Ramen workers dressed as Mighty Morphin Power Rangers at a new California Bay Area restaurant rescued a woman Friday night after a man chased her into the business and put her into a chokehold.
Ploi Pirapoken documented the series of events in a string of now-viral tweets from the Thai-owned restaurant Noka Ramen in Oakland, California.
“When something surprising breaks out, you’re not sure it’s real,” Pirapoken told ABC News.
Pirapoken said the woman came rushing into the restaurant, fearing for her safety.
But when the employees dressed as the 90s live-action superheroes witnessed the man attacking the woman, the manager — dressed as the Black Ranger — and his employee — dressed as Yellow Ranger — told the man to leave.
The attacker began swinging, kicking, and yelling Asian slurs at the two Power Rangers, but that’s when all of them joined together and shouted, “Huey!”
Pirapoken wrote in her Twitter thread that the term is a Thai expression similar to the way Cantonese say “Waah,” Koreans say “Yaaa,” and the English say “The f***?”
The Yellow Ranger blocked the attack, told the woman to hide in the kitchen, and dragged the man outside the restaurant by the collar.
Witnesses attempted to call the cops as the patrons were shaking and crying while the man, now outside, began “picking up chairs, baby seats & salt + pepper shakers to throw at the windows.”
He then left at some point while the crowd waited for the police to arrive.
Pirapoken said the man returned with “a friend (or another person bugging on the street) to try & fight the power rangers.”
But the police still hadn’t arrived after “a half hour,” she said.
Pirapoken told ABC that during the altercation, the patrons began involving themselves “in a way that was supporting and making sure everyone was safe.”
Rather than waiting, Pirapoken said the Rangers piled onto the men at the door and locked them outside the restaurant while the patrons inside to keep them safe until authorities showed up.
Oakland Police Department told ABC News that they detained the suspect, adding he was transported for medical attention citing mental health issues.
Pirapoken said she thanked all the rangers for their time and said her party would pay for the food and tip double — despite the Pink Ranger telling them it was on the house for damage control.
Staff at Noka Ramen dress as Power Rangers because it’s “a ramen-fusion restaurant where their main cocktail is, you guessed it, The Noka Rangers,” Pirapoken wrote.
“The Power Rangers franchise launched in 1993 with the hit series, Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. Power Rangers is a global phenomenon with an iconic legacy that inspires and unites the multi-generational fans while embracing the values of community, teamwork and adventure,” according to the franchise’s official Facebook page.
The Green Ranger told her that the staff was “beta testing” the costumes.
“But we wore the right outfit tonight,” the Green Ranger told Pirapoken.
The manager/Black Ranger said he is “a power ranger with absolutely no power.”
California crime has become a major issue in the state as Democrat policies, and soft-on-crime district attorneys, have prioritized the rights of criminals over the enforcement of laws.
A recent WalletHub study shows which cities in the United States are the safest places to live, and highlights the most dangerous ones in California. With 29 cities in the Golden State on the list, the most dangerous places to live included San Bernardino, Oakland, Los Angeles, Stockton, Bakersfield, Long Beach, San Francisco, Riverside, Modesto, and Fresno.
Oakland was the eighth most dangerous municipality in the country, receiving a grade of 60.45. City council members recently spoke about the rise in crime after the 102nd homicide this year occurred.
The craziest thing just happened at dinner. I’m at a ramen shop owned by Thai people in Oakland dressed as power rangers, when a woman comes rushing in saying she wasn’t safe—and a man came running in after her and puts her in a chokehold.
— Ploi de Vivre⁷ (@ppirapokin) October 15, 2022