As Notre Dame students, we often find ourselves a little frustrated over the lack of culinary variety on our campus. Dining hall food may fuel the body, but it never tends to feed the soul. My search for some variety in my meals brought me to JINYA Ramen Bar, the new kid on the block within the South Bend culinary scene.
Tucked away on a corner of Eddy Street, JINYA offers a feeling of sanctuary before you even walk in the door. It’s hidden from the hustle and bustle of the bars on Eddy Street proper, and upon entering, you’ll immediately take note of the unique dining arrangement the place provides. You can sit at tables, booths, a traditional bar, another windowsill bar or a traditional Japanese ramen bar right in front of the kitchen. After sitting down at a booth with my friend, whom I dragged along, the servers were nothing but pleasant and walked us through the one-of-a-kind menu. We elected to order some of their most popular dishes, starting off with the JINYA bun, an airy steamed bun filled with savory pork chashu, cucumber, mixed greens and a delightfully light hoisin sauce. For starters, we also got the takoyaki-battered octopus with egg tartar and a rich okonomiyaki sauce. Both dishes were impeccable and surprisingly filling for being so light.
Next, we each ordered one of their most popular ramen bowls, the JINYA tonkotsu black. It quickly became clear why this is their most popular item. The broth was savory but not overly salty, the chashu was tender but not to the point of mushiness and the various toppings and greens (my favorite being a seemingly marinated soft-boiled egg) complemented the dish perfectly. Overall, the food gave way to a feeling of balance: not too salty, not too sweet and just the right amount of components in each dish without being overly pretentious.
For students of legal drinking age, I would say that their Japanese beer list looked excellent, as well as the sake and Suntory whisky options (you can even order your sake hot).
Pricing was perfectly reasonable, and again, the service was excellent. I’d even wager to say that this spot would make an excellent spot for a first date! The lighting and scenery provide adequate ambience, and as a bonus, you can show your date you have an appreciation for the culinary arts while also keeping your wallet mostly intact.
I can wholeheartedly recommend JINYA to the Notre Dame community, and I encourage you to put them on your list for your next off-campus dining excursion. Stay tuned for more South Bend restaurant reviews!
