Revisiting monjayaki after Mullae, back at Jojo in Yeonnam-dong

The monjayaki from Mullae kept coming to mind, so I headed to Yeonnam

Not long ago I tried monjayaki for the first time at Jojo's Mullae branch, and it was so much better than I expected that I kept thinking about it. This time I had plans in the Yeonnam area and was trying to figure out what to eat when I remembered Jojo also has a branch near Hongdae. Since I'd already confirmed how good the monjayaki was, there was no need to deliberate — I decided on Jojo Hongdae right away.

Jojo Yeonnam Branch hours and parking

• Address: 255-1 Donggyo-ro, 1st floor, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 11:30 – 22:00
• Break time: 15:20 – 17:00 (Saturday and Sunday 16:00 – 17:00)
• Last order: 14:30, 21:00 (Saturday and Sunday 15:10, 21:10)
• 🚫 No parking (use nearby parking lots)

What was the atmosphere like?

Jojo Hongdae also caught my eye right from the exterior, which felt like something you'd find in Japan. Monjayaki itself is a dish with a strong Japanese feel, so having the atmosphere match it got me excited before I even walked in haha. The interior also had that distinct Japanese restaurant vibe throughout, and it looked good both for a casual visit with friends and for a dinner date. Being 531m from Hongik Univ. Station Exit 3 also makes it easy to get to.

A griddle at every table

And true to Jojo's style, every table had its own griddle ready to go. For teppanyaki-style dishes like monjayaki or yakisoba, I think eating straight off the hot plate in front of you tastes so much better than being served a finished plate. It's great being able to keep eating it warm, and I also liked how the bottom layer slightly crisps up as you eat, changing the texture.

What we ordered this time

Jojo has a wide range of dishes, from their signature monjayaki to yakisoba and various side dishes. This time we ordered monjayaki for two, karai yakisoba (spicy fried noodles), and a Suntory The Premium Malt's draft beer.

Monjayaki

Finally, monjayaki again!! The first time at Mullae, I'd never had monjayaki before, so I ate cautiously, just going off the visuals and wondering what it would taste like. This time, since I already knew the flavor, I was excited even before it arrived haha. As soon as it finished cooking on the griddle and was ready to eat, I dug in — and it was just as good as I remembered.

Karai yakisoba needs mayonnaise

We also ordered karai yakisoba alongside the monjayaki. While monjayaki is overall savory and soft, karai yakisoba has a spicy kick, so going back and forth between the two dishes worked really well. The sauce was evenly coated on the noodles too. If you order karai yakisoba, I personally recommend drizzling mayonnaise on top without fail!! It's spicy and delicious on its own, but the moment you add mayonnaise, a savory richness kicks in and it becomes a whole different dish.

Suntory The Premium Malt's draft beer

The first time at Mullae, it paired so well with monjayaki that I ordered it again right away this time. Cold draft beer with teppanyaki dishes is a combo that's hard to get wrong... After a bite of savory, salty monjayaki, a sip of cold Suntory draft clears the palate completely and gets you ready for the next bite haha.

A waiting line had formed by the time we left

By the time we finished eating and stepped out, there was already a waiting line.. There's a review event running too, so give it a try.

Anyway, I enjoyed it so much the first time that I ended up coming back all the way to Jojo Yeonnam Branch, and once again I left completely satisfied. I especially loved the soft, savory character unique to monjayaki, and the chewy mochi bits mixed in were still exactly my style. The karai yakisoba was spicy and paired well with the monjayaki, and drizzling on mayonnaise made it even better, as expected. Add in the cold Suntory Malt's draft beer, and once again the whole combination was a total success. If you're looking for a great Japanese restaurant in Yeonnam-dong, I highly recommend Jojo Yeonnam Branch!!