Hanam Korean restaurant for dining with kids: Appa Jjim

I’ve loved pollock for ages, but it’s a difficult menu to eat with a child, so I could never go. This time, I visited Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch (아빠찜 하남본점), which even has a kids’ menu, and I was really satisfied🫶🏻 There was parking right in front of the restaurant too, so it was easy to visit from the parking onward. Having good parking is really important, you know🤭

• Detailed location: 1F, 60 Wolho-ro, Hanam-si
• Hours: Daily 11:00–21:50
• Break time: 15:00–15:30
• Last order: 20:50

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch, stopped by before Starfield

We arrived at Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch! It’s located before you get to Starfield. Appa Jjim is known for braised pollock and braised monkfish, and wow, there were so many people when we came at dinner time! I also loved that there was plenty of parking space right in front of the restaurant.

As soon as we passed the entrance, I saw countless signatures.. Since Hanam is so close to Seoul, it seems lots of celebrities have visited too🫶🏻

What caught my eye at the entrance was its Korean Consumer Evaluation excellence rating. In an era overflowing with good restaurants, a place that has received an excellence rating is what I notice first:)

Even though it was a weekday, it was really busy. We visited with a reservation, so thankfully there was no wait, but I recommend making a reservation if you’re planning to visit:)

Why it was easy to eat braised pollock with a child

As soon as we sat down, they prepared a high chair and baby tableware for us. The main menu is for adults, but there are fried rice and pork cutlet options that children can eat too, which made it a great place to visit🫶🏻

A full pollock spread with dried radish greens and rice cakes

The basic side dishes came out first, and there was such a varied selection. I absolutely need bean sprouts and roasted seaweed with pollock, and of course they had them🥺 There were so many toppings to eat with the pollock too. From dried radish greens to rice cakes, tofu, and radish, there was a lovely variety, and we added dried radish greens and rice cakes.

Braised monkfish is another of the main dishes, not just pollock. Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch says it uses the world’s first cooking method using maekbanseok (mineral stone), which gives the food a moist texture. Their seafood pancake is also apparently a famous side dish:)

The kids’ pork cutlet my 29-month-old ate

The kids’ pork cutlet came out first. Our 29-month-old little one even tucked into the danmuji (yellow pickled radish) like a pro. Having a kids’ menu made the meal so convenient🤭

Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch is known for its pot rice🍚 They also sell a braised pollock + pot rice set as a lunch special! We visited for dinner, but if I come at lunch next time, I’ll have to order it:)

Braised pollock with the bones removed for us, even at dinner

The main pollock we had been waiting for came out last. Even during the busy dinner rush, a staff member removed the bones for us, so it was easy to eat. You can also adjust the spice level for the pollock at Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch, and I think it would be even more delicious ordered spicy✨️

The pollock at Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch had lots of toppings, and I really hope you add the dried radish greens:) It was my first time adding them, and they were even more delicious with rice🫶🏻

As side dishes go, blanched cuttlefish is popular too. Next time, I’ll have to come with the whole family and try the recommended side dishes as well. I’ve often been unable to go to places that sell only pollock dishes because they aren’t suitable for children, but this place has a kids’ menu too, so we could visit without hesitation🫶🏻 If you’re looking for a great braised pollock place in Hanam for a weekend meal or dining out with kids, I recommend Appa Jjim Hanam Main Branch:)