Food::Early Saturday Dinner @ Shoki Ramen

        There was a time when I got addicted with Naruto.  I'm still quite addicted though I no longer watch the anime series.  Nowadays, I just read the scanned manga pages online.  The main character in that anime series is Uzumaki Naruto who happens to like ramen very much.  It was this anime series that started my craving for ramen.  No, not the instant ramen that you get by opening a packet of dried noodles which you then boil in water.  I mean the real thing.  So I started Googling ramen places in our area and found out about Shoki Ramen in downtown Sacramento.
        Today, Dinah and I went to Seafood City to go grocery shopping with Tita P.  We agreed we're all going to Shoki Ramen afterwards.  We went to the R Street location which is the newer branch since the original 24th Street location is quite cramped. 

Tan Tan Men

Hiyayaku

        For starters, we ordered Hiyayaku, which is a cold appetizer made with firm tofu garnished with bonito shavings, scallions and garlic paste.

        I've always wanted to make this at home the first time I saw this on Flickr.  Now is my chance to try it first to see if it tastes as good as it looks.

1/4 Hiyayaku with soy sauce

        
        Hiyayaku tasted really good with a little splash of soy sauce.  The saltiness of the bonito shavings and soy sauce along with the spiciness of the scallions and the garlic paste complemented the flavorless tofu really well.

Tan Tan Men with Tamago (egg)

        
        
        Dinah and I shared a large bowl of Tan Tan Men.  Tan Tan Men is basically the Shoyu ramen with chili oil topped with goma-miso minced meat, scallions, spinach, bamboo shoots and nori.  Tita P. also got a large Tan Tan Men.  She planned to bring home half of it for Paulina.

 

Chasu Pork plate

        We also ordered extra Chasu pork for toppings on our Tan Tan Men.

Tan Tan Men with Tamago and Chasu

        
        Dinah got to complete the stamps on her Shoki card for the 2 orders we got along with Tita P.'s.  We were able to get a large Tan Tan Men to-go for just an additional $3 (free if we got the regular size).

        The only funny thing about Shoki ramen is that they just give you containers for to-go items.  You have to transfer the food yourself.  I wonder why they couldn't do it themselves since it will save them some dishwashing work.