For many expats, an authentic home cooked meal like mom used to make is a treat in Korea. That’s not to say there aren’t options in Busan – there are – but when it comes to a good ol’ fashioned roast, or a traditional north American dinner without any ‘fusion’ thrown in, HQ bar in Kyunsung will mitigate your maternal menu cravings.
The American owned sports bar with a full kitchen is run by Dallas native “Tommy Mutt” and Californian, Johnny Jung. The two collaborated their ideas and opened last summer. HQ quickly became known as a comfortable, relaxing bar in an over-the-top area in need of a place to chill, watch sports, unwind and, of course, enjoy some good grub.
When it first opened HQ offered the traditional pub grub fare: chicken tenders, chicken wings, Texas ranch nachos, Tom’s Italian beef sandwiches (a must feed), honey and ginger pork with veggies, pot roast, turkey dinners and BBQ pulled pork sandwiches --all on a rotating basis.
But now there's the new kitchen.
With that the menu has expanded to include a variety of reasonably priced homemade Tex Mex, Southern style dinners (chicken steak, Italian sausages, stuffed peppers), meatloaf and other weekly and weekend house specials. All meals are served with baked potatoes and assorted vegetables on the side and will run you between $8 to $12 a plate.
“Since the start, we have expanded, are expanding and will continue to expand our menu, mood and establishment. We’re preparing all our meals from scratch to provide people with the kind of food that you can’t find anywhere else south of Seoul,” said Tom, who does the cooking.
While there is good stuff coming out of the kitchen, the bar has been the main draw. “We have a great mix of old and new faces who hang out, drink, eat, talk and cause general mischief," said Johnny.
HQ offers catering for events at the bar, with Tom promising to cook up anything your party desires.
So, if you you're looking for a little bit of home to chew on, HQ is a good spot to go. And mom isn't actually there, so you don't have to eat the vegetables.
The HQ bar is located near Kyungsung and Pukyung Universities. Operating hours are from 6pm to close – usually whenever the last customer leaves.
