청담동대구뽈찜아구찜
Geumjeong steamed or grilled seafood
A braised cod cheek and monkfish house that has held its spot beside the back gate of Geumyang Elementary School and next to the Geumjeong-gu office. The hall splits into three rooms so it is roomy, which suits a family meal or a work dinner near the district office.
The menu runs from braised cod cheek and braised monkfish out to boneless monkfish, fresh monkfish, seafood monkfish and monkfish suyuk. Boneless braised monkfish for three is KRW 54,000, and not having to pick bones makes it easier with parents. Potato noodles are KRW 2,000 and rice is ordered separately.
Heat runs across five levels. Level one is barely spicy with only a trace of warmth, so anyone weak with heat is comfortable. The seasoning lands between salty and flat so the savour holds, and the flesh keeps its spring. Unlike braises padded out with bean sprouts, this one is generous with monkfish, and sea squirt goes in too. There is a little rice cake and more can be added, and potato noodles at the end pick up the sauce well.
Chive pancake, steamed egg, water kimchi and bean sprout soup come as standard, all lightly seasoned, which cools the mouth between bites of the braise. Hours are 11:30 to 21:30 with last order at 20:30, and a break from 15:00 to 17:00 that does not run at weekends. Closed every Monday. Parking at the Geumjeong car park beside the restaurant earns two one-hour tickets per table.