Next month, The Boro in Tysons Corner will welcome Santouka, a restaurant that specializes in Hokkaido-style ramen. Santouka opened its first location in Hokkaido in 1983. Its reach now spans 10 countries, including 16 locations in the United States. The Tysons Corner Santouka will be the first in Virginia.
But just because it’s a link in a chain, don’t expect packaged foods flown in from another location. The creamy tonkotsu broth that is Santouka’s signature is made fresh at every location, cooked low and slow for around 20 hours before it’s served to diners.
Opening during a pandemic was a challenging decision for Food’s Style USA’s CEO Jun Yoneda. However, he said in a statement, “We came to realize our authentic ramen could cheer up Virginia’s diners. Even before the pandemic hit, we have maintained the highest sanitary conditions at all of our restaurants. Tables are frequently cleaned with disinfectant spray, and our employees regularly take health and sanitation training. To welcome our customers with the highest level of cleanliness, Santouka Tysons Corner (as well as other U.S. locations) will strictly adhere to the state’s and CDC’s guidelines.”
Besides basic tonkotsu, ramen flavors include shoyu (soy sauce), shio (salt) and miso. The signature bowl, however, is toroniku ramen, a soup that’s served alone, with toppings on the side. Toroniku itself is pork cheek, and the side plate is filled with it. For meat lovers, it’s a ramen to crave.
But there’s more to the menu than soup. The same pork-obsessed diners who will go for the toroniku will likely salivate over the bowls of sweet cha siu pork. Other bites include gyoza, karaage (fried chicken) and fried rice. Santouka will serve lunch and dinner daily. // 1636 Boro Place, McLean
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