JINYA Ramen Bar

I tried to relive my Japan trip when visiting this restaurant.
It was near lunch rush and the place is packed. They seated us by the door at the bar.
The hostess was nice to be able to seat us right away. But being right at the door has it’s down sides due to the door opening and closing and feeling the chill.
The waitress although attentive is a bit too attentive in taking dishes /​garbage away. It’s a bit of a conversation stopper. Awesome for when they ninja put down your hot tea without looking or even your dish.
I think they got my dish right but my beau’s dish was wrong. He ordered the chicken bowl but ended up with chasui? what?
Would go there again, but I don’t know if it’s going to be anytime soon.

Amazing ramen, service, and atmosphere. I ordered the jinya no. 1 ramen and the consistency of the soup was perfect (not too fatty or watery) and the noodles were surprisingly thin. I love thinner noodles because they are easier to devour.
Server was attentive and the interiors are clean and quite beautiful.
I highly recommend this place for ramen

I enjoy Jinya’s spicy soup. I really like having the fresh garlic that you grind up yourself and comes for free with your meal. Their food is pricy for what it is. I usually add on pork soboro. The parking around Kerrisdale is abundant if you don’t mind a short walk.

We ordered the tonkotsu black with gyoza combo and extra corn. The soup is pretty rich and tasty and it’s a bit of a preference thing but I like the skinny ramen noodles they serve. It’s not to die for excellent stuff but a pretty decent cozy meal especially when it’s cold outside. There is usually a bit of a wait however, and the waiting area is outdoors. They have outdoor heaters that make it more bearable but I probably wouldn’t want to be outside in the cold if I was with young toddlers or infants. It’s not the first time we’ve been here and so far the quality has been pretty consistent. The gyoza is crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside so I recommend it with your combo. They charge $ 2 for tea, and it’s boiling hot water that it comes in. I love the heat but my hubby complains that he usually still can’t drink it by the end of our meal.

If you dig Santouka I have a feeling you’ll like this place too. Noodles are a little thinner and the broth is not as thick. Portion-​wise it’s perfect for lunch but I don’t think it’ll cut it for dinner. Gyozas ($ 7.95 for 8) are excellent. So is the service, sorta. They actually checked on us, twice, which is pretty rare for a ramen place IMHO. Having said that, someone did spill water right behind my seat and it took them 5 — 10 mins to take care of it. The place’s not cheap per se (about $ 12/​bowl), but if you’re looking for a noodle fix and don’t want to venture into downtown, this is it!

Ok, I got a bone to pick with these guys. A friend and I went there for dinner and left sincerely disappointed. The overpriced Ramen was tasty, but nothing amazing. However, the service received from the staff and management alike was hilariously pathetic.

New (not really anymore) place to have ramen! I love ramen so much, and I’m glad that there’s a nearby location so I don’t have to go all the way to downtown!
I went in the restaurant with skepticism since the ratings were so low. First impression of the restaurant was really good. The décor was nice but the restaurant did not have very many seats… I wonder why, since the line ups were always so long. I hope they’ll add more in the future!
When I went in I was greeted by the friendly staff, and was pleased with their energetic and chirpy «Irashai!”– that means «welcome» in Japanese, by the way.
I sat down by the window with my friend and we ordered the No.1 and No.3. The server was friendly and patiently went over the menu with us, explaining that we could customize our soup (less salt/​less oil) and the firmness of our noodles (firm/​soft). I was very pleased with my choice of less salt/​firm noodles with my Tonkotsu Asari. The thick noodles were very Al dente with a nice texture to it. The soup was on par with some of the best in town! It wasn’t too greasy/​light, but just right. The gyoza and takoyaki were also a.m.a.z.i.n.g, reminder to all to eat the egg sauce they put under the Takoyaki!
Overall the food was solid, definitely satisfies craving for any types of ramen (heavy or light, since they have chicken/​pork).
I do admit the service is kind of weird, though, the servers introduced themselves like it was at a high end restaurant, so it was kind of bizarre since I expected service similar to all ramen joints, fast and efficient with little attentiveness. They were all super friendly and prompt, though. So with the good ramen and the good service, I don’t see a reason not to give 5 stars.
TIP: avoid long waits by going for a early dinner or late lunch!

Honestly speaking, the Ramen here isn’t too bad. Jinya is a much heavier/​richer soup base compared to the other ramen joints so you’d want to come here if you’re really craving it.
However, I find their service strange and slightly rude.
Order and delivery of the meals were fine, but once we had gotten our food, the servers would keep coming to take away EVERY. SINGLE. PLATE as soon as they see one. One female server literally scooped from my husband’s back and grabbed a small plate while he was eating, and after that we didn’t really have an appetite. The same girl came back not long after and asked if I had finished my ramen (Clearly I still had some left).
If you’re going to want to have high turnover rates that way, so be it. There are plenty of non-​ramen places I’d rather go to around Kerrisdale than to be rushed like that.
Also, they don’t let you wait inside because of «safety reasons» — whatever that means.

I went here several times with my boyfriend who really likes this place. But he has extreme taste, he likes to make everything salty. For me, the ramen at this place is so salty that I have to dilute the soup every time I order ramen. Other than the saltiness, Jinya is worth coming. I like their crispy chicken. Also, they have egg salad underneath the takoyaki which I think is good-​tasting. There are a lot of people during dinner time and on weekends. So, if you like ramen you can check this place out.

First time trying this new Ramen place, that my mom recommended, had to wait cuz its a tiny restaurant w/​probable 30 seats MAX! And it was around 7…“dinnertime” for most… thats prob why the wait… anyhoo. the ramen was great! Though the soup was a bit salty… don’t recommend drinking a lot of it. Also fried brussel sprouts and the fried chicken in which both were Awesome! But Hey ANYTHING fried would be great! IF its fresh… over all the experience was great!
I’d come back!

I was very surprised to see that this restaurant only had three stars. I thought that the noodles were cooked perfectly, very al dente (thick noodle is way better than the thin ones). The soup although a little dick, especially towards the end, it was very flavourful. We Ordered their special (Black Tonkatsu) and the spicy tonkatsu ramen. Both great. We also ordered takoyaki and Mochi green tea ice cream. The takoyaki had a lot of sauce which I love and it was interesting how they were served on tiny chopped up tofu. Overall our experience was good. The store was however really cold and I had to wear my long coat the entire time. Prices a bit high but they are in Kerrisdale.

Went here on a Sunday night after badminton. It was probably about 30 minutes before they close so this may be a factor.
I ordered their #3 — Tonkotsu Assari. The soup base was thick and a bit salty. After a little while, I needed more water. The meat and noodles were delicious but I wouldn’t have too much soup.
The service was quick and friendly. They did come by to fill our water and drinks and asked if we needed anything. Not so much that it interrupted us.
Will come ans try a different item to see how the soup is.

Have seen a few of the Jinya restaurants before, and have always wanted to try the ramen. Finally got to at this location, for late lunch. The verdict is: «meh.» Ramen was bland, gyoza and salad were good but nothing special. The interiors are nice-​looking but the restaurant lacks soul, which is why it gets 2 stars. Undeniably this review is also coloured by the other late lunchers, who were having the most inane conversations around us.
Don’t remember what the bill was, but I do remember wishing that I had chosen to eat almost anywhere else on the block. Might give Jinya another try, but probably not anytime soon.

I have been here a total of two times (this location) and multiple times in the downtown locations.
The last time I came, I ordered the regular tonkotsu and added corn. The broth is extremely rich and on the verge edge of being too salty. It won’t make you feel too good after a whole bowl of this. However, I do like the noodles here because it is exactly how I like it — thick and al dente.
This time I came and got the spicy chicken ramen subbed thick noodles instead of the thin. Order came out and noodles were wrong and they took another 10 minutes to remake mine. The soup was so so so salty. Halfway through my tongue actually started hurting from the salt. Even the chashu seemed like it had been seeping in saltwater. Needless to say, I couldn’t finish my bowl. I even used a full cup of hot water to dilute the broth, it was still salty. And I would say i prefer food on the bolder/​saltier side.
It’s always busy and there’s always a wait but the good thing is they also have very quick turnover.
Probably will not return after this experience :(

Let me start by saying this I am a huge fan of Japanese food and ramen, but this place is just horrific and don’t want to recommend to anyone else who love Japanese ramen.
I had dinner with my girlfriend at Jinya in Kerrisdale for an anniversary, but the customer service was awful, waitresses did not even care about the customer who already got their foods, too disorganized and the taste was too rich and made me feel terrible after.
We ordered several items including Spicy Chicken Ramen, Jinya Tonkotsu Ramen and Gyoza. The waitress explained us about their menus, side add-​ons and beverages and that was it. As soon as she finished explaining about the menu, she did not really pay attention to our table, and so did others. The ramens took over 25 minutes after our orders were taken. Both Spicy Chicken Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen were not even hot enough as well as the toppings.
This restaurant in Kerrisdale is too overrated and I would rather go to other Ramen restaurants in Downtown. Of course, I will never go back to Jinya.

Good first impression at this new ramen place. There seems to be a steady line to get in.
Tried the Tonkotsu Black with corn and negi as extra toppings. Portion size was great, the noodle was sufficiently chewy and not overdone. The soup was a touch bland but had sufficient depth for it to be satisfying. The «crush it yourself» fresh garlic is a nice touch. The cha-​shu was tender and tasty but a bit too fatty for my taste. And finally, the ajitsuke tamago was, again a bit bland, and slightly overcooked.
The gyoza was right-​sized, had a bit of nice crunch on the bottom and had a pleasant texture. Would come back for those.

I came here a few weeks ago, and just now looked up the Unilocal reviews. I was very surprised to find that the rating was at 2.5 and decided to upload this review.
If I could rate 4.5, I would. I ordered a Tonkotsu Black with a crispy chicken side. The chicken was amazing, and I would definitely recommend. The thick noodles in the ramen were very appetizing. The soup was incredibly rich, but I ended up finishing the whole bowl.
I sat at the bar, and could see the kitchen making the ramen soup. I noticed that they were cooking bone soup, which also whet my appetite.
The service was not out of the ordinary in any way, but everyone was friendly and I was satisfied.
They already have a liquor license and are able to serve beverages. YES there is a bar in kdale now!!!

Seeing all the 2-​star reviews, I decided to upload a review of my own for a bit of balance, especially since Kerrisdale isn’t exactly teeming at the seams with ramen joints.
I came on a sunny weekday just before noon. 15 minute wait for 2 — not bad compared to the hour long waits downtown.
Ordered the No 1. Ramen and a side of Tempura brussell sprouts. Amazing — simply put.
The ramen broth was creamy and flavorful, the pork fell apart in my mouth (not exactly melting, but still decent), and that softly boiled egg was definitely one of the better ones Ive had.
So, I know that truffle oil is all chemically produced — but it doesn’t mean it doesn’t smell or taste good. And though slightly oversalted, the brussell sprouts were still a winner in my book (but you have to like brussell sprouts to begin with hehe).
The service was friendly, attentive, and prompt.
What more could you ask for? The place isn’t perfect, but remember, perfection is all relative. I’ll definitely be returning!

The previous reviews skinned this new kiddo on the block alive.
So I ventured into this previously two-​star-​rated ramen joint with slight apprehension, but only to be pleasantly surprised at its ramen quality, interesting and creative side dish/​appetizer items and chirpy and energetic service.
The broth for Jinya #1 and Cha Cha Cha (for garlic lovers) where both different. They were thick, rich, and full of flavours. I appreciate the mix of bean sprouts in them and feel the portion of veggie was just about right in proportion to the noodle, sliced chashu (which I agree with the previous reviews that they were a bit cold) and I like the sweet onion (?) and green onion topping.
The egg was beautifully cooked and I’ve always had an affinity for the soft Center. However it was a bit on the salty side for me.
We choose thin noodle for both ramen and I liked the texture and if thin noodle bothers you or remind you of instant noodle, you can ask for the thicker one. However just to be clear, thin noodles are NOT the instant noodle that previous review referred to, and ramen (food category) does carry noodle types from thin to thick.
If you want extra garlic, you can help yourself so squeeze fresh ones from the jar of raw garlic presented to you with the «garlic squeezer». Caution if you plan to make out with your date after.
The Takoyaki stole the spot light during our meal — it came in big balls of 8, topped with fine bonito flakes and green onions, drizzled in sweet special sauce and lay on top of a thin layer of potato salad.
The lady who looked after us was very friendly, prompt, explained the menu and we were quite charmed by her smile.
From sitting down, to ordering, to finishing and heading out the door it took us around 35mins, which to us it was pretty good especially with an almost full house. Anyway glad to have a ramen place closer to home without having to a downtown trip.
See you next time!
Cheerio!

It’s been 6 months since I last visited this place. The line up is super long… Like all new ramen places in Vancouver.
You can no longer leave your name and number and go shopping for a bit in Kerrisdale :(
After sitting down here the first time, the wait for our ramen took around 20 minutes. So they need to work on their speed a little.
The wait the second time around for a table was around 30minutes. Food took around 10 minutes.
It’s a pretty nice place, but I think they could have fitted two more tables in the middle to accommodate more people.
The servers were friendly and kept topping up our waters without being asked during their grand opening.
In terms of the broth, I actually quite liked the flavour of my Jinya No. 1. It’s not overly salty like Kintaro Ramen on Denman. The ramen texture itself was okay. Their mirin eggs are more flavourful compared to last time and pork slices are also better than before. They still need to find crispier nori/​seaweed.
Otherwise, I’m happy there’s a place in Kerrisdale for ramen seeing how it’s so much closer for me than Downtown.
I’m so happy they serve alcohol now :)
Overall 3.5 stars