Dangsan Station izakaya: sashimi platter and grilled rockfish, Kaken

Kaken, a Dangsan Station izakaya, and its fresh sashimi platter — visited as the second round of a get-together with friends who recently quit their jobs.

It was one of those days where friends who'd quit their jobs got together after a long time, ate good food, and talked our heads off. We were already pretty full from the first round, but it felt like too much of a waste to just call it a night. So while figuring out where to go for round two, we ended up at Kaken, an izakaya right by Dangsan Station.

Honestly, I thought all we needed for round two was somewhere we could have a drink and keep chatting — but trying the sashimi here changed my mind. We went in casually planning a light second round, but the sashimi platter was so good we ended up eating properly.

How long does it take to walk from Dangsan Station to Kaken?

Kaken is located at 237 Dangsan-ro, 1st floor, Unit 101, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea. It's close to Exit 2 of Dangsan Station, which made it easy to arrange to meet friends there.

It seemed like a good spot to meet up after work, or as a second-round bar after a first round in Dangsan. That's exactly why we ended up here for round two with the friends who'd left their jobs.

We went in mainly to have a drink and keep talking, but the atmosphere was comfortable too, and the menu ranged from sashimi to grilled fish.

Kaken's sashimi platter: worth it for the presentation alone

Of everything we ordered at Kaken, the sashimi platter (모둠회) was easily the most memorable. Several kinds of fish arrived piled generously on one plate, and it looked great before we'd even taken a bite.

With salmon and various other kinds of raw fish served together, it was more fun than sticking to just one type the whole time.

They said the platter uses whatever fish came in that day, so there was a bit of excitement in not knowing exactly what we'd get. When I ate it, everything was fresh overall, and the texture differed piece by piece, which made picking through it fun.

How fresh is the sashimi at Kaken?

Freshness is everything when it comes to sashimi. Picking up a piece from Kaken's platter, what I noticed first wasn't any mushiness or sogginess — it was a firm, chewy texture. It was good with a little wasabi on top, or just eaten plain to taste the fish itself. Being able to try several kinds of fish at once was also great for comparing notes with friends.

You can see in the photos how the surface of the sashimi has a glossy sheen and is cut thick. Personally, I'm a fan of thick-cut sashimi like this, so I was satisfied.

I meant to eat it slowly, a piece or two at a time as a drinking snack, but I kept reaching for more before I knew it.

Even better with a dab of wasabi

I took a piece I really liked and piled on a generous amount of wasabi. Since the sashimi was thick, I could really feel the chew in my mouth, and the sharp kick of wasabi paired well with it. The fact that I kept eating even after already filling up at round one says a lot about how good the condition of the fish was. At a second round, it's common to leave a lot of the food behind because you're already full — but that day we ate through the sashimi platter with real enthusiasm.

The side that came with the platter was a treat too

The rich, savory side dish that came alongside the sashimi platter was memorable too. Mixing it in between bites of sashimi completely shifted the flavor mood, which I liked. It had a soft, rich taste that worked well as a light drinking snack. Above all, I liked that even within one plate of sashimi, there was room for such a variety of flavors.

It was a nice spread for tasting things one by one with friends over a drink and a chat.

Kaken's grilled rockfish holds its own

After enjoying the sashimi, we also tried the grilled fish menu. It came out nicely browned, with a faint char aroma rising off it — a different kind of charm from the sashimi. The outside was grilled to a mouthwatering finish while the inside stayed moist, making it a great match with drinks.

A second round of soju with friends who just quit their jobs

That day, beyond the food, it was just fun in itself that friends who'd left their jobs were gathered together again. We talked about everything — old stories from when we worked together, how everyone's been doing since quitting, all of it.

Kaken struck me as a great fit for anyone looking for a second-round bar in Dangsan, or wanting sashimi with their drinks.

Looking for sashimi near Dangsan Station?

If you're searching for a Dangsan izakaya, a bar near Dangsan Station, or a sashimi platter spot in Dangsan, Kaken is worth considering. It could also be a solid pick for anyone, like us, looking for a good second-round spot with tasty snacks after a first round. A day of good sashimi and drinks with friends who'd recently quit their jobs, reunited after a long while.

Kaken Dangsan: address, hours and reservations

• 📍 Address: 237 Dangsan-ro, 1st floor, Unit 101, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• 🚇 Location: About 33 meters from Exit 2 of Dangsan Station — right in front of the exit, so it was easy to find.
• ⏰ Hours: Naver Place showed it as open at time of visit, with last order at 1:00 AM the next day. Hours may change, so it's worth checking before you visit.
• 📞 Phone: Available to call via Naver Place
• 📝 Reservations: Available via Naver Reservation
• 🚻 Facilities: Separate men's/women's restrooms
• 🍶 Business type: Izakaya

Kaken menu and prices

Writing down only what I could clearly read off the menu board in the photo,

Menu items and prices may vary depending on the store's circumstances or the season, so please take this as reference only.

Since we came as a second round with friends who'd quit their jobs, we didn't order anything too heavy. Having several kinds of sashimi arrive together felt quite substantial as a drinking snack. Above all, it wasn't just one kind of sashimi served —

I liked being able to try a variety of the fish prepared that day. Where the sashimi was cold and chewy, the grilled rockfish was warm and light, so switching between the two worked well. A little squeeze of lemon made it refreshing, and it paired nicely with soju too. The combination of sashimi, grilled fish, and soju was exactly right for a second round with friends who'd left their jobs.

Even arriving already full, the sashimi platter was good enough that I kept reaching for more — that was my visit to Kaken in Dangsan.