Ramen News

Acclaimed Jinya Ramen Bar to open new Dallas location in Carrollton

Jinya Ramen Tonkotsu Red

Courtesy of Jinya Ramen

A buzzy California-based ramen bar is opening a restaurant in Carrollton: Jinya Ramen Bar, known for its authentic, meticulously prepared ramen, will open at 2451 Old Denton Rd. #150 in the Century Square Retail Center, across the road from Carrollton Town Center.

According to a release, it opens on October 15.

Jinya originated in Tokyo, Japan where it was founded by in 2000 by Tomo Takahashi, whose father was a restaurateur. He expanded the concept to the U.S. in 2010, when he opened a location in California. There are now 66 locations across the U.S., including 14 in Texas, with an especially big presence in Houston. (Jinya Ramen Bar also has five sibling dining concepts including bushi by Jinya, Robata Jinya, LBD Japanese Bar and Lounge, and Jinya Ramen Express.)

Jinya Ramen Bar made its Dallas entrance in 2019 with a location in Victory Park; followed by a location at Preston Hollow Village which opened in 2023. (Plans for an Irving location were shelved.)

Jinya's ramen starts with a rich broth and house-made noodles. You add toppings, from tender pork chasu to poached egg to fresh garlic. The menu also has bao buns and other tapas, sake, and beer.

They tout the fact that they use Fuji water and subject their noodles to a special process before they're cooked and served. "Meticulously aged for three days to maximize their flavor, Jinya Ramen Bar's noodles are made fresh daily and crafted to sink perfectly in your bowl with thick noodles for some broths and thin noodles for others," the chain says.

Their creamy broths and the inclusion of unique fusion ingredients and flavors in their ramen has earned them much praise.

Carrollton will offer ramen with several broths, including chicken, tonkotsu, and vegan options, with bowls starting at $17. They will also offer Japanese rice bowls and small plates, such as sashimi and pork gyoza.

“After feeling so much love from the Dallas area, we knew we had to bring more of our signature ramen to the surrounding cities,” says Takahashi in a statement. “Our customers have been wonderful in supporting us so far and we hope Carrollton will fall in love with ramen this October.”

They'll host opening day festivities at 11 am with the first 100 guests in line receiving a free ramen bowl.

openings

Churros News

Whimsical restaurant north of Dallas combines tacos and churros

Churro on Top

Milkshake and churro at Churro on Top

A quirky new 2-in-1 restaurant has debuted in the far north town of Fairview: Called Tick Tock Taco x Churro On Top, it's a dual-branded restaurant that just opened at 201 Town Pl. in Fairview Town Center where it's serving two great food groups in one.

On one side of the menu, you have tacos. The other features warm churros and over-the-top milkshakes.

The concept is part of a small local chain which started out as Churro on Top, a dcadent churro-and-milkshake bar that opened its first location in Arlington in 2023, and a second shop in Richardson that opened in 2024.

Churro on Top offers churros decorated in more than 50 varieties such as:

chocolate glaze with almonds
white chocolate glaze with cotton-candy sprinkles
Biscoff cookie butter and crushed Biscoff cookies
vanilla frosting glaze with lemon cake crumbs
matcha cream
white chocolate glaze with chopped pistachios and pistachio drizzle

They also offer more than 40 milkshakes, made with real ice cream, which are adorned with intricately decorated churros and other sweet toppings. For example, The Birthday Cake, featuring Birthday Cake Ice Cream topped with two Birthday Cake Churros, whipped cream, colored sprinkles, and a birthday cupcake. Or the Cotton Candy, featuring cotton candy ice cream, Yummy Gummy Churros, whipped cream, gummy bears, and chocolate drizzle.

Two churros are $7.38, and milkshake prices range from $10 to $17. (You can also get a regular ice cream cone or milkshake without churros, and they offer Dole Whip, well.)

The concept was founded by husband-and-wife Mo and Anum Khan, who both love churros and wanted to give it their own fresh twist. They designed it as a place that would be Instagrammable, featuring a whimsical decor with cute cartoons and a charming pink and white color scheme.

Tacos at Tick Tock TacosTick Tock Tacos

Tacos
For their third location in Fairview, they ramped it up even further by adding Tick Tock Tacos, a co-restaurant serving a full menu of tacos in two dozen varieties, made with organic ingredients and 100 percent Zabihah halal meat, along with guacamole, salsas, sides, quesadillas, and chips.

Taco options include:

beef bulgogi with steak and spicy kimchi
brisket with pickled jalapenos
beef birria
chicken fajita
jerk chicken with slaw and mango
buffalo chicken
tandoori chicken with cilantro rice

There are also fish tacos and veggie tacos such as the Taco Verde, with mushroom, onion, bell pepper, corn, and chimichurri. Plus quesadillas and sides such as black beans, elotes, corn, and rice. Tacos range from $3 to $4.

The idea is to come in and get tacos, then finish with dessert.

And if the tacos, and the churros, and the over-the-top milkshakes are not enough, the Fairview location also has a collection of "claw machines," a favorite of the couple's daughter. Claw machines are the arcade-style games where players use a mechanical claw to grab prizes like plush toys, candies, or capsules. (The opening party in early March was deemed to be "epic.")

It's a wild, colorful, family-friendly, and spacious two-story restaurant, and it isn't ending here: They have two more locations slated to open in 2026: in Fort Worth and Erie, Pennsylvania.

tacos desserts openings