Raving for Ramen: A review of the newly opened JINYA Ramen Bar restaurant

With four hours of dance practice ahead of me, a quick and simplistic dinner is the obvious choice. Since the pandemic started, my go-to has been ramen. But I feel like a broke college student after eating the 50 cent chicken Maruchan ramen package stuffed in my pantry. After hearing about the new JINYA Ramen Bar in Overland Park, I knew it was time for an upgrade from the cheap ramen noodles I eat every other week.

The restaurant was packed — with nearly every table filled at 6:30 p.m. on a Sunday night. I was immediately drawn to the overall modern and simplistic decor of the restaurant. From the large rectangular hanging lights above the 10 tables to the giant mural of a lady eating ramen on the red brick wall, the slightly frantic atmosphere made me antsy to get seated and check out their menu.

Shrimp Wonton Ramen, Pork Gyoza, Curry and Salmon Poke Tacos — everything caught my eye, even one of JINYA’s vegan options: The Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen, which I wouldn’t normally order since I am not vegan. I finally chose the Shrimp Wonton Ramen, the Pork Gyoza and the impulsive decision of the Takoyaki — also known as octopus balls.

The Pork Gyoza arrived first. The six piece handmade pork fried potstickers were dipped in JINYA’s unique red-tinted soy sauce with a hint of spice, adding a saltier and more prominent flavor to the dish. The small plate appetizer left me pleased and slightly scared for what was next — the Takoyaki.

I wanted to break the barriers in my normal Japanese food pallet, which consisted mainly of ramen and sushi. The Takoyaki consisted of battered octopus over egg tartar, topped with a kewpie mayonnaise, fresh cut green onions, smoked bonito flakes and okonomiyaki sauce — a sweeter and less salty version of Worcester sauce. After biting into the fried outer shell and meeting the gooey inside, the at-first-subtle octopus or fishy taste began to overpower everything else in the ball. These octopus balls, though slightly intimidating, exceeded my expectations. However, I was still waiting for what I really came to JINYA Ramen Bar for — the Shrimp Wonton Ramen.

This $17 ramen was slightly overpriced for the 50 cent ramen budget I was used to but worth every bite. The ramen had a pork and shrimp broth, shrimp and chicken wontons, green onions, kikurage — wood ear mushroom, a common topping on most Japanese ramen — and was served with the thick classic ramen noodles. The shrimp and pork flavored broth with the soft shrimp and chicken-filled wontons made the chicken ramen I was used to seem plain and boring. Unable to finish my large red bowl of ramen, I brought it home with enough left over for lunch the next day. 

If you’re looking to make a switch from the subpar 50 cent ramen noodle packets to a more flavorful and delectable ramen dish, the newly opened JINYA Ramen Bar is the place for you.