Bincho Yakitori Bar & Kitchen

BINCHO YAKITORI BAR & KITCHEN HAS PERMANENTLY CLOSED.

Inspired by Japanese yakitori-ya (traditional small grilling stalls), Bincho Yakitori Bar and Kitchen brings a touch of Tokyo to the Valley.

The latest venture from Cloudland's Katarzyna Group (who also operate the Press Club, Family and Birdees), Bincho is housed in the historic Empire Hotel on the corner of Brunswick Street and Ann Street. This casual bar and eatery provides patrons with the option of dining  at a counter overlooking the open kitchen (where bite-sized  morsels are skewered and grilled over binchotan charcoal) or inside the Empire Hotel with communal tables, private booths, lotus shaped lampshades, black and white marble bar and graffitied ceiling.

With executive chef Richard Slarp (ex-Aria catering at Sydney Opera House) and head chef Yasuke Sei (Sake, Sydney) at the helm, expect exceptional fare. The yakitori menu includes meat (chicken, wagyu beef and pork belly), seafood (prawn and salmon), vegetables (miso eggplant and shiitake mushroom) and fried quail eggs with bacon.

Besides yakitori, there's miso soup, corn fritters with wasabi mayo, lettuce cups with spicy citrus marinated prawns and the recommended lotus root chips with peppered yuzu salsa; while more substantial offerings include seared tuna, karaage and Cradle to the Grave - soft egg, sushi rice peas and shallots served with crispy chicken skin. Sweet tooths will be tempted by Japanese trifle (matcha tea sponge with yuzu curd, red bean and umeshu jelly).

To compliment the food menu, the bar stocks a range of Japanese beverages from beer and sake to Japanese whiskey, umeshu (Japanese liqueur) and shochu - a Japanese alcohol weaker than whisky but stronger than sake.  Or try something from the creative cocktail list: Ginger Ninja, Japanese Slipper, Bincho Bango or Yuzu Sharkbowl - Beefeater gin, yuzu plum wine, Blue Curaco, egg white and soda served in a fishbowl and garnished with gummy sharks. Cider and craft beer (both bottled and on tap) and wine (available by the glass or bottle) round out the drinks menu.  

*Nice to Know: Bincho provides plenty of gluten-free, dairy-free and vegetarian options.  

by Deb Lidster