Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr

This has to be the best Tempura in Los Angeles and one of the best outside of Japan. Staff is incredibly kind. I ordered the premium tempura bowl that came with unagi (eel). I thought the portion size was great, until the waitress came back to tell me that they served me a smaller eel filet and will bring me another. I thought they might bring me another small piece to "fulfill" the missing amount. Nope. They brought me a whole entire other piece!! Who does that!?? Each and every piece of tempura was so light and flaky and crispy. The "meat" for each was tasty, cooked well, and delicious. The eel was so soft and delicious. I also ordered a side of pumpkin tempura that was delicious. The spicy tuna handroll was simple, straightforward, and excellent

No idea why this is rated below 5 stars because this is a cozy restaurant I was delighted to have stumbled upon! The food is delicious and vibe delightful. The food is all made fresh to order—and wow what an abundant spread. I came in fully expecting to have leftovers but cleaned my plate. I truly feel like I blacked out as I ate because I couldn’t stop. The tempura sauce has grated dikon and I added hot pepper to it *chef kiss* wow my mouth is watering thinking about it. The tempura is hot, light, and oh so crunchy—but one of the highlights has to be the house made pickled ginger with burdock—could have eaten the entire bowl. The folks working here are so nice and friendly too. 10/10 so happy to have had dinner there and would eat there again and just might have to since I’m here for a conference. Very clearly labeled veg options—which was amazing.

Stopped by this cozy little spot for a quick lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and care put into their Special Tempura Plate. The tempura was light, crispy, and not greasy at all--exactly how it should be. The plate came with a nice variety: shrimp, fish, sweet potato, pumpkin, and other seasonal veggies. Each piece had a clean crunch and held onto just enough of the house-made sauce without getting soggy. The shrimp was plump and tender, and the veggies still had a bit of bite to them, which I appreciated. It also came with a perfectly cooked bowl of rice and a side of miso soup, rounding out the meal nicely. The space is small but clean and welcoming. Service was friendly, and food came out pretty quickly even during the lunch rush. If you're in the mood for solid, well-executed tempura in a chill setting, this place is worth a visit.

This place was recommended by my neighbor who works around Pasadena. Food, ambience and service were all very good. The tempura were fresh and cooked perfectly; my family really enjoyed it. The only caution is to be sure your party is all present or else they will not seat you.

Authentic Japanese Tempura and Udon, Worth the Wait! Very smalls establishment but boy, do they do their food right. I was extremely impressed by how simple but effective their menu is. Tempura was fried to perfection with large shrimps, pumpkin, egg, and veggies in a mild batter. Udon broth was flavorful and was the perfect complement. We even ordered Yellowtail Sushi for the heck of it, and WOW, were we surprised on how good it actually was! Cannot recommend this place more, it was amazing. Service can be a little slow with different dishes coming out at random times but please be patient with them, its a small place dedicated to serving authentic mom n pops style Japanese food.

There tends to be a 20-30 minute wait, both because the restaurant is cozy with limited seating and also the popularity. But it is definitely worth the wait, some of the best tempura I have ever had. The radish dipping sauce goes perfectly with the tempura, and the miso soup is top tier. The plate is presented amazingly and leaves you completely satisfied rather than overly stuffed. Staff are very friendly, overall great experience.

__ SEP 5, 2025 : 5-STAR > 1-STAR We love this place. We love the food here. During our decade living in Japan we have known the Japanese to be the kindest and most considerate people in the world. Society is built with social cohesion in mind. Japan is our second home with the friends we maintain to this day. We ate at Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. this past Friday. And it’s packed as usual because of the great food. We recommended it to curious passersby. Hands down the Best Tempura in LA bar none. But the service leaves a lot to be desired. Yes I’ve read some of the reviews praising the service staff. But honestly, the staff is rude and lacks empathy. In particular the woman with the high-pitched voice who is consistently cold, callous, and at times rude to most guests. But this occasion tops the cake. There was a disabled senior couple who’s been waiting for almost 40min. We helped them check-in and watched how unpleasant the whole experience was for them. They were continuously ignored. The experience was so unnerving that we could not enjoy the food. We even offered to switch seats to accommodate the wheelchair disability. We and other fellow customers worried more for the elderly couple, as they kept being ignored and the old woman kept suffering. We didn’t see a single moment of compassion from the staff. Finally I spoke Japanese to one of waitress (the one with more EQ) to at least acknowledge and tend to them, at the minimum make them feel welcome. The tables were mostly all free. The issue being they are short staffed and the waitress is the one bussing and cleaning tables. We’re attuned to the challenges behind this. But honestly speaking, they were just inefficient, inconsiderate and “Tone Deaf”. The old couple proceeded to leave in the woman’s wheel chair after her husband tried 4X to check on their table. So we prompted the kinder waitress to do something. After pausing and conversing with us for a minute she decided to ran after them. We encouraged the older couple to come back. The food is worth it. But if the service will be like this it ruins the whole experience. It’s hard to sit through. As much as we want to come back because the food is good, we actually don’t want to. There are other famous places like Golden Deli who have long lines. But they have a system down packed. Where people don’t feel ignored and disrespected. We seriously hope that the owners of Tempura Carlos Jr reads this and rectifies the situation. People deserve common decency. That’s non-existent here now with the current staff. __ DEC 2024 : 10months ago : 5-STARS Absolutely the best Tempura in the USA. We lived in Japan for 10yrs and love this place. Takes it to the level of mastery of Japan.

I have no problem with their food, but their service was terrible. While so many seats were open, we had to wait for 30 minutes more than what Yelp told us to come back. Because our server was not good at English, my friend got the order wrong even though my friend pointed out the order from the menu and our server came back to confirm our orders again. Since we were seated outside, it was hard to catch servers and had to go inside to ask what we need, for stuff like check and wrong order. And later the chef at the sushi bar gave my friend attitude as if we are going to do something too. They need to improve the service.

The tempura was on point and delicious, the sushi rolls were flavorful. the service was excellent and the food came out quick. The restaurant is a bit small but we never waited long and even though this restaurant is right on Colorado in old town there is a parking lot that you can park for free when you check into the restaurant.

It is a blessing to have Japan-level tempura in Pasadena. The thing to get is their tempura, obviously. Order whatever set suits your palate and appetite, and I most often order the Special Tempura set, which comes with a shrimp, bay scallop, white fish, shishito pepper, kabocha, and seaweed perfectly fried to a light crisp. At times, I opt for a bigger set (Premium) or one focused on what I want the most (Shrimp). I highly recommend the tempura plates over the bowls, because it's just easier to enjoy when the tempura is not crowded into a single bowl. The sets come with a miso soup with maitake mushrooms, which is an elegant upgrade. Their tare (soy dipping sauce) is phenomenal, a bit smoky and savory with a lot of dashi. They also offer udon/soba and sushi, which we order regularly because it is nice variety, but I don't consider this their strong suit.

Parking - they have parking in the back and they validate!! Okay so first, the inside is pretty small. They have outside seating but it's not good for large parties. We were a party of four and we waited about 30 minutes before we were seated. The service started out food but about five minutes after we sat down the waiter asked us if we would like to move to another table that was bigger. We did not feel like moving since we were settled in and ready to order so we just said that it was okay! But she then insisted that we moved because they had another part coming in. We were a little bit thrown off because we would have happily moved if she just asked us. This is where the service kind of went downhill for us. They kind of forgot about us. They didn't bring our waters and we had to flag them down to order. When they brought us our food, our table did not have any utensils. I had to go back to the table they moved us from to get chopsticks for everyone. Towards the end of the meal - we had to flag them down again to ask for our waters. The restaurant is not even that big. It is one room that fits like five parties so for us to have to flag the waiters down was kind of annoying. We had originally asked for cold water but then she had brought us hot water. Which would've been fine but the cup they gave us had no handle and it was super hot. There was no way to hold the cup and drink it! The food was just okay. It was nothing to write home about and not something I would come back for. Overall, it was a decent experience if you are someone who likes tempura.

My 2,000th Yelp review has finally arrived! It is now in the history books. Wuhoo! I am so excited to dedicate this review to my dear long-time friend and work colleague who loves tempura. You know who you are. This one is for you my friend! I was introduced to this place by another work colleague who was recently here for a farewell lunch in celebration of another work colleague who decided to move onwards to new adventures. Cool beans! Thanks for the introduce! It is located at Arcade Lane on Colorado Blvd in Pasadena. Free street parking is available for now, but paid parking stations are coming in 2026. Plaza parking is in the back located on Green St. I'm not sure if it's free or not. I came here about 30+ minutes before closing time on a Wednesday night. Funny, I walked right past it thinking they were somewhere inside the plaza and not right out front of the plaza. It turns out they took over the corner spot where Tayuka Japanese Restaurant used to be. Sad to see Tayuka have closed its doors. It was a full house, but no lines. Several tables inside and outside, but still limited due to the small space. They have a waitlist open until a certain time. Upon entry, I was greeted right away. I wanted my order to-go so the nice young lady handed me a to-go menu. It had limited items on the to-go menu compared to the full menu for dine-in. I wonder if I could have ordered from the full menu. Hmmm? I'll have to ask next time. I got the Mixed Sashimi Bowl with miso soup for my eldest daughter. I chose the Special Tempura Bowl with miso soup for me. Water while I was waiting. Wait time was short. Got my order in less than 15 minutes. As for both bowls, at first glance, I thought they were small especially for the price of over $20 per bowl. Now to the taste, both were amazingly delicious and tasty. My daughter and I goobled them up within 15 minutes LOL. Either we were super hungry or it was that good that we couldn't stop eating or perhaps both. Special Tempura Bowl had 1 white fish, 2 shrimp, pumpkin, kakiage (mixed seafood tempura), seaweed, shishito pepper, and half-boiled egg over white rice, and miso soup. Tempura were scrumptious and quite tasty. A couple more tempuras would have been better. Batter was amazing! Not too oily, just perfect! Unfortunately, due to the condensation within the to-go box, the tempura got whimpy. The batter was no longer crispy. Whatever sauce they placed on the rice, it was very good, too. I normally don't take down rice that fast, but I did that night LOL. Mixed Sashimi Bowl came with 6 slices of fishes over a bed of sushi rice... 2 salmon, 2 tuna, and maybe 2 yellowtail. Fishes were very fresh and tasted good. The cuts could be have a bit thicker or at least offer 3 more slices of fishes. Not a lot of sushi rice which was preferred. Overall, our meal was quick and delicious at almost $50 total. It is a bit pricey IMHO. Will I be back you wonder? Yes, of course I will. Gotta to eat the Special Tempura Bowl again, but next time in it's freshest form for dine-in. I'll be back to eat with my friend! Btw, there is a cool story behind Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior and its humble beginnings. Go read all about it! Oh, one more thing, they give steps on how to eat tempura and all deliciously. Very cute with nice visuals! Happy Reading!

One of the best tempura I've had in LA! Special tempura bowl - It came with these tempura: white fish, shrimp, pumpkin, seaweed, shishito pepper, and half boiled egg on top of a bed of rice. Also added ikura since I love it. And a side of miso soup. Really filling. The tempura was light and crispy. As close as I can get tempura like in Japan. Anago tempura cold soba - the soba here is delicious. I like dipping my soba into the broth and it's perfect summer dish as well. The eel was delicious and perfectly battered. It also came with a soft boiled egg on the side. Make sure you're within close vicinity as they quickly call out numbers. We wandered a bit far and almost did not get seated. The wait time was over 30mins so thought we had plenty time to come back. The waitress was kind enough and we got sat at the bar. The place is pretty small and there's parking at the back. Would definitely come back here again!

So glad Tendon Carlos is now in Pasadena, much closer than driving to Torrance! Recommend check Yelp booking before your go, the restaurant is very small and always a waiting line. We went on after a long day of work, and the crispy tempura just hit the spot! The running egg yolk mixed with rice and the house sauce was so delicious. The picked ginger and famous picked celery were refreshing as always. After a few tries, I still feel eel tasted better when its grilled, it is a bit wasteful to tempura fried the eel filet.. but its just me.

I've been wanting to try this spot for almost a year now but I didn't want to wait in long for hours so I'm glad I got to try on a quiet Wednesday evening. The store is tucked inside a small corner in Pasadena. It's a small shop so expect a wait during rush hour. Food was fabulous. My favorite was their cold soba. I also got their their tempura which is light and fluffy. Their portions are very large so I think I would just pick 1 entree in the future. Service was very good - the workers were kind and attentive. Nothing was too overly salty and the soba was light and refreshing. Check them out if you're in the area!

Carlos Jr really said, "Let me save you that drive to Torrance," and honestly? Thank you, king! We came on a Sunday before noon and barely waited. Indoor space is small, plus a handful of outdoor tables with heaters. Bonus: they have high chairs with working seatbelts!! Toddler-friendly without the chaos. We got the small tendon + udon and our little one devoured it. Husband's signature bowl? Delicious. Zero notes. Yes, it's a little pricey, but what isn't nowadays? For the quality and convenience, totally worth it. Parking is in the Arcade parking lot (and they validate). Already planning our next visit.

I would like to apologize to my friends and Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior for my initial hesitation to trying this place. I don't go out of my way to eat Japanese cuisine as it's not one of my favorite foods, so I had low expectations when my friends and I stopped by here for dinner. I ordered the hot Beef udon with pumpkin tempura on the side. And Oh. My. God. The udon was al dente, the soup was light yet so rich, and the beef was perfect. The tempura was perfectly fried and the dipping sauce was a perfect pair. I couldn't stop eating my dish. I've never had anything like it. It was a great experience and I enjoyed my dinner here!

This has to be the best Tempura in Los Angeles and one of the best outside of Japan. Staff is incredibly kind. I ordered the premium tempura bowl that came with unagi (eel). I thought the portion size was great, until the waitress came back to tell me that they served me a smaller eel filet and will bring me another. I thought they might bring me another small piece to "fulfill" the missing amount. Nope. They brought me a whole entire other piece!! Who does that!?? Each and every piece of tempura was so light and flaky and crispy. The "meat" for each was tasty, cooked well, and delicious. The eel was so soft and delicious. I also ordered a side of pumpkin tempura that was delicious. The spicy tuna handroll was simple, straightforward, and excellent

Pasadena, California. Which Latino from Peru can make very good dons with Soba/udon on the side? Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. Can. Love the story to his business. Chef Carlos Pinto trained in Japan. After settling in the States he opened his first location in Torrance. And he's been a success. He gets the art of making tempura and soba: the bonito broth is on point, the runny egg delicately coats the sushi rice, the tempura lighter and better than what you get in most restaurants. This is a brisk service with diners opting to grab any available seating inside or out This resto (a common business in Japan) serves a variety of tempura, dons, lots of soba and udon choices (cold and hot) something missing in many Japanese restos in the U.S. until now. There are simple sushi rolls and sashimi side dishes also. So you dont leave wanting. The Pasadena location is newer and hope the quality of the tempura gets better -- it's not as light and delicate as what you'd get at the Torrance location. The rice could also improve a bit by giving it a better washing. Service is friendly polite and responsive in the 5 times I've visited. I love coming here when it's 100 out and need a tempura/cold soba fix. The Colorado location is new and it's Packed ....but the genius thing is you can open your Yelp app and get on the wait list. No more Resy and OpenTable hard sells before you get todo your business with the resto. Thank you sooo much Yelp! This is an innovative service that helps diners. ..... ALOT! End of Yelp.

To start, we have dined here many times. But tonight's experience will be our last time. Horrible customer service. Lady working refused to seat our party of 5, 3 of them kids, at the table inside because of "safety" reason when we have sat at that exact table multiple times. She then proceeded to seat a party of 2 at the large table we wanted to sit at, which clearly seats more than 2.. when there was an empty table of 2 inside as well. I'm sure she did this intentionally. She handled the situation completely wrong and we will never be recommending this restaurant again or dining here.

Once you've visited Japan, you're always going to compare the food! That's me lol was in the mood for some Japanese food and heard about this tempura place in Pasadena. To be honest, at first I was skeptical but gave it a shot since it did review a lot of positive reviews. We tried the special and chicken tempura bowl. Both were delicious! Perfectly fried veggies/protein over a bed of rice. I love mixing in the raw egg into the rice- perfect lunch. Service was quick on a weekday and we didn't really have much of a wait even though it was busy. Pretty chill and good option for lunch though a little expensive. About $20/bowl.

There is street parking and a lot in the back. It's a fairly some restaurant but they have both indoor and outdoor seating. I tried a spicy tuna roll, udon and special tempura plate. I wasn't impressed with the spicy tuna roll, alot of rice and very little tuna. The udon was good but my favorite was the special tempura plate which I guess is what they are known for. The tempura is so crispy. Staff is nice. They do have a bathroom for their customers.

My first time going to a Tempura only spot and oh boy it was better than I expected! Lots of options to choose from, I went for the Special Tendon bowl and it was so yummy and so filling. The free side dishes were really good too and also something that you don't typically see at Japanese restaurants. I'm still thinking about how they made that egg tempura....so delicious! Would recommend having a reservation as it gets pretty packed and it's a small space!

Pleasantly surprised and had a very satisfying lunch. I went on a Monday, right around noon, and only waited about 15 mins for a table for 2. What I ate: - Small tempura bowl with Soba noodles: As it was stinkin hot outside, I opted for refreshing soba noodles. The noodles were cooked very nicely. Dipping sauce was nice and salty. It came with some green onions and wasabi. I was pretty blown away by the tempura bowl. It was small, but oh so satisfying. The tempura is not super crispy, as it was doused in the house shoyu, but it was still sooooo good. The best part was the tempura fried soft boiled egg. Cracking the egg open over the rice was perfect ending to the meal Pros: - The food was great! Super satisfying. I thought the combo set was a great meal. My friend and I finished out sets and were so full afterwards - The menu was a mix of sushi and rolls, and tempura with rice or soba/udon. - Pickled things on the table. There was pickled celery and ginger. Nice zingy refreshers - Seating inside and outside on the patio. The patio tables seemed smaller, mostly 2tops. Inside there was a mix of tables, with different parties sitting together at larger tables. There was also bar seating for solo diners - Cute little instruction guide on how to eat your tempura bowl/plate - Price was right - Bottled beer and sake - Staff was super friendly, and at a good pace. Nothing was rushed or too slow Cons: - I'm not sure if there's a parking lot/garage nearby. I lucked out getting street parking right in front - I can imagine there being a longer wait on the weekends or at peak dining times - This drove me crazy while eating, but there was something up with the music they were playing, it kept skipping and I felt like I was having a mini stroke. I was able to say something to the staff, but after a while they finally realized and changed the music - I can't really see this being great as a takeout meal unless you were just opting for sushi. I feel like the tempura would lose all crispy integrity on the drive home Would I come again? Yes

Park in the back and there's a QR code on the side for free parking. Don't go into the playhouse parking cause it charges per 15min and up to $15.99 per day (from what I remember). Week day there was no line and empty tables you still had to put your name down on the "line" and will not let you sit down until your whole party is there. That was the only annoying part. I get it if there's a ton of people but serious with empty tables to have me just stand until my party (1 person) arrives. That just gives off "elitist vibes". Other than that, the food is really good and the sets are tasty. I got the uni ikura set. It doesn't disappoint and the tempura is done with the perfect amount of crunch and batter.

I ordered a Yellowtail Roll, and a Premium Tempura Bowl The Yellowtail roll was really good, fresh tasting yellowtail and the roll was a nice size. They add tempura on top which gives it a nice crunch. I wish there was a bit less sauce on the roll but that's not a deal breaker for me. I'd still recommend to get this. The Premium Tempura Bowl was good overall, a very big size and the egg with rice was an amazing combination. The only thing I didn't enjoy was I felt the tempura itself was heavy/greasy. The breading didn't feel light but still tasted decent. I would probably skip on ordering this and stick to a roll. The ambiance is casual with friendly staff, my bill came out to $52 before tip which I feel is expensive for a I got.

A little gem of a chain to grace Colorado Blvd. If I were to think of a "treat yourself" meal, their Tempura Bowl (or plate) would be one of those meals. With additional ikura on the side. It's comforting, it's rich, and it has so many different flavored pieces that send my tastebuds through a spiral of deliciousness. I'm already known as a slow eater from those who know me best, so when it comes to this bowl, I savor each bite more than the previous bite I ate. When it comes to bowl vs. plate, I would say it's each customer's preference. I have friends who love seeing the different pieces apart from one another whereas I enjoy when everything gets mixed in all at once. Either way, the presentation is always good but the taste never fails. I always look forward to my spontaneous visits to Carlos Junior's. Seating gets a bit limited, so a good pro-tip to is to get there within opening or 30 min after. Weekends get packed but there's more forgiveness and availability over the weekdays. One little error that isn't fully their fault is just when bugs end up flying in from the door being left open and they kind of bother you with how pesky they are flying around. Other than that, I do appreciate that the wait times don't always feel too long and the staff is pretty upfront about the wait of food based on what you order. Hopefully the next visit, I try the soba noodles. Thanks for spreading out to Pasadena. It's a good spot to be.

Been here twice now and it hits every time! There's usually a short 15-20min wait but the food comes out pretty fast. Went with the tempura plate the first time and it was excellent. Every piece was light and crispy. Tried the tempura and soba combo the second time and dare I say it was even better. I love a cold light noodle dish especially when it's warm out. You can't wrong with either order.

This is a pretty small restaurant, but the wait goes by fast. I came Friday evening ~730pm and was still able get seated, eat, and leave before closing. There is indoor and outdoor seating. Premium tempura bowl - the tempura is perfectly fried. It was very crispy and came with miso soup. Tempura soba combo - I really enjoyed the soba and dipping noodles. It was refreshing and goes well with some fried tempura. I would like to try the sushi in the future. Definitely will return.

Came in early-ish on a weekday with no wait. Food was perfectly ok, to be completely honest, though I'm not totally sure what the hype was. The tempura was light and airy with no rancid aftertaste of bad oils but I kept feeling like there's something else that I want more from the tempura x noodles set that I didn't quite get. Service was friendly, everything was great. Parking is on the street. Just not like a wow-i-have-to-wait-20+-min kinda food!

Tasty tempura! They have validated parking available. There's also a Yelp waitlist if the place gets crowded. It is a smaller place with some outdoor seating as well. You get quite a bit of food with the tempura entrees. They're quite tasty and there are pickles tableside. There's a guide at each table at the suggested eating sequence if you're unfamiliar but we just went after it! The tempera batter is crispy but a bit different than what we saw from other Japanese places. Still flavorful and light, just less "bits"

As per my previous review, we usually like this place. I realize, they've gotten so busy and it looks like they've expanded their outdoor seating. While the food is still pretty good, I think the service is lacking. We were seated outside and after our food was delivered, not one person checked on us. We were going to ask for things but it was so hard to get someone's attention. Even asking for a check was such a mission. If you're going to expand seating, increase your staffing. It's not fair for those who are seated outside because we're getting neglected.

Lived up to the hype! Great food, friendly service, and comfortable atmosphere. The tempura was the star of the show, great flavor, sauce really compliments the shrimp and veggies. I didn't give it a 5 because the tempura was not super crispy and I prefer more batter. I enjoyed the soba with the dipping sauce.

tl;dr the tempura ranges from dull and overpriced to eyebrow-raisingly delicious; the wide selection and the crave-worthy radish dip help this tendon shop stand out from the crowd Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior is the unlikely brainchild of Peruvian Chef Carlos Pinto. On the front page of the laminated menus, Pinto recalls his childhood experiences in Japan, working at the iconic Hannouske tendon (tempura rice bowl) house in Tokyo, and opening his own tempura-centric shop in 2019 out of a former Hannouske location. Nowadays, Carlos Junior remains a popular, low-key tempura and noodle shop with locations in Torrance and Pasadena. The Pasadena outpost is located between ritzy Old Pasadena and the South Lake Avenue District. It shares the cozy Playhouse Plaza with boutique health shops and a lively cantina. Join the waitlist using the platformed tablet just outside the front door. Inside, the whitewashed walls are minimally decorated; only two mossy circular mirrors decorate the far wall. The concrete-tiled floors are dark and slightly grungy. A narrow, L-shaped bar is pressed into the far left corner, while two-seater wooden laminate tables line the walls and garage door-style windows to the right. Next to each seat is a laminated cartoon of Pinto demonstrating the correct tempura eating technique. Japanese pop plays unobtrusively in the background. My partner and I arrived at the start of the weekend dinner service, and a small crowd had started to congregate outside. We were seated immediately, and we opted for the Premium Tempura Plate (which included a rice bowl and a miso soup) and the Vegetable Tempura Udon. Broadly, I was impressed by the wide selection of tempura options. Some of our favorites were the meaty mushroom, the creamy avocado, the crispy seaweed, and the chewy kakiage. However, the fried batter texture was inconsistent: the eggplant was soggy, while the shrimp were limp. Across the sauces, I most enjoyed the grated radish dip (served with the tempura plate), followed closely by the tangy house tare sauce (available freely on the table); the salty-but-otherwise-bland dashi broth (served with the noodles) was a far third. The thick, slippery udon noodles were a surprisingly good conduit for the sauces, as I could only reasonably handle a single noodle at a time. Service was quick and efficient, and our meal was moderately filling. The total cost was a touch over $60 (after tax and tip), which felt a tad expensive for the portion and quality. Nonetheless, at its best, Carlos Junior is a unique and boutique option for relatively niche Japanese fare.

There's not that many places in the U.S that specializes in tempura Don and that needs to change. Luckily we do at least have one. I've been to the Torrance location, but this was my first time here. There was a wait, but there was plenty of things to do around as we waited. Premium Tempura bowl (5/5): This comes with eel, shrimp,egg, mixed seafood, and miso soup. I thought last time was okay, but this one just blew my mind. The tempura was fried to perfection and there was just so much flavor with everything. Overall I really enjoyed me experience here.

Super delicious food and excellent service! The tempura was perfectly crispy and light, and the flavors were well-balanced. The weekday lunchtime crowd was manageable, so we didn't have to wait long to be seated, which made for a relaxed experience. The restaurant has a comfortable, inviting atmosphere, making it a great spot for a casual lunch or a relaxed dinner. I also appreciated the attentive staff--they were friendly and efficient without being intrusive. Overall, a solid choice if you're craving high-quality tempura and a pleasant dining experience.

So so so happy that this Pasadena location opened!!! There is a parking lot in the back that is free with validation. I've came here twice! I order the combo to get noodles and tempura!! I ordered the warm udon one day and the cold soba, they were both delicious!! The tempura comes with rice and of course their tempura is the highlight! It's crispy, flavorful, and the perfect portion size. The inside is small with limited seating, I've had to join a waitlist the last two times I've come, but haven't had to wait very long.

I've tried tendon tempura carlos junior twice now and while I'm a big fan of tempura, I don't know if this is a spot that I would come back to unless someone else really wanted to. the food itself is okay - definitely gets the job done for tempura but not as crispy or fresh tasting as I would hope for a restaurant that has tempura in the name. however, I think the wait and table management is the biggest reason that I would not choose this place. despite having multiple tables empty, the staff consistently skips groups and keeps tables empty for long periods of time (the table that we were eventually sat at was empty for at least 20 minutes prior). this was an issue the first time I visited but I chalked that up to recent-opening hiccups, but it seems that even after implementing the Yelp waitlist, the issues remain. unfortunately in my opinion, the food is just okay and doesn't justify the long wait time - there are plenty of other Japanese restaurants nearby that do tempura better

What We've Tried - Special Tempura Plate - Premium Tempura Bowl and Plate I've had this restaurant on my radar when the Torrance location opened. Luckily, they opened one a lot closer so I don't need to make the trek! We made the mistake the first time we were here. We arrived a bit before they opened and thought that going to target before would be a good idea. When we got back (only 15 mins or less after 11AM) they were completely full! Even though we got a table outside, we still had to wait about an hour to get our food. Food was delicious my husband kept saying "it's so good" every few minutes. I prefer the premium over the special tempura because for a few bucks more, you get a big piece of eel from Japan! The bowl version is great for pictures but harder to eat. The plate version keeps the tempura fresh and you get to control how much sauce you want. We will come back! Tip: Flip over the plastic sign and put your name down on the iPad.

My friend and I were strolling Target and started getting really hungry. I had seen this tempura place on TikTok, so when we saw it was basically right across the street, we walked over. Just two of us, there was only a short 5 minute wait. The inside of the restaurant is quite small and there are some tables along the sidewalk. I ordered the tempura bowl, and my friend got some soba noodles with a side of tempura. The actual tempura was incredible - crunchy, fresh and light - just like tempura should be. The part I didn't love was that the bottom of the table was so sharp (and I was wearing sandals) - anyway I ended up resting my feet on the base of the table and my foot was cut on something! Not too bad of a cut, but a good amount of bleeding. They were quick to help and try to figure out what happened - totally a fluke - but tables shouldn't be cutting people up. I will still be back - the food was so good, I wont knock them for some table trouble. Parking is street parking which can be hard to come by, I'd assume they have a pretty long line on the weekends.

Was making a trip to Pasadena for the bookstore across the street and saw this place recommended an a number of the socials, so we decided to give it a try. It is quite small, so I imagine it would quickly get busy, however we did not mind sitting outside and so were seated immediately. We ordered a couple different things: a roll, two plates and saki, and it was all amazing. The tempura, the rice and egg, miso soup I highly recommend checking this place out if you're in town.

So excited to have a local Tendon tempura! I know there is parking in the back that can be validated by the restaurant, but I have yet to find it. So far I've parked on the street, which have had plenty of parking and plenty of time. The staff is always so kind and answer any questions I had. The food is so good! Crispy, flaky, and immersive tempura experience with all the dipping and slurping. Combo plates are my fav bc they're so big in portion and impressive to the eye. Inside is cozy and small, and can't wait to sit outside during better weather - that sounds so nice!

When it comes to Japanese food, tempura is not the first thing that comes to mind when I think of my favorites. However, with Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior, I'll make an exception. The space is small and intimate, with less than 30 seats in-house which can often lead to a wait during peak hours. However, judging from the willing parties who do wait, it's well worth it! I had the Tempura Udon Combo Set which came with 3 shrimp, pumpkin, shishito pepper, and seaweed. The tempura was fried to perfection in a way I've never experienced before; the batter was light, crispy and enhanced the ingredients nicely. I opted for the udon to be served cold, and was glad I did, because the noodles were so refreshing and paired fantastically with the dipping sauce. My husband had the special tempura bowl which came with mixed seafood tempura, and other fixings, which he enjoyed nicely as well. But the real cherry on top of this excellent dining experience? For music, they were blasting X-Japan in the restaurant. I may have been calmly eating tempura on the outside, but my inner Japanese-rock, visual kei fangirl was head banging the entire time.

I'm a HUGE fan of the original location and was ecstatic to hear that one has opened up closer to me in Pasadena. Only until recently have I had the chance to go, since I've heard horror stories about the wait. It's been about a year or so now and there's still a wait. For context, my friends and I dined here on a weekday and our group of 3 had around a 20 minute wait and we came shortly after they just opened. Also, FYI, the check in tablet is underneath their laminated info flyer on the podium stand. You have to flip it up. We were dummies and didn't read the entire thing... We did the patio dining since it was the quickest option for seating, but it can get crowded too. This location is quite small. We got the: 1) Carlos Tempura Roll with Ikura: -It's a California roll with lobster kakiage (mixed tempura) and fish roe on top. -Everyone loved this and it comes with extra tempura powder on the side. Goes great with the sweet teriyaki-like sauce that is drizzled on it, but can never go wrong with adding in soy sauce and wasabi (it's not the cheap tube wasabi, but it's not grated horse radish either). 2) Special Tempura Plate: -This comes with a side of rice, miso soup, and the grated radish tempura sauce. -The actual tempura includes: white fish, 2 shrimp, pumpkin, kakiage (mixed seafood tempura), seafood, shishito pepper, and half boiled egg. -Obviously not the easiest dish to share amongst 3 people, but we weren't super hungry and wanted to sample a little bit of everything. -Honestly, the bowl is definitely more eye catching and filling from what I remember. However, it's still nice to dip and enjoy the tempura with the sauce. -Everything is delicately crisp without being too oily and the tempura isn't super doughy or thick, accentuating the shrimp (though the tails were really sharp and not edible like other restaurants as what my friend stated). The quality and taste are there, but it just wasn't as much of WOW factor as my first visit to the original location. It took a bit longer for the rolls to come out in comparison to the plate and the dry was bit overcooked and mushy. I don't mind giving them another visit, but my default will always be the OG.

The tempura here is delicious, we got the premium tempura plate, and it was pretty big, great big piece of fish, great dipping sauce. Easily enough to share. We also got he fatty tuna sashimi bowl, which was delicious, tuna was perfect. We got the udon noodle bowl which was ok, noodles were great but i was not into the broth, it was too sweet for me, but that may be a preference thing. Place get crowded, we came on a Monday as soon as they opened, so it was fast, but by lunch it was busy. I would definitely come back, good for small goods. Dragon egg approved!

This place is small and parking is limited but the food and customer service definitely made up for it. I went in for a quick bite and was pleasantly surprised at how crispy the tempura was and how fresh it all tasted. Inside is the traditional Japanese decor and low light ambiance that makes a nice dinner for 1 so comfortable and easy. I definitely will be visiting this spot again to try out their other menu items. definitely recommend asking how their menu works, it's a little different than others.

The best tempura! Fresh and not greasy or heavy at all. Friendly and fast service. This is in the middle famous Pasadena city ... Colorado !

On a Saturday at 11am in September, my sister and I finally came here for lunch. We arrived 10 min in early to sign in. We were nicely greeted and sat near the door. Inside interior is small and it has 6 tables and bar area. We ordered California roll, chicken tempura plate w/rice, miso soup, and condiments on the table. The service is very good and they checked on us. The fried chicken piece and tempura was nicely fried. Overall it was a good lunch. The tables got filled by 11:10am. They validated parking in a private lot. Best to park on the street.

We live a few blocks away and it's the perfect place to go when you're craving Japanese food - specifically soba noodles and tempura. If you go during prime time dining (dinner and lunch), you'll need to wait at least 20-30 minutes so I'd highly recommend going during the off hours. It's a small restaurant. The tempura bowl is a must have. The sauce and the tempura are a delicious combo. The tempura plate reminds me a bit of Japan - everything executed so well and perfectly portioned. The service is great - they operate with a lean and mean team that is efficient. If you haven't been to this location or any Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior location you gotta give it a shot!

This is the best tempura spot I've ever had! Parking can be difficult since there are only a couple parking spaces in front and around the restaurant. However, there is street parking and a nearby parking structure too! This restaurant is extremely small so don't be surprised if there is a waitlist! I went on a Monday at 6:30pm so there were only 3 parties ahead of me. I only waited 15 minutes BUT I'm pretty sure it'll be an hour wait on the weekends. The menu had a nice variety of sushi and tempura options, ranging from $20+. Service was friendly but not too attentive (which is why i gave it 4 stars instead of 5!) It's hard to get the staff's attention for water refills or just paying the bill. Keep in mind that the Tempura Plate and Tempura Bowl are pretty the same BUT the tempura and rice are served separately on the plate whereas tempura and rice are combined in the bowl. Also, the Plate costs an extra $1 compared to the Bowl. The Special Tempura Plate ($21.99) consisted of White Fish, 2 Shrimp, Kakiage (Mixed Seafood Tempura), Pumpkin, Seaweed, Shishito Peppers, Half Boiled Egg, Rice, and Miso Soup. The Tempura was phenomenal! It was so lightly battered and super crispy without being too salty or greasy! My favorite was definitely the Kakiage (squid) and shrimp! The shrimp and squid were pretty fresh and flavorful! The egg combined into the rice made it so delicious! My least favorites were the peppers and pumpkin but that's only because I don't like peppers or pumpkin. This was definitely 9/10. The miso soup was quite nice and not too salty! This was 8/10 Would definitely recommend and return!

Pre Mother's Day Celebration. Ordered the following: Special Tempura x 3 Tempura and Udon The flavors are not bad and I enjoyed my dipping sauce with the tempura. They fry it light and the dish must be eaten onsite for peak freshness. This time I decided to go with the Tempura and Udon instead of the Special Tempura Bowl. The place is quaint and parking can be a fuss but there is a parking lot one block away that you can park for $1 an hour. Tendon Tempura is a solid restaurant.

Heard about this place for quite some time. The chef came from another restaurant that was very famous for its tempura and he didn't disappoint. The food was delicious but I wish the portions were bigger. The prices are slightly outrageous for the amount of food they give you but I guess they try to push quality over quantity is my assumption? Majority of the table ordered one of their combinations which comes with a few pieces of tempura and either a side of a rice bowl, sober bowl, or udon Bowl. The bowls are on the mini side. For the combination after tax and tip, each of us spent a ballpark of $45 without any drinks. Never thought I would spend that much on the quantity of food that came in for what it was but it was definitely good? Normally this would probably be a place I would frequent just based off of how good it was but I'm not sure I can justify the cost for what it is when anywhere you go for similar type of food would be closer to half the cost. Every single one of us left saying that we could have easily eaten more.

I. Love. TEMPURA!! This place had such amazing quality tempura that I'm dreaming of the next time we'll be visiting!! My partner and I walked in on a Monday afternoon and there was no wait, and were seated immediately by the most nicest waitress! It is a small, quiet establishment and felt very cozy! We also love the story of how the place was founded. Our food came out very fast and loved the presentation and the table complements (marinated veggie of some kind, ginger, soy sauce, and something else) FOOD: -Deluxe Tempura -Green Tea We are gonna visit as soon as we have another cheat day from our Keto diets!! Thank you!!

My husband and I really enjoyed a late dinner at this place, which Ive been wanting to try since they arrived in the sgv. Even though we got there close to closing and we were only two people, we did have to wait quite some time. It would be great if this place had a larger venue to accommodate more patrons at once... That said, all of the servers are hustling and working really hard and the food is truly delicious! Will definitely be back soon. Parking can be had on street :)

I would like to give this restaurant 2.5 to 3 stars. Everything about the restaurant is mediocre, except for the food which deserves 4 stars. My party of 4 waited about 25 minutes to be seated, which we found to be reasonable considering the size of the restaurant's interior and the timing (it was a weekend). I was not too impressed by the decor in the restaurant, which looked quite plain, nor was I impressed by the smell. The aroma of chemicals or "somewhat old bathroom" rather than "delicious tempura" permeating the air was a bit disappointing and contributed to the mildly dingy feeling of the restaurant. Service in both the front and back of the house are quite slow. In the front of the house, only 2 individuals were working on a Sunday afternoon. While safety is important in a slightly smaller establishment like this, I felt that their movements were leisurely rather than efficient, and this contributed to how quickly (or slowly) tables were available for waiting customers. The attitudes of the staff were generally friendly but perhaps a bit casual or nonchalant. At the end of the meal, I was asked to pay and the server walked away afterwards without any "thank you" or mention of a receipt. The rest of my party then asked why I had tipped so generously (more than 15%, but I wonder if it was appreciated). The food is authentic, and I have eaten tempura bowls with a very similar taste in Japan as well as Taiwan, where tendon restaurants are aplenty. All of the usual players are present in the Special Bowl (shrimp, scallop, pumpkin, nori, and my sadly not-soft-boiled egg) and taste as expected. The tare provides a delicately salty-sweet flavor for the rice and tempura. The portion size was a bit disappointing for the price but it was enough for my lunch appetite. I also wanted to note that it took approximately 30 minutes to receive my food...which is not ideal, but I will give the back of the house the benefit of the doubt and assume they are carefully preparing each dish to order. Glad to have tried this restaurant since I have been eyeing it since its opening, but disappointed with the results.

Super crispy, flaky, and fresh tempura! Came here during their soft opening last year and have been back multiple times since :) This place has a limited number of tables available compared to their Torrance location, so the wait time can vary depending on the day/time of when you go. Thankfully, the most I've had to wait was ~25 minutes. What I've ordered here so far: 1) Premium Tempura Bowl: Visually looks stunning! This bowl includes a variety of seafood tempura, half boiled egg and miso soup. However, since the tempura is covered in sauce and is placed on top of a bowl of warm rice, the tempura itself is not as crispy as I would have preferred. Would highly recommend ordering the Premium Tempura Plate instead if you want your tempura to be crispy! Has the same exact ingredients as the bowl, but the rice and sauce are provided on the side. My friend ordered the plate option and both of us agreed that it was the better option. 2) Tempura & Soba (Udon) Combo: A great option to consider as you get a small plate of crispy tempura AND your choice of either soba or udon.

One of my new favorite restaurants!!! The food was amazing, and the service was equally pleasant. The staff are extremely friendly--and all Japanese speakers as well. The only critique I can offer is that the wait time was inaccurate. It was listed as approximately 14-29 minutes, but we ended up waiting over 45 minutes. That said, I think people were just taking their time eating on this particular day, so I wouldn't fault the restaurant. The place itself feels homey and genuinely reminds me of a restaurant in Japan. Shrimp Tempura Bowl - $21.99 (5/5): The miso soup has a unique flavor that might not be for everyone--it includes mushrooms and cilantro. The tempura is crispy, and the shrimp tastes incredibly fresh with a perfect texture. The sauce comes with a ball of daikon, which pairs deliciously with the tempura. Tempura Plate - $21.99 (5/5): A generous portion, with plenty of rice and tempura. The person I went with ended up taking some of it to-go. Sashimi + Tempura Combo - $29.99 (5/5): The sashimi bowl was delicious! I chose salmon, which was soft, fresh, and not fishy at all. The portion was large--I managed to finish it, but it could definitely be shared between two people (assuming neither is too hungry, haha). Yellowtail Handroll - $14.99 for 2 during lunch special (4/5): It's delicious, but a tiny bit pricey for the portion size--especially if you're not getting it during the lunch special. It's on the sweeter side, which I love. Definitely worth a try.