Tsukishima is the center of Monaja yaki in Tokyo.
Nishinaka Dori, called Monja street is lined with around 80 Monjayaki restaurants.
Although Monja may not look appetizing food, Monja is delicious and addictive once one bite you take.
Monja Street in Tsukishima introduces Monja’s routs and how to eat Monja yaki, and also covers recommended restaurants, why not try it out ?

Tsukishima Monja Street in Tsukishima, Tokyo

Tuskishima, reclaimed land along Sumida river in Tokyo Bay is local and nostalgic area, rather than sight-seeing place.
Tsukishima Monja street is 500m long lined with around 80 Monja restaurants.
Visitors may often see long queues for popular Monja restaurants during lunch or night time.
For overseas travelers English menus are available and staff speak English in some restaurants.
When you walk along the Monja street, tantalizing smell will whet your appetite.
Location : Tsukishima Nishi Naka street, Chuo-ku, Tokyo
Accessible from Tsukishima station Exit 7.

All about Monja, Tokyo’s Soul Street Food

What is Monja ?

Monja yaki, Monja for short is baked cuisine by mixing flour and water, and adding various ingredients to the mixture.
Monja was born in downtown Tokyo during food shortage after the war in 20^th century.
Kids would eat Monja as a snack at candy store.
Monja was only simple dish made of flour and water, but later cabbages and other ingredients were added during rapid economic growth period.
The present Monja yaki came to be eaten as snack for the adults while drinking.
Ingredients are in wide variety of  such as squid, rice cake, cheese and mentaiko, spicy cod roe and others.

Recommended point : Monja yaki looks very weird, but is truly delicious.
Also we can adjust the degree of burning as we cook by ourselves using the steel pan in front.

Difference between Monja and Okonomiyaki

Each Monja looks different depending upon the amount of water the dough contains. Monja containing a lot of water is mushy, pulpy and almost liquid.
On the contrary, Okonomiyaki is drier, firmer and thicker as it doesn’t contain much water.
Home of okonomiyaki is Kansai, western area of Japan.
Monja yaki derives from Okonomiyaki.

4 Easy Steps to Cook Monja by yourself

4 Easy Steps to Cook Monja briefly shows how to cook Monja yaki.
When you order Monja yaki at a restaurant the staff will bring you a bowl of mixed ingredients and cooking utensils like spoon, chopsticks and spatula.
You are supposed to cook Monja yaki on teppan grill by yourself, but if you  request the staff will help you.

1. Pick the ingredients from the dozen of options.

Let’s choose your favorite ingredients from mentaiko, mochi, cabbage, noodles, sea food, egg plant etc.

2. Pour all of ingredients onto the hot teppan grill.

Pour, stir and fry the ingredients onto the oiled hot teppan grill.

3. Form Circler with a hole in the middle

When ingredients are baked, form circle with a hole in the center like doughnuts.
Then pour the dough into the center.
When it is gently boiled, stir the whole portion.

4. Wait until the edge gets crispy and add seaweed.
When the whole parts become brown and the edge gets crispy, add seaweed.

What is the proper way to eat Monja?

How to eat Monja.

• Eat Monja using a small spatula.
• Scrape off from dough little by little while pressing down dough on teppan plate.
• If you like, sprinkle aonori seaweed, red pepper with seven kinds of spices.

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The Top 3 Restaurants in Tsukishima Monja Street in Tokyo

Monja Kura

• There is a long queue in at lunch time on weekdays.
• Offers 35kinds of toppings (50-500yen).
• Unique menus such as Cram chowder Monja
• There are many side menues except Monja

URL : https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1313/A131302/13029520/

Opens 11:00 – 23:00

No regular closing day

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Kiyosumi Garden

Moheji

• Old Monja shop established in 1871
• Company store OKUME, middleman of dried salted fish
• Stock up the fresh fish from middleman of Tuskiji and Toyosu fish markets every morning.
• Signature dish is mentai, walleye pollack, rice cake and cheese

URL : https://kano-corp.tokyo/

Opens : 11:00 to 23:00 on week days

10:30 to 23:00 on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays

No regularly closing day

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Monkichi

• Purveyor to entertainers
• You can easily choose from popular menu displayed
• The staff helps customers to cook monja, so that the beginner can eat in.

URL : https://tabelog.com/tokyo/A1313/A131302/13012758/

Opens : 11:00 to 22:00

No regular closing day

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