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Ramen Santouka
Category: Restaurants Japanese Japanese [Edit]
1690 Robson StVancouver, BC V6G 1C7
Neighbourhood: West End
(604) 681-8121
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11 am - 11 pm
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- No
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- No
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Lunch, Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
- Dogs Allowed:
- No
167 reviews for Ramen Santouka
Review Highlights
167 reviews in English
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Review from Ken H.
5/25/2012 1 Check-in Here
Tokusen Toroniku Ramen is the way to go!
I visited Santouka ramen numerous times in their store locations inside Mitsuwa Markets throughout Southern California (Torrance, Santa Monica, San Diego, Costa Mesas)..etc and I found the quality were quite inconsistent among all the stores. However, this place rocks. The broth was bold tonkousu flavor, the noodle cooked to the right firmness, and the pork was mouth-watering juicy.
What else can we ask for? Perhaps a bigger store so they can fit more people in!
This gonna be one of the top Japanese Ramen joint in Vancouver. Serious. -
Review from Ann W.
5/21/2012
Once I saw the line for Santouka, I knew I had to eat there!
My husband and I went on a Friday night around 9:30pm and it was super packed. Fortunately, we didn't have to wait long since we were only a party of 2. :) I love the atmosphere -- happy people, wonderful polite service, and the organized busy-ness of it all. Ever since standing outside in the line and staring at the food displays, I already decided on my order: shoyu ramen combo with firm noodles and salmon rice bowl. Oh yes, it was all for me, much to the waitress's shock. My husband ordered spicy miso ramen--he opted out of the combo and ate half my rice bowl. :D
Once I got my order, I was so happy. It was the most delicious shoyu ramen I have ever tasted. The broth was perfect, the noodles a perfect firmness, they used quality seaweed, the pork was so tender, and I always love bamboo shoots & the little pink/white fish slices. The rice bowl was so good--rice was perfectly cooked and they did not skimp on the salmon topping.
Did I mention that the regular size bowl of ramen looks small, but is in fact quite large?! Not for bird-like eaters!!!
Hope to return on our next trip to Vancouver!! -
Review from Elton R.
5/15/2012
After years of frequenting Kintaro as my go-to place, this place ended up taking that title. I was completely sold on my initial visit a couple of years ago then they had to close down due to some ventilation problems, which kept me worried but they're still trucking along.
My absolute favourite ramen is shio. It takes a delicate balance to get the right taste and depth of flavours as it doesn't utilize the likes strong flavours of soy sauce and/or miso to create the perfectly balanced broth. These guys seem to have gotten it right - by simmering pork bones for two days. What you get is a creamy broth with a deep pork flavour resulting from the marrow being released from the bones.
Even better is that if you order the toroniku ramen it comes with the noodle and the toppings separate - the pork cheek slices on this dish is absolutely amazing (well, if you like pork.. but then again why would you be eating ramen at all if you didn't?).
So far I've never had the issues some people have experienced and I'm glad it hasn't happened to me yet as I love this place too much. It does get quite cramped and will likely have to wait in line during the core lunch and dinner hours though...Listed in: The Rising Sun
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Review from Jennifer K.
Vancouver, BC
Ohhh the salty goodness of Santouka. A fusion of my three loves: salt, pork, and noodles. My mouth *waters* just thinking about it. I'd fallen in love with Santouka down in LA - always willing to drive out to wherever the closest Mitsuwa food court may be - and I actually searched their site to see if they had opened any right here in Van. Yes, clearly, I am that obsessed with them.
It actually took me about three tries to eat here. Third time's the charm! There's no denying that the line is super long, no matter what city you dine in. But no pain, no gain. And for this third time, I made sure I came solo, sans my impatient friends. Besides, one person is always easier to seat than two, esp. when they've got communal tables *and* a ramen bar, in addition to the tables for two in the back.
After a 20 minute wait, I was seated at the bar. Definitely prime seating, 'cause I could store my coat in the magazine rack right by my foot *and* watch 'em prep my ramen in the kitchen (http://www.yelp.com/bi...; http://www.yelp.com/bi...). Typically, I'd go for the shio ramen, but this time around, I decided to take the sodium down a notch by ordering the miso ramen, with slices of chashu already inlaid. http://www.yelp.com/bi...
Divine.
Melt-in-your-mouth divine.
All of it. The creamy broth. The fatty chashu. The ramen. Even the veggies and mushrooms used as garnish.
Just the way I remembered it.
Santouka was always one of those awesome ramen places I'd take out-of-towners to back in LA. And I can see that I can continue the tradition here. I'll just have to make sure I beat the lunch crowd! -
Review from Ji Y.
5/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Came to Vancouver for vacation and I pulled out my handy Yelp app and went to look for some delicious places to eat at the hotel we were staying at. We stayed close to the Robson street and this place was fairly close. It was so busy the first night we went and had a long line so we decided to go the next day. The wait wasn't as bad and got seated after 20 minutes. This place is so kid friendly. I love how they provided little bowls, cups, spoons and forks for my son. The ramen was super good and loved the broth they used. At first, there was a lot to pick from and it can be a bit overwhelming but everything looked so good and my ramen was perfect!
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Review from Mike L.
Vancouver, BC
5/22/2012
Their pork toro chasuu is the best I've ever tried.. melts in your mouth! The shio soup base is so flavorful and a little bit sweet. Don't bother with the spicy miso soup base, it just tastes salty.
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Review from Joanne W.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
You want heaven in a bowl!? Well, here it is!
I was visiting from Toronto (well, went to visit my friend in Seattle, and we drove to Vancouver). I have been craving GOOD ramen in the last many months. When I found out that I was going to Vancouver, you have no idea how happy I was. Local Vancouverites and some foodies from Seattle had recommended Santouka over Kintaro.
We got to Santouka around 3 PM (because that was then we got into Vancouver). We ran over, sat down, picked out what we wanted (I got myself the miso ramen) and just ate to my heart's delight. It was soooo good. Everything about it was just perfect. The only problem was that the restaurant was a little too hot for my liking.
I had promised myself that I would never ever eat ramen in Toronto ever again. However, a Vancouverite had told me that Santouka Ramen will be opening their very own in Toronto! Excitement! The Ramen Gods have answered my prayers.Listed in: OMNOMNOMs in Vancouver!
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Review from Connie L.
5/22/2012
Everything you've heard is true. This place is fantastic. I am from California and am always on the search for perfect ramen. The broth is super yummy and the noodles are fresh. When I dream about ramen, this is it!
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Review from Nick C.
5/21/2012
Had the combo dish with the salmon roe. The broth was so tasty! Fast service as well!
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Review from Susie L.
Downtown, Vancouver, BC
5/20/2012
I hate lining up but am beginning to accept that that's what you have to do at most popular places in Vancouver. The ramen here is very satisfying. Rich, dimensional stock that you just know must have been simmering for days. Toroniku Pork is my absolute favourite. Delicious slices of melt in your mouth, slow cooked pork cheeks that when added to your ramen that make your taste buds scream for more. Sensational! I'm still on the lookout for a ramen that can top this but for now Ramen Santouka will be my benchmark.
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Review from Spike S.
4/13/2012
Another big score while visiting Vancouver. Went here on the late side (1:30 or 2:00 PM) for lunch, but had to wait in line. It wasn't too long, and it was definitely worth it. I had the shoyu-based ramen, creamy flavorful stock, fresh, perfectly-cooked noodles and some pork and a fish thingie. I had the combo, so I also got a bowl of rice with some pork and a hard-boiled egg and some pickle. I would recommend skipping the combo unless you're ultra-hungry, it was a lot of food. I think you can ask for a larger size of ramen also.
Mrs. Spike had the spicy miso stock with pork and Baby Spike had the spicy miso stock with the special pork jowl, which he thought was great.
Although the place was full and had a line, nobody got rushed out. I confused the staff by asking for dollar bills, forgetting that in Canada it's loonies and toonies, but that got straightened out.
Easy to walk to from what I think is the central business district and afterwards you can walk down to the park or the water. -
Review from Allen C.
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
Better make sure you are ready for a line up at this Ramen bar. I can't believe how insanely busy and popular this place gets in the afternoon. We got here as the line was forming and the line never got shorter thereafter.
The servers got us seated pretty quickly, offered us convenient high chair accessibility for the baby, and there's DIY plate settings which is good because the waiters can spend the time taking our orders quickly in this fast moving environment.
I ordered the spicy miso soup Ramen. The noodle was exceptionally well made with the good type of chewiness. The soup base tasted fresh and clean. I had no after taste when I finished my bowl. That makes for good eating!
They kept the ingredients on the low side. There wasn't a lot of char siu and veggies in my bowl, but for what they had, it was delicious in that soup base. I recommend ordering the large for an extra dollar. It's worth it! -
Review from Justin L.
Updated - 4/12/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pork too salty. Salmon too fishy.
As I mentioned in my first review (4/6/2011), the TORONIKU PORK at Ramen Santouka is heavenly. A year later, however, I found the pork to be TOO SALTY. It had the same melted texture (my detective grandma suspects that they cook the pork, chill or freeze it, then slice it thinly, then reheat? there's technique involved!), but the taste was simply too concentrated for my perfect liking.
The other disappointment was the SALMON RICE. This is a bowl of white rice topped with nasty dry fishy-tasting overcooked fibrous salmon bits. It was wasted space on one of our combo meals.
Too bad the Toroniku ramen bowls don't already include an egg. Then again, seeing as how the other people's RAMEN EGGS had pale, hard-cooked yolks (instead of the golden, molten ones in the picture), I did not miss it.
Nevertheless, I'm still game for a rich, hearty and filling bowl of ramen here anytime.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2011
O.M.G. The slices of PORK JOWL are heavenly. If you're a fan of all things porcine, this is not only… Read more »
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Review from Felicity D.
Vancouver, BC
5/23/2012
i don't mind that they serve smaller portions than many of the ramen joints in the area, i can't finish those huge bowls anyway. the noodles aren't as good as kintaro's, but i think i prefer the broth here at santouka. i love that they have a little ikura don side order.
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Review from Joseph H.
Richmond, BC
3/26/2012
Just re-visited this old neighborhood standby the other day. It's still pretty good, but perhaps not as awesome as it used to be. I find it cheaper though? Perhaps I went all out last time when I came and this time I was more careful in selecting something less expensive. Nonetheless, it is still good food for a competitive price especially in the West End.
I got the Shoyu Ramen. The soup was the best part. Rich, deep flavored pork broth. The noodles, I think, are from Toko Foods, which seem to taste and feel more Southern Chinese than Japanese imho. Benkei also uses the same supplier for their noodles. The pork slices were a bit dry and a disappointment. The last time I was here, the slices of pork jowls were soft and melted in my mouth.
One good thing is that the restaurant is not as crowded as it used to be. I remember back when it opened, there would be a line up of people outside.Listed in: Favorite Noodle Joints
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Review from Rich E.
4/6/2012
Great place to go on a cold, rainy day but I would not line up to get in tho! Make sure you get there before the rush!
I had the signature "Shio Ramen" (mild and creamy soup seasoned with salt. Shio and topped off with a Japanese pickled plum.) The broth was really rich and maybe a few steps before it could be a sauce. I was telling my friends that the sauce is so rich, they could thicken it up and pour it on a linguine noodles and it would taste great!
Layout:
-I kind of like the island at the front because it's a nice atmosphere to be social with like-minded ramen people!
-the washrooms are located at the very back thru a maze of corridors. -
Review from Vivian H.
This is the fourth Santouka I've been to (San Jose, San Diego, LA).
I needed to make one last foodie trip to Vancouver before I pick up my puppy this Friday because I know I will not have the opportunity again for a looong time. Santouka in LA and SD has the best ramen, hands down, that I have ever tasted. Unfortunately, the location in San Jose has a slightly different broth, so I was really hoping that this location in Vancouver would be more like the SoCal locations.
BF and I found 2 hour parking a block away and waited in line for 30 minutes on Sunday for lunch. They take only cash and Interac ONLY. I ordered the shio ramen (small) and the BF ordered a large toroniku ramen.
Our orders came out fairly quickly. BF's came out first and I could not wait for mine to come out to taste the broth, so I took a sip of his. Admittedly, I was a little disappointed. It definitely did not have that special oomph (a slightly smoky quality that I can't really describe) that the SoCal locations possess. However, it was still a very good broth. It was rich, thick, and creamy. The pork, especially the BF's, was deliciously tender. Yum.
I think this location is on par with Motomachi, but would probably prefer Santouka if there weren't a wait. -
Review from Phil K.
Burnaby, BC
3/3/2012 9 Check-ins Here
I was never a fan of ramen noodle places until I stepped into Ramen Santouka. After trying Kintaro (good), Motomachi (pricey) and Benkei (average), I was about to give up on finding that special ramen bowl that I had once experienced in Japan.
Where to begin? Noodles -al dente. Broth - creamy and rich in flavour. You won't go wrong with the miso broth. Temperature of the broth is just right. Pork jowl - some pieces are a little saltier than others but very tender. Cha su - not too fatty, not too lean. Gyoza - excellent but pricey. $5 for 5 is a little steep.
This place is by far the best ramen joint in town. Yes, there might be a wait on some days, but when you are finally seated and you have that piping hot bowl in front of you, take out that phone, log in to yelp, and send me a thank you! -
Review from Yen D.
3/19/2012
I went here on a ramen run and honestly, it's good stuff! Beats Seattle hands down.
My friends heard that the melty pork was the best there so I had to try it. It really does melt in your mouth. Broth and noodles were good, however if I could give this joint a 4.5 stars I would because the melty pork by itself is really salty, so towards the end of my ramen eating, I could no longer stomach the delicious broth due to over saltiness. Small portion, but definitely filling :-) -
Review from Kazuo O.
4/12/2012
Came here because Kintaro was closed on a Monday night. There was a line and had to wait 10 minutes to get in around 6:30pm. I didn't like sitting in the big round table with 10 other people. Plus I was right near the entrance where people are standing waiting. It felt like being a fishbowl having people watch you eat. If you're unsure wether to go here or Kintaro go with the latter. Kintaro has better Ramen IMO.
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Review from Gino V.
Vancouver, BC
5/9/2012
i take my boy here, hes 5 and picky...but he loves the ramen.
2 things make a good ramen - good broth and good noodles (cooked well).
i can safely say that i have eaten here with the kid over 40 times - eating the exact same order everytime - shoyu ramen x2. everytime its been consistent and very good - I have tried this dish at other ramen shops but no one comes close.
with that said, the broth is rich - full bodied, not for everyone. -
Review from Arnold P.
2/6/2012
3.5 STARS
I like the broth and the pork jowl. A very satisfying experience.
I don't like the lineups and how they hurry you to finish quickly.Listed in: Ramen
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Review from Brittany W.
North Vancouver, BC
1/26/2012 2 photos
A small modern Ramen house along Robson, packed everyday for lunch. Service is average, but speedy - dishes are served quickly after ordering.
I came for lunch with my girlfriend today. For a Thursday afternoon (11:30am), we only waited about 10 minutes, however, the waitline was pouring out the door by the time we left. My girlfriend loved her experience her today, and she's experienced a lot more ramen than myself, but I didn't find my dish particularly satisfying.
Pork Jowl - Recommend!
Melt in your mouth soft, tender, and delicious! Go for it.
Cha Shu Shoyu Ramen - Good flavour, but the noodles/soup were nothing special. The cha shu was also overly fatty, and I didn't end up eating any of it.
Would I come back and try something different? Sure. -
Review from Eva B.
1/29/2012 2 Check-ins Here
When I have an uncontrollable urge for ramen soup this place is nearly at the top of my list. Everything I have had here is very good.
It is very busy however. I would suggest if you want to try it out, and you should, to make sure your entire party is present before lining up. This is as you will not be seated if anyone has run astray. Also as a matter of courtesy don't jump the line up, it's rude and unnecessary. Generally I have never waited more than 20 minutes to get a seat.
Happy slurping! -
Review from Zachary S.
4/15/2012
Had the Spicy Miso Ramen with Pork Jowl. I'm not typically someone who seeks out ramen, but the second it arrived the table, I could already tell it was going to be good. It smelled amazing. The Pork Jowl by itself was a little too salty, but let it sit in the soup and it takes on a brisket like texture and nice, porky flavor. The soup wasn't super spicy but the broth was some of the best I have ever had. The noodles were perfect as well. This was definitely the best meal I had while visiting Vancouver - and the cheapest. Highly recommended.
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Review from amelia s.
3/22/2012
I had to twist my DH's arm to get him to try Santouka. He had his heart set on crepes (again), and the thought of Japanese food wasn't appealing. "Give it a try, it's a famous restaurant in Japan!", I said. We both ordered the basic shio ramen, and a side of gyoza. He polished off 4 gyoza (leaving me with only 1), and asked if we should order another. He also slurped up all his noodles. I really enjoyed the noodles and broth - it was very flavorful and rich, and the pork was super tender. The ambience made me feel like I was in a Tokyo ramen house, and the service is friendly. I asked my DH afterwards, "So? What'd you think". He said, "Yeah, that was really good. But can we still get crepes?"
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Review from Paulina L.
3/26/2012
The tan tan noodle is a disaster!! NEVER COME BACK. There are plenty ramen noodle places better than Santouka. The service is not that good. They don't take manage the line either. First time comers will find themselves in trouble if you don't queue.
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Review from Annie M.
Vancouver, BC
I was craving for ramen for dinner and I haven't been back for a long time.
I tried to avoid the long wait and went there a bit late at night (after 8.30pm) but still waited for another 20 mins.
I had Spicy Toroniku Ramen with pork cheek (jowl) meat. It tasted like the same that I had in Japan. -
Review from Elisa A.
North Vancouver, BC
2/4/2012
It's a good place for good priced combo(ramen with gyoza or chashu rice or salmon rice and more) food is above average,and service is good!!
price wise I will give it a 3.5 stars,and for food wise I will give it a 3 stars! -
Review from Erin J.
12/27/2011
I love love love this place! The noodles here are to die for. There are a number of ramen joints in the area, but I think Santouka is the best of the bunch. Make sure to try the gyoza as well. Not only is the food great, the service is excellent! I often bring my 3 year old son to this restaurant as he loves the food here. Last time we went, my son accidentally knocked over my husband's freshly poured beer and the servers graciously cleaned up the mess and proceeded to grab another beer for my husband immediately. I also appreciate that they always bring my son his own plastic bowl and plate for him to eat with.
Be prepared to wait in line as it is a small restaurant and very popular. However, it is worth the wait (try to go in off peak times). -
Review from Jessica C.
1/3/2012
I was on vacation with my family in Vancouver a week ago. We originally wanted to go to Guu, only a few doors down, but they were packed and we would've had to wait at least 2 hours. We walked a couple of steps down Robson and saw Santouka! There was a line out the door, but not ridiculously long. Tourist rule of thumb: line outside restaurant = good food. It works every time.
Can you believe it? This was my first time trying ramen and I loved it! Aside from the fact that it was cold and windy this past Christmas night, the shio ramen was delicious. I'm usually not a big fan of pork, but they did a great job getting rid of the porky taste (you know what I mean??). But...my favorite part was the noodles. They were ohhhhh so good!
The servers were extremely nice. I saw on the bar that looked into the kitchen so we saw them make our food, and everyone else's. Don't worry, there was a glass panel between the bar and kitchen so you weren't marinating in the fumes of ramen. -
Review from Hikaru N.
Vancouver, BC
4/1/2012
Whenever I am in the mood for ramen, I always come to Ramen Santouka. Compared to the other ramen houses in downtown Vancouver, I've found that the flavour of the broth and the quality of the noodles is vastly superior. The only real drawback is that if you come during peak hours, the lineup and wait can be around 20-30 minutes.
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Review from Jeff S.
Vancouver, BC
3/19/2012
It is OK, but if I want noodles from a cup, I will buy it at T & T. Of course the toppings and ambience upgrade it somewhat, but still - noodles from a cup.
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Review from Aron A.
Vancouver, BC
1/7/2012
3.5 stars - I'm not rounding up to 4 it makes a place look too good.
This place has got some pretty good ramen. Nice flavor not great. Got a typical overcooked or at least hard boiled egg with it. Why can't people properly medium boil an egg. Cooking - it's what you do for a living do it right or move along.
Rice and pork bowl? Simple and delicious.
Seating at their big communal table? Kind of uncomfortable. Don't know why but facing strangers and being shoulder to shoulder with strangers just makes me want to eat fast and GTFO.
Would I eat here again? Maybe. Kintaro would have to be lined up pretty far for me to choose this again and I wouldn't wait in line again.
Give it a shot. There is definitely better in the same hood but this might be up your alley. -
Review from Doug R.
9/25/2011
Vancouver BC. My first vacation since (no kidding) 1999 when I, well, came here. Me & GF get to the hotel she/we found on some travel website and she takes a nap, I go looking for a store. On my way back I see the sign for this place.
It had good reviews on Yelp (duh) and we'd had limited experience with ramen not served in plastic, so we went. It was Wednesday September 21st, you may have heard angels singing. I did. I have trouble recalling the experience clearly because of the drooling that starts when I think of it. But I remember the menu saying something about two day simmer, pork stuff, creamy broth. Oh snap it was all of that. I could barely walk after Santouka had its way with me. I needed a cigarette. I wanted to bathe in it, buy it a house and elect it to office so I could forgive its philandering with livestock.
Here Portland yelpers will be shocked, I WAITED IN LINE AND IT WAS WORTH IT.
It's good.
Eat it.
And thank you travel website for dropping us near this place. -
Review from Vincci L.
Exactly one year ago I visited this place and haven't been back since. Guess it wasn't anything too special to bring me back sooner?
Looking back at my original review, I realized that I ordered the exact same thing: the toroniku miso ramen. My thoughts? It was good, but nothing too spectacular. The soup base had a good miso flavour, but it was just a little too fatty for me. The side of the toroniku was good, but it was kind of cold-I'm not sure if it's supposed to be that way. Portion size was good.
The ramen is on the Van Mag's 101 Things to Taste list, so yes, it's worth a taste.
Cash or debit only, and there's usually a wait.Listed in: Best Things To Eat and Drink…, Ra Ra Ramen...
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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11/17/2010
Another rainy day in Vancouver.
Best thing to eat on days like these are a hot bowl of noodles.… Read more »
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Review from Huntting B.
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
Yum Yum Yum...Yum Yum Yum...Yum my bootie...Yum my bootie...
Ok...i can't remember a lot about this place other than leaving very full and very content. Super tasty, very happy and good service...definitely a great place to eat. -
Review from Kim L.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 12/7/2011 4 Check-ins Here
Coming to Ramen Santouka is like the date you can't wait to see and whom never disappoints you. Unreal, right?
I highly suggest the Toroniku ramen (simmered pork jowl that melts in your mouth) with the Shio broth base. If I'm really hungry, I get the Shio with the salmon roe rice combo...yum. Is it just me or has the ramen texture improved? Anyhow...love, love, and still love Santouka.
"Veni, vidi, vici!"Listed in: Ramen: Vancouver
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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3/26/2010 ROTD 8/31/2010
HALLELUJAH! I moved to Vancouver last year and have tried all the ramen restaurants here. Although… Read more »
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Review from Taylor K.
11/26/2011 2 Check-ins Here
After reading all the reviews and seeing the line up first hand, I thought it was time I gave Ramen Santouka a try. And I was not dissappointed.
I weathered the downpour rain by walking all the way to Santouka from Yaletown and I was not disappointed. Luckily, I didn't have to wait at all. There was one seat available at the bar and I got a seat right away. I got there at 12:30 and I had my ramen by 12:42. It was a quick service and the hot ramen was just what I needed after a walk in a cold rain.
I debated what I should get. Shoyu or Miso and I ordered the Kara Miso combo with the pork on rice. They were both delicious.
The portion of the noodle is smaller than Kintaro but it was a good size for me. I was able to finish the whole combo by myself. The noodle was al dente and cooked just right. The broth of the noodle wasn't overly spicy and it was just the right amount of richness. I do find Kintaro's miso ramen broth is very rich. However, I don't think it is better than Kintaro's. They are just different.
I don't have a favourite ramen place as of yet. With the abundance of ramen choices in West End, I will probably end up going to either Santouka or Kintaro depending on what I am in mood for on a particular day. I have not had a chance to try Motomachi but would like to try their Charcoal ramen one day.
I do like cheese ramen at Kintaro. I know it's a heart attack in a bowl but it is so good.
As for the ambience and the interior of the place, I prefer Santouka over Kintaro.
This felt more modern and spacious and plus seeing a couple with a stroller having a meal there gave me a hope that I could actually bring my little toddler with me.
(They had high chairs, a double bonus when you have a kid). For these reasons, I am more likely to come to Santouka over Kintaro.
It's definitely a place worth visiting for a delicious bowl of Ramen. I just wish there were more Ramen joints in Yaletown.
On the down side of this outing, I lost my gold earring. -
Review from Gino M.
10/17/2011
I sat on Robson Street, the crisp night air of British Columbia in early September. Good Company. Cold Kokanee beer in one hand. Red Plastic Chopsticks in the other hand. With 2 of the most glorious bowls of japanese food I've ever had steaming up my once freckled face.
Hands down, the absolute best I've had. The Japanese pedigree is apparent in the flavor, execution and presentation. I need get out to the Mitsua Market in Edgewater NJ and have this stuff again. It was making me moan. Spicy Miso Ramen with a side of Salmon over Rice combo. What a more could a little boy want?
I tried Santouka in Vancouver, BC, but if you haven't had it check out their website. It's a Japanese place that has figured a way to uphold quality and authenticity while expanding all over the world.
But what the shit do I know? I'm just a white boy from Southern California. I test all Japanese people and others who've spent time in Japan to go here and comment or comment now if you been, because if this ramen is somehow inferior on any level to that of good everyday Ramen in Japan, I want to know about it and I want give myself 50 lashes followed by booking a flight to Japan.
50 lashes? HE SHOULD GET 100 LASHES!
Cheborneck! Come Here. What dat? Look like Dog Chit to me. Taste. TASTE!!!! Taste Like Chit?
Ya...taste like Ippudo.
