Rainy-day date at a Hanam braised pollock restaurant: Appa Jjim

It's the weekend, so we finally went on a Hanam date after a long time! It was a gently rainy day and I was craving something warm and spicy, and just then I found a place known for good braised pollock (kodari-jorim, braised half-dried pollock). For some reason rainy days make you want savory pancakes or steamed dishes, right? haha This is the story of Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch, a Hanam pollock spot that was way better than I expected.

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch: location, hours and parking

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch (아빠찜) is on the 1st floor at 60 Wolho-ro, Hanam-si, Gyeonggi-do, and it's open daily 11:00–21:50 (break time 15:00–15:30). The parking area in front of the restaurant is big, so that was easy.

It's about a 3-minute walk from Hanamdeokpung Station, so access is really good. It's on the way toward Hanam Starfield: from Pungsan Station, go past E-Mart to the Hanam Nonghyup intersection, then walk along the road beside Yoido Full Gospel Church and you'll see it straight ahead! The sign is big and visible from far away, so even first-timers can find it easily.

Inside Appa Jjim, still busy at 4 PM

The inside was bigger and tidier than I expected. The tables are spaced generously, so it didn't feel cramped. We went at an awkward time, around four?? and there were quite a lot of customers. They all seemed to be family gatherings haha (the opposite side, which isn't in the photos, was almost full). Seeing people keep coming in even outside mealtimes, I figured it's already a famous spot in the neighborhood~ haha

What two of us ordered: siraegi braised pollock, pot rice and seafood pancake

The menu at Appa Jjim is built around braised pollock, with a variety of options. We ordered the siraegi (dried radish greens) braised pollock for ₩35,000 + 2 pots of rice (₩2,500 each) + the crispy seafood pancake for ₩16,000.

Seven side dishes, and the cold cucumber soup was especially good

The side dishes came out first: cabbage salad, seaweed, cold cucumber soup, seasoned bean sprouts, sweet soy beans, pickled onion and seasoned bok choy. Every one was clean and not over-seasoned, so they went well with the main dishes haha. The cold cucumber soup in particular was cool and tangy, perfect with the spicy braised pollock, and the pickled onion cut the richness so I kept reaching for it!!

Freshly cooked pot rice and getting the nurungji ready

Pot rice, which I love so so much.. the moment I opened the lid, glossy rice came into view. That nutty smell of freshly cooked rice rose up, and wow, it's delicious just from the smell!! I felt satisfied already when I scooped the rice into a bowl and poured water into the pot to make nurungji (scorched rice tea) ^_^

Siraegi braised pollock, with the bones removed for you

The siraegi braised pollock at Appa Jjim came in red sauce, generously packed with big pieces of pollock, siraegi, tofu and radish. Fish is often a hassle because of the bones T_T but they debone it all for you haha. Having it prepared like that was so convenient and nice!

Crispy seafood pancake for ₩16,000: a shockingly big size for two

When we saw the size of the crispy seafood pancake at Appa Jjim, we were both shocked O_O?! Is this for real? The photo can't even capture the size, and it's really plenty for two (four people could probably have finished it haha).

It was generous with seafood too, with squid and shrimp plus lots of vegetables, so the texture was fun to chew! It wasn't just a greasy pancake but light and nutty, a great match with the braised pollock haha. It was good lightly dipped in soy sauce, and it tasted different again with the pollock sauce~~

Seasoned radish and siraegi are rice thieves

Ta-da, the pollock and seafood pancake look even better all together haha. The siraegi had the seasoning soaked in deeply and was really good, and the tofu was soft and went so well with the sauce. The radish especially was seasoned all the way through, and I personally loved it!! One spoonful of rice with a piece of radish on top, truly a "rice thief" (a dish that makes you eat lots of rice)~

Finishing with nurungji: how was it as a rainy-day date meal?

To finish the meal we had the nurungji we'd prepared in the pot rice, and its toasty flavor cleaned up the palate nicely haha. Appa Jjim was also running a review event, and you can get extra perks if you take part, so check it out if you're planning a visit~~

It was a meal that suited the rainy day even more, and the combination of warm braised pollock, freshly cooked pot rice and a crispy seafood pancake was really really satisfying :) If you're looking for a family meal or a date spot in Hanam, it's worth a visit once!!!