Santouka Expands Menu and Looks to Open Downtown

Japanese ramen chain Santouka landed in Cambridge's Harvard Square in February, and for the first few months of its existence, it offered a compact menu of four types of ramen, including the restaurant's signature shio (salt) ramen, a "mild and creamy" broth topped with a pickled plum. Over the last couple of months, Santouka has filled out its menu a bit, adding rice bowl combinations, appetizers, and salads.

New additions include two types of ramen that are available just for the summer: goma miso ramen ($11.75), which includes sesame seeds and creamy miso, and it's recommended that diners add rayu, a spicy sesame oil; and hiyashi ramen ($12.50), cold ramen noodles with greens and tomatoes, a special dressing, and two pieces of toroniku (pork cheek).

Appetizers include takoyaki ($5), fried octopus-filled balls served with a sweet sauce and bonito flakes; and karaage ($6), deep-fried chicken. There are also rice bowls topped with salmon and pork belly.

In addition to expanding the menu, Santouka is looking to open a second local outpost; the potential spot is in the Financial District, and the new restaurant would ideally have a license that allows beer and sake, as well as a larger menu with more ramen-friendly appetizers.