After months of construction, the new Jinya Ramen franchise on West Broadway at Granville will open its doors to the public on Thursday, August 1.
The Los Angeles-based global franchise known for its ramen and side dishes is doubling down on its presence in Vancouver proper with the new restaurant's debut.
Located at 1518 W Broadway, the new Jinya Ramen (dubbed "Vancouver West") comes to town courtesy of a new local franchisee who is using the large dining room space to enhance the brand's familiar food menu with an expanded bar program.
Though Jinya began in Tokyo with a sole location in 2000, the ramen brand the world has come to know well in the last two decades really took root in L.A. with its first location - a small shop with a patio in a Studio City strip mall - in 2010. The restaurant was catapulted into the local food spotlight when it earned high praise from revered food critic Jonathan Gold that same year.
Jinya Ramen first came to Vancouver in 2012
In 2012, Jinya landed in Vancouver with its first restaurant location at 270 Robson St. A few years later, Jinya moved to an expansive space at 541 Robson St where it remains a fixture for downtown ramen fans. While Jinya has opened (and closed) a second Vancouver outpost in Kerrisdale in the interim and a franchise operates in Burnaby at the Amazing Brentwood, the brand's 61st overall location is the newest one on West Broadway in Vancouver.
Jinya's West Broadway menu treads familiar territory with its lineup of signature noodle and broth bowls, including its signature Tonkotsu black, chicken, spicy chicken, and creamy vegan ramen. There are bountiful ways to customize your bowl, from spice level to noodle thickness and an impressive roster of add-on options, from chicken wontons to broccoli, corn, fried garlic, and Jinya's excellent seasoned whole egg.
It's Jinya's vegan ramen that is a sleeper scene-stealer, achieving a remarkable depth of flavour in its plant-based broth with cubes of soft simmered tofu and snappy, chewy noodles. Jinya's vegan ramen has long been a personal favourite and a popular pick among omnivores and plant-based eaters alike, however, in a side-by-side tasting with the Spicy Chicken Ramen and Tonkotsu Ramen during a preview of the new West Broadway location, the meatless dish stood out as the table's pick for best in show.
Other fun bites include Jinya's pork belly-stuffed bao and tempura fried Brussels sprouts. The brand also serves spicy tuna on crispy rice, a popular L.A. sushi bar staple that isn't as present in Vancouver; their version has a nice crunch on the rice and a nice flavour on the tuna though the texture leans on the side of pasty.
We're 'crazy about ramen' says Jinya founder
The cocktail options are approachable takes on classic flavours and drinks with a Japanese twist, with ingredients like matcha and lychee popping up amidst whisky and shochu creations. Mocktails include a matcha lemonade and a watermelon juice with mint and lime.
“At Jinya, we like to say that ‘we’re crazy about ramen,’” said CEO and Founder Tomo Takahashi in a media release. “With the popularity of our downtown location, we’re excited to open this Vancouver West location – because the people of this city are as crazy about ramen as we are!”
To that end, diners will find a neon sign proclaiming "Ramen is all the craze" on the back wall of one of the seating areas.
The restaurant space underwent an extensive build-out to outfit the former financial business with a kitchen, bar, and dining room. The vibe is boisterous, with staff calling out traditional greetings in unison and clubby music filling the room. That said, Jinya does offer a kids' menu and has a casual, family-friendly atmosphere. Pricing is on par with or slightly higher than many Vancouver ramen restaurants, with bowls in the $20-23 range.
For opening day, Jinya's new Vancouver West location will be doing a giveaway of free ramen bowls to the first 50 diners at lunch (11 a.m.) and again to the first 50 customers at dinner (5 p.m.). Plus, at dinnertime, the grand opening festivities will include a live DJ.
Jinya Ramen's Vancouver West hours will be 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday, and 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday.
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