NōKA Ramen & Bar
Ramen restaurant · Produce and Waterfront ·
Creative ramen joint serving traditional eats & sake options
Creative ramen joint serving traditional eats & sake options
"Noka Ramen is known both for its Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen and a viral Twitter thread two months into the restaurant’s run, which detailed how Noka staffers helped save a woman from an attacker — all while dressed up as characters from Mighty Morphin Power Rangers for Halloween. Heroics aside, ramen is the thing to get, although there are certainly other tempting dishes to order, such as a lobster shio ramen and the Noka Burger, which comes with a wagyu beef patty and chashu. The cocktails are also worth a spin, with some fun, over-the-top options such as the Noka Ranger, which is (appropriately) served in Mighty Morphin Power Rangers-like tiki mugs." - Dianne de Guzman
"Noka Ramen opened in Oakland from chef Kasem Saengsawang of Farmhouse Thai with a menu of ramen styles ranging from tonkotsu to theatrical options like lobster shio ramen that includes a whole Maine lobster, paired with whimsical cocktails and glam jungle decor." - Lauren Saria
"From the restaurant team that made its brand aesthetic “too-many-faux tropical plants-and neon-lights” comes Noka Ramen. It’s located in Jack London Square, right around the corner from sister spot Farmhouse Kitchen. And while you can (and should) fill up on perfectly great bowls of tonkotsu ramen with the usual fixings, consider ordering the crispy brussels sprouts covered in sticky soy glaze, corn with spicy aioli, and a $56 dollar shio lobster ramen that’s large enough for two. As one might expect from a place that projects nature videos and anime on the wall, this place serves cocktails in Power Rangers mugs and cat copperware, and drinks garnished with salted caramel popcorn cones." - Lani Conway
"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
"Currently in soft opening at 90 Franklin Street, this ramen shop specializes in Hakata-style tonkotsu ramen, and its 90s action show–inspired cocktails look amazing; local coverage frames the arrival as good news for an area pivoting from “take-out only” to a dining-and-entertainment focus." - Paolo Bicchieri