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Jin Ramen
Categories: Restaurants Japanese Food Specialty Food Ethnic Food Japanese, Ethnic Food [Edit]
3183 Broadway(between Tiemann Pl & 125th St)
New York, NY 10027
Neighbourhood: Harlem
(646) 559-2862
- Nearest Transit:
-
125 St (1)
125 St (A, B, C, D)
- Hours:
Mon-Sun 11:30 am - 3:30 pm
Mon-Thu 5 pm - 11 pm
Fri-Sat 5 pm - 12 am
Sun 5 pm - 10 pm
- Parking:
- Street
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Wi-Fi:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- Beer & Wine Only
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
71 reviews for Jin Ramen
71 reviews in English
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Review from Eunice K.
5/11/2012 6 photos
Talk about fancy, gourmet ramen! This is not your typical make-it-at-home ramen which completely lacks in noodle quality as well as in the variety of toppings. Eating at places like Jin Ramen will make you never want to take another bite of home cooked ramen EVER again!
--Shoyu Ramen ($10)--
I was pleasantly surprised to see some clear broth options! Most ramen places only offer the classic pork bone broth - which is delicious, yes, but really too heavy and creamy for me... especially in large quantities. I also got to choose from several flavors of clear broth and decided on the Shoyu for a more tangy taste. A HUGE bowl of ramen came out, topped with slices of braised pork belly, a boiled egg, bamboo shoots, roasted seaweed, and scallions. The broth was flavorful and the slight tang complimented the richness of the braised pork belly (which basically melted in my mouth). Ramen craving - SATISFIED :)
Yes - one bowl would have been plenty of food for me, but you can't pass up trying some of the appetizers here - especially for the price!
--Kara-age ($6)--
I LOVE Japanese fried chicken. The batter is peppery, light, and extra crispy. YUM! The chicken was tender, flavorful, and a little spicy - which went perfectly with the creamy side salad.
--Kani Salad ($4)--
My FAVORITE salad! You get a pile of shredded crabstick meat, cucumber, and kelp all dressed in a spicy mayo sauce and topped with crunchy tempura flakes. I may be a little biased here but I LOVE crabstick meat (reminds me of my childhood). The salad was creamy, light, delicate - and the tempura crunch added a nice textural contrast.
--Kelp Salad ($4)--
If you love kelp - welcome to heaven! haha.. A nice little pile of lightly dressed and thinly sliced kelp topped with sesame seeds - delicious!
--Steamed Pork Buns ($7)--
THIS IS A MUST TRY. Honestly, next time I may just do 10 pork buns for dinner. These were OUT OF THIS WORLD delicious! Why? The braised pork! I've had pork buns at several restaurants but the pork belly is too fatty, chewy, or salty. By braising the pork for such a long time, it tasted subtle and smooth. The shredded cabbage with spicy mayo helped cut through the rich pork - SO good. If you only get 1 appetizer... order this one.
I honestly can't tell you how they can afford to give out all this food for such great prices! Next time I'll have to try the Miso Ramen - I am a total sucker for thick, chewy noodles! The restaurant had a cool hip atmosphere, awesome service, and located right next to the subway - no wonder it was so packed! Easy 5 star from me! Cheers! :D -
Review from Lili K.
5/21/2012 1 Check-in Here
Pretty good ramen! The commute is not that bad, considering it's right off the 125th station! No walking is always a plus :P
I had the pork buns, which I liked! Mm the buns were soft and I liked the type of lettuce they had that went with the pork. As for the ramen, I got the spicy tonkotsu (with the 6 hour pork broth). The pork was nice and soft, and I liked how the bowl included bean sprouts and an egg (versus charging extra). I thought the spicy mayu sauce made it taste a little off sometimes (a mini aftertaste). I'd rather just make another ramen spicy next time.
Pretty spacious venue for a ramen place, that probably seats around 30ish people. I'd come back here again! -
Review from Mike K.
5/17/2012 1 Check-in Here
Does the great New York ramen survey continue with Jin Ramen?
Does bacon make everything better?
Yes, it does.
Jin is an unassuming little shop tucked underneath the 125th Street 1 station. I must have passed it by half-a-dozen times without noticing it until a friend called it to my attention.
Scott was out of commission (too much ramen!), so I went here with my friend Asuka, who is Japanese and knows a thing or two about ramen.
We started off with the karaage, which was pretty good. Even though the batter was almost non-existent, the meat was tender and lightly spiced, and the slaw was mixed with a light sesame dressing.
However, do we go to ramen joints to eat fried chicken?! No! We go to eat ramen!! And that's what we did. I ordered the tonkotsu, my jam, and Asuka went with the miso.
My tonkotsu broth was good, creamy and flavorful without being too heavy-handed, but any hopes Jin might have harbored for ramen greatness end there. The angel hair noodles that came with the soup were thoroughly overcooked and an al dente bite was nowhere to be found. Angel hair isn't a bad choice of noodle, but it's a little odd. The pork was also a let-down - tender, but devoid of flavor. The toppings were fine, although don't be fooled by some Yelpers' accolades of the soft-boiled egg: it's almost completely hard-boiled. Maybe if you're lucky the yolk isn't completely firm, but that's as good as it gets. The D.O.H. doesn't allow under-cooked eggs, which is one of the reasons that there is no great ramen in New York. Asuka had a similar experience with her ramen - the broth was good, the noodles - regular ramen noodles, but cut short, which made eating them awkward - were overcooked and the pork was bland.
Bottom line the food here is okay, but not great. If I were to suggest a ramen-ya with comparable fare Ippudo comes to mind, except that Jin isn't ridiculously overpriced (tonkotsu is $11, compared to $15 at Ippudo), so it gets three stars, as opposed to the two I gave Ippudo.
It's nice that Jin is in the neighborhood to satisfy my ramen cravings when I don't feel like hopping on the subway, but it's not necessarily worth going out of your way to try.Listed in: Ramen: The Manifold Path of…
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Review from Dina Q.
New York, NY
5/15/2012 5 photos
So happy to have an authentic ramen place uptown! And it most definitely is up uptown / in da hood. You might probably miss the restaurant if you weren't looking specifically for it cause it's slightly concealed behind the staircases of the train station.
I love sitting at the counter and seeing the ramen magic being made. It was pretty busy and almost full when we arrived on a late Sunday afternoon. There were Columbia students, hipsters, a senior couple getting their drank on, solo eaters and some young kids with their parents so the crowd is pretty diverse. This place is definitely not a good groups place though since it's not very big.
I followed the recommendation from a Serious Eats review and got the kara-age and kani salad for apps. Both were delicious and inexpensive. I got the Shoyu Ramen and the bf got the Spicy Tonkatsu. He ended up getting an extra order of noodles (kaedama only $2!) cause he really enjoyed the broth.
Service is very prompt and friendly and everyone working here is pretty young. You should expect a wait if you come by prime normal eating meal time. -
Review from Phil H.
I am slowly becoming a ramen convert. I used to think of ramen as a cheapie meal that we have all eaten in a pinch, or when we have been broke but could still afford the 5-for-a-dollar ramen noodle packets at your local supermarket as a regular dinner entree. After downing a bowl of their delicious ramen I can see the light and now crave this stuff.
Eating at Jin Ramen has now truly made me appreciate what a superior bowl of ramen should taste like. After dining here recently at the invitation of the Batman and Robin of NYC Yelp (Chef Ben F and Julia B) I now know what they have been raving about. Situated in an unassuming location just outside the 125th station subway stop this tiny ramen emporium packs quite a wallop. As I live uptown it is an easy trek for me so I know I will be back here, but might not be for everyone's travel liking if from downtown. Sucks for those people and a win for us up-towners!
All I can suggest is that you get the Miso Ramen. Really, just order it and shut up. You will thank me for it later. This is such a complex bowl of brothy goodness that it leaves one in awe. As I slurped up my first few spoonfuls I was enthralled by the miso broth that had a bit of a kick to it. The actual bowl was chock full of ground pieces of chicken sausage, corn kernels, leeks, scallions, bok choy, sesame seeds, nori roasted seaweed, and pork belly. Oh my!!! How can I forget the amazing noodles that were just perfectly cooked? I can't - they were terrific! This ramen was just overflowing with flavor and ingredients. It was the perfect meal on a cold and rainy day. It was so wonderful I wanted another bowl. I wanted to bathe in it. I wanted to make love to it. I wanted it to have my babies.
I must also note that we started out with some perfectly cooked edamame, and kara-age (boneless fried chicken) that was light, crispy, and tasty. A great start to a delicious meal.
Jin Ramen is not a large place, but has enough seating to fit in a fair sized crowd. Still relatively new this sleek but casual spot offers seating along the walls and front window, with a large counter seating area overlooking the kitchen to sit and watch all the cooking action. I met the chef and he is a friendly guy that is very welcoming. You can tell they pour their souls into this place and care about preparing high level food with passion. You feel so comfortable here that you don't want to leave! It's so good and highly affordable.
By the time we left the restaurant was filling up with hungry ramen enthusiasts. I was already so jealous of the people who live up in this Harlem hood. It's good for them as there is really not that much in this nearby area that offers a culinary experience such as this. When can I go back? Soon, I hope! -
Review from Sasha B.
4/30/2012 1 Check-in Here
Rivals Totto Ramen with half the wait...
It's a bit off the beaten path, all the way up in Harlem, but it's worth the trip. -
Review from D Y.
Manhattan, NY
4/29/2012
I maybe 100% Japanese - 'American', but I still have exquisite taste. Japanese on the upper 'upper' west is hard to come by, but after finding this little noodle shop, I am a happy camper. Good ramen on the budget! And I'm not talking about cup-noodle or Ichiban instant. Jin is just as great as Ipuddo or Totto Ramen, for half the price.
Personally, I enjoyed the Kani salad and roasted pork buns to start. Shio ramen with curly noodles (thicker) is my favorite.
Chase it down with an iced cold sapporo beer.
This place is certainly a MUST.
Looking forward to snowy winters and great ramen. Amen! -
Review from Alisa L.
New York, NY
4/29/2012
When I read that a new ramen joint was going to open in Harlem, my first reaction was "why would someone open a ramen joint in Harlem?" The appropriate reaction would have been "OMG THEY'RE OPENING A RAMEN JOINT IN HARLEM FIVE BLOCKS FROM WHERE I LIVE!"
The place has also been packed during lunch hour on the weekends and dinner every day so apparently, it was also a very smart business decision and I guess my business acumen isn't as sharp as I thought it was.
Anyways, on to the food, two words: spicy tonkotsu. The pork is tender and melt-in-your-mouth-soft. The noodles are just the right degree of chewy. The broth is flavorful, rich, and complex. The marinated egg was just the right degree of done. Though you can get it without the spicy mayu sauce, get it with since it's not all that spicy and the swirls of sauce balance the flavor perfectly. The other noodles are fine but the tonkotsu is what stands out on the menu. The appetizers are also decent but nothing special. Just come for the spicy tonkotsu.
The place is cute but very small and crowded, so you can feel like you have no space to move around, which I guess adds to the charm. The prices are very reasonable ($10-$12 for ramen), especially compared to places downtown. Service is quite attentive as well.
Considering all this, maybe my reaction really should be "oh crap, there goes my waistline" since I come here entirely too often. -
Review from Jenn L.
4/23/2012
In the distant dregs of Manhattan, way up by Columbia University, lies a new ramen house - Jin Ramen. Jin has been garnering a lot of attention from ramen lovers, and with good reason.
Let's take into account that this is all the way in Harlem. It's not worth trekking from lower Manhatten, but if you're craving a bowl of ramen, and you're uptown on the west side, Jin is worth stopping in for a bite. The storefront is hidden directly next to a subway exit - so much so that if you're on the east side of Broadway, you'd never know that it was there. Like any great ramen shop, Jin Ramen has a bar that you can sit at while watching the chefs plate together your meal. You know what that means, right? It's one of those places you don't mind eating at alone. (Smiles!)
The Kani Salad is a combination of imitation crab, cucumber and kelp mixed with a spicy mayo dressing. It's a delicate combination of richness that will make your taste buds squeal with delight. The Miso Ramen is different from most of the other ramen that you will encounter. The broth is a blend of chicken and pork stock - common enough. However, in addition to the typical ramen toppings that you might find somewhere else, the Miso Ramen is served with a spicy bean paste, butter and corn, leeks, scallions, bean sprouts, chicken sausage, bok choy, sesame seeds, nori roasted seaweed, and pork belly. Instead of the typical ramen noodles, you'll find that the noodles served in this ramen are thick, curly, slightly chewier, and yellow. -
Review from Gwin v.
New York, NY
4/30/2012
I've been here twice, and both times the staff has been very friendly... and where should I start with the ramen? I'm a big fan of the shio ramen, but the shoyu ramen is excellent as well. The noodles are thin and springy, and the broth is delicious. I have no complaints!
The kara-age as a starter is also delicious - a little bit spicy, but not overly so. My only wish is that they had other alcoholic beverages aside from sake and plum wine. -
Review from Sandra s.
4/23/2012 1 Check-in Here
Jin Ramen has been a great addition to the neighborhood. It still fascinates me how the neighborhood has been gentrifying so fast (in a great way). I have noticed that there has been an influx in cafes/coffee shops, dessert spots (Plick's Waffles & Crepe), Hawaiian food (Makana), and now a ramen shop!
It still amazes me to acknowledge that there is a ramen shop in the middle of Harlem! To make things even better, Jin is not just any ordinary ramen shop. The quality of their ramen (plus their savory ramen stock) are really decent and very delicious! As a food enthusiast & a hardcore ramen lover, I would rank Jin Ramen above Totto's Ramen, and somewhere under Ippudo's. Eating the ramen and slurping the broth did give me a nostalgic feeling. Eating good ramen is one of the few things that always brings me back to my fondest memories of Tokyo.
I highly recommend their Kara Age (boneless fried chicken) ($6), and their Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen ($12). The chicken pieces (Kara Age) were not severely fried or oily, but they were nicely seasoned and very tender. Their Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen was to die for! The ramen had a nice texture, pork belly meat (cha siu) was very tasty, and their broth was so DAMN savory. The broth was not that spicy in my opinion.
For dessert (only a choice between green tea or vanilla ice cream), we tried the Green Tea Ice Cream ($3). The portion was small (just one scoop of green tea) embellished with red bean paste, toasted buckwheat, barley molasses, and soybean powder. This dessert had an interesting taste and texture (kind of gritty because of the toasted buckwheat pieces). It wasn't my favorite. I hope Jin will have more dessert options in the near future.
Last but not least, Draft Sapporo + Spicy Tonkotsu Ramen = Heaven! -
Review from bpanda Y.
New York, NY
5/3/2012
This place serves decent ramen at a reasonable price and at a convenient location
(right at the subway entrance/exit). I will definitely go back!
Their noodles are not the wavy, chewy egg noodles, but the straight, thin noodles -- same as Ippudo.
We started with the pork belly buns. One order came with two buns. The bun was small, but it was a very satisfying combination of fat, meat, bun, and shredded cabbage with spicy mayo.
I ordered the shio ramen with extra noodles. The broth was light and with a hint of yuzu (very Setagaya!). I found it very refreshing. My husband ordered the tonkotsu ramen. The broth was not as rich as what my palate has been trained to be used to, but it was not bad.
They were very generous with the portion of extra noodles (with $2 more). However, we both agreed that the noodles were a bit too soggy.
We arrived by 7:30 pm on a Thursday and got seated immediately. There was a line forming at around 8 pm.
In my opinion, their noodles and broth are not as good as Ippudo's. Even though I don't think it is worth a special trip here, but I still give it 4 stars because it is a great neighborhood restaurant. -
Review from Heather H.
New York, NY
Updated - 4/27/2012
Oh. God. Just thinking about Jin is making me salivate.
I am here all the time. Spicy Tonkotsu with curly noodles is my staple, but now they've added pork buns to the menu, and they are AMAZING. Lightly dressed with a spicy mayo, the flavor and succulence of the pork shines through.
My hat off to Chef Mark Viloria. He runs a great kitchen. Salamat!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/17/2012
First Impression: Awesome-sauce.
I work a few blocks away, and we've been anticipating Jin opening… Read more »
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Review from Becky T.
New York, NY
5/25/2012
Excellent ramen. Been about 4 times. One time they forgot to add the salt base, but were friendly and accommodating when I asked for it. I like that the place does not have the ridiculous wait like ippudo or totto do.
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Review from Stephen M.
New York, NY
5/6/2012
I've been to Jin three times in the last few months. Every time I've come away from it, I've been underwhelmed. There's nothing about this place that makes it stick out from the pack: it's not customizable like Kambi, artisinal like Ippudo, addictive like Totto or iconoclastic like Momofuku.
Everything is well-prepared. The veggies and bamboo shoot are crisp, the eggs are pretty good. Their thin, white noodles are okay, if not particularly toothsome. Their charshu (called chashu here) is more fat that meat.
I've had both the spicy tonkotsu and miso ramen. These are typically two of my favorite types of ramen, as they're usually aromatic, savory delights. In Jin's hands these both are neutered. The broths have a unity of flavor, but they are week and lack that umami sensation that makes ramen so much fun.
And there seems just not enough of everything: too few noodles, the chashu is thin, not enough broth. Coming back from a good bowl of ramen, you feel a supreme satisfaction (and often giddiness) with life. After Jin, I routinely feel nothing.
On the plus side: you can get a pitcher of Sapporo for $15.
The service is pretty mediocre (even though there were multiple empty tables when I arrived, none of them were clean, so I had to wait for five minutes). The bowsl come out in a timely fashion (but that's not uncommon for ramen)
It's nice, but ultimately forgettable. I say if you're in the area, drop by for a bowl. It's only 10 blocks away from me, so for a quick hang-over bowl, it'll work. But, it gets points for adding something to the food desert that is Morningside Heights -
Review from Paul P.
Brooklyn, NY
4/28/2012
I discovered Jin very late last night when walking tired and hungry out of the opera at Manhattan School of Music. I thought the only restaurant on the way to the train station at 125th was the Mickey D's on the corner.
I was wrong. Jin was open, friendly and had excellent noodles and attentive service. The pork bun appetizer was delicious with flavorful spicy mayo and the right contrast of temperatures between bun and meat. The Tonkotsu Ramen (I had it with extra corn and without the spice, because I'm recovering from a stomach illness) was hearty and robust, though next time I'll add the extra pork and the seasoning.
And their roasted green tea was delicious, just the right kick to get me home to Brooklyn.
I'll be back. -
Review from Michael L.
New York, NY
4/14/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I'll admit I was skeptical when I first walked in because NOONE there was japanese. But all of that was put to ease when the spicy tonkotsu ramen with extra char shiu arrived.
The breakdown:
Broth: 8/10 made fresh in house, cant argue with that
Egg: 9/10 Soft boiled, served in soup which makes it warm, will have to order another half next time
Noodles: 6/10 not made in house, but still good
Extras: comes with scallions, bamboo which were all good, need to try the spicy rayu sauce next time to see how it compares to totto of which is HOT.
Size: adequate, not too big, not too small.
Also had the fried cartilage, it was good, but nothing spectacular.
The best thing about it is that its new, and you can tell they really want to make the place better, so they are willing to listen to your suggestions/compliments. I wish nothing but success for these people, they deserve it, and they sell a quality product, of which the closest one that can come close could be either midtown west or east village.
I wish you opened earlier, now that Im about to move out of the UWS!!Listed in: Ramen Adventures
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Review from Kristin H.
New York, NY
4/9/2012
Really tasty! We tried the tonkotsu ramen, which comes with a boiled egg, pork, green onions and some other things. I added mushrooms too. Surprisingly rich and the pork is so good. They offer you extra noodles when they see you are running low--I was so stuffed that I couldn't take them up on it, but it was very nice that they do that.
Our waiter and the staff were all super nice too.
It's sort of hidden under the 125th st. 1 train station. Definitely worth a visit! I'll be back--looking forward to trying out the other types of broth. -
Review from Evan H.
Updated - 3/29/2012 3 Check-ins Here
Ok. So since going to Jin Ramen on its very first day open to the public, I decided that I would write another review after they worked out the kinks. Let's just say they did.
I've been back twice since, both in the span of a week, and both times the place was packed! I'm glad to see this, ensuring a long tenure in the neighborhood. I again ordered the spicy tonkotsu ramen. This time the broth was not at all "chalky" or have a texture that was a little off. The broth was superb, with an outstanding and deep pork flavor. I still wish there was more pork without ordering extra, but I think I'll suck it up and do that next time.
I also tried the vegetarian miso ramen, which I didn't have high expectations for, but was also outstanding. The freshly cooked vegetables made it hearty, and the broth was flavorful.
Honestly, combine the price, the location (to me) and the quality of the soup, and I'd go here any day over Momofuko or one of the other trendy spots downtown. Only downside is no pork buns, but they do have excellent deep fried chicken as an appetizer. This is going to be a destination ramen spot from around Manhattan, just gotta wait for some big publication to write it up.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/9/2012 First to Review
I've been waiting for this ramen spot to open since I saw the sign a few months ago. I was pretty… Read more »
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Review from Randy R.
Brooklyn, NY
5/8/2012
Just the right amount of salt, Wait was less than 10 minutes. Comparable to ippudo and Minca fasho... Cuts of pork was thin but was still flavorful and amazing. Spicy Tonkatsu Ramen was amazing. Shoyu was just okay. Kara-Age was decent. Pork Buns were good but not as good as Momofuku Pork Buns. Similar to Ippudo Pork buns though. I'd definitely go back if I was in these parts or didnt care to drive and not have to wait for a good bowl of ramen.
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Review from Augusto M.
Manhattan, NY
4/17/2012
Sucks having a cold in summer-like weather. But this was a good reason to visit Jin. Not crowded thankfully. Had the chicken with cartilage, eh, next time I'll just get the regular chicken. Now on to the star of the show. The pork broth.
Holy cow this is a good bowl of ramen. I had the spicy tonkotsu, with the spice paste on the side, in case it was too spicy and I ended up putting the whole thing in. It was soooo good. The pork belly is the best I've ever had in a bowl of ramen. Usually they neglect the pork belly, but it was awesome, and I wanted more. I could have eaten a whole plate full of that pork belly sans broth. But it worked well together. Wish It was more then 2 pieces.
My wife doesn't like pork so she had the seafood broth. She liked it too. But I suspect not as much as I liked mine.
Worth the trek. -
Review from Christine C.
Manhattan, NY
4/6/2012 3 Check-ins Here
It's a good ramen place close to Columbia University! Right next to the 125th exit on the 1 train, this place is clean and has a nice ambiance! The service was excellent! I sat at the bar and the chefs noticed and told the waitresses whenever my party needed anything (while the waitresses were busy tendering other tables). The place becomes packed even on weekdays after 7pm.
I got the KARA-AGE (Boneless fried chicken) and the TONKOTSU RAMEN(PORK BONE). The fried chicken was average, but the ramen was really good! They even had the LESS SALTY option which, I thought, was very enchanting considering most people these days overdose on salts in their diets. Regardless, I will be coming back! -
Review from Clemens W.
New York, NY
4/7/2012 1 Check-in Here
From the dozens of ramen places I've been to in the city, this one surprisingly stands out in my mind. I was in good company and rather hungry, but overall I came in with a neutral feeling with zero expectations. Having been to the top ramen places in NYC paying $15 for a bowl, I was extremely happy with the quality and quantity of ramen and broth.
The Spicy Tonkatsu, as most people will recommend, is delicious. I found it difficult to keep the broth for my second helping of noodles because it really had a nice taste to it when you add the fresh garlic.
The broth is a solid 8 with a generous amount of garlic and pork flavor. The noodles are not really ramen noodles (as most ramen places don't use regular ramen anyway); I'd say it's closer to a somen thinner type of noodle. Pork is tender and flavorful, but egg/bamboo/nori seaweed was average. I think the whole thing pulled together well though and it's on par with Naruto Ramen in Brooklyn.
Best part about this is that it's not yet super popular and I can still chow down on decently priced and delicious ramen near my apartment. Not to be racist, but I also find it odd being served ramen from white male waiters. It changes the experience, for some reason. *shrug* no big deal. -
Review from Philip N.
3/24/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ladies and gentlemen, we have a new contender for top ramen joint in the city. And you'll find it in one of the most unexpected neighborhoods in the city.
Hop off the 125th street station (off the 1 train, not the two folks), and you're instantly hit with the smell of fried chicken and McDonalds. But discretely tucked away under the train overhang is one of the better ramen restaurants in the city.
The place just seems to get ramen. It isn't overly hipsterish like Ippudo, and features a larger eating place so you're not fighting it out with 300 other guests for 14 seats at Totto.
You get Japanese comfort food to the core in your bowl of ramen. I got the Spicy Tonkotsu, and split an order of kaedema (extra noodles), getting to try both the curly and thin noodles. Opt for the curly, as it's cooked a bit chewier. The broth is tasty, but unspectacular, though I'm thrilled with how they cut the pork in nice, thin slices. It preserves the tenderness of the meat much better.
Bottom line: Get your ass out of the Meatpacking district, where chefs snicker at you for being willing to pay $14 for seaweed salad, and enjoy a hearty bowl of ramen for the less than that. Seriously, now. -
Review from Phil L.
4/19/2012 1 Check-in Here
Ramen, such a simple dish yet it isn't always executed properly. Jin Ramen is a new place in the middle of nowhere, hiding behind the subway station. If you're standing on the opposite side of the street, you wouldn't even know it existed. But I think the secret is out and all the locals craving a simple dish of noodles and broth are flocking to this place. First and foremost, this is a fairly small ramen spot, they have seating in front of the kitchen and a few tables/booths.
For $10.00 you can get a bowl with cha siu, an egg, and for $1.00 more some mushrooms and $2.00 for extra meat. Their broth was very good, flavorful as could be however the noodles in my opinion were not al dente enough. They were on the verge of being overcooked in my mind so that's why I'm giving a 3. had they executed the perfect noodle, I would gladly give this place another star. Their green tea ice cream was kind of a let down as well. The portion was incredibly small, the size of a melon ball. I was hoping for at least a full scoop of ice cream. The addition of the red bean however made it unique and quite tasty, making me wish for more. Service was standard and the restaurant is nicely decorated. Love their wooden walls as it definitely makes the place more interesting to look at. -
Review from Julia B.
3/21/2012 2 Check-ins Here
Ramen in Harlem doesn't exactly sound right. But oh my, how it is! Since reading a blurb about it on Thrillist and then a positive review on Serious Eats, I finally found the time to check the place out with the one and only, Ben F. Even he seemed a little confused by the fact that there was a ramen house in his hood!
Located right by the 125th St station is this unassuming restaurant. With seats by the wall, window and overlooking the kitchen, this restaurant is spacious and inviting. I love watching people in the kitchen so naturally, we plopped our hungry behinds where we could see them in action!
The menu is simple, the portions big and the prices friendly to the wallet. I went with the Tonkatsu, while Ben F went with the usual Miso. Along with that, we got to try the Spicy Tonkatsu on the house! Each broth was so different from the next, the char siu melted in your mouth and the noodles cooked to perfection. The Miso Ramen was brimming with vegetables - something I have rarely seem many other places do. The broth in my Tonkatsu was delicate and subtle in flavor but tasty. The Spicy Tonkatsu was also a hit, the spiciness hits you without overpowering your palate.
As Jin is still relatively new, the friendly chef told us what they were thinking of adding to the menu so I will definitely be back to see their additions and just have more of their ramen!
Skip the lines at Ippudo and Totto Ramen and come to Harlem for some bangin' ramen!Listed in: Moshi Moshi, I Want Ramen
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Review from Ben F.
New York, NY
3/14/2012 7 Check-ins Here
I hate to keep saying this but if you know Ben you know Ben loves Ramen, Miso Ramen..... God's gift of happiness in culinary form to man who can handle and appreciate the delicate yet slightly complex flavors and beautiful cooked noodles.
Last night after much waiting for the perfect day I found my new favorite Ramen house. Not only is the chef Mark super friendly like someone you feel you've grown up with but he loves what he does and that as a chef I can tell you shows through his Ramen.
He sent us a bowl of his favorite ramen on the arm, if that wasn't cool enough it was freakin delicious. Spicy tonkatsu I believe it was, try it the thin noodle and spicy yet suttle broth was a great combo. The pork was tender and flavorful as well, good stuff my man.
Now onto what I feel makes or breaks you........DUN DUN DUN.... The Miso Ramen.
Two words homeboys and girls and it aint "Happy Birthday" its "F*ckin Delicious"
Its slap yo mama good, and if she was there I would in fact have slapped her. The chef asked if I thought the soup was a cluster f*ck, I told him that if he took anything out of the soup I'd hop the counter and toss him a beatin. I'll break it down.
1. Amazingly and savory Miso broth. Suttle hit of spice at the end.
2. Ground pieces of chicken sausage, chopped bits of pork, delicious.
3. Bok Choy, fresh corn, scallions, bean sprouts and last but certainly not least outrageous and perfectly cooked yellow noodle.
Finally I can say that Harlem doesn't just have culinary abortions but something worth traveling uptown for besides Dinosaur. They are gonna be BIG JERRY, BIG!
Yes, have some.Listed in: I think im Turning Japanese?
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Review from Kenny L.
Manhattan, NY
Updated - 3/21/2012
Not sure how this update thing works...but I read some of the other yelp reviews and people raving and the 4.5 star rating and thought, maybe they improved since it was the first night afterall that I went. The owner reached out to me and said they had improved since that first day.
Nope, same thing. The crab salad thing was good, the karage was great again...4 stars for those. But the ramen is missing something big. The noodles (I got the one with the curly ones this time) are dreadful, no exaggeration. They were doughy and just did not feel right in my mouth. The broth was okay, but nothing to get excited about...maybe they're going for too much flavor to accentuate the "tastiness" of their broth, but in my opinion, too salty and not creamy enough...I don't know...I'm just in love with those stocks that simmer for over a day at a time with a big ass pork bone in it. I feel sick after eating here. Ugh. If I go back, shame on me. No excuses next time. And seriously, where's the frosty mugs for my beer to cut through all the sodium?1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/21/2012
Honestly, I want to give this place a 2 star rating, but that would be me being emotional. The… Read more »
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Review from Paul K.
Tenafly, NJ
3/29/2012
Absolutely fantastic restaurant, food, staff and experience.
Food: Get the Spicy Tonkotsu with extra pork (the meat is incredibly tender and extremely flavorful), curly noodles (recommended by the waiter, good choice), and extra mayu. Very rich broth, tasted like it had cooked for at least 6 hours. If you don't want such a rich (and meaty) broth, the vegetarian options where also very good.
Atmosphere: Busy at night (~9pm) but the wait was not more than 10 minutes, amazing considering the number of people coming and going. Seemed pefectly busy, always a small line but not around the block. Mostly young students from Columbia, but a great cozy interior with the kitchen and chef right there made it fun. Also gave me a chance to personally thank the chef, he is a great guy!
Staff: flawless, walked us through the whole menu, told us what would be best on each ramen, took special care with 2 vegetarians in our party and recommended amazing appetizers.
Overall was a terrific experience. -
Review from Marisa B.
New York, NY
4/18/2012
Jin, your location is so fantastic for me, especially compared to all the other noodle joints! Your tonkotsu is so delicious. Your pork chashu and egg are spicy paste are wonderful, and your servers are delightful. Why, oh why, must you overcook your noodles?
This is a pretty grave sin, but their excellence in every other regard makes it hard for me to dock a star. Kaedama seem to come out fine, but the first serving of noodles in your bowl are too soft.
Jin, I beg you: yank those noodles out a little sooner, and you will have achieved perfection. -
Review from Dreyfus W.
New York, NY
4/16/2012
Would I trek it all the way up there for another bowl of ramen? Probably not. Especially when it wasn't even THAT great. I enjoyed the broth, pork, and added sides but what sadden me was how they can create such tasty bowl of ramen and overcook the noodles. The noodles should be made with great care and be treated just as importantly as the broth, and yet they floundered.
Service was good despite a very busy Friday night. The best time to go is on or about 6pm.
So the advantage goes to those who live nearby and university students. However, coming from down-midtown, it's probably a better idea to wait for your ramen at other places...where noodles were never an issue. -
Review from Kevin D.
Manhattan, NY
4/18/2012
Fast service even when things are really busy.
My boyfriend went gaga over the food; to my unsophisticated palate, it tasted a lot like other good ramen I've had. If you, like me, are unsophisticated, go somewhere else and get cheaper noodles, unless you're trying to impress someone. -
Review from Lisa Jane C.
Brooklyn, NY
A ramen house which happily accommodates vegetarian and special diet requests. And it's not bad at all.
Went with a friend, and we both got the miso ramen. Her broth was nut-free, while mine was vegetarian. My broth was flavorful although a bit salty, and the tofu add-in ($1), was a generous portion. Many other add-ins are available. The ramen was just right, the tofu was very soft and the vegetables were very good. Despite the long prep time, nothing was overcooked. Three of the five ramens can be prepared with seafood or vegetarian broth, which is a plus.
Was quite disappointed with the appetizers. Three of the six are vegetarian, but they are a bit mundane (kelp salad, house salad and edamame). The last time my friend and I dined together, we split two appetizers, but none of the ones here were intriguing enough to order.
Believe the menu - the miso takes longer to prepare. Think we waited half an hour for our food, but at least that was expected. Also, it was Friday night, although the restaurant was not at capacity (think it seats about twenty).
The service here is great - water is quickly refilled, and we were asked several times how we were enjoying our meal. Saw two groups with young children, so it's also family friendly.
Really hope the menu is expanded. It needs some innovative appetizers, not just the bland ones currently offered. Understand that Jin opened fairly recently, so maybe it will respond to customers' requests.
Beer, sake and sodas are available, Everything her is reasonably priced.
Bathroom is fine. It has a toilet and a urinal (?), and it's very clean.
Restaurant is just a few steps from entrance to 125th Street station of the 1 train, so no long walk to the subway.
Happy that I visited, and will check the online menu in a few months. Will return if I see a better offering of appetizers, but right now I am not in a hurry.Listed in: Vege-friendly ramen and soba
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Review from jackie c.
Jamaica, NY
3/7/2012
Being an Asian American new York raised gal, I'd say I've been to my fair share of noodle shops in life. So when I heard that there was a legit ramen shop near my cousin's apt uptown, I had to give it a try.
I'm just going to go ahead and say, you've gotta eat here if you love food. In general. Also, if you love your food served in a timely fashion. Go here if you attention to detail but also love the phrase Keep It Simple, Stupid.
I moaned over my bowl of spicy tonkatsu. We ordered a second helping of the Kara age. And we moaned some more when their simple ice cream dessert arrived.
It's simple, it's delicious and it's a MUST. -
Review from Alessandro P.
New York, NY
5/3/2012
This place is awesome.
The ramen is great. You can (and some people undoubtedly will) argue until your face turns blue about whether Ippudo or Minca or Totto Ramen are slightly better, and maybe they are (not in my opinion), but Jin is definitely on the same level. I've had both the Miso and Tonkotsu ramen and they're both great - Tonkotsu is more traditional, Miso has more vegetables and other stuff, but is great as well.
However, unlike Ippudo, the food isn't stupidly expensive. You can have an appetizer, a bowl of salad, and a beer for about $20. Just ramen runs about $10-$12.
Also, the service is actually surprisingly good, considering how quick, cheap, and busy they are. The place is usually packed, but the waiters are very nice, patient, and attentive, and the people in the open kitchen will chat with you and crack jokes. Food always comes fast.
Some things to note (not complaints):
-It's usually packed and the place isn't huge. It's quite likely you'll wait at peak dinner hours, even on weekdays. That said, they turn tables pretty fast, so the wait is usually 10-15 minutes, rather than 1-2 hours at Ippudo.
-They don't take amex. Not a big deal, but some people might want to know.
-Decor is minimalist/functional. It's a ramen place - go there if you want a great meal for very reasonable prices. This isn't a special ocassion/fancy type place.
Highly recommended if you're in the neighborhood. May even be worth a trip if you're not. -
Review from Jennie A.
I stopped eating ramen just like I stopped eating sashimi when I got back from an amazing trip to Japan. I just knew that the ramen in New York City would completely disappoint me. Thanks to Jin Ramen, I will be having ramen more often. I made a New Year's Resolution to avoid going above 14th Street because I find a that traveling to a lot of bars and restaurants above 14th street not worth the hassle of the long commute. I went to Jin on Friday and plan to go with a friend and my pescaterian fiance tomorrow.
I went with five friends so I was able to taste the broth of the shoyu and spicy tonkatsu ramen which were both delicious. At the suggestion of the wonderful waitress, I ordered the shio ramen. I loved it. The noodles were perfectly cooked and the broth was light & tasty. I don't eat pork often because I've never liked pork in ramen that much, but the pork in the shio ramen was amazing. It melted in my mouth.
Everything I tasted was delicious. The kani salad was fresh. The kara-age was perfectly fried. The green tea ice cream made even happier. -
Review from Steven C.
Bellerose, NY
3/12/2012
It's good ramen. I think it's similar to Minca. The broth was rich and flavorful but the noodles were not perfect. The Spicy Tonkotsu had thin noodles that were a bit too soft while the Miso had thick noodles that were undercooked. It was still clumping together and the insides were a bit raw. A few things make me not want to come back.
* It's in all the way in Harlem.
* Soup was thick. Like they didn't drain the noodles enough and made it very starchy.
The appetizers were average. We ordered the kelp salad and fried chicken w/ cartilage but we didn't taste the cartilage at all. It was just like regular kara-age.
PS - I'm a bit pissed the waiter dropped a piece of the fried chicken and just walked away. He didn't pick it up or clean the table. He just left it there until we finished the appetizers. Did he think we were going to pick it up and eat it? -
Review from Dimitrios D.
New York, NY
Updated - 3/4/2012 2 Check-ins Here
I've come here a bunch of times now and absolutely love it! I've never had a bad experience or meal here.
Despite always being crowded these days, it's never been more than 20 minutes to be seated.
The waitstaff and manager (or owner?) are all friendly and efficient.
And the food. It's fantastic.
The kani salad (crab, seaweed, cucumber, and some other good stuff) is amazing. The edamame is salty and delicious. The fried chicken is juicy and savory. And of course the ramen soup (I always get the miso ramen) is bangin'. Fatty and salty pork added into the soup for $2, chicken sausage, small pork chunks (that come in the miso soup already), corn, leeks, scallions, and some other good stuff, all in a savory, mildly spicy broth.
I love this place!1 Previous Review: Show all »
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2/22/2012
I live incredibly close to this place, and needless to say am very pleased to welcome this… Read more »
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Review from Alexander L.
New York, NY
2/28/2012
I went twice in 24 hours! Is this dangerous? Absolutely! With Jin Ramen being so close to Columbia's campus, I feel compelled to eat here several times a week.
At first, my friends and I thought it was too good to be true to have a real ramen place open near Columbia. We had endured close to 2 hour waits at ramen places downtown. In a way, it also a huge conflict. We had loyalties to Totto, but the convenience of a place nearby could not be beaten.
During our first trip, we were inspecting everything. We decided to sit at the bar and watch every move of the chefs. I ordered the miso and my friend got the tonkotsu pork broth ramen. The miso was quite flavorful, but the main problem I had was that there was too much going on in the bowl. There were some great tastes, and it was quite delicious, but it wasn't what I expected. I had a taste of my friend's tonkotsu ramen and decided I needed to venture back.
The tonkotsu ramen is out of this world divine. It's so silky smooth, and the purity of the broth is outstanding. I think their tonkotsu ramen is by far the best dish on the menu.
We came to the conclusion that to compare Totto with Jin would be like comparing apples with oranges. At Totto, you get much more of the rustic, home-style feeling of a grandma's ramen restaurant. At Jin, you get the refineness of a restaurant.
I'm quite excited about this new place. I'm just upset they didn't open 3 years ago when I started at Columbia! -
Review from Joanna D.
New York, NY
3/29/2012
Soooo... I went to this place with extremely high hopes, I am a huge Ramen fan and love the real authentic stuff. While the ramen itself (I ordered the Spicy Tonkotsu ) was pretty good. (love the garlicky yumminess) the pork, the noodles, the egg, all yummy... I was not impressed by the size of the fried chicken.. tiny portion for $7. Not a good value. I will return though however for the ramen and maybe add extra pork and bamboo shoots. :)
Don't forget, they have takeout... one of the only spots in the city that allows for Ramen on the go! (and it's not too far from my neighborhood)
