I can’t seem to get enough Japanese food of late—I blame Raku for reminding me just how delicious it can be. Corey and I recently went to Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese grocery store in the Midwest. It’s located in Arlington Heights, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

This market is a gem for Japanese food enthusiasts—chefs and diners alike. It boasts a wide selection of sushi-grade seafood, fresh produce, and dried goods and snacks, as well as a liquor store, bookstore, bakery, video store, and various food vendors.

Santouka – Chicago (Arlington   Heights, IL)

It was tough choosing between all the vendors, but the chance to try authentic ramen noodles made Santouka the clear choice. Also, I had recently watched Juzo Itami’s Tampopo, a Japanese comedy featuring a series of vignettes with food as the common theme; the background narrative revolves around the opening of a noodle bar, where the chef attempts to perfect her ramen recipe.

Here’s a funny clip from the movie related to ramen:

After watching Tampopo, I had high expectations. Santouka seemed to be the busiest restaurant in Mitsuwa Marketplace, and indeed, they told us to expect to a thirty-minute wait. That’s a considerable wait for a ramen bar—a sign that it must be pretty tasty.  I ordered a large bowl of the spicy-miso ramen with chashu pork (braised pork belly) over rice and an egg in soy sauce (combination D), while Corey got a large bowl of the salt-ramen with extra pork.

The food court itself was very busy, and it took us a while to find a table. We sat down and eagerly awaited our food. Would it live up to our expectations?

Spicy-Miso Ramen with Chashu Rice ($12.98)

Salt-Ramen with Extra Pork ($10.49)

The bowls of ramen arrived Tampopo-style, with jewels of fat glittering on the surface, shinachiku roots shining, spring onions floating, and flavorful pork. We took a moment to appreciate the aesthetics of the arrangement (and to snap a few photos, of course), then went to work on the noodles.

The noodles had an amazing texture and soaked up the rich, oily broth. I loved the spiciness of the miso; it was not overwhelmingly hot, but provided a nice peppery taste distinct from typical miso soup. The salt-ramen broth was very rich and salty. We slurped our noodles in typical Japanese fashion, sipped our broth, and indulged. . . . Though I don’t think we stared at the pork long enough . . . (watch the Tampopo clip!).

The large bowls are really large. Corey beastified his noodles, but I needed some assistance. Santouka does not offer to-go containers, so make sure to factor that in when ordering. Next time, I think I’ll get a medium combo. Also note that Santouka only accepts cash, as is the case for most of the food vendors in the Matsuwa Marketplace. The grocery and liquor stores, however, take credit and debit cards.

If this is this is your first time ordering ramen, don’t be intimidated. Santouka has a full display case, giving you a visual example of the food items. It’s a rather unique concept that most Western restaurants and food stands don’t utilize. 

Small Miso Ramen, Natto Rice Bowl (Fermented Soy Beans) & Flavored Egg (Soy Sauce Flavor) – C Set Menu

Small Soy Sauce Ramen, Ikura Rice Bowl (Salmon Roe), and Flavored Egg –  B Set Menu

If you’re in Chicago and want some authentic ramen, check out Santouka; it won’t disappoint. I’ll be going there lots in the coming winter. Nothing beats Japanese comfort food on a cold winter day!

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