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Bincho

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16 Old Compton Street, W1D 4TL Full details & map

Grill: Japanese

Grilled skewers at Bincho - © Jonathan Perugia

Time Out says 6 Users say 5/5 Rate it

By Time Out Editors Posted: Oct 20 2011

We liked the original Bincho, with great Thames views and space for a theatrically long open grill, but this surviving branch has a better vibe. It's darker, Soho-boisterous, more cramped and closer in feel to the Japanese booze-with-food izakaya model than its spacious but over-refined progenitor.

The key feature remains the charcoal grill, here located near the entrance, on to which chefs throw little skewers of meat, fish and vegetables. This is the more enjoyable section of the restaurant, since you can watch the flames and smell the smoke, but there are also couply tables in a second room to the rear that are often less hectic.

Setting a minimum order of two skewers from the yakitori and kushiyaki lists seems a little mean, but share them around and you'll soon have assembled a tasty meal at not unreasonable cost - perhaps vary favourites like pork belly, eel or asparabacon (asparagus with smoky bacon) with more outlandish options such as sunazuri (chicken gizzard).

Among the larger dishes, we enjoy the iwashi shio-yaki (salt-grilled sardine, threaded on a skewer as if still swimming). Do try the premium sakes, served to be drunk from an unwieldy but flavour-enhancing cedar box, the masu.

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Tags: Asian, Japanese, Cocktails, Hip factor, Late night, Something different, Central, Soho, Budget, Restaurant, Grill

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Bincho details

Address

Bincho

16 Old Compton Street W1D 4TL

Transport Leicester Square or Tottenham Court Road tube

Telephone

020 7287 9111

Bincho website

Lunch served noon-3pm Tue-Sat; 1-3.30pm Sun. Dinner served 5-11pm Mon-Sat; 5-10.30pm Sun

Main courses £1.50-£2.50. Set lunch £6.50-£8.50. Set dinner £10-£25

Credit cards AmEx, MC, V

Facilities

Babies and children welcome ( high chairs ), Booking advisable, Separate room for parties ( seats 18 ), Available for hire, Disabled ( toilet ), Takeaway service

Bincho map

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Comments & ratings 5/5 (Average of 6 ratings)

By Giasone - Sep 5 2011

5/5

The best non-sushi Japanese food ever! We found everything super fresh, tasty and so cheap! No fass serving and open plan kitchen really make you feel at home, something particulalry difficult in Soho these days. My favourite is the chicken oyster, not to be missed...

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By Kunning - Jul 15 2011

5/5

Most delicious JP grills I've ever tasted across London.
Staffs are so nice with decent service.
This is the best place for me to catch up with my friends, but the price to students are quite expensive.

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By A. - Mar 19 2011

5/5

The food was delicious - we had duck, beef tongue, eel and beef, could recommend all of them, except the latter one, so don't go for the traditional chicken/beef selection, try something more interesting (and more tasty). The rice with garlic bits was also very good, miso soup - one of the best ones that we tried in London.
The service was very fast and we were looked after to the max.
The environment is cosy, though the smell of grilling is the only irritating bit, as it was strong throughout the place and got into our clothes.

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By Simon - Jan 20 2011

Definitely misleading as a cheap eat. Tiny portions on each stick and paying extra for dipping sauce is cut throat. Tried the 7 samurai choice, and the only tasty morsel was the chicken. Nice looking venue tho'.