Tendon Tempura Carlos Junior

If you’re craving tempura, this place is a must-visit. The batter is light, crispy, and never greasy.

Alex Xander

This has to be the best Tempura in Los Angeles and one of the best outside of Japan. Staff is incredibly kind. I ordered the premium tempura bowl that came with unagi (eel). I thought the portion size was great, until the waitress came back to tell me that they served me a smaller eel filet and will bring me another. I thought they might bring me another small piece to "fulfill" the missing amount. Nope. They brought me a whole entire other piece!! Who does that!?? Each and every piece of tempura was so light and flaky and crispy. The "meat" for each was tasty, cooked well, and delicious. The eel was so soft and delicious. I also ordered a side of pumpkin tempura that was delicious. The spicy tuna handroll was simple, straightforward, and excellent

Sarah D

No idea why this is rated below 5 stars because this is a cozy restaurant I was delighted to have stumbled upon! The food is delicious and vibe delightful. The food is all made fresh to order—and wow what an abundant spread. I came in fully expecting to have leftovers but cleaned my plate. I truly feel like I blacked out as I ate because I couldn’t stop. The tempura sauce has grated dikon and I added hot pepper to it *chef kiss* wow my mouth is watering thinking about it. The tempura is hot, light, and oh so crunchy—but one of the highlights has to be the house made pickled ginger with burdock—could have eaten the entire bowl. The folks working here are so nice and friendly too. 10/10 so happy to have had dinner there and would eat there again and just might have to since I’m here for a conference. Very clearly labeled veg options—which was amazing.

Mei Chi Siu

This place was recommended by my neighbor who works around Pasadena. Food, ambience and service were all very good. The tempura were fresh and cooked perfectly; my family really enjoyed it. The only caution is to be sure your party is all present or else they will not seat you.

Lesley Tan

Stopped by this cozy little spot for a quick lunch and was pleasantly surprised by the quality and care put into their Special Tempura Plate. The tempura was light, crispy, and not greasy at all--exactly how it should be. The plate came with a nice variety: shrimp, fish, sweet potato, pumpkin, and other seasonal veggies. Each piece had a clean crunch and held onto just enough of the house-made sauce without getting soggy. The shrimp was plump and tender, and the veggies still had a bit of bite to them, which I appreciated. It also came with a perfectly cooked bowl of rice and a side of miso soup, rounding out the meal nicely. The space is small but clean and welcoming. Service was friendly, and food came out pretty quickly even during the lunch rush. If you're in the mood for solid, well-executed tempura in a chill setting, this place is worth a visit.

Peter Bonamici

Authentic Japanese Tempura and Udon, Worth the Wait! Very smalls establishment but boy, do they do their food right. I was extremely impressed by how simple but effective their menu is. Tempura was fried to perfection with large shrimps, pumpkin, egg, and veggies in a mild batter. Udon broth was flavorful and was the perfect complement. We even ordered Yellowtail Sushi for the heck of it, and WOW, were we surprised on how good it actually was! Cannot recommend this place more, it was amazing. Service can be a little slow with different dishes coming out at random times but please be patient with them, its a small place dedicated to serving authentic mom n pops style Japanese food.

Shawn Sheng

There tends to be a 20-30 minute wait, both because the restaurant is cozy with limited seating and also the popularity. But it is definitely worth the wait, some of the best tempura I have ever had. The radish dipping sauce goes perfectly with the tempura, and the miso soup is top tier. The plate is presented amazingly and leaves you completely satisfied rather than overly stuffed. Staff are very friendly, overall great experience.

Rabia

Never disappoints. Tempura has a perfectly light and crispy batter. Soba is delicious. Service is amazing.

Chris Shaul

Our first time trying. We both had the Tempura and Cold Soba combo. It was excellent! Just like in Japan. Servers were nice and helpful. No reservations, Yelp wait list only. Public parking is a block north or behind the building.

Ada L

Finally got to try the Pasadena location, I remember when it used to be in Torrance which was a far drive. I got the special tempura bowl which had white Fish, 2 Shrimp, Pumpkin, Kakiage (Mixed Seafood Tempura), Seaweed, Shishito Pepper, Half Boiled Egg and side of Miso Soup. It was so good, it had the perfect amount of sauce enough for the tempura and bowl. I didn't feel like it was too oily and the tempura was good and crispy. It is a small restaurant so not too much seating but has indoor and outdoor seating. They serve rice, tempura, udon, soba noodles, sushi, rolls, and more.

Spencer Lin

Legendary tempura that my partner and I used to drive to Torrance for. Nice to see a second, closer location! Food is just as good, with the only noticeable difference being the soup (mushroom + cilantro vs traditional tofu + seaweed miso). The space is smaller so expect it to be crowded during peak hours - plan accordingly! Staff was nice and friendly. Will be coming back at least once a month!

A C

I had a delicious shrimp tempura bowl. Would definitely come back for the soba next time.

Excellent tempura, soba and udon. I have been eating Japanese food my whole life and for tempura, comparing to my grandmother's, which is of course special in its own way but this is among the best tempura I've had. The udon broth is unique with a hint of orange and ginger and is rich but light and delicious. I appreciate how traditional and simple the menu is. Have been going to the Torrance location and am so glad one opened in Pasadena. Truly a gem.

Jenna Nakagawa

Excellent tempura, soba and udon. I have been eating Japanese food my whole life and for tempura, comparing to my grandmother's, which is of course special in its own way but this is among the best tempura I've had. The udon broth is unique with a hint of orange and ginger and is rich but light and delicious. I appreciate how traditional and simple the menu is. Have been going to the Torrance location and am so glad one opened in Pasadena. Truly a gem.

This place is so highly rated. I agree this food is good, but I got tempura-d out. It's a lot of fried food for me. I had a party of six people. We waited and waited until it got close to 8 PM. They let us stay in line and still served us even though it was getting close to closing time at 8:30 PM. At first they split our party into two tables. Then a table opened up, and they let us combine our tables together. After waiting in line for so long, the Carlos tempura roll $18.99 tasted soo good. This one came out first. We finished this so quickly. Each meal comes out on a tray. I got the special tempura bowl $18.99. This was delicious. I liked the mixed seafood. The servers are really nice. Parking - find street parking in downtown Pasadena or you can pay for parking in a structure.

It's a nice cozy restaurant. Servers were quick and courteous. Menu was self explanatory and it seemed like everyone knew what to order as soon as they were seated. Food was flavorful but on the sweeter side. We ordered premium tendon bowl with added side of salmon roe. Portion was a bit small compared to the price. It's first come first serve so when you get there, sign in. We waited about 40 min to be seated on a Thursday evening.

Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. in Pasadena delivers a delightful fusion of Japanese comfort food with a unique Filipino twist. Having missed the chance to visit their Torrance location, we were thrilled to see this spot open in Pasadena six months ago and finally made it for lunch today. The cozy restaurant, tucked away in a charming arcade-style shopping center, offers a warm and welcoming vibe. With our waitress’s recommendations, we ordered: • California Roll: A creative twist with tempura crumbs sprinkled on top, adding a satisfying crunch. • Tempura Plate Combo with Udon: The tempura was perfectly crispy and flavorful, and the udon was comforting with its smooth texture and mild broth. • Tempura Combo with Rice and Udon: A hearty and satisfying choice, showcasing the same expertly fried tempura. The tempura is the star here, with its perfectly crispy texture, staying true to Chef Carlos Pinto’s dedication to authentic Japanese techniques. Each combo is reasonably priced at under $20, and the roll was under $10, making this spot a great value for the quality. Parking is convenient with options both on the street and in the back lot. We’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of this hidden gem. Highly recommended for tempura lovers!

Went on a Saturday for lunch. We got inside pretty quickly upon arrival and were seated at the bar counter. The restaurant was quite packed as all the tables were already filled so we waited quite a bit to order and for the food to arrive, but the tempuras were pretty good! The fried shrimp was a tad bit overcooked in my opinion. I would recommend coming in on a week day for less waiting time and would also recommend friends to give it a try!

Shmiley C

This place is so highly rated. I agree this food is good, but I got tempura-d out. It's a lot of fried food for me. I had a party of six people. We waited and waited until it got close to 8 PM. They let us stay in line and still served us even though it was getting close to closing time at 8:30 PM. At first they split our party into two tables. Then a table opened up, and they let us combine our tables together. After waiting in line for so long, the Carlos tempura roll $18.99 tasted soo good. This one came out first. We finished this so quickly. Each meal comes out on a tray. I got the special tempura bowl $18.99. This was delicious. I liked the mixed seafood. The servers are really nice. Parking - find street parking in downtown Pasadena or you can pay for parking in a structure.

David K

It's a nice cozy restaurant. Servers were quick and courteous. Menu was self explanatory and it seemed like everyone knew what to order as soon as they were seated. Food was flavorful but on the sweeter side. We ordered premium tendon bowl with added side of salmon roe. Portion was a bit small compared to the price. It's first come first serve so when you get there, sign in. We waited about 40 min to be seated on a Thursday evening.

regis kwong

Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. in Pasadena delivers a delightful fusion of Japanese comfort food with a unique Filipino twist. Having missed the chance to visit their Torrance location, we were thrilled to see this spot open in Pasadena six months ago and finally made it for lunch today. The cozy restaurant, tucked away in a charming arcade-style shopping center, offers a warm and welcoming vibe. With our waitress’s recommendations, we ordered: • California Roll: A creative twist with tempura crumbs sprinkled on top, adding a satisfying crunch. • Tempura Plate Combo with Udon: The tempura was perfectly crispy and flavorful, and the udon was comforting with its smooth texture and mild broth. • Tempura Combo with Rice and Udon: A hearty and satisfying choice, showcasing the same expertly fried tempura. The tempura is the star here, with its perfectly crispy texture, staying true to Chef Carlos Pinto’s dedication to authentic Japanese techniques. Each combo is reasonably priced at under $20, and the roll was under $10, making this spot a great value for the quality. Parking is convenient with options both on the street and in the back lot. We’ll definitely be back to enjoy more of this hidden gem. Highly recommended for tempura lovers!

Steven

Went on a Saturday for lunch. We got inside pretty quickly upon arrival and were seated at the bar counter. The restaurant was quite packed as all the tables were already filled so we waited quite a bit to order and for the food to arrive, but the tempuras were pretty good! The fried shrimp was a tad bit overcooked in my opinion. I would recommend coming in on a week day for less waiting time and would also recommend friends to give it a try!

I was looking forward to checking this place out. Unfortunately, the food and service didn’t wow us. I got their Nikutamaten udon and medium fatty tuna bowl. The udon was too oily for our liking, and the tuna bowl was extremely small and was not satisfying. Also, the rice was cold, which I didn’t like. The atmosphere wasn’t anything special. We left feeling it wasn’t worth the price we paid.

Cc

I was looking forward to checking this place out. Unfortunately, the food and service didn’t wow us. I got their Nikutamaten udon and medium fatty tuna bowl. The udon was too oily for our liking, and the tuna bowl was extremely small and was not satisfying. Also, the rice was cold, which I didn’t like. The atmosphere wasn’t anything special. We left feeling it wasn’t worth the price we paid.

I have no problem with their food, but their service was terrible. While so many seats were open, we had to wait for 30 minutes more than what Yelp told us to come back. Because our server was not good at English, my friend got the order wrong even though my friend pointed out the order from the menu and our server came back to confirm our orders again. Since we were seated outside, it was hard to catch servers and had to go inside to ask what we need, for stuff like check and wrong order. And later the chef at the sushi bar gave my friend attitude as if we are going to do something too. They need to improve the service.

Dae Young Roh

I have no problem with their food, but their service was terrible. While so many seats were open, we had to wait for 30 minutes more than what Yelp told us to come back. Because our server was not good at English, my friend got the order wrong even though my friend pointed out the order from the menu and our server came back to confirm our orders again. Since we were seated outside, it was hard to catch servers and had to go inside to ask what we need, for stuff like check and wrong order. And later the chef at the sushi bar gave my friend attitude as if we are going to do something too. They need to improve the service.

Only one server on Friday night! Are you serious! Make it unreasonable long waiting, although there were tons of open tables. Super stupid serving strategy. The worst experience I have ever had. The table was sticky. The floor was sticky too. The side dishes tasted great their tempura is always great.

__ SEP 5, 2025 : 5-STAR > 1-STAR We love this place. We love the food here. During our decade living in Japan we have known the Japanese to be the kindest and most considerate people in the world. Society is built with social cohesion in mind. Japan is our second home with the friends we maintain to this day. We ate at Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. this past Friday. And it’s packed as usual because of the great food. We recommended it to curious passersby. Hands down the Best Tempura in LA bar none. But the service leaves a lot to be desired. Yes I’ve read some of the reviews praising the service staff. But honestly, the staff is rude and lacks empathy. In particular the woman with the high-pitched voice who is consistently cold, callous, and at times rude to most guests. But this occasion tops the cake. There was a disabled senior couple who’s been waiting for almost 40min. We helped them check-in and watched how unpleasant the whole experience was for them. They were continuously ignored. The experience was so unnerving that we could not enjoy the food. We even offered to switch seats to accommodate the wheelchair disability. We and other fellow customers worried more for the elderly couple, as they kept being ignored and the old woman kept suffering. We didn’t see a single moment of compassion from the staff. Finally I spoke Japanese to one of waitress (the one with more EQ) to at least acknowledge and tend to them, at the minimum make them feel welcome. The tables were mostly all free. The issue being they are short staffed and the waitress is the one bussing and cleaning tables. We’re attuned to the challenges behind this. But honestly speaking, they were just inefficient, inconsiderate and “Tone Deaf”. The old couple proceeded to leave in the woman’s wheel chair after her husband tried 4X to check on their table. So we prompted the kinder waitress to do something. After pausing and conversing with us for a minute she decided to ran after them. We encouraged the older couple to come back. The food is worth it. But if the service will be like this it ruins the whole experience. It’s hard to sit through. As much as we want to come back because the food is good, we actually don’t want to. There are other famous places like Golden Deli who have long lines. But they have a system down packed. Where people don’t feel ignored and disrespected. We seriously hope that the owners of Tempura Carlos Jr reads this and rectifies the situation. People deserve common decency. That’s non-existent here now with the current staff. __ DEC 2024 : 10months ago : 5-STARS Absolutely the best Tempura in the USA. We lived in Japan for 10yrs and love this place. Takes it to the level of mastery of Japan.

Z Xue

Only one server on Friday night! Are you serious! Make it unreasonable long waiting, although there were tons of open tables. Super stupid serving strategy. The worst experience I have ever had. The table was sticky. The floor was sticky too. The side dishes tasted great their tempura is always great.

Eric Cruz

__ SEP 5, 2025 : 5-STAR > 1-STAR We love this place. We love the food here. During our decade living in Japan we have known the Japanese to be the kindest and most considerate people in the world. Society is built with social cohesion in mind. Japan is our second home with the friends we maintain to this day. We ate at Tendon Tempura Carlos Jr. this past Friday. And it’s packed as usual because of the great food. We recommended it to curious passersby. Hands down the Best Tempura in LA bar none. But the service leaves a lot to be desired. Yes I’ve read some of the reviews praising the service staff. But honestly, the staff is rude and lacks empathy. In particular the woman with the high-pitched voice who is consistently cold, callous, and at times rude to most guests. But this occasion tops the cake. There was a disabled senior couple who’s been waiting for almost 40min. We helped them check-in and watched how unpleasant the whole experience was for them. They were continuously ignored. The experience was so unnerving that we could not enjoy the food. We even offered to switch seats to accommodate the wheelchair disability. We and other fellow customers worried more for the elderly couple, as they kept being ignored and the old woman kept suffering. We didn’t see a single moment of compassion from the staff. Finally I spoke Japanese to one of waitress (the one with more EQ) to at least acknowledge and tend to them, at the minimum make them feel welcome. The tables were mostly all free. The issue being they are short staffed and the waitress is the one bussing and cleaning tables. We’re attuned to the challenges behind this. But honestly speaking, they were just inefficient, inconsiderate and “Tone Deaf”. The old couple proceeded to leave in the woman’s wheel chair after her husband tried 4X to check on their table. So we prompted the kinder waitress to do something. After pausing and conversing with us for a minute she decided to ran after them. We encouraged the older couple to come back. The food is worth it. But if the service will be like this it ruins the whole experience. It’s hard to sit through. As much as we want to come back because the food is good, we actually don’t want to. There are other famous places like Golden Deli who have long lines. But they have a system down packed. Where people don’t feel ignored and disrespected. We seriously hope that the owners of Tempura Carlos Jr reads this and rectifies the situation. People deserve common decency. That’s non-existent here now with the current staff. __ DEC 2024 : 10months ago : 5-STARS Absolutely the best Tempura in the USA. We lived in Japan for 10yrs and love this place. Takes it to the level of mastery of Japan.