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Santouka's Hot Miso Ramen, Nutritious and Freaking Delicious.
A Recession Obsession is, 1) a meal so great that it sticks in your mind long after digestion's end, and, 2) plays nice with your sensitive wallet. Is there a better place than Los Angeles to eat a wide variety of amazing food that so happens to be inexpensive? Probably not. We're as lucky as we are well fed. We last obsessed over LA's Most Famous Hot Dog, and mondo falafel "burritos." Today, we obsess...
It’s been raining cats and dogs in Los Angeles. Don’t believe me? Consult your nearest social network where you'll see such pathetic updates as:
“It’s raining. Who’s got a bunker?”“Rain rain go away, else I’ll slit my writs today.”
“IT'S FUCKING RAINING SO HARD I NEED TO JUMP IN FIRE.”
Okay. Maybe that last one was a Tweet of my own, mocking the fragile nature of those Angelenos who would handily lose a collective arm-wrestling competition to a South Florida retirement community.
Don't pout. Seek The Rainy Day Cure: comfort food. While chicken noodle soup, and mac ‘n cheese milkshakes typically cut the mustard, we’re going for ramen today (we have in dry times too.)
West LA’s Mitsuwa Market is a lighthouse-like reminder that fantastic Japanese food can be had at prices which aren’t very Westside. The main attraction is a grocery store full of so many wonders that Mister Magorium would be jealous (I didn't see the movie, nor will I, so I hope the reference works,) but the food court is where the rain’s driving us.
Santouka Ramen specificially. $5-$9 gets you a hefty, tasty, filling bowl of Japanese soup. Of course Santouka is LAist’s latest Recession Obsession.
The End.
Soupy Sales
Pictured above (and sort of to the right) is the Hot Spicy Miso Ramen. It’ll cure a spiritual hangover brought on by The One Day Of Autumn Rain. A somewhat-spicy miso broth is the warm bathwater for your freshly prepared bowl of comfort.
The juicy pork slices which rest above the rest are fatty in that melty, tender way, and not the adipose-chunks-stuck-in-your-braces kind of way. That's a good thing. And, of course, there’s the noodles.
The traditionally thin ramen noodles make for the true meat of the dish. They number plenty, require the most spoon/chopstick effort, and take up the most real estate in your gut. Plus there are various complimentary vegetables who remain unknown to me. I always assume daikon is that enjoyable unknown crunchy stuff. I'm probably wrong, but daikon is my Asian-food scapegoat.
And yes, there are vegetarian options.
Now finish your ramen. There are starving people in Fresno.
- Santouka Ramen | Venice & Centinela | 3760 S Centinela Ave | Los Angeles 90066 | (310) 391-1101
Photos by Caleb Bacon (Twitter) for LAist
What is your favorite ramen? Comment Below!
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When I worked in OC, I loved lunches at Mitsuwa in Costa Mesa. The food court offerings never disappointed.
Thanks for the reminder to go check out the one here. =]
I am a huge fan of Shinsengumi Ramen. The half ramen with fried rice set is delicious!
It should probably be mentioned that attaining a bowl of Santouka ramen on a cold or rainy day has elements of a spiritual struggle. Step one, finding a place in the always unbelievably full parking lot. And then, the search for a seat. But should fortune smile on you, nirvana awaits.
No one said the path to nirvana was easy. =]
I was just about to reply that Ramenya has the best ramen in LA but I see that you already reported on them back in April! My favorite there is the shoyu ramen ^_^ I try to find other noodle shops in the area that are comparable but have yet to discover one. On a recent vacation in Hawaii I tried some shoyu ramen and the angels sang down from the heavens...I found a match! And I am so happy that Ramenya does not put that hard boiled egg on top. Blech!