Restaurant Workers at Oakland’s Noka Ramen Shouldn’t Have to Fight Crime, Even if They’re Dressed Like Superheroes | Eater SF

"I was happily surprised when I showed up for dinner at the two-month-old Noka Ramen in Oakland and saw my server wearing a Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers costume; the staff had just started wearing the costumes on Fridays as a goofy way to bring in more customers and to serve Power Ranger–themed drinks intended to promote Asian culture and bridge cultural gaps. Cartoon, a manager and partner who declined to share their legal name, said the idea was meant to bring fun to the restaurant, and the staff—who are Thai—hope to open doors for people to learn more about Thai food, culture, and ethos. What began as a playful promotion turned into a heroic moment on October 14 when, as I later recounted in a now-viral Twitter thread (@ppirapokin), the costumed staff intervened and battled an attacker who ran into the restaurant, helping ensure customers and coworkers remained safe; the Oakland Police Department detained the attacker, who they believe was experiencing a mental-health crisis and who at one point shouted anti-Asian slurs. The incident has left management thinking about safety protocols and scenario-based police training, and it has made me appreciate the value of showing up in person for neighborhood restaurants—to notice the food, the decor, the costumes, and the care and risks staff take to create community." - Paolo Bicchieri