About the Japanese on this page
Some Japanese is left here on purpose. **Source titles** are given as published, so you can find the original. **Addresses are shown in Japanese as well as romanised**, because Japanese is what works in a taxi or a map app. Shop names keep the Japanese alongside for the same reason. Everything else — hours, closing days, prices, seating, how to get there, and the articles — is in English, translated from the Japanese edition rather than machine-translated on the fly.
RANKING
Rankings
Ordered on twenty axes. Every order states the basis it was made on.
We do not sort by Google rating. A 5.0 from ten reviews and a 4.5 from five thousand are not worth the same. With few reviews, the average moves with the mood of the handful of people who happened to turn up.
Placement is not for sale. No advertising or payment from a shop changes an order. If we ever run a sponsored slot it will be labelled PR and kept on a separate surface from the editorial rankings.
The rankings here are built only from facts we can publish now. A mechanism to pull scores and review counts from Tabelog, TripAdvisor or Google raises questions of each service's terms and of how the data would be obtained, so we have not built one. There is therefore no ranking based on scores yet.
Instead we rank on axes that are fully accounted for by public information: year founded, seats, price band, accessibility (wheelchair, pushchair, allergies, foreign languages), the style of the menu, the block of the street, the size of the chain. The reader can check on the spot why any shop sits where it does.
- Where to eat monja outside Japan
- If it is your first time in Tsukishima
- This month
- Long-established (oldest first)
- Recently opened (newest first)
- Tsukishima, block by block
- Higher spend (most expensive first)
- Lower spend (cheapest first)
- Good for families
- Good for a date
- Easy to go to alone
- Easier to order in another language
- Seafood monja
- Unusual dishes
- Western-style monja
- Meat
- Will discuss allergies
- Monja outside Japan
- Largest chains, by brand
- Shops on the locals' side
Where to eat monja outside Japan
How this order was decided
Chosen on three points: whether monja is the main event, whether we could confirm the shop is trading from a primary source, and whether it matters in that country's monja history. No scores are used.
- 01
Tsukishima Monja Moheji Seoul
The newest case of a Tsukishima specialist brand going abroad, opened on 7 August 2026. One shop that shows monja has reached the stage where a Japanese specialist opens in an overseas city centre in its own form.
South Korea Seoul Jongno-gu (Ikseon-dong / Donhwamun-ro)
- 02
Tsukishima Monja MOHEJI One Bangkok
The earlier case for the same brand, Moheji. Sitting in the basement of a large mixed-use development like One Bangkok means monja is placed as ordinary eating out, not as a curiosity for tourists.
Thailand Bangkok One Bangkok（Parade）
- 03
Tsukishima Monjiyaki Taipei Zhongxiao
Carries "Tsukishima" in its name and has run in Taipei for more than twenty years. It has produced forms that do not exist in Tsukishima, such as monja with rice in it. As an example of monja putting down roots as a local dish, this is the one most worth looking at right now.
Taiwan Taipei Da'an District (Zhongxiao Fuxing / Zhongxiao Dunhua)
- 04
Happa Restaurant of Japanese Izakaya
The only shop in the United States we could confirm lists monja on its menu. That it is one item at an izakaya rather than a specialist is exactly where monja stands in the English-speaking world.
United States Gardena Los Angeles County
- 05
Nanjya Monjya Waterfront
Has carried over even the format where the customer cooks it. A direct attempt at the wall that blocks monja abroad — the cost of explaining how to cook it.
Singapore Singapore Havelock Road / Robertson Quay
If it is your first time in Tsukishima
How this order was decided
Three points: that the shop is old and can be confirmed to serve something close to the original, that opening hours and closing days are known from the cooperative's primary information, and that it shows how it handles customers who do not know how to cook it. Not chosen on queue length or fame.
- 01
Yoshimiya
Founded 1954. The oldest monja shop on Nishinaka-dori; it marked seventy years in 2024. It has only three tables of four and two of six. Tsukishima is the only place where your first shop can be the oldest one. Bookings by telephone only, and hard to get on the day at weekends and holidays.
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 02
kondou main store
Trading on the same street since 1950. The cooperative's description says it has kept the old style of monja since it opened. Room for 60, from 17:00 on weekdays. When it is full there is a system for directing you to its second shop, so it is easy to get into even on a first visit.
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 03
iroha main store
Founded 1955. From the window seats on the first floor you look down over Monja Street. Good for a first visit because you can see the whole street before you eat.
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 04
dagashiya
The shop is called Dagashiya, "penny sweet shop". The sign itself explains where monja came from. Down a side lane off the main street.
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
This month
How this order was decided
Chosen from what we could confirm moved in the past month: openings, closures, relocations, new formats. Not promotion — only things that actually happened.
- 01
Tsukishima Monja Moheji Seoul
On 7 August 2026 the first shop in South Korea opened in Jongno, Seoul. It happened while this database was being built, and shows that monja's move abroad is going on right now. Opening hours and closing days are not yet confirmed from primary sources.
South Korea Seoul Jongno-gu (Ikseon-dong / Donhwamun-ro)
- 02
Okonomiyaki Michi
A shop serving Oarai's tarashiyaki. A regional dish only a few shops can still make, and the first thing this database checks every month.
Ibaraki Oarai, Higashiibaraki District Oarai
Long-established (oldest first)
How this order was decided
Only shops whose founding year we could confirm from a primary source — the shop's own site, or the cooperative's description — ordered oldest first. A shop whose founding year cannot be confirmed does not appear, however old it is.
- 01
- 02
Yoshimiya
Founded 1954 (Founded 1954 (Showa 29); marked its 70th year in April 2024)
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
TEN-YA
Founded 2002 (Opened 3 August 2002 as Taiwan's first shop specialising in okonomiyaki, monjayaki and teppanyaki)
Taiwan Taipei Taipei
- 07
Tsukishima Monja Moheji Seoul
Founded 2026 (Opened 7 August 2026 (first shop in South Korea))
South Korea Seoul Jongno-gu (Ikseon-dong / Donhwamun-ro)
Recently opened (newest first)
How this order was decided
Shops whose opening year we could confirm, newest first.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
Tsukishima, block by block
How this order was decided
Tsukishima is too dense for a ranking to help you choose. So this is not a ranking but an ordering by which block of Monja Street the shop is on, from the station outward: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th. The block comes from the cooperative's primary information.
No shop meeting this condition has been confirmed yet.
Higher spend (most expensive first)
How this order was decided
Ordered by the midpoint of the average spend each shop declares to the cooperative. This is the amount you pay, not the standing of the cooking. Shops that do not publish a figure do not appear.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
Lower spend (cheapest first)
How this order was decided
The same midpoint, cheapest first. Cheap is not the same as satisfying. This orders on budget alone.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
Good for families
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as taking pushchairs or welcoming small children, then ordered by most seats (more seats makes room for a pushchair).
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
Good for a date
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as suitable for a date, then ordered by fewest seats (quieter than a large room).
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
Easy to go to alone
How this order was decided
Only shops flagged by the cooperative as welcoming solo diners. Monja assumes more than one person, so there are few. We show that fact as it is.
- 01
bambi 4th store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 02
maruta 2nd avenue
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 03
monkichi new store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 04
taro
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
Easier to order in another language
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as welcoming overseas visitors. This is the shop's own declaration, and not confirmation that an English menu exists.
- 01
bambi 2nd store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 02
daruma chic shop
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 03
iroha main store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 04
iroha nishinaka
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 05
kotobukiya
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 06
maruta
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 07
maruta 2nd avenue
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 08
monkichi new store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 09
mugi main store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 10
oshio ataru
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 11
oshio honten
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 12
oshio ima
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 13
oshio makoto
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 14
takenoko
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 15
taro
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 16
temari
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 17
tsukushiya 18th adress
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 18
wadachi
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 19
Nanjya Monjya Waterfront
Singapore Singapore Havelock Road / Robertson Quay
- 20
Seiwaa Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki Restaurant
Singapore Singapore Jalan Besar / Dunlop Street
- 21
Tsukishima Monja MOHEJI One Bangkok
Thailand Bangkok One Bangkok（Parade）
- 22
Tsukishima Monja Moheji Seoul
South Korea Seoul Jongno-gu (Ikseon-dong / Donhwamun-ro)
- 23
Tsukishima Monjiyaki Taipei Zhongxiao
Taiwan Taipei Da'an District (Zhongxiao Fuxing / Zhongxiao Dunhua)
- 24
bambi 4th store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
Seafood monja
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as good for seafood.
No shop meeting this condition has been confirmed yet.
Unusual dishes
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as having many unusual items on the menu.
No shop meeting this condition has been confirmed yet.
Western-style monja
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as serving Western-style monja.
No shop meeting this condition has been confirmed yet.
Meat
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as good for meat.
No shop meeting this condition has been confirmed yet.
Will discuss allergies
How this order was decided
Shops flagged by the cooperative as able to accommodate allergies. Always check directly with the shop before you go.
- 01
bambi 2nd store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 02
bambi 3rd store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 03
fugetsu tsukishima store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 04
iroha nishinaka
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 05
kazuki
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 06
monkichi nishinaka
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 07
mugi main store
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 08
oshio ataru
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 09
oshio honten
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 10
oshio ima
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 11
oshio nagomi
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 12
oshionst
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 13
takarajima
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
- 14
taro
Tokyo Chuo City Tsukishima
Monja outside Japan
How this order was decided
The shops outside Japan recorded in this database.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
Seiwaa Okonomiyaki & Teppanyaki Restaurant
Singapore／信頼度 C
Singapore Singapore Jalan Besar / Dunlop Street
- 06
Tsukishima Monja Moheji Seoul
South Korea／信頼度 B
South Korea Seoul Jongno-gu (Ikseon-dong / Donhwamun-ro)
- 07
- 08
Tsukishima Monjiyaki Taipei Zhongxiao
Taiwan／信頼度 B
Taiwan Taipei Da'an District (Zhongxiao Fuxing / Zhongxiao Dunhua)
Largest chains, by brand
How this order was decided
Grouped by brand and ordered by number of shops, from the shops recorded here.
- 01
Tsukishima Monja Okoge
15店
- 02
Tsukishima Monja Moheji
15店
- 03
Tsukishima Monja Tamatoya
14店
- 04
Tsukishima Monja Kuuya
13店
- 05
Monja Kato
3店
- 06
Monja x Kakushin MOHEJI
3店
- 07
Tsukishima Monja Kotetsu
2店
- 08
Asakusa Monja Kanoya
1店
- 09
Asakusa Monja Kanoya Hanare
1店
- 10
Asakusa Monja Zenya
1店
- 11
Asakusa Monja Mokichi
1店
- 12
Kaisen Monja Mosuke
1店
- 13
Sakaba Totoya
1店
- 14
Sakaba Yamaka Shoten
1店
- 15
Tsukishima Monja Doteya
1店
Shops on the locals' side
How this order was decided
From shops where the cooperative's primary information flags "family-run and homely", "a hideaway down a side lane" or "meet the well-known owners", ordered by fewest seats. An axis for telling them apart from the large shops aimed at visitors.
- 01
- 02
- 03
- 04
- 05
- 06
- 07
- 08
- 09
- 10
- 11
- 12
- 13
- 14
- 15
- 16
ALGORITHM
How scores would be handled (design, not yet built)
Setting out the method in advance, for when scores can be handled. This is a design written before implementation, and is not used in the current rankings.
Use a Bayesian correction. Not a plain average but `(count x mean + constant C x overall mean) / (count + constant C)`, pulling shops with few reviews toward the overall mean. C is set to the median review count across all shops.
Weight recent reviews. A shop that collected 5.0 five years ago and one collecting 4.6 this year are not treated alike.
Read reviews in other languages on a separate axis. For some shops the score in Japanese reviews differs from the score in English or Chinese ones. That gap is itself information about whether a shop suits visitors from abroad.
Give credit for what the shop discloses. Shops that publish hours, closing days, allergy information and prices are less likely to disappoint the reader.
Do not deduct for queues. A queue is both a sign of popularity and a constraint on an itinerary. It belongs in a note, not in the ranking.