Dangsan Station izakaya for brown cheese ice cream: Kaken

On an evening when the cool autumn weather finally arrived, I headed to Kaken, a new izakaya (Japanese-style pub) near Dangsan Station, for a light drink somewhere with a good atmosphere. (Newly opened on July 20.)

What Kaken near Dangsan Station feels like, and why the window tables win

This izakaya stood out for its clean, moody interior, and one side of the shop has window tables set up — perfect for sitting by the window in this lovely autumn weather, catching the breeze while tipping back a glass. The atmosphere was excellent.

Once you step inside, you can watch a good-looking chef carefully grilling skewers right in front of you. Between the delicious skewers he grills and the great atmosphere, I couldn't help but think this place is only going to get busier.

How Kaken's skewers taste, from vegetables to chicken heart

Every skewer at Kaken had its own distinct character, and I found myself impressed the whole way through. The golden-grilled mushroom, ginkgo nut and garlic skewers burst with vegetable juice and nutty flavor with every bite, while the cherry tomato skewers wrapped in salty bacon delivered a fantastic combination of tangy juice and smoky char. The chewy heart skewers and the various chicken part skewers had absolutely no off flavor, coming out crisp on the outside and juicy inside — a real showcase of the chef's grilling skill. With just the right amount of sauce and seasoning, these were some of the best skewers I've had, enjoyable down to the very last bite.

As soon as we sat down, braised quail eggs arrived as the complimentary side dish — salty and addictive, they got my appetite going even before the main order arrived.

What we ordered at Kaken and what it cost

• Mixed skewers: ₩28,000
• Brown cheese ice cream: ₩10,000

The main dish we ordered was the 10-piece mixed skewer platter, letting you enjoy a variety of cuts at once. Plated generously on a large dish, it caught the eye the moment it arrived.

Thanks to the handsome chef grilling everything with just the right touch of charcoal aroma, each cut had excellent flavor and no off smell whatsoever. With everything from vegetable skewers to hearty meat cuts, it was fun picking through the variety, and it was the perfect drinking snack.

Dessert at Kaken: brown cheese ice cream for 10,000 won

After enjoying our drinks with the skewers, we ordered brown cheese ice cream as a refreshing dessert to close things out.

A generous layer of salty brown cheese sat atop the sweet, cold ice cream, with crunchy almond slices adding texture — a textbook example of the sweet-and-salty combo. There couldn't be a better dessert to end a night of drinks on a high note.

Is Kaken worth going back to?

Even though it's only just opened, Kaken by Dangsan Station is already a fantastic spot that nails both high-quality food and a great atmosphere.

From the mood of the window seats that suit this cool autumn weather, to the delicious mixed skewers grilled by the handsome chef, to the charming brown cheese ice cream — every single item was a total win. If you're looking for a good-atmosphere bar or a great izakaya near Dangsan Station, I highly recommend giving Kaken a visit.

Kaken address, hours and visit info

• Address: 237 Dangsan-ro, 1F Unit 101, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea
• Hours: 17:00–02:00
• Features: newly opened izakaya (July 20), chef grills skewers to order, window tables available, serves mixed skewers and brown cheese ice cream