Hong Kong’s love affair with Japan is evident in every facet of our daily lives here – ski trips to Niseko via HK Express, an obsession with shopping at DON DON DONKI, craving the fashion and shopping experiences of Tokyo, and, most importantly, eating as much Japanese food as possible.
Within Hong Kong lies dozens of quality izakayas – a type of Japanese bar pairing affordable dishes with alcohol – operating in every corner of the city.
If you’re in need of a top izakaya experience, read through our guide to the best of the best izakayas in Hong Kong.
The best izakayas in Hong Kong
KOZY
Favoured by F&B industry professionals and late-night diners in Causeway Bay, KOZY has remained a favourite of Hong Kong’s Japanese community owing to its jovial atmosphere and service. Importing premium A5 Wagyu beef and recipes straight from Japan, go to KOZY for their okonomiyaki, beef, chicken, and shrimp teppanyaki, spicy noodles, and seasoned vegetables.
KOZY, 9/F, Circle Plaza, 499 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, 2591 1281
Nishiki Yakitori
Operating for more than 20 years inside the Regal Kowloon Hotel, a gem in East Tsim Sha Tsui in its own right, Nishiki is a yakitori-focused izakaya known for its extensive menu of grilled chicken, deep-fried shellfish, rice dishes, and miso soup. Pair up your barbecued meat with a large list of Japanese beer and sake bottles.
Nishiki Yakitori, 1/F, Regal Kowloon Hotel, 71 Mody Road, Tsim Sha Tsui East, 2723 8660
Toretore Hamayaki
Meaning “freshly caught dish grilled over charcoal” in Japanese, Toretore Hamayaki embraces the hamayaki style of cooking to serve sea-fresh shellfish imported straight from Tokyo to the Causeway Bay izakaya. Oysters, crab, lobster, and scallop are all on the menu, served up with spicy touches.
Toretore Hamayaki, 18/F, Macau Yat Yuen Centre, 525 Hennessy Road, Causeway Bay, 2575 5677, book here
Seki Tei Japanese Restaurant
Years ago, Seki Tei sold horse meat, the only Hong Kong restaurant to do so, but they are now more well known for their sushi, sashimi, and robatayaki plates. Inside the quaint Tsim Sha Tsui izakaya, order the Hokkaido rice, juicy grilled skewers, and botan shrimp.
Seki Tei Japanese Restaurant, 11C Hart Avenue, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2722 1881
Hanagushi Yakitori Japanese Restaurant
Hanagushi Yakitori is Hong Kong’s first yakitori restaurant, opened in 1989 in Lan Kwai Fong and still operating in the area. The menu features over 40 choices of chicken yakitori, employing all parts of the bird, alongside a great selection of teppanyaki and fresh sushi plates.
Hanagushi Yakitori Japanese Restaurant, 8/F, M88, Wellington Place, 2–8 Wellington Street, Central, 2521 0868, book here
RONIN Snack Bar
Brought to us by Matt Abergel and Lindsay Jang of Yardbird fame, RONIN Snack Bar is a chic izakaya with a large following. Their menu is dedicated to Japanese small bites, with an emphasis on hand rolls, sashimi, and chopsticks-friendly grilled fish and meat. Leave space for a couple of highballs too!
RONIN Snack Bar, 8 On Wo Lane, Central, 2547 5263, book here
Uoharu
Tokyo’s famed izakaya Uoharu first came to Hong Kong in 2018 with a spot in Central, before expanding to Admiralty’s Pacific Place in 2021. The interior and culinary approach are both sleek. Regulars return for the Itsukaichi pork, beef tongue, lamb rack, and market-fresh fish, imported daily from the Japanese capital.
Uoharu, 7/F, M88, Wellington Place, 2–8 Wellington Street, Central, 2217 8880, book here
Uoharu, Shop 001, LG1/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, 2803 7808, book here
Roji
Hidden away from prying eyes in Lan Kwai Fong, head down a dark alleyway to find yourself a table at Roji, a contemporary izakaya that offers refreshing Chinese and Western influences. Funky sour and umami flavours are at play in the karaage and sashimi, whilst the udon noodles and Wagyu beef plates are ones not to be missed.
Roji, 20A D’Aguilar Street, Lan Kwai Fong, Central, WhatsApp 9884 0704, book here
Fukuro
Black Sheep’s Fukuro deserves a mention for their seamless service matched with a stellar salty and spicy menu. Make sure you scope out the bites on the tempura, robata, and snacks sections of the menu, building up a table’s worth of nibbles. And if you’re not ordering bottles of sake and shochu at Fukuro, you’re doing it all wrong.
Fukuro, G/F, Winly Building, 1–5 Elgin Street, Soho, Central, 2333 8841, book here
Mokumoku Yakiton (Tsim Sha Tsui)
Whilst Mokumoku Yakiton operates a buzzing Causeway Bay space, it’s the izakaya’s location in Tsim Sha Tsui that steals the show. Their menu delivers a wide variety of skewer options, namely chicken, pork, and beef. The sukiyaki plates are also recommended, as is the sushi.
Mokumoku Yakiton, 16/F, The Lamma Tower, 12–12A Hau Fook Street, Tsim Sha Tsui, 2351 3500, WhatsApp 5408 1565, book here
