JINYA Ramen Bar officially entered New Jersey and celebrated their grand opening on Tuesday, September 10 in Totowa. The popular Japanese ramen restaurant, located at 465 US-46, drew a large crowd eager to barge through those doors. Live entertainment from DJ Nico DiRenzi energized the festivities, and the first 100 guests received a complimentary bowl of ramen. The nearest JINYA location prior to this was in Washington, D.C., making this new site a significant addition to the region.
Upon arrival, the staff greets guests and enthusiastically shout “Irasshai,” a Japanese phrase meaning “Welcome.” JINYA Ramen Bar is known for its dedication to crafting authentic ramen. They provide rich and hearty broths simmered for over 20 hours. These broths are paired with bouncy, slightly chewy handmade noodles that give a delightful texture. Then complemented by a variety of delectable toppings.
The menu features standout options such as the JINYA Tonkotsu Black Ramen, which highlights a robust pork broth enriched with a tender pork chashu, wood ear mushrooms, green onions, nori, a delicious egg, garlic chips, garlic oil, crispy fried onion, and a spicy sauce, all served with thin noodles. Another highlight is the Shrimp Wonton Ramen. It offers a flavorful and creamy blend of pork and shrimp broth with shrimp and chicken wontons, green onion, and kikurage, paired with thick noodles.
JINYA Grand Opening
The menu also features the JINYA Bun, a steamed bun filled with slow-braised pork chashu, cucumber, and baby mixed greens, complemented by JINYA’s original bun sauce and mayonnaise. This item stands out for its exceptional tenderness and flavor. For dessert, guests can enjoy Homemade Panna Cotta, a creamy delight topped with caramel cream sauce, graham cracker crumbs, and a scoop of vanilla ice cream. It offers a satisfying end to the meal.
The Totowa location also boasts a full bar with a Happy Hour held daily from 3 to 6 p.m. It features an extensive selection of Japanese beers, including Sapporo Reserve Black, Asahi, and more. As well as a curated range of Japanese spirits such as Suntory whiskey and Joto craft sakes. The bar also offers craft beers from local New Jersey breweries like 7 Tribesmen and Kane Brewing. A unique highlight of the new location is the Highball Machine. It delivers perfectly chilled whiskey mixed with a precisely calibrated ratio of high-carbonation soda water. This process results in a light and refreshing Highball.
JINYA Ramen Bar celebrates their partnership with Doherty Enterprises by supporting a charitable cause. Throughout September and October, the restaurant will donate $1 from every “Flying Violette” cocktail sold to the American Cancer Society. This is a great way for people to contribute to a good cause while enjoying a great drink.
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Tim Doherty, CEO of Doherty Enterprises, expressed his excitement in the latest press release about the opening: “We are thrilled to open our first JINYA Ramen Bar and introduce Totowa to this exceptional dining experience. Our mission has always been to bring diverse and high-quality dining options to our communities, and JINYA aligns perfectly with that vision. We can’t wait for our guests to enjoy the exceptional ramen, unique tapas, and hard-to-find Japanese beers and liquors that JINYA has to offer.”
Doherty also highlighted the strategic choice of Totowa for the new location, noting, “It’s a great location. We chose it in part because of our long success with the Applebee’s next door, so we knew the power of Totowa. When this space became available, we jumped at it.” He added his vision for future expansion, saying, “My goal is to open many more locations. I don’t know how many, but many of them.”
Tomo Takahashi founded JINYA Ramen Bar in 2010 and the company has grown over 60 locations. The choice of Totowa as their first New Jersey location represents an exciting development. It will be interesting to see how the restaurant continues to grow and make its mark.
About the Author/s
Alondra Cabrera is the Editorial Assistant at New Jersey Digest. She recently graduated from Montclair State University with a degree in Communication and Media Studies. During her time at school, she discovered her passion for journalism and content creation. In her free time, she loves to create and edit videos for her corgis, Rafi and Toffe, and indulge in culinary adventures with her friends. Alondra also enjoys traveling, cooking, and working out. She is excited to embark on her professional journey in media and looks forward to contributing her skill and creativity to her role here at New Jersey Digest.
