Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Restaurant: Hokkaido Ramen Santouka

Cuisine: Japanese/Ramen/Noodle Shop
Last visited: March 6, 2010
Area: Vancouver, BC (West End/Robson/Downtown)
1690 Robson Street
Price Range: $10-20

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: 6
Service: 4.5

Ambiance: 4.5

Overall: 6

Additional comments:

• Multiple locations (In US, Canada, Japan etc.)
• Closest thing to authentic Japanese ramen
• Best ramen in Vancouver – according to Japanese ppl too!
• Deceivingly big portions
• Specializes in ramen noodles
• Famous for signature Shio broth
• Famous for Toroniku Ramen bowls – limited quantity
• Famous for perfectly cooked noodles
• Authentically ramen is eaten with rice bowl
• Appetizers “coming soon”
• Long lines/busy
• Quick eat
• Cash only
• Clean & contemporary atmosphere
• Limited menu, but lots of options for customization
• A couple dollars more expensive than most
• Extra for green tea
• Minimum charge $7.95/person

**Recommendation: Toroniku aka “cha-shu”, Toroniku Shio Ramen, Toroniku Miso Ramen, hard boiled egg…ANY Toroniku ramen bowl, but especially Shio w/all the fixings…the Toroniku bowls have more pork and toppings served on the side.

This place is hands down the best ramen I have had in Vancouver thus far. I was recommended by a friend who got the inside from his Japanese friend. Through word of mouth I also heard that this place is the closest thing to authentic ramen noodles you would get in Japan. My expectations were set high and I was extremely excited.

I do like Kintaro, Benkei Ramen and G-Men Ramen and I’ve never had ramen noodles in Japan so I don’t know what authentic is…however I do trust Japanese people when they say “Hokkaido Ramen Santouka” is the closest thing to it in Vancouver. Some even said Kintaro is “crap”…I don’t think it’s crap, but after Hokkaido Ramen Santouka …it’s definitely not as good and not authentic if this is the real deal. Now it doesn’t necessarily mean Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is the BEST in Japan, but it is still good there. It’s actually a chain restaurant that exists in Japan as well so I’m very happy that it has made its way to Vancouver.

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka just opened so the line-up was a 30 min. wait and it’s didn’t stop for 3 hours. To be honest I’d wait in line again…it was worth it. It’s a bit more expensive then most ramen places and the portions looks small, but they’re deceivingly filling. Also go early because they almost ran out of egg when I was there and their house special “Toroniku” ramen bowls are a limited quantity. A lot of their appetizers like gyoza, salad and 2 sushi rolls are “coming soon” – I will definitely go back…soon too.

On the table:

**Toroniku Shio Ramen 6/6

• Smmered pork jowl (pork cheeks) and salt seasoned ramen $12.95
• + Egg $1.25 + Tokibi (corn) $2.00 + Yaki nori $1.45
• This is the signature, “claim to fame”, authentic and most popular ramen bowl offered.
• It’s limited quantity and first come first serve. Get it with all the fixings.
• The broth is a “pearl-coloured Tonkotsu soup” that is made with pork bones and other ingredients such as vegetables, dried fish and kelp.

• The broth is rich and creamy and so flavourful. It’s got a salty flavour that is so much more than just salt…it’s so complex and delicious. The saltiness is developed with layers of ingredients, it’s slow cooked and the pork flavour is distinct. This is one of the first times I have enjoyed Shio broth more than Miso broth.
• Unlike Kintaro and Benkei there’s not as many “floaties” aka pork fat bits floating on the top.
• Apparently some people think the broth is not hot enough, I thought it was hot enough…but they have a standard temperature they serve it at for optimal flavour.
  

• The noodles are delicious! They're al dente - a little harder (how they should be) and they have a great chewy texture. Apparently Santouka is famous for cooking their noodles perfectly too.
  

• It's a deceivingly large bowl...don't be fooled...it looks small, but the bowls are deep!

**Toroniku Miso Ramen 5.5/6

• Simmered pork jowl and miso (fermented soy bean paste) flavoured ramen $12.95
• + Egg $1.25 + Tokibi (corn) $2.00 + Yaki nori $1.45
• This is almost part of their “limited quantity” list.

• This was delicious as well! It was a bit more flavourful and richer than the Shio Ramen…but I almost thought it was a bit indulgent. The Shio is such a masterpiece already that the miso almost took away from it…it was still really good though. Still complex and layered flavours.
  
• It was creamier than the Shio and it tastes like there’s sesame sauce in it. It even almost tasted like peanut butter…it’s less salty then the Shio but also richer, heavier and nuttier in flavour.

The side plate of toppings that come with every Toroniku ramen bowl: Toroniku (cha-shu), black wood ear mushrooms, bamboo shoots, green onions and that fake "lobster/crab" thing made of mixed fish.

**Toroniku (BBQ Pork) or “cha-shu” 6/6

• Simmered pork jowl meat ($5.45 if ordered separately)
• This is THE BEST pork I’ve had served with a ramen bowl yet.
• It’s seriously soooo soft it comes off as the texture of cheese. It was so tender, flavourful and juicy. There’s only one type, not like Kintaro where they have lean or fatty.
• I want to give this an 11/6…I don’t even know why 11…it’s just so damn good.
• Even a toothless person could eat this…my grandma could eat this...that’s how tender it is.

• It’s not really fatty, but there is a layer of fat around the edges. It’s not thick or chewy so it’s not obvious and it doesn’t even taste fatty. It’s the kind of fat that you don’t really see or notice…I really don’t like fatty meats and this one didn’t bother me. It's just a bit oily...but so juicy and flavourful. There's an additional salty flavour to it.
  

• The side plate also comes with black ear wood mushrooms, green onions and bamboo shoots. Even the mushrooms and bamboo shoots are delicious. They’re both very fresh and the perfect texture of crunchiness and tenderness. Most places they’re too crunchy....which I like and got used too…but now I’ve had this, I prefer this.

**Egg 6/6

• $1.25
• I must give a special shout out for the egg. It’s perfect. As perfect if not better than G-Men Ramen.
• They almost ran out and I almost cried…but she came back and said they were able to make more…I was ecstatic.

• The middle was a dark orange and it was ultra creamy. Freaking love these soft boiled eggs…they do a great job with them here.

Ikura Gohan 2.5/6

• A bowl of rice topped with ikura (salmon roe) $5.45 Small size only.
• I prefer G-Men Ramen mini dons over this.
• Ramen noodles are authentically eaten with a side of rice – they have combination trays (ramen + rice bowl) but only the regular ramen bowls apply, not the Toroniku ramen bowls. I had to order them separately.

• Ikura Gohan rice bowl is the most authentic one. Japanese people order it and it was recommended by the server even though it’s not most popular.
• I thought it was ok.
• The rice is sticky steamed rice, it’s not flavourful like sushi rice is though – not supposed to be either.
• It has slices omelette on top that was very dry and came off as dried tofu skin.
• Overall it was too plain and simple for me. The only flavour came from the salmon roe. I actually ended up eating it with some of my miso soup broth…that was good!

______Shake Gohan 2/6

• A bowl of hot rice topped with pieces of grilled salmon $3.95 Small size only.
• I didn’t get the first part of the name for this dish...my camera flash got in the way :(
• The salmon is very salty and dry…it comes off as salmon jerky. It almost tastes preserved…not quite pickled, but very salted. It was a decent amount but I wouldn’t order it again.
• I liked the toasted sesame seeds on it though…added a little flavour.
• Overall the dish was too plain for me again and I still prefer and highly recommend the mini don’s at G-Men Ramen.
• Again – The rice is sticky steamed rice, it’s not flavourful like sushi rice is though – not supposed to be either.

Benkei Ramen - Thurlow

Restaurant: Benkei Ramen - Thurlow

Cuisine: Japanese/Ramen Noodle Shop

Last visited: January 26, 2010
Area: Multiple - Vancouver, BC (Robson Street/West End/Downtown)

747 Thurlow Street
Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: 5.5

Service: 5

Ambiance: 4

Overall: 5

Additional comments:

• Japanese owned/operated
• Specializes in Ramen noodles
• Limited menu
• Few appetizers
• 2 locations in downtown
• Heard Thurlow location better than Robson
• Casual, quick
• Busy/line ups at peak hours
• Stamp card available
• Can’t select richness of broth, but can select flavour
• Add on’s/extra noodles available
• Free green tea (Matcha powder, not leaves)
• Lunch and dinner
• Open 7 days
• $5 minimum charge/person
• Small discount with valid Student ID

**Recommendation: Miso Ramen, Spicy Ramen

Bankei Ramen specializes in ramen noodle soup bowls and just opened its newest location on Thurlow. According to my friend who has frequented the one on Robson, she claims that the charshu (bbq pork) is tenderer at the Thurlow location…and I trust her, she goes often! I haven’t been to the Robson one yet, but I think I’ll stick to Thurlow, although parking is more difficult at this location.

Bekei Ramen’s biggest competition is Kintaro Ramen Noodle Shop on Denman. Kintaro allows you to select the fattiness of your pork and richness of your broth whereas Bekei has standard pork and 5 different flavours broth. I’m not going to say which is better because although I’ve been to Kintaro, I haven’t written a review for it yet. Overall Benkei Ramen is excellent, although the toppings were inconsistent – some of us had more toppings than others. Benkei beats G-Men Ramen broth, but G-Men Ramen still does the best soft boiled egg.

Surprisingly my group arrived at 6pm and we didn’t have to wait although I hear they are very busy during peak hours. They were a full house at around 6:30-7pm and there was a line-up out the door. This was another “must try” in Vancouver for my Austrian visitor who had never tried ramen noodles before. I already brought him to Sushi Garden, Japadog, Shanghai River, East is East, and La Belle Patate.

On the table:

**Miso Ramen 6/6

• Rich chicken and tonkatsu soup combined with our special Miso sauce with green onion, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts, and charshu (BBQ pork) $7.30
• Added hard boiled egg (+$.50) and corn (+$.50)
• I really enjoyed this! The broth was more flavourful than the Shiro Ramen. It tasted richer to me even though the Shiro is supposed to be richer. There was a slight kick and I think they put a splash of worchestershire sauce in it. The broth tastes like it was stewed for hours in ground pork.
• The noodles are chewy and cooked to al dente which means they have texture and are not melting in your mouth soft. I think they’re great.
• The charshu is slowly stewed and really tender, so tender the texture is almost like you’re eating luncheon meat…but tastes way better! The taste is a bit sweet and also salty, but not too salty. It’s relatively lean with a little bit of fat around the edges. They’re a bit on the small side – smaller than a hockey puck.
• I have to add an egg! The egg is still better at G-Men, but this one wasn’t bad…I prefer mind a bit more undercooked.
• 2 of us had only 2 bamboo shoots, but everyone else had at least 4 so it was a bit inconsistent with the toppings.

Shiro Ramen 4.5/6

• We thicken the soup by stewing pork bones and meat, then adding sea salt to create a richer taste. Shiro Tonkatsu Ramen contains a lot of calcium and collagen, which is a source for beautiful skin and strong bones. This Ramen is especially popular with women. Served with green onion, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts and charshu )BBQ pork) $7.80
• Added corn (+$.50)
• This one smells like whale’s pee…the Austrian noticed it first and I totally agree. I hate that he said it cause it almost ruined it…it doesn’t taste like it though! I could definitely taste the pork flavours in this one more than the Miso Ramen. However the Miso Ramen broth had a stronger flavour overall because of the Miso. This one is savoury, but after the Miso it tastes very “clear” although it is rich. If you just want to taste pork flavours then go for this one.

**Akaoni Spicy Ramen 6/6

• Spicy Miso soup with ramen served with ground pork, charshu (BBQ pork), green onion, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts $7.80
• Added hard boiled egg (+$.50) and corn (+$.50)
• The picture makes this one look really spicy but it’s really not. I would say a medium on a spiciness level. It’s as spicy as those instant Kimchi noodle bowls you get at Costco. This was basically the Miso Tonkatsu broth with Kimchi oil/paste/sauce. It was excellent! Tres excellent!
• The ground pork is the added bonus to this ramen bowl, but it all sinks to the bottom (like the corn) so you need to fish around with your spoon.

Toratatsu Japanese Tapas & Bistro

Restaurant: Toratatsu Japanese Tapas & Bistro

Cuisine: Japanese/Izakaya/Tapas/Fusion
Last visited: December 17, 09
Area: Vancouver, BC (West End/Downtown)
735 Denman Street
Price Range: $10 or less

1: Poor 2: OK 3: Good 4: Very good 5: Excellent 6: Tres Excellent!!

Food: 3
Service: 3
Ambiance: 3
Overall: 3
Additional comments:

• Fusion/contemporary Japanese tapas
• Creative tapas with global influences
• Jazzy/lounge atmosphere
• Features weekly “Top 5” popular choices of the week
• Extensive menu (more options dining in than online)
• Drink menu – focus on wine bar
• Family owned – also own 2 Japanese restaurant chains in Tokyo
• Executive Chef Kodai Uno – youngest son of family, trained at PICA (Pacific Institute of Culinary Arts)
• Japanese owned and operated
• $30/person set menu available
• Extra for Green tea
• Dinner service/Open late
• M-Sun 5-2am
• 
  

**Recommendation: Cheese Tofu, Ebi Chili Mayo

My friend introduced me to Toratatsu Japanese Tapas & Bistro for some late night dining. She was craving their cheese tofu and was determined for me to try it as well. I have walked by it a couple times and it’s easy to skip unless you’re looking for it because it kind of blends in. If I’m on Denman I will most likely go to Kingyo if I’m feeling Japanese Izakaya. I love Izakaya and there are so many of them in Vancouver and I’ve managed to try a decent amount to be able to compare.

So how does Toratatsu Japanese Tapas & Bistro compare?

Guu – is more affordable, more comfort food options, less gourmet

Kingyo – is pricier, but also has better atmosphere, presentation and quality.

Hapa Izakaya – is pricier, but I prefer Hapa Izakaya dishes

Alpha Global Sushi & Bar – is pricier, and has more options

Ping’s Café – is more home style w/Canadian influence, Toratatsu has European influences and is more gourmet

Yuji’s Tapas – is pricier, more gourmet, better presentation and quality

Ebisu – similar pricing, but Toratatsu is more creative than Ebisu

Zakuushi Charcoal Grill – can’t really compare because Zakuushi specializes in charcoal grilled Izakaya

My comparison is very general and each Japanese Izakaya place is unique in their own way. To be fair I have menu recommendations for each restaurant so there’s at least one item I would go back for at each one.

I thought Toratatsu was good, but I’ve also had better. I came here without knowing anything about the restaurant and I still wasn’t blown away, and I feel like I should have been after doing my research. From what I tried I wouldn’t have guessed it would have such a deep history and popular recognition in Japan. The chef is very well trained and experienced yet I don’t think what I ordered showcased it well. I really hope he had a day off when I went because the dishes I didn't like I really didn't like. I would go again because I would like to give it the benefit of the doubt and give it another try, but I’m also in no rush.

Note: Lighting made it impossible to take photos...so please bare with me.

On the table:

• 

**Cheese Tofu 4.5/6

• Creamy mascarpone tofu, toasted almonds, a touch of honey, served with baguette $6.80
• This is their signature item that would make me rush to go back. It was also the item my friend was craving that inspired our entire visit here…and yes it was worth it.
• It’s actually quite simple in ingredients, but the execution is a mystery to me. It’s served cold and I found it to be a very unique dish. I’ve never tried or seen anything really like it before. Truly their signature item!
• The cheese tofu looked like tofu, but it was very smooth and creamy in texture almost like a thick yogurt. It’s a mix of tofu, mascarpone cheese and cream cheese and it’s heavenly and easy to spread. It’s not ooey gooey because it’s chilled and the cheesy taste is very light, but it's there.
• The flavour was sweet from the touch of honey, very slightly savoury from the cheese tofu, and tart from the fresh strawberries you put on top. I love the sweet and tart combination but I think the cheese tofu could have been a bit cheesier tasting. It was almost like a cheese and fruit dessert and we actually ordered it at the end.
• I loved the addition of almonds; however they got soggy so I was missing that crunch. They could have given a few more too.
• The baguette was quite soft and untoasted, which worked well with the soft cheese tofu. I just wanted the almonds crunchy to give it more texture.

**Ebi Chili Mayo 4.5/6

• Our famous tiger prawn tempura with our original chili mayo, almonds, won ton crisps $8.00
• It seems like every Izakaya restaurant has their version. I can’t say I care too much for Ebi Chili Mayo, not to say I haven’t tried it, it’s just I can’t really compare it as well to other places. It’s recommended, on their weekly “top 5” list, and “famous” at Toratatsu so I had to order it.
• The batter was a regular flour batter, but it was very crispy and puffy. I loved the tiger prawns which were huge. They were cooked perfectly and very crunchy and juicy. That was the best part! It’s a very creamy dish with a slightly spicy and very rich mayo sauce.
• I loved how it came with almonds, which is different, but they were untoasted so that was a big “no-no” for me. They should really toast them to enhance the flavour.

Prawn Gyoza 1.5/6

• Pan fried gyoza dumplings with Kurobuta pork and prawns $7.80
• I don’t remember if this was recommended or popular, but it wasn’t my choice to order it. I wouldn’t recommend it.
• It came out in a big clump. It was 6 gyozas that were stuck together like they had been frozen for too long. It was like a gyoza patty, but with very little stuffing. If it had tasted good I would let the presentation slip. It was very gummy from the over frozen or over cooked process.
• 
• The prawns were overcooked. It was more like shrimp than it was a prawn and they put an entire piece in one gyoza. I would rather have it minced up because they toughness of the prawn really stood out.
• The sauce was a ponzu sauce, a soy and citrus vinaigrette with that spicy Japanese seasoning powder in it.

Calamari 1.5/6

• Deep fried squid with house made dipping sauce. I’m not sure of the price because it’s not on their online menu, but I wouldn’t order it so it doesn’t matter.
• I did not like this. I would give it a 1/6, but the dipping sauce was not bad so I added the .5.
• The squid was overcooked and tough and it was also crunchy. It was really weird. It wasn’t like seafood crunchy either it was crunchy like eating soft bones crunchy. Yes – I was not a fan.
• The dipping sauce was almost like a cole slaw mayo. It was pretty different and I didn’t mind it. It had minced up celery, carrots, and onions with Japanese mayo and kind of tasting a little like Thousand Island dressing.
  

Gindara Saikyo Yaki 3/6

• Saikyo Miso marinated Sablefish served with sweet potato puree $9.80
• The Sablefish was good with a nice crispy skin, but it didn’t have any sauce. It needed to be marinated longer, especially if there’s no sauce, because it lacked a bit of flavour.
• The sweet potato puree was very creamy and I loved the texture. I think it was a mix of sweet potato, yams, and maybe some mayo, cream and butter. It wasn’t rich, but the texture was great. I don’t know how well it went with the fish though. I think it looked nice, but was more of a side.

Ishiyaki Risotto 4/6

• Risotto of seared scallops, mushrooms, Iwanori seaweed served in a hot stone bowl $8.30
• If I were to highlight another dish it would be this one. The portion and price is decent for worth it. It’s one of their most popular items as well.
• It was more of a Korean bimbimbop than an Italian risotto to me. With the texture they were aiming for risotto, but with the execution and ingredients it was Asian.
• They mix it at your table so there’s a little bit of a show. I usually don’t serve it right away to allow the rice to crisp up on the sides of the hot stone bowl. However in this case I think you should serve it somewhat immediately because it is supposed to be an interpretation of risotto.
• 
• There were 4 scallops but they were very tough. We didn’t leave it long in the stonf bowl either.
• It was loaded with oyster and shiitake mushrooms and it alm ost tasted like cream of mushroom soup mixed with rice.
• The rice wasn’t Arborio rice, and just that alone makes it not a risotto.

Azuki Senbei Ice Cream 3.5/6

• Vanilla ice cream with sweet red bean paste and rice crackers $3
• The red bean paste is the texture of peanut butter. It’s not too s weet or syrupy, which surprisingly I liked better. (I don’t like red bean ever).
• The rice crackers are awesome! I thought it was honeycomb until I remembered they were rice crackers. They’re a little salty and it doesn’t bother me because you c ouldn’t even tell. It was a great idea.

Crème Brulee 2/6

• With a twist…caramelized right in front of you! $3 (Description from the menu)
• This was just a regular crème brulee unlike the super ex otic gourmet one I had at CinCin’s.

  

• At Toratatsu they do the blow torching right at your table so that’s kind of fun. They also pour some sake on it and light it up last minute before serving. I couldn’t taste it though…it’s very little.

  

• The crème brulee had a tofu like texture and it’s not very sweet. It was very standard, but the show was fun. The burnt sugar on top was a bit uneven, but for $3 + a show, I won't be picky.
  

Green Tea

• They charge for Matcha powder green tea....that was not impressive.
• I expected actual green tea leaves if I'm going to be paying for my tea.
•