JINYA Ramen Bar - Wharf — Restaurant in Washington

Jinya has planted its flag at the Wharf, and let me tell you, the Jinya team simply doesn’t miss. With a sleek vibe, fantastic hospitality, and a menu that never fails to deliver, it is already shaping up to be one of the best additions to DC’s waterfront dining scene. Whether you are here for a quick slurp or a leisurely afternoon feast, Jinya brings the heat (and the broth).

We kicked things off with a spread of appetizers. The tempura brussels sprouts is a long-time favorite, crispy and addictive. The Miso Glazed Eggplant was a close runner-up, silky and savory with that perfect balance of sweet umami goodness. The Aburi Oshi-Sushi Salmon was a smoky bite of heaven, and the Crispy Rice with Spicy Tuna packed a satisfying crunch. Even the Impossible Gyoza had us raising eyebrows in the best way, surprisingly tasty and proof that plant-based does not mean flavor-free.

Of course ramen is why you are here, and Jinya delivers bowl after bowl of comfort. The Spicy Chicken Ramen hit that Goldilocks zone of spice, and definitely brings the heat. The chicken chashu was tender, the broth rich, and those spicy bean sprouts added the perfect kick. The Birria Ramen was a clever East-meets-West creation, with slow-cooked birria beef and lime giving the broth a whole new depth. And the Premium Tonkotsu Red? A fiery, porky masterpiece swimming in chili oil, with noodles thick enough to stand up to all that flavor. Each bowl felt like a warm hug with a little attitude.

Drinks were no afterthought either. The Smokey Wokashi Old Fashioned brought serious drama (and deliciousness) to the table, while the Matcha Lychee Lemonade was the refreshing, slightly sweet sip we didn’t know we needed. It was love at first sip.

Overall, Jinya at the Wharf is exactly what you would expect from the brand: consistent excellence, bold flavors, and a vibe that makes you want to linger long after your bowl is empty. With so many standout dishes, this spot proves once again why Jinya is a ramen powerhouse.

Slurp responsibly, my friends, you will want to come back...

To be very clear, I love the food here.

First had Jinya last time I was in town. It was a smaller location but still in DC. I was so excited to come back! But the experience, from start to finish, was sadly quite horrendous.

They said it'd be a 20 minute wait for a table, but it was 40 minutes.

When we were seated, it took at least 30 minutes to get waters.

The food came an hour after we ordered.

I asked for one ingredient to be subbed with extra broccolini - I was charged for the extra broccolini but the sub did not happen lol.

When they took my card to charge the bill, we waited at least 10 minutes and the card never came. I noticed that the woman who took my card was folding menus (lol) so I asked her if my bill was coming and she seemed so confused and said she'd find it.

Lastly, the music was a bit loud.

I can totally understand if they were having an off-day. But lots of tables were waiting on food and asked for napkins/utensils and ultimately got up to get it themselves. None of the staff acknowledged the delays, apologized, or filled our empty water glasses while we waited. Maybe it was a training day? Lol I don't know. The staff were nice and the food was great, but the experience was overall quite disappointing and I found myself doing all the heavy mental lifting (asking for things, wondering where food was, finding errors in the bill, tracking down my credit card, etc).

This review isn't meant to deter prospective customers. Rather, i hope to provide meaningful feedback to the establishment for...

I’ve always loved Jinya, and this visit to the Wharf location reminded me why. The food was absolutely amazing—worth the wait. From the moment we walked in, we knew things were running a little behind, but we were greeted warmly by the bartender who made us feel welcome right away. The service overall was excellent, with the team working hard and staying attentive even under pressure.

What stood out in a not-so-great way was management. The manager was loudly reminding guests that the kitchen was backed up, but after that, there was no follow-up. No table touches, no apologies, no effort to acknowledge guests who had been waiting an hour for food. Meanwhile, servers and runners were clearly doing their best—they’d make eye contact, give reassuring smiles, and you could tell they cared.

As someone who works in the industry, I completely understand that these situations happen. It’s how they’re handled that makes the difference. The back-of-house and front-of-house teams did an incredible job; the manager, however, could improve on guest communication and presence on the floor.

All in all, great food and great staff—I’ll definitely be back. Just hoping leadership catches up to the high standard the rest of the...