Bincho
Encyclopedia
Bincho, also known as Bincho Yakitori, is a London-based Japanese restaurant styled on the traditional izakaya
s found throughout Japan
. Yakitori
, literally translated as "grilled bird", is prepared on skewers and cooked over dense coals known as Bincho-tan
made from Oak
. True to the izakaya
theme, food is served as it is ready and a variety of dishes can be ordered and are served continuously throughout the meal.
Restaurant and Rick Stein
, first entertained the idea of opening an izakaya in London whilst he was living in Tokyo
in the late 1990s. Miney spent several years delving into the dingy late night izakaya scene, usually the traditional haunt of drunken salarymen
and young Japanese hostesses. In 2007 he teamed up with Dominic Ford and Ronnie Truss and opened the flagship Bincho Yakitori at OXO Tower
near Blackfriars on the banks of the River Thames
. Experienced Yakitori Chef and Bincho Head Chef Hidenori Ohata was brought over from Japan in 2009 to help with the menu and expansion of the Bincho chain. Malcolm Simpson, originally from Australia who had been working in Tokyo restaurants for many years, was also brought over from Japan to manage the expanding chain. Simpson has been known to host informative and creative Sake tastings within the Bincho restaurant group.
UK Guardian Jay Rayner
review
UK Sunday Times AA Gill review
in SoHo
. Set out over two floors and seating around 100 covers, the shop front is deceptively small opening up into a large Sake bar, dining room and separate basement area once inside. The interior decorations are very similar to the glamorous flagship OXO Tower location but overall seems a little more grungy which is in tune with the Old Compton Street atmosphere and the worn look of authentic Izakayas in Tokyo.
Izakaya
An is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are popular, casual places for after-work drinking.-Name:...
s found throughout Japan
Japan
Japan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
. Yakitori
Yakitori
, grilled chicken, is commonly a Japanese type of skewered chicken. The term Yakitori can also refer to skewered food in general. Kushiyaki , is a formal term that encompasses both poultry and non-poultry items, skewered and grilled...
, literally translated as "grilled bird", is prepared on skewers and cooked over dense coals known as Bincho-tan
Bincho-tan
Binchō-tan or white charcoal or binchō-zumi is a traditional charcoal of Japan. It dates to the Edo period, when during the Genroku era, a craftsman named Bitchū-ya Chōzaemon began to produce it in Tanabe, Wakayama. The raw material is oak, specifically ubame oak , now the official tree of...
made from Oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
. True to the izakaya
Izakaya
An is a type of Japanese drinking establishment which also serves food to accompany the drinks. They are popular, casual places for after-work drinking.-Name:...
theme, food is served as it is ready and a variety of dishes can be ordered and are served continuously throughout the meal.
History
Chef David Miney, formerly of OXO TowerOXO Tower
The OXO Tower is a building with a prominent tower on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The building currently has a set of bijou arts and crafts shops on the ground and first floors. A well-known restaurant is located on the 8th floor, which is the roof top level of the main building...
Restaurant and Rick Stein
Rick Stein
Christopher Richard "Rick" Stein OBE is an English chef, restaurateur and television presenter. He is currently the head chef and co-owner of "Rick Stein at Bannisters" at Mollymook, New South Wales, Australia, owns four restaurants in Padstow, a fish and chip shop in Falmouth, Cornwall and has...
, first entertained the idea of opening an izakaya in London whilst he was living in Tokyo
Tokyo
, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...
in the late 1990s. Miney spent several years delving into the dingy late night izakaya scene, usually the traditional haunt of drunken salarymen
Salaryman
refers to someone whose income is salary based; particularly those working for corporations. Its frequent use by Japanese corporations, and its prevalence in Japanese manga and anime has gradually led to its acceptance in English-speaking countries as a noun for a Japanese white-collar...
and young Japanese hostesses. In 2007 he teamed up with Dominic Ford and Ronnie Truss and opened the flagship Bincho Yakitori at OXO Tower
OXO Tower
The OXO Tower is a building with a prominent tower on the south bank of the River Thames in London. The building currently has a set of bijou arts and crafts shops on the ground and first floors. A well-known restaurant is located on the 8th floor, which is the roof top level of the main building...
near Blackfriars on the banks of the River Thames
River Thames
The River Thames flows through southern England. It is the longest river entirely in England and the second longest in the United Kingdom. While it is best known because its lower reaches flow through central London, the river flows alongside several other towns and cities, including Oxford,...
. Experienced Yakitori Chef and Bincho Head Chef Hidenori Ohata was brought over from Japan in 2009 to help with the menu and expansion of the Bincho chain. Malcolm Simpson, originally from Australia who had been working in Tokyo restaurants for many years, was also brought over from Japan to manage the expanding chain. Simpson has been known to host informative and creative Sake tastings within the Bincho restaurant group.
Awards & reputation
UK Telegraph Newspaper reviewUK Guardian Jay Rayner
Jay Rayner
Jay Rayner is a British journalist, writer, broadcaster, and food critic.Rayner is the younger son of journalist Claire Rayner and Desmond Rayner, and attended the independent Haberdashers' Aske's Boys' School. He joined The Observer newspaper after graduating from Leeds University in 1988 where...
review
UK Sunday Times AA Gill review
London/OXO Tower
Bincho OXO has a massive open-floor plan and seats around 140 covers. Opening to positive reviews, Bincho OXO was noted as one of the hottest new openings in London of 2007. Their OXO Tower flagship restaurant closed in early 2008, no doubt a victim to the economic climate and it's sheer size and it's slightly "off the beaten track" location.London/SoHo
Opening in 2008, Bincho opened a second location in the heart of London's theatre-land on Old Compton StreetOld Compton Street
Old Compton Street runs east-west through Soho, London, England.- History :The street was named after Henry Compton. who raised funds for a local parish church, eventually dedicated as St Anne's Church in 1686...
in SoHo
SoHo
SoHo is a neighborhood in Lower Manhattan, New York City, notable for being the location of many artists' lofts and art galleries, and also, more recently, for the wide variety of stores and shops ranging from trendy boutiques to outlets of upscale national and international chain stores...
. Set out over two floors and seating around 100 covers, the shop front is deceptively small opening up into a large Sake bar, dining room and separate basement area once inside. The interior decorations are very similar to the glamorous flagship OXO Tower location but overall seems a little more grungy which is in tune with the Old Compton Street atmosphere and the worn look of authentic Izakayas in Tokyo.