There’s a new boss in town, Bincho Boss, a Japanese izakaya, inspired by the bustling laneway eateries and boozy backstreets of Tokyo. The name bincho is taken from binchō-tan, a clean-burning white charcoal, which many of the restaurant’s signature dishes are grilled over.
Much of the menu is cooked on an earthen konro grill, sustained by binchō-tan, a smokeless charcoal which allows the food’s natural flavours to shine through. Executive chef Tomotaka Ishizuka (Ishizuka) and head chef Keiji Ishida (Kisume) have paired this traditional grilling method with seasonal Aussie produce, while adding a few twists of their own.
The menu covers all bases from wagyu beef and king prawns seared on the glowing konro, to pan-fried udon dishes, simmering hot pots, deep-fried snacks and skewer food. A specialty of the restaurant will be its house-made tofu, a cold, jiggly mound served with soy sauce, grated ginger and salmon roe and the espresso crème caramel in a rich chestnut sauce.
The drinks list has been topped up with more than just the usual beers and sakes. The downstairs bar will sling Japanese-inspired cocktails, from a mandarin sakégroni to a matcha highball and a yuzu-infused Oriental sour. Alongside an impressive selection of Japanese whiskies, you’ll also find a few rare Japanese gins too.
The 70-seater venue will have an intimate dining room upstairs and neon-splashed seating in the bar below. The interiors have been given a clean, Japandi-style fit-out, which sees oak timbers paired with globe lighting and brushed gold accents. Artworks by local Melbourne artists, including a feature piece by David Strickland, add colour to the walls.
Bincho Boss is located at 383-385 Little Bourke Street, Melbourne. Opening hours are Mon – Wed 11:30am – 9:30pm, Thu – Sat 11:30am – 10pm. For more details or to book, head to binchoboss.com.au.
