Killer Ramen!

The best ramen in LA is served in food courts in Mar Vista and Torrance. Seriously. Of course, they are probably the nicest food courts in all of LA. Santouka Ramen is a Japan-based chain with its two LA branches each located in a Mitsuwa Marketplace, a large indoor space with Japanese supermarket, multiple food court restaurants, gourmet coffee and dessert counter, Japanese bookstore, video store and a store called “Trendy” selling Japanese tsotchkes.

The ramen at Santouka is stellar. You have your choice of four kinds of broth (salt, soy sauce, miso or spicy miso) and your choice of chasu (regular pork) or toroniku (special pork). Toroniku is braised pork from the cheek of a pig; the equivalent of toro to regular tuna in a sushi bar. My favorite ramen is the spicy miso with toroniku. The savory broth is perfectly seasoned, the noodles are firm and delicious and the toroniku, which is served on the side with vegetables for you to add to your soup, is so tender and yummy. I could eat a bowl of this ramen every day! Where to find it: Mitsuwa Marketplace, 3760 South Centinela Avenue in Los Angeles (Mar Vista; just south of Santa Monica) and 21515 South Western Avenue in Torrance.

Santouka Ramen

The toroniku (special pork) and vegetables are served on the side

Hard to believe such amazing food can be found in a food court!



Santouka Ramen on Urbanspoon
Santouka Ramen on Urbanspoon

6 Comments

Filed under Mar Vista, Torrance

6 Responses to Killer Ramen!

  1. Javier Winnik

    This looks delicious. I am heading down immediately!!!

  2. Nicole

    I still recommend Hakata Ramen in Gardena! Amazing broth, great sides, and there’s a noodle chef that is fun to watch as he juggles cooking 10 servings of ramen noodles at the same time in one large vat of boiling broth/water.
    http://www.shinsengumigroup.com/ramen.php

  3. circadian swing

    Got any recommendations for a good ramen place in the valley????

  4. ConsumingLA

    Ramen Jinya in Studio City is great. I also like Koraku in Sherman Oaks.

  5. jin

    i love santouka. however, sometimes, it’s a little too salty for me. i prefer shin sen gumi and now they have one in little tokyo. i also heart daikokuya. and for tan tan men i go to chinmaya. robata jinya is alright also.

    • ConsumingLA

      I haven’t been to Shin Sen Gumi; will definitely try it now. I also like Ramen Jinya (there is one in Studio City and they’re opening one on Sawtelle just south of Olympic). The wait is always too long for me at Daikokuya and we give up and go somewhere else!

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