Shoki II Ramen House
1201 R St, Sacramento, CA, 95811
Shoki II Ramen House Menu
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Address :
1201 R St
Sacramento, CA, 95811 - Phone (916) 441-0011
- Website https://www.shokiramenhouse.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 3:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
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Jordan B.
I get regular cravings for this place. Tan Tan Men Extra Spicy! Yes please. I've tried the soy milk ramen as well. Go here during lunch hour on a weekday and expect to wait. Very tiny restaurant and they pack you in there. They turn and burn tables pretty fast though. Menus are very old and kinda dirty-gross but this place is completely authentic and all about the food which is absolutely amazing. If you order a diet coke or green tea you're getting a can or a bottle with a glass of ice. Its one of those places that's good enough to get away with the old school go-to-Costco for inventory small businesses.
(5)Fey S.
I love this place! I used to walk here for lunch during the summer. Although it gets crazy packed sometimes, the waiters/waitresses are always accommodating. Simple menu, delicious food, but kind of pricy for a simple bowl of ramen.
(4)liz s.
Service is quick and friendly. Taste-wise, I guess I don't get what all the hype is about ramen. Yeah the noodles are fresh, but I find the broth too salty. And the one slice of pork in each bowl is skimpy. I'm a small eater but I still felt hungry after eating the small size ($6.90).
(3)Flexoh B.
Great food and service. If you want it hot... they can make it hot! It was awesome!
(4)Claire C.
This must be the only place that's packed on a weekend night in downtown Sac. Satisfying, slurpworthy ramen with no MSG. They have a lighter, clear broth that isn't too salty and noodles with a good chew to it. I especially like that they offer whole wheat noodles and vegan/pescatarian options as well. For dessert, we got the strawberry mochi (available only on weekends) which was very good too - it's basically a layer of mochi wrapped around sweet azuki bean paste and a whole fresh strawberry.
(4)Courtney C.
Bring up the topic of ramen around me and you'll most likely get to hear me rant for 10 minutes about how overpriced the meal is. I mean, it's just noodles and broth...what in this bowl is worth $10? In light of my emotions, it was therefore unsurprising that I was skeptical about Shoki Ramen House. What was surprising was how satisfied I was with my meal. I ordered the Japanese curry special with extra tofu and the meal was perfect to defrost my icy ramen-hating heart. I will say that the extra tofu was integral to the meal because otherwise I probably still would have been hungry. The restaurant is small so it can get obnoxiously crowded (go early to beat the lunch crowd) but the service is great (and the little busboy is adorable.)
(4)Mommy J.
Best shoyu ramen in Sac! Not too many choices, which is perfect: walk in, be seated, order - the noodles are ready to go within minutes since they're not messing around with other menu items that take more time to prep/cook, eat, go. Quick, easy, totally yummy. Kiddo approved. Just go early- little/no wait when you plan ahead.
(5)Mymy N.
Much more seating at this location and the couple times I've been it has not been as crowded. Thanks to Kevan F., I have heightened my ramen experience by adding the tamago, half-boiled egg. Try it! Unfortunately, one time they had run out of eggs and another time, they ran out of rice for the donburi bowls! Hope they fully stock their kitchen next time! I also noticed that this location doesn't have the little appetizer dishes and the tofu salad. I can't get enough of that tofu and I missed the spicy bamboo. Nevertheless, when I crave ramen, yes even in triple digit Sacramento summer weather, I will go here to satisfy my craving.
(4)van t.
Amazing broth. The service was excellent. I love how the egg is cooked, boiled with med yolk. Interesting!!! My fave tan men with 2 order of eggs. Next time I'm going to add more bamboo. I got the regular but probably should have stuck with small since drinking the broth is a must. Parking is very easy. No wait. Food comes out lightening fast. The curry donburi wasn't what I expected. I didn't care for it much. I love the new location. We went to the old place once and never came back. There's a little more space here. Craving for it again but this time I'm going hot with 3 eggs and extra bamboo.
(5)Nate S.
Delicious, soulful renditions of a Japanese classic. Great service, helpful personnel. The place is small, but compared to the original it's like Cheesecake Factory. Definitely worth numerous return trips. Especially love the curry ramen special!
(4)Yod S.
I feel sort of stupid now. I've known about the original Shoki Ramen House for years. I just never went. Why? For the reason most of Sacramento never went. It was small. The line was long. Really long. And there was basically no off time where you could sneak in. Does this make me a less than dedicated foodie? Perhaps. But like the Squeeze Inn, the folks who run Shoki decided that they needed another, more modern version of their restaurant. Don't get me wrong, by modern I mean: -Can hold a decent number of people -Has parking -Accepts plastic -Not a shack The bottom line is this: Shoki II is good enough that I actually feel really bad about not going to the original Shoki all these years, lines be damned. Warning: it will get full, and fast. We got there at 5:00 right when they opened their doors on a Saturday. There were 8 people waiting for tables by the time we left at 5:45. There's still going to be a wait, but with the added capacity this shouldn't be as bad as the original Shoki. Warning 2: Caltrans/the rail people/someone really mean has the area all torn up. It will take you some extra, very frustrating loops around until you find a way to actually get to Shoki (I live in Roseville, so maybe you downtowners will have an easier go of this). My bowl: Soy milk ramen with two eggs and corn added. Somebody's going to flog me for this, but in richness and layers of flavor the only thing I can compare this to is the ramen at Ramen Jiro in Tokyo. The BIG difference is that whereas Ramen Jiro accomplishes this by using gobs of lard, Shoki does this using soy milk. Not having a coronary while eating your ramen makes it taste even better. Eggs are done to a perfect soft boil. Corn is super sweet. Noodles are the good chewy kind. Bottom line: flipping amazing. Girlfriend's bowl: Tan tan men regular spicy with egg and corn added. This was fantastic too. Two dinner guests: Tsukemen. This was ridiculously good. So basically you get a bowl of soy based dipping broth and a plate of noodles. The noodles have ice tossed in to keep them cold. You dip them in the hot broth and eat. The outside of the noodles get hot, the centers are still cool. It's amazing. They ordered extra noodles and rice so the remaining dipping broth wouldn't go to waste. Protips: -The $2.50 addon for a donburi is totally worth it. I prefer the curry one. I find the pork one underseasoned. If you do too, a squirt of sesame oil and a touch of the chili paste on the table will set things straight -If you are a fan of runny yolks, get the egg addon. Heck, get two or three. The eggs are perfectly done and go perfectly with the soup -Get the corn too. It's super sweet -Although they only suggest it for certain ramens, basically everything we ordered benefited from an extra shot of sesame oil about halfway through -Fan of Guinness? Order the Asahi Kuronama Black (it's on the menu as Asahi Dark). Same base idea, different implementation. This stuff goes for $12 a six pack, so $4.50 in a restaurant falls into what I consider "very reasonable" -Fan of sweet, fruity sake? Order the $6.50 sake in the can (the name escapes me right now) -Don't be daunted by the line. They have quite a few seats inside and turn the tables around pretty quickly. Get there right when they open to hopefully avoid a line... it fills up fast -Don't get the gluten-free version and then add soy sauce. Shoki uses proper Kikkoman soy sauce which contains wheat (I'm only saying this because someone at a nearby table did this) In short: go. Go now.
(5)Carlo V.
This place was good but would have been better had I not had the sniffles & was actually able to taste my food. I'm definetly going back again once I'm over this cold I have.
(4)Tony L.
Honestly, this place let me down. It did not live up to the hype. I arrived on Sunday around 3:30 and there was still a wait. No big deal, 15-20 wait is normal downtown, but after the fact we got sitted it was 10 minutes before our order was taken. Total chaos is the word I would use to describe this place. Don't get me wrong the service is okay. We were apologized to multiply times but that doesn't change anything. After our order was take, it was another 30 minutes before our food arrived. So my total wait time was almost a hour. If your kitchen can't handle the load it's time to slow the sitting down and let the kitchen catch up, not to jam more people in there and prolong the wait. I also don't understand the outside sitting area if the kitchen can not keep pace. Well on to the food, I had a ramen set with a side of don bury. My curry ramen was okay, the noodles were fresh and hot but the broth was only luke warm. They really need to take a hint from the pho assembly lines. The meal shouldn't take more then 5 minutes to put together. I was also ask to prepay after I ordered. WTF, are you worried I'm going to dine and dash. Shesh, I waited an hour to eat here. Over all I hope there get their act together. Having a little kid running around calling names and greeting customers met be cute but it still doesn't make up the fact for the long lines.
(2)Auto B.
Love that this place is in Sac. Really great food. Service was prompt if not a little curt but I don't mind that if they get the job done. People next to us were complaining that the noodles were under cooked. The staff kept saying that they time cook ALL the noodles so that would be impossible. She looked and felt the noodles, declared them cooked to the degree the house cooks them, then offered to give them a deal. I thought that was great. A restaurant that stands up for their own levels of quality. Some times the customers is not always right. Have to say the noodles were cooked just perfect. They are supposed to have texture to them. Anyways really enjoyed the place. Oh the large is very large, enough for my dinner and the next days lunch.
(5)Jen K.
Had better. Had shoyu ramen, I really liked that you could customize everything about ramen and broth (how spicy, less salt, less oil, chewier noodles, etc) but I didn't like that you have to pay for toppings separately. Each bowl of ramen is about $7, but adding some basic toppings easily adds up to $10. Ramen was pretty good overall, but I like Hokkaido Noodle House's ramen so much better. Small restaurant that sits about 30 people, flies are flying indoors but overall pretty clean, a big parking lot, friendly staff.
(3)Jenice G.
If you haven't tried Shoki's Ramen, you are doing your taste buds a huge disservice! I have NEVER had ramen that was so full of flavor. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. I've highly recommended the restuarant to all my friends.
(5)Wendy L.
Shoki, you had me at whole wheat ramen. I don't have much inspiration to Yelp much anymore but you my little ramen house gave me reason to once again. Truth be heard, you are that good! After standing up the boyfriend for two potential ramen dates, I finally committed myself to taking him out here for a very late dinner one Wednesday night. When you walk in, it has the subtle touches of an old Japanese ramen house, except larger. Equipped with a little bar for quick eaters during lunch time, it added a nice touch without you feeling claustrophobic since there are many private tables also. The menu is simple. There are four major broths: soy milk, shoyu, tan tan, and a sea salt. I've tried all but the soy milk one and they all add delicious flavors to the bouncy ramen. It comes with chasu or minced meat depending what you get, bamboo shoots, spinach and allows you to have some delicious add ons like their fresh tofu from to tofu company! Their regular ramen is good but on outing my Christina O, she introduced me to their whole wheat ramen and I've never went back to their regular ol ramen again. I salivate like one of Pavlov's classical conditioning subjects as I think of their whole wheat ramen. It's a little tougher and bouncier, in my opinion, than the regular ramen which I like. That night I ordered the large whole wheat tan tan men and he ordered the regular tan tan men. Yea..little ol 5ft me eats a lot more than my close to 6ft boyfriend. =D You also have the option to regulate the spiciness of your ramen, which I appreciate since i have the GI system of an 80 year old. They also have some really good appetizers such as their agedashi tofu. I LOVE their tofu. Unfortunately, its only offered during dinner time. One thing I wish they offered at lunch-as I would frequent here more. Also, if they were opened later on weekends for the late night crowd, that would be even a bigger plus. But I can see how it being kinda out there on R street wouldn't be the first convenient thing people think about. At the end of the night, Shoki, you made our night. Heh, your ramen even distracted the boyfriend from being mad at me for too long.
(4)Cind Y.
I was expecting amazing ramen, but it was just okay, and kind of expensive for the amount I got. The place is in the middle of nowhere, right next to railroad tracks, which is dangerous to cross if you're not familiar with the area and park on the other side.
(2)Ggbs M.
tried this new location, wanted to share a bowl of noodle with my friend since she's not that hungry, but they charged addition $2.5 for it. WTH. So greedy! food was average, not that special, it's way over rated.
(1)Mere M.
Cold day? Warm soup? Go here! It's fast and simple. They have like four different kinds of soup in either meat, veg or vegan style. The only bad part is that it's small, often crowded and loud. However, when you're craving ramen, there is no better place.
(4)Mimi G.
Love that I dont have to sit elbow to elbow anymore from their other location and is more kid friend so I can bring my son to eat QUALITY ramen noodles... big fan of their tan tan spicy with cabbage. When I feel like eating ramen this is the best ramen noodle in sac and by far any other out of town ramen places besides ajisen in the bay area.
(4)Stephen A.
This place is the best! The food is awesome!
(5)Lisa L.
I'm a fan of ramen but I thought I'd give it a try since I've heard a lot of good things about this place. Unfortunately, after coming here... I'm still not a fan of ramen -___- BUT! This place isn't the reason for that, I really just don't like ramen. haha The service here is great! The waitress recommended what to get and she was really adorable because she just kept the conversation going. Though I'm not fond of ramen, I liked their donburi! I think I got the donburi rice bowl with char siu? I probably wouldn't come back unless I randomly crave ramen someday but I recommend ramen lovers to try it! The price is decent and the portions and pretty big!
(4)Tu-Anh T.
As like everyone, I tried their Tan Tan with a side of cabbage. Homemade, flavorful broth made the ramen stand out from other places. I also tried a little bit of the soy milk broth and that was definitely different but still good. The chashu was more of a topping than part of the ramen so it wasn't as flavorful as I hoped it would be. I do recommend this location though! Parking was much easier and you didn't have to sit touching the stranger next to you.
(4)Edgar G.
I finally came here after hearing so many good things about Shoki's ramen. I ordered the Tan Tan with 3 slices of chashu. The regular is not too spicy so I need to try the spicier one next time. The ramen was a bit hard but other than that it was good but not great. The price for the regular size is priced well so I will be returning since this is one of the better ramen restaurant in Sacramento.
(4)Derick F.
ehhh... It's pretty much the same as the other restaurant. the food is fresh and delicious. and I always look forward to taking home my food. nom nom nom.
(4)Verna B.
Simple, satisfying and yummy. The service was informative and friendly, and there are lots of different options and add-ons for both carnivores and veggie/vegans. I ordered the vegan ramen and added shiitakes and tofu, medium spicy. Sad that they don't do take out (other than cold noodles and rice dishes) but I'll definitely be coming back!
(4)Robin T.
We were so happy to grab a table right away... glad this place is bigger than the original spot in Curtis Park! My kids, hubby, and I slurped our way to contentment and relished every noodle and drop of broth. This may become a weekly family addiction.
(5)Toshiro M.
Awesome noodles! Best I have had outside Japan. Thank you for holding true to what a Raman shop should be. If you don't like it them you don't know what a raman shop is suppose to be. It is not meant to emulate another country or a different venue of food. AWESOME! Now, all I need is a train station in the middle of winter. I look forward to soba in the summer.
(5)Sandy Y.
This place is addicting! There is always a line to get in, so I would recommend going at off peak hours! I have tried the soy milk, curry, tan tan men, and shoyu. By far my favorite is the shoyu, because it's simple yet very flavorful and taste like the traditional ramen noodles! The noodles here are so fresh. My husband and most of our friends love the tan tan men. I can't have spicy food, so I don't care too much for it and it has a smoked after taste to it. After eating it half way I would get tired of it. The soy milk ramen was better than I expected. At first I was thinking like how could soy milk in any noodles tasted good, but after having this dish I would recommend it to those who loves soy milk. Not my personal preference though, but surprisingly it was good. If you love mushroom then I would recommend adding the shitake mushroom, because it absorbs so much flavor in and adds a great taste and texture to your bowl. The recommended routine for enjoying your bowl is to eat it half way then add the finely minced garlic and dry pepper to your bowl for a different flavor and it will count as having two totally different bowls in one, which is kind of cool. They work really hard on the broth to keep all oil and fat out. I greatly appreciate that and can definately see that in the broth. Pay with cash and you can get a punch card for a free bowl after the 12 bowl.
(5)Troye B.
This place is the tits!!!! Talk about fucking Ramen, OH MY GOSH. I get the salt based soup less oil with WHOLE WHEAT noodles, i seriously recommend the wheat noodles they are just soooo damn goooood. The broth is sooo delicious!! Always get extra spinach just because thats the way to do it baby!! I got extra mushrooms one time and they were good once you mix them in the broth some because they are put in completely ice cold, i ate the first bit of them cold, yukky. same goes for the bamboo shoots. Overall this place is the place especially if your hungover in any way, instant cure or just lookin to get your belly filled. There are always lines and a wait before they open for lunch or dinner but every time i have been in they are speedy and your not waiting too long for your bowl of goodness!!
(5)Thomas V.
Went here for lunch yesterday. Tt was my first time and it was delicious!! Will be back for sure again!
(4)Jen L.
This place is overated. The broth is too plain jane for me. Nothing special. Cost $40 bucks for dinner of 3 people, too expensive for just ramen noodle. Probably wouldn't come here again.
(1)Pusha P.
I don't know what's up with the 4 star reviews, here's my take. This ramen house place is overrated!!!! The noodles are less portions and the broth is medicore. I was disapointed in this restaurant after hearing so many reviews. I ordered the Tan Tan Men and the portions came out very dinky, no meat, and the broth was bland.. Overrated!!! Will not come again.
(1)LL S.
Delicious ramen! I had the "extra spicy" extra large tan tan ramen. The noodles are cooked to perfection and the broth is unique, not too salty like most ramen noodle houses. It's worth my every penny. Too bad they are not in the SF area........ I wonder if Santa Ramen can compare?
(4)L H.
love their tan tan mien!!! got the regular spicy and it was not spicy at all....been here twice in a week...wish they would put more spinach or veggies in to soak up some of the salty broth, but i still loooove it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
(4)Daniel N.
just tried this location. glad they have more space now. i always order the tan tan men ramen but have also tried the shoyu and miso. i always add an egg and make it extra spicy. for some reason i remember it tasting a little better at the original location but it was still good. i also tried the chasu (pork) salad which was a lot for what you pay but had way too much dressing. shoki is still the best ramen place in sac but if you're a foodie slut and have been around, katana-ya in SF, santouka or daikokuya in LA or ippudo in NY are better in my opinion.
(4)Jared Y.
This place is just awesome.
(5)Joshua B.
Yum! At first I was not sure about this place. But after getting my meal I soon realized how great and refreshing the food is! Dare I say it is healthy too? The service is great....BUT...I really don't like the policy of not serving a party ANYTHING, not even liquor until all of the party has been seated. Waiting 15 minutes for any kind of food or drink seems counter productive in terms of customer service only when you are waiting for all your party to arrive in order to eat or drink. It made me not want to return as a customer. You want to make your customers happy, not frustrated as our group became.
(3)M. C.
Same great ramen as the original and so much more space! I have to admit I was skeptical of ramen in the beginning, but now I'm totally addicted! Must add the egg! (everything is better with an egg on top and this certainly includes ramen)
(4)Jackie W.
Best Ramen Place in Sacramento! It is much more spacious than the original and doesn't have that addicting ramen smell that the original one does, but food is just as good.. It is real ramen and not like the ramen from your college days.
(5)Mark S.
I'm not Japanese and I am not a ramen expert, so I cannot say whether Shoki is "authentic" or not -whatever that may mean. I do like ramen and have visited many ramen houses in the U.S. and Asia, and I know what I like...and I really like the tan tan men here. I have not had anything close to it anywhere else. I drive 50 miles round trip to get it here, and I crave it at least once a week. Shoki is a small place. Depending on how busy it is, service can range from speedy to a bit slow but I have never felt that it was excessively slow as some reviewers have noted, and I have been here many dozens of times on different days and different times of day. The atmosphere is very casual. The restaurant is very clean. The service is friendly. The food is outstanding. The tan tan men is to die for. I love this place!
(5)L C.
Over priced Ramen....is what i think... We tried the soy milk, tan tan noodle, and salt based... tan tan noodle had no flavor .... i had to add more spicy to it just to give it extra kick.. the sea salt broth tasted like a mix from dashi stock mix.. with lots of saltiness in it.. soy milk to me is the best tasting one just because i like soy milk but it is also on the saltier side. it only comes with one slice of char siu and no egg! char siu look so pale!! no seasoning at all.. We will not be going back anymore...
(2)Freddy L.
This is my favorite ramen place by far in Sacramento been coming to eat here since last winter good location the staff is very friendly when someone enters you're most often greeted "irrashaimase" which loosely translates to "welcome" the food is great I like the Tantan men ramen very spicy broth which I recommend for those that enjoy spicy food!
(5)Maria K.
I loved this place. I ordered the #3 ten ten men and my daughter ordered the #2 shio. I loved mine! She liked mine better too! I also liked the atmosphere and service. The people that work there were very nice. We ordered hot tea. It was really more like hot water but we didn't mind since we were very satisfied with everything else.
(5)Fiona D.
This place is so inconsistent it hurts. Sometimes I feel like I'm eating at a different restaurant each time I come here. I shall try and keep it simple and just list out a few of their flaws: 1. One time me and my boyfriend ordered the same exact order of Tsukemen to go. For some reason my noodles were thick (how it's supposed to be) and his noodles were thin (not how it's supposed to be). Like why would you pack different kinds of noodles in the same order.......lol 2. If you ask for a lemon they give you--not a wedge--but a tiny thin slice for an extra fee...lol 3. The only ramen place I've ever been to that doesn't know how to make a soft boiled egg. Their yolk is usually always fully cooked, like how hard is it to boil an egg for 6 minutes....lol 4. They don't let you do substitutions for some reason. If spinach is a dollar, and corn is a dollar--I don't see any reason of why you can't substitute one for another.....lol 5. Speaking of spinach--their spinach is served raw, which is fine when you order a ramen with a warm broth, but if you order the tsukemen, the spinach will not cook and will make your food suck unless you like your ramen tasting like rabbit food....lol 6. One time when I was meeting my sister there for lunch, they wouldn't seat her because I had not arrived yet. The place was literally empty and it wasn't rush hour, so that made no sense. This doesn't always happen but some workers are probably a little incompetent and will do that to you...lol 7. I've been going to Shoki's for 5 years now...I use to get the tan tan men back when they were at that little ol' place on 24th, and the broth was actually flavorful and filled with that goooooooood gooooooooooooood. Unfortunately their broth has decreased in quality and their tan tan men is suuuuuper whatever now. Maybe its because they're making a bigger portion of it than before or I've expanded my ramen pallette and tried better........who knows but I'm pretty sure it's a decrease in their quality.........lol Anyways, the reason why I do keep coming back to Shoki's is because I do like their little mini chasu don add on, and their Tsukemen dipping sauce has this tangy vinegary flavor that I like and sometimes crave. But like I mentioned earlier, this place is super inconsistent.... so expect the food you order and experience you get to ~change around~ each time you come. I find myself going to Ryujin Ramen more now days--except when I'm at work during lunch hours, because Shoki's is half a mile closer and I'm too lazy and tubby to walk all the way to Ryujin lol.
(2)Diane G.
I don't know if its Shoki I don't like or Ramen I don't like...Up until today my only idea of Ramen was the delicious packaged, $0.40, maruchan ramen. I love that ramen- I did not care much for this ramen. Again it might just not be for me. I felt like the broth tasted weird, the broth was hot and the beef was cold, and the noodles didn't seem fully cooked. Needless to say it was edible but I will not be back. Also the service was super slow and the place was not even busy
(3)Chloe B.
First off I have to say I've tried several ramen shops here in Sacramento, and nothing beats Shoki Ramen. When you walk in-everyone greets you as if they're welcoming a family member back home from a long day. Everyone is VERY friendly. I recommend the curry ramen or the Shoyu ramen. Both are very delicious. Order extra noodles too! If you want to try something other than ramen, try the chashu plate! Great appetizer to share and very filling! So...what are you waiting for? Go check it out!
(5)Wendy F.
Average restaurant with average ramen.... My friends and I came here on a Saturday night and the wait time was 30 minutes, so we had a pretty high expectations. But I had to say I am a little disappointed by the quality of the ramen. I got the tan tan noodle, which was described on the menu as being spicy. But the ramen & the broth did not taste spicy at all. The noodle was very average, and the broth was very average. I definitely had better ramen, where the broth is very creamy and thick - the type that you would want to tilt the bowl and finish every single drop of it. But this was not. The dish was served with a meat ball, which broke into pieces as soon as I began eating the ramen. The meat crumbs fell to the bottom of the bowl, we I didn't even get to eat much of it any ways. There was also bamboo in the noodle. My friend somehow got allergy from eating it, or maybe it was from the broth. Not sure. Even though it was not too expensive ($10), I definitely expected more from a place that had a good review on Yelp.
(3)Kali D.
Let me start off by saying I am very in love with Pho so my taste buds are still getting use to the Ramen concept. I have been to Shoki II twice I believe and overall it is good but just does not do it for me. I ordered the Tan Tan extra spicy both times. The flavor of the broth is good but the heat which they try to warn people about is not there. Extra Spicy should be Extra Spicy, right? I was scared to do the Super spicy but probably should have. I love that they give you a number of broth, noodle, meat, veggies options but everything comes at a price and it adds up very fast. I kind of prefer a bowl which has more ingredients so I want to add nothing. This is not the case here, it is like they limit what is in the bowl and forces you to add Everything! This past visit I added the shitake mushrooms, hot dam those were good! But yes they cost $1.50. A regular bowl runs $8.90, once you add an egg, green onions, maybe some pork LOL that bowl becomes $17 bowl of noodles. My last complaint is the location. Though they seem to be able to fit lots of people in the restaurant, why are they using the porch as a waiting area? My server stated I could order to go and sit on the porch?? No Thanks I wanted to dine in. Broth good, Spicy Not, Price high, Space Odd. . . .A-Ok.
(3)Kurt C.
Bigger space than the first Shoki, providing ample seating and an overall more comfortable dining experience...gotta have room to dance because the food here is awesome! I love ramen. I love Japanese food in general. I make an effort to try anything and everything on the menu and so far they've all been celebratory to my taste buds. I ordered the regular Kurogoma Tan Tan -$8.90- (soy sauce based with thick noodles made with black sesame seeds, topped with nori, fresh organic spinach, menma, moyashi, grass-fed, non-antibiotic 100% Angus minced beef) -- one of the best combinations of ingredients for a soup meal/dish/bowl, perfectly harmonious components that deliver a hearty, flavorful, and delicious eating. I got it with the Yasai broth (vegetable based) and thick noodle along an added topping of their Tamago -$1.50- (organic seasoned half-boiled egg). Worth mentioning that their "extra" spice level isn't that hot, at least still below my personal threshold. Service was on point! Awesome dinner and I can't wait to get my second bowl soon ~
(5)Frankie R.
Loved the food!! I would have loved to come back here if it wasn't for the horrendous service. We were seated right away, as there was only one party seated when we arrived, but we sat there for 20 minutes before ordering. After our order was taken we sat an additional 45 minutes before our food was served, and our appetizer came at the same time as our food. During our total 65 minute wait, other guests that arrived after us were being served before us and had already left before we received our food. I am someone who always tips but I did not tip today. In order to get my bill I had to flag down a server, and walk my card back to him. Very sloppy service. I ordered the curry beef with rice along with the curry ramen, and it was fantastic. Very unaccommodating, but I will leave two stars because the food was wonderful. I hope that if the problem is too little staff that they can hire more help because it really is a lovely place.
(2)Ashley C.
We have been to the original location once before, long ago before we were avid Yelpers and constant picture-takers, so I don't remember too much about my first Shoki experience. I was excited to come try their new location and write a review! The R Street location is definitely a lot bigger and more modern. The staff was very accommodating and patient as we waited for our other two guests to arrive. The menu here is a lot to process but I love it because there's so many things you can customize and add on. It just took me a while to decide on the perfect combo... For tonight's visit I went with the soy milk ramen. It sounded odd but I wanted something new. I just remember my ramen last time being small and grainy. So this time around I went with a medium/regular size... I couldn't finish! I added on tamago and steamed cabbage. The cabbage was enough to feed all 4 of us, so just a heads up for those looking to order that! The soy milk broth was creamy, not like your typical ramen. The soy milk ramen doesn't come with any spice options so I was forced to resort to the spice provided on the table. I wasn't getting enough heat until I added another teaspoonful and it was way too hot...add cautiously!!! I couldn't handle the heat, and I was satisfied enough that I could stop eating and take the rest home. If you're looking for a classic ramen flavor AND heat, go with the tan tan men! Overall a good meal for a chilly night, but I'm still not one to crave ramen like I would for other meals like hot and sour soup or shabu shabu. It wasn't terrible, but not something I'm dying to come back for tomorrow. I think that's why I'm a bigger fan of Ramen House Ryujin because while my boyfriend can satisfy his ramen craving, I can get a rice bowl or takoyaki.
(3)Lucy M.
Dang it, I'm mad! Mad at the fact that Shoki Raman House on 24th in Curtis Park is closed on Sunday. No worries...I'll simply go home and make a garden salad, after all I don't need the carbs. Quite honestly, over the weekend, I devoured enough carbs for a FREAKIN ARMY! So I was getting ready to post a tip on Yelp about the hours when another Shoki Ramen House popped up on my search window. ...What the ___is going on? I felt my mouth starting to salivate with the thought of another Shoki Ramen House less than 2 miles away. That's right y'all, its true. There is another Shoki Ramen House on R Street in Historic Downtown Sacramento, CA. I drove like a road ragin maniac to confirm what I had just discovered, another Shoki Ramen House II. I walked inside. This little restaurant is also located in a converted house and the front yard has been made into an outdoor dining room with a patio cover laced with twinkle lights and beautiful lush vines. The vines seem to aggressively meander in and out of the slats. What an eclectic feel this little place has. Inside the front door is a large rectangular shaped group table in the center of the dining room. Aligned along the walls are smaller tables. I texted my friend and he met me there in a flash. I had my fave, Tan Tan Man, and my friend ordered the Yam noodle ramen due to an allergy to wheat gluten. Check out the picture I posted. I love this ramen. I love the soy sauce and toasted sesame based broth. And the noodles...why do they always land on my ass. It's a ramen dichotomy. A love hate thing. On one hand I love Tan Tan Man, but on the other hand I hate what it does to me. This puts me in such a quandary... I got it! In addition to my evening fitness walk on the levy Ill wake up a half hour earlier in the morning to squeeze in an extra long fitness walk. You have got to try this place...its so worth it!! By the way the serviced here is excellent.
(5)Ricky A.
Decided to come here after going to the Sacramento State Fair! Oddly we wanted hot food on a hot day! The place is tiny, but its located on a corner! Not hard to miss since their since is decently sized. Parking can be a bit tricky to find though. Luckily for us they had a small parking lot which was empty for us! Once inside my girlfriend and I were greeted quickly and sat down right after. Our waiter was awesome overall! We ordered the Tan Tan Men (regular size) with mild spiciness. The ramen was pretty good overall! There wasn't much meat in it but still tasted amazing. Definitely will be back to try this place again when I am in the area!
(5)Jason A.
So good. I was first introduced to this place by my brother. I have been back so many times now I have lost count. The Tan Tan man is where its at. They have a carry out menu that's pretty good, but eating here is by far the best way to enjoy your ramen noodles.
(5)AM P.
Decided to stop by after a night of bike riding with friends, and because they were open til 12AM!! Their whole wheat Tan Tan Men w/ added mushrooms and egg is DELICIOUS!!! I had it one night, woke up the next morning and that was the only thing on my mind! Now you know that's some good ramen!
(5)Sue V.
If you're new to this popular Sacramento ramen spot, here's a few things that are good to know: 1. Seating: It's usually always busy and packed (max capacity at 40). If there are no open seats, you have to write your name down on the clipboard immediately to the right of the door when you enter. Then hang out in the front patio until your name is called. 2. Ramen: This isn't your pre-packaged instant ramen from your college days, if you can't tell from the crowd. Choose from the available menu options based on traditional (fish/seaweed/mushroom) or veggie broths, with a variety of handmade noodles and toppings that have been preselected with care. You can change the noodles (I always ask for whole wheat, extra soft) and saltiness to preference, and also add additional toppings. I love the tamago, a marinated, half-boiled egg, and I normally like my broth a little saltier than normal, sometimes with a little spicy oil added depending on the ramen broth and my mood. 3. Non-ramen: If ramen just isn't your thing, they have other menu items available. 4. Greeting: As you enter, the servers will greet you in Japanese, "Welcome!" I'm told that in Japan, this is a typical greeting that does not need to be responded to. So you won't be rude if you can't say it back :) 5. Take-out: There's a lot of care that's put into each ramen bowl to provide the optimum experience. For this reason, the owner doesn't typically allow take-out ramen. However, I'm told that at least one ramen dish, the "tsuke men" may be available for takeout because the noodles are traditionally served separately from the broth. 6. Free food: If you plan on coming often, bring cash. You get a stamp card when you pay in cash, and after you buy a certain number of ramen bowls (I think it's a dozen), you get one free. Enjoy!
(4)Audrey L.
Amaaaazing soy milk ramen and kurogoma tan tan men (black sesame)!! I was skeptical about the soy milk broth at first, but it actually turned out really well. Not to thick or heavy and not too salty either. It was just the right amount of soy milk flavor while also being savory. I was also impressed with the kurogoma tan tan men broth, which was also not too heavy or salty. They also don't use MSG, so I could feel free to drink the broth to my heart's content. We also tried the onsen tamago, which you can get as an additional topping -- it was okay, but not the best I've had. The yolk was a bit firmer than I would like for ramen, but it was still a soft, golden yellow. Shoki also uses that nice wavy noodle, which is my favorite! They have both thick and thin noodle that is cooked to perfection. It's also nice that they offer gluten-free options and even calorie-free shirataki noodles! This has got to be the most unique ramen I've tried in Sacramento (or even the whole of Bay Area). It's refreshing to try a broth other than tonkotsu, which is the most common broth I've tried. Definitely going back next time I'm in the area!
(5)Dennis B.
Waiting for a server . . . still waiting. Ten minutes . . . 20 minutes . . . done. One of those places that does not seem interested in their customers.
(1)Alyssa Mae C.
I doubt that I'll ever crave for this :/ The ramen is just fine. The service is just fine. The price is just fine. It's a tiny restaurant, but I'm glad I didn't have to wait to be seated. I heard you can buy a shirt and get a free meal, but my likelihood of coming back is slim to none.
(3)C T.
My husband loves this place. Me? Not so much. Food is just not my for me. Both times I've eaten here, I feel like I just filled my whole system with Salt. Very salty food. High in sodium. Not for me
(2)David C.
This place's got a decent selection of ramen + toppings, and it's open till pretty late. Came here with a few friends as a pitstop on our way to Tahoe, got in to the restaurant at around 9PM and it was still pretty full, but we managed to get a seat without waiting. One weird thing about this place is that you gotta trade in a piece of ID to use their bathroom, i'd be really curious to hear the events that led up to this decision. I tried the curry ramen, and the soup base was A-OK, nothing spectacular, but not particularly lacking either. What was really great was the ramen noodles, they were chewy and just the right amount of hardness. They've definitely got one of the better ramen noodles of all the ramen places i've tried. One topping I really wish they would provide was pork belly (kakuni?), my ramen just feels so incomplete without it.
(3)Deanna P.
LOVE! I find myself often craving shoki ramen when I'm feeling a cold coming on. There are so many options, especially for vegetarians. I will admit that it's on the pricey side, especially when you want add-ons like tofu - but their servings are decent.
(4)Tiffany N.
Not my favorite ramen place. Everyone was hyping up the Tan Tan Men. Honestly it was just okay. Nothing out of this world. I do like the various options for vegetarians and health conscious eaters. You can sorta build up your own ramen because they have so many choices on their menu. I do like the type of noodle they serve because it reminds me of the noodles that comes in a cup you make at home. Minus definitely fresher. The service was mediocre. Thus I had to dock off another star.
(3)Jessica L.
Shoki my love....I love you more so everyday... I have tried many a ramen soup in the last few years, and Shoki Ramen House I and II are by far #1 on my list. Set in a little space on 12th and R Street downtown (and an even smaller version on 24th Street) this tiny eatery is always busy. I have never waited more than 10 minutes as the employees are quick and try to fit you in. The basis of my five star review is due to the the broth. Complicated and made with layers of flavor, the broth is the single most important element in a good soup. If the broth is thin or under seasoned or without flavor...it falls flat. The brilliance of Shoki Ramen House is the traditional way they make their broth, the base that makes many tasty combinations. None of the broths or items at Shoki are made with MSG and the vegetables and meats are organic and from local sources. NO msg...awesome! One of the coolest things about Shoki is the way the menu is set up. You start with your options of broth (traditional, vegetarian, gluten free and you can customize it for your needs) then select your type (shoyu, shio, tan tan men, etc). You can also choose your noodles (traditional thick or thin ramen, whole wheat, shirataki) and then you can choose your additional toppings. Each bowl, no matter what size comes with standard items, but there is always the option to add. I admit that I stay clear of starches so ramen and noodles themselves are not in my diet...however Shoki gives me the option of the clear shirataki noodles. They are made from yam, and are carb, calorie and guilt free. You can successfully create your soup to suit your needs. There are also vegan and vegetarian options. I have not ventured into the rest of the menu, but my dining companions have and I have only heard rave reviews. My SO loves the Chasu Don with rice. I want to try the plum sake and tofu salad next time, but I am always seduced by their tasty soup. Shoki is not the most generous nor the cheapest ramen house, but it is quality all the way. I highly recommend giving them a try....be warned, you may become a Shoki addict like me.
(5)K E.
Loved the tan tan men with green onions, extra spicy with an egg! Super delish. I am hooked. The broth was perfectly seasoned. Not too salty but if you wanted it saltier you can add it.
(5)JJ L.
Don't even bother coming here. It's the hipster of all Ramen places. Menu is cluttered and confusing. The ramens are missing plenty of things that how have to add so it comes out being expensive. The ramen itself is pretty bad itself. Just avoid this place. Go to S street for some amazing ramen. Just got the check. WAY too overpriced. Don't buy alcohol here either. Edit: I should add, you can judge a Ramen place off their egg. Their egg was meh.
(1)Julia T.
I love this place! I always get the Tan Tan Men. The small size is still pretty big, I always leave so full! I ask for mine super spicy, anything less isn't really spicy at all. I like adding mushrooms, bean sprouts and corn. It's also a pretty good hangover cure! If you sit out on the patio they have you pay up front, I guess so that no one does a dine and dash? I wish there were more locations, I would eat here more often.
(5)Allie B.
FOOD: The broths are incredibly robust with flavor, it really blows all other forms of soup out of the water (pun entirely intended). The items on the menu are perfect as they come but for those with picky palettes there are customization options too. Personally, my favorites are the Tan Tan Men and Shio. If you are vegan there is a vegan broth. If you are a nutritious eater there are whole wheat noodles. If you love to eat a lot there are inexpensive large portions that will fill up Shaquille O'Neal. My point is there is something for everyone. It is yummy and altogether just an awesome eating experience. SERVICE: It's great. The staff is super friendly and quick with getting your meals out to you in a decent time. ATMOSPHERE: It is cramped and small inside, so if it is a beautiful day I highly recommend sitting outside, especially if you come with a larger group. Overall, this place deserves 2 thumbs up for sure!
(5)Will N.
Before I begin, I'm not a ramen enthusiast like some of my friends. I don't eat ramen often but when I do it's at Shoki. Shoki is one of the better ramen spots within Sacramento but also a little pricey. Whenever my friends in Davis and I crave ramen...time to take a mini trip to Sacramento! Expect to wait a little because the restaurant is small with limited parking space. My recommendation is the Tan Tan Men. The taste of the broth is delectable and full of flavor! I believe there is no MSG in their broth.
(3)Amber K.
Went here for the first time yesterday with some of my coworkers. Parking at first was a challenge. The parking lot is small and was completely full so I had to park in the street. The food was pretty tasty. I ordered a small Shoyu ramen. I don't eat big portions often, so the small size was perfect for me. The broth wasn't too salty. Service and the food was great. I will definitely be returning!
(4)Kourtney W.
Been going here for years.. Never a disappointment! Love their tantan men super spicy whole wheat noodles! My kids love to eat here too! That's rare because my Jace is pretty picky with his food! Highly recommended!
(5)Brigette A.
Great choice for a clean, fresh tasting ramen. I've tried the shio and the vegetable broth and they're both very well done. Many of the ingredients are organic and all taste very fresh. Did not come with an egg, which most other places do, I don't mind tho. Waiters are quick and friendly, and the atmosphere is like that of a small ramen house.
(4)Brian B.
The ramen here is straight éžå¸¸è˜ãª !!! That's Japanese for insane. Because that's exactly what this ramen is. And by insane I mean absolutely fantastic. Konichiwa Bitches!
(5)Srivatsan S.
You know that a place is super-popular if (a) you see a number in its name (the restaurant must've done well enough to open a second version) and (b) you see a bunch of newspaper articles stuck all over its interiors claiming its brilliance. And yet just a 3.5 rating on Yelp . Hmm. Is it one of those over-expectation under-deliver cases? Perhaps... The place came highly recommended by one of my friends, so much so, that while driving back to the Bay Area from Tahoe, we made our plan in a way that we could get to Shoki Ramen House for dinner time. After waiting for about 15 minutes or so, our party of 4 got a table inside. The outdoor seating looked pretty nice too, but for some reason, it wasn't being used that evening. My expectations were set sky high when I read the history of the place on their menu - Shoki is the story of a chef who decided to reinvent Ramen, transform a food item that had been stigmatized and branded as unhealthy into something that was healthy, vegetarian friendly and basically wasn't a sodium fest. That was enough to get me salivating like Pavlov's dog. Unfortunately, the Ramen was never able to justify all that salivation. While I really appreciate the fact that they had a dedicated veggie broth for their Ramen, the taste wasn't something that got my taste buds into a frenzy. The broth was grainy (perhaps I shouldn't have asked for the non-spicy version, since the "spice" was just chili powder sprinkled on) and came with a minimalist set of vegetables. I would've gone for additional toppings but the price of each additional topping deterred me. Overall, the ambiance was nice n' divey, the service was good, there was a vegetarian option (yay!), the food was hot and slurpy, but the taste wasn't really something I would go nuts about. I wonder if my non-vegetarian friends would like this place more. Would I come here again if I were in the area? Hmm, I wouldn't mind. Would I absolutely make it a point to eat here while traveling through Sacramento? Probably not.
(3)Jason G.
This second location of Shoki Ramen House is open late so I went here to enjoy a bowl. I'm glad that I did as the ramen was very good. The spicy broth was tasty and had the right amount of spice. They noodles were good and the right amount of them. The other broths are pretty good too.
(4)Robert A.
Awesome dinner. Ordered the #3 extra spicy and didn't disappoint. A fantastic blend of noodles, spices and great service. By the way...order an Asai Black imported ale and savor the evening in Sacramento.
(5)Nina C.
I find myself having Shoki cravings quite frequently. Most recently I tried the soy milk ramen, subbed whole wheat noodles, and added egg. The fresh soy milk and soy sauce-based broth was very rich, a little too rich for a hot day, but my bowl still satisfied. The waitress recommended the wheat noodles for this particular style because it brings out subtle earthy notes in the broth. I will most certainly be back. Of all the different styles I've tried, my favorite is the salt (shio) broth. Extra star for our outstanding server. She offered helpful recommendations and bowl combinations.
(5)Julie N.
Shoki II Ramen House rekindled my love for ramen after so many 'meh' experiences elsewhere!! My partner and I came to this quaint restaurant about 30 mins to closing on a Wednesday night, but we were welcomed with positive energy from the waiter and waitresses! There was plenty of seating at this time as the restaurant was only half filled at this time of night. I ordered the Shoyu (#1) Ramen and my partner ordered the Tan Tan Men (#3) spicy ramen with a spiciness level of about 3. Both of us ordered Regular size. Albeit the modest toppings in my ramen, I felt like Goldilocks and felt that it was justtttt right. I LOVED the broth, and as an avid noodle soup (of any kind) fanatic, broth is very important to me. It didn't need any additional sauces or flavorings, which can explain why there are no soy sauce bottles or spicy sauce to be found on the tables. My partner felt that the ramen didn't have enough toppings, but that is why the menu had an Additional Toppings section. BOTTOM LINE: Would recommend 100%! Expect friendly staff, modest toppings on ramen, but perfect broth.
(5)Carl Vincent C.
I only come here because one of my best friends swears by it. Don't get me wrong, I don't hate the place, I'm just not a big fan. Usually there's no wait whenever I go and the service is polite and prompt. They have upgraded little things about the shop: servers take your order on an iPad & a new graphically enhanced menu. What they need to upgrade is less seating. I'm not down to rub elbows with the stranger sitting next to me. I get my usual Tan Tan Men with extra nori and shiitake mushrooms. The broth is hit or miss. As of late, it's been salty and oily, causing me to only eat the noodles and nori, making me ignore everything else, and leaving me still hungry after I leave. But that's the thing, even if I finish an entire bowl of ramen, 20 minutes later, I'm starving again. I like pho a lot more.
(3)Maggie T.
ok, so dont get me wrong, i love shokis. I probably eat here once a week but only because they serve small portions, broth is healthier than others, offer wheat noodles and my favorite- the garlic. but why a 3 star??? because the service is AWFUL and this place is SUPER inconsistance with their dishes. I also don't like how they use canned corn
(3)Hannah C.
I expecting to much here I expect the ramen noodles was GOOD. But I ordered #7 with extra Tofu,Corn,Eggs the eggs is so Salty.. :| the noodles is like instant noodles. But I like it thou .. Because I'm so hungry lol like my Grandpa said if you are hungry and you ate delicious or NOT!! Its still Delicious because you are Hungry lol. But anyways I saw the guy working at the cooking area I saw him grabbing a noodles not using Gloves on. :/
(1)Lisa K.
Tried curry ramen today. Oh gosh you know what, this stuff is seriously realllly good. I think I am a curry ramen type of gal. & theirs is the best I've had. Not too fatty at all but super flavorful.
(5)Jenni T.
No no no Shoki! Why must you disappointment me on one of the most important nights... Trying to get my Husband to love you. I have been to your 24th Street location so I already do, but he hasn't so he needed some convincing. I decided to come to this location because it's closer to my house, and I had never been to this one so I wanted to see where it was. First it must be said, do NOT trust the Maps App on your iPhone. 12th Street does NOT go through from Q Street to R Street. There is a light rail depot there. It's not going to happen and you can save countless minutes of your precious time by just going over a block in either direction and driving over the tracks there. But I digress. The service from the employees is great just like their other location. They are all friendly and helpful and greet everyone who walks in or out. For myself I ordered a Medium Tan Tan Men without Meat, wheat noodles, extra noodles and regular spicy. Mine was just as I remembered it from the other location and very good. I definitely recommend adding the extra noodles. For my Husband I ordered a Medium Tan Tan Men with Meat, regular noodles, extra noodles and regular spicy. This is where my hopes were quickly dashed. He hated it. He said it tasted like chemicals. Like peanut sauce. It was bad. I didn't understand how it could be so bad. I mean, we were having the same thing and I liked mine... Until I tasted his. It wasn't the same. It was bad. It tasted like chemicals and peanut sauce. We finally narrowed it down to the bamboo shoots. I don't know why, but they tasted like dirty socks and a public restroom that had just been cleaned with harsh chemicals. It tasted like that smell. Fortunately I didn't add my bamboo shoots to my ramen but if I would have, it would have tasted the same. I tasted the bamboo shoots I left separate and there it was. That taste. I don't remember them tasting this way before at the other location so I think they were bad? Or something happened to make them taste putrid. The story ends by him having to throw away all his ramen because of this, and us sharing mine. I probably will never convince him to try ramen again, but I will go back and try it again for myself.
(2)Fabi F.
The menu reads like a flow chart. Once you get that figured out you can decide what kind of broth, noodles and toppings you want. I have only been here once and I might go back and try something else to see what all the hype is about because I feel that I might have missed something reading other reviews. I feel guilty giving three stars. Maybe I have been spoiled at other ramen houses which figured into the equation. Parking was easy on the weekend I went. They have two parking lots on each side of the building. Right away I liked how it actually looked like a house complete with a porch filled with chairs and an outside heater tower. This place is popular and service is speedy. As soon as you walk through the door there is someone to seat you or take your name for the wait list. This isn't a place you want to take a group though so if you have just 2 to 4 people waiting for a table shouldn't take long. The interior is very simple and clean. We ordered hot green tea which came in a pot with tea bags. We let it steep, but it never really had much flavor. I ordered #1 Shoyu with thin noodles--just as it read on the menu. Right away I noticed it was lacking in flavor. I loved all the fresh ingredients though especially the non GMO local tofu. I added a little of the hot sauce from the table which helped add a little flavor. My friend really liked her #2 Shio so maybe if I go back I will try this and re-review.
(3)Vi N.
is this what all ramen in sacramento tastes like? oh boy.. :( i had the shoyu ramen: added tamago (egg) and extra chashu (pork). the bowl came out with the noodles in broth, and all the other ingredients, cold, on a side plate. the chashu was dry and tasteless, much like the pork you'd find as a filler in a vietnamese spring roll. a small bowl was $11. my bf had the tan tan men, added extra beef. his noodles at least came in one big bowl, however the flavor and temperature of the broth were disappointing. service was slow (there were only two servers on a monday evening) but friendly. will not return.
(2)Regina W.
Lukewarm Broth. This is not what you want to experience while eating ramen. I have been to this location twice and have been underwhelmed both times. At first the set up looks really cool since there are at least three vegetarian options on the menu and there are also gluten-free options as well. Ramen House RyuJin only has one vegetarian option. So why do I like RyuJin infinitely better than Shoki? RyuJin vs. Shoki Comparison At RyuJin, even though there is only one vegetarian option, it is absolutely amazing. I also like how many different vegetables are included in one price and that the add-ons (if needed at all) are reasonably priced too. The broth is always served at just the right temperature were it is piping hot, but not so much that it burns your mouth. The marinated egg is also the best thing I've ever eaten in Sacramento. At Shoki, my broth is always served lukewarm. Both times I've come here, I've had to ask them to stick my dish in the microwave to make the broth hotter. Your food at Shoki will also be more expensive because most vegetables and other goodies you might want to have are all charged as add-ons. This can get expensive real quick too since basic things like tofu will cost you $2.50 to add. The marinated egg here is not bad, but it doesn't hold a candle to RyuJin. I would come back if someone else insisted on going. But if I'm the one deciding where to go, I'm definitely going to RyuJin instead.
(3)Rich C.
The ramen was decent. I liked the broth and it was a good hardy portion. However I did not like the bathroom situation where it was outside, required a key, and then required collateral for the key. They said literally anything as collateral. My wife gave them a piece of gum. The key was attached to a large lid which is fine, but then why require meaningless collateral?!?
(3)Kendra B.
Few things are more satisfying than a hot bowl of ramen. Shoki is the place to go for this wonderful dish. So essential is this meal that I'm sure to make a lunch stop during each visit to Sacramento- even in July and August! This place makes me miss living in midtown!
(5)Mark S.
Not only the best ramen I have ever had, but one of the best eating experiences I have ever had. These are people who are passionate about what they do. It is not expensive, and the quality is top-notch. The only problem is that too many people know how good it is. At lunchtime during the week it is impossible to park in the small lot. You can't even park on R Street; I recommend you look on S Street. Or just go in the evening when it's not crowded.
(5)Queen S.
I can't believe I haven't reviewed Shoki. We found Shoki after I'd been in the hospital for a blood clot surgery. So upon release, I needed something comforting. Yelp served up Shoki and it is one of our favorites. I always get the extra spicy Tan Tan with a Tamago and thin noodles. Sometimes, I add extra beef, noodles...because I want to take home leftovers to enjoy after. I love that Shoki believes in all-natural, locally sourced ingredients. I love that their broths have deep, umami flavors. I tried a Ramen at Aji in EDH - and it was not fit to be eaten. Their broth had zero flavor, and their noodles were doughy and just gross. So... don't go wrong... go to Shoki in Sacramento. LOVE!
(4)Captain K.
Small hole in the wall Ramen house. You'll feel right at home if you're from the islands, but if you're looking for a trendy hipster spot this won't be for you. It's just a great little spot to get a great bowl of Japanese style Ramen. I give it a 4 out of 5 starts only because seating is a bit tight.
(4)Jesse K.
The ramen is good and reasonable prices. I went with my son last night, I ordered the kurogoma tan tan ramen, medium and he got curry ramen, kids size. My ramen had a lot of flavor and a medium spiciness. He loved his curry ramen and ordered a refill of noodles for only $1. Of course you can customize your ramen with a number of additions at Shoki, one of the highlights of this restaurant. However, I must reduce a star with how packed this place can get at prime eating times. We arrived at 7:30 PM and the line was out the door, literally, you can't wait inside. You have sit outside and if it's cold you're going to freeze, there's only one heat lamp outside. We had to wait about 20-30 min, not too bad but I associate ramen with a quick meal. Just plan ahead or go slower times. At 8:30 there was plenty of seating open. The servers and manager are very attentive.
(4)Wendy W.
First place we hit last weekend. Love the fact that you can customize the ramen and soup base. This is what we ordered: Cold tofu - would taste better if they use silk tofu instead. Shio ramen - soup base was not as concentrated as I expected. Kurogoma tantan - unique and pretty good. Not like any soup base I've tried in the bay area. If the eggs can be alittle less cooked and the chashu is alittle bit more marinated would've been perfect! If I'm around the area, will go back just for the kurogoma tantan ramen!
(4)Gina G.
I've only been to this place twice, both after coming back from a day of snowboarding in Tahoe so a bowl of hot ramen is ideally the best night cap. Each time there was about at least a 15 min wait to be seated since the place is a little small inside. Like most ramen spots, they have different broth options that come with the basics, bamboo shoots, seaweed, noodles and usually pork. I usually get the soy sauce based broth and add in corn and sometimes a hard-boiled egg depending on how I feel. I agree with some of the people that my experience here is a little underwhelming. I'm not a big ramen fanatic and I can only compare it to Dojo Ramen in San Mateo. The broth was pretty bland, it only comes with one thin, small slice of pork which is also kind of lukewarm, but luckily the consistency and texture of the noodles were just fine. It seems like the price of your bowl can add up quickly cuz they charge at least $1.00-$3.00 of additional toppings. The small was just the right size for me, but I still don't know why my toppings were served on the side while everyone else in my group had theirs nicely topped off in their bowl. I was with all guys and none of them were surprisingly able to finish the large sized bowl, so I'd recommend just a regular to do the job and maybe extra noodles if you want it to be a little more filling. The service is so-so. Our server was nice enough to split our groups' checks into 5 and checked on us often. My complaint is that it took almost 30 mins for our bowls to come out which could've even been hotter in temperature. It is also a little weird and inconvenient that the bathroom is located outside, so if you need to use it you must give them something of yours to hold (Driver's license, cell phone, watch, anything valuable) in exchange to borrow the bathroom key. I've definitely had a better bowl of ramen and even though I'm not close by, I probably would pass on this next time.
(3)Gretchen Q.
Meh, 1/2 star for the service when we actually got inside after a 45 min wait on a cold Saturday night, 1/2 star for the broth and another star for the sweetened shiitake mushrooms. If I didn't order the mushrooms, this review would only be 1 star. Btw, I ordered a Tan Tan Men very mild spicy with corn, shiitake mushrooms, and the egg (SPOILER: it's hard boiled, or the one I got at least). First, this place is kind of small. Add Saturday night and cold in the equation = expect some wait time. I know it's not their fault for the long wait we had, but for a small place like theirs, they could've done something like putting the receipt onto a table where there's 4 people and only 1 person still eating (This was exactly our case. The hostess told us that there's already a table available, but waiting on one person. 10-15 mins passed by when we actually got inside and sat down). It's understandable to put the receipt there. This is done by the other ramen place that most people probably know about. At first I was kind of annoyed by it when it happened, but realized it after 10 seconds that they do that because there's a couple of people in the waiting area and they need to be seated. Service Winner: That One Ramen Place For broths, it boils down to preference. My friends said the other place has a "lighter" broth while Shoki has a "thicker" one. I personally like Shoki's because of the taste. Winner: Shoki Now, one of my favorites in my ramen is the egg. If you've been to the other ramen place, you know their seasoned egg is soft/half-boiled and it's the bomb. I was expecting the same egg because that's what I saw in the online menu before we went there. Guess what? I poked my chopsticks in the egg, took a bite and eek. It's hard boiled. I was very bummed. Oh, it's also $1.50 extra for the egg. Winner: That One Ramen Place Shoki has mushrooms, the other place doesn't. I love the mushrooms. Winner: Shoki Wait Time Winner: That One Ramen Place Price Winner: That One Ramen Place Overall Experience Winner: That One Ramen Place (5/5) Only 2 stars for Shoki.
(2)Amy Y.
The food wasn't bad, but coming from LA and San Diego where there's ramen everywhere, it was very pricey for what I'm used to. If you're a gluten free or vegetarian person, this would probably be a great place for you, or if you're into the whole organic food scenery. Everything they have is essentially organic, probably why they have the high cost, the service was pretty good overall, small little place so there might be a bit of a wait, located out in the middle of nowhere which was kind of interesting. Would I come back again? Probably not, just because of the price.
(2)Larry L.
Curry noodles was good. But it is just noodles. 30 to 45 minute from arrival til food delivered. Sat outside in the evening, it was a good thing the delta breeze was.blowing. If you eat outside you have.to pay right after you order. Kinda taky.
(3)Ninarae N.
As much as I love this place, our last visit was a bit disappointing. After checking in to yelp, it took a whole 25 minutes for our order to be taken after receiving drinks. While waiting, I think I figured out their system: 1 order taker, 1 runner/busser, 1 checker. There's no prob with this system on slow days, but it doesn't make sense when there are tables that still need to order & there are tables being wiped down instead. 25 minutes just for our order to be taken seemed quite alarming to me, but it was my bro's birthday & he had been craving ramen since we got back from New York. I also witnessed the busser knock over a cup of the chili sauce & the contents spill onto the floor. He set the container/lid back onto the table straight from off the floor. I guess no sanitation was necessary? Yikes. The upside to this visit was that after a fly had flown into my soup, I let my server know and she insisted on replacing it for me. Her exact words were, "I wouldn't want to eat it & I wouldn't want you to either." Great service! Our server was apologetic for our wait & was very pleasant & friendly. She forgot my additional order of corn, but no big deal. Hopefully they can clean up their choice of system & help each other out with taking orders instead of coming by 2-3 times asking if we need more water when we obviously didn't and had yet to order. Especially since it wasn't a full house. Tables who haven't ordered yet should hold priority over tables that need bussing.
(3)Diane C.
I tried the Tan Tan Men without meat. It was amazingly delicious. Definitely recommend, definitely going back
(5)Paige S.
I'm rather sad to say that Shoki has gone downhill... A while back they started using updated forms of order-taking, like iPads and such. When we came in on Saturday, our server not only didn't write down our order (or ask any of the usual questions, like dietary restrictions), but he messed up our order. I ordered a small and he gave me a regular, which I know shouldn't be that much of an issue but I usually can't even finish a small bowl. On top of that, the broth in my Shio was just bland. It was hot, and had some flavor, but as soon as I swallowed, it was like I hadn't eaten anything at all. Plus, our server said, "Welcome to Shoki's." If you can't even get the restaurant's name right, maybe you shouldn't be working there. Normally ramen makes me happy, but this left me feeling sad.
(3)Crystal H.
I thought the broth of the ramen was okay.... It's really oily that's all. I'm more on the salty-er side, so if you're like me... I don't think you'll like it that much. I had the Tan Tan Men and it was oily and there wasn't enough meat in it. You have to wait regardless outside if there are 3 free tables inside.. I'm not sure how I should feel about it.. Not a very good experience both times.
(3)Nga P.
I came here at 3:30, because yelp told me they were open. We drove up to the place and apparently they changed their hours to summer hours. We waited around in the area till 5pm because we heard good things about this place. Boy was I wrong! I'm not sure if we ordered the wrong things, but the Tan Tan Men was horrible. There was no flavor, and it was so salty! I had to put in five scoops of garlic and chili pepper, that comes complimentary on the table. It was only barely edible. I didn't even finish my noodles because it was that bad. The egg, was over cooked and super salty. My friends and I ate and left in 20 minutes. The nice server was by himself so service wasn't great. However, he was really nice, so I'll be nice and give this place a one star. Overall was really disappointed, and will not return to give this place a second try. I'll drive all the way to San Jose or San Francisco just to eat ramen if I have to.
(1)A S.
The is 2nd times at Shoki, 1st time at Shoki and this time at ShokiII . It was fine on regular ramen but today try tan tan noodle and it was so disappointing! Soup- very blend Spicy- ask for super spicy.....came mild Pork- very thin and taste bad with smell : ( Pay additionl$$$ Chopstick - falling apart....wish get better quality They really need to improve on Soup! I will not return to Shoki.
(2)Nathan L.
I have had heard very good things about this place from those I knew, but I ended up being disappointed. The ramen broth itself didn't seem to be as flavorful as I am used to. It seemed as though the flavor was provided by the toppings that were put on it. Others seemed to really like it, but I think I have become accustomed to my normal ramen spots which very rich broth. The one positive is the fact that their pork is very good.
(2)CK T.
THE GOOD: - Three vegan options that are easy to order (their tan tan meals) - A multitude of broth options (GF, vegetarian, house, etc) - Ramen has very good texture and are curled well THE BAD: - Unorganized, forgetful wait staff on a random Monday night (missing place setting, gave us our bowls but no soup spoons, repeated "dings" from the cooks but no pick-ups from the waiters). Even the two cooks look frustrated by the waiters. - Understaffed (full house, packed waitlist, 2 waiters)
(2)Jeremy J.
This place is the real deal. I'm from LA and there are some amazing Ramen places and this one measures up. They have some unique offerings , with Yam noodles and gluten free broth, which is really fun and diverse. Some may say un-authentic, but my opinion is that this place is worth a try. If you have never had Ramen, why are you criticizing something you know nothing about. I've been here 3 times now, service is friendly, the place gets really busy, but the turnover of tables is quick. If you are really hungry add a curry don for 3.50 Ramen is 7-10 bucks.
(5)Jackie B.
FOOD: This ramen house has forever ruined ramen for me. Their soy ramen is so delicous that everywhere else is just mediocre to me. I am % 100 in love with it. I love their spicy stuff on the side and the garlic paste they have. If your up for an adventure get the soy ramen put some spicey stuff in and throw a good amount of garlic paste. Oh and dont forget the nigiri sake with this bowl of soup. A perfect combination for the taste buds. The meat is so mouth watering and their shitake mushrooms are done right. And the half boiled egg, dont get me started. Just wish they had naruto here lol SERVICE: I also love the service here. They have hired an amazing staff and trained very well. Theres a waiter there that i absolutely love just cause his service is always top notch. Ill try and catch his name so i can post it up and give you a shout out. (Update! If i remember right it was alex? He wasnt there this time but he has amazing service and also andrew. We get him very often also. A++ in my books) TIP: Just a warning the bathroom is outside. I dont mind but i know some people do. Its extremely well kept though. DATE TIP: Oh and if your on a cute date and like the same ramen maybe try sharing the largest size and getting extra stuff inside. ;] believe me when i say. It will definatly be enough.
(5)Mish D.
Vegan broth kurogoma tan tan no meat with shitakes and local tofu SO PERFECT! Next time i will add scallion too. Cute joint. Great quality and sevice.
(5)Anna B.
With a new look, ShokI II serves the same flavors at a larger, more spacious restaurant. The hours are more convenient and they actually take credit card. The easy payment option is a huge improvement from the original location. The ramen is solid. Shoki is by far, the best ramen house in Sacramento. The bowls aren't just filled with noodles. They're filled with dreaaaams~ (a super cheesy motto their shirts always reiterate to patrons). HAH. I digress. The noodles are always cooked to perfection. Whether it be the regular noodles, wheat noodles, or yam noodles, the variety is something to look forward to having. The broth has been relatively consistent during my recent visits. However, I have found myself asking for less salt for health reasons. The Tantan Men has always been a favorite. The new Kuro Tantan Men with the blackened seasame certainly provides a new twist on the original spicy noodle. I'd recommend it to people who uh, love sesame flavored things! The unfortunate side to the Tantan bowls is the amount of meat. It's pretty scarce. For cold noodles, the Tsukemen provides a fresh taste. It doesn't feel super heavy when you're eating it. It feels like you're eating to better health. When I'm in a rush, I'll go to Shoki II. But when I want a more home-like feeling, I'll squish myself into the original location.
(4)Khunravin H.
My friends brought me here when I was in town visiting from LA. Never had Ramen at a restaurant prior to this (always had packaged Ramen prior haha). I was pleasantly surprised how good the broth was along with the noodles. My friend told me later on that pretty much everything in my bowl was organic. Whoa- organic. All this complemented quite well with the Sake Beer. And it wasn't expensive at all.
(4)Jerry H.
Always a fav with the kids and me is the Shio with thick noodles!
(5)Shaun W.
I am not one who knows about good ramen but based on the other places in town that I have been, hands down the best. The broth was full and rich. Noodles were al dente. Had the egg added and extra noodles. I had the Tan Tan Men based on my friends advice and also the reviews here. Excellent!
(5)Jane L.
How do I start this? I was so excited to try Shoki after seeing all these glowing reviews on Yelp. I went there with my friend pretty late tonight, it wasn't even that busy. Servers were friendly but the service was slow, it took a long time for them to take our orders. The restaurant is tiny and it felt really awkward when people at the table next to us were having their ramen, it kind of felt like we were sharing one table... I'm fine with tiny tables but what disappointed me was the ramen itself. I got the super spicy Tan tan men, added tamago. Not spicy at all, even after I added more chili to my bowl, still... The broth really lacked flavors, and the tamago was just okay. It was such an unpleasant meal, I wish I went to Ryujin instead. Would never go back there and I will stick with Ryujin from now on.
(2)Mai D.
My boyfriend and I came here on a weekday and got sat right away! So pretty satisfied with that. Our service was Alex, he was very helpful with recommending different choices they offer. The taste was fantastic! Although wish they had miso as a broth option. Overall pretty satisfied! Would totally come back!
(4)Kenna C.
I had very high expectations for this place but I came away feeling "Meh". The wait was long to get in (which I expected on a Tuesday at lunch time) and to get my ramen (which I did not anticipate for pho). The soup was good, and you can seriously crank up the spicy, but I was expecting more. I also wanted thicker noodles, which I asked for but don't think I got. And it's a sardine can inside too.
(2)April T.
Conviently located. Small, but great, quick service. The reviews helped with ordering. Regular spicy was very mild. If you like it hot, order it hot. It's defiantly toned down for an Caucasian palette. I really enjoyed the Ramen with mushrooms and egg added. Very filling.
(5)Phee Y.
Ever since they change from cash only to taking credit cards we have had terrible service and food here. Last time they couldn't get the Tamago cooked right. It was overcooked. They brought out a new Tamago but still over cooked. Today I could have sworn we order 3 tan tan men and got 3 tsuke men. We thought this was some avante garde change in ramen. Asked the server how we were suppose to eat it? Everything cold and separate? That is because we were brought cold ramen tsuke men not tan tan men. Server said I pointed to tsuke men which us under the tan tan men listing. Could I have done that, maybe. But honestly I don't think I did. Hungry, cold and tired and add $35 to be confused and lacking satiation. Bottom line came for hot ramen and spent over $35 for a huge aggravating experience. This is a sign for us, eat at home, take the $35 and buy some juicy steaks, pan fry them. Probably faster than it took to wait for the wrong order.
(1)Robert T.
This was some of the worst ramen I've had. My friend got the soy milk base ramen and I got the spicy tan tan men. The tan tan men tasted like they added taco bell spices to boiling water for 5 hours and called it ramen. The soy milk one was just so bland and had the consistency of slop. Pretty disappointing how bad they've gotten over the years.
(1)Jenny P.
Visited for the first time in years this Saturday, and Shoki is still as good as I remember. I wasn't terribly hungry, so I was happy to find they do offer a small size bowl of Ramen as well as a medium and a large. I had some plum sake and my fav Tan Tan. As always, the incredible menu and intimate setting make this an enjoyable eatery for a date.
(4)Lisa T.
I've gone to this place many, many times for the past three years since coming to college, so I've tried the majority of their ramen dishes. My go-to dish is usually the soy milk ramen. On The weekends they have strawberry mochi available for dessert. It's made with real strawberries mixed with red bean paste as the filling. It's quite delicious, although I wish the strawberry was more ripe when I had it. The amount of time you have to wait varies. Night time is usually when it's the most crowded, based on my experience. I like how they use an iPad to take your order and let each person pay separately - it makes group dinners more enjoyable and convenient! To sum up: great food and great service. Can't go wrong with that!
(4)Reno S.
This guy is an artist. The ramen here is magic. Always fresh. The food of ancient Japanese samurai lords. Gad damn good. They have wine and saki.
(5)Jamie M.
In Sacramento, there are two places that serve solid ramen and this is one of the two places. On a busy day, the wait here can be very long; tons of people, small restaurant = can be cramped. The parking lot here is also really small, but there's so much street parking. I generally get some sort of ramen set. It comes with a bowl of ramen and a small donburi bowl for another $2-$3. In regards to the ramen, you can customize your bowl of ramen by type, spice level, noodle firmness, amount of fat, and saltiness to name a few. They take all of their orders on an iPad, which is more tech-y. But for ramen purists, they do have your 3 main broths and all are solid. Then spicy tan tan men is pretty good and has a nice kick to it. The biggest negative is that if you want it to be extra spicy, all they do is add more chili oil. Slightly disappointing as I expected them to do more with that. However, the service here is really good, very attentive and quick to refill your cup of water.
(4)Florence R.
Extra star for the nice greetings when you get there and when you leave. For a place that doesn't include meats and extras in most of their bowls, they do charge extra for them. There's nothing special about this place flavor wise. It makes me wonder what in the world were these people eating? Were we at the same place or what?? I got the Tan Tan Men which seems like one of the most popular, and added pork. The meat was horrible, so was the broth. Flavorless, the noodles aren't great either. Very disappointed especially since other peoples bowls looked amazing. Mine? Not so much. Definitely not coming back. I'll go to the bay.
(2)Jessica T.
Shoki is a small, crowded restaurant with the most delicious ramen in Sacramento. They take it so seriously, they won't even let you order ramen for take-out because ramen is supposed to be eaten right away and they don't want to compromise their product. I like to order the Tan Tan Men spicy and then add more spicy stuff to it once it's in front of me. It makes my nose run but I love it. I've tried their Milk Ramen, which has soy milk in it. It tasted good but didn't jive well with my tummy. I always order tamago (boiled egg) with my ramen and I don't know what it is about Shoki's tamago but there's something especially good about theirs. Maybe they have magic chickens in the kitchen.
(5)jim p.
Shoki ramen is so good. They have a set menu of noodle combination, but you are welcome to customize it however you like. From selection of thin, think, tan tan noodle to soy milk broth, gluten free options, mild to spicy. I also think it's a good culture that whenever someone comes in, the whole waiting staff holler to out to greet you. They are usually packed during dinner hours on weekends, but definitely worth the wait.
(5)Marie S.
I love this place. I live in Vacaville but I will drive here 3 times a week to eat here. I order super spicy tan tan men and it is so good. Mini chasu don for appetizer is also very good and worth trying. You won't be disappointed. The crew there is always super friendly.
(5)Dean I.
You gotta be outta your mind to not like this place. Service is always great, food is great (and can be adjusted to your taste), and it just feels good coming here. I don't usually like ramen, but I look forward to the 30-minute drive here.
(5)Nessa R.
My friends and I stopped here coming home from our trip to tahoe. Shes a recent graduate of uc davis so she knew that this was one of the popular ramen places in this city and judging from the reviews a lot of people agree. However, the shoyu ramen i had i didn't really enjoy as much as the ramen I've had at most other places I've been too. It was pretty bland and tasted watery and...mushroomy since the broth seemed to soak up most of that flavor cause there wasnt much more in it. So...this ramen just did not justify the 45 minute wait and the super crowded seating. It made me appreciate Orenchi back in the bay area at that moment.
(2)Josephine L.
Wow, this is a super hipster ramen place. They take your order on an iPad. We came on a Saturday night and had to wait about forty minutes for a table for two. Servers are all very friendly. Ordered spicy menma appetizer. It's a cold bamboo dish. Delicious- spicy and well seasoned with sesame and some other stuff I don't know. For my main dish, I ordered the tan tan men and added half boiled egg and bamboo. You can customize the broth by type, saltiness, spicy level, noodle thickness, etc. Overall really good! My favorite ramen place in Sacramento. The soup isn't too thick.
(5)Chad T.
This place is so freaking good. I can not articulate how good it is since I am not a writer, but if you think that those top ramen packets are good then you need to step your noodle game up and come to this place.
(5)Aubrey D.
I'm in LOVE. Shoki II Ramen House made a bitter day at Raging Waters a lot better with their flavorful tasting ramen. Finding the restaurant was a little bit of a challenge considering the construction work happening around the area, but luckily, my best friend and I found it in no time! There's both a private lot and street parking. My best friend and I were fortunate enough to come at a not so busy time. Take note that their place is nearly empty around 1:30 PM on the weekdays, and be aware that their restaurant is intimate and tiny. If you come at another time, it will be extremely busy! We were greeted by this adorable Japanese waitress and were seated rather quickly. Within seconds the waitress took our order with this computerized touch pad and got our food out within 10-20 minutes. The ramen was delicious. However, this is my first time experiencing legit ramen that didn't come out from Cup-O-Noodles. I really like the flavors and the vegetables they used. It was very refreshing. They also won me over after they mentioned they use fresh and organic ingredients. The base was a little too salty for me to handle, but the noodles with vegetables made up for it! My best friend on the other hand, went to Japan and had legit ramen. Although, she said her spicy ramen was really good, she felt the base of the soup was too busy. She wished the flavors were simpler. The customer service and food was stellar. We got a stamp card for every ramen we purchased! The catch is- you only get the stamp card if you pay by cash only. No worries, they accept card too, but you don't get the free stamp card. :P Overall, I felt the prices were reasonable, and I got my money's worth of food! I will be back for you soon Shoki II Ramen House!
(5)Elaine S.
Went in with high hopes only to leave with a bag of uneaten food I intend on tossing as soon as I get home. From all the outstanding reviews I was guarantee a great experience, right? Wrong. As soon as I walked in the door I was blown away with an off putting odor. We got there right at open, yet it took over 20 minutes to take our order and the place was not even packed. We ordered shio, mini shirasu avocado don (dry, needed a sauce), mini chashu don (also dry and needed a sauce), and hot tea. When I think ramen, I think full flavored and hot, not fishy, watered down and somewhat above room temp. That smell I was talking about, yeah it was definitely the food. All of it. So bad it was difficult to stomach what little I did eat. Everything was extra fishy tasting including the tea oddly enough. Is it normal to exchange an ID for a key to use the bathroom outside and behind the building? That was a first for me. The customer service was decent. The dragon bike rack was awesome. Great parking and cool location off the beaten path. I was really looking forward to this place being my ramen spot, but I will most definitely not return.
(1)Marco S.
This place is pretty awesome!! Just had dinner here & I am satisfied! It was really good food. Pros: Gluten-Free options, organic choices, & even the minced beef is grass-fed! Awesome. Cons: it's a little small/cramped, gets busy (big lines on weekends), if you are Gluten-Free like me, it gets a little pricey. Everything seems to be an add-on at extra charge. Overall, I give this place a thumbs up!
(4)Lu Lu S.
So maybe it's because I'm from the Bay Area and you know the food there is the best! Anyhow, I've eaten at plenty of ramen places so in comparison this place is just okay. Nothing to rave about, the soup was not very flavorful, not enough meat in the soup unless you pay extra and just okay. They do have an option to customize your ramen by changing noodles and making it more/less salt and oil.
(3)Lea G.
I've been to this place a few times. Sometimes the service is a bit slower than I appreciate & it is a bit cramped in there, but the food is always great & the price is certainly right. I'll keep going!
(4)Mia Q.
DO NOT FOLLOW IPHONE MAPS!! Unfamiliar with Sacramento, Iphone maps sent my daughter and I down 12th street that has a DO NOT ENTER sign AFTER we already turned down the street. A light rail system is located there. Thank goodness I saw an alleyway to turn into! Other than that experience, my daughter enjoyed the ramen there! And she's very picky! I'm not a fish eater, and made the mistake in ordering the wafu (fish) broth. I should've got the vegetable broth instead. I loved the noodles! Be careful when you order green onions. We got two orders and were given way too much when we could've shared one. Place is very small and tables way too close. It would've been nice to have a conversation without having to hear our neighbors. We had a rude couple next to us who snapped their fingers at the waiter. We hope to sit in a corner next time! I can't wait to try this place again!
(5)Tessa M.
Caution: the large is absurdly large! This place is my new favorite go-to for awesome, Japanese style ramen. I got the curry with yam noodles and added some spice that was on the table to kick up the heat. A great place for a small group of adventurous eaters.
(5)Roni-Lyn K.
4 stars for the hard boiled egg alone! But overall, yummy, very small place and always packed, so expect to wait
(4)Corinna M.
After moving back to the Sacramento area after going to college in LA, I was craving some ramen. Decided to give this place a shot and although I commend Shoki for going MSG-free and vegan/vegetarian friendly, the flavors were not what I was expecting or used to. It's not that I think that the lack of MSG contributed to why I didn't like Shoki ramen as much, but I just didn't like the broth as much as other ramen places. On a side note, I am already pretty sensitive to MSG and don't care much for it anyways! Service was okay, and the wait was not too long, but the ramen and broth were not what I was expecting. I did however like that you could add on the mini rice bowls, the curry and chashu rice bowls were great!
(3)Trisha A.
YUMMMM! i wish they had shoki back home! i ordered the regular sized EXTRA spicy tan tan men and it was so delicious. unfortunately, i didn't feel the spiciness in the broth but the flavors were so tasty. the order came with minced beef w/ the sesame seeds. i didn't expect much taste from the minced beef but i was surprised from the burst of flavor. it made the ramen taste so much better. the spinach, bamboo shoots, green onions, and a seaweed paper were a great mix with the broth. all this for $7.90 i had to order more toppings with my ramen. i had an order of corn ($1.50), hard boiled egg ($1.50), and 3 pieces of chashu ($2.50). additional toppings were pretty expensive! i love corn so i had to get it with my ramen. the egg was cooked perfectly and the yolk was half soft and hard. one of the most perfect eggs i ever had! just look at my picture! the chashu was soft and a tad bit fatty. i wish one slice came in my ramen but it was still worth ordering the chashu. the tan tan men was definitely my most favorite flavor. the only downside to this place is the long long wait. we came on a friday night and waited about 30 minutes. it didn't bother me as much because i already expected the long wait, but if you're impatient make sure to come a little early right when it opens up. we had outstanding service from steven. he was the most attentive server and was always checking up on on us. he knew how to handle the busy rush and he was very informative while we ordered. the bathrooms are outside and it's a bit scary at night. just make sure to go with a buddy. when you ask for the key, you have to give them an item of yourself for exchange. once you give it back, they will give you their item. at least they want to make sure that they get their key back! can't wait to come back! thanks shoki for the great time!
(4)Alex N.
Shoki is alright.... We got the Tan Tan Men with extra chashiu today and it was pretty good but nothing special. But my wife and I are kinda ramen snobs (that's what happens when you grow up Vietnamese eating Mi Mama and Mi Goreng), but we didn't feel like the broth was as hearty and rich in the OMG-hell-yeah soup that we are used to. While I liked the option to get wheat noodles and less sodium, I like chewy noodles that are fun to eat, it was more limp noodles here. We did enjoy the bowl don't get me wrong, but probably won't be visiting here for awhile when you have other options like Ryujin. We were turned off by the outside restrooms as well. All in all 3 stars. It was alright, homie.
(3)Sophia Y.
Someone says "Ramen", I say "Let's go!" What is it about ramen that makes it so addicting? $8 will get you a small bowl of triple broth soymilk ramen, which is honestly more like kid-sized. I should have gone for the medium or even large bowl, says the petite Asian girl. The broth was really good especially from the fresh soy milk from Sacramento Tofu Co. I would have liked to see more ingredients other than just one slice of chasu pork and a decorative piece of seaweed. There's sesame oil and chili oil on the table to add more depth of flavor to the broth. One thing that really stood out to me was how accomodating they are to customizations. The first thing the waiter asks is if anyone has any dietary restrictions and that they are more than willing/ helpful to accomodate. Makes me feel not so bad about all the "ands" and "donts" that come with my order. You can customize how well the noodles are cooked, how salty the broth is, etc. The wait can be long. We got there 30 minutes right after their dinner service just opened and they already had a full house.
(4)Joe K.
I stopped eating Ramen about a year ago due to the very simple fact that my congestive heart failure and the high sodium content in most ramen don't get along. However, when my family decided they wanted to go to Shoki II Ramen House for lunch on Good Friday, I did not want to be the evil wizard so I decided to go along with their idea. I figured I would eat the noodles and leave the broth. We arrived around one o'clock and the place was nearly full. The thunderous noise upon entering this very compact and crowded little ramen house was almost deafening with the voices of its many patrons obnoxiously bouncing off its boxlike walls as they zestfully partook in loquacious conversation while slurping down their ramen noodles. Menus were already placed on the table patiently awaiting our arrival. The menu is really rather simple if you already have a basic knowledge of ramen. On the left side of the menu are your choices of something like six different bowls of ramen along with your choice of noodles or broth. You can choose your spice level, the amount of salt in your broth, whether you want thin or thick noodles, wheat noodles or even gluten free ramen entirely void of any noodles at all. On the right side of the menu is a large menagerie of items that you can add to customize your bowl of noodles. The low sodium option was a complete surprise to me. Yeah! I can eat ramen again. "I will take a bowl of Tan Tan Men with extra noodles and corn please." Shoki II ramen house is about healthy food. A tip for all of the people that have complained about their broth being bland compared to other ramen places in Sactown. Take the top off of the salt shaker. Dump half the shaker of salt into your broth and put the top back on. Bring your own MSG and dump it in there too. Now your ramen should have the same flavor as all of the other ramen places in town. It took me about six months to adjust after going on a low sodium diet. Now I taste the rich subtle flavors that use to be overwhelmed by the dominant flavor of the salt and I never knew existed. The ramen that would have been bland to me less than a year ago was teaming with flavor. I completely enjoyed the way the vegetables and the minced beef subtly merged with the very welcome addition of the bold flavors of the dried chilies and minced garlic as they extruded their juices into the delicate intricate flavors my broth. Thank you for caring enough to be there for people like me Shoki. I WILL BE BACK!
(4)Jeanette L.
Slow service @_@ but good ramen to make up for it. The broth is very good and doesn't contain MSG. I usually get the soy milk ramen or tan tan men ramen. Tip! Add chili and garlic to achieve new flavors woop woop
(4)Enrique M.
Best Ramen house in Sacramento and probably for Miles. Not the quickest service or food but definitely worth the wait. The pork that is cooked in house is slow cooked for 6 hours and you can taste the love. I will recommend this place to everyone I meet now looking for a place to eat in Sac.
(5)Nieva M.
Great food, excellent service, and reasonable prices. Perfect for hitting that Ramen craving!
(4)Daniel T.
Visits: 3 Rating: 5* Service: awesome Dishes: Tan Tan Men; Black Sesame Tan Tan Men They've updated the menu & modernised their order taking system. Probably more efficient to help move the masses along so that the wait is not too long, which it wasn't on this Monday afternoon. We've had ramen from seven places in SF, LA to NY & Canada (Vancouver & Toronto). This place rates as one of the top for us. If you like salty ramen then go elsewhere. We know people that like the high sodium flavors of ramen & tend to go to the ramen houses that have that salty flavor. Forget that. Shoki has the goal of a healthier, lower sodium ramen broth that is still delicious. They hit it on the mark here. Tan Tan Men is my favorite. It's not overly salty at all & the broth is obviously less fatty when compared to the usual ramen house. But the flavors are not missing. Great pork broth flavor that I can drink up without feeling guilty. Yum. The Black Sesame Tan Tan Men (has a different name but I forget), which is now a regular on the menu (not yet on the online menu as of this writing) is the wife's favorite. Same Tan Tan flavor but with black sesame added. Pretty delicious. I normally get extra Chashu. Beware, their Chashus are huge, almost twice the size that other ramen houses have & a whole lot less fatty. I mistakenly got the Triple w/9 slices, overkill even though we shared. Sharing a 6 slice would of been plenty good for us. We don't have huge appetites for one sitting.
(5)Vischa S.
The best ramen ever !! I tried everything they have... And all are pretty good. Shio Ramen is my fav. Clear broth, light and very refreshing tadte. I can eat Shio Ramen everyday. My hubby likes Tantan Ramen. Richer soup, and very flavorful. They have Tomato Ramen during summer. Try this if you like tomato and the sour taste. Soy milk ramen is very unique. Bottom like.... I love them all.
(5)Emmy B.
The ramen here is not as great as it was a couple of years ago. The broth is less tasty so the add-ons tend to overpower it. The ramen texture is on point as always but it doesn't make up for the lack of flavor. Adding a salted egg, i felt, was absolutely necessary for each bowl instead of being a nice little treat to have on the side. However, service was on-point hospitable as always with little dashes of japanese mannerisms to remind customers of the House's authenticity.
(3)Kelli H.
This place was a cute small Japanese ramen house. Everything we had was so delicious I will definately go again and again. The only thing is I wish they had mochi ice cream and gyoza. But besides that the broth was so good and service was fantastic. Another great Friday eve. with my lovely husband and my niece who didn't order anything. But once it came she tried it and loved them both. Also she enjoyed the hot tea with soy sauce. Yummy.
(5)James S.
Shoki, where have you gone? Maybe it is the young front of house staff, who think that putting an order into the computer and hoping it works equals customer service. Maybe it is the to-go orders overwhelming the kitchen. Maybe you can only be the best for so long. We placed our order and got our drinks, and then our waiter Jeremy never came back. After half an hour we flagged a young lady down and asked her to check on our order. She said that a lot of phone orders had come in before us, and I pointed out that the tables next to us who came in after we did had already been served. She came back a few minutes later and said our food would be right out. Fifteen minutes later we got Jeremy's attention and my wife asked if our order was coming up. He went to the kitchen window and then walked past us to the waiters station without a word. At this point we had had enough and I approached the register and asked why he had not come back to us and answered my wife's question about our food. He said that the order had not gone to the kitchen and he was putting it in now. I asked if that put us behind every other order in the place and placed over the phone and he replied that it would. I paid for our drinks, and we left. Am I wrong to think that waiters should continue to check on the customer and their orders in this modern age instead of relying on the computerized system to do their job? Or that servers should neither lie to the customer to placate them or offer excuses instead actually following up on their requests? Or maybe, just maybe, if you do a lousy job and your system has not covered your mistakes you should apologize to the customer and try and make things right any way you can instead of scuttling off and starting from scratch most of an hour into someone's meal.
(1)Ashley B.
I have to start off by saying, Shoki knows Ramen. I've been coming here since they opened and they have been consistent. Why one star? In the past few months, the portions have gotten smaller and price higher. And Shoki has no humility about it. When I ordered the small, expecting to get full, I was stunned to see the noticeably smaller bowl and amount of food. BUT, it was a dollar more, soooo...high five in customer service?? I asked to upgrade, more noodles, more broth, something. I would pay (though I shouldn't have had to) and they said they don't do extra broth, and I could order another bowl or extra noodles. So extra noodles it was with my cold broth since I had to wait...still hungry. Last time I was here, they tried making me pay before the food was even served. They aren't doing that anymore, so the jig is up. What next?! Thanks for ruining a good thing, Shoki. You have my heart, but no longer my business.
(1)Adam And Eve K.
Turns out Ramen other than the ones we make in our own kitchen just isn't our thing. The wait was 20-25 minutes on a Sunday night after 7. The waiter was really nice and helpful. We asked for extra soft noodles and they were still al dente. The ramen was okay. It wasn't horrible by any means, it just turns out we like the way we make it at home better. The fact that we spent $30 on two bowls of ramen and a cup of rice, a soda and a tea was a bit hard to swallow as well.
(3)Jessica L.
I'm sorry, but this was by far the worst ramen place I've ever had. I came here with my friends craving ramen because of this rainy weather and yelp directed us here with it's 4 star review. We ordered the Tan Tan Men with extra spicy and a boiled egg. After waiting patiently for about 10 minutes out food arrived and disappointment was all over our face. The smell of the ramen already told me that this was not going to be good. I took the first bite and blah.. I didn't even wanna finish but I couldn't let $7 go to waste! I sucked it up and had to try a and finish this ramen.. It wasn't hard though because there was barely even any noodles in it! I felt jipped. Usually a small bowl of ramen anywhere else gets me so full, I left this place hungry. Overall, I will never come back. I guess I'll just make my trips to San Jose to get my dose of good ramen.
(1)Steven V.
First off, I don't recommend coming here at night since the location is pretty sketchy. This is a tiny ramen stand and once you're inside it's like a diner/ramen bar atmosphere. The bathroom is accessible via outside and through a key, maybe telling more about the sketchiness of the area. I thought the ramen was just okay. I ordered a tonkotsu and it wasn't very flavorful. I ordered corn and they bowl was literally half corn. So I guess the ramen is pretty much however you choose to customize it. But the tonkotsu broth lacked a lot of flavor and my pork portions were small and not very good. Maybe I'll try the soy milk or something special if I decide to come here again.
(3)Mollie W.
Went here for the second time today, so yummy! The bowl is huge and I definitely will have leftovers for a while. Definitely love that extra noodles are only a dollar. Love the different options for noodles. I now make soft boiled eggs all the time because of this place! Will definitely eat here again and again.
(5)Mel L.
Mmmm warm comforting ramen. There's nothing like it. And this place is good at what it does. I've tried the shoyu, tan tan men, and last visit my bff got the soy milk options. I loved them all, but I especially enjoyed the tan tan men. I order the regular spice level, which is more than enough spice for me. I like extra corn and soft boiled egg with it. So delicious! The earlier you get here the better because it gets busy and stays busy most of the day. When dessert is available, get it. the kuro goma ice cream is amazing. I've heard the strawberry mocha is good too but I haven't had it yet. All the more reason for another visit!
(5)Eric L.
Love this place. Healthy and tasty. The only ding is for the building itself. It's way too small and you're uncomfortably close to other customers, almost close enough for their noodles to splash on you. It's also weird to have to give them your wallet to get the restroom key. They've got to be making bank since the place is packed all day...time to move to a bigger venue. It's funny how Bento Box on 16th and K has a huge dining room that's never full (because the food sucks), but these good places are tiny and have long wait times for a table.
(4)Jamie L.
DELICIOUS RAMEN! The tan tan men and shoyu are the best! One of the great things about this place are the options. You can customize your broth with more/less oil, more/less salt and hard/soft noodles. They offer gluten free and organic noodles as well. One meal seems a bit pricey, especially when you add extra toppings. That's why I opt for a larger size or making it a set to ensure the most satisfaction. CUSTOMER SERVICE The servers are quick, patient and friendly. They have stamp cards available if you pay with cash. Get 12 stamps and your 13th bowl is free! DOWNSIDE The wait. This place can get packed making you hangry (hungry + angry).
(5)Liang G.
Food was uninspired. I was drawn by the strong reviews but feel let down. I ordered shoyu ramen, and a side of char shu. The broth was thinner than Kate Moss, and just as interesting. Egg was overdone and lacking any flavor. Char shu was pretty dry though quite flavorful. If I was blindfolded, I might have guessed that I was having some Cantonese style egg noodles in a chicken broth. Not to say that it's bad, just that it's not what I expected when I sat down. It would be a shame if the uninitiated took a seat in this ramen house only to experience an inaccurate portrayal of what ramen tastes like. I had to use a key for the restroom which was behind the restaurant. Who does that?
(2)Katherine H.
Getting back into the swing of review writting, I'm starting with this awesome little Ramen house. I came by the recommendation of a chef I know. As usual, his palate was spot on. I've never been to Japan, but this is how I imagine an authentic Ramen house looks and feels. Small, cozy, and a little steamy. I came with a group of three, me included, was seated immediately and ordered the Tan Tan Men with the soft boiled egg, green onions, and Wakame (seaweed). The broth was very good, although I had a texture thing with the ground beef. I still enjoyed it. I don't know if I want to pay an extra dollar for green onions, that's a bit much in my opinion, but the soft boiled egg was such a nice compliment to the noodles. speaking of noodles, they had a marvelous texture. I will definitely be back for more. If I enjoyed them when it's 100F° outside. ..I can't wait until it's cold and rainy.
(4)Ken S.
Shoki's is a excellent Japanese restaurant that specializes in ramen The menu is simple and the ramen is out of this world It is definitely a hidden gem of Sacramento There is usually a wait so arrive early but if not it is worth the wait b I also like the plate of chasu which you can eat by itself or to put into the ramen bowl Both ways are yummy once in a while, they have strawberry mochi (ichigo difuku) which is amazing. They should have it all of the time
(5)Wok Star X.
One of the worst ramen bowls I have eaten. I ordered a large spicy tan tan men ramen bowl. The broth was terrible. Tasted like burnt chili something broth. The noodles weren't fully cooked. Barely any meat. More like a sprinkle of the beef out of a salt shaker. The broth should be the star of the dish. Maybe each dish is a hit or miss. Picked this place based off of the 4 star ratings and reviews from others. Very bland and very disappointed.
(1)A J.
The food is alright I guess. It's not amazing by any means. But this review is in regards to the owner/manager. On 6/20 there seems to have been a new employee training who was completely fine in what he was doing. However a woman who I'm gathering was the owner or manager was following him around very closely (like 2 inches) as he went to people's tables. She would then pull him aside and critique him. This happened no matter what he did. He would approach a table then she would run over and lean in behind him super awkward and aggressively to make sure he picked up dirty dishes correctly. Dude came to our table and we was super nervous and shaking because of this woman following him around and micromanaging the sh*t out of him. I was getting rather angry watching this all go down especially since you know this guy is making min wage or close to it. So if the guy getting trained that morning reads this: Quit that job. This is a bad sign of things to come and it makes sense to me now why they always have ads on Craigslist looking for help.
(1)Sue G.
Really good especially late on a Winter night! The hot broth, high quality noodles & sake really hit the spot. They're open till Midnight so you can go there after a show downtown. The menu is a bit tricky so study it online before you go! CAUTION: The brownish-colored powder (the spicy stuff; they make it themselves) is MUCH STRONGER than the normal store-bought stuff. My daughter nearly set herself on fire & she eats really spicy foods! I was also told that adding too much of the garlic can be kinda nasty, so try small amounts of either one & add gradually. My daughter & I had 2 regular bowls, 2 large sakes & an Ume Shu (cold plum wine) and walked out for just under $45 including tip. I understand why they win so many awards. Simona was our waitress & she was terrific. This place is a "Hole in the wall"...small, busy & the kind of place that you'll long for if you move away.
(5)Nataliya C.
this place is serving liquid gold =) Its a tiny place but the wait is never horribly long and everyone is really friendly. the food is great. i am celiac so gluten free ramen is hard to find. for me, this place is awesome as i have 2 options on broth and i can have yam noodles or rice. the bummer is that i cannot eat any of the meats (soaked in soy sauce), but i can have other adders with egg being really really good. I have never gotten sick in this place, which is a big deal for someone with celiac disease 2 thumbs way, way up.
(5)McKenzie M.
It's a bustling place for a bowl of noodles. A little bit on the loud side, but service is friendly and quick. That said, I found the menu complicated. What kind of noodles? What kind of broth? Wait, what if I want that combination but I don't want it spicy? Why don't the vegetarian choices come in sizes other than medium? What exactly comes in your standard noodles and what are the add-ons? I didn't find the server particular helpful when I asked. But once you get your food, yeah, it's pretty yummy. The broth is rich, noodles are properly cooked, and the toppings are tasty. I don't get excited about this place, but there's nothing wrong with it either.
(3)Jennifer Y.
This is ramen that I sometimes have dreams about. Tan tan men is the best creation on this planet and I'm really happy I don't live in Sac because I'd be eating here at least twice a week.
(4)Cindy K.
I don't get it. Is this one of the best places for ramen in Sac town? Seriously? With 600+ reviews and 4 stars, I was expecting to fall in love with this place. Well, I didn't and neither did hubs. This place was packed and there was a wait for a table on a Saturday evening. That's a good sign! Even people coming by to pick up to go orders. At least there's a little parking lot. Hooray!! Trying to find parking in downtown is crazy. So we were glad for this little piece of pie. + Service was fast and friendly + Menu is straight forward + Food comes out quickly We ordered the shoyu and the shio in large. Normally I like the tonkotsu but they don't have that here. They do have this weird milk one. I was too chicken to try it. - Broth was borderline bland - The noodle ratio was whack - Skimpy on the sides I was so shocked at how little flavor there was in the broth. I guess if you're looking for a healthier bowl of ramen, this is it. Not oily and not too salty. However, when I go out to eat ramen, I'm looking for all the works. Otherwise, I might as well stay home and make instant noodles myself. At least the noodles were good. Had a nice al dente texture and did compliment the broth. For the the large size though, I got such little amount of bamboo shoots and only 1 sad sheet of nori. Wow. Also, I guess I really missed the soft boiled egg in my ramen. Sad that it doesn't come with. Sure if I'm in the neighborhood and we're hungry for ramen. However, I heard there's another ramen place nearby? Hmm... One last thing, they did give us a crazy amount of noodles in the large. We were stuffed and had to take some home.
(2)Jane Y.
What happened here? I used to like this place but the quality sure has gone down. It's been probably a good year since I've been here because there's been so many different ramen places that popped up around Sacramento. I came here hungry! So maybe expectations were higher but still! I ordered the tan tan men extra spicy and extra spicy tasted mild if even that. The broth was bland and flavorless. I added extra garlic and chili and still nothing and I'm a broth girl, I love my broth and usually finish my broth but nope, not here. Doesn't help that the broth was lukewarm either. Also, some my friend's ramen came with all the veggies and meat on a side plate while mine had all the stuff in it already. That made no sense whatsoever. Overall, there's way better ramen places in Sacramento now and this is not one where I would return.
(2)Fei M.
I went here with my friends last weekend. Took a little while to get seated because we were a party of 8, but we managed to get a table for all of us after about 45 min (which I am told is average for this place). I ordered one of the vegetarian ramens, regular size. It was a good sized portion and the broth was excellent. However, the noodles weren't quite as chewy as I would have liked. My friends got a variety of dishes and they all seemed to enjoy it, though some were a bit disappointed with the noodles as well. Service was ok. Took a little while to get the check. Atmosphere was ok.
(4)Jen Y.
It was fine. I mean the noodles were very springy and good, but the egg was a total disappointment. It was almost hard boiled and had none of the creaminess I was expecting. It was also flavorless! Not even salty. I could have made that egg at home with my egg timer app and here they charge $1.50 per egg. And it was extra (doesn't come with the noodles.) The broth for the SHIO ramen was very, very peppery. They gave us one piece of chashu for a regular size bowl. The TSUKEMEN was quite vinegary and tangy, which was explained in their menu and wasn't bad, just surprising. I think it would be a favorite in summer. Again, the regular size came with one piece of pork and no egg. The place was packed but service was still very friendly. When the server used Japanese terms and saw that I was totally confused, he didn't mind repeating and explaining everything to me. Our orders came out 15 minutes after ordering and they came out correctly. Seating is kind of tight and you have to get friendly with strangers, but that creates a nice, casual atmosphere. Just be prepared to be bumped into and heard by your neighbors. Overall, I wouldn't come back on my own, but I wouldn't throw a tantrum if someone else wanted to go.
(2)Christa B.
The ramen was okay and it wasn't really worth the wait. What I did not like about this restaurant was that I had to give collateral to use the restroom. I'm paying for dinner and they can't even provide a bathroom. There was a waiting list for the bathroom too.
(2)D H.
The ramen here is okay but not amazing. The broth wasn't as flavorful as I would like and the "extra spicy" had no heat what so ever! I even added extra chili paste but that didn't contribute anything. Their black sesame ramen wasn't as savory as I wanted it to be. It's also really cramp and small here. I had to listen to a pair of gossiping gfs that were sitting an inches away from my table. If they're reading this review, your boyfriend is not into you and is probably cheating or is thinking about cheating on you. I was generous an extra star because the service was really friendly!
(3)KS C.
This was our 3rd time visiting and we were satisfied with the ramen quality and service before. However, just one lousy incident prompted this review and probably we won't come back in the near future. One of the servers, Melanie, spilled curry noodle soup on my husband's brand new white linen shirt and she only said a quick sorry and walked away. Never came back to offer help nor to check on us and see what the damage was. Very poor service I must say. I just wash the shirt today even after spraying it with stain remover, the stains are still there! That's why I'm super mad now. Another thing about the facility, there's only one restroom in the back (need to go outside to access with a key) without baby changing station. When we visited the first time, my toddler and I waited for like over 30 minutes before we get to use it. So, just something to keep in mind when you dine there. Also, there's always a fly or two accompanying your table. Some servers are really nice though but I have no idea why or how Melanie is hired as she was totally unprofessional in dealing with her mistake.
(1)Trevor B.
Love this place. Awesome Ramen and fast, friendly service. Gets super busy though so beware. Also, try the black sesame tan-tan - delicious.
(4)Jenny W.
I am no ramen connoisseur, but I tremendously appreciate my culinary encounter each time I am here. The ramen is substantial and easy, with various choices to add a lot of toppings (will run the cost up fast though). Soy based ramen and the Shio are both superb as well as the setting has that dynamic, bustling feel to it. Excellent spot to relax with sake with tasty ramen!
(5)Simon L.
I like this place and go there quite often. But I agree with some reviewers that it is quite inconsistent now. If the owners are around the food is better. Tan Tan ramen with regular thick noodle is great. Other kind of noodle is not as good. Too bad they don't have the little fish over rice dish now. Anyway it is still my favorite ramen place in Sacramento.
(4)Erica P.
Very good ramen place in Sacramento. The broth is amazing and the selection makes it all the better.
(4)Tiffany I.
Best ramen house in sacramento. It is a bit bigger then the first shokis, but still a bit cramped.
(5)Pinhwa S.
This is the best Ramen I had in Sacramento area. Wayyy wayy better than Ramen House Ryujin. I had Curry Ramen with Tamago, and my friends had Tan Tan Men and Shoyu Ramen. Their broth is good. A bit on the salty side, but the saltiness is adjustable. The noodles and veges were good. You can pick what type of noodles you want too. Like thick, think, or wheat, etc. Their egg is okey, not super amazing but decent. Ryujin Ramen's egg is defiantly better. I like how they have different sizes bowls, u can pick how much u want to eat, most places don't have different size bowls. They do have stamp card , but they only stamp when you pay with cash :/ Overall this is a decent ramen place, nothing is wrong with the food or service. It's not the best ramen I ever had, but definitely the best in Sacramento area. :)
(4)Steven L.
I'd like to start off by stating that I wanted to give this a two and a half star rating but three stars is all I could choose. Two stars wouldn't be giving their servers enough credit. Came here for the first time a couple months back and I wasn't very impressed. I love ramen and was hoping to experience another Ryujin but no dice. Again, the server was attentive and helpful but that didn't help their food much. I had ordered a bowl of curry ramen and their tsukemen dish. The curry was almost bland except for the usual curry aromatics and I was confused with their pile of dried out spinach that was thrown into the bowl. The tsukemen broth also lacked flavor. It tasted like a rushed broth instead of one that was reduced properly to build up its depth and body. Sad to say but I probably won't be coming back unless I'm starving, craving ramen and my car has just crapped out right next to this spot. Feel free to try it for yourself but I'd recommend Ryujin on S and 18th over Shoki any day. Happy trails, ramen lovers!
(3)Brian H.
I've been going here and the original one for the past 8 years. It's our go-to place for "comfort" food. By far the best ramen I've ever had.
(5)Stefanie C.
YUM! This was my first time trying ramen anywhere in Sacramento, and it definitely did not disappoint. (Well the service did but I'm not in the mood to dissect the service in this review... just the food.) My friend took me here because it's her favorite ramen place. I ordered a large Tan Tan Men EXTRA SPICY upon recommendation by Yelp users and other friends. It's a little pricier than other ramen places but well worth it. The portion and presentation is on-point, and I love that the dishes can be customized to fit different tastes and dietary restrictions. (My friend is pescatarian.) Plus this location takes credit card and the original location does not. Would recommend!
(4)Ken C.
I was driving by the "wonderful" city of Sacramento and decided to try the Ramen per "magnificent" reviews on Yelp. This place boast msg free, Vegetable base broth - great for vegetarians!, gluten free noodles, etc on the menu. That's good to know. You know you can make your own vegetable broth at home too. Healthy and delicious! Minced beef is the primary protein for soup. Huh? Where's the pork? I'm surprised no one has griped about this. Usually, the flavorful Pork is the standard. Not minced beef or vegetable broth! Anyway, want pork? Add another $2.50! This ruffled my feathers. Yelp users of Sacramento, full with hype and promise, only to deliver yet another disappointment - like the bannerless Sacramento Queens. Sorry!
(3)Joshua K.
Been going to Shoki II since it opened. It is always packed and unless you get there early, hard to get seated right away. However, that is what makes Ramen places unique and great. Ramen is very personal and it really has to do with what you like from the pure ramen such as what may seem plain like the shoyu or shio broth to the more bold like the tan tan and the soy milk. For vegans, there is a great variety of choices as well. Some of the staff change as usual for any restaurants, but there are a few that have been there since it has opened and very attentive and friendly. While there are a number of ramen places in Sac, this is definitely one of the best in town!
(5)Katie M.
I can't believe it has taken me so long to write a review for Shoki considering I'm a regular, however they are long overdue for some serious lovin' from me. This is not your store-bought instant ramen. This ramen has some SERIOUS TLC but into every bowl. So much TLC, that it could be 103 degrees in Sacramento and I will still crave a bowl of dreams. I ALWAYS order the Tan Tan Men, extra spicy with extra noodles and a side of steamed cabbage(don't judge). You're welcome!
(5)Danial D.
Can i give a no star? I went here with the gf and a friend. I got the tan tan men. Everything about it disgusting . I got the large and took two bites and wouldnt eat it. The waiter asked me how it was. I said bad. Hes just left..... I asked for a refund for the food i didnt eat. They wouldnt give me one .... They offered to make me another ramen. Why would i want another when not one of us liked the food. Side notes it smelt bad, was cramped and loud. We felt sick from the food we did eat on the way home. I will NEVER come back here. Save yourself some time and a stomachache and go to ryujin ramen down the street.
(1)Arielle W.
Good god do I love this ramen house minus the tamago. The tamago is a hit or miss but the tan tan men is is always hitting when you add their sweet juicy godlike mushrooms. You'll order a small thinking it's enough, but it's really not. Why? Because you'll want more. To top it off, grab their sesame vanilla ice cream. It is the most absolutely perfect way to end the meal. It's specially made for Shokii and you cannot get it anywhere else unless nobody has told me. Arrive a good 20 minutes before you're hungry because it's always busy in that little shack.
(5)Laura M.
I came to this place to grab a quick bite to eat before my crochet class (don't laugh.. I need a hobby. Lol) my first impression... Cute quaint little spot. I walked in to order to go and this strong odor over took me. It was like a mixture of urine, feet and old people. Ekkkk. I thought about walking out but then thought of yelp and decided if it sucked, I could expose it writing and if it was good, then.... Lucky me. Pressing on... Before I comment on the food I must digress to mention the child hostess/ busser/ door opener. This kid was super polite and knew what he was doing. The kid earned them their 1 star. Ok now for the food! One word... Appalling. I had thier spicy house dish (forgot the name). It had such a odd unpleasant taste I could not even finish it. Maybe there are other good items on the menu but im not sure I want to pay another $10 to find out.
(1)Janysha J.
There are so many great things about this place. Most importantly the ramen is always super good! Also the staff is super friendly, the ramen house is super cute, and lastly, it is open late!
(5)Tu-Anh N.
If I"m willing to drive an hour and half to eat, it must be THAT good. I trust my friends taste in ramen because I know they are ramen snobs, and since its one of thier birthdays...sure I"ll make the drive! Alex was our server was did a phenomenal job! He was so sweet and patient; when I asked him about the different sizes of ramen he went and roughly out the 3 size bowls the ramen is served in. He would often check up on us to see if everything was ok, an we were a party of 16! So here's what I ordered: TAN TAN MEN - Size Small - $7.80 Spicy soy-sauce based with thick noodles. Because I ordered the size small, the toppings came on a separate plate: nori, spinach, menma, moyashi, and a scoop of minced beef. For an extra $1.50, I added a half-boiled egg, which was exactly how I like it: runny but solid enough. It was slightly cold though. I asked for my ramen bowl to be mild, but to me I sensed zero spiciness. The flavors of the broth was flavorful and I liked the scoop minced beefed scattered all over in broth, s that every spoonful had some! Everything overall came together well. And why did I order a small bowl? Because I planned on ordering dessert! KURO GOMA ICE CREAM - $3.00 This Shoki's origional creation was made via special order by Gunther's, a local famous ice cream parlor. This vanilla-based ice cream has just a hint of black sesame is drizzled with kuro miso, a Japanese sugar cane syrup, and sprinkled with these crunchy rice balls. I love the textures and the good amount of sweetness in this one scoop serving! I was tempted to order another order but one of my friends couldn't finish his order. Lucky me! So here's what uniquely wonderful about this ramen shop: - They accept credit cards!!!! - If you dont finish your food, you can take the rest home!!! Mind blown. This place was great Thank you Shoki!
(4)Tommy L.
Great use of space but the flavors were a little on the bland and the pork was a little shy in temperature.
(2)Ronnie D.
Their Tamago is fully cooked when it should only be half cooked. Friendly customer service.
(4)Matthew T.
This place was okay. I enjoyed it but was not the best broth or noodles. Waiting staff was nice and it felt very cozy there. Great for Vegetarians and people watching what they eat.
(3)Grace M.
Wonderful Ramen Ordered Tan Tan Mein no/meat - best vegetarian option. I came around lunch time, worth the wait about (20 min). Made friends at the community table my party of 2 became a party of 4. It is a very comfortable relaxing environment. Despite being very busy, a second waiter checked up on us every 10 minutes to make sure our experience was going well. They went the extra mile and food was very tasty. I will be visiting again. The only downside (loss of 1 star) is that this was not the best choice of restaurant for a business meeting, seating is too close together.
(4)Scott T.
Absolutely outstanding Ramen. I wish they had one of these in the Roseville or Folsom area, but they don't. As it stands now, one has to drive to Sacramento to get good Ramen. Would have gotten five stars; however, they charge extra if you want green onion flakes in your soup. Are you kidding me? I can understand for some extra meat, mushrooms, tofu, etc., but green onion?
(4)Sean W.
Simple menu, long lines, great food. If you are coming here for a quick lunch, then get here early. The menu is actually small but with tons of little add-ons that can get you off the beaten path quickly. Be ready when your server comes to take your order as this place is small and getting the order in quickly will assure that your food comes quickly. I always order the Tan Tan Men. I love it but my wife hates the minced meat so she substitutes sliced pork in hers. The service is prompt and friendly but it is almost always busy so the servers can be a bit preoccupied to notice if you need anything extra. They are also open rather late. 10:00 on weekdays and midnight on weekends. Not a bad place to get some late grub going!
(5)Miri E.
Tan tan man is great!! I like this place you can choose your Ramen as you like. I like the flavor of the soup here. The service is good, the place is always full.
(5)Amanda R.
Shoki Ramen is UNBELIEVABLY amazing ! This was the first place I ever ate at when I first visited Sacramento to check out Sacramento State University and, to be honest, I'm pretty sure this little gem was one of my deciding factors when I chose to attend CSUS. THATS how good it is ! Whenever my parens come up from LA, this is the spot to find us. They will LITERALLY eat here every day that they are visiting because they just can't get enough. I'm actually a little shocked that this is the first time I'm writing a review considering this is a favorite spot of mine. Shoki Ramen House has two locations in Sacramento and both are equally great ! I tend to go to the R street location more because they have more seating and they accept credit cards. The last time I visited the other location, they only accepted cash. I'm not sure about that now. When you first enter Shoki Ramen House, you're greeted by all the staff members. Everyone that works at Shoki is polite, friendly, professional, and knowledgable. If you're there for the first time, they help you decide on everything about your ramen. From the broth, to the toppings, to how spicy you want it, and even what type of noodles is best for you. The staff members walk you step by step and are very helpful. That being said, one of the best things about Shoki is that everything can be customized. You truly get what you REALLY want. I have probably tried all of their different soups and, even though all their ramen choices are delicious, my favorite is the Tan-Tan Men. I get the triple broth Tan-Tan Men, regular spicy with minced beef, no bamboo shoots and an egg. The toppings that they include in the order (ones that you don't have to add) are bean sprouts, spinach, green onions, and sesame seeds. I don't customize the broth or the noodles because it already comes perfect. One unique thing about Shoki Ramen House is that they serve a ramen dish that is Soy-milk based. Its my dad's favorite and it actually isn't bad. I was a little hesitant to try it, but its very good. Shoki Ramen House is currently adjusting their menu. They've added more appetizers and have enhanced their Kuro Goma Ice cream recipe. My parents recently tried a new appetizer that consists of cream cheese cubes with soy sauce that you wrap in fresh spinach and seaweed. I know, it sounds a little out there. I personally didn't try it (I'm not a huge fan of any kind of cheese), but my parents LOVED it. They said it tasted very rich and different, but the flavors really work. I honestly love Shoki Ramen House. They provide such a memorable dining experience. Being from SOCAL, I've had my fair share of Ramen houses and Shoki definitely ranks in the top three.
(5)Mypang T.
This place gets very busy! They only have one vegetarian option with a non-meat based broth, it's considered the vegan option. This was my first time having ramen so obviously I was so excited to try it! The noodles are DELICIOUS! I've never had ramen this way EVER. The noodles are to die for... the broth on the other hand... isn't as wonderful. It's okay, but just tastes like it has too much sesame. And I like it extra spicy... which isn't really that spicy for me. You can add options and it's $1 each addition I believe... Ramen then gets pretty expensive. But, because of Shoki Ramen House... I dream of ramen for life now and can't wait to get more. YUM!
(4)Kevin M.
Damn good authentic Japanese ramen house.
(5)Jean S.
The curry ramen was freaking delicious, so much so that I should have gotten a large instead of regular. The only thing I would like to have had in it additionally was a poached egg, otherwise it was perfectly balanced. Exactly what you need on a cold winter day.
(4)Yvette G.
I don't consider myself a connoisseur of ramen, but I have enjoyed everything that I have eaten here. I have had the mini curry rice, Tan Tan Men, and Shoyu ( I think). The ramen is always delicious and flavorful. The mini curry was good, but just a little bland for my taste. The servers have always been nice, and helpful in answering my questions. I also love that they have gluten free options. I'm not gluten free, but I have friends who are, and it's nice to have a eating place where we can both be happy.
(4)Stephanie R.
Ultra healthy, and friendly. We had never eaten this style Japanese soup, and the staff was very helpful. The environment is nice, but large groups could not be accommodated within the small dinning area. I highly recommend this place. We will be back :)
(5)Kimthy D.
I went here once and never came back. So annoying having to pay before you even get to taste the food. One, you don't know what to tip the server because you don't know how service is going to be, two, it's rude to pay before you eat if it's a sit down restaurant, 3 it's more pricey than the original Shoki but doesn't taste as good. I mean, what is it? Get in line to order and pay for good, then sit down at an open table and wait for your food. Or serve us correctly and we pay after finishing our meal. I mean, does it save you guys that much time? I just don't get it. Anyway, food was alright. Service was alright. Way overpriced for what it is. Sorry Shoki, stop fixing what's not broken.
(1)Alyssa N.
Small restaurant and sometimes their service is slow. But I don't care.. I still LOVE their tsukemen!! My boyfriend and I come here all the time when I'm in town. Definitely my go to place in Sac!
(4)Bonny T.
One of my favorite ramen noodle places. I love the freshness of the noodles. If you want more toppings, you have to pay extra $$$. But I never had a bowl I didn't like. My favorite is the curry ramen.
(4)Josh L.
Random day downtown and wanted to try something new. It's was a nice sweet spot. Ramen was great. Service was great. Only problem was its was a little wried finding the place but worth the trip.
(4)Jacques L.
Other than the wait,this is probably the best ramen I've has in the Sacramento and Bay Area. I've had all their flavors except the soy broth and curry. I recommend coming here before opening. Bowls can get a bit pricy with the add ons, but I appreciate the attention to detail and the quality of ingredients. Service is polite and reasonable giving the fast pace business. I would appreciate a little bit of promptness with the water refills. Other than that they have my continual business.
(5)Joanne L.
Recently the noodles here have not been tasting as good as the Shoki original noodle house but it was still tasty.
(4)Helen L.
I like how they have the traditional ramen varieties and the not so traditional varieties. I really like their soymilk ramen and their black sesame tan tan ramen. Both are unique and really good! Their noodles are always perfect too, kinda al dente, not too hard but not too soft either. Get there early because they are busy during lunch time and there is usually a wait.
(4)Erik L.
Context. This review is all about context Another reviewer gave two stars in comparison to ramen shops in places like LA, Tokyo, and Honolulu. At first I thought this wasn't entirely fair, but Sacramento is somewhat large enough a city to be treated like a big kid in reviews The broth is less complex and satisfying than bay area places like Santa, Dojo, or Orenchi. The noodles were a little overcooked (I only went once, this might not be a generally true statement). Toppings were not very exciting and not in a good ratio to the noodles/soup. Credit where credit is due though: the menu is more diverse than many ramen restaurants, with choices like soy milk and curry ramen, as well as various blends of broths. Frankly though, this is all presented in a slightly confusing way. Everyone at my table was confused when they first got the menu. Also as others have mentioned, if you pay in cash you get a stamp card (10 stamps for a free ramen). This is nice, but I doubt I'll make it to 10 visits here.
(3)Herm G.
Was there back in late Jul 2013 & we enjoyed the clean flavored ramen. Will be heading back there again as we holiday in SoCal!!!
(5)Lillian Z.
I'd give Shoki II 2.5 stars. That might seem a bit harsh, but I'll be honest... I was not all that impressed with Shoki, especially given that it was so highly touted by a friend (and Yelp). As Erik L. says, this review is all about context. I give rankings based on how a place compares to others in its category, and I'm sorry Shoki II, but as the two-star rating indicates, "Meh. I've experienced better." I know it might not be fair to compare Shoki II to the ramen places that have forever spoiled me (Daikokuya in LA and Ippudo in NYC, I'm looking at you), but that's just the problem-- there ARE better ramen places out there. I LOVE ramen, and I'm normally not even that picky about it, but frankly, I just wasn't loving Shoki. - The broth was somewhat bland-- for me, the broth really sells the ramen, but I was sadly quite disappointed by what was offered at Shoki. It wasn't as flavorful as I would like, and because of the lack of flavor in the broth, the noodles were also somewhat bland - There were not enough toppings to go along with the noodles/broth. I felt like I was drowning in noodles. - The portion in general was not very large (read: filling). I went to Shoki II on my birthday because I was craving some ramen, but I ended up going to grab some fries afterwards (super healthy, I know, and what wonderful birthday fare) because I was so hungry. Normally I am so full after ramen that it hurts (and I still have leftovers!) Even more context: - Erik L. and I were both unimpressed after going to Shoki, but then again, we've both been spoiled by otherworldly ramen elsewhere. - Roomie, on the other hand, a ramen novice, loved it and wanted to go back. tl;dr: If you are a fan of bay area/socal/nyc ramen, this review is for you. You may end up disappointed if you're coming to Shoki to satisfy a ramen craving. For truly legendary ramen, you're probably going to have to venture out of the Sac area. If you're somewhat of a ramen novice/just want some warm soup and noodles for your belly, I say go for it.
(2)Joe C.
I had the tan tan men and thought it was pretty good . But since I recently had some absolutely over the top Ramen it barely moved my meter. As another reviewer mentioned this place has a strong odor as you walk through the door which isn't conducive to a pleasant dining experience and may have colored my perception.
(2)Ben O.
I first heard about this place from my professor at school. He said the ramen here was all organic and local and didn't have that horrible saltiness from MSG. I definitely wasn't disappointed when I came here and ordered the shoyu ramen bowl. The bamboo shoots are my favorite bits inside and the broth is really, really good. If you're looking for really good ramen definitely go here. Just keep in mind that the small bowl is a lot of food and a large you could definitely share with someone!
(5)Sarah L.
I love shoki! This location is larger than the original but the wait can still get pretty bad but its totally worth it. The ramen has a nice bite to it, the broths are great, and I love that they don't use MSG! I usually get the tan tan men (nice & spicy) but I decided to give the soy milk ramen a try this time. I may have been thinking about the tan tan men in my head when I tried the first bite and felt slightly disappointed. Don't get me wrong, the soy milk ramen has a great flavor and a nice creaminess to it but I ended up adding some of that garlic oil, sesame oil and chili to it before getting down to business. I decided to add a boiled egg this time but my friends swear by adding the mushrooms and ordering cabbage on the side (its literally a whole boiled cabbage). And one of them always raves about the salmon/avocado rice but I don't believe in ordering it when Shoki's specialty is ramen. Maybe one of these days when I'm extra hungry, I'll order a small portion on the side. I'm going to miss Shoki when I move back to SF.
(5)Kelly A.
Slurp Slurp, Yum Yum! I had never heard about this place, either location. Saw it was quite popular on Yelp so off we went. I new I was going to be satisfied just by the aroma that hit us as we walked in the door. Decor is quaint, cute, clean. Service is excellent. Instead of having one server wait on you, you have a team. Great concept for food service. They were all very friendly and professional. We both had Vegan Ramen dishes and they were delicious. You must add some of the Chili paste that is on the table. It added quite a bit of flavor to the noodle. Broth was spicy for sure, which was great for a cold day. This place is a hit in my book. The only negative comment my BF could say was it is a little pricey (lunch was $20). Pricey or not...we will be back for sure. Note for Vegetarians, the vegetarian menu is not all vegetarian. The top half has Ramens that include fish broth. I read the fine print, thankfully. The bottome half of the Vegetarian Menu includes ramens made strictly with vegetable broth.
(4)Samantha Q.
Came here for lunch with the hubby around 1:30 pm. I thought that was a late lunch and it wouldn't be crowded, but I still had to wait (but not too long). I ordered the Tan Tan Men, mild. I can't really take that spicy but mild was too mild! Next time would go for regular. I love that you can order your ramen with less salt (given my dietary restrictions). For a regular size, the bowl was about $10! It was a decent portion, but I would definitely order large next time (I'm only 5'1", 100 lbs, but maybe I just have a large appetite!). It's expensive, but I think it's worth it because everything is so fresh, including the ramen. It's made from scratch and you can tell the difference. It's different from the Instant Ramen you would get at the store and may be some getting used to, but it's not bad at all. They have chili paste and garlic paste at each table and encourage you to add some of this into your broth half-way through so that you can get a different flavor during your meal. The food takes a bit long to come out, but it's worth it. And I love that the entire staff speaks Japanese to each other. That's awesome! The one downside I can think of is that they didn't serve me ice water when I asked for it; they seem to serve room-temperature water as their norm.
(5)Patrick L.
Great ramen place in Sacramento. I had the tan-tan ramen and ended up adding more of the spice (i love spicy food). Service was great and food was awesome. The only thing that i dont like about this place is that there is constantly a line to eat here, but that is understandable.
(4)Florence O.
My boyfriend and I both ordered the Tan Tan Men. At regular and extra-spicy, we both ended up adding a lot more chili flakes and garlic paste to kick the spice up a couple of notches, which made the soup much better. On its own, the Tan Tan Men broth was good but a little thin despite having a lot of sesame and oils on top; noodle was chewy and thick; normal toppings were fine. Friendly service, clean restaurant. Good, solid bowl of ramen, and I'm curious to see what their other bowls taste like. Will come back to try the rest if I ever end up in Sacramento again.
(4)heidi g.
I have been hearing reviews of this place so i thought i would give it a try. But come to my suprising that this place really isnt that good!!! The sesame in the broth was overpowering it lacked flavor in the whole dish period!!! i will not be returning to shoki anytime soon
(3)Ruben L.
Fellow Yelpers- this is the One! Ramen is out of this world, the broth and noodles are perfect in flavor and texture. Service was excellent, prices are reasonable and portions are just right -overall a great experience. Wish I lived closer so I can make this spot a regular.
(5)Morgan M.
Loves the Shoki! The ramen here is awesome. I always get the tan tan men, with a softboiled egg, shitake mushrooms, tofu, more oil, and extra soft noodles. MMMmmm... my tummy is growling just thinking about it! I come here to get my burn on, so I go extra spicy... regular is for virgins... let's just say I've been around the ramen block a time or two, and I like it rough. Extra points to Shoki for having the 32 oz Ahasi beer frosty and ready to go, they're serious about their ramen here and I like that they take cold beer seriously too. I'm tired of getting luke warm beer with my ramen, just because I'm eating hot soup doesn't mean I like warm beer. Bravo Shoki II. Bravo. On the flip side, Shoki II gets only four stars because the restaurant is suuupppeerrr tiny, and really noisy. I once had the displeasure of sitting next to a couple that was having some hardcore relationship issues... I was tempted to get involved and tell the poor bastard to leave the piece, but mouth was on fire!! Yes, extra spicy indeed. 4 stars Shoki II. 4 stars.
(4)Tipper Q.
I just went there for the second time. I placed an order for a small tan tan men and the portion was so dinky, I was able to eat it in 5 bites. So since I had some broth left, I asked to purchase more noodles. The waitress said I could for $1 and I said okay. Then she came back and told me the couldn't because they were too busy. What kind of customer service is that?
(1)Reena P.
This was the first place I've had REAL ramen and I loved it! Came here with some friends and was pleasantly surprised by such a warm greeting from the staff and an easy to understand menu. I'm not totally a carnivore so there are specific meats I don't eat. If you're a lacto-ovo vegetarian or a vegan, you have options here. You have the option of upgrading your ramen to also include other items on the menu (I can't recall off the top of my head but I believe Don Buri was one of them). I had a seafood broth based ramen that I cannot remember the name of to save my life. The waitress told me it was spicy so I was all for it. To add to the deliciousness I indulged in a little extra garlic. Slurped every bit of this up! I felt at peace knowing that I knew exactly that I was eating, how accurate the taste was the to the description and how convenient and easy it was to order. So all in all, if you're also a ramen virgin like I was, this is the best place to get your cherry popped in Sacramento.
(5)Virginia S.
I don't know why everyone is so excited about this place. I went in there this week with my friend during lunch. The place was extremely loud, and I had to shout to talk to my friend. And my friend had to keep repeating herself for me to hear her and same for her. This place is so small. I had the soy milk noodle but did not find it extraordinary special tasty I would rate it about 7/10 scale. I don't know maybe I am just picky. Yes, the service was good and the people were friendly and polite. I haven't tried to use the bathroom yet. But, for comfort, this place is really small and we had to sit very close to everybody, and I had to hear all the conversations from other people who sat really close to us. Oh god, it was just way too loud in there for me. I felt like walking out of a concert.
(3)Nate C.
any time you have to wait at a restaurant it's a good sign. this place is well worth the wait. they offer a vegan option which is hard to find in sacramento. the spicy vegan bowl was super tastey and the "regular" size is huge and filling. also, if you pay with cash they give you a punch card and after 12 bowls your 13th is free.
(4)Lisa H.
yes, I do believe this is as good as it gets for sacramento. The broth is so delicious and flavorful. I love that you can pile in the garlic and pepper sauce to your liking. and I really love the limited menu. It is the place to go for ramen. We have not bothered to try the other limited items on their menu. If you are in the mood for some nice hot soup that will keep you healthy too, head to shoki.
(5)Jon M.
Had the Tan Tan Mein and it was great. Ordered spicy with a side of rice donburi with curry. Smaller place with only a dozen or so tables. Waitress was attentive and friendly. Coming back again soon!
(4)Hong L.
I was super excited to try Shoki's since I heard so many good things about it yet I left with disappointment. My boyfriend and I both ordered the Tan tan men since our server said it was the best dish on their menu. I got in super spicy and I wasn't even spicy! The broth was super salty and barely came with any vegetables or meat so I suggest adding more vegetables or meat which ranges around $1-$4. I think the only good thing about the ramen was the noodles, it tasted very fresh.
(3)Theresa M.
I love Shoki Ramen. I'd give it 5 stars but I want the whole dining experience to be perfect. It's pretty damn close but service is slow. I like the new location since there is a parking lot and the restaurant is much larger. We tried the new location on a rainy Saturday and arrived 20 minutes after they opened. The restaurant was almost full so the wait only took about 5 minutes. The staff is friendly and they really try but the kitchen takes too long. When we sat, we noticed that only 2 tables had gotten their food. It took almost 40 minutes to get our food. Their menu has expanded but you can't go wrong with their ramen. Their standard shoyu and shio ramen is mouth watering but I decided to try their hotter Tan-Tan Ramen and asked for the mild version because I was too chicken and you definitely can't un-spice it. It was perfectly fine so next time, I'll try the next level of hot. I don't think I'll ever get to the bowl of red hot ramen. So why is this ramen good? Broth is slow cooked with a lot of love and noodles are al dente. I suspect it's the noodles being cooked to order that takes so long but love, love, love this ramen joint! Almost as good as the ramen in Japan!
(4)Melaniee L.
This place has the best service, ever. They're really helpful with asking about food allergies and they have no hesitation of explaining the order. I've tried almost all of the Ramen bowls on the menu, and my favorite is their Tsuke Men! I wasn't a huge fan of chilled noodles before, ever since I tried them with Korean BBQ. But the Tsuke men is a huge game changer with the vinegary broth, chilled noodles, bamboo and a huge piece of chashu. You also can't go wrong with their Tan Tan Men. Their 'extra spicy' option is really good if you're sick and congested. The reason why I give only four stars is because while I was eating my Tsuke Men with my boyfriend, I almost took a bite of my noodles with broth... until I spotted a ladybug on my spoon. I wasn't really grossed out and told one of the waiters. She told me when they wash the spinach, it's nearly impossible to clear all of the tiny bugs that feed on the vegetable. She insisted on making me a completely new order and I tried to ask just for the broth, but she won. It was completely worth it.
(4)Dave M.
This is a great place. The food is awesome. The service is quick not overly attentive but they are crazy busy so... that is okay. Tan Tan Man is the best for me.. typical white guy. Get there by 11: 40 or wait for a bit. It is worth the wait but if you're hungry...yikes. I would give it 5 stars but getting there early and waiting for another coke a few times is not 5 star worthy...
(4)Lisa B.
The real deal. Having lived in the Bay Area and LA, this is the best ramen we've had. My husband lived in Japan for a year, and said this is comparable (if not better) to some he's had in Japan. Shoki is a family run business. The young waitress is the daughter, and is always friendly, polite and helpful. Where else can you get a meal with handmade noodles and broth- -including a vegan and vegetarian broth? Don't forget to add the fresh garlic paste at the table mid-way. I read an article saying other places in Sac are better. Wrong! We are Asian, and this is the real deal! I like their new location here a bit better than the original (smaller). If you like spicy, try the Tan Tan Men. Otherwise, sip and savor and enjoy the homemade broth that took ages to make!
(4)Lily W.
One of my good friends introduced me to the original Shoki Ramen House (Shoki I). It was really crammed, a "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant as some people like to call it, but the noodles were da bomb! After discovering that there was a Shoki II, I had to give it another go! The ramens are just as good as the original but the place is more restaurant-like with more tables and more room. Check-check it out! Weird that their restrooms are outside. Yeah..
(4)Stephanie B.
I love this place! More than Shoki I because this one has more room and they finally accept credit/debit cards. The ramen and service is always great no matter which Shoki you go to but I like not being rushed to eat since this place is open until 10PM. I've only been in this place during the weekdays (evenings) so I'm not sure how busy it is other times but I've always received a table right away compared to Shoki I (waiting for a bit). I always add corn and lessen the salt to my Shoyu. I might as well ask to take out the crack or whatever drug that's in it because what else would be in it that is making me addicted to ramen.
(5)Mike V.
Good Ramen! Friendly staff!
(4)Sukari J.
The place is super cute! The menu is pretty straight forward and the service is AMAZING. I went with my boyfriend and ordered a mini side of their curry rice, and the mini shoyu ramen, which was really REALLY yummy. My favorite part of the restaurant has to be the side condiments though. Minced garlic and pepper flakes. yummm!
(5)Eric P.
The best ramen for miles in any direction. The ramen here keeps me coming back. Their selection is big enough to keep it different, but not large enough to be overwhelming. As with any ethnic food, it's all about the ingredients and the preparation. They do things right here - and the result is a bowl of warm, filling, amazingly tasty happiness.
(5)Alvin W.
came here after eating at shoki ramen house 1! same as the first one, great ramen, much more room here for seating and bigger parties than 4, they also have an outdoor seating, the wait of the food wasn't too long, the only problem i found was there were no public restroom, good thing i didn't need to go that bad parking was pretty easy every time i went, always found parking within 5 minutes
(4)Claire D.
I always love eating noodles so when I found out this ramen house was by my job, I just HAD to try it out! So one afternoon, me and a co-worker tried it out. When we first came in, it was already starting to get busy so I was glad we didn't have to wait for a table since there was still a few more left. We were seated and looked at the menus. Our waiter was very nice and very helpful. I asked him what to recommend because I liked mine with a little spice and he recommended the Tan Tan Men. I ordered the mild since usually with asian restaurants mild is hot and hot is fire! So I started with mild just in case. Loved my first bite! Just right amount of spices, noodles, and broth and cheap as well. The service was also pretty decent. Gets busy during lunch so come a little early. There is also outside seating if you want some fresh air. I expect that this place would get busy in the winter because of the cold weather so keep that in mind as well if you go here during the colder months. Would definetly come here again!
(4)Ryan L.
Came here after R15 and their ramen were on point.. The place isn't big at all so if you're with a large group, expect to wait. The place gets full very fast and the ramen comes out somewhat slow. I had their spicy ramen but the soup was not spicy at all but that's partially due to the fact that my capsaicin receptor are all messed up. Definitely recommend this place for a quick ramen fix!
(4)Phanessa C.
After readying awesome reviews, I really wanted to try this place. I ordered the Tan Tan Men "extra spicy" with no additional toppings (recommended by server). It didn't taste that special (as everyone here says). I know everyone has different taste buds (and a friend said mine is of a dragon) but for me, it wasn't that spicy and not enough flavors for me. I added more peppers & garlic (sitting on table). It was still good but not the best. The staff was really nice and the place was small but if you get there early, you'll beat the lunch crowd.
(3)Wayne K.
Best Ramen in NCal, maybe best on west coast. I know that others will challenge that but so what!?! I've had ramen in Japan and even in Sapporo where they have the famous Ramen Alley serving the best ramen in Japan. They are challenged on that claim too but if you've ever had it, you'll agree. It is just so damn good especially in the fall/winter. Everything about Shoki is old school where cooking ramen is a specialty that takes years of training. All dishes/recipes are original and handmade. When tasting ramen, it's all about taste of the shiru/dashi (soup) and ramen (noodles). Most places screw up one or the other. Shoki's has great soup and noodles, right up there with all the ramen shops in Sapporo. There are only two others in the US that I know of that serve authentic ramen like Shoki. Hamura Saimen on Kauai and one other (I can't remember the name) in Orange County. If there are others, I'd like to know so I can try them out. Shiro's on Oahu is good but not as good. Give Shoki a try. If you don't like/love Shoki, don't ever order ramen anywhere else cause you'll like it a whole lot less!!!!!
(5)Duke T.
Not sure how but it just got better. Whether you like it or not, this is the only authentic true ramen served in the greater Sac area.
(5)Vinson L.
I was visiting the Sacramento area and came upon this place when I had a craving for ramen one night. I think that for the Sacramento area, this place is probably really good for ramen, but compared to all of the other ramen joints that I have been in LA, SF, Vegas, NY and more, this place is ok. It's not the best, but also not the worst. I had the shoyu ramen since that is typically the one type of ramen to try in most places and it was ok. The broth was good, but the noodles were just ok. Usually I love the stewed pork in my ramen, and this pork was average, and did not have the super fattiness of other ramen places. As I said before, it's good for Sacramento, but definitely doesn't compare to other places that I have been to. I would go back to try some of the other flavors of ramen to see how those compare as well.
(3)Sarah H.
I'm giving this location the same amount of stars as the other location because they are still not perfect but the food is still the same quality, delicious! We arrived at the new location around 6pm, got seated immediately since the place was half empty and got served our drinks pretty quick. However, it took 10 minutes for the waitress to take our order and another 20 minutes for the ramen to reach our table! Yep, it took 30 minutes!!! I spent 30 minutes drooling over other peoples' ramen which probably made a lot of people uncomfortable. Granted, they only had one waitress taking orders for a place that holds a capacity of 40 maximum but it was not busy when we got there. They need a better system to accommodate the extra amount of people at this slightly larger location so patrons can get their food in a timely manner. I'm not sure if this one-designated-waitress thing was just a one-time thing or a strategy so that the kitchen can catch up on orders since one of the servers used to be the one taking orders as well at the 24th street location. What's the deal, Shoki?! I hope you work out your kinks 'cause i love ya! pros: -yummy ramen -instead of waiting outside, now you get seated more quickly -there's no rush to kick you out -friendly staff, as usual -slightly larger space -parking spots! cons: -only one waitress taking orders -food takes twice as long to come out compared to the other location -seating is still a little uncomfortable; you may or may not be able to smell your neighbor.
(4)Jay A.
I came a while ago with some friends craving some ramen noodles and they recommended this place because I never really had "real" ramen. So they decided to take me here. We came here like 4:30pm and guess what they weren't going to be opened until like 5:30p so we chilled in the car until it opened and we were the first customers there for dinner. When we arrived through the doors, the restaurant was very homely and was very clean. Immediately people were greeting us and had us seated. They gave us menus and offered drinks for us (like every waiter should). Anyway I went on the order the small-size bowl since I figured the two larger sizes looked way too big to finish. One thing I didn't realize that the broth in the ramen was made out of pork and I don't really eat pork. But then I had to force myself to get it because I thought it would be kind of silly for me not to order anything just because it had pork. So then we get our food in less than 15 minutes and they were huge portions. Be careful because the bowl is extremely hot and it is kind of spicy depending on how spicy you want it. The noodles are so good! It was perfect because it was kind of a cloudy day out and we needed this to warm ourselves up. However as a whole, it just didn't really "wow" me. I mean this place is good, but it's not something I would immediately think off the top of my head for a craving/go-to food. But their menu is kind of small as well so there actually isn't a lot of variety to choose from. But I would also say that if you are in the mood for something hot or soupy or if you're sick, definitely try this place out!
(4)Tania H.
Having eaten at the Shoki on 24th about twice a week since I decided to make the trip across the street from my work one rainy March afternoon I have yet to be disappointed by their service and the quality of their food. Unfortunately my venture to their new location was disappointing. My boyfriend and I were sat quickly as there weren't a ton of people (at least 12-14 max all of which seemed to have ordered or were already eating) however as we were the newest customers I did expect water to be given to us fairly quickly just like at the other location but I let this slide and expected it to be brought over when we were ready to order. 5 minutes pass, then 10 and I finally got fed up that no one had come over to bring us water nor take our order when I saw a group that came in right after us get their order taken. I mean it was pretty obvious we were ready. Menus down, heads up looking around everywhere that kind of deal. Finally I flagged down the waitress who seemed to be shocked that no one gave us water or came over to take our order and she apologized. Well then the food took forever to come, so long in fact we had both finished our water. I watched almost everyone in the restaurant get refills except us. The food as always was pretty awesome although I would have preferred my broth to be a little warmer but hey that's ok. I don't handle spice that well so the regular spiciness of the tan tan men makes me drink a lot of water. Once again cup empty, no one to refill. I watched one of the workers refill the waters of the table right next to us that was leaving but he didn't bother to turn around to refill ours and I had food in my mouth and wasn't quick enough to catch his attention (don't you hate when that happens). I noticed (well during my visit that night) that they don't do a sweep of the restaurant rather they go to a table, ask if they want refills, and put the pitcher back wherever it belongs. I had to ask for a refill again and I know I sound pretty fanatical about this whole water situation but I firmly believe that I shouldn't have to ask for water, a good waiter/waitress brings the water because they notice you're without it. I mean if someone had come to check on how we were doing they would have noticed but we got no such luxury. So thats how my experience at their new restaurant went: good food, not so great service which I'm obviously a huge stickler for. I'm guessing that because they just recently opened they're still working out all the kinks, but I doubt I'll come here again even with all the new perks (taking cards as payment, parking lot, etc). I'll just stick to walking across the street during my lunch break for my fix of Shoki ramen. At least I get water refills there :)
(3)Jody B.
Best ramen in Sacramento! They make their broth from scratch with no msg, or junk in it. Very delicious and healthy! Service was quick, but the server's seemed frazzled when it came down to getting the bills closed out. I am a server myself so it's understandable because it gets pretty busy in there. If you decide to go, be prepared and bare with them. The staff very nice and the wait is worth it, to me! :D
(5)Andrew Z.
I've been to this location as well as there original location a number of times. The shoyu and miso broths are incredibly bland. The tan tanmen is better but far from the best ramen I've tried. The actual ramen noodles are of good quality and they give very generous portions for the price, but ultimately it feels like I'm eating great noodles out of warm water.
(2)May H.
I don't honestly know why I keep on coming back to this place. Granted, they did took off my obsession with top ramen, but the service and the atmosphere, I can live without. Service have never been rude since I've been here, but it is definitely not the best ever, especially when a girl with short hair works there. It's a ramen place!!! laid back!!! geezes, when she talks, I don't think she knows what half the vocabularies she uses means. Always too "professional" and strict, even though I have been eating at their place for years now, I would still feel uncomfortable when going to eat there. That's probably why I preferred take-outs. You can't choose which side of the table to sit on? really? Atmosphere? I would definitely go back to Shoki #1, I came out of this one with my fiancee with a headache and feeling like my head was going to explode with all this noise! It was like a cafeteria, I had to yell to make myself heard over the crowd. The food though retain enough of its authentic-ness, it's the only thing that gets me to come back and make take-out orders.
(3)Kevan F.
A word about ramen. GOOD ramen (not top ramen or any other grocery store variety) is mostly about the broth and the noodles. What you put on it can alter the flavor and is certainly part of the dish, but the focal point of ramen is the broth and noodles. So with that in mind, this place is absolutely fantastic. The broth is full of flavor and the noodles are cooked just perfectly. The standard toppings are onion, bamboo shoots, flakes of nori (same stuff they wrap sushi with, to the uninitiated) and a thin-sliced piece of pork. If you like a stronger punch of flavor you can request more of the oils that give flavor to the broth. If you are more health-consious you can order less. If you are an absolute carnivore then you most likely will be disappointed with the amount of meat in a standard serving. You can always order double-meat though for a little bit more cost. In addition to the standard stuff you can always add extras on. My typical extras are: 1) Extra nori (I love this stuff) 2) Tamago (soft-boiled egg) The parking lot is very small but there is plenty of street parking available if you're willing to walk a block or so. I usually have no problem finding parking on S street, 11th, 12th or 13th streets.
(5)Matt L.
For those of you that don't know please don't think instant "ramen" when you think of this place. It is nothing like that. Best noodles in Sacramento. The broth is amazing as is the strawberry mochi on the weekend. My favorite is the Tan Tan Men, extra spicy, less salt with an egg and chashu. There is sometimes a wait in the evenings but it is worth it.
(5)Chrystle M.
I used to come here during my lunch break with some coworkers! Ramen always hits the spot! DELICIOUS! mmmm...I'm craving some right now just thinking about it!!!
(5)Byron C.
The Soy Milk broth ramen is first rate. I was really skeptical about ordering this because I don't care for soy milk or even milk in general. I ended up getting it anyways on a friend's recommendation and didn't regret it. The broth has a unque flavor but isn't too oily or salty. I also appreciate that unlike most ramen joints they don't skimp on the chashu. A double order of chashu gives you 6 massive slices of meat, it almost felt like I was eating as much pork as noodles. Definitely my #1 ramen spot in Sac.
(5)Lissa B.
My coworker and I went here last week upon her recommendation. I had the Tan Tan Men, regular spicy and a side of beef curry on rice. Both were pretty good! The service was good and the server was helpful in describing some of the menu items to us. The ramen I ordered had just the right amount of spicy. It's perfect for a cold day. The beef curry rice also tasted pretty good. I've been wanting to taste Japanese curry and this did not disappointed. I was told that this place gets packed around lunchtime. We went after the lunch crowd left, around 1 PM so it wasn't too bad when we went inside. I'm hoping to take my husband with me next time.
(4)Payelpt O.
Now that's what I call service. This place is tiny, with an awesome staff. They all seemed happy to be working there, which is rare these days. I'm not a fan of Japanese food, so I'm not going to comment on how the food was. Even so, I would definitely return here just because they know how to treat their guests.
(5)jovone W.
Let me just say this...When I finished my orgasmic TanTan Men with egg, tofu and shitaki added..All I could think is,"I cant wait to go sleep. So I can wake up and eat this again" lol! We may have a problem :-D Great Fast service and So good "I'd sell my soul to the devil" soup
(5)Joe T.
Best ramen since my days in Japan. I just miss waiting for a train and slurping Ramen on a cold winter night. With summer here, I can't wait to have Soba noodles. Great price, great atmosphere and you better get there early during the week (at lunch). Prices are very reasonable. Don't miss out on the noodle made from scratch.
(5)Julie K.
NOM NOM NOM... this place actually rates THREE NOMS!!! My family and I tried this location for the first time today and it really wowed everyone. We tried the shoyu ramen, tan tan men, and the tsuke men. Everything looked fabulous and everyone raved that theirs was "the BEST." My order was a large portion of tsuke men with whole wheat noodles (everything is individually prepared to your taste, any preferences, spiciness, etc) and it was incredible. A huge portion of freshly cooked, then ice cooled noodles on a plate with pork, a hard boiled egg, onions, bamboo shoots, etc. A cleanly flavored dipping sauce prepared precisely as ordered - "a little spicy." Textures, tastes, smells all on overdrive with this one. Wow how did they cook that egg? It was hardboiled with a slightly soft yolk and flavored/ colored all the way through with some kind of magic broth. The service is chipper, warm, attentive without being intrusive. Two police officers were patiently waiting with us for the place to open so you know this place is good.
(5)Megan L.
Quality ramen. Vegan dish a bit lacking and too peanuty. If you're a vegetarian and you don't like seafood broth, you've only got one option - the vegan ramen. It was okay and I could tell it was quality broth, but it just wasn't to my taste.
(4)Jacqueline C.
Shoki II is better than the original Shoki, although it is a bit harder to find. My husband had a bad experience at the other Shoki so we never went back. Shoki II has ramen that is just as good as the other Shoki but with much more space in the dining area and much better customer service. So I should explain that my husband REFUSED to go back to the original Shoki over a year and a half ago because there was an incident where he was meeting his friends, he came a bit late, and they refused to let him sit at the same table as his friends. They made him sit BY HIMSELF at a table and he was so angry about it that we never went back. He had just come off a long day at work and he was incredibly angry at the way he was treated. (We gave the original Shoki a negative 1 star review over a year ago.) Today I went to Shoki II with a friend and had a good experience. We both ordered the tan tan men with a boiled egg and it was delicious and just the way I remembered. The broth is very flavorful and it is really good when you add a scoop of garlic. I got the whole wheat noodles just to try them and liked them a lot. I noticed that there are plenty of vegetarian and vegan options. I made a point of asking about their seating policies because I want to bring my husband to Shoki II but I know he won't go if the seating policies are the same. The owner's daughter came out and talked to me for awhile. She made a point of answering my difficult questions and carefully apologized for what happened to my husband. She said very clearly that there was no policy at Shoki II that says that people who arrive later must sit at another table. She assured me that if I brought my husband to Shoki II that she would do everything possible to make sure that there were no issues. She asked me to apologize to my husband for what happened. I actually talked to my husband and I think he's going to give Shoki II a shot so stay tuned. For everyone that knows us, this is HUGE, because we were really boycotting Shoki for over a year and everyone who hangs out with us knows it. I'm going to give credit to the owner's daughter for actually taking the time to talk to me. I really appreciate what she said and I also appreciate the fact that all the servers today were very attentive. If there is one thing to be learned from this, its that good customer service really does make a difference. I will post another review after I go back to Shoki II with my husband so stay tuned!!
(4)Dustin R.
This place is really good but they are business first when it comes to customer service. What I mean by that is that they are looking out for the business first when it comes to their policies and the customer comes second. For example due to some issues with past customers you now have to check in a personal item in order to use the restroom. The reason stated is that someone broke a key off in the door. I empathize as a business owner myself, for the expense and hassle to the owner of Shoki but I don't know think that should be a reason to inconvenience every other customer that comes in. They also keep very strict hours (won't seat close to closing time) and will tell you that they are closing in 10minutes while you are eating and offer a to-go box. Personally I like to see a little more consideration with a restaurant when it comes to pushing you out the door. Lots of restaurants will accommodate diners that are already seated and I think that is the way to go. However despite the diatribe above I do really enjoy eating at this restaurant (I just have my reasons for a 4 vs. 5 star rating). The food is really good and our first exposure to Ramen in a restaurant. The staff is friendly and I highly recommend a meal here.
(4)SoCalVal R.
My husband and I started going to the original location four years ago, and it was WONDERFUL. In fact, we loved the ramen so much that we invited friends to go with us, and I shared my experience with my coworkers and culinary classmates (in turn, my coworkers not only became huge fans but brought in more converts). I even became a bit ramen-obsessed and started trying to find great ramen places in SF and in LA, but, in those experiences, found no one could compare to Shoki. Shoki was my gold standard - no, my PLATINUM standard. That said, before our most recent visit (last week), it had been about a year or more since we'd been to the R Street location. It has been 2-2.5 years since we'd been to the 24th Street location - neither absence attributed to not liking the food (we just don't eat out often since I love to cook and will often cook for us). On the contrary, I would often think how we needed to pay a visit to one of the Shoki locations soon because we hadn't been in a while. I missed going to my favorite of ramen places and would have to rely on my warm, fuzzy memories in hopes we'd soon find time to visit Shoki once again. Well, we were extremely and sadly disappointed. Hubby had the shio, and I had the shoyu. We both felt the broth was seriously lacking in depth, and the flavor quality dropped significantly since we'd last been at a Shoki location. Additionally, even the presentation of the ramen bowls was seriously lacking. Whereas, before, we could immediately and easily see the care in the skillfully arranged steaming bowls of ramen as they quickly arrived at our table each time, these looked slapped together, mine was lukewarm (and the location had just opened for the dinner shift - seriously, we were standing at the door about 1-2 minutes before they opened for dinner) and both bowls appeared as if the ingredients had diminished in quantity (I also thought the bowl seemed smaller - I take pictures of everything so I'm looking through my old pics to do a comparison). My broth tasted like a bowl full of soy sauce. I added the tamago, which I also had always loved (although I could've sworn that a half-egg used to be standard in one of the shoyu options). The tamago tasted like no more than an egg soaked in soy sauce. For the first time, I added a ton of chile spice to squelch the overwhelming soy sauce flavor. The don buri we used to both love is no longer available (brown rice with little dried fishies, avocado and nori), which I understand as menus often change (but I'm still sad to see it gone as I LOVED it). However, we certainly didn't expect to return to a much different visual and taste experience than what we'd always had before (around 2009-2011). We will never know what happened to the Shoki we once knew and loved. I want to tell newcomers to believe the hype but in regards to a Shoki that once was (and it was SPECTACULAR).
(2)Brian C.
Shoki II does justification to the Shoki legacy, complimenting the excellent food with much needed space and decor to boot. Now if you've read my review of the original Shoki, you already know how much I love the food here. Shoki II retains the same quality of food as the original and together, they continue to serve the best Ramen in the Sacramento area! On the plus side, there is a lot more space and they take ATM too! The waits are shorter, the service remains excellent, and the environment is much more comfortable to eat in. Taking a new breath, Shoki II throws away all the gripes the original left behind.
(5)Kara S.
Two months ago, I probably would have given five stars. I love the ramen and the broth (extra spicy vegan tan tan men with extra spinach and corn for me!). I miss the whole wheat noodles, but I'll live. But the service has gone to heck. Both times we've been recently, they got our order wrong. Both servers seemed distracted by the iPad, honestly, and weren't engaging with us. Then, we never saw the same server again. People wandered by at random to bring water, ramen, etc. When we needed to ask where our edamame was, we just had to hope we were asking someone who could help us. My dining companion has always ordered extra noodles, and they brought them on the side, and there was about half a cup, as opposed to what we used to get. The server seemed unfamiliar with the menu, and couldn't figure out how much the extra noodles cost. I'm fine with cafe-style service, which is what they say this is. But I'm not fine with paying in advance if we never seem to get quite what we asked for. And we're not sure how it qualifies as cafe-style since they still come to your table to take your order. The owner should consider going to Cafe Bernardo to see how it works: you order and pay at the counter, sit down, and they bring you your food. I'm really hoping they'll consider all this feedback (most people here seem to agree about the decline in service) and make some changes. My family used to be regulars here, but we haven't been going as much recently.
(3)Wesley H.
I always call in and take out my order to go. Regardless of whether its lunch or dinner, this place packs it in and service can be very slow. I've never been disappointed with the food though, which has me always going back. If you don't mind half an hour waits and slow service in a small spot with a lot noise, you may want to try eating there. I'm just not that patient. The food is definitely worth it though.
(5)Thanh N.
yum yum yum yum!! Love this place. The new location does not require as long of a wait as the old one and you aren't shoulder to shoulder to the person sitting next to you. This is by far my favorite ramen place ever! I've been to the highly rated ramen joints in the bay area, but nothing compares. Order: Tan Tan Men Extra Spicy Note: I wish they'd put their donburi choices on the menu! We didn't even realize they offered it until after we ordered and looked around.
(5)Huey N.
I like this better than the original. The place looks a lot nicer and its in midtown. Service was really good, my water was always full. I got the shoyu ramen. The broth was solid, the noodles were good, but I wish there was a little more meat. I added an egg, which may have been my favorite part. I also like that they have garlic and chili at the table.
(4)Julie L.
I use to hate ramen. I went to a fancy shmancy ramen restaurant and couldn't even finish half of the bowl. I straight up don't like any kind of egg-noodle, Chinese, Japanese, or Korean. One night, my boyfriend and I just ended up at Shoki II Ramen House. My goodness, my hate for ramen changed but only for this place. Soymilk Ramen with extra chatsu. :)
(4)Jenny L.
Honestly, i don't see what so special about this ramen place. It's pretty average but then again there's not that many ramen places in sac that i can compare it to. There were four of us and we each ordered something different off the menu. I had their tan tan menwhich i found very oily and the level of spice was very mild despite the fact that i requested extra spicy. My bf had their soy milk ramen and it was ok. All in all, the texture of the noodles seemed very thick and the soup was flavorful but nothing out of the ordinary. My standard of ramen is very high because the best ramen i ever had was in Toronto and since then i have not found anything that comes close to that level. My quest continues...
(3)L H.
True, they charge $1 as a topping if you want green onions, so we didn't order it. Soy milk ramen - as expected, salty hot soy milk based soup. They also recommend half way through the meal, to start adding the provided sesame seed oil or hot oil to take you through the rest of the meal - does that mean it gets bland tasting the more you eat? Curry beef rice - wasn't as spicy as I'd like it. The flavors gave me the idea that I should try adding curry mix to Campbell's chunky beef soup at home. Shoyu ramen - broth was good, not too salty and no msg. The noodles within - on the skinny side, they had good body otherwise, but would have been better if slightly thicker. These had the thinness of instant noodles but they are nice and chewy. Tried it once, probably won't be back. Parking on street after a short search, waitlist for a table, have to wait outside, and seating is cramped. The dining experience was not comfortable with foot traffic all around us.
(3)inah e.
as good as it gets in SACRAMENTO :) i've been lucky enough to visit Japan last year and their Ramen is definitely up to par! Every time i wanna revisit my time in Tokyo...i just go to Shoki and pretend i'm in Japan... SOY MILK RAMEN=Heaven!!!!
(5)maria g.
The ramen served here is exactly the same as the smaller location. Everything is the same except for the place where you're eating. Normally I'd always have to wait at the smaller location. Here we were seated immediately. I'm so in love with the noodles at Shoki. It's definitely one of the main reasons why I keep coming back. My friend also wore his Shoki T-Shirt and was given a free drink. My only complaint is that I wish they would offer a miso broth. I still find it really strange that a ramen house doesn't have miso on their menu.
(5)Connie G.
Not impressed! It took about an hour to get our soup. We saw people that came in after us get their orders first. The waiter said uhhh sorry the order got mixed up! Really? He was waiting on about 4 tables how do you get the orders mixed up??? He didn't seem to care, glad I wasn't on a hour lunch break! Had the Curry soup, it was ok, but not for a hour wait! Won't be coming back to this place, there are to many noodle places out there that have better customer service!
(1)Mark F.
Have to try out this place the ramen is awesome and cheap. Small little place but overall its good and fresh. I am a fan of spicy food so i love it here.
(5)Ashley S.
I was hoping to give this place 3-4 stars, but the service was horrible tonight! Not worth the wait! My bf and I came here on a date night, we didn't mind the wait. They sat us down and we ordered. I had to ask for water three times! All the other tables received water and was checked on besides us. I ordered the tan tan men, I ask for regular spicy and it wasn't even spicy! The waiter rush us to pay except for all the other tables. This place, I'm sorry to say, is overrated! I've been to plenty of restaurants and never felt so out of place or honestly, discriminated! Just because we said we liked to wait til after we eat to pay like normal restaurants, doesn't mean we don't have money! I'm very disappointed! I would not recommend this place.
(1)Ed F.
I've been to a few Ramen places in Sacramento and by far it's the best tasting Ramen in Sacramento so far. The customer service was great and the ramen was yummy! I like the fact that they off whole wheat noodles as an option. I highly recommend this place!
(5)Karen H.
This place is so awesome! This is way better than the original...as it has more space, better service, and an actual parking lot! Their beef curry side is delicious, and I ALWAYS order their tan tan men with no minced meat and chashu. I love how they accept credit cards, and the atmosphere is more comfortable.
(5)Kristin M.
My favorite by far! Great customer service, amazing ramen ... Tan Tan Men medium spicy is the BEST! Wish it would cool down outside so I could enjoy a hot meal again, missing my ramen.
(5)Sandra C.
tatse good, but too few meat (1 piece)and other vegetables in a bowl of ramen. You have to order extra portions. Service is fine.
(3)Lady R.
My second time there. The place is small... both times I've been there (dinner and lunch), it gets pretty full and both times I had to wait, not too long, say 30-40 mins. I personally think this kind of ramen may have to be an aquired-taste similiar to beginners who are not accustomed to sushi. I thought the broth was too salty, however they do offer ramen with low sodium broth which I ordered the second time I was there and it was much better! There are also different toppings you can add for additional cost which I like. :) 3 stars because the place is cramp, very small.
(3)Jimmy W.
This has to be the best ramen place in Sac.!! Or is it the only one?? Growing up in L.A., I got used to some great ramen places. And Shoki is definitely pretty good. And just like some ramen places, there are so many options here, such as hard or soft noodles, level of spicyness, vegan or meat, the type of broth, all kinds of extras for your ramen, etc. The only thing is they charge extra for most of the extras, such as extra meat, bamboo shoots, eggs, onions, seaweed, etc. They also have 3 different sizes for your ramen. They range from about $6 to $10. The Tan Tan Men was great!! If you don't like ramen, check out their specials. You can also get rice dishes, salads, etc. And as everyone stated, the staff is great and friendly too!
(4)Pearl T.
Shoki is shooo goood! I got the tan tan men, regular spicy, with tamago. Absolutely dee-licious. One spoonful of the broth and noodles, and I was glad that I resisted my boyfriend when he said he wanted to go somewhere else! The bf got the Shio ramen, which tasted like seafood and was pretty delicious, though we both agreed that the tan tan men was better. The best thing about Shoki is the amazing smell that greets you as soon as you walk in the door. Unluckily for me, I sat facing the counter where everyone else's orders arrived, and I had to be patient while waiting for ours. Their noodles are so fresh and are the perfect texture -- not too rigid, not too soft...juuuust right! The fact that they don't add MSG to their broth was evident: I really didn't end up excruciatingly thirsty after the meal was over. Yay! Be careful about their hours though, they're closed for lunch! We showed up twice after they had already closed. BAH!
(4)Panda G.
I went here the other night because of GF of mines was craving ramen. I never had ramen in Sac before and only heard of a few places in town. My ramen experiences has typically been from the Bay Area. This place is pretty small but luckily there was no wait. There's a huge patio in the front but we were not allowed to eat out there. Bummer since it was such a nice evening and it would have been nice to utilize that space. The food was okay. The portion was okay. The flavors was just okay. Nothing too spectacular and to crave for. I think I will hold off my ramen cravings for when I head back to SF or San Mateo.
(3)Daichi S.
Try the curry ramen!
(4)Emily Y.
I love ramen...and this is the best ramen ever!!!
(5)Jason B.
This place is GREAT! I had a cold at the time so a nice bowl of Ramen sounded like it would hit the spot. I wanted to get something to go. After talking with the host I was told that only the #4 can be ordered to go. I was kind of bummed as I had something else in mind. Turns out that the #4 is AMAZING! I could seriously eat this daily. All in all I would definitely recommend this hidden little gem! Just don't expect to have options for take out. TIP: You can order anything off the menu at the other Shoki Ramen house for take out. Cash only at this location.
(4)Rei O.
Another location for Shoki in Sacramento?!? Yes, because this one is bigger and you won't have to sit at a table next to random strangers nor do you have to wait as long to get a table. It's also good for groups bigger than 4; since there's bigger tables here! The menu is the same as the other location; so you can expect to find the same great tasting ramen that Shoki is famous for in Sacramento. Their rice bowl combinations are great when you're extra hungry. Also, add some garlic (that white stuff in the jars at your table); it can go a long way in enhancing the flavor! Parking? Yes, there is! There is actually a small parking lot, and you won't have to circle around the neighborhood to look for a spot unlike their other location. I choose this location over the other one! This one accepts plastic; so you won't have to make an ATM run before coming!
(4)Sara J.
p.s. Strawberry mochi is incredible!! Been here several times and the service is always great. Of course it's busy - it's tiny and popular!
(5)Sarah H.
yum yums. A must try!
(5)Jae H.
It's going to be hard to write this review, because now all I can think about is their delicious food! First off, they seated us at 1:50 when they close at 2:00, how gracious is that? And the choices! They even wanted to know what kind of noodles I wanted! Soooo goooood. Shoyu, extra pork, extra oil. Added a tiny bit of garlic. Worth going through the construction- big time.
(5)Adam L.
There was nothing special about Shoki II. I went here an hour before they closed and they still served fresh food. The staff were welcoming and polite. The decor was average, nothing too pretty to look at. I ordered a regular shoyu bowl and my girlfriend ordered the regular shio bowl. The regular size was almost too big for me. I tasted both and found that the broths were flavorful, but the sea salt broth lacked depth. The chashu (pork) wasn't really flavorful, but it was tender. The seaweed didn't add much either, and I love seaweed. Finally, the bamboo shoots were probably the best I've ever had, but it wasn't enough to save the whole dish. I didn't try the donburi bowls, but the avocado+fish combo sounded interesting. Overall, this place is average. If I had health concerns, I might have rated this place higher, since this establishment can customize their ramen to suit those who suffer from allergies or cater to vegetarians.
(3)Xia T.
Had the TanTan. It was not that hot (I love spicy food) I had to add more spice to it (the ramen was extra spicy only :/ ). But it was YUMMY!! This was my 2nd time eating at shoki. The first time was a BIG DISAPPOINTMENT!!!! (I blame the cook that day) but my 2nd time was GREAT!!!! It had more flavor to the broth and noodles. I think this will be me and my bf's to-go eat place. fyi they dont do take out on the ramen unless its the cold noodle ramen.
(4)Logan J.
I've now tried every ramen offered and the best is the tan tan men, followed by the soy milk ramen which is very rich and silky, followed by the curry. Everything else is pretty good but forgettable. I always add one of their delicious soft-boiled, seasoned eggs and sub in whole wheat noodles. The noodles are always cooked perfectly. The chasu (pork) is apparently imported from Denmark, which is weird, but it's pretty tasty. If you're only adding one protein, make it the egg. My special lady and I have eaten here about 15 times in the past two months and we'll definitely be back soon. The only downside is that they are frequently quite busy which means you have to wait for a seat sometimes, but such is the case with good stuff. The employees are all super friendly and prompt. As a warning, the super spicy is, as the name implies, insanely spicy. It's leaps and bounds spicier than the extra spicy. I would avoid it unless you have something to prove. As Shoki gets more popular, I've noticed the service is starting to suffer. There's almost always a long wait now unless you get there right when they open and they've messed up my orders a couple of times. They also upped the prices. Sad.
(4)Teresa F.
I am so happy to have yummy ramen! We went to check out the new location, which my husband read about in the paper. Lucky guy, the new location is 2 blocks from his office! We both could not resist the ramen set, which comes with the ramen of your choice and either a bowl of donburi, curry on rice, or shirasu. Sorry, I can't remember the kind of donburi and I hope I got the shirasu right. We got the curry on rice. The ramen set adds $2.50 to the ramen price. The restaurant is definitely more roomy then the Curtis Park location. The day we were there the restaurant was nearly half full for lunch. The curry was mild, as Japanese curry tend to be. It tasted great, but there was no beef to be found as indicated on the board. Maybe they meant beef flavored? The dan dan noodles were heavenly. There were pieces of bamboo shoots, ground beef, finely chopped green onions, and a sheet of nori. I ordered the regular spicieness and it was just right. It was warming, but I could still taste the seasoning and the depth of flavor of the broth. We loved the toothsomeness of the wheat noodles. I worked at eating slowly so make the enjoyment of each bite of noodle and sip of broth last as long as possible. But all I wanted to do was slurp it down. The service was smooth and courteous. Shoki is a great addition to the neighborhood!
(5)J H.
My favorite Ramen house in Sacramento. The only ramen house in Sacramento. Definitely worth bringing guests to.
(5)Jamie M.
BEST. RAMEN. IN. TOWN. One of my favorite places ever. These guys are awesome. And it tastes fantastic. Customer service is great. So tasty. I've gone here twice in the past week. Which is normal. Once time, I was here 5 times in a week. Call me obsessed. The whole wheat noodles are tasty. I get the vegie shio everytime. Good for vegetarians- ask for an egg and tofu. Delish!
(5)Luanne P.
This place is delicious! I found it thanks to yelpers of course :) They seemed to have listened to the very little negative reviews people have posted. There will always be a line, but don't get discouraged. It is worth the wait! NOTE: There is construction going on in the area so better to park a little farther and walk.
(5)TeaBoy A.
I never try out the first shoki ramen house. since i heard it didn't have lots of seating or parking space and always a line of people trying to eat their. but i did hear about how great the fist shoki ramen house was always been wanting to try it. so i found out they had a shoki II ramen house open recently with bigger space and more parking space which is awesome. i decided to take my girl with me to checckk it outtt. *Customer service was fast and efficient. We were seated away quickly. Our waiter was very helpful explaining everything. My noodle and broth was hot and tasty very flavorful. This will taste better than any instant noodle or cup noodle ITs Fresh! The only bad thing i can say is.. i think they need to do some interior remodeling and need a new chairs, the one i was sitting on rocked forward and backward. IT felt like a 500lb person sat on that chair before and the nails were about to be undone from it.
(4)Carolyn K.
I really like this place. I usually get the special curry ramen with extra mushrooms. The mushrooms are so good. Every time we go they are out of desserts. :-( Fast friendly service and super affordable. Sometimes the broth is a little salty but still good. I think this place is even better for people with dietary needs. They have vegan and I believe gluten free options as well.
(4)Alyson M.
I really like that they have a vegetarian option here and ordering is fairly simple. I recommend getting your noodles extra soft and adding shitaki mushrooms.
(4)F K.
Shoki Ramen is not bad. However, my big complaint with this place is that they are VERY STINGY with the meat. When I am paying $11 for a bowl of ramen, I expect to find some meat in there, but it's like I'm essentially eating a vegetarian meal. Otherwise, the ramen noodles are excellent. The taste is good, though the soup did taste a bit watered down. I still think Akebono is a much better value and overall ramen though.
(3)Rachel A.
Their ramen is really good, just not fantastic. I love their use of natural ingredients and that they don't use msg. I wish I could give 3.5 stars.
(3)J S.
Wonderful atmosphere and the best ramen I have had this side of the planet! I? Frequent this place about twice a week at minimum The ten ten men is what I always order and I usually get extra spicy because it's easier to control how much spice they put in because if it's not enough then just add some yourself Staff is great and friendly and this new location is a lot bigger than the old one
(5)Eileen C.
I was hestitant to try their soy ramen at first, but so glad I did. The broth is soo creamy!!! Never thought I would say this....but I think it tastes better than the tan tan men :-b
(5)Minerva l.
So i'm a noodle girl. I grew up with parents and aunts who owned vietnamese noodle shops. Naturally, i love noodles. The great thing about growing up in the bay area is that they have A LOT of noodles. Not just pho, or won ton mien, but also a whole lot of ramen shops. This gives me something to really compare my ramen experiences to. That being said, this place was neither amazing, nor repulsive. Noodles: I really love that they offer a whole wheat noodle option and you can adjust the texture of the noodles by asking them to cook it less or more. Broth: It was definitely done well, with no added msg and three different broths as the base. However, it did not blow me away and was actually a bit salty which you can also ask them to adjust, but i am basing my review on their "normal" broth without adjustment. *I like that they offer chili oil, garlic paste, and sesame oil so that you can change up the flavors. But i had to add some to the broth in order to get it where i wanted it. skip the curry donburi. Its just curry sauce and rice. no meat or veggies. Overly salty though good base flavor. skip the tea. charges 1.50 for a tea cup filled half way with hot water and a sack of green tea. Never refilled the water either. I will be back to try the soy milk ramen though since they were out when i went even though it was only 6:30 :(. A-OK for now...
(3)Christopher F.
Shoki's has a great atmosphere that reminds me a lot of ramen restaurants in Tokyo. They are fun and friendly, the place has a happy atmosphere, and the food tastes great. I really like their vegan options and you can get a really good meal for a decent price. The negatives are the high price for extra toppings and the sometimes long wait for a table.
(4)Ryan C.
This was our first time getting ramen at a ramen house but it was absolutely delicious. I ate everything and drained the broth. I got regular spicy and it was spicy enough even though I usually handle heat pretty well. I advise starting at the regular and adding spice to it yourself. We got the curry rice which was delicious and I got the vegetarian Tan Tan Men (also very delicious). Yay Shoki ramen! !
(5)Chexie M.
Best Ramen outside of Japan! Love the Tan Tan Men with tamago and chasu. Expect to wait in line esp on the weekends.
(5)John N.
IMO, best ramen in sacramento. I've tried the other places and found this place to have the best broth, providing the best flavor.
(5)Tom S.
The best ramen house I've had so far! The place is small inside, giving it a nice mom and pop vibe to it. The ramen is the best I've had so far. Do know, like most ramen places, the portion of meat is very little. I ordered the soy base ramen with the small side of salmon & avocado over rice. Location is kind of hidden, kind of out where it's not busy in the downtown area. Will be coming back in the near future.
(5)Rosa L.
Revised Rating 2/12/12 I have to edit my review. I gave Shokis 4 stars at first, but sadly I have to now give it three. Quality has gone down. definitely not as tasty. I didn't have their curry, but their ramen is just different. Not as simple, effortless and clean. ************************ I come here often. I dream of their curry. I'm all about service. If a restaurant's service is sub par I sure as hell let them know. but Shoki's isn't pretentious & you don't go to Asian joints for their service. You go for their food. However, there are some restaurant MUSTS. If a dish doesn't meet standards & the guest lets the server know, the kitchen should really try to accommodate. I'm not surprised to read reviews about how Shoki's won't comp for a meal that wasn't liked & blah. They wouldn't. Not the staff's fault. The owner pretty much sets the rules. I've had some UGH experiences there, but I'm still a fan. Their food is kick you in the mouth, spank you in the butt good!
(3)Boo Boo T.
Ramen is good but not the best I have had. Considering in sac this is the closest to ramen in Japan or even in the bay area. It can get expensive if you keep adding more ingredient to the bowl. I think I will go back only if I am in that area.
(3)Mike F.
I love Shokii! The food is an absolute 5 stars, but the service is a 4, I feel totally rushed every time I come here. I usually get the tan tan men, but I went for the curry ramen and I was totally surprised at how good it was, I thought the tan tan was the best! My new fav is the curry ramen. The bamboo shoots are amazing, they're not tough or that typical canned flavor, they're tender and favorful. I don't know what I can say that hasn't already been said, it's really good, go here and eat.
(4)Celia C.
Really tasty, and the prices are great! A little tight on space when it is busy, however the service is great!
(5)Tiffany C.
This if only from a vegetarian's point of view! The vegetarian ramen is only okay, but I hear the normal ramen is really good. The place was a bit cramped, so small parties only. I wouldn't come again on my own, but I'd be down to bring a friend! Still on the search for good vegetarian ramen..
(3)Carl T.
I have only tried a very small handful of Ramen spots in my lifetime. Out of the 4 ramen joints I've been to this was the second place I been to on the mainland of USA, the other 2 were on Hawaii. This place wasn't too bad though, I got the tan tan ramen and enjoyed it but I was a bit sad since my ramen had no egg!! That's my favorite part of ramen!!! But any who. The flavors were great and the spicy level was consistent and on point! The setup was a but cramped since I felt like I was eating dinner with the couple next to me. I kept staring at their food and they got a tofu salad for appetizer and well it looked really good so me and my girl got one too! Haha and the tofu salad was definitely on point. Very good dressing! This place was mediocre though, not something to go bananas about but definitely still decent. Id come back for tofu salad though!
(3)Ilovenap S.
I was disappointed with the lack of variety and toppings. I got the 1. Shoyu Ramen (non-vegetarian) and added 2 slices of chashu. Disappointment - the meat lacked flavor. The broth wasn't very rich. There weren't enough noodles for me. PLUS: Good pricing, good service (friendly and constantly filling the water glasses), clean, accepts MasterCard. MORE MINUSES: Not much seating (long wait time), very loud (close quarters) Recommendations: If you're ever in San Mateo, try Himawari at 202 Second Avenue (get the chicken karage as a side dish, very tasty) or Oidon Ramen at 71 East 4th Avenue (the spicy ramen is out of this world, plus there are TONS of toppings and noodles that come with it - drawback is limited hours).
(2)Jason S.
I have a bowl of Tan Tan Men whole wheat noodles, extra spicy, and a side of steamed cabbage at last once a week. Hands down the best ramen in Sacramento and on par with the best ramen I've had. Always a very friendly and efficient dining experience.
(5)Jennifer H.
I heard all of the buzz about this ramen place. Honestly, I kept thinking to myself, "Why would I go to a Ramen House when I can make great ramen by myself with a stove?!" So, my friend convinced me to go with him and I have to say it was surprising. When you go there, it is a small little place, so expect a 30-35 minute wait.. sometimes even longer. You walk in and some seats are very close to the door and it's really crowded. Make sure you watch out if you eat with your elbows all out and about. I ordered the small ramen with beef curry on the side. The curry was so good that I just wanted more of it and forgot all about the ramen. Then, my ramen came and it was very delicious. It was chilled ramen noodles with nori, char siu and green onions. You were supposed to dip all of that in the hot broth. It was so delicious!! I highly recommend going because you will definitely spread this place to your friends, family etc. All the employees are always smiling and they are full of energy! It makes the atmosphere that much better!
(5)Anna J.
Cozy place but not crowded. I like this second location more than the first. I think their Tan Tan Men ramen is the best. They have good broth and the service is great, but I'm pretty picky about the texture of my noodles so I wish the noodles were a bit better.
(4)Lionel D.
Love this place...especially in the winter. I'm new to ramen but Shoki Ramen house is a treat for everyone. Really small place but the wait is quick (yes there usually is always a wait but thats a good thing!). Very quick service. You get a lot of ramen for your buck.... get a regular bowl and you'll be satisfied. Friendly staff and great ambiance. I'll eat here every month and will always recommend to friends.
(5)Eric B.
GoOd RaMeN. Bring your Naruto hat for all you Naruto fans out therrrr and order 50 Lrg ramen. Mmmmmmm! So much different flavor ramen that I couldn't imagine. I got the extra spicy ramen. That's all I could remember because the name is something I never heard before in my life. It was bomb tho. I cant stop thinking about it. Ultimate tea they serve is apple tea made by teas tea. They explained to me that apples naturally have a lot of caffeine. So, along with the caffeine from the black tea, it is basically a double dosage of natural caffeine. I am a person who lives off that drug, therefore, you can imagine how turned on my nipples were when they were telling me this excellent news. They got this fine ass petite Asian girl that looks hella good as a waitress over there too. I wanted to ask for her number and if she wanted to go eat dinner later at the very same ramen shop that she works at but I couldn't for one particular reason in which I could not say. Too bad. We would've made a good looking couple. Lol.
(5)Amber G.
Damn, this place is soooooo good! I first heard about this place from some co-workers and we went there for lunch one Friday afternoon. I wasn't sure what I was in for but I'm always down to try something new. I ordered the Tan Tan Men and it was love at first slurp! I can't get enough of this place. I have had ramen at various other places, including japanese restaurants, and there is no comparison. The broth at Shoki's is the best I have ever had, hands down! I also like that I can get whole wheat noodles if I'm watching my carbs. It can be kinda crowded around lunchtime but that's to be expected. I have yet to experience Shoki's for dinner so I'm not sure about how the crowd is then. Oh and I hope you don't mind sitting close to people while you're eating during the lunch rush because it's quite cozy :)
(5)Wesley G.
I have been to Shoki II several times and the service and quality of the food is very consistent. I'm by no means a ramen aficionado but the ramen is fantastic. The broth is tasty and the noodles are tender. I love the Shoyu ramen and I always add tomago and cabbage. The medium sized bowl is more than enough for me. Personally I think Shoki II is one of the highlights of Sacramento dining.
(4)Meghan K.
Shoki is definitely my go-to ramen place. The staff is friendly, and the ramen is delectable! I usually get the shoyu ramen with an egg. The steamed cabbage is a nice and healthy appetizer too! Can't wait to go back
(4)Van T.
This is my first time here and I must say, this place is great! I got the Tan Tan Men super spicy and was a little disappointed because I was craving a very spicy kick, however, the broth was very good and the amount of ramen that comes in a large is more than I can handle. I added an egg, I thought it was expensive for 1 small add on item but it was definitely worth it as far as flavor. They had terrific service as well. From the moment I walked in, to paying to paying my bill, I had a great experience overall. Will come back in the near future!
(4)J W.
I have never been a fan of Shoki the one next to the DMV building. Mainly because of the set up like being ask to sit next to random people and the rediculous extra charges for small things. Once I was told that if I wanted to make the ramen extra spicier it would be an extra charge. The ramens usually is mostly ramen and not a lot of vegetable or meat so once when we added extra to our ramen I spent 40 dollars for two bowls of ramen! It was not worth it at the end. My bestie and I was craving ramen and I figure since this is a new Shoki ramen house maybe it would be better. The service is nothing to complain about they were pretty friendly. My friend and I both ordered then tan tan ramen but I ordered the small and he had the large. It was really weird, the bowl was really small and it wasn't all the way full but the meat and vegetable came on a plate separate from the ramen. Um you mind as well put it all together since its not like the soup is over filled and dripping over...seriously! Me, having to put it together actually just made the soup colder! The broth itself was nothing special, not a lot of flavor for tan tan. But the ramen noodles were good not too over cooked and not undercooked. It was good. Over all, I wont come back. The ramen bowl for a small...is small! It's not impressive. I rather go to my fav ramen house Edokko! I recommend this place! Shoki ramen is over rated.
(1)Vince L.
First off, I would like to say that I have lived in Japan for several years and can tell you that Shoki is NOT authentic and does a poor job at replicating even street side shack ramen in Japan. The broth is manageable and so was the meat, the biggest issue I had was with the service and the noodles. While the service was very tentative many of the workers do not possess common sense. I was charged incorrectly and the workers had to have a mini meeting to get it corrected. (Took about 15 min to get a proper bill and check out.) The noodles are supermarket quality fresh. Meaning that while is does not taste like instant noodles the quality is lacking. (Think of supermarket sushi) If they are truly making the noodles in house, I would say they are mishandling their product by freezing, overcooking and under-cooking. Overall, the food is edible but with many other choices closer to me, I CAN NOT justify ever returning to Shoki.
(2)Janet L.
Three words: TAN TAN MEN.
(4)Jeska K.
i had the tan tan men and added an egg. it was super busy when i got there, which was during dinner time on a thurs night. we waited about 30 min before getting seated. i really love ramen and this place is pretty good but i've had better at other ramen places in the bay. i didn't think it was worth $8, pretty pricey for ramen. i want to go back and try some of the other ones like curry ramen and soymilk ramen which seems to have some good reviews as well.
(4)Neil N.
Hit this place up for the first time last weekend. And wow - if you liked the original Shoki, you're gonna looooove this spot. I'd say the restaurant is nearly twice as big as their hole-in-the-wall off Broadway. Same menu with no msg and unbelievably good ramen noodles. In fact, I think the new Shoki has a better tasting broth than its other location. I always go for the tan tan extra spicy. And I normally havta add a little garlic to kick the flavor up a notch, but not this time. Also, try the curry bowl set. Even if you can't eat anymore after downing the ramen - order it anyway and take it to go! You'll thank me later. It's solid!! But in the end - the only reason I can't give this place a 5 star rating is cuz they don't use msg. I know its healthier without it , but come on people! No one eats ramen to lose weight! I come here to bathe my taste buds in salty msg-ridden noodles and soup goodness!!! Hey Shoki!! You've got the noodles-part down (might be the best I've ever had), get off your high horse (what other respectable ramen joint DOESN'T use msg anyway??) and offer two different soups: One with msg and one without. Keep track of how many peeps order each and you'll see.... Ramen foe life...
(4)Chau L.
Came here with my family who all went to japan, except for me =(. They had their share of ramen everyday in japan and was craving it here in Sacramento. While the family was craving ramen, they all wanted to go to shoki ramen to explore the the soups. I had ordered the #3 bowl which was a soy sauce based broth, spicy. I was not impressed with any of it and couldn't finish it. The broth was just like if I had placed soy sauce into water with a little beef and pork flavor into it, you could barely taste the pork or beef if there was any in the broth. It was tasteless. The noodles were sort of stale to me like it wasn't cooked long enough. It was hard finishing it. The rest of the family ordered that too and felt the same way. My bro in law ordered the cold ramen and he didn't like it either. They said they would not come back, I wouldn't either.
(1)Family W.
Last time I was here I waited 15 mins just to be seated but the real wait had not yet began. I ordered right when I dat and waited another 30 mins while my soup was created. The entire time I waited the 4 other parties I chatted with, that were seated after me, received their food. After another single customer came in and seated and served a beer and the same dish I had ordered I made the decision. That decision to leave seemed to surprise the waiting staff, which shows their complete lack of awareness. I had ramen here once before and wasn't seeing the stars others were giving it. I'm still going to try it again to give them the benefit of another try. The 1 star for service and the 3 stars for flavor (from a previous visit) averages to make my 2 stars.
(2)Lisa L.
I wanted to try a ramen place because i wanted to see what all the hype was about. Came here the first time, the line was too long, came here the second time at 2:00 clock, they were closing. Finally, the third time we decided to wait. We came here at 1:00 and waited in the freezing cold on the patio. We were thinking to ourselves, this ramen better be worth it. We were finally seated 30 minutes later. This place gets packed! After taking our order, our server let us know that they changed it to cafe style so you have to pay before you eat, lol and that tip is not required which i thought was pretty weird. It took about 20 minutes for us to finally get a bowl of ramen. I got the tan tan men, which wasnt all that great. It mainly consisted of ramen, some minced beef which dissolves into the broth quickly, and some seaweed. If you wanted additional things in your dish like eggs, mushroom, beef, etc its for an additional charge. $8.95 for a bowl of mediocre ramen? No thanks, id rather get some pho or some instant noodles in the pantry! However, they do get one star for okay customer service.
(1)Wonka L.
I just love Shoki Ramen~ I love both the new and the old location, and this new location with extended hour just make things easier & better~ my favorite is the Shio Ramen (seasalt). Love the broth, love the noodles, love the friendly waitress/waiters. =))
(5)Rachael R.
Ok, so my first experience there was not so good because I got rudely turned away (they are serious about their closing hours!). However, when we went back to try it out a second time I was floored! I had never had ramen outside the instant kind and it was fantastic. I do the fish-broth ones with only vegetarian toppings (weird, I know) and those are very tasty. I like the prices and the fact that if you get a large you can eat it for two meals, its that big. Vegetarians beware though, I got the vibe (maybe undeservedly) that they are not so strict keeping meat broth from their "vegetarian menu."
(4)Justin J.
Tasty highly customizable ramen, friendly staff, historic street, outdoor seating. Very serene right after work on a weeknight.
(4)Janet T.
I haven't had ramen noodles (besides the package ones from the store) and this place was suppose to be one of the best - according to yelp ratings and coworkers. I ordered the tan tan men, regular spicy. There was nothing to it except the noodles (not enough) and broth. You can add meat, mushrooms, or other veggies for an additional cost. The broth was flavorful but very salty. I downed 2-3 cups of water and still felt thirsty! This place gets very busy especially during lunch time, so expect to wait a bit.
(3)Jennifer C.
Bowl of dreams indeed. I can't say enough about Shoki and I'm so glad they are thriving enough to expand into downtown. The extra space is nice, too. I wish I could expand my options and try some of their other ramens, but I'm totally stuck on getting a large tan tan men (spicy) with mushrooms. I'd recommend extra noodles because they are perfectly cooked every single time. The large is big enough to feed me three times over and I eat a lot. I get a large because it's very cost effective when you factor in the left overs. YES, the wait is incredible but at the downtown location you can put your name on the list and have time for a quick drink at the Shady Lady, just in time to waddle back and stuff yourself with steaming ramen. GO SHOKI GO!! Everyone should go and support this wonderful, quality local spot. IT'S TOTALLY WORTH THE WAIT!
(5)Kp K.
The ramen here is as good as the one by Broadway, however I see allot of flys coming out of the kitchen. 2 stars for the ramen. They need to buy an electric fly zapper for the kitchen.
(2)Michelle B.
How many years have I been on this planet and I'm just now having "real" Ramen? The name is deceptive for a newbie like me, you're probably thinking Ramen as in the good ole fashion kind from the grocery store...It is noodles and it is prepared as a soup, but the fresh onions, boiled eggs, shitaki mushrooms, bamboo shoots, seaweed, and their assorted bevy of toppings and flavorful base make this a MUST try!
(4)Angie C.
I like this place. Like Angela V. noted, don't make the mistake of trying to enter from the front. The entrance is on the right hand side of the street. This place is just a quick walk down from the Shady Lady Saloon and Burgers and Brew. The noodles are good, but heed the spice warning. Regular is pretty hot. I can't even imagine what a spicy bowl would be like!
(3)AR R.
What can I say? This place is great! Love their broths and the ramen is always cooked right. Wonderful, small place to enjoy with friends and family. Tan tan men is my favorite if you like it spicy.
(4)Amy L.
I'm so glad they open this second store. It's more spacious, with air condition and they accept credit cards. The ramen is as good as ever!
(5)cheryl b.
Tan tan men with chashu pork is the best! You can pick your level of spice to add to the broth. Usually I go with medium spicy (I'm a wimp but I love the spice!). Expect a bit of a wait if you go on fri or sat night.
(5)Joseph Allen J.
I loooooovvvveeee this place. I usually order a chashu donburi side, then additional shiitake mushroom and chashu pork on my tan tan men. Perfect meal and worth every penny. Took me a while to convince my wife to try this place but when she finally did, she loved it so much that this is probably now her favorite restaurant in Sacramento (or maybe #2, next to bangkok garden.. lol).
(5)Nikki C.
Ok, so food was good. My boyfriend however had two bites and hated it. Not his thing he said. His first time eating Ramen. No biggy ( we'll get him a burger on the way home) We told the waitress we are so sorry but he doesn't like it. She asked if he wanted something else. He said no thank you I wouldnt want to send something else back- before we could say anything else she TOLD us " you still have to pay for the soup, because you ordered it". Getting the soup removed from our check hadn't really occurred to us just yet we were still apologizing for not liking the food. We asked her why would they not take it off or at least comp part of it. ( I work in the industry- and when ppl dont like something it's not necessarily their fault- ESP when eating foreign cuisine.) she proceed to tell us YOU will pay because he ordered it.hmmm so I asked to talk to the manager. The cook came out mumbled something in Vietnamese and YELLED "NO!!" YOU PAY at me in front of everyone, and walked into the kitchen. The rudeness of this jerk infuriated me. I started laughing because I have never EVER had someone scream at me to pay for food that my boyfriend hated. I tried to explain I liked it, we even said ok if we are paying for it box it up we will take it. Their response? " we already threw it out" LOL. So.. You want us to pay for noodles that he didnt like and we cant even take home? needless to say we DID NOT pay for the Ramen. He yelled and we said we are sorry but you are ridiculous. In honesty we probably would have paid for the soup had they 1- not thrown it away and 2- getting yelled at.. I will NEVER come back to this place based on Customer Service alone. Although our server Mary was awesome -the Manager guy.. Can kick rocks. My advice? Don't go here unless you absolutely know you like ramen or you run the risk of getting treated like crap for not liking their food- and having to pay for a meal that you don't like.
(2)Nicole S.
I live in Curtis Park and have been going to the original Shoki since before it made the papers and became incredibly popular. I really enjoy the Ramen--clearly high quality and delicious. I must give one star to this establishment because I HAVE SIMPLY HAD IT WITH THE TERRIBLE CUSTOMER SERVICE AND DRACONIAN "POLICIES" about when you can order a beverage and when you can sit down. When this Shoki II location is maybe 1/3 full and you are seated but yet cannot order a drink until the whole party has arrived, it makes zero sense. You are treated like a child, and there is no solid business justification for these silly policies. After too many experiences with getting pushed out the door, moved around to fit more people in the restaurant and being told you cannot get a cup of tea or beer because the other person in your party has not yet arrived--I am going to take my money elsewhere to support the other great restaurants in our community. Hokkaido is a different type of ramen, but is is most certainly ramen without the abuse. So sad--I wish they had listened to the Yelpers and worked on customer service.
(1)Kasey L.
I love this place. The food is delicious and really reasonably priced (cheap by my standards). The menu isn't very extensive, but I like that. It's ramen, straightforward. They are very willing to accommodate special dietary needs such as gluten free, and vegan or vegetarian. My server asked if I had any dietary restrictions before she took my order. I don't, but I have a friend with Celiac Disease so I appreciate the worth of such a question. This soup is great any time of year, but I can't wait to go in the colder months.
(4)M C.
I went to the original Shoki but when I found out about this place I stopped going there. This location is roomier and nicer. I always order the tan tan men, medium. You have to add the shitake mushrooms because it makes the soup sooo much better. I just realized they have more health conscious options so I've been trying to take that route. I subbed wheat noodles for the regular noodles. They are not as soft as the regular noodles but I like them. And I also ask for less salt. This way is perfect for me because I thought the broth was a little salty before. They have a lot of options where you can cook the noodles longer if you want them softer, more/less salt to your taste, more/less oil to your taste and a bunch of items on the side you can add such as shitake mushrooms, tamago, seaweed, chasu etc to make your bowl just to your liking!
(4)LT T.
I never had REAL ramen before, yeah I've had the instant ramen, but this place is so good! They make the broth everyday, and it is healthy and good for you. The portions are pretty reasonable for the price you pay. Wish their locations could be bigger though. They get pretty busy and then they kick you out as soon as they see that most of the people in your party are done eating... I don't know whats up with that.. but other than that the ramen here are good. Will definitely be back!
(4)eliza a.
My husband and I recently move to Sac over the summer and our waiter at Ruth Chris actually recommend this place. Coming the bay we always went to Japan town in SF for Ramen and even drove 2hours from sac to sf just forramen. So, we were actually pretty excited to try this place out. Right before the waitress took our order she asked if we had any food allergies, which was nice being that they offer vegan and glue ten free options. Being not the case we both had the soy milk Ramen plus egg (adding egg to Asian food is like adding bacon to American food...its good on evertyhing) The consistency was perfect, flavors weren't overpowering, and meat was super tender. and additional plus was that they had whole wheat ramen! It was absolutely worth every slurp! This will be our go-to-spot from now on = ) =quick tip= Location: easy to find- 2 mins off freeway. Looks small and was seated quickly for a later dinner (8:30pm) parking: lot is small, but street parking is available.
(4)Pearl M.
Too much noodle!
(3)Vivian H.
I try soy sauce, sea salt and soy milk ramen. Pork, broth and noodles are all failed. Pork is too dry and no meat favor, Ramen is not like Japanese style, taste like Chinese noodles. Broth is supposed to be the soul of the whole ramen noodle. However, it is Not hot enough and lack of favor. I don't know why the restaurant scores too high. Well, I guess Sacramento lacks of Japanese ramen restaurant, people have no choice to pick. Many places in Bay area like Kahoo and Orenchi make more high standard ramen.
(1)Bonnie C.
I've heard a lot of great reviews about this place so I decided to try it. Unfortunately, I did not share the same appreciation for this ramen house. I ordered the Tan Tan Men with extra spicy soup but it wasn't spicy at all! The texture of the noodles was just so-so and the soup just tasted like it was flavored with salt. The service here was just ok too.
(3)LuvFood S.
I was disappointed with Shoki II. I was here for lunch on a weekday at 1pm. The only sign of business was a table of 14. Unfortunately, that meant I was going to wait nearly 30 minutes for my ramen...that doesn't work when I'm on a work lunch break. Knowing how stingy the chefs are at the other location, I ordered shio ramen with extra noodles and extra pork. The noodles did not have the chewiness and firmness I like...they were too soft and got mushy really fast. The pork was plentiful at $2 extra but did not have any flavor. There was something off with the soup as this was pretty bland too. Overall, my experiences at the original Shoki were much better. It's going to take me a longggggggg time to get over the bad meal I had here. Also, since my meal was served so late I had to eat fast and that made me feel sick when i got back to my desk. By evening time, bf and I both had tummy issues and were fighting for the toilet. Maybe it was an off day...I dunno...I just know I won't be back...maybe forever. P.S...the original Shoki used to give me tummy issues too (but I let myself suffer bc it was good), but last time I asked for less oil and felt fine. I forgot to ask Shoki II for less oil...so maybe that would've avoided my problems later.
(1)Joe P.
After having my first ramen bowl earlier that day at Ajisen in San Francisco I was hooked and needed more. Once back in Sac I looked up ramen houses on Yelp and this one seemed to have great reviews. The ramen was terrible but that's not what this review is about. The problems I had were after placing our orders we were asked if we'd like to pay now...what is this Sizzler? Then, when my girlfriend asked the waiter for a fork a woman came back with a plastic fork saying she couldn't find a metal one. Really? I doubt she couldn't find one and that would be ridiculous if she really couldn't. I bet it being near closing time had something to do with not being able to find a fork...in a restaurant! One star for not having to wait for a table for five and another star for the friendly waiter.
(2)Jon G.
Got There around 1730 and it wasn't ok still. Then they still had to take down our names and party size so they can seat us which was rather odd. Then, not even 2 min into looking at the menu the Waitress asked us if we were ready, then 2 minutes and she comes by and asks. And get this, another 2 minutes and another waiter ask us if we are ready. After ordering the food i asked for a side of tomango and they didn't have any so i asked for extra seaweed then. I didn't get it on my soup sadly. So while we are half way done with our noodles they rude waitress comes by again and just drops off the check. I still wanted to order more to prove a point of their lack of service. I get better service from eating at Pho restaurants where they waiter doesn't even speak English then this place. Lack of manners and respect for a "Japanese" establishment.
(2)Mariah L.
I'm a regular customer for Shoki's and come about once a month. I am greatly fond of their TanTanMen (Regular Spice) and whole wheat noodles. Over the past year of going to Shoki's their prices have increased, their menu changes quite a bit and they even charge extra for the whole wheat noodles now. The broth tastes different from when I used to have it originally (back maybe 1-2 years ago), and I can undeniably say, the older broth tasted better. The restaurant itself is very compact and they are typically very busy during lunch and dinner times. But this location is bigger than their original one, which is incredibly much smaller. Staff is always very friendly and they use a iPad for orders. :)
(4)Derrick C.
Shio ramen here was bland and unimpressive. Don't think I'd come back.
(2)Bao N.
My favorite noodle spot! The restaurant is very small, when it is packed you can be sitting inches away from the next table. Avoid going during lunch/dinner time, time wait can be long especially on weekends. My usual is the tan tan ramen extra spicy with an egg. Bomb. The both is flavorful without being too heavy. I wish the beef wasn't minced too much. Overall, the good food and it is well priced.
(5)Frank G.
I won't go back. It was $25.00 without the tip for two ramen bowls -- no extras (not even drinks). VERY disappointed. Though the service was friendy, we waited too long and the food was entirely mediocre. WAY, WAY over-priced. Avoid.
(2)Mindy D.
I've been to the original Shoki countless times before. This was my first time at this new location, so I was hoping for a bigger space. It was in fact bigger, but not by much. Strangely, the restrooms are located outside in the back of the building... You need to give them something in exchange for the restroom key, so I gave them my car keys. I also don't like the "cafe" style... Paying and tipping before you're served is not my style... Luckily, we had cash on hand, so we could decide how much to tip after our meals instead of tipping beforehand. My fondest memories of Shoki rests with their TanTan Ramen. I remember it being extremely spicy and flavorful! I was very much looking forward to eating a hot bowl of ramen on a frigid Sacramento night but I was left highly disappointed. I ordered extra spicy but it was no where near even slightly spicy. The broth didn't come out as hot as ramen should be and the flavors were lacking. Everyone's toppings were in their bowls but mine was left to the side. Hence, it was cold and didn't help my moderately warm soup. My chashu don was yummy and helped to offset the lackluster ramen. Considering all the ramen options in the Bay Area, I would definitely not go out of my way for Shoki, not anymore :(
(3)Raquel Y.
Apparently this is supposed to be the "best ramen in Sacramento." If that's the case, then ramen in Sac sucks! Haha jk. This place was ok. I got the tan tan men, friend got the soy milk ramen, and my other friend got the shoyu. You can order 3 different sizes, small, medium and large! And they're all under $10, even the large!! =O Tan tan men [ s3-media2.ak.yelpcdn.com… - I give it 3 stars. It was unique, with it's ground beef and sesame seeds. You can customize how spicy you want it, also comes with spinach, bamboo shoots. I got the smallest bowl, and it was only about $6! That's one plus about ramen in Sac, it's dirt cheap compared to ramen in the bay. Soy milk ramen - I tried my friend's ramen and I didn't like it, nor did he. He said he thought Ramen Underground soy milk ramen was ok, but when he tasted this, Ramen Underground's soy milk ramen tasted like heaven when compared. There was no flavor and he had to add a lot of salt to his broth. It just was not tasty. Maybe because there was no MSG? lol Shoyu - I didn't try my friend's ramen but according to him it was good and "hit the spot" after our snowboarding adventure. I hear this Shoki II has more room than the original Shoki, which is surprising because this wasn't even that big. Also, you have to ask the front for a key and give your phone to use the restroom which is in the back around the restaurant. Weird. Ramen in Sac... though you are not as tasty as ramen in the bay, you are healthy and affordable! Keep it up! :)
(3)Ashley L.
I used to love this place for ramen...but this place has changed. I was in love with their Tan-Tan Men but in the past year or 2, their flavors for the soup has changed. I used to wait over an hour just to eat at this place or their original place off 24th street. The last few times I've came and ordered the Tan Tan Men, it was way salty and the portion size has decrease. I used to order the small and it was enough to fill me up. The last few times I have ordered the regular size and it didn't fill me up. The soup flavor is missing that one flavor that used to hit the spot. My little sister was even able to tell the differences too. I guess it is time to look for another place that serves Tan Tan Men that will hit the spot.
(3)Michele P.
Everytime I come here I always get a large (yes, large) soymilk ramen. I'm a huge soup/broth fan so I end up sipping all the soup, eating some noodles, and passing on the rest to the BF. Beware: the large is almost as big as a sink bowl. What I love about Shoki II, is that the ramen isn't too oily or fatty and is in fact, drinkable. Plus the noodles are so fresh. The BF always gets the Tsukemen( cold ramen), which is delicious as well. You can also add on little toppings for your ramen (I usually go for spinach, steamed cabbage, fish cake, and/or an egg) and also side dishes of little rice + meat. Whenever we have ramen cravings we always come to Shoki II. Although I will say the ramen never tastes as good to-go as it does when you eat in. I knock a star off because we usually always have to wait a while to eat here. They don't take reservations. The restaurant is small and packed with little tables. So, good luck trying to fit a large party in there. Also, there have a been a few times where they have run out of items (rice/black sesame ice cream). Note: they used to have customers pay "cafe-style" in that you pay for the meal up-front, but now they have switched back so you can decide whether you want to pay up-front or after your meal. I guess it just got too confusing to customers or they got tired of explaining the process to everyone. Also, there is the cutest little boy that sometimes will be your host there - he's so adorable and hard working!
(4)Mike L.
2 star because it use to be good. service has gone down and ramen is no longer good. I think what ruined it for me was seeing the cooks opening the bags of ramen. reminded me of instant ramen. me and the wifey will no longer be going here.
(2)Al B.
Not bad for being out in the boonies! I like their cold ramen. We made a couple of mistakes on previous orders- a small order is not enough but large will get you a plate full of noodles with very little toppings to complement the size of the order. So, the key is to order a medium bowl with extra toppings of your choice to get a good balance of noodles vs toppings. Customer service is always good here. But since I usually get the cold noodle, which doesn't come with any soup, one time I asked if I could get a side order of soup. The waiter said they don't have that on their menu but recommended a combination order of ramen and rice bowl (???) which totally did not address my need at all! We thought it was hilarious because he was just totally off with an irrelevant suggestion!
(4)Christina C.
Okayyy now am I missing something here? Shoki Ramen: 4/5 stars and 605 reviews from customers from all over Sacramento. And I'm sitting here okay, 4/5 stars I'm ALL IN. However, after trying Shoki around Christmas time with my family, I regret to say that I was very disappointed. I did not have any qualms with the size of the location. It was a quaint and intimate place, with about 10-12 tables at most. Hands down to the staff, they were all so friendly and welcoming that I was getting pretty pumped about a nice meal of ramen that was about to commence. We sat down and were handed a pretty standard menu of ramen. You have the option to add on various items which is something that I'm accustomed with seeing since it seems to be a trend with the ramen places that I've been to before. I never needed to add anything to my ramen, because I've always been really content with the items that the standard bowl came with, so I passed. I was intrigued by the Soy Milk Soup Base. It was under the "Triple Soup" category-- described to be made with 3 different components: WAFU, the tradition Japanese Soup stock, NIKU, a meat stock made from pork and chicken and YASAI, the vegetable stock. I'm so drawn by this description that my anticipation for this meal is building-- uncontrollably by the second. After about 15 minutes of waiting after our orders are taken, our food is delivered to our table. My Soy Milk soup ramen looked as though someone took a container of Soy milk and drowned a heap of noodles with it. Being the first time I've tried this variety of soup I take a sip of the soup and my observation was confirmed. It was lukewarm soy milk--unseasoned and untreated. I was crying a bit on the inside because I had such high hopes for this place. I take a glance at the plate of meat, bamboo shoots and bean sprouts. The meat is pale and cold to touch. The bean sprouts were overcooked and just looked wrong. With all the garnishes inside of the bowl, everything was just all one color-- pale white. I scramble for the minced garlic and chili on the table because the color was so off putting. Without being rude, I finished my food. During the whole meal, every single bite was backed with the HOPES of discovering some sort of amazing FLAVOR that has been raved about by 600 people of Sacramento. But after every bite, I was in a further state of disappointment-- regretting every bite. Ramen is a food that I normally like to indulge once in a while, knowing that it is packed full of calories. But this meal was just wrong and so disappointing, not only was it unwanted calories that I knew I had to spend at least 10 miles to run it off, it was not enjoyable. The so called trifecta of meat, traditional Japanese soup stock and vegetable stock was SO lacking that I had wished I ate the equivalent of calories in Shin Ramyun that is 1/10th the price. I don't want to say that I am biased since I've tried a number of Ramen Houses down in SoCal, but come on Shoki, I was soo rooting for you to represent Sac-town. I wanted to call you my new Ramen home, but you shut me out in the cold.
(1)Chris L.
This restaurant is small and clean. We were able to be squeezed into a table during a very busy lunch time. I had the Tan Tan Men at the mild spiciness level. The ramen was cooked perfectly and the veggie ingredients like the spinach and moyashi (bean sprouts) were fresh. The minced beef was formed into a meatball. I should have eaten the beef first before it gradually broke apart into the broth (since I wanted something meaty) but it was fine. The broth had nice flavor with the mild heat. The staff was very friendly. I would return to this restaurant.
(4)Margaret L.
Eh? I don't see the hype. I got the shio ramen with corn. My friend got the TanTan Ramen. I wasn't impressed. I asked for sesame oil, and they were happy to give it to me. I also added garlic to my broth. I changed the flavor of my broth by adding sesame oil and garlic, it gave it a flavor I like better. The noodles were really good though. I didn't like that there wasn't that much other stuff in it. The tantan ramen was pretty good, I would like it if it was spicier. So I waited about an hour to get seated here on a Sunday afternoon. You write your name on a waitlist and they go off the waitlist. This location is bigger than their original location. Based on my experience at the original Shoki, I wasn't a fan of it. I am still not a big fan of Shoki in general. I feel like their motto at Shoki is first in, first out. They are prompt with their service. They try to get you in and out so people can come and go. They even asked if I wanted the check before our service. They do use iPads to do all the ordering and stuff, so that's pretty neat. Overall, after my experience with ramen in Bay area (especially Ramen Dojo and Orenchi), I don't think Shoki compares. Shoki is mediocre. Go to Orenchi if you want ramen.
(3)Jodie F.
First, I'm not a big fan of reman. However, I like this place. I ordered a small size of soy milk favor with whole wheat noodle and mini curry don as a set. There are bamboo shoot, organic baby Spanish, nori, slice of pork, and bean sprouts on the side with my noodle. I asked for less salt in the noodle and brown rice for the curry don. You can customized your taste of the broth with more salt, regular, or less salt. Also, you can pick between white or brown rice.
(4)Mei W.
I never was a ramen fan until I was first introduced to Shoki's Ramen house. I personally like the Shoki II location over their original location on 24th -- only because it's roomier & their noodles are not as salty! I'm a big fan of the popular Tan Tan noodles. Their noodles are soft and smooth; definitely authentic Japanese cuisine. For an extra couple bucks you can add cha siew, egg, extra seaweed and other items to your noodles, but I personally like my noodles just fine without. I love adding the garlic paste (available on each table), it adds a bit more zest to the flavor! If you're a first timer here, you definitely can't go wrong with the Tan Tan! Though this place is a lot roomier than their originaly location, I still felt a bit crammed -- considering my neighbor's table was within an arms reach, literally. Their service is excellent! The gals are very friendly and definitely know how to service the patrons. I came here at 11:15 in the morning; fifteen minutes after their doors opened. Had I stepped in any minute later I would have had to wait for a table! By the time I finished eating, there was a waiting list. So if you're on a tight lunch hour break, I suggest you not to come here! This place is great! :)
(4)Tony N.
It took me a while before I became addicted to this place. All of our friends ate here all the time one summer, but we never understood why. After my 4th time, I was hooked. They have two locations, for an authentic experience, check out the first location. If you do not want to wait, the second location has more space. The soup is very simple yet complex. There is a lot of time put into the broth. The noodles are delicious here. If you have had ramen before, the ramen is a huge component to an excellent bowl of ramen. I always order the regular tan tan men (spicy soy sauce broth) spicy level is on between extra and super. Super spicy is killer, extra spicy is lacking. I add tamago(seasoned half boiled egg, corn, and chashu (pork). I also add a curry rice bowl because I am a fatty. I usual pay $16 with tax and tip, which is not bad. Overall, I am always happy leaving this place. If you order the same order, get home quick before the itis gets you..haha. 4 stars. Enjoy!
(4)Van N.
I normally go to the Original Shoki on 24th St, but since they are closed. I heard they are relocating to Broadway. Anyways, we decided to go to this location, the 2nd Shoki. It is spacier, and more modern. Food is just as great. Service is great. The only thing small negative is we wanted to sit in their outside area, but they don't serve outside. The outside area is more waiting to be seated and for to-go. Oh well, now we know. Overall, I highly recommend this place.
(5)Carrie S.
For authentic Japanese ramen presentation in Sacramento, this is definitely the place. Spinach, nori and pork are typical in Japan but it was missing the bamboo shoots and green onions. We use to stand in line to get into the original Shoki Ramen house so we were delighted to find they opened a more spacious 2nd restaurant. My only gripe is the lack of non-Ramen items. Any ramen house in Japan has at least gyoza and other little side dishes but this place has none (no I do not consider boiled cabbage a Japanese side dish). The other gripe is the pork is cold...what is up with that? I alternate between this restaurant and Ryujin, depending on how hungry I am. If I want more than just ramen, Shoki is not the one.
(4)S T.
This place is totally overrated! Perhaps, there just aren't that many ramen restaurants in the area. I've had much better ramen in Vancouver, Honolulu, Las Vegas, LA, and Tokyo. There was an hour wait on a Friday evening. Based on all the positive Yelp reviews, I was anticipating an amazing bowl of ramen. Unfortunately, I was quite disappointed. It takes 6-8 hours to cook the broth according to the description on the menu. I tried the triple broth (combination of 3 types of broth) shio ramen. It was way too peppery. The noodles were fine, but the broth was not good at all. If you're particular about ramen or any asian noodle soups, you won't be satisfied going here. If you do decide to go, just don't expect too much.
(2)Patra B.
My friend did the grunt work and searched Yelp for a place to eat dinner. We decided on Shoki since we wanted something different besides American food. We walked in and were seated right away. I went with the Shoyu ramen with extra egg and corn. Its $6.90 for a regular bowl, and $1 each for the extra egg and corn. The ramen came out piping hot. The noodles were good, and the broth was seasoned well. They have chili and garlic paste for you on the table. I added a little of each to add a little more kick to my broth. The egg was cooked perfectly so the yolk was still soft. Here are a few things that caught my eye on the menu. There's no MSG. You can ask for less salt in your broth. And they have vegetarian, vegan and gluten free options available as well. This is definitely a good ramen spot. I left with a happy belly. And my mouth didn't feel like it was dehydrated from too much salt. This is on my list to revisit when I'm up in Sac for work. Don't forget to get the stamp card. If you pay in cash, you get a stamp for each bowl of ramen. 10 stamps = a free bowl! **After my 1st visit, I've also had the Tonkatsu ramen with extra corn, cabbage and egg, and the Tan Tan Men with Egg and Corn....all very good choices!
(4)Frankie P.
Perfect spot for a chilly night. I had the number two double double broth and it was a bowl of perfection. The number two is a sea salt based broth and the double double is meat free. My thin noodles were cooked al dente and softened up after sitting in the hot broth for a while. This is the best ramen I have had in Sacramento. There is fresh chili paste and garlic on each table. A little goes a long way and it's a nice addition. We didn't wait too long to be seated, only 15 minutes. But the wait can be up to an hour long. We waited outside on the patio which has tables and chairs. Why they don't serve outside I don't know. This would cut down on the wait time and allow them to serve twice as many customers at a time. Also, as some one else mentioned, the additions to customize your ramen are pricy. $1.50 for green onions is a lot when even the grocery store doesn't charge that much. If your not careful all of the add-on can be more than the soup itself. But somehow they know my weakness and I order them every time. Come here expecting to wait a long time but rest assured it's worth it.
(4)Dottie C.
Well, I wish I could rate the food. But we never made it inside. Arrived at 6:10 on a Friday. Walked in and had to put our name on a wait list behind one other group of 3. Hostess asked us to wait outside. It was cold; however we didn't think it would be too long. There was a heat lamp outside but it was not on. We stood and waited for 20 minutes. All along seeing tables open up. The group in front got called in about 6:20. A couple behind us was still waiting as well outside. We saw 4 open tables inside and no one seemed to be concerned with us outside. Then at 6:30, 2 customers walked in the front door and were immediately seated. We walked in to see why we were left out in the cold. One server said it was his mistake he seated them before us because he didn't know there was a wait list. No apologies. He sat us down and walked away. We went over to see what happened with the girl who told us to go outside and wait. She just nodded her head. Never apologized. We decided to leave because we didn't get a good, friendly vibe from the staff. Extremely disappointed.
(1)Rina K.
if you go to socal and try ramen, then come to shoki, you'll see why this was such a let down. the restaurant itself is rather small and doesn't seat much. they don't take reservations, so i suggest calling ahead and checking if there are open seats ! that's a nice system that they offer. the food itself didn't take long to get to our table, but the portions were on the small side even for me (i don't eat very much in one sitting). i can't imagine how much food a person who eats a lot would have to order ! i got the tsukemen spicy but it wasn't spicy at all. the broth wasn't particularly flavorful either and i was a bit disappointed -_- i went back in 2006-ish and thought this place would have improved by now, but i don't think i'll be going again anytime soon.
(2)Jennifer L.
Love this place! Kind and courteous staff and delicious food. I normally get the Tan Tan Men and it is always right on point and very consistent. Must try ramen house!!!
(5)Philip W.
Place was a bit of a letdown, especially after I had that it was one of the best ramen houses Sac had to offer. I've definitely had better in Sacramento and the ramen I ordered here was not worth the thirty minute wait in any way possible. I will say this about Shoki- the different items were very customizable in terms of how you wanted the broth and how you wanted the noodles. So in the chance that I come here again, I'll switch things up (a lot) and update my review. For the time that I did go, I got myself the shoyu ramen. It was disappointing to see an absence of both miso and tonokotsu broth, as those are usually the two I choose between. But I've had shoyu broth before and enjoyed it. Not so here. Both the noodles and the broth seem to have come from a top ramen package. Except the broth in the top ramen bags doesn't taste ... burnt. Burnt is the only way I have to describe the way it tasted. After I pointed this out, my friends agreed. So I guess it's not that obvious. The toppings were a little bland and lacking too. Some chasu, a couple pieces of bamboo that were too soft, and some spinach. What bugs me about the overall experience here is that I could have made a better bowl. Other than the presence of the chasu, I've made ramen at home that had the same toppings and tasted better. I'm going to have to disagree with Shoki's hold as best ramen in Sac- I've had better.
(2)Stephanie B.
Order, pay, and then eat! It's kind of an odd unique set-up that was difficult for a group of 10 to follow, so be forewarned! They also do not accept tips, FYI. The server was very clear and helpful, which I'm sure is necessary given Shoki's non-standard ways. It's also not a big restaurant, so yes, you'll have to wait for a table. But what ramen place isn't small, LBR. As everyone suggests, my whole table basically ordered the Tan Tan Men (with some outlier orders)! All around, I think we were all happily satisfied with our respective ramens. The boys got large ramen bowls, and those bowls were truly HUGE. Mad respect for people who can finish. I got the Tan Tan Men w/ boiled egg (extra spicy) - I did not personally think that the extra spicy was hella spicy. I could have gone super spicy, but apparently that might have been too much. The broth was definitely less salty than other broths I've had, most likely due to their non-MSG way of cooking the ramen. I did feel like it was healthier - it's good! However, at the same time, I did also think it could use more flavor? But then again, it might go back to it not being as spicy as I would have liked. I'm too particular when it comes to that! Let me do suggest that you get the boiled egg! That was cooked perfectly! Half boiled and yummy! If you're craving ramen, I do think this is a solid choice and would come again. It's not my favorite, but it'll hit that fix.
(4)Nicole M.
Staff is very friendly and are very knowledgeable about there menu. It's also nice that they offer gluten free items.
(5)Lars S.
What a disappointment after my friend raved about this place. Arrived there at around 6:30 pm on a Sunday and there were lots of people seated outside waiting for tables. Good sign, right?! We got on the waiting list and were told it would be about a 40-min wait, so we decided to do take-out instead and asked if we could eat outside where they had tables but didn't serve food, which they said was fine. It took 50 minutes to get our food (we were told 25-30) and by that time my wife was cold so we asked if we could be seated inside after all, but were told they couldn't do that. The girl told us that we had to start over at the bottom of the list. Very bizarre as we had been waiting for so long and had been on the list. It's not like anybody waiting outside would have been upset as we had been there the entire time and it was actually our turn to be seated. On top of this, my wife and I both found the food bland and uninteresting. The noodles were tasteless and the broth was nothing to write home about. I ordered my broth "extra spicy" but according to my taste buds it was "medium' at best.
(2)Lina H.
My friends kept telling me how great this place was so I finally decided to check it out. From what they were saying about it being crowded, I was expecting a ramen house in the heart of midtown but it's actually kind of secluded with nothing else around...but they were right that it does get busy! I ordered the Shoyu soup with a mini curry rice and the bf got the Shio soup with a mini Chasu don . Since it was my first time, I asked the waiter how big the small and regular sizes were and he put his hands up and said a small is about the size of the circle your hands make when your fingers touch so I got the regular. Oh how wrong he was. His version of the regular is actually the size of the small so I ended up with a giant bowl of noodles and looked like a fatty - oh well, pretty typical for me. I preferred the Shoyu over the Shio but thats purely on taste preference, it wasn't anything wrong with the Shio. It was fairly busy so the noodles took awhile to come out but in the mean time, they brought our mini curry and chasu as an appetizer. Both were delicious as well as the noodles. Oh, and theres a little boy who came over and greeted us with silverware and asked for our drink order! Super cute! And oddly professional :)
(4)LY L.
I have to take off two stars from my last review. I used to love Shoki's simple menu but they changed their menu recently and ordering a bowl of ramen took as much time as completing a 10 minute monkey survey...They also leave your spinach raw and since the broth isn't very hot, spinach doesn't get cooked through and it causes the broth to cool down so quickly. The worst change Shoki surprises us with is no more soft boiled eggs! What has the world come to?!?! I'm temporarily taking my business to ryujin ramen, where the broth is hot and soft boiled eggs are included.
(2)Jackie S.
Went here with the boyfriend after the airport! :) We went before 6 because I was superscared there was going to be a long line. I was nervous about the parking because there is a TINYTINY lot that they have, but it doesn't have a lot of space, but I parked on the other side of the restaurant and I was fine. But anyways, we had to wait maybe 10-20 minutes? Not too bad and you could also wait outside because they had a patio heater which I love very much. Once we were seated, I ordered the tan tan men ramen and my boyfriend ordered the shoyu ramen. They use an ipad to order now! Super fancy haha. They do this style where you pay right after you order, which I kind of like better so you can get the money issue right out of the way. The place is small and a bit cramped, but it had a homey feeling to it. Service was pretty slow, but it was okay. I got the ramen and maybe it's because I have been spoiled by Orenchi in San Jose, but it was just okay to me; nothing spectacular. But ramen is delicious on a rainy day! My boyfriend really liked his shoyu ramen, though. He said it hit the spot. Okay and the price was a bit on the up side, but this is sac so Asian places can charge a higher price.
(2)Kevin N.
I had high expectations for this place as I have heard great reviews. But I must admit, those reviews are quite generous. I had the tan tan extra spicy and it was pretty mediocre to my taste buds. First off, it wasn't spicy whatsoever. Secondly, it almost felt like I was eating a vegetarian bowl of noodle. In order to satisfy my carnivore habits I had to pay quite a few bucks extra for the "additional" items. Which could total up to $20. $20 for a bowl of ramen?! It better satisfy my cravings but unfortunately it failed to do so. Lastly, it was too cramp for my liking, a little more space and privacy to have a conversation with my date would be nice. Would I try this place again? Most likely as I like to give everything a second chance but it wouldn't be in the near future.
(3)S C.
Paid a visit here from my Tahoe trip and OMG Authentic ramen is all I have to say. Shoki makes their own noodles, their broth are amazing and rich in flavor. I heard there's a wait here but if you come early enough before they open, you'll be seated quickly. We had a party of 6 on a weekend morning and were able to get a seated together. However, the food takes a little while to cook because it's all made in-house. We ordered the Shoyu Ramen and everything about it was phenomenal! If you're in the Sacramento area, please stop by this place! Also, the house-made mochi is too-die-for!
(5)Scott K.
First time here, pretty good. Came in the afternoon so there wasn't much of a line when I was there. Place is a bit small but most ramen places are small. The food took much longer to come out than other ramen places I've been to. Perhaps they were..... I don't know what they were doing. Ipad ordering seems unnecessary, but cool since you get to see the toppings and all so I won't complain there. Ordered the shio ramen. Nothing too out of the ordinary. Broth was good, not too salty, but the noodles were a bit harder than I would like, but nonetheless, will definitely be a go-to place if I ever want ramen around this area. Didn't get to try the soy milk... but must try that... since I haven't seen that offered anywhere else before. The toppings are like any other place. More expensive than it needs to be. I just wanted an egg :( and it was 1.50 extra. I wonder if they have any student discounts... The place deserves 3 stars, but I bumped it up one because it says no food enhancer or msg. And their broth was pretty interesting.
(4)mui d.
45 mins wait after 1pm. Ramen a little too al dente for me. Too much ramen, not enough soup, vegetable, meat or anything that should go with a good bowl of soup. Temp of the soup was Luke warm. Had to ask them to heat up. Not very flex with items on menu, add ons are expensive on top of the pricey menu. Flavor of the soup is not there either. Was upset to have spent over 30$ on lunch for just lukewarm ramen and broth. But on the other hand, staff is super friendly & efficient. Too bad food and price is terrible.
(2)Vivien L.
My boyfriend and I tried this place for the very first time and we were kind of disappointed. The space was kind of small and cramped. The staff was friendly but kind of slow. Took forever for our food and check to come out and it wasn't very busy. We both ordered the tan tan men but he got his extra spicy and mine mild. My boyfriend LOVES spicy food and he was going to get his super spicy but the waitress suggested extra spicy cause she said super would probably be too spicy. My boyfriend said it wasn't spicy at all and didn't look spicy either so he was disappointed on that. We added "extras" to our bowls like egg, mushrooms, corn.. all a dollar except the egg was a 1.50 . Otger extras like tofu were 2.50 which I thought was way overpriced. I also thought there would have been meat in our bowls but there was not one piece of meat in there... maybe you were supposed to add it? I'm not sure but that was another disappointment. It also wasn't as flavorful as we thought it would be but you could already tell from the looks of the broth. They didn't even have any condiments set out to add to your broth which my boyfriend and I were wish they did after not having such flavorful broth. My boyfriend says he'll never come back and although I didn't think it was amazing I wouldn't mind coming back.. just next time I'll ask for some meat and some sriracha sauce. OH and less mushrooms cause my bowl seemed like it was filled with nothing but mushrooms.
(3)Jamie L.
I am a huge fan of ramen, and I have been to Shoki II a couple times previous without any complaint. Today when I went to lunch was a different story. My father and I waited for 30 minutes to be seated, which was expected since it was lunch time rush. When we were seated it took a few minutes to be recognized and had to flag someone down to get our drinks and order in. I ordered my usual tan tan ramen super spicy with extra menma. My order arrived 15 minutes later, but when I took my first spoonful of soup, it was very lukewarm. I even tried to get to the soup at the bottom of the bowl to get a hot spoonful, but it was lukewarm all the way through. I flagged down a waitress and told her my soup was lukewarm, and asked if there was a way of either getting a little bit of hot soup to pour over the top, or to get just the soup reheated. I was told the only option was the microwave the entire bowl, which I thought would just ruin the noodles. So I opted to just stick with what I had. The table next to us recieved their bowl of ramen with steam coming from the top. Hopefully this is a one time thing for them, since ramen should be piping hot in my opinion.
(1)Diana T.
Very sincere and friendly service! I came here with my family to have lunch on a Sunday, it was crowded. We waited about 35 minutes, but it was worth it. We ordered the shoyu ramen(a regular), tan tan men(a small and regular) and a chasudon(set item). The noodles were perfect and the broth was so tasty. The food was really good and leaving us wanting more. Only thing I would like to change about this place is to expand it and make it more spacious. I will definitely be going back.
(5)Nicole S.
Since I was in a ramen mood Monday night, I Yelped ramen places in the Sacramento area since it was on the way up to Tahoe. We needed something that doesn't close too early and not out of the way. I came up with Shoki and we decided to give Shoki II a whirl since it was open until 10pm. We walked in a bit after 8:30pm and were seated immediately. I wouldn't be surprised if there was a long wait during peak times since people kept walking through the door during our meal. WHAT TO KNOW: *Soy sauce or sea-salt based broth *Available in small, regular, or large sizes *Small selection of appetizers (no chicken karaage or gyoza like I'm used to) *Add donburi to your ramen order for $2.50 (look at the ramen sets on the whiteboard) *Additional toppings (i.e. chasu, corn, egg, mushrooms) are available for an additional price *Make use of jar of pureed garlic and the jar of Shoki's special spicy pepper powder at every table *Credit cards are accepted (visa, mastercard) FOOD: *Spicy Menma (Bamboo Shoots) - Delicious and extremely flavorful! Bamboo shoots are marinated with Shoki's special pepper spice powder, chili oil, and topped off with green onions. *Chasu Donburi - Yummy. I was impressed that such a simple dish was filled with so much flavor. Shredded pieces of chasu (pork) is placed on top of your choice of white or brown rice and topped off with seaweed pieces and green onions. For extra flavoring, there's *Tan Tan Men ($7.90 for a regular) - Good. It comes with a soy sauce broth which you can request how spicy you want it (mild, regular, extra spicy, and super spicy). I chose the regular spiciness which I found to be good but I did wish the broth was a bit thicker. Toppings that come standard on the Tan Tan Men are spinach, bamboo, green onions, seaweed, and minced beef. I loved the minced beef that had a sweetness to it, but the pieces seemed very scarce which all ended up on the bottom of the bowl. The noodles were okay. They were thicker than I am use to and some of the noodles didn't seem cooked long enough. I chose to add corn and an egg. I was a bit disappointed that the egg yolk was barely runny. SERVICE: Great! The waitresses were cheery, nice, and friendly. PARKING: Private lot and street parking available
(4)Judy H.
First time going there and the workers there were really nice and helpful. The food was awesome and was totally worth the wait.
(5)Phi C.
I don't understand why this place has 4/5 stars... Either people are over exaggerating or don't know what bomb ramen taste like.. Any who.. When I went there, I was expecting bomb ass ramen due to the rating and the positive feed back on yelp.. BUT they were wrong. I don't recall what I ordered but the broth was so plain, I wanted to add more seasonings in it but that was no help at all! The ramen noodles itself wasn't even all that great. I didn't want to be rude so I finished of course and plus I was hungry!! The whole time I was sitting there eating, I was so disappointed. I was expecting so much more but got mislead. I'll definitely won't be coming back.
(1)Maggie C.
This place is just amazing. I used to frequent their original Curtis Park location and this place is a lot closer to home. The ramen is so delicious and I absolutely positively love their atmosphere and menu selections. I love that they have gluten free and vegan options and that their waiters get on your level to explain the menu to you if you need help with their many options. I love their shoyu ramen with tamago and shitake mushrooms. Its to die for. I also love that they have garlic paste and spicy flakes to give your ramen that extra kick. I was concerned that their second restaurants might lack quality compared to its original counterpart but nope.. Everything is still awesome and this second location is like I said closer to home. I am ecstatic about their ramen.
(5)Paul G.
Average ramen. Had the tan tan extra spicy. Not spicy at all. Broth a bit bland. Almost no beef. Beef was minced. Seemed busy with the lunch crowd so maybe my order is off. Nice ambiance and friendly staff though.
(3)Christopher M.
Amazing curry ramen, great atmosphere, good prices.
(5)Melissa Z.
AMAZING ramen!! I wish there was one closer to me so I could go more often. The place is pretty small, but the portions are big and come hot and fresh with not too long of a wait! I am a fan of this place for sure!
(5)Lauren B.
Well, color me impressed y'all! I absolutely love ramen but for the veggie, GF belly it can be a dicey experience. I've been fighting a sore throat for the last few days so popped into Shoki after exploring the menu online. The gluten free tan tan is absolutely delish and not lacking at all in flavor. The yam noodles are worth the extra dollar. I got my soup to go but found the service to be really friendly and I look forward to going back and dining in!
(5)Mimi T.
WOW. Sacramento! I am impressed by the ramen here. I've been to a fair share of ramen houses and Shoki, you guys are definitely yummy! I love how they have small, original, and large bowls. That way you can order the right amount of food to your liking. :) Shoki, you made me happy after my run.
(4)Melanie W.
This place is amazing. I have no other words to describe it. Not only does Shoki have THE best ramen I have ever had...but I literally come here at least once a week. I don't eat meat (fish is okay), so it's sometimes hard to find places with a lot of options, but Shoki has so many options for me! My favorite is the Kurogma Tan Tan w/o Meat (black sesame seeds in the broth) adding wakame (wet seaweed). It is excellent, so full of flavor. I just discovered that the broth I thought was meat-based is actually fish-based, so that opened up a whole new array of options to me - I have yet to explore all of them! The staff is always very friendly. It gets fairly busy, so the wait time is quite long sometimes, but that's usually hit or miss (sometimes it takes 15 minutes to get your order, sometimes it takes 30 minutes). I'd say the main downside is that the restaurant is pretty small, so you're usually sitting VERY close to the table next to you. It doesn't seem to be too good for groups of over 5 or 6, so I usually stick to a group no more than 4, and that's always been fine. The upsides of it definitely outweigh the one negative - the food is excellent compared to any other Ramen place in Sacramento. I even tried another place just to see if it was close to Shoki's quality - it was not. Good for meat lovers and vegetarians alike, as you can ask for any bowl of ramen without meat, and there are even three items that are made with purely vegetable broth (which is excellent). I even took my mom here (she is the pickiest eater I know), and she even liked it, so that's got to say something! I love this place, and will continue coming here at least once a week while I'm in Sacramento. There is nothing like it.
(5)Helena H.
This place is great. The food is fresh and hot and the staff is down to earth and friendly. Ok....no, im being a little too modest in my praise. Picture this. I'm a 5'4, petite lady whose had gastric bypass surgery a year ago and consequently, I eat like a rabbit. My boy-friend is a 6-foot tall muscled behemoth that can eat just about everything in alarming quantity and speed. When they come to your table, the first thing they ask is if you have any dietary requirements or restrictions. I get the shio with yam noodles and tofu. The staff is kind enough to give it to me in a child sized bowl without mocking me or judging me. Boyfriend gets the large Tan-tan men with added chasu and tofu las hot as they can get it....this thing comes out in what looks like a mixing bowl to me and u can smell the spice the minute it gets near the table. We sit there, eating in pure bliss, looking like the reverse of Jack Sprat and his Voluptuous wife, and the staff is just as friendly as ever. We both get exactly what we want. Hot, comforting, truly delicious food, served by great people.
(5)Miss Duyen T.
Came here around 9pm on a Friday night but we got a table for 5 shortly after arrival. The place is small and was packed with people. It took a while for the food to come out (I would say 15-20mins) since I guess they have to make the fresh noodles from scratch (?). We all got the Tan Tan ramen and it was of course delicious. The broth was flavorful and not too oily. Service was great. It was our first time but definitely will come back.
(4)Patrick H.
Good place to get some ramen in Sacramento. Probably the best in the area. Service is below average. Food is 4 stars service is 2 stars.
(3)Esther Y.
It's been nearly a year since I first went here and I definitely prefer this location over the original Shoki due to its larger facilities, better hours, and an actual parking lot. Also, there's just more going on in Downtown that you could do before/after. As with the original Shoki, I always get the same thing: #5 soy milk ramen with whole wheat noodles, less boiled (firmer noodles), less salt, and sometimes with extra noodles. They have a special triple broth with fresh soy milk from Sacramento Tofu Company and everything is just amazing. Add the sesame oil in anytime to bring out more flavor. The sides are ok here -- curry is decent, salmon and avocado is ok. I am just fine with a nice regular bowl of ramen though. =D For those of you from the Bay Area, Shoki and Shoki II are just as good and possibly better than Ramen Dojo, which is by far the best ramen in the Bay Area. DEFINITELY worth a stop here from any trip to/from Tahoe. I just wish Ginger Elizabeth Chocolates were open on Sundays...
(5)Mindy Y.
Apparently, everyone and their mothers are raving how this is the "best ramen ever." I disagree. One thing that really annoyed me: My group of friends and I waited in line one a Tuesday night at 8:30pm. Really? I had to wait in line for this ramen? Come on, this is Sacramento... people don't wait in line in Sacramento. I came here on a rainy day and the servers wanted everyone to wait outside in the cold while it was raining. Thank goodness my friends had umbrellas, and if not we had to wait in the rain or try to find shelter in the corner of the restaurant; yet, there was none because it was occupied by other people who were kicked out into the rain. So, bring an umbrella when it's raining and be expected to wait in the rain. So, the ramen... Let's start with the noodles: the noodles didn't seem it was cooked all the way, rather hard to eat and bite on, and chewy. A chewy hard texture. Soup: I had the "tan tan men" ... apparently, there was suppose to be minced beef? There was barely... repeat barely any beef. But, the soup base was an okay-favourful - but I'm not surprised by it... nor, was it extremely fantastic. I had better. Food servers are very helpful and answered all my questions. They were able to do separate checks. At the end of dinner you get little collectible stamp card, which I think it is a pretty fun idea, although you'll have to pay cash in order to get a little stamp. **OVERALL, Shoki Ramen House is nothing to die for... maybe I'll come back for the stamps.
(3)Clay W.
Wow! I loved this place! This was my first time having real ramen, and I must say that I was quite pleased with the food and the service here. The adorable kid who was bussing tables must have been no more than five years old and yet was still quite professional! I was very impressed by his work ethic. I was happy to see that all the noodle dishes could be ordered with whole wheat noodles as I try to always stick to whole wheat over enriched products. I was lucky enough to get there right in time, before a rush of people came in. This place is pretty small so you might find yourself waiting a while for a table if you come during busy hours. A little note: don't order anything "super spicy". It's not that they make it too spicy, it's that they LOAD it with that red oil/powder stuff, completely altering the actual flavor of the broth into something far less enjoyable.
(4)Kelly G.
I am going to preface this review by saying that I am trying to be FAIR with what my experience was. First off, I was there on my Birthday. It wasn't packed at all which I was very happy about because I've heard they can be pretty busy. Service was good. No issues with timeliness of ordering to the time where I got the food. Portion sizes not too bad. No complaints there. The taste was "okay." I don't see what the huge big deal is that everyone is raving about. Mine wasn't too hot, but it was a bit luke warm (yuck) and I felt that having to add on every little thing was a bit much. I just can't wrap my head around the cost of two noodle meals costing around $30.00 plus with all of the "add-ons." It seems a bit pricey for the cost of noodles. I probably won't be back just because of the cost alone. Just my .02 cents.
(3)Zar A.
Absolutely one of the BEST, BEST, BEST ramen broth I've ever had in my life!!! Well, outside of Japan. My SF buddy and fellow Elite Yelper, Esther Y, said that I MUST, MUST, MUST go to this place if I was going to be in Davis or anywhere near Sacramento. As with her numerous other SF recommendations, I knew it would be good and worth the stopover. She did not disappoint. Moreover, this place did not disappoint. Their #1 rule: 1) Greet customers! 1) Make great ramen! I ordered their largest bowl! I figured, why not? I'm not here long and I am driving out of Sacramento today anyway. Well, Sacramento was approximately 100 degrees that day and this tiny restaurant had minimal A/C. Basically, I ate in sweat. But, the ramen and the broth was so amazing that I did not care. I ordered the tan tan ramen. My friend ordered the silky tofu ramen (it was recommended by Esther). Both were delicious!! + Tan tan - spicy and just an extremely flavorful broth that jumps at you, + Silky tofu - super flavorful but a very mild broth. Both were so delicious. To this day, I still dream of my ramen bowl at Sokii =)
(5)Tommy L.
noodles were yummy and chewy. how ramen is supposed to be. they also do a great job with customization options so that one can adjust to their spicy tolerance and appetite. one star knock off for cramped quarters.
(4)Rome C.
Amazing! Get ready to wait a long time though. BEST ramen house in Sacramento! Bay Area ramen houses does not have chance of competing with this Sacramento ramen house.
(5)Janet T.
I came to visit my sister in Davis and insisted that she brought me to this place because she took me here once and I loved it a lot. This place was really crowded but I guess that says how great the place is. We waited 20 minutes to finally get a seat. They changed their regular restaurant format to cafe style where they allowed us to pay right after we ordered and tip wasn't required. It's better because the waiters are so busy where they won't have time to attend to everyone all at once. I shared a large tan tan men with my sister. It was so big that we couldn't even finish the whole bowl so we packed it home. The noodles were soft and delicious. The food was really delicious, I can't find any other way to describe it.
(5)Crystal W.
TL;DR 1. Service was slow and inattentive when we went. The servers also seemed impersonal/inefficient because of the iPads used to order. 2. Food was unimpressive for the price. Standard toppings (such as green onions/shallots) at other ramen restaurants are considered "add-ons" here and so cost $1.50 extra for each item. 3. Broth was terrible when we went. We might have been there on an "off" day, but really....if I pay for something, I expect to get what I paid for and not something sub-par. 4. The seating area is tiny. Expect to frequently bump into other patrons and servers. Maybe my experience (and this subsequent 2 star review) is out of the norm, but I probably won't be back to find out whether or not what I experienced was a fluke. I came here with lunch with my boyfriend and friend but was sorely disappointed by: 1. the service 2. the food (price, portion, and taste) 3. the environment SERVICE First off, my boyfriend and I arrived at the restaurant relatively early, and there was already a line in the form of a sign-in sheet. We wrote down my name/number in party and were prepared to wait for our table, based on the reviews we saw on Yelp (that the store is small and very popular). However, once we were seated, we were not prepared to flag down the server more than a few times to ask him if we could order and get waters. My friend was about 20 minutes late, but had texted us his order so we were ready to go (explained this to the server, who, each time, said: okay, I'll get someone with you shortly). Interestingly enough, it was only a few minutes after our friend arrived and sat down that someone came by and said they'll come take care of us. Hm. iPads also look really cool, but seem to make service more impersonal and less efficient (waiter has to repeat what you said each time while gesturing at the iPad...not efficient) Anyways, service was inattentive the entire time. I understand that the restaurant is packed to the brim, but seriously, please stop bumping into my chair and fill my water instead! Derp. And really, we were sitting there for a good 5-6 minutes just looking around and trying to flag down a server to pay for our meal. FOOD After perusing their menu, I personally thought that Shoki's is nickel and dimes their customers. Actually, it was more like $1.50-ing their customers for each item. For example, green onions/shallots are NOT included in the ramen and needs to be added for $1.50. Seriously? You can buy 3 whole bunches of shallots for $1.50. Same with egg: a soft-boiled egg = +$1.50. Anyways, the gist of my pricing issue is that very little of the "standard" ramen fare is included in the dish. The overall serving size was normal, but the broth was flavorless and boring. What my boyfriend said: well, if no MSG tastes like this, I'd rather them dump a bunch in my soup. Yeah.....the broth was that bland. The noodles were pretty delicious and very chewy, which was a pleasant surprise. However, the toppings were not very generous, and I didn't have enough to go with the noodles. Overall, I probably won't be back again, because Shoki's didn't deliver for us. Seems like they're doing well enough as it is though...
(2)Jason H.
I love the original Shoki. I love Tantan Men. I love spicy noodles. I love Tamago. Combining the latter three with the much nicer, much newer, much roomer Shoki II, this should have been a smash hit. Alas, I have to give Shoki II a star docked off the 5 I give the original. My thoughts about Shoki II mirror those of the original Shoki. You are welcome to search for my review of original Shoki, but in short - speedy service, piping hot Tantan Men, veggies everywhere, the best tasting fresh ramen noodles of any ramen house in Sacramento HANDS DOWN, perfect presentation and all ingredients in balance - not too much broth, not too much meat and veggies, not too much noodle. That said, there is clearly a heat disconnect. Extra Spicy at Shoki II is not extra spicy, it's just mild. I have to go all the way to Super Spicy to get to the original Shoki's Extra Spicy. This may seem like a minor issue, but if I ever decide to finally move on up to Super Spicy (which, to be fair, I only have casual dalliances with Shoki's Super Spicy Tantan Men, but I always come back to the Extra because the heat in Super starts to take away from the deliciousness of the rest of the soup.), my options at Shoki II are gone. Other than the minor, yet still major, spice-heat incongruity, Shoki II is faithful to the original Shoki's reputation. Staff is friendly. Service is good. You do lose some of the charm of the original but you get a much nicer dining experience.
(4)Desmond F.
Decided to drop in for some late night eatin. Shoki professes to be all natural, handmade, msg free, a healthy yet delicious take on traditional ramen. Yeah yeah whatever how's the taste? Fair to good I'd say but I've had better. I had the Shio which was clean and basic. Also tried the tantan broth which not something I'd normally get but I was pleased.
(3)chendi z.
I've been eating ramen for over twenty years now. I've been to ramen shops in Japan; I've heated up countless packets of $0.49 ramen during my years in grad school. The ramen here is without a doubt the worst "ramen" experience I've had in my life. I have no idea how this place accumulated a four star average. As other reviews have noted, the soup was far too thin and flavorless. The meat was overcooked, and had the consistency of rubber. Our server was covered in sweat the entire meal - I fear that some of her sweat had dripped into our bowls and contributed to the overly salty taste. In any event, save yourself the $9 and just go grab some Top Ramen from Safeway.
(1)Garrett F.
Shoki II Ramen House serves standard, but tasty ramen that will definitely hit the spot on a cold, rainy day. Food: I had the regular spicy Tan Tan Men with regular noodles, and ordered the regular sized portion, which was just enough to fill me up. The noodles were cooked perfectly and the broth came steaming hot. The food overall was good, but the noodle texture, broth flavor, and overall value did not meet the standard when compared to the ramen offerings in Los Angeles. Side Notes Ambiance: The restaurant has a warm, home feel. It's a small place and can get crowded. Service: The waiters were friendly and helpful when asked about the menu. Overall: Considering the lack of options for ramen in Sacramento, I say give this place a try. The ramen is good, but don't believe all of the hype that it gets.
(3)Sambo C.
I'm definitely not a Shoki's fan but my boyfriend loves this place. I pretty much tried all the ramen (nonvegetarian) on the menu because every bowl that I've tried left me unsatisfied. From the tan tan men to the curry ramen, shio ramen, shoyu ramen, and soymilk ramen, all of them never quite satisfied my taste buds. I even started eating the rice bowls but even that wasn't that good. Overall, I say this place is okay. I figure that my taste is different than others and that's why Shoki's isn't for me. I would of course come here again because my friends love this place but there isn't much for me to look forward to. I know it's a ramen place but I just wish they had a bigger selection of other nonramen food.
(3)Sakurako K.
I love Shoki Ramen and am definitely a loyal customer but don't come here if you are expecting Japanese fast-food style ramen. Shoki Ramen specializes in healthy ramens and although the broths and noodles are flavorful, it is not like the hearty meat-based broth you would normally get in Japan. I love that this is a healthier option, and the chashu and tamago are super tasty here but sometimes I crave the more "unhealthy" aspect of ramen! Overall this place is great. Nice food, the salads are big enough to share with 2-3 people, the sake is decent (and decently priced) and ramen of course is a big plus. The waiters here are always extremely polite, fast, and friendly. The seating can be cramped depending on where you are but can't complain since the whole building is not large. Everything is decently priced and delicious! Definitely the best ramen stop in Sacramento.
(4)Lori N.
While I don't deny that the food is delicious & hits the spot on a rainy evening, I just think their operation can be run a little better. We ordered a few things only to be told that they were out. Ok, that can happen at a busy little restaurant such as this, with the foot traffic being so high, but I wish that the waiters would be able to tell us when we order rather than coming back 30 mins later empty handed with a frown. You also have to give them a credit card or ID to get the key to the bathroom, which is a little extreme, but understandable I guess. And like all good restaurants, there always seems to be line. Luckily, their ramen is their redeeming quality. Perfectly cooked noodles in savory, salty broth, they sure know how to do ramen right. I just wish all the additional items didn't cost $1.50 extra. I mean, that's a little pricey for an egg or a tablespoon of corn kernels, no? I ordered a small bowl of Shoyu ramen ($6.95 I think) with a beef curry don bowl set (+$2.50 for a tiny bowl). After that, I couldn't really get myself to pay for any additional items, but what I did have was tasty.
(3)Pat B.
Place was packed in Sunday at 12:40pm...that's a really good thing. The waitstaff was extremely friendly and some of them spoke Japanese fluently. I've lived 10 years in japan. I'm excited about this shop because it looks and feels like I'm back in japan. Hope the flavor matches. Ramen just arrived, more later... My tan-tan ramen was the bomb! It was authentic. This shop makes everything right down to their noodles homemade. It was so good, so much so that even though my wife and I are lunch here, we got takeout for dinner too. It was that good. This is a legit ramen shop. If you're looking a great ramen shop, without American influence, this is it. The only negative thing is the bathroom situation. Want to use the bathroom and it is outside and they want something in collateral to give u the key to the restroom.
(5)Jocelyn A.
This establishment doesn't deserve a star at all. It was a disappointment, an embarrassment and a total disaster. At first the staff said 30 minutes for waiting time but we were waiting for over 2 hours OUTSIDE in the freezing cold (they said the gas in their heater ran out..."idiots!") so we figured if we would just order "to go" it would be a little faster. But guess what...another hour of waiting and still nothing's happened. Then the waiter got a table for us finally and we were just so glad to be inside where it's warmer. This manager approached us and told us to leave because he said we were taken out of the waiting list when we ordered "to go". That was rude and very unprofessional that he had to do that. WOW! After 3 hours of waiting in the cold, just to be told that somebody else has taken the vacant table. I don't know about you but... never again am I going to set foot in that hell of a place they call restaurant. And I'm telling my friends about this too.
(1)Nancy H.
I came here yesterday for my boyfriend and I's 7 month anniversary and it was delicious!!! I tried the tan tan ramen a few months back and loved it, but I wanted to try something new this time. I went with the curry ramen. The curry ramen was very delicious! My boyfriend enjoyed it very much. He even licked his bowl! I would recommend this place to anyone who is craving good quality ramen.
(5)Carina H.
Some pretty darn good ramen for Sacramento. It's a tiny littie place so be prepared to be sitting elbow to elbow with everyone but worth it for the delicousness. Perfect for a rainy cold day!
(5)Jeanice S.
This is the only location I've been to and it's usually packed or getting packed. The space is small and it's uncomfortable, but I have to say I'll give up my space just to eat a bowl of ramen. Food: I love the tan tan men, it's a spicy ramen broth that looks reddish/hot orange. There's three sizes, but I always get the regular because the small wasn't enough for me before. I usually order the extra spicy because it seems just the right spiciness... I can tell you the super spicy was TOO spicy for me. I love the spinach and the noodles. I've added in the pork meat (chashu) before for an extra $2, worthhhhh it! Just mix in the meat with the broth and after a while it's so good. There a different broth that is not spicy at all, but I haven't tried that yet. I've only seen some of the other customers order it. Oh yeah, their small bowl of rice the shredded pork is so good! :) Price: It's almost $20 when I usually go with another person but it all depends on what you would want to put into your ramen. Anything extra will be extra $ of course. Service: The waiters and waitresses are always nice. They're very attentive but it does get really busy sometimes so you'll have to flag them down when you need a refill or want to order something else. They'll clarify any questions you may have. Location: It's not near anything that you would want to walk, but there's lots of parking spots that have a time limit since it's in downtown. Everyone should definitely give it a try!
(5)Lynn H.
I have never really understood the desire for gourmet ramen... But a couple of bowls of good ramen later, I get it. I fully understand that this is not the kind of stuff I can whip up in my own kitchen... Haha. I can, but not with those fresh noodles. This place seems just as small and cramped to me as the other Shoki, though I am fairly certain it's supposed to be larger. I know there are some people who really can't stand having their space invaded like that, but I don't mind on account I am not a big person and don't take up that much space to begin with! Haha. Anywho. I got the soy milk ramen. My buddy told me it was pretty good and I am sure glad I got it! It was delicious. I like it kinda spicy so I kept sprinkling the red pepper flakes that they have in condiment jars on the table. So good on a cold day, or even a warm one! Overall, I would say this place is pretty cool for yummy noodles. Sometimes there's a line so be prepared for that! It was good hanging out with an old friend and sitting out on the patio waiting for on table to be ready. Good times.
(4)Charla A.
Nommy Mommy! (this is what I would call my blog, if I were a housewife). I give this place 5 freaking stars. I will never eat instant noodle again - not only because I've finally graduated college, but because I've moved on to bigger and better thangs! Customer Service: Very nice! Something to work on though: filling up our water cups more often. It's frustrating looking for ways to steal your friends' waters around the table. Hard to be sneaky these days. Atmosphere: Very quaint, and cute. It's a smaller restaurant, which is why I can see it can get packed on a busy day. Be sure to wear a jacket or cardigan when you come here. Their air conditioning is set to "frostbite". Food: Best ramen I've ever tasted thus far. I had the tan tan men with extra chasu (regular size). If you're a girl with a big appetite, I would even say the small is enough!! There's a lot of soup and noodles, and the extra chasu wasn't even needed for me (I ended up dumping mine into my boyfriend's bowl). Their soup tastes natural, without all the added MSG and sodium. They pride themselves in being gluten-free, and a healthy alternative to typical ramen shops which is refreshing. I would have liked to try their mochi, but was way too full! 5 stars for this place. Believe the hype!
(5)Rob R.
Ramen + broth + long wait = it must be good?? Great location. It's great to see a small, local place filled up. I didn't care for the pork, but the ground beef one was pretty tasty. Sorry for the non-technical names; their menu is offline. Like other reviewers have mentioned, they were out of dessert. With the Ramen House opened at 19th and S, I probably won't be back any time soon.
(2)Sarah N.
I have two visits under my belt and can't wait to go back! My boyfriend and I both consider this a treat that's worth the 20 minute drive. First visit: I got shoyu ramen (not spicy at all) but enjoyed the salty flavor that didn't make me thirsty (no msg). Boyfriend got tan tan men (spicy) and it tasted super intense compared to mine. If you are new to ramen houses or don't like spicy food I would go with the shoyu. Second visit: I got the tan tan men (spicy) and will probably get that every time now. Hard to describe the flavor but it almost had a smoky sesame taste to it. Boyfriend got one that I can't recall the name of but the noodles are served cold on a plate over ice (helps them from sticking together) and the broth is on its own in the bowl. Dipping the cold noodles in the broth made the flavor of the homemade noodles stand out and I would recommend trying this one too. Service was amazing during both of our visits. The only thing I would change is to make the restaurant bigger, but I still shout five stars because this didn't negatively affect our experience.
(5)Demian R.
I lived in Japan for a couple of years. Since returning stateside, I've been on the lookout for a good ramen place. A friend of mine suggested I go to Shoki. I haven't decided how to deal with the "friend" yet. The first issue, was there was no miso based ramen. What kind of a Ramen-ya doesn't have miso? The second issue was the hot tea. It was so weak, we checked the pot to make sure they had put a tea bag in it. There was a bag floating there, but no flavor or color was coming out of it. I'm wondering if they reuse the bags? Even towards the end of the meal, there was barely a tint to the water and still no flavor. The third issue, was the screw up on the order. I ordered the shoyu ramen with tamago (egg) added. Paying extra for egg which is pretty standard on ramen can be issue 3.5 I guess. The waitress repeated the order back to me, and it was correct. When my order finally came it was shoyu ramen with corn. When I mentioned I had asked for egg and not corn, the waitress seemed very confused and left. She came back with the same bowl and said there wouldn't be a charge for the corn. I said, "I should hope not when I don't want the corn, I asked for egg." She said she would get an egg for me and that the corn would still be free. I explained a second tiem that I didn't want corn in my ramen and that corn in ramen was just plain weird. She took the bowl away and a minute or so later a waiter brought me a hard boiled egg (was more soft boiled) in a small bowl. About five minutes later, the waitress returned with a bowl of ramen sans corn. I was pleased at first that they were able to replace the ramen so quickly, then I found the pieces of corn that they had missed. When I mentioned it later, the waitress aid, "Sorry, they tried to scoop the corn out the best they could." Had they got the order right, it still would have been the worst ramen I'd ever had, and that's including instant top ramen. It wasn't very hot and there was no flavor. If you're a down town hipster who wants to feel cool while you eat your organic bowl of flavorless noodles, this is the place for you. If you want a good bowl of ramen, look elsewhere.
(1)Helen H.
I ordered the small Tan Tan Men- not enough. I was fishing into my broth hoping to find more noodles, which is the best part. I should've stuck with the medium. I ordered it extra spicy, but it was not spicy at all. I compared the picture I took of this Tan Tan Men and the one I ordered before at the old Shoki Ramen House. Sure enough, the broth wasn't even red this time. The broth was a bit salty to me too, but I still drank most of it. Overall, I didn't enjoy my meal as much as I thought I would've. Service- Ok. It took a while for the food to come out. Even though the place is bigger I feel as if they don't utilize the space. I had to stand and wait outside for about 15 min. even though there were empty tables. They didn't open up the patio seating either.
(3)Ally C.
I ordered the small soy broth ramen. The portions were all wrong, too much noodles to soup ratio! It lacked toppings, presentation and freshness. The broth and noodles seemed to be luke warm and lacking in flavor! The soup became very chunky at the end. I would not get this again.
(2)Jenann P.
After going here 6-7 times I feel that I can finally write a review. The first couple times I was here I thought it was delicious but for some reason, the quality has gone down (maybe because the place is getting more popular?). Anyways, I always get the #3 Tan Tan Ramen in a regular spicy with an extra tamago ( 1/2 cooked, half raw egg) with extra chashu. The first couple times I had it, it was perfect but recently, my experiences weren't as good: - I've had it where the egg was completely cooked so it was hard-boiled instead of soft-boiled -Another time the egg was freezing cold inside like they cooked it a while ago and refrigerated it until customers came in -On top of that, for some reason the soup/broth never seems to be hot anymore? -Also, its a big downside that you have to pay $1 for each add-in. Most places in the bay area include the egg, meat etc To sum up, this is a good place if you're desperate for ramen since its the only decent place in Sacramento. The people are super nice but If you want better ramen and are from the bay area, I would suggest Santouka Ramen or Orenchi Ramen (my favorite because you don't have to pay extra for meat and eggs!) in San Jose
(3)Peng S.
it was good, but it's like the BMW of ramen, everything is option and nothing comes included standard.
(4)Darren S.
Chashu salad & chashu don is my favorite.... Love this place since they were opened the first one on 2007... Family owned restaurant and friendly service... However, my sister is a ramen lover,,, but she doesn't like the ramen here at all...... ....... It would be 5 stars if she enjoys it.
(4)Dianna P.
The ramen is freshly made and I can tell once I took that first bite. I always get the Tan Tan Men with medium spiciness. The tan tan men soup made a mixture of different soup they make. There are 3 different bowl size: small, regular, large Always add the extra sides into the ramen because it will make your ramen experience even better. The tamago is a half-boiled egg which leaves the yolk nice and gooey in the center. Their char siu is tender slow-cook pork slices which I highly recommended. It's different from the Chinese char siu. Their soup does not contain any MSG at all, so you will not get thirsty. This is the best ramen I have ever had in California. Their service is absolutely super. There's always a wait at least 30 min or more. I only choose this location than their 1st location because there's more seating than their 1st location. They started to do ramen to-go now, but they do warn that it will not taste the same as dining there.
(5)Susan P.
I must say I have yet to try a bomb ass ramen place! Every ramen place I've been to I've been quite disappointed. I was hoping this place would be an exception. I had the tan tan men extra spicy with big fat noodles and it was NOT spicy at all. I should've been daring and ordered it super spicy. My ramen came out warm, which really bothered me. I like my soup to be extra hot! I'm willing to give it a second try, but next time I'm ordering it super spicy and I'm going to make sure the soup is extra hot :)
(3)Kelli S.
Good food, small menu, well executed.
(4)H C.
*sigh* Where should I start? Positive: 1. outside seating with heat lamps 2. different size bowls - small, regular and large 3. different types of noodles - organic wheat noodles, thin and thick noodles 4. add your own fresh garlic and hot sauce on your table 5. organic egg, organic spinach and no antibiotic (grass fed) beef Negative: 1. small parking lot 2. small restaurant, tables were cramped (not a good place if you don't like sitting close to your neighbors 3. costly once you add stuff like "egg", etc... 4. restroom is located outside? You have to leave them something to borrow the key? 5. soup was luke warm After hearing such positive reviews... I had HIGH expectations of this place. I started with the Tsu ken ramen... the broth was warm, noodles were chewy but clumped together. Only one piece of chasu?! for almost $9, I expect at least two or three. The broth was average. I also added the egg. It was okay. Almost well done and not soft in the inside. I ordered a regular size and I was still hungry. Skimpy noodles and "organic baby spinach". So I ordered a bowl of tan tan ramen, because I wanted to taste the broth. It came out luke warm, small scoop of beef-disappointing. I'm not sure what taste it was supposed to be. It was very plain. All in all, I think I paid more than I should have... and the food was just average. I will not be going back.
(3)Lane B.
I ordered the Shio ramen with shiitake mushrooms as take-out. It was delicious, and I look forward to being able to eat Shoki's ramen in-house. My ramen came with bamboo shoots, nori, a slice of pork, and fresh baby spinach. All of the toppings were really good, especially the mushrooms and bamboo shoots. The broth was also amazing, perfectly light and salted.
(4)Emily K.
In the past, I've not been the biggest fan of ramen...but Shoki has changed me! Their Shoyu broth is to die for, has a wonderful flavor without being too salty. I especially love the bamboo shoots and mushrooms (additional cost). The mini Chasu Don (pork over rice) is delicious too and adds some extra depth to your meal if you want something a little heartier to fill you up and a different flavor than the ramen dishes. You technically can't sit outside, but my girlfriend, her dog and I ordered to-go, waited at the tables outside and our food was brought out in 10 minutes piping hot. The server even brought me my Coke with ice and a glass cup so I think they are lenient on the "we don't serve outside" thing. If you've never had an Japanese food besides sushi, please, please, please give Shoki Ramen House a try, you won't be disappointed!
(5)Hami K.
My family and I love this place Saho and Kathy always make us feel at home. The food is great and they always listen to their customers suggestions. I've lived in Japan, and I know that the quality of their (Shoki) ramen surpasses everyones here in Nor Cal. It's all quality. I love the heathy choices too. Also if your lucky try the strawberry mochi, they only make a few on the weekends :)u
(5)Kathy Y.
I'm not the type of person to go out and actually order a bowl of ramen, so with all the hype about Shoki's I decided to give it a try. It was my first time here (actually, first time ever ordering ramen) and it was just alright. The parking lot is tiny, so depending on how busy they are you might have to find street parking ... not to mention the road construction which made it kind of confusing to actually find this place. My party of 8+ had to wait about 20 to 30 minutes, and what bugged me was that when I asked to add on two more people, the worker told me I had to write down their names and they had to wait their turn (I don't know why she couldn't just add two more people to my party when in the end she ended up moving the two people sitting next to us to accommodate our entire party sitting together....). The good thing though was that we all got separate checks. The workers here are super fast (taking our orders, filling our water, bringing out our orders). It was nice that they gave me additional warning about the "spicyness" of the ramen, but I ended up adding more pepper paste into my ramen (I love spicy food). I ordered the Tan Tan Men, regular size, and extra spicy. I think there could have been more toppings (but I'm not sure if you have to order that on the side or whatever ... no one told me). Nothing really "wowed" me here .. I'd much rather eat a nice bowl of pho or kapoon instead, just saying.
(3)Michelle L.
I just found out about the stamp card if you pay cash. I usually get the tan-tan men (small) with tamago because I'm a fan of the beef, but on occasion try their Danish chashu (from Denmark!) or soymillk ramen. Sometimes when I order, the bowl comes all assembled and sometimes the bowl comes with the tamago, nori, etc. on a small plate to the side, which I find weird. There isn't usually too much of a wait, and now that weather's getting colder I may find myself here more often. They now have iPads for taking orders. Choose for yourself the single, double, or triple broth!
(3)Samantha L.
I just finally visited Shoki II for the first time. Like the original, the place still has that delicious ramen broth smell when you walk in. The place is much more spacious, though. I came on a weekday evening and there was no wait at all. The place was about 1/2 full for dinner. Service is friendly and casual. We had our orders taken pretty quickly and the food came out pretty quickly. As for the taste, I think the food taste good, but it didn't wow me. I had the shio ramen and added the curry over rice. Both were good, and that's about it. The portion size is fair for the price too. A medium is plenty for most eaters, I believe. Notes: -Parking is pretty easy in the evening.
(3)Nick M.
I go to Shoki at least once per week. It's that good. I never thought I'd find a good Ramen place in Sacramento. After reading about it in the paper and hearing about it from friends, I decided to go in and give it a shot. I was not disappointed at all! The waiters were helpful and attentive, the food was delicious (the kuragoma extra spicy is the way go), and the prices are reasonable. I've had to take a few people I know here to convince them that there is a level of quality way above that of packaged ramen! I look forward to taking many more people here too.
(5)Tracy A.
Shoki used to be my go to...and they still hold their own in their Tan Tan men. I have gone through the gamet of their ramens and now it is becoming hit and miss more offten than not. Don't get me wrong, I will never turn an opportunity down to go for a quick ramen fix with the girlfriends and family, but something is lacking with them. Perhaps the competition is getting to them with the other ramen places popping up. This last visit, I decided to give it a go with their curry ramen again. BIG MISTAKE! I am spoiled with the thick and rich curry flavor at Ramen and Rice apparently. Their curry ramen is amazing...Shoki's, meh. :( My small order of curry ramen at Shoki's last night (4/30) was bland. The shoyu broth is what stood out and not the curry. Lacked in flavor and smell. C'mon , we do eat with our eyes too. The scoop of curry at the bottom of the bowl had perhaps a few small pieces of potato and the broth was the same appearance as the shoyu based broth. It took adding the garlic and chili seasoning at the table along with some sesame oil to make it flavorful. Perhaps next time I will have to order a side of curry and add it to the bowl. As a side note, they have changed their payment system since I went there in May / June of last year and had the double charge/ paid for someone else's meal debacle....and no more IPad ordering and payment system. That is a huge plus and why I kept it at a 3 star.
(3)Jess C.
Not going back, they told us 30 min wait but after 1:30 hours waiting outside in cold weather decided to leave. There were about more than a dozen names ahead of us that were called but never showed up as they also left. Not coming back.
(1)Ron S.
Have to get the tan tan super spicy. We try and go here at least once a week. Wish there was one closer to Vacaville so I could go everyday
(5)Dung N.
I don't get it. I've tried the ramen at both locations and still was not impressed. On my most recent attempt, I had the Tan Tan Men and it was bland. The only thing I did like was the minced beef, but it was not enough to compensate for the flavor-less broth. I tried adding the minced garlic and onions and whatever else was on the darn table but it didn't help. Our table of four did not even finish our bowls.
(2)Erica Michelle H.
Lunchtime Dine-In For One: I Felt like some comfort & spice to help kick this stupid cold thats been lingering so what better than a ramen house. Wowzers!!! the Tan Tan Men Extra Spicy is Crazy Yum Yum Yum! The noodles are cooked to perfection...not too hard and not too soft...the flavors and the smells were amazing and the spice was exactly how I like it. Only thing is, I must of dripped on myself because...I smell like a noodle house...teehee. Service: The hostess greeted me with a warm smile and It only took about 7 minutes to get a table and then after ordering it only took about 10 minutes to receive my food. I also really appreciate that they ask you if you have any food allergies. Ambiance: Small, casual, and cozy. Since everyone is sitting right next (!) to one another....seriously.... right.next.to .eachother, it felt like I was lunching with a friend ....that's how close my neighbor was to me! Fortunately for me, I didn't mind that at all, I kinda dig it. However; if you are claustrophobic or have serious boundary issues...you may want to take it to go.
(4)Sunny L.
S2RH is an awesome place. I have had Ramen from all over the area; however, Shoki hits my tongue's palette for Ramen! I normally go for the Shoryu or the soy Ramen. I don't have a liken for the tan-tan-men. (10/10) Shoryu is the basic flavor of Ramen broth. its easy and isn't complex. (2/10) Tan-tan-men is spicy (not to me) and weirded me out with weird flavors. (8/10) Soy for me is good and sometimes awsome. But sometimes, its the wrong day for it. Hit or miss. Mostly hit. Complex flavors of soy milk and broth. Use the sesame oil for an extra hit. Overall, this place is great. I definitely recommend it. Pros: Best Ramen in Sac! Cons: Wait times Stars: 4.5
(5)Pauline D.
Soy milk ramen -- sounds strange, tastes delicious! Savory broth with a delicate soy bean flavor, a must for fresh tofu fans. There's no option to get it spicy, which is understandable given the lightness of the broth. However, as your taste buds get blasé, you can squeeze in some sesame oil, or swirl a bit of garlic paste and/or spicy paste (both standard condiments on tables) into your bowl. Suddenly, a whole new experience! It was my first foray into the fresh ramen world, so I have no basis for comparison (unless you count Cup Noodles, in which case, this is infinitely better!). It's kinda neat that they have options for wheat or regular noodles, and 3 levels of spiciness and saltiness. Whatever you end up getting, make sure you get the EGG!! So good. I think I'll get 2 next time! It's cooked so perfectly (halfway so it's still gooey), and soaked in soy sauce so the whites have a nice umami flavor.
(4)Joey L.
Tan tan noodles with extra spicy. Yummy!! Get regular if you are not that hungry. Otherwise, I will always try to go with large.
(5)Trish D.
The ramen was pretty tasty and I loved that they offer gluten-free options. On the downside, the atmosphere was kind of ruined by the constant ringing of an alarm (which I can only guess is their noodle timer) that reminded me too much of the dreaded alarm that wakes me up for school every morning. In addition, they make you give them your phone as collateral to get the bathroom key. It left an overall bad impression. If it wasn't for the poor ambience, we'd probably go back.
(3)Jaclyn A.
Great soup for the soul and incredible customer service! It was my first time at a ramen house. The menu was a bit confusing at first but they were patient and extremely helpful with our questions. I ordered the tan tan men (medium spicy), the broth was very good but wasn't spicy at all. I should've kicked it up a notch and ordered it spicy with thin noodles and a boiled egg (additional $1.50 for extras). All the sides it did come with was good (yummm bamboo shoots and seaweed). The person that took our order was super helpful and it's a first that I've heard anyone ask if you have any food allergies (just in case). The waitress was very accomodating as well and checked on us throughout the entire time, water refill every 15 mins! It's a small restaurant but they do have outdoor seating.
(4)Michelle W.
We used to come here very often when my bf lived in Davis and I didn't really appreciate it until we were passing Sac on our way back from Tahoe and decided to stop by again. The last time I'd had Shoki was about a year ago and they didn't have soft boiled eggs at the time, which were a great addition to my meal this time around. My normal order: extra spicy tan tan men with wheat noodles and egg 3stars for their ramen: I think it's great that they dont have MSG in their soup, it's much healthier for you, but in terms of taste, it does take away that extra flavor boost that broth with msg has Softboiled Egg: not as gooey as orenchi, but still good Wheat noodles: +!!! Love this option, the noodles taste just as good as regular noodles, same texture and everything, just healthier Service: fantastic.
(4)Siao W.
I'll admit, I came to this place per recommendations of Mr. "Ramen Dreams" himself. Top 5 in the nation is a bold claim, but I tried to not let that influence me. Overall, I was extremely disappointed. Others tried to warn me about the quality of noodles, but I had to try it for myself. The texture of the noodles are very chewy. Even when ordered with a harder texture. It really does remind me of a packet of instant noodle. What made this place so disappointing is that the broth is so delicious. If they would use better quality noodles, this would be an amazing bowl. The three types of broth was flavorful w/ just enough heat. It was enough heat to make me sweat without taking away flavor from the other ingredients. Its interesting that the workers wear shirts that refer to serving up a dream. I wonder if thats in reference to their ringing endorsement. I also noticed that the price for a bowl is now 1 dollar higher than previously found on yelp. Is that also secondary to the endorsement? Definitely not top 5 in the nation, but an average bowl with a lot of potential. I did leave the bowl completely empty.
(3)Selene L.
Yuuum! That's probably all I need to say. Chewy noodles, tasty broth, innovative flavors. I've been to my share of good ramen places in the Bay Area, and this is definitely the best I've had in Sacramento. I decided to try the black sesame ramen, and it did not disappoint. Yeah, the broth comes out dark and filled with black sesame. I am looking forward to going back! Caution, it's a small place and you'll likely end up waiting outside for your table. There is outdoor seating with heat lamps though.
(4)Shirley W.
New menu, new technology and nite they want to be paid before the food comes! They are taking orders with an iPad and can't hear too well because they are too busy punching in the order. They are very strategic in the way things are handled...no deviation allowed! The noodles are consistently good, not so much the service. You may frequent the place often and think you are a regular, but they NEVER make you feel like a regular. The only one who did was Danny, who no longer works there.
(2)Kelly P.
I've been to the original Shoki, and at first bite, i did not like it very much due to the fact that first bite didn't have much. What i mean by that is if you want alot, you've got to pay. I'm all about most bang for my buck kinda girl and for what i could afford was some pork and an egg in my tan tan men soup. I'm used to having all that and more in ramen and this place just does not deliver in that department. It's very plain and the soup is okay. It will have to do for the local ramen place we have here. Their egg is cooked in a soy based sauce, if not soy sauce. It would be nice if they can slice the egg because ramen tastes so much better when you get the yolk all mixed in with the soup. Their mega star at this place would have to be the house made ramen. I love that it's so soft and chewy, how i feel ramen should be like and not out of a bag. I wish they would give you more variety and not charge you for veggie items that cheap anyways! I really like this second location because it's in downtown. It doesn't feel as cramped as location #1 and seems to be able to accommodate more people. Overall, if you're craving for some ramen, this is the place to go for authentic ramen but it's very plain unless you want to pay more.
(3)Pon K.
I'm not much of a ramen fan but dayum this place knows how to make their ramen right! Been here 4 times in the last 2 weeks. I think I'm addicted. Guess I'm a ramen fan now. All 4x I've ordered the Tan Tan Men. 1st and 2nd time I ordered it Super Spicy (highest spicy level). Yes I am crazy like that! I always like to try their spiciest dish. I was able to finish the noodles but had a lot of broth left. It was spicy! Why did I order it super spicy the 2nd time? Well..........I love spicy food and thought I was being a wuss that I couldn't handle the super spicy broth. Again, I finish all the noodles but not the broth :(. 3rd and 4th time I brought it down a notch and ordered it less spicy which is the Extra Spicy level. It's still spicy but not as crazy as the super spicy. Pros: Super friendly staff and the food comes out QUICK. It makes up for the wait time...which can be anywhere 15-30 mins. Cons: Small space but very open. Long ass wait. But I have noticed that the 2-tops get seated pretty quick since most of the tables are for 2.
(5)Cammie W.
My boyfriend really likes Shoki so we come here pretty often (for someone living in Davis). I tend to always get their Shoyu Ramen but I have to get it less salty with the noodles more cooked. I still find that it's a bit too salty and the noodles are just slightly less cooked than I preferred but it's still pretty yummy. My boyfriend just gets the regular level of saltiness and cooked-ness for his order and he thinks it's just fine. The first time I came to this location, I made the mistake of ordering the sea salt broth (which I've ordered before at their original location). By the end of the meal, I was dying from how salty the broth was. Either I got an extra salty bowl or I may just be more sensitive to salt because other people eat it just fine. The ramen comes with a slice of meat which they call "cha-siu". It is different from the Chinese type cha-siu but it is still pretty good. It seems a bit expensive to get an extra slice (or slices), though. They still seem a bit small for how popular they are but the wait has never been too bad for us. All the servers here have been really nice and really patient with orders. They also greet you whenever you enter or exit. The wait for the food is decent, usually about 10-15 minutes for us.
(4)Jacobo G.
Absolutely AMA-ZA-ZING!! (I had to add an extra syllable because there aren't enough of them in that word to do this place justice.) Must eat here!
(5)Paul P.
This place is so amazing!!! Me and my gf always get tan tan men and its the best ramen i ever had
(5)Heidi C.
Best ramen in sacramento in my opinion. All the broths are delicious and the ingredients are fresh. They have a nice selection of sake and japanese beers as well. The staff is quick and very informative, the can answer any question in the world about their food which is awesome. So many options!!! Sometimes they have long waits on the weekends, so if you are going in a large group I suggest you call first. Its not too bad for 2 people though.
(5)Raul I.
Just enjoyed the kurogama tantan. Super yummy and very filling. I especially enjoyed the fact that I was eating something healthy and completely from scratch. I'm glad we found this place. Will def be coming back next trip up to Sacramento.
(5)Michelle A.
Mmmm....the ramen is delicious! The soup is so tasty! I just wish they had bigger portions! If i could...I would order two at once! But i dont want to seem like a pig. Haha! This new Shoki offers more seating which is great! You wont feel as guilty when you're sitting at your table enjoying your company.
(4)Matt A.
This is the usual spot for me and anyone whenever we're in downtown. I love their ramen, though it always leaves me wanting more/ hungry in a few hours; however, their portions are actually good. Their ideals about health consciousness are pretty satisfying as well, though they took naruto off the menu because it isn't "natural." Made my gf weep a little in her seat, lol. But I love that they don't use MSG or other things like that. Overall, their customer service is cool, their staff is great, though they don't really remember their regulars (though there is this short, asian girl with glasses who's pretty cool.) Great atmosphere, great service, great food. What more is there to ask of a restaurant?
(4)Vicky Q.
I've been here a handful of times and somewhere I am less impressed each time. When I first came here, I really liked it, ramen noodle was good, tasty broth. But recently it has tasted kinda bland. I've tried all broths except curry which I plan to try next. I think tan tan main is my favorite tho. Their curry donburi is also really good. I usually order my ramen with egg and one other thing like bamboo or mushrooms. I also like the whole what ramen option. Sizes are disappointing. Small is a bit small and the big one is too much. They don't have a happy medium. Service is usually good but can be slow at times. I hope I will be impressed again.
(4)Cindy S.
After seeing many of our friends often checking-in here and hearing so many good reviews my boyfriend and I decided to try this place with a couple of friends. The verdict: this is is GREAT! We left warm, happy and satisfied. The menu is short and simple but actually offers more than it may seem. There are 5 broths to choose from, several extra toppings and even vegetarian and gluten free options. Basically you pick a broth and check out whats already included then add any extras you like for an additional price. I ordered the regular size Shoyu Ramen and added an egg and chashu donburi (available on the whiteboard for an additional $2.50). I really enjoyed the chashu donburi. I opted for the white rice topped with shredded pork, seaweed and green onions. For a small bowl of rice it had a lot of flavor and teased my tongue and tummy as I waited for my bowl of ramen. The Shoyu broth had good flavor and wasn't too salty. I liked the noodles and everything else in the bowl seem to add its unique flavor to the broth making it even better. Who know Ramen could "doctored up" to something so much more than it is? Now I finally understand the recent Ramen craze and found my new hangover... I mean place to go when I want a warm bowl of soup on a cold day spot.
(4)Christina L.
This place has a LINE out the door and so many people waiting. It was definitely worth the wait after a long day of skiing, it was the perfect meal! We beat the crowd just as we were pulling into their driveway. I jumped out of the car before it was parked to put our name on the list, even though it didn't look crowded. Sure enough, 5 minutes later their porch was filled of people. The wait time was decently long, and it's because the place isn't THAT big. The best part is that this place is located near Mochii, a SUPER CUTE, super delicious yogurt place! Take your girl on a cute date from one to the other! As for the BROTH -- I know many people judge a place based on the broth... I thought it was only okay. Orenchi Ramen in Santa Clara still comes to the top of my list, but this place is a decent. Their menu advises you to add oil to give the soup a different flavor half way through the meal. I thought that was a good idea.
(4)Hev Z.
My girlfriend said this place was really popular and very good, basically she hyped it all up so I expecting something great. I never been to a ramen place before so this was my first time. I ordered a big bowl and added extra noodle for a few bucks. I was expecting something amazing.. until my food came out. It took a little bit, but maybe because I was super hungry. I couldn't believe my eyes, I literally had 1 piece of meat. I was so disappointed. I love meat, and all I got was a small slice. Are you kidding me?! And it's pretty expensive to add more. It's just pork, I can get that in chinatown for cheap! -_- But I guess the noodle and soup were okay. One interesting thing was reading about there soup and stuff on the wall. Supposely there's no MSG and everything is made from scratch? Pretty cool. Add more meat I say. Definitely won't be coming back here.. and it's super small.
(2)Helen W.
First time at this location. It was much roomier than the other Shoki and we were seated rather quickly around dinner on a Wednesday. The waitstaff was friendly and on top of the refills of our waters. Though we beat the dinner rush there was still a little bit of a wait to get our food, about 20 minutes. No biggie since we weren't in a hurry but I'd say don't come here if you are in a rush. I ordered the soy milk ramen. There was a background smokiness to the broth that I liked. Not sure if it's the norm but it adds a nice earthiness to an already smooth broth. The noodles were wonderfully chewy, firm and all I'd expect from fresh ramen. The only unexpected thing was that the topping came in a separate plate. It's all good because not only do you control what you put in, you can get some of your friend's topping if they don't want it. You also get to play with the plating if you're a foodie like me! =P They may ask you if you want to pay your bill before the food arrives, which happened to us. In any other place I might take this the wrong way, but considering the reputation and long lines known to this place it's understandable. I just consider it unexpected cafeteria style. Either way, I still recommend Shoki to hit the spot if you want good ramen!
(4)Catherine R.
Japanese comfort food At its best. A true and authentic Noodle House. Had the gluten-free option -- the Yam noodle and it was delicious. Am Completely in love with their house made garlic condiment. And their broth is exquisitely satisfying. Had a special red bean ice cream for dessert that was out of this world. Nice decor, casual and friendly atmosphere.
(4)Lucy C.
I've heard a lot about this place from various friends, all giving pretty positive reviews. So I decided to finally try it out today as one of my "Things to eat before I graduate" checklist items. I got the regular sized Tan Tan Mian, regular spicy, and added egg and fishcake to mine. My friend got the same thing, but also added shiitake mushrooms to his. The broth was nice and savory, and the thing I liked most was how it wasn't too oily, so drinking the broth by itself didn't make me feel queasy from the oiliness like some ramen places do. Noodles were cooked al-dente, just how I like it. Egg was good, but fish cake wasn't worth my $1.50. I tried a bite of my friend's shiitake mushrooms, and those were really good! Nice texture and flavor. To sum it up, definitely not the best ramen I've had (I'm from the Bay, which is home to many good ramen spots), but definitely good enough that I'd go again. Only big downside was the price of the add-ons, $1.50 is pretty steep for just one item. But go try it out for yourself! For the davis/sacramento area, this place is definitely worth a try to get that ramen fix on!
(4)Matt M.
Pretty authentic to what I used to get in Japan. Ramen is always a good go to lol. All the styles of ramen are terrific here, you really can't go wrong with any one in particular. I like to get the steamed cabbage w/ ponzo dressing or seaweed salad as a side. I prefer the tan tan men super spicy or curry ramen, both amazing! My wife likes the shoyu ramen. It's terrific for the soul!
(5)Karen Z.
One night when my friend was craving ramen, I remembered that another friend had recommnded Shoki Ramen House, so we decided to give it a try! I was pretty impressed all around. The restaurant itself had a welcoming comfort about it and our waiter was super helpful and showed us how the menu works. The menu can look confusing on your first time, so make sure to ask the wait staff! I can't honestly say I remember exactly what I ordered, but I believe I did try a triple soup (and the broth is the most important part!). Everything tasted like the restaurant had claimed, no msg or other preservatives, and it was tasty! The only negative thing I have to say is that the noodles could have been a little softer. They were tasty, but seemed to be just slightly undercooked. Other than that, it's a place I would recommend at least trying!
(4)Nai S.
I came to lunch with my boyfriend and his parents. I was a bit disappointed especially reading all the reviews. My boyfriend and I got the tan tan men mild. The noodles were good but it lacked meat and flavor in the broth. My boyfriends parents' order was taken down wrong so they messed up on our order. Overall it was just an okay place. I'll probably try somewhere else next time.
(3)Carlos B.
By and far my favorite ramen in the area. It's a true ramen house, with the added bonus of being a bit more healthy without the MSG. Food is quick. Things are fresh. My only issue would be the upfront payment because I'm unsure how to tip in the situation, but given past service, it'd always be a 5/5. I do wish that the strawberry daifugu was available more often. I just noticed there's a location in Kobe. I wonder if they'll honor my stamp card. I'll check next time.
(5)Ruhjeenuh Z.
Best. Ramen. EVER. I've tried a couple of Ramen places in the past. I never ever thought that it was worth PAYING more than $1 for RAMEN. I mean I could just get some regular ramen noodles from Safeway or something, RIGHT? WRONNGG!! Shoki Ramen House is by far THE BEST RAMEN I've EVERRR HAD! I crave for it a lot! This is my TO-GO spot to eat in Sacramento. I always order the Soy Milk Ramen with whole wheat noodles, cooked a bit longer. And a side of bamboo shoots & shiitake mushrooms (and sometimes some extra ramen). (FYI, the sides are usually an extra $1 each!). You also get a stamp card for every bowl of ramen you order (if you pay in cash*) It's buy 12 and the 13th is free! (And oh lord, my friends and I have filled that card up numbers of times!) OH! And if you buy one of their T-shirts, you get a free drink every time you wear it when you eat at the restaurant! I only wish they opened later =/ But none the less, try it out for the MAXIMUM FLAVOR, to fill your belly up and it's not that expensive either =D
(5)Terence P.
This place is awesome, I love the Tan Tan Men extra spicy here and the noodles are just the right texture. Sometimes I'm craving it when I'm not in the Sac area and forced to eat it at another ramen spot. It's always disappointing elsewhere. Service is pretty quick here. The main downside here is that the the wait is pretty long sometimes and the dining area isn't that big. Also, if there's a wait, you have to wait outside. The new menus (way way too many options) and payment options (upfront payment option is kinda weird) are also more confusing , but I'm sure that's just a first world problem.
(5)Christina G.
I have been here twice now and my feelings have not changed. Here's my analysis of this restuarant: Food: The menu alone is really complicated to the newcomer, or even the second time around as I learned. This is because you can customize the heck out of your ramen. You can customize the amount of salt or oil, the size of your noodles, and the flavor of broth. You can also choose your broth to suit a pescatarian or vegetarian diet. The soup you choose comes with noodles (obvi) and usually some kind of meat and a few vegetables. You can add extra items on to your soup for $1.50 each. I added an egg, and paying $1.50 for a single boiled egg is ridiculous, in my opinion. However, I enjoyed my shoyo (soy-sauce based) broth and overall the flavors were good. Last time I ordered the sea salt broth which was....way too salty (as the name might forewarn). Service: Service was patient as I fumbled my way through the menu, generally quick, attentive, and friendly. Atmosphere: Tables are tiny! - A little uncomfortable because of it. The overall restaurant is small and fills up fast. Atmostphere is casual. General impression: Food is decent but nothing particularly exciting. The ability to customize is unique, and may be appealing to pickier eaters or those with dietary restrictions.
(3)Catherine W.
This is a little restaurant in a cute little area just around the corner (1 mile) from our hotel. This restaurant does not serve your ordinary grocery store-bought ramen. This restaurant serves super gourmet, made-to-order ramen. Extra noodles-done! No bean sprouts-done! Extra this or that-no problem! Additionally, there are enough soup flavors to satisfy even the pickiest pallet (providing, of course that the pallet likes Japanese ramen-style noodles!) Most orders come in three sizes and has every kind of sauce you can think of - from miso, to shoyu (shio), spicy to vegetarian. They offer some with thicker noodles. They even offer gluten free! Additionally, for the more hungry, side dishes may be added such as Japanese salads, tofu and -"don" dish (shredded charsiu) over rice. A small selection of Japanese desserts may also be ordered. The restaurant is little and can get noisy, but we had a pleasant meal without feeling like we were yelling at each other. The staff is SUPER friendly and greets every patron that comes through the door heartily (don't even try to sneak into this restaurant). Take out orders are also available. They do not take reservations and this restaurant is that good, so more often than not, there is a wait for a table. If in the mood for some pretty authentic, made to order ramen that is leaps and bounds over the store bought stuff, then stop by here!
(4)David L.
I actually feel kind of bad about only giving two stars to Shoki II. Their service is awesome and everyone in there is nice. I just can't get past that they charge $8 for just the Ramen alone. And the meat they add isn't that tasty. To me it's like meat that's been sitting in a boiling pot of water for hours. At least season the beat or boil in something tasty before throwing it in the soup. If you're in the mood for Ramen I strongly suggest going to Edokko II in the Pocket area. They have more menu selections and do it right. They come for a cheaper price with quality toppings like karage, fish cake, and the traditional piece of seaweed. And for the same price as Shoki you get double the noodles. Sorry Shoki you're only three blocks away from me, but I won't be coming back anytime soon.
(2)Arbel D.
Wife's a big fan of this place. Tan Tan medium spicy with an egg. That bowl itself always hit the spot. Add a couple of spoons of garlic and basically it's heaven in a bowl. Don't bother with the side rice dishes unless you have a big appetite. Staff's pretty fast and effiecient yet there's no sense of urgency to get you out. I like their new pay system which you can pay in the beginning or at the end. Keep in mind this place get's packed really fast and it does tend to get loud when large families are eating.
(4)Ryan N.
Forget Nissin Ramen or Cup-O-Noodles, it's all about Shoki ramen house! I get the Tan Tan Man, 3 soup, extra spicy. It's the perfect amount of spice! The staff was really friendly and it's a really comfy environment despite the small size. I would recommend this place to anyone who's in need of some comforting soup. Awesome ramen!!
(5)Kenny L.
I was craving for some ramen and decided to yelp this spot when a friend mentioned about good ramen in the Sac-town area while visiting in Davis. No wait on a weekday night, ordered a Shoyu ramen, and i love soy sauce base broths from eating ramen in the past. Service here: IS AWESOME. they ALL greet you at the door when you come in and they ALL great you goodbye when you leave too. that is some AMAZING SHISHHH. i'm still kind of torn between 3 OR 4 stars. so i'm going to say 3.5 on this one. Their ramen here is great, but the broth was just alright and it just wasn't hot enough. The soup was right between warm-hot but it wasnt either. I prefer my soup on the hot side and it didnt hit the spot like Ramen Dojo did in san mateo. the pork is a bit fattier, on the chewier side rather than melt in your mouth kind of pork. Everything else though, not bad at all. I probably wont be back in Davis/ Sac area to give it a try again though, but keep up the great customer service!
(4)Lien C.
I don't understand what happen. I haven't been here for only two months and such a big change. They've change to cafe style which means you need to pay before you get your food. I think this is fine. However, the service seems to be lacking. The guy next to us, order a large but got charge for a regular and given a regular. We order something to go after our ramen. I ask for extra cha shu and the server fail to put that in our order or charge us. We had to wait a little longer for our ramen to go since they made a mistake. We have to wait longer than normal for our ramen, and it took them longer than usual to take our order. I've been here when they were super busy; we were in and out of there in a heart beat. This time its just totally different. I'm not sure what went wrong. Their Ramen isn't as good as I remember it to be also. Not as flavorful as I remember and a little bland. All I have to say is I'm very disappointed.
(2)Calvin P.
No improvement in the broth. This place does not use MSG. But wouldn't help even if they did. Broth too watered down and tasted instant soup base.
(2)Tej K.
This was my first time trying authentic Ramen and it was pretty good. I wasn't blown away, but I'm pretty sure that I'll give it another try. Based on other Yelp reviewers, I ordered the Tan Tan Men with added corn and the hard boiled egg. The egg was absolutely delicious and I'm glad that I ordered it. I ordered the broth regular spicy and wish I had ordered it extra spicy. But I fixed the solution by adding some of the extra pepper they had on the tables. The place is extremely small, but since I was dining by myself I didn't really mind. I appreciated the fact that there are 3 different bowl sizes to choose from (being my first time - I opted for the small and it was perfect for me).
(3)Matthew A.
Made my way back to Shoki II two times in the last few months and I was more pleased with my bowl of ramen than the first time. As I mentioned in my initial review, I wasn't all that impressed with the Shoyu, but my preference is generally more of a Tonkotsu (fatty and rich) broth. The last two times I went ahead and ordered the Soy Milk Ramen and enjoyed my ramen much more. The broth was a little thicker how I like it, and just had more depth in terms of the flavor compared to the Shoyu. I added just a tad bit of garlic, but it really didn't need it. I just watched a documentary where they showed Tsukemen growing in popularity in Japan. It made me crave some ramen, so I'll definitely have to try that out next time I'm here since I've never had it before.
(4)Stephanie S.
Great spot or a cold night. We called in our order for pick up and I'm glad we did. It was chilly out and the wait was about 15-20mins. We order the curry and tan tan, both of the broths were very tasty. They lacked the spiciness that we requested but were still tasty. The noodles were my favorite part! They had great flavor and were thick and soaked up the broth perfectly! The meat could use some improvement, I had slices pork and my boyfriend had the minced beef, the pork was just ok and lacked flavor but the minced beef was delicious I just wish there was more of it. We will be back to try a different flavor. Oh here's a good tip they do not do large ramen a to go. Happy eating!
(3)Diem C.
Really good ramen. I went to eat at two different ramen restaraunt the past two days and this place has to be one of the best. It was satisfying and delicious. I just don't like that its such a small restaraunt.
(4)Tiffany C.
Whoa, I'm hanging out near sac..that means I can hit up shoki's. yay! I'm a fan of the soy milk ramen, and decided to try this location since it was closer. We got there fairly early at around 6:30 and didn't have to wait long. FAIL! They ran out of the soy milk already! So instead I settled for the spicy ramen, but that's just not the same. Plus I'm already missing the perfect egg from orenchi's. Ended the meal with a strawberry mochi. Petty good, mochi was nice and soft, and there was a real strawberry inside.
(3)Carnita M.
I used to frequent their other location but after getting there a couple minutes past opening one night and seeing how full it was inside already we decided to head on over to Shoki II. The great thing about this location is that there is a parking lot and plenty of street parking out front, and it is bigger than the original location so it can accommodate more people and it isn't as cramped inside. I must say however that the ramen at Shoki II while good isn't AS good as the ramen at the original location but I can't quite seem to put my finger on it and say exactly what it is. Still, the ramen at this location is better than ramen I've had elsewhere. My go-to ramen is the small vegetarian shoyu with extra wheat noodles. Yum yum slurp slurp haha :)
(4)Carla C.
Flavorful fresh and filling! Excellent broth, loved the options. Will have to work through the entire menu, just give me time! 350 Yelpers can't be wrong!
(5)Wasabi L.
We were on our way back from Tahoe, both craving for ramen at the time. I yelped the closest one so decided to give it a try since the rating was good. There was no line but it was packed on Weekday afternoon. I ordered the spicy tan tan and my friend ordered shio ramen. I also added the beef don (beef and egg rice bowl) The rice bowl came first, the beef was overcooked and the egg was dry and tasteless. I don't even think they use Japanese rice. Taste like ordinary Rice. Finally the ramen we have been waiting for, disappointed as we see both bowls. They do not resembled the pictures on yelp. All the presentations were neglected. The broth were warm and salty. Looks like they water down their broth and added salt to it. The ramen itself doesn't taste fresh neither. This is one if the worst ramen experience I had for a long time. This place gets over rated badly. Do not come here if you're. Ramen lover..
(2)Nai S.
Ramen Heaven!! It was my very first time to this restaurant. I had been to Shoki #1 a couple times. This one is way bigger w/ a lot more parking which is a plus!! My bf and I immediately got seated right when we entered the restaurant. All of the staff members greeted us warmly which was very welcoming. I ordered #5 Soy Milk Ramen. My bf ordered #3 Tan Tan Men. I also added tofu and chasu (pork). It was an additional $2.00 for each. The bill ended up to be approximately $22.00. It was my very first time trying the soy milk ramen. I'm so glad I did!! It was so tasty and really satisfying. Its my #1 ramen choice now. The restroom is located outside of the restaurant. You have to get the keys from the front counter. The odd thing is that you have to trade your own keys for their restroom keys. The waiter told me that someone stole their restroom keys in the past and this was a way of guaranteeing that they'll get their keys back. It makes sense. I personally don't mind but I'm not sure about how others feel about this.
(5)Tina A.
came here because of Esther Y's recommendation Soy Milk Ramen - Unique and clean tasting. Appreciate no use of msg. Add garlic for a little more flavor. Noodles were on point but the broth left something missing. No eggs. Just Bamboo green onion and 1 seaweed i would try this at least once if you haven't tried it, it could be a new favorite for those who dont like the fatty broth of tonkatsu
(4)Chantal T.
Triple broth soup that takes 6-8 hours to make with no MSG at my table in 15 minutes? Yes please! Get the ramen w/ tamago! So good! I get a medium, but I could probably eat the large. Also tried the black sesame ice cream. Different and yet still delicious. The downside is that there's always a wait (usually ranges from 15-60 minutes). And you have to wait outside in the cold because there's no room inside. But definitely worth the wait for me!
(5)Robert Y.
3.75 Not as good as ramen dojo or santa ramen but probably the best on in sacramento. After getting the mediocre tan tan men at the other smaller location, I decided to give this place a second chance as fellow yelper Esther Y mentioned to get the soy milk ramen and also since my friends from out of town were here. Soy milk ramen The broth was definitely unique and they suggest adding oil in the middle of your ramen eating to experience a different twist to the broth. Initially tasted like milk then later with the oil it tasted a little bit more savory. The noodles are customizable and were of above average quality in terms of chewiness and texture. Overall, this might be the new go to place for ramen in sacramento but it falls short to the bay area and la standards.
(4)Melissa B.
I came here on a busy week night around 8pm. Although the place is really small and packed, it goes to show how good they were. We waited about 15 minutes to get a table and I was anxiously eying every bowl in the house trying to decide what I wanted. After getting seated and ordering soft drinks, we were asked to pick up and move to a smaller table which was understandable and I didn't mind. It was a cool and fast paced atmosphere. So, I ended up ordering the tan tan noodles which I heard are popular and quite good. You can order it spicy with extra veggies, meat, or eggs. I practically did all of the above which is awesome that you can choose what you want in your Ramen soup. I really liked it here and I can't wait to go back. First time was definitely a charm!
(5)Annie C.
This is my go-to place for a ramen fix. Shoyu soup base is the way to go. I like that it comes with a variety of toppings, and the chashu is pretty good, though not the best I've had. The noodles are nice and al dente. Get the soft-boiled egg (or half boiled egg as they call it), it's pricey at $1.50 each, but they are amazing. Tan Tan Men is not the tan tan noodles that I expected. It's a stronger soup base, and while it's not bad, I prefer the Shoyu base over it. Strawberry mochi is literally, a strawberry wrapped in a daifuku. Quite interesting! Tea is good and free. Oh, and don't forget to dump a couple spoonfuls of the garlic paste they have on the table, it makes the soup and noodles that much better.
(4)Alf O.
Good ramen place. I like how you get the non Japanese staff "irasshaimase" greeting.
(4)Goro G.
I'm disappointed... I used to like shoki back in the day when they first opened, then I started liking them less because their soup was always luke warm due to the fact that their toppings are ice cold... I enjoyed their ramen less but still went because the broth was good and there were no other ramen places that I liked I'm Sacramento. A while back they decided to take away the green onions and replace them with bean sprouts...seriously? Ramen without green onions? They already have so few toppings, they're gonna take away the most basic ramen topping? I've tried asking them to replace the bean sprouts with green onions but they're unwilling to do that. Instead they suggest paying $1 or $1.50 to add on to the ramen. I've started going to ryujin ramen (although their broth isn't as good as shoki) because at least there, I can enjoy hot ramen without having to pay extra for green onions.
(1)Jessica J.
The tan tan men extra spicy was perfect! I loved the flavors and the noodles were delicious. I got a set meal so I ordered the small noodles, which seemed like just enough food for lunch. I thought the beef don (beef and scrambled eggs) would be the typical thinly sliced beef with eggs and onions over rice that you get at other Japanese restaurants, but it turned out it was literally ground beef and scrambled eggs. It was good, just not what I expected. In hindsight, I think I would've gone with the cha-su pork over rice, which my friend loved.
(4)Carrine J.
LOVE LOVE LOVE this place. It doesn't have the same homey small feel as the original, but that's okay because this place a bigger, has better parking and accepts credit cards. My favorite is their spicy Tan Tan noodle with corn, egg, and cha shu. Their steamed cabbage is pretty good too as an appetizer. You can also add a donburi for pretty cheap. I love that Shoki doesn't use MSG in their broth and offers lots of options such as regular ramen or wheat ramen. The food comes out pretty quickly after you order it and it is always pipping hot. Best ramen place ever! I always come here whenever I am in town. :)
(5)Andrew H.
Not that busy inside yet it took over 10 minutes to be helped and another 15 just to get our ramen.. Bummer this place seems to be going downhill
(2)Joaquin J.
The Ramen here does not taste the same to me as the ramen served at 24th street. That said the hours are better, but it get much more packed than the 24 street location. Still the ramen is great and if I am in the mood for it I will make the drive from Elk Grove to get it. The 24th street location is a 5 star but this one is only three because the flavor is slightly different and they made me pay upfront last time I went which was strange to me.
(3)Shirley D.
A true hole in the wall, the restaurant wasn't that big but the food was amazing. I always judge a good ramen place first by the noodles - i don't accept dry noodles being reboiled again. And shoki did not have that! They cut and make the noodles fresh, so that was a huge plus! Then i had a taste of that broth and i was sold. I got the tan tan ramen small with extra toppings (cabbage and CHASHU). I'm in love, i need to take everyone i know here. Actually, i DID take everyone i know here. That's just how good it was
(5)Vonnie T.
This place is alright, I heard good things and a lot of friends raving about it so I was excited to try it out. Obviously I knew this place was small and had no problem with it. Though it wasn't my first choice I wanted to try it out. I liked how they had a lot of choices from soups to noodle types and sizes and such, but I felt jip because you barely get anything. My bf got a regular plus the noodles I gave him and he was still hungry. Also I wanted just the soup and veggies, etc. without the noodles and mine still came with noodles. It's not a big deal since I just gave it to my bf, but the waiter didn't listen to my order. I also feel like they over do it with sesame seeds. They are not bad, but could improve a lot.
(3)Kiyomi T.
I've only tried the soy ramen since other ramen houses do not have it on their menu. It's delicious! This place is small so make sure to get their early for lunch.
(4)Melissa W.
Pretty disappointing for two reasons: 1) broth and 2) soup temperature. The shio and shoyu broth lacked depth of flavor. There was no wonderful richness that comes from stock made from simmering pork/chicken bones all day--so, not tonkotsu style. When our bowls arrived, they were lukewarm (ie, no steam rising from the noodles or soup). I got the small, which comes with toppings on the side - cold. After adding them, I had to ask the server to reheat my soup. Also, Shoki's bowls are way too big, so that could explain the temp. The quest to find good ramen continues...
(3)Paul G.
I came here once before bad was disappointed. But after reading how great it was I tried again. Order was wrong, they have gluten free healthy food, but no chicken and fatty beef. Ummmm chicken is far healthier. At least service is fast and it's right on light rail.
(2)Erin C.
I have a love hate relationship with this place. I have issues with the service. I don't like how they ask if I have "any food allergies or dietary restrictions"...no I don't...if I did, I would tell you. Please don't ask me again. Good service, bad service, weird seating...it all doesn't seem to matter much...because no matter what...I keep coming back. The ramen here is addicting. I order the Shio Ramen with egg and corn plus a Chashu donburi side. The broth is just right, noodles cooked to perfection. If you visit or live in Sac...this is a place you HAVE to go to. That is all.
(5)Karen S.
Wow! I have never tried that "ramen" product in the styrofoam cup most college age folks call a staple. This stuff at Shoki is incredible. I didn't know what to expect as I had never had ramen before, and I'm not really a "soup person" We arrived on a Sunday for lunch around 11 and got there just in time, we were seated and then groups started clustering outside waiting for tables. The inside is cozy and clean, the menu is short and simple. I ordered the second menu option that was made with the sea salt broth instead of the other soy sauce option. The noodles in the bowl arrived with a side of pork, sheet of seaweed, green onion, bamboo shoots and spinach. Wow! plop everything into the bowl and watch it all melt into a delicious meal. I usually don't give a place 5 stars right off the bat; but this stuff was so tasty and the noodles were such a dreamy texture that I can't NOT give them a fifth star. Must. Try.
(5)Newton L.
After having a bad experience a few months ago at their original location, I was a bit hesitant to try the ramen here, but with the cold weather, nothing seems more comforting than a hot bowl of soup. I ordered the soymilk ramen with extra chashiu, and I was impressed. The broth had a lot more flavor, and they even provided minced garlic to season it up some more. As a garlic lover, I did not hesitate putting spoonful after heaping spoonful into my bowl. The sesame oil was a nice touch and allowed me to change up the broth midway. As I was scooping up the final few drops of broth, I regretted not getting a larger bowl. I say without hesitation that this is quite possibly the best ramen in all of Sacramento. The additional side of cabbage also seemed to compliment the meal well. I will do it again.
(5)Alyssa T.
The broth was the best it had so much flavor. The bowl's of noodles were a little pricey but, for the quality it was good. I ordered the mushrooms on the side and they were full of flavor. A little crowded on a Saturday night but, what can I expect.
(4)Angus Y.
This is my go to place for ramen, I can't think of a better place with authentic japanese style ramen. The overall restaurant is pretty small but it's nice and cozy. All the workers there are very friendly and greet you in japanese when you enter and always remember to say thank you before you leave. I have been here a couple times and have tried a good amount of their ramen bowls, my personal favorite is Tan Tan Men. You can choose different soups, spice levels, and other toppings. The price is cheap and the taste is unmatched by any other ramen places I've been to. They have spent a while perfecting the art of noodle making and it definitely shows. My favorite ramen place and I would definitely recommend to all my friends, and all you yelpers.
(5)Kristina F.
It hurts me to not give you guys a complete 5 star review, because I LOVE this place. The broth and noodles are hands down the best ramen in town! The customer service is great and I love how they allow you to truly customize your order. The only reason I cannot give the 5th star is because you guys really need to include more basics along with your noodles & broth... anything extra you have to pay for, and honestly without adding like 4-5 more items the ramen, it is just noodles & broth... VERY tasty noodles and broth, but that just isn't a well rounded meal. I've also read a few negative reviews on here about their ramen not being "hot enough" or it needing to be microwaved, and I hate to sound like a snob... but that's how it's supposed to be. The ramen ingrediants & noodles are usually chilled and the hot broth is just poured over it. If you order any authentic dish is Japan, it will not be hot... they are very much into keeping their "chi" in balance (meaning nothing too hot or cold entering the body), they will even cook the food and let it cool before serving it... so I believe this is Shoki's way of keeping some authenticity. So if you want your soup hot, then I would recommend telling your server when you order.
(4)Jenn R.
So good! Shoyu ramen is the best ramen. I added the garlic and chili to my soup and it was amazing! I was full all night from my regular bowl of ramen with a small side curry and rice. I can't wait to go back and try the curry ramen next.
(5)Mim D.
Yummy in my tummy! Small location that does get overcrowded! The ramen is so good! It comes out hot and fresh. No wonder this place is always packed, besides the fact of being small in there. They give you stamp cards too so make sure you ask for one and keep up with it. Their soup is full of flavor and you have so many options to add on different things to your ramen and customize it to your liking.
(5)Darren Y.
Tsuke ramen - cold noodle dish, one of my new favorite's Soy milk ramen yum - cloudy milk broth, don't forget to add sesame oil half way through Curry Ramen - a little overwhelming if you get the set with the curry beef and rice Tan tan mein - Original spicy, minced beef I would give it 5 star's if they made their own noodles and made a pork bone broth.
(4)Maggie P.
This place is really good! Everything I've had there has been amazing and if I ever mention it in conversation, everybody knows it and loves it also. I've never met anyone who didn't love this place.
(4)Kevin W.
Since writing my last review of this place, I've eaten a bunch of ramen in SF and LA, with locals at their favorite spots. They got nothin' on Shoki's tan tan men.
(5)Jasmine C.
I don't know... I had high expectations for this place after seeing all the check-ins my friends have made. Came in with a friend hungry after a long drive. The wait was extremely painful because we were so hungry and we waited for almost 30 minutes outside, just staring into the restaurant watching people eat. Then comes to wait after you ordered your food. Sigh. By this time, we were STARVING. Usually food tastes even better when you've been so hungry for a while right? It was alright. It wasn't that special and the soup-- meh. Now we literally inhaled our food. We ordered the larger size too. We finished and unsatisfied. We were still hungry and the salty flavor made us want to eat something sweet. It was not up to expectations nor did it satisfy my hunger. Taste-wise it was okay but I've had better... sadly.
(2)Monica C.
The wait was long to sit in a cramped restaurant. My soup was good but when I asked for a to go container and wanted to order more broth, I was told no. "The chef doesn't do that since he wanted it to taste the best. " Well, I wouldn't have ordered the big bowl for leftovers tomorrow had I know I couldn't get more broth. I said I would pay. Still no. The bathroom smells like a pit toilet. YUCK!
(1)P. T.
Two words...DIS GUSTING! And I'm not even a picky eater. I could make a better noodle bowl with a 50 cent top ramen, an egg, and left over meat and vegetables. I went here a few months ago with my wife's family and friends. Everyone said the reviews were good so they had to check this place out. Bitter noodles? Barely warm broth? Paid more for extra meat and only got two rat shit size morsels? I had to ask for more spiciness just to mask the awfulness of the bowl the place in front of me. Long story short, we went to McDonald's afterwards to wash the bad tastes from our mouths. I dunno how this place got such good reviews. Maybe all the reviewers got the taste buds burnt off or think used toilet paper tastes good...
(1)Ricky N.
Came here after a weekend of camping and holy cow did it do justice to our stomachs! Service was great, our table was nice and big. They even had this little kid bringing us extra water, not really into child labor and all but looked like he was enjoying it. I got the TAN TAN MEN, which everyone raves about... You see I've tried ramen restaurants before and I wasn't a believer. I didn't think any bowl of ramen was worth paying $8 when you can get the same quality food at home from an instant noodle packet. But... I've never had the Tan Tan Men. It was pretty f**kin good!!!! Everything from the cloudy soup broth to the fresh made ramen noodles. I saw that they had a lot of health conscious options so I opted for less oil in my broth and whole wheat noodles which tastes the same just a little bit of a more chewy, thick texture. It's a great place for groups and made our group very happy, full, and groggy (that feeling after you stuffed your face). *My complaint, I was satisfied but I felt like it wasn't the best it could be. Not like full flavored vietnamese noodle soups or anything else. And if you want to add stuff like mushrooms, eggs, and etc. Your bowl ends up being like $16, please don't overcharge yourself like that.
(4)Tracie F.
This place is incredible! Food is great and service is even better! Why only 4 stars you ask? They ran out of RICE! How do you run out of rice? Now I am from Hawaii so running out of the local staple is a cardinal sin. If it were me, I would have gone to the nearest market and got some but that's just me. Everything else was great. You get a ton of options when ordering your ramen so they truly customize everything. I liked the fact that they had healthy options including low sodium broth. Wait staff was eager to serve and corrected an error n our order immediately and comped us the item. I would definitely come back!
(4)Darren G.
nice!
(4)Becca W.
This ramen is good for Sacramento. If you been in the bay area for ramen, you would agree. The place is quick to give you your food. Broth for ramens were okay. I wish they still had their whole wheat noodles. Decor is average. You also have to give them your cell phone or keys to get the keys for the bathroom.
(3)James L.
This place is pretty overrated. I got the spicy tan tan ramen. Obviously, it's better than anything you can get from a supermarket, but it's not that great either. For the health conscious, their soup base is msg-free and apparently they use a lot of organic ingredients. They also accommodate for food allergies and even have gluten free noodles. The only reason I know that is because I reread the menu a couple of times while waiting ~15 minutes for them to take our order. It took another 30 minutes for them to bring us our food. I've only been here once though; so my experience might not be dispositive of the normal wait time. Either way, I would suggest they hire more waitstaff. As an added note, they have this weird system where you pay right when you order, even though it seems like a typical sit-down restaurant. It's not really a negative, but it was kind of unusual.
(3)Andrew K.
Kind of annoys me that Sac has better ramen that SF, but it does. Understated place with bathroom around the corner from the restaurant. My friend who's a local sent me here and it didn't disappoint. Had a medium spicy tan tan with yam noodles, chashu, egg, and extra spinach. Added a ton of garlic - of the fresh pureed variety. Was mighty tasty. Actually loved the green tea too.
(4)Jackie F.
Just as good as the 1st location with a few perks. Perk 1: There is a parking lot!! Perk 2: They accept plastic!!! Perk 3: Bigger = Less wait time!! While I love the more intimate size of the 1st location *reminds me more of the small hole-in-the-wall ramen places in Tokyo* I like the roomier size simply because there is less cause to wait. Offerings are the same. Broth is still flavorful and the noodles are still delicious. Soy Milk is now offered in various sizes!!! They now offer a stamp card, good for both locations. So now my ramen addiction is slightly more justified.....
(5)Chris R.
Absolutely wonderful ramen! I highly recommend anything and everything from Shoki II. My lady and I often split a large Curry Ramen with added Steamed Cabbage, and it never disappoints. Heads up, you may experience long wait times and a generally apathetic staff. Even at that, this place still gets 5 stars.
(5)Danielle A.
Came here after being rejected from the original location because it's ca$h only. Ain't got no ca$h so I moved on. This location was a lot more crackin and I saw the waitresses from the original location so I was like, hey, it's gotta be just as good. Maybe I showed up on an off night, but the Tan Tan Men broth was a bit oily and bland. The noodles were nice and al dente, the shiitake mushrooms were the shiit-ake and the service was polite but it seemed they were stressed and running all over the place. Bigger location means you're not rubbing elbows with the strangers next to you. Takes credit cards, makes good ramen with good shiit-ake in it. I'm funny and I know it. Don't worry, I'll try it again sometime.
(3)Chute H.
Always packed for lunch...and for good reason. The shoyu ramen was excellent and the staff was friendly. Took a while to get my food but worth the wait. Good for kids but if you need "chopstick helpers" bring your own--they charge $1. Menu has recently been re-done and includes more options. The menu specifies which items are veg only, gluten free and non-GMO. Excellent!
(5)Danny H.
I sauntered in to this place ready to eat me some ramen and crush a large bowl. I ordered extra noodles and pork and when the waitress came over with what appeared to be the largest cup o' noodles I've ever seen I got worried. I was defeated. The waitress asked if I wanted a to go box, my ego was crushed. But I will be back to try again, probably the regular size portion without the extra noodles.
(4)Via D.
Probably the best Ramen House in Sacramento! I have been to other places like Akebonos, but honestly, Shoki satisfies my Ramen craving. Who would have thought that something so simple, like Ramen noodle, could be such a huge hit?! Any ways, enough about my praise of Shoki, every time I come here, I order the Tan Tan Men, with extra Shashu and Bamboo. The noodle itself is made fresh and healthy that I honestly forget that it's Ramen sometimes lol (simply because I'm soooooo used to the whole idea of Top Ramen eaten in college). The broth is very good, spicy but it doesn't give you that weird feeling in your stomach, compared to other spices. I would also recommend getting the Soymilk Ramen. I know it sounds really gross, having soymilk as a meal, but trust me, it is really good! You can't even taste the soymilk in your broth! It isn't as oily as the Tan Tan Men so for those of you who are health-conscious, then definitely order this bowl. The location here is pretty small, parking isn't that bad seeing that they do have their own private lot, in comparison to the original Shoki off L street. The price here is alright though...I can honestly say that the portions is not entirely fulfilling (hence I always order extra Shashu and Bamboo), but I love it!!
(4)Christina P.
I. Love. This. Place. I moved out here from a pretty big city and was feeling pretty down about the selection of Asian foodstuffs. As usual, I Yelped it up and found this place. Glowing reviews that used words like "authentic", "the real deal", "traditional", "handmade" won me over. I stopped by this place for lunch with my parents. It's a small place, but it's adorable inside. I love that I was greeted upon entering. It really made me feel welcome. Always the social media maven, I checked the tips on Foursquare and ordered the Tan Tan Men. It was awesome! Everything about it was excellent. The noodles were fresh, the broth was superb, and the flavors danced in my mouth like little fairies of fantastic-ness! If I wanted to become enormously fat, I'd probably still be sitting at that table eating noodles years later. I'll settle with stopping by every time I get a noodle craving. I've been there ~10 times since that first trip, and it's just as awesome as expected.
(5)Karen H.
No wait on a Sunday at 12:30PM, but after it got packed. Good service, but ramen isn't up to par. Coming from the bay area, we have a lot better ramen, but I guess it's not bad for being in Sac. There are a decent amount of options and u can pick from 3 sizes. I got a medium and it was huge. Couldn't finish it. I like the noodles are not soggy (worse thing ever if you get soggy noodles), Broth wasn't bad, but it just wasn't flavorful enough. They have spicy paste and mushed up garlic on the table for you to put in, but the garlic looked kind of nasty and the spicy paste wasn't spicy enough.
(3)Jessie F.
This little roman noodle house is amazing! I came here on the recommendation of my coworkers. I arrived 5 minutes before they opened for dinner and there were already 7 or 8 people waiting outside. The restaurant was small and it quickly filled up with many customers. The menu is pretty simple with only a few different choices of roman noodles. I ordered the tan tan men, which was a spicy roman noodle soup with ground beef, bamboo shoots and seaweed. The soup base was delicious and the roman was cooked to perfection. I also ordered a spicy bamboo shoots appetizer. It was very tasty but a little too spicy for me. The price was reasonable and the service was quick and friendly. I will definitely visit this place again if I'm around the Sacramento area.
(4)Raian V.
I'm not sure what's all the hype is about on yelp. I was in Tahoe for a wedding and on the way back, I decided to yelp to see if any good ramen places on the way back. I saw that this place that have good reviews so I decided to stop by. We ordered the Tan Tan Men and the soy milk ramen. I didn't like the Tan Tan Men, it lacks flavor. I'm not sure it was a bad day? But when I sip the broth, you taste the flavor and it quickly goes away. You know what I mean? Usually if you sip good broth, you can still taste hint of flavors after you swallow it. I kept adding the spices into the soup but it still didn't help. Not a big fan of the Soy Milk Ramen either.
(2)Christopher L.
TLDR: - Not as good as original Shoki.
(4)Andrew K.
Not your typical ramen place, if you've ever been to any of the top rated places in SF or LA, ie. ramen underground or Daikokuya. Per all the marketing all over the menu, all the ramen here is created originally by the owner. They add toppings like Brussels sprouts and spinach to their ramen, and their broth is mainly made from seasonings. From an objective standpoint, the meal was pretty good and regular portion was substantial, but as someone looking for ramen I was disappointed that they don't have the traditional broths of tonkotsu and that they charge 1.50 for a boiled egg that is free usually. If you want ramen in Sacramento, I'd steer away and go elsewhere (RyuJin was better in my opinion), but for a meal it isn't bad.
(2)Mary B.
This was my first time here. Since it was a rainy day, Sitt suggested that we get some ramen- he yelped and picked this place. The place was small and it didn't seem that busy, which was surprising with the review I seen on Yelp. There wasn't that many items on the menu. I got the tan tan men with shiitake mushroom and tamage (egg half boiled and seasonal), regular spicy and chashu (pork) donburi over white rice. The chashu donburi was good. The rice was sweet and the green onion and seaweed was a good touch. I was thinking very highly of this place until the ramen came out. The noodles were chewy and hard; however, the shiitake mushroom and tamage were good. The broth was different, didn't felt right to me because of the texture from the seasoning of the soup. It wasn't spicy at all and a small is actually a 'small.' I was glad I got a side dish and I don't even eat that much. I think the small was actually smaller then usually - when comparing to a small for pho. Over all, it was an okay experience, but not worth coming here again. When I left the place, it was pack and there was a line outside in the rain (underneath the tent). The place seem very personal, tables are very close together, and you could totally see into the kitchen. Review update after an hour later: hungry again, this wasn't fulfilling.. haha
(3)Nguyet K.
I been to the original Shoki and it's a lot smaller than this new restaurant, but we still had to wait. We came here for dinner and waited over 30 minutes for a table. I don't understand why everyone always talk about the ramen from Shoki. I ordered Tan Tan noodles, mild and regular bowl and it was enough for me. The soup was good, but I don't know if it's worth the wait. The noodles taste fresh and delicious. If you're hungry don't come to this place, you will have to wait. Even when you already place your order, you have to sit there and wait some more. At least bring some good company with you, so you can have a friend to mingle with over wine/sake.
(3)Vincent M.
Talk about good luck finding this place... First, i went to that new buffalo wing place in midtown to get a drink, what a disaster that was. Then i saw some Yelpsters out front so we all went up to East Sac for some beers at a local. Perfect! While we were yammering on I asked them their thoughts on the local ramen hotspots. Lea said this is the best. Rachael thinks otherwise. After thinking about if for a half our I ambled on over to 12th and R. I got there late, around 9 or so, so things were winding down. There is construction all around so the streets were empty, a blessing for the old land cruiser. I stepped in, simple decor as ramen houses typically are, with young Asian staff, setting me up quickly. For those who have not had ramen, it's pretty darn delicious. That said it's soup, so if you can't get excited about that, you won't get excited about ramen. For me, i know a little about what goes into ramen and what is expected. And this was excellent and delicious. For newbies, start with the first bowl on the top of the menu. I highly recommend you ask them to add egg to it, it's soft boiled and cut in half. The bowl will come steaming hot, with noodles of course, a few thin sliced vegies, a thin slice of tasty pork, and a delicious broth. From what I know it is the quality of the broth that keeps ramen house thriving. From the taste of this broth I can tell that this ramen house will be here for a long time. Which is good because I intend to enjoy it frequently.
(4)Luc L.
My first time eating Ramen was here! It was not so great. I don't like how they serve the seasoning + toppings on a separate dish from the bowl of noodles and I have to mix it together. It takes a while for the flavor to mix in the soup and Ramen. I wanted my Ramen to soak up the flavors as if it were cooked altogether, but I didn't get that experience. I like Ryu Jin better!
(3)Issac M.
The ramen is excellent. However, that is the only thing good about this place anymore. Ever since they changed to this cafe style format bullsh*t, it takes FORVERRRR to get a bowl of soup. My last two experiences have been very disappointing. Especially the last time I went. We were the first ones there and yet still, took over 30 mins for them just to take our order and we didn't get a bowl of soup for over an hour. AND I don't like how they've done away with the wheat noodles. As much as I love the ramen, it's not worth the wait unless you have nothing to do. Won't be going back anymore.
(1)Denny T.
I have eaten at the original location and this location many times. I used to be a regular. This place is still ok for the food. Not great like it used to be. Shoki II is cheap. Service is okay. Otherwise I would come back.
(3)Van W.
So yummy! I go eat in or get take out from here once a month or so. On one such occasion, someone sitting at a table next to me advised me to never take someone here on a first date, because it would be tragic to never be able to come back. Seems to be fine, albeit hilarious, advice. I usually get the tam tam mein with no meat, and add tofu. Portions are big and filling, but delicious.
(5)Grady T.
I'm not from the area. I'm not some technical food reviewer either, but I give credit where it's deserved. I ordered the "Tan Tan Men" to which they also put up as their most popular dish on the menu. The portion appeared generous, the soup was really tasty, and the level of spice worked out just fine for me. On top of that, it's all supposedly extra healthy and they really try to educate you on that as you read through their menu. With their current prices, I think you get a lot for what you pay for.
(4)Mikayla F.
My boyfriend and I were in the area today and decided we wanted to try something new. When I saw a ramen house near by we decided on that. Glad we did! This place is a hidden gem. It's so cute and tiny on the outside. Looks like it could be nestled away in the back streets of Japan. On to the food, it was excellent. I had a hard time deciding between the tan tan men ramen and the curry ramen. Ended up the tan tan. You can pick the heat level and also what style of noodles. I personally don't care for thick noodles so being able to sub for thin ones is great. For either a dollar or a dollar fifty more you can add extra toppings. I got corn and a hard boiled egg (my personal favorite in ramen). The service was on point as well. Our server explained the menu well and made suggestions. I'll defiantly coming back someday.
(4)James W.
Excellent ramen! Veg friendly and great service. Everything, including noodle type, salt level and broth is customizable. Food arrived quickly and was reasonably priced. According to the website (which is very nice), no MSG or preservatives are used and the soups are "A BOWL OF DREAMS." I recommend!!
(5)Hu L.
Honestly, the ramen was okay.. I got the spicy tan tan men, and it wasn't as great as I had expected. I had to add some soy sauce and extra pepper to give it more flavor. I definitely still prefer Ramen House Ryujin over this. The interior is small and cute, the service is great. Parking is easy, and they also have an outdoor eating area! If you're nearby and craving ramen, but Ramen House isn't open, I would say Why Not Come Here? But if other options are available or you're out of your way, I wouldn't recommend coming here.
(3)Jennifer L.
I am not a huge ramen fan, but sometimes I get cravings for some hot broth and noodles. My sister was in town for Hello Kitty's Supercute Friendship Festival and we were hungry after a night of cuteness overload. We always get ramen when my sister is in town since that is all she eats. We have been to Ryujin and Shoki II before, and she chose to go to Shoki again. I ordered the Tan Tan Men with a spicyness level of "regular" and added an egg. WHAT??! Egg not included?! I know, I thought the same thing. The egg was $1.50 extra. -__- The Tan Tan Men came with ground beef, spinach, a slice of seaweed, and bamboo. My bowl was tasty and definitely left me stuffed and satisfied, but nothing amazing. I prefer Ryujin and their amazing egg that is included! I ordered the regular (middle) sized bowl, which came out to be larger than I expected so I think the small size would have been enough for me. The menu is not very big, but I like that they have a lot of different types of noodles and broth that are vegetarian or gluten free. There are also a lot of toppings you can add to make your ramen more Instagram worthy. Our waitress was very friendly and the staff greet the customers when entering and leaving the restaurant. The restaurant is cute and has nice decor, but is pretty small. It was already hella hot outside and after eating hot ramen, I was sweating like crazy. I would advise to eat here when the summer heat wave is over!! :)
(3)Sean H.
When Utada Hikaru wrote the song Simple and Clean, she must have had Shoki II Ramen in mind. It felt like the easiest bowl of ramen that I've ever eaten in my life. Sacramento is definitely doing something right in the ramen game. I just got my normal shoyu ramen. When they put the bowl in front of me, I thought I was gonna hate it. It looked super thin and clear, like a bowl of Oliver Twist gruel. Please sir can I have some more, I felt like asking the waiter. But the taste was all there and then some. Loved the presentation as well. They pretty much just give you a bowl of broth, with everything else on a plate and you just plop everything in the bowl yourself. That way you can control exactly what you want in your ramen! Complete control and mastery of ramen like some sort of ramen superhero. Service was super nice and chill, and the place itself is pretty conveniently located. Didn't have to wait at all, mostly because we showed up about 10 minutes prior to opening. Ate outside since it was a nice and hot Sacramento summer day, and we didn't mind the policy to pay before eating at all. Makes hella sense to me since I'm 100% sure some a-hole would see it as an easy way to dine and dash. Anyways, this was a super solid spot in Sacramento. Definitely will be back whenever I'm in the area!
(5)Lucky P.
It had been a while since I've been to Shoki ramen house, and I was happily surprised by the food- it was delicious! I ordered the combo (ramen + donburi). Regular Tan tan men ($8.90) add mushroom ($1) add egg (1.5) and a mini curry rice bowl ($2.5). I couldn't finish my order, so only order the combo if you're really hungry. The mushrooms were a great addition to the noodles. A must have add-on! Everything is made fresh... And you can taste the quality and love they put into their food. And they have great service too.
(5)Marc A.
A year later, I figured I'd give it a chance in its inconsistency. And...nothing much has changed. This time, I tried their regular spicy Tan-Tan men and it was alittle bland. Maybe my taste buds are still more accustomed to Bay Area ramen, but their addition to uncooked spinach and bean sprouts made it alittle bitter. It was good, but probably not to the standards when I first worked here in Shoki back in 2010. Oddly, service here became more of a "corporate-type" service. The reason most guests kept coming in was the humble, laid-back ambience the restaurant had. As far as I remembered, I received flak for messing up orders by writing them down; even if it was guests fault. Now, everything is all computerized and electronically expedited. Maybe, I'm alittle biased to Bay Area ramen but it's definitely a great place for the city of Sacramento. One thing I do want to add, is that I wish this place gave credit to the original ramen recipe where it all first started - at Halu in San Jose. Visit Halu, and you'll see why ingredients are almost identical. Aside my rant, I still give it 3 stars. It didnt excite me visiting this place like it used to a few years ago.
(3)Crystal C.
I haven't been back here in over 4 years, just haven't been near the area. But the stars aligned on Friday, I was in the area right after peak lunch time. So off to Shoki 2. I had the small bowl of Shio (sea salt and black pepper) base ramen with thin noodles and tamago ( seasoned half boiled egg ), wet seaweed, and shiitake mushrooms. My ramen came out piping hot and all the fixins came on a separate plate. I dumped the fixins in the broth. The tamago was more on the hard boiled side, the chasu (sliced pork) had no taste, and the shiitake mushrooms were sweetened and added a great flavor lift. Overall i enjoyed my ramen. I understand the broth I choose was blander than the other broths, so forewarn to try the other broth bases if your looking for more distinct flavor. All the fixins are house prepared. Plus kudos to the Chef for not using MSG. For folks that don't know, MSG is a man made chemical that most restaurants use as a flavor enhancer. I avoid consuming it and truly appreciate restaurants that are honest and forthright about using it. Downside: small parking lot, crammed seating which is a bit too cozy for my taste, long wait, and service can be a bit scattered.
(4)Amanda D.
Yam noodles is awesome. I had the tomato vegan soup base. Steam cabbage is a pleasant surprise. I would not compliment on the hot sake as it gave me a headache afterwards. Service was attentive. I would go back to the place!
(4)Wasabi I.
This place was okay. Ordered a regular spicy and an extra spicy tan tan ramen. Both weren't that spicy so if you love spicy food order the super spicy. The broth wasn't too salty so it was good. But the soup was a little too bitter so it was hard to enjoy it. As for service, we got seated within 5 mins and food took about 20-25 mins to come out. Lady forgot my order and didn't bring it out. Told her to bring it once I'm don't with my noodle, but never got it so I asked another person to grab it. Overall, this place was really small and is okay.
(3)Lynne P.
Shoki embraces the farm to table movement and what better place do so than Sacramento area. Everything is locally sourced, non GMO and antibiotics free. You may think that this is a hipster place with no substance but you are wrong. Their ramen is amazing, menu is great and the staff is super friendly. They offer plenty of options for ramen, even vegetarian ones. You can also customize your order, what thickness of noodle, salt content and level of spice. The bowl itself comes with plenty of toppings from bean sprouts to cha siu, spinach to bamboo shoots but you can also add more. We ordered the Tan Tan Men extra spicy and the Shio, both with corn. The Tan Men is soy based, with a deep roasted sesame flavor and a hint of red pepper spice. It makes your taste buds dance. So much intensity in flavor but not heavy at all. If you are looking for something light the Shio is a great choice. This has a sea salt based broth. Tasting so clean and light yet tasty with a hint of black pepper for some complexity. The thing about their ramen is that you know where the ingredients are from, you know you are putting good stuff in your body. Shoki all the way!
(5)Alex L.
I just don't like this place, just a personal opinion. I came here a few times, hopeful of getting some amazing ramen after reading all those reviews on Yelp. Well, Shoki disappointed me. There is nothing there that will make me come back ever again after what happened last time when I ordered to-go. Such a let down... - Food Some people like it but I personally do not enjoy the ramen they serve. I thought the ramen was simply bland and watery: I ordered the Shoyu Ramen. Maybe I am not ordering the right bowl of ramen, so please advise me fellow Yelpers! I heard Tan Tan Ramen was not bad, so I may try that next time if I ever come back. Going back to the Shoyu, the ramen was barely average (texture and taste wise), and the broth was unflavorful. The only good thing I enjoyed was probably just the Chashu meat which was savory and tasty. - Service "A bowl of dream?" I got a CUP. I waited 20-30 minutes because they somewhat forgot about me after I ordered to-go and I had to remind them I was still waiting for my food. And this is what I get, a cup half-filled with soup. Adding the noodles, chashu and vegetable, it barely reached 3/4 of the cup. Seriously, what the f****? I paid approximately $10 for a Cup Noodle-Size Ramen! For what I paid, this place doesn't deliver. I did not expect to have something that small... If you come to dine-in, expect to wait quite a while. I remember getting lunch there, and came here 10 minutes before they opened. There were probably 20 people already waiting outside. It's a really popular place for people working around the Capitol.
(1)AJ C.
I'd give Shoki a big solid meh. Its not bad ramen, but its not really good ramen either. The variety is nice, and they do some non-traditional stuff which is cool, but having some really good ramen places from the south bay and LA, this place just isn't up to par. Service is very good and they're usually very prompt (this is pretty common for a ramen house though). If not for my friend's fondness of this place, I probably wouldn't come back.
(3)Ameenah M.
I think today was my third time here. The first time I was here it was super busy, and I'm thinking man this place must be really good. I wasn't impressed. But so many people talk about how good this place is, so I had to try it again today. It's so small, maybe people like cramped space? I don't know but the size of the place does not matter because everyone comes here. Just walk in, sign in on the sheet to the right and wait outside, it's the best thing to do. There's no where to sit indoors. But the outside patio is big. The parking next to the building is small but there are tons of parking around the place. The menu is very simple, you can choose normal broth for your ramen, or get it gluten free, no meat, up to you. To the right, you can choose extras to add to your bowl of ramen. They have a small, medium, and large to choose from. There's also rice dishes and appetizers. There were no pictures though, I eat a lot of ramen but a picture next to the item would be nice. It's ok, I used yelp pictures as a reference. What we ordered: 2 tan tan men. One bowl was extra spicy, I added an egg, and tofu. The other bowl had extra noodles and chasu. And a small bowl of curry. What it tasted like: the curry was ok. It was thick, it was good with the rice. Light on meat and potatoes. The extra spicy tan tan men that I ordered came out first, it wasn't as red as the picture on yelp so I added more spice. My soup smelled like it was burned. My broth tasted like it was burnt. Maybe it was just me. I asked my friend what he thought of his? He said I probably shouldn't have added extra noodles because it looked the same as my bowl. He said his tasted burnt too. How could it taste like it was burnt? Anyway I didn't like it. The server never came back after he dropped off our food. The cut onset next to us got his water cup refilled but we didn't. We're so close to the other table, I was confused on how he couldn't see the empty cup next to the table. I had to ask another server that was holding a pitcher. I won't be back. I wasn't a fan before and this proved my first visit.
(2)Ashley R.
This place is so amazing! What isn't there to love about a small in intimate ramen house! I get the tan tan, I get it mild with an egg and onions. Though I believe the extra toppings are a bit over priced you get a big bowl of ramen and the juice is Amazing. Yum definitely going back.
(5)Vivian L.
Literally the worst place to go for large groups, even though this location is more spacious than their sister one on 24th street. Came as a party of 11 around 7pm and had to wait for an hour until we were seated (even then, we were split into two tables...so basically we sat and chatted separately like strangers). FOOD: -- Tan tan men -- 3 stars Ah, got my usual, the tan tan men. Regular size and spiciness with whole wheat noodles and an added egg. The broth had good flavors and I wasn't able to taste too much MSG, which is an added bonus for me. However, the egg was pretty much cooked fully!! Such a let down 'cause I love ramen places that can do a soft boiled egg right. Everything else was alright. I still believe Shoki gives too little minced beef for the price they charge, I mean you're basically hoping that eating plain noodles will fill you up. SERVICE/COMMENTS: The waiter continually checked up on us and refilled our waters! But other than that, our group was too focused on the conversation to notice anything else. Altogether, I paid $13 which is fairly expensive considering there's not much ingredients included. But still, I think it's as good as it gets for Sac. TIP: They split checks into however many ways you need!
(3)Smelly C.
12th & R They have their own little parking lot. Open for lunch. Close. Open again for dinner.. except on Sundays-- They're open all day without closing between lunch and dinner. At first I was like, eh.. I'm not feeling it like I know people LOOOVE it. But after returning time and again and figuring out what I like and don't like and making adjustments-- I like it much more.. I just had to figure it out. Trial and error. The ramen menu is divided into different categories for those that have allergen issues or preferences along with another page of apps, extras, etc. And I think a big gripe amongst many are the costs of adding on but I don't mind. Some days I want corn and some days I could do without. It's whatever. Also, check the big dry erase board on the wall for anything that may not be on the menu or their grid of recommendations. They also have condiments that aren't on every table and they don't always offer it to you but they have ground chili available, minced garlic, etc.. More stuff to play with to customize your food. And, that may very well be me when I first came to Shoki2. Didn't care for it so much because I wanted to order something and love it instead of customizing. Lazy, I guess.. or maybe it's that I've ordered elsewhere and had that feeling and held that expectation. I remember going to the original spot in Curtis Park and they had a big shpeal about the broth being so time consuming and the preparation of it and maybe it made you appreciate it as it should but I remember that and as I've gotten older and I inquire about what I'm eating more and I was disappointed to remember the labor of love they touted about the broth and learn that they buy their noodles. You put that much into broth and then buy noodles. At least that's what a server said when I asked about the noodles.. he said, 'i don't know for sure 'cuz the packaging doesn't have ingredients on them.' Okay. Anyway, I've come to like the food more. I dislike the smell of the bamboo shoots but I like the taste of their's. When I want spicy ramen, extra spicy is what I need to ask for because just plain spicy isn't spicy enough for me. I love their tofu salad. Although, one time in the handful of times I've had it, there was a lot of browned lettuce in it. Lettuce and spinach is in it so like dude, if you have to use more spinach to replace the browned lettuce-- that would be cool. I was really disappointed to find that. They've also added Rapanadas to that big Dry Erase board not too long ago. It's their own Ramen Burrito stuffed with noodles and all with a side of broth/sauce.. something to try. There's a Vegan/Vegetarian ($5) one and one with Pastrami? Interesting, right?
(4)Timmy C.
I'm not a big soup person, but this place is delicious! Organic ingredients, thick hearty ramen, and different size soups to fit any appetite. Be sure to add one, or two, hard boiled eggs to your soup for an extra satisfying meal... I will definitely be back soon!
(5)Sara T.
I came here a few years ago with friends and it was good. Came here again not long ago and still good, but always crowded and busy. This place is quite popular and they do have some really good ramen :) My favorite here is the tan tan men! I think that's the only kind of ramen I ever order at ramen places. It was somewhat spicy, so I loved it! Lines are long, but service is sort of fast. It's worth a try :)
(3)Jermaine A.
By far my favorite ramen house in sac. Must try if you enjoy eating ramen! I highly recommend the Tan Tan Men.
(5)Karla Marie D.
I've been here twice. First time, I had the Soy Milk Ramen (health conscious). The broth was delicious!! I love the whole wheat noodles too. Second time, I had to try the well-known Tan Tan Men. This was by far delicious. I asked for less salt & whole wheat noodles which tasted equally good. Beware of ordering extra sides! It can rack up. It's so bomb during the cold and rainy season.
(4)LeTran B.
Ramen was OK. Service was good but then thing got busy around lunch and they only had two people serving so it slowed down a bit.
(3)Clayton B.
Went here for lunch with my wife and became a fan. Very friendly and quick service and a quaint atmosphere (it fills up fast for lunch so get there early). I had the Shoyu ramen with the mini shirasu avocado don (tiny whitefish with rice/avocado). It was light and flavorful and if you can get past eating the whitefish complete with there eyes still intact it was surprisingly delicious. My wife had the spiciest version of the Tan Tan Men they offered and she was definitely happy with it (she's addicted to spicy stuff). Overall a really nice outing for a quick lunch in downtown Sac.
(4)Matthew M.
Love this place! Ok it was just my first visit but the staff is SUPER friendly and the food SUPER good. They took the time to explain questions about items to my party and checked back frequently. The broth is DELICIOUS. If you're hankering for noodles and are in the downtown area you'd be remiss if you didn't go
(5)patrick w.
I have no idea what is with the 4 and 5 star ratings on this place. I've been to the original Shoki, granted, it's been few years, and it was alright. This place however, was super gross. The ramen had really bad cheap cuts of meat, and the supposed "curry" that they served tasted more like dinty moore stew than anything else, except I think in Dinty Moore has a bit more flavor. I wasn't crazy hungry, I was just grabbing a bite to eat with some friends, I had read great things about this place, but now I'm convinced these four star reviews are written by people who have only seen ramen of the "top" variety in their local grocery store. They also need to update their menu as I was informed 3 of the four things I wanted off the menu were no longer being served.
(1)Toni L.
This place is ok in my book, but not necessarily because of the food. Food: Well, what can I say. If you've ever been to the super popular ramen joints in any large urban center (mostly thinking about Daikokuya, Shinsengumi, and Santouka in LA right now) you're probably not going to get what you're craving here. Shoki II specializes in healthy ramen. The triple soup broth is stewed for 6-8 hours and contains meat, wafu (traditional Japanese soup stock with kelp, mushroom, and dried fish), and veggies. Many of the really good ramen places I've been to stew the broth for up to 60 hours. I think this helps pull flavor out of the ingredients, but also makes the soup fattier. At Shoki II, you can remove the meat and wafu broths to make your meal completely vegetarian. I'm pretty sure this makes the taste suffer, but at least the option is there. They also have a soy milk ramen, but it won't be vegetarian unless you ask them to remove some of the toppings. Thus far, I've tried the shoyu ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ) and tan tan men ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ). They use thin noodles, but add a generous amount. Toppings, however, are sparse. If you didn't pick this up from the description above, this ramen does not use tonkotsu (pork bone) broth. Both broths I sampled are much thinner. I found the tan tan men much more tasty than the straight up shoyu. The spiciness gives it much needed extra flavor. Interesting fact: I realized that tan tan men is basically the equivalent of Chinese dan dan noodles. Both dishes turn up the heat by adding preserved mustard stems. But I digress. If you find that your ramen doesn't taste quite how you envisioned, you can pep it up with extra ginger, garlic paste, and chili powder ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ). All other condiments and toppings cost extra. I also sampled the chashu bowl ( yelp.com/biz_photos/shok… ). This tasted fine, but it definitely wasn't as good as what you can get at other ramen places. I'm sure this has something to do with keeping the dish as healthy as possible. Look at all that spinach! Atmosphere: The restaurant itself is quite appealing. They have a huge communal table in the center shared between several parties with smaller booths and tables off to the side. During warmer months, you can enjoy your ramen outside right on R street in the shaded patio. The vibe here is very relaxed, but still has a lot of the aspects you expect in a ramen house like the greetings in Japanese shouted as you enter the door. Service: There's usually a crowd waiting to get in, so make sure you sign in on the clipboard before waiting for a table to open up. I dunno if the waiters here just love their job or are forced to be super polite, but I'm lovin' it. I wish more people in the service industry could emulate their example. One really great aspect about Shoki II is that it stays open until midnight Friday and Saturday. Synopsis: I'm not in love with their ramen, but I seem to end up here a lot because of the late Friday and Saturday hours.
(3)Andrew L.
Hey, it's ramen. I'm not a conoisseur but I have lived in Asia and know what freshly prepared ramen/noodles/soup taste like. The staff were very friendly in explaining the menu and helping us choose what to eat. They were extremely attentive. Now, I don't have anything in Sacramento to compare this place to, so it's really hard to say objectively what the rating is. We went in mid-afternoon and avoided the (insane) lines we usually see in front of this place. Will have to go back and try again, but I was not totally floored by it. It was fresh, the spice was good, and the noodles were... meh. I wasn't a huge fan of the ground beef since it disappeared into the soup, but hey... can't have everything.
(3)Michael T.
First time here and enjoyed the experience. Especially since we live two blocks away and can walk here. Chasu (pork) plate was very tasty! Flavorful, tender & moist. TanTan Men spicy was tasty as well. Staff was very nice, cordial & efficient. I would be more generous with the stars if their was just a little more on the ambience side and, more than one type of beer. There was 2 kinds of Asahi and 2 sizes but........:) All good, Food is tasty, will be back!
(3)Jackie M.
With stomach empty, I arrived at Shoki anticipating life changing ramen, but unfortunately my experience wasn't so; I had set my expectations too high. My friend and I got seated pretty quickly and ordered after browsing the menu. Decides to get the tan tan men regular since I wasn't familiar with how spicy it was going to be. It wasn't so spicy, so if you can handle spice definitely go with the extra spicy! I added more chili and it tasted great! Although I was content with what I had I was expecting more. From all the rave reviews before me I thought Shoki was gonna provide me with ramen that I have never tasted before, but in my opinion Shoki tastes just as good as some other spots I've tried. I hope to visit Shoki again and try the other things they have to offer!
(3)R N.
I'm here every chance I get .. You have to time it right or be prepared to wait. But it's worth it.
(4)Shannen C.
I LOVE ramen!! I wish there were more Ramen places in Sac!! I had been going to Shoki 1 almost every week for over a year with my coworkers, then decided to try Shoki 2 when it opened. The worst experience I ever had!! there was a piece of METAL in my ramen and ScotchTape in my rice. It looked like it was piece of a metal scrubber for washing dishes. Gross. I asked them to take the rice off my order. No problem. Then when is asked for a new bowl of ramen, they said they would have to charge me for it! Wow, that's how you treat a regular customer for more than a year?? thanks a lot! I will not be returning to Shoki#2!
(1)Christina L.
I went to Sacramento for a couple of events this past month. (Sac-Anime and Anjelah Johnson) and both time my friends insisted on eating at this place. But I couldn't complain one bit. Service: Excellent service! This is what everyone else should be basing their customer service on. They whole restaurants greets you as you walk in and says goodbye as you walk out. And the servers are as friendly as you can get! They are very quick, attentive, and professional. EXCELLENT!! Ramen: Shoyu Ramen - Amazing! The broth was perfectly seasoned and complimented the noodles to perfection. Very good ratio of broth and noodles. The broth is actually the best broth I ever tasted. The noodles were on par with the high end ramen shops. Very amazing ramen. Delicious! Curry - A nice creamy thick curry over rice. A little over seasoned, but still tasty. Overall: I would definitely recommend this place! Sometimes there could be a huge wait, but I think it's worth it!
(5)Suzette L.
My boyfriend and I have been to Shoki 3 times. We are addicted to Tan Tan Men lol. I added shitake mushrooms and i love it!!! The only thing is that we aren't allowed to eat outside. It's too tiny inside so eating hot soup inside makes you really sweaty but that's not going to make me give them less than 5 rating. We Will Be Back soon. Craving is too strong haha.
(5)Collin W.
I was expecting the ramen to be much better based on how good it smelled in the restaurant. I ordered the tan tan ramen with a set of the chasu don. The ramen was really bland and didn't really have much taste. However, the chasu don was really really good. I would come back just for the chasu don and the curry don by itself but I didn't really like the ramen.
(3)Sasha C.
I tried the curry ramen with beef, very good. Joanna and Victoria, were very kind, checked on our table frequently and made the experience very easy on my grandpa.
(4)Christopher H.
I have seen people complaining about their customer services, but I honestly don't think that is the problem. The ramen is the problem. It tastes plain like, and clearly they did not spend much effort on the broth. If you are looking for a good "Japanese" ramen place, this is not the place for you.
(1)Jennifer B.
Very good!! First time going to a ramen house and very pleased!!! I tried the basic ramen bowl Shoyu, and was very satisfied. I do wish i would have asked them to add some salt, but other then that it was delicious!! I definitely plan to return and try some different items.
(4)Chris C.
I decided to try one of the better rated ramen houses in Sac, just to see what all the fuss is about. It was good, but not really go out of my way good. The place is very casual and small. You practically share a table with your neighbors. The place is so small, the bathrooms are outside (and you have to give them something to get the key...I think that qualifies the place as a dive). I had the spicy tan tan ramen. The noodles were surprisingly chewy, but I think that is a big deal for ramen folks. Indeed, I take it as a good sign lots of Japanese people were eating there. Everything was tasty enough. The minced beef was pretty lame...am I supposed to eat it at once or let it disperse throughout the soup and get lost? This place tries to "upsell" you on a lot of extras. I've seen a half cooked egg in David Chang's ramen stuff and it looked really good (e.g. bright, delicate and very soft yolk). So I got their "half boiled" egg. "Half boiled" my arse! I got some ugly (i.e. discolored), fully hard-boiled egg. What a let down. The service is avg. to below avg. It took a while to get my ramen, and for the whole 45 minutes I was there the table next to me had dirty dishes on it. My waiter never really checked on how I was doing. The place is pretty busy, and fills up quick, so you may have to wait at lunch or dinner time. Parking is scarce and their lot fills up.
(3)Soccer Chick M.
Their bathroom is like an out house that requires key access. I have been okay with that until now they are requiring a collateral for the key. Why is this necesaay if I m a customer. Thanks to their dumb bathroom policy we discovered the Ramen Noodle House today.
(1)Angela D.
Came here for a late dinner on a Tuesday night at about 8:30. We were greeted and seated right away. Within 5 minutes (literally) of placing our order, the food arrived. I had the Shoyu Ramen, which was full of flavor. My husband ordered the Tan Tan extra spicy! Yum! I'm definitely ordering that next time! Excellent customer service and Ramen that hit the spot will have me returning real soon!
(5)Jennifer G.
The best noodles in the world.
(5)Eric K.
My review and rating is only in comparison to the handful of ramen shops in Sacramento. I believe that Shoki Ramen House is the best place to have authentic japanese ramen. The artistry of ramen making from presentation to the amount of oil present in the soup base is what makes Shoki stand out from the rest. I am impressed each time by the attention to detail as well as the simplicity of the dishes. Service is prompt and professional. I respect the fact that the servers ask about any allergies or dietary restrictions. Atmosphere: The dining experience feels a little claustrophobic but its all part of the experience of a japanese ramen house. I believe the small space makes the experience even more authentic and true to its roots. Give it a try!
(5)Jonathan S.
Awesome. Tip If you pay with cash you can get a Stamp Card and eventually get a free bowl. The staff is very friendly and helpful.
(5)Jen W.
So...It was 100 degrees outside but I was craving a hot bowl of ramen. Yup, I must be crazy!!! Heard good things about Shoki...but this place really had me torn. They have a parking lot so that's a plus The service was friendly and efficient although he did knock my belongings to the ground. Besides that, he was extremely informative about the menu, gave us ideas, asked about allergies, etc. The ramen was quite confusing to me. We both ordered shoyu ramen...I asked for thick noodles while wifey ordered the thin ones. The ramen was EXTREMELY salty. It was almost inedible because of the extreme salt content....I was able to down quite a bit of water in order to counter the saltiness. The broth was refreshing though...tasted very natural and not so commercialized. The chashu wasn't great either. It had no texture whatsoever and just fell apart in my bowl. I also added a chashu donburi which wasn't impressive. The meat almost reminded me of tuna??? 3 stars because I loved the concept of healthy, natural ramen...-2 stars because the flavors were really off and inedible.
(3)Eddie H.
To be honest, I just don't get why everyone loves Shoki so much. I mean, it's not a bad choice when considering the few ramen houses in the Sacramento area, but I think there are a few that top Shoki, at least when it comes to the overall food experience. The service here is really good though. As soon as you walk through the door, you're greeted and seated or placed on a wait list (which I'm sure is a frequent occurrence). In my several experiences here, I was never too impressed by the soup. I may have the wrong palette for ramen, but most of the soups here lack much flavor, even though it's advertised as being a combination of three different broths. Mainly, the shoyu and tan-tan noodles both fall under the underwhelming category. I do really like the tsukemen here though. Can they make a broth out of that dipping sauce? Is it the same? My favorite thing about Shoki is that they offer whole-wheat noodles, which give it some really nice texture. Regardless of what I have here, I like to add the wheat noodles. Every visit here and the Curtis Park location, however, remind me of the time and craft put into the noodles and soups here though, and I can definitely appreciate it every time.
(3)Kristie F.
After seeing all my friend instagram and check-in to Shokis and raving about it, I finally came here for a try! The ramen was good and I finished my bowl satisfied and fulfilled. One problem. I ordered a regular bowl, with regular noodles. The guy that took my order punched in a large bowl, with large noodles. I get that they are trying to be hip and up-to-date with technology, so using ipads to take orders seems cool... BUT our waiter was having the toughest time maneuvering the ipad app, and thus, got my order totally wrong -_- But I won't complain too much, because it was still good! This location is bigger than Shoki I, but tables are small and clustered together, and I would recommend that a group of no more than 4 come eat here!
(4)Brian B.
What can I say about this place other than it serves oodles and oodles of soothing noodles and broth in a comforting bowl for the soul. I came here recently when I found myself slapped with a head cold and there was only one thing on my mind - a hot bowl of delicious ramen. For starters, this newer location is certainly a little more spacious than the OG spot, with an emphasis on "little". It has a nice gated patio in the front of the building that should provide for a relaxing lunch or entertaining fun-day in the spring, whichever is your fancy. Inside is pretty small, there's certainly room to move around here but I also arrived at the end of lunch with only a few other people inside. I could see this being a different story when it's a packed house and you might find yourself in a bit of a tighter fit and listening to your neighbors conversation. Service was good but also noticeable that the doors were locking soon and with not feeling all that great in the first place, I had no objections to making this visit short and sweet for the good of both of us. I ordered the Tan Tan Men - super spicy and it didn't take long at all until I was face deep in a bowl of hot broth and slurping wet noodles, and the flavors in all of this were nothing short of excellent. The level of heat was perfect and I suddenly found my head cold being bullied by an amazing hot broth that I could see myself drinking from a Thermos. The noodles were firm with a bit of chew, not soft and mushy like some might think they should be. I left here content and soothed and I could hear my achy and whining body quietly thanking me for the comforting greatness it had just taken in. Whether it's another day at the office or a cool afternoon, I'm looking forward to my next trip here where I can truly enjoy the happiness that Shoki offers without being under the weather.
(4)Brian P.
Shoki! It's always one of the options my friends give me when we're deciding on a spot for lunch. And there's a reason for that! Service: 7/10. Service is really what you'd expect from a place that can get uber busy. If they're not too crowded they servers are always super friendly and are really great when it comes to newcomers. And if it's busy they tend to just run around a little, but that's completely expected. Overall they're really friendly caring people. Food: 9/10. Ok so I have to be honest. I've only ever had one thing here. The Tan Tan Men. And honestly that's all I need to know that this place has some of the best ramen out there. The broth and the noodles just taste fresh. Like the moment I take a bite I imagine myself sitting in a little restaurant back in the olden days wondering how my crops are doing. From what I've seen this place is always a hit. Overall: Definitely try this place out. I was skeptical at first because my idea of ramen is in a plastic bowl that you microwave for three minutes. But this place has literally become one of my new favorite lunch spots!
(4)Brittney H.
Super spicy black sesame tan tan mein. This is our favorite. Even though they've toned down their spice level l, its still amazing. Yum!
(5)Leena N.
I am sitting inside shoki house and one of our party is running late. We got seated even though their policy states that all your party has to be present. We asked if we can order first, but that isn't allowed until all our party is here. I asked if we can order appetizers, and that too, isn't allowed. I cannot even order edemame, which is ridiculous. It's business. Oii... ok. Now that my rant is out of the way, I can get to the good stuff. Their menu is small and easy to say, all good. Their ramen is pretty decent. Favorable, simple, and satisfying. And if you come during the weekend, their special dessert Strawberry mochi is a killer. You should try that. Parking is great, but it can get really busy since it's a small restaurant. And, as stated above, have everyone present.
(3)James W.
Shoki is a Sacramento gem. There, I said it. Take a break from the usual burgers/tacos/pastas/pizza, etc. Ramen Houses have been popular since almost sliced bread. But this is not your high school kid's Ramen house -- you know, the dried 5-for-a-dollar stale noodles with the sketchy powder seasoning you dumped into a crunched up bag?! A slight exaggeration of the "fast food" Ramen houses out there, but Shoki offers you the BEST of Japanese food cuisine: freshness, healthiness and tastiness. No MSG, low sodium, and choice ingredients that are fresh, organic -- and any added meat is free-range (they use Mary's chicken!). There is even a gluten-free option on the menu (if that's your thing or need). Ramens cooked from scratch, toppings and acoutrements to garnish your ramen with -- and you pick the level of spiciness! I went with the Tan Tan Men and was not disappointed. First off-- order a small. It's plenty! Apparently the large size is the equivalent of half a basketball! Who eats like that? I enjoyed the thick noodles (I think next time, I may request "extra noodles), nori, spinach and delicious minced beef (other ingredients I'm missing most likely). I added green onions and mushrooms to complete it. Flavor was amazing. The staff is super-friendly and helpful -- always a plus! They aren't pushy or condescending. It's almost like they are glad you came to eat with them that night! Imagine that! I complimented the Ramen with Asahi -- a Japanese brew (they only have cans and bottles - nothing on tap, opportunity here???). My wife had a bottle of Sake. Both were good. With R Street really being invested in and developed, Shoki may want to consider putting more intentionality and thought into the aesthetics. (I know a great consultant if they need one!). The interior is drab and divish -- which is fine, if that's what they want. But I think there's plenty of options to keep this feeling and looking local, and also creative and inspiring.
(4)Serena R.
SO I've only been to Shoki a handfull of times but so far the tan tan men has my heart. If im feeling crazy I'll go for extra spicy, if I'm hungover and searching for my soul in a bowl of soup I get regular. & Can we talk about their tamago? It's like a litte ball of soft boiled perfection! I have to get one everytime.
(5)Tom H.
When you come to a restaurant and there is always a line of people waiting for ramen, you know it's a great place. When you're waiting on your food and the guy next to you have the biggest smile on his face when his order comes, you know the food is great. When you see the guy next to you sweating like a pig eating his ramen, you know your order is spicy. What is it about me and noodles ? First and foremost, I am Asian and I came from a family who loves noodles. I grow up eating this stuff, and I enjoy it till now. This love of noodles isn't going away any time soon. When I find a place that I love, I would not mind going a few miles out of the way just to eat it. This is one of those places. I don't mind waiting a little while for ramen. This is worth it. I rather wait for this place because I know by the time I get to eat this, I know my stomach will thank me. We are too impatient sometimes. Spend the time waiting with a good conversation. Consider this quality time. While I was waiting, I snapped some amazing images of Sacramento sunset. Time is not wasted. Slow down and enjoy those moments. We don't need to talk about food because it is amazing. If you want to challenge yourself, order the tan tan men, super spicy, and double up on cha siu. You will thank me and curse at me for letting you have something this amazing and spicy at the same time.
(5)Sarah T.
I got introduced to this ramen place by a co-worker. He suggested me to order the soy milk based ramen and it tastes absolutely amazing. I have never had any kind of soy milk based ramen before and this place got me hooked. Though the restaurant is small, I always feel very comfortable and welcome every time I dine in. I also took my boyfriend and sister to eat here quite a few times ever since and they love it very much as well. I work in sacramento but live in Davis. Every time my boyfriend wants ramen, I would drop by this place to get some to-go after work. The ramen tastes just as good at home. They don't offer large bowl for to-go order because they only have one size for the to-go container. I wish they do because the small bowl of ramen is just never enough for a ramen lover like me :) Overall I really like this place and I will definitely come back for more ramen in the future.
(4)Maryrose S.
Love the options here including the veggie only broth, low sodium broth and add-ons. Friendly service and tasty ramen!
(4)Kaoru C.
I ordered Tan Tan men which was pretty good as the noodles were not overcooked. But then I ordered a dessert. They had choices of "black sesame ice cream" and "green tea ice cream." As I rarely can have black sesame ice cream in U.S., of course I ordered it. What was served was far from black sesame ice cream. Yeah there were black sesame seeds alright but it was vanilla ice cream and black sesame seeds in it! I was shocked. Typically, black sesame ice cream is more like black grayish color and had a rich sesame cream taste to it. I feel like they run out of real black sesame ice cream and made this up in hurry (no, they didn't). I'm so disappointed I had to write it down on the credit card receipt so that the owner can read it. They should not deceive the customers like that. Okay, after uploading my review, I read the past reviews, and I found a description of black sesame ice cream as "This vanilla-based ice cream has just a hint of black sesame is drizzled with kuro miso, a Japanese sugar cane syrup, and sprinkled with these crunchy rice balls. " That's NOT what I got. No kuromiso, sugar cane syrup or sprinkled with the rice balls. Even if I got those toppings, I wouldn't have been satisfied anyway. Because black sesame seeds in vanilla ice cream is NOT Kuro Goma ice cream!!
(2)Kenny C.
Very good and authentic ramen. The actual ramen noodles were outstanding. Had that chewiness that you could feel that the noodles were fresh. The taste and presentation were also very good. The ramen was a little different than something like the Ramen House down the road. You also have options of selecting thickness of noodles and spicy ness of the broth for many of the dishes. If you're looking for Japanese other than ramen, this isn't the place although they have some limited rice dishes. Prices were very good also and they have a parking lot so you don't have to feed the meter for parking on the curb. Place is a little small and cramped, but price/food return is great! We prefer this restaurant over the Ramen House, but the styles of the dishes are different. Will go back.
(4)Kristen B.
Yay! I finally got to try this place! And, I'm glad it was during Valentine's too-he paid hehe As you walk in, you are greeted immediately from the employees. They're so nice. Our server said she would clean up a table for us, and as she went to clean the table, another employee asked us if we were already helped. Some may say that they're not paying attention, but I say it's nice :) She came back and walked us over to our table. Since it was our first time going there, we took a long time figuring out what we wanted. She was understandable and VERY polite. I don't remember the dishes we got, but the were similar. It might have been the Tan Tan Men, mine was with black sesame and his was with white sesame. I got the small and he got the large. And, whoa! The large IS a large! There's some places that just give you more broth in a bigger bowl, but they actually have more stuff in a bigger bowl. (Yay!) We both got the extra spicy. I wanted to try the super spicy, but since it was my first time trying this place out, I didn't want the spiciness to overpower the actual taste of the dish. The small was relatively small, but it filled me up at that moment. If you can eat, get the large. I got hungry an hour or so later. I couldn't taste any kind of spicy in mine. I don't think the black sesame worked well with spiciness. It didn't absorb. However, I could taste the spiciness in my boyfriend's and he had the white sesame. Maybe next time I try another broth. Since it's a small place, it gets packed really fast! I really like this place. Food is yummy, relatively good price, and the employees are so nice! Such a plus! The only downside is that their small is really a small, and the fact I couldn't taste the spiciness in my ramen, even when I added more spicy powder. The latter is my bad, I didn't know the black sesame wouldn't work well with spicy. I don't cook, so I don't know. Overall, great place! I will be coming back! :)
(4)Jess G.
Amazing food! I am pleased each time I eat here! The flavor of the soup, ramen and veggies is so good! They use local ingredients which makes me love them even more. The service is great and It is a great place to come for any occasion. I know we are all allowed to our own opinions, but if you come here and have anything bad to say about the food or the service, you might just be miserable in life. This is the best!
(5)Klaus M.
I freaking LOVE the ramen here. I'm no aficionado, but I know what I like, and I like this food! I always get the Tan Tan Men. Other things on the menu look good, but I'm stuck in a rut (or maybe a groove?) and I start to crave the delicious broth and noodles...mmm...so yummy. I've been adding the egg lately, and that is crazy delicious too. This operation is run very capably; the staff know their stuff and everything goes like clockwork. The manager (?), Saho, always takes good care of me. She's the one who looks like an Asian Sandra Bullock. If I have cons for this place, it would be the size and close proximity to the other diners (tables are really tightly placed). Also, the bathroom policy is ridiculous...you need to offer some piece of collateral (like a phone or wallet or your keys) to get the bathroom key...even if you are dining in the restaurant. I can't wrap my head around why that makes sense, but I just make sure I don't have to use the bathroom while I'm there. If you pay cash, you can get a stamp card and after 12 bowls, you get a freebie (used to be 10, but inflation?)
(5)Cindy T.
I used to enjoy coming here when it was in its grand opening phase. This place has gone down hill. They claim no MSG in their broth, but I always get very thirsty after eating there. The portion size is super small and add-on can cost you up to $15 a bowl! The service is super slow also. One thing that bothers me the most is the temperature of the broth. I love my broth nice and hot when it comes to noodle soup. Everytime I requested for my broth to be hot, it always seem to fail. I don't understand the concept of putting the items on a side plate for a small bowl of Tan Tan? When u put the stuffs in, the broth literally becomes luke warm. I won't be coming back here anymore. I will just stick to Ryujin for my ramen craving! Good ramen, good portion, hot broth, and fast service.
(2)Yvonne K.
A definite upgrade in venue space compared to their other branch! Seating is still pretty tight-knit, but you're not brushing up on the tables next to you every time you move when you eat here. I ordered the tsukemen and the boyfriend ordered the Tan Tan Men. I've had some pretty darn good tsukemen, and I wanted to see how Shoki stacked up to the rest. Unfortunately, their tsukemen was below par. The noodles were perfect -- chewy and fresh and delectable. But the broth was less impressive. It tasted like watered down soy sauce, which isn't exactly what I was expecting. It was also particularly interesting that their "chilled" noodles meant literally chilled: my noodles came out on a plate of ice, which started melting less than halfway through my meal, making the noodles a bit soggy... :( The Tan Tan Men was more impressive. It was spicy and flavorful with the same amazing noodles mixed into the broth. I'm kind of a wimp when it comes to spices, so that wasn't my first choice for ramen, but it was still yummy. We also decided to order the sesame ice cream to top off our lunch. It was... also a little disappointing. When we thought of sesame ice cream, we thought that we would get a black ball of delicious goodness. Instead, we got vanilla ice cream with some black sesame seeds dispersed throughout. We were a little confused and honestly felt a little ripped off... Lesson learned: when a place is called a Ramen House, just stick to the ramen. Period.
(4)Sergio S.
Authentic Japanese ramen in the middle of Sacramento. Because they use fresh ingredients, the menu is very flexible, offering substitutions for people who can't have gluten or want healthier options. The food is always really tasty. Because of its popularity, the wait can be somewhat long, but that's just a testament to how amazing this place really is. The staff is always really courteous and eager to provide top-notch service.
(5)Rhea C.
Technically 2 1/2 stars Shoyo reg/reg- Soy sauce base broth was ok at best. Need more flavoring for my taste. Extra charge for soft boiled egg as well as just about everything else. Chashu- sliver of pork tender but not at all enough. chashu's texture & taste was like... skirt steak. I've had better. Atmosphere- casual. Very small. Be prepared to wait outside. They do have heating lamps & seating outside. Service- friendly, fast, & attentive.
(2)Nick A.
2 star ramen, 3 star effort. Good for kid-size portions, price, and options, but there's better broth nearby.
(2)Curtis D.
Short version: Good portion sizes and awesome, pure, and simple flavors, but you have to pay extra for a lot of things including the half-boiled egg. I had awesome, attentive service from MULTIPLE servers. Will definitely be back for my ramen fix. Focus on their ramen; curry-don (rice bowl) and chashu-don was just ok. Long version: This place puts me at a crossroad.. Because their portion size is generous, but their menu makes it so you have to add on much of what would make an awesome ramen bowl! First off, I am used to Ramen House Ryujin down the street and they have pre-set orders. Meaning, you order a menu item (ramen bowl) and all the additives are chosen for you! Sometimes, simplicity is better. Shoki II has a wide variety of broths, noodles, and additives. This means gluten-free, vegetarian, and more. My one star deduction comes from the need to charge for the half-boiled egg and other things. I chose to have the Shoyu (soy-sauce based broth) with thin noodles. I added extra noodles (cheat day), more chashu, shitaki mushrooms, and the half-boiled egg. I even made it a set with curry-don (curry over rice.) However, they "ran out" of white rice and I had to get it with brown, no biggie. My bowl came and immediately, I knew I underestimated their portions. Ramen House Ryujin gives you only a small amount of noodles, so I ordered the extra noodle thinking it would be the same, oh no.. I struggled to finish. Curry-don was just ok.. Nothing special. But this BROTH.. mmmMmmmm... This is my new choice for ramen even though I have to add on some very important ingredients at extra cost.. Ramen and ramen only for me here.
(4)Kenny N.
Restaurant is small with an outdoor waiting area. 5 people crammed at a table for 4. Service was good but the food took a bit to come out. The extra spicy tan tan men with egg was alright. Noodles were good but the broth felt light, and personally I prefer it heavier and more flavorful. Like a previous reviewer mentioned, the inside of the egg was cold. I'd come back but I much prefer the orenchi in Santa Clara.
(4)Serjio A.
Best ramen noodle house in SAC perhaps da world! Tan Tan Men best intro for omnivores.
(5)Katrina T.
AW this place won me over when they had Soy Bean Ramen. Forreall? I never had ramen that captivated the taste of soy bean in my noodle soup! It tasted so fresh. The noodles were REALLY fresh. Every bite I took into it, it was a perfect crisp. You can tell they make their own noodles. Gosh I devoured my bowl of ramen within minutes because it was so flavorful! Love how the broth didn't look fattening at all! Not sure about how they run its payment process though. I guess it's not what I am used to. Not needing to pay for tip? Saves me that extra buck! Paying right before you eat and not after? Weird but okay!
(5)I T.
OMG!! Love this place. If you're having a bad day their Ramen will melt all your worries away. Tan Tan Men, Kurogoma, and Soy Milk are all awesome! Great service too!!!
(5)Niku L.
Shoki was the first true ramen I've ever had and I loved it when I came to the first location 3 years ago. However, it has gone downhill fast. First, they always keep asking if we have any dietary restrictions and I understand they want to cover their bases, but it becomes like a broken record after the second time. If you can't or don't want something tell the waiters. That's just common sense. But I could deal with all that if it wasn't for the fact that Shoki keeps changing their menu and practices to the point I get a headache from all the changes. I always get a small tan tan men ramen with shiitake mushrooms, soft boiled egg, and extra spicy. Then they change their menu to single, double, triple broth. Okay, they spell everything out now. BUT on top of that they put all the toppings on a plate and expect us to put it in the soup. The raw spinach and other cold toppings totally cool down your soup to a nice lukewarm, tepid ramen concoction. Is it too much to ask to at least blanch the spinach so it doesn't use the heat from the soup to cook completely? I end up with a lukewarm ramen on a cold winter day when I came in expecting a nice piping hot bowl of soup. They changed their eggs to hard boiled eggs which is ridiculous. Soft boiled eggs are what make ramen delicious and hard boiled eggs doesn't warrant a $1.50 charge. Another change that they made that irritated me is that they changed their basic menu again a few months after they made their second change. They got rid of triple broth (meat broth) because they want to cater to more vegetarian eaters and now we have to specify we want extra meat. That's fine, but I'd rather they kept all the broth types. I understand that restaurants can't please everyone, but until they can maintain a consistent menu they can't please me right now. They would get one star but the ramen itself is still good. Become more consistent please! I just want to clarify that I'm fine with seasonal menu changes- in fact I love restaurants with changing menus if I expect or know that is a facet of the restaurant. Shoki is a ramen house and people's expectations is that the menu will remain relatively consistent, but all these major menu changes will only drive your customers away.
(2)Phil C.
Have I mentioned how great this place is? Staff is great and very friendly and the food is wonderful. Get in early on the weekends or no rice dishes will be available! The beer is nice and cold and goes really well with the very spicy broth.
(4)Elaine H.
It was my first time here. Me and my friends wanted to try this place out since we were near by. Everyone was really friendly and we felt welcomed as they greeted. This place is really small and we came at a busy hour, so we had to wait. Which we didn't mind. I ordered tan tan men, since everyone recommended on yelp. I gave it a try, I didn't seem to like it. It had too much sesame in it and I also asked for medium spice. It wasn't even spicy after all. They had really slow service and we got no water refilled. Which we was patiently waiting for. This place is ok for my taste. I would give it another try next time.
(3)N I.
Rich broth, tasty noodles, fast service, and health-conscious ingredients. This is our go-to Ramen spot, and we won't likely be changing it. Try black-sesame broth if the option is still there, and ask for it spicy.
(4)Ben W.
I don't know what all the good reviews are about. This is a vegan hippy ramen shop. The broth has no flavor at all! They don't have any pork or miso base broth. if I had to choose between this place or .30 cent top ramen I would choose the Top Ramen! Orenchi ramen is SF and San Jose set the bar for ramen way to high.
(1)Edmond N.
This place is really good. The broth is way different then any other ramen restaurants. I usually get the tan tan but have tried the miso and the dipping one as we'll. The big down fall for me about this place is the price. They charge for everything. Any extras added is charged and it's not cheap. In Japan you can get a big bowl of ramen for 5 bucks. Love this place but I can't go there all the time. I paid $15 for a large with extra side. WAY TOO MUCH!!!
(3)Ashlee O.
I think I fell in love with this place the moment I stepped through the door. The wonderful aroma was mouth watering and the staff greeted my friend and I in Japanese right off the bat. I was pleasantly surprised at the amount of menu items including gluten free and vegetarian options. I had the basic shoyu ramen with tamago and tofu added in. It was delicious! Staff was friendly too. Will definitely return.
(4)Steve L.
This is larger than the original Shoki, but still very cramped, uncomfortable and LOUD. Importantly, the ramen bowls are still good and seemingly authentic, from my limited California perspective. The menu has evolved somewhat over the last several years, but the kitchen staff does a good job of keeping it real, and tasty. The Tan-Tan Men remains an excellent choice. Like many of the selections, you can spice it to preference and choose from several types of noodles. One note - the ramen used to come with cooked spinach. That's changed to raw baby spinach leaves, which saves money for the house as you need a lot more product for a respectable cooked portion. That type of thing always disappoints me.
(3)Kelly T.
Living in the Bay Area, I've had my fair share of good ramen and bad ramen. Now that I'm in Davis, I was craving for ramen. This had the best rating within driving distance, so my boyfriend and I gave it a try. I had the tan tan mei with the egg and my boyfriend ordered the shoku also with the egg. We both thought our ramen bowls were edible, but the after thought just didn't leave me wanting to come back. I actually felt like it has the potential to be good, but the broths were somewhat bland. The bamboo shoots and egg helped with the substance of the soup though. The spinach on the other hand did nothing. I had to add a lot of garlic and spice to mine, but still, it felt lackluster. I don't know if I'll be coming back.
(3)Michelle L.
Quick, friendly service. This is probably my favorite ramen place in Sacramento. I've tried other places like Ryujin, but I still like Shoki's more. I like how they do small versus regular because I can't always finish big proportions of food. The ramen is good and the noodles don't get soggy. The tan tan one is probably my favorite. It isn't too spicy even if you get mild, which is perfect because I don't eat spicy but sometimes it's nice to have a hint of spiciness. The only downfall was the soup wasn't hot enough. It was just slightly warm.
(4)Jessie D.
I like the food here, the tan tan men spicy is delicious. What I'm writing about is my experience there. I went with a group of people and we were taking an order from a new waitress she politely said so you want this and did a little point at me to confirm, the manager or supervisor I think his name was Jonathen practically yelled at her to never point at a customer. It was very uncomfortable and I felt very bad for the waitress, we all did. I thought it was rude and unproffesional. Then something must have happened in the back because I heard a man yelling in Japanese at a worker. I wanted to get out of there fast. I like the ramen but I wouldnt go dine there again, maybe takeout.
(2)danyle w.
Boyfriend went to Shoki on Sunday around 6:30. The wait was over 45 minutes and once again they were out of eggs. I don't know how they can continuously run out of something that is a crowd favorite, it's poor business planning. They also messed up on one persons ramen order in the group. Shoki has consistently gone down hill.
(1)Linda N.
To me, Shoki is one of the better ramen houses in Sacramento but the employees can be very robotic and it's good for Sacramento I also do not recommend this as a date night place unless you want people eavesdropping next to you. Shoyu ramen - flavorful and one of my favorites but they charge you $1.00 for every topping -____- Shio - light and salty but in a good way. Its a ramen I can devour without feeling cramped and bloated Curry ramen - basically watered down curry in a broth. As much as I love curry, I wouldn't recommend this. If you read my previous post, I loved curry ramen but this time was no bueno.
(3)Courtney B.
The service was horrible. We got to the restaurant at 7:45pm and left at 9pm. When me and my 3 companions got to the restaurant, there were a couple of small parties in front of us. The crowd finally started to die down and after 20 minutes, we were finally called. When we were seated and ready to order, no one came to greet us. We sat at the table for probably 10 minutes trying to flag someone down. Finally we got our waters and beer and asked the waitress if we could order. She said she could not take orders and only does drinks. And then she turned around and left. We had to flag down another waiter for our orders and finally got to order after 30 minutes of waiting at our table. It took another 30 to 45 minites of waiting for our food to come out. We were asked to move because they needed the space for a large group. So they stuck us right next to the large group and made everyone way more cramped then we should have been. We were thinking about leaving and going else where when our food finally came. The food was ok. This was my second time here and I don't think I will be back. The service was way too slow and neglected us the whole time and the food was only decent.
(2)Gabriel N.
It's a nice, small and quiet place. My friends and I like coming here, since there really isn't a legit ramen place in Davis. This place is a little bigger than the other Shoki Ramen House, but not by much. As such, there's normally a line if you arrive ~45 minutes after opening. My favorite dish is the Tan Tan Men extra spicy (always large because it's so good and I'm always so hungry). My tastes buds love it, my body doesn't. Even though I end up using a napkin or two to dab up all my sweat, I'm satisfied. I've tried most the other ramen as well. The Shoyu and the soy milk ramen are both really good too. All of the broths have their own distinct flavors that are strong, but doesn't overbear the ramen or anything else. The staff here are really friendly and service is really fast. The only thing is the whole new paying upfront and new stuff they're trying out with payments. It doesn't get in the way of the food experience though.
(4)Joycelyn L.
Got here around 6:30pm for dinner and there was a 30-minute wait. They have some heated lamps outside to keep you warm and some chairs and tables for you as you wait. Ended up getting the Tan Tan Men Triple Soup, Regular Spicy, with corn and chasu (3 slices) as sides. The Tan Tan Men is a spicy soy sauce base that was pretty good. I got regular spicy just so it wouldn't mask the flavor but they have the spices at the table to add if you want to increase the level of spicyness. Noodles were al dente. I thought the broth could have a bit more flavor so I added some of the minced garlic. Once you order I noticed they bring out your bowl within 10 minutes of ordering. Service was prompt and friendly. I recommend a regular size for a good appetite.
(3)Joseph C.
Just finished eating the tan tan men as the previous helpers had suggested. Staff was great, ambience fit the type of food I was eating, but the ramen lacked just the right amount of salt. I am definitely a heavy sodium user, so I solicited my wife and sisters opinion as well and we came to the same consensus. I'm glad I added the curry set cause the side dish was the best part of the meal.
(3)Dustin D.
The noodles are really good! Tan-Tan Men is my favorite!
(4)Alison W.
I'd been hearing that more and more ramen places have been popping up all over Sac recently. And Shoki is the best one. I think this is their second location, not the original. But this one is open on Sunday, the other not. So that's a plus. I went early expecting a long wait but we got there and it was only about half full. Though there was a wait when we left. So we were seated right away. From my friend's recommendation, I had the seasonal tomato ramen. I love that it's only seasonal, making it special. And I love me some tomato - it's my favorite fruit/vegetable. Broth had lots of good tomato flavor. They even came me some milky liquid to add to it to make it creamier. It didn't really need it but I added it for the end half of my bowl to compare. I think I just like the plan tomato broth. Combined with veggies, some pork and fresh tomatoes. And the noodles were cooked very well. My friend had the shoyu ramen. I tried the broth and it was very soy saucey. Lunch set us back a little over $20. Didn't see a restroom inside. And they have a small parking lot adjacent. Street parking also seemed easy on a Sunday.
(4)Evan S.
Short and sweet review: The flavors you will experience here are NOT AMERICANIZED. If you are looking for something novel, try it out. With lots of addons, a HUGE bowl of soup that you will not be able to finish will come out to around ~$11-12. Dinner for 2 around $30. Packed regularly, and for good reason. Does take-out, too. Nice change of pace from the more predictable restaurant flavors of the area.
(5)Monu K.
Years ago... when I used to watch a lot of anime... I also watched a lot of Naruto. Naruto loved ramen. Hell, I almost got as excited as he did when i saw how much Naruto loved the ramen he got. But to my dismay... the ramen in real life just wasn't anything worth getting excited about. Until I found Shoki's! Now I too get excited like Naruto. And I'm all like, dattebayo!!! But here is the fascinating kicker... my favorite vegetarian dish is the Tan Tan Men which is made from Yasai Vegetable soup, topped with spinish, menma, moyashi and nori. Which... doesn't sound that amazing. But let me assure you there is some magical spices being used in this dish because there is much more to it than what meets the description! It's amazing. This is the type of meal that I can stuff up on even on a full stomach (I've done this before). The wonderful aroma forces your body to find a way to get this food into your system. But beyond the food, the atmosphere inside the restaurant is perfect for a date or outing with some friends/family. Everyone can "oooo" and "ahhh" about the spiral tree before you walk in to the restaurant. The customer service is ALWAYS very friendly, they have almost surprising consistency in regards to this. They do the ordering on an ipad with a very slick ordering interface, leaving very little room for error. TLDR: Place is awesome. :)
(5)Ahavah I.
The ramen is good. Shio is my favorite broth. The prices seem fair as well. The wait tends to range, so be prepared to wait up to 30 minutes before being seated on a busy night. Unfortunately, this is when service breaks down a bit. After being seated you may wait to place an order and/or receive your food only wonder if they were on a jet ski to Japan to get your broth. Other than 50/50 chance waiting 45-60 min from arrival to food... The ramen is tasty. We visit so often that we've tried every food on the menu except for a couple of appetizers and the ramen that has noodles served chilled. -1 star because these suckas close their kitchen 15 or 10 minutes before close even for take out. Seriously? Shoki, consider closing the kitchen when you actually close your doors because practically everything on your menu has been previously made or at least prepped. So it's pretty quick to put together in a bowl... Yes we know how quick it can be because we've been given our food less than 5 minutes after ordering before... Rare but it happened.
(3)ThuyVi T.
I've been here many times I have lost counts, but I always get the same thing each and every time. They are truly the best ramen joint in town. Their menu is simple and simply delicious. Good thing my work is just three blocks away so whenever I'm craving a nice, hot bowl of tan tan men I just walk down the street. The only problem is they get packed during lunch rush so either get here when they open or after the lunch rush to get yours. Dinner is the same. Happy eats :)
(5)Stephanie H.
I'm not a huge fan of ramen because I typically like my food a bit plainer. I just want noodles, broth and maybe a few green onions. Most places give me a weird look or just don't offer that. This place had lots of options available, were friendly and informative and delicious. The portions are quite large as well. I went with a party that likes ramen and all the stuff that typically comes in it and everyone left happy. I remember the bill being reasonable as well.
(5)Ankara N.
Nice small ramen restaurant. the tables are really close together, which is the down side. The food is good.
(3)Justin G.
Curry ramen was an epic FAIL! Broth was bland. And Raw spinach in a curry broth? Ryujin is superior!
(1)Anna W.
super slow!! They told us it only takes 25 mins to wait but it actually takes 1 hour. After we are seated, another 30 mins wait
(1)Con Cac T.
first time at this location. I had the tan tan men "extra spicy" with added chasu. 3.0 stars for the actual taste of the broth. had good flavor. the noodles had good texture as well. it was not however, spicy at all for being "extra spicy" my gripe,(and its a big one) is that the broth was not steaming hot at all. the reason for this I think is because the minced beef and the spinach that is added on top the soup came straight out of the fridge. same with the added chasu. they were cold to the touch. disappointed. very. I don't think spinach is supposed to be crunchy with ramen noodles. will not be back here anymore if serving lukewarm broth in the norm.
(2)Jacob C.
Food is fantastic the service is absolutely horrible. Vacuuming at 845 when you close at 10, putting up tables and chairs, no garlic, no pepper blend, no water, no utensils, forgot my rice, no pork in my soup, and meanwhile I don't have a spoon. When I told them about the lack of service it was non-nonchalant. Please get better servers to accompany the food. This is a place I love and it's a shame that my experience the past two times has put a damper on how I usually feel.
(2)Brian J.
Best I've had yet!!!! And the service was great too! Worth the 2 hour drive from Reno and definitely worth the 45 minute wait! Chrissy is very nice too!
(5)Rachel K.
Omg. Soooooo freaking good!! There is usually a short wait but it's so worth it. Kurugoma tan tan is my fav!!
(5)Greg T.
Yummy dashi which is necessary die good Ramen.
(4)Tiffany Y.
Is it possible for this place to be better than the original?? Many friends don't like this location, they prefer the first one. This location is definitely larger but the owners managed to make the space feel cozy and nice. The original location to be felt a bit...odd? Their food here is pretty darn good. I got their tan tan men. It wasn't what I was expecting. I liked it but I had wished it were more spicy. I thought it would be spicy and when I ate it I was a bit disappointed. Should have asked for a higher spice level. No fault of theirs. This place definitely cures my ramen cravings
(5)Amir B.
Good Food, but a bit pricey for ramen; overall a pleasant experience, and the customer service was on point. The curry ramen, which is what i ordered was ok nothing to rave about, so thats why i gave this place three stars; definately recommend giving it a shot though!
(3)Ginger M.
Been to both Shoki locations more times than I'd like to admit. Delicious ramen and I love that when possible, ingredients are sourced locally, organically and sustainably. Where else can you get ramen with grass-fed beef? This can be guilt-free ramen (as long as I don't go crazy with the toppings!) at extremely reasonable prices. I've brought two Japanese curry-lovers here and both have enjoyed Shoki's curry. Every now and then, hiyayakko (local tofu with ginger, scallions, bonito) hits the spot as a refreshing, shareable starter. My favorite: the kurogoma tan tan (soy-based with black sesame seeds) - it was a server's rec and I've been hooked for months. I customize my order about 7 different ways and they always get it right. Things have been disappointingly inconsistent the last few months, but we're hoping all will get back to normal once school gets back in session. Can't wait, been missing Shoki. If there's a wait at the R street location and you don't mind the lack of ambiance, the 24th street location usually has a table open - we call first.
(4)Jessica T.
I'm back! So the wait was awhile but it's okay because it's so good. They've upgraded their menu from a laminated paper to an actual menu. Also, they've upgraded from a notepad for taking orders to an iPad! :) I got the usual for me. Which is the Tan Tan Men with more oil, more salt & softer noodles. It's so good!! They also changed their restaurant to a café style restaurant so customers pay right after they order and tip is not necessary.
(5)David C.
If you want good solid ramen, Shoki's is a place. All their ramen bowls are good and can match whatever mood I am feeling that day. They used a double or triple stock methods for their broth, which means they combine a seafood, vegetable, and/or meat components into one broth. Shio: Shio Ramen is a salt based broth based on a lot of ingredients that are known for their umami flavor. It is what I think is their cleanest broth. It has a clear color from most likely chicken, vegetables, fish and seaweed. They add some cracked black pepper to give it a little extra kick. Currently this is my favorite broth because its simple and delicious. Shoyu: Shoyu ramen is a soy sauce based broth and to me my least favorite. That doesn't mean its not good, it just seems average to me. Shoyu is made from the typical meat, veggie, seafood broth combination and is topped off with some soy sauce for a distinct flavor. It is not as easy as adding soy sauce to the broth, as some places simmer their soy sauce in roasted chicken bones with sake. Shoyu is also the base broth for some of the other ramen listed below. Shoyu is a standard ramen broth, but it just not for me. Tan Tan Men: Tan Tan Men has a shoyu ramen broth and additional spices and sesame oil are added to give it a nice kick. Instead of the standard chashu that comes with shoyu, Tan Tan Men comes with ground beef. I would suggest getting one level above spicy if you can handle some heat. It is usually has the right balance between spicy goodness and the brothy broth flavor. If you just want to pretty much chow down spicy hot oily, get the spiciest level. Soy milk Ramen: I was really skeptical when I first heard about this, but it is absolutely delicious. I believe it is a combination of Shoyu broth and some fresh soy milk. It does not have an overpowering sweet soy milk taste that you would imagine. The soy milk is very subtle and light, and hey, shoyu is made from soy sauce and soy sauce is made from soy. It is pretty much meant to be. Words can't really describe it, so I would suggest trying it for yourself. They provide you with sesame oil to add in to give it a unique flavor half way through. Curry Ramen: If you like Japanese curry rice, this is pretty much that but with ramen. They take your standard Shoyu broth and add some of their house curry to it. This has the most flavor out of all the broths, but sometimes flavor can overwhelm you. This is really good for those cold days when you want a hardy tasting broth. Tsukemen: This is the cold noodles of ramen. You get your noodles and meat served on a bed of ice and a nice hot dipping sauce on the side. The dipping sauce has a vinegary flavor, and it can be described as sweet and tart soy sauce. The dipping sauce gets cold after a while from the dipping of all the cold noodles, but it is still a refreshing meal if you don't want to be drinking broth. Noodles: The noodles are always firm and chewy as is the case for all fresh ramen noodles. They offer regular and whole wheat options. I have only had the regular option because they're just so good I don't not want to risk trying something just okay. Their noodles comes out of plastic bags, so they might purchase their noodles but I have heard otherwise. Most places buy their noodles even in Japan, so there's no shame in that. The noodles that they have, are probably the best out of all the places in Sacramento. It just can't compare. When you are eating your ramen and you want to change it up a little, they provide grated garlic and crushed peppers on the side. I usually add them in half way through, just becareful when you add the garlic. You can't taste the flavors immediately. When it sits in the broth for a bit, it becomes pretty strong. I usually add 1/4 to 1/2 of a spoon if I get a large bowl of ramen. Don't add too much if you're planning to drink all the broth. Sizing: I think the medium size is the perfect size for most eaters. There are exceptions for people who have small appetites. The big eaters are encouraged to get a large, but adding extra noodles and/or meat to a medium size can fill you up more than getting a large by itself. The service here is good. They also say 'Welcome!' and 'Thank You' in Japanese as you enter and leave. The waiter or waitress is thorough when they take your order. They make sure you are not allergic to anything and are very helpful. The place is somewhat small, so I would suggust going in parties no larger than 4. The wait during peak house can be 30 to 40 minutes, but its worth the wait. Overall, it is a reasonably priced ramen joint with plenty of variety. I wouldn't say its the best ramen I have ever had, but you can taste the quality put into the broth.
(4)Rebecca F.
I still LOVE the food but I think their popularity lets them get away with the obscure rules they implement on patrons. You have to turn in an item of value (license, car keys, etc.) to be allowed to have the bathroom key. You can't sit down until everyone in your group is there, even if you want to order already. Shoki-don't let your popularity go to your head.
(4)Jume T.
First time trying this place. To be honest, I had no idea what I was ordering. Great customer service but the bowl that I had ordered was not much of a hit for me b/c it was a little bland. I may have walked in with too high of an expectation based on other Yelpers. We left the place still hungry and actually hurried home to make a yummy bowl of homemade Neoguri noodle soup instead. So much flavorful! Hehe...
(3)Mariah D.
Lipstick on my glass and I still go back every week:/ Sad to say, but Shoki is that good. Always worth the wait.
(5)Luke C.
I went to Shoki for the first time today with a friend who really enjoys this place. Entering the restaurant at lunch time, it was pretty crowded. We had to wait for about 15 minutes before getting seated. It's a testament to its popularity, for sure! After being seated, we were attended to right away. As others have stated, the menu could be a little difficult to navigate for first-timers, but thankfully our friend helped us figure out what to get. I ended up getting the shoyu noodles, while my wife went for the shio noodles. We both also added on side dishes of rice. My rice dish was with curry and my wife's was with the shredded chashu (pork). The regular sized noodle portion is pretty generous. It definitely filled me up perfectly. There is both a smaller and a larger size to try. The little extra rice dish definitely topped me off. I really enjoyed the shoyu noodles. The noodles were al dente, rather than soft. They could have been a little softer, but the hardness of them made for a heartier meal. What I really enjoyed was the soup the noodles came in. The Shoki menu goes into detail about it, and the pride they have in it shows with its flavor. It's a mild, not overly salty, taste - pretty subtle. It's a great compliment and base for the noodles and ingredients you choose to put in it. My only slight disappointment today was with the curry rice dish. There wasn't much in terms of depth of flavor to it, and to be honest, the plating was sub-par. My wife's chashu rice dish, on the other hand, looked and tasted great. Good thing I was able to steal a bit off her bowl! Overall, I really did enjoy Shoki Ramen House. The quality of food and service is very good, and I'm looking forward to my return trip!
(4)Nikki K.
I ordered their Tan Tan Men and Tsuke Men. I love their noodles!! Tsuke Men broth was so tasty and flavorful. They open late on Fridays and Saturdays. Price is very reasonable too.
(5)Dan M.
This place ROCKS! Simple surroundings and hidden on R Street, but the Ramen at this establishment is wonderful!! My girlfriend said she was coming back tomorrow and she was going to bring her kids with her all the way from Roseville;-) This place is my new favorite restaurant in Sacramento.......
(5)Amy T.
My friends and I heard that Shoki was a great place to get ramen in Sac. This was actually my first time trying out a ramen restaurant so I was pretty excited. This place had a homey feeling to it especially since it's a bit small. We had to wait about 10-15 minutes to get a spot with a total of 6 people in my party. It was worth it and I was satisfied. I ordered the Soy Milk Ramen with wheat noodles because I wanted to be a bit healthy that day. I really enjoyed my meal; the noodles were delicious and the broth was satisfying as well. I wished they added more meat though. I would come back to this place and when I do I will be trying their other ramens!
(4)Lyna T.
Every time I come back to Sac on Sunday to visit family and shop for supplies I come here for dinner before I head back to the bay. The ramen here is the closest to what I had in Japan. The space is a little small so theres sometimes a wait if you have a big party but I never mind waiting because its always worth the wait for me.
(5)Tam M.
I've gone to Shoki a few times now and I've ordered the same exact thing each time. The tan tan men without meat. I love the texture of the noodles, it's just right! If you're someone who doesn't like sesame seeds, you won't like this because the broth is all sesame. It say that it's spicy, however, I do tend to add more chili powder to it. The staff is nice and welcoming. I've never had a bad experience with them, my partner ordered some tea and there was something that had fallen into her cup, we told her waiter, he apologized and got us a brand new mug. When we got the check, we noticed that he had taken the tea off the bill completely. The only reason why I gave it 4 stars is because there was one too many flies there and I wasn't comfortable trying to eat and swat flies. Other than that, great place to ear and great for friends.
(4)Marlena P.
#3 yam noodles mmm! Lunch is pretty busy on a weekday. 1pm about 15-20min wait. It's loud and crowded.
(5)Ward S.
Well service was very slow today. Not sure why it takes 25 minutes to get ramen but the food was good. Next time is like to see much faster service because it is lunch time and I don't have an hour plus lunch.
(3)Megan S.
My husband and I recently moved to Sac and this restaurant reminds us of the places we loved while we were in SF! This is a cute little restaurant with emphasis on great quality food made from scratch with ingredients sourced largely from local, organic, sustainable farms AND an utterly reasonable price tag! We loved this place, will definitely be going back, and highly recommend it! We've only been once so far, but our favorite dish was the tan tan men - delicious!
(5)Yahui Z.
How can you not have miso ramen in a Japanese ramen shop? Way too funny....so i ened up with a very watery shio ramen...
(1)Kate G.
i got the shoyu ramen and a glass of ume shu both good, and the only reason they dont get 5 stars is because they dont have miso ramen but aside from that, the food, the service, and everything else was great but beware of the 'spicy stuff" they make it in house and its very hot
(4)Jessica T.
This is definitely the finest ramen location in Sacramento. Actually, I am confident to say that it is among the top 5 ramen shops in all of California. I have been to most of the finest ramen shops in the Peninsula, Los Angeles, and San Francisco. A couple important suggestions. They cook always perfection, and it's the star of the ramen bowl and this fine soy sauce flavor that makes them delightful. Their broth is deep, complicated, but not overwhelmingly hefty. It is really quite light. Everything about their ramen bowl reveals these men actually understand what they are doing.
(5)Jennifer S.
Efficient service and fast for a late night meal. Came from a dance workshop and was starving, I was lucky to find Shoki was still open... There are no late night ramen houses in my area. Glad I found it!
(3)Tricia M.
This is the only restaurant in the universe that will leave my kids completely speechless. Put a bowl of shoyu ramen in front of them with chashu and enjoy the silence. And for that reason (and for their relish noodles), I will be a regular for life! I take one star away for not offering kamaboko or fried tofu as optional toppings (but I get it. Less is more, right? And their tamago makes everything okay). This location is where I go with friends and family. For a quiet, peaceful lunch solo, I'll hit the original Shoki Ramen House in Curtis Park. That's just the way I roll.
(4)Adonis V.
Alright, I tried to like this place, they seem to have a good following so I ate here one night unimpressed but gave them the benefit of the doubt and came back the next night. Reading their menu, they seem to evoke this healthy sort of approach to their cooking. Unfortunately, it doesn't translate to tasty cooking. The Ramen is simply dull - both, the noodles and broth. I came here because a friend raved about the Tan Tan Men, I ordered the super spicy and it simply lacked any kick or flavor. Still, there was a crowd it was very hard to get a seat so I figured I probably ordered the wrong thing and should come back to order a different one. I came back for round two and this time I ordered Shio Ramen, which uses a Sea salt based broth. Sea salt is appropriate alright, it tasted like they scooped up regular sea water fresh out of the ocean and boiled it to use for broth. The consistency of the noodles is a bit off as well and it's nowhere near as good as other Ramen houses. There are a couple of saving grace to this place and hence the not so bad rating. They have a very good side dish for $2.50 that happens to be one of my favorites - a simple boiled cabbage with soy sauce. They also claim to use local produce and offer gluten free noodles. I'm not an expert of Ramen but I have been to several dozens already and spanning several cities so I can attest to quality. If you want good Ramen in Sacramento, try the Aka-Tonkotsu at Ryujin and if you're into vegetarian Ramen try their (Ryujin) Akai Ramen.
(3)Andrew S.
I had the tan tan men bowl. It's pretty good. Guess I should have ordered it spicier. Definitely a good serving size. I'm curious to try the curry flavored one during my next visit.
(4)Alice W.
Hands down my absolute favorite place to eat in all of Sacramento. I am completely addicted to their delicious ramen. Every time I go I get an extra spicy tantanmen and it is never short of phenomenal. A dash of garlic to the broth makes it absolutely perfect and I love that I have the option to have my noodles slightly less cooked, making them a little more firm, which I love. Add extra noodles if you're worried you might not fill up on a regular bowl, or get a large! The broth is incredible! It's a pretty small restaurant and the service isn't always amazing but I'm willing to overlook all of that for the delicious ramen, best I've ever had!
(5)Vanessa L.
Came here during lunch time around 1. I wanted ryujin but thought I'll come here since my bf loves this place. He always order the same thing, tsuke men. (He thinks it's the best one in sac) For me, I don't think the ramen has much flavor. I've tried the shoyu before and today I had the tan tan men with egg with regular spice. Definitely didn't taste any spice at all! The soup was also lukewarm. Customer service is a big thing for me, which they lacked. Not once did they come to check up on us. Our waters were empty and we didn't get any refills. We sat right in front of the kitchen too, so it's not that hard to see us. They also forgot my bfs egg that he ordered with his ramen and they didn't even apologize when we told them. We also ordered an appetizer, cream cheese & katsuo. We didn't know what that was but we both love cream cheese so we thought why not? It was definitely not what we expected. It was literally just blocks of cream cheese with seaweed, dried fermented fish and soy sauce! What the hay, now we know. It was interesting tho, but we won't be ordering that again. I wouldn't want to come back but I know I probably would be since this is my bfs fave ramen spot in sac -_-
(2)Summer M.
Shoki serves some SERIOUSLY good ramen... as good as, if not better than, ramen I've had in Japan! I was recently craving a ginormous bowl of noodles (as I'm known to crave) so we tried Shoki. I love when the whole staff of a Japanese restaurant yells greetings and goodbyes at you. That is downright friendly. I ordered the large bowl of shoyu ramen and let me tell ya, their large is NO joke. That bowl is so big you can lower your face into the broth... I know, I did the research. The noodles were slightly al dente which I love, the broth was perfect, and the ramen fixin's were a fantastic compliment to the taste. At the server's suggestion, I added garlic paste and J added chili sauce halfway through our bowl; we really liked finishing our meals with a second flavor. I washed it all down with a ramune and I left one full and happy girl. Absolutely fantastic! Keep serving, Shoki, and I'll keep slurping!
(5)Jane D.
How great to find a ramen house that actually has vegan options! The soup was really good, the noodles tasted fresh...I ordered the Shio ramen without sesame cause I'm allergic and I added tofu and shiitake mushrooms. The mushrooms were particularly good so I recommend those. Definitely a great place to check out for vegans and vegetarians who are craving some good ramen.
(5)Anna C.
Got a large bowl of tan tan men extra spicy with chashu on the side and boy the bowl was huge! Um extra spicy tasted like mild spicy, my only complaint because even my bf who can't handle spice that well thought so too. So don't be afraid to order extra spicy if you are a mild spicy person I can gurantee you extra spicy has only 5% kick. I recommend a large because it is great for sharing!
(4)Phillip S.
Oh Shoki, what happened? I came back to sac in June after a long hiatus in CR. I was dreaming of shoki, organic broth, Japanese staff, unparalleled customer service. Then, they seem to have been under extreme demand, because not only did the menu change (simplified), but they hired new cook staff and new wait staff. All of a sudden, my soup is hit or miss...sometimes, waaay too much pepper in shio, sometimes the broth was lukewarm. I know the ins and outs of the ramen world and there is nothing but human error at fault. Then the wait staff. ..I'm in the restaurant right now and after returning from the restroom, I was asked by the waiter if I would order up at the counter....seriously? I come here nearly once a week, always tip generously, and he doesn't want to walk to my table? He asked in a very pleading sort of way, like he knew it was a ridiculous request but hoped I would comply....I'm kind of a di*k when I get poor service...so I said no and walked to my table, he then apologized for asking. Now that my soup has come, I still have no spoon, garlic, or spice. I go places rarely and only because they have seriously high standards of both food and service. My yelp pet peeve is low star reviews because a party of 8 had to wait 45 minutes on Friday night somewhere but don't say ish about the food, and while the food at shoki is still good, it isn't great anymore. And the service is making me consider not coming to the R location anymore.
(2)Rory L.
I came here on a Saturday afternoon and there was surprisingly no wait (thought there would be a long one given all the Yelp reviews). The restaurant has a very casual and intimate feel; bonus points for the private lot parking since parking is a nightmare downtown. I had the regular Shoyu ramen and my friends had the Tan Tan Men ramen with an egg at extra charge. I thought it was a decent bowl of ramen, but nothing too extraordinary. There was a good amount of bite to the noodles and the ingredients seemed fresh. Perhaps it is because I am not a seasoned ramen eater that I cannot tell the difference between superior, good, and bad ramen? Other than that the service as good and the wait staff was polite.
(3)Allan B.
worst service at a restaurant I have ever had and this is not the first time I have been treated badly at this location. be warned the lack of a waiting area is a warning sign of how unprofessionally this place is run although small they could re arrange things to be slightly more accommodating to customers. the staff leaves plates and doesn't clean tables promptly which causes excessive waiting time during busy hours. they also make you wait in the cold if you get a to go order call ahead or you will wait a long time for them to throw slightly warm soup and noodles in a box. sorry too rich for my blood
(1)Tiffany D.
I like ramen, but Shoki Ramen House MADE ME LOVE RAMEN! I have tried other ramen places before, but Shoki's ramen tastes so fresh ...and that broth...oh my goodness, the broth! The noodles and the broth compliments each other so well. My favorite is the Tantan Men - spicy soy-sauce broth that is topped with minced beef. They offer Soy Milk Ramen, which is something different and I have tried it, but I don't care for it. The taste of the soy milk overpowers the taste of the broth and the noodles. It also does not look as appealing as the other ramen noodle selections. The layout of the restaurant is simple and small. It's packed during dinner hours so come early when it opens at 5:30 or later at 8 because you don't want to wait about 20 minutes for a seat.
(5)Emma C.
I absolutely loooove the soy milk ramen here! I always add egg, and also the curry rice on the side. This is my go-to place for ramen, because it's just so delicious! The only reason I didn't give 5 stars is that sometimes when I come later in the evening, the soup is not hot. Several times, I have had soup that is just slightly warm, and this makes the ramen less appetizing. This place is also very small, so be prepared to be crammed next to other people! The wait can also gets long during lunch and dinner hours.
(4)Elisabeth T.
4 stars because the ramen was tasty, the staff was very friendly, helpful, and accomodating, and I found parking outside the building in a jif. I had the Kuro... ramen. Good, but the reguler portion was a little small, they do have the option of getting Extra portions of noodles and toppings, so I'll definitely get extra noodles next time. The texture was different, grainy, but delish. The meat was ground beef instead of sliced pork like other ramen houses. all in all its worth the try, but I'll continue my search for the ultimate Kuro at another ramen house.
(4)Tim G.
Finding a good ramen place in Sacramento is not as rare as one might think. Shoki II popped into my radar when searching for my ramen fix. It's kinda in the middle of nowhere if you ask me but I don't mind. The restaurant is bigger than most hole in the wall ramen restaurants and it has a parking lot too. I was really surprised that Tonkotsu was not on the menu. I did look at the other options and settled on the Tan Tan Men with three different types of broths and extra noodles. I've never seen a restaurant that allows you to customize your soup. You can choose the types of broth, additional toppings like bamboo shoots, and how you want your noodles cooked. Far out! The broth was something else. It was not overly salty or full of pork fat like Tonkotsu. Another element absent was MSG which they proudly claim is not present. MSG really does mess me up and leaves me drinking lots of water. If you take a look at the pictures, you'll see that ordering a large with extra noodles might not be a good idea if you're not hungry. I was able to finish it all without any difficulty. The noodles were cooked al dente, the way I like it. Why don't all ramen joints offer a large option? I also like how they had rayu oil available on the table instead of just red pepper. The owner came by to talk to us and she's super friendly. She told us the story of how she started the business with her husband and we asked about the broths. They make it fresh in house daily and the reason they don't offer Tonkotsu anymore is because it's pretty unhealthy. They focus on MSG free and low fat broths. I will be back again!
(4)Carolyn N.
Tan tan men extre spicy with egg please! Nom nom nom! Honestly, I love noodles such as pan-fried noodles, vermicelli, etc, but I never thought I'd be in love with Ramen. My friend introduced me to this place a while back and I rave about it to everyone. Their broth is so good! I love how it's not super greasy or oily! The only thing is that the wait for food can be long - like sooooo slow. Sometimes I feel like I could just wilt and die sitting there waiting for the bowl to come out. Everytime I see the waiter come towards me with a bowl I get excited, only to become disappointed that it's for the table next to me. So sad... If you're okay with waiting for food then yes, come here. It's definitely worth the wait if you don't die before getting it. LOL! :)
(4)David T.
Waited too long. Like... for so long that the sky turned dark and we weren't hungry anymore. Still, we ate there and loved it but the noodles aren't really that "unhealthy" to fill you up.. still left a bit to be desired. I've had Ramen in Japan and this comes very close to it so in that regard it's great. Just, they need a bigger location and more staff for the amount of loyal fans who go there and wait an hour or two (or three in our case).
(3)Marie S.
Extra extra spicy Tan Tan men is my favorite. I don't add extras because what it already comes with is perfect for me. Great flavor. Try the Chasu over rice. Yummy!
(5)Jenn W.
Sure, summer weather in Sacramento can get really hot but that doesn't stop me from getting my ramen. Shoki rocks my socks off. I've never been let down there. They have wonderful, fast, friendly service and even though there's only one vegan option on the menu, it's more than enough to keep me satisfied. And jeeez, they're portions are large. I have to get a ($8) regular size because that's the only size available for the vegan option and it is more than enough to fill me up, even if I'm hungry. Without a doubt, this has to be my favorite place to get ramen in sac. I'm going to say it loud and clear, shoki is the best ramen house in Sacramento. And after their new location opened, it's only made it easier for me to get my fix! Later hours too! I will be back! yum!
(5)Jen B.
This place is SO good because it's all freshly made! Shoki II is much bigger and nicer than their other location on 24th St. I always get their Shoyu Ramen and eat some of whatever my husband gets. This time he had the Tan Tan Men, extra spicy. Maybe they forgot to put the extra spice in it because I was able to eat some without burning a hole in my mouth. The small was good enough for me but if I were starving I think i could have conquered the medium. They also had strawberry mochi on the menu but since I went there for a late dinner, they were already out. Well that just means I have to go back! And if you pay in cash they will give you a stamp card.
(5)Dexter K.
I really like Shoki. Not just because the food tastes great and the service is fast, but also because of the offerings available. It's not easy finding a ramen place that offers vegetarian/vegan/gluten-free choices as well as add on sides. For those who love to customize their ramen, this is the place to go. My last visit there, I opted for the kurogoma tan tan men with tamago. Gotta have the tamago. The broth was perfect at regular spiciness, with a slight spice to complement the nutty, smoky flavor of the kurogoma. I couldn't resist spooning the broth into my mouth after having emptied the bowl of anything my chopsticks were capable of picking up. Prices are definitely fair when you consider a large bowl is cheaper than a burger from some places.
(5)Glen G.
Boo to no more cha siu or brown rice for my donburi. Yay for awesome service and spicy Tan Tan. OK probably our fault for coming here 45 mins before closing, so like most ramen houses it's no surprise they're out of most stuff by then so I can't hate em on that. But it was a kinda disappointing victory meal for me for finishing my first 10k and in under an hour. I would recommend something above regular for the spice of the tan tan as I can't take too much heat and that was still somewhat mild even for me. I was really hoping for buttercorn miso but they don't have that option here. Extra couple bucks for a curry donburi, couple asahi darks, and it completed a decent meal. But honestly I think I downed it in about 5 minutes.
(3)B C.
I'm not sure why people are raving about this place? Maybe it's because they have not had something great like the stuff I've eatin in San Jose? Ate here with some co-workers. The broth was plain and and it lacked heat. Heat as in the bowl of noodle was luke warm. It wasn't just one bowl, it was all our bowls. Maybe it was a bad day for them? Maybe it was too cold outside? Not sure.....but won't be coming back here any time soon. Sorry to all those fans.
(2)Anthony P.
This new Shoki is so much bigger than the first! Even though it is about twice is big, it can still get pretty crowded. There's much more parking here so that's a plus. Now, onto the food! I'm a big fan of tantan men noodles anywhere, so that's what I ordered. I thought the noodles were great! Large, thick noodles that's soft on the outside and firmer towards the middle. The broth was decent; it has flavor, but leaves you wanting more, especially that minced beef (there really isn't much there). Extra spicy is pretty spicy and gives the right amount of kick to it. They're pretty generous with the chasu here. For $2 you'll get three large pieces of really tender pork! Overall, good service and good food. I'd come back for more.
(4)Huy N.
This place is simply AMAZING! It's down right DELICIOSO! Their ramen is incredible. The broth tastes great and the noodles are fantastic; opposed to places like Akebono. They have no MSG so.....that shit's amazing! So far I've tried the Soy Milk Ramen( REALLY GOOD;Creamy) and the Tan Tan Men Extra Spicy (insanely good). I like to add a lot of pepper flakes onto my soy milk ramen because I like spicy, and it tastes pretty sexy. Sometimes I even take the leftover soup home because I just don't want to waste it. I go here with my friend for lunch after class all the time. Even though I'd end up having to rush back to my next class, it's worth it. Btw, sometimes the lines are insane. Be there before or around 11:30 and it's not too packed. Btw, if you can handle it, go for the large bowl. I did ONCE, and I had to force my poor stomach to eat it all. COULD NOT WASTE! But seriously, I'm a fat ass and I couldn't even finish it. TRY IT. AND ENJOY! I'd give it a 5 stars, but I dont like to wait when my tummy is calling out to me.
(4)carissa w.
This Ramen House is amazing!! I love it. I thought I had ramen before but then I came here and... I'm speachless. This place is amazing!!
(5)Stephanie K.
Was staying at the Hyatt by the Convention Center for a meeting and saw an article in Sactown magazine for this Shoki Ramen. Sounded yummy and I realized that location II was not far from the hotel/convention center. After a quick walk through Capital Park, I was there. Had the Tan Tan Men, regular heat, size large, and it really hit the spot! Very flavorful with just the right amount of kick. The noodles had a nice bite to them. Service was fast and friendly. Only negative was that they didn't have a better beer selection--only Asahi and only in cans.
(4)Andrea R.
My first time eating Shoki ramen was at the first location but this one is a lot roomier so I haven't gone back to the other one since! First of all, I haven't had ramen anywhere else but here so I lack experience in the ramen department. But I love the food here! My favorite is the Tsuke men. I have a thing for the salty, sweet, spicy combo. If I was just reviewing the food, definitely FIVE stars, but unfortunately their service is a hit or miss. Sometimes they check if everything is okay, sometimes they don't. Sometimes they'll refill my drinks, sometimes I gotta flag 'em down. Sometimes I get my check in a timely manner, sometimes it takes 20 minutes. I do love their consistently delightful broth and that damn half cooked seasoned egg. What do they soak that thing in?
(3)Gerry D.
The food here is great and the people who work here are nice however, they are a bit absent minded and clumsy. I went here earlier this evening to have dinner and I asked if I could use the bathroom key. The girl who worked there told me that she will need something of mine in exchange for the bathroom keys. I gave her my cell phone since it was the most accessible thing in my pocket. When I returned from the bathroom they claimed that they didn't have my phone. It was actually placed somewhere else and they forgot where it was. They eventually found it but dang...Strike 1. We finally got our table and ordered a round of water to start things off. The girl who lost my phone(now our server) spilled a half glass of water on my shorts which got my cell phone in my pocket really wet. She just smiled, said a quick sorry and she was laughing because I got wet. Strike 2. After our meal was about to end, my 2nd favorite cousin and I ordered something to-go and we were about to leave when the server forgot of all things, THE NOODLES. Strike 3. Only 3 stars since the service was just terrible and they didn't apologize for the mistakes. Didn't even offer a discount or anything. The food was very good though.
(3)Richard S.
My new favorite ramen spot outside of Hawaii.
(5)Sean M.
I would give 3.5 stars to this place if I could. We love the strawberry mochi there. However, we went there last time right before Christmas, they have just remade the menu and raised the prices. Bye Bye...our economical fulfilling dinner choice. The service was very slow, but it could be because of the new menu and the new system. And the heater outside was not turned on for those who waited for the table. Shoki II also has history for serving cold chashu (pork) on the side (when you order extra), instead of putting it in the soup to keep it hot like they do at Shoki I. On occasions, the soup also came out cold, I'm not sure if it's because it was sitting on the kitchen counter too long or what. But it was one main reason I can't convince my friends to go for dinner with me there anymore :(
(3)Kevin L.
Really well made broth! Flavorful and healthy. Must give the Tan Tan Mien a try!
(4)D W.
I've been here a handful of times before and decided to go again after like 8 months. Somehow, this time was even better! ...even with a party of 11! Atmosphere: Shoki 2 is the slightly bigger location compared to its original on 24th St. This place is great for smaller parties and bringing a group larger than 5-6 is NOT RECOMMENDED. If you do, expect a reasonable amount of waiting and having your group split into two different tables and/or be stuffed into a table meant for 4. There are no large round tables for bigger groups, but there is an outside patio that is probably awesome for lunch on a nice day. Food: OMG YES. I ordered a Large Tan Tan Men (extra spicy) w/ double chashu (pork)! I usually never order extra toppings anywhere, especially if it increases the cost of my meal by 40%, but a friend made a random recommendation and I just followed it on a whim. First off, the bowl was huge! A large might be on-par or bigger than what an extra large is at a pho place. Then, there's the extra pork I ordered all lined up nicely along the inner circumference of the bowl right above the soup. It was almost artistic until I said "Nope!" and drowned those slices into the piping out broth. Now, the broth was simply delicious! Since two days have already passed, it's now hard to describe the flavors. However, I do remember it was juuuuust right for me. "Extra spicy" was perfect and I had no desire to add more peppers or whatever spices they had ready on the side of the table. The toppings were a great compliment to the already flavorful broth. Green onions, bamboo shoots, fresh spinach, seaweed, minced beef. Mix everything together with the broth and it's like adding sprinkles and hot fudge to a huge bowl of ice cream! Not necessary to improve taste quality, but much appreciated and enhances level of joy anyway! The chashu pork was fatty and very tender and was perfect to eat with the soup and noodles. Five big slices swimming in a large bowl of extra spicy tan tan men w/ all kinds of other toppings was OM-NOM overload! Service: In my party of 11, we probably waited roughly 10-15 minutes and were split up into two separate groups of 5 and 6. We all knew what we were getting ourselves into with such a large group, but going on an "off-peak" day, calling ahead and having some luck truly made the wait not seem so long at all. I ended up in the group of 6 and got the wall seat. I was so cramped that I almost had no elbow space because three people sat along my side of the table. No matter though, because the quality of food helped me forget about that easily. The waitress was attentive, patient, and kind. She even automatically split the check into 11 different tabs without asking. Check splitting + credit card accepting = Win! Don't forget to sign a wait list at the door during busier times. One simply does not walk into highly rated restaurant when its packed and be served immediately. I'm not sure why it took me 8 months to come back here. Maybe it's the distance. Maybe it's the price. Although, serving top-quality all-natural fresh ingredients from Japan AND Denmark wouldn't be cheap anyway. Yes, the pork is apparently from Denmark. My order of a Large Tan Tan Men (extra spicy) w/ double chashu came out to be $16 w/tip. Pricey, but I'm not complaining seeing that I almost couldn't even finish my food. I was well-fed that night. I left with a smile and a desire to come back and I will. Soon...
(4)J C.
The food here is great however the management style is not suitable for all customers. One time i was nt able to get a seat despite there were 3 tables available. The explanation from the waitress was the group of 3 who came before us couldn't be seated, so we need to wait until they are seated. In addition, they asked us to wait outside, in the cold rain so the room won't be overcrowded. At the end, me and 5 other customers were waiting in the rain waiting for the 3 ppl to be seated. I have heard that this is how some japanese ramen shops manage the restaurant, but it does cause inconvenience for customers.
(2)Steve A.
All the other reviews say it well, This place is bomb. The spicy tan tan is so good. Me and the g/f shared a large bowl and it was the perfect amount. For an extra buck or two you can get extra noodles, if you need more. Trust me whatever portion you get, you will want more. If you finish your noodles try taking the broth home and cooking it into some eggs, so good. Will be back for sure!
(5)Elizabeth S.
Maybe I've had too many amazing ramen from other places, but this place is pretty okay in my book. Their both is light, tasty, and can change big time if you add garlic and their other sauce on the table. Their noodles are chewy and actually have layers of fun because of the bounciness of the bites. It isn't bad by any means, but I wasn't blown away at all. Their pork is pretty good, though. Soft and falls apart in your mouth like pork should be in ramen. Nothing too spectacular, but not bad, either.
(3)Cheek O.
Was really looking forward to this place. Saw it in yelp and with all the high reviews. The restaurant itself was very cute and the service was great. The ramen itself was not very good. I'm from the Bay Area and I've lived in LA for 4 years so I've tried many ramen places around CA. I had the sea salt ramen and it was very bland. I would have rather had top ramen. They only give you a couple tiny slices of chashu also so i wished i ordered extra. My gf got the spicy ramen which I would say would be the way to go, obviously it was more flavorful. I think tonkatsu is the way to go if you are a ramen restaurant. If you haven't tried tonkatsu ramen you are missing out. It's a slow cooked pork broth which is thicker and almost creamy. I would give the ramen at Shoki 2 stars but the service was good so I bumped it up a star.
(3)Ilana D.
Slightly overwhelming, especially if you walk in during the lunch rush, but don't let that deter you, this place is the real deal and their Ramen dishes always leave me wanting to come back for another. We've been there twice now and have picked items off the vegetarian menu both times and both time they've been delicious. I like their bowl sizes so you can have a snack, a meal, or something that will guarantee leftovers. I also appreciate the flexibility they have with putting their dishes together in an effort to appeal to the vegan and gluten free crowds as best they can. Overall delicious and I am looking forward to going back soon.
(4)C. Z.
Beat the lunch rush today on my first visit here. They say their ramen is a "bowl of dreams" and I CONCUR!! I ordered a small shoyu ramen with extra chashu and an egg. It was the best ramen I've ever had. I was going to ask for less salt based on my experience with other ramen places, but I forgot to. The broth was fine though! It was so tasty and they say its msg free. I haven't felt thirsty at all since lunch so that's a good sign. You can make your ramen a "set meal" by adding donburi (three options in rice bowls) for $2.50. I think if I was really hungry, I'd opt for a bigger bowl of noodles instead :) Also, I liked that they let us do split checks, which makes everything easier when you eat with friends. I will go to sleep tonight dreaming of these noodles.
(5)Jenny W.
I've heard so many great things about this place but I never had the chance to go to the old location, but I ended up here right before closing. I went with a friend who frequents this place so much, the employees recognize him (5x/week one week).....so it was a little hyped up for me. I ended up getting a regular tan tan men, mild, with regular noodles and added chashu and tamago. Unfortunately, they ran out of eggs and my two friends got the last tofu order with their shared large, extra spicy tan tan men with whole wheat noodles. I'm not sure why the call the pork "chashu" as that implies it is barbecued Chinese pork, and these were just thin slices of regular pork. I wish my noodles had more spinach and nori and less bamboo, but I loved the garlic paste that we could add to our broth. The noodles are thick and cooked to perfection, but I wasn't too impressed with the broth; however, it's great that they are msg-free and you can adjust the sodium levels of your order. The bowls of noodles aren't too expensive, but it can get pricey if you add a lot of extras (such as pork, spinach, eggs) for $1 or $2 each. It was about $25 before tip for two bowls (one regular, one large) and a few additions plus one drink. I really want to come back and try the other noodles and broths! As for service, I'd say it was okay. It was awkward because the restaurant was pretty empty but the waitresses kept on sitting everyone in one general area, so I felt really cramped and awkward slurping my noodles with the tables around me doing the same, just 1 foot away from our table.
(4)Sarah-Lorraine L.
WHY WE ATE HERE: - it's NEVER too hot to eat ramen FIRST IMPRESSION: - easily overlooked from the outside - large sign from front door facing to outside stating "NO PUBLIC RESTROOM" to keep non-customers from using the bathroom - another sign on the window that seemed alarming (just because it was out in the open) showing results from two recent health inspections - one was a conditional pass, but the second was a pass - inside is small, but tidy - menu is simple & laminated, as is the drink menu - large white boards on farthest wall stating how it works (from getting seated, to ordering, to explaining what the ingredients taste like, etc.) - Sacramento Bee article from 2007 framed & hung on the right hand wall praising their ramen - overall; they make the small amount of space work for them & their customers MENUS: - Shoki Ramen House Menu - Vegetarian, Vegan, & Gluten Free Ramen Menu - Beverages Menu CUSTOMER SERVICE: - workers are VERY Japanese with their welcomes, greetings, & thank yous to each patron & EXTREMELY nice (smiles all around & genuine concern for their customers) - when ordering our drinks, we decided to get cold instead of hot tea; the female server informed us which teas were sweetened & unsweetened (they ended up being teas we sell at our own Japanese goods store - at Daiso the Teas' Tea Black Apple Tea is $1.50 & the Itoen Japanese Green Tea is $1.00; at Shoki the apple tea was $2.50; the green tea was unknown & unlisted on the beverages menu) - upon taking our ramen orders, the male server first asked if we had any food allergies (which is always great to start with) & when I informed him of my seafood allergy, he told me that all of the broth made for each ramen bowl menu item contains seafood EXCEPT for the Vegan Ramen, which is made with only vegetables and vegetable broth - lunch hour closed at 2pm & the workers informed each table individually to let them know, kindly handed them their bills, & allowed the customers to finish their food on their own time; they didn't kick out or make the patrons feel rushed to leave even after hours TASTE: - although I had a vegan ramen bowl, it tasted very hearty & meaty; it left me satisfied for my ramen fix OTHER PROS: - you can personalize your ramen by also adding additional toppings (topping types + price for each are listed) - small = $6.90, regular = $7.90, large = $9.90 - you can make any ramen whole wheat for no additional charge
(4)Will C.
Shoki Ramen House is definitely one of those family owned eateries that you hope would never become a franchise. And why? It is because it is simply perfect the way it is. This noodle shop has been a well kept secret for the locals for many years until recently. In fact, the secret was out when this restaurant were featured by The Sacramento Bee several times for being one of the best Ramen Noodle shop in the Downtown area. Overview: The reason why Shoki is so successful is because they are fanatic about quality. They make their soup base from scratch and they used the finest ingredients they can find. This labor intensive chore ensures that the soup will be healthier and flavorful. In fact, this restaurant is so fanatical about quality that they will not sell any take out because they cannot ensure the quality of the product once it reaches it's final destination. Aside from a single item on their menu, all of the noodles are for dine in only. PROS: Awesome soup base made from scratch. The soup base is so good that you can actually drink as part of your meal. Quality noodles that are cooked to order. Additionally, you can customize your meal to fit your dietary requirements or needs. CONS: Small dining area and inconsistent service; especially when the restaurant gets busy. An off location restroom that is not always clean or fully stocked. Food: (4.5 out of 5 stars) The homemade soup base made from scratch is definitely the star of this restaurant. The quality of the noodles and ingredients are hard to beat. Very few restaurants in Sacramento would risk the time or effort to make a soup base from scratch. I personally recommend the soy milk soup base. Atmosphere: (3 out of 5 stars) This diner is relatively plain and nondescript with a few Japanese decorations. Like any mom and pop type eatery, restaurant aesthetics are not priorities when it comes to making good food. However, it does a good job of portraying a Japanese genre to the place. Cleanliness: (3 out of 5 stars) The dining area is pretty clean. The tables are frequently cleaned and prepped for the next customer. And with the small dining area, cleanliness becomes a necessity if you want a fast customer turnover rate. Service: (3 out of 5 stars) The restaurant is almost always busy and it does its best to keep the customers happy and fed with the staffing resources available. The staff are always friendly and they always welcome you with a smile and a Japanese greeting. Restroom Facilities: (2 out of 5 stars) The only real negative item in this entire review is their restroom facilities. If you need to use the restroom, you literally have to use the outhouse outside the restaurant. Unfortunately, these facilities are not always kept cleaned or stocked; so use at your own risk. Total score for this review: 3.1 out of a possible 5 points
(3)Jennie K.
We LOVE Shoki! We can actually dine at a restaurant where all of us can eat at! One of my boys has some severe food allergies, wheat being a major one of them. The staff is so HELPFUL and KIND and ACCOMODATING! My son was able to enjoy the shiritake noodles with their special broth - minus the sesame. He loved it and it was his first ever experience with noodles! My older son also loved it and it's a place that we will be frequenting! Thank you for the AWESOME service!!!!
(5)Angela G.
I walked into cramped quarters during a busy hour of a Saturday night. To my left was a gentleman enjoying his tea alone. To my front - and i mean standing so close we could have hugged - were three gentleman staring at the floor waiting for a table. To my right was my date, very excited about ramen. There is a sign-yourself-in sheet, but you can't see it because you can't see the table past the packed "waiting area". There is a nice patio, but it was fairly chilly. I'd never been to noodles before and it kindof intimidated me. I just remember hating ramen in college. Now it's a thing? Apparently - and a popular one. My date has gushed over this place. But here I was, plastered onto the door waiting for a lucky table to open up. I went to the bathroom out of habit. Turns out you need a key. And you need to exchange yours for theirs, so I did. And walked all the way around the building to the door, which reminded me of a gas station. Fortunately the bathroom was clean! No complaints there. The table we got was in the corner and out of the way.Very close to the table next to us - but we fell into a volume where I'm pretty sure neither couple could really hear what the other was saying. I felt sorry for the staff, who I saw struggle to maneuver around the tables. Everyone who helped us was friendly. I hadn't been able to read the whiteboard menu from where I stood, but I asked the waitress what her recommendation was and went with it. #3. Regular size. Regular spicy. Add a soft boiled egg. (amazing) It occurred to me when the food came out that we should be using chopsticks. My only experience with chopsticks is big chuncks of sushi, so I had a teensy amount of adjusting to do with the noodles. But I quickly found my fingers and the tasty noodles had no problem getting to my mouth. And I do have to say, the side of cabbage was completely delicious. If it's warmer and I can wait on the patio comfortably for a table, I would feel a lot less anxious about the close energy of this spot. Or I could decide not to go to a totally popular midtown spot at dinner time on a nice Saturday night. But nice to know that ramen no longer has to remind me of cheap food and studying. Next time I'm trying the Curry.
(3)David O.
Aside from not wanting to read a text-heavy menu when I just want some ramen, this place is pretty damn amazing! Its a pretty small restaurant and its popular, so expect a wait. Its worth it. I had a tan tan men, and my friend had the soy milk ramen. Expecting it to be too spicy, I opted for the mild, but definitely could've handled more. Nevertheless, my bowl was prepared with utmost care. I can't stress how much it hit the spot. Even better if it were on a cold rainy day! A little weary of the soy milk, I found myself pleasantly surprised by a full bodied broth with a hint of soy. Service is impeccable. I love that everyone who works there says hi and goodbye. Our waitress was beyond friendly. If you're debating whether or not to go, GO NOW!
(5)Randall F.
Stumbled across this pretty authentic ramen house downtown Sacramento...R Street is slowly being converted to an area of restaurants but Shoki seems to have their act together. I ordered a regular shoyu ramen medium size (small and humongous are also available) and always with corn added for $1 more. Very friendly servers offered the mini bowl for an extra $2 and to me it was worth it. Not for the extra quantity but for just the extra difference. I had a crumble salmon with avacado dices over rice...quite good as a pre-course to my ramen. Broth was not overly saltly and the corn was good and crunchy. The have a more extensive appetizer menu for dinner that is not available for lunch. During the weekday, easy street parking and on warm days, there is outside seating. Worth going if in the area and in the mood for ramen.
(4)Zahir J.
I was a bit disappointed that even the beef items on the menu are prepared in pork broth. The waitress was very friendly and she gave me the heads up that I should order the vegan item on the menu. I cringe when I hear that word. Dairy makes the world better. Meat even more so. So I did not think I would like their vegan item. I was wrong. I loved it. I forget the name of the dish but it was exceptional. I had the regular noodles and I found myself wanting another bowl. I would have but there were all these desperate diners look for a place to sit, staring at me like I was an American Airlines airline worker who just told them their flight was delayed, again. So I will be back. I will order the vegan item. And maybe I will rethink my animosity towards the word vegan. Actually I doubt that.
(5)Amy D.
tonight, i was was highly disappointed with the service and extremely unimpressed with the quality of food. we have been going to shoki for over 2 years now, so we know what the service and food have the potential to be. the service lacked, tremendously, from what i assume to be understaffing. not their fault, i get it. i'm usually the first one to be understanding because i know how it is when you're busy and you're doing the best you can. some food for thought is: when you're aware that you are providing crummy service, if apologize to your guests they will be more understanding of the situation. also, the food was not the best i've had at shoki by a long shot. i always get the soymilk ramen with the thicker noodles. when the ramen came, i had extremely undercooked noodles and barely any broth. i saw no point in sending it back because by that time they had become very busy and i figure we could just get it to go and throw it in the microwave to cook it longer. it took at least a good 20 minutes for us to be able to get the attention of the wait staff to ask for to go containers. we also asked for more broth for my ramen because i had been completely jipped with the broth. we were told that wasn't something they could do and received a very unapologetic "sorry." and not to nit pick, but my fiance had asked for lemon for my water (which we know they have) since i was sick and had a sore throat. ask me if we received that either? to be quite honest, the highlight of our shoki experience tonight was seeing a drunk couple have a loud fight that ended with her throwing hot tea in the guy's face. that was our cue to leave. will we be back, i'm sure we will since we've been going to shoki for quite some time and live nearby. however, you can only provide bad service and sub par food for so long before people stop coming.
(2)Lisa T.
I love noodles!!! Especially when the weather is chilly outside. Getting a facial is an added bonus when consuming a big steaming bowl of noodles. My favorite noodle dish is pho but sometimes Ramen is all I can get my hands on. The new Shoki is right near my work so I'm usually here fighting the lunch crowd. The wait is not too bad if you come with just a party of two. The restaurant is small so I wouldn't recommend a group luncheon here. The menu is small...ramen in different broths. It is a little confusing because the menu looks the same on both sides but they are different. Like there is the tan tan man with mince beef and one without. Instead of saying that, they list the item twice...confusing. I always order a medium tan tan man, extra spicy with extra noodles. They really just don't give you enough noodles. The broth is just soy based not as flavorful as let's say pho. You can actually just add how spicy you like it with the peppers at your table. I wish it had more substance and came with more meat or something so it just doesn't look like noodles in broth. The Ramen is good but not great. It gets the job done with I'm craving noodles at work but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here. You can expect to pay about $10 a bowl and more for any add ons...an egg is like $2 I think. Yikes!
(3)Nina H.
Yumm... I was really expecting to be let down by the hype of Shoki + the fact that ramen while good has never wowed me. But I was very pleasantly surprised. The noodles I had were cooked perfectly, I could have definitely had more, especially if I hadn't ordered the don buri set. But with the set, the amount of food was just perfect. I ordered the Tan Tan Men. It was delicious, I got the regular spicy, which was a good amount of spice, I might go up one notch and get the spicy next time, but the regular was good. The chashu don buri I got was also delicious. It had some shredded chasu on top of rice with slivers of nori and green onion. Wish there were more meat, but I could have inhaled this simple dish, my extreme hunger when I went probably did contribute to this. But definitely yumm! I went on Thurs and have been thinking about going back everyday since.
(4)Denise Z.
What a fun place! Elevated ramen absolutely hit the spot. Very busy and great customer service.
(4)Kahikina R.
I went through a little obsession with ramen last year, I was coming here about 3 times a week at one point. This place is a must try at least once. As the title of the restaurant states, it's a ramen house so the primary thing to order is noodles. I love the super spicy tan tan men! I honestly think it's the broth that is delicious- I tried replicating this at home and it didn't taste the same. The only reason I didn't give it a 5 is because of the wait time for a table. The restaurant is tiny, but I like it that way- keeps those corporate rif rafs out ;)
(4)Bonnie C.
This place gives you everything you hope for in a bowl of ramen. The noodles, pork and broth taste so fresh and multi-dimensional. You can tell the broth has been lovingly handcrafted with the finest ingredients. Plus they make a point to avoid MSG and to use organic products whenever possible, so you don't get that post-dinner thirst afterwards. I also appreciate how the menu welcomes diners to customize their bowl according to their dietary needs and preferences. I don't need to worry about allergens or gluten, but those who do will be happily accommodated here. The kid ramen bowl is ideally sized for kids, without any of the offending scallions or bean sprouts that freak out my kid. I always order the Tan-Tan, and haven't been disappointed. Shoki has quickly become my favorite place to eat whenever I visit Sacramento. We came in at 5pm on a weekday and were seated immediately. Whenever visiting during the lunch rush, we try to get here by 11:30am to get a seat.
(4)Kiana M.
So amazing! I love this place! I got the triple shoyu Ramen with shiitake mushrooms, nori and chusho. So fucking amazing! My 20 month , who is super picky eater, lived the nori and kiddie ramen. My husband got the super spicy tan tan. We all LOVED everything. Coming from Hawai'i, finding ramen in the mainland is next to impossible. This place not only has ramen but the best I've ever had. Whole wheat options, vegetarian options, organic options. The best pork over Brown rice I've ever had. It takes 6-8 hours just to make the broth! I can't say enough about this place. I love it. I'll be going back regularly
(5)Nick D.
Tan Tan Men. Basically all you need to know.. I can never order anything else. - The service is pretty good. But this location is popular, so crowds can often be a problem.
(5)Dave W.
Solid, especially for Sacto, and the rating is in the context of this geographic area. Between this and original Shoki (which I have not yet visited), probably the only legit ramen houses in the region. (So-called Japanese restaurants that just happen to serve up packaged "ramen" need not apply.) Can't hold a candle to some of SF or LA's best, and yet, manages to be better than many. Came here on a Sunday evening, (party of 5) and the wait was tolerable. Ordered a variety of bowls (Tan Tan for myself), and having sampled most of them, was pleased to find the noodles just slightly firm -- al dente, if the term can be applied to ramen -- just the way I like it. Broth was good (made on-premises, so I'm told), but I needed a bit of spice in it. Not a fan of the nickle-and-diming on the extras -- a bowl can easily break past the $10 mark real fast. Shoki II would probably be a strong 2.5 or 3 in any other major metro, but the 4th star reflects my happiness at finding decent ramen in this town (even if I have to drive from Roseville), and my looking forward to coming back for more.
(4)Nick B.
My first time having ramen that didn't come out of a plastic bag. It was delicious, and at "Regular" spiciness, was perfectly hot for my admittedly low tolerance for spice. Arrived around 8 and was seated immediately, and the food was pretty quickly out after ordering as well. Will definitely come back for more :)
(5)Randy N.
Came here famished the other day from a long alcohol filled weekend in South Lake Tahoe. Now I wasn't born in Japan, stretching fresh noodles at the crack of dawn, stirring a blazing cauldron of secret broth passed down from the Emperor himself; but it's safe to say I know my shit. I have eaten at the majority of reputable ramen joints in California. With that said, I was a bit disappointed with Shoki Ramen. I ordered a Large Tan Tan Men regular spicy ($9.90) I added corn ($1), extra 3 pieces of chashu ($2), and a soy sauce boiled egg ($1). The chashu were large but quite flavorless, and the broth wasn't complex or cohesive. It's like when you mix oil and water, the oil and water of course separate. that's exactly what I saw. There was the base broth and then other "stuff" that kinda floated around; and I'm not talking about the meat or toppings. Does that make any sense? Probably not, but keep that in mind if you eat there and you'll get what I'm saying. Am I telling you to stay away? Absolutely not. The service was great! Our waiter was very friendly and repeated all of our orders which to me is very underrated. I noticed that the regular size bowl and the large bowl were substantially different in size so I flagged him down and opted up last minute to a large in which he happily obliged. Total bill: $14 + tax & tip = $17.
(3)Sarah A.
Yummy ramen comfort food. Very friendly service. Also kid friendly. I'll definitely be a regular here.
(5)David P.
Ramen makes me happy...even Cup of Noodles. Shoki does a good job at giving me my fix. I have had better ramen in the bay area hence the 4 stars, but this place does not disappoint. There can be a wait, but it's not too bad since they opened up this second location. The food is definitely QUALITY. The noodles are legit. The broth is not oily. They offer a bunch of sides you can add to your ramen (extra charges of course). They have some pepper on the side so you can make it even more spicier and yourself sweatier. Next to that is some puree garlic so the taste of your soup never gets old. My personal favorite is the Tan Tan Men with a tamago (half boiled egg), extra spicy. Customer service is average and FYI they offer stamp cards if you pay with cash. You get 1 free bowl after 10 bowls (I believe) paid with cash. Better than nothing. I'll definitely keep coming back.
(4)Drew M.
Great food, haven't had ramen like that in a while!
(5)Jo H.
My first taste of real ramen, The verdict: so far so good! I ordered a regular Shoyu ramen. There was a combo special on the white board that included ramen of your choice with a mini donburi for an additional $2.50. I was pretty hungry so I went for the deal. I chose the chashu pork over brown rice for my mini donburi. My mini donburi was on the table a few minutes after we ordered. The brown rice was perfectly cooked, not grainy or gummy. The pork on top was tasty. This was an early lunch/late breakfast meal for me. A good warm up for the main event and a good way to muffle my growling stomach. Our bowls or ramen arrived. We all silently slurped for a bit. Compared notes then returned to our noodles. You know the food is good when people are too busy eating to talk. I'm glad we decided to go early. It's a small restaurant. Most of the tables were filled in less than an hour. If you're planning on having lunch with more than one other person I suggest coming in early.
(4)Keiko N.
Definitely nothing special. I'm so confused as to why this place has 4 stars. Maybe because it's open super late? If you're a real ramen fan, then don't waste your time and money here. My noodles and broth was served luke warm and the flavor was absolutely nothing special. All the ingredients were also served on the side, not in the actual bowl of ramen. Wtf? Who the hell does that? Ryujin (and several other places) is so so much better and actually authentic (or much closer to authentic!). And just saying here... If all the employees at a Japanese restaurant are not even asian, and 90% of the customers are not asian, then sorry, but that should tell you something about this "Japanese" restaurant. I know it sounds ridiculous and racist but sadly it's true. I will try this place one more time and get something different. But until then, I'd give this place about 2.5 stars compared to the other ramen places I've tried.
(2)Jason N.
Every time I come here I always leave a little...unsatisfied. Nothing wrong with the ramen. I usually order the Shio or soy milk. The place is small so there is always a line and by the time I get seated I'm usually starving. Maybe that's why I leave unsatisfied. There's really nothing that wows me with the ramen especially for the price. So to recap, average ramen, average service, average rating.
(3)Eric K.
Best Ramen house in Sacramento! Authentic Japanese style ramen that reminds me of places in Japan. The soup base uses no MSG and it is prepared every day taking 6-8 hours to make! Absolutely delicious and a must go destination for anyone.
(5)Melissa H.
I've been meaning to try this place for over a year and finally went in on Sunday. I love the friendly staff and the ambiance. The food was good, though obviously a strange choice for a 105 degree day. We got the Tan Tan and the Soy Milk soups. Both were nicely flavored, and I was impressed by the staff's awareness of food allergies. I liked all of the options and thought the menu was well laid out to present the numerous options. My only compliant would be that the additional toppings were a little pricey but it wasn't a deal breaker for me. I would definitely recommend this place, and I look forward to going back.
(4)Sun K.
The people were nice but it's honestly not the something to rave about in my honest opinion. My family and I got 3 different ramens to share and all three were bland. I had to add soy sauce and that didn't do much. The service was fantastic though! but since I'm reviewing a restaurant for it's food, I give it 3 stars.
(3)Bruce W.
I was skeptical when I was told there was good Japanese food in Sacramento, I mean even finding good food in general can be a bit difficult here, but this place is pretty good, The service is top notch and they do a good job of keeping cool and timely even when they're super busy. Had the Shoyu Ramen with extra Chashu, and a mini chashu donburi. It was really good.
(4)Bhanie C.
You can never go wrong with Shoki! love it, will always! Tan Tan men super spicy with boiled egg and mushroom! Yum yum!
(5)Rikki K.
Not family friendly. They told me I cannot bring my stroller in and suggested I put my daughter on the floor. Guess they won't allow patrons in wheelchairs, either. Disgusting policy!
(1)Chris W.
Good, not great
(3)Grace B.
PARTY OF 6 THE SERVICE Newbies, you must know this before you really try any of the Shoki Ramen Houses. I been to the original Shoki Ramen House for many times, so I was not expecting fine dining. Also I was not expecting that I could stay for hours sitting at my table making friendly long conversations. It seems that the theme that I have always known was to eat and go. Warm yourself up with Ramen noodles and then get going! I'm not offended at all by it. The service may seem peculiar and confusing for NEWBIES. I guess if you see a SERVER/WAITER a person is expecting fine dining or this sort of type of dining experience. Then when you receive the check before you are done eating, they get offended and confused. Just think of a fusion service of wait help mixed in with pay before you are done eating. People just needs to know what is expected, so you are not expecting a fine dining experience. You cannot sit at your table expecting to have long hour conversations with your party. This Ramen House was made like "Ramen Fast Food", but service towards a dining experience....than the typical fast food places. If you were to go into Panda Express, are you expecting a fine dining experience? Shoki Ramen House theme is made similar except they do have servers and you pay right away. You want to know what it's like to eat Ramen in Japan? Here it is.....at a mom and pop Ramen house in Japan, it's always like this too. Eat and go! Everyone in Tokyo is always on the go! PURPOSE After drinking wine and snacking on small plates, we needed something to fill our stomach so we can drive home. Comfort food was on our minds. We were drinking wine on S Street at Revolution, so why not try out the Shoki II Ramen House. Two people in our party have never tried Shoki's before. The rest of us have never tried or entered the new Ramen House. All too familiar. ENVIRONMENT So the environment looked brand new looking on the inside. Lots of space and room to move. The service very similar to the mother original Shoki's. You go in, sit order and you get your bill before you could even finish your food. Haha. FOOD I ordered Tan Tan Men with extra spinach and shitake mushrooms, regular size, regular spicey. Delicious as always. OVERVIEW Comment I heard by the two people in our party who never tried Shoki's before. They said, "This tastes so much better than the one we tried in San Francisco." Well this is their opinion. I will not call myself an expert on Ramen Noodles, but I do enjoy Shoki. I have tried Ramen Noodles in Hawaii and that place is swarming with Japanese culinary fine dining. It's also a hot spot with Japanese tourists. I have also tried San Francisco and Los Angeles Ramen Noodles. I think each place has their own unique style. I appreciate something from each one. My sister in law who is actually Japanese, native from Japan, she loves it. She enjoys it a lot too. As for Shoki's Ramen House....it's the best Tan Tan Men I have ever tasted. As for the other noodle dishes on the menu, I cannot judge on that yet. Until I have enough experience eating more Ramen Houses. COMMENTS The other comments on this yelp where they say people don't wait in line in Sacramento? Hehehe. Shoki has always been this way for as long as I have known it. HARD NOODLES? I don't know about you guys, but I would like to feel the texture of the noodles in my mouth. If the noodles are too soft, I might as well drink them. Otherwise, what is the point in eating noodles? Real italian cooking pasta is done slightly hard too. I think it's hilarious that vegans would make complaints. If you are vegan, I would think they would at least be aware of people's lack of knowledge of what is a vegan vs vegetarians. Always double check before ordering your meals if you are that picky or concerned. You shouldnt judge it for standing in line. Judge it by what you have just tasted.
(5)Leah B.
What do you do when you've been laid up in the house suffering from a cold, monster cramps, and a headache from trying to finish up that 12-page paper? You go to Shoki! Their flavorful broth and hearty noodles have a magical way of making everything better. I'm always on the lookout for new Shoki buddies since my girl, Marina C., can't be trusted. One minute she tells me how much she loves Shoki...then the next she's telling me she doesn't want to eat there because she's, "all Shoki'd out." I say whatever to that shit. I liked it better when she was always down to slurp the sweet nectar. Anyway, I pretty much always get the Shoyu, which has a soy sauce base. However, word on the street is there's a Curry flavored something or other that's definitely worth trying. The problem is this: I tell myself I'm going to try something new, but the Shoyu hits the spot every time, which makes it almost impossible to stray. I usually recommend Shoyu to the newbies as a safe place to start but let them know if they're looking for something lighter to get Shio, which is a salt base. Or, if they're looking for something spicy to get the Tan Tan Men, which has a chili base. I've found most people prefer the Tan Tan Men, but it's too heavy on the sesame for a girl like me. Service is always fast and friendly. One thing I love about Shoki II--in comparison to the original Shoki--is that this one doesn't get near as humid and steamy. My hair is in some variation of an afro 99.9% of the time, so, needless to say, humidity is not my friend. The one downside to Shoki II are the acoustics. It gets so loud that it's hard to carry on a conversation. I swear sometimes it'd be easier for me to just talk to the couple at the table next to me rather than try to hear my dining partner across the table. Really, though, it's not that much of a problem since I'm usually too busy getting down with my ramen anyway. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available!
(5)Harriet H.
I think I've been here more than 10 times and I haven't done a rating yet?! Insane. I don't want to overhype this place, so I am rating this 5 stars and I will let the food critics and food do the talking for me.
(5)Matthew T.
Very good broth and noodles, but the soup is served cold (if you are wearing glasses it should fog them immediately and be barely edible). I also wish that eggs were soft boiled. All that said, I recommend this restaurant.
(4)Soo S.
Rude owner tells her patrons they can not sit at the patio area because she scheduled job interviews during the lunch rush hour. She utilized one table for the job interviews. With children and the elderly sitting by the curb in the cold while the wait is up to 20 minutes long, I found this behavior toward her patrons to be thoughtless and discourteous.
(1)Alyssa A.
The broth is so yummy! Only down side is they raised their prices for adding any extras to your ramen. An extra $1.50 for corn is a bit much.
(5)Stan J.
I will say the Ramen is really good, but that being said the place can be simply annoying! Here are a few examples of why.... #1) Originally went to Shoki 1 (which was cash only) and was given a "buy 12 bowls and get 1 bowl free card". On that I noticed the new R street location. The waitress informed me that the new location takes credit cards. Excited to hear that I go to the new location and have a nice bowl of Ramen. i whip out my credit card along with the "buy 12" card and was told "this is only good if you pay cash". I say, "you're kidding me right? What difference does it make!". Of course I didn't receive a logical answer from the waitress. She just smiled and ran off. #2) I ordered a hard boiled egg as an extra topping a couple times which comes whole. The last time I ordered it asked the waitress when placing my order to have the egg cut in half. She comes back a couple minutes later and unbelievably tells me that the "chef (or cook) does not cut the eggs in half" WHAT???? Do they not have knifes in the place? That was the most asinine I had ever heard! #3) They have to use the cheapest and shortest chopsticks I've ever used! You have these big bowls of soup with long noodles which you're trying to eat which amounts to stir sticks! For gods sakes, you have $10 dollar bowls of Ramen and they can't afford better disposable chopsticks? Whoever runs the place needs to take a field trip to Wayside and check out their utensil of choice. Theirs are sealed, long and you don't have to rub the splinters off. And, from what I can see their bowls of Pho are cheaper than $10! Enjoy the soup though!
(3)Kim T.
OVER FREAKIN' RATED Poor service - there's no waiting area. I had my son with me so the waitress told us to drive our car up and wait in the car. Wow. Why don'y you deliver my ramen to the car too. I'm sure I will enjoy it more in there. Also, my friend ordered the set which comes with a little side bowl of donburi. Well, on 3 different occasions, our waitress came by to ask if she received her donburi. My friend replied no. Sooo, she runs off and checks the back. Later, my friend asked a waiter regarding her donburi. He runs off to check, comes back and asked if she received it, well...no. Our original waitress comes back and asks if she received it. Ugh, no. WTF!!!? Seriously? These people need to get their sh*t together! Did they think we ate it and hid the damn bowl? It was ridiculous i tell you! Now, the food. Seriously, the ramen is overrated. I ordered a large and it was plentiful. But it was so salty I could barely eat half of the bowl. I ordered extra spicy but the waitress warned me that they could not reverse it if it was too spicy for me. Did she forget I'm Asian? Granted not all Asians eat spicy but majority of us eat spicy, spicy, I mean, a** burning type of ish. It was my first time so i listened to her and ordered the spice below extra spicy. When it came out, there was no spice at all. She should've warned me about the salty-ness instead of the spice! - I'm Asian, remember? Oh well. And on top of that, I noticed my ramen was different from everyone else's. My ramen was thicker in texture while everyone else in my party had the thin ramen. What gives? I probably won't stumble in here again in the future. Did i mention the restroom behind the building is half the size of the restaurant? Yeah, next time, maybe get a table in there
(2)Matty K.
WARNING! IF YOU HAVE ANY SORT OF FOOD ALLERGIES, GLUTEN INTOLERANCES, ARE VEGAN OR VEGETARIAN, OR JUST DON'T THINK FALSE ADVERTISING IS FAIR, READ MY DEAR JOHN LETTER. Dear Shoki II, It breaks my heart to write this letter. But since no one at the restaurant was concerned or cared, and I can't find a way to contact you, I have to do this for myself and all the other vegetarians out there. We first visited you 3 weeks ago and have been back four times since then. I crowed the virtues of your hefty ramen bowls to all my friends, vegetarian, vegan, and omnivorous alike. Today is the fourth and last time we will eat here. Every time I've sat down the service has been friendly and prompt. They even go out of their way to ask if I have any dietary restrictions. I tell them every time I am a strict vegetarian. They just say ok. Then I order the Vegan Tan Tan Men and add shiitake mushrooms and tofu. 1. On the menu, the vegetarian soups are NOT vegetarian. They are made with seafood broth. Fair enough, I'm not sure if you're mis-educated on the subject, or you think it's some sort of sick joke, but I just ignore it. 2. On the vegan menu, the tan tan men is listed as veggie soup. Today I was told the bamboo shoots are cooked in a seafood broth. Since the bamboo shoots are listed in the vegan ramen, and they aren't vegan, the broth isn't vegan then right? I asked if I could substitute and she said no. So you listed something I can't eat under a title that I could? WTF? 3. The shiitake mushrooms are also cooked in meat broth, and none of the servers had mentioned it to me, even after they specifically asked me about my dietary restrictions. So you see Shoki, what if I was allergic to seafood (a fairly common allergy in the population)? Would you have said anything? Are your gluten-free stocks and noodles really gluten-free or is that just another lie? Why do you go out of your way to market yourself as health conscious and ask, but then lie to your customers? Is it because you just want our money, regardless of our health and beliefs? Shoki, If you have to use meat products to craft your delicious ramen bowls, then so be it, and we would have no hard feelings. I understand some things just can't be vegetarian. But I feel like you went out of your way to lie and cheat me. With that I bid you adieu. It was short and sweet, but a big fat lie while it lasted. Sincerely, A very sad ex-customer
(1)Angela V.
The entrance is NOT the door facing the street... oops. Wish I knew before I walked towards it and stared inside like an idiot -.- The restaurant is small and there is limited seating, but I came in on a Wednesday night and there was no wait. Thanks to fellow yelpers, I ordered the Tan Tan Men and it did not disappoint! It definitely hit the spot on a cold winter day :) I wish I got the regular sized bowl though because a small left me hungry when I left. I think it's a bit pricey... it's 6-7dollars for the small bowl and with tax and tip, I ended paying a total of $9.
(4)Rosa V.
Insanely good. I could eat here every day. Just awesome!!!!!!!
(5)Christopher D.
I am from SoCal, and was visiting friends in Sac. We all love ramen and since this was the highest ratest place on yelp, so we had to come! We ended up waiting like 30 minutes on a Saturday night! So one of the things I really liked (after looking it up on yelp), is that you can customize your order's firmness, oil level and salt level. That's really rare and I really liked having the ramen the way I wanted. I got the tantan men. It was pretty good and I liked the meat. The broth was a bit lacking in flavor (despite getting spicy), but it couldn't take away from the yummy egg and pork. Unfortunately though, I've been too spoiled by LA's Little Tokyo and Orange County's best, so I have to give this place a 3-stars. It's good, but not as amazing as I'm used to. But if you're in the mood for ramen and in the area I would consider coming here!Also, the prices were reasonable if not a bit on the higher side and the largest size is LARGE.
(3)John D.
Service was good but the food was mediocre
(3)Keith L.
First things first... I did not actually eat at this location and here's why.... I was planning to grab something to go and bring home to Fair Oaks. When I went to place my takeout order, I was immediately told that there was only one option: the chilled noodle dish. If I wanted anything hot, they said I'd have to go to their other (original location) which I did. I was totally ready for the Tan Tan Men after reading all the reviews, and the extra drive was worth the effort. As noted in my review of the original Shoki Ramen location ( yelp.com/biz/shoki-ramen… ), only Shoki II offers gluten-free rice noodles even though it's listed on menus at both locations. In the end, I took one star off for the lack of hot to-go options but gave one back for offering gluten-free. I'm just fair like that.
(4)jessica d.
I've been here more times than I can count and it NEVER disappoints. It's as consistent and reliable as it gets. I love ramen and I've been to my fair share of places but I still think Shoki is the best! :) I've tried almost every ramen on the menu and the soy milk is to die for. It's creamy and flavorful but not heavy. They recommend you add sesame oil halfway through to get a different dimension of flavor. DO IT! You won't regret it :) it just keeps getting better and better.
(4)Dubl A.
Awesome ramen The flavor is so good and rich I had #3 .. my gf had the vegan both were super tasty This place proves that msg is not necessary and does not add value in fact it ruins food by making it too salty and gives a headache makes you thirsty too This place is msg free !!! A++++
(5)Mike V.
If you are looking for your ramen fix this is the place. This is the best ramen house in sac hands down. Overview I have been going here for about 2 years now and I love this place the staff is friendly and food is tasty. Pricing is not bad ether regulate size ramen will run you about 10 dollars. Recommendations I like the tan tan men it's a little spice and the broth has a lot of flavor. It goes great with the ramen set (rice and curry). Try this and you won't be disappointed.
(5)Julie R.
I had the tam-tam and the curry ramen! Both very good but I'll probably get the curry ramen again next time. I just love the flavor. Make sure you add and egg and also get a side of cabbage. It is SOOOO good. I never would have ordered it if the guy next to me hadn't recommended it. Their noodles are so fresh! They seem a little undercooked but I like my noodles al dente anyway so it was fine for me. I can't wait to go back!
(5)Son L.
The ramen is good but it's overrated and overpriced. The business style is going to shut this place down. Pay and tip first? Doesn't make any sense.
(2)Rin R.
The atmosphere here is nice. The place is cute, just like a little restaurant you might see in Japaan. The ramen is really good, not soggy or squishy like some other places. The dessert is great. The strawberry mochi is super fresh and sweet, and the ice cream is sooo yummy.
(5)Sharon G.
My friend recommended this place to me and I've since gone twice. I tried the soy milk ramen and it was AMAZING! First time having soy milk based broth. Ambiance: Casual Service: Great. They're super attentive. I wanted to use the restroom but someone was currently using it so when they came back, she actually walked over to my table to tell me it was free now. That's pretty awesome for service. Food: Great! Price: Good :) I have no problems coming back here if I was in town!
(4)Jon L.
Yes It's true, I finally went back to give it a try. 2 stars now. If you don't know already, Shoki's used to be my absolute favorite ramen place. I would go there literally once a week. You may also notice that the updates to my reviews have shown that my thoughts on Shoki's has definitely changed. Last time I went, the staff member informed me that the half boiled egg is changed and was then a hard boiled egg. That became the last straw. Well I decided to come back and try Shoki one more time since a friend of mine told me that their egg has changed back to the soft boiled egg. So my GF and I went back and tried it out again. Meh, I've experienced better has never rung more true. The broth is very one note and leaves you yearning for more flavors. The chashu that came with our TanTan men was incredibly toothsome, near the point of chewy. This is even after keeping the chashu under all the hot broth. One would expect the chashu to be nice and fatty and melt in your mouth. Not anymore, that's the way it used to be. The half-boiled egg was slight more on the done side than I would like but that's more of a preference. I believe the cook on the egg was decent, however it definitely was a touch on the salty side. Perhaps they marinated it just a bit too long. All in all there are definitely better ramen places in town. Check my reviews of my opinion of which Ramen place is top dog in Sac.
(2)Phillip T.
My friends and I were craving something other than burgers and the usual chicken stirfry with rice so we decided to go out. We found this place and was really excited because it was definitely something different. I ordered the Shoyu ramen bowl with double chashu (I eat a lot don't judge). The pork used for chashu is imported from Denmark and they flavor it on their own. The chashu was very tender and had just the right amount of flavor. The broth was very tasty and not too heavy, even when a lot of garlic and chili powder was added. Most of my friends ordered the soy milk version and from the looks on their faces, it was either they were really hungry and/or they really enjoyed it. Service was very organized too. People who were waiting were sitting on the patio and seemed comfortable and more patient for waiting in line. Although this place is located in downtown where there is a lot of industrial scenery, it's just nice to be outside.
(4)Mai N.
Went here on a Wednesday night and thank goodness we got there a little early! We got seated right away but right after there was a line forming. Its a a fairly average place but with LOTS of tables. I felt really "comfortable" with the people eating next to us. Food was okay. I'm not much of a ramen fan but this place was better than Ramen House. Yet, I still don't see the hype of this place. It's basically fancy ramen. I had the small tantan men. The broth was savory, the meat was tender. The portion was actually had a lot of .... egg noodles, not so much meat. Apparently you have to add more meat for about a dollar more to make it worth your wild. There's other things you can add like eggs, and seaweed. My friend had a bowl that was made of soy milk. I had some of the broth and it was different. I bump this place up a star because of the service. Even though they were really busy, they made sure you were well taken care of. Every time someone walked in they would yell out something. Maybe hello in Japanese? Very good service! I am impress! I would only go here again if my family or friends reallllly wanted to come here. Beside that farewell Shoki!
(4)Katie F.
Really great ramen. They have different levels of spiciness, which I really like. I've ordered the spiciest option before and it was extremely spicy! I now order the second spiciest option. Nothing to complain about in terms of the food here. The only thing that sucks is the wait so I tend to order to-go now.
(5)Dave H.
You've got to be kidding me! $9 for a bowl of broth and noodles, and if you want meat and vegetables, it's extra. We had relatives visiting and we wanted to eat ramen. We decided on this place since it had 4 stars, and the only ramen house near us that's opened on Sunday. I've had way better ramen noodle from places with 3.5 stars. The broth was salty, and for the price I would expect a few slices of meat. For the first time Yelp has failed me miserably.
(1)Courtney F.
This place is solid. Didn't know what to expect but it was absolutely delicious and I've been back multiple times. The broth is awesome and the noodles, vegetables and meat are fresh and delicious. Plus, the price is good!
(4)Sarah O.
Let me just start by saying I don't get these 1 star reviews. What the heck are you people expecting from a $6-$9 bowl of ramen? And the use of "authentic"? Maybe it is authentic to a region you haven't been. Rant over. Moving on, I thought Shoki II was great. The servers were super helpful and clearly knew a lot about what they were serving and where it came from. The restaurant was crowded and we were a large party, but were very well attended to. I never found myself needing more water, tea or anything else because my glass was always full. The ramen was super tasty. I had the ten ten man & hubs had a curry special. Both had their own unique flavor. Noodles were chewy and seemed home made. The spice was good. The bowl of ramen was huge and piping hot. I added shitake to mine and it was cooked perfectly. All in all, we had 2 bowls of ramen, 1 beer, 1 hot tea and one appetizer and our total bill was $25. We will be going back.
(4)erle h.
This is the only real ramen house in Sacramento . Stacks up favorably against noodle houses in San Fran and LA. This is the only five star review of a Sacramento restaurant I've done so far and it's because this place earns its rating every time I eat here which is often. The noodles are fresh and well made , not a cheap imitation. I like the tan tan men set at super spicy which is not that hot if you like spicy food. The ingredients , bamboo, spinach , bean sprouts- are tasty and the servers are attentive. This place keeps its edge by constant quality control and keeping up with what's going on in Japanese cuisine by virtue of the fact that they also have a restaurant in Tokyo
(5)Tyler R.
Shoki Ramen House II is the downtown version of he Curtis Park Shoki Ramen House. The nice thing about SRH-II is that there is seating. SRH-II has seating for 30 or so inside and probably another 30 outside. The menu is simple. Ramen! You pick the type of broth (home made daily), and anything else you'd like to add. They can make the broth as hot or as mild as you like. I suggest ordering extra noodles ($1) more. There are also three sizes of bowls. the middle size is probably the best for the average adult. They also have Japanese beer and soft drink options, tea, mochi, etc.
(4)Jenice G.
When we first arrived it was extremely crowded, I thought we might have a long wait, but we were seated within 10 mins. I had the Tan Tan with thick noodles, nori, and extra spinach; it was delicious! The broth was so full of flavor that I drank it once my noodles were gone! Great service, food, and location.
(5)Venice N.
This place is ok. Ramen soup is always salty to me. Maybe bc I dont eat salty food. Many of my friends like this place
(3)Miss S.
Finally got around to checking out Shoki after many recommendations from fellow Japanese cuisine lovers. However, I have to say that I was VERY disappointed. I ordered the soy milk ramen and my mum ordered the tan tan men ramen. I will give Shoki credit in their broth - both were very good and flavorful. The thing that I was disappointed with was the noodles itself - it wasn't soft at all, very hard and undone. For me, ramen is more about the noodles than the broth. The second disappointment was the amount of meat in the ramen OR should I say the lack of meat. They just gave you one piece and it would have been nice to hook it up! Other ramen places normally give you more. Quite disappointing. The restaurant states that no MSG is added to the broth and I totally agree. I can always tell right after if a particular dish has a lot of MSG in it because my mouth gets bloated but that didn't happen after eating here. Kudos on that! The prices were reasonable, the service was good and this place was really packed. The restaurant opened at noon on Saturday and we got there at 12:05pm and the place was jam packed. However, I would recommmend that people try other ramen places to compare the quality. You will see what I am talking about after trying a couple other places. Shoki was just OK and it defintely did not live up to the hype and expectations that others had set.
(3)Alissa R.
The BEST ramen in Sacramento! I go here AT LEAST once or twice a week. More often in the winter. It is the perfect cold, rainy night meal. The service is always great. The waiters/waitresses are so nice and they always read back your order to you before taking it to the cooks. I would recommend the tan tan men and the curry rice. Both really good dishes. They can get really busy, especially at night around dinner time. But generally, if there is only a few people in your group you probably won't have to wait more than a few minutes. They also started doing these stamp cards. If you pay in cash, you get a stamp. Once you collect 12 stamps, you get your 13th bowl of ramen for free. FYI: the stamps only work if you get ramen AND pay with cash. Highly, highly recommended!!
(5)Sophia A.
YUMMMMMMY!!! Shoki is so good. I almost always get the shoyu ramen. I like to add shiitake and tamago. It really is all about the egg for me (sometimes I even add two....shhhhh don't tell anyone!!!) The egg is such perfection everytime. It is a soy sauce soaked half boilded egg and the yolk is the most delectable salty custard consistency. I love to eat most of the yolk and then dip the rest f the egg in the soup. YUMM!!
(5)Donna T.
Have eaten here three times. All three times I waited like 1/2 hour. Point being, COME EARLY and expect to wait at ANY time of the day/night!...But it is completely worth it...Yummm RAMEN 4/5 STARS! Overall experience 3/5 Food: A- I have gotten Shoyu Ramen here without fail. However they have many options of other kinds of ramen (Tan Tan, Soy Milk, Shio, etc.) and even have Vegetarian and Vegan options! This is the first time I've seen a ramen place offer this. Bravo Shoki! Back to Shoyu, I usually get a medium sized bowl and add in 3 more chashiu pieces. The broth is very flavorful but not overpowering with salt, which I appreciate. The noodles are thick and springy-- not the instant kind! The chashiu, seawood, and bamboo shoots all blend in together to compliment the ramen bowl well. The only gripe I have is that my noodles would always topple over my soup broth. I asked for more soup broth but the server said that the cook refused to give me more soup because it has already been "measured out" perfectly in portions. Really now Shoki, you're gonna be CHEAP ASIAN like that and not give me some more soup? If your food was not good, I would have been deeply offended as a customer. ALWAYS GIVE WHAT THE CUSTOMERS WANT- NO EXCEPTIONS. Location/Ambiance: C As rumors have it, the original Shoki is small and cramped as well. Shoki II is slightly better but not by much. There is a very small parking lot attached to the building (about 8 cars) and then across the street is more city parking. Okay I can deal with that. Inside the space is literally cramped for an "expanded" Shoki II-- sad. You are literally sitting cheek to cheek next to another party. I swear the whole area is as big as my kitchen, dining room, and living room combined-- and I live in a condo! Btw expect to wait at least 1/2 hour...There is just not enough room to accommodate the insane number of customers! Service: B- Service got a B-, instead of a B due to my gripe above. Other than that, the servers and staff are very nice and gentle. They make sure to ask you at least once if you are doing fine and automatically refill your waters. Prices: B There are small, medium, and large bowls. Price is decent ($6-$9) for the ramen and more for special types of ramen. However the add-ons do "add" up and you can rack up a hefty bill of $10+ for one bowl of ramen if you want extras. Each place is unique in their ramen servings but I am little sad that they only give you basics for the food. (Because for example, Orenchi in Santa Clara automatically gives you a boiled egg and here at Shoki it is like $1 extra). CASH OR CREDIT! TL;DR? Great Ramen, LONG WAIT, Okay-ish Prices
(3)Rob L.
Shoki II updated its layout to a cafe type thing as opposed to a regular restaurant (I'm still not really clear on what they are trying to accomplish). The main difference is that you pay first as opposed to paying after you eat. I'm OK with this but it seems it has really disrupted the service at this restaurant. My friend and I waited a very long time before anyone took our order and it seemed everyone that came in after us was served first. I was not really impressed with this lack of organization. I love the food but I can't stand poor service and it seems the service really took a nose dive with their recent changes.
(2)Hannah Y.
I have definite mixed feelings about this ramen house for 2 reasons (I had the tan tan men ramen - extra spicy): 1 - the noodles themselves were really good - just the right amount of chewiness 2 - BUT the broth was rather heavy and a tad bit oily Honestly, I'm having trouble coming up with anything to write about... I guess that goes to show that this place wasn't all that special, at least according to my taste buds that is 'cause it seems like the majority of people love this place! Wish I could say the same, but the ramen was just mediocre. If you do drop by though, here are a few recommended tips: 1 - If you look on the back of the menu, there's a list of addons available to spice up your ramen, so be sure and take a look! **Adding meat is highly, highly recommended!** 2 - Look to the back corner if you aren't sure how big the bowl sizes are (they have a visual example set out on the counter). 3 - They do split checks, so just ask the server. :] 4 - If you can't decide what level of spiciness you'd prefer, you can get mild or regular and simply add more of the red sauce on the table according to your preferences (it's the same stuff the cook adds). 5 - Call ahead and ask to be put on the waiting list! We went on a Tuesday night and it was jam packed and ended up having to wait 20 mins (outside - in the rain), so call ahead. 6 - If you and a friend aren't really hungry, order a large and split (it pretty much amounts to 2 small bowls). Service was pretty good, nothing less than what you would expect. The place was clean and the atmosphere was brightly lit, nothing really special. The parking lot is extremely small, but there are plenty of street parking available. All in all, it's a decent place for ramen, but nothing spectacular to rave about.
(3)Carmen A.
I ordered the Tan Tan - it was quite delicious. Thick broth, tons of flavor and the small size was more than enough! The food came out pretty quick and the prices were very reasonable! Our waiter (don't remember name) was so sweet, polite, and informative. She went above and beyond to make sure she had our orders correct and make us feel welcomed. Unfortunately, the lady responsible for seating people was NOT nice at all. I think her name was Miuki - she screamed at our waiter in front of other customers, and made everyone feel extremely awkward and not comfortable at all. Our poor waiter got really red and looked like she was going to cry. How awful is that? Definitely got me very upset... When a couple asked Miuki to get served (because they had been waiting FOREVER), she said she couldn't and they had to wait - quite rudely too. I understand it's difficult to run a business especially when it's packed, but compromising the level of customer service and respect should never be an option. A business is successful by the quality of the food AND their service, equally.
(3)Christy M.
Delicious ramen lunch near my office with free parking, and I'm back to lunch well under an hour?! Yay! I'm a fan.
(4)Christina D.
Shoki's pretty delicious for me. The Shoyu (soy sauce based broth) and Shio (sea salt based broth) are both VERY delicious. Every time we come here my friends and I always end up scooping out the bowl. HOWEVER: The soymilk ramen was definitely not the business. I wanted to try something new and I hate spicy so I couldn't order the ten ten men. At first glance it looked pretty interesting. And for some reason.. my soup was spicy. I have really sensitive taste buds so I can taste almost anything with spicy. It said nothing about being spicy. Luckily it was the "spicy scalding my taste buds" spicy but I could still taste it. -__- Honestly, it was just a weird ramen to eat. It was missing something (I don't know what. My friend agreed with me too.) My friends scooped out their bowls of Shoyu and Shio and I barely finished mines. I ate all the noodles and toppings but almost 1/2 of my broth was left. I wouldn't recommend this ramen, but all others are freaking delicious. I give it a 4 out of 5 because I really didn't like the soymilk ramen. That one is definitely not a bowl of dreams to me. Everything else.. nom nom nom.
(4)Kiyoshi T.
This was the second attempt at coming to Shoki II - the first time the wait was just too long (we tried on a Sunday afternoon). There was no wait on this Sunday evening which was rather nice. I ordered the Tan Tan Men, which was not very spicy despite it's billing, but I enjoyed it nonetheless. It wasn't the best ramen in the world however, it definitely wasn't the worse either. Their service was great - my water was always promptly refilled and the girl waiting on us checked if everything was okay and if we needed anything regularly. I really appreciated it that much. The only thing that really killed it for me was that I was given the incorrect change after paying with cash. I didn't notice it till about 30min after the fact and when I went back to fix the issue, the hostess at the front was super confused and had to call back the girl who waited on us. Luckily, they save the orders taken throughout the night because there was definitely no receipt printed or written out for the transaction and they had to use a calculator (as a group because one person couldn't figure it out apparently) to math out the amount of change I was missing. It took them two times to figure out what I was still owed back. Mediocre food despite great service, and a fumble on monetary transactions: I probably won't be coming back.
(2)Christopher L.
Shoki's second location. Quality is same as the one off of Broadway, which in all senses and purposes, is very high quality ramen. Ramen is great and broth is made from scratch; no MSG and is very good. You are always greeted upon entrance and always is treated with great service. Their frequent buyer card is only a small benefit to their great food and service. This location is slightly larger then their first one although not a huge expansion. Parking lot is on the smaller side so during moderate hours of operation, expect to find a street parking spot. Unlike their Broadway location, this location accepts credit cards.
(5)Gretchen D.
This place is awesome! Good quick service and the food is terrific! Be advised that the regular bowl is LARGE. We definitely plan on going back!
(5)S T.
It was alright. The broth was salty and the noodles were somewhat hard. Nothing special.
(3)Kacie Y.
I always come here when my boyfriend is in town. He loves this place. The wait can be a bit long, but you don't wait as long as at the first Shoki House. Smaller parties are better, but I went once with a group of ten people. The waiters were still nice enough to let us sit (sometimes places seem to have a heart attack when a big group arrives). When we go out, I always order the Tsuke Men which is cold noodles with hot soup and a side of sliced pork, onions, and bamboo shoots. He always orders the Tan Tan (with super spicy) which is the hot ramen bowl. When I go here with my family I order the same dish. We usually share one of there appetizer rice bowls which have rice and avocado. I understand why they do not have the take-out option (but you can take it home after you order it). I ordered the Tan Tan once for my boyfriend and then took it home for him. The oils seeped to the top and I probably should have mixed it together first. He had a little stomach ache after that. However, I ordered the Shoki Ramen for my sister she said it tasted just fine. You are allowed to "take out" technically if you order the dish and then say you want a to-go box, but be warned the flavors and oils will not be the same. I've been to a few ramen places, and I prefer this one the most. :]
(5)Lelani B.
I heard a lot of good things about this place. One night my husband, daughter and I thought we would try this place out. There was a lot of people and we thought okay this look like a pretty cool place. The wait staff were awesome and cool. I like the feel of the place we it was cozy. OH MY !!!! when our food came out... It was not tasting AT ALL, it was gross. All three of us ordered different dishes and it did not finish our bowls. I would not go back ever... I like the service and all the food was terrible.
(1)Noah P.
The place is simply amazing. I have taken friends here that are not even huge fans of ramen, but once they had some Shoki, they were hooked. The best part of it all is the price. There is no better deal in town. You can get a giant Ramen bowl for a fraction of the price you would pay at any other Japanese restaurant in Sacramento. I really recommened the Tan Tan Men ramen bowl. It is very spicy, but I believe the spiciest things in life are the most tasty. I hope this review helps all you ramen connoisseurs.
(5)Liberty G.
Been here only twice and I hope to come again soon! Just poppin in to confirm the positivity about the food here.
(5)Leilani R.
Meh, coming from SoCal; I know I'm spoiled when it comes to good food but this place was mediocre at best. Granted there were TONS of people, and all Asian (which usually means a place is legit and tastes amazing) but my ramen was cold when I got it. It wasn't sitting there for a long time either, so not sure why it would've been anything less than hot. I ordered extra spicy, and it was hardly spicy at all. I wanted to like it, I really did...
(2)Kevin T.
As Sacramento's PREMIER place to grab a good old-fashioned bowl of Ramen, Shoki's has definitely done their job holding down the fort. However, I don't know how many times I've driven out for a bowl only to end up searching for food elsewhere after seeing the MASSIVE crowd huddled outside. No longer With more than double the floorspace of the original, Shoki II now makes it SOOOO much more easier to come in at the last moment and slurp up some of their reknowned ramen. I was a bit skeptical at first: will the new staff be as welcoming as the old? will the quality of food survive the "chaining out"? will I still be able to order my Ramen (Double Chashu Shio) juuuuust the way I like it!?! A resounding YES YES YES! My first visit to the new location started off with the familiar Japenese greeting: Isshai Mase (Please come in) Yes. Yes I think I will!
(4)Vincent K.
It seems everywhere we go, we can't escape Ramen. Good! But that also depends if its good ramen. So after work, heading on up to Tahoe, we needed a dinner spot to eat at. Cold night, long drive, nothing too heavy....Ramen. And of course yelp does its thing and a few recommendations point us into the direction of Shoki UNO....except its closed. But wait, there's a 2nd one...and it is opened! This reminds me of the Seinfeld episode where Jerry and Elaine get disappointed by losing out on the last Bobka....yet there's "another Bobka?" So came up to this one which really isn't that far from the first one and got us a seat in 20 mins. Staring at the bowls sitting on the counter and scoping around to see how much food each has....that Large one was looking mighty tempting. But when the waitress took our order, I played it safe and went with the medium size soy milk ramen...a specialty apparently that had a different flavor and more heavier feel. This and a Salmon Avocado Don. While I was relieved to have gone with the medium (as it was quite filling), I was rather disappointed in the salmon avocado don. Yes there was avocado....but flaky cooked salmon? Dammit! I was tricked! by myself of course. I assumed it would be raw pieces of salmon sashimi but when it came the way it was, my face was stunned. As expected, it tasted like what it sounds like. But thankfully, I got to try someone else' curry don and that was ok. The ramen though was good too. The milky broth was definitely different and had that soft sweetness you taste when you boil milk or add that steamed milk onto coffee. Sure it was soy milk, but it made a richer taste and subtle sweetness to the creamy broth. Just that was enough to make me forget about everything else including the disappointing salmon avocado don, and perhaps the char siu which didn't impress me very much.
(4)Ander C.
Pretty tasty broth, the noodles were chewy. overall after reading the reviews I'd say they were pretty accurate about this place. Sadly we didn't get to try the Strawberry mochi. It's only served on weekends for dinners :( Overall the food was good and totally hit the spot for my parents and me and my wife.
(4)Ruobin W.
Broth was decent but the noodles were lacking. Also, too pricey to eat very often.
(3)Fontane L.
LOVE Shoki Ramen! It's one of my few islands of foodie comfort in my new Davis/Sac hood. Food is super fast and super tasty. I'd say it's on the same level with the San Mateo ramen houses such as Santa Ramen and Ramen Dojo...though it doesn't have Tonkatsu broth, so you gotta stick to Shio or Shoyu when you're here. Worth mentioning: - Love their little appetizer dishes! Try the spicy menma (bamboo) and the tofu salad. They locally source their tofu, so it's super fresh and tasty! - Super LOVE their strawberry mochi. Fresh strawberry wrapped with red bean paste, which is then wrapped with mochi...OMG! Too bad it's now only offered on weekend dinners...sigh. - My favorite is the soy milk ramen! I know it sounds weird, but try it...it's GOOD! The hubby's a fan of the Tan Tan. - Service is fast and friendly! Expect a wait on cold winter days. - Seafood broth seems to be considered vegetarian, so be sure to ask. That happens...folks sometimes have different definitions of what constitutes meat.
(5)Mike D.
Not a lot left to say that hasn't already been posted on here. Good service from a nice staff. The food is usually out quickly and is consistently delicious. I tend to get the Tan Tan Men, veggie and it always hits the spot. Throw on a side of steamed cabbage (one of the best values in Sac) and a tofu salad and it makes a great meal. The salad and sides are usually big enough for several people to share.
(5)A M.
Just an absolute treasure. We're new to sac, and have never lived in a medium sized city before, always in much larger cities (LA, DC area, Seattle, Houston), and none of them had as great of a Japanese ramen house as this. Feels and tastes like home made. Great value. Delicious broth. Definitely worth a try. We keep going back!
(5)Wrenna F.
YAM NOODLES = 0 Carbs! Deliciious and Healthy Ramen. Thank the gods for Shoki! When I recently was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, I thought noodle-laden ramen was going to be off the menu. Since our family was clearly addicted to ramen and visiting all the local ramen houses on an embarrasingly regular basis, this seemed like too much lifestyle change to take on. Then I discovered that Shoki has a shirutaki, or yam noodle, option. I tried it and was hooked! When I cook yam noodles at home, they are a bit bland, but Shoki adds their special magic and the yam noodles become the perfect delivery system for tamago and cha-shiu. Couldn't live without it :)
(5)Phil K.
This has quickly became one of my favorite spots to go to in all of sac. I like my ramen like i like my women: quick, easy, and cheap, yet flavorful and filling. The service is no nonsense and when you order a large beer they serve you a 32oz hand grenade. My favorite is the tan tan men super spicy and don't forget to get those spicy bamboo shoot things. last time i was there, i ate about a thousand.
(5)Tashina B.
Having heard good things about the original Shoki House in Curtis Park, I tried this closer-to-home establishment. Very good sized portions at excellent prices, incredibly tasty broth, and assortment of options (vegan and gluten free too!). Small restaurant adds a cozy feel. Service was super friendly and prompt. Definitely making this a frequent winter soup stop.
(5)Daisy T.
There's actually something GOOD in Sacramento?? My cousin-in-law started working here and has been telling me and the hubby to come for what seemed like forever. I figured that it couldn't be as good as back home, but I decided to give them a chance. Being the spicy lover that I am, I went for the tan tan men ramen with a regular spice level. There's more spices at the table for you to add in if it's not enough. When I took the first bite, I didn't know if I liked it or not, but the more I ate, the more I liked it. The flavor just grows on you. The broth was super flavorful without it feeling heavy or oily. Most ramens have a lot of pork fat in it. I added more spices to my broth. It was nice. My stomach didn't feel like it was burning. If you're not into spicy ramen, they offer a lot of different flavor options. They even offer vegetarian and VEGAN ramen! I've never seen that before. Totally awesome if you're feeling like ramen and you're with your vegetarian friend. Another plus about this place is that they use NO MSG!! =D Hooray!! It's REAL flavor! I can't wait to come back here and try their other flavors. By the way, their bathroom is outside at the back of the building, but it's super clean! Always a plus!
(4)Mona O.
Umm... Yum. A little cramped & crowded especially during lunch, but it's worth the wait. Next time I'll get regular noodles instead of whole wheat. Still, waaaay better than Top Raman.
(4)Chia L.
Mmmm.... A lot of the reviews rave about this place, saying how the soy milk ramen is divine. For me, I felt like the shoyu ramen was good, the mini donburis were truly mini, and the soy milk ramen was.... a little weird. It wasn't bad, but soymilk and broth went together in a very... indescribable way. I ended up putting a lot of hot pepper (very good!), sesame oil, and other stuff in it and it ended up pretty amazing. There was a strong salty broth taste, with a decent amount of oil. A bit on the salty side for my liking. Then there was the strong soymilk after taste which took a few tastes to get used to. This broth is definitely really thick and rich, and I would say worth a try. Their shoyu ramens are the safe choice, and if you're feeling adventurous, try the soymilk. It was pretty good ramen. The soymilk broth kind of grows on you. Even though at the time I didn't feel all too satisfied, as I'm writing this review now I find myself craving it just a little bit. So I guess they succeeded in that sense? Anyway, one funny thing is the mini donburi. The supposed combo came with a donburi. Mini donburi is mini. Very mini. So mini that it's cute, so mini that you'd be like wtf did I just pay $2.50 for? The food is delicately prepared though. The ingredients are fresh, the broth isn't too overwhelming in flavor. The chashu is good, not the best I've tasted, but still pretty good. Wait is fairly long! Plan to wait 20-30 minutes at the very least, over an hour during the busier times.
(3)Janice T.
wow. I'd rather eat cup noodle.
(1)Janette F.
Visiting my daughter in Sacramento, she told me about this great ramen place she found so we ventured over for lunch. We arrived at 11:45 a.m. on Saturday (opens at 12p) and already there were a bunch of people waiting. We were #3 on the list after a party of 2 and 22, respectively. So they call you in the order you lined up which is nice and fair. Once about 30 of us were seated, the people just waited outside. We were seated at a corner table and no sooner had we sat when they rearranged the tables next door to accommodate a party of 8. This caused one seat to be abutting our table which meant we I was literally stuck in the corner! And the woman insisted on sitting at the edge of her seat so the back was against our table. Not a good way to dine. :( I studied the menu and they inform you that their soup is made with seafood and vegetables, so if you cannot have seafood you must ask for vegan soup. That was nice since I am allergic to seafood. They also have a board on the wall where they have explanations and specials listed. They have 3 sizes (S, M and L) and the L is humongous! My daughter ordered Curry Ramen (small) and I ordered the Spicy Vegan Ramen (with no seaweed) and this one you had no choice to have the regular or medium size. My daughter also ordered a side of cabbage. I thought it was just cut cabbage but it is steamed and they pour a soy/vinegar sauce over it. It was not bad and about 1/4 of a head of cabbage. The curry ramen was not something I would have enjoyed because the soup was runny and just not right. My daughter liked it though. My spicy vegan soup was absolutely horrible. It was tasteless and bland. The saving grace was that the noodles were rather good and cooked to perfection. What a disappointment it was because my daughter raved about the place but then again, I am a total ramen connoiseur so.... All in all it was okay. But I cannot give it more than 3 stars until I go back and try something else.
(3)Brian L.
Oh, Shoki! You have outdone yourself, my friend. The new location (spacious as compared to the original) is clean and inviting- as soon as you walk in you're greeted with a warm "Irashaimase!" (I think, is what they're saying- as it means 'Welcome' in Japanese) and it suddenly feels like home. My particular encounter was during a lunch rush and there happen to be a group of 15 (yes, 15, we thought it was ridiculous, too) so the place was hectic and staff overwhelmed, to say the least. It took three of us about 20 minutes to get seated even while two tables were available for 10 of those minutes. Maybe they need some more time to get their bearings in order? Hence the one star deduction. Despite a developing frustration in the beginning, Shoki really made up for it by serving up that oh-so-delicious spicy ramen. And that broth, holy goodness, that broth! Whew, so good, make you wanna slap yo' mama! By the way, extra brownie points for the PARKING LOT!!!
(4)Cheuk W.
It definitely has better ramen than other typical Japanese restaurants in Sacto, but not as good as bay area ramen place. However, I would still recommend this place since they are one of the best around this area. I had the Shoki ramen, and the soup base is pretty good. Don't get the large: it just comes with a bigger bowl and more ramen. Put your money in the pork or order one of the mini rice bowl. I would come back and try the tan tan ramen next time, which is what they are famous for.
(4)Jenn T.
I'm not a ramen expert, but this is pretty good. Although I could easily enjoy a delicious 50 cent packaged ramen at home (I have cheap taste buds), I'd rather go out and shell a whopping $6 for a bowl of tan tan men with softer noodles. Broth is real flavorful and noodles are fun to eat. Relatively cheap for the portion you get. *You get a stamp on your card if you pay with cash.
(5)Jeremy L.
Everyone, everyone, please listen closely. This place is absolutely wonderful and there's nothing you can do to change my mind. It takes everything that was great about the first location and improves it in every way. They take credit card, you can actually park in a parking lot, and they're open on Sundays. Not to mention you have a little more space and privacy when you eat. I've noticed that people seem to complain about the Tan-Tan Men being too oily. Well, Tan-Tan Men is made with a spicy sesame oil. It's Chinese in orgin but was adopted by Ramen houses all around Japan. My wife doesn't even like noodles or pasta but she's addicted to Shoki's Tan-Tan Men. It's easily my death row meal here in Sacramento. I like to order it extra spicy with a side of steamed cabbage. Stop hating on Shoki, people. Be happy they grace Sacramento's presence with their greatness.
(5)Jenny C.
Food: 5 stars Atmosphere: 3 stars Service: 5 stars Where else can you find an authentic Japanese ramen in Sacramento? Where else can you find a restaurant that serves food without MSG? Yes. Shoki !! I am amazed and excited that they have opened up another one in Sacramento. Because Shoki on 24th Street is always packed and the wait can take up to 45 mins to an hour. So I came to Shoki and got all excited because they put a lot of new items on the menu! Curry flavor and Soy Milk flavor. Wow how creative! I love both ramens! Few years ago, I had a milk broth based shabu shabu in Los Angeles. I first thought it must taste weird with milk broth based. Oh my... Beef and tofu taste so good with milk broth based. So when I saw they have soy milk ramen. I had no doubt that it must taste good. And YUP! It's the best on the menu! Disappointment... they no longer serve Avocado White Fish over Rice. I totally miss it.
(4)Wendy G.
I expected to be blown away after reading all the great reviews of this place. Honestly, it was decent...definitely a place I would go visit again but I wasn't jumping for joy after trying it. The place is small. We arrived on a Saturday a few minutes before it was about to open and there was already a line forming. Put our names on the list and was seated 5 minutes after the restaurant opened. The private lot was small but there was plenty of street parking nearby. I ordered the extra-spicy tan tan men. The broth was overly salty, even for my palate which has been trained to handle it since I was a baby. It was also not spicy at all...the broth was redder but that didn't translate into flavor. I liked the texture of the ramen, it was nice and chewy and held up well. I tried my friend's shoyu ramen and thought the Chashu pork was really good. The portion was a tad on the small side, the bowls look big but they were just like half filled. The service was great, the servers were friendly and efficient. A plus was that they asked if we wanted to split the check beforehand, made things quick when paying. They also have a frequent buyer card, buy 12 get 13th for free, but that is only for cash payments which is a bit annoying.
(3)Bien L.
Food was great , service was mice and friendly. But be warned. Very very pricey . I spent $22 bucks for Lunch! And I just ordered a bowl of ramen and a drink . This is mot for every day Lunch thing , once in a great while . If your going there for lunch be ready to wait . And bring lots of funds .
(5)Cheryl L.
There is a lot of hype for this place. Honestly the first time i went to Shoki I, i wasn't that impressed. Don't get me wrong, this place is solid. I just didn't get the craveable factor. I had ordered a Shoyu Ramen the first time, yesterday I had the Tan-tan men and OMG, that was delicious! i wanted to slurp all of the broth! The noodles are housemade and is very firm. The staff is very nice and they always ask if you have any dietary restrictions (i believe they have a gluten free/vegetarian menu). They also have specials (i.e. right now there's curry ramen) and they also have ramen sets (ramen + donburri). No Ramen for takeout though, they claim that the noodles will get soggy so the only things you can get to go are the donburris or chilled ramen.
(4)Lynda N.
If you want msg free and all natural ingredients this is the place to go. The wait wasn't long, however, the food was just ok. I think I'll try somewhere else the next time I'm in the vicinity.
(3)Nick C.
You can do better, Shoki. I really want to give you five stars but my experience was not excellent. The food was good, I like your much bigger location, and overall the service was mostly polite. You can't knock the food here. The ramen was excellent; definitely the best I've had in Sacramento. We had some trouble with our order and I'd like to offer some "constructive criticism." First, let's talk about the food: the tan tan men. The broth was full of flavour and had a good kick of spicyness. I really can't emphasize how good the broth was; it has a special combination of spices, soup base, and oils that make this truely authentic and delicious. The noodles were cooked perfectly; slightly al dente, with no "extension." They even tasted home made...not that i would know but they were on par with what I've eaten in Japan. The minced beef and assorted toppings make this my favorite dish. FIVE STARS on the food. Okay, here's where it get's painful so please use this as something to work on going forward. 1. It is not culturally acceptable in California, or much of the US (as far as I know) to charge an extra $1.50 if a couple wants to share a plate. I know you've been able to do this and more power to you if you can continue to pull it off. However, from a westerner's perspective, this may irritate customers. Let's put it this way, would it be culturally okay in California to not tip? Restaurants in Japan won't even let you tip. Something to think about as you expand to bigger and better things. 2. When a customer makes a mistake, please try to be a little more understanding, even if the customer is clearly wrong. And, please don't chage a customer 150% more (the price went up from $2 to $3.50) to add another side dish. Trust me on this one, a customer's loyalty and satisfaction is worth alot more than $1.50...ya might have wanted to be a little more flexible. 3. Please don't tell a customer that you are the manager, then go back and check with the real manager, and finally the tell the customers that you explained this clearly to us and that we just weren't paying attention or reading the fine print. We get that you have specific rules, we get that you are busy, but we don't need to be made a fool in front of the entire restaurant. I'll go back to Shoki's again soon because the food is just that good. I just hope that they become a little more sensitive to their customers and go the extra mile to really stand out as the best ramen shop, and one of the best places to eat, in town.
(4)Tiffany Y.
yummy yummy. Group of 9 waited 40 minutes. not that bad. I really like the atmosphere of this restaurant, the waitresses/servers will all yell "Irasshaimasen" very loudly and the environment is so warm and friendly. i had the #1 regular shoki ramen with the soy sauce based broth. After we ordered food came out in about 5 minutes. The ramen doesn't come with the half egg that is usually in other ramen places. But the broth is very refreshing, when you drink it you can tell that there is no msg, but a nice soy sauce flavor. I really liked the flavor of this broth, the noodles are very nice as well a lot chewier and firm than other places ( which is why I liked them). You can always get the noodles firmer or softer if you like. The topping on the noodles was cold, which I think is kind of strange ( scallion & spinach ) The spicy powder is really good as well, and is alot spicier than the spicy powder they have at other restaurants they seem to have grinded it and mixed it with sesame oil. The fatty pork/ chashu was not very fatty, or tender, the flavor was nice but I am not a big fan of not tender meats. I think the regular size is a good size if you are really hungry, but if you are unsure they have bowl sizes for you to look for comparison!!! You could always extra noodles (.5 more ) for $1 more which I think is pretty worth it.
(4)Jake R.
I get a call at 10am from my boss, it turns out I have to drive to Sacramento to pick up an order for our business. Instantly, I think to myself I can get some Pho or Ramen that might be passable cause it's a decent size city, unlike Napa, where I can only get half assed Asian food. So of course I hit yelp and find Shoki. After about 15 minutes of trying to find parking in the construction zone, I actually found a good spot about a block over and was able to pass through the side of the building. I was sat right away, it was crowded but no wait. After perusing the menu for a hot minute I selected the Tonyu (soy milk) Ramen and added extra chashu. The broth was perfect for a warmer day, the chashu was more peasant style, typical but not too rich in flavor. I could have used some more creative yakumi (toppings), the menma was good and nori was nice but I would have liked some more flair. Overall, it's a nice friendly Japanese run place and I would return. I will wait to pass final judgement until I can try the other styles but overall it lacked a depth and creativity, however I must say I left nothing but satisfied.
(4)Annie S.
One of the best ramen houses thus far. I have tried a bunch of ramen houses and only one has the honor of being my all-time favorite for the past 3 years. Now, I have another favorite. I had their Shio flavored ramen with corn added. The one thing that I am extremely picky about that draws the fine line for me are the noodles. This place has the only type of noodle that I like and that was what made me favorite this place. They are a bit skimpy on their pork slices but boy, is it good. This is the second best ramen house I've ever been to, the first being Kahoo located in Saratoga.
(4)Jess s.
I'm glad i finally tried Shoki ramen! After hearing about the long line at the other location, we decided to come to the R st location since it looked bigger in the picture. At first we were a bit confused because our GPS led us to this area of town that looked pretty dead. Just when we were about to bust a U-Turn and hightail outta there, we saw the sign for Shoki Ramen. I like how Shoki ramen has no-MSG in their broth and has the option to have less salt, less oil, more salt etc. The waitress stopped us before ordering to make sure we were not allergic to anything & if we were vegetarian or not. The menu is simple - 4 types of ramen (not including the vegetarian versions). We decided on the Shoyu ramen and the tan tan ramen - mild. The food arrived quickly and within seconds we were digging in already. However, the mild tan tan wasn't spicy enough for me. So the waitress had someone come out with a jar of chili oil to make it more spicy. Turns out I can handle up to an in between SPICY & EXTRA SPICY. The noodles were bouncy and chewy, just the way i like it :) After we ordered, I noticed on the board that we had the option to order a mini donburi with our ramen for an extra $2.50! What a steal!! It would've been nice if the waitress had pointed this out, but we weren't hungry enough to consider this option anyways.
(5)Tim H.
Found this Ramen House when I was up in Northern California for a club event. The Ramen was both very spicy and delicious. They have a large size which is probably double that of the medium size, so I recommend getting the large if you're sharing or have a huge appitite.
(4)Spencer F.
I've been coming here for years and always got the tan tan men. But I didn't fall in love until I tried the soy milk. Its like apples and oranges the two. Now I am hopelessly addicted. Do yourself a favor and try the different soups to find the best fit for you. I have tried both the shoyu and the shiyo now and while they are delicious, the soy milk holds my heart. :-D
(5)Fahm S.
Best ramen I've had in Northern California, including SF. Love the tan tan men (extra spicy with egg and pork slices). Also love the ability to customize. Next time I'd lessen the salt and soften the ramen.
(5)Tim H.
Such a disappointment. My girl decided to take me here because I've been wanting to try this place so bad. With all this hype on this place, I had high expectations. Let's get this review over with because it's nothing special to think about. Food: It was nothing special. I can literally make this at home. Ramen craving? Ok then go here, but it's not worth any kind of wait. There are two Shoki shops and I know this is the new one. I will have to try the original one and maybe be more impressed. I got extra spicy and there was no kick to it at all. What the heck? After my experience from a ramen house in LA, my expectations are high now. Just a little picky now when it comes to ramen. My girlfriend's ramen was warm and mine was hot. Wassup with that? Lucky she is nice so she didn't tear the place down, but if it was my bowl that was warm...OOOOOOoooooOO. watch out. Final Verdict: Place is ok, but I expected more from what I heard. I would not come back to this specific Shoki spot. I am going to try the original Shoki and hopefully it will be better than this spot.
(3)Anna T.
"What more can you ask for on a cold, rainy June night than a nice bowl of ramen?" my cousin said, trying to convince me that I wanted ramen for dinner tonight. And boy, am I glad I gave in. It was my first time here so I decided to play it safe by ordering their shoyu ramen with tofu added and a plate of chashu to split with my cousin. The broth was absolutely delicious, the only place that I can think of that serves it up better would be my grandparents' house. The chashu was really good too, not exactly like its Chinese equivalent but still yummy. And the portions were huge! Both the bowls of ramen and the slices of meat. My. God. We were so full afterwards, we ended up giving up on the last few slices of chashu and brought the rest home.
(5)Karin C.
Yum, Yum, Yum! There are tons of great dining options in Sacramento but this one is near the top for me! It is always delicious and worth the wait!
(5)Devon J.
Hit this place up after a day trip in Tahoe. We called an hour in a half ahead of time to try and get a table for seven, and they said "we'll try to accommodate your group." When we arrived, there seemed to be no effort in accommodating our group. We waited 45 minutes outside (because there is next to no waiting area inside) for our table as if we just signed in when we got there. I mean it's fine that they couldn't accommodate our group at the time, but it was misleading to tell us that they'll try to put tables aside for us. Anyway, the place is a little cozy, but tables are spaced out enough so that you can chill at your table without feeling too close to the next table over. The staff is young and friendly, and thoughtful (ill explain later). My group and I felt to stray away from the normal ramen and we all ordered either the Tan Tan Men or the Soymilk Ramen. The Tan Tan Men is more on the fuller, flavorful side with a kick of spice while the Soymilk Ramen is a more mild, light flavor. Both were fairly decent in their own way. The Soymilk Ramen also is suggested to add sesame oil half way through to get a different taste. Don't add too much sesame oil! My friend did and it totally overpowered the taste! But the sesame oil does add a small effect, the taste becomes less mild, and more salty/savory taste, which would be expected with an addition of sesame oil! The sesame oil doesnt hurt the dish, so go ahead and add it! (Unless youre not a fan of sesame oil) Oh yeah, there seemed to be a surplus of noodles in my ramen bowl, a plus! I thought it was also funny that they had a little container of garlic that you can add to your soup, thats an automatic plus for me hahaha Shoki also has some kind of daily dessert as well, when we went it was strawberry mochi. Pretty much a large strawberry wrapped in mochi with red bean as well! My table and I enjoyed it, not bad for $2. One of my friends also wanted to take one to go, our waiter insisted that she'd eat it in an hour, else the consistency of the mochi will become squishy and gross because of the strawberry that is lodged inside of it. Thanks for looking out :) All and all, despite the rough start at Shoki and the bathroom being outside on the side of the building, the food was decent, staff was friendly, they were also willing to split our bill 6 ways! I'd visit this place again, but make sure you come around 30-45 min before closing, its much less crowded then and youll be able to get a seat much easier!
(4)L S.
So delicious. Gets CRAZY busy at lunch so you must go when it opens or prepare to wait. The super spicy broth option here is seriously spicy and so good. I have a deep love affair with hot food that Shoki II delighfully encourages. Plus, they'll let you order light oil and whole wheat ramen which makes me feel slightly less guilty practically burying my face in a spicy bowl of Japanese noodle heaven.
(5)Elguero s.
The perfect meal on a rainy day. Yes, the waits are long, but the broth and ingredients are top-notch, the noodles perfectly cooked and the staff super friendly. If you plan ahead and don't arrive too hungry it's hard to go wrong.
(5)Glo F.
Three of us arrived a around noonish on a Thursday. It was packed, but we didn't have to wait as there were a table for two....just add a folding chair....love asian restaurants, they can accommodate easily and not worry about the regulations. Ambiance: Small and noisy but that's okay, not a big deal. We're there for good Ramen, right? Food: I had the tan tan noodle (spicy). I had better elsewhere. Yes, the broth is good (a bit salty for me) and the noodle was fresh and chewy, but for eight bucks for a few bites of noodle and almost no meat is too hefty for me. I paid 16 bucks for a bowl of Ramen in NYC and didn't even complain as much. Service: just ok. The wait staff was attentive as we were right next to the front door, but she forgot who order what....remember only three of us and two of us ordered the same dish. It took about 23 minutes to get our food. So not a quick lunch. Overall: Overrated! Sorry Shoki, I'm only given you three stars because I love Ramen, but double the size for that price and I'll come back for sure!! NOTE: I was hungry within two hours after I had lunch. oink oink. It was more like a snack. Maybe the small portion works in Asia because everyone eats every two-three hours but not in USofA.
(3)Elif F.
Economical, home made, and you can make it pretty healthy. This is probably my go to place when I am in the mood for a really good soup.
(5)Dominic C.
The food was pretty good... except the side donburi. Where is the egg? Is it even donburi without egg???? Besides that.... I got the spicy tantan and they were like.... " are you sure? it's spicy!" and i answer "i'm korean" And sure enough, it wasn't that spicy. But my mom weaned me with watered down kimchi instead of baby food so you should not take my word for it. There were two other things I found disturbing but which don't deserve too much attention because for Sacramento this is almost as good as it gets. 1. No donkotsu stock (no, not donkatsu) 2. The spicy ramen gets hella oily. Other than that... Good ramen.
(4)Wing W.
Great ramen spot... Can be busy. We went on a Monday night and inside was bustling...we got last table before 3 other couples came in behind us. Tan Tan men regular spicy and regular size with curry beef donburi will definitely fill you up. Next time I'll try a small as I cannot pass up the curry.... Also will try next level up on spininess....
(5)Lesley B.
Huge fan! Delicious ramen with several add-on options. Menu is simple, prices are amazing. Don't miss!
(5)Rod W.
Shoki Ramen is not customer oriented whatsoever. I agree with the other review, the "chef" will not give more spicy oil, they make you used the stuff on the table. The "cook" is more like it and he claims he wants it to taste the best. If so then why wont he give the spicy oil when requested. Also, you can be a regular patron but they will never give you any recognition. Like any other restaurant, its the customers that make the place successful. Until all the customers get sick of the crap attitude and stop going this place wont realize how important to give what the customer wants.
(1)aaron n.
Very rarely is the sequel better then the original. But with the new Shoki they have managed to keep everything that makes the original so great and improve the experience beyond the food. The food is great just like the original. Still one of my favorite Ramen places outside of Japan and for sure in Sacramento. The staff is consistent with being helpful and attentive. But what has improved overall is the dining experience. Don't get me wrong it is/was fun to bump elbows and share a meal with strangers at times, but sometimes the long wait and cozy atmosphere was not what you wanted. The new location takes over HItomi (thankfully) so it's not dramatically larger but big enough to fit a healthy amount of patrons. Also now they take credit/debit cards, are open till 10, open on Sundays and closer to where I live. No complaints here.
(5)Jeff P.
Before moving to Sac, I would ask my gf to take me here so I can have delicious noodles. And believe me when I say I do not like noodles, noodles just fill me up so fast and then I get hungry like an hour later. Not this place, I love the food and excellent service. Small seating area, but that's what makes it better! Feels like you get to know your fellow ramen lovers and dine together as a community rather than strangers. Definitely coming back when I get my cravings!
(5)J T.
not authentic :( super anime out and wannabe but its okay ....
(3)liza n.
Overall, it was good, but I was disappointed they don't serve it with soft boiled egg. I like mine super gooey. My kids loved it though. The flavor of the broth was pretty good and the portion was a good size. This was my first time here so my kids and I only tried the tan tan men triple broth- it would be a place we will visit to try other options in the future.
(3)Kapua K.
One of my favorite "go to" restuarants! It is small and you might have to wait for a table but the ramen is soooo worth it!
(5)A H.
This place has gone completely down hill. I would give them no stars if I was able to. This place used to be good. I have no idea what has happened. We waited about an hour just to be seated after being told it would only be a 25 minute wait. Since we had to wait so long my mom had to use the restroom. When my mom went to go ask for the restroom key they refused to give it to her because they thought she was some weird person off of the street. She had to argue with them that we were customers waiting outside so long they finally gave her the key. The wait is long from seating to ordering to actually getting your food. When we did get our food the noodles were undercooked so they were hard and clumped together and the shoyu broth was watered down and had no flavor. I can make better ramen at home with store bought packs at Koreana Plaza. I wouldn't mind the wait if the ramen was actually good. Hopefully someone from Shoki reads this and makes changes to the quality of the food they are currently serving.
(1)Rob C.
I really wasn't quite sure what to expect when I came here on a whim. I had heard good things and who doesn't love ramen, but I have to admit that I plan on coming back. Located on that weird quasi-street/light rail track, R St, once I found the place everything was great. It has a pretty small dining room, but the staff was super-friendly and helpful. And it was packed, which is a good sign. I ordered the spicy ramen with no enhancements, as it was my first time here. The fresh-made noodles are great, and the broth was just the right balance of salty, spicy, and a little bit oily. Loved the bamboo slices and spinach, though next time I will probably throw in some mushrooms or tofu. I definitely want to go back to try all of their different broths and combinations - though I may be ruined on packed ramen forever.
(4)Mel L.
This location deserves 4 stars just because you don't have the annoying sign up list where you have to wait outside in the rain/cold while you wait 45 minutes for a table only to be ushered out before you finish your food. I've never had to wait at this location, it's bigger and more comfortable to eat in since you're not rubbing elbows with strangers and the ramen is consistent with the other location. Food is worthy of 4 stars - not the best I've ever had but it's contender in NorCal. I like the option of getting your noodles chewier or softer, w/more or less oil. Chasiu is okay, nothing to write home about. Shoyu broth is good, tan tan men extra spicy is not very spicy. Oh yeah, this location takes credit cards! Big plus! All in all, solid ramen and a welcome addition in the Sacramento area.
(4)E Z.
Where to begin. I used to eat at the original Shoki on a regular basis. I love ramen, it's in my blood, passed down in my genes from my dad who was a sushi chef in his prime, but all around japanese food culinary artist. Ramen-loving has also been imprinted in me from my days in Japan as a kid eating ramen at the subway stations. I'm happa btw (half white half Japanese). As a side note, one of my all time favorite Japanese flicks is called Tan-po-po; it's all about ramen, super funny! Anyway, when I came out to Sacramento 5 years ago from San Francisco, I was delighted to find Shoki. Ate there regularly. Good broth, good marinated egg, simple. Then they opened Shoki II, and I ate there a few times. The last time I was there, probably about 9 months ago (i've stopped going), I had a terrible experience that I just can't get over. I ordered a shoyu ramen with extra negi (green onions). I like negi in my ramen, to me it's an important ingredient. Minds can differ I suppose. Anyway, first thing, they told me Negi does not come standard with the bowl, and that if you want extra negi its $2. huhn? It doesn't come with the bowl? I have to pay 2 bucks? Freaking rip off. This must have been a new policy for the shop cause that was never the case. I love negi in my ramen so I decided to pay the extra 2 bucks. Anyway they brought out the bowl of ramen and it had a bunch of 1 to 2 inch sized onion pieces in it. Hunh? I thought it was strange bc the onions have always been chopped. They are supposed to be chopped so that with each bite you get a little negi. I don't want 2 inch long pieces of onion, too much! I told them then that I actually wanted the chopped kind. Servers response, and I quote "We don't chop the onions anymore. New policy, and this a very traditional Japanese way of serving the onions" I gave him a hard time bc I was just shocked. I asked them to chop my onions and they wouldn't. Also this whole long pieces of onion deal, yes there are some traditional soups that may require long pieces of onions like Ozoni which is a traditional soup eaten on New Years... BUT NOT IN RAMEN! Big pieces in ozoni is good because you use the negi to flavor the broth, but in ramen, you want to actually eat the little pieces of negi. The server then said "If you want your onions chopped, next time bring your own knife and chop them yourself" OMG, and that was the last time I ever went there. Call me an onion snob, Idk, I just like my ramen a certain way, and don't think asking them to chop up my onions is too big a request. Personally, I think their Negi policy is based on cutting corners and being lazy. Takes time and energy to chop up onions. Cutting into 2 inch pieces is way easier and less time consuming. idk Anyway, fortunately I found the "Ramen House Ryujin" So freaking gooood! Right there near that safeway on 19th ave. Their ramen is very delicious and they definitely chop up their onions. The service at Ramen House excellent. They really give you that Japanese hospitality that feels genuine. At Shoki it doesn't feel genuine, its like pretend Japanese hospitality. Anyway, the owners of Ramen House are they same family that owns the Akebono on Freeport, and excellent Japanese food place that I highly recommend!
(2)Lito M.
Very very salty broth. Don't go here if you have hypertension. It was not worth it for me & my wife because the soup they serve was extremely salty. The seafood flavor and the beef flavor was completely masked by the very very salty broth. We had to wait 20 minutes to be served. We expected the noodles to be made from scratch but from the looks of it, they are using the ready to use variety. The place is extremely small. So are the chairs and tables. I had better experience with Pho restaurants.
(2)Mandie F.
Good morning, my name is Mandie and I am a Shoki Ramenaholic. Order a regular sized extra spicy vegan, with mushrooms, tofu, and a side of steamed cabbage. Smother all in sesame seed oil, add garlic to the ramen, then eat until you are in pain. Lather, rinse, repeat.
(5)Hooo N.
The service was amazing but slow the food was not as good as I was hoping. It wasn't bad but not that good :(
(3)Alexander L.
I went here with a group of friends. Ramen on a cold day sure hits the spot. I ordered the large soy milk ramen. It was my first time I had soy milk based soup. I like how you can customize your ramen bowl by adding items. The bowl was very large and I was stuffed after eating all the noodles. The noodles have a nice texture. The soup is very tasty and has great flavor. I didn't have enough room to drink all the soup. The chashu was nice and tender. This place is packed and worth the wait. The service was good. They have a large parking lot and there is also plenty of street parking around
(5)Alex L.
As good - if not better - than the original. Somehow they've managed to occupy a larger, more accessible space (the original Shoki is in an odd little converted home no larger than your average bedroom) and still keep the intimate atmosphere that draws people back. This was an excellent business decision. Now I have a more convenient excuse for free facials over a bowl of steaming broth! I always seem to order the same dish: I can't recall the name, but it's made with soy broth, pork and slurpable noodles and it makes me me smile uncontrollably. Add a spoonful from the dish of chili pepper on each table and I'm in ramen heaven. The only downside to my visit was the road construction that forced me to circle the block and navigate through narrow alleyways in search of a parking spot. But I realize that is no fault of Shoki's. Eventually the view of so many construction worker's butt cracks will clear and downtown Sacramento will have easy access to this noodle-filled wonder!
(5)Jacqueline W.
Same great food, but open 7 days a week until at least 10pm, and they take credit cards! Service was great, food was great.... the tables are crowded in, but not as badly as the other Shoki.
(5)Ngoc T.
Just tried this place for the first time today. I thought it was really cute that they shout out welcome? when you arrive and thank you when you leave lol. My order: tan tan regular ramen, extra spicy, less salt, +egg, tofu, and double pork. It wasn't as spicy as I expected so next time I will get the super spicy. The broth was on point, I'm glad I ordered it with less salt. The tofu cubes were the soft silky tofu kind, and they were a bit chilled at the centers (not sure if this was how they were supposed to be served?), the pork slices were tender but not much seasoning went into them. The minced beef that came with the tan tan ramen (not an extra) had very good seasoning. I'm definitely a fan of Shoki now. I can understand why some people aren't fans of the cost of adding extra toppings because YES they do add up pretty quickly. $1 for scallion???? really? Now I need to try ippudo in NYC for a comparison =)
(4)Brittany H.
I had been wanting to come to this place for the last couple months, but I never really make it downtown, so I had to wait for one of those special days when my BFF and I felt like dealing with one way streets. The day came yesterday... and I kinda feel like I should have just made a Top Ramen at my house. Very sad, for myself and the restaurant, as I really (I mean REALLY) wanted to like Shoki. I ordered the tan tan men regular spicy (just to be cautious, I didn't know what their idea of "spicy" was). It came out with absolutely NO zing to it. So in went a spoonful of pepper. So I tried it again, and it still tasted so bland. So in went another 2-3 spoonfuls of pepper. Still not good :( My friend ordered extra spicy and it really wasn't even spicy either! The broth consisted of almost entirely pepper flakes that was poorly stirred together, actually not stirred at all! Yuck. I didn't even eat half of my ramen. My friend didn't either. We brought 2 children with us also, and they didn't finish theirs either. We ordered mochi to hopefully be the highlight of our meal, but that actually wasn't very great either. I'm not sure if perhaps I just do not like this style of cooking. I really love Pho and Kasoy. However, I also really love soup. I do not like bland soup, though. 2 stars for a cute, little restaurant and for decent service. We actually went to McDonald's after. And I hate McDonald's, really hate it. Like a lot. But it seemed to be more fulfilling to me. Sorry Shoki.
(2)Mike G.
After eating at a ramen house in LA I had to find one close to home. When I look it up Shoki was the first place that popped up. When my wife and I went here we were so beyond happy. The Ramen is very good but the noodles are like no other! The variety of ramen here is very good, but I always go for the Tan Tan Men (Spicy). We still go to both locations often and always want more!
(4)Colleen C.
Get there early, even on Sunday night before the crowds get there. Excellent service Soymilk ramen - flavorful,yummy noodles Tsukemen ramen - cold noodles and toppings on the side - very good if you like your noodles to be firmer! Dessert - Sesame ice cream with toppings, nothing TOO special, but satisfying nonetheless
(5)Aleenah J.
This Ramen is amazing. By far the best I've had in the Northern California region. My favorite is probably the least popular on the menu...The Tsuke Men (veggie style). I've been going to Shoki's now for the last 6 years of my life (maybe 7? Its been sooo long) and that was one of their originals. Ahh...the memories... Anyway, dont let my nostalgia deter you! This place is great. SUPERB. DELICIOUS. just saying the word 'Shoki' in my head gets me salivating....is that weird??
(5)Anthony W.
Just like the original Shoki's but with room for elbows and cleaner for the anal retentive types. (IMO, the other location was clean enough) The cute and delightful owner's daughter seemed to be running the place, kudos to her! I had the curry ramen, which was fantastic as always, and copy exact from the other location. They are even closer now to where I live and open on Sundays, I'm beside myself!
(5)Diana C.
Great to have the same darn good bowl of dreams now within walking distance from home. I've been here twice for lunch and it's great that they don't push you to leave after you're done since there's plenty of seating now. Once you get the attention of your server to take your order, food comes promptly, so you're in and out of there in no time. Their board suggests that we put in some chili paste into our broth midway through the meal to enhance the flavor of the no-MSG broth. Good thing I only put a pinch in. That stuff is pretty spicy but it was a great addition and it wonderfully made my shio broth extra tasty. Shoki's open seven days a week and on weeknights, they'll keep the lights on until 10 pm. I guess I'll be making pit stops here after happy hour at Elixir!
(5)Winston R.
I went with the large sized (Bear sized) bowl of extra spicy tan tan mein .. All smiles across the table .. The best ramen hands down in my opinion.. A must try if your in west sac
(5)Gemma D.
This is the second time I've been here. The first experience was nice so I decided to take my dad here. I don't know if it's just me, but is the meat (finely chopped and shaped in a ball) always cold? All of our meat was ice cold. It drops the tempurature of the soup down drastically which is not very hot to begin with. I asked for no meat this time and thin noodles. I like to take home leftovers and the thick noodles become swollen when they sit in the broth. Instead, I got meat and thick noodles. I told the waitress (heavy set, brunette, female) and her response was, "Oh, I'm sorry!" *Sigh* We'll stick to making ramen at home.
(2)Ngoc L.
I've been wanting to try this place out since the first week they opened to compared it to their first location, but haven't had a chance until yesterday. I went with the bf around 7:30 and to my surprise there was no wait or line at all. We were seated right away and I am just so glad that the tables here are much bigger than the one they have at the old place that looks like desks that they uses school. The place itself is more spacious, and just overall better. So we ordered the Shio Ramen and Tsuke men ramen, they were both very delicious! Quality is just the same, if not better than the original one in my view. The only downfall about this place to me is that the wait for the seems a tad bit longer than the old place. Either way, the ramen turned out great. Maybe I came at a bad time or something, but the service here isn't as great as the old place. But oh well, the ramen here is great as always and I am just glad they opened a new location. I would definitely come back here again!!
(5)Stuart P.
I am so glad that nasty sushi joint Hitomi closed down and gave this place a chance to come to R Street! The food is awesome! There are a million choices for broth and topping and noodle combinations on their menu and the prices are reasonable. They make you feel welcome and thank you for patronizing them. This is my kind of place!
(5)Jennifer W.
This location doesn't quite have the charm of the other location, but like it nonetheless as it's on the Historic R Street and has a nice patio. Get here early because lines are just as long if not longer. The broth is can be customized for more or less spicy, more or less salty, etc. The $2 rice bowl add-on is a great value. I had the curry and it was delicious. The curry was a little thin, like what you would put on ramen. The tan tan mien was yummy and the regular spicy was not that spicy. I exercised caution, but wish I was a little more daring. The shoyu ramen was maybe not as stellar as other ramen places, but this place has got something good going on. I suppose it's the great service and atmosphere.
(4)Eric K.
I love, love, love the ramen here and can recommend the food highly. That being said. I was EXTREMELY disappointed by the service this evening. It was a very slow night by Shoki standards (I know -- I have been here many times) and the service was downright terrible. I needed to ask for the usual ramen condiments and was made to feel as though I was inconveniencing them by asking. It's a terrible feeling to not be valued as a customer but, unfortunately, that is how I felt on this visit. From the beginning to the end, a bad experience, from a service standpoint. I will always recommend the food -- it's great -- but I will think twice about sending my friends here. That is how bad the experience was.
(2)James R.
Wow. This place went downhill real quick. I faithfully ate here for years. In the winter time, I averaged about 2 times per week. At around February, Shoki updated its menu and they indicated that they updated some of the ingredients. The update seemed to ruin anything they had going on. The spinach tasted cheep like it was out of a bag . The menma (bamboo) was limp and dehydrated. The beef in the TanTan Men didn't taste good. The broth overall, was no longer rich and luxurious. I'd eaten 100s of bowls, so when I had my first bad bowl I figured it was a one off. I returned a week later with a friend. The bowl I had was, again, of poor quality. My friend also got sick about 8 hours later. I waited about 3 weeks thinking that they needed to iron out kinks. My 3rd and final bowl was bad and made me sick this time. As much as it pains me, I will not return here. It's heartbreaking since this used to be one of Sacramento's treasures.
(2)Kara B.
Having enjoyed Shoki's original location in Curtis Park, I couldn't wait for their new location to open. I walk and bike home from work along R St quite a bit, and I've been watching their progress. So glad I took the doggie for a long walk this evening and avoided all of the Cinco de Mayo mayhem to pop in for some of my favorite curry donburi!. Since I had my dog with me, and I wasn't planning on making this stop, I couldn't partake in their wonderful ramen tonight. As is the case at their other location, they can't serve the hot ramen to-go (I don't blame them, I'd want to keep some quality control too... who wants mushy ramen when they get home?). But, they can still do the cold ramen to-go and I am enjoying my curry donburi (at home) right now as I write this. The order seems bigger than I remember, and came with a wonderful little side salad. You can get brown rice or white rice. The folks there are really nice and very helpful in explaining the menu. The weather has been warming up here, but hot-schmot, there's just something about this ramen that is so comforting and made with care.
(5)DiJon W.
Tan tan men double broth is ridiculously good! I can damn near eat this everyday. The staff is welcoming and explain the menu thoroughly. You can't go wrong eating here. If you visit frequently use cash so you can get a stamp card.
(5)Thuong D.
YAYYY they finally opened a second location! It's close to the original on 24th street and super easy to find. i was here a few days before the grand opening for an event and it was packed! they had a special fundraising where each bowl of ramen is only $5! all profits go to victims of japan so you're eating delicious noodles for a good cause! customers will be happy to know that this place is bigger than the original but with the same quality. also they are now open 7 days a week so make sure to schedule at least one day to go eat some ramen! let's go shoki crew! this is only the beginning for you guys!
(5)Brina T.
Went here to what all the hype was about expecting to be blown away. Just not what I was expecting at all. Service was moderate to good, the seating is cramped, and the ramen...i might as well of bought a pack of mama noodles and made it myself at home. Hokkaido is much better.
(2)Ericha B.
2 stars because their servers are patient and attentive. Is it possible to be full and hungry at the same time? Shoki ramen house II downtown you disappointed me, which is hard to do :( never again! I order the tan tan men only because I wanted beef. They can charge you $2 for beef, but you get an amount the size of a baby's spoon minced. Everyone at the table had to have their soups microwaved. I love all types of Asian food and am far from picky, but was severely disappointed with the food. The small is about an ounce of noodles so be warned if you thought you were just ordering light. I have never written a poor review before, but this was a must. I'm sure people do enjoy this place, but I don't understand the hype. Will be going to San Fran for my ramen needs from now on. Oh and be ready to cut your own green onions they give them to you whole. Maybe it's just me but I don't want to pay extra for raw whole onions
(2)Stefanie W.
Tan tan double broth mild spicy is a MUST try. Nicest staff at both Shoki I and II.
(5)Amy C.
I ordered the Tan Tan with Chashew. Didn't know they would charge extra for Chasew; since I didn't want the beef in it. Thought it would just substitute it. Oh well.. Boyfriend got the Soy Milk Ramen. Mine was a bit more flavorful & plus a bit spicy. They were busy for lunch & didn't refill our waters. I got the Apple Tea which was lightly sweet & that's good. If you want to use the restroom, go to the counter & get the key from the hostess. The bathroom is outside of the building. It was nice to try, but I still like pho more than ramen any day. :)
(3)Lus T.
I love this place. It iz so delishius and affordable. Me and my gurl go in every week. Itz always packed. Prepare to wait.
(5)MISTAH B.
I'm going to be honest. I never really understood "ramen". I've been to a few places here and there, and thought it really, really, average, and way too overpriced for what you get (barely any meat, veggies). Always preferred Chinese and Vietnamese noodles. So you can imagine my surprise when I walked into this small, homely, ramen house and was blown away by the ramen they served here. It was bloody amazing, I got the spicy tan tan men ramen, and the broth was glorious, spicy, flavorful, nothing like I've ever eaten before. The slices of pork, chat-something su, was really tender, but the egg (tamago) stole the show. Unlike other noodle places where they either boil the whole egg and then just throw it in, or crack the egg open while the soup is hot, Shoki's egg is fully cooked on the outside, but on the inside it is fully cooked, but just enough so that the yolk takes a gelatinous form. I don't know how they do it or if I'm even describing it right, but It is bloody delicious. Not that many places do this, so I highly recommend that if you're ever in area, to give it a try. They give you a ton of food for your buck as well, a large bowl of ramen here is worth every penny. Bottom line: I will forever remember Shoki II Ramen House as the place that made me appreciate ramen.
(5)MIchael H.
The food is always so fresh and worth the some times long weight. My hot wife, Jazzy Z (aka Jasmine) & me for awesome ramen. The tan tan men from and wonderful. Try to set with the pork worth the extra two dollars.
(5)Andrew Y.
I swear, this ramen is laced with crack! I keep coming back. This is the best ramen I have ever had in my life. People usually get pho to cure their hangover, but i prefer shoki! This location is about twice the size of the other one and they also accept all major credit/debit cards! If you have a big party (6 or more) be prepared for a short wait. I order the tan tan everytime with extra chasew. The menu is really simple with only 4 major entrees to choose from. I ordered the soy milk ramen once, and while it was good, it doesn't hold a candle to the tan tan. This is perfect for rainy days, dinner, lunch, and basically every meal. I cant emphasize how much I love this place. I promise, you won't be disappointed with this place!
(5)Michael F.
This place has the best ramen that I've ever had! Then again my arsenal of ramen restaurants is relatively small compared to other food types. I can definitely appreciated the disclaimers about the use of all natural ingredients and NO MSG. The food was hearty and filling and full of taste. I also didn't feel like i wanted to drink water like a camel afterward so I knew that they were telling the truth about not using MSG. Anyway, I LOVE THIS PLACE and I'll return very soon!!
(5)Nisa N.
SHORT CURLY BLACK HAIR!!! I don't think I'll be back to this place for a while. Sucks cuz I really liked the place.
(2)Toko M.
Somebody pinch me! I can't believe it!!! Shoki now accepts credit cards! Much of it still seems pretty much the same, the two waitresses working on the floor were shouting "irasshaimase"! (welcome) when people entered and "arigatou gozaimashita!" (thank you) as they left. They still have you sign-in before being seated. And the precious ramen, it still tastes good. But one thing, for sure, has changed -- its bigger. Upon entering I looked around and I saw two "super sized" customers in the restaurant who would've had a hard time squeezing into a table at the old spot. Although the setup of tables and chairs still seems a bit unconventional, they now definitely have more room. And there should be no need for anyone to stand outside unless your party is quite large or you just like the weather. One thing I do miss is that you are no longer able to see how "the magic" happens. The actual cooking of the ramen now takes place in the back, hidden from public view. (booo!) But I do like how they have chosen to decorate the interior of the place with Japanese-style decor, and paper windows. It has a more modern feel, while still trying to remain traditional. Even though I'm not so sure about the new location yet, (hard to find and construction work going on in the area) I still think that "Shoki II" (aka Shoki on R street) will do just as good, if not better than their first restaurant. Some of you may already know, that I think they have some of the best ramen in Sacramento, and you may be wondering why I only gave them 4 stars. Well, honestly, the place was reasonably packed with people when I came in, and I was seated relatively fast, but should it really take 35 minutes for my ramen to come out?? The old restaurant wasn't THAT slow. This could be due to the fact that they are newly opened, or maybe they don't have enough hands in the back to support the # of requests they get now, I don't know. But they need to fix that, or it could hurt their business. There were two men sitting at a table right next to me, and they had no food when I arrived. After I sat down, their food came, they ate it, and were given their tab all before I even smelled mine. That ain't right.... (A personal remark for Shoki: I came in by myself, hoping to be seated at one of the smaller (2-chair) tables, but instead I was awkwardly sat at a big (6-chair) table, which could have been better suited for a party bigger than 1. Randomly sitting customers anywhere is probably part of the reason why some crowds may still end up standing outside. Just something to keep in mind.) I plan on coming back here again later, to see how things progress at the new spot. But so far, other than a little slowness, it seems quite nice!
(4)Patty L.
The perfect place on a chilly day. I love how this place can accommodate more than the original Shoki. I always get the Shoyu Ramen with the mini chasu don on the side. The broth and the noodle are always to my liking. I am alway overstuffed coming out of this place and will continue to come here for my amen fix.
(4)Mark M.
I grew up in Los Angeles, have been to Japan, and was originally from Taiwan - thus, I can kind of be a food snob when it comes to things like ramen. And I thought - this thing is in Sacramento, so how gold can it really be? Well, I would have to say that I was honestly surprises. It was pretty darn good! I came here with my friend who works in the area, and he suggested that I try their specialty, the soy milk ramen. Everything was tasty, from the noodles to the egg to the broth. The broth was smooth due to the soy, and there was good depth and flavor to it. The egg was just slightly overcooked, but otherwise good. My only complaint is that the menu seems a bit limited, particularly in the appetizer department. Sorry, but thats the distinguishing and in thing for ramen shops these days. Otherwise, this place earned a solid 4!
(4)Mimi V.
Shoki is a popular ramen house in Sacramento. Ive tried the tan tan mei and soy sauce ramen here. Both i thought was average and didnt hit the spot. The only thing that really stood out to me were the noodles that tasted really fresh. Other than that, i am not a ramen fan. I have tried multiple ramen places and none of them stood out to me. Service was quick and good.
(3)Kim O.
Curry Ramen. They have it, but it is not on the menu. I get it every time because it is so darn good!!! They have Hawaiian Sun Iced Tea in a can too now. I know it's dumb, but it really made my night being able to have some Iced Tea and Ramen. Now if I can only get back to Hawaii. :)
(5)Brandon M.
Probably some of the best noodles in sac. Definitely have had better elsewhere, but it does ok in a pinch. Their spicy or even extra spicy isn't that hot, but it does add some good flavor. I showed up on a Wednesday at 530 and they had people already lined up.
(4)Christopher C.
I never knew how good ramen was until I went to Shoki!!! I get the Tan Tan Men extra spicy with double noodles and shitake mushrooms. SOOOOO GOOD!!! Its so flavorful and hearty. Perfect food for a cold night or pretty much any other time. My friends and I make the trip up to R street JUST for noodles at Shoki. One of my favorite spots ever!! You wont be disappointed!
(5)Sandy N.
2 stars for the Ramen 4 stars for the service This is a cute little hole in the wall, it has a cozy feel to it. The customer service was good. They claim that the broth and noddles are made from scratch. Sounded very intriguing and exciting. I love foods made from scratch. I ordered the Tan Tan Men extra spicy with a side of steamed cabbage. The side of cabbage was a very large order for one person. Not bad for an extra $1.00, though. The spice level was not spicy at all for me. The noodle! It didn't look "made from scratch"....I don't recall fresh noodles being curly, as these were. The only time I've seen curly noodles were from packages! So, the reason for 2 stars! We had to send back our soups bcz the noodles were not cooked all the way, not even al dante! Fresh noodles shouldn't have a bite of rawness to it or be gummy and chewy. The noodles should be tender and silky. And the color of the noodle shouldn't be as bright yellow if these were really made from scratch. As for the broth, it was good and not salty! hmm...maybe I read wrong. Maybe it was just gluten-free and soy milk noodles are made from scratch. But I don't think I'll be making a drive out there for a cozy warm Ramen soup! I like my soup HOT not warm!
(2)Ann L.
on a rainy day or if you're sick, the noodles are pretty good. but the soup lacks something....that extra kick. Service is excellent!
(4)Peter N.
This place has good quality ramen, which seems to be hard to find. The noodles are cooked the way I like, something like al-dente but Asian style. The broth is legit too. I prefer the tan tan men spicy broth, but soy milk broth is nice too. It's thick, a bit more filling and has a unique flavor. Extra fixings are expensive, but sometimes hard to pass up. Let this review count for the ramen at both Shoki's, but this location is way better since it's bigger and unlike Shoki 1 doesn't have loudass speakers blowing music into my ear so I can't even have a conversation at my own table.
(4)Miki S.
Best and most authentic Japanese Ramen house in Sac for sure. You can tell there is care and honor in what is served. Also glad they went back to the good chashu! I recommend shoyu broth, extra chashu and add lots of their chili paste! Melon remunerative soda too.
(5)Lacey C.
They were closed on a weekend day at a time they were listed as open on both their website, here and on their doors. Not cool!
(1)Erin H.
Great ramen! Service is very good too. Our server was very hospitable and gave great recommendations. I started off with the basic and had the Shoyu ramen. The noodles were cooked nicely, and the broth was nice and light. Love the presentation! The spicy powder they provide for you on the table kicks it up a notch and personally makes it better. I'm Korean and I live for spicy foods. The spicier, the better. And now that the basic Shoyu ramen gets the seal of approval from me, I'll definitely be back for their tan tan men. Hit me with your spiciest! Had to knock off a star for the location and lack of ramen or Japanese entree varieties.
(4)Vanessa V.
Food: 5/5 Setting: 5/5 Service: 4/5 I love this restaurant. I was craving for noodles and the noodles I had hit the spot. My friend and I came in and we were immediately greeted by all the staff, even the staff in the kitchen in the back. It was awesome. The place was really small and we were seated by the entrance to the kitchen so once in a while I'd get brushed by. I didnt mind it, just as long as they don't spill stuff on me or bump my arm while I eat. But this didn't happen. :) I ordered medium sized bowl of ramen with soy sauce based soup. When I received my bowl, it had a cute round decoration on top. It was aesthetically pleasing. And then it was stomach pleasing because I got full and I was happy. The serving staff were friendly but were really busy with helping everyone so we had to wait a bit to order and to get our check. Overall the place looks like you're in another country and they serve great noodles. It's a really cool food getaway in Sacramento. I will definitely come back again!!!
(5)Nolan B.
Best ramen in town. They always yell thank you when there's a tip. Very unique. The only thing to worry about is the seating is very scarce so weekends have a very long wait time. Once they forgot to call us over for our table space but it was a busy day so it is easy to overlook those kinds of things unfortunately. The food was still very good. I will still come back, just maybe not on a sunday for lunch.
(4)Modie O.
We came with a party of 4 1/2 and were seated in 15 minutes. The place was very busy, as always. They have new menus have clear descriptions of all their ingredients, options and choices. Right after we ordered, the waitress informed us of a recent change 3 weeks ago. They are integrating to a more "japanese cafe" style with optional tip and pay ahead. We were caught off guard a bit as we scrambled to get our cash together. I also overheard they increased their prices, maybe to help cover for the optional tip clause. Ramen was delicious! We'll be back!
(4)David K.
When most people think of ramen, they think of 20 cent squares of dehydrated thin noodles that boil in 3 minutes. A ramen restaurant that serves fresh, homemade ramen noodles is of course different. I've been going to the original Shoki near Broadway for years. This location is more convenient with the larger dining area, private parking lot, plentiful street parking, longer hours (open til 10), and they take credit cards. My favorite is the Tan Tan Ramen with its spicy broth (you can custom order the degree of spiciness). I like mine spicy but not too spicy. For the non-spicy food eaters, there is the Shoyu Ramen (with a soy sauce based broth). At the last visit (first visit at this new location), I had the Shoyu Ramen which comes topped with a big slice of pork, bamboo shoots, spinach, and seaweed. Loved it. Basically, if you like the original Shoki. The new location has the same food (same menu items and same taste and quality) as at the original Shoki. But with additional factors that make the location more convenient. If you have never been to Shoki, you should give it a try. If your only experience with ramen is Top Ramen, you should give ramen with fresh, homemade noodles a try (a huge difference in quality and taste). Service at Shoki II is friendly and efficient as at the original Shoki.
(4)Jack L.
As a student of UC Davis, it is difficult to find a decent place to eat ramen in the neighboring area. Fortunately, there are good ramen places like this one to satisfy the occasional cravings. The restaurant is not glamorous nor spacious, but I enjoyed the cozy and homely feel. The menu is somewhat small (5-6 kinds of ramen along with 5 different appetizers), but that makes ordering somewhat easy. The food is served incredibly fast, all of the dishes/ramen we order were served in less than 5 minutes. Lastly, the food here taste great. I particularly enjoyed the chosiu pork appetizer (Not sure how it was spelled) and the soy milk ramen. A regular size bowl of ramen is only around $6-$8 so coming here wouldn't kill your wallet either. It is difficult to find a ramen place of this quality especially in the Davis area. Overall, I recommend anyone who enjoys ramen to give this place a shot.
(4)Nathalie N.
This place is good. They have a healthy udon option, organic whole wheat. Broth is not overly spicy and pork is nice and tender. I wish they had more veggies in the bowl, but I can't complain. The service is great too. I usually order to go because its always so busy when I get there that I noticed you have to wait for a seat. The place is uber small, so make sure you come ahead of time if your party is large. I'll always come back even when its hot or cold for some yummy ramen.
(5)Ellen L.
So, I've heard a great deal about this place and was suuuper excited to try it out. I LOVE ramen, so I had high expectations for it. I have to say, I wasn't that impressed. It was a good meal, but it wasn't anything that had me hooked! I had the regular Tan Tan Men Ramen, and thought it was alright. I didn't really like how chopped up the meat was...it was like someone already chewed it up. Maybe I should've ordered something else, but I don't see what the big hype is. The staff is polite and friendly, and the environment is fine, but I just wasn't won over by the ramen :T
(2)Kiko E.
Got invited by a co-worker I must say I was hesitant because I was my prior exposure to ramen noodles was limited to the maruchan variety. I tried the Tan Tan Men (mild) got the smaller of the 2 sizes available. My taste buds where pleased that I had gone out of my comfort zone and tried something new. Everything had a freshness to it that I didn't expect but I most assuredly welcomed. I can't wait to go back and try the something else or at the very least something a bit more spicy. The staff was all smiles and very welcoming. It was lunch hour and the place was packed yet I didn't feel rushed. For sure I am going back next time I am in Sac.
(4)V G.
Three stars not because of the food, ramen was delish! Service however was not the best. We went right before it was closing for dinner and we were rushed out because staff wanted to leave. They also asked us to pay because they wanted to close out the register. In my opinion staff should be patient and let people enjoy their meals.
(3)Halona L.
There's no better ramen place in the area. I've recently moved to the bay area and I'm still searching for ramen house that has the quality of noodles and broth that Shoki has. Someone please help me because I can't drive 1.5hrs to satiate my ramen craving! The broth here is flavorful (I get a less salty, extra spicy tan-tan with the tamago) and the noodles are the best I've had. The tofu they serve is both soft and fresh; I believe they get it from the Sacramento Tofu House. Best evar! I love that all the ingredients are handmade in house and the service is superb. Word of caution, unless you're used to eating spicy spicy (e.g., you're Korean and/or eat habaneros), SUPER spicy is sweat in the dead of winter, nose dripping, water guzzling HOT.
(5)Fairy P.
Wonderful place. Great customer service, everyone is kind, courteous, and respectful. Always greeted with a smile and everyone chimes in with a "Irasshaimase!!" (which means 'Welcome!' in Japanese). I love this place and frequent it during the cold and rainy days between late October through late February, which is perfect as I warm up to the hot comforting broth of the Tantan Ramen. A wonderful treat for the holidays. I order the same thing with every visit--the regular size bowl of the Tantan Ramen (extra spicey) with the corn, spinach, shitake mushrooms, and half boiled egg...that is, if I have the extra cash for the yummy egg. :) I took two aquaintances here and now they're addicted to this place. They, too, order the Tantan but with their own preference level of spiciness. They absolutely love this place! My favorite thing to do aside from inhaling all my ramen and broth is admiring the diversity in this place, people of all ages and ethnic cultures come to this little Japanese ramen hole in the wall. Now that they have a new and second location, I can't wait to try the new place out next week for the first time. I'm sure I'll still go to their old location though on days when I'm tight on time since it's closer to my workplace. Oh, one of the other best things I enjoy at this place is since I'm asian, I find it amusing to watch how ppl (because it's so diverse there) holds their chopsticks, lol. You don't think you're being watched in places like this that requires chopsticks, but believe me, ppl will notice *chuckles* It's so cute, I can't help but laugh quietly to see how much some ppl struggle with their chopsticks. At one point, I brought a coworker of mines who literally got a hand cramp from his chopsticks. :p
(5)Meilani S.
This place took my "Ramen card." At first i was confused on how to place an order, but their menu provides ordering instructions, which i found very helpful. The staff was very helpful at explaining as well. This place is really tiny, not realy good for large parties. 4 people to a group is probably a good size. I'm not a HUGE Ramen fan to begin with, but it was a very cold, windy night and i wanted to explore a local, neighborhood restaurant. The food was good, the prices are affordable, but like i said, this was my first Ramen experience, and i have nothing to compare it to. i would come back, but not often -simply because i don't crave Ramen often. Also, i guess they've changed there usual habits - you pay before you eat; and tips are no longer necessary.
(3)Justin S.
I really like this place. Its easy to come here when you are low on cash or short on time. You get a good Japanese vibe going with smiling faces and good Ramen. Some don't understand the appeal to ramen, and I admit, even I am more of an Udon fan than Ramen. There is just something about Ramen that screams "Maruchan save me, I'm a college student that is squandering their money on toys and now I only have 10 bucks to eat, make it work!". But I digress, once you get past that, you realize that Ramen is a throwback to times when you didn't have steak and lobster money, simple times. And in that moment you found the beauty of small gems like this place, where you can go and escape the moments of terror causing 50 page menus. A place where you can go and make your mind up in 3 minutes and place your order. This place is great, I love the cold noodles with a bowl of broth and double Chassu.
(4)Tuyen L.
I rather go to their other location. Although this place is bigger, and I did not have to wait that long, it was a bit hard to find due to the construction. The Ramen doesn't seem as good as the other location too. The server was speaking so fast, it made me feel so rushed. I got a regular size Ramen, and my friend got a small sized Ramen. I just felt that I should have gotten a small size one too because it looked like the same amount. The plus for this place is they accept credit cards, and the tables aren't crowded like the other location.
(3)Rebecca R.
Maybe I don't know what I'm doing but I've tried this a couple different ways and I think it taste terrible. I even asked the server what was most popular. For just broth and noodles for a "regular" bowl at $11 after a tip, they must be making an 85% profit. I'm not cheap, I'm just saying. Service was good but I won't be returning.
(2)Thavy D.
Simple add-ons like corn, extra bamboo shoots, extra spinach, or egg cost $1.50 each and more special add-ons like Chashu are $2.50 and up. So even if it is a one dollar sign place on yelp, you'll likely pay a bit more because of add-ins that can really add up. They discontinued the free whole wheat option, but you can add on organic wheat noodles for $1. When I go to Shoki, I go for the soy milk ramen, which I recommend because it is the most savory and rich option. But the food is declining in quality at the same time that prices are rising and service is getting more inefficient. Shoki used to be a favorite. I have been going for years, every few or more months. But ever since they expanded to the new location, they increasingly implement changes and new protocol that make little sense to the experience of the diners. Every time I return, there's usually a new change, and it is usually for the worse. Sometimes I let memories of the good 'ol days cloud my judgement, and I return, giving Shoki the benefit of the doubt. But Shoki is basically Somebody that I used to know, and it's time I get real. Dear Shoki owners, I hope you happen to read this review, because I honestly want you to improve and succeed rather than slowly lose your customer base. You continue to get a lot of newcomers, but so many regulars I know and so many fellow yelpers seem to agree with me and will soon fade. Some of my main concerns: 1) Is there a way for you to serve the ramen hot, with all ordered ingredients in the bowl, presented and ready to eat? Your soup is barely hot enough to enjoy. For quite a while, I have gotten toppings on a separate plate. I understand that it might have to do with having too much to accommodate the size of a small bowl. However, it makes little sense for the customers. When we put all the toppings in, the soup temperature drops dramatically to just above luke-warm (others have been told that that you put the toppings separately because they would otherwise make the soup too cold if you put them in the bowl. But when we as customers put them in from the side, the soup gets cold anyway-- we as customers are simply the ones to do it). On top of that, we are served a kiddish looking, naked ramen to which we have to plunk in ingredients before diving in. Is there a way to have it be hot and stay hot when it hits the table? If it is because the bowls for a small size are too small, is there a way to tweak the proportions? Everything fits just fine once I toss all the toppings in, so it doesn't seem like it will likely spill over. 2)The egg that I had on a previous visit was perfectly soft boiled, which is the only reason I ordered one on my recent visit. This one was very hard boiled, which is not what I enjoy in ramen. I understand that that is a preference of mine (and many other ramen fans), but decided to ask in order to know if it was a fluke or new change. When I inquired about whether that was the new normal for eggs, I was told that they were getting complaints for undercooked eggs, so increased the cook-time, and that there's REALLY, REALLY nothing they can do. I was told this repeatedly. Really nothing they can do. I get it. I was just wondering-- no need to talk to me like I'm ten, and no need to condescend. As my waiter was politely yet defensively describing the new egg sitch to me, I felt disappointed they changed it, but I understood it fine. What bothered me was their approach to my inquiry. In order to avoid blame, he assumed I was faulting him and kept saying that there was absolutely nothing he could do. Really? A restaurant where waitstaff aren't given the freedom or responsibility to offer solutions to concerns and criticism? I don't fault him as a server for that. But I do fault poor restaurant policy. I have worked in the food industry. If it were within my powers, I would always help customers get the most of their money and experience. Any sit-down restaurant I have been to would at least offer to take the egg off my tab if they could not offer a solution. Since I had clearly not eaten it yet and was clearly unaware of their change, I think they should trust I didn't just want a freebie. 3) For such a small restaurant, are ipads really necessary? Interactions with servers sound rehearsed, which makes for a weird vibe that is part fast food repeat-back. I don't mean to be cold, but interactions were far more fluid and friendly when it was old fashioned paper and pen. The only explanation I have for Shoki's rigidity is the sense I get that there is no head chef presence to lead cooks who can respond and adapt to daily change. Is everything there very procedure-based and dependent on strict adherence to following timing and measurements? Workers have good intentions, but they seem uninformed, confused, and easily thrown off-track. Shoki would be much improved if it took to heart just a little bit the slogan, "Have It Your Way." If BK can, surely Shoki can try.
(2)Kristina H.
My family were on vacation and decided to stop by here for some ramen. I live in a city where ramen is a craze and I have to admit, this place isn't that bad! It's a bit noisy and cramp... but the waitress we had was nice and the service was great! I got the Tan Tan Men! It was a bit salty for my taste but it was still good! I really liked the noodles! It was chewy and simply delicious! If you decide to go, I recommend the Tan Tan Men if you're looking for something spicy! I will come back again if I could :)
(4)Vivian H.
Shoki!! Why are you soo good, but always closed whenever I'm in Sac?! I love the ramen -- yummy chewy noodles and extra spicy broth. I always get the tan tan men, add in extra pork and shiitake mushrooms, and man.. so good I have to apologize in advance for not talking for the next 10-15 minutes. My only gripe is the service, which is a bit slow and inefficient.
(4)Ryan G.
Really? I don't get it. I went there based on yelp rating but Food wasn't good at all. I have been to several ramen places but this place didn't make the cut.
(2)Mali T.
SHOKI II deserves a rating of a 4.7. Finally made it to this location. Was out having lunch with a friend and great thing we avoided all the rush hour traffic. We got parking and seated right away. Staff are a younger crowd, but every cheerful and welcoming. Being a resident of Hawaii. This is not the best Ramen house I've ever been to, but it works for being in Sacramento. They do not use msg here, that's probably why it is not as flavorful like other Ramen restaurants. One thing I do like about this place is the thickness and taste of the Ramen noodles. (DELICIOUS), but wish they would have given more. I gave it a 4.7 because it lack the authentic flavor I was hoping for, but for those that does not like msg or like their broth a lil bland, then it'll work out for them. In order for me to rate this place a 5, I'll have to be blown away to which I want to come back the next day lol. Overall, I do like this place, a bit pricey, but it's the closest to home I got. Next time I'll just sneak some "MSG" in my purse for more flavor LMAO!!!!! The menu is very self explanatory. The sizes of the Ramen ranges from "small, regular and large" To make your money's worth I recommend the "Regular or Large Bowl" Prices: Small - 6.90 Regular- 7.90 Large-9.90 Type of Ramen dishes: 1. Shoyu Ramen, 2. Shio Ramen, 3. Tan Tan Ramen, 4. Tsuke Ramen and 5. Soy Milk Ramen. You can add extra sides ranging from $1-$6 dollars (Therefore, it can be PRICEY, unless you want to split the sides) Sides: Green Onions, Bamboo, Shiitake mushroom, Seaweed, Boiled Egg, Corn, Steam cabbage, Tofu, and Chashu. I ordered me the small Tan Tan Ramen with a side of Egg and Chashu in Extra Spicy (WHICH IS NOT SPICY AT ALL) I had to add more of the red chili flakes hehe. My ramen came out ot be 6.90+1.00+2.00= 9.90 + tax. It didn't really fill me, wish they could give more ramen noodles. BEST TIME to go is on Week days between 1-1:30PM - Avoid all traffic. They are close at 2pm and re-open again at 5:30PM. Well for all you Ramen lovers! This place works =) Next visit I want to try the Soy Milk Ramen because, the description sounds so delicious hehe.
(4)Erica S.
On the way to Sacramento, we were craving ramen so we stopped by here for lunch after my mom recalled seeing an ad about this place in the Japanese newspaper. It was not too busy for a Sunday. I had the Tan Tan Men in Regular Spiciness. The broth was pretty good, but it wasn't spicy at all that I could have handled Extra Spicy. My family ordered the Shoyu and Shio Ramen. Everyone thought it was pretty good, but for me, I thought it was okay. I think there's better ramen places where I live in the Bay Area.
(3)Emily C.
So the place looks nice kind of like we were in japan ... My friend and i went inside and we wanted to sit at a 4 seater table, but as we waited they were all 2 seater tables combined ... Wished the tables work bigger. I had the tan tan super spicy and the ramen was good, but the broth was overpowering with sesame seeds. Super spicy is not spicy as well. Dont know if i will go back. Only giving 2 stars because of the look and feel. Their green straws are nice, but the chopsticks are way generic. They need to work on that.
(2)Yolanda C.
Soy Milk Ramen. Unique soy milk broth. Everything else is a bit too salty for my taste. Oh, the waiters kneel down beside you when they take your order, so don't freak out when you see that happening. Apparently it's nbd, but I freeze in shock every time.
(2)Adam L.
Well maybe i'm very biased, having grown up in Los Angeles and frequenting many of the great Ramen houses in little tokyo..but I was very underwhelmed with the Tan Tan Spicy Ramen. First, the noodles were just not that good. Granted, if you have never had "real" Japanese Ramen, this will be world's better than the ramen you got for 30 cents at Safeway...but for the rest of us it will be mediocre at best Second, the broth. This is of course of tantamount importance, and frankly, while it was spicy, it lacked other flavors which I have come to expect. It was bland, yet spicy... if you can imagine that. Frankly, for $10 i expected more meat, more seaweed, more flavor. It was about the right size bowl though and noodle proportion. Given all that, I have yet to come across a better Sacramento Ramen house...so if you need your ramen and are not willing to wait till you get to SF (or LA), then it will do. You can make Ramen of this quality at home for much cheaper using store bought stuff and adding your own meats and other goodies.
(3)Koy S.
We love eating at Shoki Ramen house! There has always been a bit of a wait everytime we have been there. You get there and write your name down on their list and wait outside for your name to be called. Once you are seated the staff does a good job about taking your drink order. I always order the Shoyu Ramen with extra soft noodles. Sometimes I feel like the broth is a bit on the salty side, however I just add more spicy paste and garlic paste. My husband has ordered the Tan-tan men and that is really good too. I am really glad that they have opened this location because the original house was just way to small, espeicially if you had a party of 4. Keep up the good work Shoki!
(4)Elaine N.
When my sister suggested ramen for dinner... I was so down! Tan Tan Men Ramen -- Mild spicy Our party of three adults and two kids ordered a plate of the steamed cabbage and chasu on the side. Must have the chasu, it's so tender! The broth was flavorful, great on its own without the addition of MSG. Shoki Ramen House really pride themselves with being a healthy ramen alternative -- they even offer a whole wheat noodle option. Nice!
(4)Thanh B.
I don't even recall which ramen noodle I got because I don't plan on coming back here. I came in the evening and there was a long wait. Inside was super crowded so that was also very bothersome. My bowl of noodle was as plain as ever and it was most certainly not BOMB DOT COM. I don't see what's up with the hype. May give it another try one day if I just happen to be in the area and starving. I usually like to try a place at least twice before dismissing it COMPLETELY.
(2)Sam B.
I might as well copy my review from the original Shoki, because frankly, it's just the same thing. And that, for those who haven't read my earlier review, is a great thing! The food is tasty, the service is fast, and hey, now I don't even need to stop by an ATM before I visit! Credit cards are now accepted. On this visit, I tried a "ramen set" with a mini donburi. That was pretty good too, though it wasn't nearly as good as the ramen. Not a bad thing to add for a change of pace though! If you haven't tried it, give it a shot. And come hungry. A large is seriously a tough thing to finish.
(5)