Hokkaido Ramen Santouka
665 Paularino Ave, Costa Mesa, CA, 92626
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Menu
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Main
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Address :
665 Paularino Ave
Costa Mesa, CA, 92626 - Phone (714) 434-1101
- Website https://www.santouka.co.jp/en/index.html
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 8:00pm
- Mon : 11:00 am - 8:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : No
Accepts Credit Cards : No
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : No
Caters : No
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Amy L.
I was never a fan of shoyu ramen until I had it at Santouka. I don't know why, but it just seems so much better here than it does at the Mitsuwa up in the bay area. Maybe because I didn't have to stand in line for a million hours to get it? Maybe... But on the real, it hits the spot. And it's so cheap compared to other places in socal. Is it the best ramen I've ever had? Nah, but it does the job and is still delicious! Reminder - it's cash only, so bring some [or you can use the Bank of America ATM at the entrance of Mitsuwa].
(4)Kenzie K.
1391 reviews seriously! What can I say that the others have not said yet?! As Ryan P. always says: NOTHING! LOL. This will be short and sweet I promise because I have nothing really to say except to confirm that this is the best ramen I've tasted and it's my favorite place. But then again, I haven't been to many ramen places. I didn't really know the name of this place until just now when I had to figure out what the name was so I could write a review lol. So I been to the famous Shin-Sen-Gumi, Ebisu, Ajisen, Rockstar Noodle House, Honda Ya, which all places are pretty darn good but I still feel that Santouka Ramen is my favorite so far. There is something about their soup! Only problem is the seating. If you come at noon, make sure to have someone save a seat if there is still any left. They open at 11am which is the best time to come or after the lunch rush between 1-2pm. After 2pm will have many seats. Whatever, I just stare someone down until their done and get uncomfortable and want to leave. Everyone else was complaining about the spoon they give to you. It's not even a soup spoon and it's plastic so it was difficult to use. I guess the food court doesn't want to give out real spoons in case someone might steal it. The bowls are really nice though. Anyways, I heard they give out much better spoons so I'm going back to eat more ramen since the weather is getting cold again. So Cal weather is so bipolar it's not even funny. CASH ONLY!! You can choose between three sizes I believe? S, M, L. They are pretty tricky with their menu. They show the medium first and then the small or something like that. And so unconsciously you will automatically choose the first one, it's how they designed the menu that is so tricky. I just pointed to it and paid. And then looked really closely and discovered I chose the medium!! It was fine because I still ate it all but still. They are pretty sly with the menu sizes so just look out for that. Other wise, I love the ramen here! Average price is $8 but if you want an egg it's a buck extra, I always skip it. :)))))))))))
(5)Steve C.
DELICIOUS! SPICY MISO PORK WITH EGG! $12 dollars for a medium bowl, egg, and tax, and SO WORTH IT! Broth: YUMMY! This broth is so complex, with so much depth and layers of Asian goodness! It wasn't too oily even though it looks oily. I had to keep telling myself that I shouldn't be drinking all this soup after each spoonful, but I really couldn't stop myself I had to drink everything like it was water. Also, I love the spiciness of this soup. It has just a small kick at the end of each bite or slurp, without burning your mouth or overpowering your taste buds. Pork Slices: BIG! I've had some other ramen places that have super thin slices of pork, but I actually thought Santouka pork slices were big, juicy, and FATTY! Just how I like it, but it wasn't pure fat for those who like more meat. Other sides: I loved the sesame seeds, mushroom slices, bamboo, and the egg in my ramen. Overall: I'd come here again and again, and bring everyone I know to try this amazing spot. Tips: - Located in the Mitsuwa food court, so you'll have to find open seating. - Parking was also a pain, it's super packed especially during the lunch rush. - CASH ONLY! - Water is self serve with an extremely small cup, buy a drink at the Mitsuwa market place if its easier for you. - Lastly, Santouka is not spelled in English, it's all in Japanese characters! For those who can't read Japanese, it's located on the right side corner of the food court when you're facing it.
(5)Clara C.
I was pretty disappointed from my trip here. I don't think Santouka was as great as described by previous reviewers... I've definitely had better ramen! First, let me describe its location for newbies like me. Santouka is located inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace, so just park anywhere in the Mitsuwa lot. There is even an underground parking garage if you can't find anything outside (that's how crowded it can get here). Enter the automatic doors and head toward the back right of the marketplace to the food court area. You'll pass by Mochicream, the grocery section, and several shops. Santouka does not have a banner displaying its name in English (it will have Chinese characters), so find the restaurant with the long line. I waited about 5-8 minutes in the line and less than 10 minutes for my number to be called. They give you a ticket with your number, which you will need to hold on to in order to pick up your food. As they say, "no ticket, no food"! I noticed another ramen place next door, but it didn't have half as many customers as Santouka! I've never been to the other one, so I can't compare here. But judging from the line and popularity, Santouka is probably the better choice. @ Second, the menu offered plenty of options. You could go with just ramen or ramen + egg + rice bowl or just rice bowl. Then you choose the size of your ramen bowl. Sadly, I was disappointed with the ramen. I even came hungry so that I'd be able to enjoy it! I had a shoyo (soy sauce) small size, which came with one piece of pork. I was expecting at least half an egg, but you have to order that separately. And the egg is hardboiled at that.. No, thanks. I was hoping they would have the softboiled egg with the creamy yolk. The noodles were too chewy/tough for my taste. The other 2 people in my group thought so as well. My shoyo soup was also on the bland side. It wasn't completely flavorless, but I'm usually really thirsty after a good bowl of ramen and I barely needed any water this time. This may be a good option for people who have dietary salt restrictions for high blood pressure. I was able to try the shio soup, which is the salt (and on the creamy/milky side). The regular bowl size comes with 2 pieces of pork but no egg either. I had same thoughts about the shio soup - it could use stronger flavor. The spicy miso soup was ok. This is a good choice for people who love spicy food! My friend didn't think it was spicy enough though! For the health conscoous out there: this was has a layer of chili oil. The pork belly rice is good, too, but very simple. It's a good addition if ramen doesn't fill you up. Service is generally good I assume from the way they take orders and collect payment. However, they just happened to mess up on our order and forgot to give us the pork rice as part of the set. She asked to see our tray, which we brought over to our table already, and then the receipt. She finally admitted that it was their fault for forgetting our order. Maybe I'll be back if I'm in the area (South Coast mall is only 2 minites away), but I won't go out of my way to eat here. It is what it is: normal food inside a food court with ok prices.
(3)Dan N.
Opt for their Spicy Miso instead of Regular Miso. It's not that spicy and it adds so much flavor that really makes the ramen different than other ramen places. The line can be a little long but you still get your meal as fast as if you went to an actual ramen house I think. Finding seats can be hard so if it's your first time, make a game plan. Figure out what you want...Spicy Miso ;)...have one person order while the other scopes for seats.
(4)Dulcia T.
If I'm ever in the area and craving ramen, this is the place to come! How could you not crave ramen?! Quick tips: cash only and do not lose your ticket to redeem your food! Your stomach and tastebuds will be very sad. They also sometimes give discounts if you come at a right time just before closing. Been coming here for years whenever I'm in the area. Their taste is consistent and service is relatively fast even on a jam packed day. Located in the simple little food court of the Mitsuwa Japanese Market filled with other authentic Japanese eateries, it's the perfect place to have a meal before or after you stop by the market to get your groceries, green tea flavored kit-kats, and other goodies. You can chose your flavor of broth, size of bowl, if you want a combo meal or not (which I prefer), choice of meat, as well as level of spiciness. No matter where I go, I seem to always get miso broth. I like to get the B combo that comes with a choice of ramen (I get a small miso cha-shu ramen), a bowl of rice topped with ikura (which they now changed to ikura (salmon egg) AND bits of cooked salmon, not bad!), and a whole tea/soy sauce flavored boiled egg on the side split in half. My favorite meal! It's wonderful to get a little bit of everything you like to form one satisfying meal! A small B combo comes out to about 10 bucks and some change. The ramen fanatic boyfriend ordered the large spicy miso toroniku (pork cheek) ramen with extra meat on the side. We shared everything and it was the perfect amount for both of us. The broths have a lot if flavor in it and is not too much to where it's not drinkable. The very last bit and bottom of the soup can get a bit salty at the end of your meal, probably because all the sediments and flavoring of the soup settles at the bottom. Their noodles are always cooked to the perfect consistency, a bouncy chewy. The cha-shu is melt in your mouth and toroniku is just as scrumptious. It was my first time trying the toroniku on that trip and I think I'll interchange between my orders from now on. Their ramens comes standard with bamboo shoots, cloud ear fungus/black fungus, green onions, sesame, a swirled fish cake, and nori (dried seaweed). Highly recommend this place! Slurp! Ah!
(5)Joyce L.
I try and stop by mitsuwa and grab ramen from santouka if I'm in the area. I usually get the regular sized spicy miso ramen; if I'm feeling extra hungry I'll make it a combo and get one of their rice bowls. Don't let the size of the bowl fool you, their ramen is pretty filling. My last visit I ordered the regular sized combo B which included spicy miso ramen, ikura don, and tamago, which came out to about 13/14$ including tax. Their spicy miso ramen is one of my favorites. I don't know if it's the best ramen I've ever had but definitely ONE of the best. I don't think I would change much about it. The bowl of ramen may look intimidating in the heat department, but don't worry it's really not. It has the right amount of heat but the miso counteracts it and makes the broth nice and silky with a little bit of a bite from the spiciness. The cha shu has the right amount of fat to meat ratio and just melts in your mouth like butter. I only wish I had more (you can order extra if you want). The noodles have great consistency and have a perfect chew. Plus they don't skimp on portions and give you a hearty amount. The ikura don I ordered was made to the same caliber of quality. They put a generous portion over a scoop of rice and add shredded seaweed on top. The salmon roe had a beautiful orange color certifying how fresh it was. It popped how it was supposed to and flavored each bite of rice with the essence of salmon. The tamago is nothing special to me. It comes with the combo, but it's usually just a dollar extra. Try it if you've never had it but it certainly doesn't make or break the dish. A couple things: this location is located inside of the mitsuwa food court so don't look for a brick and mortar business. Seating is also a hassle if you don't time your visit correctly. Bring a soup spoon to use! I forgot to this time and had to drink half of the broth at the end cause I couldn't even put ramen in their cheap plastic spoons.): Oh and it's cash only. So if your looking for a place that serves consistently great ramen without breaking your bank, Santouka will always live up to its name.
(4)Trang L.
This is hands down of the best ramen places I've been to in OC - might just be my favorite. You can find this restaurant after exiting the 405S on Bristol St. on the right, then turning left onto Paularino Ave. It's located within the Mitsuwa market, which allows you to check out other Japanese products before/after eating here. The size of the bowls here for the price (around $8 for a regular) isn't as cheap as other ramen places in the OC area such as Shinsengumi, but the quality of their ramen is phenomenal. I had the shio (salt) ramen.... and it was like my mouth grew a new set of taste buds just to taste the creaminess and burst of flavor that the broth in the ramen hard. The noodles are hard and slightly chewy to give it more fun to taste. There's not a lot of meat, so I recommend ordering extra. I'm for SURE coming back here to try the spicy miso ramen!!
(5)Jennifer N.
Not the best ramen I've had but it's decent if you're in the area. I usually get the Salt Ramen and its flavorful. Some days they're salty and greasy but my most recent visit didn't fail me.
(3)Ingrid V.
Ramen 101 was in session again with the lovely Lica N. as the instructor. She met me at one of her favorite Ramen stops, Santouka, located in the Mitsuwa Marketplace food court. With all the amazing Ramen Lica N. and Cathy S. have introduced me to, I am starting to understand that finding GOOD ramen... not the packaged kind, is kind of like going to authentic Italian eateries for spaghetti. Every one has their signature recipe, and the nuances of the broth are as different as night and day. Every single place they have taken me, has been utterly delicious. Santouka Ramen is no exception. I sampled their "C" Set that included a bowl of Natto (fermented soybeans over rice, topped with green onion.) I chose a regular Miso Ramen. The broth was very clean and light tasting. The noodles were delicious. All the toppings (pork, bamboo, seaweed) complimented the dish well. It was not as earthy-flavored as Kohryu's version, but still delicious nonetheless. My Miso Ramen: yelp.com/biz_photos/8oQW… Accompanying the Ramen was a perfectly cooked hard boiled egg: yelp.com/biz_photos/8oQW… As for the Natto... I have been wanting to try this for some time now! I first heard of it when watching Iron Chef Japan. They had a Natto Battle. I wanted to scarf down every single dish they had prepared. Here's the episode for you! (It's in a few parts but all links are provided by youtube: youtube.com/watch?v=s5cL… When Lica informed me that Santouka served Natto, I was giddy! I imagined that it would be very savory and earthy. It was, but there was an unexpected bitterness to the flavor too. Definitely an acquired taste, but I acquired it after about three bites! Fabulous! The only way I can describe it as, is having hints of being pickled, with the flavor profile you would get with a very mild blue cheese, then with the bitterness of a stout beer, and the pungentness of old garlic. You'll really have to trust me on this one, but served over steamed rice and topped with green onions, it really is quite delicious!! Behold my Natto: yelp.com/biz_photos/8oQW… Costa Mesa must be the Ramen capital of the western world. All of the Ramen 101 classrooms have been centered there! 1. Jinya 2. Yamadaya 3. Kohryu 4. Santouka
(4)Mark B.
I'm hesitant to give you the scoop on this place because I don't want you to fill the line of people ahead of me who wait for this place every lunch time. I'm just being honest, I'm more important to me than you are. With the said, here we go (starting with the bad stuff first in case you don't read the whole review): Why you should never go to this crappy-food-court located spot: - It's not fancy enough for you, it's literally just a hole in a wall - New food scares you, you should decide it's gross before you try it - Only paying $9 for lunch makes you feel unwealthy - The last time you ate in a food court was Hot Dog On A Stick...and it was bad (except for the lemonade) - Ordering is a bit confusing for the first-timer - Cash only Hopefully, you've already stopped reading and I can now give you the good stuff: - If heaven could be served in a bowl, it would be this (this is not hyperbole) - The ramen noodles are perfectly cooked, not too soft, not too firm, absolute perfection - I had the spicy miso ramen with extra pork. The soup was perfectly seasoned with a bit of a kick, but not too much. The pork (looked like roasted pork rib meat) was melt in your mouth delicious. - While it is a bit of a turn um' and burn um' kind of place, the lady at the front counter was nice enough to slow down and explain to me how to order properly. I've got it down now, so I'm definitely going back soon - It just makes the nerdy little foodie that lives in my soul so happy to see a place like this that clearly cooks for the passion of creating something awesome. it's not about the hype, fame or money. It's about serving something that you cannot get (at least not at this level) anywhere else Please go and keep these people in business, just don't go when I'm going!
(5)Rho L.
Still a winner in my book. Love their spicy miso ramen. Just wish they were a slight bit cheaper. Albeit the expensive price tag, I still find myself drawn to this ramen spot cause it's that good and the portions are hefty. There's just something about Ramen that feels like home...in a food court...
(4)Kathy L.
Santouka is such a reliable ramen place! I can go to any Santouka at any location, and always walk away happy. And even though it's a chain, the quality and taste is still great! Not saying it's the best ramen out there, which it isn't, but it is always good and hits the spot for a great price. I always get the set with miso ramen and charsiu rice. It's really a double whammy with all those carbs, but I just can't resist! Sometimes I'll get the salmon roe rice but it's on the saltier side, so it just depends what I'm feeling that day. I'd say, if you're getting the set, a small ramen will do just fine. I made the mistake of getting a regular this last time, and I was soooo full and didn't finish everything (came pretty darn close though...not a good thing). Best part is, you can get some yummy dessert (yes, more carbs and fat) afterward, either inside the Mitsuwa bakery or the matcha ice cream/tea store or the mochi store. Yum. Tip #1: Cash only Tip #2: They don't technically do take-out orders. You have to order it for here, and then put it in the to go containers yourself.
(4)Erick C.
Best ramen I've ever had. I did read the reviews ahead of time and knew to ask for less salt in my dish. Very tasty. This place is part of an asian supermarket food court. The parking can get crazy. I recommend parking in the lower level. Even though the signs say that the lower lot closes at a certain time - I forget what time - you'll always be able to exit.
(5)Honako Y.
When I'm in the mood for ramen Santouka is always my first choice. I've been really lucky because I always find parking and there is never a line when I come here. I like the salt ramen because the soup has a lot of flavor. I have never had a single bad experience at this place. I highly recommend it. Love it!
(4)Jane W.
Maybe I romanticized Santouka in my head after not having it for a couple years... or maybe I've expanded my ramen horizons and tried better places... or maybe quality has gone downhill over the years... Point is, my most recent visit here was somewhat disappointing! Santouka is located in Mitsuwa's food court amongst various other restaurants. I used to come here all the time and had decided it was my favorite ramen joint. During my most recent visit, I (re)tried their shoyu ramen, miso ramen, and also the cold ramen for the first time (not all for myself!) I knew something was wrong when I couldn't distinguish between the shoyu and miso ramen... what a disappointment. Both were rather oily, and although flavors weren't bad, they were rather muddled. Noodles did not have the springy, chewy texture I love (although the noodles for the cold ramen had that consistency!). Finding a table at peak meal hours is hellish, and you have to maneuver through a crowded food court setting to find seats. Also, just a heads up, Santouka is cash only. Perks are that compared to other ramen joints (e.g. Daikokuya), the wait isn't nearly as bad.
(3)Samantha C.
Located in the Mitsuwa Plaza. Their line is always the longest in the food court. I always get the Shoyu Ramen (Soy Sauce Flavor) and I definitely enjoy it. The noodles are wavy which I like. Unfortunately, the egg here is hard boiled and not melt in your mouth soft boiled. But the thing that seperates this place from other ramen places is the broth. The broth is extremely salty compared to other ramen restaurants. If they added a tablespoon more salt, my palette would be overpowered. But the fact that I feel like they found such a balance of saltiness yet I'm still able to enjoy its deliciousnes amazes me. So props to you Santouka.
(4)Andy V.
One of the better ramen places without a long wait. I used to go here a lot after school during my high school and college days. It's typically busy during the lunch hours so i typically try to go after 1 pm. Typically u get the spicy miso or salt ramen with a side of rice and pork. Sometimes my friends would go to the super market and buy seafood to put into their ramen.
(4)Diamond N.
Honestly this place was okay. The ramen felt like I could go home grab a bag of instant ramen and make it myself. It was also very seasoned. My boyfriend and I tried this place last night and it was just bad. I gave two stars rather than one because it was appealing to look at. I would like to see a change in ramen noodles somehow so they feel less starchy.
(2)TJ P.
I have this nostalgia when I come here to eat. It really reminds me of my trip to Japan when I didn't know how to say a single word, but I was hungry. The setup does a pretty good job of resembling an authentic noodle shop in Japan, and I think it's worth the price. Plus it's actually pretty good. I never knew I liked noodles so much until I had them in Japan. Something to note: It's cash only. The restaurant is fast-paced and very casual. I'd compare it to fast food restaurants in how you wait in line, order from the menu, pay, and wait for them to call you up to pick up your food. When I crave Japanese noodles, this is where I usually go cause it's ichiban as fuck. A little update: the restaurant does use too much MSG. Maybe it's just how the soup is supposed to taste, but my tongue feels numb afterwards. It might be that I went again on a bad day.
(4)Jessica D.
Good fast and tasty. Not the best ramen ever but really really good. Had the miso ramen today
(4)Sheena P.
Classic ramen place - one that you keep coming back to even though you've tried the million places around Costa Mesa area. Love me some salt ramen with the SPECIAL pork. It's pricier but so worth it because the pieces of meat aren't thick and gross fatty. Say easy on the salt and you're good to go! Ps THEY GOT NEW SPOONS! Legit SOUP spoons! Life is GOOOOD
(5)Xx N.
I didn't know what to order. I just wanted the same noodles n soup I normally get at Hakata ramen shensengumi. The cashier made a suggestion for the most expensive one. Cause she said the meat is tender n soft. I ordered the small one for 10.99. The soup base taste very similar ( creamy, fatty) but very salty. I'm not inlove with the noodles either. N the side meat was salty. My experience wasn't that great. I better stick to what I know.
(3)Donna S.
ambiance//*** standard food court service//*** classic fast food food//*** perhaps it's because i never had a particular inclination for hokkaido ramen's broth traditional hokkaido broth is SUPER salty...theirs is slightly modified and still salty we arrived at a good time because it went from nobody to a queue magically appearing 2 minutes after we sat down while their ramen was not bad, it was not wait in obnoxious line good if i was starving ~*~ honestly, i was a bit surprised to learn this chain is on a must-eat ramen list
(3)Kristyn G.
Sooo good. Their noodles are perfect texture and their soup is so good. A little salty but still good. There's not much of a difference between large and small but the large has a lot of noodles and is good enough for me and my sister. It's hard finding a seat in this food court so find a seat leave someone there and then order. They have self serve water by the order window.
(5)Eric S.
Santouka is summarized as great. Yes... The seating method sucks but Ill still come here for consistency and taste!
(5)Rolly U.
I am in love with this place. I felt like I was in Japan ordering food. I order a Odon soup and it was yummy. Everyone was very friendly (even if they didn't speak English) lol I recommend this place.
(5)Lynn T.
I came here today around 4:30pm on a Saturday? And there was no line at all! I haven't been here in so long I forgot that I've been here even! No wonder Santouka Ramen sounded so familiar! Anyway. I've always been a fan of this place, I think their ramen is one of my top two ramen places. Their broth is good & tasty. They aren't fancy like other places where you can add a bunch of things in there like other places.. But their pork is so soft & melts in my mouth! Love it! Their ramen is the thicker noodles. And they have 3 bowl sizes to pick from. The regular size is more than enough I should have gotten the small.. But if your craving ramen, definitely give this place a try! - located in the Mitsuwa supermarket.. - CASH ONLY - keep your receipt or else you won't get your food when they call you - they have a second location in Irvine!
(4)Elaine N.
Santouka Ramen brings me back to my UCI days!! The one in the Costa Mesa Mitsuwa Marketplace is the first location I've been to, before they opened one up in Irvine. I usually get the Shoyu (soy sauce) Ramen or Miso ramen + Rice&Chashu Bowl Combo ~$9. Pretty good deal for a good amount of food! The ramen comes with the standard green onions, mushrooms, chashu, bamboo, and ginger. The noodles are a good firmness, broth is flavorful, and meat is tender. I love the additional rice&chashu bowl to eat-in or save for later. Santouka is cash only, but they may have changed that rule recently. Definitely one of my favorites in OC.
(5)David S.
I always end up happy with the food. I wouldn't call myself a foody, so your mileage may vary. The location is good, though often crowded. I get stuck with the cash only thing at times, but I can understand why a small business would operate this way. I've had so many hit-or-miss experiences with small restaurants lately, that I thought I'd give this place a plug. I've never walked out disappointed.
(4)Tony U.
Pretty good place to seek shelter from the heat and salinize with a hot bowl of ramen. Staff courteous and efficient. And if you want a recommendation, I'd suggest the B-bowl with spicy ramen soup (if u like it spicy) or the salt ramen if you're dehydrated/salt depleted.
(4)Daniel K.
Not sure how this place racked up so many great reviews. Upon walking into the Asian market, I definitely expected extremely authentic & tasty ramen... However myself, and the others with me, unfortunately felt the spicy miso was somewhat bland. I will continue my quest to find a legit ramen place in the OC, there has to be better out there. If Ft Lauderdale Florida can serve up some mind-blowing ramen, then someone out here must be able to compete!
(3)Jeannie K.
The ONLY ramen spot I crave for.. What you taste here is exactly what you taste in Japan. You get the essential pureness of what you order. (I've eaten various of great ramen in Japan, and to me this come as close) I'm Santouka regular and this the spot I get in contact when I feel for a drive. Nom Nom :)
(5)Caitlin H.
I figured it was time to update my review. I have to say, after trying a few different ramen joints, my heart still belongs to Santouka. As long as I don't eat the egg, then I'm all good. Their special pork is really THAT special. Nothing else even comes close. The pork is so soft, it literally melts in my mouth. The broth is amazing too. What is their secret?! I've dined here for lunch and dinner, it's always consistent. Whether it's the firmness of the noodles or soup flavor, it's always on point. Their noodles have never disappointed me. Finding a table during their busy lunch hour can be a challenge. Just make sure to find ppl who are almost finished with their meal and just hover over their table until they leave. That's the only way to do it. Lastly, it's cash only.
(5)Lena T.
I came here on a Sunday night, at around 7:45 and there was barely a line. I ordered the regular Shio Ramen with extra pork. IT WAS SO GOOD. It was amazing. By far the best ramen, I've tried in OC. Kopan came pretty close but Santouka is by far my favorite Ramen joint. The thing about this is it's in a corner in a market called Mitsuwa. It's basically a food court, so don't expect much from service. I deducted a star because their ghetto spoons. They have a small plastic spoon. My brother was a huge fan of this place. I will come back again!
(4)Khanh L.
I had the extra pork salt flavor ramen. The broth was excellent. I highly recommend this place for any ramen lovers. This place gets pretty packed during lunch time. Finding a place to sit can be quite a challenge.
(5)Krystle G.
Spicy Miso Ramen it is! I love the Ramen here. They are fast with dem noodles. lol But you cannot lose your ticket or else you will not get your food. It is a Cash Only place and no To Go.
(4)Ashley S.
Despite other popular (and good!) ramen places in OC, Santouka still wins out for me (Shin Sen Gumi a close second..) Cons: CASH ONLY Pros: Best broth in OC Quickest service (wait in short line, get your food minutes later!) Did I say best ramen broth in OC? 'Cause it really, really is. Nothing compares. Don't even know what else to say. If you haven't been - go! You're missing out. Tip: if you have a normal appetite, the small should be more than enough.
(5)Helen L.
Came here as soon as it opened today and I ordered the shoyu ramen. MAYBE IT HAS SOMETHING TO DO WITH THE FACT THAT IT'S FRIDAY THE 13TH, but I got EXTREMELY SICK from the food. The ramen tasted funky and bitter/sour(?). I've tried a lot of ramen in my days and the taste was definitely off. Unfortunately, I had no choice but to eat as much as I could seeing how considerably OVERPRICED it was for a tiny bowl of ramen. Anyhow, I immediately felt nauseous as I was strolling around the nearby stores. I don't wanna hear nor think about this place ever again.
(1)Jay S.
Very tasty noodles in a food court with many options. Great place for a quick lunch or snack.
(4)Nancy P.
Pretty delicious ramen in a food court. They're name is not plastered on their booth noticeably so definitely need to look for it. Service was pretty quick and friendly. CASH ONLY. NO TO GOs (possibly could change by the time others go there). A small salt ramen feels about the size of an instant ramen you could cook at home. It comes with black ear mushrooms, few bamboo shoots and one pork piece. An egg costs $0.99. This was a good size for a light eater. Broth is very fatty/creamy tasting. I drive out of my way for this ramen (40-50 minutes)! What's good food if you don't drive far for it?
(4)Matthew Y.
Cash only place
(4)Vetta C.
This is clearly the best ramen in OC. The char-su has a very unique flavor. A slight smoke taste to it. Firm, chewy noodles and that broth. Its a cross between cream (there is no cream in this BTW), butter, pork broth, and sexual energy. This place is seriously the benchmark of ramen in OC.
(5)Melanie D.
This is in the food court inside Mitsuwa Market which I nearly drove by the first time. Parking can be tough and the line can be pretty long. They are cash only. I tried the spicy miso ramen both times and have added egg and extra pork along with it. This was the perfect dish for most days but especially a cooler day or when you have a head cold. There is just the right amount of spice for most people (I would have liked even more spice) and salt and the pork was melt in your mouth perfect. There was a good mix of noodle to broth and I like the consistency of the noodle here. The only challenge is the food court atmosphere. At lunch time you really are fighting for space so best to go at an off hour. On our second trip my husband stood to get more napkins and some lady carried off his chair and I had to chase after it lol! Cut throat seating for sure on a weekend lunch day.
(4)Esther P.
I'm not a huge fan of Japanese Ramen, but there's something about it that makes me want to try it over and over again. My boyfriend and I ended up at this place because Din Tai Fung in Costa Mesa had a 3 hour freaking long wait -_- What I ordered: Spicy Miso Ramen Pros: -Actually pretty good :) I really enjoyed mine. -Fast service Cons: -Only takes cash -It's located inside a grocery store...so inside a food court. -Seating is HARD TO FIND -Wish the ramen was spicy...it wasn't spicy at all. I would probably go again if I don't find another ramen place that blows my mind.
(4)Oulie T.
I have found the standard by which I will judge all ramen from and it's at Santouka. The noodles are perfectly al dente. The broth is the right amount of creamy. The savory elements have the perfect level of punch(spicy miso flavor) The accompaniments like pickled bamboo, and green onion are free, although I did have to pay for a side of egg. Any bowl of ramen without a shoyu tamago isn't properly dressed IMO. I bow down to you Santouka. Thank you, for making excellent Ramen.
(5)Richard L.
I was a big fan of Santouka Ramen in Santa Monica. They offer boiled hot Ramen with nice chewy noodles! On my way to San diego I stopped by here to try this legendary Ramen chain. I ordered the Large size Miso Ramen. The broth wasn't anywhere as hot as the Santa Monica location and the the noodle portion appeared to be smaller despite the large size which cost just about $10 after the sales tax. This one doesn't appear to have large crowds like the other locations and is similar in size to a Food Court. Keep your receipt since you need that to verity your order!
(3)Princess Complex A.
I am giving Santouka Ramen a 3-Star review based on their Spicy Miso Ramen Set B Combination that I had today. The broth wasn't spicy in the picoso/picante way (I choose to use Spanish for this because something that is "spicy" is technically just full of spice and not necessarily "hot"). It was flavorful and while not salty, it does have a lot of sodium and you will be drinking lots of water later. The noodles were so-so and there were only three slices of pork. For the price, $15 after tax, I feel like they could have added just a few more pieces. The combo came with 1 tea egg and a small bowl of salmon and salmon egg which were both just average. Overall it was rather pricey, but the broth has a very nice and tasty flavor.
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