Korean BBQ with a playroom in Yeongjong: whole-cow set for 3, Hanmaeum

A lot of you are probably looking for a BBQ place in Yeongjong Sky City you can go to with kids. Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang (한마음정육식당) Yeongjong Sky City Branch even has a big playroom, so it's an easy, stress-free pick for families.

My kid said they wanted meat, so we ended up going back again.

Hanmaeum Jeonguk Sikdang Yeongjong Sky City Branch: address and hours

• Address: 13 Haneulbyeolbit-ro 65beon-gil, 2nd floor, Incheon
• Hours: Mon–Thu 15:30–23:00 / Fri–Sun 11:30–23:00
• Prices: whole cow ₩76,000, half cow ₩43,000 / whole pig ₩72,000, half pig ₩42,000
• A restaurant with a playroom, free parking (2 hours free if you park at Ion Square), and free doenjang jjigae and steamed egg

Where to park for Hanmaeum in Yeongjong Sky City

Parking inside the building is free with no time limit. The catch is that the entrance is like a car-park entry/exit ramp and it's pretty narrow.

Our car is on the big side (a full-size sedan), and even my husband, who's a good driver, found it quite hard here. A beginner like me wouldn't even dare... But if there's no space, or for beginner drivers like me, you can park at the Ion Square building, a 3-minute walk or less away, and get 2 free hours.

Hanmaeum's dining room, seating and weekend waits

The inside of Hanmaeum's Yeongjong Sky City branch is quite spacious. There are also private rooms, so it looks good for big family gatherings or company dinners. We came around 11:30 on a weekend and got in without any wait.

The tables are spaced widely, and the tables themselves are big, so eating is comfortable.

Hanmaeum menu and prices: cow and pig sets

True to its name, Hanmaeum sells pork and beef by the whole or half animal. A whole cow (600g) is ₩76,000, half a cow (300g) ₩43,000, a whole pig (1kg) ₩72,000, and half a pig (500g) ₩42,000.

Inside the restaurant there are aging fridges sorted by cut. It was nice to be able to see the freshly aged meat.

We had half a pig last time, so this time we tried the whole cow.

Ordering and refills by kiosk at Hanmaeum

Ordering is done on a kiosk, and you can request refills of the scallion salad or doenjang jjigae right there too, so there's no need to call a staff member, which was convenient. The owner was also kind, and I enjoyed the meal the whole time we were being served.

What are the side dishes and self-serve bar like at Hanmaeum?

The side dishes came out, from macaroni salad that's easy for kids to eat to sides that go well with meat.

If you run out of a side dish, you can easily grab more from the self-serve bar.

When I go to a BBQ place, the first thing I check is how fresh the wrap vegetables are. Hanmaeum's were clean and fresh. The staff also kept checking the self-serve bar and refilling whatever was running low.

Free doenjang jjigae and steamed egg at Hanmaeum

Here's what I love about Hanmaeum: doenjang jjigae (soybean paste stew) and gyeran-jjim (steamed egg) come free as side dishes!!

Even though they're free, they're not skimpy. The doenjang jjigae is full of tofu and vegetables, and the steamed egg is soft rather than dry, so it was great for mixing into my kid's rice.

Jjolmyeon (chewy noodles) in the scallion salad

Another unusual thing: Hanmaeum's pa-muchim (seasoned scallion salad) has jjolmyeon (chewy wheat noodles) inside. Eat it with the meat and you get a cool, refreshing combo without ordering bibim naengmyeon separately. One note: if you get a refill of the scallion salad, it comes without the jjolmyeon.

Which cuts come in Hanmaeum's whole-cow set, and is 600g enough for 3?

The whole cow at Hanmaeum is served with a wide variety of cuts, from usamgyeop (beef brisket) to LA galbi and sirloin, so picking at this and that was fun. The meat quality was good and tender, so it was easy to eat.

Honestly, when I first saw the setup, I wondered if the amount was a bit small for the price.

But last time, with half a pig, it wasn't quite enough and we even added mul naengmyeon (cold noodle soup). This time, with the whole cow, we were so full we couldn't order anything extra. Two adults and one toddler ate until full.

If you plan to order naengmyeon or another side menu, get the half; if not, the whole should leave you full.

Korean BBQ with a playroom in Yeongjong: what is Hanmaeum's playroom like?

There aren't many BBQ places with a playroom on Yeongjong island. Hanmaeum's Yeongjong Sky City branch has its own big playroom.

There's a jungle gym and a trampoline, plus lots of open space, so even with many kids playing there's no worry about bumping into each other.

There's a TV inside the restaurant so you can watch the playroom while you eat, and you can also see it through the camera button on the kiosk. My kid loved being able to play while waiting and after eating. Ask my kid about BBQ places with a playroom on Yeongjong and they'll always say Hanmaeum.

Kids' own tableware is also kept separately in the sterilizer at the self-serve bar, which definitely made it feel like a kid-friendly restaurant. I also liked that after-meal coffee, which you crave after meat, is set up in the hallway in front of the elevator.

Who Hanmaeum Yeongjong Sky City Branch is best for

At Hanmaeum's Yeongjong Sky City branch you get a variety of side dishes and good-quality meat, and the big playroom makes eating out with kids fun. If you're looking for a BBQ place among Yeongjong Sky City's good restaurants, I'd recommend Hanmaeum.

• Anyone who wants an easy meal out with kids
• Anyone looking for a great meat spot in Yeongjong Sky City / Jungsan-dong
• Anyone who wants to enjoy lots of different cuts at once
• Anyone looking for a BBQ place on Yeongjong for a family gathering