Seongdong Korean restaurant with fried tripe agu-jjim: Seongsu AGU

Seongsu-dong has so many cafés, Western restaurants, and bakeries that it can actually be hard to choose when you want Korean food. Especially on a date in Seongsu, you end up eating lots of pasta, pizza, and meat—but that day, I wanted something a little different. That is how I found Seongsu AGU.

An unusual Seongsu-dong agu-jjim with fried tripe

Agu-jjim (braised monkfish) is actually a pretty familiar dish to me, but this place caught my eye because it is not simply selling agu-jjim—the main draw is agu-jjim + fried tripe.

What is the exterior of Seongsu AGU like?

It felt a little different from the old-school agu-jjim restaurants we usually imagine. The exterior suits Seongsu-dong's stylish character, so it is fairly eye-catching even when you first walk past. An agu-jjim specialist might make you picture a huge sign and a traditional-looking restaurant, but Seongsu AGU feels more casual!

So when I first went, I thought, “Is this really an agu-jjim place?” haha. But I actually liked that it was casual! It does not try too hard and blends in naturally~~

A tidy interior with second-floor seating

There are seats on the second floor too!

Once inside, it is cleaner and more orderly than expected. It has the feel of a casual Korean restaurant?! There seem to be seating options for meals for two as well as larger groups.

Agu-jjim itself can feel a little rustic, but the neat layout really softens that image.

The tables and pathways were fairly well organized too, so it works for a meal with friends and did not feel awkward for a date. When looking for good places to eat in Seongsu-dong, sometimes the food is good but the space is too cramped or noisy—this one is nice and spacious! Eating is sooo hard when it is cramped ㅠㅠ

First visit, so I ordered the Signature Set for Two

The restaurant also presents its agu-jjim-and-fried-tripe dish as its signature item, and the Signature Set for Two is arranged so you can try Seongsu AGU's representative dishes at once. Rather than ordering things separately, I went for the Signature Set for Two since it was my first visit.

You can order right away through Catch Order! Once you order, the owner brings the side dishes first haha.

Fried-tripe agu-jjim and the sides

The banchan (small side dishes) and sauces come first, and they make a good combination to eat alongside the meal! There are two sauces too, which makes it nice to mix things up.

I ordered just one thing this time.!! Seongsu AGU's Signature Set for Two (₩66,000). It lets you try the signature fried-tripe agu-jjim along with side dishes, so I ordered it without hesitation.

• Fried-tripe agu-jjim
• Half portion of seaweed-octopus rice balls
• Half portion of pollock-roe cheese potato pancake

That was what the set included. If it is your first visit and choosing each dish feels difficult, this set is a convenient option. Instead of having agu-jjim alone, you can try the sides too, so it is a good way to experience Seongsu AGU's signature dishes all at once. You can choose the spice level!!! I chose about Shin Ramyun-level spicy, haha.

I wanted to eat so badly that I snapped the photos in a rush hahaha. The rice balls were seriously sooo delicious!

From the first look, it was definitely different from ordinary agu-jjim. Crisply fried tripe sits on top of the spicy-sauced agu-jjim, making it look quite distinctive. Tripe on agu-jjim?!!!!!

At first I wondered whether the two would go together, but after eating it, I could see why they created this combination. The spicy, rich sauce of the agu-jjim is joined by the nutty crunch of the fried tripe, creating contrasting textures in one dish. The monkfish has both tender and chewy parts, while the bean sprouts are crisp. Then the fried tripe adds a crunchy, nutty note, so every bite feels a little different. I think that is one of Seongsu AGU's biggest strengths.

The distinctive sharp heat of agu-jjim seasoning is at the center, making it good with the side dishes. The bean sprouts were especially well-coated in sauce, so the crisp sprouts and seasoning worked nicely together. The monkfish was tender to chew, with the sauce coming through alongside it. People who like agu-jjim will find it familiar and easy to enjoy, while first-timers may find it more fun than a standard version. Above all, the fried tripe is the key point. Dip the crispy tripe lightly into the sauce and you get nutty richness and spice together. That said, tripe naturally has a rich, fatty flavor, so I think it will suit tripe lovers especially well.

Who I recommend Seongsu AGU to

• Anyone looking for a good agu-jjim restaurant near Seongsu Art Hall or Ttukseom Museum by Seoul Forest
• People who like both tripe and agu-jjim
• Anyone curious about something different from ordinary agu-jjim
• Anyone looking for a Seongsu date restaurant
• Friends looking for somewhere to eat in Seongsu-dong

I especially, highly recommend it if you love tripe!

Seongsu AGU is a Korean restaurant near Ttukseom Station and Seoul Forest. I had the Signature Set for Two: spicy fried-tripe agu-jjim, seaweed-octopus rice balls, and pollock-roe cheese potato pancake. The agu-jjim combined tender monkfish, crisp bean sprouts, and a sharp spicy seasoning, while the crunchy fried tripe made it more distinctive than usual. The rice balls and potato pancake were balanced sides for the spicy agu-jjim too. Next time, I want to try another monkfish dish and the cheese fried rice.