JINYA Ramen Bar - Sugarhouse — Restaurant in Salt Lake City

It was so far the worst experience we had, ever since we had been dining in at this place. Our wait for the table was longer than the time consuming our food.

The place was full when we arrived and so the hostess listed our name for the wait list and advised us that it would be about 10 minutes wait, and we need to wait outside of the store then they will just call us. After about 5 minutes of waiting, there were customers leaving and so I was expecting for us to be seated but apparently 30 minutes had passed but nobody went out to call us. My husband went in to check how much longer would be the wait and sadly the hostess “FORGOT” that we were outside. She even asked the other hostess if it was her who assisted us. My husbanded pointed our name on her waitlist. We arrived at exactly 9:05PM and was seated at 9:35PM. Since I am a server, I know what are the good hours to arrive to dine-in, 30 minutes prior closing is not a comfortable window to dine-in because of the fact the all the staff needs to start the closing procedure and the kitchen would for sure close soon.

When we were finally seated, it took 5 minutes before our server showed-up. When she took the order, she had it written down on her notepad. We had our appetizer and “WARM” ramen which was disappointing. And unfortunately there was again a “FORGOTTEN” item which was supposed to be served first, the lemonade. The server told us that she was about to make it then she got distracted. Again, since they were about to close she was preoccupied with all their closing tasks to do, and again I am a server, I know that you have some things to do but please prioritize your tables, especially the customers who did not have a good experience with your hostess, like what we initially had experience. The moment she brought the forgotten lemonade, we told her that we would want to order extra noodles but apparently she told us that the kitchen was already closed. It was 2 minutes after 10PM. If I was on her shoes, since I already had committed a mistake I will ask the kitchen to make the noodles. I had seen how they prepare their noodles which I don’t think would be affecting their closing procedure that much. Considering the time we were seated she should have at least advised us that the kitchen will be closing soon and told us to order all the food that we need.

While waiting for our “WARM” food forever, I had observed that your online orders are your priority. Again, i am in the same industry so I know the sound of the beeping tablets for your online delivery service partners. Every time I hear the beeping sound, there are food ready in 10-15 minutes to be packed. Our food took about 25-30 minutes to be served.

It was really a bad experience. We actually would always have a not so good experience at this location. The Murray location is always excellent.

You started our experience tonight bad and...

Dear host /hostess,

I feel like we need to talk. See, I have this moment of existential crisis every time I order for pickup through your website. The site asks for a tip. And I believe in tipping. But I’m not sure where the extra money would go since I’ve only interacted with a computer so far. So I select zero.

Then I arrive and things get weird. You put that little receipt in front of me as if the transaction hasn’t already been completed. I look down at the parts to be completed: a line asking for a tip and a signature I know you don’t need or want. You do your best not to stare but I feel your gaze burning into me as you implore me to change my previous decision and leave a tip.

A tip is something extra in exchange for a little something extra, not an expectation. But you and I have barely met. And what makes things trickier is this moment - our only interaction; tense, awkward, shaming. Im hoping you’ll pay ME for the discomfort. But I know I’ll be lucky to get out of there with ramen that hasn’t been spit in.

I want to repair this broken relationship by telling you about my day. I’ve been asked to leave a tip in every monetary transaction I’ve had today. The balloon store, the pet cemetery, the automatic car wash and the aquarium. I don’t know where this money is going and I feel like it’s my responsibility to take a stand to stop the madness.

So to you, dedicated host/hostess, I want to say thank you for handing my order to me. To the cooks, your ramen is exceptional, even if you did spit in it. But I can’t leave you a tip. Because I don’t know who gets it. I don’t know if your boss is a dirtbag who takes the money without telling you. And I have a hunch that if I keep tipping you it’s just going to give your owners an excuse to pay you less.

In this difficult moment we feel like enemies. But I want you to know I’m on your side. We want the same things. Your ramen is more expensive than most and I hope that extra cash goes to you. We both know that’s probably not the case. If it was we wouldn’t have to do this strange dance each and every time.

But I want you to know I will proudly stand by your crusade to earn fair wages through each and every awkward handoff by not leaving a tip. I will take the burning glare and the heavy guilt because in the long term, it’s the right thing.

And if I ever come in and sit down, know I’ll still be making it rain on any service worker who takes care of my table. I’ll have the cash on hand because I didn’t give in to whatever the hell is happening in America right now with...

Terrible experience and we used to come here about once a week. Our visit on Monday 5/22 was not good. Their standards have gone waaaaay down. We ordered the caramelized cauliflower there was barely any sauce/juices and no flavor. We then ordered 2 Konkotsu Black and the eggs were COLD straight up cold, not warm COLD, and the pork was cold and chewy, and the noodles werent even cooked well. My 14 yo son said mom how come you have a ton for broth and I have all noodles?? Our waiter having our table and one other acted bored and annoyed to be serving us. I finally asked for the manager, because you know ummm reduce prices if you reduce standards. He kept saying how he's worked at all the locations there is no way the eggs could be that cold, and he will check immediately (funny at the end my card sat on our ticket for quite a while, as the manager leaned against the front counter staring into space) I said look at our water and my sons Dr. Pepper those haven't been refilled, and the other waiter working strangely in a Hawaiian shirt or different outfit all together was really attentive to his two tables and offered them chili oil etc. with their meal. Anyways the manager took one of the Konkotsu off the bill and I still tipped 30% even after the waiter came over to refill (once the manager told him to) and then dropped the check off without a thank you or do you need anything else?? He was basically pouting and what he didnt know is we were going to order dessert, but he made the choice for us not to. We used to stand in line to eat here. The bowls were half full and you could tell no one who worked there cared about standards...I watched the manager wipe tables while the wait staff stood around twiddling their thumbs. Too bad.. it used to be so worth it. When people would ask what we wanted for xmas etc we said Jinya gift cards...hard pass now. No wonder there was hardly...