Tenkadori

What to eat on a Friday night? Somewhere where the after work crowd isn't there, that doesn't need booking, is tasty and something that would satisfy your Japanese food craving? The only thing that pops into my mind was Tenkadori, a new Japanese restaurant addition to Subiaco. A Japanese restaurant that specialises in the popular gourmet dish, yakitori. Tasty and healthy yakitori.

The restaurant is located in the newly built buidings at the end of Hay st, near the IGA. It's a tiny little restaurant that sits only 20 people. There were a few empty tables when we arrived, and we quickly took them. Inside, the beer fridge holds a permanent place next to the front counter and kitchen, holding varieties such as the Kirin Ichiban Shibori, Yebisu, Asahi Super Dry, as well as sake, shōchū, and plum wine.

I must say I felt like I was transported back to Japan, although its been a few years since I was there. The menu was written in Japanese, the staff, the owners, the patrons were Japanese so we knew we were in for real authentic Japanese treat. What was more was that looking at the menu it was hard to pick what we wanted, everything just sounded devine.

We decided that we would have two entrees/sides, a main each and a yakitori tasting plate ending with delicious homemade ice-creams, I was particularly craving Black Seasame. I haven't had black seasame icecream since Osaka days.

The first to arrive was our sides, our squid salad, which unfortunately, I only got to take the end product of it, which was nothing left, shows how tasty it was.

And the Renkon chips - which particularly reminded me of my trip to Japan. Crispy lotus root slices at its best.

 
The yakitori plate then arrived. There was chicken thighs, minced chicken skewers, which were marvellous. Grilled over coals in the kitchen, browned caramelised, with sweet, tender juicy meat. There was the field mushrooms which were juicy and sweet and grilled zucchini covered in Tenkadori special sauce. 

  

Yakitori (chicken thigh) and Tsukune (minced chicken balls) skewers, with field mushrooms and zucchini

Then our delicious mains came out, all of us opting for katsu chicken, which was a bit of a pity in a way, should have tried something different. But never the less, the katsu chicken was delicious. It came in a perfectly portioned sized rice to chicken ratio, so you didn't over eat your carbs, nor your food.

Chicken Katsu

Then the best part of the evening, icecream! 

green tea ice-cream, where you can taste the matcha powder

The Black seasame ice-cream - fantastic, but still not as authentic as the one I had in Osaka but brilliant stuff for Perth, definately rivalling Matsuri Black Seasame icecream.

 

And the Red Bean Ice-cream - this was delicious. Next time I'm having a whole bowl to myself

Overall, Tenkadori is a lovely, cosy establishment that does fantastic specialised Japanese food in a city that lacks authenticity, in its Japanese establishments. I be back for more.