Ramen first, wine second — somehow works
Downtown Jersey City · Jersey City · Japanese ramen and izakaya · Visit Website ↗
Reviewed by the RagingWine Tasting Desk · June 23, 2026
RagingWine reviewed Ani Ramen House Jersey City’s wine list and gave it The Wild Card — RagingWine’s Vibe-Check rating. How RagingWine reviews wine lists →
Wingman Metrics
Nobody walks into a ramen shop expecting a wine list, so credit to Ani for having one at all. It's short, approachable, and priced like they actually want you to order a bottle. Don't come here hunting for Burgundy — but don't write it off either.
The list runs about 10–20 bottles with a clear New World lean: New Zealand Sauvignon Blanc, Washington Cab, California Pinot Noir, Italian Pinot Grigio. There's no Old World depth, no natural wine flirtation, and no regional storytelling to speak of. What you get instead is a tight, crowd-friendly lineup of recognizable bottles that won't confuse a table of ramen-first, wine-curious diners. Gaps are obvious — nothing sparkling beyond the house pour, nothing to bridge the umami-heavy broth situation — but for a ramen joint, the effort is real.
Seven pours by the glass is a genuinely solid number for this format, and at $9 a pop, the barrier to entry is low. You get the house trio (white, red, sparkling) plus four name-brand options covering the main bases. Rotation appears nonexistent — this is a set-it-and-forget-it program — but the pricing keeps it from feeling like an afterthought.
House Sparkling (by the glass) — $9
Nine bucks for bubbles at a ramen counter is the right call. Cracks open easy, cuts through fatty tonkotsu broth, and nobody's mad about it.
Crossings Sauvignon Blanc
Marlborough Sauvignon Blanc at a ramen bar sounds like a mismatch until it isn't — the grassy, citrus-driven profile actually holds its own against lighter shoyu-based broths. Most people will reach for the red and miss this.
Charles & Charles Cabernet
A big Washington Cab is fighting every flavor on this menu. Tannic and fruit-forward against rich umami broth is a clash, not a conversation. The wine isn't bad — it's just the wrong tool for the job.
Barone Fini Pinot Grigio + Pork Bao Buns
The bao buns are rich and porky but not as heavy as the ramen — Pinot Grigio's light body and clean finish keeps the plate feeling fresh rather than overwhelming.
The Bottom Line
Ani Ramen isn't a wine destination, but it's a wildcard worth knowing: fair prices, enough variety to find something that works, and the rare ramen spot that actually put some thought into the glass. Send your wine-curious friends here — just make sure they order the tonkotsu too.
Jersey City · Jersey City · New American / Cocktail Bar
Jane Doe is a cocktail bar that quietly assembled a better wine list than most actual restaurants in the area. If you're in Jersey City and someone tells you to skip the wine here, they haven't seen the list.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · Italian
Porto by Antonio delivers a credible Italian-forward wine list with genuine high points — Promis, Barbaresco, Brunello — and a by-the-glass program that actually gives people choices. Markups get aggressive at the top, and the Caymus pricing is frankly embarrassing, but if you stick to the Italian core and the smart mid-range picks, you'll drink well here.
Solid Range
Steep
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · French-inspired / Cocktail Bar
Madame JC isn't a wine destination — it's a cocktail bar that happens to have one of the most focused and genuinely well-chosen dessert wine lists in Jersey City. Show up after dinner, order the 20-Year Tawny, and thank whoever put this menu together.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · New American
Mathews isn't a destination wine list, but it's honest, fairly priced, and more thoughtful than it looks at first glance. Send a friend here if they want a good glass without a lecture.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
· Jersey City · American Bar
Ed & Mary's isn't trying to be a wine bar and doesn't need to be — but whoever put the Intérieur Carbonic Zinfandel and Delegati Sparkling Pinot Noir on a 13-bottle bar list deserves a nod. Prices are fair, the whole list pours by the glass, and two genuinely weird options make this worth more than a passing glance.
Small but Thoughtful
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Rotating Cast
Set & Forget
Acceptable
Hamilton Park · Jersey City · Italian
GP's Hamilton Park isn't a destination wine list, but it's a fair one — honest prices, approachable options, and a by-the-glass program that covers the table without drama. Send your friend here if they want a solid neighborhood pour, not a wine education.
Crowd Pleasers
Fair
Basic Stemmed
Willing but Green
Set & Forget
Acceptable
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