Dark, Romantic ambiance with consistently great food! We love this place! The Bonsai Shrimp appetizer is a must! You'll thank me for suggesting the Coconut Soup. It's almost orgasmic. This time around we ordered the Thai Green Curry Shrimp, Teriyaki Beef, and Sweet & Sour Chicken. These dishes may seem like your typical fare at an Asian Restaurant , but Jinja steps it up a notch. It's magical! We ended dinner with the most delectable dessert---Macadamia Nut Tart with your choice of gelato (I chose pistachio & my husband chose salted caramel). The only negative was the mojito which is usually perfect but was short on the simple syrup this time around. The house margarita was a bit on the sweet side. Perhaps, a new bartender?? The Jinja Mule was fantastic.
(5)
Jeff M.
Sad face :-( I ordered the Orange beef which was chewy (not lean) and horribly cooked :-( My daughter had the tuna, which she liked very much. It was definitely better than my dish! My son had Kung pao chicken, which was ok... At $20 plus per item, I had higher expectations. Service was crappy too :-(
(3)
Thomas N.
2nd Attempt, not so good, pulled into parking lot, a Jinja employee takes the last parking space up front, so I had to park out back. Sat at bar and checked out the Wifi service, not working, yet again, order wings and tempura, shrimp was under-cooked, they brought me another and said Sorry. Then I asked for my check, felt like I was held hostage for almost 20 minutes because their Credit Card machine was down, at least the bartender gave me another beer for my time. I use to like this place, will give them one more opportunity. Not impressed!!!!
(1)
Kathy V.
It was alright. The drinks were fanTAStic. Really good. The food was....alright? It was ok. I wouldn't be mad about going back the next time I visit ABQ, but it wouldn't be my first choice. And the service was pretty slow. But as long as we had drinks, we weren't too mad about it. We weren't in a rush or that might have been an issue. Overall, not a great experience, but not a bad one either.
Cute bar--bit of glare with the evening sun BUT what a view of the mountains. Love the music (very NY) and the bartenders Jason and Angela smile and are so nice. Best I've encountered in Albuquerque. What would give this place 5 stars? A date for me....everyone here is a couple. Add this to your date night list!
(4)
Adam M.
I really want to like this place. It's not far from home, it has a pretty chill atmosphere, and the drinks are pretty cool and good. The food is just not doing it for me though. It's not that it's bad food by any means, it's just that it's pretty underwhelming for me. Pad Thai, Mongolian beef, orange peel chicken are all fine, but just missing something IMO. Service is very good, atmosphere is cool, view is killer if you're by the windows, I'd probably come again if I really didn't feel like crossing the river for dinner.
(3)
Poppy G.
The Kung Pao Shrimp is the bomb! My mouth was exploding with flavor. Not one bite left. The soup says a cup, yet it's really a bowl! Always great service and great ambiance. Love Love Love this place. Never had bad food here. Gene Wilder is one of the owners to. Yes!
(5)
Allison G.
We've been going to Jinja since 2006. It's one of our favorite restaurant in Abq. Today we went to the one on the west side. What a disappointment. Most of the staff, including the manager, were sitting in a booth chatting, eating, typing on a laptop, etc.....while we stacked all 4 of our empty glasses at the edge of the table hoping for another round. Our waitress walked right by the empties. The manager walked by on his cell phone. We seemed to be more of an annoyance, than patrons. Was it busy? Nope absolutely dead. I wonder why?
(1)
Dre C.
Went for happy hour. Great dark cozy atmosphere. Solid service. The BEST Avocado Tempura (who wudda thunk to fry avocado ;-)). Shrimp green curry and Singapore noodles both were good.
(4)
Ellen J.
Happiness is: Never-ending bowl of edamame-$4 during happiness hour Happiness hour specials in bar area only, Shrimp chips with siracha, Yummy potstickers, Seared ahi tuna, Cheap Sapporo, Half-price apps & drinks in the bar, 2-7 M-F & ALL day Sunday, Never-ending bowl of edamame, Huge wooden bar, Servers with varying degrees of attentiveness, Cozy atmosphere, pillows in the booths, Never ending bowl of edamame, Two locations in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe, Please consider opening a location in Austin.
(5)
Elena V.
Great spirits... Service ok at best. Waitstaff not really present. Drinks were never refilled and not once were we asked if everything was ok.
(2)
Megan C.
This place was great! I stopped in here for dinner on my way cross country and thought it was the best choice for a restaurant that I could have made! The building is located on a newly built and modern shopping center and the atmosphere inside is great. They have massive windows on the west side of the building overlooking the city and we caught the most beautiful sunset! The dinner portions were large, and the prices were moderate. They even have a later happy hour so we were able to get our glasses of wine for $5. If I ever find myself in Albuquerque again, Ill be sure to visit Jinja Bar & Bistro.
When I went into Jinja, I was not sure what to expect. I was anticipating it to be the kind of place where you have somebody cook at your table. This turned out to be more of place that serves Pad Thai etc at a place that looks like a fancy steak house. Our server, Royanne, was excellent at suggesting what plates to order. We could not finish it but brought it back as leftovers. The drink selection as far as beer goes was NOT for the beer drinker. But the lines appeared to be clean and the beer was not dirty tasting. This place is apparently a MOJITO place. I will go back and try those. The views are good as well from Jinja! Incidentally, Gene Hackman owns part of this restaurant or at least DID at one point.
(4)
Wade N.
I don't give many five star reviews. We had a great, no a FANTASTIC meal here. Great food great waiter great atmosphere, great drinks. We started with potstickers which were excellent and an order of Adam mommy, lol @ SIRI. "Edamame'" . I had a noodle dish similar to pad Thai which was fantastic. My date had Tiger shrimp One other dish I can't recall now. We sent back a glass of wine that was served too warm (glass hot out of the dishwasher) and it was returned at proper temperature no arguments no problems. We appreciated that. We will be back and in the meantime we're telling everybody about this great restaurant. It was one of the nicest, and (because of the company) most FUN meals I've ever had. Thank you, Jinja!
(5)
Marqui R.
Great spot for happy hour, great drink prices and tasty apps for reasonable prices. I really enjoy the pot stickers and lettuce wraps but really anything you get here is a good choice. Been here for dinner once and overall had a great experience.
(4)
A H.
Little overrated and overpriced in my opinion but still good. Love the views of the city at night . On the fence if will go back
(3)
Nikki L.
Yummy drinks and good discounts for social media like checking in on Facebook. Food is always tasty however try and get the inside scoop. Our waitress gave us her suggestions and told us what wasn't made on site so we knew what to avoid after we talked to her for awhile on a slow night. Been back a few times. Even the picky eater of my family enjoyed the chicken soup.
(4)
Marcia V.
Food and drinks here are delicious. The menu had a good selection of different options. The service was a little slow but very friendly. It was a busy night so the wait time for a table was not a surprise but faster than estimated. Overall a great experience
(4)
Ashley W.
Not a huge fan of their food ( it tastes un-authentic and chain-like to me), BUT I do enjoy coming here for happy hour drinks and apps from time to time! They have a good selection of happy hour cocktails and $$ off beer and wine. A favorite dish of mine here, is the Coconut Maylay soup.. pretty tasty & filling! The atmosphere & view (at the west side location), is by far the best thing about Jinja. I love restaurants who have "mood-lighting" and this place sure has that. The lighting is dim and each booth has pillows that make for a cozy, relaxing experience. The service is usually pretty good for the most part. The location on the west side has a patio now, which is nice in the evenings. Considering there isn't a lot of nicer restaurants on the west side of town, this one is a decent choice if you're in the mood for something different.
(3)
Ryan P.
Another restaurant that should be good but just isn't. The menu looks good just poor execution and quality. I ordered the grilled sashimi tuna which was not sashimi grade. It appeared to be previously froZen by the texture and appearance. It was also medium well instead of medium rare. It was served on a bed of uncooked spinach which i thought was an odd choice. The wife had the orange chicken which she had to send back because it appeared to be sitting in orange colored water. ( manager took off the bill). This after taking over 5 minutes to be greeted by a server and having to get ourselves silverware. Too bad...
(2)
Keira M.
This is a fun, dark place to hang at the bar and eat and have a cocktail. I noticed that there is now an outdoor patio. I will have to check it out in the summer. One thing, they really need to do something about the glare in the windows. It is quite harsh.
(4)
Eric H.
We visit Jinja on a regular basis because of the quality of the Asian food and the excellent service. Jinja has a lunch, dinner, and a children's menu. In addition, Jinja's atmosphere and specialty drinks are fantastic. I usually order the Kung Pao Chicken. Give Jinja a chance if you like Asian food and order one of their tropical drinks while you are enjoying your dinner.
(4)
Donald B.
Took awhile before we ever saw a server and it was pretty slow tonight. The Crusted Tuna Sashimi is usually awesome, tonight not so much. Some one needs to train the cooks how to cut tuna properly "against the grain, not with the grain" the later makes for quite a chewy tuna experience. I expected more from the team here. Sad day in Jinjaville.
(2)
Julie P.
Super great menu with unique items not found at everyday Asian spots. Nice darker than most atmosphere. Pillows on bench seats like your at home, cosy feeling.
(4)
Cassidy Z.
This is honestly one of the best places for a nice, more upscale (though by no means fancy) dinner on the Westside. That said, it doesn't compare to high caliber restaurants, it simply means that the Westside is lacking!! I've almost always had a decent meal here. It is a chain and thus they have a huge menu--which I hate. There is not really low calorie options and they only offer three salad choices. I usually get the coconut soup and add a side of jasmine rice. It's really tasty. The atmosphere is nice, as I always prefer a dimly lit place and they have a GREAT view of the city, make sure to request it. All-in-all, a good choice for a family dinner. Be sure to grab some candied ginger on your way out!
(3)
Caitlin W.
I've gone to Jinja, four or five times and everytime I'm reminded why I should stop going. First off, overpriced for the quality of food, second, their tags of asian food is very misleading, third, they are a chain so huge menu which leads to hit or miss when you find your favorite dish. My favorite dish on the menu is Hoisin Glazed Barbecue Ribs, I wish when I go they would be consistently awesome. Full bar is nice, great selection of beer. Atmosphere is very upscale and classy, service can be good, food can be good. I am not a fan of inconsistency though.
(2)
Sandra G.
My sister in law and I were really craving sushi but we were also craving a martini so I did my yelp search for sushi and saw Jinja came up as an option. When I saw that they had a full bar we decided to give it a try. The place itself is nice but the sushi menu was soo disappointing!! The only sushi they have is a tuna roll as part of their appetizer menu. I guess I should have done more research before driving out of way but we were kind of in a hurry. I do want to say that the martini I had was good but pricey. I had edamame, some spring rolls and a drink and my bill was close to 40 including tip. I'm giving it two stars because our waiter Hunter was super nice and attentive
(2)
Vero P.
do not eat here. only good drinking patio
(3)
Linda W.
A neighbor and I decided to go out for dinner so we walked over to Jinja which is about a 5 minute walk. This is the same person I went with the first time. The first time I gave Jinja 2 stars because the food was disappointing. This time it gets 1 star. Not because the food was worse because it was about the same as the first time. It gets one star because the waiter made me want to run out of the restaurant screaming and pilling my hair out.. I have had annoying wait staff before but he was annoying to the 10th power. I couldn't tell if he was trying to sing or conduct an orchestra. Every two seconds there he was singing about the specials for the day and waving his arms like he was conducting the Albuquerque Symphony Orchestra. I won't even go into what he was saying because after about one minute I stopped listening.
(1)
Sean O.
I don't consider myself an expert on Asian cuisine the way I do New Mexican or Astronaut Ice Cream, but Jinja was very very good. We sat at the bar and ordered a few drinks - I highly recommend the Sazerac. Also try some Hangar One vodka straight or with a splash of lime. Barkeep was amazing: expeditious, attentive and very pleasant... Not only did she make us some fantastic cocktails, but she also gave us some great recommendations for dinner. She made for an amazing experience. I've known her since I was 12 so maybe I am a little biased! (Jinja will miss you Mel!) We ordered the red chile sashimi tuna to start and it was incredible - I live in SF now so obviously can't get any red or green chile in my Asian food unless I prepare it myself; (which I never do - unless you count Ying's Pot Stickers from Costco - which shouldn't count because you don't really "make" them, you just warm them up.) All run-on sentences aside, the dish was flippin great. Highly recommend. We also tried the Pad Thai which was also very good. Atmosphere in this place is also a big plus - seemed like it would be a great spot for an intimate dinner if you sat in the dining room. Looks like they are also getting a patio ready, too, which should be a great touch. I'll definitely be back when I am home visiting!
(4)
Troy J.
This is another nice new place for dinner and happy hour for the Westside. I've eaten here several times with family and friends. We've tried the tiger shrimp, Singapore noodles, Beef and the Ribs. Boy, do I love the ribs. It took 2 more visits enjoying the ribs before I could brake away to try something else. This location also has great views looking out into Albuquerque.
(4)
Brian E.
The food is pretty good with an extensive selection of varied Asian cuisine. I ate at the location on the West side, try to get a booth by the window, the view of Albuquerque is very impressive. My big hang up with this place is the service. It's not necessarily bad, just bizarre. The wait staff seems like they are programmed like robots to follow some corporate script act. They smile, but not sincerely, just showing their teeth. You see management following them around like a watchful hawk making sure they are doing whatever insincere scripted act they are suppose to follow. A word to management, let the waitstaff be themselves, I'm not buying it.
(3)
Vic M.
Love this place. Great food, great service, great atmosphere...... Every time.
(4)
Olivia B.
I happened to stop by on Sunday, and learned happy hours prices were in effect all day. The appetizers and drinks were tasty, and very affordable, and the lounge was much less crowded than on weekend evenings, which I found appealing.
(4)
Brandon A.
Excellent Asian Fusion Cuisine. Malay Coconut Soup is divine. The Ten Tigers (Tiger Shrimp Entree) was pretty good (not great, not bad). Service was excellent.
(4)
Wendy J.
Friendly staff, great food! Couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary!
(4)
Krysta S.
I meet my best friend there all the time for drinks and appetizers and they are awesome. Good drink selection and delicious food! Also, the bar staff are very attentive and friendly!
(5)
J T.
Hmmm, just had Happy Hour with my sister and her work friends at Jinja's, the westside location. I ordered an edamame appetizer to go with my lychee martini. Can't go wrong with soybeans, the drink was ok.. had a much better one in San Jose at Straits in Santana Row! That review will follow soon :). We shared appetizers, one of which was calamari.. very disappointing because it tasted pretty fishy! None of us finished the plate! The chicken wings were "ok" if you like to see reddish streaks on the meat and bones..gross. The service was going well until the male bartender's wife showed up, directing his attention on her, not his customer's. Next on the list, is the selection of bad and depressing music playing in the background, omg, kill me already!
(2)
Big D.
Overpriced and not enough food. Santa Fe prices for below average fare
(1)
marc e.
This place is pretty rad. It's new and in a modern style. They have a beautiful view of the whole city as the eastern side is mostly all glass. The bar is the coolest part imo, its right in the center and I would totally recommend this place just for drinks (My dad said to add that they have weekend happy hrs 4-7). The food is totally good, and the selection is pretty random (chinese, hawaiian, etc). Oh, and there were sweet looking pillows all around the booths and tables. okbai.
(5)
J T.
Jinja is a really good place to drop in if you're on the West side. They have spectacular coconut soup as well as a tempura tuna roll (ask for it, it won't be on the menu, but they will always make it) appetizer that is incredible. The happy hour is a very good deal for drinks compared to their normal prices.
Takes Reservations : Yes Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Dinner Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Romantic Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : Full Bar Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : Yes Caters : Yes
Delilah L.
Dark, Romantic ambiance with consistently great food! We love this place! The Bonsai Shrimp appetizer is a must! You'll thank me for suggesting the Coconut Soup. It's almost orgasmic. This time around we ordered the Thai Green Curry Shrimp, Teriyaki Beef, and Sweet & Sour Chicken. These dishes may seem like your typical fare at an Asian Restaurant , but Jinja steps it up a notch. It's magical! We ended dinner with the most delectable dessert---Macadamia Nut Tart with your choice of gelato (I chose pistachio & my husband chose salted caramel). The only negative was the mojito which is usually perfect but was short on the simple syrup this time around. The house margarita was a bit on the sweet side. Perhaps, a new bartender?? The Jinja Mule was fantastic.
(5)Jeff M.
Sad face :-( I ordered the Orange beef which was chewy (not lean) and horribly cooked :-( My daughter had the tuna, which she liked very much. It was definitely better than my dish! My son had Kung pao chicken, which was ok... At $20 plus per item, I had higher expectations. Service was crappy too :-(
(3)Thomas N.
2nd Attempt, not so good, pulled into parking lot, a Jinja employee takes the last parking space up front, so I had to park out back. Sat at bar and checked out the Wifi service, not working, yet again, order wings and tempura, shrimp was under-cooked, they brought me another and said Sorry. Then I asked for my check, felt like I was held hostage for almost 20 minutes because their Credit Card machine was down, at least the bartender gave me another beer for my time. I use to like this place, will give them one more opportunity. Not impressed!!!!
(1)Kathy V.
It was alright. The drinks were fanTAStic. Really good. The food was....alright? It was ok. I wouldn't be mad about going back the next time I visit ABQ, but it wouldn't be my first choice. And the service was pretty slow. But as long as we had drinks, we weren't too mad about it. We weren't in a rush or that might have been an issue. Overall, not a great experience, but not a bad one either.
(3)Henri S.
So what's with bringing the salad out with the entrée?! Is this an Albuquerque restaurant thing? Anyway no big deal. Kind of an unusual fusion concept . Caesar salad with ginger and wontons....what! It was good and the size was huge. The seared tuna on top of spinach was good too. Definitely not frozen, seared to order (better be for $18) great friendly waitress. Views are really nice of the city & mountains. Would I return?..... too many more restaurants to check out next visit to ABQ. Sorry Jinja.
(3)Robin R.
Cute bar--bit of glare with the evening sun BUT what a view of the mountains. Love the music (very NY) and the bartenders Jason and Angela smile and are so nice. Best I've encountered in Albuquerque. What would give this place 5 stars? A date for me....everyone here is a couple. Add this to your date night list!
(4)Adam M.
I really want to like this place. It's not far from home, it has a pretty chill atmosphere, and the drinks are pretty cool and good. The food is just not doing it for me though. It's not that it's bad food by any means, it's just that it's pretty underwhelming for me. Pad Thai, Mongolian beef, orange peel chicken are all fine, but just missing something IMO. Service is very good, atmosphere is cool, view is killer if you're by the windows, I'd probably come again if I really didn't feel like crossing the river for dinner.
(3)Poppy G.
The Kung Pao Shrimp is the bomb! My mouth was exploding with flavor. Not one bite left. The soup says a cup, yet it's really a bowl! Always great service and great ambiance. Love Love Love this place. Never had bad food here. Gene Wilder is one of the owners to. Yes!
(5)Allison G.
We've been going to Jinja since 2006. It's one of our favorite restaurant in Abq. Today we went to the one on the west side. What a disappointment. Most of the staff, including the manager, were sitting in a booth chatting, eating, typing on a laptop, etc.....while we stacked all 4 of our empty glasses at the edge of the table hoping for another round. Our waitress walked right by the empties. The manager walked by on his cell phone. We seemed to be more of an annoyance, than patrons. Was it busy? Nope absolutely dead. I wonder why?
(1)Dre C.
Went for happy hour. Great dark cozy atmosphere. Solid service. The BEST Avocado Tempura (who wudda thunk to fry avocado ;-)). Shrimp green curry and Singapore noodles both were good.
(4)Ellen J.
Happiness is: Never-ending bowl of edamame-$4 during happiness hour Happiness hour specials in bar area only, Shrimp chips with siracha, Yummy potstickers, Seared ahi tuna, Cheap Sapporo, Half-price apps & drinks in the bar, 2-7 M-F & ALL day Sunday, Never-ending bowl of edamame, Huge wooden bar, Servers with varying degrees of attentiveness, Cozy atmosphere, pillows in the booths, Never ending bowl of edamame, Two locations in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe, Please consider opening a location in Austin.
(5)Elena V.
Great spirits... Service ok at best. Waitstaff not really present. Drinks were never refilled and not once were we asked if everything was ok.
(2)Megan C.
This place was great! I stopped in here for dinner on my way cross country and thought it was the best choice for a restaurant that I could have made! The building is located on a newly built and modern shopping center and the atmosphere inside is great. They have massive windows on the west side of the building overlooking the city and we caught the most beautiful sunset! The dinner portions were large, and the prices were moderate. They even have a later happy hour so we were able to get our glasses of wine for $5. If I ever find myself in Albuquerque again, Ill be sure to visit Jinja Bar & Bistro.
(5)Quinn A.
At the invitation of the manager, I returned to Jinja this weekend with my husband to try some of their other dishes. Full disclosure - they gave us a big discount. I thought that was not only a generous move, but a smart one. Clearly, this is a restaurant that is responsive to criticism and wants to please their customers - and that is exactly the kind of place you want to go to. I don't want to eat at a restaurant that doesn't care, that sweeps comments about food and service aside. I want to go to a place where they care what I think and are invested in my good experience. Kudos to Jinja for going the extra mile. Just stepping in the door I was reminded why I like this place so much. The décor is dark, warm, and inviting, with pillows in the spacious booths, and lots of room around the square bar. I hear that there is a great view in the dining room, but I haven't seen it - that's how much I like sitting in the bar. Every time I am here there are people around the bar who clearly just met, but who are engaged in conversation. It's a friendly place where you can go in and be sure to feel welcome. The drink menu is outstanding. You can get a flight of Taos bourbon, dozens of different fruity cocktails, lots of old school mixed drinks that you don't find anywhere else. I hate being that person who always orders the same thing, but you can't find a sidecar at most bars and its my all time favorite drink. The husband started with a Pain Killer, a smooth fruity drink that had pineapple and other great flavors. He followed it with an Old Fashioned, made with 15 year old Taos Lightening rye. That might be my new second favorite drink. For appetizers I ordered the citrus tempera fried avocado and he had the Malay coconut soup. Not a tom ka gai, but a tom yum, and it was pretty darn good. Lots of heat, fresh vegetables swimming around in the coconut, and bits of chicken. There was no fifth star on this soup, it was good but not stunning and I wouldn't go here just to have this, but we ate every bite. The tempura avocado was sinfully good - you'd think anything fried would be good, but you'd be wrong! I've had lots of fried vegetables, even avocado, that turned out horrid - but no, this was fabulous, light and crunchy tempura with creamy avocado inside. The citrus part was a sauce that tasted like orange and cilantro and I was tempted to clean the little dish it came in. Wonderful appetizer, good job. For mains he had the pad thai and I had the hoisin bbq ribs. We are going to be a tough audience if you are claiming to serve Thai food. I went to the cooking school at the Blue Elephant in Thailand, for crying out loud. This pad thai didn't impress. It was bland, the noodles were too wide, the undercurrent of dried shrimp and all the little spices that make pad thai dance in your mouth were missing. There was not even a hint of heat. The chunk of chicken tasted very strongly of soy, and the shrimps were unremarkable. He ate about a quarter of it then couldn't go on. The hoisin bbq ribs were served with a cucumber/vinegar salad that was right on the money, and some tempura onion rings that were light and perfect. The ribs themselves didn't suit my taste. I found the sauce fine, they were cooked properly, but there was an underlying flavor in the meat that struck me as off. We didn't finish this dish, either. I stand my original review of Jinja, that it is a great bar and place to hang out, but for me at least, the food isn't compelling. I looked around the restaurant and saw plenty of people clearly enjoying their meals, so maybe it's a matter of preference. You should definitely go to Jinja and decide for yourself. They go the extra mile to try to please their customers and deserve a chance to make you happy.
(3)Don A.
When I went into Jinja, I was not sure what to expect. I was anticipating it to be the kind of place where you have somebody cook at your table. This turned out to be more of place that serves Pad Thai etc at a place that looks like a fancy steak house. Our server, Royanne, was excellent at suggesting what plates to order. We could not finish it but brought it back as leftovers. The drink selection as far as beer goes was NOT for the beer drinker. But the lines appeared to be clean and the beer was not dirty tasting. This place is apparently a MOJITO place. I will go back and try those. The views are good as well from Jinja! Incidentally, Gene Hackman owns part of this restaurant or at least DID at one point.
(4)Wade N.
I don't give many five star reviews. We had a great, no a FANTASTIC meal here. Great food great waiter great atmosphere, great drinks. We started with potstickers which were excellent and an order of Adam mommy, lol @ SIRI. "Edamame'" . I had a noodle dish similar to pad Thai which was fantastic. My date had Tiger shrimp One other dish I can't recall now. We sent back a glass of wine that was served too warm (glass hot out of the dishwasher) and it was returned at proper temperature no arguments no problems. We appreciated that. We will be back and in the meantime we're telling everybody about this great restaurant. It was one of the nicest, and (because of the company) most FUN meals I've ever had. Thank you, Jinja!
(5)Marqui R.
Great spot for happy hour, great drink prices and tasty apps for reasonable prices. I really enjoy the pot stickers and lettuce wraps but really anything you get here is a good choice. Been here for dinner once and overall had a great experience.
(4)A H.
Little overrated and overpriced in my opinion but still good. Love the views of the city at night . On the fence if will go back
(3)Nikki L.
Yummy drinks and good discounts for social media like checking in on Facebook. Food is always tasty however try and get the inside scoop. Our waitress gave us her suggestions and told us what wasn't made on site so we knew what to avoid after we talked to her for awhile on a slow night. Been back a few times. Even the picky eater of my family enjoyed the chicken soup.
(4)Marcia V.
Food and drinks here are delicious. The menu had a good selection of different options. The service was a little slow but very friendly. It was a busy night so the wait time for a table was not a surprise but faster than estimated. Overall a great experience
(4)Ashley W.
Not a huge fan of their food ( it tastes un-authentic and chain-like to me), BUT I do enjoy coming here for happy hour drinks and apps from time to time! They have a good selection of happy hour cocktails and $$ off beer and wine. A favorite dish of mine here, is the Coconut Maylay soup.. pretty tasty & filling! The atmosphere & view (at the west side location), is by far the best thing about Jinja. I love restaurants who have "mood-lighting" and this place sure has that. The lighting is dim and each booth has pillows that make for a cozy, relaxing experience. The service is usually pretty good for the most part. The location on the west side has a patio now, which is nice in the evenings. Considering there isn't a lot of nicer restaurants on the west side of town, this one is a decent choice if you're in the mood for something different.
(3)Ryan P.
Another restaurant that should be good but just isn't. The menu looks good just poor execution and quality. I ordered the grilled sashimi tuna which was not sashimi grade. It appeared to be previously froZen by the texture and appearance. It was also medium well instead of medium rare. It was served on a bed of uncooked spinach which i thought was an odd choice. The wife had the orange chicken which she had to send back because it appeared to be sitting in orange colored water. ( manager took off the bill). This after taking over 5 minutes to be greeted by a server and having to get ourselves silverware. Too bad...
(2)Keira M.
This is a fun, dark place to hang at the bar and eat and have a cocktail. I noticed that there is now an outdoor patio. I will have to check it out in the summer. One thing, they really need to do something about the glare in the windows. It is quite harsh.
(4)Eric H.
We visit Jinja on a regular basis because of the quality of the Asian food and the excellent service. Jinja has a lunch, dinner, and a children's menu. In addition, Jinja's atmosphere and specialty drinks are fantastic. I usually order the Kung Pao Chicken. Give Jinja a chance if you like Asian food and order one of their tropical drinks while you are enjoying your dinner.
(4)Donald B.
Took awhile before we ever saw a server and it was pretty slow tonight. The Crusted Tuna Sashimi is usually awesome, tonight not so much. Some one needs to train the cooks how to cut tuna properly "against the grain, not with the grain" the later makes for quite a chewy tuna experience. I expected more from the team here. Sad day in Jinjaville.
(2)Julie P.
Super great menu with unique items not found at everyday Asian spots. Nice darker than most atmosphere. Pillows on bench seats like your at home, cosy feeling.
(4)Cassidy Z.
This is honestly one of the best places for a nice, more upscale (though by no means fancy) dinner on the Westside. That said, it doesn't compare to high caliber restaurants, it simply means that the Westside is lacking!! I've almost always had a decent meal here. It is a chain and thus they have a huge menu--which I hate. There is not really low calorie options and they only offer three salad choices. I usually get the coconut soup and add a side of jasmine rice. It's really tasty. The atmosphere is nice, as I always prefer a dimly lit place and they have a GREAT view of the city, make sure to request it. All-in-all, a good choice for a family dinner. Be sure to grab some candied ginger on your way out!
(3)Caitlin W.
I've gone to Jinja, four or five times and everytime I'm reminded why I should stop going. First off, overpriced for the quality of food, second, their tags of asian food is very misleading, third, they are a chain so huge menu which leads to hit or miss when you find your favorite dish. My favorite dish on the menu is Hoisin Glazed Barbecue Ribs, I wish when I go they would be consistently awesome. Full bar is nice, great selection of beer. Atmosphere is very upscale and classy, service can be good, food can be good. I am not a fan of inconsistency though.
(2)Sandra G.
My sister in law and I were really craving sushi but we were also craving a martini so I did my yelp search for sushi and saw Jinja came up as an option. When I saw that they had a full bar we decided to give it a try. The place itself is nice but the sushi menu was soo disappointing!! The only sushi they have is a tuna roll as part of their appetizer menu. I guess I should have done more research before driving out of way but we were kind of in a hurry. I do want to say that the martini I had was good but pricey. I had edamame, some spring rolls and a drink and my bill was close to 40 including tip. I'm giving it two stars because our waiter Hunter was super nice and attentive
(2)Vero P.
do not eat here. only good drinking patio
(3)Linda W.
A neighbor and I decided to go out for dinner so we walked over to Jinja which is about a 5 minute walk. This is the same person I went with the first time. The first time I gave Jinja 2 stars because the food was disappointing. This time it gets 1 star. Not because the food was worse because it was about the same as the first time. It gets one star because the waiter made me want to run out of the restaurant screaming and pilling my hair out.. I have had annoying wait staff before but he was annoying to the 10th power. I couldn't tell if he was trying to sing or conduct an orchestra. Every two seconds there he was singing about the specials for the day and waving his arms like he was conducting the Albuquerque Symphony Orchestra. I won't even go into what he was saying because after about one minute I stopped listening.
(1)Sean O.
I don't consider myself an expert on Asian cuisine the way I do New Mexican or Astronaut Ice Cream, but Jinja was very very good. We sat at the bar and ordered a few drinks - I highly recommend the Sazerac. Also try some Hangar One vodka straight or with a splash of lime. Barkeep was amazing: expeditious, attentive and very pleasant... Not only did she make us some fantastic cocktails, but she also gave us some great recommendations for dinner. She made for an amazing experience. I've known her since I was 12 so maybe I am a little biased! (Jinja will miss you Mel!) We ordered the red chile sashimi tuna to start and it was incredible - I live in SF now so obviously can't get any red or green chile in my Asian food unless I prepare it myself; (which I never do - unless you count Ying's Pot Stickers from Costco - which shouldn't count because you don't really "make" them, you just warm them up.) All run-on sentences aside, the dish was flippin great. Highly recommend. We also tried the Pad Thai which was also very good. Atmosphere in this place is also a big plus - seemed like it would be a great spot for an intimate dinner if you sat in the dining room. Looks like they are also getting a patio ready, too, which should be a great touch. I'll definitely be back when I am home visiting!
(4)Troy J.
This is another nice new place for dinner and happy hour for the Westside. I've eaten here several times with family and friends. We've tried the tiger shrimp, Singapore noodles, Beef and the Ribs. Boy, do I love the ribs. It took 2 more visits enjoying the ribs before I could brake away to try something else. This location also has great views looking out into Albuquerque.
(4)Brian E.
The food is pretty good with an extensive selection of varied Asian cuisine. I ate at the location on the West side, try to get a booth by the window, the view of Albuquerque is very impressive. My big hang up with this place is the service. It's not necessarily bad, just bizarre. The wait staff seems like they are programmed like robots to follow some corporate script act. They smile, but not sincerely, just showing their teeth. You see management following them around like a watchful hawk making sure they are doing whatever insincere scripted act they are suppose to follow. A word to management, let the waitstaff be themselves, I'm not buying it.
(3)Vic M.
Love this place. Great food, great service, great atmosphere...... Every time.
(4)Olivia B.
I happened to stop by on Sunday, and learned happy hours prices were in effect all day. The appetizers and drinks were tasty, and very affordable, and the lounge was much less crowded than on weekend evenings, which I found appealing.
(4)Brandon A.
Excellent Asian Fusion Cuisine. Malay Coconut Soup is divine. The Ten Tigers (Tiger Shrimp Entree) was pretty good (not great, not bad). Service was excellent.
(4)Wendy J.
Friendly staff, great food! Couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary!
(4)Krysta S.
I meet my best friend there all the time for drinks and appetizers and they are awesome. Good drink selection and delicious food! Also, the bar staff are very attentive and friendly!
(5)J T.
Hmmm, just had Happy Hour with my sister and her work friends at Jinja's, the westside location. I ordered an edamame appetizer to go with my lychee martini. Can't go wrong with soybeans, the drink was ok.. had a much better one in San Jose at Straits in Santana Row! That review will follow soon :). We shared appetizers, one of which was calamari.. very disappointing because it tasted pretty fishy! None of us finished the plate! The chicken wings were "ok" if you like to see reddish streaks on the meat and bones..gross. The service was going well until the male bartender's wife showed up, directing his attention on her, not his customer's. Next on the list, is the selection of bad and depressing music playing in the background, omg, kill me already!
(2)Big D.
Overpriced and not enough food. Santa Fe prices for below average fare
(1)marc e.
This place is pretty rad. It's new and in a modern style. They have a beautiful view of the whole city as the eastern side is mostly all glass. The bar is the coolest part imo, its right in the center and I would totally recommend this place just for drinks (My dad said to add that they have weekend happy hrs 4-7). The food is totally good, and the selection is pretty random (chinese, hawaiian, etc). Oh, and there were sweet looking pillows all around the booths and tables. okbai.
(5)J T.
Jinja is a really good place to drop in if you're on the West side. They have spectacular coconut soup as well as a tempura tuna roll (ask for it, it won't be on the menu, but they will always make it) appetizer that is incredible. The happy hour is a very good deal for drinks compared to their normal prices.
(5)