Jinya Ramen Bar, a Japanese-American ramen chain founded in 2000, is opening its first location in Langley this week at Willowbrook Shopping Centre. The new restaurant is located at 19705 Fraser Highway, in the outdoor expansion area of the mall, taking over the space previously occupied by AO Ramen. It joins recent food additions such as Oeb, Lee's Donuts, and Chachi's in the updated zone.
We had the opportunity to preview the menu before the official opening. Jinya's Langley menu mirrors its three other Metro Vancouver locations — Brentwood in Burnaby, downtown Vancouver on Robson Street, and on West Broadway. Offerings include starters like gyoza and tempura shrimp, salads, and rice bowls, but the star of the show is undoubtedly the ramen.
First Impressions of the Food
We began with the Aburi salmon sushi ($9.80), featuring petite rectangles of salmon and rice topped with a slice of jalapeño. Moist and slightly creamy, it was a close second to Miku. The crispy garlic rice ($16.80) provided a tabletop spectacle, with raw egg poured over sizzling garlic rice for an extra crunch. The fried garlic cloves were divine, and we devoured every grain.
The ramen bowls are generously portioned. We tried the Jinya Tonkotsu Black ($21.90) pork ramen and the Spicy Creamy Vegan Ramen ($23.90). Both featured chewy noodles (thinner for the Tonkotsu Black, thicker for the vegan option) that are not made in-house, rich broth, and toppings like silky tofu or sliced pork chashu, chicken, and a seasoned egg. The soups were savory without being too salty, brightened by spinach, mushroom, and green and white onions. Additional toppings are available at extra cost.
Beverages and Opening Celebration
The drink menu includes signature cocktails and mocktails, such as the J. Girl ($8.50), a mojito-like drink, and the Matcha Lychee Lemonade ($7.50).
“We're excited to bring Jinya to Langley and introduce our signature ramen experience to the community,” said Tomo Takahashi, founder and CEO of JINYA Holdings Inc., in a news release. “We look forward to becoming part of the local dining scene and welcoming guests to enjoy our menu.”
To celebrate the opening, the first 100 guests on May 20 will receive a free bowl of ramen (redeemable on a future visit).
