Back in January we shared the news about Shuxin Liu’s plans to open Xinji Noodle Bar, a Japanese-style ramen shop at 4211 Lorain Ave. Following a quiet soft opening, the Ohio City eatery will open to the public on July 26.

Liu, a cook of two years at Momocho, has created an attractive space on Lorain Avenue that complements nearby businesses like Platfom, The Grocery, Herb’n Twine, the Plum, Jack Flaps, Forest City Shuffleboard and Ohio City Provisions. Blonde wood countertops, open shelving and contemporary lighting combine to create a peaceful, elegant room.

Credit: Michael Killik
The concise menu features Korean fried chicken, steamed buns filled with pork belly, braised pork or fried chicken, rice bowls topped with smoked eel or pork chops, and a half-dozen noodle bowls such as pork miso, dan dan noodle in chicken broth, and a vegan mushroom broth with nori.

“Noodles are my favorite thing,” Liu told Scene. “I’ve wanted to do a noodle bar for six years. In the beginning, we will be highly focused on ramen, but will branch out to Southeast Asian style noodle and Northern Chinese style noodle.”

Credit: Michael Killik
Also, he intends to expand the menu from just ramen, Korean-style fried chicken and steamed buns to include small entrée dishes as he grows the business.

The 100-seat restaurant features an open kitchen and seating in a small dining room, at the bar, and at window seats facing Lorain.

Xinji, Liu explains, means “new opportunity.”

The restaurant will be dinner-only Tuesday through Saturday, but will offer an Asian-inspired Sunday brunch.

This article appears in Jul 19-25, 2017.

For 25 years, Douglas Trattner has worked as a full-time freelance writer, editor and author. His work as co-author on Michael Symon's cookbooks have earned him four New York Times Best-Selling Author honors, while his longstanding role as Scene dining editor has garnered awards of its own.