JINYA Ramen Bar

It boosted in several places that it had free parking, but after driving around 3 times I found nothing. And ended up paying the standard $ 5 per hour in the lot behind the restaurant.
The server didn’t come to our table until I notified a hostess after about 10 minutes. The food was good and interesting: tempera Brussel sprouts and the edamame hot and salty. Both appetizers a bit on the salty side. My ramen dish was fragrant and flavorful. I ordered the black broth recipe with pork and a whole egg. I was happy with the ramen. We didn’t order any drinks. Except a lemonade which tasted like the powder and water variety. I’m a bit disappointed.

I actually really ended up liking this place, although I was weird and didn’t really get real ramen (you’ll see what I mean). I came here with a couple friends on a weekday evening and it wasn’t too busy, which was nice considering how PB can get pretty crazy sometimes. We were seated right away in the outdoor seating area. I ended up being weird and choosing the vegetable soup ramen with spinach noodles (don’t judge), but it turned out to be amazing! It wasn’t too filling and I didn’t feel terribly full/​in a food coma afterward. I technically got what my friends termed to be a «salad ramen,» but hey, it was a good salad ramen. Prices were reasonable, and service was ok. Overall would recommend! Maybe next time I’ll try one of the real ramen options…

Tip: come here with a big appetite and an empty stomach ! Wish I did! The ramen here is so delicious, I have tried a lot
Of ramen joints and by far this is a good one! Many ramen joints end up having broth that could be overwhelming and too salty in taste but NOT here, their both is just perfect. It was the right amount of salt, savory and very flavorful. The ramen I got was called the Cha Cha Cha ramen– it had thick noodles pork brother a nice soft boiled egg, with mushroom on the side. The only thing I wish they had were garlic chips ! I love garlic chip or fried garlic with my ramen :)

Décor was cool and presentation was nice, however the broth was super fatty/​oily. Noodles were cooked perfectly al dente just how they should be. I wouldn’t come back, especially if you’ve had legit Japanese ramen at Daikokuya or Shin Sen Gumi.

Amazing food! You need to order the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen, even if you’re not vegetarian (which I’m not… so was thankful my friends convinced me to still try). Seriously some of the best flavors I’ve ever tasted in a dish. Unfortunately I live in Connecticut so we don’t have a Jinya nearby but this is on my ‘first things to eat list’ when I’m back in Cali! Awesome job.

I’ve probably been here 10 times by now. This isn’t a cute I’ve tried the menu post.
This is a DAMN to do list.
Walk in — Order the Jinya Dynamite appetizer and one of their many beers — Order the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen Bowl to your Spicy Likeness (10 if you want the full body sweat cleanse lol) — Napkin Yourself Down — Rejoice — Return Soon — Repeat!!!

Solid food and service here. Came here around 5.50 on a Wednesday and was promptly seated. The servers were super great, as they still let me order from the happy hour menu even though it was about 6 when we ordered.
Tried the Tonkotsu white ramen and the JINYA bun (offered on the happy hour menu for a much cheaper price).
Tonkotsu white ramen — delicious, not too salty but rich and full of flavor. You can ask the server for fresh garlic to add in if you want an extra kick.
Personally I found the chicken and pork broth combo to be successful and didn’t tire of the broth at any point.
JINYA bun — decadent little bun, served as one piece alone but you could share this with a friend if you like. Pork belly was succulent and basically it almost melted in your mouth. It’s served with some Japanese mayo, cucumber, and lettuce inside. Flavors were reminiscent of a Peking duck bun with hoisin sauce, but still unique in its own way.
Overall, the food and service was great: we didn’t wait very long for our food, servers were kind, and everything was efficient. We had wanted to grab a quick bite to eat within the hour, and this definitely met our needs. Would come again if in the area.

This is one of my favorite places to eat in PB besides Lanna Thai. Apps for around $ 6, ramen bowls around $ 11. Food is really yummy, portions are decent. Things I like:
+ lots of beer choices
+ gyozas
+ spicy chicken ramen HOT (the best!!)
+ cilantro wonton chicken ramen
+ extra noodles for $ 1.50
To sum it up: the food is great here, prices good, service is usually good to average.

My last rant was about the lack of host/​hostess by the door. It’s gotten much better. My last few visits I was greeted and sat in 2 – 3 minutes.
I was hesitant to order the tempura Brussels because everyone seems to be getting creative with their Brussels. They were pretty damn good, but I was also really hungry. But pretty damn good.
I tried the current special they’re running, asian cilantro ramen. Also pretty good. Had a phở vibe to it with all the cilantro.

So I’ve come here twice already with the family… This place was recommended to me by my Japanese friend/​foodie (hehe)…
Both visits were on a weekday, late afternoon around 6pm. I hear this place gets busy with a long wait time, but we were able to be seated right away.
Our servers were very friendly and checked up one us regularly. Ordering and receiving food was all within good time frames.
Clean, a little trendy, but still very accommodating to families and kids. Indoor and covered outdoor seating. A little on the small side.
The food–
Jinya bun (with braised pork, mayo, greens)… The pork was tender, rich flavor.
Brussel sprouts tempura– no joke, was DELICIOUS. Tender Brussel sprouts with absolutely no hint of bitterness. The tempura batter is crunchy and light.
Jinya Dynamite– served in a little skillet with toasted bread. I didn’t try it, but husband enjoyed it…
Tonkatsu Black– comes with thin noodles, but I requested thick instead. The strip of pork is super tender, soft boiled egg just right. The broth is a little thick, VERY rich and flavorful. Very filling. There’s a whole list of toppings you can include, I added bean sprouts and cabbage.
Cha cha cha– husband ordered their garlic ramen. It too was rich and thick. On its own, the garlic flavor is subtle. But the fresh garlic they give you will definitely enhance the flavor.
Chicken chasu– got a small bowl as a combo with my ramen. Has a nice sweet ginger flavor. The boneless chicken is flavored well and tender. I got this for my younger kid.
Kids meal– you get a whole lot for just $ 7! Chicken Karaage, fries, rice/​chasu, bowl of ramen, a piece of fruit, lollipop, AND panna cotta dessert. They definitely don’t sell your kids short. The quality of their food is just as good bc it’s basically the same food! Haha…
So yea, in usually weary of Japanese restaurants where majority of the customers and employees aren’t Japanese… But this place is legit!
Street and paid lots all around it… They say there’s a lot with 2hrs free parking, a little confusing, we ended up just paying.

I really expected a place like this to be in Convoy! Nevertheless, it’s a great addition to PB!
Eats.
+ Ramen. Tonkotsu style but with a twist. They put a small pour of spicy sauce on the chasu pieces, so if you don’t like spicy just wipe it off like I did — or tell them to not put it. It also comes with garlic oil … But the broth is the winner! Annnnnddd ~ it comes with a full egg instead of half, score! The downfall is it was served warm instead of hot. Maybe this is their thing, who knows.
— Cha cha cha (Garlic ramen). Comes with free garlic. Not as garlicky as I thought it’d be, so it was kind of disappointing. I mean, if you have to add fresh garlic to it (table side) to give it the «garlicky» flavor, what’s the purpose? It seems cool, but reality is. If you’re going to have garlicky noodles ~ make it garlicky! lol. The noodles are thicker too so they end up absorbing a lot of the broth as it sits.
+ Takoyaki. I was pretty impressed! Comes with 6 pieces and they’re larger than other places (such as Tajima or Nishiki), but its delicious and has quite a bit of sauce.
+ JINYA bun (aka pork buns!). Thick fatty cuts of pork belly with greens and mayo. Mmmmm! $ 3 during Happy hour (3 – 6) or (9:30-close). Loved how thick the cut was, but it was lacking flavor. Oddly enough. It just wasn’t as juicy as is hope, but maybe I need to stop
+ house made pork dumplings. Ok these are seriously some of the best I’ve had! It’s full of flavor and has watery goodness almost in each bit (that’s if it’s still closed, we had a few that came open)
Parking.
First two hours are free in the public paid lot right behind it.
If I’m in PB craving ramen again, I’ll def be back.

3 stars or 4? I don’t know. Probably a 4 cos they gave a birthday mochi. A friend of mine in LA was told me Jinya had a new location in San Diego and said I should try it.
So I have a mixed feeling about having a ramen place in this part of town, Pacific Beach, which is known to be a party place for younger crowds and of course, surfers. But what really matters to me is that parking in PB always sucks! Just saying.
Okay. back to the food. Ramen was decent for the San Diego standard. They have sides like fried chicken and pork belly bao… bot were decent. Good selections of craft beers on tap for sure! They have Ballast Point Grounion. yumm!
Yeah check out the restaurant if you are by the water and is craving some hot and comforting ramen.

The place is super hip & visually pleasing.
I parked on the street since I came on a weekday around 5pm so PB wasn’t too packed yet. They offer free parking, but I was unable to find the parking lot. Upon entering, we were greeted by the owner and a waitress, both were super nice and made us feel very welcomed.
When deciding on what to order, I was extremely indecisive but our waitress was very nice about giving recommendations. I ended up ordering the chicken chasu bowl and quinoa kale salad, both were pretty fantastic, chicken was a bit dry and the chicken portioning in the bowl was lacking in quantity. The soft boiled egg was an awesome touch to the bowl though. The dressing on the salad was DELICIOUS and I would really just come back for this alone. My other friends got the Tonkatsu Assari Ramen and the broth was alright, a little too much saltiness but the noodles were a nice amount of chewy-​ness. I wish their broth was a bit creamier and sweeter, and less salty. Also, I like corn in my ramen and you have to pay extra for that.
I would consider coming back to give the ramen another try, perhaps a different broth. But for the pricey-​ness, the food was just okay and gets a solid 3.5 stars for me.

I like that they offer 2 hour free parking, but it’s very confusing.
When you drive to the back of the building, it’s a huge parking lot.
I called in to make sure that you can park there for free, and the girl on the phone said that you can park within the first three rows starting from the Miller’s building and we did not have to buy a parking ticket in advance or get a note from inside.
So we parked in the second row of the Miller’s building.
Then I asked the girl at the front desk as well just to make sure, and she said she didn’t even know how it works! Very unorganized parking. And I told her if she would ask, and she said that if we did get a ticket, then they can waive it for us.
After dinner I did ended up getting a parking ticket, but we found the parking lot attendant and told him we dined at Jinya, so he gave us a card to call his manager to dispute the charge and the manager was very understanding and removed the citation for us.
So it’s a shared parking lot with other businesses and a parking company owns the whole lot. I just feel like the parking situation was very complicated and unorganized. They should have signs on where we can or cannot park for Jinya.
— — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — — –
OK so rant over. Now onto the establishment…
I like how there’s indoor and outdoor seating available.
As well as bar seating. But what I didn’t like was that the hostess at the front desk also failed to ask us WHERE we wanted to be seated. Usually its customary at a sushi restaurant for them to ask if we wanted to be seated at an actual table or at the bar. But she simply seated us at the bar. But I’m not a person to complain, so it’s whatever. But thought I’d mention that as well.
They do not take reservations, so if you have a large party, then come early!
It was busy, but not too packed on a saturday night.
Our server was very friendly.
+ Cha cha cha Garlic Ramen $ 13.00
This seems to be the most popular one. And I had to choose this one because i LOVE garlic. The soup broth didn’t really taste too garlicky. But it was good. Their chashu meat was good, just wish there was more of it! And the boiled egg was perfect. The noodles were thick and delicious as well. Portion size was just right.
I also really love that they offer fresh garlic.
They give you a jar of garlic and a garlic press.
So you literally crush your own garlic so its fresh in your bowl!
Pork Gyoza $ 4.80
The pork gyoza tasted like it was steamed and then slightly fried so it was mostly soft with a slight crunchiness.
The server had forgotten our gyoza, so we were waiting a few minutes after our ramen came out, and the manager was very generous in giving us the gyoza for free. She was very friendly and kept making sure we had everything we needed and apologized more than once.
The manager and the server made my night better.
Overall, food is good, customer service is good, but just need to work on their parking.

Definitely one of the better Ramen Shops in San Diego. Personally my favorite taste wise, and I would visit more often if it was a little closer to my house.
Now while this place is located in PB the parking isn’t as bad as you think. They have a parking area right behind (to the South) of the restaurant, giving you 2 hours of free parking as long as you eat there. It seems kinda of shady at first as it is a normal pay lot, but it is okay. From what I read from the other reviews and what we experienced, no one has received a ticket, and from what I overheard one of the hostesses say, that if one of their patrons receives a ticket, they will be reimbursed.
Now when my girlfriend and I arrived at the place, it was quite busy with people. Even with that though, we were seated immediately upon walking in, although we were at a large table with other pairs of people, which was fine since we had a decent amount of room. We were also offered a separate table if we were willing to wait, but it was not a big deal to us.
I ordered the tonkatsu black ramen with a pork chashu bowl and a side salad, while my girlfriend decided to go with the Cha-​Cha-​Cha ramen. The salad was okay, nothing special. I really enjoyed the chashu bowl, and it tasted more like teriyaki, but as I neared the bottom of the bowl the sauce was overpowering and too sweet. My tonkatsu black ramen was really flavorful and really indulgent, although it was a little too rich I started feeling a little overwhelmed about ¾th through. The Cha-​Cha-​Cha ramen was nice and garlicy, they even provide free crushed garlic as well, it all had thicker noodles which tasted just as good!
Definitely coming back if I have time, and tempted to try their many delicious looking appetizers as well.

Pretty good Ramen spot. Came in by myself for a quick bite and was seated instantly on a Sunday afternoon. Got the Tonkotsu Black ($ 10.80) and apparently, they had a $ 3 special mimosa deal all weekend, so I couldn’t pass on that. The Tonkotsu Black was comprised of thin noodles, pork broth, pork chashu, green onion, seaweed, egg, and garlic and the broth was very good. It wasn’t overpowering, but it was light and delicious.
Parking situation — In PB, parking always sucks, but if you eat at JINYA, you are able to get 2 hours for free in that parking lot right behind the restaurant. You just park and go in without any sort of prior validation and you’ll be fine!
Would definitely come in again.

3.5 stars.
We ordered several things since we were so hungry coming from a Gulls game. We got cha cha ramen, spicy tonkatsu ramen, pork buns, jinya dynamite, crispy pork ears. Service was a bit slow considering there were only handful of tables occupied that night. Pork buns were steamed a little too long — it was a bit mushy. It had good flavor but the bun kinda killed it. Jinya Dynamite wasn’t bad, it reminded me of dynamite sushi but instead they have some bread to eat it with. Crispy pork ears were really good. It was served with some crispy kale. I was a bit confused with the addition of a soft boiled egg but it was a nice touch. Now for the ramen, my garlic ramen was good, might be a little too fatty/​greasy for me but flavor was good. DH’s tonkatsu was good as well but nothing really stood out to us besides the crispy ears.
I was expecting a little more from Jinya. Unfortunately, they didn’t deliver. I understand that ramen is a preference and this one didn’t work for us.

High 3.5 stars
Jinya is a popular LA ramen brand and now it came to SD. My friend informed me that I should try it.
We came for a friends birthday around lunch on a Sunday. There was a $ 2 mimosa special and we took advantage of that deal. Tasted mostly like orange but whatever.
We ordered:
Fried chicken (like karaage)
Black Jinya Ramen #1
Chicken chashu
More fried chicken
Pork Bun
Birthday Mochi
The verdict: the ramen was okay, I felt it was way to fatty and oily. Maybe it’s the black sauce they put in it? It’s a very strong fatty and oily flavor. Let’s say your lips will be shimmering after.
The fried chicken was our favorite! The chicken is a solid 4. Great crispy thick hot pieces with good flavors and not dry. The chicken chashu was good too. The pork bun was also very good, and they were far more generous on the pork inside then anywhere we’ve seen. Jinya is a great addition to the ramen combo.
Our service was great. Servers were very friendly and attentive. She even remembered us mentioning our friends birthday and got the mochi birthday special for her. I would probably come back and get the regular ramen with no black sauce or whatever to lessen the fatty oily flavor. Other than that, a great addition to PB scene… although it doesn’t beat some popular ramen places on convoy.

Awesome ambiance, thin & thick perfectly cooked ramen noodles and friendly service made for a 5 star experience.
JINYA Ramen Bar is hot, and up and coming. They have quite a bit of locations ranging from Los Angeles, Chicago, Arizona… the list goes on.
They do not take reservations, but coming in on a Saturday night around 8:30 pm wasn’t too bad. Waiting about 15 minutes for a table of 4. In the meantime, they have three TVs where they play the hottest games of the night, and some «waiting» chairs. Make your way over to the bar as well to get a drink if you are looking to buy time.
Parking TIP: There is parking on the street, which I found easily, and there is also free two hour parking at the back of the restaurant if you dine in. Take advantage of that!
Food: Deliciousness. They do have other options besides ramen such as Tapas and rice bowls, but I would recommend getting the ramen the first time as that is what they are known for. Not sure what to get? Their #1, #2 and #3 on their menu are their most «popular» items. Their #1 which I got was Tonkotsu Black Ramen which came with pork broth, pork chasiu (which is like the asian version of bbq pork), garlic chips and garlic oil, nori and a soft boiled egg. I am not a big fan of runny eggs, but the soft yellow egg was cooked so perfectly and it was so tasty. For you garlic lovers, you can request fresh garlic, which comes with a garlic smasher so you can add more garlic in your ramen.
Service: Hostess was super nice, and the servers are friendly as well. They order on the iPads– makes it super simple. We were approached by what appears like the owner or manager (wore a suit), and asked how everything was. He also helped bus, put things away and opened our door when we left. We appreciated that! Thank you so much… your hospitality was noticed and appreciated.
The table comes with hot sauce, gyoza sauce and a red powdered spice seasoning which makes the broth a bit more spicy.
You can also add extras to your ramen for a bit more like corn, bok choy, broccoli, extra noodle, extra soup, green onion, seaweed, spinach and tofu + more.
Check out the full menu here:

If you are looking for a great place to eat really tasty ramen, good portions in a fun environment, this is it!

The cold weather prompts people to seek refuge and solace. My refuge and solace happens to be ramen at the moment during the colder temperatures here in San Diego.
There was a waiting list for seating which was strange as the restaurant wasn’t too full and it was mid afternoon. We asked if we could sit at the bar but I think that’s reserved seating too? We weren’t quite sure what was going on but the hostess had someone bus two seats for us at the bar. So that was nice.
We ordered:
BRUSSELS SPROUTS TEMPURA
I knew I was ordering this when I first entered the restaurant and smelled this appetizer on someone’s table. They use truffle oil and it was wonderfully pungent with the fried brussels. The brussels are quartered and then deep fried. The batter wasn’t too heavy and had a nice crunch to it.
JINYA TONKOTSU BLACK $ 10.80
The broth had a nice milky color to it but could have been served warmer. The broth had a beautiful deep pork-​y taste about it that I enjoyed. The thin noodles were cooked well and retained a nice chew in the broth. This ramen is served with a whole egg. I was giddy with excitement to break the egg open and see yolk spill out. I have the best friends in the world who understand (and laugh at) my food porn fetish (food bloggers all have that fetish). Was this egg the perfect soft boiled ramen egg? I have to say no as certain parts of the yolk were cooked hard. Friend enjoyed it nonetheless and it was a beautiful looking egg.
TONKOTSU ASSARI $ 8.80
Our server said I could request the tonkotsu assari to be spicy. But the broth didn’t have much redness or spiciness to it. The broth could have been hotter but maybe that’s because I like any soup (s) to be piping hot. I also thought the broth in mine didn’t have the deep pork flavor that my friend’s broth had. Not sure if it was because I requested mine spicy. This ramen is served with half an egg. The pork chashu was THE BEST item in the ramen. Actually, this was one of the best pork chashu I’ve ever tried. The pork was incredibly tender and fatty. It had the melt-​in-​your-​mouth quality that you seek when you’re eating chashu in ramen.
TIP: make sure to ask for the fresh garlic to add to your ramen!
Service at the bar was pleasant and the draft beer prices were reasonable. The crowd was diverse and there was a fun energy in the air. I also saw a few patrons taking advantage of the $ 2 Mimosas (Sat & Sun only). Not a bad deal especially if you pair it with their happy hour specials. I’d like to come back and try out a few more of their tapas. There’s also complimentary two hour parking in the back so make sure to utilize that when it gets busy in PB.