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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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

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

two words...breakfast burrito with hot sauce added! plus they have a cute little outdoor patio and offered my puppy a free pup cup read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

First time visiting joy land and it looks like it's seen better days. The place felt clean but like it used to look crisper and cleaner. Ordered ahead online since it quoted a 45 minute wait for an order. When I arrived there was a line at the order spot, and a display rack of chips blocking the pickup spot. So I had to get in line and wait, but it went fast. The joystick was tender and juicy and flavorful. I'd love to see a hot version. The deluxe burger was tasty as was the crust burger. But I wish there were options for some toppings on the crust burger to brighten and lighten it up a bit. Fries weren't crispy. Hashwaffle was crispy but way way salty. Overall I wish it were dialed in a lil more. Would try again next time I'm in town. read more

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I think this location on Charlotte is cursed! Businesses can't stay open here and Joyland will suffer the same fate if more people don't visit. I went with my work team and we had a great experience. I thought the burger was excellent and really enjoyed both the crinkle and curly fries. Plus, they have soft serve! read more

Joyland - Deluxe burger with crinkle fries. - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Best biscuit in Nashville - Best BISCUITS in Nashville!! Bacon egg n cheese sandwich. Totally hit the spot. Hash browns were good but I wish they were hotter when served. We were both disappointed that there was no iced tea as an option. Sweet and unsweetened. So the only option - a few coke products on the fountain. Staff was super friendly! read more

Joyland - Bacon egg and cheese - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

I'll say it - Joyland makes a damn good burger. I love that the incredible Sean Brock (who's known for his fine dining!) wanted to create a nostalgic, no-frills burger restaurant. The flavors and the vibes at Joyland are always on point. This is my go-to spot after a concert, especially at the nearby Basement East (you could literally just walk over after the show!) The Crustburger is a must-order, and you definitely need both types of fries (curly and crinkle) in your life. Extra sauce will cost you, but it's worth it! I haven't been for breakfast yet, but I hear it's just as good as their lunch/dinner options! I also love that they have robust gluten-free and vegan options, so you don't have to worry about bringing in a big group with dietary restrictions! Sooo ... why four stars? The service is sloooow. Both times I've been, it's taken around 30 minutes to get our food, and that was after waiting in line more than 15 minutes to order! I completely understand that good food takes time, and if I'm in the mood for a Crustburger, I'll happily wait. However, with a fast casual, counter-service setting, I'd love to see those wait times go down ... at least a little bit. Even still, Joyland is a must-visit for tourists and locals alike. Come hungry, and get ready to chow down on a burger you won't soon forget! read more

Best late night spot to grab a burger!! Super gluten-free friendly with crispy fries and tons of delicious sauces. Their deluxe burger is the classic and I really enjoyed it, my friends got a crust burger and thought it was one of the best smash burgers in Nashville. Great location by basement east and coffee and bar spots. read more

Joyland - Joy land menu - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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The picture really doesn't do this justice. Incredible burger. They have GF options if that's your jam (this isn't it!) read more

Joyland - Crust burger with bacon and curly fries - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Came here on a food tour specifically for the crust burger and OMG was it delicious! It's a very very thin smashed patty with onions. I don't even like onions and the flavor on this crust burger was amazing and I loved it! It's nothing fancy inside but who cares this crust burger was to do for! read more

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I saw this place on an episode of Somebody Feed Phil and so I decided to check it out. The location is easy to get to and there is metered parking in the back of the building and some street parking. When I arrived it wasn't packed and I was grateful because I really didn't want to wait forever. On the flip side, I was surprised it wasn't packed because it was 12:30 (lunch) on a Friday. I ordered a crust burger (I wish I'd made it a double because the single left me wanting), curly fries and a coffee milkshake. I also ordered 2 joysticks to go so I could eat them on a salad later. I was surprised when my milkshake came out minutes later. Also it was smaller than I'd imagined, but I didn't see a size, and I wasn't exactly disappointed in that because I don't really order milkshakes often. The food wasn't long after and seemed hot and fresh. There were a few tables that needed to be cleaned, but I did manage to find one that wasn't dirty. Bathrooms were out of hand soap. read more

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We got to try Joyland as one of our stops on a local food tour in East Nashville through Secret Food Tours. This was our first time visiting Nashville, so the tour was a great way for us to try multiple restaurants! I loved the concept of Joyland (as it was explained to us by our tour guide). We got to try the Crustburger (each of us got a half of one). Some in our group got to try local beer brands served at the restaurant, but the rest of us got sodas. I would say my review is rating more this 1 item than the overall experience, since we weren't there for long and only got to try 1 food item. Overall, the crustburger was a really fun, creative spin on the smash burger. It felt like a creative, elevated grilled cheese & burger hybrid, if that makes any sense! I thought the bun was the perfect balance of crispy and soft, the meat was perfectly crispy and juicy, and the aioli dip was the perfect addition of sweetness. Overall, I enjoyed it enough to want to try it again, but I don't know if I'd say I'm necessarily running back to it or in a rush to try it again. In terms of the overall ambiance, it gave old school diner vibes. It was cozy and joyful! Very colorful. We went on a Tuesday during lunch and it wasn't busy. The tables and overall restaurant seemed cleaned while we were there. Plenty of indoor and outdoor seating, which makes it a good fit for a bigger group or family outing. read more

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It's difficult to find parking, even on a Wednesday morning, but their biscuits are worth searching for one. We arrived at 9:30 and the restaurant was empty. There is no table service, you order at the counter. The lady there gestured to a small heated case and said that's all they have for breakfast. There were several biscuits and a breakfast burrito. I chose the bacon, egg and cheese biscuit, R ordered the sausage, egg and cheese. Both came with a huge 1 inch thick rectangle of egg on a large biscuit. The first bite was wonderful, rich biscuit, sweet bacon, lots of egg. The best thing about it was the biscuit but Nashville knows how to make biscuits. And, like McDonald's, you can't order lunch until 11 so we couldn't order out lunch as a takeout. No crust burger or chicken on a stick for me. I didn't like counter service only, not the friendliest staff, hard chairs or booths, pre-wrapped breakfasts in a warmer, what seems to be plain American cheese. You get all that at a McDonald's. Not a warm greeting or a smile from anyone. C'mon. This is Nashville. read more

Joyland - Bacon, egg and cheese breakfast biscuit - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Decided to try out this place after seeing it on Somebody Feed Phil episode in Nashville. Place does not disappoint. The burger is really good. The chicken on the stick is my favorite. Lots of seating inside & outside. Service is pretty good. We usually go back when we have a visitor in town. Highly recommend. read more

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

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Joyland is a fast casual restaurant by the famous Chef Sean Brock that is inspired to be more affordable compared to some of his other fine dining restaurant and spread joy (hence the naming). Inside is very fun and colorful. The menu has plenty of combo's filled with options from Burgers, fried chicken, biscuits, shakes and of course fries. To drink they do have a small selection of alcoholic options including a collaborative beer with a local brewery in town. My first time in I got the #1 combo and added a beer. The burger itself was fantastic and so delicious and so were the fries. Looking forward to going back and trying another item! Parking is a small lot or free street parking around the side of the building. read more

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Top rate burger spot. Service is fast and friendly but you don't really converse with them, think fast food like service. They have cool video games. They are open late so a great spot for after an event. Prices are not crazy for the area think $16 for a meal. read more

Great food. Great prices. SLOW service. After hearing so many good things, I finally came to try Joyland myself. There is free street parking and a small paid lot (first hour is free) around the back. You order at the counter and then they bring the food to you. There is a good amount of indoor seating and also a cute outdoor patio. The restaurant design is very simple and bright and gave me skater vibes. I ordered a basket of crinkle fries and a cup of vanilla soft serve. They both tasted amazing! The soft serve cup was HUGE! I also really loved that this place had several gluten-free options. My biggest complaint is the speed and quality of service. They brought me my ice cream shortly after ordering. I waited a little bit because I wanted to eat it with my fries but eventually it started melting into a big mess. My fries didn't come until 45 minutes later?! I could understand if they were really busy or if there was a large group ahead of me but it didn't seem so. Waiting 45 minutes FOR FRIES is a bit absurd. read more

Joyland - Vanilla Soft Serve - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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We stopped in after seeing this show featured on somebody feed Phil and was intrigued by the thought of the Crusty burger. Boy did it live up to the hype from the show we got the burger and the little crispy edges on it were perfect. and the smashed buns or grilled to perfection. The curly fries were extremely crisp and hot and seasoned extremely well.The fancy sauce that was served with it was extremely good truly worth the time to stop in for a quick burger. The service was extremely fast and our meal was brought out to our table. The restaurant was just your basic burger joint and grill nothing too fancy but doesn't need to be. read more

Joyland - I crusty burger - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Heard about Joyland after watching one of my favorite shows "Somebody Feed Phil" on Netflix (Nashville episode). The spot has a happy and simple times vibe. Staff was friendly. We ordered the staples on the menu: CrustBurger: I was most excited to try Joyland's take on a smash burger - this time with those crusty bits of meat on the side. It's about the size of a McDonald's burger and the patty and bun are thin but it bursts with flavor!! Comes with onion and cheese and their "fancy sauce", which to me just tasted like mustard and ketchup making it an elevated classic burger - smashed!! It was the perfect amount of food for me with the fries. Would come back for this for sure. 5/5 JoyBurger Deluxe: Great burger! This time it has two of the really thin patties which I honestly prefer. The bun was soft and fluffy. 4/5 Joystick: As I learned from the show, James Beard award winning chef and creator of Joyland infuses his signature BBQ sauce into the breading of the Joystick, which is fried chicken thighs on a stick. Of course I was super excited to try after learning this, but it didn't live up to the hype. The chicken was juicy but I actually felt the flavor was lackluster and the bland flavor of the breading (cornmeal??) dominated. It really needed the sauce - you can choose from a few but I went with the hot honey. It actually tasted more like sweet and sour sauce than honey, but it added the necessary spark I was looking for. Sadly wouldn't order again. 2/5 Fries: What you would expect from a fry. Waffle, curly and crinkle cut options, and large portion size! 3/5 Other things: Unlimited drink refills. They also sell beer. Gender neutral restrooms. Free 1 hr parking in the lot behind the wework building. Plenty of time for us to get our food and eat (but we also didn't have to wait in line when we came). Glad I got to visit this ~joyful~ spot in Nashville! read more

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(Read in the tune of Toyland) "Joyland Joyland thank you Phil Rosenthal for going to Joyland." If you're not sure what I'm talking about check out the show Somebody Feed Phil on Netflix (the Nashville episode). This is how we found out about Joyland and both sides for the family agreed that was the main place to go to when we were on our trip to Nashville. Joyland has all your typical American delicacies: Burgers, Fried Chicken, Hotdogs, Fries, and Shakes. Needless to say we ordered most of it. I will say we were coming here from Broadway so we were also coming in hungry and a little tipsy so I will say my pictures will not do this place justice. But if this isn't the food for that I don't know what is. They even have their own Joy Bier! CrustBurger: comes with Onion, American Cheese, Side Fancy Sauce. This might have been the best burger I have ever had. I love a good smashburger and this was probably the best if have had. Juicy with some amazing crust from the smash process. I had the single but could probably eat 5 of this. They are served on a very thin burger bun. This is a most try for sure. Fried Chicken Sandwich: Joy Sauce, Pickle Slaw, Mayonnaise. This Fried Chicken Sandwich was so much better then I expected it to be. Perfectly chicken on the outside but one of the juiciest chicken sandwiches you will have on the inside. Move over fast food sandwich the battle is over and you lost. Joystick: I will say this isn't anything that at first is going to call out to you but you have to try one. Again extremely juicy and fried to perfection. They are also served with one of their amazing house made sauces. JoyBurger Deluxe: Bear Creek Private Label Beef with Joy Sauce, Pickles, Onions, American Cheese. This was Ashley's favorite where I preferred the the Crustburger but this was still amazing it's just had to pick a favorite when everything so is good. 2 smashed patties, 2 slices of American Cheese what more could you need. Next time I come to Nashville this will once again be where I have my first meal! read more

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I heard this is the best burger in Nashville and it is good! We went on a Saturday at noon, and I definitely say they need more staff for cleaning. The bathroom , drink station, and tables were dirty. read more

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Food and ambiance is great. Just be aware of your surroundings in that area at night !! There was a homeless guy threatening the employees all night and the poor employee said the cops won't even come out because they don't take it seriously! It happens often apparently but his threats were scary. So sad because the place is wonderful! read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Updated review now that I've been here before & have refined my ordering process & expectations. Got the joystick (chicken on a stick) & a crust burger no fries. Nice paring and enough so you're not starving a few hours later. Chicken on a stick doenst sound sexy buts it's well done and good dark pieces of chicken thigh meat so it's juicy af. Crustburger is a good flat smashed thin patty deriving the majority of its flavor from the sautéed onions & bun (not knocking it) but if you are thicker than a snicker like me you are gonna need two or a chicken stick to go with it. The joy ranch is a really good sauce also. read more

Like many others, I discovered Joyland thanks to Somebody Feed Phil. I travel a lot for work, and whenever I catch something intriguing on TV, I make it a point to experience it firsthand. Joyland absolutely blew me away. Their burgers are a delightful mess, with the grease running down my arm to my elbow - it's pure satisfaction. The crinkle-cut fries were perfect, crispy, and almost hot enough to singe my eyebrows. Every time I return to Nashville, I'm definitely making a beeline for Joyland. The place exudes a cool vibe and has such a unique setting. I can't wait to try something new on the menu next time! read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

First visit we weren't sure what to expect but once we tried the food we fell in love! The restaurant sits on the corner and when you walk in you see the menu board. We both got fried chicken sandwiches and crinkle fries, one set gluten free other not. I can't speak about the nog GF but the gf bun was good, didn't immediately fall apart like many do. Chicken had great flavor and the slaw was delicious. We went early March and drove out of our way to go again today (early April). Seating inside can be tough during busy times. Take out is available (we opted for this). Staff is quick and use to the hustle and bustle. read more

Joyland - Menu board - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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If it was not for the Netflix series, Somebody Feed Phil, I would never have learned about Joyland. Thank you, Phil. They are known for making a super-thin smash burger called the crusty burger and for their milkshakes. Both were delicious. On Sunday mornings, a breakfast menu is offered. There is seating indoors and outside. Parking is on the street. read more

Walk in and you're greeted by the mouthwatering smell of food and friendly faces at the counter. My boyfriend and I were first timers and ordered the crust burger and Joyburger with a chocolate shake. While the place wasn't busy for a Tuesday night at 7p it took about 25 mins for our food and the tables and floors were dirty. That said, the food was worth the wait! Both our burgers and fries were perfectly cooked with the right amount of flavor and crisp on the edges. Ample paid parking at the lot on the side and on the street. read more

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The burger patty was so thin. I ordered double burger deluxe. Almost same size with the burger of cook out. Small than 51st deli. Almost the same with hugh baby. read more

Joyland - Double burger deluxe - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Amazing smashburgers! We had a little bit of a wait, but the cashier gave us a free ice cream sample to enjoy! Employees are super nice and the food is really fresh! read more

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I went to Joyland expecting, well... joy. Instead, I left wondering if the name was some kind of cruel joke. From the second I walked in, the staff acted like I was inconveniencing them just by existing. No greeting, no smile, just pure attitude. When I asked a simple question about the menu, they rolled their eyes like I'd asked them to read me the entire dictionary backwards. Huh? Yeah. It was that bad. Joyland might serve food, but they sure don't serve any joy. If you're craving rudeness with your meal, pull up a chair. Otherwise, spend your money somewhere that doesn't make you feel like an unwanted burden. read more

I dropped in to try these burgers out because the pics WOWED me. Service was fast and the employees were nice and friendly. I hadn't read the reviews or didn't know the specialties here, so we just ordered the regular Joyland burger/cheeseburger. But had I read the reviews, I'd have gotten the double fried burger or whatever it's called. My burger was prepared correctly, but the bun to meat ratio blew my meal. The bun was dry and too thick for my liking. The curly fries were definitely a 5. I'm not in Nashville much, so I would probably not waste another visit here. 1 of those, been there, done that thing. read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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Burgers bring me great joy. So when I learned Sean Brock was the mastermind behind Joyland, we made it a point to check it out while we were in the area. We ordered the crustburger and waffle hashbrowns combo. The crustburger is essentially a smashburger with a few raw onion slices in between "just the crust" of a potato roll. It had a strong beefy flavor! Some joy sauce was served on the side which was like a thick version of thousand island. The waffle hashbrown was crispy on the outside, but mushy inside. The coffee milkshake was delish though! The employees here were less than joyful, and the indoor seating had that sticky/dirty feel. Someone said in a Google review this was the McDonald's for hipsters. Lol. Pretty accurate. Pricy for what you get, but it was worth a try. read more

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I've been wanting to try this place for years now because they have Gluten free fried chicken. After eating there today, this place is a hard pass. It was a one and done visit. I hate to put it out there like that, but it was a terrible experience and terrible food. They served me gluten after I requested and clarified that my meal was completely Gf. After my meal was served, the staff didn't seem to care they served someone (me) with celiacs gluten. I didn't not feel well the rest of the day. The Yelp reviews were mixed to begin with, but I would not recommend this place to anyone due their lack of GF awareness and filth. I wouldn't be as critical about Gf, but they advertise that they specialize in GF and they didn't seem to care they served me gluten . Also, when you think about filth, think of a filth level like kitchen, nightmares, or bar rescue. The #1 tag is just a small example of the uncleanliness. read more

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Joyland has a cute exterior aesthetic and good food. But for the price and the wait times I'm not sure if I'd be back. We waited 40 minutes on a Monday evening for 2 burger combos. Ordering sauces costs extra and the prices in general are a little steep. I understand that business expenses are rising but usually a higher price on fast casual food means an elevated experience, and we didn't have a great experience. In the dining room many tables were unbussed and there were fruit flies buzzing around my head. We went up and checked on our food around the 30 minute mark and the manager cited a long Uber eats ticket, which seems to be a common trend among the reviews here. It would've been nice to know if the wait would be long considering the empty dining room when we ordered. When the food did arrive it was warm and good, and my vegetarian partner appreciates the impossible burger option. Overall the people there are nice but if you're looking for a quick and unfussy burger this isn't the place, probably my bad for not setting my expectations correctly! read more

I've loved Joyland for a while and always recommended it for their unique smash burgers and the crustburger! However, I recently went back and was a bit disappointed. I walked in, and even though I was the only one in line, it took about 5 minutes before any of the three employees acknowledged me. I ordered a bacon, egg, and cheese biscuit, and when it finally arrived after about 20 minutes, both the egg and biscuit were unfortunately cold. I hope this was just an off day because Joyland has always been a favorite. Of course I'll give them another shot, but I really hope the service and food quality get back to their usual high standards. read more

Somehow they have the #1 burger in the state. I would have to go back just to taste the one that was #1. My burger was not joyful at all. It was the crust burger. So maybe next time I'll get real meat and I'll actually enjoy it. This was extremely dry with no seasoning. The sauce was really good and I ate it with everything. I didn't like the curly fries so next time I'll get the crinkles fries for sure. I wanted a shake but couldn't sub and pay an up charge so I decided to go without it. read more

Joyland - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

Went here specifically for gluten free options. I had the gluten free fried chicken sandwich it comes with coleslaw pickle and mayonnaise they are very skimpy on the toppings. Crinkle fries seem to be the most popular. The chicken was cooked perfectly. My husband had one of their crunch burgers and said it was great. We ordered a boozie shake and it took them to be asked 3 times and almost 20 minutes to finally get that to us. Seems they forgot it. The very nice cashier brought it and it was definitely worth the wait. I'd go back again but definitely ask for heavy toppings. read more

Joyland - Gluten free fried chicken sandwich - New American Near Me - Nashville, Tennessee

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