Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Harvard Square

"The first of three locations of this Japanese chain to open in the Boston area, Santouka in Cambridge offers a variety of classic Hokkaido-style ramen with choices such as tonkotsu shio, shoyu, miso, and specialty options like tonkotsu toroniku ramen: toroniku, a rare, tender cut of pig’s cheek, is served on the side. There is also a vegetarian option made with a soy-based vegan broth, menma kikurage mushrooms, soy sauce-marinated fu (or wheat gluten), and umeboshi. Santouka’s two other locations are in Back Bay and Allston." - Nathan Tavares, Eater Staff

"Is there anything more comforting than a hot bowl of ramen in the cold Boston winters? Trick question! There isn’t. Over the last few years, a handful of ramen joints have opened up in Harvard Square, but Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, also known as just Santouka, remains a staple. Don’t want to go to Harvard Square for a bowl of their delicious kara miso ramen? Don’t worry, they have locations in Back Bay and Allston, too." - Annie Harrigan

"There’s the ramen you heat up in tupperware in the microwave of a communal kitchen that hasn’t been cleaned in two months, and then there’s the ramen that’s served at Santouka. At this place (which kind of feels like a noodle-themed spaceship), you’ll get big, flavorful bowls with really tender meat and broth that’s on the lighter side, but in a good way. Don’t be surprised if you spend more of your February here than in class." - dan secatore

"If you’ve been to the tiny Santouka outpost in Back Bay, you know that the ramen’s worth waiting out on the sidewalk and then stuffing yourself into a communal table next to a stranger to eat. If you’ve been to the one in Harvard Square you know that, oh hey, you don’t have to do that here. This place still gets plenty busy, but the space is big and futuristic in a kinda-feels-like-a-cafeteria-on-a-spaceship way. All of their ramen bowls fall on the light side without sacrificing real flavor, and while you can’t go wrong with their house shio ramen, the spicy miso might be the best." - dan secatore

"If you’ve been to the tiny Santouka outpost in Back Bay, you know that the ramen’s worth waiting out on the sidewalk and then stuffing yourself into a communal table next to a stranger to eat. If you’ve been to the one in Harvard Square you know that, oh hey, you don’t have to do that here. This place still gets plenty busy, but the space is big and futuristic in a kinda-feels-like-a-cafeteria-on-a-spaceship way. All of their ramen bowls fall on the light side without sacrificing real flavor, and while you can’t go wrong with their house shio ramen, the spicy miso might be the best." - Dan Secatore