There is some confusion when it comes to robatayaki and yakitori, as both of them are grills! However, the main difference is the food that is served from these grills.
Typically, yakitori serves chicken. Although, as you will know from the previous section, it can also serve pork ribs.
Robatayaki, on the other hand, serves a far wider variety of food. From a robatayaki grill you can expect to find the likes of grilled seafood, grilled vegetables, and other meats.
Robata is actually a direct reference to the style of cooking used by Japanese fishermen from the Northern areas of the country who would cook together around a large hearth.
This concept became very popular throughout the whole of Japan, with restaurants opening to emulate this tradition. Food (usually seafood and meat) would be cooked on one big hearth and served to guests who are all seated around the hearth.