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Bergen St (F, G)
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While this place has certainly gotten a lot more crowded over the years, it's because it's that good. Several times I've had the owner come by the table to make sure everything is great, despite the business.
In the summertime, try to grab a spot on the back patio. This pretty much always has a wait, but it's really nice.
Every time I go back to NY, Joya is on my list of places to eat.
I was visiting my best friend in Brooklyn, and we wanted to get something cheap and tasty. Joya was his solution and I was DAMN glad he suggested it.
We went on a Thursday evening and it was definitely crowded. We had to wait about 30 minutes for a table, but we decided to get ourselves a drink to tide us over. The bartender (Billy, I think?) was awesome. Drinks were tasty (and strong) and I discovered there was a chip in my glass, at which point he made me another whole drink even though I just asked for another glass to put it in. Then he overheard my friend talking about how much she was looking forward to a thai iced tea and he proceeded to make her an alcoholic version, on the house!
I'm not gonna lie - by the time I got to the dinner table, I was a little bit buzzed, and I was ready for some food. Pad thai for $6.95???!?!?!? Really?!?!? Of course, I then had doubts about the quality of the food, but I was pleasantly surprised by how good the food was. It also came out super quickly, which my semi-inebriated state was happy about.
After dinner, we went back to the bar to have one more drink with Billy, who proceeded to give us dessert on the house (it was my friend's bday just a couple days before) and some more tasty beverages. They definitely helped keep us warm on the walk back, that's for sure.
One star off because we tried to order takeout from them on Sunday night and had to call back 7 times because the line was busy every damn time. Also, it is a tiny space, so it wasn't necessarily comfortable while we were waiting for our table, but they definitely made it worth the wait!
I wanted to see what the big deal was with this place. It's always mobbed outside, and the decor made the menu look swanky.
So I took my girlfriend here for dinner after a long day at work. We were both starving and the 30 minute wait didn't make things better. After being seated we quickly ordered the Fried Tofu which was served quickly and inhaled ever quicker. Tasty - ok, now where's our veggie Pad Thai?
Twenty minutes later it's served and I take the first big bite - right into a piece of chicken.
Thank you Joya for breaking my ten year vegetarian streak.
I decided it was time for second chances. While sitting at home on a rainy Thursday afternoon (waiting for a UPS delivery) I decided to give Joya another try. After ordering the shrimp with green coconut curry and veggies, I was once again pretty disappointed. The vegetables were so soft and mushy and there was way too much sauce (felt like I was eating soup). The texture really turned me off. On the plus side, the portion was so huge that it lasted me the entire day (lunch+dinner). Sorry Joya, that was your last chance.
Very rude waiter/owner whoever the guy at the front is. He makes you feel like he's doing you a… Read more »
great thai at unbeatable prices.
Joya seems to be where EVERYONE goes for thai food in Brooklyn. (That is, if you don't live in Williamsburg. If you do, you go to Sea.) And I see why. It's cheap, and overall the quality is there. However, I wouldn't call it the best, and I definitely wouldn't go there as often as I do if I didn't live a few blocks away.
Oh, and I will NEVER go there on a weekend, simply because I don't appreciate the whole restaurant/club thing. No DJs for me, just good, consistent thai food.
If you're considering eating at this restaurant, you should reconsider after reading this:
RESTAURANT INSPECTION DETAILS
Location 215 COURT STREET, BROOKLYN
Inspection date October 27, 2009
Restaurant name JOYA
Violation points 34
Violations
Other General Violation
Facility not vermin proof. Harborage or conditions conducive to vermin infestation exist.
Evidence of, or flying insects in facility's food and/ or non-food areas.
Evidence of, or live roaches in facility's food and/ or nonfood areas.
Evidence of, or live rats in facility's food and/ or non-food areas.
Appropriately scaled metal stem-type thermometer or thermocouple not provided or used to evaluate temperatures of PHFs during cooking, cooling, reheating, and holding.
Smoked fish and/ or ROP processed food held above 38 degrees Fahrenheit; other PHF held above 41 degrees Fahrenheit. Except during necessary preparation.
Hot PHF not held at or above 140 degrees Fahrenheit.
Followup inspection required Yes
Added to EveryBlock on November 7, 2009.
http://nyc.everyblock....
This place, no joke, lives up to the hype.
Minus a star because they didn't answer the phone- I called on my way home, hoping to save time, but ended up having to stop in and order to-go.
The place was packed on a Thursday night, but it took less than 15 minutes for my veggie pad thai and spring rolls ($10.95, total). The spring rolls and sauce are to die for- next time I'm considering ordering 3 orders as a meal.
The pad thai was much creamier than most places- and actually has VEGGIES! Not just hunks of broccoli (ick).
The place was beautiful, and the back garden looked awesome, too- it's definitely a place to take visitors for a good meal and a drink.
Can't wait to go back!
I love this place. Some folks feel it's a bit pretentious--and I will admit the DJ they have there can be overwhelming at times--but the food is quite good, quite cheap and very fresh. Best Pad Thai and Chicken Basil I have ever had. And very consistent. And I want to emphasize the price. A lot cheaper than you would expect and a lot better too.
Only minor complaint is when the trendy hours come and the front is filled with folks waiting for tables and cocktails. But past that, it's no biggie.
This has got to be the best Thai Restaurant in Brooklyn! Hands down!!! The calamari is prepared to perfection, the pad thai is splendid, and the dessert??? AMAZING!
Joya inspires me to be a better cook :-)
It must be love.
I discovered this place years ago; I liked it then and I still like it now. Hands down one of the best Thai experiences you can have in the city. The food is very good, sizes are generous, and it's cheap! I wonder how they can stay in business but, hey! I'm not complaining!
The restaurant has exposed bricks and large pictures, and a full view on the open kitchen, which is something I always like in a restaurant. The main dining area can get noisy, but if you can score a table in the outdoor area, you will have a much quieter atmosphere, perfect for a summer date.
The last time I came here I had the spicy squid salad, which was very refreshing and really delicious! My only complain is that it wasn't much spicy at all, but I like my food rather spicy. The spicy noodles (sauteed fresh flat noodles, with mixed vegetables and egg in a chili basil sauce) were also a winner. Finally, VH (god bless her) convinced me to try the mango with sticky rice as dessert, which was fantastic! The mango was delicious, but the rice was amazing: I loved the combination of sweet and slightly salted flavors.
Overall for a shared salad, two entrees, and a dessert, our check came to less than $30. That's amazing value for the kind of food you get.
I also like to come here just for for drinks at the bar: a modern design that doesn't feel cold, tall glass vases with nice plant arrangements, and $8 pint-size mean mojitos.
So, yes, Joya: you get 5 well deserved stars!
Here is the thing.. this place is a conundrum... and let me tell you why.. the food is banging.. a phrase I do not throw out there lightly.. or often.. but.. I feel as though the owners of Joya had a debate, whether to open a "hip, trendy" club. Or an amazing Thai restaurant, and thus they decided to combine the two. There is a a dj spinning when you walk in the place.. uhh... on a Monday. I mean I might be old, (although i think i am on the younger spectrum of the cobble hill residents). But this atmosphere is very of putting to me...
That said. I gave the place five stars, because hands down the food is the best Thai I've ever had. I usually get the spicy noodle, which as advertised actually have vegetables in them, unlike other Thai places that consider one or two pieces of broccoli spicy noodles with vegetables.
I've been to that place in queens that all the foodies love... and this place, despite their identity confusion, blows them out of the water!
oh yea.. and they are dirt... dirt cheap!
I live around the corner from this place, but hadn't tried it until tonight. Why hadn't I gone before?! Absolutely delicious, and I paid so much less than I would have expected to. Not to mention that there was this duck/mango fresh roll special that was quite possibly one of the most refreshing things involving duck that I have ever eaten. Also, the beef + bok choi pad thai was superb. I will come back again, and again, and again.
Honestly its a curiousity how the other THAI places in Brooklyn can survive up against Joya. The food is solid, the prices are low, and the atmosphere is fun.
While they do deliver, the food always tastes better in the restaurant. There was a time in my life when I couldn't go a week without their spicy noodles and wonderful salads.
A bustling Thai joint in Brooklyn. Went here on a Saturday night. There was a wait so we had some brews at the bar and people watched. It was a nice night so we decided to dine on the patio. Servers were a bit slow we waited 20 minutes before anyone even came to our table. For appetizers, we had calamari - which I thought was bland. I've definitely had better. I had the chicken Pad Thai which was decent. Nothing special. Overall a cute restaurant but the food was just "OK".
When I walked in and told the woman I wanted an order to go she looked at me like I was crazy. (Just to clarify--yes, the do "To Go" orders) Though there was nothing bad about this meal there was nothing really amazing out it. The shrimp appetizer with plum sauce was definitely the highlight of the meal. Also the bathroom opens up right in the middle of the dining area, which I thought was really awkward.
THE FOOD HERE WAS PRETTY GOOD, BETTER THAN YOUR HOLE IN THE WALL THAI JOINT. THE PRICES WERE ALSO SURPRISINGLY LOW. THE ONLY PROBLEM...
Oh sorry, let's stop outside. That's better. The only problem was the loud music. I don't understand how anyone could turn the music on that loud and think "Yep, this is what people want when they eat Thai food." While I liked the food, I can't see myself ever going back unless they fix the noise.
What can I say? This place lives up to the hype!
Came here last night for dinner, and this time we scored a table outside. It was nice to have dinner outside, but the table was a bit cramped, and the bench is slightly higher than the table, so it was a bit uncomfortable to hunch over for about an hour. But besides that...no complaints.
Mojito - excellent!
Squid salad - wow just orgasmic, fresh, tasty, and out of this world!
Spicy noodles - excellent, and the basil is a great addition
Pork in ginger sauce - eh, just ok, but still very good!
BTW...this place is CASH only.
Wow...this place knocked my socks off, oh wait, I wasn't wearing any socks...lol...in any case, as… Read more »
I oftentimes find myself grumbling like an old person in restaurants, "Why can't they just turn down the music?"
Joya, however, takes the cake. My party of six was forced to sit virtually in silence throughout our entire dinner. Conversation simply wasn't possible over the loud music. We felt like we were in a nightclub.
That being said, the food is good, the prices are great, and the decor is delightfully trendy. I'd return if I could be guaranteed a seat out back in the garden, which appeared to be much quieter.
I LOVE IT! Great portions and great flavor! We had the shrimp, scallops and broccili pad thai and the beef asparagus with masamun cury over pad thai noodles. The thai iced tea was also really good and had a different spice quality to it than the thai iced tea here on the west coast. Next time I'm in NY I'm making the trip out for some more JOYA!
the garden is a lovely faux forest.
mainly due to two large tree trunks shooting through the concrete floor in the middle of the backyard dining area.
other than that,
joya is just another thai place with two large tree trunks shooting through the concrete floor in the middle of a backyard dining area.
Slightly pretentious! Gosh, am I at a club or out to dinner? Club, dinner, Club, dinner, couldn't tell. Unless of course if you decide to eat outdoors in the very lovely garden. Was that a bouncer? Oh no that was the host....silly me for a second I almost thought he was going to deny me entry. Did he hiss at me....biatch! Might try it early on in the day, when I can sit outdoors and enjoy their delicious pad thai.
When I use to live in Cobble Hill, this place opened across the street from me. Most restaurants in New York open and have loads of people come the first month or so and then it tapers out after everyone has tried it. Joya has been around for a good 10 years and the crowds have never let up since their opening night and for good reason.
If you want a place that has a nice (low lights) look, it's perfect for a date or friends night out. They have gone through periods of DJ's and not but regardless the place is always jumping. Nothing on the menu (and it is a miracle it has remained this way since they opened) costs more than 7.95! (Almost to find a place this hot in New York with this low prices and great atmosphere is unheard of!)
I've gotten to know the owners over the years and could not meet a nicer bunch of guys. The food is top rate Thai. There is nothing on the menu I could complain about. Personal favorites are the Spicy Noodles with chicken. Mango salad (and I'm not a salad lover but this one is great!) And - you will see a one page list of 'specials' that is handed to you when you sit down. (Note: the 'specials' prices are higher than the menu's nothing more than 7.95 price - but well worth it and mostly in the 13.95 range). I personally love their Skirt Steak (which always seems to be on their 'specials' page cooked with various Thai style veggies).
If I had to say anything critical it would be that - at times it feels almost 'rushed' to clear your food and have you on your way. Given the high volume of people each night (Monday nights can be as crowded as Saturday nights) it's understandable why they need to keep the turn over going. It's not exactly the place where you can sit and talk for a while after dinner (unless you do so at their bar which in itself is a great spot to hang.)
The white wine is cheap and good and after such a fun night of incredibly good food - and dining - you'll feel like you just left a party and can't wait to go back again. Hence - the crowds - but you'll love being a part of it. (Note: if you are not in Cobble Hill and find yourself in Park Slope - go to their sister restaurant called SONG - same owners - same menu policy - same great food - slightly less appealing lighting (florescent strip lighting on walls) but all the same great crowds, fun and fantastically deliciously cheap food!)
Alright, alright, so I used to think that I really loved JOYA and that they had great food for real cheap, but I went back last night and the food just wasn't as good as I remembered. Their green papaya salad was so weird, it was all sweet instead of spicy. We also got some appetizer with duck in it and it seemed to be just a large chunk of duck fat with no actual meat (ew). To top it off, I found a peice of glass in my curry on about the last bite (hope I didn't swallow any) but they did take off the price of my meal from the check.
That being said, I'd go back to Joya because it's just so darn good for being so cheap. I guess just stick to tried-and-true choices like pad-thai, spicy fried rice, etc.
The food is EXCELLENT for the price!
The food is your typical Americanized Thai food, but everthing…
Read more »
Some of the best Thai food I've ever had and you really cant beat the price. I Highly recommend this place!
Good atmosphere (no DJ when I went).
Hip decor.
Friendly owner.
Dece prices.
Really delicious food. The duck and mango spring roll appetizer special was mind-blowing, and my pad thai was one of the better ones I've had. My friend asked for his fried rice spicy, and he was more than satisfied!
All in all, I couldn't tell you specifically why I'm leaving a star off. I had a good time but don't know if it will become one of my regular places.
Pros:
---The pad thai is good
---The pad thai is cheap (SEVEN dollars for a dinner?)
---Nice decor
---Good service
---The atmosphere is fun, loud, kinda like a bar
Cons:
---The atmosphere is fun, loud, kinda like a bar. I wouldn't bring my grandmother here, but it'd be good for a big group of friends.
---There can be a wait
---If you try to order delivery, prepare to get a busy signal. If you actually get through, their delivery is very prompt.
I like this place quite a lot, all in all. Sadly, so does everyone else. :P
Great thai! They really should consider opening a location in Manhattan. The spicy noodles are awesome, as is the pad thai, and thai beef. The currys are a bit runny and light on the coconut flavour but overall still good.
The atomosphere is eclectic and fun, but get ready to yell because it gets super loud in there!
If you like eating over cooked cabbage and carrots in a shitty Euro Trash night club well.....c'mon in!!!
I can hear the fancy pants assholes as I walk down court street telling their mates"lets go to Joya"
You guys go to Joya I will be busy across the street trying to get hit by the M75 bus.
It will be alot more fun ,and the bus bumper will have more taste than the noodles you will be sucking down.
Enjoy your $6.00 beer shithead.
In this Economy...
Came to Joya on a late Sunday afternoon.
First impression, the decor of this place is trendy and very Brooklyn. Its got red brick walls on one end and old fashion fans on the ceiling juxtapose with the modern bar.
The portion of the food is BIG! The quality of the food is so so....but I would say good for your wallet...
They also have a nice back area. I would recommend this place for group outings!!
I went and jumped for Joya with a few friends last week. I'm pretty sure it's owned by the same people as song in park slope, or it's a chain, but regardless it's exactly the same. The decor, menu, prices, everything.
That being said, this location seems to not be as busy and I think there is more seating here too. The food is really good, especially the pad Thai and spicy noodles, but the beef satay appetizer was eehh. Overcooked and the sauce was too thick and sweet. Overall though it's a nice place and it's cheap and you are getting good food with large portions. They also have a decent wine list and a specials menu.
Always the balls!
Really this place keeps getting better and better on subsequent visits. I would give 5 stars, but their mojito this time was very stiiff, but not sweet enough. We had the duck spring rolls with mango and mustard, beef satay and the special salmon in basil sauce with green beans. OMG the salmon was TOO DIE FOR. I'm still thinking about it. The duck spring roll was also a nice combination of duck, cilantro and dijon mustard with a sweet dipping sauce. I really recommend anyone to try from their specials menu as both times going there I've had good luck with those.
I really like this place. The mango salad is to die for and has just the right combination of… Read more »
Okay, my love affair with Joya has cooled a bit. Two things: 1.) They never answer their phone, or you get a busy signal when you call, forcing you to call back repeatedly for about 20 minutes before getting through or giving up, and 2.) The food is hit-or-miss much of the time. Like, one night the woon sen will be light and stir-fried to perfection and overflowing with delicious veggies and meat...and then the next time it will be super heavy and dripping with grease and scanty on the veggies and meat and just generally sort of bad.
We still call them when we're up for a night of sodium-induced unquenchable thirst, but there's other comparable Thai in the neighborhood...and most of the other restaurants answer their phone, too.
Still pretty okay but not as good as it could be.
This place is super close and the food is good. Not the best Thai in the world but some of the best… Read more »
I enjoy going out to eat as much as anyone.......but last time I checked my surname isn't Rothschild, so I can appreciate an affordable meal without cooking it myself at home.
Joya provides tasty Tai food and a decent ambiance at a third of the price you would pay to dine out in the city. Not to mention that one plate can easily serve two people.
Dishes are generally under $10 and I recommend the:
Shrimp Fried Rice $6.50 or Pad Tai $6.95
Our bill was under $50 for 4 ppl and I got to let someone else clean the dishes when we were done (sweeeeeet).
Great if you can get in. The prices are great and the food very tasty and you get a lot of it. It gets loud, but everyone is always having a great time.
One of my favorite favorite Thai restaurant. I usually order something off their special menu, for example grilled salmon over Chinese broccoli, Skirt Steak with shrimp, along with Som Tom and Fresh spring roll. Fried calamari & mussels are delish!
What I love about this place is that they offer Thai hot sauce(especially the one with finely chopped chili pepper in fish sauce). Unfortunately lot of Thai places in NYC don't carry it.
Also I find staff there pretty friendly and I avoid going there after 9 PM 'cause it turns into loud throbbing, thumping club with bridge & tunnel people(Fri/Sat). During the day and early evening is nicer; music more rock-n-roll/alternative w/ locals.
Stopped by last night for dinner. I can't really say anythng negative about this place. Also a good crowd, good food (not the best Thai in NYC, but very solid), nice atmosphere (we had a 25 minute wait at 7:45p on a Weds to sit outside) and the prices are very affordable for the portions given.
I live in Woodside and still find it is worth the trek there at least several times a year.
This is an awesome place for Thai food in a wonderful ambiance. I love the big outdoor garden seating and I love going for lunch when it's not jam packed. There is a large bar which comes in handy when you have to wait so long for a table. I love their soups!
Having had and enjoyed their takeout, I decided to brave Joya on a Saturday night. I put my name down for a two-top at around 8:30 pm and was told that there was a 45 minute wait. Well, an hour and a half later, I was finally seated. The bar with its tasty and affordable beers on tap made the wait significantly less trying, but seeing multiple tables stand vacant, set and ready to go, for up to 20 minutes did the opposite.
That said, the food here is delicious and so, so cheap-- a great value, and Joya definitely has a monopoly on the best tasting Thai on Court St. The chicken satay, green papaya salad and summer rolls are sure to please, and you can never, ever go wrong with their pad thai. Our food came out very quickly (if all at once, entrees and apps at the same time), but honestly with prices being so affordable and portions as delicious as they are generous, I can let those things slide a bit. The decor is very nice and trendy as well, although the atmosphere is a bit boisterous and you probably wouldn't want to come here on a date because it can get very noisy and crowded. Drop by instead with a group of friends for a fun and yummy night out before checking out the bars on Smith-- you won't be displeased.
Sunset Menu for Fall 2009
Neighborhood: West Village
Lunch Special
Neighborhood: Stuyvesant Town
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Category: Sushi Bars
Brooklyn, NY
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Carroll Gardens
Category: Thai
Neighborhood: Cobble Hill
Category: Japanese
Neighborhood: Park Slope
Category: Thai
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