Gwangju monkfish jjim set, boneless, with squid: Badaga Nae Sonagwi

Whenever I crave monkfish jjim (spicy steamed monkfish), I'm now heading straight to Badaga Nae Sonagwi in Gwangju, no hesitation. The portions were generous and the taste was satisfying, and the set was so well put together that even two of us could enjoy a real variety. The set even comes with squid mulhoe, so it felt like great value for the price. (Jjimim)

Where is Badaga Nae Sonagwi Gyeonggi Gwangju, and where can you park?

Badaga Nae Sonagwi (바다가내손아귀) Gyeonggi Gwangju is at 1F, 7 Suha-gil, Gwangju-si, Gyeonggi-do, and there's a private parking lot right next to it. It's close to Gyeongan Market, so it's easy to get to, and the private lot made the visit really comfortable.

Just tell the staff before your meal and they'll open the parking gate right away, so keep that in mind. The inside is quite spacious too, with plenty of room between tables, so it looked fine for family meals, group gatherings or company dinners.

At Badaga Nae Sonagwi, you get free ice cream just for adding them as a friend on KakaoTalk!

How much is the Set A monkfish set, and what comes with it?

The Badaga Nae Sonagwi Set A "Daehwanjang" monkfish set (SET A 대환장 아구세트) is ₩39,000 for small, ₩49,000 for medium and ₩59,000 for large. Monkfish jjim, boneless monkfish soup, squid mulhoe and steamed egg all come out at once in this set.

• Set A monkfish set (small) ₩39,000
• Set A monkfish set (medium) ₩49,000
• Set A monkfish set (large) ₩59,000

We swapped the monkfish jjim to boneless, which cost an extra ₩3,000. From the moment the table was set, I thought, "wow, that's a lot of food." We're a couple who can't handle spice, so we picked level 1.

Why the monkfish jjim at Badaga Nae Sonagwi was so good

The main dish, the monkfish jjim, had seafood that was fresh, true to the restaurant's name, and I really liked the sauce. It wasn't just spicy; the savory depth came through, so my chopsticks kept going back. The monkfish was moist, not dry, and the bean sprouts stayed crunchy, so I could enjoy it to the very end. After eating it, I understood why so many people recommend it as a top monkfish jjim place in Gwangju, Gyeonggi.

Blanched squid in the set: a welcome surprise

Set A includes squid mulhoe. You all know squid prices have gone up a lot lately, right? So having squid mulhoe in the set made me really happy personally. I'd actually been craving it recently.

The squid was tender, not chewy, and the chogochujang (sweet-spicy chili vinegar sauce) that came with it was a real highlight. I could have kept dipping the mulhoe in it all day. Every part of the set felt carefully thought out, which made me even happier.

Boneless monkfish soup for a perfect finish

The boneless monkfish soup in the set had a cool, clean broth that went really well with the jjim. Eating only the jjim can feel a little heavy, but the soup gave me a refreshing taste too. The monkfish was boneless, so it was easy to eat, and I enjoyed it right to the end of the meal.

Side dishes and steamed egg that get real care

The side dishes at Badaga Nae Sonagwi were each tastier than I expected, and the seasoning was just right overall, so they went well with the main dishes. I really kept reaching for them. And look at this steamed egg, a total bomb, right?... It felt like they take care of not just the main dish but the basic sides too.

Is it good for seafood jjim or lunch in Gwangju, Gyeonggi?

Badaga Nae Sonagwi sells not only monkfish jjim but also seafood jjim, algon-i jjim (fish roe jjim) and other jjim dishes, so I wanted to try the seafood jjim next time. Maybe because they use fresh seafood, I got my hopes up for the menu. If you've been looking for a seafood jjim place in Gwangju, I think this is a satisfying choice. They also run a lunch special, so it looked fine for a solo meal or lunch too.

A boneless monkfish jjim spot to remember in Songjeong-dong, Gwangju

What satisfied me most on this visit was the generous portions and fresh ingredients. The monkfish jjim was delicious and I got squid mulhoe along with it, so it felt like really good value. The restaurant is spacious and pleasant, so I think it suits family gatherings or company dinners too.

Next time I crave monkfish jjim, I'll be back at Badaga Nae Sonagwi without a second thought. If you're looking for a good monkfish jjim place in Gwangju, I recommend giving it a try. Especially if you're looking for monkfish jjim in the Songjeong area of Gwangju, I think you'll be very happy.