A must-try century-old Tokyo eatery “Daikokuya” — Super generous shrimp tempura N
Last updated 2026-11-15 — Visiting Asakusa in Tokyo, after strolling through Kaminarimon and Nakamise-dori, I was starving. Pingzi recommended that I absolutely had to try the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura. Established in Showa 20 (1952), their signature dishes are the tempura donburi and shrimp tempura donburi (ebi ten don). They generously serve four large fried shrimp, which are huge and completely cover the rice. Just looking at it feels luxurious. Both the shrimp and rice are infused with a rich, unique sauce — incredibly comforting.
Text & Photos /Pingzi
Visiting Asakusa in Tokyo, after strolling through Kaminarimon and Nakamise-dori, I was starving. Pingzi recommended that I absolutely had to try the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura. Established in Showa 20 (1945, or 1887 if referring to pre-war dating),... [Image: luxury presentation of four large prawns, very generous portion, covering the rice, looks very upscale; the prawns and rice are soaked in a rich, unique sauce, very comforting.]
This century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura, established in Showa 20 (1887), may not be one of the three must-try spots in Asakusa, but it’s extremely popular. Even visiting at noon means it’s packed, so it’s best to come early.
Wondering how to get to the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura? As you walk from Kaminarimon through Nakamise Shopping Street (as shown above), when you see the Nakamise sign, immediately turn left. Once you enter the alley, on your left you’ll see the famous Daikokuya Tempura main store.
Turn left at the Nakamise sign, enter the alley, and the Daikokuya Tempura main store is located on the upper left (as shown above).
The century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura main store (as shown above). There are two branches of Daikokuya Tempura in Asakusa: the main store (as shown above) and a branch. Both are open year-round, but if the main store is closed, the branch is usually open. On the day Pingzi visited, the main store wasn’t open. The staff at the door kindly recommended going to the nearby branch in the alleyway — the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura Branch. It’s very close and easy to find with the provided map.
At the entrance of the Daikokuya Tempura main store, there’s a map. Enter the alley to the left of the main store, and before long you’ll see the Daikokuya Tempura branch (as shown above) on your right, with the Skytree in the distance — isn’t it beautiful?
The Daikokuya Tempura branch (as shown above) also looks quite upscale. It’s an old Japanese-style building with two floors. Upon entering, there’s a waiting area for dine-in guests. Ha ha — no one there, which made me happy.
There’s seating outside the entrance for people waiting in line — how considerate!
The cloth hanging on the door symbolizes the store’s legacy.
Pingzi arrived at the Asakusa century-old eatery — Daikokuya Tempura branch at 11 a.m. Haha — there wasn’t a long line at all, no need to queue, and no one was at the door. How could that be? I thought maybe no one was eating and business was bad. This branch also offers bento boxes for takeout.
By the time we finished eating at 12 p.m., the entrance of the Asakusa century-old eatery — Daikokuya Tempura branch was packed with a crowd. When we came out at 12, seeing the crowd at the door, we realized we’d come early — great, at least we didn’t have to wait in line to eat. So joyful.
The counter staff will guide you to either the first or second floor for dining. That day we went to the private tatami room seating area on the second floor. In addition to regular table seating, there’s also a tatami room space where you need to remove your shoes. There are quite a few seats.
Dining on the second floor tatami room felt great.
Our private dining area that day had a strong Japanese vibe — I love that kind of atmosphere. Plus, we were in a separate booth, with only one other table nearby, so it was very quiet.
The staff will give you both a Japanese and English menu to choose from. The menu has a traditional Japanese design, with just a few words describing the dishes, neatly arranged, making prices and food items very clear.
Then they served us a hot Japanese tea — fragrant and delicious.
The English menu is perfect for foreigners. Thankfully, as a proud Taiwanese, I could understand most of the kanji.
Table setting. The shop’s signature dish is the tempura set meal. That day we ordered the shrimp tempura donburi (shrimp tempura rice bowl), a must-try for first-timers. As soon as the staff serve it to your table, you’ll be immediately drawn to the large bowl of tempura in front of you. The price is quite high, but the portion is very generous and filling.
When it first arrives, a large bowl covers the top, giving off a very classic and traditional visual.
Ding ding ding — lift the bowl lid... Just looking at this, doesn’t it feel super comforting?
The tempura donburi is a classic Japanese dish featuring a generous portion of seafood and vegetables, along with a savory egg custard, all served atop a bowl of fluffy rice, creating a satisfying and rich flavor experience. It looks especially appealing when served.
The shrimp tempura donburi (shrimp tempura rice bowl), a 1950Q??... (text corrupted here)... is quite large, and the portion is generous. It comes with a unique sweet and savory sauce that enhances the flavor of the shrimp and rice. This dish highlights the key characteristics of the style.
At the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura, their tempura is fried, then soaked in dark soy sauce that’s infused with unique seasonings. It’s then plated with the whole shrimp, served very generously.
Just looking at the shrimp shows you how big they are. Most tempura have coating that falls off easily, but here, the shrimp and batter have softened from the sauce yet the coating stays perfectly intact — pretty impressive.
The Japanese rice is coated in the sauce, giving off an incredible aroma that makes you want to finish every grain. The sauce isn’t overly salty, with a rich sesame oil fragrance. It soaks into the entire bowl of rice, making it super appetizing. The rice grains are firm, not mushy, and the portion is very generous — you’ll definitely feel full afterward.
The tempura at the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura is different from what you get in Taiwan. Here, the tempura has a softer texture, not crispy. People who prefer a crunchier texture might not enjoy it as much. But Pingzi thinks this is the authentic local texture of Asakusa. This softer-style tempura, combined with the sauce, has a seamless, unique flavor and aroma. Pingzi actually found it quite delicious.
What's the location of % Ji'chao Lijing Yanzhen Daxianjiaten Tianfupian?
Asakusa Century-old Shop – Daxianjiaten Tempura Branch
Address: 1-38-10 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Main Shop) (5-min walk from Asakusa Subway Station)
Phone: 03-3844-2222 (Main Shop), 03-3844-1212 (Branch)
Business Hours: 11:00–20:30 (Weekdays) / 11:00–21:00 (Saturdays & Holidays)
Official Website: http://www.tempura.co.jp/.
Share
Text & Photos /Pingzi
Visiting Asakusa in Tokyo, after strolling through Kaminarimon and Nakamise-dori, I was starving. Pingzi recommended that I absolutely had to try the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura. Established in Showa 20 (1945, or 1887 if referring to pre-war dating),... [Image: luxury presentation of four large prawns, very generous portion, covering the rice, looks very upscale; the prawns and rice are soaked in a rich, unique sauce, very comforting.]
This century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura, established in Showa 20 (1887), may not be one of the three must-try spots in Asakusa, but it’s extremely popular. Even visiting at noon means it’s packed, so it’s best to come early.
Wondering how to get to the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura? As you walk from Kaminarimon through Nakamise Shopping Street (as shown above), when you see the Nakamise sign, immediately turn left. Once you enter the alley, on your left you’ll see the famous Daikokuya Tempura main store.
Turn left at the Nakamise sign, enter the alley, and the Daikokuya Tempura main store is located on the upper left (as shown above).
The century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura main store (as shown above). There are two branches of Daikokuya Tempura in Asakusa: the main store (as shown above) and a branch. Both are open year-round, but if the main store is closed, the branch is usually open. On the day Pingzi visited, the main store wasn’t open. The staff at the door kindly recommended going to the nearby branch in the alleyway — the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura Branch. It’s very close and easy to find with the provided map.
At the entrance of the Daikokuya Tempura main store, there’s a map. Enter the alley to the left of the main store, and before long you’ll see the Daikokuya Tempura branch (as shown above) on your right, with the Skytree in the distance — isn’t it beautiful?
The Daikokuya Tempura branch (as shown above) also looks quite upscale. It’s an old Japanese-style building with two floors. Upon entering, there’s a waiting area for dine-in guests. Ha ha — no one there, which made me happy.
There’s seating outside the entrance for people waiting in line — how considerate!
The cloth hanging on the door symbolizes the store’s legacy.
Pingzi arrived at the Asakusa century-old eatery — Daikokuya Tempura branch at 11 a.m. Haha — there wasn’t a long line at all, no need to queue, and no one was at the door. How could that be? I thought maybe no one was eating and business was bad. This branch also offers bento boxes for takeout.
By the time we finished eating at 12 p.m., the entrance of the Asakusa century-old eatery — Daikokuya Tempura branch was packed with a crowd. When we came out at 12, seeing the crowd at the door, we realized we’d come early — great, at least we didn’t have to wait in line to eat. So joyful.
The counter staff will guide you to either the first or second floor for dining. That day we went to the private tatami room seating area on the second floor. In addition to regular table seating, there’s also a tatami room space where you need to remove your shoes. There are quite a few seats.
Dining on the second floor tatami room felt great.
Our private dining area that day had a strong Japanese vibe — I love that kind of atmosphere. Plus, we were in a separate booth, with only one other table nearby, so it was very quiet.
The staff will give you both a Japanese and English menu to choose from. The menu has a traditional Japanese design, with just a few words describing the dishes, neatly arranged, making prices and food items very clear.
Then they served us a hot Japanese tea — fragrant and delicious.
The English menu is perfect for foreigners. Thankfully, as a proud Taiwanese, I could understand most of the kanji.
Table setting. The shop’s signature dish is the tempura set meal. That day we ordered the shrimp tempura donburi (shrimp tempura rice bowl), a must-try for first-timers. As soon as the staff serve it to your table, you’ll be immediately drawn to the large bowl of tempura in front of you. The price is quite high, but the portion is very generous and filling.
When it first arrives, a large bowl covers the top, giving off a very classic and traditional visual.
Ding ding ding — lift the bowl lid... Just looking at this, doesn’t it feel super comforting?
The tempura donburi is a classic Japanese dish featuring a generous portion of seafood and vegetables, along with a savory egg custard, all served atop a bowl of fluffy rice, creating a satisfying and rich flavor experience. It looks especially appealing when served.
The shrimp tempura donburi (shrimp tempura rice bowl), a 1950Q??... (text corrupted here)... is quite large, and the portion is generous. It comes with a unique sweet and savory sauce that enhances the flavor of the shrimp and rice. This dish highlights the key characteristics of the style.
At the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura, their tempura is fried, then soaked in dark soy sauce that’s infused with unique seasonings. It’s then plated with the whole shrimp, served very generously.
Just looking at the shrimp shows you how big they are. Most tempura have coating that falls off easily, but here, the shrimp and batter have softened from the sauce yet the coating stays perfectly intact — pretty impressive.
The Japanese rice is coated in the sauce, giving off an incredible aroma that makes you want to finish every grain. The sauce isn’t overly salty, with a rich sesame oil fragrance. It soaks into the entire bowl of rice, making it super appetizing. The rice grains are firm, not mushy, and the portion is very generous — you’ll definitely feel full afterward.
The tempura at the century-old Asakusa eatery — Daikokuya Tempura is different from what you get in Taiwan. Here, the tempura has a softer texture, not crispy. People who prefer a crunchier texture might not enjoy it as much. But Pingzi thinks this is the authentic local texture of Asakusa. This softer-style tempura, combined with the sauce, has a seamless, unique flavor and aroma. Pingzi actually found it quite delicious.
What's the location of % Ji'chao Lijing Yanzhen Daxianjiaten Tianfupian?
Asakusa Century-old Shop – Daxianjiaten Tempura Branch
Address: 1-38-10 Asakusa, Taito-ku, Tokyo (Main Shop) (5-min walk from Asakusa Subway Station)
Phone: 03-3844-2222 (Main Shop), 03-3844-1212 (Branch)
Business Hours: 11:00–20:30 (Weekdays) / 11:00–21:00 (Saturdays & Holidays)
Official Website: http://www.tempura.co.jp/.
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