Mojong-dong, Asan monkfish stew: level 3 up to level 4 heat, Sinseong

Today I'm introducing Sinseong Agujjim, a monkfish stew (agujjim) spot in Mojong-dong, Asan! It's good for lunch, and in the evening it's perfect with a drink or two. Compared with other agujjim restaurants, it packs in a really generous amount of monkfish, so I'm always happy with it. Once you start eating, you're surprised by how much monkfish there is.

This time I ordered level 4 spice. It's pleasantly numbing and a real stress-reliever, so personally it was the level I liked best.

Sinseong Agujjim Asan Branch: opening hours and closed days

Sinseong Agujjim Asan Branch is in Mojong-dong, Asan (on Samdong-ro 28beon-gil), and it's open from 10:30 to 22:00. It's closed every Tuesday.

Sinseong Agujjim menu: are roe and milt included?

The menu is monkfish stew, boneless monkfish stew and seafood jjim (steamed seafood). One thing to note: the basic monkfish stew doesn't include roe or milt. If you like them, I recommend adding them when you order.

How spicy is level 4 at Sinseong Agujjim?

You can choose spice from level 1 to level 5. I used to order level 3, but this time I tried level 4. Maybe because I like spicy food, level 4 suited me best. It's pleasantly numbing and you keep reaching for more.

Side dishes

The side dishes were neatly served, starting with seaweed soup, plus kimchi, salad and other basics that go well with agujjim. There isn't a huge variety, but it was plenty for the meal.

Is there really more monkfish than bean sprouts?

This was a revisit, and even coming back, the first thing that strikes me is the generous portion. There's way more monkfish than you'd expect!

Agujjim is usually mostly bean sprouts with only a little monkfish, but here, every time I put my chopsticks in, another big piece of monkfish comes up.

The flesh is plump too, which makes it even better. Dip the chubby monkfish in the spicy sauce and eat it with crunchy bean sprouts, and the textures really shine. Best of all, there's no fishy smell at all!

The monkfish isn't dry either; it's moist, tender and delicious. Level 4 isn't just sharp heat, it has real depth of flavor, so I think spice lovers will like it even more.

Monkfish skin and sea squirts

The stew includes not only the flesh but also the skin, which is firm yet chewy. The more you chew, the better it gets, and the sauce soaks in so well that I kept picking at it.

There are sea squirts (mideodeok) in there too. They pop when you bite them and release a sea aroma that lifts the whole dish even more~

Is the fried rice at Sinseong Agujjim a must-order?

For the fried rice, the staff take the leftover sauce away and stir-fry it with rice. I really recommend ordering it every time!

Take a spoonful and every grain is coated in sauce. It's not just ordinary fried rice, it feels like the agujjim flavor in concentrated form.

The spicy sauce blends well with the rice, and it isn't just sharp, it's the kind of taste that keeps pulling you in. The leftover bean sprouts crunch here and there and add texture too. I was already fairly full, but it was so good that my spoon wouldn't stop.

Inside Sinseong Agujjim Asan Branch and group seating

The interior is clean overall. It's not big or flashy, but the tables aren't packed too tightly, so it's just right for a meal. There's group seating too, so it's fine for a company dinner. If you're looking for a good restaurant in Mojong-dong, Asan, do try Sinseong Agujjim.