Ginya Izakaya

Overview
Ginya Izakaya is a staple of the Atlanta ramen and Japanese scene. I have searched far and wide around Atlanta and the Atlanta metro area for good ramen places and Ginya ranks as one of the highest in my opinion. As someone who has been to Japan and tried the ramen there, I would say that Ginya’s definitely holds up to their siblings across the big lake.

Taste – 10/10
Their Tonkotsu (pork based) broth ramen is always a solid option. It has the perfect mixture of saltiness and creaminess that makes your taste buds dance. The Chasiu (roast pork) they put in the ramen is always supple and fatty, just the way I like it. The noodles themselves are also made in-house and have a great texture. It’s a great step up from your microwave cup noodles.

They also have a plethora of other options such as Katsu (fried pork cutlet) rice bowls, sushi, and traditional Japanese appetizers. My favorite appetizers being the takoyaki (fried octopus ball) and the yakitori (meat skewers).

They also have vegetarian options with a vegetable based broth ramen, vegetable yakitori, and veggie sushi.

Atmosphere – 10/10
The restaurant has an incredible atmosphere in the sense that once you step inside, you’ll be greeted by a hostess wearing Japanese inspired clothes and a headband. The tables are made of a nice dark wood that compliment add to a homey vibe. There is also a bar that you can sit at with a window to see into the kitchen where all the chefs are preparing the ramen and sushi. The walls are also littered with Japanese movie posters and other pop culture references.

Price – 9/10
The price of the food here is definitely worth it for the amount of food that you get. I never leave here feeling like I’ve overspent. The entrees range from ~$10-15 and the appetizers are ~$3-8. Overall a fair price.

Service – 8/10
The service here is pretty good. The servers are friendly and accommodating, but this place is almost always busy therefore the service can be slow at times, but it’s understandable. That being said, I have never had to wait more than 10 minutes to receive my food.

Parking – 8/10
On the weekends this place is usually packed and the mall that it’s located in has limited parking spaces. There is however a parking garage for the apartments located there that is “reserved for residents”, but I’ve have parked there on several occasions without penalty. Park there at your own risk though. During the week days you will almost always find an open spot.

Overall – 9/10
I love this restaurant and will always go there when I am craving ramen. I love to bring friends who have never been and have never tried ramen that didn’t come out of their microwave. It’s a great date spot as well as a cozy place to catch up with your friends. A solid pick for Japanese cuisine.