If you've visited Susuru and enjoyed the overall feeling of their Izakaya dining room, you will feel right at home at JUJU. It feels like Susuru 2.0 without the long drive to the attractions area if you live closer to Orlando's core. As soon as it opened it was a hot spot to go, so sorry to the 2% of you that are sick of hearing about it, but this is for everyone else. Also shout out to the 29% of you who had no idea what JUJU was.

THE VIBE

As someone who remembers a time when it was a treat to have your parents take you to dine in at a local Pizza Hut or redeem your Book It free personal pan pizza, a part of its charm is that it is housed in an old Pizza Hut building.

Much like Pizza Hut buildings from the 90s, a large red and white logo adorns JUJU's exterior. The large windows allow guests and passersby to peer into the restaurant and see the colorful decor and neon lights.  

There is a small bar and cozy lounge area with a tv if you want to visit for drinks only and soak in the ambiance where both Susuru and JUJU excel. 

If you haven't been to Susuru and aren't familiar with Izakaya dining, it's a traditional Japanese dining experience where locals gather to enjoy small plates of food and drinks. The word "izakaya" literally means "stay sake shop," It is a popular place for friends and colleagues to gather after work for a drink and some food. The menu typically includes a variety of dishes, such as grilled meats and various small plates that are meant to be shared.

THE DRINKS

Your drink options include a cocktail menu that ranges from $12-$16, beer that comes canned, bottles, or a small selection on draft, including Sapporo, and Japanese whiskey, which is becoming increasingly more popular. You can have it neat, on the rocks, or "Mizuwari" which means "mixed with water" in Japanese. Mizuwari is considered a great way to enjoy whiskey as the water helps to soften the whiskey's strong alcohol taste and aroma and to bring out more of its natural flavors. 

I stuck to the cocktail menu, and while many of the drink descriptions were appealing, I had to get the Old Pizza Hut. As someone who doesn't drink whiskey very much, the orange zest whipped cream and nutmeg helped take the edge off and made this a really fun, enjoyable cocktail in a signature Pizza Hut style red cup.

The Old Pizza Hut 13 - Suntory Toki Whiskey, ginger honey syrup, grated nutmeg, and orange zest whipped cream.

JUJU Old Fashioned 14 - Old Forester Bourbon, Okinawa black sugar, apple, and ango bitters.

THE FOOD

What we ordered: 

Mentaiko Udon 16 - spicy cod roe, uni, sake butter, marinated egg yolk

Hamachi Crudo 16 - hamachi with red pepper vinaigrette, miso crumble, garlic chips, pomegranate, and basil

Mentaiko Fries 7 - fries, spicy cod roe mayonnaise, nori

Yasaimaki 5 Pork Belly Wrapped Lettuce

My favorite two dishes were the Hamachi Crudo and the Mentaiko Udon. 

The hamachi, which is known for its rich, buttery flavor, gave me exactly that richness, and the pomegranates at the bottom were a sweet contrast.

The Udon was so rich and flavorful, I wished the portion was a little larger since we shared it, and I wanted more! I mentioned to the server it was my favorite of all the dishes, and he quickly said it was his as well, and it reminded him of a carbonara.

The fries and the pork belly-wrapped lettuce were ok, but I wouldn't order them again.

Side note: If you see Mentaiko on the menu, it' is a type of marinated roe, or fish eggs, popular in Japanese cuisine. Mentaiko is most commonly used as a topping for sushi and onigiri, but it can also be used as a filling for sandwiches and pastas or as a garnish for other dishes.

should you go?

Yes, at some point definitely go check out JUJU. Was I blown away considering how people have been talking about it and showcasing it on social media? No, but that’s the hype machine we now live in. However, I still enjoyed my visit, and would go again at some point to try other dishes, or maybe just get that Udon dish and a cocktail again. 😍

My personal opinion would be do not go on an empty stomach, ready to throw down and eat to your heart's content, because it will take a lot to fill you up and cost you.

If you are familiar with Susuru, the menus are similar, with one exception, JUJU doesn't have ramen. A $14 bowl of ramen can quickly fill you up with one additional snack or dessert and a cocktail to round out your meal. You don't have that option at JUJU. So if you really want to go all in on the menu, know that items that aren't under the snack or yakitori category run from $16-$32, and from what I saw, they are still small plates.

It may take a few visits to identify what items on the menu are worthwhile, and then you'll have a firm game plan for your next trip or to share your findings with friends. My bill was $69 before tip, and with my first trip under my belt, I know better how to maximize my dollar for the next visit.

From a service standpoint the host and the server were both friendly and helpful.

WHAT TO KNOW BEFORE YOU GO:

• No reservations are taken for the Izayaka dining room; it’s first come, first serve. I went on a Wednesday night at 5:30, and the restaurant only had a few patrons, and it remained that way for our duration. I’ve heard on the weekends the wait can be quite long.

• If you are vegan, your options will be limited to a few snacks and a few items under Yasai (okra, Brussels sprouts, potatoes). 

• It seemed kid-friendly, I saw someone come in with a stroller, and they were accommodated with no problem.

• If you want to splurge, you can make a reservation for their 6-seat Kappo experience, which is $160 per person, and an optional sake pairing featuring premium sake is available for $80 per guest. Each experience is 1hr and 45 minutes, so prompt timing is essential. This price does not include taxes or service charge.

• Parking is no problem here as you have the entire shopping center that JUJU is in at your disposal. JUJU 700 Maguire Blvd Orlando, FL 32803

All food was paid for personally, this is not a sponsored post.