.
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Joanna L.

Yelp
I enjoyed my first time here. Went with my friend who suggested it. The service was okay, the food was good and the decor was modern and clean. I would not normally go for a bowl of tempura, but it was nice to share with a friend. The egg custard was my absolute favourite. It had a silky-smooth texture, like silken tofu and was well seasoned. I'd recommend this place to anyone who likes tempura as a meal.
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Jeff R.

Yelp
This is a convenient place near shopping and downtown hotels that serves pretty much everything deep fried!! And everyone knows that you can deep fry almost anything to make it taste good..even shoe leather!(just kidding) They serve rice, miso soup and other a la cart items but your main dish is deep fried. I had tried this before as a take out but it is so much better in house and sit down while it's hot and fresh. I walk by and it's always seems busy and I guess I know why.
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Kris C.

Yelp
Wholesome & satisfying meal. I got the classic Tendon w/ miso soup. I also was intrigued with their black milk tea they brew daily & it was delicious. I chose the spicy tendon sauce as well & it paired perfectly with the rice. Love the space they have, servers were nice & quick. Def will come back & try more on the menu!