Japan’s newest tempura is…potato salad tempura?!? [Taste test]

Tempura, a traditional Japanese cooking method that involves deep-frying vegetables and seafood, has been pushed to new heights by Tenya, a popular tempura restaurant chain. The annual idea contest at Tenya led to the creation of potato salad tempura, a bold concept that has won the hearts of many taste testers. This innovative dish is part of the new Azayaka Vegipote ("Vegetable Potato") Tempura Bowl, which hit the shelves on October 22.

Along with tempura versions of eggplant, corn, bell pepper, zucchini, and radish, the bowl also features tempura potato salad, a unique twist on the classic dish.

What makes this tempura so special? The secret lies in the consistency of Japanese mayo, which is less watery than its Western counterpart. This allows the batter to stick to the potato salad without blending with it, resulting in individual tempura pouches filled with the creamy mayo and potato salad chunks. The contrast of textures - the crunchy exterior and the soft, creamy interior - makes for an intriguing and satisfying experience.

The flavors of potato salad and tempura complement each other perfectly, with the reporter P.K. Sanjun stating that the piece of tempura potato salad would be a welcome addition to any meal. However, due to its novelty, the tempura potato salad and the 790-yen (US$5) Azayaka Vegipote bowl are currently only available in limited quantities, with only 8,000 bowls to be served.

If you're curious about this innovative tempura dish, it's best to visit Tenya as soon as possible - there's no other place to find this unique treat.