Late-night Seoul bar open till 4am by Dangsan Station: Kaken
In short
Kaken is a Japanese-style izakaya in a quiet alley one minute from Exit 2 of Dangsan Station in Yeongdeungpo, Seoul. On a Friday night in early September, around 9-10pm, Kaken had no wait, and the seat by its open kitchen came with draft beer, a 10-kind skewer platter, whole steamed squid and seafood ramen cooked in full view. With hours running until 4am on Fridays and Saturdays, Kaken works for a first round or a third without watching the clock.
Good to know
- Location
- 1F 101, 237 Dangsan-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul (1-minute walk from Dangsan Station Exit 2)
- Hours
- Fri-Sat 17:00-04:00 (last order 03:00), other days 17:00-02:00 (last order 01:00)
- Reservations
- Available on Naver (booking slots daily 17:00-19:00)
- Seating
- Counter seats and table seats
- Menu categories
- Sashimi, fish, skewers, fried dishes, nabe hot pots, cooked dishes, sides, drinks (sake, soju, beer, highballs)
- Ordered
- Draft beer, 10-kind skewer platter, whole steamed squid, seafood ramen
- Wait
- No wait on a Friday night, 9-10pm, in early September
as written by the visitor on Sep 19, 2026
Kaken: a Dangsan Station izakaya one minute from Exit 2
Today's post is about the first bar I've been to since moving to Dangsan Station! Let me introduce Kaken, a Dangsan Station izakaya worth knowing about!
The sign and the vibe both feel upscale and clean! It looks like it opened not long ago! The interior and exterior are spotless and tidy.
Great atmosphere, right??
Location: 1F 101, 237 Dangsan-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul. One minute on foot from Dangsan Station Exit 2!!
The location is the best!! Being one minute from Exit 2 makes it perfect both for gathering a group and for heading home afterward!
A quiet alley by the station, with big windows and no cigarette smoke
The alley where Kaken sits was quiet and calm even though it's just a minute from Dangsan Station. Maybe because the weather was nice, the big windows were open, but you don't need to worry about cigarette smoke! The alley in front of the shop had a nice vibe too, and it was well kept and clean!
And once you turn into the alley, it feels a bit separated from the bustle near the station, which I liked even more~ You'd think being a minute from the station means crowds and noise, but this alley was quiet, calm, and full of atmosphere.
Kaken's opening hours: until 4am on Friday and Saturday
Hours are Friday and Saturday 17:00-04:00 (last order 03:00), and other days 17:00-02:00 (last order 01:00). They're open really late haha. We came for our first round, but the hours give you plenty of room for a second or third round too!
Kaken's open kitchen: watching every dish being cooked
Kaken's kitchen is completely open, so you can watch the staff cook with real care and dedication~! I could really feel the craftsmanship,,
It's fun to glance over now and then while drinking! When I visited, two people were working, and they were really kind with great impressions! They served us brightly and paid careful attention, so I felt good the whole meal!
Counter seats, tables and reservations: is there a wait on Friday night?
The interior at Kaken feels upscale, with a strong Japanese-style izakaya vibe. There are counter (dachi) seats and table seats, and you can reserve through Naver! (Reservation window: daily 17:00-19:00)
I visited around 9-10pm on a Friday in early September, and there was no wait!! Maybe because it just opened not too long ago — I kind of want to keep it to myself haha.
What's on Kaken's menu
This was the basic table setup before ordering! The first page of the menu has today's recommended dishes!
Full menu categories: sashimi, fish, skewers, fried dishes, nabe (hot pot), cooked dishes, sides, drinks (sake/soju/beer/highball)
(The menu was intuitive and the pages were simple, which I liked!) There are so many good-looking dishes that I want to come back often and try them all. For now, we started with draft beer, took a refreshing sip, and then ordered.
The 10-kind skewer platter and whole steamed squid
The draft beer was so cold and delicious haha. And we ordered 10 kinds of skewers and the whole steamed squid!
The skewers are really delicious! My girlfriend loved them, which made it even better. Highly recommend for a Dangsan Station date spot! Genuinely so good~!!!
Can you see the glossy shine on the whole steamed squid? You have to try it! Truly delicious and highly recommended!
Ending with seafood ramen, made right beside the counter seats
We were too full to feel comfortable ordering a nabe, so we got seafood ramen as a side instead. We happened to be seated right next to the kitchen, so we watched the ramen being made in real time — which made it even more fun and tasty!!
The flavor was so deep and delicious it could have been a main dish rather than a side! A broth I want to eat again.. It's a fantastic pairing with soju! Ordering it as a finishing dish will probably make the next day easier on your stomach and lighter on the hangover! If you go, don't forget to finish with this hangover ramen!
Grilled fish next time: who Kaken suits
Next time I'm planning to try the grilled fish. I'm so curious! I'd love to go with a group and taste a variety of dishes.. haha
- After work with a coworker
- On a date with your partner
- Alone when you're feeling a bit lonely
- With a neighborhood friend
...and more — it's a comfortable place to come enjoy yourself!! I highly recommend Kaken, a friendly Dangsan Station izakaya that nails both atmosphere and taste!!
Where it is
1F 101, 237 Dangsan-ro, Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, South Korea서울특별시 영등포구 당산로 237 1층 101호
