Couple dinner date monja-yaki set with mentaiko in Yeonnam-dong: Jojo

After work, my wife and I headed out to Yeonnam-dong for a date, wanting a change of pace and a good dinner together after a while.

Walking the lively streets of Yeonnam-dong in the cool evening air, I could already feel the day's work stress melting away little by little.

We both love teppan cookery, so we decided on monja-yaki and yakisoba for dinner and headed to Jojo Yeonnam, said to be one of the hottest Japanese restaurants around Hongdae and Yeonnam.

Finding Jojo Yeonnam Branch in the Donggyo-ro alley

When we arrived, the orange sign with big, stylish lettering reading "Okonomiyaki Jojo" made it easy to spot from a distance even though it was our first visit.

Through the wide-open folding doors, the cheerful sizzle of ingredients cooking on the griddle and the delicious smell already drifted down the alley, stirring up our appetite.

How long was the weekday evening wait

Since this place always seems to show up on lists of recommended Yeonnam restaurants, there were about 2 parties ahead of us and we had to wait a bit outside.

But checking out the hip vibe outside the restaurant and catching whiffs of the teppan cooking, time passed faster than expected.

Before long it was our turn, and stepping inside, the owner greeted us with such a bright, friendly smile that we felt well taken care of from the moment we walked in.

We sat down at our assigned table and carefully looked over the menu placed there.

What's in the signature monja-yaki set for two

From okonomiyaki to spicy yakisoba, mentaiko monja-yaki, and tonpeiyaki, there was a full lineup of appetizing à la carte dishes.

Since we wanted to try a bit of everything, we ordered the well-priced signature monja-yaki set for two.

This set includes mentaiko monja-yaki, spicy yakisoba, and waterfall potato all together — a perfect combination for couples on a Yeonnam date to share and fill up on a variety of dishes.

Waterfall potato arrives first

Not long after ordering, the waterfall potato came out first as a kind of appetizer, plated beautifully.

Soft mashed potato topped with a jiggly, poached-egg-like soft-boiled egg, surrounded by a generous scattering of crispy fried flakes — the visual alone was a work of art.

Popping the soft-boiled egg and mixing it into the savory potato, one bite melted smoothly in the mouth while the crispy flakes added a wonderful contrast in texture.

The mentaiko monja-yaki ingredients arrive

Next came the long-awaited mentaiko monja-yaki ingredients, generously piled into a large dedicated bowl.

Finely shredded fresh cabbage, thick chewy rice cake pieces, and, as the finishing touch, a big scoop of mentaiko (salted cod roe) piled generously on top.

A cute mini flag with our nickname written on it was stuck in the bowl, adding a fun little detail to look at.

The fun of watching it cooked right on the tableside griddle

One of Jojo Yeonnam's biggest strengths is that a staff member carefully cooks everything on the large griddle right in front of you.

Watching them finely chop cabbage with quick, skillful movements and mix the broth and ingredients in the traditional way, right in front of us, meant there was never a dull moment while waiting — it was genuinely fun and fascinating.

My wife was as delighted as a kid watching the teppan performance unfold in front of her, which made me feel really glad we chose this place for our date.

If it's your first monja-yaki, here's how to eat it

On one side of the table, there was a helpful guide on how to eat monja-yaki the best way, so even a first-timer could easily follow along.

As the monja-yaki sizzled and cooked to a thick, gooey finish on the griddle, a sprinkle of savory cheese topping completed the perfect look of the dish.

Following the instructions, we patiently waited about 2 minutes for the bottom to crisp slightly, then used the small dedicated spatula, the hera, to scrape from the edges and scoop up a big bite.

The moment it hit my mouth, the salty, savory flavor unique to mentaiko spread through my mouth, blending fantastically with the sweetness of the cabbage and the popping texture of flying fish roe.

The bits slightly crisped onto the griddle bottom were like crunchy crackers or scorched rice, and scraping them off with the hera was a really satisfying bonus.

How was the spicy yakisoba

Right as we were falling for the charms of the monja-yaki, the excellent spicy yakisoba was finished and placed on our griddle.

A tempting soft-boiled fried egg sat prettily in the center, and the noodles were generously loaded with plump shrimp, thick pork, and chewy squid.

Stir-fried quickly over high heat with Jojo's own special sauce, it had a rich smoky aroma, and the springy noodles carried a pleasant spiciness that perfectly cut through any richness.

Alternating between the soft, savory monja-yaki and the spicy, umami-packed yakisoba, our chopsticks never stopped moving — there was no chance of getting tired of either.

Would we come back for another Yeonnam date

Among Japanese restaurants near Hongdae, this one stood out for the freshness of its ingredients and the quality of the food, and it truly captured the warm feel of an authentic teppan restaurant from Japan.

Above all, thanks to the owner who, despite being busy with many customers, still checked in carefully at each table and asked if we needed anything, we spent a wonderful, comfortable evening from start to finish.

If you want to complete a special day with monja-yaki and yakisoba that delight both the eyes and the mouth on a Hongdae date or a Yeonnam-dong outing, I 200% recommend visiting Jojo Yeonnam.