Santouka in San Jose

Oh my. This is one of the best ramen joints in the Bay Area. Period. Yes, they are in a food court. Yes, they take cash only. Yes, the lines are long. But every chopstick grab of those noodles is a delight. Combo meals are also fantastic with the rice bowls. I tried both the miso broth and the shoyu broth. Both were amazing but miso seems to have more depth in taste. Next time around will be their "salt" broth. Already excited about visiting again. Due to long lines, highly recommend you avoid lunch times. But definitely a must try.

You will find the menu in the pics. I don’t really know how good the food is but I had to wait for 45 min to the top of the queue I don’t think it’s really normal to order in 45 min, but this might mean that the food is really good. I will update my review after I eat if the food is really really good.

This ramen place is inside a grocery store and gets really packed. The store is small and they only accept cash.The ramen is very flavorful!!! There is a generous amount of meat and noodles as well. The waiting time is totally worth it.I just wish they open their own restaurant!

I had been told to try this place several times by close friends who called it one of the best ramen places in San José. I was initially surprised to find it inside a Japanese grocery store because I was expecting a stand alone establishment.It was a Friday night and the line was pretty long. We ordered a miso ramen combo and a spicy miso ramen, didn't know if the spicy ramen was really going to be spicy. We received the order and were delighted with the incredible flavor of the broth! Wow! I was very impressed. Not too salty, not too watery. The pork was cooked deliciously and the noodles were pretty good too. The spicy ramen turned out to be pretty tame, not wildly spicy in my opinion. Overall delicious ramen! I will absolutely be coming back!

Typically 1 hour waiting time! But it’s totally worth it! Very authentic Japanese chef!

The ramen here is sooo yummy.. it’s hard to believe that it’s in a grocery store food court. I got the spicy miso ramen combo with the char-siu pork rice bowl (combo D). The broth was really good and the pork was very tender. It also comes with a flavored egg.

One of the best places in San Jose for Ramen... no doubt!!

The taste is great and price is very reasonable, no doubt. I take 2 stars off because the whole process is extremely slow and waiting time is 1 hour on a weekday noon.

Best ramen in Northern California. The broth is flavorful and well balanced. The noodles are cooked perfectly. Eggs are good, but texture is a little too hard boiled. Long lines, but well worth the wait.

This place is fantastic, i crave it. I visit every single time I'm in the area. The broth is amazing. I like the spicy miso ramen with a tamarind egg. It makes the broth extra savory. Vegetarians beware... It is all pork broth. Also, portions are very large, and there is no take out, so come prepared with a container as youll want to bring remainders home. The dining area is like a cafeteria with terrible fluorescent lighting, still my absolute favourite for ramen. I hope you enjoy it as well.

Great Spicy miso ramen soup in the south bay.

The place offers a large variety of delicious food. I enjoyed dining here. Employees are always very welcoming, prices are fair and the spot is always kept clean.

We had a wonderful time in this spot. We loved the awesome vibes and the menu. The staff members were super amiable. I am content we finally decided to try this restaurant.

This restaurant is my number one site. Of all restaurants I know I love it most. I always suggests to my friends to go to visit this restaurant. everytime I feel like having a fair lunch, this is the place that comes instantly to my mind. very good and all kinds of food and a rich menu.professional crew, and nice mood. And very important, the cost is affordable. I recommend this place with no hesitation.

My #1ramen joint in San Jose! Perfectly Rich broth. Not too salty for my taste which I like. Noodles have a consistent nice bite. The pork cheek is super tender. I try to come early as sometimes the special pork (Toroniku) can sell out. All this tucked in a market where they also offer other eats like mochi and ice cream.

It's decent price, quick quick serving, multiple serving sizes, and tasty.

If you search “best ramen in Bay Area”, Santouka is always in the top 10 list. Good place and nice noodle. A little bit too much oil in the soup for me, but overall it’s good. Waiting time is not that crazy and you can walk around in the market.

Solid ramen. Nice flavors, good selection. Good side dishes as well. Didn’t rise to the level of Orenchi or Ramen Nagi but it’s very good. Gets quite busy with long lines around lunch time.

Best ramen I have eaten in the U.S. Broth was rich in flavor. The meat is so soft and delicious. The after taste can be a little salty but I honestly love my overall experience eating here. It is “cash only” so prepare ahead before getting in line. There is usually a long line at around noon. I usually come at 3-ish pm after my classes end to avoid the lines. Would recommend it to anyone. So good!

I adore this spot! They prepare marvelous dishes, their menu is large, The chef in that restaurant is a real authority in the kitchen, I enjoy very much tasting all their food. The food is always of high qualtity, the attitude towards the guests is efficient. I frequently visit this place and I was never discontended. Highly recommended.

This will and forever be my #1 ramen spot. It sits in food court at mitsuwa marketplace but there's always some kid of line. If you like Orenchi, you gotta try this place out. I usually get the sea salt ramen with extra chadu pork. The broth is super thick and the meat is always tender. Despite thrany times I've eaten here, the quality is always the same. Afterwards, it's fun to go shopping around the Japanese market to see what cool snacks and Japanese merchandise you can buy. There's also a really awesome softserve spot next to it. Enjoy!!!

Perhaps it was a mistake to come on the Friday after Christmas. But the line was LONG. About 30 minutes of STANDING in line before ordering, followed by 30 minutes of waiting for food.I don't mind waiting for 30 minutes to order, but why are you making us stand to do it? Your average grocer figured out how to do number tickets about a century ago.Get to the front of the line; cash only. Lucky I have some. Not down to be missing out on the 3% back, however. What year is it?Finally, when the food arrived, it was stiff low quality noodles. Ordered a large spicy miso ramen but was still hungry; a large here is a smallish 'normal' elsewhere. Is it better on other days? I have no idea.

Ramen is pretty good, but I personally love the simplicity and deliciousness of the salmon roe rice dish. So good! Be prepared to wait 1hr+ in line. Wish the ramen had more veggies... and more than ONE piece of pork though.

Offering take outs during SIP period with a reduced selection of menu items. Packaging is good and separates out the ramen and broth so it doesn't get too soggy. Though this is not the optimal experience as the noodles firmness will change depending on how quickly you get home to eat it. That said, the broth is still flavorful and survives the microwaving just fine. Come here if you have a ramen itch.Tip: If you're coming in just for the restaurant, you can talk to the security personnel at the entrance to see if you can skip the line for the Mitsuwa grocery store.

I did a search for good ramen while visiting San Jose and this place came up a couple of times. We decided to try it and were very pleased.

IMO: Overhyped.Personally, don't like it. I find it salty and bland... But for some reason people really, really like it and there can be a long line...I don't find it worth my time. I think maybe try it if line isn't too long since it's not super expensive (but it is cash only). I feel like what draws people into this place is the price since it's like $10. But seriously, better exists out there for a similar price...After you pay for your food, you wait for your number to be called. And sometimes it is hard to find a table with how packed the place can be. They have people to bus your stuff sometimes, but I wouldn't say it's the cleanest. The ambiance is also lackluster since it's inside a market (Mitsuwa)...‍I don't understand the high ratings...might be one of those places where this taste profile doesn't align with my personal preference

This ramen is pretty good... if it was like $8. The prices are VERY expensive compared to their competition. Their ramen is no where near the best San Jose has to offer and the prices should reflect that. The egg was hard boiled, the noodles are lacking texture, and the broth is about less than average, if I were eating this in Japan. For $13 I would rather go to Ramen One or Ramen Nagi.The chashu spicy miso ramen was not even spicy, it's like they drizzle cheap/weak chili oil...They only offer soy sauce at the cashier, so there's no way for me to fix it myself.Definitely not worth it....Go to Ramen One, up the road, for a better experience.

Second time salt base soup is out 😣

i used to come here a lot with my kid after i pick her up from school. the line is normally super long, but worth the wait for the price. the employees are always friendly and helpful.

The spot is fantastic and spacious, the meals was delicious and the prices were very inexpensive. quick, efficient service and very welcoming waiters. Recommended.

I completely fell in love with this place. The line gets pretty long. If you go around lunchtime—which I mistakenly did— the line wrapped around!! It was definitely worth the wait, I got my food right away and the service was really fast. I got the spicy miso ramen and my mom got the salt ramen. We both finished our bowl within 5 minutes!

Great location for quality ramen. One of the best spots in the area. Menu is like a cafe in Indianapolis I loved.

Still hits the spot for great ramen, even for takeout

Cash only but fortunately Mitsuwa has a Bank of America ATM inside.Spicy Miso Ramen with a char siu bowl combo always hits the spot.

Tasty ramen, especially their broth! Very popular & the line is long but moves smoothly. This is located in the Mitsuwa Market food court area; I give this one less star because the ambiance is meh. But the ramen is very good; their other food items so-so.

It's all about the broth here! There's almost always a line to order here, but the food gets prepared pretty quickly. You can be in and out in about 45 minutes, even during peak lunch hour around 12:30pm. Noodles are very bouncy and chewy, however it's the straight noodle, not wavy. The broth is also on point -- makes you feel more energized after drinking it even! I also like that the bamboo doesn't taste like it's canned.

One of the better ramen places in the bay. The noodle and broth are one of the best. Meat is solid but I've had better

Great price for the ramen and combos.A bit too oily and broth lacks substance. Egg is not so great either.Noodles are great though.

We had an amazing time at this place. We enjoyed the wonderful environment and the meals. The staff were super friendly. I am content we ultimately decided to visit this place.

I visited here twice, and my previous review was deleted somehow. So, I reviewed again.Pros- Delicious- tasty enough to wait the long lineCons- Cash only- Too long waiting line

Good solid ramen. There usually is a queue there. Santorum is a good stall inside of Nijiya Market food court. It is not fancy and there is no table services. You get in line - which usually is long, pick your dish, pay for it and wait for your number. Doesn’t sound that good, no? But this is not a normal place. The line is long for a reason - the food is good ^_^. A little salty for my liking - once in awhile is ok. I really like the small rice dish which cost $3-4 and it a good portion for me.

If you miss ramen, this place will not make you disappointed! But the Speedo’s too slow and too crowded in meal time.

The ramen here is always on point but do keep in mind the wait can get quite long and arduous. The combo meal will be sure to make sure you are thoroughly stuffed and content.

Santouka was once top 10 ramen in the world. They used a different of ramen which is quite popular in Japan. Regardless of what soup base you ordered, it's always Tonkotsu based. Today is Thursday and I was there at 12:30pm and for whatever reason, there is only 15 people in line. Usually, there are 40 easily. I recommended #7,8 or 9 (sale ramen just diff size). I would go with 7, medium. Unless you are a big eater, no need to go to 9. It's the special pork with ramen. The special pork is more tasty than the Cha Siu that comes with other ramen.

Santouka Ramen is run like a food court shop; you buy your food and pick it up at the counter and then find a seat to eat. The ramen I had was very small, considering it was “regular” sized. There was an excessive amount of oil, fat, and MSG. The cha siu (pork) was basically a slab of inedible fat. The hard boiled egg that I paid extra for was passable at best. This ramen shop failed to meet my expectations, and I won’t plan on returning again.

Some of the best ramen in the Bay area.

Ordered a chashu ramen and a chashu rice to take away today, was only given the chashu ramen, the chashu rice was not in the take away bag! Only realised it when I got home. Dishonest merchant!

Good noodles....highly recommended...🤩

Sunday, 12pm: no line, service was quick and they currently accept Credit Card now. Bottle of hand sanitizer on counter for after signing receipt was appreciated.Ramen was delicious. Everything was packed well so no spills while transporting it. Small is pretty small so I would recommend the larger size.

We ordered the large shioramen + salmon ikura don set with a side of kakunu don. The kakuni was a bit dry but still quite good. The ikura was soaked in tsuyu which was a nice touch. The shio ramen is not particularly noteworthy, and tastes rather average despite the creamy rich appearance.