Kaneko Hannosuke: Is Bangkok’s Tempura Living Up to Tokyo’s #1 Standard?
I clearly remember the long queues snaking outside Kaneko Hannosuke at One Bangkok. Seeing the crowds previously, I proudly introduced this restaurant to my husband and my niece on a recent queue-free weekend, assuring them we were trying a massively popular spot.
However, curiosity quickly turned to disappointment. Post-meal, I discovered Kaneko Hannosuke originated in Tokyo and is often hailed as the No. 1 tempura restaurant there. This left me wondering: why did our experience fall so short of that legendary status?
The Expectation vs. Reality Check
The restaurant has a minimum order requirement of one set per person, but since we each ordered one main meal, we were good to go.
The first sign of trouble was the wait: our food took a full 20 minutes to be served. Given that tempura is typically a fast-fry dish, this was already puzzling.
The Problem: Pale Batter and Mediocre Quality
The core of the issue lay with the tempura itself. Kaneko Hannosuke’s famous tendon (tempura rice bowl) in Japan often features a signature darker, richer-colored batter. In stark contrast, the tempura we received was pale in color and honestly tasted mediocre. My husband immediately commented that better tempura options exist in Bangkok, even without the queue.
For a brand imported from Japan claiming such a high pedigree, the quality simply didn’t match the expectation or the price. We were glad we opted for small servings.
Our Order and The Cost
We found the servings to be meager for the price, especially given the quality delivered.
Here is a breakdown of our order, resulting in a total bill of 1,318.24 baht (including 10% Service Charge and 7% VAT):
- Vegetable Tempura: (180 baht) — A very pitiful serving size for the price.
- Tempura Platter: (460 baht) — This plate included an assortment of Anago (sea eel), two shrimps, eggplant, squid, greens, and mushroom.
- Tempura Bowl with Hot Soba: (330 baht) — Featured shrimp, seafood kakiage (fritter), greens, soft coiled egg, and seaweed.
- Cold Soba: (150 baht)
The Verdict: Not Worth the Premium
Need I say more? We definitely won’t be returning.
For the price point and the high level of competition from other successful Japanese imports in Thailand these days, Kaneko Hannosuke fails to deliver on its reputation. The food was simply too expensive for the quality we received, and there are countless better options available in the city.
The mystery remains: is the Bangkok branch simply unable to replicate the original Tokyo magic, or have Thai diners simply not caught on to the quality discrepancy yet?
Location Details
Kaneko Hannosuke One Bangkok
- Address: 1st floor, The Storeys One Bangkok, 41 Wireless Rd, Lumphini, Pathum Wan, Bangkok 10330
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaneko.hannosuke.th/
