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M Tempura, Durham, NC

M Tempura

4.9
4.9
631 Reviews
$50 and over
Japanese
111 Orange Street, Durham, NC 27701

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.

About this restaurant

  • Good for special occasions
  • Neighborhood gem
  • Innovative
M Tempura, in Downtown Durham, is part of the acclaimed M Restaurants group by Chef Michael Lee. Specializing in traditional Japanese tempura and Kaiseki Omakase, M Tempura elevates these classics with unique twists and subtle European influences. Each meticulously crafted multi-course menu balances tradition with innovation, delivering a refined and unforgettable dining experience. Guests must select the same menu option for their entire party. Please note, we cannot accommodate shellfish, vegetarian (egg in batter), gluten, or seafood allergies. Experience reimagined Japanese cuisine at M Tempura.

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Durham
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Experiences

  • Tempura Tasting Menu

    $38.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Our Traditional Omakase is the most casual of our experiences. Guests start with a seasonal salad and then proceed to 10 pieces of chef's choice fish and vegetable tempura. After tempura, guests will enjoy a final dessert course of housemade ice cream. Flavors vary often but are always delicious. This is the best option for guests who are going to a show or event in town! Guests with allergies or dietary restrictions are encouraged to contact us with any questions at 919-748-3874.
  • M Omakase Tasting Menu

    $79.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Our M Omakase is a 7-Course experience that cannot be found anywhere else. Guests start with three small plates including Tuna Tartare, Crudo, and Savory Chawanmushi. They then proceed to 8 premium tempura pieces such as Lobster Tail from Maine and Scallop topped with Golden Kaluga Caviar. After tempura, guests will enjoy a final entree course of miso-marinated seabass over rice with house-cured salmon roe, nori, wasabi, and pickled daikon. Finally, guests will finish with a unique housemade dessert. Desserts vary often but are always delicious. Guests with allergies or dietary restrictions are encouraged to contact us with any questions at 919-748-3874.
    M Omakase Tasting Menu Photo
  • Kaiseki Omakase Menu

    $127.00 per person

    Multiple dates available
    Kaiseki Omakase requires 24 hours advance notice. WE CANNOT HONOR SAME-DAY REQUESTS. Kaiseki is a traditional multi-course Japanese meal that uses different cooking methods in each course. Our adaptation of the Kaiseki focuses on seasonality and locality of ingredients. It includes 10 Unique courses that the chef may adjust according to seasonal availability. Please see the menu for course details.
    Kaiseki Omakase Menu Photo

What 631 people are saying

M Tempura reviews from people who’ve dined at this restaurant. Based on recent rating.

Overall ratings and reviews

Reviews can only be made by diners who have eaten at this restaurant

4.9
4.9 based on recent ratings
  • 4.9Food
  • 4.9Service
  • 4.7Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • Durham

    Best Overall

  • Durham

    Best Food

  • Durham

    Best Service

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
M Tempura offers an extraordinary dining experience, celebrated for its "amazing food" and "impeccable service." The Kaiseki and Omakase menus are standout features, with dishes like scallop tempura and brie cheese tempura receiving high praise. Patrons appreciate the "superb and unique cuisine" and "fantastic" ambiance, ideal for special occasions.

631 Reviews
  1. Zachary

    Raleigh1 review

    5.0

    Dined 6 days ago

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great time! Makes me feel like I am being fed by a top chef!

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  2. Susan

    Greensboro4 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Absolutely incredible food and impeccable service!! Great birthday dinner and experience for my husband!!

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  3. Patricia

    Raleigh93 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 9, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 3
    Amazing food, delicious flavors and impressive service. What a great place to dine! We did the full 10 course Kaiseki dinner to celebrate my hubbys bday. One dish was better than the next! The portions are small but the entire meal was unforgettable. The dolma, chawanmushi and scallop were outstanding. Every piece of the tempura was crispy, tasty and not greasy. Definitely will return. Treat yourself to an amazing dinner you won’t regret it!

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  4. Alannah

    Western NC2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on April 3, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Amazing food & great vibes! We went for our anniversary and the menus even had “happy anniversary!” printed on them!

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  5. Debby

    New York City64 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 21, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    We had the tempura tasting menu, and every course, every item was just delicious. The service was also excellent

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  6. Joshua

    Houston3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on March 12, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 4
    t天妇罗很不错,总体菜都很好吃,服务挺好的,菜的量不大,但是足够吃饱,,下次准备专门来吃天妇罗!!!

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  7. Roshni

    Charlotte7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Excellent omakase experience. Flavors, textures, and portions were delicious. Can’t wait to try the other locations on another trip up to this area!

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  8. Emily

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 22, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Great food, quick service. The restaurant was able to accommodate my pregnant guest by preparing the raw fish appropriately

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  9. Reinaldo

    Raleigh7 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Hands down one of the best restaurants in Durham. Consistent creativity and excellence. Unlike and other Japanese restaurant out there.

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  10. Hunter

    Raleigh16 reviews

    1.0

    Dined on February 15, 2025

    1. Overall 1
    2. Food 3
    3. Service 1
    4. Ambience 2
    My wife and I went for a 8pm seating of a valentines fixed menu Kaiseki Omakase. The kitchen was behind and still serving the 5:30 seatings when we arrived. All 26 of the 8pm seatings waited until 8:45pm to be seated. First dish took maybe 15 minutes to come out. There were only 2 servers and a host taking care of 26 patrons. Did not leave the restaurant until midnight. Some courses we had to ask for food, as tables around us had been served but not us. The food was good, some dishes great, some blah. This was our first experience here. This service felt like a new restaurant but this place has been open for 7+ years. We have enjoyed M Sushi, but I can't say I will be back to M Tempura.

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FAQs

M Tempura is rated 4.9 stars by 631 OpenTable diners.

Yes, you can generally book this restaurant by choosing the date, time and party size on OpenTable.

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. Raleigh / Durham / Chapel Hill
  4. Durham
  5. Durham

Make a reservation

2 people
7:30 PM
Booked 8 times today
Experiences are available.
Google Map for M Tempura

111 Orange Street, Durham, NC 27701

Additional information

  • Neighborhood
    Durham
  • Hours of operation
    Tue–Thu 5:00 pm–9:30 pm Fri, Sat 5:00 pm–10:00 pm Brunch Sun 11:30 am–3:00 pm
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Tempura, Asian
  • Dining style
    Casual Elegant
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Parking details
    Public Lot
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Discover, Mastercard, Visa
  • Executive chef
    Michael Lee
  • Additional
    Beer, Corkage Fee, Counter Seating, Gender Neutral Restroom, Non-Smoking, Wheelchair Access, Wine
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