I've traveled a fair amount through Taiwan and the cuisine here is excellent, a wonderful example of incredible Taiwanese cuisine.

Everyone was so sweet ! Highly recommend the lychee beer and scallion pancake , very cute inside and well lit . Love the window seats ! read more

Joy - Scallion Thousand Layer Pancake - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Despite visiting on a busy Friday night, the line to order and then be seated moved briskly. Staff was amicable. Everyone in my party greatly enjoyed their food. I had fantastic vegan dan dan noodles and the table split a scrumptious thousand layer cheese pancake. read more

Joy is one of those neighborhood spots that's cozy, unfussy, and quietly serving up some of the best Taiwanese comfort food on this side of town. The dishes are authentic but approachable, flavors that feel right at home whether you grew up eating them or not. It's on a mellow stretch of Highland Park, so there isn't a ton of retail to distract you, but there's enough charm to keep you lingering. If you're new to the area, it's the kind of place that deserves a second look. read more

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Spicy shrimp wontons and pork belly were to die for. Had very high hopes for my scallion sandwich and it was good, but I thought the bread would have more sesame flavor! I think I'll try the bun next time. Really fun selection of drinks. Want to go back when it's not so busy!! read more

My lunch at Joy was one of the tastiest meals I've had in a long while. I continue to dream about the dan dan noodles, thousand layer pancake with egg and cheese, and the sea salt cream tea. Joy had been in my bookmarks for years so I arrived with a lot of anticipation. This Taiwanese eatery's casual vibe put me immediately at ease. The staff was friendly and the food came out fast and was so, so good. If Joy was in my neighborhood, I'd be a regular. read more

Joy - Dan Dan Noodles - a must order at Joy! - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Very busy on the weekends and for dinner. Staff get through the line quickly. You order first and once hey have an available table they will seat you. Chiayi Chicken Rice- 10/10 Classic homey meal. They have many condiments at your table to customize the flavor to your liking. Dan Dan Noodles- 10/10 Savory peanut butter noodles. Goes well with the jidori chicken you can add. Forbidden Rice Pudding- 10/10 A dessert coconut porridge with glutinous rice balls and purple rice. Hakka Mochi- 10/10 Shareable portion and the ground peanut and ground sesame add great flavor to the mochi. read more

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We went here for dinner while visiting LA and it was superb. The ordering, seating and serving process was smooth and efficient. The food was excellent. We ordered several entrees and appetizers and all were delicious. The staff was super friendly and helpful. The vibe was energetic and bustling and we had a great time. I'll definitely go again next time I'm in Los Angeles. read more

Joy is one of my all time favs for a quick bite in highland park. It's my favorite restaurant on York. A nice balance between 'hip La' and traditional Taiwanese. Not over-done or trying too hard like so many La spots. For me this place is all about the sides. Lotus root, bamboo shoots are an absolute must. Service is at the counter and there's often a line, but it moves quickly. You can grab a Taiwanese beer or even a rice wine beverage. Nice ambiance with a lot of seating. Definitely recommend. read more

TL;DR: Good food and flavor, best for small group 4 or less, not too cheap but not expensive. Can prob have same food in SGV. Found this place on Instagram and decided to give it a shot as it was described as great food for a great price. In my opinion, price isn't very low, but it's reasonable. Most places it costs $20 to eat anywhere and with tip my food came out to just under $20. I came five minutes after they opened only to see a line already at the door and half the restaurant already seated. I heard it can get packed and it did by the time I sat down You order when you walk in, take a number and seat yourself. I solo dined so this was easy but if you have a large group you might need to wait. I ordered the thousand layer pancake and medium shrimp wonton soup. Pancake was good, a little hard to cut through but tasty. The soup was also nice but I had to add some chili oil to it. I might come back to try their noodles and cream tea :) read more

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Second time coming first time reviewing! First thing we noticed was how popular this place was and how efficient the workers kept the traffic moving along. The service was so efficient and everyone was very cheerful almost like they live to the name Joy! We got the thousand layer pancake with egg to share which was devoured quickly. Make sure to ask for the basil and chili paste inside at the register (we forgot ). The Dan Dan noodles and minced pork over rice were awesome. A lot bigger pork pieces than I've seen but I was for it. We ended with Hakka mochi that had black sesame and peanut powder which was bombbb I wish I had more. Thank you to Joy for the complimentary dong ding tea right before our mochi read more

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Joy was such a cute Taiwanese spot in Highland Park! The service was friendly and gave great recommendations. This restaurant is an order at the counter and they bring your food to your table. The food was good but a little over hyped? I would definitely go back just would not be my first pick for Taiwanese! Dan Dan noodles and pork bun were good. The shaved ice was very very sweet! read more

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Kudos to Marco and the superb customer service they showed us. I don't know if Marco is like this with every customer, but they definitely made my partner and me feel special and went above and beyond for us. Marco was working the register and took our order, but later brought us one of our dishes, the shrimp wontons, which were in a bowl of chili oil. I didn't realize there would be chili oil in the dish as it was not mentioned on the menu. I can't do spicy foods and informed Marco who immediately went and got me another dish of shrimp wontons without the chili oil. No fuss, just a smile. Marco even took time to ask us if this was our first time and what we thought of the food. We felt so welcomed and attended to by Marco. The food was also pretty good. The thousand layer pancake was super crispy and flaky (my favorite texture combo). The dan dan noodles were smothered in peanut sauce, but the flavor wasn't overwhelmingly peanut buttery. The noodles still had a nice fresh flavor from the cucumbers. The slack noodles were simple, but tasty. The clamshell buns (pork & braised tofu) were both delicious and flavorful. The Hakka mochi were soft and warm and definitely house-made. We came on a Tue evening and street parking was easy to find. I'd say the food is a 4/5, but the customer service from Marco brings Joy up to a 5/5. I'd highly recommend Joy and will not stop coming back! read more

This was my second time coming to Joy and it was just as good as the first time. Everyone there is so nice and Marco was able to help me choose some stuff to order since I didn't remember what I got the first time. The DanDan noodles are my absolute favorite. We also got the spicy shrimp wontons which are so tasty, the pork belly bao which literally melts in your mouth and also the egg/cheese/basil/chili pancake which is so good. Definitely recommend this place! The place is really nice and the bathroom is very clean. Not pictured but the passion fruit iced tea was so refreshing and yummy! read more

Joy - Dan Dan Noodles - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Stopped in for a weekday lunch and it was quite packed! You order first and then find a table so it's pretty efficient in that sense. Started with the sea salt cream tea which was tasty. Can't go wrong with the cream top and I think the sea salt cut the sweetness nicely. Overall the food is very traditional. I think I was expecting a little bit more pizazz from Joy to put their twist on these items so I think my expectations were misaligned but the food itself was pretty good. We ordered a few items to share and try: + Dan Dan Noodles - bouncy noodles, the peanut sauce was tasty but a little runny, and the cucumbers were fresh. + Clamshell bun with braised pork belly - my 2nd favorite item with a very soft pork belly, but I think it was slightly overpriced. + Thousand Layer Pancake - we got this plain but I think would have been much better wrapped with beef. It was tasty OK. + Shrimp wontons - again the sauce was a bit runny, otherwise it was a solid shrimp wonton + Edamame - tossed with pepper to give that earthy taste, but could be dressed a little more. + Traditional Shaved Ice - they give you a different card to add to your number so that it tells the staff you were ready for dessert which was cool. This dish came out much larger than we anticipated given the portion sizes of the other items. The taro and potato balls were a little hard and the grass jelly didn't have much flavor to it than what looked like it was straight out of the can. Tableside sauces: + Chili oil - didn't particularly stand out to me as aromatic or flavorful + Vinegar - for some reason, this tasted off to me, I'm not sure if homemade, but had this sweetness to it that I didn't like as much. read more

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The food was excellent. I had the Dan Dan noodles with chicken. So fresh and delicious. The bread I tried was so tasty. The service was quick and a great atmosphere. The milk tea was so good. Not too sweet. read more

Joy - Dan Dan Noodles - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Similar to its sister restaurants, Liu's Cafe and Pine & Crane. Decent portions but a bit bland/lighter than I would've liked. It took us 35 minutes to get through the line on a Saturday evening (first come first serve). The food came out quickly and there's a self-serve area for water. Chiayi chicken rice was the same as the one at Liu's Cafe but for some reason there wasn't as much black pepper. Dan Dan noodles were good but not the best I've had. Shrimp wonton soup was alright; I would probably skip this next time. read more

Joy - dan dan noodles, chayi chicken rice, side of bamboo, shrimp wonton soup medium - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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THE SERVICE NEEDS IMPROVEMENT ============================== I have been a loyal customer for years, but I've only done take-out since the pandemic. Today, I took my son, who loves their food, my new daughter-in-law and husband and I felt a crappy customer service vibe from the beginning to the end. Is there a new generation of clueless people in the service industry or what? We ordered, stood by the door and got ushered out the door to wait. But there were other diners, who arrived after us, who were allowed to stand where we were right before. I asked for plates and a few things and was told to go to the corner to get them. Get it together. Customer service means a lot. read more

I went to Cookbook Market nearby to buy the rocky matcha. It was late and I was hungry so I helped the restaurant nearby since I am Taiwanese so I decided to try it. The interior is a hip but authentic Taiwanese common resident like. This interior design woke my nostalgia. I ordered the scollian beard sandwich combo. It is pretty worth it. However, I thought the scollian bread would taste like one of the pastry from 阜杭豆漿 in Taipei Taiwan. To be honest, it is tasty but it does not taste like the one in my memory thus I feel a little bit lost. I ordered Musturt Curbean as my side dish, they are fantastic o am so glad I choose this read more

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This Taiwanese spot is pretty popular and gets packed, so I suggest pulling up when it opens to avoid a long wait time. Parking is available on the street in the surrounding neighborhoods. The staff was kind and helpful with recommendations and I ended up ordering the below: - Dan Dan Noodles: A must-try if it's your first time! Wonderfully chewy noodles in a slightly spicy peanut sauce. Fire. - Hot and Sour Soup: A more traditional moment packed with flavor and full of lovely mushies. Overall, I enjoyed both dishes I ordered - no complaints! The prices are pretty normal (wouldn't classify as cheap or expensive). read more

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Service 4/5 Food 4.5/5 Ambiance 4/5 The fruit tea was very basic nothing special. Dan Dan noodles were very good in terms of flavor. The braised pork rice bowl was a nice flavor, few sticks of pickled daikon, more would have been nice. It also included decent amount of pork, and plenty of rice. Line was long not very efficient, a large group was very slow ordering food. Staff should use a tablet so they can take orders faster instead of only having one cashier taking orders. You stand in line to order and if dining in-person they give you a stand with a number. I went during weekend lunch peak hours waited around 30 mins in line. The food itself came out fast less than 10 mins. read more

I decided to check out Joy with some family who were visiting from out of town. I didn't do much research beforehand since I wanted to be surprised by the experience, especially knowing it's a popular spot. We were lucky to arrive right at opening, so the wait was minimal! The presentation of the food was beautiful, but unfortunately, the flavors didn't quite live up to the hype. The shrimp wontons were served in a vinegar sauce that was overly overpowering, and the "1,000 ingredient pancake" (not pictured) was tough and lacked flavor. The Dan Dan noodles were cooked perfectly, but the sauce was quite plain, tasting mostly like a mix of peanut butter and sesame oil, making the dish feel very one-note. The restaurant was very noisy and service slow probably due to it being incredibly busy. While the place had a lively, casual atmosphere, the flavors were not on point. I would give this place another chance though! read more

Joy - Dan Dan Noodles - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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The food here is amazing. I've been coming here several times now, and it never disappoints. The service was excellent. We ordered the Dan Dan noodles, minced pork on rice, Chaiya chicken rice, and thousand-layer pancake with egg and cheese. Everything was absolutely delicious, and my tastebuds were completely satisfied. The ambiance is cozy, though a bit crowded, but they were able to accommodate us. There's always a long line when we arrive, but it's definitely worth the wait. You can also order takeout and pick it up from the side. read more

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Joy brings my family joy. Every person is so kind and just makes the atmosphere lovely. The food is so so good. You can't go wrong with anything. My family recently had some deep devastation from the Eaton fires, they had a subtle sign and completely fed my family delicious food and mochi desserts. It was such an emotional experience for my aunt, she just felt so loved. We already loved Joy, we ate at Joy often, but this last meal was unforgettable, it brought joy in the midst of such devastation. Thank you for the meal Joy. We will see you soon. read more

Ambiance - nice, clean, spacious restaurant with a hip vibe. We came here at the recommendation of our daughter who lives nearby. Service - excellent. You order your food at the cashier and they will deliver the food to your table. Service was prompt and attentive. Food - we ordered the thousand layer pancake with egg and cheese. The pancake was thick and on the crispy side. It was quite salty and although I could see the egg and melted cheese, I did not taste them. I requested this with a schiracha and basil. Unfortunately, I think the schiracha masked the flavor. Even if my daughter highly recommended this, I did not care so much for this as it was oily and lacking in flavor. We also ordered the clamshell bun with pork belly and five spice beef. Although the pork was fatty, it and the beef were delicious. I just wished they had more filling (more of the cilantro, picked cucumber, crushed peanuts). With tax and tip, our bill for two people was $28. read more

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It's been a long time since I've been to a restaurant that tasted like a family recipe. After luckily finding street parking along the corner, our party of two unluckily encountered a line that took us a solid hour to get through to be seated. At the counter, we placed our orders with their incredibly welcoming staff and waited outside with rose and a pomelo beer until a table opened up (highly recommend both). About 20 minutes later, we were seated and served. Table and bar seating are both available, and the vibe is bustling and conversational. Cauliflower Salad: an addictive little twist on cucumber salad and similar in taste Spicy Shrimp Wontons: delicious, but not super special. Would recommend trying at least once Minced Pork on Rice: heavy and comforting, cut nicely by the acidity of the pickled daikon Chiayi Chicken Rice: transported us back to our childhoods. Incredibly simple, incredibly nostalgic Clamshell Bun with Pork Belly: pork was nice and fatty, great appetizer Scallion Bread: honestly a little underwhelming. More of a sesame taste than anything and on the drier side. Might try it as a sandwich for a more holistic review Fruit Shaved Ice: our table neighbors couldn't finish their serving so we got to try. Syrup definitely made it way to sweet to the point of not being able to finish, but points for the egg pudding. Overall, will be back if I'm craving that home cooked taste and great service. Thanks Joy! read more

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Love this place! There was a line when we got there, it moved fast and they had a good system with getting seats. The wait wasn't that long. Food was delicious, we tried the wonton noodle soup, thousand layer pancake with egg and cheese, rice and chicken and shaved ice with fruits. The workers were also very friendly. Place gets very busy, it is worth the wait read more

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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. read more

Soooo good!!!! I can't say enough about this place. First of the staff is super friendly! First time here and loved the vibe and the music and setting. The food, I was amazed on how good it is! I got the Dan Dan noodles with chicken breast and I'm taking some to go. The thousand later cake is delicious and shareable definitely. My pictures don't do fair to the dish, I mixed it before taking a picture. read more

Joy - Dan Dan Noodles with hot sauce and Thousand layer cake - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Situated in the heart of Highland Park, I had the absolute 'Joy' of enjoying the did here. While I the Dan Dan noodles and were tasty in their own right, but the bean curd clamshell buns were the star of the show, with light and fluffy dough and filling that made my heart sing in contentment. Admittedly, I didn't love the seating arrangements, and standing outside for a while wasn't fun, that's the price you pay for arriving late to lunch! I'm not an expert on this type of cuisine but the flavor profiles were exceptional and I'll be looking to order more tasty buns in the future read more

4.5 / 5 overall Very nice seating, staff, and atmosphere. This place is a great lunch/brunch spot as the food felt light but still flavorful and filling. It does get pretty packed so expect waiting about 10-15mins. Dan Dan noodles 4/5 These Dan Dan noodles were a bit more peanut flavored than what I usually have, but still tasted balanced, light, and flavorful. I did add some chili oil and spice taste which gave a nice punch with the already present flavors. Chicken bowl 4/5 This bowl is something I would get again every time for lunch as the chicken was tender, moist, and light. However I had to add most of the flavors using the provided sauces: chili oil, spice paste, and soy sauce. So if you don't like adding those sauces I do not think this is for you. Thousand layer pancake (regular) 4/5 This was flaky, crunchy, and soft which gave it a nice texture and taste. 5 spice beef bun 4/5: For the 5 spice beef they provide it either in a bun or sesame sandwich bread which is larger and pricier and I regret getting the bun because I wanted more. Their 5 spice beef was tender and flavorful, I wish they had it as a rice bowl. We also got their seasonal cold appetizers which change depending on what they can get. I recommend getting their appetizers as they are fresh and a great pair for the food adding more flavor. read more

Joy - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Joy is always great. Take out is my favorite to do because I don't have to wait lol. I always get the slack season noodles and a veggie. My boyfriend is vegan and they have good options for him as well. They have a side window for pickup so it isn't too hectic. I have eaten indoors a couple times but I think it is too loud of me. Loud to the point where I don't even realize some one is talking to me. Mochi is always good as well. Would definitely recommend if you don't know what Taiwanese food is! read more

What joy to find this little spot while visiting the area! We savored our Dan Dan noodles and its thick peanut sauce. We loved the unique scallion bread sandwich with pork belly. Also the mushroom appetizer that comes with the sandwich special was excellent. We heard there can be a line but got lucky and came around 5 on a Sunday night. Once you order at the counter you take a number and they assign you a booth or seat. Drinks cover all kinds of tastes - beer, natural wines, sake, hot teas, milk teas and more. The crowd feels bohemian as if I just stepped into Greenwich Village in the 60's and the service is laid back genuine. Prices are reasonable and Definitely worth checking out. read more

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Really good! but if you grew up on Taiwanese food, it won't exactly shake your world. Joy is definitely solid, super consistent, and the flavors are clean, but for anyone who's had aunties or grandmas ruling the kitchen back home... you won't get that same "life-changing bowl of rice" moment here. Still, for LA? Reliable and tasty. Highlights: * Chiayi Chicken Rice -- Comforting, simple, and hits the spot. The chicken is tender and the sauce gives it that extra "okay I could eat this every day" vibe. Not mind-blowing, but super solid. * Minced Pork Rice -- Savory, slightly sweet, and exactly what it should be. A good version, though the OG night-market-style ones definitely haunt my dreams more. * Dan Dan Noodles -- Creamy, spicy, and full of flavor. A little heavier than traditional Taiwanese styles, but I'm not mad about it. * Spicy Shrimp Wontons -- Probably my favorite here. The sauce has a nice kick, the wontons are well-packed, and it's one of the dishes I'd actually come back for. * Scallion Bread -- Flaky, fragrant, and dangerously snackable. The kind of thing you eat "just one more piece" of until suddenly it's gone. Overall: Joy is great if you want approachable Taiwanese comfort food with clean flavors. If you grew up on the real deal, it'll feel more like nostalgia-lite gentrification than anything unique or special -- but still absolutely worth a visit! read more

Amazing, amazing place for Taiwanese food! The high ratings & many reviews got me curious and intrigued. I'm Taiwanese American and grew up in SGV, so I was hopeful but yet wary about how authentic the food would be because of where the store is located. I'm so happy that their recipes and flavors are authentic and so well-executed. I felt like I was momentarily transported back to Taiwan while we ate. Starting with the appetizers/sides: 1. Bean curd salad - one of my mom's favorite appetizers, which I ate often growing up. Legit. 2. Edamame - simply but deliciously seasoned with a subtle sesame flavor 3. Tofu skin, greens, edamame - another classic made just how I've always had it 4. Lotus root - the seasoning on this was phenomenal. It was everyone's favorite appetizer! Must-try! 5. Thousand layer pancake w/ egg (& chili oil & basil added in) - so happy with the thickness and the texture that was both chewy and crunchy. I love a really good green onion pancake! 6. Shrimp wontons - packed full of shrimp and the tangy sauce was so good. Could have drank the sauce alone. Entrees: 1. Wontons soup - in a light broth, which was nice, but my favorite part was the springy noodles 2. Minced pork rice - flavors were good & the pickles radishes delicious, but not as rich and oily as usual 3. Chiayi chicken rice - looks plain but flavors on point. 4. Dan Dan noodles - my fave entree of the night. Peanut sauce was delish. Desserts: 1. Forbidden rice pudding - thick and perfectly sweet 2. Hakka mochi - soooooooo good. Served warm and delicious peanut & sesame powder topping. Must-get! Thank you for bringing so much joy to our day through your food! read more

Oh Joy! My family and I loved to visit Joy! It is such a joy to eat at joy. Our favorite dishes happen to be the scallion pancake and the Mapu tofu. We usually get a giant spread and just end up sharing everything. Parking can be a little bit tricky in Highland Park, but it's definitely worth the hassle to come visit Joy. I would recommend avoiding rush-hour at lunchtime and rush-hour during dinner, but even so, the line was pretty quickly. Also make sure to get the chili sauce and the lotus root because it is so addicting. It's a cute little restaurant inside and the dishes come out fairly quickly too. read more

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Long standing staple of Highland Park, Joy is my go to restaurant in the area. Food is delicious and prices are fair, although there's usually a line during meal hours. The multi-way wood interior feels like a modern twist on traditional Taiwanese design, very homey. The dandan noodles are a flavor explosion while the wonton noodles are bouncy in a delicately clear broth. Keep in mind the portions are definitely on the smaller side. My favorite side dish is the five spice bamboo, which is a light and refreshing balance to the carb heavy mains. read more

Joy - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I unfortunately have to reduce my rating since the 5-star quality that used to exist has decreased over time. Ordered for delivery about 2 months ago and the quality wasn't as good, but in a delivery order over the weekend every item was disappointing. Thousand layer pancake with eggs and cheese was not flaky, instead a dense chewy (almost mochi like). Cheese and egg were not properly distributed, a full quarter of the wrap was just breading. Scallion bread with five spice beef with about 75% bread, while the beef was very dry and lacked flavor. Broth for the wonton soup could have been store-bought stock, lacked the deep and rich flavor I fell in love with. Just all around pretty disappointing, not the quality I expect from Joy. Their Taiwanese food used to be great, the best thousand layer pancake from anywhere, tasty dandan noodles, delicious pork belly bao, satisfying shrimp wonton soup...and the last two orders did not live up to that. read more

We ordered for delivery and it traveled well because everything was delicious! We ordered: - Thousand Layer Pancake w/egg & cheese: The pancake is so buttery and had a great chew. The cheddar cheese paired well with the egg. I think there was also a sauce but the flavor didn't stand out. - Wonton Noodle Soup - Perfect for a cold, rainy night. The broth was yummy and warmed me right up. The noodles were cooked well and we filling. - Spicy Shrimp Wonton - Do they sell the chili sauce by the jar?! The shrimp wontons were delicate and the sauce definitely rounded out the flavors. The spice level was nonexistent for me so I'm not sure how spicy this dish can get. It was delicious regardless of spice or not. I reheated the pancake and shrimp wontons the next morning....they were just as delicious! The pancake was still chewy and buttery. The wonton wrappers still had integrity. Not all leftovers can survive a trip to the fridge and microwave without losing some character. I'm saving the last star for an actual visit to their establishment. So far so good, I'm impressed and would highly recommend this place! read more

We were in the area post-Bob Baker Theater and stumbled upon Joy--literally and figuratively. This restaurant blew me away with its Chiayi Chicken Rice, a dish so simple yet heaping with flavor. Not to mention, our order arrived maybe five minutes after placing it. I'll be finding an excuse to be in the area and pop by again ASAP. read more

Joy - Chiayi Chicken Rice - Taiwanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California