Looking for a nice and local place to try some Kanto-style Okonomiyaki that not as many people know about, called "Monjayaki?" Why not sit down in the historical tourist district of Asakusa for the full Japanese travel experience?
At Rokumonsen (六文銭), you can experience and taste authentic Monjayaki. You may even cook and grill the dish yourself, on the griddle located on each individual table! I visited the second branch of Rokumonsen, which is also located in Asakusa, and tried out Monjayaki for the first time, and loved it! I also had Okonomiyaki, which I felt a little conflicted about, since I had enjoyed the dish so much when I was in the Kansai area. However, if you like your Okonomiyaki a little more batter-based, so that it resembles a pancake more so than a combination of ingredients, try Rokumonsen's Okonomiyaki! It's a lot more flour based, and reminds me of Korean Seafood Pancakes, if you decide to order the seafood based one.
But back to Monjayaki. Monjayaki, nicknamed "monja" by many, is a Kanto region dish that is also batter-based. The consistency is often referred to as more liquid-like than Okonomiyaki, as the batter feels a lot more smoother in your mouth. The ingredients and toppings in Monjayaki are very similar to the ones in Okonomiyaki, ranging from seafood to vegetables to meat. The big difference is that the ingredients in Monjayaki are usually chopped up and diced before being added to the batter, whereas Okonomiyaki is more of a structured batter with layers of ingredients.
At Rokumonsen, since you panfry your own Monjayaki, you are expected to eat and serve yourself with a small spatula, which I personally had never used before trying Monjayaki! The taste of the Monjayaki at Rokumonsen was delicious, and I especially enjoyed eating with the small spatula. I do not have the basis to compare the Monjayaki I had to others since it was my first time, but I can say that the dining experience was well-enjoyed. One thing to keep in mind is that at Rokumonsen, you are required to order at least one drink to pair with your meal - it is not expected that you will order simply water.
Stop by and dine at Rokumonsen in either of the Asakusa branches and try the popular pan-fried dish if you're looking to try a Kanto-style dish!
