Gwangju monkfish restaurant with a mild set: Badaga Nae Sonagwi

I had something to do in Icheon, then decided to have lunch around Gwangju in Gyeonggi-do. After debating the menu, I really wanted spicy agu-jjim (braised monkfish), so I visited Badaga Nae Sonagwi Gwangju Direct Branch (바다가내손아귀 광주직영점), which specializes in agu-jjim and haemul-jjim (braised seafood).

Parking and atmosphere at Badaga Nae Sonagwi Gyeonggi Gwangju

There is a parking lot right next to the restaurant. Since I was getting around by car and there were not many suitable places to park nearby, I loved being able to eat without worrying about parking.

The interior was more compact than I expected. We arrived at 1 p.m., and there was exactly one table left. Looking around after sitting down, I noticed lots of families dining there. It had an easygoing atmosphere where groups could come together, chat comfortably, and have a meal. I took the photos after some people had left. For a dish like agu-jjim that is great for sharing, it is nice to eat slowly in a relaxed setting, and I liked that about this place.

A set with agu-jjim and kalguksu

I had planned to eat only agu-jjim, but there was a set that also included kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), steamed egg, and sliced boiled sea snail. The combination looked so good that I ordered the Daehwanjang Kalguksu Set A (₩39,000). You could adjust the spice level too, and we chose level 1, lightly spicy.

They are also running a review event.

The basic table setting came out first.

The kalguksu arrived first. It had already been boiled once, then we let it boil again at the table.

How the level 1 spicy agu-jjim tasted

While the kalguksu was boiling, the agu-jjim arrived. Wow—it looked appetizing just sitting there. The monkfish pieces were substantial, with plenty of mideodeok (sea squirts) and goni (fish roe sacs) too. The spicy seasoning coated the monkfish and bean sprouts beautifully. Dipping a piece of monkfish lightly in the sauce, it had a savory umami flavor and a spicy kick that went wonderfully with rice. The bean sprouts, an essential part of agu-jjim, still had a crisp bite, and the spicy seasoning had soaked into them well too. A piece of monkfish piled with bean sprouts was delicious. This was level 1, but for us, since we cannot handle much spice, it was just the right kind of deliciously spicy. We had considered level 2, and that could have been a disaster haha.

Once the kalguksu had finished boiling, I ate it with the agu-jjim. Having warm kalguksu alongside the spicy agu-jjim warmed me right through, and with the noodles included, it was plenty for a full meal.

Sliced boiled sea snail and steamed egg too

Next came the steamed egg and sliced boiled sea snail. With those included too, the table felt abundant.

The chewy sliced boiled sea snail, dipped in cho-gochujang (sweet-tangy chili vinegar sauce), had a charm completely different from the agu-jjim. It is not something I eat often, but it was delicious to have again after a long time. Rather than eating only agu-jjim the whole time, having several dishes to rotate through kept the meal interesting and tasty until the end.

The fluffy, soft steamed egg was mild and paired well with the spicy agu-jjim. Since the agu-jjim was spicy, it was nice to have spoonfuls of steamed egg in between. Alternating it with the agu-jjim soothed the heat just enough, so I kept reaching for it. It is an essential dish for spice wimps like us. Being able to taste several foods instead of just one made the meal feel satisfying even to look at. In particular, there was a nice balance of spicy food, mild food, and seafood, and each item had a different flavor and texture to enjoy.

After finishing, I wanted fried rice, but I was too full to manage it. Such a shame,, At Badaga Nae Sonagwi, everything from parking to the meal was easy to enjoy. The set especially let us have spicy agu-jjim, kalguksu, soft steamed egg, and chewy sliced boiled sea snail together, so we could enjoy many flavors at once. I like agu-jjim, but when it feels a little disappointing to have only one dish, this set is great because you can try several things together. It seems like a nice place for a comfortable family meal or a meal with friends. The spicy agu-jjim with warm kalguksu made for a filling, satisfying meal.