Ippoh Tempura Bar
What Makes Ippoh Special
About Ippoh Tempura Bar
In a city where tempura is often a side dish, Ippoh exists to remind you it is an art form. Founded in 1850, Ippoh is Osaka's oldest premium tempura restaurant — over 170 years across five generations. COMO Dempsey is their first venture outside Japan.
The difference is immediately apparent. Osaka-style uses gossamer-thin batter fried in safflower oil — impossibly light and crisp, without greasiness. The batter enhances each ingredient's natural flavour, never masks it.
The 12-seat counter is the heart. You sit directly in front of the chef as he fries each piece individually and places them before you one at a time. A full omakase takes 60–90 minutes. A small table for 4–6 is also available.
Lunch offers three sets from S$60–100. Dinner omakase: Sora (S$100), Tsuki (S$140), Yuki (S$200). Each progresses through appetisers, sashimi, individually fried tempura, and kakiage rice, with seasonal ingredients.
Recommended For
Omakase Menu & Pricing
Prices subject to 10% service charge and GST. Menu varies seasonally.
☀️ Lunch Omakase (Tue–Sun)
| Lunch Set (8 pcs tempura, kakiage rice, dessert) | S$60++ |
| Premium Lunch Set | S$80++ |
| Deluxe Lunch Set | S$100++ |
🌙 Dinner Omakase (Tue–Sun)
| Sora (appetisers, sashimi, tempura, kakiage, dessert) | S$100++ |
| Tsuki (expanded premium selection) | S$140++ |
| Yuki (flagship dinner — full seasonal experience) | S$200++ |
📝 À La Carte (Dinner)
| Individual tempura pieces | from S$8–18 |
| Signature Tempura Shrimp Toast | ~S$12 |
| ⚠️ Minimum spend: S$100/person |
Photos
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Practical Information
Dietary Information
Location
Block 17B Dempsey Road, COMO Dempsey, Singapore 249676
Within COMO Dempsey — shares Block 17 with Candlenut and The Dempsey Cookhouse by Jean-Georges. Small and easy to miss — look for blue accents and Japanese signage.
📍 Open in Google MapsYour Dining Journey
What to expect — from seating to the final kakiage rice.
Take Your Seat at the Counter
The counter is the definitive experience. You sit across from the chef, who introduces the menu. The fryer — a single pot of safflower oil — is right there. The space is intimate, quiet, and well-ventilated.
Appetisers & Sashimi
Before the tempura, appetisers arrive — notably sesame tofu with Hokkaido uni. Sashimi follows: thick hon maguro and delicate hirame, both impeccably fresh. Pair with Sapporo draft.
The Tempura Procession
This is what you came for. The first piece — typically Okinawan prawn — arrives with barely visible batter that shatters at a bite. The chef suggests pairings: salt and lime, tentsuyu, or sea salt. Pieces arrive minutes apart in a meditative rhythm.
The Signature Shrimp Toast
Near the end comes a piece unique to Ippoh: the signature tempura shrimp toast — a deep-fried mini sandwich, ultra-crisp outside, soft inside. The texture contrast is extraordinary and showcases Osaka frying precision.
Kakiage Rice — The Grand Finale
The meal concludes with kakiage served three ways: separate with rice, as tendon with sweet sauce, or as tencha in green tea. The tendon is most popular. Miso soup, pickles, and dessert close the meal. 60–90 minutes, satisfying yet never heavy.
Editor's Note
Ippoh will redefine tempura for you. Lunch from S$60 is excellent value. For dinner, Tsuki (S$140) is the sweet spot. Always sit at the counter. Reserve in advance — only 18 seats. Closed Mondays. Inside COMO Dempsey, behind retail shops in Block 17.