Braised pollock and pot rice in Hanam: Appa Jjim

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch in Deokpung-dong

My mom recently went to a gathering in Misa, Hanam, then brought us to a place she said was delicious. It was Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch (아빠찜 하남본점), a Deokpung-dong favorite where you can try all kinds of steamed dishes, from braised pollock to steamed monkfish and seafood.

It is especially known as a Deokpung-dong favorite because at lunch you can enjoy braised pollock and fragrant pot rice at a good value. Mom raved about it as a Hanam restaurant, so I was curious—and after trying it myself, I was so pleased!

Hours and parking

• Address: 1F, 60 Wolho-ro, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea (경기 하남시 월호로 60 1층)
• Hours: Daily 11:20–22:00
• Open year-round; last order 20:50
• Lunch hours: 11:00–15:00
• Parking: Dedicated restaurant parking lot

Korea’s first 180°C high-temperature steam with Maekbanseok stones

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is said to be a steamed- and braised-dish specialist that cooks with Korea’s first 180°C high-temperature steam using Maekbanseok stones. The Sokcho-style braised pollock and pot-rice pairing is apparently so popular that people line up at lunchtime☺️

They also use Suhyangmi rice for the pot rice, which has a subtle sweetness and pleasing stickiness. We visited on a weekday evening, thankfully getting in right away without a wait, but weekday lunch and weekends often have a wait—something to keep in mind if you are planning a visit!

Siraegi braised pollock for three

The three of us ordered siraegi braised pollock, added pot rice, and chose the standard spice level. ⚠️Spice levels: standard / spicy / extra spicy⚠️

All the basic side dishes paired beautifully with the braised pollock: ✨roasted seaweed, bean sprouts, salad, and chilled cucumber soup✨. Having them alongside the pollock made the flavors feel even more abundant.

How was the siraegi braised pollock?

At last, the main dish—siraegi braised pollock—arrived! The braised pollock was topped with appetizing red sauce and generously filled with siraegi (dried radish greens), rice cakes, radish, and tofu.

Perhaps because Appa Jjim uses natural seasonings, the taste was not aggressively intense; instead, it had the deep, clean savory flavor of natural ingredients. They prepare the pollock themselves, so all you have to do is eat it—and it was incredibly moist and tender~

And the real star here was the siraegi! It had soaked up loads of that delicious sauce, so it had a great texture and was a total rice thief with the pollock meat…😋 The regular pollock is delicious too, but the siraegi is the masterstroke, so I recommend the siraegi braised pollock if you can!

The pairing with pot rice

The lightly sticky pot rice with the braised pollock was the ultimate pairing~ The rice itself had a gentle sweetness and was delicious on its own, but with the pollock? So, so good.

My favorite was definitely wrapping it in roasted seaweed: ⭐️pollock + bean sprouts + roasted seaweed⭐️. The bean sprouts’ texture and the nutty seaweed came together for peak savory flavor.

The sauce was so good that we even added fluffy fried rice scented with perilla oil—K-dessert! Then we had hot nurungji (scorched rice soup) from the pot rice, and it truly felt like we had enjoyed a proper meal.

Tender pollock and gently seasoned sauce

From the flavor to the portion size, I was happy with ❤️Appa Jjim, a braised-pollock favorite in Misa, Hanam❤️. The pollock flesh was truly tender, and the sweet-and-spicy sauce had soaked in nicely, making it perfect with rice!

Most of all, the sauce was not overly spicy or sweet; it had a gentle savory flavor that kept drawing me back for more~ I absolutely recommend it to anyone who loves braised pollock, and it is great for a generous meal, whether for a Misa family outing or a Misa company dinner!