Saturday May 27, 2023
8:41 PM
61 Degrees- Raining
Food- 60 Degrees is chilly for Charlotte in late spring. This weather made ramen and saki the perfect pick me up for a cold, raining, and depressing Saturday night. Starting with the ramen, it was delicious. I had the Shrimp Wonton Ramen - pork and shrimp broth: shrimp & chicken wonton, green onion and kikurage » served with thick noodles, and I added an egg of course. I put one of the 3 sauces on the saucer pictured above in it but to be totally transparent I don't have a clue what it was. I just know it took it to that next level. The boys had something else that I can't remember because I was too caught up in my own damn bowl. They said it theirs was good as well and I trust it because we all had empty bowls when we left.
Drinks- The Jinya Old Fashioned. Nothing I enjoy ordering more than a restaurants spin on the old fashioned. Apparently, most establishments have never heard if it aint broke dont fix it. Yet, I continue to order them because most of them take it to a tried and true classic to the next level. Unfortunately, some succeed in ruining a good thing. Jinya was one of the ones that elevated a staple. The old fashioned still tasted very classic but with Japanese whiskey of course and garnished slightly different. They use a dehydrated orange slice instead of the classic peel. This was a nice and enjoyable touch.
We also ordered hot Saki with a few cups to toast together. Im not a Saki expert, bourbon is much more my thing, but it was good and is a must order at a Ramen spot. Just like whiskey it is good to drink alone but best when shared so ask for multiple cups and pour a round. Saki is also a good bang for the buck so a couple orders is enough to get the party started without breaking the bank.
Parking- The street parking in uptown is limited but you can find it with a little effort. Jinya is tucked away on the outskirts of uptown so if the weather isn't nice your best option might be to use a parking deck. The decks can be pricey but if it is raining, cold or both you may want to spend extra on the parking deck. As always I'll push for the safest option so if you plan to have a "good" night, just do the responsible thing and Uber.
Vibe- Jinya is very clean and has an upscale atmosphere. Everyone inside is to themselves and involved in their own personal conversation. The restaurant is designed in a way to promote that. The chairs we sat in had shorts backs which was very uncomfortable to relax but encouraged us to lean in and embrace the conversation.
The dress was all over the place and that could've have been contributed to a rainy Saturday on a holiday weekend. There were some people dressed up and some dressed very casual.
Recommendation- Most people looked to be on dates and that is what I would recommend this spot for. I went with the fellas, and that was cool, but I would suggest coming here for a semi casual date night. In the winter especially, walking through the city bundled up on the way to hot ramen and hot saki would make for a fun date night. This could also be used as a double date night but depending on where you are sat some are of seats are incredibly uncomfortable. It may be best to come here with plans of just eating and continuing the night elsewhere.
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