Finally tried the bubble tea here after living across the street for a couple of months. They have a million different options and I went with the mango milk tea with tapioca. It was heavy on the mango just like I like it. I will definitely go back for the food as well as another of their million tea options. read more

Average chinese/japanese/whatever they want to be. Their smoothies are good, but the food is only ok. It is about 120% overrated.

Good, cheap asian food. I would highly recommend it for carry out, but at dinner time, it is extremely loud, busy, and the seating is cramped. But for $8, you can get a carryout entree that is good and feeds you for two meals. read more

The boba to-go counter has gone dramatically downhill. The last 4 times, it was either mostly ice, or they completely left out an ingredient. If you watch the woman who makes them (it's been the same woman for me every time), she's rushing through everything so fast that she doesn't check the order. And if you correct her, she gives you attitude and blames it on how busy she is. If you want boba, go to a different location. Once or twice, sure. But if the last 4 consecutive orders I've had from you have been poorly or wrongly made, maybe you need to reevaluate your staffing. read more

The food is okay, but the service was the worst I've ever had in a restaurant. I'd only had my food for ten minutes when the waitress brought the check, asked to box up my food, and pointedly asked if I was going to order anything else. I told them we wanted to at least finish our drinks, so they brought plastic cups. We stuck around because my fiancee hates feeling rushed, so they came back several times to make us feel unwelcome and try to get us to leave. read more

We have been ordering from here 3-4 times a week for at least a year. Recently we placed another one of our weekly orders but the order was incomplete. When we called to ask for the remaining order, I was told "Well we don't deliver for just one, regardless of who's fault." We were required to place another order and pay for it, because of their inability to fulfill a correct order. Sadly, this has not been the first time we have had an issue with them and their horrible customer service. We will be looking for a new place to order from weekly. read more

Nom nom nom! The 4 stars is for the bubble tea but the food is more like 3.5 stars. Joy Yee's has the best tapioca bubble tea in the Chicago area! They are one of the few places that use fresh fruit for their smoothies which is very important to me. Some of my favorite drinks are the mango tapioca freeze, milk tea tapioca, mango+passion fruit tapioca freeze, and the taro freeze. Their tapioca is always soft, chewy and delicious! As for the food, you can't go wrong with most dishes but the food isn't anything to rave about. It's good but the main reason I come here is for the bubble tea. read more

I always forget about Joy Yee's, but my parents stumbled up in after one of my softball games by UIC. Now they are hooked and we go here after NU basketball games. The servers are very friendly, they have a huge menu, and the portions are HUGE! You won't go wrong here and it won't break your wallet. You'll also be sure to have leftovers! read more

Huge variety of bubble tea and main dishes to choose from. Food was great! I'd go back again.

This is the McDonalds of Asian cuisine. In fact, think about that, I just called their genre of food "Asian cuisine." Nothing about this place is real or even flavorful, it is a bastion of American "one stop shop", the only air of authenticity is the Chinese TV playing...that's about it. How about this, why don't you order their taro smoothie(the only thing here that is not over-salted and Americanized to a flavorless existence) and then hop on the El to somewhere real like Argyle for pho made by you know, people who can actually make pho? Or if you want kitchy and yet still deliverable food, go to Chinatown and eat where the locals do. But hey, if you do like this place, fine, good for you, but for God's sake, don't think that this is the "real deal." read more

A great place to go if you can't decide on what type of Asian food you are craving.The portions are HUGE and the drinks are even BIGGER. Its a fun place to go just be ready to be friendly to the table next to you...seating very next to you.I enjoy looking at the photo's in the menu.If you haven't been here in awhile there are several new Korean additions.Make sure to save room for a coconut freeze read more

My Aunt lives right downtown Evanston, and every time I go there I must eat at Joy Yee's ! This is by far the best place for boba and the food is well better then what I might eat at home. They remodeled the place, so it is much bigger but it is still crowded and Joy Yee's are probably fond of fitting as many people as possible. The last time I ate there ( 9/19/08) my boyfriend and I had to sit like 4 inches away from a family of four which was really awkward. The lime green walls and cool yet slightly uncomfortable chairs and the nice flat screen t.v.'s that showed like a Korean Battlestar Galatica tele made me like this place even more. The food is always the best, My favorite would be anything with the fat Chow Fuun noodles, or the Korean BBq short ribs. For the portions you get, the prices are perfect for at least two, so bring someone. And you must get bubble tea, they have almost every combination and if not, then you can just tell them what fruits you want in there! They even have it with ice cream which the mango ice cream freeze is my favorite. I've been to the one in Naperville, and well even though they are the same company, I like the one in Evanston better. So if your an hour away like I am, I'd make the trip to the one in Evanston, you'll get the full Joy Yee's expierience! read more

Went on X-mas. Crowded even at 8pm. Service prompt. Orders came a bit too fast. Won ton soup very good. Seaweed appetizer not so good. Korean BBQ beef fabulous. Kung pao chicken pretty good. Calamari shrimp basil pretty good. So was pork fried rice. Portions very large. Would visit again if in Evanston. read more

In terms of atmosphere it's basically a glorified cafeteria. Long tables that multiple groups are squeezed at like when we were in grade school, metal completely uncomfortable chairs, throw up colored walls, the acoustics are so bad and the volume of everyone crammed in so loud you seriously have to practically yell to be heard. And if the person isn't sitting right across from you or directly next to you forget about a nice conversation. The service while prompt is also lacking. Despite the noise the servers talk at a whisper, mumble and seem completely uninterested in answering questions or making any kind of accommodations. They act as though you are bothering them. I got the hot and sour soup to start with and was surprised by all the different things in it. I don't recall hot and sour soup at other restaurants having so much meat. It didn't taste right and I only took a few bites before deciding it wasn't worth the calories. I will say my basil shrimp was good but given how not good everything else was that's not enough to get me back there. The prices for such a mediocre experience were also to high in my opinion. No thank you. read more

in the words of anthony bourdain "asia is really big" and it is. if you want below average "asian" food stop by joy yee's for some greasy rubbery delights. i will say those drinks look good though.... read more

The service at Joy Yee's is seriously lacking. For some reason, they like to seat people way in the back, all crunched in together. There might be twenty empty tables in the restaurant, but it's almost a guarantee when the next customer walks in, they'll be sitting right next to you, practically in your lap. I can't quite figure out what the reason is for this, considering they really rush you out of there. Good things about Joy Yee's - the lunch menu is cheap and you get a lot of food. There isn't a whole lot of variety on the lunch menu, but if you find something you like, you'll get a lot of it, along with a small cup of soup and an eggroll. Overall, Joy Yee's is total meh. Bad service but super cheap easy to make food. read more

Very bad "pan-Asian food". Overly greasy, salty, or simply bad are all terms to describe the food here. Though, if you want Panda Express quality food for all types of Asian food, come get your fix here. Milk teas I have tried were watered down and the boba was very poorly made with those dry/crumbly centers. And usually, i don't fuss about interiors but the chairs are just so strange and uncomfortable. The portions are huge though, but I'm not sure if you would want to eat this much of their food. read more

The service here is SO FAST! And they give you a portion the size of three meals - at one point I was eating orange chicken leftovers for about a week. I've ordered some pretty standard dishes here, including broccoli beef, chicken with vegetables, and the orange chicken, but they're always delicious. And I second what everyone else says: try the freezes! Strawberry peach (without the tapioca balls) is my absolute favorite. read more

Even though the original Joy Yee is closer to my home, I prefer to go to this one. It's in close proximity to the theater so it's perfect for grabbing a quick meal and a flick. As with the other Joy Yee, every time I stroll through the doors, the place is utter chaos. However, it's really something I've grown accustomed to and I pay it no mind. Joy Yee offers a wide range of Asian entrees (I say Asian because I've no clue what kind of food it really is...). Service is okay but for the prices and the sheer volume of food, I guess you can't have your cake and eat it too. They've entrees suitable for just about any time of diner from this wussy ones that order the same boring chop suey day in day out to the kamikaze ones that'll eat weird crap like candy coated baby crabs (long story). So I guess this is a "safe" place to bring picky eaters since there is a huge selection available from their ever-changing/ever-growing menu. One constant is the quality of their fruit smoothies - always good and goes well with your meal. I'd highly recommend trying their stone pot entrees (seafood, meats, rice, & veggies in a bi bim bop type bowl). There's also a hot'n'spicey seafood noodle soup and a three mushroom tofu dish that REALLY hits the spot. Bottom line - fast service, tasty foods with huge portions, huge selection, great smoothies, and low prices make Joy Yee a restaurant I'd come back to time and again. read more

My review is based on their freeze/smoothie drinks as I have yet to eaten here. I tend to be a creature of habit and order the same things at certain places and this is one of them. I love their watermelon freeze with tapioca! But this time around I ordered the coconut freeze with tapioca - delish! Oh and I just found out that they also have 'mini pearls' which are small tapioca. I'll need to try my next one with those. :) read more

I came in because I heard they had over 100+ drink options, and yes it is true! The menu is so big that it's high key overwhelming, you see something good, and then you see something better. It definitely was a huge challenge for slightly indecisive people like me haha. I ended up ordering a strawberry lemonade and it was just okay... they also didn't have lychee jelly.. so.. I'm giving it 3 stars! I'm sure they have something I'll like a lot if I ever make it back! read more

I go to Joy Yees at least once a month and i have always gotten great and quick service here. For the quality, service, and price, Joy Yees can't be beat when it comes to Chinese food. Although the decor is always nice and the place is always clean, I kinda wish the chairs were more comfortable lol. First, the drinks are unmatched. Selection is crazy and you can probably find a drink for any mood you're in. Second, even though this is American Chinese food, the dishes are still delicious--like orange chicken, beef and broccoli, tomato rice and beef cubes, crab rangoon, and chow mein. Their menu selection is intimidating but you really can't go wrong with anything UNLESS it's the soup dishes. I've never been a fan of them because all of the soup bases taste the same and rather bland. But you almost always have leftovers! read more

ok, i guess my comments are just spit in the ocean here.. the food is good, the drinks are top notch and the menu is pretty extensive. i usually have a hard time deciding on what to get (i almost always get shu mai as an appetizer though, because i think it's really good). the big menu can be good or bad.. depending on your preference. good call on the pics on some of the menu items too. i guess the only thing i really don't like is the seating. whoever picked the chairs is out of their mind, and it's a pretty tight fit if you're there on a fri or sat night. i wouldn't recommend the pad thai at all. though it will def make you full due to the quantity, it's much much better at an authentic thai eatery. 4 stars because i'm definitely a fan, and i think it's better than a-ok. read more

The server was so rude and the food was somewhat dry, won't be returning. The food was a good portion however. And the server was demanding a tip which I found very absurd! read more

Been here many times. The thing I don't like is they cramp tables together. I know they want more customers but when it's packed, it is hard to move around. And you are too close to other customers. The chairs are still weird to me. I like solid all around chairs. Everything else is good. Food is usually consistent. read more

Oh, where do I start? This place is one of my very favorite treats. Prices are a little high, but everything is so fresh and flavorful. I always get a honeydew tapioca freeze, the lychee and mango ones are great too (even mixed together!). The orange chicken is crispy, tangy and spicy. I get the broccoli chicken mostly. Their soups are amazing. HUGE portions! When you take the dine-in experience out of Joy Yee's, they can do no wrong :D read more

For a place that serves generic Americanized Pan Asian food, this place is not bad! I love the large portions for the value! I often order delivery to my Evanston office and my favorite dish is the Mapo tofu with pork over rice and the vegetable lo mein. Having been born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, I practically grew up with Bubble Tea smoothies for the first 20 years of my life! I'm glad to see the trend moving into the Chicagoland area and Joy Yee makes a wonderful Bubble Tea. I just wish they would cook the tapioca pearls longer so they're not so hard... I want chewy pearls but not this chewy! read more

Not really authentic Chinese, Korean, Thai, Vietnamese cuisine or any thing else. Visit a lot just for convenience. Many dishes are too big for an individual. However, Joy Yee does have some good stuffs: Beef cubes with tomato sauce is definitely one. read more

It used to be better but the three entrees we got last week shows Joy Yee's peaked some time ago. The sweet and sour chicken was awful, as was the watery Mongolian Beef. The white rice was well done, fortunately. Maybe we just ordered the wrong things read more

Beef Cubes with tomato sauce, definitely worth the try. This place is like an Hong Kong cafe, quick service and pretty good food.

I echo other's comments about huge portions for reasonable prices. The dishes I've ordered here for the most part have been very tasty - from the pineapple friend rice to korean bbq beef to seafood chow mein. The only disappointing dish has been the pho noodles, which didn't taste like anything. The bubble smoothies, particularly the mango, are fresh and a total indulgence. All in all, one of my favorite places in Evanston. It's usually crowded and noisy, but it takes a good place to draw crowds and the line moves quickly. read more

Food is expensive but good. If you can get over the young waiters and their unprofessional behavior when it's busy, you sure can have good time. The bubble is the worse so try to avoid it . read more

Pros: Large Quantities, Huge Variety. Con's: Tasteless food, Rude staff and everything needs to be masked by Sriracha. Joy Yee offers Pan-Asian cuisine: Korean, Japanese, Chinese, Thai, Malaysian and what not. I feel if they narrow down the menu options to the cuisine of staff expertise, the food might actually taste better. My opinion is probably biased. I have been to Joy Yee at least 10 times, and the experiences I have had in all those occasions have been average. The food in JoyYee is bland, and found myself adding copious amounts of Sriracha on every dish. It's probably because of my Indian origin - I like food that is rich in flavors and spices, sometimes even on the over-empowering side. Joy Yes has good drinks and they have a great variety of Bubble Teas. read more

They have the biggest menu I have ever seen in my life. The quantity is very good. They have a huge collection of shakes and juices. Excellent ambience. But I hated the fact that the tables were so close to each other. Over all the place is good. Costed us 10 bucks each. We ate a starter and fried rice. read more

The food is amazing, so fresh, full of flavor, and you get a lot of food. Same goes to the wonderful drinks they serve. You'll never run out of choices. Also the prices are great, you get so much food for a very decent price (there were 6 of us, we each ordered one entrée and a drink, the total was $115. That's amazing, plus we all had some left over to take home). The reason I can't give five stars is because the service. I've been there several times and it never seems like the servers have the time or patience to take your order or answer any questions you might have. They are always in a hurry and just want to get the order over with. read more

The food selection here is so encompassing, ranging in flavors from all over Asia. What's most impressive is that they harness these various flavors well; and extremely quickly. Oh, and you can't leave without a huge boba tea to last you a week! read more

I like their food but they're not very nice to customers. I phoned in an order for pickup by my husband and said I had a coupon for a free crab rangoon. They said ok. When my husband got there, on the way home from work (and thus didn't have the coupon with him), they wouldn't give him the free appetizer because he didn't have the coupon. Most Asian restaurants have coupons like this and I've never had one require the actual coupon. That's just cheap. We ordered $40 worth other food and they're arguing about a $4.95 appetizer? There are plenty of other excellent Asian restaurants in the area - including Dozika and Cozy Noodle - that treat customers better. Try those instead. read more

I placed a take out order at Joy Yee in Evanston. The place looked very crowded with smiling faces. I was pumped up for an exciting meal. I ordered pork fried rice, Vietnamese egg rolls and Mongolian beef. I began eating an egg roll. The cover was rather soft and not crispy. It was mediocre. Next was the pork fried rice. It was very bland. I've made better fried rice at home. Finally I tried the Mongolian beef. Their menu says this is spicy. It was ok but bland. How could all of these diners be so happy? I feel like I struck out. The Korean restaurant at 4200 N Lincoln is vastly superior. I give them **** for their bulogi and beef ribs. Joy Yee isn't in their culinary league. read more

Pretty good selection and fast delivery. Special phone is good and the bamboo chicken is my favorite. Pho is pretty good too, if you can't make it down to Argyle Street. read more

If you are going to go for Pan Asian food in Evanston, skip Koi and LuLu's and head over here. You will get more for your money. Joy Yee's drink and food menus are extensive. I never know what to order because all the pictures of the items look so good. I love the neat log containers some of the items come in. I have never had a bad meal here, although I feel like the atmosphere is seriously lacking. It's incredibly loud, cold-feeling and bright. Plus, they pack people in so close you can't have any sense of privacy when you are on a date. I found the staff to be fast with water and the food, but had no friendliness. The big portions, variety and taste make up for those flaws in the long run. read more