Tokusen Toroniku Ramen from Hokkaido Ramen Santouka ($23)!
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka — Tokusen Toroniku Ramen $23. The premium pork cheek ramen from the iconic Hokkaido chain.
Tuesday lunch with BB at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka — the premium Tokusen Toroniku Ramen at $23. The Singapore outlet of the iconic Japanese chain that built its reputation on the toroniku (pork cheek) cut.
We ordered:
- Tokusen Toroniku Ramen — $23
Santouka is one of the most-recognised ramen chain names in Japan, with the original shop opening in Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 1988. Their signature is the shio (salt-based) tonkotsu broth, which is lighter and cleaner-tasting than the heavier tonkotsu styles of Kyushu. The Tokusen Toroniku is the premium variant — same broth, upgraded with three slices of toroniku (slow-braised pork cheek) as the protein.
The shio tonkotsu broth was the headline. Long-simmered pork bones reduced into a creamy-opaque base, then seasoned with salt (rather than soy or miso). The salt-based seasoning lets the pork-bone richness come through more clearly than the heavier shoyu or miso variants. The broth was the right kind — viscous but not thick, properly hot, with the white film on top from the rendered pork fat.
Toroniku slices were the star. Pork cheek is one of the more flavourful cuts because the muscle works constantly during the animal’s life — the result is dense, marbled meat with deep pork flavour. Slow-braised until the connective tissue dissolves and the meat falls apart at the touch of chopsticks, with the braising liquid soaked through.
Three slices on top of the bowl, with the proper temperature contrast (warm-tender meat against hot broth). Each slice was eaten in 2-3 bites because the meat was so tender it would have fallen apart with one big bite.
Noodles were the medium-thick wavy alkaline kind, cooked to firmness, holding up well against the heavy broth.
Standard ramen architecture on top — a soft-boiled marinated egg (ajitsuke tamago) with the runny yolk visible, menma (bamboo shoots), chopped scallion, a sheet of nori, a thin slice of fish cake.
Bowl was finished. $23 for the premium toroniku version at Santouka is fair chain pricing.
Overall: 4.4 / 5. 😋👍🏼 Excellent Santouka toroniku ramen — would revisit.
