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Recession Obsession: Rainy Day Ramen
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.”
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.
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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.
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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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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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