Ashiya tempura specialty restaurant “芦屋天がゆ” also has a location on the 4th floor of Gardens (they also have one in Kurakuen-guchi).
As the name “Itaba-age Tempura” suggests, all seats are counter-style, and the restaurant serves tempura freshly fried right in front of you.
This time, we visited “芦屋天がゆ 阪急西宮ガーデンズ店.”
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Itaba-age Tempura “芦屋天がゆ 阪急西宮ガーデンズ店” Food
This time I ordered the “Limited Autumn Menu” (2,100 yen).
It’s limited to 100 servings per day.
I’m weak when it comes to limited-time offerings…
First up was this.
Along with tempura dipping sauce and salt, they brought out a “three-kind assortment of pickles.”
The pickles are meant to be enjoyed later with the rice or rice porridge.
Next was this.
It’s a “three-piece stick vegetable arrangement.”
You eat these with salt.
The rice porridge and miso soup arrived.
At this restaurant, you can choose either “porridge” or “rice,” and this time I went with the porridge.
Refills are free, and you can even switch between porridge and rice partway through.
Freshly fried tempura is served one by one on this plate placed on the counter.
I’m looking forward to it.
First were “two natural shrimp.”
These are eaten with lemon and salt.
Fried food really is best when it’s freshly fried.
You can fully enjoy the contrast between the batter and the shrimp, and the lemon and salt make the sweetness of the shrimp stand out even more.
Next were “splendid alfonsino” and “matsutake mushroom.”
You squeeze sudachi over these before eating.
The refreshing acidity and aroma of the sudachi bring out the flavors of the matsutake and splendid alfonsino.
It really tastes like autumn.
This is “jade eggplant.”
You eat it with tempura dipping sauce.
Apparently, “jade eggplant” refers to eggplant with the skin removed.
It must take quite a bit of care to prepare.
It was very fresh and juicy, even though it had been fried, and it was delicious.
This is “Saikyo miso-marinated sablefish.”
You eat this as is.
Turning it into tempura brings out the flavor of the Saikyo miso even more.
It may have been my first time trying Saikyo-marinated fish as tempura, and it was really good.
This is tempura made with a potato called “Inca no Mezame.”
You eat this with salt.
It was a very sweet potato, almost like eating sweet potato or chestnut.
It’s also very moist, so the contrast in texture with the batter is enjoyable.
Last was “kakiage.”
You can enjoy it however you like, with salt, tempura sauce, and so on.
That completes the course of eight tempura items, but if you want to eat a little more, you can order additional items separately.
For details, ask the chef at the counter.
On the way out, I received some “tenkasu” tempura crumbs as a souvenir.
Itaba-age Tempura “芦屋天がゆ 阪急西宮ガーデンズ店” Menu
This restaurant doesn’t have a separate lunch menu; the same course menu is offered throughout all business hours.
Here is the menu.
For a tempura specialty restaurant, the prices seem relatively reasonable.
They also have a course for children.
Itaba-age Tempura “芦屋天がゆ 阪急西宮ガーデンズ店” Interior
All seats are counter seats.
The counter seats surround the cooking area, so you can enjoy freshly fried tempura right away.
Here’s what the seating looks like.
The cooking area is on the other side of the counter.
Itaba-age Tempura “芦屋天がゆ 阪急西宮ガーデンズ店” Exterior
The restaurant is on the 4th floor of Gardens, so head up to the 4th floor.
Here is the exterior of the restaurant.
This large sign is the landmark to look for.
There are also signs showing the course menus.
You can take your time deciding before going in.
Itaba-age Tempura “芦屋天がゆ 阪急西宮ガーデンズ店” Restaurant Information
★Business hours: 11:00～23:00（L.O.21:00）
★Closed Irregular holidays (same as Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens)
★Phone number 0798-65-7727
★Address 兵庫県西宮市高松町14-2 Hankyu Nishinomiya Gardens 4F
★Seats 44 seats
★Credit cards Accepted
★Smoking Not allowed
★Related links
Website/Tabelog
(*Prices, menu items, business hours, and other details are as of the time of coverage. Please check directly with the restaurant for the latest information.)
