Family tendon lunch with mom and daughter at Koutendon, Suncheon

Girlish appetite season is here 🍤 It's cool enough now that I don't need the AC to sleep. Right? Just a couple days ago I was dying from the tropical nights, but fall really seems to be arriving. Which means all that's left for me is to gain weight.

So today, in the name of gaining weight (?), let me introduce Koutendon, a tendon (tempura rice bowl) restaurant in Suncheon's Sindae district that I visited with my mom and my middle-school-age daughter while traveling in Suncheon.

Where is Koutendon in Suncheon's Sindae district?

Koutendon is located in Suncheon's Sindae district, on an alley packed with restaurants nearby. We'd made a reservation, and since it was still early evening we were seated right away and could eat at a relaxed pace.

Seating and atmosphere

There's an open kitchen with counter seating as well as tables, so the space felt spacious. The interior was tastefully done, showing the owner's sense of style. And I found it a nice touch that the staff are called 'crew members.'

What's on the menu, and what we ordered

The menu at Koutendon was really varied — from basic tendon to donburi and even soba 👍 You could also enjoy simple salmon sashimi, and it seemed like a good spot not just for a meal but for a light drink too. After a lot of deliberation, we ordered spicy chicken-sauce shrimp tendon, one pork tendon, and one salmon donburi. There's no separate paper menu — you have to check and order via tableside ordering — which was a bit inconvenient for my elderly mom, a downside worth mentioning.

How to eat it the right way

Note to self on how to eat it right 📝 You know how ramen tastes best when you cook it exactly by the instructions on the package? So we followed the instructions exactly as given.

Shrimp and pork tendon tempura — the portions are massive

The food arrived. Can you see the mountain of tempura? The portions are massive — eggplant, sweet pumpkin, seaweed, squid tempura, plus the main event: shrimp and black pork 🐖 tempura. The batter was crispy, adding to the enjoyment of every bite. It was fried in clean oil too, judging by the pretty golden color 🌸

Following the instructions on how to eat it right, we set the tempura aside and just mixed the rice with the egg. Seasoned egg rice — tastes amazing even on its own 👍 The sauce seasoning was sweet and salty, totally my style (yes, I have a baby's palate, guilty as charged).

How was the salmon donburi?

The salmon donburi was really delicious too. The salmon was so fresh and thick that eating it with the rice was just an insanely good combo. It melts in your mouth. Make sure to wrap it in seaweed, and don't skip the horseradish sauce and onions on top.

Right around when things started getting a bit rich, my mom mixed herself a highball (she knows what's up), while I stuck to Sprite since I was driving — but the three of us ate happily until we were completely stuffed. Feeling great, belly full.

Next time I should try the soba and futomaki too. If I bring my big-eater husband along, we could order everything we want — such a nice bonus.

If you're looking for a good tendon spot in Suncheon's Sindae district, or the authentic taste of Japanese tendon, how about Koutendon in Suncheon's Sindae district? It's a solid choice for both a date and a family meal.

Hours and parking info

• Address: 3-11 Maean 4-gil, Haeryong-myeon, Suncheon-si, Jeollanam-do, South Korea (101ho), Koutendon
• Hours: 11:00–20:30
• Break time: 14:30–17:00
• Last order: 20:00
• Closed: Every other Tuesday
• Parking: Free lot in front of Maean Elementary's back gate, or the free lot behind the restaurant