It's my third time in Nashville, and I finally got to try Joyland. The restaurant gives retro 70's vibes with the colors and aesthetics. It's simple, but elevated. The bathrooms were also an unexpected surprise. They were very clean and very well decorated for a fast food spot. As for the food, I ordered the crust burger and the joy nugs. The crust burger is unlike anything I've ever tried, and I mean that in the best way possible. It's like a grilled cheese hamburger, insanely tasty and crispy. The meat quality was A+. The nugs were good, but the hot honey sauce was better. Their crispy crinkle fries were also a good distraction between bites. The burger itself is worth returning for. read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Superior to Bad Luck. This burger is 100 percent perfection. Do not hesitate run to get one or two. read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I've only ordered Joyland to-go and after skimming through the reviews on parking/service that seems to be the move to have a good experience here. If you are a newbie you really got to try the Crustburger and the Deluxe Burger. Its all a matter of personal preference as the Crustburger emphasizes a super-crispy edge and intense flavor, while the Deluxe is a more classic, loaded burger with fresh toppings. The Crustburger was OK, I thought the patties were too thin and its just greasy. I much preferred the Deluxe, made with a Bear Creek Private Label Beef with Joy Sauce, pickles, onions and American cheese. Checked all my boxes for a classic burger with quality ingredients. Only downside for me was the bun which was too fluffy (no crisp) and had a subtle sweetness to it. All in all, they serve up a solid burger and I still have to go back to try the fries! read more

Joyland - Deluxe - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Joyland has a great breakfast deal for the egg and cheese biscuit on uber eats so i thought to try some stuff other things out. The space is large, and bright. Lots of merch available for purchase! My order was ready when i arrived and i love that. This hash brown waffle has pixie dust in it- its so good! Hot Honey chicken biscuit was delightful and crispy! Def check their breakfast out! read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I got a kids burger and fries, nothing fancy. I didn't know going in they were smash burgers which I'm usually not a fan of because they're almost always dry, but this wasn't too bad. I still prefer a thick juicy burger any day. Fries were crispy in the outside and soft in the inside. Service was nice. Interior could use a little more color or something. Felt sterile. read more

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Date of visit: March 15, 2025 We came back here after visiting this location earlier in our trip as part of a food tour; we had half of a smash burger (without onions of course) during the tour and wanted to come back and get a full one. We didn't realize that that meant two patties (instead of the single patty we received on the tour) and definitely could have done without that, but when in Rome, right? The real deal was just as good, and the curly fries were excellent as well! I added a shake to my order because that's my weakness, and it was quite enjoyable as well. The place is definitely no frills and a bit cold, to be honest, but we found a small booth in the back and enjoyed the hell out of our food. Should you find yourself in East Nashville, this is THE place to grab a burger if you're out and about. read more

Joyland - Smash. Burger. Amazing. - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I've had this on my must-try list since moving to Nashville this past October. I finally tried it after attending a basketball game downtown. I ordered a crust burger & waffle hash brown. The vibes are fast food establishment meets mom and pop local diner. The menu items are simple, but with chef Sean Brock's creative spin on a classic, and influence on the flavors. The crust burger eats like an elevated grilled cheese with the perfect beefy flavor. The dipping sauce paired perfectly with both the crispy potato and the greasy sandwich. The memorable: - washing my meal down with a classic Coca Cola from a glass bottle - despite plenty of open seating on a slow Sunday evening, I couldn't find a single table that didn't have crumbs or grease stains on the surface which leads me to believe they hadn't been cleaned for multiple meals/uses. read more

Joyland - Crust burger no onions and waffle hash brown - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Retro decor, modern pricing. But a solid+ burger joint to be sure. The fries are super crispy, the smash variety burgers and "crust" burgers are all superb. Open late, and you may be lucky enough to snag free street parking. read more

I'm pretty shocked the reviews aren't higher for this restaurant. I heard about the place from the tv show Somebody Feed Phil and had to go. The Crustburger is a unique take on the smash burger and was delicious. The fries were crispy and fresh. Everything came out hot. The service was awesome too - the guy behind the counter was very nice and helped us navigate the menu. It took a while for our food to come out, but everything was made fresh so it made sense. Overall a great burger and would go back again. read more

Joyland - Crust burger - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

We walked over from The Russell hotel to grab a quick breakfast bite and we were not disappointed. I enjoyed the chicken and biscuit while Amy devoured the sausage and egg biscuit. We'll be back. Kudos to Chef Sean Brock on this James Beard winning corner of East Nashville! read more

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We ate here after a concert at The Basement East. We were so happy that they were open late. The staff was so friendly! I got a burger and it hit the spot! It smelled so good that I started eating and forgot to take a picture so I'm posting my half eaten burger. My daughter got a shake and she said it was fabulous! This is a perfect little treat spot. Would definitely make it a point to come back! read more

Joyland - Cheeseburger - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

After years of searching, finally found the best burger in town.. LeRoy throws down on the grill and was super friendly and helpful to me and other customers in line both time I've visited, and he made his special recipe "hangover fries" for me and they were possibly the best fries I've ever had.. Can't recommend this place enough! read more

Went to check it out because I had seen one of the Joyland locations featured on a tv show. Unfortunately the parking lot behind the building is a paid lot, so I ended up circling around in the rain to find a parking spot. I was surprised that it was so packed for a very quiet neighborhood. My burger was good but it did seem a bit pricey. I would also add on sides for a full meal. Retro vibe was cool. Unfortunately the tables weren't super clean. Curious about their breakfast items. read more

I like the retro/nostalgic vibes inside and the staff was decently nice. There's plenty of outdoor seating and indoor space as well. I thought it was a bit pricey for what we got. I ordered the Joyland burger and my husband got the crust burger which was recommended by the cashier. We unfortunately got over charged for an additional item but they were able to rectify that pretty quickly. The fries were fine but a bit too salty so I didn't finish them. My burger was good but nothing too amazing, personally. I could see this being a good spot before a show at Basement East down the street but I wasn't super impressed unfortunately. read more

We ordered online for the group of 5 and drove over to pick it up. We had to turn around halfway because they forgot to give us a few items. I couldn't tell if the patties were super duper thin or if they gave us singles instead of the $11 doubles I paid for. Too lazy to go back a 3rd time and solve the mystery The burgers and fries were tasty. The veggies on the burger were crisp Pretty cool spot with great branding/logo read more

Joyland - Curly fries - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I'm kind of struggling with Joyland. I wanted to love it, but was underwhelmed on our first visit. More recent visits have been decidedly mixed. I'll start with the good. The breakfast sandwich (sausage egg and cheese) was fantastic. Tasty sausage, good biscuit. Seemed like egg was pre-cooked in a pan, cut, then seared with cheese. Delicious. Crustburger is OK, but the patties are tiny. Double felt like a fraction of a single normal burger. Same width, crazy thin. I think I would get more full from a slider. And there just isn't much flavor, plus it is pretty greasy. I do appreciate (for my wife) that they have gluten-free fried chicken and bread options. But she wasn't impressed with the flavor of the gluten-free fried chicken. Food prep can be REALLY slow. Just over 20 minutes for us, and there weren't that many people waiting before us. The place really needs more cleaning. Food is greasy. Tables get greasy and full of crumbs. Never saw staff wipe down a single table the entire time we were there. Gross. They seem to attract a lot of food tourists groups. Two groups of about a dozen people were there around 5pm on a Saturday, which only slowed things down more. I've been impressed when I've seen shows featuring Sean Brock. But Joyland isn't bringing the joy. I definitely wouldn't go out of my way for it, and I'm thinking I've already tried too many times and it just isn't worth visiting again. read more

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Happy Birthday, John Prine! Chef Sean Brock made this a very special night. The Meatloaf Burger was delicious and the Handsome Johnny cocktail paired perfectly with jt. Chef Brock did a great job spinning those John Prine records. What a great night! read more

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Stopped in for some burgers and beer while visiting Nashville the other day. This is a fast service spot serving up some delicious smash burgers. Their double crust burger was good dipped in their "fancy sauce". My friend had the Joyburger Deluxe which was super good. I would definitely recommend getting that. It was super flavorful. Their curly fries were good. The waffle hashbrowns were okay but a bit on the salty side. I enjoyed the bearded iris IPA paired with my meal. Parking can be a bit difficult. read more

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We visited while on a food tour and loved this stop. The Crustburger was delicious. I would definitely come back next time we are in town for this burger -- so good! read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Joyland in East Nashville offers a nostalgic childhood experience, reminiscent of a visit to a well-known place to get a "happy meal," only it's next level. The ambiance is a vibrant nod to classic fast-food joints, with bold primary colors and a welcoming atmosphere that evokes cherished childhood memories and has some arcade games. The crinkle-cut fries were my fav - perfectly crispy, well-seasoned! I tried The Joyland Deluxe burger and throughly enjoyed it and the housemade sauce it comes with. Happy to have a cherry coke with it. The food quality is superior to a fast food chain. That said, it didn't completely blow me away. The nostalgia factor is strong, and the flavors are solid, but it didn't quite hit that "must-come-back-soon" level for me. Still, if you're craving a fresh spin on a classic burger-and-fries experience, Joyland is worth a visit! 1 hour free parking at the Wabash deck to the right of building. read more

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Was recommended to try this place due to having a large gluten free menu. I went a few times during my visit here and quickly learned online ordering is the way to go. They seem to be extremely slow in person. I read a few reviews with problems ordering gluten free. When you order gluten free, make sure to confirm a few times. It should say it on the receipt and then re-confirm when they sit it down. read more

Joyland - Chicken sandwich, gluten free - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I really love the simple, unique Joyland menu. I visit about once a month. And while the service can range from fantastic to mildly indifferent, it's not that much different from any other hamburger joint with staff turnover. But while I try to do my part to engage folks in a friendly way, I'm really here for the crust burger. Don't need or expect a floor show. read more

First time here - easy ordering and quick to get our food. Came before a concert at Basement East so that's a good option before a show. Pretty affordable overall compared to other places in the area. Got a small shake, crust burger, and curly fries. Loved the curly fries. Shake was good, not sure rich (which I probably would've preferred) but enough to scratch the itch I had for one. Burger was tasty for a smash burger. Lots of onions, had to pick some off because it was overbearing but I know some people love them. Felt like it was missing something to make it perfect but overall a good fast casual spot. read more

Loved the physical space - light and airy, classic diner feel. In terms of food, I loved the crust burger but was expecting a more present flavor from the hash brown component of the patty. Our food was delivered quickly, especially considering how large our group was. As someone who isn't local to Nashville, I'd recommend if you are in that are. If I were to visit Nashville again, I'd rather try one of Brock's other spots. read more

Joyland - Crustburger - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I got the single crust burger with waffle hash browns and I also got a joystick. The first burger was good. It was cooked nicely. The waffle hash browns were burnt and crunchy tho. I barely ate them because they weren't very edible to begin with. My friends got fries and curly fries. I had some of theirs instead and they were good. The joystick was enjoyable - juicy and tender. I got to try the vanilla soft serve. It's so good! The service was great. The girl that took my order was very friendly and helpful. read more

Joyland - Single crust burger with waffle hash browns - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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I was very excited to Joyland as I have heard great things about the owner. I was sadly disappointed in my experience. The crust burger, per their website, is what they are known best for. This is what I ordered and I was very underwhelmed. I did like that they had specialty sauces to order with your burgers and fries. We didn't order a milkshake but they looked pretty good. read more

Joyland - Crust burger - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Good quality food and gluten and celiac safe. Always communicate allergies! Always had good food here.

After seeing this spot on Netflix, I decided to make my own tour where Phil went. I was so excited to try this spot. I love burgers, so it was definitely my kind of place. It has a feel of a casual, fast food joint. The pricing is on par with that feeling. It definitely wasn't fast, though. I waited about a half hour for my food, and there were only 2 other customers at that time. Of course, I had to try the crustburger. I enjoyed it, but I wish I had got the double. The single definitely didn't fill me, but it was tasty. The curly fries were also pretty good. I enjoyed the dipping sauce that came with it. I was surprised at how quiet it was for a weekend, but when I left, there was a tour group, and it got pretty crowded. It's a good burger spot, but it's more of a fast food type of burger vibe. read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Breakfast biscuits were perfect and very fast. Hash browns were superb. But the hero today was the service and hospitality. The gentleman behind the counter saw that my wife waited outside with our dog and invited her in. (It was really early and we were literally the only people in the restaurant). That kind of accommodation is fantastic. Thank you SB for taking your commitment to southern hospitality to your fast food concept! read more

The burgers here are pretty good, but when you're essentially offering a fast food burger at gourmet prices I tend to expect a little more. I had the double crust burger and it was definitely good, but I'm not sure the value is there. The onions and cheese played so well together and the crusty nature of the smash burger was nice. I also got a side of the hasbrown waffles and they were interesting, I wish I would've been offered some sort of dipping sauce cause they were bland without it. The team working here is really nice and our food came out quickly, which was nice cause we came here on a lunch break. I love the retro vibe in this place too, it's a fun place to sit down. read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

great burgers, both the crust burger and the standard smash (I prefer the smash) - delicious beef, sauce, fries. the chicken stick is also tasty read more

we first heard about joyland on somebody feed Phil on Netflix, anytime I go someplace Phil has been. it's always a winner. this did not disappoint. do it! The crust burger and the coffee coffee shake amazing, and the chicken on the stick too! read more

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First time ever going, but not my last. I enjoyed the crust burger, as the buns were very crispy. The crinkle-cut fries were also very good. I had also gotten a vanilla milkshake (Very good) The service was great, and the servers were very nice! The only slightly bad part was the floor. The whole ambiance was very good otherwise. It felt like a 80's theme. Very good, do recommend. read more

Joyland - Crust burger with fries, drink, and burger sauce - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

While visiting family, this was where they chose to take us. I mean, if you're looking for that fresh smell of fried grease when you open the doors to an establishment....then THIS is your place! I didn't even know what to get because there's not one thing on the food menu that isn't fried. I got the joystick. Nothing to write home about. Fried chicken thighs on a skewer. The fries were decent. The place looks rather interesting outside with the bright neon JOYLAND sign (at night), but on the inside, it kind of looks like the behind the scenes of a bakery (minus all the bread and cookies and yummy stuff), with the smell of a grease pit. read more

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3.5 Atmosphere was really fun. Felt like you walked into a restaurant in the 90s. Pac-Man machine and everything. Little dirty but not too bad. The burger was amazing. Smash style with two patties. Cheese melted perfectly with a good house sauce to top it off. Crinkle fries which I'm really not a fan of. read more

Was excited finally to check this out. I have seen this place on Insta and Feed Phil. The staff was nice and they get 4 stars BUT the atmosphere and food get a 2 1/2 to 3 stars. The restaurant itself is a little underwhelming. The pictures make it look bright and fun but when you go in, it seems a bit like a greasy burger joint. It looks a bit worn, messy and even the bathroom toilet had a huge crack on the top of it. ‍ The food itself was okay. For kiddos the burger meat was really thin and burnt. The fries were good and crisp. The Joyland burger was okay. The meat patty was a bit burnt and bun was okay, nothing special. Curly fries were okay. Did like their joyland sauce and would recommend getting a side of it. Best bite was the Crustburger. It was good. The bun being toasted that way was really tasty. Especially great with the Joyland sauce. read more

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I won't lie: on the surface, $7 for a "Crustburger" seems like an awful lot for a dinky sliver of ground beef and a couple of slices of smooshed white bread... BUT IT ISN'T! This is a tasty treat unlike any other. The Crustburger is like a smashburger, but taken to an entirely new level. It's so satisfying that you'll want another RIGHT NOW! For non-beef eaters there are dogs, chicken, and even lab-grown-meat-substitute options. But got for the Crustburger; you will be forever grateful to me for this advice. read more

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Joyland was high on our list of places to try on this trip. They are known for their CrustBurger, which sounded awful to me since I do not like the crispy "meat lace" that some smash burgers have. Of course my husband ordered that burger, and I went with a normal cheeseburger, the JoyBurger. We also got one JoyStick to share. His burger ended up being my favorite! It reminded me of a patty melt, but better. My burger was just average, nothing special to it. The JoyStick, fried chicken thighs on a stick, was super tasty, the chicken seemed to melt in our mouths. I wish I had gotten a chicken sandwich instead of my boring burger. Don't be like me, make sure you order the CrustBurger, it's delicious! read more

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Three of us walked in and went to the counter to order. There were about 6 employees behind the counter. Not one of them greeted us or came to take our order in the 3-4 minutes we were at the counter. One employee walked up to the register and did something but made no eye contact and walked away. It was quite appalling that six people could not acknowledge three customers. It was like we were invisible. It smelled good and the food in the pics on Yelp looked good but we didn't want to give our business to a place that treats its customers like that. read more

Joyland's branding of inviting colors was a great move in their business plan. I love sitting on the patio and eating. They are very nice and welcoming. I enjoyed the joysticks which are fried chicken on a stick. The ranch was just okay. Always get the crinkle fries! So good! read more