Izakaya 88

If you want any sort of Japanese food, you would do well to come to Tin Hau. It seems to be somewhat of an enclave for Japanese cuisine, supposedly due to a long post war history (but don’t quote me, I ain’t no history major!). If you are after good Japanese food, then you would do well to come to Izakaya 88.
88 Is a charming little place, right on the Tin Hau «drag» of Electric Road. You’ll spot it as it is one of the only places along said drag that doesn’t get your attention by making your eyes bleed with the overuse of fluorescent lighting. The wood frontage will entice you with a caress so gentle, your retinas will thank their designer for it!
The bulk of the menu is Robatayaki, which is the grilled skewers. There are a punchy number of different stick combinations, meaty, fishy and veggie, so you should be well satisfied. Price is anything from HKD25 for a simple chicken, through to over a hundred (note, this is per stick) for some of the more fancy options. As well as the Robatayaki, there is a small range of sushi, sashimi, and other more «typical» Japanese fare. I find the raw fish really tasty, and fresh to boot, so no complaints there at all! Whilst the selection is quite small, the sushi chef (who looks like my mate Gordon — but more on this later) can pretty much make you anything you want off menu. For me, the best value is the grilled sashimi bowl, which is tasty and filling, at only HKD220.
The service is exemplary. The managers are friendly, welcoming, and will always try and accommodate you, even if like me you forget to book on a Friday night. The staff are also really pleasant and friendly. Look out for Alan, one of the waiters, who probably has the best English in the joint. Also, if it’s your birthday, Gordon 2 can whip you up a sashimi birthday cake — yummers!
Last tip for newbies, if you are only one or two, try and sit up at at the bar. You can watch the chefs at work, and it means your food comes out direct from them (rather than sitting on the pass for a waiter to bus).