JPN: Toyotsune (とよ常)
Lovely 'anago tempura' drizzled with sweet sauce!
Born and bred in Beppu, Japan, Toyotsune is a popular restaurant offering regional cuisine and tempura (Japanese battered and deep-fried assortments) dishes. When my BFFs and I visited the main branch in the evening, there were more foreigners than locals having dinner there.
We didn't ask, but given the large number of foreigners patronising the restaurant, I'm pretty sure they've got English menu.
The Japanese writing on the menu for this dish is 穴子丼. For those who love anago (lit. conger eel), this is a dish that shouldn't be missed. Just like the other tempura dishes, it came with miso (Japanese fermented rice, barley and/or soybean) soup and pickles.
Born and bred in Beppu, Japan, Toyotsune is a popular restaurant offering regional cuisine and tempura (Japanese battered and deep-fried assortments) dishes. When my BFFs and I visited the main branch in the evening, there were more foreigners than locals having dinner there.
We didn't ask, but given the large number of foreigners patronising the restaurant, I'm pretty sure they've got English menu.
Sashimi Set Meal ¥1,220 (~S$15.05)
Taste: 8/10
The actual name of the dish is 刺身定食. For the raw seafood, I especially enjoyed the squid that was bursting with natural sweetness and not rubbery. The deep-fried fish was delectably crispy, although it was a tad oily. There was also a piece of grilled mackerel seasoned with a bit of salt. The chilled seaweed with ginger strips served in a cup was also appetising.
Special Tendon (3 Prawns) ¥1,240 (~S$15.30)
Taste: 8/10
The actual name of the dish is 特上天丼 (特盛). The normal size includes two prawns and the biggest one includes four prawns on top of vegetable tempura, such as green pepper, eggplant, pumpkin and carrot. The prawns were sweet and tender, but not as juicy as expected. The batter was light and airy, though a slightly thinner version would be even better.
Anago Don ¥1,430 (~S$17.60)
Taste: 8.5/10
The Japanese writing on the menu for this dish is 穴子丼. For those who love anago (lit. conger eel), this is a dish that shouldn't be missed. Just like the other tempura dishes, it came with miso (Japanese fermented rice, barley and/or soybean) soup and pickles.
The interplay between the crunchy batter and the fresh, melt-in-the-mouth eels was truly a delight. On top of that, the sweet sauce drizzled over the tempura and the rice was addictive.
Zenzai ¥550 (~S$6.80)
Taste: 3.5/10
The Japanese writing on the menu for this dessert is ぜんざい. Alas, the dessert of red bean soup with toasted mochi (Japanese rice cake) was a letdown as its sugar content was way too high. To be fair, the mochi was enjoyably chewy. Thankfully, we ordered only one bowl to be shared among the three of us. Even so, we couldn't bring ourselves to finish the soup, thus the rating below 4/10.
Melon's Rating
Taste: 7/10
Ambience: 7.5/10
Service: 7/10
Overall: 7/10
There's another branch closer to Beppu train station. Pika's advice: If you happen to be around on a weekday afternoon, you may want to go for the value-for-money Toyotsune Set Meal (とよ常定食). Priced at ¥880 (~S$10.85), it's available from 11.00am to 2.00pm.
Toyotsune
(とよ常)
*Prices quoted are nett prices.
Have a nice meal,
Cliff(y)
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