Non-spicy monkfish stew in Gajwa-dong, Jinju: Jjimgoeul Gajwa

My husband and I came to Jinju for a little getaway 💙

Today I'm sharing an honest review of Jjimgoeul, a newly opened branch of a 30-year-old monkfish stew (agujjim) specialist in Gajwa-dong, Jinju. It's right next to the Tapmart parking lot by Jinju Station, so it's super easy to find and perfect for a lunch spot. This place built its reputation over 30 years next to the local training center, and now it's opened a second location on Gaeyang-ro (Gajwa-dong) — I went in with high expectations!

Where is Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch and what are the hours?

Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch

Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch is located at 120-42 Gaeyang-ro, Ju1-dong 1F, Jinju-si, Gyeongsangnam-do. Hours are Monday to Thursday and Saturday 11:00–21:00, and Friday 17:00–21:00.

Inside Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch and how tablet ordering works

The moment I stepped into Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch, the clean, pleasant interior immediately caught my eye! True to a newly opened restaurant, the space was spotless and well maintained, with plenty of room — it would be great for a family meal or a gathering too.

The owner and staff greeted us warmly, which put me in a good mood right from the start. You can order easily using the tablet installed at each table, haha.

How much does the boneless monkfish add-on cost?

Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch's menu is set up nicely for adding boneless monkfish meat. It's ₩7,000 for a small add-on and ₩10,000 for a medium. This is the first agujjim restaurant I've seen with a boneless add-on option!!!!

Can you order the monkfish stew non-spicy?

We ordered Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch's signature dish, the monkfish stew. I loved that the spice level was adjustable. I can't handle spicy food, so... mild it was...^^;; haha. After ordering, the basic side dishes were set out neatly and cleanly, each one perfectly seasoned, whetting our appetite before the main dish arrived.

When the monkfish stew finally showed up, I couldn't help but gasp! The sauce color was so vivid and appetizing, my mouth started watering the second I saw it. The monkfish meat was plump and hearty, mixed generously with crunchy bean sprouts — it passed the visual test with flying colors!!!!!!!

As soon as the stew arrived, a fragrant perilla oil (sesame oil) smell drifted up, and honestly it smelled incredible! The chewy, tender monkfish meat combined with the savory, umami-packed sauce was a work of art. Eating it with rice was the best!!!!!!! It was basically a rice thief, if you know what I mean...???

Udon noodles and rice mixed into the leftover sauce

One combo you absolutely must add when eating monkfish stew at Jjimgoeul Gajwa Branch is the udon noodles.

The springy udon noodles soaked up the spicy-sweet monkfish sauce beautifully, making every slurp a work of art. As soon as it hit the table, that fragrant perilla oil smell filled the air — genuinely amazing right from the smell alone!

After eating for a while, I mixed rice into the leftover stew sauce, and with the rich sauce and perilla oil aroma, it was truly the best. Finishing off with the udon noodles and rice was absolute perfection — I scraped the plate clean, marveling until the very last bite. If you visit, be sure to mix the noodles and rice into the sauce!

Deep 30-year flavor, a clean atmosphere, and neat side dishes — everything about Jjimgoeul, this Jinju Gajwa-dong favorite, was perfect! If you're looking for a Gajwa-dong lunch spot or a great monkfish stew restaurant, be sure to check it out!