Lucky Buns’ soaring home at the Wharf resembles a big beachfront bungalow, with room for 40 at the bar. | Rey Lopez/Eater DC Nationwide chain Jinya Ramen Bar is taking over the prime waterfront space Burgers are out, and ramen is in at the Wharf. After a short, two-year run along the Southwest Waterfront, Lucky Buns is closing and will hand the keys over to fast-growing noodle bar Jinya Ramen this month. The last day of business is Sunday, March 30, Lucky Buns exclusively tells Eater (675 Wharf Street SW). D.C. chef Alex McCoy’s Adams Morgan hangout, which has been around since 2017, is devoted to burgers that top Creekstone Farms beef with global condiments like bacon XO jam. A Union Market stall followed in 2019, and its massive Wharf digs debuted in April 2023. “Going forward, we will be focusing our continued growth solely on small-footprint, locally focused locations,” per a statement from Lucky Buns. Jinya Ramen Bar Jinya Ramen Bar also specializes in vegan bowls. That new goal — and the Wharf sales offer was too good to pass up, McCoy tells Eater. Sam Shoja, the franchise owner of all Jinya Ramen locations in D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, opened the first in Northern Virginia’s Mosaic District in 2016 and he hasn’t looked back; the D.C. native recently detailed highly ambitious expansion plans to balloon the brand to 25 to 30 area locales in the next few years. And he’s well on his way, with store number nine about to pop in Georgetown. A large location was on Jinya’s wish list next, and Lucky Buns’ 200-seat space with a sizable patio and bar marks its first area storefront situated on water. It’ll also be the Wharf’s first ramen spot; the opening timeline is unclear for now. Rey Lopez/Eater DC The sturdy wooden patio is decked out in colorful string lights. California-based Jinya offers five different broths, with its tonkotsu simmered for more than 18 hours being the most popular. Since its start in 2010, the Japanese comfort food chain has exploded to over 60 locations across the county. The behind-the-scenes sale was the “culmination of many months of planning,” per Lucky Buns, and staff are able to transfer to its remaining locations in Adams Morgan (2000 18th Street NW) and Union Market (1309 5th Street NE). The global menus continue to showcase local favorites like Gordy’s Pickles, freshly squeezed orange crushes, and mumbo sauce-slathered wings. Look for plenty of closing week specials at the Wharf, which hosts its big annual Bloomaroo cherry blossom festival on Saturday. Meanwhile, McCoy is big on Georgetown as of late. He goes deep into the vault to bring back Alfie’s — his Thai pop-up that closed in Park View a decade ago — in a newly leased space. And his new West Coast-styled breakfast spot called Monstera Burrito is drawing attention from its current post inside Grace Street Coffee. ...read more read less