Santouka - Awaseaji Ramen

Visited Santouka over the weekend.

And to my pleasant surprise, they have a new item on the menu, Awaseaji Ramen (あわせ味らーめん, $14)! Supposedly a limited-edition item.

As its Japanese name implies, its soup is a mix of different flavours: Shio, miso, soy sauce, not forgetting its tonkotsu base. It is served with an additional bowl of rice, some pickles and a cup of tea.

From the poster inside Santouka, it is said that this ramen was borne out of its "internal menu". Such dishes are usually served among the restaurant's staff, using leftover ingredients that otherwise would have gone to waste. As those eating the dish are themselves professionals, some of these dishes are quite creative and tasty, and eventually dished out as a regular item on the menu.

I guess someone in Santouka might be playing round with the soups!

Close up...

Back to the ramen, it is topped with 2 pieces of toroniku char siew, 2 halves of aji-tama, mizuna, leek and some chili flakes. Presentation of Santoka's ramen is always perfect... I especially like how the chili flake added accent to the ramen both to its colour and taste. The toroniku char siew is tender and juicy as usual. The soup was interesting in a sense that you can taste all the 4 tastes - but it made it a little lack of focus perhaps.

After I finished all the noodles, I added in the rice, mixed them around a little to enjoy the soup in a different way.

looks like congee!

An interesting way to experience the ramen soup. The rice soaks up the soup and it was delicious. However, because the soup turns cold after a while, it didn't taste as nice near the end. Maybe I'm used to eating hot congee.

Last but not least, it seems that Santouka will be opening a 2nd outlet in April at Cuppage Terrace! Good news for Santouka fans!

More and more ramen choices along Orchard Road going forward.