HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA

DATE VISITED: 24-07-2020

OUTLET VISITED

6 Eu Tong Seng Street

#02-76, The Central

Singapore 059817

Contact: +65 6224 0668

Nearest Train Station: Clarke Quay

Operating Hours:

12:00 – 15:00 (Mon – Sun) Lunch

17:30 – 21:00 (Mon – Sun) Dinner

OTHER OUTLETS

180 Kitchener Road

B2F, City Square Mall

Singapore 208539

(Inside Don Don Donki Food Court)

Contact: +65 9673 1083

Nearest Train Station: Farrer Park

Operating Hours:

10:00 – 22:00 (Mon – Sun)

WEB: www.santouka.co.jp/

FB: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Singapore

IG: SantoukaSG

P.A.L.A.T.E.

PRICE

Quite a deal for a proper bowl of ramen. Definitely one of the better ones we get to find in Singapore and it fills you to the brim.

We both ordered the Tokusen Toroniku Ramen, roasted pork cheeks (one Miso & one Shoyu) medium size, S$23 each, the small ramen is S$22, we do recommend the medium ramen if you are a big eater like us. There are four types of broth available for the Tokusen Toroniku Ramen - Shio, Shoyu, Miso and Kara-Miso (spicy)

Two Komi-Tamago (S$1.50 each, whole egg), properly done, note that the ramen does not come with any egg.

A plate of Iberian Pork Gyoza (S$10.20, 6 pieces). The Gyoza on the menu comes in a plate of fives at S$8.50 per plate, but the server had offered us 6 instead for two of us.

(Additional charges: GST & Service Charge)

AMBITION

You can definitely feel the time and the effort that has been put in creating this broth. It is the richness of their thick broth that makes them stand out from the other ramen found in Singapore.

LOCATION

Solely base on The Central (Clarke Quay) outlet, the eatery is kind of hidden in one corner on the 2nd floor of the mall. Take note that one of the escalator brings you from the 1st to the 3rd floor, make sure that you don’t end up looking for Santouka on the wrong floor. When you reach the 2nd floor you will see Rendevous Nasi Padang,

there is walkway that cuts in between Rendevous Nasi Padang

(Yes, in between Renvous is big), at the walkway look up you will see a blue sign that points you to the direction of Santouka. They do not have any obvious signboard at their shopfront that states Santouka. The size of their dining area is relatively normal, it will be safer to make a phone call down to make reservation if you planning to have any gathering there. There is nothing fancy about the interior though, clean and simple, definitely makes you feel safe eating there.

On the walkway that cuts through Rendevous Nasi Padang, near the escalator look up and you should see this Blue Zone sign with Santouka

Slightly further down, you will also see another sign that shows Santouka

Santouka's shopfront

Side tracking a little, the City Square Mall outlet is much easier to find. It is located on the B2F level of the mall. Just look for Don Don Donki (you will not miss it) go to Don Don Donki’s food court, and facing the stalls on the left you will find Santouka. The dining area hear is shared between a few other stalls, so do find a seat first before you make your order if it gets too crowded.

APPEARANCE

Not expecting anything exceptionally unique from a ramen dish, but the fat, oily roasted pork cheeks and the thick ramen broth definitely makes it looks appetising. The Komi-Tamago is properly done, with it’s watery yolk. The gyoza lightly charred on the top with a juicy bottom. They even took the effort to seperate the gyoza into two plates for us, even it is just a small gesture but it does show us the details they look into while serving their customers.

TASTE

Tokusen Toroniku Ramen, we just have to emphasize on their thick broth, the umami is heavenly. Although it has not hit our heart-stopping limit, but it is definitely near there. Subjective to each individual preference in tatse, we do admit that some lighter eaters might find the broth a little too overpowering. This is where a little problem arises for the all so succulent, tender slices of roasted pork cheeks – we can’t really taste it after we tasted the broth.

Komi-Tamago is ok, properly made, nothing special, nothing wrong with it, or maybe it was broth that kills it again?

The Iberian Pork Gyoza, nice crisp on the top with a wet bottom. A juicy filling with a little chewiness to it, good texture, proper mixture of meat cuts.

EXECUTION

We have no complains on their execution, the broth is thick, the ramen noodles bites right, the tamago is done right, the gyoza has it’s crisp, it’s chewiness and it’s juiciness.

HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA has been in Singapore for a number of years, this is not the first time we try Santouka, we have been eating Santouka since they arrive. Throughout the years, we have seen and tried many ramen eateries, some of them are equally as good but many were not able to maintain their quality. Santouka is one of the few that have been consistant in their quality throughout and never once disappointed us. We do look forward to the many years ahead with HOKKAIDO RAMEN SANTOUKA!