reserved online with open table. you need to preselect your experience and put a credit card. Got the tempura experience for 75. it included several small dishes through you the night and a variety of tempura followed by a small rice dish, miso soup and ginger ice cream..
the first shrimp tempura was heavenly !! overall the experience was really nice. it took around 2 hours to complete. we had our reservation at 7:15 and felt we had to rush at the end since they close at 9. maybe don't let people reserve that ? other than probably from the best restaurants I had in Durham ! book this for your next date night or special gathering !
Vegetarian options: menu is mostly fish and veggies
Kid-friendliness: not not for kids but I wouldn't bring them here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chen Palmer
I don’t write reviews unless something is either *exceptionally* amazing or *absolutely* awful. The food at this place is the latter. Don’t get me wrong, the place was cozy and the service was friendly, I do not want my opinion on the food quality to negate that. Let’s talk about the pork tempura and salmon tempura—$22 each. I don’t care how you spin it, charging $22 for a pathetic sliver of meat, the size of a thumb, is pure daylight robbery. I’ve seen better portions in a kids’ meal at a fast food joint. And don’t even get me started on how they were cooked—over-fried pork that had the texture of rubber, and salmon that was so overcooked it might as well have been a piece of cardboard. These dishes, if you can even call them that, are worth maybe $5 tops. I've been to more than my fair share of places, and I haven’t been this ripped off in *years*. Oh, and don’t forget the three tiny, tasteless sauces they throw in to try and make it look like they actually know what they’re doing. Calling this "Japanese cuisine" is an insult. They’re pretending that serving tiny portions is some sort of delicate culinary tradition, but this is nothing more than a scam. Real, authentic Japanese food is about variety, balance, and quality—this was none of those things. That $22 plate should be a small side, not the entire entree. The fact that they have the audacity to call it an entree is laughable. It’s not like I hold this place to the same high standards as in SoCal or Japan—I’m just asking for a decent portion of *edible* food. And this? This is far below even the lowest bar. This place is an absolute joke. The menu is a travesty, and after a year of living here, it’s the worst I’ve seen. Never again. I’ll never trust online reviews again after this disaster. Asian food enthusiasts, STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Paul Cray
Incredible 7 course omakase! All the bites were perfectly prepared and the soft shelled shrimp were very fun. The wine pairing went great with the courses. It did take a little time between bites and we were there for about 3 hours total. I think this menu is the best bang for your buck compared to all the tasting menu options across the m restaurants.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Alicia
I actually thought I made reservations for the original m sushi, so this was a pleasant surprise! We did the experience and although the food was phenomenal, there were a few portions that I could tell weren't freshly made. Overall though, the service and ambiance was on point for a birthday dinner.
Lesley
We had the full Chef's Japanese menu for $127 a person without tip and taxes. We ended up spending $800 for four people. For this price, the service is ultra-casual. It's just too much food and while some of the dishes are inspired, others are not. Great miso soup, shrimp toast, scallops, tempura. The beautiful lobster that one cooks oneself at the table was delicious, but the flame at the table and perhaps from a lack of ventilation with the open kitchen leaves diners smelling like food when they leave. The Wagyu beef dish was shaved beef that sticks in the teeth...yes, tasty with the salad, but could have been julienne for a better mouth feel. I would suggest culling the menu and the price. I have also had the $75 tempura menu...also too much food. Perhaps give the diner more choice to add and subtract from these menus? I love MPocha and MSushi, but I probably will not be back to MTempura.
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a fabulous dining experience. We enjoyed the M Omakase food and wine pairing. All the dishes were beautifully presented and delicious and the wines were perfect. I now know why Savannah Miller was selected for Top Chef and was a finalist. Savannah and her staff were amazing. I live in Florida now and I'll go back when I come home to Durham in December.
Han Jang
Highly recommend the tempura tasting menu! I can understand skepticism around the fact that tempura is simply fried food, but tempura is best when “fresh”, so it was nice to have each piece plated in front of us straight from the fryer. This, along with the sides and great service were well worth the $38. We were stuffed before dessert! Would come back for their omakase or kaiseki.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Areli Keller
we had a good time. The wine serving was more Like a sample Basic, I’m not gonna lie too much money and they charge like a bottle. The food is basic and the service is good. I’m not gonna lie, but it was way too much money for they give you to eat. When When you’re getting fried food, you’re getting fried food so I was I’m not gonna lie Chef is you’re getting fried food so I was totally disappointed I’m not gonna lie and the chef was not friendly whatsoever. The wine portion was like a
Douglas Smith
Delicious food and enjoyed chasing with thy chef.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phil Angelo Estrada
Phenomenal experience with the crew at M Tempura. We opted for the M Omakase tasting menu and blown away with the 7 courses. Each course was different and this restaurant puts a different twist on each plate. I highly recommend the tasting menu experience.
The staff and service is amazing. Our water was never empty for longer than 10 minutes. This restaurant is top tier when it comes to service and deserves more praise than what they receive.
I was excited to get a reservation after the latest season of top chef and M Tempura didn't disappoint! The food was delicious and varied, the drinks (especially the house soda) were very well paired, and I felt very cozy in the fairly small, brick-lined restaurant. My thanks to the entire team for the wonderful birthday dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tempura Course
Delia
We visited M Tempura last night for a kaiseki dinner and were blown away! I expected good things, but it exceeded all I imagined. From one course to the next, the food was superb. And our wait person was fantastic, giving us in-depth descriptions of all the food, along with the wine parings. If you're ready to treat yourself to a fabulous food experience, this is the place for you! My highest recommendations for M Tempura!!
Akira Terui
Awesome food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallop, Pork Katsu
203CDL
Had dinner with a group at the bar in July 2024. Tasting menu was delightful. Dishes were beautifully presented, ginger ice cream dessert was heavenly. We really enjoyed watching the preparation as well. Nearby parking garage was an easy walk. Try it, you'll love it!
This is definitely my second favorite out of the “M” restaurants (M Sushi takes the cake), but I must say, everything we had was expertly crafted. Typically you need 24hrs notice to do the M Omakase menu, but the chef was able to accommodate us last minute which was awesome. So many unique flavors and pairings (definitely worth the price and trip).
My only qualm with our experience was that it took an obscenely long time to get all our courses. We were in the restaurant for over three hours which really derailed our plans for the evening. The food and service were amazing, but I’ve been to plenty of coursed out fine dining establishments before and never had it take quite so long. However, I will say, we did not give them notice for the Omasake order so that could definitely have contributed.
Weirdly enough my least favorite dish was the tempura! Still delicious, but all the other courses really stood out to me. Can’t wait to try M Test Kitchen next!
reserved online with open table. you need to preselect your experience and put a credit card. Got the tempura experience for 75. it included several small dishes through you the night and a variety of tempura followed by a small rice dish, miso soup and ginger ice cream..
the first shrimp tempura was heavenly !!
overall the experience was really nice. it took around 2 hours to complete. we had our reservation at 7:15 and felt we had to rush at the end since they close at 9. maybe don't let people reserve that ?
other than probably from the best restaurants I had in Durham !
book this for your next date night or special gathering !
Vegetarian options: menu is mostly fish and veggies
Kid-friendliness: not not for kids but I wouldn't bring them here
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I don’t write reviews unless something is either *exceptionally* amazing or *absolutely* awful. The food at this place is the latter. Don’t get me wrong, the place was cozy and the service was friendly, I do not want my opinion on the food quality to negate that.
Let’s talk about the pork tempura and salmon tempura—$22 each. I don’t care how you spin it, charging $22 for a pathetic sliver of meat, the size of a thumb, is pure daylight robbery. I’ve seen better portions in a kids’ meal at a fast food joint. And don’t even get me started on how they were cooked—over-fried pork that had the texture of rubber, and salmon that was so overcooked it might as well have been a piece of cardboard. These dishes, if you can even call them that, are worth maybe $5 tops. I've been to more than my fair share of places, and I haven’t been this ripped off in *years*.
Oh, and don’t forget the three tiny, tasteless sauces they throw in to try and make it look like they actually know what they’re doing. Calling this "Japanese cuisine" is an insult. They’re pretending that serving tiny portions is some sort of delicate culinary tradition, but this is nothing more than a scam. Real, authentic Japanese food is about variety, balance, and quality—this was none of those things.
That $22 plate should be a small side, not the entire entree. The fact that they have the audacity to call it an entree is laughable. It’s not like I hold this place to the same high standards as in SoCal or Japan—I’m just asking for a decent portion of *edible* food. And this? This is far below even the lowest bar.
This place is an absolute joke. The menu is a travesty, and after a year of living here, it’s the worst I’ve seen. Never again. I’ll never trust online reviews again after this disaster. Asian food enthusiasts, STAY AWAY FROM THIS PLACE.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Incredible 7 course omakase! All the bites were perfectly prepared and the soft shelled shrimp were very fun. The wine pairing went great with the courses. It did take a little time between bites and we were there for about 3 hours total. I think this menu is the best bang for your buck compared to all the tasting menu options across the m restaurants.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I actually thought I made reservations for the original m sushi, so this was a pleasant surprise! We did the experience and although the food was phenomenal, there were a few portions that I could tell weren't freshly made. Overall though, the service and ambiance was on point for a birthday dinner.
We had the full Chef's Japanese menu for $127 a person without tip and taxes. We ended up spending $800 for four people. For this price, the service is ultra-casual. It's just too much food and while some of the dishes are inspired, others are not. Great miso soup, shrimp toast, scallops, tempura. The beautiful lobster that one cooks oneself at the table was delicious, but the flame at the table and perhaps from a lack of ventilation with the open kitchen leaves diners smelling like food when they leave. The Wagyu beef dish was shaved beef that sticks in the teeth...yes, tasty with the salad, but could have been julienne for a better mouth feel. I would suggest culling the menu and the price. I have also had the $75 tempura menu...also too much food. Perhaps give the diner more choice to add and subtract from these menus? I love MPocha and MSushi, but I probably will not be back to MTempura.
Wow! Wow! Wow! What a fabulous dining experience. We enjoyed the M Omakase food and wine pairing. All the dishes were beautifully presented and delicious and the wines were perfect. I now know why Savannah Miller was selected for Top Chef and was a finalist. Savannah and her staff were amazing. I live in Florida now and I'll go back when I come home to Durham in December.
Highly recommend the tempura tasting menu! I can understand skepticism around the fact that tempura is simply fried food, but tempura is best when “fresh”, so it was nice to have each piece plated in front of us straight from the fryer. This, along with the sides and great service were well worth the $38. We were stuffed before dessert! Would come back for their omakase or kaiseki.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
we had a good time. The wine serving was more Like a sample Basic, I’m not gonna lie too much money and they charge like a bottle. The food is basic and the service is good. I’m not gonna lie, but it was way too much money for they give you to eat. When When you’re getting fried food, you’re getting fried food so I was I’m not gonna lie Chef is you’re getting fried food so I was totally disappointed I’m not gonna lie and the chef was not friendly whatsoever. The wine portion was like a
Delicious food and enjoyed chasing with thy chef.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Phenomenal experience with the crew at M Tempura. We opted for the M Omakase tasting menu and blown away with the 7 courses. Each course was different and this restaurant puts a different twist on each plate. I highly recommend the tasting menu experience.
The staff and service is amazing. Our water was never empty for longer than 10 minutes. This restaurant is top tier when it comes to service and deserves more praise than what they receive.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallop Crudo, Tempura Course
Restaurantji Recommends
I was excited to get a reservation after the latest season of top chef and M Tempura didn't disappoint! The food was delicious and varied, the drinks (especially the house soda) were very well paired, and I felt very cozy in the fairly small, brick-lined restaurant. My thanks to the entire team for the wonderful birthday dinner.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Tempura Course
We visited M Tempura last night for a kaiseki dinner and were blown away! I expected good things, but it exceeded all I imagined. From one course to the next, the food was superb. And our wait person was fantastic, giving us in-depth descriptions of all the food, along with the wine parings. If you're ready to treat yourself to a fabulous food experience, this is the place for you! My highest recommendations for M Tempura!!
Awesome food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Scallop, Pork Katsu
Had dinner with a group at the bar in July 2024. Tasting menu was delightful. Dishes were beautifully presented, ginger ice cream dessert was heavenly. We really enjoyed watching the preparation as well. Nearby parking garage was an easy walk. Try it, you'll love it!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Ginger Ice Cream, Tempura Course
This is definitely my second favorite out of the “M” restaurants (M Sushi takes the cake), but I must say, everything we had was expertly crafted. Typically you need 24hrs notice to do the M Omakase menu, but the chef was able to accommodate us last minute which was awesome. So many unique flavors and pairings (definitely worth the price and trip).
My only qualm with our experience was that it took an obscenely long time to get all our courses. We were in the restaurant for over three hours which really derailed our plans for the evening. The food and service were amazing, but I’ve been to plenty of coursed out fine dining establishments before and never had it take quite so long. However, I will say, we did not give them notice for the Omasake order so that could definitely have contributed.
Weirdly enough my least favorite dish was the tempura! Still delicious, but all the other courses really stood out to me. Can’t wait to try M Test Kitchen next!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Lobster, Scallop
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