Ramen craving at Mitsuwa Marketplace

October 23rd, 2008, 12:47 pm · 17 Comments · posted by Ellyn Pak, Staff Writer

By Ellyn Pak

Remember when the temperature dropped a few degrees last week and it actually felt like autumn? It was a perfect time to quash a ramen craving I had for a few months. I met up with a few lunchmates at Mitsuwa Marketplace’s food court in Costa Mesa for the first time … and felt silly that as a huge ramen fan (both authentic noodles and the ones that come in styrofoam cups), I hadn’t tried Santouka Ramen.

For $6.99, I got a piping hot shoyu ramen bowl that included noodles in a broth flavored with soy sauce. The broth, not too creamy or watery, filled in the cracks of my 7-month pregnant belly. I could tell my baby girl enjoyed the ramen, too.

If I had gotten a smaller portion, I’d probably steal a few bites from Kat’s kara miso (spicy) ramen bowl. And yes, that’s Kat taking a photo of her lunch with her iPhone. Doesn’t everyone take pictures of their food?

Here’s Iris, aka RawFishionado, enjoying an ikura bowl with ramen. Here are the deets of the combo set she ordered.

I just had to seal the deal with a piece of Today’s Cake (they sell it everyday) at the Italian Tomato/Maestro stall not too far from Santouka in the food court. It almost seemed wrong to eat the pastry goodness topped with fruits, cream and powdered sugar. At $4.20 a piece, the dessert is a bit expensive but so worth it.

I’ll definitely go back to the Mitsuwa food court when the weather cools down. For now, I think I’ll get myself some frozen yogurt.

Santouka Ramen and Italian Tomato/Maestro

Mitsuwa Marketplace
665 Paularino Ave.
Costa Mesa
(714) 557-6699

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Keizo says:

October 23, 2008 at 1:08 pm

Taking photos of food is so boring. But taking photos of other people taking photos of food…now that’s exciting! Haha. I think you’re on to something!

Ramen sounds good right now. I think I’ll go have some tonight…

Kat "I eat 'til my pants hurt" Nguyen says:

October 23, 2008 at 1:17 pm

Har har, Keizo! Are you calling me boring?!?!?

P.S. When does ramen NOT sound good to you?

Ellyn says:

October 23, 2008 at 1:32 pm

Shooooot, now I want ramen again for dinner.

Iris says:

October 23, 2008 at 1:51 pm

You rameniacs are truly converting this rawfishionado — I’m jonesin’ for ramen now too!! See you all at Santouka tonight!

Linda says:

October 23, 2008 at 3:09 pm

That looks BOMB! How was the spicy one? Really spicy?

October 23, 2008 at 3:37 pm

Hi Kat! You?…boring?…NEVER! I’m just jealous of your iPhone…

Wonginator says:

October 24, 2008 at 10:32 am

Santouka is considered the one of the best ramen place in OC by many, but we are lucky to be blessed with several ramen places nearby. Mentatsu Noodle House is one block away, Oki Doki across the street, and Kohryu right down the street. There is a Daikokuya in the Murakai marketplace on Harbor, but I’ve read negative reviews of it.

Shin Sen Gumi and Ebisu are in neighboring Fountain Valley, and Kairaku-tei is in Tustin.

Edwin Goei says:

October 24, 2008 at 4:26 pm

I can have this ramen on a hot day or a cold day. It’s that good. Though it does taste better when it’s nippy out.

Wonginator’s right, Daikokuya seems to have never improved unfortunately. And I was hoping it would.

Oh well, who needs anything else when Santoka’s around.

Tony says:

October 24, 2008 at 4:29 pm

I’ve tried them ALL and Santoka is the best. My coworkers and I go there once a week. I’ve recently moved Costa Mesa.. So i’ll be having Santoka more often now.
On a side note, I met this cutie standing in line at Santoka a few weeks ago. I gave her a box of Almond Crush Pocky sticks with my number on it. Unfortunately she didn’t call. But the meal was still great!! : )

Abbie says:

October 24, 2008 at 7:22 pm

you beat me to my craving!

mmm

edjusted says:

October 26, 2008 at 5:21 pm

Santouka is more known for their shio (salt) ramen and their toroniku ramen (the expensive one with the super fatty chashu) is great! I’m not too crazy about their other ramen though. Shoot, now I’m craving some ramen!

Fork N Knives says:

October 29, 2008 at 3:41 pm

THE BEST!! Number 4 with a 47 and the green onion rice!!!
AWESOME!!! The fat streaking through the pork is simply beautiful. I can not recall any other food that hits me like a nitrous balloon haha

Miyabatei (I think I spelled that right)
Is good too. The Curry is a good cold weather food but the combo with tempura, sashimi, veggies, and fish and the red bean stuff is where its at for me.

I am never there when Maestros is open so one day I will get my omelet.

October 30, 2008 at 7:25 pm

Linda,

I totally missed this til now, sorry! But the kara miso ramen is not super spicy, just has a nice underlying hint of heat so that it doesn’t overwhelm the lovely pork broth.

If you want a spicier ramen, head over to MaRuYu in Santa Ana.

November 3, 2008 at 8:50 am

Tony, has the cute girl from the line called yet? How could she not call after the way you slipped her your no.?

November 7, 2008 at 11:00 am

Ellyn, Unfortunately no, but i haven’t given up hope. In my mind she was called away on an emergency business trip for St John, and will call me as soon as she gets back. HAHA Eda, where you at??

BUT, i do have good news.. Ajisen is opening up a restaurant in the Diamond Jamboree plaza!! WOo HOo!! at least i can drown my sorrows in a bowl of Spicy Ramen..

Tony

November 7, 2008 at 11:22 pm

Ohh, Diamond plaza isn’t too far from me. All of you guys, we should have a ramen powwow one of these days!

And Tony, don’t stop believin’!

November 8, 2008 at 10:30 am

Ellyn,
That is a fantastic idea. I’ve been reading Your, Kat “I eat ’til my pants hurt” Nguyen, and Monster Munching’s blogs for awhile now. I would love to meet you all in person and Ramen always sounds good to my tummy.

How do we do this?

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