OpenTube

Behind the Counter at a Local Japanese Tempura Restaurant

Paolo fromTOKYO

3,846,099 views

Get 10% off with my link on Squarespace - https://squarespace.com/paolofromtokyo

This Tokyo hidden gem is a Japanese family owned Edo style Tempura restaurant, named Tempura Mikaku, located in the backstreets of Roppongi, one of Tokyo’s busiest night spots. This Japanese food restaurant has been in business since 1931. Originally opened in Nihonbashi, it later relocated to Roppongi which is only a 3 minutes walk from exit 3 of Roppongi station. This hidden gem tempura restaurant also has a unique way of firing their tempura, with drumsticks. The owner and head chef, a former jazz drummer, is the one who started this. Apparently, regular chopsticks are much thinner and eventually break after so many washings, while drumsticks are made out of a hickory which is very strong and hard so it lasts much longer over time. This is a behind the counter view of what really happens at a Japanese cuisine tempura restaurant as they setup and prepare the meals.

Tempura Mikaku
https://tempura-mikaku.gorp.jp/
Map - https://g.page/tempuramikaku?share

Get my Tokyo & Japan Merch and show your support!
https://www.tokyozebra.com/mrch

__ Tokyo Zebra: My 2nd YouTube Channel __
See My Life in Japan behind the scenes
tokyozebra

Questions about Japan or Japan Travel? Get answers and chat with my Discord Community
https://paolofrom.tokyo/discord

__ Channel Support __
Want to help SUPPORT my channel, buy me a BEER or Maiko and I DINNER? Thank you in advance!

PayPal: https://www.paypal.me/paolofromtokyo

Venmo: PaolofromTokyo (venmo.com/paolofromtokyo)

Patreon: Patreon: paolofromtokyo

Join YouTube Channel Memberships
https://www.youtube.com/paolofromtoky...

Merch Store: https://tokyozebra.com/mrch

__ Help with Subtitles / Closed Captioning __
https://paolofrom.tokyo/cc

__ Business __

Want me to feature your business in my video?
business@tokyozebra.com

Want to send me stuff?
For ADDRESS
https://www.tokyozebra.com/address

__ For more info about me __

I'm from TOKYO JAPAN, I've been living here for a long time. I'll be your Tokyo Travel Guide, taking you to the spots I love as well as showing you what to do all around Japan and maybe sometimes overseas. I'm also into Tech so you'll see a few videos about my drone and other cool toys I discover. In short, the channel is all about what I Love, Japan, Food, Travel, Tech and most likely coming FROM-TOKYO, my home.

Website
https://www.tokyozebra.com/about
Instagram:
‪@PaolofromTOKYO‬Instagram: paolofromtokyo
@tokyo.zebra - Instagram: tokyo.zebra
Facebook:
Facebook: paolofromtokyoofficial
TikTok
TikTok: paolo.fromtokyo

__ My Film Gear __
(Affiliate Links Used - I may receive commission from products purchased)

Main Camera
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/4qWF3Ho
(International) https://geni.us/sK7At1U

Main Wide Lens
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/2o5B00B
(International) https://geni.us/monD

Camera Mic
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/2B7HnUM
(International) http://geni.us/ZaFl4a

Wireless Mic
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/4iRmtOG
(International) https://geni.us/gAm5k

Portable TriPod
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/4x4SC92
(International) https://geni.us/retoBG

Gimbal
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/4xdKZ09
(International) https://geni.us/R7vwe2h

Drone (Original)
(USA Link) https://amzn.to/2K6qrAW
(International) https://geni.us/zvQm34B

Access to Music in video:
http://share.epidemicsound.com/zsbS8

20 Comments

@PaolofromTOKYO Creator 4 years ago Pinned

https://tokyozebra.com/merch Help support the channel and get my Tokyo Merch
https://paolofrom.tokyo/discord Connect with my Japan Discord community for Japan travel questions
https://paolofrom.tokyo/cc Contribute subtitles in your language
Get 10% off with my link on Squarespace - https://squarespace.com/paolofromtokyo

@Preske 4 years ago

man, this is so different from all those corporate shops. you can feel the love for their shop and profession in this family owned restaurant. i would love to eat there rather than chain resto's

@weirdshibainu 4 years ago

It's refreshing to see a culture that doesn't consider senior age as a liability, but as an asset

@deputydawgoneit 4 years ago

14:12 I will eternally respect any chef that can check the temperature of the oil with his bare finger.

@anonfx6919 4 years ago

I love how Paolo does interviews he doesnt just ask questions about the resturaunt and the food but asks questions about each chef and workers like their hobbies and favorites this is really wholesome and doesnt feel like an interview anymore

@MrRamonLuiis 4 years ago

This shop has go to be one the most warmest and inviting places I've seen you visit in a while Paolo. Everyone is so quirky and full of personality, I feel like I would got for the delicious food and end up hanging around chatting hours after they closed 😂

@phin1871 4 years ago

I am in shock knowing that this humble, family-owned business replaces their frying oil TWICE a day instead of cheaply recycling it with the oil filtration machine like most big fast food franchises do

@supremebonkripper7460 4 years ago

You’re really outcompeting other youtubers with your series! Day in the life, behind the counter and made in japan are all amazing

@danm5954 4 years ago

I ate here for lunch today and it was awesome! The guys and the restaurant ambience are just as authentic as they are in the video. The portions and taste are perfect, I don’t think I can get chain tendon ever again, can’t recommend this place enough!!!

@atulsachdeva1858 4 years ago

I love the chefs. I love the fact that they are "alive" at their age. I love the chemistry between owner and the chefs. It is evident that they have been working together for long. This was a great episode

@好好好luckylucky 4 years ago

It’s so amazing to find that Japanese restaurants are so tiny but everything is so clean and organized. And the chefs are so energetic and professional

@thomasji7614 4 years ago

Local Japanese hospitality is the most wholesome thing when visiting Japan. I miss the authentic Japanese tempura... Thanks for another great video Paolo! Have a great weekend~ :D

@LEV1ATHYN 4 years ago

Everything I love about Japan. Hard work, honour, diligence, politeness, decency. Japan needs its own planet.

@fallensariel4918 4 years ago

These grandpas are all so wholesome, it's so fun to watch them work and interact with each other. I really love this episode of Behind the Counter! Keep up the good work, Paolo! :))

@detected1989 4 years ago

wow! These senior citizens truly deserve respects for their hard work, their hard-earned experience, their working morale, their spirits, their strength and their loyalty. I can’t believe the chef uses his own finger to test the boiling oil’s temperature :😱😱😱😱

@gabbyroman2234 4 years ago

I was so immersed in the video that once they started cleaning after lunch and preparing for dinner I thought ," oh boy, now we get to see the dinner service!" Then I realized the video was ending. Didn't realize 17 minutes had passed so quickly! Another great video Paolo!

@krishnahandoko6578 4 years ago

40 years working in the one place.... Now that is a real dedication.... Respect to this gentleman....

@SaitamaClaus 4 years ago (edited)

Me: accidentally touches a hot bowl, "ouch"
Him: sticks his finger in extremely hot oil, "its about 140 degrees"
Me: :O

@lainn1582 4 years ago

Japan is full of good people. Their Hospitality is great, the way they treat each other and love their work is so wholesome.

@xandercage2107 4 years ago (edited)

Whoa, this is quite a surprise, Paolo! This restaurant you're at, Tempura Mikaku, was actually featured in a small ending segment on an episode of the anime "Isekai Izakaya"! And Mr Mori's father, the owner, was the very same chef who served tempura to Kenichi Nagira, the famous Japanese actor who hosted the segment!

Edit: 400+ likes?! Y'all are awesome! And Paolo, please go meet Mr Mori's father and ask him about meeting Kenichi Nagira! I bet he has a great story about his encounter with Mr Nagira!