Delish hipster Taiwanese food! My husband found this place and we tried it during when the pandemic was slightly getting better. It was so good!! Took our family here and they enjoyed it too. We love the Dan Dan Noodles and thousand layer pancake (plain). Got here on a Tues night at 7:15pm and the line was POPPING!! Sooo crowded! However, we were able to get seated about 30min later. You order at the counter first (they also have a separate takeout line around the corner) and then they lead you to a table if it is available. We tried their tangerine soju seltzer and it was so good!! 6% alchy :0) Def want to try their other drinks next time. There is water nearby and cups and utensils to grab ourselves. Service was good and available when we needed plates to be taken or for boxes. Servings are a little small but we ordered 4 dishes for 3 people and it was just enough. Oh if you are looking to have a good conversation, this place is super packed and loud so you will have to shout!

Found this place out of some nowhere blog recommendations and it took me some effort to convince my husband to give it a try. It is just hard to find authentic Taiwanese food here in LA. And out of our surprises, it is more than just good... As a born Taiwanese, I can confidently say the food reminded me of my hometown especially the mochi. It tasted exactly like the one I had in my childhood. Lol And the Dan-Dan noodle, hot/sour soup are also very very delicious. And big plus to the service/staffs here, they are so friendly and attentive. Will definitely come back!

General thoughts: Joy is the kind of place where you can order a bunch of different stuff to try them out. It finds a perfect balance between traditional flavors and the modern style dining experience. You order at the counter grad a number, food would be brought to your table. However, the service is still superb. DISHES - I really liked the portion of each dish. My favorite is the Mapo tofu, while the dish is not traditionally from Taiwan, Joy does provides with an authentic taste, the slickness and the silky texture of the tofu is just right. It was so perfect to have it with a bowl of rice. The minced pork rice is a classic dish and this place didn’t let me down, either. I found the thousand layer pancake very interesting, it certainly tastes nice, but I found it to be slightly too oily and greasy. Wonton soup came in small portion, but the quality was really high. I def hope to visit this place again if I’m ever in the area. I really look forward to trying the dessert options here!

Great experience! The thousand layer pancake with cheese, basil, & chili sauce was definitely good however it was slightly hard. The Dan Dan noodles were okay, not a fan of peanut sauce, but I added chili oil and hot sauce and it made it taste a lot more balanced. Had the fruit shaved ice cream and I think I ate it wrong but SUPER GOOD. I think I was suppose to mix it. Overall great experience for first time.

If you want a quick fix for Chinese that almost tastes authentic then this spot is for you. Its not authentic as the Chinese places in San Gabriel Valley but if you want a quick fix and live in Highland Park it's your best bet because SGV is far away. It's very busy here. Excellent service!

There's something about this place that I can't quite put my finger on it. Starting with the Thousand Layers and continuing with the Dan Dan Noodles and Mapo Tofu, this isn't your typical Asian restaurant. The combination of flavors and variety of dishes truly justify the (sometimes absurd) wait time. I went in the middle of a workweek, during a rainy evening and there was still a line outside. That already speaks volumes of how popular this place is with the local. I understand the hype now. Don't let the lines deter you, and come treat yourself here. You won't regret it. I know I certainly didn't.

We ordered the pancakes with egg, shrimp wontons soup, and garlic green vegetables. They were delicious overall. However, the greens didn’t come with garlic, instead it came with braised pork.

Fantastic place to eat ! Everything was fresh and served extremely fast. The environment of the restaurant is modern, spacious and wonderfully bright. There was a very good vibe. Please taste one of their drink ! The only minus side is the food is a bit too salty. Felt all day thirsty

One of the best meals I ever had! I had the ‘Joy combo’ which I think is a good deal of you want a little bit of everything.. also finished off with the shaved ice. The portions were good and flavors were nice! Staff is really kind and service is quick. Ambiance nice too!

Joy makes really tasty Taiwanese style noodles! The ambience is lively. Joy is often packed. I came with a friend that has a Taiwanese spouse and she said the food is legit! Parking is an issue most of the time. Meter parking is available.

Some of the best Asian cuisine I’ve had. The venue and lighting is nice and the staff were friendly. The food was very good, and I recommend the Dan Dan noodles with the thousand layer pancake. The “scallion pancake” had egg and cheese in the middle which was good too. Super yummy and a great location for lunch!

Amidst the hustle and bustle of a Sunday crowd, this Taiwanese restaurant stands out as a beacon of efficiency and culinary prowess. Despite its ever-present full-house, waiting times are miraculously brief, a testament to their streamlined operations. Their rapid transition from ordering to serving, especially under such high demand, is noteworthy. The Chicken rice, described as "god sent," elevates the dining experience to celestial heights. The savory-focused menu, combined with generous portions and unbeatable pricing, makes this eatery a wallet-friendly haven for gourmets. The staff, navigating the demanding environment with friendliness and professionalism, underscore the establishment's commitment to excellent service. All these elements converge, rightfully earning its status as a newfound favorite in the realm of Taiwanese dining.

Summary: Veering into more "authentic" Chinese / Taiwanese food, Joy offers something for everyone. Are you craving real-deal appetizers like marinated wood-ear mushrooms, or are you looking for delicious pork belly in a bun - you'll find both here. Try to avoid peak hours - the line can easily go out the door after 6pm. Stop by the donut/ice cream shop across the street if the desserts here don't appeal to you. Parking can be a challenge, so buffer time for that. Food: Get things to try family style. Portion sizes are decent enough for everyone to have a bite or two if you're sharing. Standouts: thousand layer pancake (with egg & cheese), Dan dan noodles, braised pork belly bun, and taro milk tea (with real taro). Service: Once you get through the line, service is fast. Everything came out at once, including the drinks. The staff is very nice. You'll find most condiments you need on your table. Atmosphere: Night and day if you come on the earlier side rather than rush hour. During rush hour, it can feel crowded and loud. If you come earlier, it feels more intimate. Good place for a first-date. Restrooms are available and large/clean. Overall, feels casual yet classy. Price: Very reasonable prices for what you get. The Joy Combo seems like a good value but I've never tried it personally. Parking: Can be difficult to find - only street parking.

What can I say? This neighborhood sometimes doesn’t feel like home but it’s places like Joy that really help change that. First of all the cashier is attentive, the servers are friendly, fast and efficient. This place has amazing staff and food. The prices are also reasonable and their menu is relatively easy to understand. I had the joy special which came with an appetizer, small soup and a sandwich and iced tea. I chose the pork belly sandwich and it was so delicious the bread was so soft and I wanted to buy a roll of it. I also got the wonton soup which was so flavorful as well. I wasn’t a fan of the seaweed salad but everything else exceeded my expectations. I want to come back to try different menu items but this place is definitely top tier. Parking is a bit tricky but I suggest coming on a weekday when there is less people.

On one of those crisp and cloudy days in LA, and you are a bit melancholic and longing for a coziness feeling of home this is the place to go. The comfort food of your dreams, it’ll warm your stomach and heart, cooked to the perfection with love. Usually there is a line outside, but I promise you it is worth the wait and anticipation. The sides are amazing, especially the peanut and the mushrooms. We had pork over rice, mapo tofu and noodles and I can’t think of any favorites because they are all rich in flavor. The prices are fair and decent and nothing crazy, perfect food for the working class. This is the sort of experience that you can use to justify paying high rents in LA and be happy that you are here now experiencing this food.

I absolutely love this place! It has a great atmosphere as it’s really busy, we came here around 1pm! The food is absolutely incredible, light but filling. And everything tasted so great especially the bun, which was my favorite. I wouldn’t recommend the sea salted caramel drink with green tea as it’s just cream with green tea. I also love the hipster elements here, the plants and the light wood really brings this place alive ! The service is great and everyone is so friendly and attentive.

Great experience at Joy. Arrived around 8:30 and had to wait for a little while for a table. The food comes out wildly fast which is awesome. I got the dan dan noodles and a pork belly sesame bread sandwich. The food was very fresh and filling. The sea salt cream teas are to die for. They are so tasty and not too sweet.

Super friendly and helpful staff. Food is good. Not the best Taiwanese street food out there but works for the craving. The shaved ice dessert is quite tasty.

Very poppin in the evenings so we got takeout. Everything was quite fresh, friends really enjoyed their Dan Dan noods. The thousand layer cake was a bit bland, and quite thick, but I can see the appeal. The other dishes were solid takes on the classics, a tad Americanized but very deep braised flavors. Mochi was chewy and fresh as well, we were stuffed!

Everything we had today taste really good! Highly recommend the noodle that comes with one shrimp and hot &sour soup. There’s a paid (.25 cents/30min) parking across the street. Really nice decor too!

I frequent a lot of restaurants throughout LA County. My friends often ask me how do I judge a good restaurant. Over the years I’ve noticed that the most successful restaurants are frequented by a variety of age groups, and nationalities often repeat customers. Joy on York Street has found that groove without a doubt. You could say the food is simple, but I would have to disagree. They go to extremes to make their dishes, healthy and tasty sourcing varietals that you don’t normally find in restaurants. Hats off to Joy for finding the groove and serving delicious and healthy food. I look forward to many many visits here. I highly recommend you visit Joy on York st !!!

Joy is a fantastic Taiwanese restaurant with exceptional service and a lively atmosphere. The staff are incredibly friendly and attentive. The food is absolutely delicious, with a wide variety of authentic Taiwanese dishes to choose from(recommend trying and sharing with friends and family). The prices are also quite reasonable, making Joy a great value for the money. The only downside is that during busy times, there can be a bit of a wait for a table. However, this is a small price to pay for the overall excellent dining experience at Joy.

4.5 🌟 Tasty and filling meal that’s really worth the bang for your buck. Everything we got was so flavorful. I was surprised with how filling the hot and sour soup was; it was more like a vegetable stew. The sesame scallion bread was buttery, which wasn’t what I was expecting, but still good. Not pictured, but really great were the simple greens in a soy garlic sauce. It can get crowded, especially on a Friday evening, but the wait time isn’t bad. It’s an order at the counter and wait to be seated type of restaurant.

Great restaurant with delicious food. The Dan Dan noodles were delicious. The pork bowl and the shaken iced tea were also good. Line moves pretty quick and you order ahead and wait to be seated. The food came out pretty quick once seated and the customer service was great. They were really nice and efficient throughout our time eating. Very much a hipster place but does not suffer from the “looks good but tastes average” affect. The food here is in fact delicious.

Came here with my partner on a whim. I ordered the slack noodle, and it was delicious. Decent prices and portions. The atmosphere was pretty neat, too! The staff was awesome! Definitely would recommend to my friends!

Phenomenal dinner experience here. Great food, great service, I have zero complaints about this spot. The flavors were so delicious and the atmosphere was so comforting. Will definitely be back

It was during the afternoon so it wasn’t as packed as usual. Which this place has a line out the door. Great food, excellent service. Tried many dishes and was impressed with the soup as well. Will be coming back.

Satisfying dining experience. Was seated quickly on a Friday afternoon. Friendly and informative staff. Ordered an assortment of the cold dishes including wood ear mushroom, cucumber salad, braised peanuts, and seaweed. All scrumptious. Shared between two grown lads and enough for take home. the chiayi chicken rice, minced pork rice, Dan Dan noodles were all made excellently as our main course. The black sesame peanut mochi was delicious desert, but feel it would be great with some ice cream next time. Our good friend Skinny Pablo gives Joy an 8/8

Came here in a small group and the waiter was kind enough to take our order at the table, instead the usual counter as it wasn't too busy yet. Tried out several dishes including the wonton soup, thousand layer pancake, and minced pork rice. The food is simple, but really good! It got busy after we got our food, and it was 3pm, so definitely a popular place to eat!

It was packed at night so the wait took a while but it was so worth it. The portions were pretty good and prices reasonable for LA standards. Mapo tofu with rice - the mapo tofu had nice silken tofu, but no Szechuan peppercorn which was atypical. However, the sauce base it was in had a savory, manchurian-like flavor. A tad bit spicy. Dan Dan noodles - the peanut sauce was crafted perfectly and coated the noodles to provide a creamy peanut-butter texture and flavor in each bite. I wouldn’t recommend the hot and sour soup as it was honestly too sour. Go to this place and try the mapo tofu or the Dan Dan noodles!

Pretty good Taiwanese food! The Dan Dan noodles were my favorite, would definitely get it again. Portions were also a little small. The restaurant was also really crowded on a Friday night.

Joy offers humble authentic Taiwanese street food, with a great ambience and superb service. Also very reasonable prices. The side dishes were a nice surprise, marinated bamboo shoots were so good. Both the Dan Dan noodles and the minced meat over rice were solid. Will definitely come back.

This is my thing… Love the thousand layer pancake with “everything” on it! If you’re getting this to-go you need to eat it fresh out the restaurant! It’s hot and crunchy, cheese is melted through has egg in there….and the basil with the chili sauce takes it up there and that’s on me!! The Chiayi chicken rice with scallion oil and house made pickles another top hit of mine.

If I could give an additional 5 stars for the service here I would. The staff are literally next level. I haven’t had service like this in years. The kindness they have is amazing in a time like now. I ordered the Kurobata pork rice bowl and the thousand layer pancake with cheese egg chili oil and basil. Also sampled the Dan Dan. Noodles. Let me say phenomenal. There was nothing here that wasn’t epic. We also had the sugar cookies and tea and mapo tofu. There was nothing that let me down here. Just pure joy!!