Tempura @ Tenmasa Altira Macau 天政澳門新濠鋒

Image · Posted by Sam Han on January 28, 2014 · 4 Comments 

Tenmasa has its fascinating origin as a tiny restaurant in the Kanda Sarugakucho district of Tokyo in 1937. It is synonymous with working off recipes engaging only the finest and freshest ingredients available. Having served many celebrities including Mahatma Gandhi, General MacArthur and Charlie Chaplin during its 77-year history, it is at present, Tokyo’s most exclusive tempura restaurant with a culinary tradition handed down through three generations of tempura masters. Tenmasa Tokyo recently gained one star in Tokyo Michelin Guide 2014.

With ingredients flown in from Japan at least 5 times a week, Tenmasa Altira Macau serves exquisite tempura under the helm of Chef de Cuisine Takenori Noguchi, a 10-year veteran of Tenmasa. He only became a tempura chef after his 7th year. Chef Noguchi’s team of proficient chefs ensure every piece of tempura is cooked to perfection, served crisp and piping hot, right in front of you. The creation of their scrumptious masterpieces is made possible following founder, Masaji Hashii’s notebook, which contains the recipes and frying instructions. Today, Masaji’s granson and current owner, Yoshiaki Hashii, upholds the responsibility of preserving his grandfather’s legacy and the authenticity of this exceptional comestible which demands discipline and precision. The art of tempura cooking is intuitive; it is a testament to the chef’s dedication. Tempura is a very simple dish but the frying technique employed by the chef is what makes the difference. A zero point one second disparity in timing can make a huge digression in taste.

Tenmasa @ Altira Macau features tatami seating, private dining rooms as well as an elegant sushi and sake bar. We were separated into two private dining rooms as there were 19 of us when we dined there in late 2013. Our bill totaled about MOP60,000 (both rooms). I did not run to the other room to take photos of their food which had some a la carte items different from our orders, so what you see here would be what my co-diners and I ate. Because side orders are seasonal and according to what’s fresh, it was hard to name them.

Enjoy!

Click on photos in galleries (below) for some commentary.

Tenmasa situated on the 11th floor of Altira Macau 天政澳門新濠鋒

Tenmasa situated on the 11th floor of Altira Macau 天政澳門新濠鋒

Tenmasa situated on the 11th floor of Altira Macau 天政澳門新濠鋒

We had Set Menu and some extra dishes with Sake.

Waitress at Tenmasa giving us visuals of our order.

This would be served later on.

Appetisers.

Japanese starters.

Sashimi.

Prawn and Scallop Sashimi.

Prawn and Scallop Sashimi.

Chilled Sake – Japanese Rice Wine.

Beef Carpaccio.

Uni rolled with Seaweed.

Roasted Japanese Gingko Nuts.
The bottom was a bed of salt.

Our tempura chef for the night.

He spoke little English and I spoke zero Japanese.

It’s a shame on my part but I’d forgotten his name.

Ebi (prawn) Tempura.

The head of Ebi Tempura cooked separately.

Crisp and non greasy.

Our Tempura items.

Ebi (prawns).

Asparagus.

Japanese Sweet Potato.

Shitake Mushroom.

Japanese Teapot Soup.

Japanese Teapot Soup.

Japanese Teapot Soup.

Japanese Teapot Soup with Seafood.
Served with a wedge of lime which we squeezed into the soup before pouring out for consumption.

With their cargo flown in 5 times a week, the sashimi is as fresh as one could get!

You already know I don’t like to use flash in my photography. Thanks to good friends who chipped in to “flash me”, lol…

A good dose of wasabi in my soy and matcha to go with my meal.

Wagyu Beef.

Wagyu Beef. For the price we paid, these had to be tender, juicy and melt in the mouth, right?

More fish (top), daikon (Japanese radish – bottom) and asparagus.

Grilled to perfection.
A squeeze of lemon over the fish and I got tender, succulent and juicy smooth flesh.

Japanese Honey Dew.

Japanese Ice cream, Sorbet and Japanese Honey Dew.

Japanese Yuzu Sorbet.

Japanese Black Sesame Ice Cream.

An assortment of Japanese Mochi.

An assortment of Japanese Mochi.

An assortment of Japanese Mochi.

Tenmasa situated on the 11th floor of Altira Macau 天政澳門新濠鋒.
Ying is a Chinese cuisine restaurant on the same floor.

Tenmasa Altira Macau 天政澳門新濠鋒
Altira Macau (Hotel)
Avenida de Kwong Tung, Taipa,
Macau.
Located on Level 11.

Tel: (+853) 2886 8868 (Reservations)

Operating hours: Closed on Mondays
Lunch: 12noon – 2.30pm
Dinner: 6pm – 10.30pm

Happy eating 🙂

You may click here to view their menu.

Enjoy the video below by Chef Takenori Noguchi.

Filed under Macau, Michelin-Starred Restaurant, Restaurants & Food Reviews, Travels, Uncategorized · Tagged with 1-Michelin-Starred Restaurant, Altira Macau, China, Food and Restaurant Reviews, Japanese Cuisine, Macau, Tempura, Tenmasa, Tenpura, travels, 天政, 澳門新濠鋒