(Images: BusanJeong)
BusanJeong will bring Dwaeji-gukbap — Korean Pork Broth Rice — plus savory soups, Korean dumplings, Korean pancakes, and specialties like blood sausage to Capitol Hill in the new project set to open in coming weeks next to Carrello on the north end of Broadway.
Hoyeon Park says BusanJeong will be shaped by his journey owning and operating more than 30 restaurants across Korea and Hong Kong, spanning Korean, Western, Chinese, and Japanese cuisine.
“We want people to feel the warmth of Busan, even when they’re far from home,” Parks says.
Park said, in Korea, Busan evokes a sense of hometown, and “Jeong (情)” represents warmth, human connection, and care.
The opportunity to join the Seattle food and drink scene with his first United States project brings Park to Capitol Hill’s rich Korean restaurant mix.
BusanJeong is taking over the space formerly home to Cheers! Hong Kong just over a year after is late 2024 debut. Owner Sen Mao says the sale will help focus energy on growing his Dumpling The Noodle business.
“We’re really grateful for the Capitol Hill community and everyone who supported us,” Mao said, encouraging fans of Cheers! to visit DTN on N 45th or over in Kirkland.
BusanJeong is also joining a neighborhood where Korean food and drink has become a major component of the dining scene. As CHS wrote last year, knowing your way around a Korean spice rack is pretty useful these days in Capitol Hill food and drink. The Gol Mok Korean Market Bar now holds down a space on E Pike. Yeobo Cafe and Bar and its Korean-American comfort food on E Madison is another recent addition. Another new joint is Seoul Mates opening in former sushi bar at 10th and Union. At the core, MEET BBQ from Heong Soon Park has grown into a center of the scene on E Pike where it opened into the teeth of the pandemic. Heong Soon Park’s influence also stretches beyond Korean cuisine with the opening of his Cheese Room in 2024 in the former Machiavelli space.
For Hoyeon Park and BusanJeong, customizable bowls of rich broth and rice will be at the center of things. Korean Pork Broth Rice is considered an ultimate “soul food” for residents of Busan and the surrounding Gyeongsang province.
“Our signature dish is a creamy, milky-white pork soup. The rich pork bone broth is simmered for over 10 hours, creating a deep, savory flavor,” the BusanJeong pitch reads, calling Dwaeji-gukbap “a connection between people, a taste of home, and a moment of comfort.”
That might build up Dwaeji-gukbap a little much but when you’ve come from around the world to open a new restaurant, your Korean Pork Broth Rice had better be pretty darned good.
BusanJeong is set to open in early March at 618 Broadway E. Follow @busanjeong.us for updates.
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