5 years after a fire, this Japanese restaurant with a cult following reopens in Sacramento

Shoki Ramen House built a Sacramento cult following in the 2010s, then fell on hard times around the end of the decade. Now it’s back, and already sold out through its opening weekend.

Shoki is reopening its Land Park restaurant this weekend, five years after a fire forced its closure, owners Yasushi and Kathy Ueyama announced on social media Thursday night.

Access is extremely limited during the soft opening. There are two seatings per night, 5-6 p.m. and 6-7 p.m, and Shoki is only open Friday through Sunday. Reservations are required, and all were sold out for the opening weekend by Friday morning.

The Japanese restaurant initially opened in Curtis Park in 2008, expanded to the R Street Corridor in 2011 and accrued a devoted following for its tan tan men and rustic setting. The Curtis Park location was then closed when Shoki moved to at 2530 21st St., formerly home to longtime barbecue restaurant Trails.

Two years later, that building was destroyed in a fire. It’s been fenced off ever since, and Shoki’s R Street Corridor restaurant closed in 2021. But the Ueyamas kept their ramen shop alive via a Shoki food truck while they refurbished the Land Park restaurant.

Now the new/old Shoki is wrapped in a mural by local artist Jose DiGregorio, with Trails’ neon sign still out front. Inside, Yasushi will stock shoyu ramen and tan tan men with Rancho Llano Seco pork loin chashu, with vegan and gluten-free options for those inclined.

Shoki Ramen House

What to look for: Ramen, gyoza and Japanese spirits in a cozy Land Park restaurant.

Where: 2530 21st St., Sacramento

Hours: Only 5-7 p.m. Friday-Sunday to start, and reservations are required.

What’s next: Shoki will conceivably expand its hours once it works through soft opening kinks. No grand opening date has been set.

Correction: A previous version of this article said Shoki’s original location was in the R Street Corridor. It was in Curtis Park.

This story was originally published April 22, 2023 at 5:00 AM.