Sunday Dip
Tenmusu (Shrimp Tempura Rice Ball) (天むす) - Japanese konbini foodAI

Tenmusu (Shrimp Tempura Rice Ball)

天むす

A whole shrimp tempura hiding inside a rice ball.

A whole battered and deep-fried shrimp tucked inside a compact rice ball — a beloved Nagoya specialty.

  • Shrimp Tempura
  • Nagoya Specialty
  • Crispy Filling
Sweetness
0 out of 5
Spiciness
0 out of 5
Richness
3 out of 5
Adventure
2 out of 5
The Inside Scoop

Did you know?

Tenmusu was born in Tsu City, Mie Prefecture in the 1930s when a tempura restaurant owner made a quick rice ball with leftover shrimp tempura for her husband. It later became famous as a Nagoya specialty in the 1980s — sometimes the best ideas start as a lazy lunch.

How to eat

  • 1Eat it soon after buying — the tempura gradually loses its crunch as it sits inside the warm, moist rice.
  • 2The shrimp tail may poke out of the rice. It's edible, but feel free to leave it if you prefer.