Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

It’s a small ramen noodles place inside the Japanese supermarket. Very busy during the weekend and lunchtime but not much of other time! Self service kind please and not cheap as for food court prices. The ramen is just about average in quality and volume. Not bad but not great either. No need for a special trip but if you are near by, may not be a bad choice.

Absolutely incredible ramen. The two of us got a combo meal to share and it was the perfect amount of food. The broth was superb, as were the noodles. The rice side dish was great too. But the star was for sure the ramen. Expect a bit of a line, but it's worth the wait!

pretty decent ramen inside of mitsuwa. we got the medium and it was actually a lot of food. broth was rich and noodles were good but i wish that there were a few more types of toppings on the ramen because it was quite meat heavy with large slabs of pork

The small ramen shop always has a long line. There is a reason. The ramen is decent. They give a lot of char siu pork, more than most of the ramen shops. Recommend to order large. The medium is very small and is only one dollar cheaper. See my photo.

If you don’t like too much soup but still decent ramen here is the place. Quick and simple. Very good for after shopping or don’t like to wait in a long line.

Had a combo meal and for the value it was good. Ramen alone the price is very fair. Solid flavors, while not the best ramen I've had it was above average for sure. The rice bowl was nice as well. Egg was an egg.

I ordered the #2 Salt Ramen here and it’s absolutely delicious and creamy. The broth is the best! This ramen spot is located in Mitsuwa Market. When you order they will give you a receipt with your order number. Back then, water was provided but now this spot doesn’t provide water to go along with the ramen. The Salt Ramen includes chashu, which I usually like since it’s very soft and tender. However, the chashu this time was a bit over cooked. The ramen noodles has a good texture and the broth was rich in flavors. I would highly recommend this spot!

One of my favorite ramen spots in the bay for its balance and addictiveness. The broth here is neither a clear and clean like a consommé nor is it a thick milky like a tonkotsu broth. It hits a sweet spot that has allowed it to maintain popularity in the Mitsuwa food court for decades despite many ramen shops coming and going during that time. The shio (salt) ramen is my favorite, though shoyu (soy sauce) is nice for a lighter flavor and miso is just as tasty. Note that the egg is always hard cooked, so I prefer to skip it. Compliment your ramen with a drink from the supermarket! When busy, the line to order and the wait for food can be long, especially on weekends afternoons.

Spicy miso : rich and hearty. spice is subtle and adds a nice little depth to the dish. noodles were fine. good bite. chasu and veggies nicely round things out. shoyu: light. good flavor. noodle and chasu were the same as above. what the real difference is that my not so little, little one prefers shoyu to miso and she totally devoured it. Service is fast and efficient. I was a little worried it would take a while to get our order and our food when I first saw the line but things more real quick. They seriously got it down to a science. I'm thinking the fact that it's located in a grocery store adds to the charm of the place. It's located next to a couple other eateries and it's a shared dining area (so it can get a little cramped), but the food is good. Simple as that.

One of my favorite place to get ramen in the Bay Area located in the Mitsuwa Marketplace. I've been coming here since college and every time I come, it's still so good. The line may look long but it moves quite fast so don't let that scared you away. Food: Delicious. My go to order is usually the small cha-siu shio ramen with extra nori. The broth is flavorful and warming while the noodle is prefectly cooked. I love dipping my seaweed in the soup so that it soaks up all the flavor. Spicy miso is also great if you want something with a little kick. Environment: Food court. Open seating. Seats are first come first serve. It can be challenging to find seats if you are coming with a big party on the weekend. Overall, I would recommend Santouka!

Santouka is one of those places that serves as your guilty pleasure- but then on your weekly grocery trip, you treat yourself every time :D I found myself going here in between classes at SJSU, and now working, I love coming here after a long work day to get a nice meal. There is something magical about their Spicy Miso Ramen. Every time I eat it, I get sparkles in my stomach and my mood is instantly lifted. I love the portion size- it's perfect for someone who always likes a sweet treat but also loves the warmth of a hearty rich meal. When you're sitting in the market food court, with all the yummy treats around with nice neighbors- the location for this spot is perfect to get down to business and enjoy a beautiful bowl of ramen. I'm salivating thinking about it..

If I just got the ramen, it would get a 4 star rating. I was in love with the pork spicy miso broth but sad it wasn't a soft boiled egg. The Ikura with salmon over rice wasn't as good as I thought it was.... I do appreciate they accept credit card payments now!

For many years, I would say Santouka is one of the best ramen places in town. Nowadays, with many more choices in the area, they're no longer the best but I would still recommend them. Santouka is located in the Mitsuwa food court. You can't miss it, because there's almost always a line. I typically get one of the ramen combos, which comes with a chashu rice and egg on the side. I've seen prices go up over the years and they take cash only. After you order at the counter, they hand you a slip with a number and you seat yourself to wait. Sometimes it can take over 30 minutes until they call your number on the mic, so make yourself comfortable or walk around the market for a bit to pass time. I've tried the ramens (miso, shoyu, shio) and the broths are nice and thick. The chashu rice is probably one of my favorites: the diced pieces of meat are flavorful and the rice is a great addition to the small ramen portions. The hype never dies down at this place, but I still come occasionally for the ramen and nostalgia.

It was definitely a bit of an off day for Santouka last Saturday - we ordered the spicy miso ramen and pork bowl and the noodles were a soft. The worst part wasn't the noodles, however - the chashu was hard! Not soft at all, it was chewy and had no fat. The only redeeming part of the meal was the rice and the broth, together, they were absolutely delicious. Service: They are very quick and efficient here, you can expect to have your bowl in no more than 10 minutes when it's not too busy. Ambience: The ambience is ensuring you're comfortable making conversation with strangers since the seating can get a bit crowded. Fun for people watching!

The miso ramen is good but I have tried other ramen they have and it is a hit or miss. Sometimes it is good and sometimes it is not. However, today the ramen is super delicious. It does taste like Japanese miso ramen. However, it is kind of expensive. $12 for a small miso ramen and a large is $15. It is okay for one or two people but for a family, it is a lot. The service is fine. They will get your food as soon as possible. But beware you need to grab a seat once you walk into the food court. The seating is a hit-or-miss. It is hard to find a seat. My advice is to find a seat and order.

Ambiance Cafeteria feel, food court fast food sharing a place with Mitsuwa supermarket and a couple others. At rush hour usually it can be pretty hard to get a table and may need to wait a bit. Kind of need to hunt for 'almost-done' table. Service None. Fast food. Order at the counter, pick up at the counter. Had to ask for extra condiment (sichimi pepper), and clean up ourselves afterward. No more free water. Quality This place used to be good. Over time the quality has dropped significantly. This time the soup was quite salty. The meat was hard, stringy, and chewy, even their special pork belly one. The natto over rice was bland. The supermarket packaged ones taste better. Cost Small bowl was over $16. For the quality that you get, way too expensive. Tipping Practice Tip jar, but empty, as it should. High price, low quality, no service. Why even bother with a tip jar at all. Back then this place would have people lined up before they open all the way until past rush hour. This visit I came at around the peak of rush hour (12:30p-ish) and there was only 1 group in front ordering. Maybe just my luck, but doesn't matter. I used to avoid Santouka because I didn't want to wait in line, now I will avoid because of the quality and cost.

located inside the mitsuwa marketplace. i heard their ramen is pretty famous so i do not want to miss trying it. for myself, the noodles is not that bouncy while i like bouncy one. the broth is just ok and quite salty for me. they put lots of char siu pork slices but again, too salty for me. overall, this ramen is just ok or mediocre for me. by the way, their system is just like in food court. you go to order and pick up by yourself ~ they will call your number. once you finish eating, make sure clean the table...

Solid! Very oily and tasty-- perfect for a lunch or dinner indulgence, two medium shio bowls came out to be $36! The noodles are perfectly bouncy and chewy and paired perfectly with the plum which provides sour, scallion which provided crunchy texture and a slight spice, and bamboo which was salty, and the wood ear which was crunchy and chewy! If you want to try the Tonkatsu, go early! They sell out.

Ramen here is solid. Not too special with flavoring or offerings but I really appreciate the size options. Usually ramen leaves me feeling full and heavy, so portion control is really appreciated. Broth was alright and the slice of pork was yum. Pricing is fair for the area.

Santouka has been a staple of Mitsuwa for years, long before the pandemic. I always enjoyed their ramen -- no frills, nothing fancy, but hits the ramen spot. The bowls/portion size seemed to have gotten a bit smaller over time and are more expensive now, but such is shrinkflation. I typically like to get the shoyu ramen, which comes with two slices of chashu, a piece of seaweed and some green onions & bamboo shoots. They also have combos where you can get a small rice bowl alongside your ramen -- the salmon roe one is always a favorite of mine, but there's a few options including natto if you're a fan. I took my order to go on this occasion, and it was well packaged -- the ramen noodles were separate from the soup & toppings. And the rice bowl was in its own container. The plastic bag was tied tightly so nothing would tip over/spill during transport. And overall taste was still great for takeout and cost me $24 for the medium size ramen combo with salmon rice bowl. Not too bad for ramen in the Bay. Soup was a bit salty to drink, so I tend to save some for another meal and dilute it down by adding more noodles & water. Line wasn't too long this time around, and the orders came out quickly (they'll call your number). Staff member taking the orders was very friendly, but the one handing out orders to pick up was not so much. They used to be cash-only but now they take card & apple pay after the pandemic era. Seating is food-court style if you chose to dine in. Parking in the plaza can be a struggle but usually better chance if you wait for someone just finished their grocery run.

Given all the ramen places nearby (and I mean A LOT), I'd pass on this place. The ramens are just plain mid. Nothing special about them. The miso ramen broth was a bit on the salty side for me, but not inedible. Noodles lean on the softer side. I'd say portions are kind of small for the price. Speaking of price, for similar pricing, you can get better quality bowls of ramen in a sit-down restaurant. It's essentially a casual food court restaurant here, where you order at the table and pick up your own food. Apparently, they've stopped serving water/water cups. No hint of friendliness in regards to service. Actually borderline rude. I asked about the differences between a couple of ramens and it made me feel like they just didn't want to be bothered. They are pretty quick with cranking out the food though, so I guess if getting in-and-out fast is your goal, this will do.

Light, bouncy noodles in a tasty, hot spicy miso broth. Some slices of pork weren't as tender as others, but that's honestly a nitpick. I thought the $16 price point for a medium size bowl was fair and I was really full after finishing my delicious meal. My girlfriend and I got there around 11:15am; we waited about 15 minutes total in line and for our food. No complaints and it's fun to browse the various Japanese-themed stores in the Mitsuwa Marketplace. The bookstore was cool with all the anime and manga themed items.

Affordable ramen in a supermarket that also has shops nearby selling Japanese street food, matcha dessert and drinks, a skincare store, and a book store. Got the spicy miso ramen. The only tick was that the cut of pork had to be chewed more than I'd like and less tender than other places. Broth was hot, noodles had a chew bounce to it, the wood ear mushroom has a light crunch that adds to the overall texture of the whole soup. Ambiance: lively, families and friends, some tourists. Service: there's a fake food display which is always helpful for visual people. You order, grab a seat, and they'll call out your number from the intercom. Wait time was about 20 min on a weekend afternoon.

Located inside Mitsuwa marketplace, Santouka Ramen is one of the few businesses remaining in the food court. The line was short on Saturday afternoon around 2:30. and we were able to get our order of ramen within about 5 to 10 minutes. We went to the counter to grab our ramen. The noodles were perfectly chewy and the broth was flavorful but not too heavy. I felt like the medium size was perfect. You can also buy stuff at the Mitsuwa market if you're looking to buy a drink or dessert. There's a lot of places nearby (Daiso, Kinokuniya, N7) to walk after your meal. Recommend checking Santouka out!

It's been 12 years since my last review so I thought I'd update it. I've tried a lot of different ramen places since then but this is still by far my favorite place! Their Tonkotsu Shio Ramen is still my favorite ramen here. The tonkotsu broth is so silky and smooth with a hint of saltiness. The deep salty pork flavor in their broth is amazing. It's especially comforting on cold or cool days. The noodles are cooked perfectly and have just the right amount of bite and chewiness to them. We always order a side of their pork cha siu rice too. There's plenty of tables. With people coming and going you should have no problem finding a spot to sit. During the weekends it may be a few minutes before something opens up. The parking lot is big but is often full. Again, with people coming and going, you should be able to find a space. There's also a side parking to the left of Mitsuwa Market. A few changes since Feb 2020: -They offer togo now, this started during the pandemic. They are also on DoorDash. In the past they would still give your ramen to you in bowls and you'd have to pack it up yourself in togo containers they'd sell you -Accepts credit cards now - it was cash only back then -The lines / wait time are not as long as they were

I have never heard anyone say they dislike the ramen here, which is shocking for a grocery store food court! There's almost always a line here, so the hype is definitely real. There's combo deals here, so I went for the B Combo (Miso Ramen & Salmon Ikura Rice Bowl). For about $22, it's a decent price. I wasn't a fan of the hard boiled egg... but the ramen itself was pretty tasty. Not too salty, very rich, and the noodles were cooked well. They gave me one piece of pork (for a small-sized bowl) and it was good. Not overly fatty and seasoned well. Overall, I wouldn't go out of my way to come here. However... all things considered, the meal was really good for food court food! Better than expected.

First time trying Hokkaido Ramen. The wait was about 10-20 minutes for my bowl. Pricing was decent, but the ramen was very much worth. They have a lot of options with the choice to choose between small medium and large bowls. Getting a table can be challenging, just as much as getting parking outside. Bathrooms are close by. I would come again with the expectation that parking and finding an open table may be a challenge.

This place is awesome and has become one of my go-to lunch places! This ramen shop is located inside the Mitsuwa with ample amount of parking space. The line goes by relatively fast and you pay directly at the counter. There are lots of tables in the food court as well. I tried all their ramen (soy sauce, miso, and salt) and they are all great. The broth is super savory and has a rich flavor. The noodles have a nice chewy texture and are quite addictive to eat. The chashu meat is juicy and has a sharp soy sauce flavor. Compare to other ramen shops in the area, Santouka is also quite affordable with each medium ramen bowl costing around $13.

We decided ramen for lunch today (even though it's 92 degrees outside) so we headed to our local favorite ramen spot, Santouka, inside Mitsuwa Market. I'd give them 3.5 stars because of the service, but eounded up for the ramen. Service and Ambience: non-existent and borderline rude, and there aren't enough tables and chairs in their foodcourt seating area. Food: the ramen isn't fancy, but it's Excellent. Lot's of chewy noodles, bamboo shoots and a couple pieces of porkbelly, but it's the miso broth that we that makes the ramen. It's rich, salty and with just the right amoint of miso to give it a savory umami taste. It is a little odd that the regular ramen doesn't come with an egg. You have to order it separately or a combo.

Hubby and I came during lunch time on a weekday, as we figured it was easier to find a place to sit compared to the usual busy weekends that we always witness. It was helpful that they had a display of the different ramen that they offer, but was a bit overwhelming having to figure out what to get. We finally decided on the spicy miso ramen and the charsiu miso ramen. Both were pretty decent in flavor, but we both felt that we've had better. I dunno, maybe we got the wrong type? They do have many different options to choose from, so I wouldn't cut this place out entirely. I'd be willing to try other options and maybe I'll change my opinion. But until then, this place is ok to me. It's in a busy area, so you feel like you can't really sit down and enjoy a nice meal and have a conversation with whoever you're dining with. They have signs posted on the walls that suggest a time limit on your dining as to accommodate other patrons.

I can't believe I haven't written a review for this place. I've been coming here since it opened, when it completely outsold and destroyed the other soup and curry kiosk next door. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is located inside Mitsuwa Marketplace, immediately to the left as soon as you enter. When this place first opened it was one of the few Ramen spots that sold Tonkotsu Ramen in the Bay Area that wasn't an actual restaurant. I remember really long lines, like and hour plus wait sometimes. Forget about getting a seat in the communal seating area, that place was packed to the brim. A different story these days... #SendNoods ~ Spicy Miso B-Combo. 104. (S) Sake & Ikura Rice Bowl - 3.5/5 Still a good amount of food, even for a small. The broth was delicious, well balanced; full of flavor without being overly spicy. To be fair it went down hill for a while...then got better again. It used to be really good when it first opened; the broths were delectable, full of flavor and the Pork was so tender, it just melted in your mouth. No, it's just OK. The competition in the Ramen Arena is on another level these days. Can't forget about the inflation factor as well... This used to be a good value. Now, it's just as expensive as eating in an actual Ramen restaurant, without the service.

A must for us whenever we are close by. We always went for the combo set (ramen and salmon&roe over rice) #124 IIRC and ramen #8. A bit hard to find a place to sit down to eat in the food court during meal hours.

Update to the review since my old one was during the pandemic. Overall solid ramen place that's been consistent for as long as I can remember. You cannot go wrong here. There are some days I would find HiroNori or Nagi pretty underwhelming, and some days they would be fantastic, so it depends on how lucky you are. But Santouka is always consistent with their soups and for that, I really recommend this place again. Again it's inside the Mitsuwa market so the only real gripe is finding a spot to eat (which is rather hard in large groups) and finding clean tables. Also, the furniture is quite old now so definitely a lot of rocky chairs and wobbly tables. Overall? Food does come out pretty quick nowadays but long line queues will still make it a 15-minute endeavor...

I got the miso ramen and it was so delicious!! The pork was very tender and the soup was nice and hot. I feel like it doesn't take too long for the ramen to come out after you've ordered, but finding an open table to sit at is the main issue here. If you come here when they're busy, expect to stand and wait with your ramen tray until you're able to find an open table to sit at. This located is right inside Mitsuwa, so there will be plenty of people walking back and forth. It could also get pretty loud. I would want to come again when they're not too busy because waiting for a table to sit at takes a while, especially when you need to hold your ramen tray at the same time.

Hokkaido is a small shop inside Mitsuwa and seating is very limited and hard to get. It wasn't busy on a Saturday evening and service was fast. I ordered the Miso Ramen/Salmon Bowl (Combo B). The miso raman was very flavorful and wasn't overly salty. The noodles were firm with a slight chewy texture! The grilled salmon + roe bowl was a small portion. I recommended skipping the rice bowls and combo sets altogether - It wasn't worth it. Stick with just the ramen bowls.

The first ramen restaurant in the bay area. They were the first to introduce the traditional emulsified fat in pork broth to this area. Many different techniques for emulsification. Miso contains lecithin which helps with emulsification and keeping the diner full from small amounts of the broth. Hard to drink it because it is so salty. Others don't seem to have this problem. Famous for their pork cheek ramen. The pork cheek used to be served warm on separate plate. Now they prepare in advance and serve cold in togo plastic container. The meat ends being more chewy and harder to eat when served cold. Ramen and rice consistent high quality. Preserves much of the original flavor and textures from japan. Prices up 50 percent from pre pandemic prices and there is slight change in menu to reflect soaring food prices. Business down from the heyday 20+y ago where the lines would extend for hours on the weekend. In the old days all or almost all the ramen bowls would have the hard boiled egg in them.

Came here for lunch on a weekday. It was already quite busy but we waited an extra twenty minutes to order due to issues with the cash register. In general the environment can feel hectic since there's so many people walking through Mitsuwa/Kinokuniya. Thankfully the food came pretty quickly, within ten minutes. We got the shoyu ramen and spicy miso ramen and also paid $3 for one completely overcooked and tasteless egg -- not worth! The best part was probably the pork, which was flavorful and cut generously thick. My dad thought the miso broth was too watery but I was alright with mine (shoyu). Overall the broth and noodles are solid enough, though nothing that will blow you away. If I could give half stars this would be a 3.5/5. It's serviceable ramen.

Best ramen in the Bay Area in my humble opinion. I always try to come here when I'm in the South Bay. Here for my Invisalign check up with the best of the best in orthodontics Dr. Corsa of Corsa Orthodontics across the street (check 'em out if you want/need Invisalign) and eat ramen here and shop at Mitsuwa before or after! The ramen here is legit.

Consistently delicious ramen. Santouka is my go-to ramen spot again now that Ramen One in Saratoga has closed I have been coming here for years and this place never disappoints. I always get the shio (salt) ramen and it is perfection. It is probably the closest thing they have to tonkotsu on their menu. I believe I have tried the shoyu once but I always default back to the shio because there's nothing left to improve on it. Broth makes me feel warm and cozy inside. I can't help but drink and finish the broth every time. The noodles are cooked perfectly every time. The chashu melts in your mouth and is so flavorful. I've also tried the sake and ikura rice bowl once and it did not taste as good as it looked. Definitely prepare for something salty when ordering it. They now accept card and cash tip. It seems the line doesn't get as crazy these days. Takeout is not as good as dine in but that's to be expected with any ramen place. Santouka is kind of out of the way for me but I go here when I want ramen that I know I will love. Eating here is always such a treat. If I lived closer, I'd eat here probably way too often.

Delicious! The broth is flavorful and rich (but not so rich that I didn't finish all of it). The noodles are perfectly chewy, and I felt that the regular size was a perfect portion. Between the shoyu and miso ramen, shoyu was my favorite, but miso was also tasty! Miso had a hint of sweetness while shoyu was basically just umami. We got there around 4:15 on Labor Day and there were 2 groups in line ahead of us. Food took maybe 15 minutes to come out. I loved being able to shop around while waiting for the order to be ready! Will definitely be back.

Completed surprised by how much I enjoyed this place! My partner, who is Japanese, said this is probably the closest to authentic ramen he's had so far! It's located in the Mitsuwa food court so dining will not be your usual one. We went around 3PM on a Monday and there was nobody there. Ordering was simple and the food came out quick. We ordered a medium size of the Spicy Miso Ramen and I was blown away. This ramen broth did not lack any flavor. Not too much oil, not too salty and it was so smooth! The noodles were cooked perfectly. Not too soft and not too hard; just right! I loved that this ramen included lots of mushrooms and bamboo. So delicious. The size portion is very good for the price as well! Highly recommend making a stop here if you can! I cant wait to make another stop here when I'm in San Jose.

- Shio ramen soup is decent; has a soft flavor as nothing stands out too much. But soup is far too oily and heavy pushing the shio ramen more towards Tonkotsu - noodles clumped together - egg is hard and premade

No-frills go-to ramen stop for us in San Jose. The ramen bar is actually located inside Mitsuwa Japanese Market. They have a wide selection of customizable ramen bowls and also a few rice bowls. The texture of the noodles sets them apart from other noodle shops; springy but not tough, tender but not mushy. The cuts of pork in the tonkotsu and the slices that come on the side for the special ramen are top notch A highly recommended stop. Have a bowl of ramen, maybe takoyaki or mochi-donuts at the shop next to it. Walk around the gift/bookstore and the market afterwards to to help your digestion :D

Santouka has been one of the best ramen places for over a decade. They consistently churn out a consistent and tasty bowl of ramen. Ambiance: Located inside Mitsuwa Market, just to the left as you enter in. Food court dining, so find your table first. Food: Charsiu Rice Bowl - Rice bowl topped with charsiu, green onion and sesame. Tasty, usually good, but sometimes can be dry. Sake & Ikura Rice bowl - Grilled Shaved Salmon with Salmon Roe. Delicious and briny. Shio Ramen - Signature ramen. Yellowish silky broth with sophisticated sea salt flavor. The presentation is very appealing. A must try! Shoyu Ramen - Light and clear broth with Japanese soy sauce flavor. This was just ok. Toroniku is special pork. This product uses pork cheek. Nice and tender - melts in your mouth.

Used to be good , now more like a fast food ramen place , with the price same I eat in resturant , I will just pass on this

I ordered the #2 Salt Ramen here and it's absolutely delicious and creamy. The broth is the best! This ramen spot is located in Mitsuwa Market. When you order they will give you a receipt with your order number. Back then, water was provided but now this spot doesn't provide water to go along with the ramen. The Salt Ramen includes chashu, which I usually like since it's very soft and tender. However, the chashu this time was a bit over cooked. The ramen noodles has a good texture and the broth was rich in flavors. I would highly recommend this spot!

I finally tried this place out after passing by it so many times. It was empty when I got there, which should of give the hint, but no. I got the combo B set, with the miso broth ramen, and the salmon, and ikura over rice for around $25. With no water served The salmon and ikura over rice was enjoyable, especially the salty ikura goes well with the white rice, there wasn't a lot of the ikura though. The miso broth ramen was salty, very heavy, oily, but surprisingly plain tasting, it lack the umami complexity. I don't know how someone can mess up such a safe choice of ramen broth to order. The meal combo was over 20 buc, but they do not provide you any water, and the both was so heavy, and salty. Omg I tried hard not to waste food, but I just can not kept swallowing that ramen without water to wash it down. I can't even write this review in peace, because this app kept freezing and crashing every minute.

A cute ramen shop located inside Mitsuwa market that is super packed both times I've gone. Expect to wait around 15-20 min while finding a table. The food has been consistent for both times. Salt Ramen: broth was flavorful, rich, and delicious. The ramen and chasu was yummy but I do wish they can give a bit more meat. They have different size options and customization to add more toppings. I love how the broth came out super hot and it's perfect during cold weather. Charsiu rice bowl: I would skip on this. The meat was really dry and lack of flavor. Do not recommend Service: we waited for around 25 min to get our ramen. This was expected since there was a long line and people were waiting. It's nice that they now accepts card.

After trying many ramen restaurants (ippudo, kajiken, Orenchi) etc. I've come to the conclusion that santouka ramen is my favorite. You just can't beat the quality of broth, texture of noodles, and combos they have. I always get a medium spicy miso ramen and I'm always satisfied. Their fish roe with rice is really yummy too! I would recommend not coming on weekends cuz there's sometimes a long wait. Sometimes it's empty, it just depends. It's in a food court so not the best environment but it's self serve so you don't have to tip. And I like that they accept cards now!

Well, my wife and I have been reading "Santouka" wrong all these years. We thought it was "Takousan" (Fire Head Mountain), but it was always read "Santouka" (Mountain Head Fire). Now we know! Anyway, your usual options at Santouka. This time I tried the Charsiu Spicy Miso and was not disappointed. This item was not so spicy as to make the meal unpleasant--just enough to give it that "zing" and complement the savory flavor of the broth and meat. They take credit card or cash. If traveling in a party, I would ask one of the members to go and find seating, because it can be difficult to find in this small super market. The large bowl is truly large, so make sure you are extra hungry!

I came around lunch time and I thought it would be busy but it wasn't. There were four other customers in line when I got there. I got a large #29 toroniku ramen miso to go. The cashiers hands you a ticket and use their microphone to call out numbers. I didn't have to wait long and I was able to order a matcha drink nearby and grab mochi. The ramen noodle, pork cheek, mushrooms, bamboo shoots were separated from the soup. It was a big soup and the right ratio of noodles. It was a satisfying lunch. It wasn't too salty and the pork cheek wasn't dry. The ramen doesn't come with a soft boiled egg but they do have seasoned eggs available. There are some indoor dining tables available.

4stars for food, Spicy Miso Tonkotsu is my fave but (-) 0.25 star for atmosphere Plaza parking is available but ooof it gets crowded and busy - this will probably be one annoyance haha Santouka, there is also always a line - moves pretty OK-ish After ordering... mm if you're lucky, hopefully you can find a table. And if you can find a table, it might be difficult locating staff to remove previous customers leftovers (bowls and trays); I can't really fault them because there's only one trash bin...and the top of that trash bin can only hold one tray lol It's also very loud in here- trying to exchange a couple words or hold minor conversations will also be difficult Before I'd drive down from SF just for Santouka but mm.. now seeing prices at Mitsuwa (review above) and bb doesn't like the atmosphere.. won't come back unless I'm very much in the area

Went to grab lunch and saw that Hokkaido Ramen had no line surprisingly. I decided to give them a try knowing they usually are busy with long lines. Maybe I should have chose sushi at Mitsuwa. Well to start the service was kind slow with no one in line and the cashier was alright didn't seem very helpful. Took it to go thankful the ramen was separated from the to go bowl. The salmon and rice was good and the ramen soup base was good too. So everything was great until something from the meal gave me food poisoning. Something must be not sanitary and this meal has sent me to the restroom over half a dozen times. Not too happy about getting sick so doubtful that I will come back to try again.

I heard a lot of good things about their ramen so I wanted to try it out. After I ordered I was not aware that all of their broths are pork-based only. The service in the front was not sure either. Hopefully they have more options in the future so I can try. I also recommend to drop by on a weekday or early on the weekends because it's hard to find a seat. It can get a little bit crowded in the seating area. I'll post a picture of the ramen because it looks yummy. I really enjoyed the Syake Ikura rice bowl & the natto. At the end of it all, I had a good little brunch.

Good ramen and is a great place to get groceries and a meal. Location: It is located in Mitsuwa. They have a parking lot in the plaza the store is in. However, it does get somewhat packed, but you will eventually find parking. Seating is like the mall food court. You find your own seat, pick up the food at the window, and bust your own table. Food: Their ramen is pretty good. I like how they have small, medium, and large sizes. So if you're not that hungry, you can order a portion that best suits you. I like their chasu miso ramen. I will say sometimes, it's on the saltier side. But the last time I went, it was made perfectly. Service: Service is very quick and easy. The food comes out right away. Depending on what day/ time you go, there might be a line. But other than that, the service is pretty straightforward. Overall, I enjoy getting ramen here after I do some grocery shopping.

The spoons have returned! I am bumping my score up a bit. My largest gripe was the presentation which largely hasn't improved. Sides are still served in needless and wasteful plastic containers. However, the return of the spoon makes the meal over all more enjoyable. Service was a mixed bag. On one hand the staff is friendly but was a little gruff in their explanation that there are so substitutions even if you want an egg in the pace of chashu. Could have just explained an egg can be added at an extra cost. Over all, 4 star worthy. If they could go the extra mile and and bring back the proper presentation with reusable plates, bowls and spoons... Not only would the meal have better presentation, it would be more sustainable and environmentally repsosnible.

Updated review They have since opened up the food court seating so there is more tables available. We usually come here for dinner around 6pm and usually do not have a problem getting a table. Weekends are another story, be prepared for a long line and low table availability - especially around lunch time. Always get the 33 or the 36, spicy is the way to go - has the most flavor. Never got the combo but also never left still hungry. I still hold this ramen high as the best around in both broth flavor and noodle quality. Second only to Hiro Nori but that is not bad for a food court in a super market itadakimasu!

My hotel was right across the street so I frequented this establishment almost everyday. It's common place to see them put up a sign that says they're out of soup at around 7-7:30 pm. That's a good sign. I ordered the D set or tonkotsu Ramen with char Sui over rice. The ramen was excellent. The broth was rich and flavorful. The noodles were Al dente and the charsui was tender and delicious. I also liked the menma or bamboo shoots. The charsui over rice was fantastic too. Stop by for your ramen fix.