Sansotei Ramen

Didn’t get the hype around this place. Got here early to beat the lunch line. Came here with my folks because they’d been meaning to try it out too. I’m a pretty big ramen fan, and so I ordered their tonkatsu black garlic oil and my folks each ordered the tantan, one with thick one with thin noodles. I tried to order side dishes but they don’t make them at lunch, essentially meaning all they offer is drinks and ramen. Kinda disappointed in that since I’m trying to … well try the foods and I can’t. You also have to pay for tea, something surprising since its the first ramen place I’ve been to do that. Bowls came and their the that V style bowl vs the U. What I mean by that is, the V style bowl looks like its got a lot of noodles when you’re looking straight down and it, but not much one you start eating. Onto the food. Sorry, it was a bit overrated. They do get props for their eggs which were perfectly cooked! Just runny enough on the inside! The ramen itself was tasty, but nothing really special, especially after all the hype. Prob go back just because their aren’t many other ramen places uptown (yet!)

I ordered the Spicy Tantan ramen, which is not too spicy and has that spicy taste. The egg that came with it is really good. Only thing I don’t like is the setting of the restaurant. I guess they want to have Japanese feel, but no.

The thick ramen noodles did go really well with the tomato soup and were just chewy and firm enough for me. The egg was so soft and tender; I loved the soft-​boiled yolk. Definitely a very well executed soft-​boiled egg. The scallop was nice and big. The pork belly was very tender and not fatty at all! The shiitake mushrooms were fresh and really good.
I really enjoyed my Tomato soup base ramen!

I much prefer the downtown location but I guess that is what happens when there are franchises. The quality is very different, its as if the two restaurants weren’t even related other than having the same menu items.
We ordered the tonkotsu and shoyu. Both broths were just decent. Definitely not as creamy, thick and savoury as the downtown location. In fact, they tasted pretty watered down. Noodles felt undercooked. The noodles should be chewy, but not hard. The ramen was just disappointing.
I also ordered the matcha cheesecake. Maybe it just was not what I imagined it to be. It turned out to be a really dense cheesecake. I was hoping for soft, moist, japanese cheesecake. It was really dense, like something made out of diluted philadelphia cream cheese.
Will not be coming back.

3.5 stars. We went last long weekend at 7pm for the first time, worried about their infamous lineup to get a table. We got a table in about 15 minutes– so it wasnt so bad after all!
I’ll have to say I now understand the hype. They are serious about their noodles. They were el dente and the eggs were perfectly cooked. We ordered the scallop– tomato and the tonkitsu. Both were really tasty, We just wish it came with a little more (1 scallop in my noodle!) We were also not impressed with having to pay $ 2 for tea.

First time trying Sensotei, which is pretty surprising because I have tried most of the ramen places in Toronto. Showed up around 7 PM on a weekday dinner and the place was quite busy. There was a short line and we were seated within 15 minutes.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Black Ramen, Shio Ramen, and Zangi (Chicken Karaage). I wanted to order the slow-​cooked chicken wings but then the server said that they were sold out, which was disappointing. The food came really quickly. The ramen was good and the noodles were cooked to the right texture. The broth was also good but not the best I have ever had. The chicken was fried nicely and the fresh lemon paired nicely with it.
The location is great because there aren’t many good authentic ramen options in the Markham region. I would definitely return, especially during cold winter nights when I am craving ramen!

Sansotei Markham is in the Whole Foods plaza, beside Five Guys. It’s bigger and a lot more spacious than the one downtown! Came here at 6pm on a weekday, and we didn’t have to wait for a seat :). It was nice that they let me bring outside bbt into the restaurant since I was afraid it would melt in the car on a hot sunny day.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Black ramen with thin noodles, and I loved the garlic oil taste. I found that the slices of pork were thicker than what I got in downtown location, so that was a plus! The noodles were really chewy and I liked that crispy sensation when biting the black fungus.
The soup base wasn’t too salty, so I wasn’t dying of thirst after the meal.
An overall positive experience! Will be back. :)

I’ve been looking for a good ramen place around Markham since the last one I liked closed down a fair amount of time ago. Saosotei came up highly recommend by family and friends so I gave it a try. Glad I went!
Sansotei has two locaitons: One downtown, and this one in Markham.
First of all: Make sure you check their hours. They have some weird hours and they’re not oddly enough, not open for lunch of the weekend. Then, make sure you go early. They get VERY busy really quickly. They have fewer longer tables rather than more smaller ones so when they get busy, they may put other customers next to you.
The ramen is excellent. I highly recommend Tonkatsu Black (pork with garlic oil) Ramen. You also may want to consider getting the extra noodles. Between the thin and thick noodles, I don’t see a noticeable difference. They also have a spicy flavor, tomato, normal tonkatsu and another one that I’m not remembering right now. They’re all under $ 10 before tax /​tip so it’s a price for what you get. Service is excellent and they do bring your food 5 – 10 minutes after you order it so they’re very quick — even if they’re busy.
I highly recommend giving this place a try. Just make sure to go early if you don’t like waiting.

Really happy they opened one up in Markham. I never went during busy hours — I went on Friday night at around 6pm, and we only had to wait for 10 minutes before being seated (for 3 people). Then when I went on a Sunday night, I went at around 8:30 pm and there were a lot of seats.
The ramen is great here! I love that the ramen (thick noodles) are well cooked — meaning it is chewy enough and great texture. I had the black tonkatsu the first time, and then I had the soyu the second time. Both had great flavours and the soup base it just so so good, you know they have a secret recipe behind their restaurant somewhere. The only part I would say is that I wish they had more legumes/​vegetables in the bowls. I also don’t like that they are a japenese restaurant charging $ 2 per cup of tea. I mean, its basically required for one to drink tea while eating ramen, you shouldn’t really charge for this.
The service is quite fast, and its pretty much what you’ll find in Japan.

As far as ramen goes, Sansotei is as good as it gets. Good soup and good noodles. But be wary of the sodium, it’s just too much.
I would like to say I am not the biggest ramen fan. The idea of a 10 dollar bowl of noodles with one egg, two pieces of pork belly, and miscellaneous items doesn’t have the biggest appeal but I can appreciate it. It can make for a warm, and hearty meal.
I’ve tried Sansotei downtown and found the Markham location just as good. I haven’t tried the spicy tan tan (sesame) but have tried the tonkotsu ones and were disappointed. The salt just overpowers everything, and it’s hard to enjoy the dish. I found spicy tan tan much better! It’s less pungent and the heat provides a nice little kick. Do pair the spicy tan tan with thick noodles, it compliments better.
As far the individual components of the ramen go, they really are amazing. The egg is perfectly soft boiled, the pork belly is tender. The noodles are perfectly cooked firm yet with a nice chew. The broth is rich, unfortunately just overdone with salt.
Service was great and quick. We came on the weekend before 6pm and were instantly seated. This place was packed with a lineup just after 6 but with a quick turnaround time the wait shouldn’t be too long.
I will definitely be back and can easily say Sansotei will be my ramen of choice uptown. Uptown ramen lovers can rejoice!

3.5
Pros:
Friendly service
One of the few Ramen places uptown
Cons:
Long wait times
Not as good as downtown locations
Santosei at Yonge and Bloor is my favourite Ramen in the city. Having one open uptown, it was only a matter of time before I gave this place a try. It’s one of the few places you can get Japanese style Ramen uptown.
The number one thing you should note about this place is to come early or expect a long wait. We came just before 6pm and we still probably waited 40 – 45 minutes for a seat. It’s a very busy place and the places isn’t the biggest. Expect to share tables with others for sure. If your here with a date or friends, it’s not too bad. If you got children with you, it can get a little tough.
When I’m at Santosei, it’s always the Tonkotsu Black with extra noodle and corn. My GF got the same thing minus the corn. They recommend the extra noodles on the side in a separate bowl which I agree with. If you opt for it all in the same bowl, the noodles get to soggy near the end. The noodles come out pretty fast considering how busy they are. We also ordered the Zangi (deep fried chicken)
Comparing this location to the Yonge and Bloor location now. The Ramen here is good, but a step below what they make downtown. The broth here is much more saltier than the location downtown. The noodles just didn’t have the same bite as the ones downtown. It still is a good bowl of Ramen, just feels a little off from what I’m used to. The Zangi also comes in little strips, not the big chunks the downtown location offers.
The service here was very good throughout our visit here. All of them were very nice and patient despite how busy and hectic thing got.
You’ve got yourself a very good place to get Ramen here. If you’ve been to the locations downtown though, it might leave you a bit yearning for more.

Came here around 9PM so there was some empty spots and was seated immediately.
We ordered the Spicy tan tan noodles, tonkotsu black, and tomato ramen– all with thick noodles
Spicy tantan tastes like their soup base incorporated with Sriracha sauce. It’s a good broth and gives you a great kick of spicy savoury flavour.
The tonkotsu black had great flavour though it might be the MSG. The immense amount of sodium in the ramen made me dehydrated and I kept feeling thirsty afterwards.
The tomato was alright, well-​balanced of sweet and savoury.
The egg on top was cooked nicely, and the thick noodles were cooked perfectly (nice texture and was bouncy!)
The food came quick and the portion was not filling as we left still hungry
Overall, it’s a great ramen place in Markham but wouldn’t come often due to the amount of MSG they use in their ramen

Every time I come, I’m greeted right away with the whole staffing team and immediately seated if there are seats.
Their food comes super fast so if you’re looking to eat with in a 30 minute time span, you’ve come to the right place.
All their ramens are delicious. I’ve tried pretty much every one of them. Just remember to drink water :)
Try the gyoza. It’s always my go to :)

I am glad that Sansotei opens another location up in Markham. It is just hard to get decent Ramen North of 401.
This place is always busy in the evening. I had give up having dinner here as I don’t see myself waiting half a hour for a table even at 9 pm?! For me Ramen is supposed to be something fast and convenient.
Dropping by for a late lunch worked the best for me as I never waited for the table. Service always be fast and polite. My usual is always Tonkatsu with thick noodles. The broth rich and creamy, noodle with the perfect bite.
Double check opening hours as lunch only serves Ramen during weekdays and without any sides.

This one located in Markham has a lot more room than the one downtown. Interior design is pretty nice and comfortable.
I ordered the Tonkotsu Ramen, which was pretty good. You have the option of picking a thick or thin noodles, soup base wasn’t over salty, drank the whole thing. I had worked out before coming here so it didn’t fill me up as much as I’d like, so you might want to order extra toppings or a side dish if you’re hungry.
I wouldn’t mind coming back here, but probably won’t make the trip since it’s a bit out of the way with all the construction going around the area.
I would give it a 3.5÷5

This place has very good ramen, full stop.
Now because it has very good ramen, they are very busy as people will still line up even in the face of a snow fall to get in.
We got lucky, as in we pulled up at 5 minutes before noon on a snowy, slushy Tuesday morning and there was a line of about 10 to 15 people in front of us. Now the line did build up as we waited to be seated. The staff does what they can to accomodate. But my suggestion is that if you are on a limited time crunch, easiest thing is to get here before they open and hopefully you can get a table right away.
Price wise — it is within expectation for a ramen place; but on the higher end of the pricing scale
Service — the staff is pretty good for most part. The person taking names was a bit brusque; but when you’re trying to manage a line — it is understandable. The staff is pretty good at clearing the tables and ensuring that the line of hungry noodle slurpers get a spot to eat.
Overall, a welcome addition to the ramen scene in Markham, but not the best ramen place in town.

I don’t usually go to ramen places bc portions are typically much smaller than my appetite. I came here based on my friends recommendation. I can tell you I was not disappointed with the food, service or the cleanliness of the place. I had a great time there, the very moment I stepped in.
Upon entry, my group was greeted immediately. It’s always a great way to start the night. We were seated and the waitress asked what we wanted to drink (green tea or water). I didn’t know there was a price for the green tea ($ 2), so I ordered that. It doesn’t matter to me, but some people may want to know that info ahead of ordering their drinks. We ordered our food and as we were waiting, we got a chance to meet the owner. He was a great guy, very informative when we asked about the ingredients and such. Look him up, name is Dominic.
Our food arrived pretty quick. I ordered the spicy ramen (quantity limited based on ingredient). It was actually pretty good — wasn’t very spicy and still contained the regular flavours of ramen. The noodle itself was chewy, not under or overcooked. It was, in my opinion, the perfect tenderness.
The restaurant looked clean, and the furnishing complemented the colours of the wall and floor. I didn’t get a chance to visit the washroom, so I’ll update this for my next visit!
Sansotei Ramen is a great place to be at if you want a mixture of good food and great service! If you’re a clean freak, this is the place to be to eat :)

The broth here is absolutely delicious. I actually finished the entire bowl (including the broth) because it was that good (or I could’ve been really hungry from the wait). So far, this has been by far one of the better ramens i’ve had and the portion is JUST right. If you happened to have brought a friend who is not a fan of ramen, there’s the fried chicken and rice you can order.
The service here was fantastic. Although we waited a long time for our table, the staff continued to be friendly despite how crowded and busy it was. I’m going to tell you if you have a small party (2 person) you probably won’t have to wait so long, but if you have a larger group, expect to wait longer. The spacing was decent for a ramen place too. The ramen places I’ve been to have been quite small but this one was more spacious than the others. Could be because there’s more space in the suburbs of Markham?
Will probably come back and will try to come on the not so busy times.

I heard this place is always PACKEDDD. We got lucky and were able to get seats within 15 minutes. If we came 5 minutes later, we would have waited a good 30 minutes.
Ramen, I definitely eat a lot of it. As, I grew up, I had a bowl of soup based noodles everyday, basically ate 5000 bowls of soup based noodles and literally almost every supermarket brand out there (my dad loves soup based noodles, it’s practically his coffee).
Um, for $ 10 a ramen, I definitely expected a lot, but I didn’t feel like it was worth it. The noodles, I feel like they taste like a frozen brand that you can buy at the supermarket, with the same soup base, though i felt like Sansotei added a lot of sesame oil and MSG. I really got to praise their smooth egg though, I haven’t had something close to it since I went to Tokyo and had their sauna eggs. Of course, it’s different, but Sansotei’s eggs were quite smooth.
The noodle portion was pretty small for $ 10, I would pay $ 6 for this, not $ 10. Heard they have fried chicken and seaweed salad here for appetizers as well as desserts.
If you like these noodles, go to the supermarket, frozen section and get yourself a pack, add some seasame oil to it and MSG, it’ll basically taste the same.

Third time’s the charm! Yes, I’ve tried to get in twice before and both times, I gave up on waiting. It’s winter in Canada; I do not have enough commitment to wait outside for an hour. But a friend tipped me off that Wednesday is a good night to go so I finally got to try out this place. I’ve been to the Sansotei downtown before so I was excited to give this one a try.
First of all, they are hyper efficient. Service is faster than anywhere I’ve ever been. It helps that they are a pretty small space and only have about 10 items on the menu, half of which are ramen that probably use the same ingredients with just a different soup base. The servers are also really professional and upbeat. Most places that hire young people lack training, but these ladies and gents commanded the floor like bosses. They checked up on us and our water was always filled (my personal indicator of good service).
The ramen is really really good (and affordable!). It has less sodium than Sonoya (which I recently learned is the same as Kenzo). I got the thick noodles in tonkotsu black. Noodles had good texture, soup base was flavourful, pork was juicy, and that egg was perfection. We also had a side of the fried chicken and gyoza. Gyoza was average but the fried chicken had great, fresh flavour with a good amount of crispy and not a lot of grease. We finished with matcha cheesecake (at the suggestion of other Unilocalers): creamy NY style cheesecake with a hint of strong green tea. It was a great way to cut the saltiness from the rest of the meal.
I’m going to have to be honest, I was prepared to not give this place a high rating because of the frustration with getting inside. But I can’t deny them. Service is excellent, food is delicious, and I am a happy customer.