Such a great experience at Joy. They serve traditional Taiwanese foods, drinks, and desserts. It's a little hectic at first since you line up and order right away but they do have staff directing you to find tables for you. Honestly, everything was good here. You can tell it's made with authentic recipes and good quality ingredients. Minced pork rice is a classic and they nailed it. Chicken rice was a little dry. Drinks are made fresh like at a boba shop. Definitely save room for dessert. We got the traditional Taiwanese shaved ice and it was huge! Plus, all the toppings (boba, grass jelly, red beans, sweet potato and taro mochi balls) were fresh and still hot. It is such a refreshing dessert on a hot day. I can't wait to come back here.

Came here with my partner on a whim. I ordered the slack noodle, and it was delicious. Decent prices and portions. The atmosphere was pretty neat, too! The staff was awesome! Definitely would recommend to my friends!

The spicy shrimp wontons and Dan Dan noodles were great!! And the minced pork over rice was solid -- very good proportions. I love pine and Crane's greens (same owner's) but found the water spinach to be underwhelming. Didn't like the seasonal fruit shaved ice. Mango wasn't ripe and proportionally way too much pineapple. Heavy on the plum juice. Staff was sunny and helpful! Be prepared for a wait.

I frequent a lot of restaurants throughout LA County. My friends often ask me how do I judge a good restaurant. Over the years I’ve noticed that the most successful restaurants are frequented by a variety of age groups, and nationalities often repeat customers. Joy on York Street has found that groove without a doubt. You could say the food is simple, but I would have to disagree. They go to extremes to make their dishes, healthy and tasty sourcing varietals that you don’t normally find in restaurants. Hats off to Joy for finding the groove and serving delicious and healthy food. I look forward to many many visits here. I highly recommend you visit Joy on York st !!!

Great lively spot! It’s Saturday 3pm and while there are lots of people here and a line still forming, it doesn’t feel crowded here. I love the ntural lighting and the decor of the restaurant. As for the food, it’s at a good price point and the portion size is perfect (not oversized!). Got the Dan Dan noodles (creamy peanut sauce with hot noodles) and Minced Pork with rice. The rice is softer and mushier than I’m used to (maybe that’s how it’s supposed to be?) and I prefer cold noodles, but otherwise - good taste! Next time I come back, I want to try out the shaved ice!

A little gem in the middle of HLP. Best dandan noods outside of SGV! Love the open seating and the ambiance of this place. Love the cold dishes as well and their mochiiii OMGGG!! MY FAVE!!

+1

We’ve been to Joy on York a few times and it’s a great spot for authentic Taiwanese food. The customer base is multi-cultural so bystanders might mistake it for being too Americanized, but anyone that’s visited Joy will know the food is legit. We went with the dan dan noodles, chicken and rice, thousand layer pancake with egg, woodear mushrooms, and shaved ice last night. The pancake still remains my favorite here. The dan dan noodles has the sweet aroma and taste of peanut sauce with the fresh taste of cucumbers complimenting the chewy noodles. A must try 🥢🍜🥖

+4

The Chiayi Chicken Rice is a must! The succulent chicken, the added texture from the crispy shallots and the flavorful broth they add to the rice really make this the best I’ve had including 626/SGV places, and I think I like it even more than the Chiayi rice bowls in Chiayi, Taiwan (they use turkey but I think I prefer chicken anyways). This is the only place I’ve seen in the US that adds the flavorful broth to the rice like they do in Chiayi. Other items we had included thousand layer pancake with egg, sesame scallion bread, simple greens, slack season noodles, hakka mochi, black milk tea, one of the hot teas (maybe alishan). All were solid except the black milk tea. Definitely will be back to try more. There’s metered and residential parking nearby. Place was decently crowded on a Tuesday night.

+2

Lives up to the name. The decor and food is very cheerful and a celebration of Chinese flavors. I recommend the mapo tofu and the pork rice, but there are some more interesting dishes to try as well.

I was so happy with my doordash order! The belly fat literally melted in my mouth. Everything tastes absolutely delicious! Can’t wait to visit the restaurant in person!

Great experience at Joy. Arrived around 8:30 and had to wait for a little while for a table. The food comes out wildly fast which is awesome. I got the dan dan noodles and a pork belly sesame bread sandwich. The food was very fresh and filling. The sea salt cream teas are to die for. They are so tasty and not too sweet.

Every Sunday during Summer I come to Joy alone to dine in for lunch. Typically busy time of year and day for them. One hot Sunday in the afternoon for lunch I ordered my usual (chicken rice bowl with a pork bun AND beef bun). They had asked if I’d be dining in. I had replied with “no I don’t want to take up space you’re busy.” The most wonderful worker had responded with “You should take up space” and went ahead and seated me for my quick lunch. I don’t leave many reviews but Joy is the type of place I would. Joy is the kind of place you become a regular at because the food is absolutely delicious and the service is there to match. I don’t go alone on my lunches anymore. But with my partner I get to share joy with at Joys.

WOW. Before i start talking about the food, let me just say the atmosphere is very calm and chill, but warm but also not too intimate. Perfect for a first date or friendly dinner or even with a longtime partner and y’all show up every 2nd Wednesday for like a year straight. Music is a mix of lo-fi and rnb and also hip hop and tame impala and some house. Pretty solid. Staff are all cool and are all pretty unique in their own way. Very helpful and don’t mind answering questions. I had to show y’all two pics of the bao because it was that fire. I was using their chili/red pepper oil like a mf’er goes perfect with everything. Not really that spicy until you put the other thicker chili sauce on too. But bao was pretty fluffy steamed bun. And pork cuts were thick and seasoned very well. Just needed some extra sauce fr. The layered pancake was so worth it, i got everything on it cuz that was suggested by the waitress. And dawg that tasted like one of the items they have to be known for. As you can see i added a lil sauce on this one too. 👌🏽👌🏽👌🏽 I completely forgot the name of the soup i had(slack season) but i remember it had shrimp inside and i also ordered the five spice beef on the side and threw it into my soup. Crazy enough, it wasn’t dry whatsoever but retained its moisture even outside of the broth. Because i definitely added it to my noodles. And as you can see i cleaned the whole bowl out. The only thing i wasn’t too much of a fan of was the rice pudding. The sweet potato taro inside however was actually pretty good and i enjoyed that but the texture of the pudding mixed with the overall sweetness just didn’t sit right with me. I will get the mochi next time for sure. They also have an extensive selection of beverages. From teas to booch and sake you really can’t go wrong at all. Overall this place brought me total joy from beginning to end. And i was doing my happy dance while eating the whole time. Would definitely recommend 10/10.

+2

Summary: Veering into more "authentic" Chinese / Taiwanese food, Joy offers something for everyone. Are you craving real-deal appetizers like marinated wood-ear mushrooms, or are you looking for delicious pork belly in a bun - you'll find both here. Try to avoid peak hours - the line can easily go out the door after 6pm. Stop by the donut/ice cream shop across the street if the desserts here don't appeal to you. Parking can be a challenge, so buffer time for that. Food: Get things to try family style. Portion sizes are decent enough for everyone to have a bite or two if you're sharing. Standouts: thousand layer pancake (with egg & cheese), Dan dan noodles, braised pork belly bun, and taro milk tea (with real taro). Service: Once you get through the line, service is fast. Everything came out at once, including the drinks. The staff is very nice. You'll find most condiments you need on your table. Atmosphere: Night and day if you come on the earlier side rather than rush hour. During rush hour, it can feel crowded and loud. If you come earlier, it feels more intimate. Good place for a first-date. Restrooms are available and large/clean. Overall, feels casual yet classy. Price: Very reasonable prices for what you get. The Joy Combo seems like a good value but I've never tried it personally. Parking: Can be difficult to find - only street parking.

+3

Often a line, but great spot for neighborhood Taiwanese. Serve some beer, wine, and sake too. All their cold dishes are amazing, and you can’t go wrong with really anything on the menu.

the traditional taiwanese ice and the seasonal noodles were perfect! the noodles were so chewy and authentic… definitely recommend if you are missing taiwan. i think the dandan noodles were too saucy and garlicy…

+1

Everything we had today taste really good! Highly recommend the noodle that comes with one shrimp and hot &sour soup. There’s a paid (.25 cents/30min) parking across the street. Really nice decor too!

+2

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.

I love my experience every time I come here. The food is always excellent. I always order The Dan Dan Noodles, Shrimp Wonton. I a huge fan of getting a few sides one of my favorites is the Lotus Root. Trendy Atmosphere & great neighborhood to explore for a walk after your meal.

Absolutely love this place. The vibe and the food are both excellent. Came here on my birthday and they gave me a free drink! They recommended the passion fruit tea and it’s SO good. The perfect blend of sweet and tart and herbal. And the Dan dan noodles - INCREDIBLE. So so so good. So fresh and the perfect size. Also vegan!! Seriously SO DELICIOUS. Very affordable too - $9 even for a full bowl of noodles. All of their food looks so good! Thank you for treating me on my birthday, Joy :) Update - they surprised me with a free forbidden rice pudding. Wow, thank you Joy for going above and beyond for my birthday. :’)))

Delish hipster Taiwanese food! My husband found this place and we tried it during when the pandemic was slightly getting better. It was so good!! Took our family here and they enjoyed it too. We love the Dan Dan Noodles and thousand layer pancake (plain). Got here on a Tues night at 7:15pm and the line was POPPING!! Sooo crowded! However, we were able to get seated about 30min later. You order at the counter first (they also have a separate takeout line around the corner) and then they lead you to a table if it is available. We tried their tangerine soju seltzer and it was so good!! 6% alchy :0) Def want to try their other drinks next time. There is water nearby and cups and utensils to grab ourselves. Service was good and available when we needed plates to be taken or for boxes. Servings are a little small but we ordered 4 dishes for 3 people and it was just enough. Oh if you are looking to have a good conversation, this place is super packed and loud so you will have to shout!

+2

It was packed at night so the wait took a while but it was so worth it. The portions were pretty good and prices reasonable for LA standards. Mapo tofu with rice - the mapo tofu had nice silken tofu, but no Szechuan peppercorn which was atypical. However, the sauce base it was in had a savory, manchurian-like flavor. A tad bit spicy. Dan Dan noodles - the peanut sauce was crafted perfectly and coated the noodles to provide a creamy peanut-butter texture and flavor in each bite. I wouldn’t recommend the hot and sour soup as it was honestly too sour. Go to this place and try the mapo tofu or the Dan Dan noodles!

This is an unique spot to eat authentic Taiwanese food. With its modern atmosphere, I was surprised that they served delicious dishes that I would expect from Asia rather than coffee. The area is very chill and relaxing, with large windows that allows in natural light with a great street view. Overall, this place is great for a friendly dinner.

Their best dish is not on their instore menu but it is on the online takeout menu for whatever reason. Get the pork belly rice, run don't walk, get it and you'll be happy for the rest of the day and then sad next morning because you are craving it again. Also lotus root salad is great too but watch out for ginger slices masquerading as lotus root this is my childhood nightmare coming back to haunt me again.

4.5 stars is probably exactly what it should get, 4 for solid tasty food and 5 for the great great service. Our party of 5 tried a little of everything including the shrimp wonton noodle soup, the chicken over rice, the minced beef over rice, the dan Dan noodles and plain and loaded 1000 layer flaky bread - sorry about my weird titles of entrees. The food is clean, like not greasy at all and not saturated with salt or msg so you can actually taste the food rather than the overly sauced food of other places. My favorite was the wontons with the springy soft noodles and the flaky bread - add the basil and chili sauce. Of course you can get cheaper Taiwanese food in the sgv but if you're in the highland park or Pasadena area, it's worth the trip. Fyi, the place was packed on a Sunday night but the staff was super friendly and accommodating for our party while being informative with a smile - stand in line, order, get a number and they'll seat you. Parking can be dicey because You is located right in the hip part ot Highland Park, across from Donut Friend.

+5

Went here for a bite while I was in town for work. Loved their spicy shrimp shumai!! So tasty! I could eat multiple orders of these. I also tried the seven layer pancake. It was also delicious! Huge and good for sharing! We also had the Dan Dan noodles. They were yummy! Fresh and spicy. We had two types of buns...pork and beans curd. They were both tasty! I would totally go back and try some other items and get the shumai!

Sooo yummy and so fast! The vibe inside is super cute and the staff are super attentive.

Exceptional great service!!!!! We were evacuating from the fires in Thousand Oaks and was looking for great food before heading to lodging. We stumbled this cafe through google and yelp reviews and it was amazing. I wish we had a cafe like this in Thousand Oaks. The noodle soup was so tasty along with the sides of wood ear, bean curd strips, and seaweed. We also ordered drinks of sea salt tea with pudding and milk green tea with grass jelly which was exceptional. The desserts which made our situation much sweeter are also delicious. The Mochi with peanut and sesame along with the black sticky rice was yummy. The service was unbelievably great with so many customers they had to handle. They were all very friendly, helpful, and sweet. I would definitely come back again even out of our way from Thousand Oaks.

Joy is a fantastic Taiwanese restaurant with exceptional service and a lively atmosphere. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive. The food is absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of authentic Taiwanese dishes to choose from(recommend trying and sharing with friends and family). The prices are also quite reasonable, making Joy a great value for the money. The only downside is that during busy times, there can be a bit of a wait for a table. However, this is a small price to pay for the overall excellent dining experience at Joy.

This is a place where youre able to try a little bit of everything. The waitress taking order was very kind and had a great attitude. The food was prepared fast and everything was delicious. Only downside is that this place can get extremely busy so sometimes the wait can be a while but it's worth it. Definitely a must try if in the area.

We ordered the pancakes with egg, shrimp wontons soup, and garlic green vegetables. They were delicious overall. However, the greens didn’t come with garlic, instead it came with braised pork.

+5

Phenomenal dinner experience here. Great food, great service, I have zero complaints about this spot. The flavors were so delicious and the atmosphere was so comforting. Will definitely be back

+2

Found this place out of some nowhere blog recommendations and it took me some effort to convince my husband to give it a try. It is just hard to find authentic Taiwanese food here in LA. And out of our surprises, it is more than just good... As a born Taiwanese, I can confidently say the food reminded me of my hometown especially the mochi. It tasted exactly like the one I had in my childhood. Lol And the Dan-Dan noodle, hot/sour soup are also very very delicious. And big plus to the service/staffs here, they are so friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back!

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!

I absolutely love this place! It has a great atmosphere as it’s really busy, we came here around 1pm! The food is absolutely incredible, light but filling. And everything tasted so great especially the bun, which was my favorite. I wouldn’t recommend the sea salted caramel drink with green tea as it’s just cream with green tea. I also love the hipster elements here, the plants and the light wood really brings this place alive ! The service is great and everyone is so friendly and attentive.

+5

Review update: I came here a second time. It’s just as awesome as ever! I had the Slack Season soup. Delicious. Add soy sauce and vinegar to make it better. Their rice pudding is great. Great food and service in a lively ambience with great large windows to the outside world for the best people watching. Joy makes really tasty Taiwanese style noodles! The ambience is lively. Joy is often packed. I came with a friend that has a Taiwanese spouse and she said the food is legit! Parking is an issue most of the time. Meter parking is available.

+6

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.

+6

Great experience! The thousand layer pancake with cheese, basil, & chili sauce was definitely good however it was slightly hard. The Dan Dan noodles were okay, not a fan of peanut sauce, but I added chili oil and hot sauce and it made it taste a lot more balanced. Had the fruit shaved ice cream and I think I ate it wrong but SUPER GOOD. I think I was suppose to mix it. Overall great experience for first time.

Delicious affordable Taiwanese food. They have a great lunch special for about $17.95.

+4

Tasty and affordable Taiwanese comfort food, great music, and good vibes - my belly’s never been this happy! I think I just found my new #1 favorite restaurant. The traditional shaved ice is the unexpected grand finale - make sure to save some room for it!

Get there early. Line moves fast and the staff do their best to accommodate but it’s just too popular. First time visiting and I was impressed how friendly the staff were to everyone. The hipster Asian vibe was also everywhere. Food / noodles were excellent and the dessert, peanut mochi was decadent (so much for losing weight). Also the menu is very reasonable and not over priced. Besides how nice the staff were, my second biggest surprise was how inexpensive the food was. Definitely recommend but not in big groups, more of a date night place.

+1

A delicious Taiwanese restaurant in Los Angeles! So many great options, especially when you can get a combo to try lots of things at a good price. Highly recommend for a delicious, flavorful meal!

The food is good, although it was my 1st time here. I tried the recommended "Dan Dan Noodle." It was tasty, but the portion is very small. Although 12$ price explains it. In general it's a nice place to try but since it's very crowded I will not go there often. Plus you need to pay for street parking. The servers are all smiling and welcome you properly. And the food came in a reasonable time.

Great restaurant with delicious food. The Dan Dan noodles were delicious. The pork bowl and the shaken iced tea were also good. Line moves pretty quick and you order ahead and wait to be seated. The food came out pretty quick once seated and the customer service was great. They were really nice and efficient throughout our time eating. Very much a hipster place but does not suffer from the “looks good but tastes average” affect. The food here is in fact delicious.

Honestly, Joy is one of my all-time favorite places. The food is delicious, and you can taste the love that goes into it. The service is always quick, even with a line always out the door. You can eat in or get it delivered, and the quality is the same in both cases. I always order the Dan Dan Noodles and Minced Pork Rice: the portions are generous! I know I can always count on Joy to deliver a great meal.

Satisfying dining experience. Was seated quickly on a Friday afternoon. Friendly and informative staff. Ordered an assortment of the cold dishes including wood ear mushroom, cucumber salad, braised peanuts, and seaweed. All scrumptious. Shared between two grown lads and enough for take home. the chiayi chicken rice, minced pork rice, Dan Dan noodles were all made excellently as our main course. The black sesame peanut mochi was delicious desert, but feel it would be great with some ice cream next time. Our good friend Skinny Pablo gives Joy an 8/8

+6

Joy offers humble authentic Taiwanese street food, with a great ambience and superb service. Also very reasonable prices. The side dishes were a nice surprise, marinated bamboo shoots were so good. Both the Dan Dan noodles and the minced meat over rice were solid. Will definitely come back.

I was introduced to Joy by my daughter, we had a lovely meal with great food and a wonderful ambiance. Family friendly, friends gathering, or single people eating and chatting. Our meal was really good and full of flavor

+3

On one of those crisp and cloudy days in LA, and you are a bit melancholic and longing for a coziness feeling of home this is the place to go. The comfort food of your dreams, it’ll warm your stomach and heart, cooked to the perfection with love. Usually there is a line outside, but I promise you it is worth the wait and anticipation. The sides are amazing, especially the peanut and the mushrooms. We had pork over rice, mapo tofu and noodles and I can’t think of any favorites because they are all rich in flavor. The prices are fair and decent and nothing crazy, perfect food for the working class. This is the sort of experience that you can use to justify paying high rents in LA and be happy that you are here now experiencing this food.

I’m visiting from Maine and ate here with my brother who lives a couple blocks away. The food was AMAZING. All of the staff were extremely pleasant and we got an appetizer on the house. Overall, great experience!

Amidst the hustle and bustle of a Sunday crowd, this Taiwanese restaurant stands out as a beacon of efficiency and culinary prowess. Despite its ever-present full-house, waiting times are miraculously brief, a testament to their streamlined operations. Their rapid transition from ordering to serving, especially under such high demand, is noteworthy. The Chicken rice, described as "god sent," elevates the dining experience to celestial heights. The savory-focused menu, combined with generous portions and unbeatable pricing, makes this eatery a wallet-friendly haven for gourmets. The staff, navigating the demanding environment with friendliness and professionalism, underscore the establishment's commitment to excellent service. All these elements converge, rightfully earning its status as a newfound favorite in the realm of Taiwanese dining.

+5

Honestly we stumbled on this place on a whim, had no idea what to expect and was so pleasantly surprised. Definitely try the scallion bread sandwich with pork belly, it's mildly sweet and savory.. Food was fantastic, service 10/10. Will definitely be back!

had an amazing experience at Joy! The food was absolutely delicious — fresh, flavorful, and beautifully presented. You can really taste the quality in every dish. The portions are generous and the prices are very reasonable. The staff was friendly, attentive, and made us feel very welcome. The atmosphere is cozy and comfortable, perfect for a casual lunch or dinner. Everything came out quickly and was prepared perfectly. I will definitely be coming back and highly recommend Joy to anyone who loves authentic Taiwanese cuisine!

Went to the restaurant at 5pm on a Monday, usually this place is busy busy busy. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles with the chicken added. Be sure to checkout the Fridge with the cold sides! Check out was easy, staff was friendly and accommodating to any questions. Atmosphere and views in the place are great. Would highly recommend coming in to dine but if you’d rather to-go it should be just as good as when you’re sitting down. Definitely will be coming back.

Marie Edwards

Just wanted to give a huge shoutout to their amazing staff for the incredible dining experience my party and I had yesterday! 🙌🏼 The food was absolutely delicious, from the Clamshell Bun, Thousand Layer Pancake, Dan Dan Noodles, Mince Pork On Rice, Pickled Cabbage and we had their Purple Horchata and Mexican Coke to drink, everything was just perfect. And the prices were surprisingly affordable! 😋 Despite the small portions, we were pleasantly surprised by how filling the dishes were, leaving us with leftovers to take home. The cashier was super friendly and the service was efficient, even with a busy crowd. 👏🏼 Not to mention, the restaurant was spotlessly clean, including the restroom which is always a nice touch. Overall, we were thoroughly impressed and will definitely be returning for another meal soon. I'll be sure to recommend [Restaurant Name] to all my friends and family! 😊 Thanks again for such a wonderful dining experience! 💕 #Grateful #DeliciousFood #HighlyRecommend 🍽️🥢🌟

+7

ariel Strubel Iram

We stumbled upon this restaurant while walking around the neighborhood. Super quick and efficient service! The food was yummy and affordable. I got the “Joy Combo” and my friend got the “Chiayi Chicken Rice” I upgraded my combo to include the sweet fruit tea. I LOVED the tea so much, and appreciated the spoon to eat the fruit inside. The hot and sour soup was nothing special, and with all the food I had, I didn’t have room for it really. I ordered the Woodear mushroom salad for my appetizer. Definitely my favorite food part of the meal. I ordered the “Braised Bean Curd, Scallion Bread Sandwich” for my entree portion. I liked the sandwich overall, especially the scallion bun. The chicken rice was really good as well and a great value. All in all we had a great experience with good service and good food. We came on a Saturday night close to 5:15, and it got super busy by the time we left! I’ll definitely come back!

Pablo Cuellar

Get there early! My friend and I were the first ones there ten minutes before they opened and there was already a line of people behind us. I can see why though because this place was delicious. Offers a wide selection of fresh dishes, soups, and good portions. Worth a visit!

Cindy Angela

Happy tummy happy me! After all the western foods, this one really a comfort food. Try their foods and also desserts. They are all yummy!! A hidden gem in the middle of LA 🤩🤩

Emanuel Boderash

The food was incredible. We had the Dan Dan noodle soup and the Wonton soup, both were very tasty. We wanted to try something new for an appetizer and the waiter recommended the thousand layer pancake which he included on the house. That hospitality and service was greatly appreciated, in addition to how yummy the warm crispy pancake was. Ambiance in this place is awesome. Can’t wait to visit many more times.

+2

Xavier Gomez

Dan dan noodles were amazingly warm and fresh, the chicken they added was moist and tender. Thoroughly enjoyed the Chiya Chicken and Rice and Wonton soup. There is an amazing atmosphere to this restaurant and the interior is just as great as the food. will be back.

David Mendoza

Amazing service! Food was great! Quality was great, and the service was amazing. Maya went out of her way to make sure we enjoyed our food, following up on us to make sure her recommendations were good. New spot added to our favorites, food was so good forgot to take pictures.

Lily Chi

This place was so busy! The line kept growing. I really loved the lotus cold side dish, the mochi, the tea drinks, and I know the Dan Dan noodles are very popular too. I got a set with a scallion bread sandwich with pork belly, and I didn’t love the scallion bread, but everything else about it was divine and melts in your mouth.

Leah McCarthy

This place is immaculate. I tried the Dan Dan noodles . Just I was expected they were amazing.. They also have a really good selection of Taiwanese beers and sake . I highly recommend trying them out if you’re in the area they’re worth it. All of the employees I work at the location also very nice. Five Stars 🌟🌟🌟🌟🌟

Eric Cruz

Super Hipster Taiwanese serving authentic canteen-style TW comfort food. We love coming here w friends. A nice casual place to hang and catch up. Pork Rice / Nutty Tan Tan Mien (Dan Dan Noodles) / Chicken Rice / Pork Bao / Wonton Soup / Fruit Tea / side dishes - all legit. Don’t forget the sauce and spice!! Order first. Take a number. Wait for table. Staff brings the food. Grab your own water and plates. Atmosphere is lively. A Highland Park institution! With the only draw back being it’s fame!!! Therefore expect to wait a little. But turnover is fairly fast.

Ross Mantsurov

Lovely Taiwanese eatery with extremely quick service. You order at the front once you enter, find a table to sit down, and they bring your food out shortly after. The ambiance is modern and sleek, and the restaurant was busy at around 9:30 PM on a weekday. The food was simple, delicious, and showcased Taiwanese cuisine perfectly. I will say their Slack Season Noodles are less flavorful than the Dan Dan, but they offered various condiments. Highly recommend for a quick meal!

Pam G

I once overheard a couple in Pasadena that didn’t think there was a difference between Japanese and Chinese people/food. 🫠 One time a friend asked me if Thai food was from Taiwan. 😳 In Southern California we’re very fortunate that our tastebuds can travel across all of Asia in one weekend, if we want, and learn the nuances and differences of each Asian country. In today’s review of “I’m gonna learn me today”, Joy is a Taiwanese restaurant with a short, limited menu that provides an excellent, affordable, flavorful introduction to Taiwanese cuisine. Which is why you will always find a line outside of people waiting to be seated. I was only ever able to dine inside when they first opened, before the pandemic. Their menu is small but every dish is awesome—usually that’s a good sign because you know they’ve perfected all their menu options. We now always order takeaway. My go-to is the Thousand Layer Pancake with Everything—I can eat this for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. I also love the Braised Pork Belly on Rice. My partner loves the Chiayi Chicken on Rice with the Shrimp Wontons. You really can’t go wrong with anything on their menu. And if you’re okay with takeaway, instead of dining in, and want to get your yum-yum on immediately, they’ve made it easy for to-go orders with a pick up window on the side street. You don’t have to fight the crowd waiting to be seated at the entrance.

Mytao Westside

The DAN DAN NOODLES 🍜 with chicken or without are just so rewarding for me. Tried a few other items that I enjoyed as well. I hope the price doesn’t change because it is just right. Or they can increase the portion size. Everything seems to be good for just one person. The thousand layer pancake of course doesn’t seem like a thousand layers but it is large. Didn’t impress me as much as the Dan Dan noodles. Definitely worth trying this place out. Quality seems to really be there.

+6

Jessica Jeon

Basically tried everything on the menu and it was all delicious! Passionfruit ice tea is amazing- it is fresh and not too sweet. The Dan Dan noodles were delicious and a solid amount of cucumbers. The shaved ice is a huge portion and so tasty- would definitely get that The lotus root is crunchy and flavorful. Pork with rice is tasty and a good portion size. The only thing I would say is that they should have more radish to their pork and rice dish. Atmosphere is cute and fun but the music is definitely way loud so you can’t really hear the person next to you.

+12

MiTom Pham

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!

I’ve been meaning to try this place so last week I went with my cousin to check it out. The first impression was that it looked nice but there is a tall waiter with aviator clear glasses that is the rudest I have ever seen in a long time. The food did some work for me to give this joint 4 stars. He speaks to people as he is in the military or something. Not friendly at all. Authoritative. I almost left because of him. Everyone else in this place was amazing and very helpful and courteous. Anyway, overcoming this issue, We ordered the pork belly in the bread, a chicken bowl, spicy shrimp wonton, noodles, 5 spice beef, 1000 layer pancakes with cheese and all... Everything was delicious and of high quality. I really liked it and would come back unless I’m not in the mood to dealing with that guy. Try gettin the food to go from here and go sit at the nearby bar. They are cool if you bring your own food and drink their beer and sit on their patio...

+1

Incredible value for the money. For $8.50 I got large bowl with shredded Jidori chicken. (Chaiya Chicken) The chicken was shredded and juicy, added taste from added chicken fat and fresh green onions. I also ordered the forbidden rice pudding. Very tasty!

you have no idea how excited i was this is the taste from my home country the minced pork on rice was absolutely my favorite a bit of pepper taste minced pork melted inside my mouth however, the shaved ice could be better and remember to ask for brown sugar from the staff

+6

They had multiple vegan options. The dandan noodles were very creamy. It'd be great if they can add side of tofu with the dandan noodles. The side dishes, especially the wood ear mushrooms were very delicious. The staff were friendly.

Those with severe peanut allergies should probably avoid this place. That being said, everybody who worked there, that we talked to, was extremely kind and helpful. They were very knowledgeable and were very good at checking for allergens, I think there's just a lot of particulate flying around that they can't control :/ The food was delicious tho lol

Some of the best Asian cuisine I’ve had. The venue and lighting is nice and the staff were friendly. The food was very good, and I recommend the Dan Dan noodles with the thousand layer pancake. The “scallion pancake” had egg and cheese in the middle which was good too. Super yummy and a great location for lunch!

The decor and "Vibe" is different than all of the Taiwanese restaurants I have visited. The menu is authentic but lack the taste I was looking for in a Taiwanese restaurant. It could be because it is located in a hip area so the restaurant make some of the dishes more "fusion" to fit most of the customer. I ordered the Dan Dan noodles, my wife ordered the Mapo tofu which is very different and the sauce tasted like the Mapo Tofu at a Japanese restaurant (中華料理), not bad but not we were looking for at a Taiwanese restaurant. I have been using chopsticks all my life and still could not get used to a metal chopsticks, they are quite challenging to pick up anything.

+3

Authentic Taiwanese food at an affordable price! I started with the gua bao, which was soft and packed with savory braised pork. I also tried the Lu rou fan (braised pork over rice), which was simple yet so satisfying with its rich sauce coating the rice. I wish the service was faster though, I waited 30 minutes for two simple dishes…. Maybe I’ll try take out next time.

4.5 🌟 Tasty and filling meal that’s really worth the bang for your buck. Everything we got was so flavorful. I was surprised with how filling the hot and sour soup was; it was more like a vegetable stew. The sesame scallion bread was buttery, which wasn’t what I was expecting, but still good. Not pictured, but really great were the simple greens in a soy garlic sauce. It can get crowded, especially on a Friday evening, but the wait time isn’t bad. It’s an order at the counter and wait to be seated type of restaurant.

Generally decent sized portions. All quite good except the MaPo Tofu was too wet and soggy. Service was kind and prompt. Nice place to eat!

Michael Sierra-Arévalo

Had a great lunch at Joy. Super busy when we arrived. The staff moved folks through the line quickly and turned tables over efficiently. Food was out within fifteen minutes of ordering. Dan Dan noodles were excellent, as was the 1000 layer pancake. The slack season noodles were forgettable. Pork sandwich was tasty, even with sesame seed overload on the bread.

My boyfriend and I had a really great first experience dining in at Joy on York. The vibe was cool, the food was delicious, and it quickly became one of our favorite spots. Since that visit, we’ve ordered takeout regularly—honestly at least 12–15 times throughout 2025—because it’s been consistently good and reliable. Our usual order is the minced pork on rice with extra pickles, the chicken Chiayi on rice, and two passion fruit green teas (which are usually the real stars). I did notice about a month ago that prices went up slightly, which I understand, but today’s order was disappointing. The “extra” pickles were literally about five pieces, when it’s usually a generous cup with much more. The passion fruit green teas also had very little passion fruit jam/sweetener compared to what we’re used to. It felt like we paid more but received less, which was frustrating—especially as regular customers who order the same items every time and know what to expect. I wouldn’t be writing this if we didn’t genuinely love the food and support this place. I’m hoping this was just an off day and that future orders return to the consistency and portions we’ve come to expect, because Joy on York has been a go-to for us and we’d love to keep it that way.

I’ve got a riddle for you. Where is the menu always the same, but the food is always different? Look. I like Joy as much as the next guy—well, maybe not /quite/ as much—but for a restaurant with a menu that has remained virtually unchanged for 8 years, they are wildly—some might even say, unforgivably—inconsistent. I should know, as I’ve eaten here for all 8 years. Before you roll your eyes at me for writing a review which condemns a place I’ve eaten countless wonton soups from (and from which I will assuredly continue to do so), consider this: restaurants and their customers are in a relationship. You wouldn’t necessarily abandon a relationship just because there were some rocky times, right? Joy, when we first met, you swept me off my feet; I’ve been chasing that feeling ever since. Your wontons were perfectly formed—firm but tender—and suspended in a hot broth that transported me to new and wondrous places. Now your broth doth burn the lips. Today your wontons arrive limp and beaten, their innards bursting through the sallow flaps of skin that float like tendrils of dead jellyfish in the brine. But wait—tomorrow a forest of bok choy will accompany the pillowy mounds of your rejuvenated dumplings. The tumult is exhausting. I never know when you will be faithful with your chiayi chicken bowl in perfect ratios of rice, chicken, and scallions or when you will betray me with a meager layer of rice grains drowning in a disrespectful amount of shallot oil. You’re good enough to me enough of the time that I keep coming back. But I never feel truly safe with you. If I’m having a bad day I know that I can’t risk calling you and being disappointed—maybe even triggered. My friends say I should stop seeing you, but I feel like they’re really just tired of me complaining about you. Maybe that’s why I’m writing you this letter. I’m hoping against hope that sharing my vulnerable truth will inspire some change that restores my trust in you. That perhaps you’ll finally train your kitchen to make the handful of dishes you do so well, well…well. Until then, just remember: I want to go steady…but you won’t let me.

Selina Oeien

I really wanted to fall in love with Joy on York but found most of the dishes to be either too bland or too oily. By staff recommendation, I ordered their chiayi chicken rice, scallion bread sandwich with braised bean curd, a plain thousand layer pancake, and cold dishes — everything was just far too salty, leaving a pungent, vinegar aftertase. Also, the pancake was oily to the touch and the chicken, dry! Perhaps my expectations were too high since I quite like their sister restaurant, Pine and Crane in Silverlake. Glad I got to try but probably won’t be back!

Kathrine Braxton

I went for the first time tonight post pandemic (I went for the first time pre pandemic) and was excited to give this place another shot. By the time we got home the Dan Dan noodle was all mushed together (user error for not eating there but also was not going to wait 20-30mins to be seated) and with the lightest sprinkle of chicken on top which was disappointing since it was a few dollars to add on. I don’t think the container gives the noodles enough space which is also why it got like that. Then for the simple greens, I thought they forgot to add the garlic but it’s because there was no flavor--just book choy boiled in garlic water. It was also overcooked. The Dan Dan was the star of the show. Overall food is good but some of it lacks strong flavor. All of these little mishaps and the is why I gave it the score I did.

Not sure why this place is so popular. I randomly picked it and decided to try it out. There was a line that went outside of the restaurant. I thought it must be good. The owner seemed very nice and even came outside to ask if anyone needs water and informed us about the long wait time. However, I was very underwhelmed by it. Sorry to the very nice owner, but I have to give the most honest review I can give. I ordered the Chiayi Chicken with Rice, Minced Pork with Rice and lotus root and bean curd. The rice was definitely not cooked right. After having rice almost every meal for the past thirty years of my life, I would rate it 3 out of 10 which means it's barely edible. Its texture doesn't have that Q-ness and it was almost soggy. When it comes to the taste, my Taiwanese friend tried a bite of the chicken and he just laughed. (BTW Chiayi Chicken is a Taiwanese dish.) I could not finish the dish. The flavor of the minced pork was decent. The lotus root is ok, but the bean curd could have been more flavorful. When it comes to the service, it was also subpar. They forgot the side dishes that we ordered. We had to remind them to bring them out. My friend and I were having a good conversation, so we stayed a littler longer. Two separate servers came over to take our plates away and ask whether we need boxes. It's pretty much a very polite way to say get out of the restaurant please because we have other people that we want to take money from. I think the reason why this place is so popular is because people are just blindly buying into the good reviews and too shy or don't know much about Asian food to disagree. There is a good attempt here to try to bring Chinese food to someone who's never had authentic Chinese food before. Yet, it's just an attempt. If you've never had authentic Chinese food before, this is probably what you think authentic Chinese food should taste like. It is somewhat close to authentic Chinese, but not good ones. If you truly feel adventurous and want to have amazing Chinese food, just drive twenty minutes east from there to Monterey Park or Alhambra, pull out a map, and throw a dart. Wherever that dart lands, look for a Chinese restaurant. I guarantee you, it will be so much better than this one.

+2

For a restaurant called Joy, this place brought me no joy. Came here to get noodles for my partner on his birthday as a tradition for longevity because it was the only option later at night. I had the slack season noodles which I was told was 12 hour chicken and pork broth but when it came out, the bowl of noodles hardly had any broth? It was also lukewarm?? Noodles were gummy and not springy at all. Also tried the thousand layer pancake - try more like one thick gummy layer, how bold to name it thousand layer pancake. Not crispy or flaky at all. Everything was incredibly bland. Like - lacking flavor or any depth or texture. Anyway - come at your own risk. Ambiance is great though and I can imagine sitting down for a beer and catching up with friends. But I should have known as soon as I walked in and saw all the hip white people and that this was a “Taiwanese” place that served Dan Dan mien and mapo tofu smh what a disappointment. IMO did nothing to contribute to my partner’s longevity because the noodles were so gummy and had no springiness and could not be slurped at all. This review is extra personal because I JUST WANTED NICE NOODLES FOR THE LOVE OF MY LIFE’S BIRTHDAY AND THIS DIDN’T EVEN GET THAT JOB DONE.

Absolute DISAPPOINTMENT! All sauces were sticky with disappointing taste. Noodles were glued together at the bottom of the bowl. Service was good, but we didn’t even want to finish the food halfway.

The atmosphere was chaotic, the music was loud, the food was absolutely bland. The workers are very sweet. I’ve given this restaurant a few tries, but it’s the same thing each time. I wish it didn’t make me want to kms every time I walk out. I really want to like this spot, but it’s pretty gross. Take this with a grain of salt, which is what they’re missing in everything. So sorry, not trying to be a hater. Was just so inclined to leave this review. Everything was chill besides the food.

Dorothy Lucey

Always see a huge line going outside of this place figure I would give it a try. They have one cash register. Tried it for the first time today the food is so bland. No seasoning at all, I don’t even know how there’s a line that big for this restaurant. I got sick after my stomach hurts so bad. Do not recommend. Also very crowded inside. I ordered the Wongton soup, pancake, and the chicken rice.

David S K

The waitress with yellow hair shut the door on us as we were about to walk in and told us to wait outside. We ended up standing in the hot sun for 15–20 minutes, even though we saw other customers walk straight in without being told to wait. The treatment felt discriminatory and left a very bad impression. When we were finally seated, the food was underwhelming—mediocre at best and dominated by an overpowering soy sauce flavor.