# Hongdae restaurant, spicy yakisoba better than Osaka's: Jojo Yeonnam - By Sena (https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-menu-page/) - Written Sep 19, 2026 - Local places › Restaurants › Mapo, Seoul - Sponsored: This post was written after receiving a complimentary store visit. - English edition: https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-menu-page/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/ - Also in: [한국어](https://superchart.com/ko/@seoul-menu-page/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/index.md) ## In short Jojo Yeonnam Branch is a teppan-style Japanese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong near Hongik University Station in Seoul, where every table has its own griddle and staff cook the monjayaki in front of you. Arriving right at opening as the first customer, the writer ordered the monjayaki set for two at 39,500 won (mentaiko monjayaki, karai yakisoba, waterfall potato), and Jojo Yeonnam Branch was full by the time she left. The spicy karai yakisoba beat the yakisoba she once queued an hour for in Osaka, making Jojo Yeonnam Branch an easy Yeonnam-dong date spot. ## Good to know - **Address**: 1st floor, 255-1 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul - **Hours (weekdays)**: 11:30-22:00, break 15:20-17:00, last order 14:30 and 21:10 - **Hours (weekends)**: 11:30-22:00, break 16:00-17:00, last order 15:10 and 21:10 - **Closed**: Open every day - **Ordered**: Monjayaki set for two, 39,500 won (mentaiko monjayaki, karai yakisoba, waterfall potato) - **Review event**: Japanese oolong tea - **Good to know**: Naver reservations available; takeout, reservations and group visits all possible *as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026* ## What kind of restaurant is Jojo Yeonnam Branch? Jojo Yeonnam Branch is a teppan-style Japanese restaurant on the first floor of 255-1 Donggyo-ro, Mapo-gu, Seoul, sitting between Hongik University Station and Yeonnam-dong. You can reserve through Naver, and takeout and group bookings are both available. Monjayaki is something I'd wanted to try for ages — even in Japan the timing never worked out, so I could only wonder what flavor was hiding behind that, uh, intense-looking dish. ![Start of the visit to Jojo Yeonnam Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-01-8bsah-m-966.webp) ![Exterior atmosphere of Jojo Yeonnam Branch in Yeonnam-dong](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-02-10xcc-966.webp) This is the place that finally granted my monjayaki wish — let me introduce Jojo Yeonnam Branch, run by the teppan master from Culinary Class Wars 🍀 ![Entrance of Jojo Yeonnam Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-03-1ugrk-966.webp) ![Interior of Jojo Yeonnam Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-04-a7yo9-966.webp) ![Seats with built-in griddles at Jojo Yeonnam Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-05-1jgvz-966.webp) ## Inside Jojo Yeonnam Branch and the wait at 11:30 opening This was only my second time trying a teppan-specialty restaurant, after one visit in Osaka! The place was clean, and I loved that every table has its own individual griddle. ![Full view of the restaurant with individual griddles at every table](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-06-1bf26-966.webp) It's famous enough as a Hongdae Japanese restaurant that I did an opening run and managed to be the very first customer seated haha. Right after we sat down, people started filing in one after another, and by the time we left the place was completely full — office workers from nearby and people out for a day in Hongdae, it seemed like all kinds of folks come here! ![Menu board at Jojo Yeonnam Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-07-468s1-m-966.webp) ![Menu listing the monjayaki set for two](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-08-10yys-966.webp) ## What we ordered: the monjayaki set for two, 39,500 won - Monjayaki set for two ₩39,500 (mentaiko monjayaki, spicy yaki udon, waterfall potato) - 📌 Review event: free Japanese oolong tea ![Special sauce and mayonnaise on the table](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-09-1hjdy-966.webp) Every table gets a special sauce, a spicy sauce, and mayonnaise — you drizzle or dip the monjayaki in them 🎵 The mayo cap took me a second, it doesn't twist off, you just pull it straight up (〃⌒▽⌒〃)ゝ ![Three sauces set out for the monjayaki](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-10-1ypgk-966.webp) ## Mentaiko monjayaki cooked on the table griddle in front of us The mentaiko monjayaki came out first, with mentaiko (marinated pollack roe), kirimochi (sliced rice cake), cabbage, and monjayaki batter mixed in. Mozzarella cheese came alongside it too! ![Bowl of ingredients for mentaiko monjayaki](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-11-1p6if-966.webp) ![Monjayaki ingredients with mentaiko and kirimochi](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-12-ze66w-966.webp) ![Ingredients being placed on the griddle to cook](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-13-s98hm-966.webp) ![Staff member cooking monjayaki on the griddle](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-14-1aemk-966.webp) The staff heat the griddle and cook it right in front of you — basically a live drum-show viewing. It sizzles away on the griddle with a pretty mysterious look, doesn't it? No matter what angle I shot it from, it just never looked appetizing in photos ㅠㅠㅠ hahaha if anyone knows how to make this look delicious in a photo, please let me know... ![Mentaiko monjayaki cooking on the griddle](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-15-1sz5d-966.webp) ![Close-up of the finished mentaiko monjayaki](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-16-8y9q2-966.webp) The photos were disappointing but one bite and it's a savory, salty explosion of flavor — genuinely delicious. I totally get why people call this the monjayaki holy land of Yeonnam-dong and line up for it without hesitation. ![Scraping up monjayaki with a small spatula](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-17-v797d-966.webp) ![A spatula-full bite of monjayaki](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-18-15ocl-966.webp) Scraping it up bite by bite with the little griddle spatula was its own kind of fun — a must-do Yeonnam-dong date course at Jojo Yeonnam Branch. ![Remaining monjayaki on the griddle](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-19-7vopu-966.webp) ![Spicy yaki udon topped with a fried egg](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-20-17ggp-1200.webp) ## Is Jojo's karai yakisoba better than yakisoba in Osaka? The spicy yaki udon included in the set comes coated in a spicy sauce with real charred, flame-grilled aroma. One bite in and my eyes genuinely widened — look at that perfectly fried egg on top, it looks delicious just from the photo. ![Close-up of the spicy yaki udon noodles](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-21-373bp-966.webp) This suited my taste way more than the yakisoba I once waited an hour in line for in Osaka — a Hongdae Japanese restaurant worth it for this alone. Whenever you're craving a spicy-sweet noodle dish, order this without hesitation — it's the perfect sidekick to Yeonnam-dong's monjayaki. ![Waterfall potato topped with a soft-boiled egg](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-22-158qa-966.webp) ![A spoonful of the waterfall potato salad](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-23-18c3g-966.webp) ## Waterfall potato, the side that cools the spice down Waterfall potato is soft potato salad topped with a soft-boiled egg. Dipping it in the yolk and onion flakes is absolute bliss ♡ A perfect combo for cooling down after a spicy bite of the yaki udon — the balance at this Hongdae Japanese restaurant is spot on 🎵 Great atmosphere, great food quality, full stop. Jojo Yeonnam Branch served up genuinely excellent teppan cooking, even better than what I had at the source — I ate really well here 🧡 ![Closing photo from the visit to Jojo Yeonnam Branch](https://img.superchart.com/images/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run-24-967g2-495.webp) ## Where it is - Jojo Yeonnam Branch (죠죠 연남점) - 255-1 Donggyo-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea - 서울특별시 마포구 동교로 255-1 1층 - 37.5627221, 126.9245743 - Google Maps: https://www.google.com/maps/search/%EC%A3%A0%EC%A3%A0%20%EC%97%B0%EB%82%A8%EC%A0%90/@37.5627221,126.9245743,17z --- Superchart · https://superchart.com/en/@seoul-menu-page/jojo-yeonnam-monjayaki-open-run/ · https://superchart.com/llms.txt