Ansan noodle restaurant for a weeknight toddler dinner: Todamok

On weekend lunches it's always a struggle figuring out what to feed the kids. We were looking for something easy to eat with our 4-year-old and 2-year-old and ended up at the newly opened Todamok in Ansan. Since our kids love kalguksu (knife-cut noodle soup), we decided to focus on the chicken kalguksu this time rather than other menu items. The place was clean, there was plenty of parking, and there were even some fun things for the kids to see after the meal, which made it a solid spot for a family outing. The mild chicken kalguksu broth in particular was easy to share with the kids without any worries.

Where is Todamok in Ansan, and is there parking?

Todamok is located at 17 Daejaengi-gil, Danwon-gu, Ansan-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea. There's a dedicated parking lot right in front of the restaurant, which made it convenient to visit by car. When eating out with two young kids, having enough parking space is a big deal, and being able to park and walk straight into the restaurant made things much easier from the start.

The building had a slight hanok (traditional Korean house) feel to its exterior, and being a newly opened spot, the interior was clean as well. We visited on a weekday evening, and the relatively relaxed atmosphere made it comfortable to eat with the kids. The restaurant is open daily from 11 AM to 9 PM, with last order at 8:30 PM.

On weekdays there's a break time from 3 to 4 PM, and the restaurant is closed on Mondays, so it's worth keeping in mind before visiting.

What we ordered at Todamok with a 4-year-old and a 2-year-old

Our family of four visited this time and ordered the two-person kalguksu and potato pancake set. Since we'd be eating with the kids, we chose to focus on the chicken kalguksu among the menu options. Kalguksu lets you eat the broth and noodles together, and it's a dish the kids can handle fairly comfortably, so it's something we often order for family meals out. This time too, we started the meal by scooping out portions of chicken kalguksu for the kids.

We also ordered potato pancake, which went well alongside the kalguksu. Eating only soft noodle dishes can start to feel a bit monotonous texture-wise, but having the pancake there added some crunch in between bites. The adults enjoyed the kalguksu broth and pancake together, while portioning out chicken and noodles for the kids made for a satisfying meal.

Is the chicken kalguksu mild enough for toddlers?

The dish we focused on most during this visit was, of course, the chicken kalguksu. The broth wasn't overly strong or spicy but mild instead, which made it good to eat with the kids. Since we were eating with a 2-year-old and a 4-year-old together, we tend to avoid anything too salty or spicy — but with chicken kalguksu, we didn't have to worry about that at all when portioning out noodles and chicken for them. The noodles paired well with the broth, and having chicken mixed in made it feel heartier than just eating noodles alone.

We scooped out a bit less broth for the kids and let the noodles and chicken cool before giving it to them, and they ate better than expected. Watching kids eat happily is more satisfying to a parent than the taste of the food itself, honestly. Seeing the two of them share a bowl nicely made us glad we'd brought them along. From an adult's perspective too, the mild broth was easy to eat without feeling heavy, and it worked well as a hearty dinner.

Potato pancake and self-serve rice with the kalguksu

We also tried the potato pancake that came with the set. Adding pancake to the mix made the meal a bit more interesting than eating kalguksu alone. It was also an easy dish for the kids, so we cut it into small pieces to share. The texture on the outside and the mild flavor of the potato went well with the kalguksu.

The adults paired the chicken kalguksu broth with the potato pancake, and the combination turned out better than expected. When eating out with kids, having a range of dishes they can actually eat matters a lot, and ordering the chicken kalguksu together with the potato pancake gave us more options. The self-serve rice bar was also a nice plus for a family visit.

If your kids like rice, adding a little to go with the kalguksu seems like a good option too.

The animal farm next to Todamok that the kids loved most

What surprisingly stuck with us most at Todamok was the small animals we got to see after the meal. Beside the restaurant, there's a little space with small animals like rabbits, guinea pigs, and hamsters.

Since we visited with a 4-year-old and 2-year-old, they actually seemed more interested in this than in the food. Rather than eating and heading straight home, getting to watch the animals for a bit felt like a little activity for the kids. Our 2-year-old stared at the animals with fascination, and our 4-year-old lingered for a long while checking everything out.

There was also a large fish tank near the entrance where we could watch fish. When eating out with kids, having small extras like this definitely makes a place more memorable than just eating and leaving. Being able to combine a meal with a bit of animal-watching made this feel like a good spot to visit with children.

Honest verdict on a family dinner at Todamok

This time we visited Todamok in Ansan with our 4-year-old and 2-year-old and tried the two-person kalguksu and potato pancake set. Above all, the mild chicken kalguksu broth was great to eat with the kids. Being clean rather than strongly flavored made it easy to portion out noodles and chicken for them, and the adults could also eat a meal without feeling weighed down. The potato pancake was a good side to pair with the kalguksu. Adding a different texture from the noodle dish, and being easy for the kids to share too, it fit well as a family dining option.

And the animal corner and fish tank beside the restaurant were definitely a fun element for the kids. Being able to check out animals and fish for a bit after the meal should make for an even more satisfying visit with children. If you're looking for a restaurant to visit with kids in Ansan, Todamok seems worth a try. Especially if you're planning a meal out with young kids like a 4-year-old and 2-year-old, being able to enjoy mild chicken kalguksu and potato pancake and then see some cute animals makes it a decent option for a family outing. If you're after tasty kalguksu plus something fun for the kids to see, give Todamok in Ansan a try for a family dinner.