Shanghai Restaurant Review: Han Tun Jia

By Tongfei Zhang, October 17, 2016

The Place

Nestled deep in Hongqiao, home to Shanghai’s Korean Town, Han Tun Jia is a casual BBQ and hot pot joint with some seriously tasty and good quality dishes. The owner hails from China’s Korean (chaoxian) minority, an ethnic group from Northeast China.

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The Food

Koreans are known for their love of Iberico pork, a breed of pig hailing from Spain, and Han Tun Jia has plenty of the flavorsome meat on the menu. Ranging from pork neck (RMB39) cutlets (RMB69) and even intestine (RMB49) for the adventurous eaters among us. We opted for marinated pork (RMB39), and watched it sizzle on the blisteringly charcoal fire. Once cooked, wrap it in crisp lettuce with a dab of fermented bean sauce for a juicy bite of heaven.

Equally good are the beefsteak (RMB128) and beef tongue (RMB60). The tender and juicy meat speaks for its freshness, and isn’t greasy at all. Seafood lovers will also find plenty to entertain them; the restaurant keeps tanks outside for live octopus, prawns, saury, scallops and abalone.

Typical Korean hotpots are also not to be missed. ‘Pickled veggie plus pork pot’ (RMB78/medium, RMB98/large) sees rice cakes, mushrooms, kimchi, ham, tofu, ramen noodles and chewy noodles with sweet and spicy sauce.

Heated over an open flame, the soup bubbles cheerfully, integrating the hot, peppery and thoroughly addictive flavors into the ingredients. With all the heat emanating from the grill, we wouldn’t blame you for choosing the cold buckwheat noodles instead, laden with brisket, kimchi and boiled egg.
Food verdict: 2/3

The vibe

Simple and spacious, expect a full house during lunch and dinner hours. Waitresses are well-trained, and can take over the job of grilling if, like us, you’re too lazy.
Vibe verdict: 1/1

Value for money

Our meal for two totaled just above RMB200, which considering the good quality, we handed over without reproach. Certainly there are many other restaurants of this caliber in Korean Town (almost too many to count), but until the day we try them all, we’ll recommend this place as a quality spot for meat lovers willing to make the trek.
Value for money: 0.5/1