Monami Shokudō — Restaurant in Tokyo

Tucked just behind Ebisu Station, Monami Shokudō feels like one of those places you stumble upon and quietly hope others don’t discover too quickly. The space is compact but warm, with soft lighting and a clean, modern aesthetic that doesn’t try too hard. It’s clearly popular, there was a steady flow of customers even on a weekday afternoon, but it never felt rushed or chaotic.

Service was friendly but not overly attentive, which I actually prefer. The staff seemed genuinely busy but still made time to answer a quick question. I didn’t feel rushed to leave, and the pacing of the meal was relaxed.

Prices are fair for the area and the quality—around ¥1,300 for lunch, which feels justified given the variety and care in presentation. I haven’t tried dinner yet, but the チュクミ (baby octopus) and ロングユッケ寿司 looked tempting on other tables.

If I had to nitpick, the seating is a bit tight, and the music leaned slightly louder than I’d like for a quiet lunch. But those are minor things in an otherwise satisfying experience.

Would I go back? Definitely. It’s not trying to be flashy or reinvent Korean cuisine; it’s just doing the basics well, with a few playful twists. And in a city full of over-designed dining spots, that kind of quiet confidence...

We came here for dinner on the weekend and since the place seems to be quite popular, there was some waiting time before we could enter the place and also between ordering food/drinks and the servers bringing them. The atmosphere and decoration is quite nice and reminded me of restaurants I've seen in some Korean Dramas (I'm not to judge if it's comparable to actual authentic Korean restaurants though!)

The 肉肉Set was sufficient for two people and quite delicious - the meat pairs well with the lettuce, kimchi and other vegetables. There were also plenty of drinks to choose from - I really enjoyed the apple sour!

All in all, as someone who has only visited Korean restaurants in Japan, I was satisfied with this spot - although it was a bit too expensive to just come again on a...

Rubbish and they made me so angry that I had no choice but to spend 3 minutes writing this review to remind everyone. I went there with high expectation at 6 PM. I wrote down my name and 1 pax on their form. In front of me, there were 6 persons for 2 tables. After 20 minutes, they were brought to the outdoor tables. I kept waiting and the 2 male staff obviously saw me when they walked in and out serving the table, without any intention to greet me!! Then I asked there was a table…? One of them just bluntly asked if I reserved. I said no. The other one came and I told him I wrote my name. Then he apologized it would take another 30 mins. What the hell? If a table won’t be given to people without booking, then what’s the point of asking people to write their names?? Hilarious. Just because I wouldn’t order a lot when I was alone? Hell. You probably choose customers. Shame on you.

最悪だし、すごく腹が立ったので、みんなに思い出してもらうために3分かけてこのレビューを書くしかなかった。 期待を込めて午後6時に行った。フォームに自分の名前と1人の客の名前を書いた。目の前には、テーブル2つに6人が座っていた。20分後、彼らは屋外のテーブルに案内された。 待ち続けていたが、2人の男性スタッフは、私に挨拶するつもりもなく、テーブルに出入りしながら明らかに私に気づいていた!! そこで、テーブルがあるかと聞いたが…? 1人が、予約したかとぶっきらぼうに聞いた。私は「いいえ」と答えた。もう1人が来たので、名前を書いたと伝えると、彼はさらに30分かかると謝ってきた。一体何なんだ? 予約なしでテーブルを用意してくれないのなら、名前を書いてもらう意味があるのか​​?? 笑える。一人でいる時にあまり注文しないからって?...