Yakisoba set with kid before Busan train: Jojo AK Plaza Suwon

I'm a little excited writing this one since it's a restaurant feature haha. Today I'm introducing Jojo at Suwon Station.

Turns out this place was actually featured on Culinary Class Wars season 2. I only found out after eating there. If I'd known beforehand I probably would've gone in with extra expectations, but going in blind meant I could give a more honest review. ^^

I'm born and raised in Busan, so this was actually my first real look around Suwon Station. Everyone probably already knows AK Mall connects directly to the station haha, but I only just found out.

Jojo AK Plaza Suwon location and hours

• Address: 924 Deogyeong-daero, Paldal-gu, Suwon-si, Gyeonggi-do, AK Plaza B1F, South Korea
• Hours: Mon–Thu 10:30–20:00 / Fri–Sun 10:30–20:30
• Last order: Mon–Thu 19:30 / Fri–Sun 20:00
• Amenities: Takeout, parking available
• Closed: on AK Plaza holidays
• Note: Closed Sep 25 for Chuseok

Turns out Suwon Station also connects to AK Mall and all the way to Timevillas! It's a great spot for shopping and eating and just hanging out.

Before a train, with my kid — only a 10-minute wait

I wasn't there to shop this time. My kid and I were trying to figure out what to eat before catching a train back to Busan, so I searched around and found Jojo. It was already past lunch hour, but there were still quite a lot of people — I guess good restaurants stay busy no matter the time. We waited about 10 minutes before getting seated.

A lively, bustling storefront

Why I chose the yakisoba set over okonomiyaki

Honestly, I originally wanted the okonomiyaki set, but when I went to order I was told it'd take about 20 minutes to cook. With the train schedule looming, I sadly saved okonomiyaki for next time and ordered the yakisoba set instead. Waiting with the buzzer, I browsed the cakes on display nearby and time flew by.

Another fun part of the wait was the open kitchen. You could watch the food being cooked right there on the teppan — wow, it was genuinely fun to watch! I lost count of how many times I peeked over to watch things sizzling on the griddle haha. The staff were also really warm, which somehow put me in an even better mood. ^^ Open kitchens really do make the wait fly by since you get to watch the whole cooking process.

While I was watching the cooking, the buzzer finally went off! The food arrived and it passed the visual test right away. It looked so appetizing that I dug in immediately — and yep, it tasted great too.

How was the yakisoba?

This wasn't just yakisoba (stir-fried noodles) with heavy smoky flavor — it was loaded with meat, shrimp, and squid, so there was plenty to chew on. It had a salty, savory depth that kept my chopsticks moving. The cabbage especially worked well with the smoky char. It wasn't just intense flavor for the sake of it — it was the kind of taste that kept me coming back for more.

Gyoza dipped in mentai mayo

The gyoza (Japanese dumplings) and mentai mayo (spicy cod roe mayo) that came with the set were a total hit too. This was basically my first time trying mentai mayo this way, and my kid, sitting right next to me, told me it's a trendy sauce these days haha. Guess I need to learn from the kids. I expected the gyoza to be pretty ordinary, but the texture was excellent — crispy on the outside, with a crunchy bite inside, which made it fun to eat. Dipping it into the savory, salty mentai mayo made it even better! That combo was honestly one of my favorite parts.

My honest take on Jojo

A few days ago I actually paid out of pocket for meals at two or three places in Timevillas, and honestly, some of them were pretty pricey but disappointing in flavor. So this time I walked in with low expectations, just planning to grab a quick bite before the train — but this place delivered on both price and taste.

I'm pretty honest about food, and I won't recommend a place if it isn't good — but this one I genuinely want to recommend. Even with a wait, I think it's worth it. I'm a little bummed I couldn't try the okonomiyaki because of my train schedule, so I definitely want to come back for that set next time. It wasn't a hassle to eat here with my kid either, and the open kitchen made the wait entertaining rather than boring. If you're wondering what to eat near Suwon Station, I really recommend Jojo!

• ✔️ Worth the wait
• ✔️ Yakisoba loaded with meat, shrimp, and squid
• ✔️ Great smoky, salty-savory flavor
• ✔️ Don't skip the gyoza + mentai mayo combo
• ✔️ Prices were satisfying too
• ✔️ 100% would come back

Next time I'll go back for the okonomiyaki. I had to skip it this time because of the train, but next time I'll build in extra time and really give it a proper try. If you're looking for good food near Suwon Station, Jojo — I really, really recommend it!