This famous Japanese ramen brand is opening its second location in Chicagoland next month

Hokkaido Ramen Santouka is about to bring one of Japan’s most quietly obsessive ramen cults to the West Loop, opening a new outpost at 160 N. Halsted in mid-to-late February. For Chicago ramen fans, that’s a big deal: Santouka’s reputation rests on a single-minded devotion to broth, built through decades of refinement that began far from the city’s industrial-chic dining corridors.

The 43-seat restaurant will be Santouka’s second Chicagoland location, following its popular stall inside Mitsuwa Marketplace in Arlington Heights, and its 18th in the U.S. Globally, the brand now spans more than 50 locations across seven countries, but the West Loop debut places Santouka squarely into Chicago’s most competitive dining neighborhood.

At the heart of the menu is Santouka’s signature tonkotsu pork bone broth, slow-simmered until creamy and deeply savory without tipping into heaviness. Diners can choose from the brand’s core ramen lineup: shio, shoyu, miso, spicy miso and the cult-favorite Tokusen Toroniku ramen. A selection of curated toppings allows guests to customize their bowls, while tsukemen dipping noodles offer a more textural way to experience the carefully built flavors.

But Santouka isn’t positioning itself as ramen-only. The West Loop menu will also feature a range of Japanese comfort dishes, including crispy karaage, handmade gyoza, takoyaki and tonkatsu, giving diners plenty of reasons to linger beyond a single bowl. It’s a well-rounded approach that mirrors how ramen shops operate in Japan, where sides aren’t afterthoughts but integral to the experience.

The restaurant’s design leans into modern Japanese minimalism with a distinctly Chicago edge. Exposed brick walls and rich wood tones bring warmth to the space, while soft ambient lighting and booth seating create a welcoming atmosphere.