Yardbird

Yardbird is a yakitori restaurant on Wing Lok Street in Sheung Wan, and it is one of the harder tables to get in the city. The concept is focused: chicken, grilled on skewers over binchotan charcoal, served with good drinks. It holds one Michelin star in the 2026 Michelin Guide Hong Kong.

The kitchen uses local three-yellow chicken and turns a wide range of cuts into skewers. There are more than 20 on the menu, including rare cuts such as thyroid and ventricle that are hard to find elsewhere, which makes it a good place to be adventurous. The crispy meatball, served with tare and egg yolk for dipping, is a favourite. An extensive Japanese whisky list, along with a well-chosen wine list, gives plenty to drink alongside the skewers.

Yardbird opens from 6pm to midnight, Tuesday to Saturday, and is closed on Sundays and Mondays. It is usually full, so book online in advance or be prepared to queue. Counter seating gives a view of the grill and suits couples and solo diners. Credit cards are accepted, and the room is air-conditioned, which helps in summer given the heat from the charcoal.

It suits couples, friends and anyone who enjoys a casual but serious food experience. It is less suited to diners who want a quiet, formal meal. Plan on around two hours if you want to work through a good range of skewers and drinks, and order in rounds rather than all at once so the skewers arrive hot from the grill.

If you are new to yakitori, ask the staff to guide you through the rarer cuts, and choose a counter seat if you like to watch the cooks at work over the charcoal.

Sheung Wan is the district just west of Central, and Man Mo Temple on Hollywood Road is in the same area if you want to see it before dinner. The bars of Central are a short walk or taxi ride away if you want to continue the evening. Bookings and current menus are on the restaurant's own website, and the restaurant can also be reached by phone.