Jinja Bar & Bistro
8900 Holly Ave NE,Ste B, Albuquerque, NM, 87122
Jinja Bar & Bistro Menu
Sorry, We are updating this restaurant menu details.
Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
Visit below restaurant in Albuquerque for healthy meals suggestion.
Sorry, we don't have Q&A for this restaurant.
Sorry, No Coupons available for this restaurant.
-
Address :
8900 Holly Ave NE,Ste B
Albuquerque, NM, 87122 - Phone (505) 856-1413
- Website https://www.jinjabistro.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
- Mon : 11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Good For Dancing : No
Alcohol : Full Bar
Happy Hour : Yes
Best Nights : Fri, Sat, Sun
Coat Check : No
Smoking : No
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
Looky Weed - Buy Marijuana Online
Looky Weed is here to help you navigate the maze of legalized marijuana. We provide you with a complete dispensary directory.
Dede M.
This place takes itself too seriously. Their food is alright, but the prices are waaaay too steep for what you are getting. The service was incredibly slow and made us never want to go back. Do yourself a favor and go to Pei Wei instead.
(2)Doug P.
The retro Asian tropical theme is kinda cool. Excellent Margarita and potstickers. The tempura avocado was good too with the cilantro sauce. Also liked my grilled tuna and macadamia tart. Service was friendly but slow at points.
(3)Darby C.
Great restaurant, poor location. I recommend visiting the other Jinja location in Albuquerque. I ordered two meals to go. When I arrived to pay, I had been charged for items I didn't order and had to request utensils and napkins. Not a huge problem, just an inconvenience. A few minutes from the restaurant, I realized that the bottom of the paper to-go bag had broken through and something was leaking all over my legs and seat. The side of veggies along with the juices they were steamed/cooked in had all been placed in a paper container which had wilted and broken the paper container and then the to-go bag. When I finally sat down to open the meals, the Thai Red Curry Beef was without curry. A few minutes after eating, I had an awful stomach ache and realized my GF Jungle Green Curry dish had not been prepared gluten free. I love, love this restaurant, but I am so disappointed with this location from the bar tender/staff to the kitchen.
(1)Jason O.
This is our favorite place to go...especially if we've been to a crappy (Bj's) restaurant the night before. I've been to this location on almost any day and night and never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for a table. Majority of the time we get a table right away. They added an extra bar, which is pretty smart instead of just accepting the fact that one bar is usually the norm and acceptable. No, The added bar gives more patrons the opportunity to grab a seat and watch a game on the TV. One of the best happy hours in town. I get the Grande Gold on the rocks. Our food this evening: Avocado Tempura Spring rolls Orange peel chicken Shaking Beef Avocado Tempura - This is why we come here. The best appetizer on the menu! The avocado is always fresh and the batter is perfect every time. The only complaint I can give is when they run out of avocado tempura, which has happened once. But its understandable because its extremely popular. Spring rolls - Crunchy little rolls, sooo good. I'm not a spring roll fan but these are awesome. Cooked completely through and NOT rubbery inside like other places. Orange peel chicken - Love the sauce with bits of orange and chile pieces...nice and spicy the way I like it. Chicken is tender and has a nice light batter. Shaking beef - My wife gets this every time and loves it every time. Trust me, she always has something to be disappointed about when we go out to eat but not once has she had an issue with anything she has eaten here. Overall: Great menu and perfect food. Our server was Clifton and he's always positive, quick and polite. Makes us feel welcome. If anyone has an issue with the Wyoming location of Jinja its probably because they have "stick up the ass" syndrome and are more happy being miserable. Its just that hard to find any issues with this place.
(5)SexyChicken 1.
you get what you pay for here. i like the nice cuts of meats they use for the entrees. i also like how they have a smaller portion for each entree. this lets me order an appetizer and dessert. the only negative is the cucumber salad. although its pickled, i wish they would peel the skin - or use english cucumbers.
(4)Whitney P.
After my third consecutive subpar visit to Jinja this review cannot go unwritten and my vow to never return shall stick. To start, I have a theory that this particular Jinja's prerequisites for hiring servers entails being an attractive female who knows absolutely nothing about the food or how to give good service. My most recent visit was this last Sunday evening with my brother and his girlfriend. Our interactions with our server were sufficiently awkward as her social skills seemed strained (or maybe she was just rude or annoyed or disliked us). She was very short with us and had no problem admitting she had no idea what several types of liquors were, and seemed put off by my brother's attempt to order Tito's or Deep Eddy vodka. After around 10-15 minutes (our appetizer had already arrived) she returns with our drinks to let my brother know "We don't have Tito's or Deep whatever...". A little put off and not wanting to annoy our seemingly already aggravated server he went with a Coors Light, which took yet another 10 minutes to arrive. The food this particular visit was actually more than decent (compared to prior visits). When we told our server we would only be doing starters she again, seemed annoyed. Overall, my biggest qualm has to be with the service. To top off our evening after splitting the bill that was around $60 between myself and my brother's girlfriend, she found out two days later that instead of being charged $30 she was charged $130.
(1)Billy M.
Just went here for the first time today. The ambiance was great, the service was good and friendly. I felt like the prices were a little high and the portions were a little small. The food was prepare good and was tasty. I probably won't go back as it's just out of my price range.
(3)Kelsey D.
This place was decent. Staff was very friendly, management came and checked in on us, which I always appreciate. Food was good not spectacular but good. No complaints. I would definitely eat here again on my next trip!
(4)Ray N.
Steak Frites! I ordered this last night for the first time because I know Jinja's tenderloin beef is tender and tasty. Even though the tenderloin was all that, the star of this meal were the french fries, They were just about, or maybe they were, the best fries I've ever had, anywhere, any restaurant, any time. They are fresh-cut shoestring fries with a crispy exterior and an excellent potato flavor. Take that first french fry and chew it up, and then let your taste buds report back to your brain what they are sensing. Mine said they were amazing. I ate nearly all of the them before I got to my steak. You don't need to order steak frites to get them. They can be ordered as a side dish or as a substitute for rice. Substituting french fries for rice at an Asian restaurant? Yep!
(5)Cee T.
Why did I go back? The sushi appetizers tasted like the pre made sushi at Trader Joes. It's like the rice turns into a solid mush. Disgusting. Then my salad had cheese sprinkled on top of the crispy wontons. But I guess they tried to heat it in the microwave??!! Because I could pick up the cheese& wonton catastrophe in one clump. I could peel the wontons out sorta. It reminded me of something I would have made after school in 6th grade. For these 2 dishes I paid $26. Just gross !!!
(1)Dave D.
Hadn't been to a Jinja in a while since my wife doesn't like asian food. She finally relented and we came in for dinner on a Saturday. There were plenty of tables available, we were there early though, around 5 pm. The service was quick and friendly, the waiter was more than happy to talk about each of the dishes we were curious about. I ended up ordering the pan-seared pork potstickers for an appetizer and the Singapore Noodles for the main course. Both were very flavorful and I enjoyed eating them. Whether they represent the style well I can only guess. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and my wife found enough on the menu that she would eat that we'll be back.
(4)Vicki S.
I was not impressed with the service or the food. Our waiter took our appetizer order and then disappeared for about 10 minutes! He finally came back with our potstickers and was like "okay do you want to order now'? Yes we do!! We wanted to order like 10 minutes ago. I had the Tiger Prawn Shrimp with fried rice and the shrimp was over cooked and the rice was blah and no flavor. The mint cilantro lime sauce was way to minty for me. The only thing I enjoyed was the pickled cucumbers. I am not sure if I will go back.
(2)Michelle T.
Love the atmosphere . Great happy hour with appetizers and drinks $5 so beat the heat and lounge thru from 3-7;00 ! Shaking beef was very lime flavored, yum !! Ribs in hoisin sauce also quite good . The coconut soup is $4 with an entree, worth it ! The entree that keeps us coming back tho -- CHOW FUN WITH CHILI . House made hand cut noodles are smoked - wow ! Gives them a unique chewy texture . The dish includes " marinated tofu " and if tofu always tasted this good -- best ever . Service was fine , really . Great place for a date , girls nite , or anytime you want to relax with your dining companions .
(5)Tory M.
According to other reviewers I need to try the pot stickers and the shrimp, ok...I did, and was not disappointed. Very good, though I'm not entirely sure the shrimp were actual tiger shrimp. Service was ok but just a little lacking in attentiveness. I joined a couple of friends for dinner but only opted for the appetizers in an attempt to get a feel for a range of tastes. The two I had were good, I'll be interested to go again and try an actual meal. My friends soups were large and smelled really good, I'll have to try one next time. I will be back, this place deserves more of my attention, even if only to give a more thorough review.
(3)Krystal R.
I just moved to Albuquerque from Los Angeles thinking there wouldn't be any restaurants to compare with the ones in the big city, but Jinja gave me some hope. I've been here twice in the same week and I love it! The wait staff is very friendly, attentive, and informative about the many food options. They offer everything from Ahi Tuna to Orange Peel Chicken, and my new favorite, the Red Curry Beef. The restaurant has two full bars, succulent meats and vibrant veggies. I was pleasantly surprised and the portions are just right for the price. Every time I need a curry fix, I will hit up Jinja. Bravo!
(4)Anne S.
Food style is Asian Fusion, noodle dish was disappointing, very few (expecting a dish of noodles) noodles were stacked and stuck together in a pile of an extremely salty hoison and soy sauce with mostly onions. Atmosphere is very nice, makes up for pricey dishes that don't deliver, very small portions.
(2)Larry S.
This place has a decent bar and drink menu and the ambiance is nice. The menu however, seems to be hit or miss. We always liked the Shaking Beef and the curry dishes, but he Pad Thai and noodle dishes leave a lot to be desired. For example, I got the vegetarian noodle dish this last visit and was quite disappointed to see that is was all noodles with very little in the way of vegetables and hardly any sauce. As a result, this was a very dry, bland dish. I had to ask for an extra amount of hoisin sauce just to bring flavor to the meal and to be able to pick up the noodles without them all clumping together. Service was only so-so. Not sure if the waiter was new, busy or just didn't care. The highlight of our meal was the candied ginger available on the way out the door!
(2)David P.
I have been coming to Jinjas Bar and Bistro for about a year now for both happy hour and dinner. There's something about this place that I really like, the ambiance is so 1930's, Euro/Asian, the Big Band era music just takes you back. I think Jinja's makes one of the best Martini's in Albuquerque and I always try to make a happy hour while I am here. The Appetizer menu is fun to share with friends but dinner is also quite good. A restaurant is only as good as its staff and I must say the staff at Jinja's are always welcoming, they know the menu and are helpful with suggestions. There's an outdoor patio area to enjoy your meal and drinks when the weather is nice but I prefer to sit inside at the bar when seating is available. You can dress up if you like but I have seen some people come in with jeans and shorts. I'd say this is a good place for well behaved children that know how to act in a nice restaurant. I've even seen a group of 10 celebrating their prom night.
(5)Lindsey A.
This place is great. It has a really nice atmosphere, nice and quiet and really professional, attentive service. I could barely decide what to order, the menu had so many great choices. I got the halibut and it was really tender, maybe the best I've ever gotten in a restaurant. It came with some really delicious sauces too. They also have an extensive drink menu and my husband got a really good mojito. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Mac M.
Menu is not too large but they do it well. Good service and the manager makes himself known in case you have questions or concerns. Draft beer selection is small but good. Wine selection isn't the best but they do great cocktails.
(4)Geoff A.
This place will remind you a lot of P.F. Changs (which I also like) - an upscale Asian dining experience. The food quality is excellent and choice's go beyond the basic Chicken Chow Mein. I was feeling a little ill when I went here but in spite of this I had a good time and would definitely go back based on my experience. My waitress was very friendly, attentive and professional. For some reason I decided to get the sake sampler which I did not enjoy. I got to try a variety of different flavored shots but the quality was pretty low, so while it may seem like a good idea, it doesn't do justice to the liqueur. The waitress noticed that I was less than impressed (without me complaining) and comped me the round. Very nice touch. I got the sweet and sour chicken (which I asked for un-fried) and while I think it was just a little on the sweet side it was extremely fresh and had bright flavors that shone through. The place had a nice ambiance - quiet and comfortable (nicely padded booths) and would be good for a date. I'll be going back again - hopefully in a better condition where I can sample more and give a more detailed review. Stay tuned.
(4)Damacio U.
went to have a quick drink, had not been there in a long time, great place.....it is located in a upscale part of town so I knew the crowd would be great, live music was a surprise, nice mellow two man band....definitely going back
(5)Gary F.
Great happy hour, solid food and nice atmosphere.
(4)Ken F.
I really like heading to Jinja for happy hour. Instead of offering a limited selection of crappy drinks for $5, they take $2 or $3 off of everything on their drink menu. I especially like their mixed drinks and have had some good mojitos there. The food is asian fusion and I have really liked everything I have tried especially the orange chicken. My only complaints are that the music can be a little loud out on the patio and the service is a little inconsistent.
(4)Jennifer L.
I really was trying not to ever go here because driving by had this like "chain vibe" that is usually not somewhere I would go. Now i know it is a "small" local chain but I still wasn't interested... Well, one Sunday night we were hungry and it was late and we decided to pop in. There is this like south pacific tiki vibe that totally made me feel like i was on vacation (reminded me of the Loews Royal Pacific hotel in Orlando). We had a mixed drink that was pretty good (quite the menu of tropical drinks). I had a sake flight which was pretty good but next time will just get the "snow shadow" sake since this was my favorite in the flight. There was some live music that wasn't very good but nice to have available. I was actually pretty impressed by the food preparation. Now I'm not saying this is like authentic asian food but what they do they do and present well. The rice paper halibut was great and a very big portion like double of what I would expect in a restaurant. My husband had some sort of beef on skewers that he ordered medium rare and they were also cooked perfectly which is hard to get sometimes! Also he had a really big portion as well which he was happy with and he had to finish my fish! great place for like an asian-ish meal and nice (not super cheesey) atmosphere.. a little pricey so wont go THAT often but worth the money.
(4)Darby C.
Great restaurant, poor location. I recommend visiting the other Jinja location in Albuquerque. I ordered two meals to go. When I arrived to pay, I had been charged for items I didn't order and had to request utensils and napkins. Not a huge problem, just an inconvenience. A few minutes from the restaurant, I realized that the bottom of the paper to-go bag had broken through and something was leaking all over my legs and seat. The side of veggies along with the juices they were steamed/cooked in had all been placed in a paper container which had wilted and broken the paper container and then the to-go bag. When I finally sat down to open the meals, the Thai Red Curry Beef was without curry. A few minutes after eating, I had an awful stomach ache and realized my GF Jungle Green Curry dish had not been prepared gluten free. I love, love this restaurant, but I am so disappointed with this location from the bar tender/staff to the kitchen.
(1)Jason O.
This is our favorite place to go...especially if we've been to a crappy (Bj's) restaurant the night before. I've been to this location on almost any day and night and never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for a table. Majority of the time we get a table right away. They added an extra bar, which is pretty smart instead of just accepting the fact that one bar is usually the norm and acceptable. No, The added bar gives more patrons the opportunity to grab a seat and watch a game on the TV. One of the best happy hours in town. I get the Grande Gold on the rocks. Our food this evening: Avocado Tempura Spring rolls Orange peel chicken Shaking Beef Avocado Tempura - This is why we come here. The best appetizer on the menu! The avocado is always fresh and the batter is perfect every time. The only complaint I can give is when they run out of avocado tempura, which has happened once. But its understandable because its extremely popular. Spring rolls - Crunchy little rolls, sooo good. I'm not a spring roll fan but these are awesome. Cooked completely through and NOT rubbery inside like other places. Orange peel chicken - Love the sauce with bits of orange and chile pieces...nice and spicy the way I like it. Chicken is tender and has a nice light batter. Shaking beef - My wife gets this every time and loves it every time. Trust me, she always has something to be disappointed about when we go out to eat but not once has she had an issue with anything she has eaten here. Overall: Great menu and perfect food. Our server was Clifton and he's always positive, quick and polite. Makes us feel welcome. If anyone has an issue with the Wyoming location of Jinja its probably because they have "stick up the ass" syndrome and are more happy being miserable. Its just that hard to find any issues with this place.
(5)SexyChicken 1.
you get what you pay for here. i like the nice cuts of meats they use for the entrees. i also like how they have a smaller portion for each entree. this lets me order an appetizer and dessert. the only negative is the cucumber salad. although its pickled, i wish they would peel the skin - or use english cucumbers.
(4)Anneliese E.
Jinja has the best cocktails in Albuquerque. Made by bartenders who know their way around a bar, they offer unique blends that are both potent and tasty. They're not cheap but worth every penny. The food is tasty, too. I'm a huge fan of their pad Thai, but I've never had a bad dish. A great place for a romantic night away from the kid, or a good place to take business associates. I highly recommend it.
(5)Shalayne C.
Went here with my book club last night and in a nut shell the food was good, the food was pricey, and the service was absolutely terrible. I got chili tofu chow fun and I have to say it was quite yummy and I am super picky about how my tofu is cooked. It was spicy enough but not too spicy that you couldn't taste anything else. However, it cost $15 for my food and that is definitely WAY overpriced in my opinion. The food was good but didn't warrant that price range and I would've been much more satisfied if it were say $5 less. We also shared one of the desserts- a macadamia cake and ice cream-and it was good but it was almost $8 and the serving size was super small and again didn't warrant the price range. The service was AWFUL here though...our waiter forgot my friend's appetizer, they forgot two glasses of wine that my friends were waiting for over 15 minutes, they didn't refill our waters, didn't check in on us, etc. You get the drift. Basically, the food was good but because of the high cost and the service I won't be going out of my way to go here again.
(3)Christina H.
The food is very flavorful here - a bit on the salty side but I still like it. LOVE the Duke's Blue Hawaiian as well. Service has always been very good. A nice, intimate spot with a nice atmosphere. That's why I keep coming back!
(5)Dave D.
Hadn't been to a Jinja in a while since my wife doesn't like asian food. She finally relented and we came in for dinner on a Saturday. There were plenty of tables available, we were there early though, around 5 pm. The service was quick and friendly, the waiter was more than happy to talk about each of the dishes we were curious about. I ended up ordering the pan-seared pork potstickers for an appetizer and the Singapore Noodles for the main course. Both were very flavorful and I enjoyed eating them. Whether they represent the style well I can only guess. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and my wife found enough on the menu that she would eat that we'll be back.
(4)Vicki S.
I was not impressed with the service or the food. Our waiter took our appetizer order and then disappeared for about 10 minutes! He finally came back with our potstickers and was like "okay do you want to order now'? Yes we do!! We wanted to order like 10 minutes ago. I had the Tiger Prawn Shrimp with fried rice and the shrimp was over cooked and the rice was blah and no flavor. The mint cilantro lime sauce was way to minty for me. The only thing I enjoyed was the pickled cucumbers. I am not sure if I will go back.
(2)Michelle T.
Love the atmosphere . Great happy hour with appetizers and drinks $5 so beat the heat and lounge thru from 3-7;00 ! Shaking beef was very lime flavored, yum !! Ribs in hoisin sauce also quite good . The coconut soup is $4 with an entree, worth it ! The entree that keeps us coming back tho -- CHOW FUN WITH CHILI . House made hand cut noodles are smoked - wow ! Gives them a unique chewy texture . The dish includes " marinated tofu " and if tofu always tasted this good -- best ever . Service was fine , really . Great place for a date , girls nite , or anytime you want to relax with your dining companions .
(5)Tory M.
According to other reviewers I need to try the pot stickers and the shrimp, ok...I did, and was not disappointed. Very good, though I'm not entirely sure the shrimp were actual tiger shrimp. Service was ok but just a little lacking in attentiveness. I joined a couple of friends for dinner but only opted for the appetizers in an attempt to get a feel for a range of tastes. The two I had were good, I'll be interested to go again and try an actual meal. My friends soups were large and smelled really good, I'll have to try one next time. I will be back, this place deserves more of my attention, even if only to give a more thorough review.
(3)Krystal R.
I just moved to Albuquerque from Los Angeles thinking there wouldn't be any restaurants to compare with the ones in the big city, but Jinja gave me some hope. I've been here twice in the same week and I love it! The wait staff is very friendly, attentive, and informative about the many food options. They offer everything from Ahi Tuna to Orange Peel Chicken, and my new favorite, the Red Curry Beef. The restaurant has two full bars, succulent meats and vibrant veggies. I was pleasantly surprised and the portions are just right for the price. Every time I need a curry fix, I will hit up Jinja. Bravo!
(4)Dede M.
This place takes itself too seriously. Their food is alright, but the prices are waaaay too steep for what you are getting. The service was incredibly slow and made us never want to go back. Do yourself a favor and go to Pei Wei instead.
(2)Doug P.
The retro Asian tropical theme is kinda cool. Excellent Margarita and potstickers. The tempura avocado was good too with the cilantro sauce. Also liked my grilled tuna and macadamia tart. Service was friendly but slow at points.
(3)Suneye H.
Great location, theme, music, menu and drinks. Service was all around wonderful. Hands down my favorite place to eat in Albuquerque. The tiger shrimp, mai tais and pot stickers will undoubtedly treat you. Stay for dessert :-)
(5)Whitney P.
After my third consecutive subpar visit to Jinja this review cannot go unwritten and my vow to never return shall stick. To start, I have a theory that this particular Jinja's prerequisites for hiring servers entails being an attractive female who knows absolutely nothing about the food or how to give good service. My most recent visit was this last Sunday evening with my brother and his girlfriend. Our interactions with our server were sufficiently awkward as her social skills seemed strained (or maybe she was just rude or annoyed or disliked us). She was very short with us and had no problem admitting she had no idea what several types of liquors were, and seemed put off by my brother's attempt to order Tito's or Deep Eddy vodka. After around 10-15 minutes (our appetizer had already arrived) she returns with our drinks to let my brother know "We don't have Tito's or Deep whatever...". A little put off and not wanting to annoy our seemingly already aggravated server he went with a Coors Light, which took yet another 10 minutes to arrive. The food this particular visit was actually more than decent (compared to prior visits). When we told our server we would only be doing starters she again, seemed annoyed. Overall, my biggest qualm has to be with the service. To top off our evening after splitting the bill that was around $60 between myself and my brother's girlfriend, she found out two days later that instead of being charged $30 she was charged $130.
(1)Billy M.
Just went here for the first time today. The ambiance was great, the service was good and friendly. I felt like the prices were a little high and the portions were a little small. The food was prepare good and was tasty. I probably won't go back as it's just out of my price range.
(3)Kelsey D.
This place was decent. Staff was very friendly, management came and checked in on us, which I always appreciate. Food was good not spectacular but good. No complaints. I would definitely eat here again on my next trip!
(4)Ray N.
Steak Frites! I ordered this last night for the first time because I know Jinja's tenderloin beef is tender and tasty. Even though the tenderloin was all that, the star of this meal were the french fries, They were just about, or maybe they were, the best fries I've ever had, anywhere, any restaurant, any time. They are fresh-cut shoestring fries with a crispy exterior and an excellent potato flavor. Take that first french fry and chew it up, and then let your taste buds report back to your brain what they are sensing. Mine said they were amazing. I ate nearly all of the them before I got to my steak. You don't need to order steak frites to get them. They can be ordered as a side dish or as a substitute for rice. Substituting french fries for rice at an Asian restaurant? Yep!
(5)Cee T.
Why did I go back? The sushi appetizers tasted like the pre made sushi at Trader Joes. It's like the rice turns into a solid mush. Disgusting. Then my salad had cheese sprinkled on top of the crispy wontons. But I guess they tried to heat it in the microwave??!! Because I could pick up the cheese& wonton catastrophe in one clump. I could peel the wontons out sorta. It reminded me of something I would have made after school in 6th grade. For these 2 dishes I paid $26. Just gross !!!
(1)Ling Tzu W.
This is a great place to come grab a quick bite when you don't want to cook Chinese food that night. I have been to multiple Jinja Bar & Bistro here in town. I believe that my impression of these restaurants are all the same: Good service, REALLY REALLY salty entree's and pretty good selection of appetizers. I wasn't too impressed with their entrees. But , I highly recommend that anyone who comes here to eat, order the appetizers. Their potstickers, ribs and lettuce wraps are delicious and not too salty. The portions on these appetizers were generous so if you order various appetizers to share it is plenty for two people.
(3)Wes T.
Got a definite Southeast Asian/tiki vibe from this place. Me being from New Mexico, of course I loved it. I'm a total tiki geek. While this place isn't Burt's Tiki Lounge, it still has some tropical drinks and deserves to be counted in that oeuvre of establishments. I liked that atmosphere, which by the bar, was dark and intimate. I see they have ample patio seating, and even live music. Win/win. Food was pretty good. Long menu, and they even offer gluten-free items. Again, lots of Asian influence here, with brown rice being an option, as well as Thai basil and water chestnuts popping up all over the place. It's a good place to eat healthy, but you can still get non-rabbit food, too.
(4)C C.
Our favorite place...fantastic red thai curry beef. Nice atmosphere, good appetizers, Saturday evenings live music is a bonus. Great hibiscus iced tea.
(5)Alex N.
Went to Jinja for appetizers and happy hour with my mom and dad. Ordered edamame (supposed to be gluten free as one of our party members is wheat intolerant) We made it to the bottom of the bowl and found a chunk of pasta! So they blanched their edamame in pasta water?!?!?! Not only that but our wheat intolerant member was sick for the rest of the weekend! Extremely disappointed in this place and they are mislabeling their food items!
(1)Paul S.
We sat down to eat while the world series was playing on the TV Behind the bar. I don't follow baseball, so I don't know if any of the players hit a home run. However, the restaurant did. From the lettuce wraps, to the miso and chicken soups, to the paper wrappped salmon, to the fantastic beef, and ending with the fabulous coconut macadamia nut tart, it was one home run after another. The interesting decour and the friendly and attentive service by Caitlin rounded out the evening. It was a truly memorable meal.
(5)Paul P.
The menu has a pretty broad selection. There is a great drink menu too. My favorite is the red curry beef. The pad Thai wasn't that great unfortunately. I like the atmosphere here. It is a nice break from the ever-present green chili in NM.
(4)Mark C.
Went there tonight for ABQ Restaurant Week - limited menu, three courses, $20. We arrived at 6:30 and were delighted to find out that Happy Hour runs through 7 pm, so $3 off all the Polynesian and tropical drinks. Mai Tais and Planters Punches were very tasty and pretty strong. As for the food, everything was very good. The three of us (wife and grandson and I) covered the menu pretty thoroughly. We had potstickers, lettuce wraps and calamari for appetizers. They were all delicious and the portions were huge! Entrees were Pad Thai, Mongolian Beef and Teriyaki Chicken skewers. Everything tasted fresh and it was obvious that all the dishes were made from scratch in the kitchen. Desserts are also made in-house (except ice cream and gelato, which are Haagen-Dazs and Talenti, respectively). The Chocolate Silk cake and the Coconut Macadamia Tart were outstanding. Service was very good, and refills on drinks appeared before we knew they were needed. All in all, a great meal, and we'll definitely be back!
(4)Abby K.
Drove by many times (as it's right off of Coors), finally stopped in on a Friday night. The parking lot was extremely full, so we were expecting a long wait. We walked up, were greeted by 3 finely dressed men and immediately seated. We were shocked to be seated right away. Don't be fooled if the lot of full, go in, you should get seated with the ample space inside. We opted to sit inside which had an intimate setting. The booths are private and the bar looked big. The inside is adorned with tiki type decor and asian influence. We loved it. They have a extensive drink list including fun cocktails (ordered the Peartini- D-Liscous) and lots of beer as well as an excellent, difficult to choose from dinner menu. We ordered the Orange Peel Chicken and Mongolian Beef. Both were very flavorful and well portioned. Overall a great dinner date locale. As we left, there was a band playing outside and we were happy we didn't choose to sit out there. The speakers were literally blaring, we could hear it all the way to the car, which was parked in the far end of the lot.
(4)Elizabeth J.
Had a nice dinner with an old friend last night. Food was great - pot stickers and spring rolls, and the shrimp salad. I had the Grand Gold margarita which was fantastic! All fresh, quality ingredients, prepared just right. Bar staff was attentive and we felt welcome to stay as long as we liked and talk without being rushed out once we were done eating. A more cozy intimate atmosphere than big box restaurants where you can't hear each other. I'll go back again!
(5)Brian M.
Great menu and dishes. Great atmosphere for a date night or business meeting. Drinks and teas also available. I had the Red Beef and it was amazing! I can't wait to go back and try the ribs. The lettuce wrap sampler appetizer was also very good!
(5)Colin S.
So I wanted to like this place and make it a regular stop but I don't think its going to work out. Enough good has been said by other Yelpers about the atmosphere of Jinja and I had no issues with front of house staff. The problem for me is the food. Pot stickers? Weak. I can defrost and fry my own at home.The Shaking Beef? I'm going to keep it brief: Crappy Thai fried rice and chili lime sauce that overwhelmed everything on the plate. I could go on... Jinja is a place to meet friends or a date to start off the evening with a cocktail. Why? Because they want to and you are tolerant. There are too many other restaurants out there and I can't take this chain-like food seriously.
(2)Amy B.
Jinja is a great place for happy hour and/or lunch or dinner. We had a large group and I was happy to see ALL of the food come out at the same time, and correct. Our server was very attentive and on the ball! Our food was delicious and fresh. My only complaint is that there is not a table inside the restaurant that holds 8 comfortably. We squeezed in to a round booth after the hostess tried to seat us at 2 tables awkwardly put together in the bar area.
(4)Sandra G.
Had dinner for two this evening, the food was a real disappointment, the orange peel chicken was cold and the meat was very dry and old tasting. The Korean ribs were fair and the Shaken beef tasted more like liver than tenderloin. What an expensive disappointment.
(1)R P.
Here is a rundown of our meal We ordered a Volcano Kiva bowl drink for two it was fun, novel and left a mild buzz. For starters we had Imperial lettuce wraps, the lettuce they brought was brown on the edge, the chicken mushroom mix would've been great but it had hints of fishy flavor. I'm guessing either from too much oyster sauce in the sauce mix or from cooking it on a flat top with fish. For dinner we split the Asian Cesar Salad and Shaking Beef. The salad was supposed to come with marinated grilled tiger prawns and a creamy Ginger dressing. What we got were old tiger prawns that were either left to cool off after cooking or were from the fridge and brought to room temp. The dressing was an abismal attempt at "Asian cesear". It came off more like glorified liquidey mayonaise. The beef was cooked perfectly rare, just the way I like it. Too bad it was smothered in an overly tangy and oily brown sauce to the point you couldn't taste anything else, not even the onions that has been sauteed with it has flavor. The fried jasmine rice was a real butchering of jasmine rice, it was presented like it had been slammed out of a bowl mold like a high school cafeteria style and it tasted just as mundane. The cucumber salad that came with the beef was crisp clean and delicious. It was the best part of our whole experience. Being a foodie hailing from N. Cali, I had a very good idea of what 5 star Asian fusion should be, this is not it. It is 2 star dining (maybe 3 on a good night) dressed up and sleek looking to sell as a 4-5 star experience. Will not be coming back until I've tried every other restaurant in ABQ.
(2)Sarah N.
I used to come often, after not visiting for about a year I returned excited and looking forward to some of my favorite food in town. The service was horrid! And the food was flavorless, and the new menu additions were uninspired. I will not be returning anytime soon.
(2)Jenny H.
Great place for a family dinner. Also have a great gluten free menu! delicious food.
(5)M D.
We had a light dinner here last night. We tried the Lettuce Wraps (GREAT) and the Chinese Chicken Salad (tasty and fresh). We also tried the Peartinis. I think the drink menu is amazing, and Peartini was made with their own, lemongrass-infused simple syrup and fresh lemon and lime juices. Sundays are all-day happy hour days ($3 off drinks), so it's a nice time to try their more expensive cocktails. Aside from the novice bartender who couldn't keep up with the orders (I ordered a second martini, and when it hadn't shown up by the time I finished my entree, I cancelled it), Jinja was a good experience. I do have to say that the waitress was young, inexperienced and needed some schooling on how to handle customers when they do experience a problem. Cowering and running away isn't a great tactic. However, the manager on duty was very professional and dealt with the bar issue right away. I'd definitely eat here again!
(4)Bobbi B.
First time here. Food mediocre . Had rice paper wrapped halibut and Thai soup. Just ok.
(3)Carlo P.
I wanted to love this place. We live about 3 minutes away and went late a few times. The last time my wife and I went, I pulled an almost comedic-sized hair that was tangled in my Pad-Thai noodles out, when the waiter was on his way to the table. It was wretched. I hate complaining, but I had no choice. I get sick just thinking about it. Ugh. It makes me sad.
(1)Masood M.
It is a really good food no doubt. I usually eat their skewers, and to say the least I really like them. My favorite place about this place is its atmosphere. When I walk into most restaurants I feel like I am walking into a cafeteria. Tables aligned next to each other, old school seats, and you know what I mean... At this restaurant however it is really nice- the booths are beautiful, and you can actually have a conversation. Lastly, their service is pretty good. My waiter was prompt for the most part, and followed directions very well. Only complaint about wait staff was the drop time: I usually expect to be asked how my food is after two minutes of dining... My waiter took about 5. I know it's a really stupid thing to say, but for the price my expectations were slightly higher. Overall it is a great place to eat, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
(4)Tricia K.
I have been here about 3-4 times with pretty similar experiences. Jinja is your typical pan-asian or asian fusion restaurant. I usually get the paper wrapped grilled salmon which has been the best dish I've had here. Once I had seared ahi tuna and it was fishy and gross. I've also tried the beef tri tip salad which I thought was just ok. The appetizers are pretty good though.
(3)Candia M.
We came here on a Saturday afternoon to take my bestie out for her birthday. There were five of us and they sat us at a very cozy and comfy booth in a corner and gave us a really adorable and personable waiter. We are an odd group and he did not get annoyed with all our questions and Harry Met Sally requests to replace this and put that on the side. I credit him for that. Good man. I have eaten here before and would have given them three stars based on those taste experiences but either we ordered better items this time or this place has upped their game. A couple of us ordered lunch portions of the halibut in parchment, which was very very good. The brown rice was delicious, but I have to say that I suspect it was not the most healthy thing on the plate based on the buttery and salty taste. It was my daughter's favorite, so it had to have been unhealthy. My teen had steak and frites, which is a fabulous thing since pretty much everything else on the menu has some spice to it and that simply won't fly with this kid. She loved her steak and fries (said next time she will ask them to not put pepper on the fries - I told you she doesn't like spice). They had lots of drink options, including a nice light green iced tea for one of us and some Gruet brut for a couple of others. You can guess which one I was. The cucumber salad that accompanies most meals was really yummy. My best friend ordered the coconut soup and loved it, and her hubbie had the red curry shrimp, which he must have loved based on how quickly he scarfed it and started eyeing her soup. All in all, a good experience, made better by good service. Not my favorite restaurant for food, but really good for a chain, and really really good for a restaurant in Albuquerque that is close-ish to my house. I think it is definitely worth the price and we will be back.
(4)Kimi T.
I was really hoping that Jinja would exceed my expectations, but tonight I was sorely disappointed in my meal and service. We ordered the potstickers for an appetizer, which was pretty good and I really enjoyed the dipping sauce that came with. When the entrees came out, I was really excited because the presentations were beautiful. I ordered the rice paper halibut and the bf ordered the Singapore noodles. The taste, however, left me wanting more. My halibut and fried rice was so bland, as if they didn't use any salt when cooking my meal. The bf's noodles were flavorless as well. Having paid $50 for 2 entrees, a coffee, iced tea and potstickers, I felt like I could have gone somewhere else and have a better meal. When I asked for my food to be boxed up, the only thing the waiter boxed was my fish. Didn't box my fried rice. Maybe it's for the best. I don't think I'll be back any time soon.
(2)Megan F.
My family loves coming here for a nice night out. We always start with a round of mojitos for the padres and me (yay for having a brother who's not yet 21, and thus a DD!), and their delicious lettuce wraps. We often get another appetizer as well, but haven't found anything else we like enough to make it a constant companion to the heavenly lettuce wraps. The spring rolls and pot stickers are often on our list though :) The Malay Coconut Soup is pretty good, but I usually order the Shaking Beef, which is super crispy, a little sweet, a little spicy, and pretty damn good. I LOVE the cucumber salad that comes with most of the entrees-- I usually request a little side bowl of it in addition to what comes with the meal. Agree with everyone else about the nice vibe and great service, not much to add there!
(4)Arielle B.
Try the Singapore noodles and Tom yum soup! Very flavorful with a kick
(4)Lee P.
Great happy hour drinks, even on Saturday. $5 mojitos, etc and $3 draft beers. Delicious apps and entrees - we loved the potstickers, curry and Udon noodles. We were there for the summer music on the patio...an unexpectedly fun little evening at a new neighborhood favorite spot!
(5)Ricky M.
Jinja is one of my favorite spots to eat the atmosphere here is classy and romantic, the food is different they serve Asian Fusion/ Hawaiian food... But over all the food is delicious, drinks are also different and happy hour specials are good. If your looking for a good drink go with the Zombie it is potent and after a few you will be walking like a zombie! For food my recommendation is the Kung Pao chicken, Heavenly Beef or Shaking Beef. The service for me has always been prompt and friendly not to mention your drinks and food come out quickly. Overall this is a great spot to take your lady out on a date too.
(5)Kira E.
The Heavenly Beef is indeed HEAVENLY And House Margaritas are only $3.95 at Happy Hour!
(5)Scott L.
This place is super rad, the food, service and ambience were top notch! Happy Hour is 3-7 everyday (double check that) and drinks are about half price across the board! Kind of like a nice dark wood Hawaiian grill joint, with lots of bamboo and dark wood paneling and comfy booths. We had pina coladas, caipirinhas, wine, beer, and even a sazerac! All were great. For food, the Tofu spinach salad was perfect. Also a steak salad done very nicely. The Mu Shu pork was absolutely incredible and highly recommended.
(5)Love D.
Sat outside patio & listened to live band. Ordered their draft jinja pale ale, which was crisp. I had the beef salad, superb!
(5)Julie N.
I visit ABQ for work once a month, at least, and I like to try new restaurants. As I was cruising up and down Paseo, I noticed this restaurant from the road. Normally, I'd get some feedback and recommendations from locals about where to eat, and decided to take a chance. MEH. The decor and architecture are beautiful--the menu seems vast, yet I was thrown off by the less than enthusiastic demeanor of the front desk staff. They lacked the ability to explain some dishes on the menu, seemed apathetic toward new patrons entering the establishment, and I had to wait for at least 5 minutes for someone to even come to the front and greet me. The food was okay--a bit too fried, too greasy. Decent food if you're just looking to satisfy an appetite and probably not a place I'd go to again. If I'm on Paseo, I'll be across the street at Flying Star--better food, way better service. Sayonara....
(3)Carl P.
Great drink specials and delicious food. The ambiance inside is a little upscale, but it's an easy escape to the patio. A little pricey on some of the menu items, but if you get there for happy hour, even on weekends, it's well worth it. I suggest the mojito.
(4)Anne S.
Food style is Asian Fusion, noodle dish was disappointing, very few (expecting a dish of noodles) noodles were stacked and stuck together in a pile of an extremely salty hoison and soy sauce with mostly onions. Atmosphere is very nice, makes up for pricey dishes that don't deliver, very small portions.
(2)Larry S.
This place has a decent bar and drink menu and the ambiance is nice. The menu however, seems to be hit or miss. We always liked the Shaking Beef and the curry dishes, but he Pad Thai and noodle dishes leave a lot to be desired. For example, I got the vegetarian noodle dish this last visit and was quite disappointed to see that is was all noodles with very little in the way of vegetables and hardly any sauce. As a result, this was a very dry, bland dish. I had to ask for an extra amount of hoisin sauce just to bring flavor to the meal and to be able to pick up the noodles without them all clumping together. Service was only so-so. Not sure if the waiter was new, busy or just didn't care. The highlight of our meal was the candied ginger available on the way out the door!
(2)David P.
I have been coming to Jinjas Bar and Bistro for about a year now for both happy hour and dinner. There's something about this place that I really like, the ambiance is so 1930's, Euro/Asian, the Big Band era music just takes you back. I think Jinja's makes one of the best Martini's in Albuquerque and I always try to make a happy hour while I am here. The Appetizer menu is fun to share with friends but dinner is also quite good. A restaurant is only as good as its staff and I must say the staff at Jinja's are always welcoming, they know the menu and are helpful with suggestions. There's an outdoor patio area to enjoy your meal and drinks when the weather is nice but I prefer to sit inside at the bar when seating is available. You can dress up if you like but I have seen some people come in with jeans and shorts. I'd say this is a good place for well behaved children that know how to act in a nice restaurant. I've even seen a group of 10 celebrating their prom night.
(5)Lindsey A.
This place is great. It has a really nice atmosphere, nice and quiet and really professional, attentive service. I could barely decide what to order, the menu had so many great choices. I got the halibut and it was really tender, maybe the best I've ever gotten in a restaurant. It came with some really delicious sauces too. They also have an extensive drink menu and my husband got a really good mojito. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Mac M.
Menu is not too large but they do it well. Good service and the manager makes himself known in case you have questions or concerns. Draft beer selection is small but good. Wine selection isn't the best but they do great cocktails.
(4)Tong J.
As you are walking toward the restaurant and admiring Asian inspired details, you'll begin to feel like you are no longer in the Southwest . Once you step inside, you can't help but thinking, "wow, I guess I'm not in Albuquerque anymore." The ambiance of the restaurant has an Asian vintage feel with historic Japanese photographs and antique-looking Asian pottery. Be sure to request seating on the east side of the building which has a panoramic view of Sandia Mountain. The view is even more spectacular during the sunset. The menu is filled with favorite dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, Malaysia and Singapore. Do try: - Baby Calamari with Asian Lime & Mint Sauce. Calamari has a little kick to it. It's tasty on its own, but if you want to kick it up a notch ... try dipping it in the Lime & Mint sauce. (8/10) - Imperial Lettuce Wraps. Minced chicken with smoked ham and shitake mushroom in lettus. It's an okay dish when it's not too salty. (6/10) - Paul's Pad Thai. Surprisingly, I thought it's not bad. The tamarind based sauce has the right amount of sweet, salty and sour. Nice brown color from tamarind, not soy sauce(7/10) - Five Tigers. Grilled Black Tiger shrimp marinated with lemongrass and chili and served with our refreshing pineapple salsa and mint cilantro vinaigrette, accompanied by fried rice. If you love shrimp, this is a good dish to try. Shrimp is nicely cooked and well seasoned. (6/10) - Singapore Noodles. *This one is SPICY.* It's a respectable dish with big chunks of Chinese BBQ Pork. Make sure you have cold drink near by, 'cause you are going to need it. (7/10) With great selection of classic Polynesian and vintage Asian drink menu, Jinja Bar & Bistro is a lovely place to hang out with friends and family. It's cozy. It's different from other places in town. Friendly and classy service. I'm a fan! And so are my friends, they still hang out at Jinja Bar on a regular basis.
(4)Annie Z.
Jinja is a restaurant I frequent almost every time I'm in Albuquerque. It's delicious, consistent, and a family favorite. Similiar to PF Chang's in terms of quality (maybe even a step up) but better in its originality and ambiance. The service has always been friendly and fast at Jinja. Nothing stuffy about this place. Last time I was there, my parents and I stopped in for drinks and appetizers. We decided to sit at the bar and were delighted and suprised to receive a plate of FREE spicy asian wings for doing so. Yum! We also ordered the lettuce wraps and tempura. All of it was delicious.
(4)Alice S.
Have found the food here to be uneven over the years, but they seem to be on an upswing lately. For a while there, everything was much too salty. It's a great place to hang out in a booth with friends, for drinks and dinner. The service has been excellent, and they do not rush you out. Favorite dishes recently have been moo shoo pork, spare ribs, chinese chicken salad (good to share 4 ways as an appetizer.) They unfortunately got rid of my former favorite dish, a half a laquered chicken with brown rice.
(4)J.D. B.
I'll continue with the praises. My wife had along drive to meet her mother for a car exchange in Arizona so after 6 hours out to the middle of no where on Saturday and 6 hours back on Sunday she was pretty fried. I suggested Jinja and we got there about 8:45 on a Sunday night. The place was fairly empty. Right away we were impressed. We sat on the patio which seemed very environmentally controlled and was great since we were the only ones out there. The ambiance and feel of the restaurant are great and definitely superior to PF Chang's. They were playing classics from the 50's and 60's (crooner stuff that really added to the place). The style they are going for is kind of Casablanca style with a south pacific/Chinese flavor. It works were to give you an incredibly nice experience (doesn't hurt that my young wife absolutely loves that music and sang along with every song). We ordered a sake flight (something my wife has never had). It was a flight of various popular brands however they also have two more flights from a single brewer that would be fun to try on a return trip. The flight we had were four shots in a bowl with ice. The presentation was great. Four little shots of various colors (so you could know which shot was which). We enjoyed the different tastes and if you haven't sampled how different sakes can be it is worth trying. The other two flights were at least 6 different kinds of sake. I ordered the sweet and sour chicken which was prepared excellently with jasmine rice. It was quite could however it was my wife's meal that was outstanding. She had the grilled sashmi tuna. It was outstanding. Wait... let me back up... again the presentation was outstanding. The way the food was laid out on the plates was beautiful. I'm normally not one to really notice something like that but you couldn't avoid it. Her food was outstanding. The preparation was outstanding, the sauce was perfectly matched and not to heavy. She ended up finishing the plate because it was that good! We did not have room for dessert because the entrees were that good. They did mention a chocolate silk pie or cake that sounded great (we'll definitely be back for that). The bar looks very cool and we'll definitely be back for drinks. I think this is one of the best date places we have been to in ABQ although you are a ways from everything else. With the coolness of this place it is a great destination dinner (which could be exactly what you are looking for).
(5)Allen S.
My family and I really enjoyed Jina bar. It was delcious they had fast courteous service. The view was beautiful overlooking the sandia mountains. There presentation was inpecabble. Overall this was pleasant experience. I was delighted.
(4)Matt A.
Go to this Jin ja rather than the one south of Montano. Stick to the appetizer menu. They sampler has 3 good items. The drinks are weak, tho.
(3)Blanca R.
I finally made it to jinja this past week after knowing of its existance for some time now and WOW it was great! I have been back there twice in the last two weeks. The first time my friend and I went kind of late on a sunday night the place was pretty quiet and had a great atmosphere the server though young and inexperianced was pleasant the food was very good and JInja has not dissapointed yet even with repeat visits the service staff has been great every time. You got to try some of their intresting mixed drinks. not a big selection of beer but overall ok.
(4)Frank B.
Clearly this is one of the better Asian restaurant experiences in New Mexico. The service culture is comforting and I really enjoy the food. As a vegetarian they were able to customize the menu slightly to accomodate me, to my satisfaction. I would recommend this place to my friends.
(5)Suneye H.
Great location, theme, music, menu and drinks. Service was all around wonderful. Hands down my favorite place to eat in Albuquerque. The tiger shrimp, mai tais and pot stickers will undoubtedly treat you. Stay for dessert :-)
(5)Paul S.
We sat down to eat while the world series was playing on the TV Behind the bar. I don't follow baseball, so I don't know if any of the players hit a home run. However, the restaurant did. From the lettuce wraps, to the miso and chicken soups, to the paper wrappped salmon, to the fantastic beef, and ending with the fabulous coconut macadamia nut tart, it was one home run after another. The interesting decour and the friendly and attentive service by Caitlin rounded out the evening. It was a truly memorable meal.
(5)Paul P.
The menu has a pretty broad selection. There is a great drink menu too. My favorite is the red curry beef. The pad Thai wasn't that great unfortunately. I like the atmosphere here. It is a nice break from the ever-present green chili in NM.
(4)Mark C.
Went there tonight for ABQ Restaurant Week - limited menu, three courses, $20. We arrived at 6:30 and were delighted to find out that Happy Hour runs through 7 pm, so $3 off all the Polynesian and tropical drinks. Mai Tais and Planters Punches were very tasty and pretty strong. As for the food, everything was very good. The three of us (wife and grandson and I) covered the menu pretty thoroughly. We had potstickers, lettuce wraps and calamari for appetizers. They were all delicious and the portions were huge! Entrees were Pad Thai, Mongolian Beef and Teriyaki Chicken skewers. Everything tasted fresh and it was obvious that all the dishes were made from scratch in the kitchen. Desserts are also made in-house (except ice cream and gelato, which are Haagen-Dazs and Talenti, respectively). The Chocolate Silk cake and the Coconut Macadamia Tart were outstanding. Service was very good, and refills on drinks appeared before we knew they were needed. All in all, a great meal, and we'll definitely be back!
(4)Abby K.
Drove by many times (as it's right off of Coors), finally stopped in on a Friday night. The parking lot was extremely full, so we were expecting a long wait. We walked up, were greeted by 3 finely dressed men and immediately seated. We were shocked to be seated right away. Don't be fooled if the lot of full, go in, you should get seated with the ample space inside. We opted to sit inside which had an intimate setting. The booths are private and the bar looked big. The inside is adorned with tiki type decor and asian influence. We loved it. They have a extensive drink list including fun cocktails (ordered the Peartini- D-Liscous) and lots of beer as well as an excellent, difficult to choose from dinner menu. We ordered the Orange Peel Chicken and Mongolian Beef. Both were very flavorful and well portioned. Overall a great dinner date locale. As we left, there was a band playing outside and we were happy we didn't choose to sit out there. The speakers were literally blaring, we could hear it all the way to the car, which was parked in the far end of the lot.
(4)Elizabeth J.
Had a nice dinner with an old friend last night. Food was great - pot stickers and spring rolls, and the shrimp salad. I had the Grand Gold margarita which was fantastic! All fresh, quality ingredients, prepared just right. Bar staff was attentive and we felt welcome to stay as long as we liked and talk without being rushed out once we were done eating. A more cozy intimate atmosphere than big box restaurants where you can't hear each other. I'll go back again!
(5)Brian M.
Great menu and dishes. Great atmosphere for a date night or business meeting. Drinks and teas also available. I had the Red Beef and it was amazing! I can't wait to go back and try the ribs. The lettuce wrap sampler appetizer was also very good!
(5)Colin S.
So I wanted to like this place and make it a regular stop but I don't think its going to work out. Enough good has been said by other Yelpers about the atmosphere of Jinja and I had no issues with front of house staff. The problem for me is the food. Pot stickers? Weak. I can defrost and fry my own at home.The Shaking Beef? I'm going to keep it brief: Crappy Thai fried rice and chili lime sauce that overwhelmed everything on the plate. I could go on... Jinja is a place to meet friends or a date to start off the evening with a cocktail. Why? Because they want to and you are tolerant. There are too many other restaurants out there and I can't take this chain-like food seriously.
(2)Amy B.
Jinja is a great place for happy hour and/or lunch or dinner. We had a large group and I was happy to see ALL of the food come out at the same time, and correct. Our server was very attentive and on the ball! Our food was delicious and fresh. My only complaint is that there is not a table inside the restaurant that holds 8 comfortably. We squeezed in to a round booth after the hostess tried to seat us at 2 tables awkwardly put together in the bar area.
(4)Sandra G.
Had dinner for two this evening, the food was a real disappointment, the orange peel chicken was cold and the meat was very dry and old tasting. The Korean ribs were fair and the Shaken beef tasted more like liver than tenderloin. What an expensive disappointment.
(1)R P.
Here is a rundown of our meal We ordered a Volcano Kiva bowl drink for two it was fun, novel and left a mild buzz. For starters we had Imperial lettuce wraps, the lettuce they brought was brown on the edge, the chicken mushroom mix would've been great but it had hints of fishy flavor. I'm guessing either from too much oyster sauce in the sauce mix or from cooking it on a flat top with fish. For dinner we split the Asian Cesar Salad and Shaking Beef. The salad was supposed to come with marinated grilled tiger prawns and a creamy Ginger dressing. What we got were old tiger prawns that were either left to cool off after cooking or were from the fridge and brought to room temp. The dressing was an abismal attempt at "Asian cesear". It came off more like glorified liquidey mayonaise. The beef was cooked perfectly rare, just the way I like it. Too bad it was smothered in an overly tangy and oily brown sauce to the point you couldn't taste anything else, not even the onions that has been sauteed with it has flavor. The fried jasmine rice was a real butchering of jasmine rice, it was presented like it had been slammed out of a bowl mold like a high school cafeteria style and it tasted just as mundane. The cucumber salad that came with the beef was crisp clean and delicious. It was the best part of our whole experience. Being a foodie hailing from N. Cali, I had a very good idea of what 5 star Asian fusion should be, this is not it. It is 2 star dining (maybe 3 on a good night) dressed up and sleek looking to sell as a 4-5 star experience. Will not be coming back until I've tried every other restaurant in ABQ.
(2)Sarah N.
I used to come often, after not visiting for about a year I returned excited and looking forward to some of my favorite food in town. The service was horrid! And the food was flavorless, and the new menu additions were uninspired. I will not be returning anytime soon.
(2)Jenny H.
Great place for a family dinner. Also have a great gluten free menu! delicious food.
(5)M D.
We had a light dinner here last night. We tried the Lettuce Wraps (GREAT) and the Chinese Chicken Salad (tasty and fresh). We also tried the Peartinis. I think the drink menu is amazing, and Peartini was made with their own, lemongrass-infused simple syrup and fresh lemon and lime juices. Sundays are all-day happy hour days ($3 off drinks), so it's a nice time to try their more expensive cocktails. Aside from the novice bartender who couldn't keep up with the orders (I ordered a second martini, and when it hadn't shown up by the time I finished my entree, I cancelled it), Jinja was a good experience. I do have to say that the waitress was young, inexperienced and needed some schooling on how to handle customers when they do experience a problem. Cowering and running away isn't a great tactic. However, the manager on duty was very professional and dealt with the bar issue right away. I'd definitely eat here again!
(4)Bobbi B.
First time here. Food mediocre . Had rice paper wrapped halibut and Thai soup. Just ok.
(3)Carlo P.
I wanted to love this place. We live about 3 minutes away and went late a few times. The last time my wife and I went, I pulled an almost comedic-sized hair that was tangled in my Pad-Thai noodles out, when the waiter was on his way to the table. It was wretched. I hate complaining, but I had no choice. I get sick just thinking about it. Ugh. It makes me sad.
(1)Masood M.
It is a really good food no doubt. I usually eat their skewers, and to say the least I really like them. My favorite place about this place is its atmosphere. When I walk into most restaurants I feel like I am walking into a cafeteria. Tables aligned next to each other, old school seats, and you know what I mean... At this restaurant however it is really nice- the booths are beautiful, and you can actually have a conversation. Lastly, their service is pretty good. My waiter was prompt for the most part, and followed directions very well. Only complaint about wait staff was the drop time: I usually expect to be asked how my food is after two minutes of dining... My waiter took about 5. I know it's a really stupid thing to say, but for the price my expectations were slightly higher. Overall it is a great place to eat, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
(4)Tricia K.
I have been here about 3-4 times with pretty similar experiences. Jinja is your typical pan-asian or asian fusion restaurant. I usually get the paper wrapped grilled salmon which has been the best dish I've had here. Once I had seared ahi tuna and it was fishy and gross. I've also tried the beef tri tip salad which I thought was just ok. The appetizers are pretty good though.
(3)Candia M.
We came here on a Saturday afternoon to take my bestie out for her birthday. There were five of us and they sat us at a very cozy and comfy booth in a corner and gave us a really adorable and personable waiter. We are an odd group and he did not get annoyed with all our questions and Harry Met Sally requests to replace this and put that on the side. I credit him for that. Good man. I have eaten here before and would have given them three stars based on those taste experiences but either we ordered better items this time or this place has upped their game. A couple of us ordered lunch portions of the halibut in parchment, which was very very good. The brown rice was delicious, but I have to say that I suspect it was not the most healthy thing on the plate based on the buttery and salty taste. It was my daughter's favorite, so it had to have been unhealthy. My teen had steak and frites, which is a fabulous thing since pretty much everything else on the menu has some spice to it and that simply won't fly with this kid. She loved her steak and fries (said next time she will ask them to not put pepper on the fries - I told you she doesn't like spice). They had lots of drink options, including a nice light green iced tea for one of us and some Gruet brut for a couple of others. You can guess which one I was. The cucumber salad that accompanies most meals was really yummy. My best friend ordered the coconut soup and loved it, and her hubbie had the red curry shrimp, which he must have loved based on how quickly he scarfed it and started eyeing her soup. All in all, a good experience, made better by good service. Not my favorite restaurant for food, but really good for a chain, and really really good for a restaurant in Albuquerque that is close-ish to my house. I think it is definitely worth the price and we will be back.
(4)Kimi T.
I was really hoping that Jinja would exceed my expectations, but tonight I was sorely disappointed in my meal and service. We ordered the potstickers for an appetizer, which was pretty good and I really enjoyed the dipping sauce that came with. When the entrees came out, I was really excited because the presentations were beautiful. I ordered the rice paper halibut and the bf ordered the Singapore noodles. The taste, however, left me wanting more. My halibut and fried rice was so bland, as if they didn't use any salt when cooking my meal. The bf's noodles were flavorless as well. Having paid $50 for 2 entrees, a coffee, iced tea and potstickers, I felt like I could have gone somewhere else and have a better meal. When I asked for my food to be boxed up, the only thing the waiter boxed was my fish. Didn't box my fried rice. Maybe it's for the best. I don't think I'll be back any time soon.
(2)Megan F.
My family loves coming here for a nice night out. We always start with a round of mojitos for the padres and me (yay for having a brother who's not yet 21, and thus a DD!), and their delicious lettuce wraps. We often get another appetizer as well, but haven't found anything else we like enough to make it a constant companion to the heavenly lettuce wraps. The spring rolls and pot stickers are often on our list though :) The Malay Coconut Soup is pretty good, but I usually order the Shaking Beef, which is super crispy, a little sweet, a little spicy, and pretty damn good. I LOVE the cucumber salad that comes with most of the entrees-- I usually request a little side bowl of it in addition to what comes with the meal. Agree with everyone else about the nice vibe and great service, not much to add there!
(4)Arielle B.
Try the Singapore noodles and Tom yum soup! Very flavorful with a kick
(4)Lee P.
Great happy hour drinks, even on Saturday. $5 mojitos, etc and $3 draft beers. Delicious apps and entrees - we loved the potstickers, curry and Udon noodles. We were there for the summer music on the patio...an unexpectedly fun little evening at a new neighborhood favorite spot!
(5)Ricky M.
Jinja is one of my favorite spots to eat the atmosphere here is classy and romantic, the food is different they serve Asian Fusion/ Hawaiian food... But over all the food is delicious, drinks are also different and happy hour specials are good. If your looking for a good drink go with the Zombie it is potent and after a few you will be walking like a zombie! For food my recommendation is the Kung Pao chicken, Heavenly Beef or Shaking Beef. The service for me has always been prompt and friendly not to mention your drinks and food come out quickly. Overall this is a great spot to take your lady out on a date too.
(5)Kira E.
The Heavenly Beef is indeed HEAVENLY And House Margaritas are only $3.95 at Happy Hour!
(5)Scott L.
This place is super rad, the food, service and ambience were top notch! Happy Hour is 3-7 everyday (double check that) and drinks are about half price across the board! Kind of like a nice dark wood Hawaiian grill joint, with lots of bamboo and dark wood paneling and comfy booths. We had pina coladas, caipirinhas, wine, beer, and even a sazerac! All were great. For food, the Tofu spinach salad was perfect. Also a steak salad done very nicely. The Mu Shu pork was absolutely incredible and highly recommended.
(5)Love D.
Sat outside patio & listened to live band. Ordered their draft jinja pale ale, which was crisp. I had the beef salad, superb!
(5)Julie N.
I visit ABQ for work once a month, at least, and I like to try new restaurants. As I was cruising up and down Paseo, I noticed this restaurant from the road. Normally, I'd get some feedback and recommendations from locals about where to eat, and decided to take a chance. MEH. The decor and architecture are beautiful--the menu seems vast, yet I was thrown off by the less than enthusiastic demeanor of the front desk staff. They lacked the ability to explain some dishes on the menu, seemed apathetic toward new patrons entering the establishment, and I had to wait for at least 5 minutes for someone to even come to the front and greet me. The food was okay--a bit too fried, too greasy. Decent food if you're just looking to satisfy an appetite and probably not a place I'd go to again. If I'm on Paseo, I'll be across the street at Flying Star--better food, way better service. Sayonara....
(3)Carl P.
Great drink specials and delicious food. The ambiance inside is a little upscale, but it's an easy escape to the patio. A little pricey on some of the menu items, but if you get there for happy hour, even on weekends, it's well worth it. I suggest the mojito.
(4)Ling Tzu W.
This is a great place to come grab a quick bite when you don't want to cook Chinese food that night. I have been to multiple Jinja Bar & Bistro here in town. I believe that my impression of these restaurants are all the same: Good service, REALLY REALLY salty entree's and pretty good selection of appetizers. I wasn't too impressed with their entrees. But , I highly recommend that anyone who comes here to eat, order the appetizers. Their potstickers, ribs and lettuce wraps are delicious and not too salty. The portions on these appetizers were generous so if you order various appetizers to share it is plenty for two people.
(3)Wes T.
Got a definite Southeast Asian/tiki vibe from this place. Me being from New Mexico, of course I loved it. I'm a total tiki geek. While this place isn't Burt's Tiki Lounge, it still has some tropical drinks and deserves to be counted in that oeuvre of establishments. I liked that atmosphere, which by the bar, was dark and intimate. I see they have ample patio seating, and even live music. Win/win. Food was pretty good. Long menu, and they even offer gluten-free items. Again, lots of Asian influence here, with brown rice being an option, as well as Thai basil and water chestnuts popping up all over the place. It's a good place to eat healthy, but you can still get non-rabbit food, too.
(4)C C.
Our favorite place...fantastic red thai curry beef. Nice atmosphere, good appetizers, Saturday evenings live music is a bonus. Great hibiscus iced tea.
(5)Alex N.
Went to Jinja for appetizers and happy hour with my mom and dad. Ordered edamame (supposed to be gluten free as one of our party members is wheat intolerant) We made it to the bottom of the bowl and found a chunk of pasta! So they blanched their edamame in pasta water?!?!?! Not only that but our wheat intolerant member was sick for the rest of the weekend! Extremely disappointed in this place and they are mislabeling their food items!
(1)Geoff A.
This place will remind you a lot of P.F. Changs (which I also like) - an upscale Asian dining experience. The food quality is excellent and choice's go beyond the basic Chicken Chow Mein. I was feeling a little ill when I went here but in spite of this I had a good time and would definitely go back based on my experience. My waitress was very friendly, attentive and professional. For some reason I decided to get the sake sampler which I did not enjoy. I got to try a variety of different flavored shots but the quality was pretty low, so while it may seem like a good idea, it doesn't do justice to the liqueur. The waitress noticed that I was less than impressed (without me complaining) and comped me the round. Very nice touch. I got the sweet and sour chicken (which I asked for un-fried) and while I think it was just a little on the sweet side it was extremely fresh and had bright flavors that shone through. The place had a nice ambiance - quiet and comfortable (nicely padded booths) and would be good for a date. I'll be going back again - hopefully in a better condition where I can sample more and give a more detailed review. Stay tuned.
(4)Damacio U.
went to have a quick drink, had not been there in a long time, great place.....it is located in a upscale part of town so I knew the crowd would be great, live music was a surprise, nice mellow two man band....definitely going back
(5)Gary F.
Great happy hour, solid food and nice atmosphere.
(4)Ken F.
I really like heading to Jinja for happy hour. Instead of offering a limited selection of crappy drinks for $5, they take $2 or $3 off of everything on their drink menu. I especially like their mixed drinks and have had some good mojitos there. The food is asian fusion and I have really liked everything I have tried especially the orange chicken. My only complaints are that the music can be a little loud out on the patio and the service is a little inconsistent.
(4)Jennifer L.
I really was trying not to ever go here because driving by had this like "chain vibe" that is usually not somewhere I would go. Now i know it is a "small" local chain but I still wasn't interested... Well, one Sunday night we were hungry and it was late and we decided to pop in. There is this like south pacific tiki vibe that totally made me feel like i was on vacation (reminded me of the Loews Royal Pacific hotel in Orlando). We had a mixed drink that was pretty good (quite the menu of tropical drinks). I had a sake flight which was pretty good but next time will just get the "snow shadow" sake since this was my favorite in the flight. There was some live music that wasn't very good but nice to have available. I was actually pretty impressed by the food preparation. Now I'm not saying this is like authentic asian food but what they do they do and present well. The rice paper halibut was great and a very big portion like double of what I would expect in a restaurant. My husband had some sort of beef on skewers that he ordered medium rare and they were also cooked perfectly which is hard to get sometimes! Also he had a really big portion as well which he was happy with and he had to finish my fish! great place for like an asian-ish meal and nice (not super cheesey) atmosphere.. a little pricey so wont go THAT often but worth the money.
(4)Tong J.
As you are walking toward the restaurant and admiring Asian inspired details, you'll begin to feel like you are no longer in the Southwest . Once you step inside, you can't help but thinking, "wow, I guess I'm not in Albuquerque anymore." The ambiance of the restaurant has an Asian vintage feel with historic Japanese photographs and antique-looking Asian pottery. Be sure to request seating on the east side of the building which has a panoramic view of Sandia Mountain. The view is even more spectacular during the sunset. The menu is filled with favorite dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, Malaysia and Singapore. Do try: - Baby Calamari with Asian Lime & Mint Sauce. Calamari has a little kick to it. It's tasty on its own, but if you want to kick it up a notch ... try dipping it in the Lime & Mint sauce. (8/10) - Imperial Lettuce Wraps. Minced chicken with smoked ham and shitake mushroom in lettus. It's an okay dish when it's not too salty. (6/10) - Paul's Pad Thai. Surprisingly, I thought it's not bad. The tamarind based sauce has the right amount of sweet, salty and sour. Nice brown color from tamarind, not soy sauce(7/10) - Five Tigers. Grilled Black Tiger shrimp marinated with lemongrass and chili and served with our refreshing pineapple salsa and mint cilantro vinaigrette, accompanied by fried rice. If you love shrimp, this is a good dish to try. Shrimp is nicely cooked and well seasoned. (6/10) - Singapore Noodles. *This one is SPICY.* It's a respectable dish with big chunks of Chinese BBQ Pork. Make sure you have cold drink near by, 'cause you are going to need it. (7/10) With great selection of classic Polynesian and vintage Asian drink menu, Jinja Bar & Bistro is a lovely place to hang out with friends and family. It's cozy. It's different from other places in town. Friendly and classy service. I'm a fan! And so are my friends, they still hang out at Jinja Bar on a regular basis.
(4)Annie Z.
Jinja is a restaurant I frequent almost every time I'm in Albuquerque. It's delicious, consistent, and a family favorite. Similiar to PF Chang's in terms of quality (maybe even a step up) but better in its originality and ambiance. The service has always been friendly and fast at Jinja. Nothing stuffy about this place. Last time I was there, my parents and I stopped in for drinks and appetizers. We decided to sit at the bar and were delighted and suprised to receive a plate of FREE spicy asian wings for doing so. Yum! We also ordered the lettuce wraps and tempura. All of it was delicious.
(4)Alice S.
Have found the food here to be uneven over the years, but they seem to be on an upswing lately. For a while there, everything was much too salty. It's a great place to hang out in a booth with friends, for drinks and dinner. The service has been excellent, and they do not rush you out. Favorite dishes recently have been moo shoo pork, spare ribs, chinese chicken salad (good to share 4 ways as an appetizer.) They unfortunately got rid of my former favorite dish, a half a laquered chicken with brown rice.
(4)J.D. B.
I'll continue with the praises. My wife had along drive to meet her mother for a car exchange in Arizona so after 6 hours out to the middle of no where on Saturday and 6 hours back on Sunday she was pretty fried. I suggested Jinja and we got there about 8:45 on a Sunday night. The place was fairly empty. Right away we were impressed. We sat on the patio which seemed very environmentally controlled and was great since we were the only ones out there. The ambiance and feel of the restaurant are great and definitely superior to PF Chang's. They were playing classics from the 50's and 60's (crooner stuff that really added to the place). The style they are going for is kind of Casablanca style with a south pacific/Chinese flavor. It works were to give you an incredibly nice experience (doesn't hurt that my young wife absolutely loves that music and sang along with every song). We ordered a sake flight (something my wife has never had). It was a flight of various popular brands however they also have two more flights from a single brewer that would be fun to try on a return trip. The flight we had were four shots in a bowl with ice. The presentation was great. Four little shots of various colors (so you could know which shot was which). We enjoyed the different tastes and if you haven't sampled how different sakes can be it is worth trying. The other two flights were at least 6 different kinds of sake. I ordered the sweet and sour chicken which was prepared excellently with jasmine rice. It was quite could however it was my wife's meal that was outstanding. She had the grilled sashmi tuna. It was outstanding. Wait... let me back up... again the presentation was outstanding. The way the food was laid out on the plates was beautiful. I'm normally not one to really notice something like that but you couldn't avoid it. Her food was outstanding. The preparation was outstanding, the sauce was perfectly matched and not to heavy. She ended up finishing the plate because it was that good! We did not have room for dessert because the entrees were that good. They did mention a chocolate silk pie or cake that sounded great (we'll definitely be back for that). The bar looks very cool and we'll definitely be back for drinks. I think this is one of the best date places we have been to in ABQ although you are a ways from everything else. With the coolness of this place it is a great destination dinner (which could be exactly what you are looking for).
(5)Allen S.
My family and I really enjoyed Jina bar. It was delcious they had fast courteous service. The view was beautiful overlooking the sandia mountains. There presentation was inpecabble. Overall this was pleasant experience. I was delighted.
(4)Matt A.
Go to this Jin ja rather than the one south of Montano. Stick to the appetizer menu. They sampler has 3 good items. The drinks are weak, tho.
(3)Blanca R.
I finally made it to jinja this past week after knowing of its existance for some time now and WOW it was great! I have been back there twice in the last two weeks. The first time my friend and I went kind of late on a sunday night the place was pretty quiet and had a great atmosphere the server though young and inexperianced was pleasant the food was very good and JInja has not dissapointed yet even with repeat visits the service staff has been great every time. You got to try some of their intresting mixed drinks. not a big selection of beer but overall ok.
(4)Frank B.
Clearly this is one of the better Asian restaurant experiences in New Mexico. The service culture is comforting and I really enjoy the food. As a vegetarian they were able to customize the menu slightly to accomodate me, to my satisfaction. I would recommend this place to my friends.
(5)Anneliese E.
Jinja has the best cocktails in Albuquerque. Made by bartenders who know their way around a bar, they offer unique blends that are both potent and tasty. They're not cheap but worth every penny. The food is tasty, too. I'm a huge fan of their pad Thai, but I've never had a bad dish. A great place for a romantic night away from the kid, or a good place to take business associates. I highly recommend it.
(5)Shalayne C.
Went here with my book club last night and in a nut shell the food was good, the food was pricey, and the service was absolutely terrible. I got chili tofu chow fun and I have to say it was quite yummy and I am super picky about how my tofu is cooked. It was spicy enough but not too spicy that you couldn't taste anything else. However, it cost $15 for my food and that is definitely WAY overpriced in my opinion. The food was good but didn't warrant that price range and I would've been much more satisfied if it were say $5 less. We also shared one of the desserts- a macadamia cake and ice cream-and it was good but it was almost $8 and the serving size was super small and again didn't warrant the price range. The service was AWFUL here though...our waiter forgot my friend's appetizer, they forgot two glasses of wine that my friends were waiting for over 15 minutes, they didn't refill our waters, didn't check in on us, etc. You get the drift. Basically, the food was good but because of the high cost and the service I won't be going out of my way to go here again.
(3)Christina H.
The food is very flavorful here - a bit on the salty side but I still like it. LOVE the Duke's Blue Hawaiian as well. Service has always been very good. A nice, intimate spot with a nice atmosphere. That's why I keep coming back!
(5)Darby C.
Great restaurant, poor location. I recommend visiting the other Jinja location in Albuquerque. I ordered two meals to go. When I arrived to pay, I had been charged for items I didn't order and had to request utensils and napkins. Not a huge problem, just an inconvenience. A few minutes from the restaurant, I realized that the bottom of the paper to-go bag had broken through and something was leaking all over my legs and seat. The side of veggies along with the juices they were steamed/cooked in had all been placed in a paper container which had wilted and broken the paper container and then the to-go bag. When I finally sat down to open the meals, the Thai Red Curry Beef was without curry. A few minutes after eating, I had an awful stomach ache and realized my GF Jungle Green Curry dish had not been prepared gluten free. I love, love this restaurant, but I am so disappointed with this location from the bar tender/staff to the kitchen.
(1)Billy M.
Just went here for the first time today. The ambiance was great, the service was good and friendly. I felt like the prices were a little high and the portions were a little small. The food was prepare good and was tasty. I probably won't go back as it's just out of my price range.
(3)Kelsey D.
This place was decent. Staff was very friendly, management came and checked in on us, which I always appreciate. Food was good not spectacular but good. No complaints. I would definitely eat here again on my next trip!
(4)Ken F.
I really like heading to Jinja for happy hour. Instead of offering a limited selection of crappy drinks for $5, they take $2 or $3 off of everything on their drink menu. I especially like their mixed drinks and have had some good mojitos there. The food is asian fusion and I have really liked everything I have tried especially the orange chicken. My only complaints are that the music can be a little loud out on the patio and the service is a little inconsistent.
(4)Jason O.
This is our favorite place to go...especially if we've been to a crappy (Bj's) restaurant the night before. I've been to this location on almost any day and night and never had to wait longer than 10 minutes for a table. Majority of the time we get a table right away. They added an extra bar, which is pretty smart instead of just accepting the fact that one bar is usually the norm and acceptable. No, The added bar gives more patrons the opportunity to grab a seat and watch a game on the TV. One of the best happy hours in town. I get the Grande Gold on the rocks. Our food this evening: Avocado Tempura Spring rolls Orange peel chicken Shaking Beef Avocado Tempura - This is why we come here. The best appetizer on the menu! The avocado is always fresh and the batter is perfect every time. The only complaint I can give is when they run out of avocado tempura, which has happened once. But its understandable because its extremely popular. Spring rolls - Crunchy little rolls, sooo good. I'm not a spring roll fan but these are awesome. Cooked completely through and NOT rubbery inside like other places. Orange peel chicken - Love the sauce with bits of orange and chile pieces...nice and spicy the way I like it. Chicken is tender and has a nice light batter. Shaking beef - My wife gets this every time and loves it every time. Trust me, she always has something to be disappointed about when we go out to eat but not once has she had an issue with anything she has eaten here. Overall: Great menu and perfect food. Our server was Clifton and he's always positive, quick and polite. Makes us feel welcome. If anyone has an issue with the Wyoming location of Jinja its probably because they have "stick up the ass" syndrome and are more happy being miserable. Its just that hard to find any issues with this place.
(5)Geoff A.
This place will remind you a lot of P.F. Changs (which I also like) - an upscale Asian dining experience. The food quality is excellent and choice's go beyond the basic Chicken Chow Mein. I was feeling a little ill when I went here but in spite of this I had a good time and would definitely go back based on my experience. My waitress was very friendly, attentive and professional. For some reason I decided to get the sake sampler which I did not enjoy. I got to try a variety of different flavored shots but the quality was pretty low, so while it may seem like a good idea, it doesn't do justice to the liqueur. The waitress noticed that I was less than impressed (without me complaining) and comped me the round. Very nice touch. I got the sweet and sour chicken (which I asked for un-fried) and while I think it was just a little on the sweet side it was extremely fresh and had bright flavors that shone through. The place had a nice ambiance - quiet and comfortable (nicely padded booths) and would be good for a date. I'll be going back again - hopefully in a better condition where I can sample more and give a more detailed review. Stay tuned.
(4)Damacio U.
went to have a quick drink, had not been there in a long time, great place.....it is located in a upscale part of town so I knew the crowd would be great, live music was a surprise, nice mellow two man band....definitely going back
(5)Gary F.
Great happy hour, solid food and nice atmosphere.
(4)Jennifer L.
I really was trying not to ever go here because driving by had this like "chain vibe" that is usually not somewhere I would go. Now i know it is a "small" local chain but I still wasn't interested... Well, one Sunday night we were hungry and it was late and we decided to pop in. There is this like south pacific tiki vibe that totally made me feel like i was on vacation (reminded me of the Loews Royal Pacific hotel in Orlando). We had a mixed drink that was pretty good (quite the menu of tropical drinks). I had a sake flight which was pretty good but next time will just get the "snow shadow" sake since this was my favorite in the flight. There was some live music that wasn't very good but nice to have available. I was actually pretty impressed by the food preparation. Now I'm not saying this is like authentic asian food but what they do they do and present well. The rice paper halibut was great and a very big portion like double of what I would expect in a restaurant. My husband had some sort of beef on skewers that he ordered medium rare and they were also cooked perfectly which is hard to get sometimes! Also he had a really big portion as well which he was happy with and he had to finish my fish! great place for like an asian-ish meal and nice (not super cheesey) atmosphere.. a little pricey so wont go THAT often but worth the money.
(4)Vicki S.
I was not impressed with the service or the food. Our waiter took our appetizer order and then disappeared for about 10 minutes! He finally came back with our potstickers and was like "okay do you want to order now'? Yes we do!! We wanted to order like 10 minutes ago. I had the Tiger Prawn Shrimp with fried rice and the shrimp was over cooked and the rice was blah and no flavor. The mint cilantro lime sauce was way to minty for me. The only thing I enjoyed was the pickled cucumbers. I am not sure if I will go back.
(2)Michelle T.
Love the atmosphere . Great happy hour with appetizers and drinks $5 so beat the heat and lounge thru from 3-7;00 ! Shaking beef was very lime flavored, yum !! Ribs in hoisin sauce also quite good . The coconut soup is $4 with an entree, worth it ! The entree that keeps us coming back tho -- CHOW FUN WITH CHILI . House made hand cut noodles are smoked - wow ! Gives them a unique chewy texture . The dish includes " marinated tofu " and if tofu always tasted this good -- best ever . Service was fine , really . Great place for a date , girls nite , or anytime you want to relax with your dining companions .
(5)Tory M.
According to other reviewers I need to try the pot stickers and the shrimp, ok...I did, and was not disappointed. Very good, though I'm not entirely sure the shrimp were actual tiger shrimp. Service was ok but just a little lacking in attentiveness. I joined a couple of friends for dinner but only opted for the appetizers in an attempt to get a feel for a range of tastes. The two I had were good, I'll be interested to go again and try an actual meal. My friends soups were large and smelled really good, I'll have to try one next time. I will be back, this place deserves more of my attention, even if only to give a more thorough review.
(3)Krystal R.
I just moved to Albuquerque from Los Angeles thinking there wouldn't be any restaurants to compare with the ones in the big city, but Jinja gave me some hope. I've been here twice in the same week and I love it! The wait staff is very friendly, attentive, and informative about the many food options. They offer everything from Ahi Tuna to Orange Peel Chicken, and my new favorite, the Red Curry Beef. The restaurant has two full bars, succulent meats and vibrant veggies. I was pleasantly surprised and the portions are just right for the price. Every time I need a curry fix, I will hit up Jinja. Bravo!
(4)Dede M.
This place takes itself too seriously. Their food is alright, but the prices are waaaay too steep for what you are getting. The service was incredibly slow and made us never want to go back. Do yourself a favor and go to Pei Wei instead.
(2)Anneliese E.
Jinja has the best cocktails in Albuquerque. Made by bartenders who know their way around a bar, they offer unique blends that are both potent and tasty. They're not cheap but worth every penny. The food is tasty, too. I'm a huge fan of their pad Thai, but I've never had a bad dish. A great place for a romantic night away from the kid, or a good place to take business associates. I highly recommend it.
(5)Shalayne C.
Went here with my book club last night and in a nut shell the food was good, the food was pricey, and the service was absolutely terrible. I got chili tofu chow fun and I have to say it was quite yummy and I am super picky about how my tofu is cooked. It was spicy enough but not too spicy that you couldn't taste anything else. However, it cost $15 for my food and that is definitely WAY overpriced in my opinion. The food was good but didn't warrant that price range and I would've been much more satisfied if it were say $5 less. We also shared one of the desserts- a macadamia cake and ice cream-and it was good but it was almost $8 and the serving size was super small and again didn't warrant the price range. The service was AWFUL here though...our waiter forgot my friend's appetizer, they forgot two glasses of wine that my friends were waiting for over 15 minutes, they didn't refill our waters, didn't check in on us, etc. You get the drift. Basically, the food was good but because of the high cost and the service I won't be going out of my way to go here again.
(3)Christina H.
The food is very flavorful here - a bit on the salty side but I still like it. LOVE the Duke's Blue Hawaiian as well. Service has always been very good. A nice, intimate spot with a nice atmosphere. That's why I keep coming back!
(5)Dave D.
Hadn't been to a Jinja in a while since my wife doesn't like asian food. She finally relented and we came in for dinner on a Saturday. There were plenty of tables available, we were there early though, around 5 pm. The service was quick and friendly, the waiter was more than happy to talk about each of the dishes we were curious about. I ended up ordering the pan-seared pork potstickers for an appetizer and the Singapore Noodles for the main course. Both were very flavorful and I enjoyed eating them. Whether they represent the style well I can only guess. Overall it was an enjoyable experience and my wife found enough on the menu that she would eat that we'll be back.
(4)SexyChicken 1.
you get what you pay for here. i like the nice cuts of meats they use for the entrees. i also like how they have a smaller portion for each entree. this lets me order an appetizer and dessert. the only negative is the cucumber salad. although its pickled, i wish they would peel the skin - or use english cucumbers.
(4)Whitney P.
After my third consecutive subpar visit to Jinja this review cannot go unwritten and my vow to never return shall stick. To start, I have a theory that this particular Jinja's prerequisites for hiring servers entails being an attractive female who knows absolutely nothing about the food or how to give good service. My most recent visit was this last Sunday evening with my brother and his girlfriend. Our interactions with our server were sufficiently awkward as her social skills seemed strained (or maybe she was just rude or annoyed or disliked us). She was very short with us and had no problem admitting she had no idea what several types of liquors were, and seemed put off by my brother's attempt to order Tito's or Deep Eddy vodka. After around 10-15 minutes (our appetizer had already arrived) she returns with our drinks to let my brother know "We don't have Tito's or Deep whatever...". A little put off and not wanting to annoy our seemingly already aggravated server he went with a Coors Light, which took yet another 10 minutes to arrive. The food this particular visit was actually more than decent (compared to prior visits). When we told our server we would only be doing starters she again, seemed annoyed. Overall, my biggest qualm has to be with the service. To top off our evening after splitting the bill that was around $60 between myself and my brother's girlfriend, she found out two days later that instead of being charged $30 she was charged $130.
(1)Cee T.
Why did I go back? The sushi appetizers tasted like the pre made sushi at Trader Joes. It's like the rice turns into a solid mush. Disgusting. Then my salad had cheese sprinkled on top of the crispy wontons. But I guess they tried to heat it in the microwave??!! Because I could pick up the cheese& wonton catastrophe in one clump. I could peel the wontons out sorta. It reminded me of something I would have made after school in 6th grade. For these 2 dishes I paid $26. Just gross !!!
(1)Doug P.
The retro Asian tropical theme is kinda cool. Excellent Margarita and potstickers. The tempura avocado was good too with the cilantro sauce. Also liked my grilled tuna and macadamia tart. Service was friendly but slow at points.
(3)Suneye H.
Great location, theme, music, menu and drinks. Service was all around wonderful. Hands down my favorite place to eat in Albuquerque. The tiger shrimp, mai tais and pot stickers will undoubtedly treat you. Stay for dessert :-)
(5)Ling Tzu W.
This is a great place to come grab a quick bite when you don't want to cook Chinese food that night. I have been to multiple Jinja Bar & Bistro here in town. I believe that my impression of these restaurants are all the same: Good service, REALLY REALLY salty entree's and pretty good selection of appetizers. I wasn't too impressed with their entrees. But , I highly recommend that anyone who comes here to eat, order the appetizers. Their potstickers, ribs and lettuce wraps are delicious and not too salty. The portions on these appetizers were generous so if you order various appetizers to share it is plenty for two people.
(3)Wes T.
Got a definite Southeast Asian/tiki vibe from this place. Me being from New Mexico, of course I loved it. I'm a total tiki geek. While this place isn't Burt's Tiki Lounge, it still has some tropical drinks and deserves to be counted in that oeuvre of establishments. I liked that atmosphere, which by the bar, was dark and intimate. I see they have ample patio seating, and even live music. Win/win. Food was pretty good. Long menu, and they even offer gluten-free items. Again, lots of Asian influence here, with brown rice being an option, as well as Thai basil and water chestnuts popping up all over the place. It's a good place to eat healthy, but you can still get non-rabbit food, too.
(4)C C.
Our favorite place...fantastic red thai curry beef. Nice atmosphere, good appetizers, Saturday evenings live music is a bonus. Great hibiscus iced tea.
(5)Alex N.
Went to Jinja for appetizers and happy hour with my mom and dad. Ordered edamame (supposed to be gluten free as one of our party members is wheat intolerant) We made it to the bottom of the bowl and found a chunk of pasta! So they blanched their edamame in pasta water?!?!?! Not only that but our wheat intolerant member was sick for the rest of the weekend! Extremely disappointed in this place and they are mislabeling their food items!
(1)Paul S.
We sat down to eat while the world series was playing on the TV Behind the bar. I don't follow baseball, so I don't know if any of the players hit a home run. However, the restaurant did. From the lettuce wraps, to the miso and chicken soups, to the paper wrappped salmon, to the fantastic beef, and ending with the fabulous coconut macadamia nut tart, it was one home run after another. The interesting decour and the friendly and attentive service by Caitlin rounded out the evening. It was a truly memorable meal.
(5)Paul P.
The menu has a pretty broad selection. There is a great drink menu too. My favorite is the red curry beef. The pad Thai wasn't that great unfortunately. I like the atmosphere here. It is a nice break from the ever-present green chili in NM.
(4)Mark C.
Went there tonight for ABQ Restaurant Week - limited menu, three courses, $20. We arrived at 6:30 and were delighted to find out that Happy Hour runs through 7 pm, so $3 off all the Polynesian and tropical drinks. Mai Tais and Planters Punches were very tasty and pretty strong. As for the food, everything was very good. The three of us (wife and grandson and I) covered the menu pretty thoroughly. We had potstickers, lettuce wraps and calamari for appetizers. They were all delicious and the portions were huge! Entrees were Pad Thai, Mongolian Beef and Teriyaki Chicken skewers. Everything tasted fresh and it was obvious that all the dishes were made from scratch in the kitchen. Desserts are also made in-house (except ice cream and gelato, which are Haagen-Dazs and Talenti, respectively). The Chocolate Silk cake and the Coconut Macadamia Tart were outstanding. Service was very good, and refills on drinks appeared before we knew they were needed. All in all, a great meal, and we'll definitely be back!
(4)Abby K.
Drove by many times (as it's right off of Coors), finally stopped in on a Friday night. The parking lot was extremely full, so we were expecting a long wait. We walked up, were greeted by 3 finely dressed men and immediately seated. We were shocked to be seated right away. Don't be fooled if the lot of full, go in, you should get seated with the ample space inside. We opted to sit inside which had an intimate setting. The booths are private and the bar looked big. The inside is adorned with tiki type decor and asian influence. We loved it. They have a extensive drink list including fun cocktails (ordered the Peartini- D-Liscous) and lots of beer as well as an excellent, difficult to choose from dinner menu. We ordered the Orange Peel Chicken and Mongolian Beef. Both were very flavorful and well portioned. Overall a great dinner date locale. As we left, there was a band playing outside and we were happy we didn't choose to sit out there. The speakers were literally blaring, we could hear it all the way to the car, which was parked in the far end of the lot.
(4)Elizabeth J.
Had a nice dinner with an old friend last night. Food was great - pot stickers and spring rolls, and the shrimp salad. I had the Grand Gold margarita which was fantastic! All fresh, quality ingredients, prepared just right. Bar staff was attentive and we felt welcome to stay as long as we liked and talk without being rushed out once we were done eating. A more cozy intimate atmosphere than big box restaurants where you can't hear each other. I'll go back again!
(5)Colin S.
So I wanted to like this place and make it a regular stop but I don't think its going to work out. Enough good has been said by other Yelpers about the atmosphere of Jinja and I had no issues with front of house staff. The problem for me is the food. Pot stickers? Weak. I can defrost and fry my own at home.The Shaking Beef? I'm going to keep it brief: Crappy Thai fried rice and chili lime sauce that overwhelmed everything on the plate. I could go on... Jinja is a place to meet friends or a date to start off the evening with a cocktail. Why? Because they want to and you are tolerant. There are too many other restaurants out there and I can't take this chain-like food seriously.
(2)Brian M.
Great menu and dishes. Great atmosphere for a date night or business meeting. Drinks and teas also available. I had the Red Beef and it was amazing! I can't wait to go back and try the ribs. The lettuce wrap sampler appetizer was also very good!
(5)Amy B.
Jinja is a great place for happy hour and/or lunch or dinner. We had a large group and I was happy to see ALL of the food come out at the same time, and correct. Our server was very attentive and on the ball! Our food was delicious and fresh. My only complaint is that there is not a table inside the restaurant that holds 8 comfortably. We squeezed in to a round booth after the hostess tried to seat us at 2 tables awkwardly put together in the bar area.
(4)Sandra G.
Had dinner for two this evening, the food was a real disappointment, the orange peel chicken was cold and the meat was very dry and old tasting. The Korean ribs were fair and the Shaken beef tasted more like liver than tenderloin. What an expensive disappointment.
(1)R P.
Here is a rundown of our meal We ordered a Volcano Kiva bowl drink for two it was fun, novel and left a mild buzz. For starters we had Imperial lettuce wraps, the lettuce they brought was brown on the edge, the chicken mushroom mix would've been great but it had hints of fishy flavor. I'm guessing either from too much oyster sauce in the sauce mix or from cooking it on a flat top with fish. For dinner we split the Asian Cesar Salad and Shaking Beef. The salad was supposed to come with marinated grilled tiger prawns and a creamy Ginger dressing. What we got were old tiger prawns that were either left to cool off after cooking or were from the fridge and brought to room temp. The dressing was an abismal attempt at "Asian cesear". It came off more like glorified liquidey mayonaise. The beef was cooked perfectly rare, just the way I like it. Too bad it was smothered in an overly tangy and oily brown sauce to the point you couldn't taste anything else, not even the onions that has been sauteed with it has flavor. The fried jasmine rice was a real butchering of jasmine rice, it was presented like it had been slammed out of a bowl mold like a high school cafeteria style and it tasted just as mundane. The cucumber salad that came with the beef was crisp clean and delicious. It was the best part of our whole experience. Being a foodie hailing from N. Cali, I had a very good idea of what 5 star Asian fusion should be, this is not it. It is 2 star dining (maybe 3 on a good night) dressed up and sleek looking to sell as a 4-5 star experience. Will not be coming back until I've tried every other restaurant in ABQ.
(2)Sarah N.
I used to come often, after not visiting for about a year I returned excited and looking forward to some of my favorite food in town. The service was horrid! And the food was flavorless, and the new menu additions were uninspired. I will not be returning anytime soon.
(2)Jenny H.
Great place for a family dinner. Also have a great gluten free menu! delicious food.
(5)M D.
We had a light dinner here last night. We tried the Lettuce Wraps (GREAT) and the Chinese Chicken Salad (tasty and fresh). We also tried the Peartinis. I think the drink menu is amazing, and Peartini was made with their own, lemongrass-infused simple syrup and fresh lemon and lime juices. Sundays are all-day happy hour days ($3 off drinks), so it's a nice time to try their more expensive cocktails. Aside from the novice bartender who couldn't keep up with the orders (I ordered a second martini, and when it hadn't shown up by the time I finished my entree, I cancelled it), Jinja was a good experience. I do have to say that the waitress was young, inexperienced and needed some schooling on how to handle customers when they do experience a problem. Cowering and running away isn't a great tactic. However, the manager on duty was very professional and dealt with the bar issue right away. I'd definitely eat here again!
(4)Bobbi B.
First time here. Food mediocre . Had rice paper wrapped halibut and Thai soup. Just ok.
(3)Carlo P.
I wanted to love this place. We live about 3 minutes away and went late a few times. The last time my wife and I went, I pulled an almost comedic-sized hair that was tangled in my Pad-Thai noodles out, when the waiter was on his way to the table. It was wretched. I hate complaining, but I had no choice. I get sick just thinking about it. Ugh. It makes me sad.
(1)Masood M.
It is a really good food no doubt. I usually eat their skewers, and to say the least I really like them. My favorite place about this place is its atmosphere. When I walk into most restaurants I feel like I am walking into a cafeteria. Tables aligned next to each other, old school seats, and you know what I mean... At this restaurant however it is really nice- the booths are beautiful, and you can actually have a conversation. Lastly, their service is pretty good. My waiter was prompt for the most part, and followed directions very well. Only complaint about wait staff was the drop time: I usually expect to be asked how my food is after two minutes of dining... My waiter took about 5. I know it's a really stupid thing to say, but for the price my expectations were slightly higher. Overall it is a great place to eat, and I'd recommend it to anybody.
(4)Tricia K.
I have been here about 3-4 times with pretty similar experiences. Jinja is your typical pan-asian or asian fusion restaurant. I usually get the paper wrapped grilled salmon which has been the best dish I've had here. Once I had seared ahi tuna and it was fishy and gross. I've also tried the beef tri tip salad which I thought was just ok. The appetizers are pretty good though.
(3)Candia M.
We came here on a Saturday afternoon to take my bestie out for her birthday. There were five of us and they sat us at a very cozy and comfy booth in a corner and gave us a really adorable and personable waiter. We are an odd group and he did not get annoyed with all our questions and Harry Met Sally requests to replace this and put that on the side. I credit him for that. Good man. I have eaten here before and would have given them three stars based on those taste experiences but either we ordered better items this time or this place has upped their game. A couple of us ordered lunch portions of the halibut in parchment, which was very very good. The brown rice was delicious, but I have to say that I suspect it was not the most healthy thing on the plate based on the buttery and salty taste. It was my daughter's favorite, so it had to have been unhealthy. My teen had steak and frites, which is a fabulous thing since pretty much everything else on the menu has some spice to it and that simply won't fly with this kid. She loved her steak and fries (said next time she will ask them to not put pepper on the fries - I told you she doesn't like spice). They had lots of drink options, including a nice light green iced tea for one of us and some Gruet brut for a couple of others. You can guess which one I was. The cucumber salad that accompanies most meals was really yummy. My best friend ordered the coconut soup and loved it, and her hubbie had the red curry shrimp, which he must have loved based on how quickly he scarfed it and started eyeing her soup. All in all, a good experience, made better by good service. Not my favorite restaurant for food, but really good for a chain, and really really good for a restaurant in Albuquerque that is close-ish to my house. I think it is definitely worth the price and we will be back.
(4)Kimi T.
I was really hoping that Jinja would exceed my expectations, but tonight I was sorely disappointed in my meal and service. We ordered the potstickers for an appetizer, which was pretty good and I really enjoyed the dipping sauce that came with. When the entrees came out, I was really excited because the presentations were beautiful. I ordered the rice paper halibut and the bf ordered the Singapore noodles. The taste, however, left me wanting more. My halibut and fried rice was so bland, as if they didn't use any salt when cooking my meal. The bf's noodles were flavorless as well. Having paid $50 for 2 entrees, a coffee, iced tea and potstickers, I felt like I could have gone somewhere else and have a better meal. When I asked for my food to be boxed up, the only thing the waiter boxed was my fish. Didn't box my fried rice. Maybe it's for the best. I don't think I'll be back any time soon.
(2)Megan F.
My family loves coming here for a nice night out. We always start with a round of mojitos for the padres and me (yay for having a brother who's not yet 21, and thus a DD!), and their delicious lettuce wraps. We often get another appetizer as well, but haven't found anything else we like enough to make it a constant companion to the heavenly lettuce wraps. The spring rolls and pot stickers are often on our list though :) The Malay Coconut Soup is pretty good, but I usually order the Shaking Beef, which is super crispy, a little sweet, a little spicy, and pretty damn good. I LOVE the cucumber salad that comes with most of the entrees-- I usually request a little side bowl of it in addition to what comes with the meal. Agree with everyone else about the nice vibe and great service, not much to add there!
(4)Arielle B.
Try the Singapore noodles and Tom yum soup! Very flavorful with a kick
(4)Lee P.
Great happy hour drinks, even on Saturday. $5 mojitos, etc and $3 draft beers. Delicious apps and entrees - we loved the potstickers, curry and Udon noodles. We were there for the summer music on the patio...an unexpectedly fun little evening at a new neighborhood favorite spot!
(5)Ricky M.
Jinja is one of my favorite spots to eat the atmosphere here is classy and romantic, the food is different they serve Asian Fusion/ Hawaiian food... But over all the food is delicious, drinks are also different and happy hour specials are good. If your looking for a good drink go with the Zombie it is potent and after a few you will be walking like a zombie! For food my recommendation is the Kung Pao chicken, Heavenly Beef or Shaking Beef. The service for me has always been prompt and friendly not to mention your drinks and food come out quickly. Overall this is a great spot to take your lady out on a date too.
(5)Kira E.
The Heavenly Beef is indeed HEAVENLY And House Margaritas are only $3.95 at Happy Hour!
(5)Scott L.
This place is super rad, the food, service and ambience were top notch! Happy Hour is 3-7 everyday (double check that) and drinks are about half price across the board! Kind of like a nice dark wood Hawaiian grill joint, with lots of bamboo and dark wood paneling and comfy booths. We had pina coladas, caipirinhas, wine, beer, and even a sazerac! All were great. For food, the Tofu spinach salad was perfect. Also a steak salad done very nicely. The Mu Shu pork was absolutely incredible and highly recommended.
(5)Love D.
Sat outside patio & listened to live band. Ordered their draft jinja pale ale, which was crisp. I had the beef salad, superb!
(5)Julie N.
I visit ABQ for work once a month, at least, and I like to try new restaurants. As I was cruising up and down Paseo, I noticed this restaurant from the road. Normally, I'd get some feedback and recommendations from locals about where to eat, and decided to take a chance. MEH. The decor and architecture are beautiful--the menu seems vast, yet I was thrown off by the less than enthusiastic demeanor of the front desk staff. They lacked the ability to explain some dishes on the menu, seemed apathetic toward new patrons entering the establishment, and I had to wait for at least 5 minutes for someone to even come to the front and greet me. The food was okay--a bit too fried, too greasy. Decent food if you're just looking to satisfy an appetite and probably not a place I'd go to again. If I'm on Paseo, I'll be across the street at Flying Star--better food, way better service. Sayonara....
(3)Carl P.
Great drink specials and delicious food. The ambiance inside is a little upscale, but it's an easy escape to the patio. A little pricey on some of the menu items, but if you get there for happy hour, even on weekends, it's well worth it. I suggest the mojito.
(4)Anne S.
Food style is Asian Fusion, noodle dish was disappointing, very few (expecting a dish of noodles) noodles were stacked and stuck together in a pile of an extremely salty hoison and soy sauce with mostly onions. Atmosphere is very nice, makes up for pricey dishes that don't deliver, very small portions.
(2)Larry S.
This place has a decent bar and drink menu and the ambiance is nice. The menu however, seems to be hit or miss. We always liked the Shaking Beef and the curry dishes, but he Pad Thai and noodle dishes leave a lot to be desired. For example, I got the vegetarian noodle dish this last visit and was quite disappointed to see that is was all noodles with very little in the way of vegetables and hardly any sauce. As a result, this was a very dry, bland dish. I had to ask for an extra amount of hoisin sauce just to bring flavor to the meal and to be able to pick up the noodles without them all clumping together. Service was only so-so. Not sure if the waiter was new, busy or just didn't care. The highlight of our meal was the candied ginger available on the way out the door!
(2)David P.
I have been coming to Jinjas Bar and Bistro for about a year now for both happy hour and dinner. There's something about this place that I really like, the ambiance is so 1930's, Euro/Asian, the Big Band era music just takes you back. I think Jinja's makes one of the best Martini's in Albuquerque and I always try to make a happy hour while I am here. The Appetizer menu is fun to share with friends but dinner is also quite good. A restaurant is only as good as its staff and I must say the staff at Jinja's are always welcoming, they know the menu and are helpful with suggestions. There's an outdoor patio area to enjoy your meal and drinks when the weather is nice but I prefer to sit inside at the bar when seating is available. You can dress up if you like but I have seen some people come in with jeans and shorts. I'd say this is a good place for well behaved children that know how to act in a nice restaurant. I've even seen a group of 10 celebrating their prom night.
(5)Lindsey A.
This place is great. It has a really nice atmosphere, nice and quiet and really professional, attentive service. I could barely decide what to order, the menu had so many great choices. I got the halibut and it was really tender, maybe the best I've ever gotten in a restaurant. It came with some really delicious sauces too. They also have an extensive drink menu and my husband got a really good mojito. We'll definitely be back.
(4)Mac M.
Menu is not too large but they do it well. Good service and the manager makes himself known in case you have questions or concerns. Draft beer selection is small but good. Wine selection isn't the best but they do great cocktails.
(4)Frank B.
Clearly this is one of the better Asian restaurant experiences in New Mexico. The service culture is comforting and I really enjoy the food. As a vegetarian they were able to customize the menu slightly to accomodate me, to my satisfaction. I would recommend this place to my friends.
(5)Tong J.
As you are walking toward the restaurant and admiring Asian inspired details, you'll begin to feel like you are no longer in the Southwest . Once you step inside, you can't help but thinking, "wow, I guess I'm not in Albuquerque anymore." The ambiance of the restaurant has an Asian vintage feel with historic Japanese photographs and antique-looking Asian pottery. Be sure to request seating on the east side of the building which has a panoramic view of Sandia Mountain. The view is even more spectacular during the sunset. The menu is filled with favorite dishes from Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, Malaysia and Singapore. Do try: - Baby Calamari with Asian Lime & Mint Sauce. Calamari has a little kick to it. It's tasty on its own, but if you want to kick it up a notch ... try dipping it in the Lime & Mint sauce. (8/10) - Imperial Lettuce Wraps. Minced chicken with smoked ham and shitake mushroom in lettus. It's an okay dish when it's not too salty. (6/10) - Paul's Pad Thai. Surprisingly, I thought it's not bad. The tamarind based sauce has the right amount of sweet, salty and sour. Nice brown color from tamarind, not soy sauce(7/10) - Five Tigers. Grilled Black Tiger shrimp marinated with lemongrass and chili and served with our refreshing pineapple salsa and mint cilantro vinaigrette, accompanied by fried rice. If you love shrimp, this is a good dish to try. Shrimp is nicely cooked and well seasoned. (6/10) - Singapore Noodles. *This one is SPICY.* It's a respectable dish with big chunks of Chinese BBQ Pork. Make sure you have cold drink near by, 'cause you are going to need it. (7/10) With great selection of classic Polynesian and vintage Asian drink menu, Jinja Bar & Bistro is a lovely place to hang out with friends and family. It's cozy. It's different from other places in town. Friendly and classy service. I'm a fan! And so are my friends, they still hang out at Jinja Bar on a regular basis.
(4)Annie Z.
Jinja is a restaurant I frequent almost every time I'm in Albuquerque. It's delicious, consistent, and a family favorite. Similiar to PF Chang's in terms of quality (maybe even a step up) but better in its originality and ambiance. The service has always been friendly and fast at Jinja. Nothing stuffy about this place. Last time I was there, my parents and I stopped in for drinks and appetizers. We decided to sit at the bar and were delighted and suprised to receive a plate of FREE spicy asian wings for doing so. Yum! We also ordered the lettuce wraps and tempura. All of it was delicious.
(4)Alice S.
Have found the food here to be uneven over the years, but they seem to be on an upswing lately. For a while there, everything was much too salty. It's a great place to hang out in a booth with friends, for drinks and dinner. The service has been excellent, and they do not rush you out. Favorite dishes recently have been moo shoo pork, spare ribs, chinese chicken salad (good to share 4 ways as an appetizer.) They unfortunately got rid of my former favorite dish, a half a laquered chicken with brown rice.
(4)J.D. B.
I'll continue with the praises. My wife had along drive to meet her mother for a car exchange in Arizona so after 6 hours out to the middle of no where on Saturday and 6 hours back on Sunday she was pretty fried. I suggested Jinja and we got there about 8:45 on a Sunday night. The place was fairly empty. Right away we were impressed. We sat on the patio which seemed very environmentally controlled and was great since we were the only ones out there. The ambiance and feel of the restaurant are great and definitely superior to PF Chang's. They were playing classics from the 50's and 60's (crooner stuff that really added to the place). The style they are going for is kind of Casablanca style with a south pacific/Chinese flavor. It works were to give you an incredibly nice experience (doesn't hurt that my young wife absolutely loves that music and sang along with every song). We ordered a sake flight (something my wife has never had). It was a flight of various popular brands however they also have two more flights from a single brewer that would be fun to try on a return trip. The flight we had were four shots in a bowl with ice. The presentation was great. Four little shots of various colors (so you could know which shot was which). We enjoyed the different tastes and if you haven't sampled how different sakes can be it is worth trying. The other two flights were at least 6 different kinds of sake. I ordered the sweet and sour chicken which was prepared excellently with jasmine rice. It was quite could however it was my wife's meal that was outstanding. She had the grilled sashmi tuna. It was outstanding. Wait... let me back up... again the presentation was outstanding. The way the food was laid out on the plates was beautiful. I'm normally not one to really notice something like that but you couldn't avoid it. Her food was outstanding. The preparation was outstanding, the sauce was perfectly matched and not to heavy. She ended up finishing the plate because it was that good! We did not have room for dessert because the entrees were that good. They did mention a chocolate silk pie or cake that sounded great (we'll definitely be back for that). The bar looks very cool and we'll definitely be back for drinks. I think this is one of the best date places we have been to in ABQ although you are a ways from everything else. With the coolness of this place it is a great destination dinner (which could be exactly what you are looking for).
(5)Allen S.
My family and I really enjoyed Jina bar. It was delcious they had fast courteous service. The view was beautiful overlooking the sandia mountains. There presentation was inpecabble. Overall this was pleasant experience. I was delighted.
(4)Matt A.
Go to this Jin ja rather than the one south of Montano. Stick to the appetizer menu. They sampler has 3 good items. The drinks are weak, tho.
(3)Blanca R.
I finally made it to jinja this past week after knowing of its existance for some time now and WOW it was great! I have been back there twice in the last two weeks. The first time my friend and I went kind of late on a sunday night the place was pretty quiet and had a great atmosphere the server though young and inexperianced was pleasant the food was very good and JInja has not dissapointed yet even with repeat visits the service staff has been great every time. You got to try some of their intresting mixed drinks. not a big selection of beer but overall ok.
(4)