M Tempura
Phone: (919) 748-3874
M Tempura, one of only a handful of true tempura restaurants on the East Coast, was named by Bon Appetit as one of the top 50 best new restaurants in the country in 2019. From Chef Mike Lee, who also owns M Sushi, M Pocha and M Kokko downtown, M Tempura is also home to Chef Savannah Miller, one of the 'chef-testants' on season 21 of Bravo's Top Chef.
Cuisines
- Casual Dining
- Japanese/Sushi/Korean
Hours
Monday: Closed
Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Thursday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Friday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Tuesday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Wednesday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Thursday: 5:00 – 9:30 PM
Friday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Saturday: 5:00 – 10:00 PM
Sunday: Closed
Map
Google Rating
-
The kaiseki omakase experience was great. I sat at the bar and got to watch the chefs make some of the dishes which was really cool to watch. The food on the other hand was JUST good. I am spoiled by the other restaurants in the “M” series and the food here didn’t wow me in the same way and it was a similar price point. I definitely recommend trying it once for something different and to taste their obviously top notch ingredients.
-
We went partially because we’re Top Chef fans, but we were also intrigued by a Japanese brunch. We sat at the bar so we could watch the cooking which was really fun to engage. Please be aware there is no Omakase at brunch, but there’s a whole bunch of intriguing choices and we quite enjoyed it. It is meant to be shared the only challenge we had was picking which dishes to order. We thought the omelette was incredible and I think that was the biggest surprise The only disappointment at least for brunch it doesn’t seem you can trust the online system if there’s space or not. We were driving home so we thought we’d chance to see if we could get in for brunch even though it looked like it might be filled.
-
Go there with a small group or by yourself. Sit at the counter. Get the M Omakasa... Yeah it cost some money but the experience is worth it.
Listen to Chef explain each course of Tempura to you.
I enjoyed every course so much I forgot to take pics until they served the Miso-Marinated Seabass.
ALL KILLER NO FILLER
Enjoy yourself, you're worth it, it's worth it. -
Let’s just say this: I went to M Tempura expecting a decent dinner. What I got was a tempura-based love story—with Jennifer as my culinary matchmaker and the chef as my trusty narrator.
Dining solo here doesn’t mean dining in silence. Jennifer, my waitress and now spiritual flavor guide, suggested I add the *brie course* to my tempura tasting. I hesitated. Brie? With tempura? Ma’am… YES. Brie, nori, honey, and truffle in one bite? I don’t know what kind of culinary witchcraft that was, but I’d follow it into battle. Or at least into another reservation.
Every course was thoughtfully prepared, with the chef offering insights that made me slow down and actually *think* about what I was eating. It wasn’t just dinner—it was a little education in flavor. The tempura itself? A revelation. Light, crisp, not drowning in batter like your usual “tempura adjacent” spots. You could *actually* taste the ingredient inside. And let me tell you, the root vegetable course? Delicate. Earthy. Unexpectedly elegant.
To top it off, the ginger ice cream was the kind of palate cleanser that makes you consider skipping dessert for the rest of your life because nothing else will live up.
Would I go back? I’m already planning my return like it’s a second date with someone who actually listens.
**Pro tips:**
* Go with the tasting menu if you're not starving—plenty of food, but no food coma.
* Don’t skip the brie add-on. Seriously.
* Sit at the bar for chef interaction if you're solo—makes the experience that much richer.
This isn’t just a dinner spot—it’s a damn delight. -
An amazing restaurant to try if you are a sea food and fish lover and also appreciate fresh produce. I particularly went there to meet Chef Savannah (a Top Chef Finalist). It was amazing to see how friendly she was and she interacts with you while cooking if you are at the bar seating (would definitely recommend that). We went there to celebrate our 6 month wedding anniversary and had a great experience.
We had the M Omakase meal and loved every bit of it. The menu progression is amazing. It starts off with chawanmushi (Japanese savory custard). It is creamy and had a good umami from the walnut oil and trout roe. The salmon crudo was bright and fragrant. Next was the dolma and my favorite dish of the menu. It had a very unique flavor to it. Next were the tempuras and all of the them were out of the world. The batter was the best I had so far. Every produce was fresh. The meal with miso marinated seabass was great.
Overall, a highly recommended restaurant. Everything was seasoned well and the service was fast.
Nearby Businesses
.01 Miles Away
.02 Miles Away
.02 Miles Away
.02 Miles Away
Related Stories
The Ultimate 2026 Durham Bucket List
We’ve got a blueprint for a year of exploration and discovery in Durham. How will you do it in Durham?
What Chef Mike Lee Loves About Durham
We sat down with chef Mike Lee to talk about why he started his restaurant empire here and what makes this…
Durham’s Award-Winning Restaurants
Find out everything you need to know about Durham's award winning restaurants from local food journalist Matt Lardie.
Staff Menu Picks: Our Favorite Dishes in Durham
Discover Durham's staff and volunteers know Durham's restaurants like it's our job. Find out our biased opinions on Durham's most crave-able…
What Top Chef Finalist Savannah Miller Loves About Durham
We spoke with M Tempura Chef de Cuisine and Top Chef Season 21 finalist Savannah Miller just before the final two…
A Retiree’s Guide to Exploring Durham
Retirees don’t need to move to Durham to enjoy its many pleasures. Durham is also a great destination for retired travelers…
