Hanam kodari restaurant second visit with kids' pork cutlet: Appa Jjim

There's a delicious kodari place on the way to Misa, and I just can't drive past it!! Today we went back to Appa Jjim's main branch.

Honestly, this is a repeat visit for our family. We tried it once, loved it, and came back! Spoiler: it was satisfying again this time. And everyone... if you go here, you have to order the seafood pancake.

You go for the kodari and end up falling for the pancake instead, haha.

Parking, the dining room and tablet ordering at Appa Jjim

We drove to Appa Jjim's main branch, and parking was well set up so we got in easily.

When you're out and about with kids, a place with easy parking is a huge plus, and this one delivers. And then, once inside...

Look at this. So many people, right? I guess word gets around when a place is this good. We'd already been once and loved it, so returning to this Hanam kodari favorite felt oddly nostalgic! You just sit down and order easily from the tablet at the table.

That day we ordered a small siraegi kodari-jjim + seafood pancake + a pork cutlet for the kids. A solid combo that keeps both adults and kids happy.

What side dishes come first?

After ordering, the basic side dishes get set up like this. The kodari-jjim has rich, spicy seasoning, so these clean side dishes pair really well with it.

Especially wrapping the kodari with seaweed and bean sprouts later on — so good.

It's more fun mixing things up than just eating kodari the whole time.

Is there a kids' menu? The pork cutlet

The first thing to arrive was the pork cutlet!

When you're heading to a Hanam kodari restaurant with kids, you naturally start worrying about what they'll eat. The kodari-jjim is seasoned and can be too spicy for kids, so having a pork cutlet to order alongside made things easy.

Fried up nice and crispy, and the meat quality was decent too. Kids eat the cutlet, mom and dad eat the kodari!

That's why it works well as a family dinner spot.

Why you should order the seafood pancake here

And then the seafood pancake showed up. Honestly... this pancake is kind of amazing.

This is clearly a place you come to for kodari and seafood stew, but I'd strongly recommend the seafood pancake too. It's genuinely one of the best pancakes I've ever had. It's not damp or soft like a typical pancake — the outside is incredibly crispy.

It almost has a tempura-like feel? Crispy on the outside, packed with ingredients on the inside — the texture is amazing. This isn't something you get just by pan-frying it; there's clearly some technique involved... seriously crispy!! I ate one piece and immediately reached for another. If you order the kodari-jjim, make sure to get a seafood pancake with it. You really must!!

How big is the small siraegi kodari-jjim?

Finally, the main dish, siraegi kodari-jjim, arrived. Staff came by and deboned it simply right in front of us for easier eating.

Ta-da. Looks delicious just from the visuals, right? Even ordering the small size, the portion was pretty generous.

Packed with kodari and plenty of siraegi (dried radish greens) too, great to eat together.

They pick apart the kodari flesh nicely, and with the sauce coating each bite... man... this is the flavor that brought us back. The seasoning really soaks into the fish, and it's the kind of taste that demands rice. Spicy but savory, so you keep reaching for more.

Braised pollock with pot rice: the right pairing

And then the pot rice comes out too. Pot rice is always delicious, isn't it?

A spoonful of hot, freshly cooked rice topped with seasoned kodari flesh is amazing.

I get why so many people seek this place out as a Hanam kodari favorite. The siraegi has soaked up the kodari seasoning too, so eaten with rice, a whole bowl disappears fast. From the main dish to the sides, everything was delicious and the whole family ate happily.

Walls full of celebrity autographs

Walking out full, I noticed a ton of celebrity autographs.

Oh... this really is a great place! I bet a lot of people come back like we did. This was already my second visit, but I'll probably come again next time I'm passing through Misa craving kodari.

Final verdict on Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch

Appa Jjim's main branch was just as good on a repeat visit! The kodari-jjim had a generous portion and great seasoning, and with pot rice, seaweed, and bean sprouts alongside, it felt like a proper meal.

And let me say it again... you have to try the seafood pancake. I never expected to get this into a seafood pancake at a kodari restaurant, haha. The outside was so crispy, it's genuinely one of the best pancakes I've ever had.

With kids in tow, you can order the pork cutlet too, so it works well as a family dinner, and the easy parking is a plus! If you're looking for a Hanam kodari restaurant near Misa, I recommend Appa Jjim's main branch. Try the kodari-jjim + pot rice + seafood pancake combo. This was another very satisfying meal!