Jinya Ramen Bar, the Best Tonkotsu Ramen in DC Area
To all the Ramen lovers out there in DC area!
I found a great authentic Japanese Ramen shop in DC area!!!!
I have been always thought if I really wanted to eat decent Ramen, it is better wait until I visit New York, rather than eat them in DC, because I have never satisfied with Ramens in DC.
But eating Ramen at this JINYA RAMEN BAR, finally made me think that I do not need to go to NY for Ramen anymore.
I’m such a Ramen lover, and have eaten a lot of Ramens in Japan, so you can trust me on this!
Here is the outside look of the Jinya Ramen Bar.
It is located in the Mosaic District in Fairfax. Not quite in DC yet, but they are preparing to open one in DC next year, so don’t worry. Till then Fairfax is the closest, and it is way closer compare to NY, right?
This Jinya Ramen Bar was originally started in California, and currently has more than 10 locations in the US and Canada. And the owner is from Japan who knows Japanese Ramen very well.
You’ll see the bar as you enter the place, and then behind it are the table area. On the left hand side of the table area, there are open kitchen and counter table in front of it. They have total of 100 seating.
It was quite crowded when we visited in weekend, but because the restaurant is quite big, we didn’t need to wait too long. We waited about 10-15mins till we seated though we were told it might take more.
We sat at the counter table in front of the open kitchen.
This counter table style reminded me of Japanese Ramen place so much.
Most of the Ramen shops in Japan are pretty small and they usually only have open kitchen and the counter table.
So I felt as if I was in a Ramen shop in Japan.
If you are wondering what the Chinese character on the Ramen bowl saying, it is the character for “JIN” of Jinya, and it means territory.
Condiments on the table.
From left, Ramen seasoning (to add taste/saltiness to the ramen), seven spices (to add spiciness), Gyoza seazoning, and spicy paste (to make ramen spicy).
We first had Gyoza dumplings (or pot sticker).
I was little disappointed that each Gyoza was bit small than I expected, and the bottom was not crispy enough, but when I took a bite, my disappointed feeling disappeared.
It was very meaty and the taste was amazing!
This is the “Jinya Tonkotsu Black” ($12.80) the most basic Tonkotsu(pork soup base) Ramen of Jinya, and their specialty.
It is not in the top 3 ranking on the menu, but when I asked the waiter, he recommended this as the must eat item of the Jinya, because Tonkotsu soup is what they are proud of.
It was a decent Tonkotsu soup, not too thick nor oily, well balanced.
They use thin noodle for this soup and it was like a Hakata style Tonkotsu ramen.
Burned garlic oil and spicy chili miso paste is topped, and if you mix them with the soup the soup become more flavorful. (I recommend to check the taste of the plain soup before you mix them.)
This is “ChaChaCha-for Garlic Lovers-” ($13.80).
This one is much thicker and oilier Tonkotsu soup, with thick noodle. If you know Japanese Ramen styles, I would say this is like the Yokohama style Tonkotsu Ramen.
If you are not used to eat thick and heavy Tonkotsu Ramen, I do not recommend this one, but if you know and like the Tonkotsu Ramen well, I really recommend this Ramen. Though it is thick and heavy, it was not smelly like some of the really deep Tonkotsu Ramen, and I thought it was well balanced and didn’t feel too heavy as it looked.
Though, it says “for the garlic lovers”, the fresh garlic comes on the side, and it is your choice to put or not put them.
I’m not a garlic lover, so I didn’t put the garlic. Instead I put the spicy paste to change the flavor at the end. Tonkotsu soup goes really well with the spicy paste.
It was so good, I even finished all the soup…..
Oh, their pork chashu on the Ramen was amazing too. The meat were so soft and will melt in your mouth! If you want to enjoy the chashu, Cha Cha Cha has many chashu slices, so go for it!
If you really like Ramen, and looking for authentic Japanese Ramen, you definitely should check Jinya Ramen Bar and try their Tonkotsu Ramen, either “Jinya Tonkotsu Black” or “Cha Cha Cha”. Those are 2 different Tonkotsu Ramen style and both are really really good.
Jinya Ramen Bar
Address:
2911 District Ave. Ste 140
Fairfax, VA 22031
Website:
http://jinya-ramenbar.com/
Yelp:
https://www.yelp.com/biz/jinya-ramen-bar-fairfax
TEL: 703-992-7705