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Tempura Matsui, New York, NY
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Tempura Matsui

$50 and over
Japanese
222 East 39th Street, New York, NY 10016

Make a reservation

A photo of Tempura Matsui restaurant

Tempura Matsui

4.9
$50 and over
Japanese
Midtown East

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today

About this restaurant

  • Charming
  • Good for business meals
  • Good for special occasions
Tempura Matsui invites you to experience the refined artistry of tempura in an atmosphere of calm elegance. As the only tempura-dedicated restaurant in the United States, we offer an immersive omakase experience featuring seasonal seafood and vegetables prepared with precision before your eyes.

Our Omakase Dinner Course is available Tuesday–Saturday at 5:30 PM and 8:00 PM, priced at $295 per guest. The Omakase Lunch Course is available Fridays and Saturdays at noon only, priced at $168 per guest.

Reservations may be made up to one month in advance and must be secured with a valid credit card.

Cancellations, guest reductions, and no-shows made within 24 hours of the reservation time will incur the full omakase charge per guest ($168 lunch / $295 dinner).

Please inform us in advance of any dietary restrictions or allergies, and allow up to 2.5 hours for the dining experience.

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202620252024

  • Award icon
    MICHELIN 1 Star2025
  • Award icon
    MICHELIN 1 Star2024
  • Award icon
    MICHELIN 1 Star2023

From the OpenTable editors: For when you want to feel transported to a warm Japanese home complete with a sloping wooden roof and paper screens for windows, look no further than this MICHELIN-Starred Midtown gem. You'll be treated to a dazzling tasting menu where tempura is the star. Expect plates of lightly battered shrimp interspersed with pristine sashimi and an epic sake selection. Make sure to grab a seat at the kitchen counter for a memorable evening up close to the action.

Executive chef: Koichi Endo

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Japanese Speciality
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sun 5:30 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Award-winning
    1. OpenTable Icons 2026
    2. OpenTable Icons 2025
    3. OpenTable Icons 2024
    4. MICHELIN 1 Star 2025
    5. MICHELIN 1 Star 2024
    6. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
  • Neighborhood
    Midtown East
  • Cross street
    Tunnel Exit St.
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Grand Central-42st [4,5,6], 33st [6]
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

Concierge
AI Beta

Our AI assistant, Concierge, is here to answer your questions about this restaurant.

Reviews

OpenTable reviews from verified diners

Reviews from people who have dined at Tempura Matsui.

4.9

4.9
(721)
  • 4.9Food
  • 5.0Service
  • 4.9Ambience
  • 4.6Value

NoiseModerate

Loved For

  • New York City

    Japanese

  • Manhattan

    Best Service

  • Manhattan

    Best Ambiance

  • Manhattan

    Japanese

Review summary

AI-generated from verified diner reviews
Tempura Matsui offers an "utterly phenomenal experience" with its high-end, Tokyo-style tempura. The restaurant is celebrated for its incredible service, authentic atmosphere, and exquisite dishes. Diners praise the "most unique and interesting experiences," and the Michelin-starred venue is perfect for special occasions, delivering "best of the best" quality.
721 Reviews
  1. Nick

    Pittsburgh1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 30, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    An incredible tempura experience - it was the perfect amount of food. We throughly enjoyed our experience. Everyone was very friendly and lots of smiles. That makes a difference!

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  2. Paolo Gold

    New York City8 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on July 23, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Utterly phenomenal experience, as always. Came here twice in the last month — once with a good friend from Riyadh and another with two old friends. On both instances, my companions were blown away remarking that eating at Tempura Matsui was among the “most unique and interesting experiences” in the world.

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  3. Matteo

    New York City1 review

    5.0

    Dined on July 15, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible experience! It’s like going to Japan without actually being there. Tempura was amazing, like all the other dishes. Great service and atmosphere.

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  4. Albert Gold

    Hawaii1 review

    5.0

    Dined on June 28, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    If you want high-end counter-top tempura like in Tokyo, then you found it. Excellent

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  5. Allegra Gold

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 21, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    One of my favorite restaurants in the world. I love this place so much. 

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  6. Siow Ming

    New York City2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 20, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Top notch tempura! Great service and overall, a very pleasant experience.

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  7. KC Gold

    Tokyo9 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on June 5, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Incredible lunch tempura experience. First class service, beautiful dining room, delicious meal from start to finish. Definitely deserving of its Michelin star.

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  8. David Gold

    Toronto2 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best of the best. Love it. Service, food, ambience. Wow.

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  9. John

    New York City15 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 29, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Lived up to all of the praise the restaurant and team receive.

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  10. Ori

    London3 reviews

    5.0

    Dined on May 25, 2026

    1. Overall 5
    2. Food 5
    3. Service 5
    4. Ambience 5
    Best Tempura cooking we've ever experienced. Since its a fixed menu restaurant, we recommend to visit once at least, and return when the menu is changed.

    Is this helpful?

Dining areas

Additional information

  • Dining style
    Fine Dining
  • Price
    $50 and over
  • Cuisines
    Japanese, Japanese Speciality
  • Hours of operation
    Lunch Fri, Sat 12:00 pm–2:00 pm Dinner Tue–Sun 5:30 pm–8:00 pm
  • Phone number
  • Payment options
    AMEX, Diners Club, Discover, JCB, Mastercard, Visa
  • Dress code
    Business Casual
  • Award-winning
    1. OpenTable Icons 2026
    2. OpenTable Icons 2025
    3. OpenTable Icons 2024
    4. MICHELIN 1 Star 2025
    5. MICHELIN 1 Star 2024
    6. MICHELIN 1 Star 2023
  • Neighborhood
    Midtown East
  • Cross street
    Tunnel Exit St.
  • Parking details
    None
  • Public transit
    Grand Central-42st [4,5,6], 33st [6]
  • Additional
    Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Cocktails, Counter Seating, Non-Smoking, Private Room, Wheelchair Access, Wine

FAQs

Portions follow a tasting-style omakase: you’ll receive many small, precisely timed tempura courses rather than large à la carte plates. Most guests say the meal is satisfying and generous within the omakase format, though a few mentioned feeling a bit hungry afterward or wanting a larger final rice portion. If you’re hungry, consider asking about add-ons (like lobster) or note appetite preferences when you book.

Yes, Tempura Matsui is an excellent pick for date night. Guests frequently describe the experience as intimate, elegant and special-occasion worthy, praising the attentive service, beautifully plated courses and Michelin-starred execution. The omakase format ($295 dinner) creates a multi-course, theatrical meal best enjoyed together at the counter or a quiet table. Expect a refined, Japanese-inspired atmosphere that’s ideal for celebrating birthdays, anniversaries or a memorable night out.

Tempura Matsui offers an intimate layout with counter seating and a few private tables or booths. Guests often recommend the counter to watch chefs prepare hot tempura to order, which adds to the experience. The space is small and designed for focused omakase dining rather than large parties, so expect close, carefully staged service and limited seating.

The ambience is calm, refined and distinctly Japanese, minimalist, intimate and highly attentive. Guests repeatedly praise the serene, elegant setting and the meticulous hospitality that makes the meal feel like being transported to Japan. Expect quiet, focused service, thoughtful presentation and a special-occasion tone that emphasizes craftsmanship over loud bar-style energy.

The dress code is business casual. Guests generally dress up for the Michelin-starred, fine-dining omakase experience, so smart casual to business attire is appropriate. Dressing a step up from everyday casual helps match the refined atmosphere and elevated service.

Busiest: weekend dinners and nights when guests celebrate special occasions, the intimate counter and limited tables fill quickly. Quietest: weekday evenings (Tuesday–Thursday) tend to feel calmer; Friday and Saturday lunch seatings at noon can also be less hectic than dinner. Because the space is small, any seating can feel busy, so booking early secures the atmosphere you prefer.

Yes, Tempura Matsui is a Michelin-starred restaurant, recognized repeatedly in recent years. The restaurant highlights its Michelin One-Star awards, and guests often mention the Michelin recognition alongside praise for the food and service. This accolade underscores the restaurant’s high level of technique and dining experience.

The best time depends on your goal: for the full counter experience and the chef’s show, reserve counter seating at a dinner seating (Tue–Sun evenings). If you prefer a slightly quieter visit, weekday dinners (Tuesday–Thursday) tend to feel calmer. For a midday option, Friday and Saturday lunches at noon are available and popular. Because seating is limited, book up to one month ahead to secure your preferred time.

If you want a more relaxed experience, aim for a weekday dinner (Tuesday–Thursday). For a special midday outing, Friday or Saturday lunch at noon is a unique option. Weekend dinners are lively and popular for celebrations, so expect fuller dining rooms then. Because seating is limited, choose your day based on whether you want a quieter meal or the classic weekend occasion atmosphere.

Partially, the restaurant accommodates families and a variety of seatings, but specific accessibility details (e.g., wheelchair access) aren’t listed. Guests commonly bring family members and celebrate birthdays; seating options include counter seats and private tables, which can suit families or small groups. If you need wheelchair access, stroller accommodation or other accessibility details, call the restaurant ahead so staff can confirm and help arrange suitable seating.

Yes, the team can often accommodate reasonable special requests. Guests report that chefs and staff handled allergies and menu adjustments without sacrificing quality, and the staff have arranged birthday surprises. Reservations are accepted up to one month in advance; call ahead to note allergies, dietary needs or celebration requests so the kitchen and service team can prepare.

Generally yes for families with older children and teens, but keep in mind this is fine dining. Guests often bring family members and celebrate birthdays with children, though the omakase format is tasting-focused and there isn’t a kids’ menu. If bringing younger children, consider an earlier seating, a private table, or calling ahead to discuss menu flexibility and pacing.

How FAQ content is generated

  1. Home
  2. United States
  3. New York City
  4. Manhattan
  5. Midtown East

Make a reservation

A photo of Tempura Matsui restaurant

Tempura Matsui

4.9
$50 and over
Japanese
Midtown East

Make a reservation

2 people
7:00 PM
Booked 13 times today
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