Hokkaido Ramen Santouka Announces University Village Expansion

Breaking ramen news this morning, as Japanese sensation Hokkaido Ramen Santouka announced plans to open its second restaurant in the state at University Village. The opening is slated for summer.

The company opened its first free-standing restaurant in the U.S. in Bellevue in April 2014. It’s been well-received, including earning a spot on Eater’s list of Eight Elite Ramen Restaurants.

The restaurant focuses on tonkotsu broth, which is traditional to Japan’s Hokkaido region and made by boiling pork bones for 20 hours. Diners then select flavor options like salt (shio), soy sauce (shoyu), fermented soy bean paste (miso), or spicy miso (karamiso). Bowls are finished with a heap of wavy noodles and ingredients like vegetables, dried fish, kelp, and, should you order the shio version, a pickled red plum.

The University Village restaurant will join the company’s growing list of locations around the world, including Japan, Singapore, Thailand, Canada, and several U.S. cities.

The U Village is also anticipating expansion locations for Rachel’s Ginger Beer, slated to open June 1, and Ba Bar, also aiming for summer.