Bicho
Situated away from the bustle of Causeway Bay’s busy streets, Bicho has remained a firm favourite with robatayaki fans since its opening in 2007. They pride themselves on their yakitori (grilled chicken) wings, which are cooked until the skin is crisp and yields easily to the tender meat underneath. They also do a version of the chicken wings stuffed plump with mentaiko (marinated fish roe). 26/F, Continental Diamond Plaza, 523-527 Hennessy Rd, Causeway Bay, 2838 7022. $600.

Busy Suzie
Gilbert Yeung’s Japanese joint at 1881 Heritage scores massive points for its hip-as-hell décor and lively, theatrical atmosphere. But it’s not just about the looks; intent on bringing the best robatayaki experience to Hong Kong diners, Yeung hired an expert team of Japanese chefs to man the grills. Enjoy freshly fired up delicacies, such as Miyazaki A5 beef sirloin and shisyamo fish, all made from premium ingredients jetted in daily from Japan. Shop 209, 1881 Heritage, 2A Canton Rd, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2369 0077. $1,000.

Magushi
This is essentially a modern izakaya, with glitzy interiors to go with the luxury ingredients. Menu favourites include Australian lamb racks and slabs of foie gras, seared on the grill and served on small squares of toast. Look out for their frequent sake promos, which are popular with the regulars. 74 Peel St, Soho, 2868 1428. $600.

Nan Tei
Nan Tei serves killer grilled skewers done the no-frills, izakaya way. The cramped space gets pretty noisy with the clinking of beer glasses and boisterous chatter, but it’s all the sound of people having a good time. Most dishes need just a simple sprinkling of salt to bring out the ingredients’ natural flavours. The thick-cut ox tongue is among one of the must-orders and goes particularly well with an ice-cold beer. Shop A, G/F, 6-10 Sun Wui Rd, Causeway Bay, 3118 2501. $400.

Niku
Many make the trek here for the black pork. In one signature dish, a thin slice is wrapped around a plump lychee and then lovingly grilled. The fatty pork melds beautifully with the lychee’s fragrant, mild sweetness. It’s hard to stop at just one order. And if the grilled items don’t fill you up, order their famous udon noodles. These slippery, al dente strands come in regular, ume (plum) and matcha flavours. 2 Shin Hing St, Noho, 3485 1850. $600.

Sake and Yakitori
It might not be located in the most obvious of places but that hasn’t stopped Sake and Yakitori from churning out awesome grilled goods. The handmade cuttlefish stick is a house specialty – grilled to a slight smoky crustiness on the outside but still fluffy and chewy on the inside. The menu also features tuna blood – a robustly flavoured item that is little seen in other restaurants. Shop
C, G/F, 6-16 Shell St, Fortress Hill, 2566 0533. $500.

Takeya
Tucked away in a nondescript alleyway, Takeya is easy to miss for first-time visitors. Thankfully, there’s been enough buzz about their food to keep it hot on the foodie’s radar. Owned and run by two Japanese brothers, Takeya specialises in authentic Japanese grilled skewers. Yakitori is particularly good, especially the satisfyingly crisp and surprisingly ungreasy grilled chicken skin. 31C1 Tak Man St, Whampoa Estate, Hung Hom, 2365 8878. $600.

Tokoro
While Langham Place’s Japanese restaurant offers a great selection of jet-fresh sashimi, it’s the robatayaki dishes that shine the most. The seafood selection wins out, with milky smooth silver cod, Alaskan crab leg, Japanese scallops, and even whole lobster grilled fresh from the tank. But that’s not to say that the non-seafood dishes aren’t worth trying. The grade A5 beef from Japan is perfectly seasoned and melts in the mouth like butter. 3/F, Langham Place Hotel, 555 Shanghai St, Mong Kok, 3552 3330. $1,000.

Torishin
Less is more at this tiny robatayaki restaurant. The focus here is on grilled chicken and the menu lists almost everything yakitori-able – wings, thighs, heart, cartilage, tail... you name it. Yakitori items are available à la carte or as part of a set meal. Diners can also choose to have their dishes prepped using chickens flown in from Japan or from France. Either way, it’s guaranteed deliciousness. 12/F, Henry House, 42 Yung Ping Rd, Causeway Bay, 2808 4050. $700.

Zuma
This decidedly modern spot serves up posh and polished versions of popular izakaya dishes. They use a charcoal robata grill, which gives the food a great smoky dimension. The dishes are all served with the restaurant’s special sauce and condiments, so imagine plump grilled scallops with grated apple, wasabi and sweet soya sauce, and salmon brushed with teriyaki sauce, served with pickled cucumber. Zuma also runs a free-flow sake brunch every Saturday. The $550 brunch features some of the best rice wines from Japan and a changing menu of izakaya items, including several robatayaki choices. 5/F & 6/F, The Landmark, 15 Queen’s Rd, Central, 3657 6388. $1,500.