Yeongjong pork BBQ with a toddler and bibim naengmyeon: Hanmaeum

There's one thing I always worry about on weekends: "Where can we eat comfortably with a 17-month-old?" Tasty food matters, but I find myself looking for a place where the baby doesn't get bored and we parents can eat at least a little leisurely.

This weekend my husband, our 17-month-old and I went to Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Yeongjong Sky City Branch (한마음정육식당 영종하늘도시점). The conclusion first: if you have little kids, it's worth a visit at least once. What I liked most was the kids' playroom, where our baby could play happily while we ate.

📍 Address: 13 202~205ho, Haneulbyeolbit-ro 65beon-gil, Yeongjong-gu, Incheon, South Korea

Is it a good BBQ restaurant for a family meal with a baby in Yeongjong?

The restaurant is large and the seating is nicely spaced, so bringing a stroller was easy. Yeongjong Sky City has plenty of great restaurants, but not many where you can comfortably bring a baby.

There were lots of families, and we understood why the moment we walked in: there's a kids' playroom where children can run around. If your baby gets restless mid-meal, they can play for a bit, which is a huge plus for parents. My husband even said, "With a place like this, I wouldn't mind coming again."

What did we order at Hanmaeum?

We ordered the restaurant's signature half-pig set (돼지반마리 세트), and added meal dishes on top, so we left really full.

The half-pig set lets you taste five different cuts at once, so there was the fun of picking out which cut you like best.

How did each cut in the half-pig set taste?

The meat quality was better than I expected. The first thing I noticed when it arrived was the lovely color. Maybe because it's a butcher-style restaurant, the meat looked fresh, and the thickness was just right for grilling.

• Samgyeopsal (pork belly): We grilled it first, and it was really juicy.
• Ogyeopsal (five-layer pork belly): Wonderfully chewy, and my personal favorite.
• Moksal (pork neck): Clean and mild.
• Hangjeongsal (pork jowl): Richly nutty and savory.
• Gabrisal (pork collar): Tender to chew, and my husband said it was the best.

We ordered just one menu item, yet got to enjoy several cuts, which I was really happy about.

How were bibim naengmyeon and nurungji with the meat?

The bibim naengmyeon (spicy-sweet cold noodles) went better with the meat than I expected. After eating a good amount of meat, we had the noodles too, and the tangy-sweet sauce cut the richness so we could enjoy it to the end. My husband said you must have naengmyeon with meat, and he ate almost all of it by himself, haha.

The nurungji (scorched rice soup) was a perfect way to finish the meal. Warm and nutty, it felt soothing on the stomach.

Can a 17-month-old play in the kids' playroom?

What I personally liked most at Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Yeongjong Sky City Branch was, of course, the kids' playroom. At 17 months our baby can't sit for long, but after eating a bit, the baby happily played in the playroom. Thanks to that, my husband and I could eat a little more leisurely for the first time in a while.

The playroom was kept clean and had toys kids would like, and the other parents seemed to be eating comfortably too. If you have kids, I think that alone is reason enough to visit.

What are the weekend lunch atmosphere and service like?

It was a weekend lunch and quite busy, but the restaurant is big, so it never felt stuffy. The staff were friendly and brought side dishes right away whenever we needed them, so we could eat comfortably.

The meat also cooks fairly quickly, so our baby didn't have to wait long, which was nice. There were lots of family tables, so the overall mood was relaxed.

Who do I recommend it to?

• Anyone looking for a restaurant to visit with kids in Yeongjong
• Anyone looking for a BBQ restaurant with a kids' playroom
• Anyone who wants to enjoy a variety of pork cuts
• Anyone deciding where to have a family meal
• Anyone looking for a good weekend lunch spot
• Anyone looking for good food in Yeongjong Sky City

Overall verdict

Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Yeongjong Sky City Branch satisfied us on both food and facilities. The signature half-pig set (500g) came with samgyeopsal, ogyeopsal, moksal, hangjeongsal and gabrisal, so we could enjoy many cuts at once, and with bibim naengmyeon and nurungji it made a really hearty meal.

Above all, thanks to the kids' playroom, mealtime was much easier even with a 17-month-old, and the baby had a good time too, so as parents we were very satisfied.

If you're looking for a place in Yeongjong where you can eat comfortably with a child, I'm happy to recommend it, and next time I'd like to come back with my parents too. If you're looking for a weekend family meal or a spot to eat with kids, Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Yeongjong Sky City Branch is worth a visit.