Izakaya in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul after a Han River walk: Kaken

Is Dangsan Station easy to reach after a Han River walk?

My husband and I walked along the Han River, then headed toward Dangsan Station for dinner and drinks. The place we visited that day was Kaken (카켄), an izakaya.

Kaken is at Unit 101 on the first floor, 237 Dangsan-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. It sits between exits 2 and 3 of Dangsan Station, and we headed toward exit 3, which was close. It was also easy to walk to after a stroll along the Han River.

The hours listed in the original post were 5 PM to 2 AM the following day from Sunday through Thursday, and 5 PM to 4 AM the following day on Friday and Saturday. It felt like a good place for a late drink, too.

How did I check the seasonal dishes and menu prices?

Before visiting, I checked the store updates on Naver Map, where they had posted the seasonal ingredients that arrived that day. There was an update about golden eye snapper, so I was curious about the grilled fish, but my husband wanted sashimi, so we saved it for next time.

The menu included sashimi, grilled fish, skewers, nabe (Japanese hot pot), fried dishes, and pasta. We chose the small assorted sashimi and motsunabe (beef intestine hot pot).

The original post lists these key menu prices and ordering conditions.

• Assorted sashimi is ₩36,000 for small and ₩52,000 for large.
• Today's fish and golden eye snapper are priced variably. Mero is ₩28,000, while mackerel and horse mackerel are ₩18,000 each.
• The 10-item assorted skewer set is ₩28,000. If ordering only individual skewers as a first order, you must choose at least three kinds.
• Beef brisket sukiyaki is ₩24,000, skewer champon is ₩22,000, and an extra serving of noodles is ₩3,000.
• Limited-quantity futomaki is ₩28,000, while abalone innards pasta and uni cream pasta are ₩23,000 each.

Was the motsunabe good even if I do not usually eat beef intestine?

My husband said he had not realized when ordering that motsunabe was a beef intestine hot pot. I do not usually eat much beef intestine because of its richness or chewy texture, so I was a little worried when the food arrived. But the motsunabe was unexpectedly the dish I enjoyed most that day.

The beef intestine pieces were large, but they did not feel tough to me; they felt soft and fluffy. They did not have the kind of texture that requires a lot of chewing, so they were easy to eat.

The broth was pleasantly spicy and clean-tasting. Even with the richness of the beef intestine, it did not leave a greasy feeling in my mouth, so I kept reaching for it.

As we ate, my husband and I said it would go well on a rainy day, too. Next time, I would like to try the warm motsunabe with sake.

How generous was the small assorted sashimi?

The small assorted sashimi was ₩36,000. We ordered the small size, but there was more than we expected, so the two of us felt the selection and portion were good for the price.

Each slice of sashimi was large, which made it satisfying to eat.

When the owner brought out the plate, they kindly explained each type of fish. That day, there was olive flounder, red seabream, Spanish mackerel, salmon, and yellowtail, along with ankimo, or monkfish liver.

Knowing which fish I was eating made me taste each piece more attentively. Everything suited us, and as we talked while eating, we finished the plate.

What were the draft beer and yuzu highball like?

I ordered Suntory draft beer, while my husband ordered a yuzu highball. The cold beer after our walk was nice, and it also went well with the rich motsunabe.

My husband does not usually drink much, but he said the yuzu highball was delicious because it was sweet and refreshing. They also had sake available, but we did not drink it that day.

Is the atmosphere good for dinner and conversation for two?

Inside, it had the feel of a compact, cozy izakaya.

There were table seats and counter seats. When I visited, the atmosphere felt good for two people to focus on the food and talk.

With dishes that can double as dinner, such as sashimi, nabe, and grilled fish, I thought it would be a nice first stop for drinks after a Han River walk. The tender beef intestine and spicy broth of the motsunabe, along with the generous sashimi, stood out most that day.

I also liked being able to check updates about seasonal ingredients before visiting. Next time, I would like to have grilled fish and sake on a day when golden eye snapper comes in.