Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is a very famous ramen brand with more than 50 restaurants globally. I feel…read morea bit embarrassed that I haven't been to any of them. Its menu already shows its uniqueness: its signature ramen is shio ramen, which simply means salt ramen. Unlike other ramen restaurants that often promote their strong and heavy-flavoured pork broth, Santouka just says "salty broth." I think it really reflects Japanese culture and spirit. The chef's craftsmanship shows that using simple ingredients is enough to make flavorful food. I ordered the Shio Ramen and an Aji-tama (medium-boiled egg). It still had a very strong savoury flavour and wasn't too salty at all. To be honest, it tasted like pork broth to me. Whatever it was, it made me feel comfortable while having the ramen and after the meal. Meals at other ramen restaurants are usually too salty. Sorry, I am playing with words here, because it is interesting that the "salty broth" isn't too salty, while other broths are usually saltier. The branch in Scarborough is spacious and very suitable for dining with family, friends, or even business associates. The plaza it is in is a very competitive area for noodle cuisine. You can add Hokkaido Ramen Santouka to your radar the next time you go there.

We were seated promptly upon arrival and the staff were friendly. Unfortunately, it took some time…read morefor them to come back around to take our order. We ordered a spicy veggie ramen with egg noodle (kale noodle was also an option for the veggie bowl) and a shio ramen. The ramen itself was average and I didn't think it was amazing but not disappointing for a bowl of ramen. I liked that I was able to customize the saltiness of the broth. We also added on an egg to our noodles, but the yolk was less jammy (a tad overcooked) for my liking. The parking lot will probably the biggest nightmare if you've never been to this plaza. The space between the parked cars is narrow and there is a lot of traffic in and out of the area.

I stopped in for a weekday lunch and enjoyed Midori's lunch special which comes with a ramen of…read moreyour choice (from pre-selected list), 1 appetizer and a drink for $23.99. We tried takoyaki, chicken karaage, Tori paitan shoyu and signature Tori paitan. Since I've never had Tori Paitan, i didn't know what to expect. The broth was milky and had foam at the top which was strange at first. But it only took a few sips for me to be impressed by how well balance the soup was. It was mild, creamy but had nice depth which was lovely. I opted for kale noodles but I couldn't taste the kale. The accompanying chicken chashu and regular chachu were well prepared; not melt in your mouth (pork), but not dry (chicken) either. Both appetizer were excellent. I may return to try out other offering since the first visit was a pleasant one.

Location/Service This place is located within the new-ish…read moreplaza by Midland and McNicoll. Plenty of parking is available. Interior is pretty nice with a couple tables available for small to medium size groups. Staff is pretty friendly and orders came in on time. Food I'll be honest, I'm not exactly sure how their ramen is different from other chains - but I do like the fact that they have a lot of different seasonal menu items to try. A little while back they had their gyudon ramen and matcha ramen - which was very unique from anything I've experienced. The gyudon was literally like the rice version, but they have it with noodles. It's a little oily after a while cause the way you make it. But quite comforting and heavy for big eaters. Matcha ramen was alright - didn't feel it was anything specialy, but they use duck pieces rather than pork cha siu. It had a better balance that way and didn't felt too heavy. Pricing wise is pretty standard now with inflation. Nice place that it's close to me, but I don't see myself coming too often though.

My partner and I have walked by this Japanese restaurant more times than I can remember, and I'm…read morepretty disappointed we didn't come here sooner. Everything we had was fantastic, but there were a few standouts. The fried chicken was juicy, tender and packed with flavour. Such a great start to the meal. Then there's the ramen. The noodles were some of the tastiest we've ever had, with such a lovely texture and chew. And the garlic soy miso broth was divine. Rich, savoury and incredibly comforting. It was like a hug in broth form. And then there was the potato salad. Honestly, we would come back just for this one item. There was something so surprising but incredibly pleasant about the texture, and we loved their Japanese take on this classic. Creamy, flavourful and just a really reimagined version of something so basic. The comfort factor on this item alone is a solid 100% if you come, get some potato salad. Everything we had was great, and the whole experience was casual, welcoming and just really enjoyable. I'm honestly kicking myself that it took us this long to finally stop in. Needless to say, we won't be walking past anymore, we will be coming in when we can!

The way the curry hit!!! Every bite was so good. I feel like curry can get boring or salty the more…read moreyou eat it, but this was the perfect amount of curry to rice with the juiciest karaage. Definitely recommend! The jiro ramen was also delicious. I'm a huge fan of bean sprouts so this was my personal favourite. Service was friendly and our food came out quickly! Lots of space for dining in and has booth seating.

Finding great tonkotsu ramen outside of Japan has become something of an obsession for me. I've…read morebeen disappointed by countless bowls over the years, from Michelin-recommended shops in New York to overhyped social media darlings that make you wonder whether the people promoting them have ever had truly great tonkotsu ramen. Konjiki is good, far from great, but very solid. The broth has the right consistency with a satisfying richness, falling just a touch short of the deep, creamy intensity I personally look for. The noodles were cooked perfectly, maintaining just the right amount of bite. Nothing ruins a bowl of ramen faster than overcooked noodles. The soft-boiled egg was equally well executed, with a perfectly jammy center, and the chashu had excellent flavor and texture. My biggest criticism isn't what's missing....it's what's added. Like many ramen shops outside Japan, Konjiki includes pickled ginger, pickled takana, and braised bamboo shoots. For me, none of them improve the bowl. In fact, I think they distract from what should be the star of the show: the broth. In hindsight, I could have easily asked for them to be left out, but I've never really understood why they're included in the first place. Even so, this is a very respectable bowl of tonkotsu ramen and one I'd happily order again.

Have been here several times since they opened, but first time adding a review…read more Came on Friday late night (around 8:30pm) and got seated right away. Initially looked busy and thought there may be a wait, but the line was actually for the dessert place that shares the same entrance. I usually switch up my order between the Clam Ramens (shio and shoyu). Can definitely say that these are always made consistent (at least on every visit I've had), so there's no surprise. My friend ordered the Avocado Vegetarian Ramen as part of a set. We were both intrigued by the taste of the broth. It was creamy, but not super thick, and had a fresh, vegetal taste. One miss this time was that my friend ordered a drink, but unfortunately it did not come out at all while we ate. We mentioned it when asking for our bill and asked that it just be cancelled, which the server was apologetic about. Interior is kept clean, which some table seating along both walls and also a long high-top bar (communal) in the middle. There's isn't any parking designated to the restaurant, but there's options for paid street parking a short walk away.

This has got to be one of the best Ramen places I've tried! I've had to give it a go as they…read moreadvertised halal chicken. We asked them if they cooked the halal chicken on a separate pan, and they confirmed they did. The staff was very friendly and even recommended what else we should try. The interior is nice and cozy. There is ample seating for lots of people!

Came here for a quick lunch after visiting a friend in the West side. Lots of seats available for…read moreyou, small to larger groups. Also quite bright and decent decor, not too loud. Music is on the louder side though, but no problem. Quick review. You cannot sub ingredients/toppings, only noodles and if you're allergic to something. This is normal in Japan and I believe the owners are Japanese anyway. The staff girl is very kind, soft spoken and extremely patient, reminds me of staff in Japan. The broth itself was quite delicious. Only thing that put the whole dish down was the abundance of beansprouts, there were beansprouts on the top and bottom/side (?) but just a whole lot. The pork was almost paper thin and very small. Maybe if it came with more than just two thin meat, would be better. Otherwise everything else is okay. The price of $24 for the dragon is absolutely not worth it though. Should be around same price less than $20 for it. 3.6/5

I was curious about this place as it's different from the usual ramen places. I ordered the Shoyu…read moreRamen. It is $17.25 + HST. Steep price for a ramen. It was very oily and the broth was salty. I was expecting a rich bone/meat flavoured broth but this feels very bland even though there is thick layer of oil on top of it. The noodles were ok. I was a little disappointed at the overall taste of the ramen. It was nothing special. The chau siu was done very well, soft and flavourful. The service was very good, they came to re-fill water without asking. Food came out quickly. I don't regret trying this place but there are better ramen places in Toronto

Probably my favorite place right after Isshin in Toronto. Live around this area so have been here 5…read moretimes or so. Always have a great bowl of ramen here, alternating between Shio and Shoyu. The broth is really flavorful and rich. Noodles are perfectly cooked and absorb the broth well. Cha Shu is delicious, and they include some fungus, bamboo shoots and a naruto. Service here is already great. No Amex!

Beautiful and welcoming interior with a nice wooden aesthetic. We tried the Roast Beef Abura Soba…read moreand the Karaage--both were super tasty and full of flavor. Highly recommend if you're looking for a good Japanese dining experience!

We came here on a Sunday around 4pm and there was a line of around 5-6 groups outside but it went…read moreby pretty quickly. We've been wanting to try this place for a while and it did not disappoint! It was quite crowded and lively since it's a very popular spot. I ordered the original aburasoba, and my partner got the meat lover. We also got an extra egg on the side for extra creaminess. They have options of a raw egg, onsen or marinated egg. We also loved that there was a good selection of condiments on the side, particularly the chili oils and fried garlic for that extra flavor. After mixing everything together, the creaminess of the sauce, the flavors and texture of the chewy noodles was amazing and we can't wait to go back. Definitely one of my top favorite spots in Toronto right now!

Ordered a miso pork ramen and a coke for lunch. The pork was crispy on the outside and tender on…read morethe inside. Though I didn't really taste the miso in the broth. The place was small, but neat and tidy. Service was fairly quick and they were attentive.

Despite its size, Hana Ramen boasts a surprisingly extensive menu. Their tonkotsu ($15.99) seemed…read morelike the right place to start, the tried-and-true ramen staple you'll find at nearly every ramen shop. The star of the bowl is the chashu: thick slices of deep-fried pork with a crispy crackling exterior that gives way to rich, fatty meat that melts on the tongue. These honking slabs put the flimsy chashu at other spots to shame. The soft-boiled egg was equally impressive... jammy, well-seasoned, and deeply satisfying. I enjoyed all the garnishes too, from the pickled carrots that add a pop of brightness to the heart-adorned fish cake that's guaranteed to make you smile. Where the bowl falls short is consistency in the noodles. On my first visit, they were overly soft with a faint alkaline aftertaste. On a follow-up visit, though, they had more chew and no lingering finish. The tonkotsu broth is solid and not overly oily, which helps balance the fatty pork, and flavourful without being overly salty. It's a good option for those who don't want an aggressive bowl. You can order the ramen on its own or as part of a combo ($22.99), which includes karaage to start and cheesecake to finish. For rice lovers, the pork chashu don ($13.99) arrives with three thick slices of pork, a soft-boiled egg, caramelized onions, pickled vegetables, and broccoli over a generous portion of sticky rice. I appreciated that the sauce was layered into the rice, so even the bottom bites were full of flavour. There's also a plant-based chashu ramen for those leaning vegetarian. If you're a fan of Shanghainese beef noodles, Hana Ramen's braised beef ramen ($16.99) hits a similar note. Large chunks of tender braised beef are joined by egg, black fungus, bamboo shoots, and vegetables for a hearty, well-rounded bowl. The pork bone broth carries a gentle spiciness here, leaving a pleasant tingle on the tongue. And a nice bonus: all Hana Ramen noodle bowls come with a free noodle refill if the first serving doesn't quite do the trick.

Great soup! Intimate place, polite service. Highly recommended! Located in a great area.read more

I came to Kyouka Ramen after hearing a lot of good things, and it definitely lived up to the hype…read more I originally thought they had mazemen on the menu, but it looks like that's from an older menu. Instead, I went for the tsukemen and was pleasantly surprised, the broth wasn't as heavy or salty as other tsukemen I've tried, which made it much easier to enjoy. The ramen noodles were quite thick had a nice chew and held up well in the dipping broth. And it comes with both pork and chicken slices which i thought was nice. My mom ordered the yuzu ramen, and that was the standout of the night. I'd never tried a citrus-based broth before, but the yuzu gave it this light, slightly sour, very refreshing taste. It's not something you find at every ramen spot, and I'd highly recommend it if you want something different from the usual tonkotsu. Prices felt fair for the portion size, especially given the quality of the broth and ingredients. I'll definitely be back to try more of the menu (and hopefully they bring back the mazemen someday!).

Came here on a Tuesday night for the all-you-can-eat sushi and WOW, it as so good. I tried so many…read morethings that I've never had and everything was delicious. You scan the menu at your table and just keep ordering things. We definitely ordered more than $38 which is what we paid and we got a large variety of different items. The mango pudding was so decadent and delicious. We got there around 5pm and it wasn't that busy but by the time we were leaving at 7:30pm, it was packed. Our waitress was so nice and helpful. My only complaint was they didn't pick up the dirty dishes in a timely manner. At one point we had at least 10 dishes that needed to be picked up.

Came here for an all-you-can-eat sushi dinner, and overall it was a decent experience. The food was…read morefairly standard, nothing extraordinary, but everything was satisfactory and well-prepared. The servers were friendly and provided good service throughout the meal. I particularly enjoyed the skewers and the salted grilled saury fish, which were nicely seasoned and full of flavor. While it wasn't particularly standout, it was still a solid and enjoyable dining option. I would recommend it for a casual all-you-can-eat sushi experience.