Korean Home Cooking You Come Back to Regularly
Published: February 24, 2026
※Prices are subject to change from those in effect at the time of the interview. Please contact the store directly for the latest information.
“Korean Home-style Cuisine Yanagi” is run by the third-generation owner.
For lunch, the menu includes a range of options, including jjigae (Korean stews), classic favorites, and noodle dishes. For dinner, all-you-can-drink course plans are also available.
Looking at the menu, what stood out to me is how rooted it feels in everyday Korean home cooking. The dishes are simple: stews, simple plates, meals meant to be eaten often rather than presented. It sets the tone immediately. This is a place where you come to eat well and feel comfortable, without overthinking.
Cheese & Tofu Jjigae
The cheese and tofu jjigae is a great pick when you are really hungry. It comes out bubbling—rich, but not too heavy. The tofu is soft, the broth is flavorful, and the cheese melts in without taking over. As a French person, I cannot help but appreciate how naturally the cheese fits into the dish. With a bowl of rice, it is filling and comforting—the kind of meal that makes you feel settled.
Potato Jjigae
The potato jjigae feels a bit different in a good way. It is heartier and more rustic, with chunks of potato that give the stew real substance. The broth has depth and warmth, and as you eat, it becomes more comforting than spicy. With rice on the side, it is the kind of dish that fills you up properly and makes you slow down without feeling heavy.
Korean Home-style Cuisine Yanagi sells a jjigae soup base as well. You can also use this soup base to make mapo tofu—although mapo tofu is not on their menu.
The mapo tofu was also very delicious. It has heat, but it is controlled, layered rather than aggressive. The tofu stays soft, almost creamy, soaking up the sauce without breaking apart. What I liked most is how it keeps its balance. Spicy enough to wake you up, but still easy to eat with rice. It is the kind of dish you keep going back to, bite after bite, without getting tired of it.
“Korean Home-style Cuisine Yanagi” is a neighborhood spot in Toyocho, serving Korean home-style dishes for the people who work there every day.
It is the kind of place you find yourself returning to without really planning to. The food feels simple and sincere, meant to be eaten often rather than admired. The owner is genuinely friendly, which makes the whole experience relaxed and welcoming. If you are looking for Korean food that feels familiar, satisfying, and rooted in everyday life, this spot naturally becomes part of your routine.
≪English Reporter Journalist Profile≫
・Name：Grégoire Renais
・Nationality：France
・Hobbies：Hiking, Photography (Landscapes, Japanese cultural events)
※Information is based on January 2026. Prices, operating hours, and other details may change. Please verify with the store directly.
※All amounts mentioned in the article are inclusive of taxes.
