Hong Kong’s Japanese dining scene may be flushed with a litany of beloved sub-cuisines, yet it is the yakitori space that enjoys some of the greatest popularity in the city.
Yakitori is a Japanese-style meat skewer, typically comprising chicken and involves cooking the meat over a charcoal fire to imbue roasted and sweet notes to the savoury skewer. Yakitori skewers are dusted with seasoning, be that salt, togarashi seasoning, or a sweet tare sauce.
Read through our recommendations in the list for where to find the best yakitori skewers in Hong Kong.
The best yakitori restaurants in Hong Kong
Hanagushi Yakitori Japanese Restaurant
Born in 1991, Hanagushi Yakitori is Hong Kong’s first original yakitori restaurant. This old-school joint serves 40 choices of skewered chicken pieces, inclusive of thigh, cheek, butt, aorta, wing, trachea, and more. Their sake and beer selection is comprehensive with fine labels from Hyogo, Japan’s top sake-producing region.
Hanagushi Yakitori Japanese Restaurant, 8/F, M88, 2-8 Wellington Street, Central, 2521 0868
Toritama
At this Soho outpost of Japan’s famed yakitori restaurant, Toritama uses 40-day-old chickens to serve skewers to diners sitting across their bar counter. 28 different parts of the aged birds are offered, keeping a moist and umami-heavy tone. Cuts of calf muscle, rib meat, thigh, liver, gizzard skin, and oesophagus are all available to try.
Toritama, GF, 2 Glenealy Road, Central, 2388 7717, book here
Yardbird
The almighty Yardbird in Sheung Wan deserves a rightful mention on our list. It is not just the skewers – of which you can enjoy a full scope of the bird from breast, rib, and achilles to gizzard, thyroid, and skin – but the party vibe and comprehensive bar programme that has continuously pulled people to this legendary spot.
Yardbird, G/F, 154-158 Wing Lok Street, Sheung Wan, 2547 9273, book here
Umai Ramen Sumibiyaki
Up in Lai Chi Kok, Umai Ramen Sumibiyaki uses Japanese Awaodori chicken for the meat and Qing Yuan chicken for organs cooked on a binchotan charcoal grill to impart a great charcoal bite to their yakitori. Chicken crown, testis, immature egg yolks, and thyroid can be enjoyed here, amongst other rare bites.
Umai Ramen Sumibiyaki, Shop 2, G/F, D2 Place ONE, 9 Cheung Yee Street, Lai Chi Kok, 2743 8011, book here
BON Japanese Yakitori Bar
BON Japanese Yakitori Bar is located sky high in the centre of Tsim Sha Tsui’s centrally located foodie neighbourhood. Importing Japanese chicken from Kagoshima, Miyazaki, Hyogo, and Tokushima Prefectures, the restaurant-bar excels in delivering affordable thigh, gizzard, minced chicken, skin, tail, and neck skewers.
BON Japanese Yakitori Bar, 22/F, H8, 8 Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2710 8686
Yakitori Tsukada
Brought to Hong Kong by way of its Tokyo roots, Yakitori Tsukada implements traditional cooking techniques to grill their Satsuma Tori chicken from Kagoshima over binchotan charcoal for the perfect crisp bite. The thigh, white breast, skin, and wing are our recommendations for skewer picks. Make sure to try the chef’s picks of sake.
Yakitori Tsukada, Shop 1-3 G/F, Grand Centre, 8 Humphreys Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2688 6773, book here
Yakitori Torisho
Stationed on the slopes of Soho, this yakitori joint emulates the skewer joints of Japan with a woody interior, sharp sour cocktails, and chicken-galore. On the menu at Yakitori Torisho, we recommend ordering the fried tofu roll with chicken, tail, gizzard, soft bone, and neck for a bit of crunch and moistness.
Yakitori Torisho, LG/F, Harilela House, 79 Wyndham Street, Central, 2727 0117, book here
Birdie
The fun-loving Birdie is vibrant with its modern design, decorated with green plants and a circular bar area promising optimum distance to the Japanese chef. As noted in its name, the menu is all about chicken, with the chicken harami (chunks), breast soft bone, hatsumoto (grilled aorta), neck, and thigh making for the perfect bites.
Birdie, 9/F, The Steps ‧ H Code, 45 Pottinger Street, Central, 2789 2881, book here
Nanbantei
Sake, alcohol, and a party is what Nanbantei stands for in Causeway Bay. The yakitori section makes up a small portion of the menu, but tastes powerful. Try their special chicken wing stuffed with cheese and chicken with scallions for a more rare skewer in Hong Kong. The chicken meatstick and cartilage also pack a meaty, moist punch.
Nanbantei, 6/F, Henry House, 42 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, 2911 0099, book here
Yakitori Hon
Sai Ying Pun’s top yakitori spot is dressed just like Japan’s cosy skewer spots. The chef team at Yakitori Hon use binchotan charcoal grills to prepare the yakitori. With your highballs, order their signature chicken thigh with takorishi sauce or lime pepper seasoning, chest bones, diaphragms, and neck, all offering good crunch texture.
Yakitori Hon, Shop 8-11, No. 2, Art Lane, 1 Chung Ching Street, Sai Ying Pun, 5596 8180
