Monjayaki teppanyaki set with volcano potato in Hongdae: Jojo Yeonnam

Today I visited a hot teppanyaki spot in Yeonnam-dong run by the very chef who showed off amazing skills as the 'Teppanyaki Chief' on Culinary Class Wars 2 — Jojo Yeonnam Branch!! 🥢🔥

Jojo Yeonnam Branch location and hours

• Location: 1F, 255-1 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Nearest station: Hongik University Station Exit 3
• Business hours: 11:30 – 22:00
• Mon–Fri break time 15:20–17:00 / last order 14:30, 21:00
• Sat–Sun break time 16:00–17:00 / last order 15:10, 21:10
• Signature menu: okonomiyaki, mentaiko monjayaki, karai yakisoba
• Feature: an authentic Japanese teppanyaki restaurant run by the Teppanyaki Chief from Culinary Class Wars 2, with a large griddle at every table
• Parking X / Restroom O

Big griddles at every table, the atmosphere

The moment I walked in, I could feel the lively vibe of a genuine teppanyaki restaurant straight out of Japan! Every table has a large griddle neatly built in,

and you get to watch the staff cook right in front of you with flashy skill, so both your eyes and ears are entertained haha. It's also a perfect vibe for a Yeonnam-dong date course!

Basic setup & menu

Once seated, you get water, cups, chopsticks, bowls, a cute mini spatula, and pickled radish to whet your appetite as the basic setup! I skimmed the menu and immediately ordered the most popular and filling option, the monjayaki set for two, lol.

What's in the monjayaki set for two

Today's order — monjayaki set for two (mentaiko monjayaki, karai yakisoba, volcano potato)

Volcano potato

First up as a kind of appetizer, the volcano potato!! Soft mashed potato topped with a soft-boiled egg, special sauce, and cheese all cascading down like a waterfall — the visual alone got me lol. Pop the yolk, mix it into the potato, and take a bite: it's so creamy and savory that you're already impressed before the main dishes even arrive haha.

How spicy is the karai yakisoba

Next, the karai yakisoba, stir-fried right on the hot griddle and looking delicious! It's packed with plump shrimp, squid, meat, and crunchy cabbage. The spicy special sauce is soaked all through the noodles, so there's zero greasiness and the savory flavor just explodes!! Break the soft-boiled fried egg on top and mix it in, and the balance of spicy and savory is a work of art lol. Spice level: milder than Shin Ramyun!!

Mentaiko monjayaki

And now, today's star, the mentaiko monjayaki!! A batter loaded with big chunks of mentaiko (seasoned pollock roe), salty cheese, cabbage, and kirimochi (sliced rice cake) gets stir-fried right on the griddle with flashy skill by the staff!

Since this place carries the know-how of the Teppanyaki Chief from Culinary Class Wars 2, watching the cooking process itself was genuinely fun haha.

The finished mentaiko monjayaki!! Once the timer goes off, you can dig in!! Scrape it up with the little spatula and pop it in your mouth! The outside is chewy and crisp, the inside soft, and the salty pop of mentaiko blends with the savory richness of the cheese for real addictive stuff lol. Scraping up the slightly crisped bits stuck to the griddle bottom is pure joy too, lol.

I've eaten a lot of monjayaki in Japan!! I never expected to taste that flavor in Korea. It was genuinely delicious!!!

Pros & rating

• Standout teppanyaki quality that shows the skill of the Teppanyaki Chief from Culinary Class Wars 2
• A unique Yeonnam-dong date spot with both visual and eating enjoyment
• A filling and generous monjayaki set

Rating 5 out of 5: ★★★★★ I went in with huge expectations after watching Culinary Class Wars 2, and it exceeded them!! If you want to try proper, authentic monjayaki and teppanyaki in Yeonnam-dong, definitely head to Jojo Yeonnam Branch! 💕