Yeongdeungpo Japanese pub for yuzu highballs and 10 skewers: Kaken

Some weekday evenings, it feels like a shame to head straight home after work. I needed a change of pace that day too, so I headed toward Dangsan, where izakayas (Japanese-style pubs) have been getting popular lately. My pick for a relaxed dinner with grilled skewers and a highball was Kaken (카켄), an izakaya.

A late-evening atmosphere at Kaken in Dangsan

Kaken is tucked into an alley, and the atmosphere was lovely right from the entrance. Its exterior, paired with the late-evening lighting, has that distinct Japanese izakaya feel.

The whole place is calmly decorated around warm wood tones. The low lighting makes it perfect for a drink! With table seating, it also seemed great for a date or a gathering with friends.

There is bar seating along one side as well. It looked easy enough to stop by alone for a casual round of skewers and drinks.

The open kitchen and bar seating

What I especially liked was the open kitchen.

Watching the skewers cook over the fire while having a drink is part of the fun of an izakaya.

From the bar, you can watch the skewers being grilled inside.

A varied menu, from sashimi to nabe

Looking over the menu, there was a wide range of choices, from sashimi to fish, fried dishes, nabe (Japanese hot pot), and other cooked dishes. There was also sake, soju, beer, and highballs, so it was easy to choose something to suit your taste.

The 10-skewer assortment was ₩28,000 that day. You could also order different kinds individually, including chicken skin, chicken tenderloin, chicken cartilage, and shrimp.

The complimentary snack was a warm braise with quail eggs, konjac, and more. I especially liked that it was served warm. It was nicely seasoned with a savory saltiness, making it a good snack to pick at before the main dishes arrived.

Yuzu highball and a 10-skewer assortment

For my drink that day, I chose the yuzu highball. It was ₩8,000 on the menu. It came in a large glass packed with ice, with yuzu at the bottom, so I mixed it well before drinking.

The sweet, tangy aroma of yuzu made it easy to drink. Taking a sip after an oily skewer felt like it freshened up my palate, so it paired especially well with the grilled skewers.

After a short wait, the star of the day, the 10-skewer assortment, arrived.

Seeing all the different skewers arrive together on a large black plate made the spread look generous.

The chicken and scallion skewer worked well with the gentle sweetness of the fire-grilled scallion. The chicken pieces were generously sized too, so even one skewer was fairly filling.

The cartilage had a nice chew.

Personally, the shrimp and chicken skin were the standouts. The shrimp had a lovely smoky flavor and springy texture, and the seasoning made it a great highball snack.

The chicken skin was appealing for the nutty flavor of its crisp-grilled parts and its chewy texture. I loved the combination of rich chicken skin followed by a sip of tangy yuzu highball.

Another nice thing about the assorted skewers was getting to try a little of many different kinds.

If it is your first visit and you are wondering which skewers to order, starting with the assortment and adding more of your favorites afterward seems like a good idea.

Beyond skewers, the menu had sashimi, nabe, fried dishes, and more, so next time I would like to come with several people and order other dishes too. There was a varied sake selection as well, and it looked like a good place to enjoy sake with skewers.

A Dangsan izakaya stop after work

Kaken, which I visited for a weekday-evening change of pace, was a Dangsan izakaya where I liked not only the food but also the atmosphere of the space.

The tables are great for a date or gathering, while the bar is ideal for drinking alone as you look toward the open kitchen. I enjoyed the smoky flavor of the skewers, and the pairing with the yuzu highball was satisfying too.

If you are looking for a bar with a nice atmosphere in Dangsan, or want grilled skewers and a highball after work, Kaken is worth stopping by. I would especially recommend the 10-skewer assortment for enjoying several kinds at once, paired with the refreshing yuzu highball.