It’s a chilly evening and if you’re a warm blooded mammal or at least sane, a large and very hearty bowl of ramen would do the trick. I’m not talking about Top Ramen kids. Feast your eyes on this fiery treat worth breaking a sweat for. The Japanese noodle dish came a long way here to the states and this bowl would make any traditional ramen-ya house double take. It’s not easy to find “close to authentic” ramen bowls, but Santouka Ramen creates beautiful bowls of salt or soy ramen with the traditional toppings. I really believed I stepped into Hokkaido, Japan. Known for their Miso broth ramen, the motherland would be proud. The moist and almost falling-off-your-chopstick slices of pork are marinated for hours in (I’m guessing) soy sauce, sugar, and sake. Just a ladle of noodles, broth, bamboo shoots, and a medley of vegetables is as close to oral ecstasy as you can get. Santouka Ramen is a weekly staple in my diet. Don’t be fooled with the styrofoam cups and plastic trays. Located in the Mitsuwa Japanese Marketplace, this food court chain has come back with a vengence, proving everyone that 4.5 stars on Yelp is like a walk in the park.