Xinji Noodle Bar

I wish there were more ramen options in cleveland because it is so satisfying to slurp some warm broth and noodles on a cold night. Thanks to xinji for offering that comfort! We came Friday night and were quickly seated and offered cucumber water. The fried chicken bao is a must!!! It was soooooo crispy and juicy and was huge! The Korean sauce was a perfect compliment and had a tiny spice kick.The garlic tonkatsu was flavorful and filling. I added a soy egg to it which was tasty but was a little cold. We loved that the menu had a noodle with no broth as an option too! Can't wait to come back!

In a city lacking solid ramen options, Xinji does not help fill the void. It's also unfortunately declined in quality over the years while prices have crept up. It's primely located on Lorain Ave with a decent amount of street parking around, and usually decently busy at dinner times. The dining room is ample with a view of the open kitchen which provides some level of hope. However, hope diminishes as the time between sitting down and getting the menu to a staff member bringing water or taking your order extends. The menu really isn't too long and the main decision is whether you're feeling a bowl of steaming noodles or a rice bowl, and whether you're hungry enough to indulge in apps like the bao or kimchi balls.The Pork Bao used to be a reliable taster in anticipation of the entree with a more interesting flavor blending sesame, soy and hoisin, but more recently it tastes like someone took leftover pulled pork from a weekend BBQ and slapped it in a rice bun. The Kimchi Balls are nice, with a satisfying crunch to them, but quite heavy if you're getting more than one. Good ramen broth is a labor of love, but it shouldn't take 30+ minutes to receive ramen at a restaurant dedicated to ramen. Even more disappointing is when it's just average ramen, salty without the savory umami kick that an enjoyable bowl delivers. The added egg ($1.50) does come perfectly jammy and the noodles have a comforting chew, but both are cool temperature wise and detract from the heartiness of the noodle bowl. I found myself gulping down water to offset the saltiness of the food, but the staff, though very pleasant, seemed too overwhelmed to come back and refill the water when our flask was empty. Will probably not be returning for the barely average ramen with other good noodle soup options in existence.

This is an awesome, really cute spot that feels cozy--like you're eating at home. The food and service are average, but it's still a nice place to grab dinner, whether it's a casual weekday meal or a weekend bite before heading out. While I wouldn't choose it for a special celebration, it's perfect for a quick ramen stop to warm up on a cold day. A great option for laid-back dining!

Came on a Friday for lunch and it lively but was still able to get a table. Lots of seating. Service was quick and friendly. We shared the pork dumplings and they were delicious. I got the Miso Ramen and actually wish I had gotten the spicy because I asked for a side of chili paste after it had arrived. Definitely get the soy egg add on (soy sauce marinated)

Had the opportunity to try Xinji Noodle Bar a few weeks ago. Located near Ohio City, Xinji is a fresh and laid back restaurant with a variety of vegetarian friendly food options. We had a large group so we made reservations in advance. The restaurant would not seat us until our entire party arrived. The food itself was a hit or miss. The crispy vegetarian dumplings, vegetarian kimchi balls, and bao were delicious. The kimchi balls were perfectly crisped with a nice tangy flavor. Some people in our group tried the vegetarian tonkatsu ramen and were less impressed by the flavor. The service was timely and the servers were extremely attentive to our large group. Parking is fairly easy as there are a ton of street parking options near the area. Overall, a decent spot for vegetarians. Recommend the non ramen options for more flavor and variety!

Very tasty! The meat (pork belly and pulled pork) that we got in the ramen was soft and pulled apart super easy, good flavor. The KFC was SOOOOOO good, the crisp stands up against the sauce and doesn't get soggy. The sauce has a hint of heat and the flavor is awesome ! Good service! The kimchi ball sampler is also delicious !

I cannot say enough about how amazing this place is. Everything we've had there has been unbelievably delicious. The fact that many of their items are either already vegetarian or can be made vegetarian is a huge plus. Their Bao are seriously the best I've had. They are so soft and fluffy. The ramen is a big portion and reheats well for leftovers. They add Japanese pumpkin to it which has a great taste and texture. They have yummy cocktails too. Definitely add it to your list of restaurants to try!

My group of five and I met at Xinji Noodle Bar near Ohio City on a rainy Saturday evening. Parking is street-parking only, but I did not struggle in finding a nearby spot. FYI; They will only seat you once the entire party is here but there is a waiting area. The first thing I noticed upon arriving was how dark it was inside! It gave me serious Amba vibes! It was hard to read the menu, take a quality picture, or even see what you are eating!My vegetarian group of friends were all huge fans of the spicy vegetarian ramen and stated that, based on prior visits here, that the non-spicy version is not very good. The only other meat eater and I shared a fried chicken bao. The bao bread was light and fluffy and the fried chicken was chock-full of spices! Yum!My black garlic tongatsu ramen was incredibly delicious and unique. You could really taste the age of the 72-hour pork broth. I did not try the variety of vegetarian dishes the rest of my group ordered but they looked good. Just an FYI that the waiter will ask if you want a soy or poached egg with your meal, indicating that the egg is included and she is just asking how you'd like it, but the egg is actually an extra $1.50! I was very surprised by this upon seeing my bill but I definitely wasn't going to fight it over such a low amount. They probably count on people not fighting the secret charge to make additional money. I get that it should be extra but that needs to be made clear by the waitstaff when asking if we would want one. I don't regularly drink alcohol so I didn't order myself a cocktail, but my group ordered the Frozen Lychee cocktail and the Blue Yuzu cocktail. I tried a sip of the lychee drink and loved it! It tasted just like those lychee jellies I would buy by the gallon container in college and eat when I wanted a very sweet, fruity jelly. Overall, I give this place a 4 out 5. I enjoyed my food as did the rest of my party, but there are some annoyances that need to be fixed. I plan on coming back soon.

First time I've been to a noodle bar. Attentive service. Pork dumplings were delicious as was the kimchi balls. I'd order the spicy meso again.

Get their KFC (Korean fried chicken) with dark meat. Super juicy, flavorful, and crispy! Also, can't go wrong with their ramen, kimchi balls, and nap buns.