/
1x
Advertisement
Proudly Canadian, obsessively Toronto. Subscribe to Toronto Life!
Food & Drink

Introducing: Santouka Ramen, the new Dundas Street outpost of the Japanese noodle chain

By Karolyne Ellacott
Copy link
Introducing: Santouka
(Image: Karolyne Ellacott)

It’s hard to say when Toronto’s ramen wars began, but they’re clearly now raging in earnest. Opening on the heels of David Chang’s frenetically anticipated Momofuku Noodle Bar and the more unassuming SansoteiSantouka Ramen is the latest emporium to offer ever more authentic versions of the cult Japanese noodle soup. This 36-seat location, on Dundas just a couple of blocks east of Yonge-Dundas Square, is the second Canadian outpost for the Hokkaido, Japan-based chain (the first opened in time for the 2010 Olympics in Vancouver). Hiroshi Asada, who oversees both Canadian operations, tells us that consistency is key to the brand’s success: “What sets us apart is that we’re a chain, and we stick to the same recipe that got us here.” It’s clearly working: the place opened quietly over the weekend and is already facing surging lineups at both lunch and dinnertime.

Santouka’s ramen is built from a tonkotsu-style broth that’s made by simmering pork bones for two days. The base is paired with medium-sized noodles that come from a factory in California (we’re told that shipping Japanese noodles over for the North American locations wasn’t feasible). Although the broth is supposed to taste identical to the stuff being ladled out in Japan, the head office has apparently determined that the flavour of the Canadian version actually trumps the Japanese one (Asada attributes it to the quality of the water). Santouka’s mainstay is its shio—or salt-flavoured—ramen, which features roast pork, fermented bamboo shoots, jelly ear mushrooms, cured surimi and a single Japanese pickled plum ($10.95). (For the cognoscenti, that’s chashu, menma, kikurage, kamaboko and ko-umeboshi.) Other options include shoyu (soy), miso and kara-miso (spicy miso) ramen ($10.95–$11.45). The restaurant is currently serving a condensed menu until its official grand opening on November 23, at which point it’ll start serving its famous toroniku ramen, which features a dish of pork cheek on the side.

Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka
Introducing: Santouka

Santouka Ramen, 91 Dundas St. E., 647-748-1717, santouka.co.jp

NEVER MISS A TORONTO LIFE STORY

Sign up for Table Talk, our free newsletter with essential food and drink stories.

By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy.
You may unsubscribe at any time.

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

Advertisement
Advertisement

Big Stories

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar
Deep Dives

Dancing Queens: Patrons, staff and performers share their wildest memories of Crews and Tangos, Toronto’s most storied drag bar

Inside the Latest Issue

Inside the Latest Issue

The April issue of Toronto Life features the anatomy of a Bay Street fiasco at RBC. Plus, our obsessive coverage of everything that matters now in the city.