Dumplings, noodles, kebabs and bubble tea will soon fill the space that was once home to Ninja City in Cleveland's Uptown district.

NuJoy bar and restaurant brings Chinese cuisine to Uptown

Dumplings, noodles, kebabs and bubble tea will soon fill the space that was once home to Ninja City in Cleveland's Uptown district. Bowen and Lindsay Sun's NuJoy, a Chinese restaurant and bar at 11311 Euclid Ave., opens its doors tonight at 6 p.m.

When Ninja City shuttered this February to move to Gordon Square, NuJoy's husband-and-wife team made their move. The couple, who met as students at the nearby Case Western Reserve University, were inspired by their own experience on campus to bring their take on Chinese cuisine to the area.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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"Being Chinese, we wanted something really authentic and that involves Chinese culture," Bowen told cleveland.com in July. "In this industry, there are a lot of Chinese restaurants, but a lot of it is Chinese-American food. It's really not what we eat in China. That's when we started wondering, what we can do to help current international students feel a little more comfortable studying abroad and getting something to eat they're really familiar with."

Bowen, a Cleveland native, already has years of restaurant experience from his time running Cincinnati sushi bars and eventually opening Szechuan Cafe in 2015 alongside his uncle. He'll remain co-owner at the Asia Plaza restaurant.

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If you ever stepped into Ninja City, you'll likely remember being greeted by the bar, which will remain at NuJoy. Bowen and Lindsay have kept the basic structure of the interior, which includes about 70 seats. A small, cozy patio looks out over the sleek Museum of Contemporary Art Cleveland. They've expanded their kitchen equipment, but otherwise, the space will feel familiar.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Beer served with lamb and beef kebabs is popular in China, and they'll be playing off that concept here. Craft brews will be on tap, along with sake and a full liquor selection, including specialty Chinese imports.

"It's not going to be like a traditional American bar; we're trying to bring Chinese culture into this," Bowen says.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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You'll also find drinks handcrafted to order. Just don't stop by looking for "Americanized bubble tea," as Bowen says. What you will find are teas with toppings like a whipped cream with cheese.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Expect NuJoy to build on that idea with offerings like soup dumplings and steamed and pan-fried buns, also known as bao, in a variety of styles. Bowen says they'll also be open early for an Asian breakfast with dishes similar to what Chinese restaurants serve in the morning, including soy milk and special bao.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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You'll find plenty of noodles, salads and spring rolls. Snacks like kebabs come in varieties like chicken, Chinese sausage, cuttlefish, tofu, lamb, mushroom and potato.

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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The name was inspired by Chinese mythology, where Nuwa is a goddess credited for creating mankind. At NuJoy, it's all about culinary creation.

"It's like an experiment for me," Bowen says. "I always wanted to have a restaurant like this nearby when I was in Case. I think, even locals, they'll appreciate something very different and something new to experience. We want to introduce the true Chinese culture to Uptown. Like just art and music, we believe good stuff has no boundaries."

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com

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Hours: Friday and Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m; Monday-Thursday, 7:30 a.m.-10 p.m. (Please note the restaurant will open at 6 p.m. on their first day - Aug. 10.)

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