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Joy's Noodles and Rice
Category: Restaurants Thai Thai [Edit]
3257 N Broadway St(between Aldine Ave & Melrose St)
Chicago, IL 60657
Neighborhood: Lakeview
(773) 327-8330
- Nearest Transit:
-
Belmont (Brown Line, Purple Line, Red Line)
- Hours:
Mon-Thu, Sun 11 am - 10 pm
Fri-Sat 11 am - 11 pm
- Attire:
- Casual
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Price Range:
-
$
- Good for Groups:
- Yes
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- Yes
- Take-out:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- Yes
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Average
- Ambience:
- Casual
- Has TV:
- No
- Caters:
- No
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
509 reviews for Joy's Noodles and Rice
Review Highlights
"It is BYOB, and the prices are awesome."
(in 132 reviews)
"Helloooooo yellow chicken coconut curry."
(in 16 reviews)
"Outstanding Spring Rolls are among my favorites."
(in 49 reviews)
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509 reviews in English
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Review from Kelly S.
12/28/2011 1 Check-in Here
I just LOVE Joy's. Super fast, super hot food. I always leave stuffed and happy and my wallet isn't crying. They are also BYOB!!!!!!
My favs are any of the curries. The Tom Yum soup is also good especially in cold weather. -
Review from Laura D.
Chicago, IL
1/25/2012
This was pretty good. We ordered delivery to watch the State of the Union address last night, and it was pretty satisfying! I got the pad khee mao with tofu, and it was good. It definitely could have come with more baby corn and more tofu, but the tofu was really well-cooked: crunchy yet squishy, the right balance.
I loved the little hot sauce guys that came with the meal, and it was so scrumptious all together. All the peppers in there made the dish sing. I will be back! -
Review from Diera H.
Chicago, IL
12/24/2011
I have to go here at least once a month. Just for these:
- Tom Kha w/ Chicken
- Pad Thai w/ Beef
- Chicken Coconut Curry -
Review from cindy k.
Chicago, IL
2/5/2012
It's BYOB. Their prices are phenomenal and service is always great. Not to mention, they have these lunch specials which are just superb and so plentiful that I usually have to bring some leftovers home with me. Try their pad thai with the glass vermicelli noodles. Yum!
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Review from Jessica N.
Chicago, IL
12/15/2011 1 Check-in Here
Joy's is one of my fav go-to Thai places in the city. Fast service, lots of space, also good for delivery.
My go-to is always the Pad Kee Mao. Perfect blend of spicy and sweet! All of their noodle dishes are pretty solid. Their curries could use some improvement, but since 90% of the time I order the PKM I would reco it to anyone =D -
Review from Cyndi F.
Chicago, IL
2/4/2012
joys by far is the best thai food on the Northside!! I always get the coconut curry and spring rolls. The spring rolls are amazing. The staff is great, Lex is our #1 server always!! We love that it is BYOB with no corking fee!! I moved from the neighborhood and always go back to get my favorites.... Mmmm, the best!!!!
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Review from mad i.
Chicago, IL
1/27/2012
My former go to for Pad thai...lots of cabbage which I like. Mmmm
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Review from Vaidehi T.
Chicago, IL
12/22/2011
Went to Joy's last weekend with a bunch of friends.
It's a great place for groups - and it is BYOB, so that's an added bonus.
The food was very delicious. The green curry in particular was a favorite at our table. My favorite was the Pad khee Mao, it was sweet, savory, tangy, spicy - fireworks in my mouth! It is a great place to come on cold winter nights to eat their comforting, spicy and hot food. -
Review from Keith T.
12/8/2011 1 Check-in Here
Out in a group looking for a place to have a celebratory birthday dinner, and every place we try is all booked up with hours-long waits.
Enter our White Knight, Joy's Noodles and Rice. We called ahead and they had a table waiting for us by the time we arrived. The waiter was sweet and efficient, considering what a large and frazzled group we were by the time we sat down.
I had the Crazy Noodles and they were delicious. They didn't alter my views of gastronomy as an artform or anything, but I thoroughly enjoyed my meal.
Thank you, Joy's, for being there when we needed you. -
Review from Chad O.
The Loop, Chicago, IL
1/21/2012
Although its BYOB. Still the best rice, service and taste for what money can buy. Must!!
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Review from Tony A.
Chicago, IL
1/17/2012
Great place to have a quick dinner and the quality of the food is pretty good at an inexpensive price compared to some of the other Thai places in the neighborhood. That being said, don't go if you want to sit down and have an actual conversation with someone, being there is like being on a factory line. They get you in quickly and try to get you out as soon as possible. I would give more stars, but they leave no time to actually sit and enjoy as they hover about and place the check on the table when you are not even finished.
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Review from Nathan B.
Chicago, IL
1/22/2012
Love this place. May not be authentic. But it's authentically Joy's. Nobody does it like them. I do have the hardest time ordering online. Does anyone else have this problem? The order never goes through.
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Review from Ngoc T.
Chicago, IL
11/13/2011
ooooh la la. It's fancy inside! Didn't expect that, so I dressed up like a bum and felt a little intimidated. No big deal though :)
Food was mediocre. Nothing special, it's exactly the same as anywhere, but just put on a heavier white plate and served on heavy-duty spoons. At least give me proper chop sticks, come on... I hate those wooden disposable ones.
Pad see eiw was a little sweeter than I'd like. My friend got some curry beef. ehhh, glad I didn't order that. Otherwise I'd have given this place a 2 star. Her dish was disgusting, and the beef was soo chewy, it was cut in the biggest sized pieces and far too thick.
Anyhow, I like the interior, a lot. I'd take my parents here for some noodles :) -
Review from Ehow C.
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
I got conflicting reviews about this restaurant between friends, so I had to settle it myself. The Thai Iced Tea was fine to start, but it got really watery really fast. The red tea was not that strong to begin with, which was probably the problem.
We started with a Tom Kha, and it was satisfactory, with plenty of veggies, but a bit too much coconut milk for my taste. The chicken coconut curry had a very mild broth with noodles, which is okay if you drink the whole thing. Still nothing amazing, sadly. The Pad See Eiw with chicken was pretty good, although the sauce was maybe a little too sweet for me.
Verdict: Okay, but in the long run, I'd rather make the trip to Tac Quick. -
Review from Kristina A.
Chicago, IL
12/29/2011 1 Check-in Here
Love me some BYOB that can accommodate groups. I ordered the Bai Tong noodles, which were spinach based and so so so good. The real highlight of the meal was their spring rolls, oh man. The service was a little under par, but I'll deal with it.
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Review from David R.
Chicago, IL
1/9/2012
Joy's is great!!! "Garlic Chicken Noodles" is an amazing dish. Service is always attentive and food has yet to disappoint.
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Review from Sofia B.
Chicago, IL
1/28/2012
My boyfriend and I tried this place once during a summer when we were able to sit in the outside seating area. The curry dish I ordered was really good, and my boyfriend got a cashew dish. The food was delicious, but it was the service that ruined it for us. Our server did not seem to care about us, and instead was sitting on a chair playing with his phone while we were trying to get his attention. When the food was served they started taking away the sauces from the table, since it was apparently time for them to close. The waiter did not even ask if we wanted to have the sauces or not. When I was done with my plate, they took both my plate as well as my boyfriend's plate without asking him if he was done or not. They seemed more interested in closing rather than serving us, which is anything but hospitable, because of this they lose a lot of points since I believe service is very important when I go out to eat.
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Review from Annie D.
10/21/2011
Chicagooo! [throwing up hands] I know you have better Thai than this.
It was chilly and windy and the reviews of Joy's drew us in for lunch. The service? Awesome. The lunch deal? Awesome. The actual food? Not so awesome. At least not what we ordered.
The boyfriend was starving, so he ordered the Thai rolls as an app, and then we both got the Pad Thai and crab rangoon for the $6.50 lunch special.
The Thai rolls... nuh uh. I didn't mind the actual rolls, but neither of us cared for the sweet and sour peanut sauce that was generously poured on top of every bite. It made it taste like a syrupy dessert.
The Pad Thai with chicken... another nuh uh. When I order Pad Thai, I look forward to a certain balance of flavors (savory, sour, sweet, citrusy, oniony, garlicky, salty, etc.). It was out of whack here and just overwhelmingly sweet.
I'd love to give Joy's another try (almost 500 reviews and a 4-star average can't be wrong, right?) but I won't be ordering any of the same things I did this time. Maybe a little tom kha, a little curry or a little drunken noodle action instead? -
Review from Monica P.
Dallas, TX
1/2/2012
This is my go-to Thai restaurant. I no longer live in Chicago, but every time I return for a visit, I eat here. No questions. Good food, good prices, and BYOB. I usually go for the Thai rice stick (with beef), with the mini eggrolls. Joy brings me joy. :)
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Review from Jackson J.
Los Angeles, CA
11/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
We asked for fish sauce with chilli, which is a basic, basic, condiment for thai restaurants. The waiter, who is clearly thai, as were most of the wait staff that we saw, told us that they "are not an authentic thai restaurant, so we don't have that."
"Do you have fresh chilli?"
"No, we are no an authentic Thai restuarant, we don't have fresh chilli."
ARE YOU KIDDING ME? what a crazy thing to say, even if it's true. We were surprised, and disappointed. The "spinach" noodles were not spinach and were so siluted by some kind of not-fresh curry power, everthing on the dish turned a pale yellow.
The restaurant has gone down hill and, unforunately, it's off out list now. -
Review from Aaron and Tal C.
Chicago, IL
1/2/2012
Super fast delivery, and the chicken coconut curry is amazing.
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Review from Ramya P.
12/19/2011
Joy's is huge.... It has a large space so its great for large parties. And so, not very difficult to get a reservation on a Friday evening one hour before its time for dinner. Its BYOB which I really appreciate. The food is very good. Our party of 6 tried the crab rangoon, spring roll, spicy basil, pad khe mao, garlic sauce and the green curry. All of them were a hit and were sufficient.
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Review from Alan K.
10/23/2011 1 Check-in Here
I enjoyed the fact that we could BYOB. However, the only problem with that is the BYOB curbed my appetite. I ordered the drunken noodles with chicken. For the price, they give ample portions. However, I thought the dish was okay. It seemed to be over saturated in sauces which probably is laden with salt.
As a warning, this establishment does not seat incomplete parties so please make sure that everyone is there, or trust me, they will give up your table to someone else. -
Review from Katie K.
Chicago, IL
1/26/2012
I really do not get these 4-5 star reviews, to each their own. I went here because it was my friend's favorite thai place, I really don't get why. My problem with the place is that the meat was incredibly dry. The rest of the dish was fine, but nothing to write home about. The meat was just so terrible, I don't quite get why, or how it has such great reviews. I mean, yes, prompt service, I guess maybe I had to high expectations.
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Review from james j.
Chicago, IL
12/30/2011
Been there twice, and both times was impressed by the level of service and the food. Portion sizes were nice and the food was piping hot, I will say that the execution of the food is fairly thai-generic but at least you won't be disappointed.
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Review from Kristin R.
Chicago, IL
9/25/2011
Joy's Noodles and Rice is my back up Thai place, when my go-to is closed, like on Mondays.
They have a very solid panang curry. I usually order mine with the rice instead of their crispy wide noodles. I had tried these before and just was not a fan. I believe I found them too greasy.
I really dislike their pad thai. It is highly disappointing. Apparently it is one of their most popular dishes, but honestly, if I were you, I'd steer clear.
They recently annoyed me because I ordered off of grubhub and said that I would pay tip in cash, even though I charged the meal to my credit card. When the lady delivered, I had the cash in my hand ready to give her and before I even had the chance, she asked me about her tip. Um hello lady, tipping is a) discretionary and b) like did you really think I was going to NOT tip you? I'm not lame. And of course I'll tip anyone that delivers food to my front door. But don't ask for it! It's optional!
Anyway, it's a pet peeve of mine obviously. I think Joy's is just OK. I've been to the actual restaurant before and they have a cute outdoor eating area. -
Review from Richard B.
Chicago, IL
12/28/2011
Baby eggrolls.... AMAZING..... Chicken garlic noodles... AMAZING.....Pad Thai..... AMAZING..... so good.... so fresh.... when I can get to Lakeview (in the daylight) I hit up their lunch special........ AMAZING !
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Review from Jelena Z.
Updated - 8/27/2011 3 Check-ins Here
I don't think I've ever stopped mid-meal to update a Yelp review, but it's absolute necessary.
First, the soup: pho me, it's good. No, scratch that... tom kha me all day long! This is a generous serving of coconut-based broth rife with straw mushrooms, tomato, onions and your choice of protein (do get the big and beautiful chunks of tofu!) and dramatically spiced with galanga root, citrus leaves and fresh lime.
Game-changer? Nah, this is a life-changer. SEE THESE CAPS? I'm screaming!
The pad thai with beef will forever be my entree go-to. Coupled with the soup, I have two full meals for about $12 (when factoring in the 15% discount available on online delivery and to-go orders. Every time.).
Joy's best trait? She's consistent as [expletive]. I've ordered delivery, picked up to-go and dined-in no less than two dozen times in the past 3.5 years and her record is flawless. BFFs!Listed in: The #36 is Legit., Alfresco? Al Yesco!, Deliver Me, Please! (Chicago), Neighborhooding: Lakeview., Bring It: BYOBs
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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10/26/2010
Still my favorite Pad Thai in da Chi (see, I can rhyme). And after ordering up a storm last winter,… Read more »
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Review from Christopher K.
Chicago, IL
11/5/2011
Most everyone knows the Lakeview Thai institution that is Joy's Noodles and Rice and its reputation for great food, but I wanted to weigh in with my praise as well.
Granted, I don't get much south of Fullerton, much west of Damen, nor much north of Foster, but Joy's is the best Thai I've found in Chicago. You get mass quantities of food for very reasonable prices and the quality is consistent.
It's my go to Thai place for delivery and carry out, and it's dining room and patio set it apart from many hole-in-the-wall Thai places where you just want to get in and get out.
Keep doing your thing Joy. -
Review from Jeffrey F.
San Francisco, CA
9/22/2011
Best fruit-based bubble tea in the US. Period.
My wife and I are the hugest bubble tea fans, and we literally seek out bubble tea shops in EVERY city we visit! We've been to Guppy's Teahouse in LA, Saint Alps in NYC, Verde in Mountainview. But when it comes to fruit-blended bubble teas, none hold a candle to Joy Yee's.
They use the freshest of fruits, the right blend of ingredients and the prices are cheap. $3-4 for most drinks and 24 oz.! My personal favorite is the mango papaya freeze with ice cream on top. In fact last time my wife and I were in Chicago for a weekend, we went to Joy Yee's FIVE TIMES. -
Review from Tara F.
Chicago, IL
11/1/2011
Joy's is a little slice of heaven! It seems like lately we've been a bit lazy and are getting delivery over sitting down and having a meal. Either way the Spicy Chilli Noodles are out of this world. I can't seem to venture out and order anything else. Now whenever my friends are over we all get the same dish.
Imagine a delicious wide noodle covered in spicy sauce dancing on your tongue. I seriously can't get enough of this place. It's actually feels like a guilty pleasure.
Another item worth going for on its own are the pot stickers. The thick and rich seasame sauce (that is on the side) is like liquid gold.
A friend of mine turned me on to this place after she disclosed it was her ongoing Sunday meal. She is a fan of the Pad Thai! -
Review from Sarah F.
Chicago, IL
9/15/2011
This place is good for what it is. I will probably go there again because of the following:
1. It's right down the street***
2. Seating is immediate
3. Wait staff is very attentive, quick.
4. The food is fine. It comes out RIGHT away.
5. BYOB (goes without saying)
I am only giving it three stars because of the following:
1. There's nothing special about their dishes, from what I've had. The flavor is never amazing. It's good. Vegetables are fresh, meat taste good..just not amazing stuff happening in the kitchen.
2. The atmosphere doesn't charm me. Even though the staff is quite efficient, nothing really pulls me in. -
Review from Jason P.
Sometimes you need a break when In the heartland of deep dish pizzas, hot dogs, and Italian beef sandwiches. What better way than to eat some ethnic food, Thai cuisine at Joy's Noodles and Rice playing the part as the perfect alternative.
The inside of Joy's somewhat resembles like it used to be an Italian restaurant with the stone walls and tiled floors. But then decorated on the walls, is an assortment of Thai murals such as the revered elephants and the Thai goddess. The layout is very roomy, where they could easily squeeze in a dozen or more tables into the establishment due to the sheer size consisting of two rooms and outdoor seating.
After all the greasy eats, I was looking for something light, so I ordered the Nam Tok ($8.50), which consists of tender beef mixed with red onion, scallion, hot pepper, and tasty lime juice on a bed of lettuce. The beef had a very nice char to it and was impressive on its own. But when added to the pool of spicy lime juice, this dish was beyond my expectations. The lime juice had a lot of heat where it had me sweating, but not in a way where I had to grab anything carb or milk-related to cool my mouth down. It was an addictive spice that had me eating this dish to the very last piece. The lime juice was very strong, making my tongue almost numb from all the sourness, but several glasses of water helped to keep things balanced. Served on the side are quartered tomatoes, sliced cucumbers and julienne carrots to give this dish some crunchy texture and to help refresh my palate.
The Pad See Eiw ($8.50) with choice of chicken, beef, tofu or vegetables (shrimp is an additional $2.00), was also very delicious. The stir-fried wide rice noodles were soft and slippery without being greasy nor did they clump together. It was served with egg and American broccoli in a sweet soy sauce. I initially had a minor gripe that this dish was served with American broccoli as it is usually served with the longer stalked Chinese version of broccoli, but this dish really worked. It had just the right amount of sweetness, complimented with tender and flavorful beef that actually absorbed the sweetness from this dish, and broccoli cooked just enough to maintain a crunch without the rawness factor. But again, I would have preferred the bitterness of Chinese broccoli to contrast against the sweetness of this dish. But regardless, it is sure to please many Pad See Eiw fans.
Table service was exceptional. The waiter was very polite and every time my glass of water reached half full, he unobtrusively came over to refill my glass. And I have to say that I had at least 6-7 glasses from the spicy Nam Tok dish.
Joy's Noodles and Rice definitely surprised and delighted me, surpassing many Thai restaurants that I've been to. Although the menu may not be extensive in traditional dishes, they do a great job to offer the most popular dishes and some lesser-known authentic dishes. Joy's wins two thumbs up in my book, and I would be hard-pressed on deciding whether to order the delicious Nam Tok again or trying their other dishes. Just thinking of the Nam Tok has my tastebuds salivating. -
Review from Izzy N.
Updated - 7/31/2011 11 Check-ins Here
Ok I know that I am the duchess of joy's noodles per my check in's but it's over! Joy's you're DEAD TO ME.
A long curly black hair on top of a salad? Do they not look at their salads before serving it? Does the server prance off looking elsewhere while walking to serve the salad and not notice this very noticeable curly strand of hair. I was sitting across the way and I even noticed it. The salad was thank the good Lord not for me. My coworker sent it back and there wasn't even an apology just an "oh, ok." like it's no big deal and not a shame. The Shame. You're not all that anyway. There's better Thai to be had in the city, people. And their crab rangoons are fucking disgusting.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/9/2010
Ok, ok.. not too bad. Good job Chicago. You did me proud this past weekend. It's always nice to find… Read more »
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Review from Vanessa N.
Anaheim, CA
7/26/2011
What a delightful, adorable and downright delicious place.
Came here for dinner before a night out in Boystown and after some pre-partying in our hotel room. Maybe we pre-partied too hard but that didn't stop us from bringing two more bottles of wine here (thank goodness for TGIF). The restaurant was super accommodating with our additional booze and brought us wine glasses and ice.
The 8 of us feasted family style and ordered: BBQ pork pad woon sen, chicken pad thai, beef pad see ew, tofu pad see ew, beef panang noodle curry. The standouts were the BBQ pork pad woon sen (super delicious glass noodles with veggies and excellently prepared BBQ pork) and the beef panang noodles (beef in creamy, coconut curry sauce with crispy fried flat noodles!) I've never had panang curry prepared with crispy, fried noodles before and it was done really well.
Our group had fun eating, drinking, and being loud. Service was great (they put up with our loud mess and even put up with our special requests for how the bill was going to be split up). The window is opened so it felt like we were dining outside in the open air - which is reeeallly nice but it also means that you might get bugs flying into your drinks. Nobody seemed to mind too much. We were having too much fun and eating too well to mind. I love this place. -
Review from Loren F.
San Francisco, CA
11/10/2011 1 Check-in Here
Blah. I feel bad for Chicagoans if you think this is Thai. I don't often write bad reviews but this was just gross. Weak curry, cheap top ramen freeze dry style noodles and too much sweet coconut milk to water it down. Come to California where and try real Thai food. The service was good though, thus the extra star.
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Review from Annette J.
Dearborn Heights, MI
6/2/2011 1 Check-in Here
I miss the Pad See Ew here. Yes I do! When I was but a lowly grad school student staying up late nights with piles of reading on gender identity in my lap I would rely on delivery from Joy's to fuel my brain. Enter: the Pad See Ew. Huge noodles, a slightly sweet sauce, wonderfully sauteed beef and crisp, fresh broccoli. Oh, this is good stuff. Compound the tasty eats with the nostalgia of those late nights (who would think you would get nostalgic over studying but I'm an odd duck) and it just makes me love Joy's even more. Plus the online ordering is great when you're like me and get talking on the phone anxiety.
When I was back in town over the weekend I made sure this was a stop on my culinary tour of Chicago. It was just as I remembered it although this time around I ate in house (love the street seating although it was rainy that day so we sat inside). Crazy fast service, almost to the point that you feel like maybe they just want you to get out of there, but I was hungry so I wasn't mad at it. Relatively cheap with huge portions that would easily last me two meals although I never could restrain myself from eating all the beef in that first sitting.
Great appetizers, tasty Thai iced tea, and something for everyone with the noodles, rice, veggies and meat dishes. This is one tasty place that I truly miss. -
Review from Amy J.
Chicago, IL
7/6/2011
What can I say? Joy's is a joy to order dinner from (snicker).
I absolutely adore this place. Their pad thai is my favorite, and I order it at least once a week, and everything else I've tried on the menu is also excellent. The waiters (or maybe that's waitresses...I never can tell) are so friendly and always greet me with a smile. A great restaurant that's consistently yummy and has the best service.
'Nuff said. -
Review from Inna B.
Chicago, IL
11/16/2011
Very, very solid Thai place. I usually get the chicken pad- thai or one of the curries. Joy's is cheap and BYOB. Good place to come with a large group of people.
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Review from Stormy D.
Chicago, IL
8/8/2011 1 photo
Woo Hoo. Two whole wontons in the soup and a pound / .23 cents of filler (i.e. chopped - or maybe not - greenery). Where do I post the picture?
It's cheap and worth the price if you're from Schaumburg and want to be seen here. I think that's what it's known for though.
The place down the street does the satay properly (grilled and on skewers). The chicken in any dish I've had here has no flavor - at all.
They're fast, I mean REALLY fast, hence the second star. I ordered carry-out, went to the bathroom (just #1), sat on a chair for 30 seconds, bag in hand.
I'll be back when I'm too lazy to cook - or walk.
