Santouka Ramen 647.748.1717 http://www.santouka.co.jp/en/index.html open daily Lunch & dinner
Lunch lineups out the door are a sure sign something good is cooking inside. This Japanese Ramen chain has an authenticity that draws Japanese expatriates. The room is bright – dominated by light and dark stained pine – relaxes the senses.
Toroniku shoyu ramen ($15.90) combines simmering pork jowl with shoyu flavoured ramen and it’s worth a try. The broth is rich and almost creamy, the pork is uber tender and the egg noodles have just the right amount of firmness. And an order of Aji-tama (a soft boiled flavour egg) is the perfect addition to my soup. Ikura gohan rice topped with briny salmon roe explode in the mouth and proves addictive with a few spoonfuls of broth. Shibazuke Japanese style pickles may alienate westerners with its unique tartness and tough crunch but I love it.
Not much of a drink menu, just a few beers. The servers are cheerful and so is the atmosphere. The aromas of the soups and the sounds of the restaurant bring me back to Tokyo.
