Restaurant Bincho is a contemporary Japanese yakitori restaurant located in the back of the 70-year-old kopitiam (traditional coffee shop) Hua Bee (featured in the 1995 movie Mee Pok Man). The entrance to this hole-in-the-wall speakeasy is through a lit up back door, next to the trash cans, under an array of air conditioning vents, in the dark alley behind the mee pok shop. Through a small hatch in the door, we could get a glimpse of the industrial-looking restaurant on the other side. Inside, we were seated at the counter right in front of the action (highly recommended if you can book it). We selected the omakase menu, and chef Asai Masashi whipped up one amazing chicken dish after the other, using every part of the animal. Flames from the binchō-tan grill, using traditional Japanese white charcoal, often reached all the way to the ceiling.
Note: This restaurant has closed permanently.
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