Love Santouka! Been enjoying ramen from this place for more than a decade across multiple locations, always from inside a Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace. It's amazing that this tiny spot inside of a food court within a market serves up hot, fresh, delicious ramen that can go toe-to-toe with the best ramen restaurants (often times, even BETTER ). No matter which one you go to, seating will be limited due to either space or how many people are enjoying the place so try to get there before the lunch rush for guaranteed seats! For this outing, I tried their Black Garlic ramen special featuring Black Garlic oil that blended so well with their incredible broth, pickled onions and bell peppers, char siu pork, fried garlic and egg. The level of umami from the black garlic oil worked so well with the acidic pickled veg and the charred flavor of pork added a nice layer of smokiness that made the dish even better. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

Got lucky and had an impromptu lunchie break with the hubs today! We had to make it quick cuz he had a meeting to get back to, so I immediately thought of Santouka--it's been a hot minute! And yep..the ramen is still as good as I remember. Located in the Heritage Plaza, inside the mini food court of Mitsuwa market (which is bustlin' but not crazy loud), Santouka feels like a lil slice of Japan. Each ramen bowl is crafted with care, the ramen has the perfect thickness, and every bit stays deliciously flavorful. The broths are savory, rich, and comforting. On this warm afternoon, I went in craving my usual spicy miso ramen, BUT I got influenced by the pics of the Toroniku Hiyashi (cold ramen). I've only tried cold ramen once before at Hironori and enjoyed it, so I decided to go for it! Sooo glad I did because it was refreshing and satisfying. The tare (dipping broth/sauce) comes in 3 flavors: shoyu, sesame or spicy. I was super tempted to try the spicy, but opt'd out last min cuz I'm trying to get over a lil cough--and spicy probably wasn't gonna help. Lol So, shoyu it was! Everything complemented each other perfectly, especially ALL the toppings ~ Toroniku, wood ear mushroom, corn, green onion, radish sprout, crab fishcake, Kinshi tamago (shredded egg omelette), red ginger, cucumber, and mini tomatoes. It was ALOT--in the best way! The hubs got their classic A set ~ miso ramen + Negi rice bowl, which he loved. A total RxFoodie recommend and definitely one of my fav ramen spots in the OC!!! read more

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Parking was in a shared lot and there were spots available without much hassle. The ramen spot is located inside a market, so it's a bit busy, but there are still a good amount of seats. Food came out quickly. I ordered the salt ramen combo with an egg, along with the salmon rice. Everything was tasty and satisfying. The small size was actually plenty. Next time, I'd want to try the miso ramen read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Salt ramen - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

This ramen shop is located in the Mitsuwa Marketplace food court area. There's plenty of parking out front. Once you walk in, Santouka is to the right. There was consistently a line for ordering. The staff was efficient (no frills) and it did not take to get my food after ordering. I tried the regular miso ramen (large for $14.95. It came with fish cakes, green onion, bamboo shoot, and mushrooms. It was solid bowl of ramen for a fair price. I personally didn't like the ramen because the sesame flavor was so strong... that's all I could taste. Otherwise, the portion was great and the noodles were cooked perfectly. The ambiance is one of efficiency, as it is a grocery market food court seating. Once I received my food, I sat at any available empty chair/table. Overall, it was a good ramen experience. However, I don't think I'd go out of my way just to have it. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

Ramen at Santouka is super tasty. My go to is the spicy toroniku tonkotsu ramen. They started to offer the spicy version of the toroniku ramen. The tonkotsu broth is flavorful and I get to dip the pork in the broth to soak in additional flavor. This food court location is smaller than the other locations which makes it always busy. It is a challenge to find seating at the food court during meal times. Like other food courts the place is loud with the traffic to all of the food options. They do charge for asking for takeout containers. read more

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I was missing Japan, and what better place to reminisce about my trip than Mitsuwa Marketplace. I've always loved Mitsuwa, especially because of their amazing food court. I was really craving eel, so I decided to go to Santouka and get the unagi don. And let me tell you, it definitely scratched the itch. The unagi was incredibly soft, juicy, and delicious. The bowl was on the smaller side, but that was totally fine since I also had ramen, which filled me up. The toriniku salt ramen was so good. I loved how flavorful the broth was - light yet rich at the same time. My cravings were fully satisfied. I also appreciate that the food is reasonably priced, though sadly, it's still not as cheap as Japan. We happened to be some of the first customers in line, and they were handing out origami cranes - maybe because of the New Year. I thought that was so cute. After ordering, they give you a buzzer so you can sit anywhere in the food court, and once it goes off, your food is ready for pickup. I seriously wish we had something like this in Arizona!! Whenever I am home, I always visit Mitsuwa and their food courts. I love santouka especially! read more

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Went here with my 3yr old daughter after playing soccer in the hot sun. Seen the pic first cold ramen and needed to feed my daughter quick. Ordered the sesame whic shows sauce in little side dish, but when we got it, it was large ramen saturated in heavy this sesame- something u dont want after playing soccer in hot sun. I told that to both girl and young guy at the counter but they said we cant take it back- even after explaining the situation. So i salvaged what ramen i could for quick carbs for my daughter. And even had to order shoyu sauce on the side but all this went to waste. Dont likr to give bad reviews on Japanese owned restaurants, i have family 1/2 from Japan and even childhood fan of Sapporo Fighters and been all through Hokkaido- cousin is from there. But very sad experience wasting money but more on the service from two staff. :( read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - what i thought i was buying - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

How have I not done a review for Hokkaido Ramen Santouka? OMG. I am shocked at myself but come to think of it...I know I did a review for them this year. Why are reviews disappearing? Anyways, I love soup. I can have it when it's freezing cold or boiling hot outside. I don't care. I will eat it as long as there is AC running so I'm not dying from the heat while I eat it. Quick tip before I forget, they don't serve free ice water here like a soda fountain. You'll need to grab water from a water spout there at the food court, buy water at the marketplace or bring your own. I hate the taste of the water so I have to purchase one or bring some from home. Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, is located at the back of the Mitsuwa marketplace in Irvine. Easiest access is to park at the back of the building but it's more limited in the rear lot. It's a small food court with limited but good amount of seating. The restrooms are at the back wall. The menu looks a bit overwhelming but calm those horses and realize that the menu isn't really as big or as complicated as it looks. I say this because when I first saw it, my brain tried to nope its way out of there. Think of it as a mini excel spreadsheet. The ramen menu column A, are just the types of broths offered, and columns B-D is the amount of meat preferred. In each row is just the repeat of the bowl sizes, S-M-L and the price. See. No biggie. The combination menu works the same way, but with the combo meal type. They even have displays of the food right next to where you order. I appreciate the customization of your ramen, from broth type, to the amount of meat you want, to the size of the bowl. The broth is pork based and very flavorful. I could sip on that soup all day. It is a comfort food to me, that's for sure. How I order; 1) Large - I like to have extra for another meal 2)Char Siu Ramen (extra pork) 3) Broth - I have had all four, but I love the soy sauce and salt ramen most. I just ask for their red pepper to make it spicy. 4) Combo D - my kids love the char - siu rice bowl with the pork on top. Hokkaido, has limited hours and they are not open as late as other restaurants. In fact, they close at 7:00 pm, so make sure to rush over before then or you're missing out on that delicious ramen. read more

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Great Day Visit To Hokkaido Ramen Santouka!! Located In Mitsuwa Marketplace, Irvine!! I've Been Dining Here For Many Years & Always Enjoyed Their Ramen!! Casual Ambiance & Friendly Staff!! This Place Offers Rich Broth & Pork Ramen At The Food Court!! Favorites Are Shio, Soy Sauce, Miso Ramen & Combo Sets!! Also Have Photos On Wall With Specials & Seasonal Items Too!! Ordered The Soy Sauce Ramen, Added Egg With Oolong Tea!! Good Ramen Lunch!! Line Is Always Efficient!! Will Return Again!! ThankU read more

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My favorite spot in this food court located inside Mitsuwa market in Irvine. Service is efficient and food comes out quickly. Best ramen in the whole shopping center in my opinion. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Cold ramen - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

If you are a student of good ramen in Southern California, you will know about Santouka Ramen. Their process of boiling bones for many hours to get their rich broth that is legendary. The ramen here is excellent. The prices are reasonable. The choices are varied. The location and seating is a market food court. It is okay at best. The star of the show is the ramen. It is just as good as it gets. I recommend this place for ramen. Go to the market first and get something to drink, then enjoy your ramen. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

Tried the shio combo with the salmon rice bowl and left kinda underwhelmed. Shio Ramen Combo: Maybe? The ramen portion was tiny and the broth felt a little too light. Not bad, just didn't have that depth or richness I was hoping for. Salmon Rice Bowl: Maybe Enjoyable but pretty standard. Nothing really stood out about it. Just a basic salmon bowl that gets the job done. For $23, it really didn't feel worth it. Not bad quality, just not something I'd come back for. Food: 6/10 Value: 5/10 read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

An authentic ramen experience! Thanks to a friend for taking me here! It's hidden inside the Mitsuwa Market in the food court. Super busy but easily found seats for party of 4x2. The staff are very friendly, helpful. I ordered the Toroniku Ramen with salt broth which came with the filling on a plate. The pork cheek meat was super soft, plentiful, however the broth was a tad too salty for me. I asked for a side of soup which was $1 perfect to add to my bowl and make my soup perfection. Hubby and kiddo opted for the char siu 1)miso 2) shoyo. They liked it. The salmon & salmon roe rice was delicious! Only $8. read more

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I was starving and decided to pop inside a Mitsuwa store in Irvine to try Santouka ramen. What a big mistake it was especially given how many other good restaurants are in close vicinity. The ladies at the front counter didn't do any justice. Very busy gossiping and just plain old unhappy and mean people. Their attitude towards me even when spoken to in Japanese should have been another warning signs of what to come. Long story short -- I got a nasty food poisoning here. I didn't know such a thing can happen because generally speaking, it's hard to get sick off of a soup meal like this. I ended up vomiting twice within an hour of eating here. I kid you not. I've never gotten so sick so quickly so shortly after eating something that tasted off. I had to make two stops before making it home. I took one sip of the soup and that should have been another telltale sign of why I shouldn't keep eating the damn thing. Well, idiot me ate 3 more bites of it. The broth had this really odd sour taste to it. Sorta like a hiyashi chuka turned into warm brothy noodle type thing. Like someone dumped tamarind sauce in my soup type of sour. Or mango powder for shits and giggles. I ordered a spicy shio ramen. There's nothing in it that should have tasted so sour and rancid. The noodles itself also tasted like it was under cooked. It was chewy but the sort of chewy you get when you are short on cooking it by at least 2-3 minutes. The chashu itself tasted ok. Very fatty and tepid. The accompanying eggs were awful. So overcooked to the point it was gray and green and had no flavor beyond the crumbly dry taste we all hate. The ikura shyake don was ok. The ikura was very mushy and had no flavors. The shyake itself was very dry and salty. Not exactly something I want to eat again either. There's really not much of an ambiance here to talk about. It doesn't have that open airy feel like the Mitsuwa in Torrance or anything. In sum, I don't recommend eating at this restaurant. Not sure how I feel about returning and trying something else in the future either. read more

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I've been coming here since I was a college student. I love Santouka. The ramen broth here is just so flavorful. Arguably my favorite ramen place in so cal. The noodles are always cooked to perfection. The chashu is good. But the broth is just unbeatable. Now I come back with my family. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is located inside the Mitsuwa Market food court. They offer a wide variety of ramen. The ramen tastes good but the pork is a little bit fatty. The seating is a bit limited since it's located in a food court. The service is quicker than other locations, which is nice. Overall, this is a good place to get ramen. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Front of the restaurant - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

It's been over a decade since I visited a Santouka inside a Mitsuwa. Perhaps my taste is a bit more refined or I came on an off day but the Shio Ramen I got for this visit was a bit tame and needed a bit more flavor. Don't get me wrong, you can taste the flavor, but it was a bit too light for me. The noodle, however, was on point, as well as the other fixin's. The char shu, on the other hand, was just a bit too firm for my taste. My order also came with a Chashu bowl and that was enjoyable with pork on a bed of rice. Definitely fill you up if you're a big eater like me. Service was friendly and quick. Like many Santouka, this one is located in the Mitsuwa Market food court in Heritage Plaza. Interior is clean and you share an "food court" eating area with other stores, including Misasa. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Chashu bowl - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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Santouka is a hidden gem in the Mitsuwa Marketplace. Their ramen broths are amazing. I always crave their Spicy Shio Ramen. The broth is spicy and comes with 2 big pieces of pork and an egg. The Unagi-Don is so amazing and full of flavor. All of their soup broths are made with pork. They are very fast and efficient with your order. You can order to-go or eat there. They have a tables to share with other vendors in the marketplace so seating is limited. Happy Eating read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Spicy Shio Ramen, Unagi Bowl - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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Grabbing a bowl of ramen at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, located inside of Mitsuwa, is never a bad idea. In the area and in search of a place to eat lunch at, this is where we ended up. The broth here is perhaps the highlight, but the noodles are great too. Always flavorful, delicious, and satisfying. If you're a fan of ramen, definitely check this place out sometime. You will not be disappointed! read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

With Ramen, as with any good cuisine consistency is important and Hokkaido, Ramen Santouka knows exactly how to deliver. The food is great. The service staff is well equipped to bring a great food in a short amount of time like any good Ramen shop. Being towards the back of the market this is a great place to eat right before you shop in the store. I'll definitely be back here when I'm in the area. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is one of my favorite ramen spots in Irvine. Even though it's just a small food court stall inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace, the flavor and quality are on par with many full-scale Japanese restaurants. I ordered the Shio Ramen combo with a side of ikura rice. The ramen broth was rich but not heavy--smooth and warming with every sip. The chashu pork was tender and flavorful, and the noodles were cooked to that perfect chewy texture. You can tell they care about doing it right. The real surprise was the ikura rice--fresh, plump salmon roe that burst with salty umami over warm rice and a touch of soy sauce. Simple, but incredibly satisfying. I honestly wanted a second bowl. Even though it's in a food court, the service was quick and polite, the kitchen clean, and the overall experience very pleasant. After a long day, sitting down with a hot bowl of ramen here feels comforting and restorative. If you're in Irvine or shopping at Mitsuwa, I highly recommend giving this place a try. Whether you're looking for a quick bite or a seriously good bowl of ramen, Santouka delivers every time. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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I've been meaning to come here for ramen for a while now and today is the day. It doesn't disappoint! We got the 180 C combo that comes with matti and seasoning eggs. Their spicy miso ramen noodles taste really good together with the wood ears, and the soup is quite creamy. Would love to come back for more! read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

My first ever bowl of non-instant ramen was many years ago in this Mitsuwa food court, and it opened my eyes and tastebuds to a wonderful world of Japanese comfort food. At that time, I didn't know what to expect from a small bowl of soup and noodles. I was baffled at how a milky-looking broth didn't taste creamy, how it tasted so savory and addicting. And to this day, the umami flavors are still there. The salt ramen comes with a plum thing, and I never knew what it does for the ramen other than being a possible ginger substitute, but I don't like the taste and just take it out haha. On my most recent visit, I ordered a small soy sauce ramen. I wasn't even hungry, but I still finished it easily. I usually get ramen with the pork, but I wished Santouka was more generous with portions overall, especially with how pricey it is. This Hokkaido ramen looks and tastes similar to Hakata ramen, but I guess Hakata ramen has a richer and more distinct broth. Though any sized bowl of ramen is quite expensive here, I still enjoy eating it whenever someone wants to go. Browsing the Japanese goods in the store afterwards is always nice. Lot parking can be a hassle nowadays, especially with the crowds and construction. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - The lovely, comforting bowl of soy sauce ramen with pork. Small size is more like an appetizer or snack haha - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

I'm not exaggerating when I say Santouka Ramen is my favorite ramen in the world and I've been to Japan many times too! I love the shio special pork ramen so much. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Special Tokusen Toroniku Ramen (Choice Pork Ramen) - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

Good ramen, not great. lacking flavor. It is in a food court area. conveinent but definitely not a go to place for ramen.

It's run of the mill ramen, I did not experience anything spectacular. There's way better options in OC and for way cheaper. We got the miso and salt ramens and both were bland/average with nothing special to mention. Want a special egg? $2 extra dollars. Special corn? Another $2 and it will come in a tiny plastic container and be about 20 kernels. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Outside - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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I had a hot, spicy Shio Ramen plus the salt ramen combo D. The meal was delicious and fulfilling at a great price for authentic Japanese food. The staff were friendly and helpful. The ambiance is cozy, comfortable food court inside of the Irvine Mitsuwa. Highly recommended for delicious Japanese Ramen! read more

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Food is just as good as the one off the 55. Surprised to find one in the Mitsuwa. Mostly because it was more of a thing where we passed by the market and wondered if there was a Santouka inside... and BAM! Food court was half the size, just as busy, but food came out twice as fast. Can't complain. Great food and quality exactly to my preference. 11/10! read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - B combo with Shio Ramen. One is medium and the other is large in case y'all want a size comparison. - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

It's inside Mitsuwa in the food court. It's okay, but for $18 a bowl I thought that the pork would be more tender. Broth is pretty salty but had little spice. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Spicy Miso Ramen - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

I had no idea I lived so close to a Santouka and it took me over a year to realize! I used to frequent the one in Costa Mesa foodcourt a lot but this one is much closer to home. Ofcourse, this is located in the foodcourt of Mitsuwa supermarket. You can customize your ramen soup base from either soy, salt or miso and then your topping choices basically. My go to is the soy chasu ramen cuz they give you like six ginormous chasu chunks, not slices, chunks! Also, being situated inside a foodcourt means you get to order from multiple vendors and enjoy all the different delicious foods at once, what is there not to love! read more

The Ramen here is super good. Both of my kids will eat more Ramen than they should. They would eat this every day if they could. And the storefront uses a lot of wood. And if you're really hungry for Ramen, then you really should. read more

I am updating my review. This place day in and day out does it right. Perfect al dente, noodles, perfect broth and additions, perfect pork and customer service and how quick everything comes out, nobody does it better. Definitely my favorite ramen in Irvine for the price and convenience. read more

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Love the ramen here. Food came pretty soon, nice staff. Reasonably priced compared to other ramens in the area, maybe because it's a food court, but it's a nice food court anyways. The naruto could be better but devoured it gratefully after a bad day. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Soy Sauce Ramen, I think regular size - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

My son brought ramen bowls home one rainy and now I'm hooked! We got the toro salt and toro soy sauce ramen with a bowl of pork and rice to share. The ramen bowls (the pork by the way just melted in my mouth) were the perfect comfort food for the gloomy day and the pork and rice was delish! We will definitely be getting the ramen and the rice bowls again ~ I actually can't wait! read more

I have eaten in this food court at least 20+ times. I love this place to death. Its the best ramen for me flavor wise and i love adding corn to the salt ramen. This is better than many other more fancy ramen places ive tried and its quick and convenient +i always grocery shop after read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Salt Shio Ramen (Salt Flavor) - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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This spot doesn't miss, even a decade+ later. In college, this was a go-to for hangovers and delicious, affordable ramen. It's easily one of the best ramen spots around and being inside Mitsuwa, this place was usually without a wait. This time, however, I ordered Santouka ramen via UberEats. Still just as delicious as I remembered. The Toroniku spicy miso ramen is the one! They have a location in San Jose but it just isn't as accessible for me since I live in Fremont. Anyhow, will always come back here when I get the chance! read more

Nowhere as good as the one at the LAX airport Terminal 1. I guess the one over there does pork broth and the one here does not! Got the miso charsiu ramen - BLAND!! Not recommended. Never going out of my way for this place or any other Hokkaido Ramen Santouka again because they never taste like the one at LAX! read more

This ramen spot is a casual dining area located in the Mitsuwa food court. You go up to order and wait for them to call your number. I ordered the miso ramen and added an egg. The broth was really yummy but a bit oily. The chashu wasn't the most tender and the ramen egg was hard boiled rather than soft boiled. Overall everything tasted pretty good and I would come back again. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - egg - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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I love coming to Hokkaido Ramen Santouka when I want a quick lunch. The restaurant is located inside the food court in Mitsuwa Marketplace in Heritage Plaza. I felt like I was taken back to Japan when I dine here. -- Spicy Miso B Combo 103. (M) [5/5]: The combo comes with Ramen, Sake & Ikura (Grilled Salmon & Salmon Roe) Rice Bowl, and a Flavored Egg. The broth is so rich and flavorful. The ramen noodles were cooked perfectly and the toppings were so fresh. The rice bowl was pretty filling and portion was decent. You can also shop around for snacks after your meal! Overall, decent ramen place for something quick on the go. read more

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka - Ramen Near Me - Irvine, California

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Decent ramen spot inside of Mitsuwa Market food court. The Costa mesa location is bigger with more dining options like grilled beef tongue, tempura, chi-rasa bowls, etc. I went with the spicy miso which the broth had a good flavor, but only 1 piece of pork and the noodles were a little hard. read more

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