Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Vancouver, BC

We're done with malls and casinos. No more! Ok, we won't swear off of em but we'll defintely lay off of em for a little bit. Welcome to the real world of dining and the real world tastes G-O-O-D. Come with us to the delicious ramen world of Ramen Santouka. Founded by a man who was unhappy with his late night options, the first Santouka opened in 1988 in Hokkaido and its popularity quickly spread to the locals and then the media. Santouka has since exploded into locations all over Japan and also in California, NY, Singpore, Malaysia and now Vancouver!


There are lineups outside this place from the hours of 11 am to 8 pm and there's a good reason why.



It's a small joint and there are small tables in the back and a big table out front where you'll be joined by other diners. Either way, you're dining elbow to elbow with your fellow patrons. We spotted the counter in front of the kitchen and the piglets needed to be seated in front of the magic.







Mr. Piglet decided on the Shoyu Ramen with Marinated Pork on Rice - BEST BROTH EVER. If you are a ramen or noodle lover, you need to come here and experience this ramen. The flavor is complex and deep and the pork? My advice? Double the pork! It's so savory, succulent, moist, subtle but flavorful... oh god, there aren't enough adjectives to describe this pork!! Just double it and call me after your porkgasm to thank me.





I decided to try something different and went with the Spicy Miso with salmon on rice. I know I just said that the Shoyu Ramen had the best broth ever but damn, this broth is also the BEST BROTH EVER as well. Normally, when I go eat ramen, I usually finish all of the noodles and toppings and don't bother finishing the broth but I destroyed this bowl of ramen from top to bottom. If it hadn't been for the close patrons beside me, I would have licked the bowl. How do they make such great broth?????





To be honest, you don't need the rice side dishes and next time, we would probably do without and go for bigger sized bowls and more pork and maybe a side dish of gyoza. The man next to us had an order of the gyoza and before I could get a better look, they were gone. I don't think he even swallowed. Bon appetite!