JINYA Ramen Bar - Union Market

Came as a Mystery Shopper, Ive been to 2 other locations that were a lot more lively and engaging. This one isn't the best but food quality still shows as per Jinyas standard. Service is a bit dead, but it may have just been the Monday I went in on compared to my days of Fridays at other locations. Drinks, food were amazing. And the Roman had the perfect flavor. Wasn't met with any recommendations like the previous locations.. for example Bethesda. But still good quality food overall so I'll rate a 10/10 in food and 5/10 on service.

The food was absolutely amazing! I highly recommend the Jinya Tonkotsu Red. The level two was just the right balance for my taste preferences. Our server Pamela was incredibly sweet and knowledgeable about the menu. She made our dining experience even more enjoyable! I would highly recommend her as your server.

First time visit. Staff was very friendly and helpful in explaining the menu and ordering. Tried multiple appetizers and small plates, along with two different kinds of Ramen. Everything was excellent. Ti’Nya’s service was outstanding! In addition to great service she went out of her way to bring something special to the table for my friend’s birthday. Extra bonus, we found them on the Inkind app. Will be back.

We had a great time here! Our server Pamela was amazing and very attentive. The special Birria Ramen was very delicious, we also liked the Tonkotsu Red. Level 4 was just about right.

Jinya Ramen - Union Market I recently had the pleasure of dining at Jinya Ramen in Union Market, and let me tell you, it was an outstanding experience! The spicy chicken ramen was on special and absolutely hit a home run. It's a must-try for any ramen lover! The menu has something for everyone, making it an ideal spot for groups with varying tastes. The restaurant was impeccably clean, and the decor was really inviting, creating a warm atmosphere to enjoy a meal. I can't say enough about our hostess and waitress, Makayla. She was phenomenal! Her numerous recommendations and guidance in joining the rewards club made the experience even better. She truly provided that Wow customer experience with her fast service, attention to detail, and ensuring we had everything we needed throughout our visit. If you’re in the area, you can’t miss this place. It’s perfect for lunch, especially since it’s closest to my office. I can't wait to return for dinner to experience the dinner rush and see how the service holds up during peak hours. Additionally, the cocktail, liquor, sake, and beer selection is impressive and adds to the overall experience. Trust me, this is worth the visit, and you'll find yourself wanting to return again and again!

A night out without the kids is hard to come by and this experience was so worth it!! Makayla was such a great server! This was our first time at this location and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. From the ambiance to the drinks and especially the ramen; everything was delicious and Makayla really anticipated our needs throughout the entire evening. My husband had the birria ramen and the Smokey old fashioned (highly recommend) and I had the spicy creamy vegan ramen (it’s my favorite). We would definitely recommend this to others and will most definitely be back. We’ll be asking for Makayla!

Literally had the most incredible time here… I feel like family, Carlos the manager took care of me so well and Jennifer is now one of my favorite human beings and friends… Food great, staff incredible and location, gorgeous!!!

Carlos was beyond awesome. He was time efficient also clear on explaining everything asked. He’s overall customer service was outstanding. Due to Carlos service I will definitely return. I highly recommend him hands down!

I believe this is the new location that opened up not too long ago in Union Market. To be honest, I had previous bad experiences with JINYA at their other DC location & one of their Houston, TX locations. I decided to give them a THIRD chance mainly because my friend wanted to come & invited me. The ambiance was pretty dark but allowed for natural lighting in the main dining area. They had the upper floor closed off for a private event. We met up & decided to order some bowls. My friend got the vegan ramen, in which he loved. I ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu bowl, which was pretty massive. Shockingly, it was pretty good. Was it the best ramen I ever had? No, but it was much better from my past experiences with other JINYA locations. We also had the salmon tacos (we ordered tuna, but apparently they didn't hear us?), and mimosas to have a brunch feel. I will say the service was kinda spotty. Sometimes, they would be quick, sometimes, the wait staff would be gone for a long time. I have seen some people have mixed reviews for this location and the other DC location. I think it's best to go yourself to be a better judge. I personally enjoyed it and will likely return again. This location is off the red line (NoMa) so it should be a relatively short walk, about 10 minutes. There's also hectic parking in the area if it isn't a busy day.

I love this place! I enjoyed my ramen and an added bonus, my 5 year old LOVES the kids meal. It's too many things included for me to name. The drinks are great as well! Pro Tip: Upstairs is a nice vibe.

Excellent location and lots of seating. The food is always excellent - filling, flavorful, and something for everyone (I'm pescatarian). The Spicy Creamy Vegan is a favorite for me, and I usually get an egg on top for extra protein. They also offer a ton of extra toppings to customize your ramen, including impossible meat. We also tried the impossible meat dumplings, which were delicious. All of the sauce is providing on the tables are really tasty, especially the seasoning, one. The cocktail menu looks good, but the nonalcoholic cocktails are a stand out. I really enjoy the cucumber, mint, lime which I had most recently. The service here is always spotty, and I feel like we are consistently forgotten about. One time it took 40 minutes between getting our appetizer and our ramen, and when it finally came out they gave us two of each. I'm not complaining since I had an extra meal to take home. It seems we always have some sort of service challenge when we go to the Union Market location. However, the food is so good. I will keep coming back despite the service. But if they wanted to make it a really great experience, that is what I would improve.

The ramen here is absolutely delicious and so flavorful. I tried the vegan harvest and my friend got the spicy umami miso. The portions were perfect and everything was flavorful. I want to come back and try some small plates as well!

Appetizer: fried chicken. This was tender and crispy. I Liked the sauce with it and that it came with lemon. The batter was good. It was on the crispier and crustier side. The chicken also stood out because it was marinated and tenderized so it had lots of flavor under the crust. The salad and greens were good but onion dressing a little powerful. I got the recommended tonkotsu pork ramen. The noodles were really excellent and tasted great. The pork broth was really tuned to right mouth feel. It was less salty but super thick. The pork itself is good. The cut used had a great flavor that didn't get some of the "dirty" taste you sometimes get with this cut. Egg was good, a little runnier. And the shrooms were good and had good texture. Service was really good. It was by attentive and very fast. Upscale and nice ambiance.

The holy grail of ramen has finally made its way to Union Market and I'm so happy about it! Jinya has always been my favorite ramen restaurant so having one 5 minutes from my house is a God-send. I got my regular spicy ramen with a seasoned egg and crunchy onions. I also made it a combo meaning I got 4 pork gyoza on the side as well as a house salad. Zuri, my server, was so sweet and cute! It took a few tries but she got my bubble just right on top of my martini! And she was very knowledgeable about the drink menu. It was pretty quiet on the night I went but I'm sure it's packed on other nights. Now that it's colder out, they'll definitely see me more!

I'm realizing that the service is not consistent here and can be hit or miss. I stopped in recently for lunch with friends. I ended up doing their brunch special ($45 with mimosas). I'm not sure that it's entirely a steal especially with how long it took you to get your drinks but worth it if you're hungry. I was not really a fan of the chicken appetizers .. I wish it came with a different kind of sauce. And it was really cold in the restaurant the other day, almost as if they didn't want to turn the heat up. We had our coats on for a while before finally taking them off 15 minutes into sitting down.

Brought my favorite foodie friend here for her birthday. I love the ambience. We sat at the bar because it was a birthday night and just the two of us. I like that they shout "Arigato" (thank you) as guests are leaving. The drinks at the bar were amazing... So was Shakir, our bartender for the night I don't care what your dining preferences... You absolutely have to have the eggplant dish. 5/5. We had the vegan Ramen, which was delicious... and the salmon sushi, which was really simply done, but I would've preferred without that creamy sauce on top. *Mind you, this is a chain, so don't expect dense, authentic Ramen. But the flavor was exactly what we wanted in just the right space... and we loved the plethora of vegan options. The highlight of the evening was one of the managers coming up and singing the Stevie Wonder happy birthday song with me to my girl... who is very shy and doesn't like to be signed to at all. I loved it!!

Spent the evening of my birthday here. I love a dim lit spot ! Cool smooth vibe . Sexy vibe . Chill . Bartenders were so dope ! Kept us smiling and laughing . They sung the Stevie Wonder - Birthday song for me . Super shy . Now ramen is my soulmate THIS Ramen was soooooogooooood!! The whole vibe of that area is something else as is especially when it comes to food but listennnn go get you some ramen next time you're in dmv . They can't miss .

I really appreciated that this place took our last minute reservation during the snow storm this week! Another place understandably canceled and this place came in to save the day. Service was great and I was surprised by the happy hour! Pretty good deals for food and drink. I got a steam bun that I would recommend and salmon tacos. Portions were small but again, happy hour prices and portions. I don't get this to five stars because while my whisky drink was good, the others at my table did not have great cocktails. The lychee martini looks like a jar of pickled onions. Thankfully didn't taste like that but presentation could be better. Next time I'll try the ramen. Definitely come for happy hour but maybe stick to the simple drinks.

The wait time for two took a little longer than usual even though they had a lot of seating and took a while to take our orders, however I am not holding this against them because 1) it was New Year's Day and 2) they seemed short staffed. This is just a side note as I'll most likely be coming back again since it's nearby and will update my review if that changes. However, the food was still up to quality like other Jinya locations. We ordered both the Tonkotsu black and original 2010 and both were really good as usual. Had to order the o'l reliable Jinya bun again for the 1x! So delicious. The salmon tacos were ok, I probably wouldn't get that again. Overall it's a good ramen spot at a good location.

JINYA is hands down my go-to for mother-son dates, and it's not just because they have a vegan kids' meal that keeps King's egg and milk allergies in check. This time, we hit the Union Market location and snagged a prime parking spot right out front (a rare DMV miracle!). Perfect timing too--because my little date had knocked out in the car, so into the stroller he went while I walked in, already winning the day. We were greeted, seated immediately, and handed menus with a smile. My server, Jennifer, stopped by to introduce herself, but I was deep in "menu limbo," so she gave me some extra time. She had staff meeting duties anyway, so I didn't feel too guilty. Once the team meeting wrapped up, Jennifer returned, and I asked about the happy hour specials--because you know, it's 3-6 PM, Monday to Friday, and mama deserves a treat! She pointed me to the back of the menu and suggested the Malibu Sunrise, so I obviously ordered that, along with a salmon poke taco. The taco came out in a flash, packed with flavor like always, and then the Malibu Sunrise made its entrance--this drink was so pretty it practically glowed. And listen, it wasn't just looks--the taste? Divine. Whoever made it was doing the Lord's work, I'm telling you. For the main event, I went with the Chef's Special Tangy Shrimp Cilantro ramen. Shrimp were huge, and while the batter was battling with the broth and losing, the flavor still came through. Honestly, I was worried it wouldn't be as satisfying as my usual spicy chicken ramen, but this bowl came through with the same level of comfort and fullness. Right when I'm halfway through, my tiny date wakes up, hangry and ready to eat. I flag Jennifer down and order King's vegan kids' meal, along with water. I mentioned his allergies, and she confirmed they'd adjust the noodles accordingly--mom win! His ramen came out quickly, and he devoured it like a pro (after some solid noodle blowing to cool it down). He even alternated bites of his taco with ramen slurps, proving once again that this kid has taste. After requesting some to-go containers, we got the check, and I settled up. Now, I have to mention that when you walk in and out of JINYA, the whole team greets and bids you farewell in a language I'm not entirely sure of, but it's all part of the charm. It's loud enough that King woke up, and this is a kid who can sleep through a marching band! All in all, JINYA never disappoints--great food, great drinks, and great service with a few surprises along the way!

Never been to Union Market until I tried JINYA, the atmosphere gave elevated flair and I love how elegant it feels inside. It has a roof top with an amazing view . I tried the spicy chicken ramen and the broth was so flavorful, noodles were perfectly cooked as well. The service was amazing and I loved how welcoming and friendly the staff were. Will definitely visit again

The service was exceptional. We were warmly greeted upon entering the restaurant and proceeded to the bar upstairs. The ambiance was fantastic, The bartender was really knowledgeable and provided excellent recommendations. He even curated an amazing Lychee margarita, which isn't in the menu. It was soooooo refreshing and I would order again tried a couple of different signature drinks and were impressed with the innovation. I enjoyed the ramen and the many different add-ons that were available to customize your ramen.

I am excited that Jinya has opened up a new location at Union Market and just in time for the cold weather season! I decided to try takeout and had the Jinya Chicken Ramen. It was packaged well and the reheating instructions were simple. I thought the ramen was good but my only complaint is for $20+ dollars, I should have more than 2 small pieces of chicken chashu included with my chicken ramen. I look forward to trying their dine in service soon!

Terrible service altogether. Our server did not know the menu whatsoever even with the menu in hand. We ordered a kids meal and the meal included a kids ice cream. He told us it did not, but the menu clearly says the kids meal comes with an ice cream. He was not rude, he was just clueless. We ended up ordering mochi ice cream, but we wouldn't have if we received what we ordered. The food was so so but the experience has made my opinion a bit biased. You can see the seating is nice but the music was loud and a bit obnoxious. It's like the location is trying to achieve a club experience or bar experience but it is a sit down restaurant.

Katie our server was very knowledgeable and super sweet. We had the shrimp dumpling ramen which was fantastic created by Carlos the Bar Star! Happy they are in Union Market!

Is this the best ramen in DC? No, that would be Menya Hosaki. Is this the best Jinya in DC? Also no. Is this the closest ramen place to my home? Yes, so I have been three times. The ramen is fine, though inconsistent. Jinya seems to be going through an identity crisis, where it used to focus on ramen and still markets itself as a "ramen bar," but now it also offers sushi and miscellaneous other dishes like croquettes. It's fun to branch out, but I think they have run into a "jack of all trades, master of none" dilemma. If the quality of the ramen is slipping, I don't think Jinya should throw a dozen more things on menu. The most consistent thing about this Jinya location is that service is super slow. 10 minutes to get glasses of water. Over an hour waiting for ramen, which would be long at any restaurant, much less a ramen place. The third time I went was just a few days ago and even when the restaurant was only about 20% full, it took over an hour for our ramen to arrive. Perhaps this is just a personal preference, but our server was also a bit too in our face and over the top explaining her favorite anime, etc., to us when all we really wanted to do was order. We really hope not to have that server again, as it was a bit uncomfortable. The ambiance is nice, given that it's a brand new location. The location is still new, so I am hopeful they can work out the quality and speed issues, along with fine-tuning the customer experience. I will be back again.

Food was bad, service did not help. I got the Tonkatsu ramen. The broth was a complete salt bomb, but beyond that didn't really have strong pork taste. The chashu was cold (not lukewarm, but cold). The marinated egg was undercooked, with a yolk that was not even a little set. The noddles were fine. The service was also rough. The server was just kind of rude to me, made some jokes that were not kind, and I just really didn't want to tip. There is better ramen in this town. Don't go to Jinya.

Was getting a pick up order and at first was told it would be 10 minutes. I then waited over 15. The guy in the pic asked who I was waiting for and so I told him. And politely said I've beeb waiting a while. He responded with a lot of attitude and told me to to cancel the order if I couldn't have some patients and that he was working hard and had a business to run. I canceld which caused the business to lose money from the order. Never experienced any such thing. No idea how they have employees like this and such a high rating unless they are leaving themselves false reviews.

The times I've been in person the service was ok, but my food was great! However, id say be careful ordering online.. the egg is my favorite part and when I got my delivery my egg was boiled hard and I couldn't eat it.

Waited over an hour for my food. Manager kept saying it would take 4 more minutes about 10 times. Waitress ignored us after we complained. Then had to audacity to ask more for a tip. Don't waste your time. Not even good. I would recommend Mecha. This also after they denied my service dog with an id and tag. The guy at the front was really nice though props to him! Go find a better place to work, they don't deserve you.

we have the very perky Pamela as server. She's nice and friendly! She did not forget to offer us menu in the happy hour which is great! The crispy chicken is a must! it taste close to Japanese "karaage." Their noodles is fantastic! I went for the original " JINYA 2010" . For the drinks try "Matcha lemonade" super!

Excellent new space at Union Market. Great service, food was served quickly and ramen was fantastic.

Love this new location! The energy and decor are really beautiful, but the food is always in the spotlight. My friend and I shared an order of octopus balls, salad, and gyoza to start, then each had the Tonkatsu black ramen. All delicious! We sat at the bar and were taken care of by Tiki, who was super friendly and a great server.

Dinner was delicious; service was on point; & lovely cozy interior! We will come back to try other menu items.

Thank god Jinya is now in NE! Super excited to make this a weekly occurrence. Staff was amazing, particularly Gabrielle! Very attentive!! Can not wait to come back!

Dear JINYA Mgt: your ramen rocks! But you need to close down online ordering during busy times. While I waited (forever), you turned away like 10 people due to a "busy" kitchen, your bar was packed with delivery guys still wearing their motorcycle helmets, and the front floor was a ghost town. Your host is awesome and so is the front floor server. Pack out the front so the full tables reflect your popularity and awesome ramen, let your host delegate the tables, let your servers run all the orders from a packed house, and then open your online ordering back up after 8:30/9p. Otherwise I can't imagine your staff sticking around when all they get is an empty floor and annoyed would be customers.

This place is really good and the ramen is delicious! However some of the staff are very rude! I come here often and two times I've been and had hostile employees. The African American cook on the line, he's not very tall dark brown skin and had a durag on. He messed up my order twice and I told them I don't eat pork or beef and that's why I ordered the substitution (which I paid for on the app) and he raised his voice at the host because he went to get the correct broth. Then the waiter, and African American girl with long lashes came over with my bowl and said "spicy vegan broth" very hostile and I was just confused. If the service was an option on the app why are yall mad when you gave me the wrong thing. It was printed in the ticket clear as day. Another time a Latino guy (also not very tall and a littler fuller in body) was also hostile and told me that I usually have to pay for substitutions (which I did!) it was again printed directly on the ticket so give me what I paid for and don't be mad when I ask you to correct what yall messed up. Now I don't even know if I want to return here because the staff is mad aggressive. However the African host and another Latino or Indian host were very kind. I just felt bad when the guy was raising his voice at the host for trying to do his job.

I ordered the Tonkotsu Black. I waited 50 minutes for gummy noodles, bland broth, and my ramen was missing the egg. I'd say there are better Jinya locations, don't recommend this one.

Ramen and goyza were great! Service was very slow on early Sunday evening. Waited around 30 minutes for the ramen to arrive. Our server was a one man show in second floor. Seemed like our food and others was all backed up by kitchen staff.

Everything from waitlist to waiting for our food was bad and extremely slow. We got on the waitlist and was told 45 min., after over an hour we go back and inquire since we haven't moved from the 6th spot and no communications from JINYA. They seated us upstairs where they had numerous open tables. We ordered and continued to wait more than 45 min for our ramen. I asked our server if it would be longer and he went to check on it. We finally get our food after waiting about an hour. Food was ok but we left with a bad experience. I thought only we had this experience but a few tables that came before still had not received their orders when we left. JINYA has to do better. Probably the most disorganized establishment I have ever visited.

the food was really good. the spicy chicken ramen is the way to go. Pamela was a great waitress.

Jinya in Union Market is beautiful. One of the only spaces with a large outdoor rooftop patio overlooking the strip, I am certain it will be packed once we get some warmer days! The music was great and decor made the spot feel cozy and intimate while also exciting and new. The staff all shout in unison in Japanese as patrons enter and leave. You can tell these folks enjoy what they do and care earnestly about the experience. From the wait staff to bartenders, everyone earnestly cared about their craft and wanted you to find the same enjoyment in the food and the drink. The spicy Tonkotsu is my total favorite especially on a chilly day! The cocktail menu is something to behold, I'll have to come back again and again because there were so many creative drinks I was enthused to try. I had the smoked old fashion and boy was it smooth, the presentation also gorgeous. I can't wait to get back. If you're in Union Market TRY JINYA. You will not regret it!!!

Pamela was absolutely wonderful! I've been coming to Jinya for years and it's nice to have one within walking distance, a very friendly neighborhood resturant with the ramen is always amazing!

Great place for Ramen. Food was delicious. Our server, Zuri was spectacular. The food and service are worth a visit. Loved it!