HMS Bounty

"Walking into this nautical-themed dive bar in Ktown feels like stepping onto a fishing barge that got lost at sea in the ’40s and has been floating around ever since. There are musty leather booths, “Careless Whisper” quietly playing over the intercom, and scattered tables filled with solo diners eating steak and sipping well tequila from a shot glass. We have reason to believe every single person inside here is an apparition, but you’ll never know for sure because it’s so damn dark that you can't see two feet in front of you. Once you do find a table though, be sure to order some fried calamari, a baseball steak, and one of our favorite shrimp cocktails in town. " - brant cox

"Walking into HMS Bounty, the iconic nautical-themed dive bar in Koreatown, at any hour of the day is a feast for the senses: dimly lit leather booths, “Careless Whisper” playing from a vintage jukebox, and a come-as-you-are crowd eating baseball steaks and sipping well tequila. In other words, it’s both the absolute last place and the absolute perfect place to order a shrimp cocktail. The straightforward version here—four shrimp, classic cocktail sauce, and two packets of saltines—isn’t only good because of the setting (or the shot and beer combo you just knocked back), it’s good because the shrimp are plump, chilled, and delicious. And at $12, apparently inflation-proof. " - brant cox, arden shore

"“Who doesn’t love a bar with carpet? HMS Bounty is all about sinking into a big red booth with friends, having some laughs, and enjoying the old-school charm. It’s the kind of place where you feel right at home.”" - brennan carley

"On a whim, I headed to HMS Bounty, a bar where I’ve spent many late nights controlling the digital jukebox over $6 cocktails. But that night I was on a mission for a steak, so I went straight for the food menu instead. Coming in at $26.99, the rib-eye took up the majority of the plate. Mixed vegetables and creamy mashed potatoes came on the side, but the meat — tender, flavorful, and cooked to a perfect medium rare — was the star of the show. As my plate started to empty, a server came by to tempt the table with dessert. A warm bread pudding and ice cream later, I could feel myself drifting off into a steak and dessert haze. Picking up the check and bidding farewell to the boat-themed bar, I promised myself that I wouldn’t wait this long again for a return trip." - Eater Staff

"Dinner at the HMS Bounty might be the perfect date night. Open since 1962, the food is classic and delicious with shrimp cocktails, Caesar salads, a baseball steak, and lightly fried sand dabs that always hit the spot. This is also the spot for a hangout plus a beer and a shot." - Matthew Kang, Eater Staff, Mona Holmes