Ansan sashimi restaurant with kids’ pork cutlet: Eochongye 1beonji

The sky has been high lately, and the weather has suddenly turned pleasantly cool—perfect for weekend outings. When a weekend is this nice, it feels unfair to stay home, doesn’t it? On the first weekend of September, my husband, our increasingly curious two-year-old son, and I took a drive to Ansan’s Bandal Island for some fresh air for the first time in ages. Ansan is ideal for a light weekend drive from where we live, with easy roads and a comfortable distance. With the windows open and the sea breeze coming in, we naturally started craving fresh seafood. So we parked the car and frantically searched for good places to eat on Ansan’s Bandal Island.

Among the countless reviews for restaurants and sashimi spots, one place especially caught my eye: Bandal Island Eochongye 1beonji Sashimi Restaurant. Since we were visiting with our little son, who still cannot eat spicy food or raw fish, having side dishes he could eat was our number-one criterion for choosing a restaurant. Even though this was a sashimi restaurant, it had a solid selection of meals for children, and I knew it would be perfect for our family. Full of anticipation, I put the destination into the navigation without hesitation.

An easy Bandal Island sashimi meal, from parking to the spacious dining room

The exact road address is 23 MTV 17-ro, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do. It occupies an enormous stretch of the building’s first floor, from units 109 through 112, so its large sign was easy to spot even from a distance. The roads within the MTV complex are neatly laid out, and even driving along the open streets felt refreshing. For a family meal by car, convenient parking matters just as much as the food, and there was plenty of parking in the building, so we could park comfortably and head right in. This little convenience made a great first impression before we had even entered.

As soon as we stepped inside, the sea scent greeted us along with rows and rows of neatly arranged tables. Since several units are connected together, the interior is quite large. The generous space between tables made it a comfortable setting for diners with children, strollers, or lots of belongings—never cramped at all. Natural light poured in through the floor-to-ceiling windows, making the whole restaurant bright and cheerful. The floors were not sticky, there was no fishy smell, and everything was kept clean; it felt like proof from the basics alone of why this place is considered a good restaurant on Ansan’s Bandal Island.

Ordering seasonal assorted sashimi, hoe-deopbap, and children’s pork cutlet

Guided by a kind staff member, we settled into a comfortable seat and carefully read the menu. The lineup was incredibly varied, from live fish sashimi brought in that day to full meal dishes. We ordered three items: the small seasonal assorted sashimi platter (₩45,000), where we could properly enjoy the knife work; a flavorful, filling hoe-deopbap (raw fish rice bowl, ₩10,000); and a children’s pork cutlet (₩8,000) tailored for our little one. The regular-price total came to ₩63,000, and considering today’s soaring prices, it struck me as excellent value for a family of three eating out in a tourist area.

There is also a lunch-special menu, which seems worth trying if you dine before 2 p.m.

Thick-cut, springy seasonal assorted sashimi

Just as we were whetting our appetites with the basic side dishes, the main event—the seasonal assorted sashimi—arrived in spectacular fashion! Even though it was the small size, the abundant, gorgeous arrangement on the wide platter made both my husband and me gasp. It was generously composed of fish at their seasonal peak, and the chef’s golden-ratio thickness in each slice was truly outstanding.

I sent a thick slice of sashimi straight into my mouth with the restaurant’s specialty mushroom seasoning, and the chewy, bouncy texture with every bite was honestly crazy. The more I chewed, the fish’s subtle, nutty sweetness filled my mouth, and, as you would expect from a restaurant with good turnover, there was absolutely no fishiness or dryness. Even my picky husband kept nodding and saying, “This place is the real deal,” without putting down his chopsticks. It absolutely deserved its word-of-mouth reputation as a great Bandal Island restaurant in Ansan. Wrapping it in fresh ssam vegetables with garlic and ssamjang, a savory dipping paste, was pure healing—it made a whole week’s fatigue disappear.

Sweet-tangy and filling hoe-deopbap

While we were busily enjoying the assorted sashimi, the hoe-deopbap arrived without interrupting the flow. I could hardly believe it cost ₩10,000: a huge bowl was piled mountain-high with crisp vegetables and topped with a generous handful of diced live fish sashimi. A drizzle of fragrant sesame oil went over it all, and its nutty aroma hit my nose with no mercy.

We added the house cho-gochujang, a sweet-tart red chili sauce, and a bowl of rice, then gently mixed it so the grains would not get crushed. One big spoonful of the red-mixed rice brought an explosion of flavors: the varied textures of fresh vegetables, chewy sashimi, and a deeply savory sweet-and-sour sauce formed the perfect trio. The sauce was not overly aggressive, yet it had such deep umami that it made me want to scrape the bowl clean. Filling up on carbs took the satisfaction of this as a full meal to the very top.

Crispy children’s pork cutlet that my child loved

For parents with young children, choosing a sashimi restaurant for a weekend meal out can take some thought. But this place has the lifesaver that is its children’s pork cutlet, making it an oasis for families. At ₩8,000, this was not some token cutlet thrown on the plate just to round out the menu. It arrived neatly plated, freshly fried in clean oil, with a wonderful quality and a breadcrumb crust that stood up like snowflakes.

As I cut it into easy bites for my child, the cheerful crunching sound tickled my ears. It was mild with none of pork’s characteristic odor, just right for children’s tastes. Our little one picked up pieces with his tiny fork and chewed them so happily; as a parent, just watching him made me feel full to the brim. Thanks to that, the adults could savor fresh sashimi without worrying while our child filled up on a side dish he loved, and the whole family had a meal that was 100% satisfying. That is the decisive reason I would strongly recommend this restaurant to families looking for a good place to eat on Ansan’s Bandal Island.

Three standout strengths I experienced firsthand

After eating here during our weekend visit, these are the three powerful strengths of this place that I felt firsthand, down to my bones.

• Unbeatable value and high-quality, exceptionally fresh seafood. You can enjoy thick-cut, springy seasonal sashimi of excellent quality at approachable prices.
• A menu perfectly tailored to family meals with children. With children’s pork cutlet that rivals a specialty restaurant in quality, everyone from young to old can enjoy their meal without reservations.
• A hygienic, comfortable dining environment and ample parking mean no parking stress or fatigue from a cramped space.

A huge success for our weekend family meal—200% willing to return

What a gem we happened upon during a long-awaited weekend outing: Bandal Island Eochongye 1beonji Sashimi Restaurant! From seasonal assorted sashimi full of the sea’s savory flavor, to addictive hoe-deopbap that filled us up, to perfectly crisp pork cutlet that had our child’s spoon dancing, it was a meal close to perfect. If you are planning an outing or want to enjoy sashimi comfortably with your child, I recommend visiting without hesitation. It will be an excellent choice you will never regret!