Washoku Guide
Cities/Chicago/Ramen/Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa)
Chicago · Ramen · casual

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa)

JapaneseRamenHokkaidoTonkotsuShioFood Court

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka at Arlington Heights is a stall inside the Mitsuwa Marketplace food court, representing the iconic Japanese chain founded by Hitoshi Hatanaka in Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 1988. Signature bowls include shio (salt), shoyu and spicy miso ramen with a slow-simmered pork-bone broth.

Price
¥
Area
Arlington Heights (suburban)
Since
1988
Owner
Santouka Corp. (三代目 哲麺 / サンフードジャパン株式会社), founded by Hitoshi Hatanaka
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) — authentic japanese restaurant in Chicago, Arlington Heights (subur…
Plate № 43
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About
Founded in Asahikawa, Hokkaido in 1988 by Hitoshi Hatanaka, Santouka has grown into one of Japan's most recognised ramen chains with locations in Tokyo and internationally. Its Arlington Heights outpost, nestled in the food court of the Mitsuwa Marketplace Japanese supermarket, has been one of the most consistently popular ramen destinations in the Chicago suburbs for over a decade. The signature shio (salt-based) broth is slow-simmered from pork bones to a milky, rounded depth, and the optional pork-cheek topping (toro chashu) is widely cited as a must-order. The food-court setting keeps prices extremely accessible, and the quality closely mirrors what diners find at Santouka locations in Japan, making it a pilgrimage stop for ramen enthusiasts visiting Mitsuwa.
Neighborhood & visiting

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) sits in Arlington Heights (suburban), one of Chicago's neighborhoods where authentic Japanese kitchens have taken root. The house does not publish an online booking link; call ahead to secure a seat, especially on weekends. Check the posted hours before you go — traditional ramen restaurants often close between service periods.

Why it's on Washoku Guide
  • Direct branch of the iconic Hokkaido-founded Santouka chain, offering the same proprietary shio and tonkotsu broth recipes served across Japan.
  • The slow-simmered pork-bone broth and pork-cheek (toro chashu) topping reflect the authentic Asahikawa ramen tradition with no compromises for Western tastes.
  • Located inside Mitsuwa Marketplace, the largest Japanese supermarket in the Chicago area, ensuring an immersive Japanese culinary environment.
  • Cash-only, food-court format mirrors the no-frills Japanese ramen-ya experience and keeps bowl prices among the lowest for authentic ramen in Chicagoland.

Phone +1 847-357-0286 confirmed via Santouka Japan corporate site and TripAdvisor. Hours from Santouka Japan corporate page (may vary; check directly). The Japanese corporate parent lists this location on its official international shop directory.

Links
Website →Map →Tripadvisor →

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Frequently asked

About Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa)

Is Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) an authentic japanese restaurant in Chicago?
Yes — Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) is featured in Washoku Guide because it meets our authenticity standard for japanese in Chicago: a kitchen grounded in Japanese technique, ingredients and preparation consistent with Japanese practice, and a focused ramen format.
Where is Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) located?
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) is located at 100 E Algonquin Rd (Mitsuwa Marketplace food court), Arlington Heights, IL 60005, Chicago, USA in the Arlington Heights (suburban) neighborhood.
Do I need a reservation at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa)?
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) does not publish an online reservation link. Walk-ins may be possible, but for popular ramen restaurants in Chicago we recommend calling ahead.
What is the price range at Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa)?
Hokkaido Ramen Santouka (Arlington Heights / Mitsuwa) sits in the ¥ price range — typical for japanese of this format in Chicago.
Keep exploring
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