Charles Koh
Bellevue restaurant slated to open April 24
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka, the internationally acclaimed Japanese noodle restaurant known around the world for its Shio Ramen, is opening its first freestanding restaurant in the United States.
The Bellevue store will be one of 10 restaurants in the States; the others are part of the Mitsuwa Marketplace grocery store chain. The new restaurant is slated to open April 24, 2014, in Bellevue. Santouka’s Bellevue location joins its expansive list of 53 existing restaurants in 10 countries around the world.
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka began in 1988 as a nine-seat, family-run ramen shop in Asahikawa, in the center of Japan’s northernmost island, Hokkaido. While that region is known for its Shoyu (soy sauce flavor) ramen, Santouka’s signature Shio Ramen became a big hit.
The Bellevue Santouka restaurant will share all of the features that have brought the chain international acclaim, including its signature dishes, such as the Shio Ramen. The dish, known for its bright red pickled plum (umeboshi)— a unique ingredient that brings an artful composition, satisfying crunch and pleasantly tangy taste to the dish.
Unlike other ramens, Santouka ramen is pearl-colored and served at the perfect temperature, (hot, but not too hot) to complement the many flavors, some of which have been cooking for nearly 20 hours.
Hours: 11 am–9 pm daily
Location: 103 Bellevue Way, Suite 3, Bellevue, WA, just a block from Main Street in downtown Bellevue
Phone: 425-462-0141
About Santouka
Santouka, which launched as a nine-seat, family-run ramen shop, has today grown to one of the most sought-after ramen restaurants in the world, available in 10 countries including the U.S., Japan, Canada, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines and Thailand. For more information go to www.santouka-usa.com.
