Jojoen shinjyukuodakyuharuku

Here’s what you need to know: korean food is a big part of Japanese dining culture, and this chain restaurant has far superior quality as compared to anything in the US. You cook the food yourself in the center of the table on an open flame. The seasoning is perfect, and the meat is top notch. Service is excellent.
This restaurant is located on the 8^th floor of the Odakyu Halc store in the Shinjuku Station in Tokyo. The décor is kinda kitschy with a pianist playing a bright red piano, and the walls of the private dining rooms (most rooms are enclosed for their parties have old school floral prints on the glass. However, it is a modern sophisticated restaurant with great food and service.
We ordered beef, and 3 types of pork, all of which were beautifully marinated and high quality. The beef was the best of the meats, and one of the pork offering was fatty port belly which may be too much for some (I loved it but my wife didn’t care for it).
The grill is started by the server and you start cooking he meats using your tongs. Be sure to err on the side of undercooked when it comes to beef and your palette will thank you. Be sure to err on the side of overcooked for the pork, and your health will thank you :) We cooked ours just to our liking and it was epic. The char taste and the fresh juicy marinated meat is impossible to beat.
The sides were terrific — rice, kimchi, lightly marinated super fresh lettuce leaves, assortment of pickles, and a miso broth with seaweed. The layout of the restaurant is great too where every party gets its own dining area, complete with a coat rack and cloth lined baskets for ladies purses (God forbid the designer French and Italian bags hit the ground). They even drape a cloth cape over he jackets so the smoke and smell from the food doesn’t penetrate the clothes (remember, each room is its own kitchen).
The lunch specials are about $ 22 and the dinner position we got was about $ 30.
I would highly recommend this place despite it’s chain status.

I forgot to write a good review for Jojoen restaurant in Japan. It was my first experience to visit Japan and I have eaten the most outstanding steakhouse in Shinjuku. I went here on 09/​19/​2015, and ordered the combination lunch that costs $ 30.00 US, 3000 yen JPY.
I will come back here again whenever I have the chance to go to Japan for the business trip,

Jojoen is a yakiniku restaurant next to Shinjuku station. I was about ¹⁰⁄₁₁ days into my Asia trip with an additional 15 pounds added to my thighs and butt from all the food I consumed in Taipei and Seoul. This was my first meal in Japan and I was eager to add another 20 pounds to my waistline. My Japanese coworker recommended it and told me it was her favorite spot for yakiniku. It’s a very nice restaurant with modern décor, but the décor had a Japanese touch to it.
The service was great and I was disappointed there was no button like Korean spots for me to annoy the staff. I suddenly realized I was no longer in Seoul but in Japan. The country that boast more 2015 Michelin stars than any other country in the world. Yup. It’s more than France, Spain or Italy.
Jojoen offers a la carte items along with the an omakase (i.e., Kaiseki) style menu. I went with the Kaiseki menu because I always do when restaurants offer tasting menus. I try not to judge a restaurant based off of one dish but multiple dishes. It’s like dismissing a potential mate based off of one aspect. Who cares if she’s crossed eyed? She could be the love of your life even though you could never tell if she’s looking you straight in the eye.
Now, the food. The Kaiseki menu consisted of an appetizer, assorted kimchi, yukhoe, namuru, salad, grilled, rice dish or noodles, dessert then coffee.
1) Yukhoe — Beef sashimi. It’s raw Japanese Wagyu beef cut up in little slices and dipped in sukiyaki type of sauce. However, the sukiyaki sauce wasn’t as sweet when compared to Imafuku. It was still buttery and simply high quality beef.
2) Namuru — Assorted seasonal vegetables dress with sesame seed and sesame oil sauce. Japanese food is simply amazing and the quality to detail they put into their dishes is like no other. The vegetables are fresh, crispy and there’s a clean tasting texture to them. It’s absolutely makes me want to become a vegetarian.
3) Grilled — The items included Japanese wagyu beef and some seafood items. The marbling on the beef was pretty much on the whole slices. It was covered in diced onions and placed on the grill. Medium rare is always the best choice. I’m from Orange County, CA and people rave about Anjin and Tsuruhashi. However, those places are mediocre once you get to experience true Japanese yakiniku with authentic Japanese ingredients.
Overall, I really enjoyed my dining experience at Jojoen. The portions in Japan is definitely smaller than what I’m accustomed to in the States. However, it’s a good thing cause I’ll be gaining 15 pounds instead of 25 pounds.

Yakiniku. Self prepared, grilled beef and pork. A light sweetened soy marinade or salt and pepper. A side of Japanese kimchee. Simple. So why five stars for a mid range, small chain, yakiniku place atop an office building in Shinjuku? Easy, it blows away even the best in the US.
The space, large, multi level /​split level easily accommodating 100 guest. Dark hard wood abounds. Warm accent lighting. Guest «bibbed» to protect their clothing. Bags in otherwise empty seats also covered with napkins. A harpist playing American «heart songs» from the 80’s and 90’s (it made me chuckle) accompanied by the sizzle and spitting of grilling meat. The heady aroma filling the air.
The menu is simple. Beef or Pork. Select the grade (two to three offered depending on the cut. For beef F1 (ultra prime mix breed cattle) to A4 — A5 (wagyu). Select either marinated (light sweet soy) or salt and pepper. Done.
Each plate comes with four to six pieces (aprox 100g total weight) and includes accent veg and accompaniments (ie garlic chips). Typical prices for beef range from JPY 2,400 — JPY 4,500 with ultra premiums at JPY 8,000, pork from JPY 1,300.
Order a salad dressed in a yuzu vinaigrette and a bowl of mixed kim chee (still crisp veg, no fermented taste and gentle spice heat) for the table and you’re ready to go.
Tip: Order in waves; two or three plates at a time.
The already tender kalbi, sudare kalbi (thick kalbi sliced as a continuous ribbon) and hirami cut like a warm knife through butter. Ultra clean beef flavor with no cloying fat. The roast (sirloin), firmer with a deeper beef flavor. Tongue with just the right amount of chew and sweet beef flavor. The simple kurobuta tenderloin sublime.
Outstanding service. Grills changed often (after two plates or between marinated and salt plates). Very efficient.
Good list of beer, shochu, Japanese wines, and sake at extremely reasonable prices (a featured jumai daigingo for JPY 2,700 a bottle was a deal!)
Some English spoken. No English menu. Reservations recommended else expect a 15 minute wait during peak hours.
Unbelievably good and again, killing off yet another dish that I can no longer truly enjoy outside of Japan.

I was really looking forward to this experience. I know it’s one of the most popular Yakinikku places in Japan so perhaps my expectations were too high. our server wasn’t very helpful in picking things out from the menu, but was very attentive throughout the meal. I thought the meat would be higher caliber and the mixed vegetable plate was disappointing.
perhaps it’s my fault for setting the bar so high, but I don’t think it was worth the high prices and with so many, many, MANY restaurant options in Shinjuku, I doubt we’ll be back.

Jojoen is my favorite place to get yakiniku in Japan. The lunch special is amazing and totally worth it. The lunch special prices vary throughout Tokyo, and the Shinjuku location is a bit pricier than others. Last time I went, it was 2500 yen per person for the karubi lunch set which is the best.
The lunch set comes with karubi beef, salad, rice, tofu, and more. You get to cook the meat on the grill on the table. So much fun and so delicious!