Do you know about “monja-yaki”?
Monja-yaki is one of Japan’s traditional dishes, mainly popular in the vicinity of Tokyo. It involves placing plenty of cabbage on an iron griddle and pouring a batter made mainly from wheat flour on top. Various ingredients such as pork, squid, cheese, mentaiko (spicy cod roe), and rice cakes are added and mixed together to create a paste-like dish. The batter is typically seasoned with Worcestershire sauce and dashi broth.
What is Monja Street in Tsukishima?
While monja-yaki is enjoyed in various places, there is a place called “Monja Street” in Tsukishima, Chuo Ward, Tokyo, where many monja-yaki specialty shops are located. Monja Street attracts numerous tourists and locals alike who come to enjoy authentic monja-yaki. It is said to have around 60 shops. On weekends, many visitors flock to Monja Street, and you’ll often find lines forming in front of the shops during meal times.
At monja-yaki restaurants, if you’re a beginner or not familiar with making it, the staff will cook the monja-yaki for you. Don’t hesitate to ask questions about when it’s ready to eat and how to eat it.
History of Monja Street in Tsukishima
Monja-yaki has been around since the Edo period. Particularly after World War II, during times of food shortages, people living in Tsukishima found monja-yaki convenient to make with readily available ingredients. As the city developed, numerous monja-yaki shops opened. While it’s not certain when it started being called Monja Street, Tsukishima is now so synonymous with monja-yaki that it’s often simply referred to as “Monja.”
Recommended Monja-yaki Shop in Tsukishima Monja Street
One monja-yaki shop I recommend on Monja Street is “Hazama.” Located a bit off the main street, “Hazama” has been used as a filming location for dramas and has welcomed many domestic and international celebrities, as evidenced by the numerous autographs decorating its walls. At “Hazama,” whether it’s the classic pork monja, mentaiko monja, or baby star monja, each dish is delicious and authentic. Grilled squid and potato butter are also incredibly tasty. As for dessert, I tried the chocolate roll. It’s a crepe cooked on the griddle, filled with melted chocolate, and rolled up—a surprising delight to have dessert cooked on the same grill as the monja-yaki.
Recommended Toppings for Monja-yaki
While you can add various toppings to monja-yaki, one popular choice, especially among children, is baby star ramen. It’s not only popular with kids but adults too. Combining baby star ramen with cheese in monja-yaki is a must-try. You might be skeptical about adding snack food like baby star ramen, but it pairs incredibly well. Be sure to give it a try.
Access to Monja Street in Tsukishima
The nearest station is Tsukishima Station, which is served by the Toei Oedo Line and the Yurakucho Line. From Tsukishima Station, it’s just a few minutes’ walk to Monja Street.
When you’re tired of the typical Tokyo gourmet experience, I highly recommend trying monja-yaki. While in Tsukishima, you can also enjoy the atmosphere of Tokyo’s downtown area and the nostalgic ambiance of retro shops while sampling Tokyo’s local food culture, monja-yaki.
