Santouka

Santouka is the Harvard Square location of a ramen chain that began in Asahikawa, on Japan’s northernmost island of Hokkaido. Its specialty is a white tonkotsu soup with a gentle flavor and aroma, meant to be slurped down to the last drop. The original shop won over Hokkaido diners with thin-noodle ramen in an elegant soup topped with char-siu pork and pickled plums, and its Toroniku char-siu pork later became a specialty.

The story starts with founder Hitoshi Hatanaka, who stopped with his family at a ramen shop after watching the Japanese comedy Tampopo and was unsatisfied with the taste. He declared he would make the ramen next time, and in March 1988 he opened his own shop in Asahikawa with the recipe that had won over his family. It began with nine seats and a single item, shio (salt) ramen, before magazine and TV coverage made it famous.

What to Know

• The Santouka mobile app earns points toward free ramen and works at the Harvard Square location.
• The app also takes orders for pickup.
• Other Boston-area Santouka locations are in the Back Bay and Allston.