Food and ambiance overshadowed by the rudest waitress interaction I’ve had to-date.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Lisa Molinelli
Absolutely recommend ! Get here early, lines form prior to opening. 1st timer here and we got the Dan Dan Noodles, Pork Belly sandwich on scallion bread & Pancake with egg & cheese (& chili oil). Super friendly staff and great indoor vibe!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Sandwich, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese
Ed Kurland
Great food, service, and atmosphere. Casual and great
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Wonton Soup, Wonton Noodle Soup, Pudding, Sandwich, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese
Joy Gao
This place is amazing. The food, service, vibes are all perfect. It does get very busy very fast so consider going during the day instead of dinner time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Fruit Shaved Ice, Wonton Noodle Soup, Pudding, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese
Nathan Larson
Just wow!!! The best food. Amazing. Wait wasn’t bad for a beautiful Sunday in the neighborhood/ peak brunch hour. Still thinking about that scallion bread!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Minced Pork on Rice
Will Fisher
Such good food and such friendly staff! They were very happy to help us and made the experience great. The food was amazing - everything we got was soo delicious and we all left happy and full. Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG
슈
The dandanmyeon and bok choy were not spicy and delicious! However, the sesame seed bread was so dry that I was disappointed. A system where you order first, receive a license plate, and then have it delivered to you when you sit down.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Peanut Bean
I like dining in here, it’s just really busy. They’re really good at take out deliveries so I find myself often ordering ahead and pickup up more often. Their food is reasonably portioned, great price, amazing taste. Would recommend but line does get long so be wary of the wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Chiayi Chicken Rice, Shrimp Wonton Soup, Hot & Sour Soup V GF, Sandwich, Sour Soup, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese, Chicken Rice, Sesame Scallion Bread, Minced Pork on Rice, Chili Sauce
Austin K
Their food is simple but good. Their rice bowls make for a nice, savory, filling meal. My only complaint would be they could use more veggies, it's pretty much just starch and protein and maybe a couple pieces of daikon or bok choy if you get the soup. Maybe that's just standard with the cuisine though idk.
Vay Van
Ah, Joy—a name that promises happiness, and honestly, it mostly delivered. I got the Joy Combo, because why settle for one thing when you can have a sampler platter of Taiwanese-inspired goodness?
Scallion Sandwich with Pork Belly
Let’s start with the star of the show: the scallion sandwich with pork belly. The pork belly was tender, but if you’re expecting that deep, rich, soy-braised Taiwanese flavor that haunts your dreams (or at least my dreams), this isn’t it. It was more of a “lightly seasoned, still delicious” situation. However, it did have the rare gift of being fatty without leaving a regretful grease film in my mouth, which I appreciated. The scallion bread itself? More like a scallion focaccia—a surprise, but a pleasant one. I was mentally prepared for something like a Roujiamo (Chinese-style flatbread sandwich), but Joy zigged where I expected a zag. No complaints.
Wonton Soup: The Overachiever
I was prepared for a delicate, simple bowl of wonton soup. What I got was a flavorful, umami-packed broth with six—yes, SIX—wontons. Who does that?! Usually, you get like, four, maybe five if the kitchen is feeling generous. The wontons had a lovely nuttiness, with a subtle hint of sesame oil that made me feel like a fancy person with refined taste. A true dark horse of the meal.
Ice Tea: The Flatline
Listen, I wanted to love the ice tea, but it just existed. It was the Switzerland of beverages—neutral, inoffensive, utterly unmemorable. If you're hoping for something special, lower those expectations.
Bean Curd Salad: A Tragic Tale of Fullness
I ordered the bean curd salad with the best intentions, but alas, I was too full to even attempt it. It sat there, lonely and ignored, like the last guest at a party no one remembered to say goodbye to. My deepest regrets.
The Verdict
Joy was poppin’ on a Thursday night at 8 PM, which tells me people love this place, and honestly, I get it. Street parking only, so bring your parallel parking A-game. The staff was super friendly, the vibes were good, and the food was solid. Would I come back? If I was in the area, sure. But would I drive across town for it? Ehh… with L.A. traffic, that’s a big ask.
Final Score: 8/10 – A solid choice if you’re nearby, but maybe not worth an odyssey across the city.
Be prepared for a line out the door – it's THAT popular. You order first at the counter and then wait for a table, but trust me, it's worth the wait. The space is surprisingly roomy with high ceilings, but it's definitely loud and lively. It's the kind of place where you can feel the excitement of everyone enjoying their meal. Let's get to the food! We tried the Slack Season Noodles, Minced Pork in Rice, and the Tofu. Everything was delicious! The flavors were authentic and satisfying. My only tiny critique is that some dishes were a tad on the salty side, but honestly, that just meant we devoured more of the fluffy white rice. The ambiance is fantastic – the crowd adds to the fun and energetic atmosphere. And despite being super busy, the service was still friendly and efficient. If you're looking for a taste of Taiwan with a vibrant atmosphere, Joy is a must-try. Just be prepared to wait in line – it's a testament to how good the food is!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Noodles, Minced Pork on Rice
Heather A Adams
Best edamame I’ve had in my life! The picked veggies are doooope. We weren’t feeling the Dan Dan noodles cuz we’re used to a diff type. The thousand layer pancakes were cool, especially for sopping up sauces. The minced pork on rice was the bomb, the slack season noodles was meh. The bun was delicious. Good drink selection and the wait wasnt bad even tho the line was longish on a Valentine’s Day Friday. Will save rooms for dessert next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
rockofeighties
Joy is delicious and affordable.
Thousand layer pancake with cheese and egg ✅
Chicken and rice ✅
Hot & Sour Soup ✅
My only negative feedback is change up the vegetables. Bok choy is always on the menu - what about pea shoots or some green beans?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ryan Reilly
Great food. Will definitely go back!
Barndi Kim
If you like pork, you must try the Taiwanese Pork Rice Bowl. It’s very simple w just white rice, lots of flavorful pork and some delicious pickles (I always buy extra) but it is SO delicious!!! The side dishes on display are rotated and also serve as good sidekicks to the rice bowl. There are other things on the menu but I’ve never tried them bc I feel like I hit the jackpot w the pork rice bowl. Maybe one of these days I’ll order the bowl to go and order something new to try. Maybe.
Counter service w friendly staff. Ambiance is bare bones but tables are a plenty
Food and ambiance overshadowed by the rudest waitress interaction I’ve had to-date.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 1
Absolutely recommend ! Get here early, lines form prior to opening. 1st timer here and we got the Dan Dan Noodles, Pork Belly sandwich on scallion bread & Pancake with egg & cheese (& chili oil). Super friendly staff and great indoor vibe!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Sandwich, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese
Great food, service, and atmosphere. Casual and great
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Wonton Soup, Wonton Noodle Soup, Pudding, Sandwich, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese
This place is amazing. The food, service, vibes are all perfect. It does get very busy very fast so consider going during the day instead of dinner time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Fruit Shaved Ice, Wonton Noodle Soup, Pudding, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese
Just wow!!! The best food. Amazing. Wait wasn’t bad for a beautiful Sunday in the neighborhood/ peak brunch hour. Still thinking about that scallion bread!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Minced Pork on Rice
Such good food and such friendly staff! They were very happy to help us and made the experience great. The food was amazing - everything we got was soo delicious and we all left happy and full. Highly recommend!!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG
The dandanmyeon and bok choy were not spicy and delicious! However, the sesame seed bread was so dry that I was disappointed. A system where you order first, receive a license plate, and then have it delivered to you when you sit down.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I like dining in here, it’s just really busy. They’re really good at take out deliveries so I find myself often ordering ahead and pickup up more often. Their food is reasonably portioned, great price, amazing taste. Would recommend but line does get long so be wary of the wait.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Dan Dan Noodles VG, Chiayi Chicken Rice, Shrimp Wonton Soup, Hot & Sour Soup V GF, Sandwich, Sour Soup, Thousand Layer Pancake with Egg and Cheese, Chicken Rice, Sesame Scallion Bread, Minced Pork on Rice, Chili Sauce
Their food is simple but good. Their rice bowls make for a nice, savory, filling meal. My only complaint would be they could use more veggies, it's pretty much just starch and protein and maybe a couple pieces of daikon or bok choy if you get the soup. Maybe that's just standard with the cuisine though idk.
Ah, Joy—a name that promises happiness, and honestly, it mostly delivered. I got the Joy Combo, because why settle for one thing when you can have a sampler platter of Taiwanese-inspired goodness?
Scallion Sandwich with Pork Belly
Let’s start with the star of the show: the scallion sandwich with pork belly. The pork belly was tender, but if you’re expecting that deep, rich, soy-braised Taiwanese flavor that haunts your dreams (or at least my dreams), this isn’t it. It was more of a “lightly seasoned, still delicious” situation. However, it did have the rare gift of being fatty without leaving a regretful grease film in my mouth, which I appreciated. The scallion bread itself? More like a scallion focaccia—a surprise, but a pleasant one. I was mentally prepared for something like a Roujiamo (Chinese-style flatbread sandwich), but Joy zigged where I expected a zag. No complaints.
Wonton Soup: The Overachiever
I was prepared for a delicate, simple bowl of wonton soup. What I got was a flavorful, umami-packed broth with six—yes, SIX—wontons. Who does that?! Usually, you get like, four, maybe five if the kitchen is feeling generous. The wontons had a lovely nuttiness, with a subtle hint of sesame oil that made me feel like a fancy person with refined taste. A true dark horse of the meal.
Ice Tea: The Flatline
Listen, I wanted to love the ice tea, but it just existed. It was the Switzerland of beverages—neutral, inoffensive, utterly unmemorable. If you're hoping for something special, lower those expectations.
Bean Curd Salad: A Tragic Tale of Fullness
I ordered the bean curd salad with the best intentions, but alas, I was too full to even attempt it. It sat there, lonely and ignored, like the last guest at a party no one remembered to say goodbye to. My deepest regrets.
The Verdict
Joy was poppin’ on a Thursday night at 8 PM, which tells me people love this place, and honestly, I get it. Street parking only, so bring your parallel parking A-game. The staff was super friendly, the vibes were good, and the food was solid. Would I come back? If I was in the area, sure. But would I drive across town for it? Ehh… with L.A. traffic, that’s a big ask.
Final Score: 8/10 – A solid choice if you’re nearby, but maybe not worth an odyssey across the city.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 4
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Be prepared for a line out the door – it's THAT popular. You order first at the counter and then wait for a table, but trust me, it's worth the wait.
The space is surprisingly roomy with high ceilings, but it's definitely loud and lively. It's the kind of place where you can feel the excitement of everyone enjoying their meal.
Let's get to the food! We tried the Slack Season Noodles, Minced Pork in Rice, and the Tofu. Everything was delicious! The flavors were authentic and satisfying. My only tiny critique is that some dishes were a tad on the salty side, but honestly, that just meant we devoured more of the fluffy white rice.
The ambiance is fantastic – the crowd adds to the fun and energetic atmosphere. And despite being super busy, the service was still friendly and efficient.
If you're looking for a taste of Taiwan with a vibrant atmosphere, Joy is a must-try. Just be prepared to wait in line – it's a testament to how good the food is!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Noodles, Minced Pork on Rice
Best edamame I’ve had in my life! The picked veggies are doooope. We weren’t feeling the Dan Dan noodles cuz we’re used to a diff type. The thousand layer pancakes were cool, especially for sopping up sauces. The minced pork on rice was the bomb, the slack season noodles was meh. The bun was delicious. Good drink selection and the wait wasnt bad even tho the line was longish on a Valentine’s Day Friday. Will save rooms for dessert next time.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Joy is delicious and affordable.
Thousand layer pancake with cheese and egg ✅
Chicken and rice ✅
Hot & Sour Soup ✅
My only negative feedback is change up the vegetables. Bok choy is always on the menu - what about pea shoots or some green beans?
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Great food. Will definitely go back!
If you like pork, you must try the Taiwanese Pork Rice Bowl. It’s very simple w just white rice, lots of flavorful pork and some delicious pickles (I always buy extra) but it is SO delicious!!! The side dishes on display are rotated and also serve as good sidekicks to the rice bowl. There are other things on the menu but I’ve never tried them bc I feel like I hit the jackpot w the pork rice bowl. Maybe one of these days I’ll order the bowl to go and order something new to try. Maybe.
Counter service w friendly staff. Ambiance is bare bones but tables are a plenty
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Minced Pork on Rice
Loading...