Santouka Ramen

Polly awaits the arrival of order 73.

My friends know that I really like ramen. Sadly, living in Baltimore means that one lives without ramen - unless you're the kind of person that actually likes the freeze dried Cup O Noodles type of ramen that you buy at the grocery store for fifty cents. I'm not one of those people.

Give me real, Japanese style ramen. Succulent Sapporo noodles floating in a glimmering bath of secret ingredient broth. While I prefer shoyu ramen, butter ramen will do and shiro ramen will suffice. As long as it's ramen and Japanese and hot, I'm pretty much good to go.


Shoyu Ramen with Pork Cheeks.

In the Torrance Mitsuwa hides Santouka Ramen. I've been here before. Polly and Al love the ramen here and it's quite good. Damn good, even. The Shoyu broth is rich and flavorful. The braised pork cheeks are succulent and fatty pork perfection. It has all the components for stellar ramen.

Until you get to the noodles.



The Pork Cheeks, braised.

I don't know what it is but the noodles just aren't to my liking. I like Sapporo noodles with their yeasty soft goodness. Santouka's noodles are bit more toothy and al dente in character, like thick saimin noodles instead of slightly fluffy ramen noodles.

That's not to say that the noodles take away from the experience. It's just not the kind of noodle that I prefer.

Suffice it to say that with broth and pork cheeks this good, I'll always come back.



Egg.


Noodles and company



Santouka Ramen
21515 Western Avenue
Torrance, CA 90501
310-212-1101