Solo monjayaki dinner in Mullae: mentaiko with Buldak sauce at Jojo

Among Japanese foods, monjayaki is getting popular these days. I've had okonomiyaki (Japanese savory pancake) plenty of times, but monjayaki is a little different and I was curious, so I finally tried it at Jojo Mullae Branch (죠죠 문래점) in Mullae! It's also a nice date spot where you can enjoy the unique vibe of Mullae Art Village. So here's Jojo Mullae Branch, a monjayaki place in Mullae that's good for dates.

How does the Tabling queue work at Jojo Mullae Branch?

You can join the queue remotely with Tabling (a restaurant waitlist app), and when you arrive you have to enter the wait confirmation code on the device set up in front of the shop. I registered before heading over and checked my place: the screen showed me as fourth. Once you get the arrival check request, you must enter the code within 10 minutes or your spot may be cancelled automatically, so be careful.

If you're going to be late, you can postpone your turn up to 3 times!

I went in the evening and there were already people waiting out front. Of course, it's a famous Mullae place with a wait. Strolling the Mullae alleys while waiting wasn't bad at all.

Atmosphere and seating at Jojo Mullae Branch

Inside, Jojo Mullae Branch has rough-textured walls and dark wooden tables, giving it the feel of a Japanese teppan (iron griddle) restaurant. It was a cozy yet stylish space.

A big griddle sits in the middle of each table. Every seat also has an order tablet and a cooking timer, which was convenient.

Being able to watch your food being made right in front of you makes it an appealing date course in Mullae too.

What I ordered solo: mentaiko monjayaki and waterfall potato

At Jojo Mullae Branch that day I ordered the mentaiko (spicy pollock roe) monjayaki and the waterfall potato. The mentaiko monjayaki is ₩19,500 and the waterfall potato is ₩7,000.

I came alone, but monjayaki by itself felt a bit lacking, so I added a side dish. Monjayaki is a Japanese griddle dish that's cooked moist, unlike ordinary jeon or buchimgae (Korean pan-fried pancakes).

I was excited to find out for myself how it differs from okonomiyaki.

When the mentaiko monjayaki ingredients arrived, a big bowl was generously filled with mentaiko, cabbage and various other ingredients. The cheese that came with it stood out too.

Do you have to cook the monjayaki yourself at Jojo?

At Jojo Mullae Branch, the staff cook the monjayaki on the griddle for you. Watching them chop the ingredients finely as they stir-fry and mix was fun. You just sit back comfortably and watch.

If I'd had to make it myself it would have been a hassle, but even first-timers can enjoy it without any difficulty.

I thought it would be a thick pancake like okonomiyaki, but monjayaki uses a much runnier batter that's spread wide over the griddle to cook.

After the staff mixed the ingredients and spread them on the griddle, they used a timer to check the cooking time.

The cooking instructions said to call a staff member when the timer rings.

Monjayaki vs. okonomiyaki: how do taste and texture differ?

Unlike thick, fluffy okonomiyaki, the mentaiko monjayaki at Jojo Mullae Branch is soft and moist yet chewy. Watching it slowly cook on the griddle is part of the fun of eating monjayaki. The finished dish was different from the okonomiyaki I usually eat, starting with the texture.

It's not a thick, fluffy pancake but soft, moist and chewy. The salty umami of the mentaiko went well with the nutty richness of the cheese. The parts touching the griddle gradually crisp up and stick, creating yet another texture.

Scraping it up bit by bit with a small spatula was unusual too. It felt unfamiliar at first, but as I ate I could feel the charm unique to monjayaki.

What is waterfall potato, the side dish at Jojo?

The waterfall potato (₩7,000) at Jojo Mullae Branch is a side dish of potato piled into a round mound and topped with a soft-boiled egg. The waterfall potato I ordered with it caught my eye too.

A soft-boiled egg sat on top of the round mound of potato, with plenty of crunchy topping sprinkled around it.

When I broke the egg, the yellow yolk flowed down and made it look even more appetizing. Soft potato and rich egg plus the crunchy topping made for a varied texture.

It was a great side to enjoy alongside the monjayaki.

Is mentaiko monjayaki too rich? How to use Buldak sauce

Mentaiko monjayaki has roe and cheese in it, so it could easily feel heavy, but it was less overwhelming than I expected. Taking a little at a time let me enjoy it warm to the end.

Besides mayonnaise and okonomiyaki sauce, Jojo Mullae Branch also has Buldak (fire chicken) sauce, which is great if you like spicy food. Adding heat to the savory monjayaki completely changes the mood.

Enjoying the salty, nutty flavor and then going spicy now and then kept me from getting tired of it, and it stayed delicious.

Is Jojo Mullae Branch worth a visit for a solo dinner?

Jojo Mullae Branch isn't just about eating; watching the food get cooked right on the griddle is part of the fun. The soft, chewy texture unique to monjayaki was impressive too. It has a different charm from okonomiyaki, so if you like Japanese food it's worth trying once.

It's a popular place with a wait, so I'd recommend using Tabling. If you're looking for a date spot in Mullae or you're curious about a different kind of Japanese teppan food, I recommend visiting Jojo Mullae Branch.