the main reason why i even manage to come across Ramen Santouka could actually be due to Naruto!(the anime) Well, being a student really kills the joy of eating partly because we're always strap of cash! So, the only way to get a chance to eat great food has always been the reliance on parents!
Anyway, being the second time to Ramen Santouka, I had a rough idea how the food was going to be. However, just to make sure I don't end up leading my family in the wrong direction, I went to check the map! But, after we got to level 2, i trusted my gut feeling and walked to one corner of The Central and ended up at the wrong place. So we went to check the map and realised it was at the other side of the building!
Ramen Santouka can be easily describe with one word... inconspicuous. It's located in the left corner of the building and you'll have to cut through a chinese restaurant just to find it. However, the front of the shop gives off a traditional japanese feel.
It sort of reminds me of those shops by the streets of Japan where you just walk in and buy a bowl of noodles, finish eating it and you're out in 5mins. My family were there at around 7.40pm and it wasn't as crowded as I thought it was going to be. There was no queue, but we had to wait for around 5mins only. The first time I went there, which was during lunch, we had to wait for almost 20mins.
Santouka is actually about as small as how it looks from the outside. There are about 6-8tables and it's facing the Singapore River. There's a pleasant view if you manage to get a table beside the windows. However, due to it being not so spacious(in my opinion), I found it rather noisy at times as the sound seems to be trapped within.
After ordering, we only waited for a while and the food came quicker than I expected.
Small Ramen(Shio) & Pork Cutlet & Small Rice Bowl Set ($24++)
Shio- Salt Flavour
Just like the first time, the ramen was good. Contrary to what I've read about, the soup wasn't too salty or too strong. It was tasty and delicious. Much better then Ajisen Ramen which I thought the portion was too big and it didn't taste as good. However, the Pork Cutlet wasn't good though. My bro didn't want to eat it after the first bite. Mainly because the meat was quite tough, and it was quite difficult to bite into them.
Small Ramen(Miso) & Char Siu Bowl Rice ($17.50++)
Miso- Soy Bean Paste Flavour
This was the exact set I had the first time at Santouka, except mine was Shio. I didn't really like the taste of the Miso based soup due to the really strong flavour that goes right straight to your head. The first spoon had a rich taste, but there was a kick to drinking this as you could really taste the strong flavour of the soup. However, even though it's a Small ramen, the portion is rather substantial and constantly drinking the soup made my sister a little nauseous. The Char Siu was good, but I seem to prefer the chinese kind that has the red colouring. But I love the rice. Maybe it's just me, but Japanese rice seem to taste better then normal rice I eat at home.
Hiyashi- Cold Ramen($14++)
The first time I saw this cold ramen, it didn't give off a very good vibe. Maybe cos of the loads of veggie looking dish on the side plate. However, it was actually a lot better than my own assumption. The noodle was springy and pleasant, and my mom was very impressed by this dish. It was definitely a more refreshing dish compared to the others as this dish felt less robust in terms of flavour and taste. The only downside was the sauce. I didn't really like it due to the salty taste.
We didn't manage to eat their signature dish which is the Tokusen Toroniku(Pork Cheek) during this visit. But I've tried it the first time I went there. The Pork Cheek was divine. It was(in my opinion) the best pork I've eaten(though I'm not an avid pork-eater). However, it is rather costly at $9++ for 6 slices of pork cheek. As there are only 200-300grams of pork cheek in a single pig. Not forgetting that there's only a limited no. of plates being served per day.
They also provide huge jug of water by your table, to give you an endless supply of cold water- until your jug is empty.
Overall, Ramen Santouka is not a place to be missed! The Tokusen Toroniku is a Must Try but make sure you're feeling quite rich that day though!
Ramen Santouka
6 Eu Tong Sen St
#02-76 The Central
Singapore 059817
Tel 62240668
sincerely, me.
