Can you say... HUUUUUUUGE MENU?!?! This was the most intimidating menu i have ever seen! 2 pages for drinks! Just go here... no use writing a lengthy review...we got like 5 dishes and they were all good...the drinks are super fresh and yummy, obviously lots of combinations to choose from... the prices are great... the service was speedy even tho the place was PACKED...and the decor is very bright and colorful, so overall a great experience! However... i do recommend getting something in a pineapple b/c it looks sooo cool :D read more

Frankly, Joy Yee's is no longer worth the money - prices have been significantly raised while portions have shrunk and are now filled with more fillers and less actual food. I would avoid this establishment. read more

Eat like a king for only $6.95. :) Seriously, that sums up the entire experience! The food, like most mixed-asian places, can have its issues with oddly cooked vegetables, and sometimes gristly chicken. But nothing, and I mean nothing beats this place for variety. The menu could be published as a phone book, and half of that is a staggering onslaught of various bubble drinks and shakes. If you come here with a date, both of you can attack a main entree, and still not finish the entire thing! Anyone who likes any type of asian food from practically anywhere, will find *something* they like, so even picky eaters can rest assured. Warning that since the prices are somehow reasonable for an Evanston shop, it's a frequent hang-out for Northwestern students, and the place is always close to bursting the seams. You'll get in quick, but it's a loud experience with lots of tables jammed together; be prepared to be social! read more

One star for biting into something super hard in the Thai Pad Woon Sen. My teeth really hurt right now, and I'm looking AT THIS HARD THING IN MY FOOD AS I TYPE THIS... It's about the size of a tooth, it sure looks like a (yellow) tooth, and when I chomped on it, it felt like a tooth. I think it might actually be a tooth.... Also, I've ordered this dish before and they make it super bland here, so I asked them to make it spicy this time. Unfortunately, it's still bland the second time around. The tooth thing, however, is a new development. My teeth are hurting right now. I hope I don't have to go to the dentist. I am NEVER coming back to Joy Yee. read more

Another must for chinese / thai food lovers -drink menu is awesome alot of variety in milk tea / smoothie / freezes -all the food is really good for the most part everyone i ask always has good things to say -sit about 80 people comfortably -i usually get the beef cubes over tomatoe rice with a taro freeze with mango pudding and tapioca, cant go wrong Overall this place has such a strong following from the chicago land area so if you havent tried it, just try it out. You will not regret it read more

Very crowed with students and families with kids and so very noisy. Very low hygiene standards and probably shorthanded on staff. The Tofu with Veg i ordered came with very tough, rubbery tofu which didnt taste and smell right. Probably not one of their fast moving dishes. Overly Garlicky sauce kept our breaths smell of Garlic for the rest of the day.The Beef brisket with rice noodles had a nice broth. Food is moderately priced. Serving are big but probably not interesting enough as most tables i saw had leftovers left behind. They have mastered the art of bubble teas and smoothies with over 50 choices. Their Smoothies with bubbles are something i will stick to next time. read more

This is a great place to take our out of town guests. We also love coming here with just the family. A great variety of foods, Chinese, Thai, Vietnamese, Korean. The menu is enormous both in size and choices for food and bubble shakes. Pictures also help in making decisions, but servers are knowledgeable and helpful with the indecisive. We tend to order family style because portions are huge. We have tried almost everything on the menu except for the dishes that are served in the pineapple. We always felt that these dishes were too 'Americanized,' and stuck to the more authentic foods. The drink list include a number of shakes. Bubble shakes, fruit shakes, with tapioca, without tapioca, the choices abound. Our mainstay choices include the Taro shake with large tapioca and Fresh fruit watermelon shake. On summer days, we will stop in for carry out drinks to go along the Evanston window shopping. "Rock star parking" chant needed to snag the metered spaces out front. The restaurant is small and cramped. If you like to eat and rub elbows with your neighbors than this is the place for you. Reservations are accepted and they have been more laid back in seating the group even though the whole party is not present. (In the past, I have seen a customer get into an argument because the host would not seat her family because her husband was still looking for parking). The food is always tasty and served pretty fast after ordering. Sometimes the apps will be served with the entree. Water refills are quick even on busy days. If you come to dine with family come before the rush hours. Consider dinner at 6pm rather than 7pm. Expect to have people crush into the restaurant lining the walls waiting for their table and watching you as you eat your meal. We tend to eat closer to the door which is where they seat the larger groups and we have been asked by waiting patrons what exactly we were eating. Overall I like the place, this is our go to place for good food and great drinks at decent prices. read more

This is the first time I've eaten Joy Yee's and it came highly recommended for its bubble tea selection. I ordered a take out and it was prepared extremely quick. I ordered the Thai Basil beef chow fun and it was delicious. I wanted it spicy but since I was suffering from Pharyngitis I had to go with minimal spice. However, it was delicious. I loved the flat noodles. I especially loved the bubble tea they served here. What sets this place apart is the use of fresh ingredients. I tired the peach strawberry bubble tea and it was delicious. Def check it out. read more

Honeydew-avocado. Jackfruit-mango. Blueberry-kiwi-durian. Papaya-peach-red bean-coconut. You can craft your own drinks out of any of the fruits on their menu. And the price will stay the same. I think I've said this before, but I did not emphasize it with the gravity it so deserved. ANY of the fruits. At all. Also, you can order it with no sugar syrup, which makes most drinks even better. I just MAY have been here every day of my vacation ordering increasingly crazy combinations of fruit. read more

OK. Amagine your high school cafeteria. Crowded as heck. People all smashed together. Now, pretend that your cafeteria seating space has shrunken down considerably and you have to actually wait for a seat standing sometimes out the door! That's what you have to deal with sometimes. If you come during peak hours, you'll be hovering over other people's tables as they eat. It is crowded in there. Expect to be sitting next to strangers and expect to hear their entire conversations. Know that out of all the madness, that there are only 2 bathrooms! Two! Haha. There are no corridors. There are just two doors by the cashier! So I've seen some poor shmucks waiting there while 1 guy is in there forever LOL. OK. Now that I got that part out of the way, the Pan Asian cuisine here is really good. I've had all sorts of menu items and it is really EXPANSIVE by the way. I've not been disappointed by any dish I've ordered thus far. My favorites are the lemon grass chicken wings, the shrimp, pork and chicken plates over rice. If you're in the mood for Asian, you won't be dissapointed as there are dishes ranging from Korean, to Thai to Chinese etc. Food arrives relatively quick although it can be so busy and noisy in there that you may have to flag people down to get a refill. Did I mention Bubble tea? If you do, then you'll have a huge menu at your disposal. Like leechie bubble smoothies? Coconut Taro bubble teas? This is definitely the place to go. Trust me. I guess, the appeal of sitting in a loud cafeteria, arm to arm with some strange dude ain't all that bad after all because I have been here too many times to count. read more

Joy Yee's has a gigantic menu and that means that while you have lots of choices, the quality of the dishes are no consistent. Most of my friends just have a couple things they enjoy ordering here and they stick to them religiously. That being said, once you figure out what's good (consistently), then it's a great, affordable place to come with friends because you get a HUGE amount of food. Seriously it's like they're trying to feed giants or something. I've tried their pho and it's not good. Go to Argyle for that. But otherwise, their seafood fried rice and beef cubes with tomato rice are both solid. There's a huge amount of seafood in their seafood fried rice (like huge pieces of shrimp. scallops, mussels, whatnot) and you just can't go wrong with beef cubes. The rice is always sweet and flavorful and the beef was super tender. Their bubble teas are also pretty good, but they do give you more if you order sit-in. Hit or miss, but just figure out what the hits are on the menu and you're good to go. read more

My friend just asked me what I thought about Joy Yee's.. I hesistated for a moment and said... "it's probably a step above Panda Express". Make of that what you will. I will say that Joy Yee's is my go-to place for drinks/smoothies. I love them! So for the drinks I would give it 5/5 for Chicago. I've only gone here once for food. I ordered wonton soup with beef brisket... which ended up being wonton soup thrown into pho. First of all, I'm vietnamese. Also, I LOVE wonton.. I used to eat it all the time. So inherently you'd think I was elated to have such a combination. hmmm.. NOPE. I ended up returning it to the kitchen (which I never do) to have the chinese version.. which wasn't any better. Food is 2/5 rating. read more

They offer so many variety of food that the quality of each item is not so great. Udon noodle soup (3/5): The udon was really soggy when it came out. :( Overall the flavor is okay. I feel like I could make better udon than this. Lol. Milk tea (2/5): Please do yourself a favor and save your pancreas. This is way too sweet. Instant diabetes. Thumbs up for HUGE portion and quick service. The size of each item is perfect for 2 people. Money saver for college kids. read more

This is supposedly a good Chinese restaurant for Evanston. Maybe I am being harsh, but I think the standards for Chinese food here are pretty low. With few other options here, I've been to Joy Yee's about half a dozen times. My verdict: Food - Pretty awful. I got chicken w/ broccoli and it was unmarinated chicken in an oily clear sauce (not brown). Another time, I tried the ma po tofu -- very little pork, a lot of chunks of tofu. More recently, I tried the beef w/ tomato -- it's a different take on this standard dish, where they just have 4 slices of tomato, and they aren't really mashed into the dish. It wasn't horrible, but it wasn't what I expected. Drinks - They do actually have pretty good beverages, of the ones I've tried. Recommended: frozen lychee drink Atmosphere - They're going for a more upscale atmosphere, and I think that is what's winning them some yelp stars. Not a typical down-and-dirty Chinese restaurant. At the same time, it's incredibly crowded, and there are lines of people waiting right by the front door, making it difficult if you're picking up food from the register or even if you're sitting at one of the tables closer to the door. Plus, the chairs are extremely uncomfortable. They look modern, but they just don't make sense! read more

The food visually looks pretty good and the portions are massive. They also have a ridiculously huge menu that has just about any type of Chinese food that you could think of. With that said - the food was incredibly greasy and everyone either suffered from the side effects of MSG and indigestion afterwards. Not planning to go back. read more

Have you ever had authentic Chinese cuisine? Forget about juicy pot stickers and spicy fried rice plates...welcome fried fish heads and a bowl of wood smoked meat that smells (and tastes) like a squirrel that fell into a camp fire. My guess is that when it comes to food, this place sticks to it's traditional guns. At least that's what I told myself in an attempt to prevent my shootin' up the place when I got served orange chicken that was dangerously undercooked chicken topped with an orange marmalade substance that resembled the goop the aliens shoved into that dude's mouth in "Fire In The Sky". Multiply that by a wait staff that comes just short of throwing food on your plate and then yelling "CHUG CHUG CHUG!" to get you in and out as quick as possible. Multiply THAT with 200 people crammed into a tiny room with only 1 bathroom. The answer to this equation: A pretty shit experience. Oh, but they do get an extra star for the drink menu. But do realize that some of them are potentially bad ideas. For example, the Kiwi Freeze. How do you think you'll feel after digesting 8 or 9 blended up super acidic kiwi fruits? But hey, maybe I'm just jaded because I'm always nauseated after having dinner here. Sorry Joy Yee, I simply gave you too many chances. We're breaking up for good. read more

We have been going to this place since they opened in Evanston many, MANY years ago. What was once an out-of-the-way, mostly take out place has evolved into a vibrant, bustling restaurant that we love taking friends and out of town guest to. But be warned, this is not a place for anyone looking for a quiet meal. The noise level during the peak of the rush is intense and makes having a conversation almost impossible. For those with kids, this can be a blessing as no pays any attention to a screaming child. For others, however, it can be a little off putting and overwhelming. If you have older parents like I do, get there early; otherwise expect a lot of confused looks and inappropriate head nodding during your meal. The food can be hit or miss. The menu is massive and a bit intimidating. Many of the items have pictures, but don't let these steer you away from things as the pictures are washed out and unappetizing. Our favorites are Garlic Chicken, Sweet & Sour Chicken and Buddhist Delight (vegetarian). Portion sizes are HUGE and many dishes can easily be shared. Also, don't miss the egg rolls; fat, crisp and super yummy (we think they use peanut butter inside). What makes this place special, and what keeps us coming back, are the bubble teas. Forget what you may think you know about these unique drinks; bubble teas begin and end at Joy Yee. Made with all fresh ingredients (no powder, please!), these are amazing (and amazingly large) drinks bursting with flavor. The bubble tea menu is extensive and you will be hard pressed not to find something you'll like. They are available with or without tapioca balls (the black balls on the bottom); I recommend getting them as these are what make the drink so different. They also offer drinks with mini tapioca (think caviar size balls) or "ice" (clear, flat gelatin things). Joy Yee is a lot of fun and a great place to experience something different. The bubble teas are a must and should not be missed. If you don't mind lots of noise and tight quarters, Joy Yee is the place for you. read more

Ordered the vermicelli noodle. Wasn't very good. Service was bad and their menu wasn't updated. Would be nice to have the prices right and for better service. This would make the experience better. read more

From the moment I entered, this place scared the fuck out of me for the following reasons: The neon glow; the women that greeted me the second I walked in the door ("HI WELCOME TO JOY YEE 2 PEOPLE FOLLOW ME"); the overwhelmingly huge menu with a picture of every dish; our waitress, who was always eyeing me as if I might need something at any moment (is this good or bad?); the table next to us eating soup from a bowl that could alternatively be used to bathe a small mammal; the antique wooden sailboat that my noodles were served in; and the waitress constantly "checking up" after dropping off our bill, waiting for me to give her my credit card. With this said... I came in scared as fuck and hungry and I left scared as fuck and full (with leftovers to last for two days--and I'm a big guy.) Honestly, the food wasn't out of this world, and the bland Pad Thai kind of smelled like low-quality dog food (I'm not kidding, smell it next time), but I have to admit--I'm a bit more quantity over quality. read more

I have in the past been a fan of Joy Yee's, but this week I was sad to experience some issues with their staff. After a 10 hour work day and a 2 hour commute home in rush hour traffic all I wanted was a quick, solid, and slightly indulgent dinner for my boyfriend and I. I ordered my food ahead for pick-up and all seemed well until I got home and realized that I had been given the wrong order. Mistakes happen, which I totally understand, but when I called back to ask for a refund for the $30 I had just spent on food that we didn't want for dinner, I was told 3 times that it was my fault that I had the wrong order. Seriously? It was clear that I had been given another person's order with the same name as me, but after about 5 minutes of going over the scenario over and over again on the phone while continuously being told they had no role in this, I got fed up and told them they could keep their money and I would sadly not be returning to their establishment. They then tried calling me back 5 times within the next 20 minutes. Sorry, but at that point I was over arguing about spending a good chunk of money on food that I didn't want. Bummer, we had previously enjoyed their large portions and variety of options. read more

I have been coming lately just for pickup drink orders. The last time I ate here was ... 5 months ago? I think it was when I was visiting NU for recruitment weekend for the doctoral Kellogg students. The ambiance: A giant clusterfuck of tables, especially cluttered near the back where the restrooms are. It's very loud. It's very Chinese/Cantonese. If you're used to the typical HK-style cafe environment, you'll be very used to Joy Yee's. The food: I ordered the peppered eel and chicken over rice dish the last (and only) time I ate food here. It was underwhelming. The chicken was rubbery and the eel was overcooked/oversteamed. It lacked any kind of texture and fell apart when trying to pick it up with chopsticks. Not really sure what was up with that. The flavor was very monotone of salt and something I couldn't quite describe. It made me not want to return for a meal. The drinks: Large, cheap boba drinks. If you're craving milk tea, smoothies, grass jelly, or what have you, this is a decent place for this. I've definitely had better quality since I lived in LA all my life, but when I just want something to sip on for the cheap, I just come here. I know Argo Tea down the street has been marketing new "bubble tea", but that stuff is not boba. The service: Meh. I'd recommend coming here for a drink, and not much else. I just can't handle the catastrophic pace of the restaurant and all the yelling. If I want decent Chinese/Taiwanese food, I go next door to Cafe 527. read more

Went to this place for lunch today at 3pm. I ordered a Beef Cube with tomato sauce rice, and I was pretty disappointed. The portion was good, but the quality of food sucked totally. The beef and rice were overcooked (tasted more like plain rice and oily beef). The customer service was really poor (More like no customer service). Also, other things I'd like to point out. I rate the clearness 2.5 stars. read more

Been here a lot (what NU student hasn't?) - it all boils down to cheap food (portions last me about 3 days...), and so many types of awesome bubble tea to choose from. Of all the Joy Yee's locations though, I find that this one is the most crowded, the least clean, and the food could be better. Recommendations: ANY KIND of bubble tea, french style beef cubes, basil chow fun, and the mango soft-shell crab wraps. read more

Wow does this place have a huge menus so much to choose from. The food was great the portions are big fast paced restaurant. Ordered a bunch of stuff to much to list but everything was great here. Definitely will be back! read more

Considering I ordered Korean food from a Chinese restaurant, maybe I don't get to be upset it sucked but I am. Desperate for Korean food after 2 weeks abroad, I ordered kalbi & kimchi fried rice for delivery. I'm giving the place 2 stars only because I ate the kalbi (BBQ beef ribs)-- can't say the same for the kimchi fried rice. Questionable beef quality was $17 for a lot of bones in a very sweet sauce-- would not reorder. Kimchi fried rice was a stupid decision. There is a beef or seafood option & the guy taking my order recommended seafood so I went with it. Omg it smelled overwhelmingly fishy when I opened the carton!! There was no kimchi so it was basically white rice with a bunch of random old fish (shrimp, squid, mussels, unknown fish chunks) & a fucked up fried egg on top. Not cool. I threw it all away. Other people have said good things about this place so maybe it depends on what you order. But do not order Korean food here!! I will say that the delivery was fast. read more

We have eaten at this location several times and once at the one in Chinatown. While parking in Evanston can be a challenge, especially once school starts; its still an easier commute for north siders than heading south. The menu is HUGE and some may find intimidating, especially when the waiter stands over the table. That said, you get a nice selection of every korean/chinesse dish imaginable, which you can wash down with smoothies, boba,etc. The portions here are huge. A small bowl of soup is actually two standard soup bowls and the large is good enough for 4 to share. You can not go wrong ordering anything off the menu. Orange beef and the Korean BBQ short ribs really stand out. The sweet and sour dishes are more fried batter than actual shrimp/chicken. Prices overall are fair for the amount and overall taste of the food. The only drawbacks are the cheap cafeteria like plastic chairs and the lack of any personal space,as tables are placed almost on top of one another. This lack of space, also plays a role in permeating your clothes with the distinct aroma of what you and your new friends are eating. read more

I would venture to think that the starred reviews for this place have to do with the milk teas and drinks...and definitely not the food! This is the 2nd time I've been here and was so underwhelmed and disappointed with the food. I generally don't like restaurants with vast menus claiming to make different asian cuisines. With a variety of choices, there's no specialization, so how could you could expect the cook staff to make something GOOD if you order a chinese, malaysian, korean or thai dish? Needless to say, the dishes we ordered - lemongrass pork, fried rice, and spicy malaysian green beans with shrimp - were all bland and greasy. and tasted the same. Even a generous helping of sriracha couldn't redeem the food. Ugh. THe only highlight of the meal was the coconut milk tea smoothie that we ordered. Lesson learned. No food, just drinks. read more

The food was pretty good. But the environment is obnoxious and loud. The service as a whole was terrible. They are incredibly rude. Especially one gal who seemed put out that I asked for extra basil and someone at my table didn't care for her soup and she gave us a dirty look and seemed put out to have to take it away. One of our diners didn't even get his soup until the three is us were finished. read more

When I told my friends I was visiting Northwestern, they all told me I had to try Joy Yee's. While I wasn't able to make it there for a full meal (boo!), I did stop in and grab a bubble tea, which did not disappoint. Their food menu is huge and comprises pretty much every type of Asian cuisine you can think of, and their drink menu is no different. They have all the typical milk teas and freezes with pearls, jelly, etc. I ordered the strawberry milk tea with pearls, which is my usual go-to when trying out a new tea place. The price was reasonable, about $4, and the portion was gigantic. This was the absolute biggest cup of bubble tea I've ever gotten, practically twice the size of some other places I've been. The tea had a great fresh strawberry flavor to it, and I'd like to think they used real fruit. The pearls were the perfect consistency: not too squishy or too hard - just right! A major thumbs down for the service at the counter, because otherwise their bubble tea would be worthy of a 4 star rating. The girl was very rude and impatient while I was trying to decide what to order, and didn't even bother to let me know when my tea was ready, she just slammed it on the counter. Shallow note: the restaurant, while clean and bright, has a very uncomfortable, almost cafeteria-like look to it. The furniture reminds me of Ikea chairs and tables, so you know it's definitely not a place to linger. Come for the tasty bubble tea, but don't expect too much of the service or the restaurant! read more

They have enough reviews! I know I don't have to, but I feel obligated to review Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen. We go to Joy Yee's whenever we can't decide what to eat for a meal. We just know we're not cooking. Service at Joy Yee's works like this: 1. Receive Water/Greetings (interchangeable) 2. Takes Meal Orders 3. Delivers Meal Orders 4. Refills Water Cups 5. Delivers Bill Do not expect top not service. They have food service down to a T. Once seated, you will get your food quick. Expect to get out of their quick, too! The dining room is loud, in color and noise. Most of the time, you may be seated too close to your neighbor. Don't think of romancing your loved one here. Entries appear pricey but you will bring leftover home, unless you are a ravenous beast who can eat a cow in one sitting. They provide enough food for at least one more meal. Joy Yee's have my favorite drinks. I know the fruits are fresh and recently fresh and then frozen. When I ask for the drink to the less sweet, they adjust it accordingly. I don't like powder drinks and Joy Yee's is far from powder and closer to yum. Take out is just as efficient, either for drinks or for both food and drinks. I can see why others would disagree with my 5-stars for Joy Yee's, but come here knowing what to expect. Understand that patrons will get hot food, fast. Service is provided to get customers in and out quickly, not to charm the pants off of them. read more

I love Joy Yee's. It's Chinese food. Expect to taste...Chinese food. The menu is overwhelming in a good way, with all of the pictures. The service is very fast, which is great, since I'm here for work lunches a lot. Those bubble teas...it would take years to try them all. I've heard the quality varies depending on which you get. I've had the jackfruit with the tapioca, though, and it was great. Glad to have this place in the neighborhood. read more

Oh Joy Yee's. Had it growing up. Still having it now. Pros: +Smoothies (w/o tapioca) +Tomato Beef Cubes Rice. Ugh!! +Fast +Good for large parties +Lunch Deals Cons: -Food is a bit sloppy -Prices have increased -Tables don't feel very clean Honestly, it's a pretty solid place. They have food from all sorts of cuisines (Americanized) so there is definitely something for everyone. Highly recommend trying the avocado smoothie :) read more

Joy Yee's! 4/5 stars because it doesn't claim to be something it's not. So you get what you expect! Unhealthy chinese food with lots of MSG! Perfect for those Friday nights where you just want to watch Kitchen Nightmares. The only reason I deducted one star is because I'm not a huge fan of their bubble tea. Their fruit freezes are okay, but their milk tea is way way too sweet. read more

First of all, I'm a sucker for any place that has chartreuse paint on it's walls. Joy Yee gets off to a good start within 2 seconds of entering the place just for that. They did a great job in redecorating this place, and it looks a lot more like it's sister restaurant on south Halsted. The menu is HUGE, both in size and in quantity of dishes to choose from. It always takes me at least 15 minutes to even figure out what I want. I gotta say, I absolutely hate that the menu has photos, and I also dislike the faux-food in the window display, but that really has no bearing on overall deliciousness, just a personal preference. I love the giant selection of bubble teas/smoothies/juices... and all of the dishes I've had are delicious. The best part is that the serving size is just as huge as the menu, and I always end up with leftovers. This is a great lunch spot, you get a ton of food for a little bit of cash. Just get there before the noon rush, and you're good to go. read more

Joy Yee's...what can I say. At first, I was blinded by your large, oversized portions, jam-packed menus, and the wonderful smells that wafted from every table. But as each day goes by, I grow more and more jaded by your offerings. Not once have they gotten my bubble tea drink right (both over the phone and in person) and I'm pretty sure at least half of their dishes use the same sauce in some different variation. Granted, their beef cubes tomato fried rice can't be beat. But that only goes so far. I have tried to branch out and try new things with the hope that it will be better. But I am always disappointed. Korean short ribs - tough, chewy, too greasy Chinese Broccoli - way too salty, undercooked, too greasy Mapo tofu - just outright bad. Salty, salty, salty. Sesame chicken - too much sauce (but not the worst of the bunch) read more

The good Jews that we are, Team Newman does a movie and Asiany food on Christmas Day - and as we usually see a movie in Evanston, we head to JY's to complete the tradition. Like most places in which one dines purely for the sake of memory rather than a real fondness for the food, the nosh at JY's is nothing special. Sure you can get everything from pho to hotpot to Governor's chicken to udon on their 200+ item menu, but none of it will have flavors that really pop - it will all be vaguely tasty, some even quite nice (Chinese broccoli in garlic sauce, Thai curry tofu), but for the most part, it's simply serviceable. The real lure of JY's is that the portions are massive, so it's easy to get your fill here - and more importantly, the bubble teas are un-effing-real - yes, the tapioca balls have a weird texture that makes your brain send out that signal that says "hold up....this is not natural....reject" - but what makes them so wonderful is that regardless of whether you order a mango boba in the middle of winter or during the sweltering days of August, it is smooth fruity perfection - I know they use real fruit rather than frozen shizz, so unclear how they accomplish this consistency....or how they actually get durian to taste good, if you go that route (they have a ton of different flavors)...but they are fantastic and worth the trip. Bonus points awarded for seeing my old psychiatrist and her hubby also partaking in the Christmas tradition -- in short, we all know that it's not outstanding food, but it fills a certain primal need The Chosen People all seem to have on this fine day that celebrate's Jesus' birth - and yes, it's perfectly acceptable to go all other days of the year - you'll get the same non-existent, brisk service and gigantic portions, though rather than wait w ever other Jew for a table, you'll battle it out w college kids from nearby Northwestern. Clearly, the vibe is decidedly casual. It's mostly harried families, students on awkward dates, or just...idk....people....all of whom are drawn to the floro lighting, green tea boba, and bim bim bop. Most of the seafood entrees are around $13, chicken/beef options are abt the same, and noodle/rice dishes are abt $10 - I think the priciest thing on the menu is $18 "sea eel" which sounds....terrifying...thus, it's very possible to feed a large number of people for very little money here. In short, if you're going for quantity and the likelihood that everyone will be able to find something on their beastly menu, JY's is a good choice. If you want to be transported to Korea, Thailand, China, or Vietnam, all of which have food items represented, I'd head elsewhere...though where remains a mystery. The North Shore has yet to produce any place that wins my pan-Asian heart. Fuck it. Just buy a plane ticket to Saigon and call it a day. read more

The food was delicious and the service was great. Thank you for accommodating 8 of us and a birthday girl. She had a great time and Evanston is be read more

I have yet to find a better boba drink in the Chicago area. The fourth star is solely for this reason. The tapioca is chewy, but not too chewy, and slightly sweet. My fave combo of the moment is strawberry lychee - sweet and tart. Food is OK. I like how they make their chow fuun - they pan-fry the noodles so that they're slightly crispy...yum. I am not a fan of the new decor. Lime green walls? Uncomfortable futuristic lawn chairs? I also do not like it when they seat you rightnextto the 3 other occupied tables in the restaurant, when 95% of the restaurant is empty and the seats are already super close to each other. What's up with that? It's like they're anticipating a zillion more customers and are slowly packing us in like sardines, one table at a time. Hmph. read more

I have no beef with Joy Yee when it comes to their food because I'm a Chinese food head. I rarely have Chinese that I don't like. They just know how to make something so flavorful plus dress up some rice. I've only experienced Joys once but would definitely hit it up again. During my visit I had the shrimp and scallop fried rice. It was definitely good and what I expected. As for a meat I went the safe route and ordered the orange chicken...flavorful and it had my favorite peppers in it. All I can really say is that the portions were pretty decent. But no lie had I been dining alone I would've eaten everything. That's just how I roll but I was conservative lol. Overall, I would just say that I didn't feel the vibe in the restaurant. I did learn that Joys is a bit of a chain and cookie cutter at that. Its like a Chinese food Ikea from the neon green colored walls to the chairs. I do plan on hitting up a different location but that's just cause I like to eat. read more

What can I say that hasn't already been said? This place is the best and my favorite bubble tea place. There is an incomprehensible amount of combinations you can make. Whenever I visit Chicago, I make sure I stop here several times during my trip. I wish they would open up some locations in New York, they would make a killing! It's so hard to find places that use real fruit and not that disappointingly gross powdery flavor mix in NYC. Joy Yee, you continue to be the gold standard that I compare all my bubble teas to! read more