Mullae Station monjayaki restaurant: griddle dam and Jojo yakisoba

Where is Jojo Mullae Branch, and is there a wait?

Jojo Mullae Branch (죠죠 문래점) is a Japanese teppan restaurant tucked into the Mullae Art Village alley, 347 m and about a 5-minute walk from Mullae Station Exit 1. Mullae has been on my mind lately. I love the vibe of the art village alleys and there are lots of new shops, so I figured I should make a proper trip, and Jojo was my excuse. They said 5 minutes, so I thought it'd be quick, but after winding through the alleys it was hidden further in than I expected.

When I got there, people were already lined up. It's a newly opened hotspot, so evenings seem to come with a pretty good wait! Luckily it was a weekday, so I didn't wait long. The sign reading JYOJYO stands out nicely in the alley.

Do you cook your own monjayaki at Jojo Mullae Branch?

Every table at Jojo Mullae Branch has a griddle, and the staff cook the okonomiyaki (savory Japanese pancake) and monjayaki (runny pan-fried batter) right in front of you. That's the biggest feature here. I was a little nervous about ruining it myself, but there was no need. You just sit back and watch.

Monjayaki set for two: price and what's included

We ordered the monjayaki set for two and swapped the included yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) for the Jojo yakisoba, which came to ₩39,500 for the two of us. The menu is mostly Japanese teppan dishes like okonomiyaki, monjayaki, yakisoba and donpeiyaki. After a lot of dithering I settled on the monjayaki set for two, and since you can change the flavor of the yakisoba that comes with it, I picked the Jojo yakisoba. Given the amount of food, the price didn't feel steep at all.

How to eat monjayaki for the first time

For monjayaki, the staff pile the ingredients into a round dike on the griddle, pour broth into the middle and let it simmer down, then you press and scoop it up with a small spatula once it's cooked. Honestly, it was my first time having monjayaki, so I had no idea how to eat it.

The batter is much runnier than okonomiyaki, so at first I wondered if it would ever set, but the staff build the ingredients into a round dike on the griddle and pour the broth inside to simmer it down.

The sizzle and the smell are the real deal! Once it's cooked enough, you press and scoop it with the small spatula, and the best part is the slightly crispy bit stuck to the edge of the griddle. Soft yet salty and savory, it keeps you reaching for more.

How was the Jojo yakisoba?

The Jojo yakisoba that came with the set had a proper smoky, fire-kissed flavor in the noodles. Alternating between the soft, gooey monjayaki and the chewy yakisoba noodles meant I never got tired of it.

It's fun to go back and forth between the monjayaki and the Jojo yakisoba on one griddle.

Jojo Mullae Branch interior and parking

The inside of Jojo Mullae Branch was roomier and tidier than I expected, but there's no parking at the restaurant. The restrooms are separated by gender, there's Wi-Fi, and even high chairs, so it seems fine for families or groups.

With no parking at the restaurant, if you drive you'll need the Mullae Neighborhood Park public lot, a 1-minute walk away (₩3,000 per 60 minutes). Honestly, public transport is the most relaxing way to come.

Jojo Mullae Branch hours, closing day and reservations

Jojo Mullae Branch is open from 11:30 a.m. to 10 p.m., with last order at 9. There's no break time, so I liked that it's open even in the awkward mid-afternoon hours!

The catch is that it's closed every Tuesday, so watch out so you don't make a wasted trip. You can reserve on Naver and walk-ins are accepted too, but given the evening wait, I'd recommend booking ahead.

Who is Jojo Mullae Branch for?

Jojo Mullae Branch is worth a visit when you want something different in Mullae, especially if you like teppan food. Watching it get grilled in front of you is half the fun, and it suits a date or a casual drink with a friend. Next time I'll come back for the okonomiyaki and donpeiyaki I missed!