Hit Highland Park's Main Drag for Bowls of Comfort at Joy

"The intersection of Avenue 51 and York is the epicenter of modern Highland Park, and that's due in no small part to the opening of Joy in 2018. From its brick corner storefront, Joy anchors the neighborhood with the same casual, contemporized Taiwanese cooking that's been a hit at its sister Silver Lake restaurant, Pine & Crane, but with subtle differences. What you lose in beef rolls and three cup chicken, you gain in clamshell buns, sesame bread, and thousand-layer pancakes."

"Start every meal with an assemblage of the cold appetizers from the deli case, which rotate, but usually include crunchy lotus root rounds, squishy-sweet braised peanuts, and marinated wood ear mushrooms. Bad day? Over-imbibed? Sweater weather? Cure all of the above with Joy's minced pork on rice: braised Korobuta pork over steamed rice with a jammy-yolked tea egg and fresh scallions. Stir it all up and shovel it in."

"There are meatier options for your puffy clamshell bun (pork belly and beef, to be exact), but the ribbons of braised beancurd are a unique-to-here pleasure. Piles of creamy, sesame-sprinkled dan dan noodles are on just about every table for good reason - they complement every other dish on the slate. You'll do well to join the crowd. This is a counter-service, metal chopsticks on the table, grab-your-own water situation,"

Joy opened in 2018 at Avenue 51 and York and serves casual, contemporized Taiwanese food from a brick corner storefront. The menu emphasizes clamshell buns, sesame bread, thousand-layer pancakes, and vegetable-forward dishes like garlicky sauteed pea shoots and gai lan inspired by Chef Vivian Ku's farm upbringing. Cold deli-case appetizers rotate and often include crunchy lotus root, braised peanuts, and marinated wood ear mushrooms. Popular mains include braised Korobuta minced pork on rice with a jammy tea egg and creamy sesame dan dan noodles. Counter-service, metal chopsticks, and self-serve water keep the experience unfussy while a compact beer and wine list enhances weekends.

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