A rainy day is a perfect excuse to get out for a bowl of ramen. Hubby and I planned to go downtown to get some noodles for lunch and to Ruhstaller for a beer. Then head over to Fleet Feet to check out running gear and then to Ginger Elizabeth for dessert and peppermint hot chocolate. It’s easy to miss Kodaiko’s storefront. Still, once you descend the stairs to the restaurant, it’s reminiscent of some of our favorite basement eateries in Tokyo that promise you some tasty delights. It wasn’t crowded when we arrived, so we were seated quickly. We both ordered tonkotsu ramen and karaage (fried chicken) to share. Since hubby doesn’t like aioli, they recommended swapping the sauce with a soy-ginger version, which was delicious. The chicken was bite-sized, super tender, and had a light crunch. Maybe they used mochiko flour for the coating? He also doesn’t like eggs, so I got to eat his half that came with the ramen. The ajitama (seasoned egg) was perfectly done and is a must-have accompaniment with ramen. The pork chashu was tender, and the noodles were done just right – al dente and springy. The broth wasn’t too rich and I loved that they added plenty of mizuna (mustard greens).
My only gripe is that I like my ramen to be piping hot so that when I slurp the steam fogs up my glasses, I was surprised that I would have to pay for chili oil to add a little kick to the broth. It should be available in a container on the table free of charge. It’s a nice touch that makes places stand out, like Ippudo offering free spicy bean sprouts and ice-cold mugicha (barley tea). For hygienic reasons with the pandemic, it’s understandable that it’s not available for sharing on a table. I hope that 2022 brings more business to the downtown area in Sacramento. It’s been tough for many restaurants to stay open, and I’m glad that Kodaiko is a popular restaurant. When we were leaving, there was a line of folks waiting to get inside. The food quality here is no surprise with chefs Takumi Abe and Billy Ngo in the kitchen. I’ll be back soon to try their spicy kimchii chicken katsu sando on fluffy milk bread.
Kodaiko Ramen & Bar
718 K St
Sacramento, CA
(916) 426-8863
kodaikoramen.com