The first of the out-of-town ramen concepts entering San Diego will debut its first noodle shop this weekend when JINYA Ramen Bar officially launches on Sunday in Pacific Beach. The company, which was first founded in Tokyo, operates 10 locations in the U.S. and Canada, from Santa Monica to Chicago and Vancouver; the new Garnet Avenue store will be open daily from 11 a.m. to midnight.
IKEO DESIGN's Satoshi Ikedo redid the space, a former pizzeria, which includes an open kitchen and ramen counter, an outdoor patio and seating for 100. The ramen broths are all made in-house, simmered from 12 to 14 hours; the pork tonkotsu black, served with pork chashu, an egg, garlic chips, black garlic oil and traditional garnishes is the signature, but other ramen varieties include spicy chicken, vegan, and umami miso. Each ramen bowl can be made into a combo with pork gyoza, crispy chicken or curry rice and a salad.
A bar stocks 20 taps of local craft beer and Japanese lager, plus wine and sake; the daily 3 to 6 p.m. happy hour includes $3 to $6 drink and food specials, ranging from hot sake and mimosas to braised pork buns, crispy kale and pig ear chicharron.
JINYA is also working on a second ramen bar in Hillcrest, where it will open adjacent to the company's two-story izakaya-style Robata JINYA restaurant; both eateries will reportedly be completed by March. And expect more to come; Eater hears that JINYA plans to add a third location, and maybe more, in San Diego.
