Yeonnam-dong teppanyaki spot, Tokyo-style monjayaki for two: Jojo

You know those days when you finish a long day of work and really want a delicious meal to make up for how tired you are? I had plans with a friend, and I suddenly craved monjayaki after a long time, so I went searching and found a Hongdae–Yeonnam gem haha.

So right after work I dashed over to the Hongdae area, and today I've brought you a freshly simmered review of the hot spot I visited, the Yeonnam-dong Japanese restaurant Jojo Yeonnam Branch (죠죠 연남점)! 🥢

(Apparently Jojo Yeonnam Branch is run by a chef who appeared on the show Culinary Class Wars (흑백요리사)! I really enjoyed that show, so my expectations shot straight up before I even got there lol)

Jojo Yeonnam Branch atmosphere and ordering the 2-person monjayaki set

From the exterior to the interior, Jojo Yeonnam Branch had a cozy, hip vibe, as if I had landed somewhere in Japan. The moment I sat down, the heat coming off the griddle and the delicious smell made me incredibly hungry.

There were plenty of à la carte dishes too, but to fill up properly after work we ordered the "monjayaki 2-person set"!

With the set you get to try the popular dishes in one go at a good value, so it seems like a perfect pick for anyone heading to Yeonnam for a date.

Jojo Yeonnam Branch monjayaki: how does it compare with Tokyo?

The monjayaki at Jojo Yeonnam Branch fully lived up to my high expectations from the monjayaki I had in Tokyo. When I traveled to Tokyo before, I tried monjayaki on the spot for the first time and completely fell for it.

That distinctive look and salty umami made it onto my list of all-time favorite eats. So in Korea it was hard to be satisfied with most monjayaki, but maybe because Jojo in Yeonnam-dong carries the skill of a Culinary Class Wars chef, it fully met my high expectations!

Monjayaki crust stuck to the griddle

The sizzling stir-fry performance on the griddle is so much fun, and the nutty smell of monjayaki's runny batter sticking to the hot plate is just insane.

(You all know the fun of scraping it up with the little spatula, right? Especially the part on the bottom of the griddle that hardens crispy like scorched rice (nurungji)... it was so good I scraped like I was going to break through the griddle lol)

How was the yakisoba that comes with the 2-person set?

The yakisoba served with the Jojo Yeonnam Branch 2-person monjayaki set was packed with meat and was a highlight you absolutely can't skip!

Yakisoba often turns out to be mostly noodles with skimpy toppings, but the chef at Jojo must be generous, because there was really a lot of meat. The special sauce soaked into the noodles perfectly, giving a salty-sweet flavor that was excellent, and the texture of the meat and cabbage together with the noodles was great to chew.

A bite of monjayaki, then a slurp of yakisoba — the perfect combo that wipes away the whole day's fatigue.

Who should visit Jojo in Yeonnam-dong?

It was such a happy evening, finding a real gem that brought back my Tokyo trip memories so well after so long.

From now on, whenever I miss the monjayaki I had in Tokyo, I'll just run back to Jojo in Yeonnam-dong, no plane ticket needed!

• Anyone near Hongdae or Yeonnam-dong who wants to unwind after work with quality griddle dishes and a cold beer
• Anyone looking for an unusual date spot

I strongly recommend the Yeonnam-dong Japanese restaurant Jojo Yeonnam Branch to people like this! Do give it a visit haha