Ramen Santouka in BGC: A Taste of Hokkaido in the Philippines
Ramen Santouka is a ramen restaurant specializing in shio ramen from Hokkaido, Japan.
Ramen Santouka Set / IMAGE from Ramen Santouka Philippines’ Facebook page
Established in 1988 by Hitoshi Hatanaka in Asahikawa, Hokkaido, Santouka began as a modest nine-seater ramen shop serving a single item: shio (salt) ramen. His goal was to create a mild, gentle-flavored white tonkotsu (pork bone) soup that customers could savor to the last drop. Eventually, he developed the perfect base of his ramen: a mild, light-colored tonkotsu soup, achieved by simmering pork bones for extended periods without boiling that preserve the soup’s gentle and savory essence.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka opened its first branch in the Philippines in 2013, located at Glorietta 4, Makati. Today, the brand has twelve branches in the country.
Santouka’s signature Shio Ramen is known for having creamy pork bone broth, thin noodles, tender chashu (braised pork), and a pickled plum, which imparts a nice acidity to the otherwise rich soup.
Shio Ramen / IMAGE from Ramen Santouka Philippines’ Facebook page
Savor the flavor of the ocean with their Seafood Ramen. It combines Santouka’s original shio soup with an assortment of fresh seafood such as shrimp, clams, and fish.
Seafood Ramen / IMAGE from Ramen Santouka Philippines’s Facebook page
Aside from these, must-tries at Santouka include Shoyu Ramen (soy sauce-based), Miso Ramen (fermented soybean paste-based), and Kara-Miso Ramen (spicy miso).
Complementing their ramen options, Santouka also serves side dishes like Mixed Furai, a heaping plate of fried salmon, prawn, and tonkatsu, and the Toroniku Pao: tender pork cheek meat in a soft pao bun with savory teriyaki sauce.
The ambiance of Santouka’s Philippine branches seamlessly blends traditional Japanese aesthetics with modern touches. The interiors of Mitsukoshi BGC branch feels like entering a restaurant from Japan, thanks to sleek wooden furnishings, soft lighting, and elegant Japanese design elements that make for a comfortable dining experience.Be it a solo meal at the counter or dining with friends and family at one of the neatly arranged tables, the vibe here makes it the perfect place to enjoy a warm bowl of ramen.
IMAGES from Ramen Santouka Philippines’s Facebook page
With multiple branches across Metro Manila, Cavite, Laguna, and Pampanga, Santouka continues to delight Filipino diners with its authentic and comforting ramen offerings.
If you have an empty stomach and you decide to eat at Ramen Santouka, we assure you that your cravings will be fully satisfied.
