Jinja Bar & Bistro NE Heights — Restaurant in Albuquerque

Menu Popular dishes View full menu

Lettuce Wraps Lettuce Wraps

4 Photos 15 Reviews Shaking Beef Shaking Beef

4 Photos 16 Reviews Pad Thai Pad Thai

7 Photos 12 Reviews Pork Pot Stickers Pork Pot Stickers

2 Photos 10 Reviews Mongolian Beef Mongolian Beef

3 Photos 10 Reviews Citrus Avocado Tempura Citrus Avocado Tempura

3 Photos 3 Reviews Malay Coconut Soup Malay Coconut Soup

2 Photos 5 Reviews Spring Rolls Spring Rolls

1 Photo 4 Reviews Singapore Noodles Singapore Noodles

3 Photos 7 Reviews Black Tiger Shrimp Black Tiger Shrimp

3 Photos 3 Reviews Duke's Blue Hawaiian Duke's Blue Hawaiian

1 Photo 3 Reviews Seared Ahi Tuna Seared Ahi Tuna

3 Photos 2 Reviews Chinese Chicken Salad Chinese Chicken Salad

1 Photo 3 Reviews Red Curry Beef Red Curry Beef

2 Photos 3 Reviews Jungle Green Curry Jungle Green Curry

1 Photo 3 Reviews Baby Calamari Baby Calamari

2 Photos 2 Reviews Teriyaki Chicken Teriyaki Chicken

1 Photo 2 Reviews Udon Noodles Udon Noodles

1 Photo 2 Reviews Rice Paper Halibut Rice Paper Halibut

1 Photo 2 Reviews Tiger Prawn Shrimp Tiger Prawn Shrimp

1 Photo 2 Reviews Location & Hours Map 8900 Holly Ave NE

Ste B

Albuquerque, NM 87122

Eastside

Mon

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Tue

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Open now Wed

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Thu

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

Fri

11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Sat

11:30 AM - 10:00 PM

Sun

11:00 AM - 10:00 PM

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Amenities and More Takes Reservations Offers Takeout No Delivery Staff wears masks

Help Improve Yelp What's the price per person?

About the Business Business owner information Doug L.

Manager

Jinja Bar & Bistro features a fresh, inventive Asian menu and a bar that will transport you to the tropics with vintage drinks of the 1930's and 40's. Jinja Bar & Bistro is proud to be the best place in New Mexico for delicious, authentic Pacific Rim Cooking. We use the freshest high quality seafood,…

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Overall rating

174 reviews

5 stars

4 stars

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2 stars

So it's the second time in a year that I've been here and I had hoped the food had gotten better but alas, it had not. I had the ahi tuna bowl and it was barley edible. The tuna tasted odd and the veggies weren't fresh or tasty. My companion had the kung pao which she said was ok. The service and Martini were the best things there. I really want to like this place since it's locally owned ( I think) and it used to be really good; not anymore. I won't be back. Too many other good options for Asian food to settle for...

(I was forced to give a minimum of one star.) I went there Sunday, June 16, 2016, for the first time, with my wife and two kids. My expectations were not high because, in my experience, Americans don't know how to cook Asian food. That's why I typically steer clear of any kind of Asian fusion food, or any restaurant with the word "Bistro" in the name. I went there only because my wife suggested it. I ordered Moo shu pork, one of my favorite Chinese dishes. The pork pieces were charred black. Most of the other components were charred too. I took a couple bites and the entire dish tasted like what I would imagine charcoal briquets might taste like. In addition--and I'm not exaggerating--there was at least 1/2 cup or more oil (not juices) in the bottom of the bowl. Needless to say, my appetite was lost. But I was hungry, so when the manager came over to apologize and ask if I would like another dish expedited, I was polite and requested Pad Thai. Someone--a chef I presume--delivered the dish promptly. First thing I noticed was it was served with lemon wedges instead of lime. Not a big deal, but still, if you're trying to recover a customer's bad experience, you don't skimp on things like that. And the dish was covered in enough bean sprouts to gag a vegetarian. I tasted the noodles, which were in something that looked like watery ketchup, and, sure enough, they tasted like overcooked noodles in watery ketchup sauce, with, of course, that delightful charcoal briquette aftertaste of the charred pork from the previous dish. It didn't taste like any pad Thai I've ever had. But I'm pretty sure my taste buds were still in shock from the previous dish. I honestly couldn't tell you if it was bad or good. At this stage I was so unhappy with the food and experience I just wanted to leave, and perhaps stop by the nearest Chinese restaurant and get something edible. I typically blame failures like this on management or ownership, but in this case I have to blame whoever cooked the food (I won't say chef). It's understandable to occasionally overcook food. It's even not uncommon to occasionally char food to blackness. But you never, ever, ever serve that food to a customer. The cook should have thrown it in the trash and started over. But, no, he served it. And what's worse I suppose, is the manager knew how badly cooked the food was. I pointed out very clearly how charred the pieces were. But I'm sure the cook is still working there happily serving up charcoal to the unsuspecting customer. It's unfortunate that restaurants like this survive when other, authentic, quality Asian restaurants like, say, Tara Thai, which served up delicious, authentic Thai food, have to close their doors. I'll never go...

We went here to dine with some new friends, who absolutely love the restaurant. We can definitely see the attraction after even just a few bites of the succulent, well-seasoned beef that made up our orders of Shaking Beef and Heavenly Beef. The flavors were wonderful explosions on the tongue, and the portions were filling without being overly so.

The real draw of the place is its bar selections, however, which are mostly lost on us. Raz does not drink, and I rarely do, so we aren't likely to be here every weekend to try new cocktail options. I did try a peartini, which is not a mix for someone who does not regularly imbibe, as it packs a considerable alcoholic punch which is masked by a glass full of fruity dessert. It's too sweet for anyone who can't chug pure syrup without blinking, but since I fall into that category, I rather loved it. The Dragonberry Mojito one of our dinner companions ordered was a much better-balanced concoction.

The atmosphere was dim, as befits a joint trying to capture the Tiki-Bar feel, and the noise-level was moderate to low, an unexpected pleasure really. Our booth-table was intimate and cozy and we didn't feel either confined or placed on-display. Really, this is a great spot for a first date or a dinner with new friends, since the restaurant lends itself well to conversing with your dinner companions. The service was spot-on, and we found our server very knowledgeable and professional, if a little over-zealous in...