Joy Yee’s Noodle Shop
1335 S Halsted St, Chicago, IL, 60608
Joy Yee’s Noodle Shop Menu
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Address :
1335 S Halsted St
Chicago, IL, 60608 - Phone (312) 997-2128
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : No
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : No
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Yelp R.
My wife and I ate here and ordered the beef pho. The meat was disgusting and inedible, overcooked with about 1/2 fat and 1/2 actual meat. We asked our waiter to exchange it for something else. He came back to us after talking to the owner and said that we would be charged for the new dish if we exchanged. We thought that was ridiculous so we just sent the dish back to the kitchen (and were still charged for it). This restaurant has 0 customer service. They didn't even clear the dirty dishes off of our table after we were finished. I am never coming back here again.
(1)Andrew B.
While this is not authentic Asian food I enjoyed my meal at Joy Yee's. Like most Asian places the menu is about 35 pages and there are pictures of everything. I went with a shrimp and pork dish, which was excellent. It had the right amount of oil with just enough spiciness. The portion was large, but I had to eat it all. I also had bubble tea with tapioca balls. They serve the bubble teas with wide straws so the balls and juice shoot right up through the straw. Next time, however, I will be passing on the balls and sticking with a regular smoothie! Service and atmosphere were average. I will definitely be going back to Joy Yee's when I have time for a long lunch.
(4)Prescilla X.
This place never dissappoints... I love the bubble tea, food, and did I say the million flavors of drinks yet? Definitely hate the decor, chairs, and service. Very cheap and delicious Chinese food, and now there's even sushi which isn't too bad at all. I always go to the location in China town and it's just as great no matter which location you go to.
(4)Jason P.
As a fellow Asian and who's lived in Chicago for my entire life, I consider Joy Yee's as a place to go where you refuse to take risks in Asian Cuisine and simply love the Americanized version of Pan-Asian food. Now let me make this clear, I don't hate the place. It's a lot better than P.F. Chang's (suck it to those who like P.F. Chang's), and I actually used to love Joy Yees until I realized I only love it because it's safe. It's make decent food, some dishes are better, but really, there is nothing special to Joy Yees...EXCEPT their bubble tea. Hands down, probably the best bubble tea in Chicago. I will go just for their exceptional ability to make unbelievable bubble tea. And they make it look so good in their humongous cups that people feel the need to sit down and eat too...bastards with their genius ways. Anyways, there are much better places to get Chinese, Korean and Thai food in Chicago but if you are a pansy and are contempt with your food searching, then Joy Yees is for you. I BLAME YOU ANDREWS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR RUINING JOY YEES.
(3)Jay G.
Since this place was so close to campus, my friends and I came here often. They have a wide selection of dishes to choose from, and a ton of drinks as well. I don't usually like to eat in because their chairs are so uncomfortable. But other than that, the food is pretty good. I've ordered for delivery a couple times, and they don't always get it right. I usually ask for extra sauce, and they never add more. I think they actually charged me for it too. I've only tried a few dishes, but so far they've been pretty good.
(3)Double L.
I really like this place for a few reasons. Mostly, they make awesome drinks that really hit the spot, especially in the summertime. I also think they do some dishes really well. Nothing is overly greasy and most things we have tried I would consider to be above average Asian fair. The menu is really diverse and covers something from most Asian cuisine. I think the food is a bit better at the location down in Chinatown but this one is way more accessible and they deliver, which I like. RrL
(4)Cathy H.
Oh, how I miss the fake Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese fusiony places of Southern California! Every time I find a new "X Noodle Shop" in Chicago, I want it to be one of two things: (1) greasy, all-Asian-get-down, full-of-msg, late-night goodness, or (2) an actual Asian noodle shop with a thousand different options, all piping hot and full of complex flavor (e.g. pho, or my favorite neighborhood noodle shop in Name the Asian Country of Your Choice). Sadly, Joy Yee is neither--it's just bland noodles in soups blander than Swanson's chicken broth. Does this mean you won't see me here every one in awhile, indulging in a bland soup in bland broth? No. Sometimes I just need some soup. But does this mean I won't be disappointed every time I eat here? Also no.
(2)Jake R.
Great food here. Orange chicken, governor's chicken, beef cubes with tomato sauce over rice are all great choices. The smoothies are to die for, also.
(4)Ben S.
Reason: Best bubble tea tapioca freezes in the city and better than the ones I've had in Cali. Order: Have been here multiple times for Lunch/Dinner, and/or just Bubble Tea and always good and quick. Thoughts: Always consistent, always fast service, almost too fast. You can tell when they're trying to turn your table. The service is mostly good. Good Pho for a non-vietnamese place.
(3)Julie H.
I'm all about their tapioca! I heard this is the only decent place to get these yummy mushy boba balls and that is exactly where we went! I tried a few years ago to come here on my first visit to Chicago - but we failed to locate this place. On my second visit - success! Their food is quite good - there's so much on their menu, it was really hard to decide. So we did what all foodies should do - ask for their recommendation and popular dishes! You really can't go wrong - and we were def not disappointed. So go there...look at their pictures and then talk to the helpful staff... Minus one star - walls were way too bright in color for my taste...
(4)Jill H.
Very good, fresh, Asian food. The menu is enormous. We loved the wonton soup My chicken with vegetables were so fresh, if not a bit of a boring order. The portions are huge, so expect to share!
(4)Simma Down Na H.
I don't get it! Okay, I do get it! People go to Joy Yee because it looks hip...yellow walls, modern furniture, and boba tea. Yet, their food is just okay. I'm not speaking for the Asian population but to me, I think you get the best Chinese food from the "broke-down" family restaurants. I'm a fan of Cantonese food. The crab rangoon wasn't that great (I bet it was frozen food), too many vegetables on my mongolian beef, and walnut shrimp was a tad over-priced. I think it's a good place to hang with friends because Joy Yee's really seems to cater to the young crowd. Why doesn't Joy Yee's serve dumplings...I love dumplings!
(2)Ben H.
I'm striking the "Rare Beef and Beef Balls Noodle Soup" from the list of things I like here. The last two times i've ordered it the soup has been bland and mediocre, the very last time being nearly inedible. I still like this place but that dish has taken a turn for the worse! The other 4 of my top 5 remain in tact.
(3)Peter L.
I hate to be the guy whining about how everything was so much better back in the day, but I feel like every time I eat from Joy Yee's it's a little worse. My ex-favorite dish, the seafood chow mein, has become a bowl of bland in bland-flavored sauce. That's what happens when you try to make a billion dishes from every country in Asia. The post-meal feeling is how I'd imagine a stomach full of grease feels like. I'm glad to say that the bubble tea is still awesome. Expensive, but the sizes are large and the stuff is like crack. Hopefully the food will get back to where it used to be.
(3)Sam S.
Soo many options, they are offering very fresh fruits. If you like Tapioca you will like this place
(4)Sasha P.
I will keep this one short and sweet. We were looking for pho in the area and were told about Joy Yee's Noodle Shop. Walking in, Joy Yee's looks like a large cafeteria with long tables everywhere. There were only two other families there when we visited so everyone was pretty spread out. The service wasn't the best or the worst, it just wasn't memorable. The menu was overwhelming. Lots of options but way too much to all be done well in my opinion. My husband and I ordered the Beef Brisket and Beef Ball Pho to share. It was terrible, tasting of old meat, old broth, or both (?). The portion was so large though that we felt obligated to eat it, mostly because we feel guilty throwing away food. We muscled through it and it was not enjoyable. So much so, that we stopped ourselves from ordering a boba tea, just in case it wasn't up to snuff like our pho. When we were done, we paid and left, vowing to never return should we be in Chicago again. I see that others have had better experiences and that's great; however, mine was not a good one so I stick to my one star.
(1)Sarah S.
This place is always a solid good.. broccoli and beef and sesame chicken are my favs.. I always mix in other things like crab rangoon, soups, string beans, egg rolls, etc and they are all good. Service is fast and friendly. Fruit smoothies are very good also if you are into that kind of thing. This location is nice in summer since the UIC kids are gone so it is much easier to find parking.
(3)Amy H.
It seems like making a smoothie is such a trivial task. I asked him to split the smoothie order in two and he asked if I wanted fruit on it. I told him yes and he was in disbelief that I wanted him to split the fruit. After him my budging, I said it was fine that the fruit was in one cup. Then, I go to pay with my credit card and he told me I had to pay with debit because my order was under $10. Normally, I would understand this policy, but I have been to the Joy Yees in Chinatown and these things have never been a problem. The smoothies were good as always though.
(2)Raj B.
Food has been diminishing in quality over the years. Lousy service, manager has a rude, un-inviting, zero friendly attitude. No way I will give them my business again. There are so many better options in the city. This place just lost its B list ranking in my book. After 2 bites, I said I didn't want the Pad Thai because it too fishy. She responds, thats how we make it. Nothing wrong w food, u pay. I said fine, U just lost a customer & won't be coming back... She walks away.
(1)Patrick F.
Joy Yee has big portions of food, so you will get a lot of bang for your buck here. With that being said the food is not that great. The service is below average and not friendly or personable. I had the chicken and shrimp pad Thai. It lacked any sort of flavor or depth to the dish and the noodles were a bit overdone. The interior is fairly clean but could use some work. I'm not sure if ill ever really have a desire to go back. I think this place is probably a student dining type of place, a lot of food for a good price where you don't really care about the taste.
(3)Christopher K.
Out of all the Joy Yee's locations across Chicago, this has been my go-to for the past couple years. I don't get to frequent it much since I'm currently in school in Southwest Michigan, but I thoroughly enjoy it when I do get the chance. I particularly enjoy their large menu, but the best part of the Joy Yee's experience has to be their bubble tea! Atmosphere & Comfort: Probably the biggest knock about this place is the atmosphere. Although plenty spacious, the restaurant is often crowded and loud. Moreover, their chairs are terribly uncomfortable. They're literally pieces of scrap metal from the junkyard welded together in vague resemblance of a chair. What makes it even worse is that it's sometimes cold inside the restaurant so I can imagine how cold the chairs must be to the skin. Overall, not the most comfortable spot to eat at. Food: My personal favorite is the Beef Cubes! Perfectly sized cubes of cooked steak over delicious tomato rice in a HUGE bowl! A very rich, savory, and filling meal much thanks to the incredible portion size. I'm craving some now just writing about it haha. Bubble Tea: My two favorite are the Mango Lychee and Thai Iced Tea. When it comes to fruit smoothie bubble tea, this place is the best I've ever had! The fruit is always fresh and the boba doesn't taste funky or old like some other places might serve them. Super refreshing and a great if you just want to pop in to grab a bubble tea! Service: The service here isn't spectacular. I've had some so-so experiences where the waitress was rude, but with a lot of Asian workers, it's not about being the most polite--it's about getting the job done and they definitely meet my expectations when it comes to timeliness and attention. That isn't to say that they are outright terrible, they just do their job. Overall: In retrospect, I almost always leave Joy Yee's with a good to great restaurant experience. The food is delicious as long as you get the right things (Beef Cubes!) and you can't leave without grabbing yourself a bubble tea! Great option for a casual lunch or dinner with friends/date.
(4)Zia H.
Love the beef brisket lo mein here! Also great pad see yew and great smoothies and bubble tea. Like the UIC location for its exceptional service.
(4)John W.
The take-out service was pretty lackluster. An employee actually suggested that I use the website to find the menu because they were out of take-out menus. That would have been a great suggestion had their site been optimized for mobile use and did not have a gigantic coupon that couldn't be clicked thru. In any event, I ordered the General Tso's chicken (tend to try it at all new Chinese spots). It was $12 (pricey), dark meat (ugh), and not very good. No vegetables were included either. Can't say I can recommend based on my experience. Rare moment when both service and food were subpar.
(2)Beth A.
I experienced the worst treatment and behavior from the delivery man. I received a call from him that he was outside the building, went outside and didn't see him anywhere. He called again 5 min later as I'm wandering around the parking lot looking for him and he precedes to yell and curse at ME for getting the address wrong. Horrible customer service, bland food, and no desire to ever get food from here again.
(1)Adrienne T.
Food portions are ridiculous. I mean, I ate enough for two people and I still brought home leftovers equivalent to two meals. Now, was the service amazing? No. Most of the servers could barely speak English, so communication was a bit difficult at times. Was the food amazing? Nothing special. My friends ordered the green thai curry and pad thai - both overly sweet. I ordered the beef shabu shabu. - It kind of lacked flavor. I mean usually there are additional accoutrements available with the shabu shabu dining experience. Unfortunately, those were not served with my meal. But, were the portion sizes enormous? Yep, and then some. So yeah. If you could care less about dining authentic and are just really hungry, Joy Yee is the place to eat.
(3)K P.
I usually go to the Joy Yee in Chinatown but it's always packed. Decided to give this one a try. The food is comparable to the other location (delicious!) and the portions are big, which is appreciated!
(5)John M.
This place was my go to place for Thai Green Curry Chicken when I had a yearning for some. I think I must have had it twenty times, and as time has gone on, I hate to admit it, but the quality has slowly diminished. So last night I decided to go for my favorite, not having been there in about eight months. It was terrible. There was to much gravy, and not enough chicken or green beans, or the other goodies they usually put in there. And the chicken had a bad after taste. They insist on giving you a appetizer plate with your dinner, instead of a full size plate. Finally, what is with the very uncomfortable metal patio chairs? C'mon guys, the place is always packed with students from UIC Campus, so they can afford some full size plates, and decent tables and chairs. Until then, I have to un-bookmark this place, and find a new go-to place for my green curry chicken.
(2)Dustin T.
Best smoothies and bubble tea! I would give this place 5-stars if I were soley rating their drinks. The food is mediocre. I would not come here if are looking to eat legit Asian food. This place is more fusion/americanized Asian food.
(3)Sonia L.
Yum, yum, yum...Where do I start with this one? We ordered the mango bubble tea in a fishbowl...I wanted to dive in and swim in it. We also ordered one of the bamboo steamed rice, an udon soup, a dish with ground pork gravy and scallops (im sorry I do not remember the names---when you see the menu you will be just as stunned and confused by the huge, colorful, full of variety, something-for-everyone menu. Overwhelming and takes a moment to study this thing...I'd say this is the fun part! Everything we ordered was delicious! Satisfying and piping hot! You just can't go wrong here. Nice seating, parking was a little tough since it is the UIC area and street only. That should not stop you from going to this location. It sure in the heck won't stop me.
(5)Lati T.
So good! Hits the spot every time! And so many options...my friends and I will usually order a bunch of plates and ask for extra bowls so that we can share!
(5)Julio R C.
I've been to both the Chinatown location and this location and I feel that the quality of the food is better at this location. My favorite dish here is the beef cubes over tomato rice. It is the most popular dish and it is absolutely mind blowing. Joy Yee has always been a great spot for bubble tea as well. They have a plethora of flavors with pages of options in their menu. One small thing that I really appreciate is that they always keep the water flowing. The servers are extremely good at keeping your glass of water full. You never really have an empty glass of water. Overall, this is a pretty solid spot. Especially since it's in the middle of University Village where no one really goes to unless you attend UIC.
(4)Erika P.
Love this place! They have so many bubble teas to choose from. You must get a bubble tea even if you're so full you have to get it to go! They're the best! Love their basil chicken and pineapple fried rice. Mix the Siracha with the sweet hoisin sauce and add to anything for a sweet heat.
(4)Johnny T.
With a menu this big, I let the thumbs up icon guide me. The Vietnamese Pho Beef Noodle Soup rare beef was what I ended up with. The broth reminded me of wonton soup, but at 3x the price. The tripe was so chewy, rough, and tasteless that it could have been mistaken as an inedible garnish. The meat balls were good, had a light breakfast sausage taste and texture to it.
(3)Bonnie E.
I was craving "lemongrass" anything and was in the vicinity of Joy Yee so there I went. I don't usually get "lemongrass beef" (I always do chicken or shrimp it seems) so I went for it. The portion size was huge and it was delicious. The meat looked a little soft or something at first so I was somewhat hesitant, but I think it's just well-marinated. It tasted great & I could definitely taste the lemongrass which made it that much better. (Many places will indicate "lemongrass something" but you barely taste it.) I was exceptionally impressed when my "small" chicken wonton soup arrived and it was the size of a small SUV. Woo! Three buck fifty and I even took some home for the next day. There was a nearby table with frosty light green drinks and that's on my list for summer. It was pretty freakin' chilly outside, but they were moving a lot of cold beverages in this place so I guess they must be good! The service was good, the place a bit rowdy and loud (Saturday afternoon w/a kid event going on down the street) so don't expect to come here on weekends for an intimate lunch or anything. It's got a "fast food" feel but the quality is much better. Extensive menu, great prices, good service...definitely, I'm a fan!
(4)Jamie H.
Every time I've gotten anything from here I"ve gotten Pad Thai, Crab Rangoon and Bubble Tea/Smoothies. Everything has been good every time and the portions are very large. The past time I ordered online, it said it'd be one hour before it was delivered - which I was totally bummed about - but when I got the call 15 minutes later that they were here, I was ecstatic! It was very hot and fresh!
(4)Ramone B.
Average at best. I went with a friend before a concert & Joy Yee is near the venue. I had previously been to the Joy Yee in Naperville, and that visit was the same for me. #Blah. The menu is huge. It took me while to glance thru it. Joy Yee really didn't do much to decorate either one of these restaurants that I've been to because they both look really plain inside. Like a Korean school cafeteria. This location has plastic chairs, and my table wouldn't sit flat unless you stuck something underneath the table leg. The food was just okay. I went for a seaweed salad, and some Korean dumplings. I tried my friends pot stickers and they were good. My friend obsesses over bubble tea when I can't even do it. Those tapioca pearls kinda weird me out. Feels like I have a chewy booger in my mouth. I had coconut milk with red beans which was okay. The staff really doesn't pay much attention to you, and you really have to flag them down if you want something. This place is perfect for where it's at because college kids could care less, but my Tastes have far surpassed this place. I would never go back. Only if I were with friend that wanted go!!
(3)Ignacio S.
So it was my first time coming here and I was so disappointed because I had heard so many good things about the smoothies. So I come in with my friend and some sweaty worker comes up to us and doesn't walk us to our table, instead he says "over there!" And points all the way across the restaurant. And then later while we were waiting for our food, another waiter comes and asks if we order the dish he's holding, um no? Shouldn't you know who orders what? And then finally while we're still eating, the first waiter went to 2 different tables asking "is this your credit card?" I was in so much shock. This place is very unprofessional, the food was half decent, and I won't be eating here anymore. If you go here, I suggest you don't pay with credit card!
(1)Angie P.
Best tapioca freezes in the city. Made with fresh fruit and so yummy!!
(5)Bill L.
We consistently get great service here. we normally order online via grubhub and they are about as fast as Jimmy John's is known for being! Plus everything is always piping hott and typical big portions and I think really good food. I want to say I think it's expensive but just about everything else costs the same but smaller quantity and less quality. One last thing, we seem to always get the same delivery guy and he couldn't be anymore better at what he does. I know we typically come on Yelp to complain, and I have had some tough experiences with other places. it's nice to have a reason to brag about a place.
(5)Lily P.
always a good place to stop by for giant boba (the avocado one tastes like it has 10 avocados) the hot and sour soup is really good, kalbi beef, jap chae is not the best, the green curry is amazing here, and all the portions are huge. This is a great place to go since there are just so many types of food someone is bound to find something they want to eat. The chairs are def not comfortable at this location though!
(3)Julia K.
I love Joyees. This is my go to place and I will never get tired of this place. Although, I would like the servers to be more nicer and pleasant but I like the food so I go back. I love their bubble tea. I usually get the strawberry, taro, or a lot of milk tea kind, and also coconut flavors are good. My favorite of all time is the tomato beef cubes. You can ask for kimchi in the rice too but I only had it once or twice. If you have never been to Joyees, order that because it's great. I also like the tom yum? soup noodle, and the Korean kimchi fried rice was good. There's some more that I tried but I forgot the name of it but the best is the beef cubes! Their portions are nice and big too. You can take it for togo if you don't finish it. The interior design is nice too. They just made it bigger and they have a upstair too as well.
(5)Stephen M.
Service is atrocious. Simply asked what the food was on the table next to us and the guy's tone was 'which one' in this annoyed voice...we repeated it again and he got annoyed and basically blew up at us. We had a hard time understanding you that's why we kept asking. The food is great, but the service is horrible. Don't be surprised and don't start chasing us if we don't give any tips. I don't have tolerance for people like you. Tips aren't and shouldn't be mandatory.
(1)Nicole Y.
NIGHTMARE. DO NOT GET DELIVERY ON A SATURDAY. 2+ hr to get food delivered less than a mile away. Called to check the status of the order an hour and a half in and was told the delivery driver was going to be there any minute. After 45min I gave up and apologized to my guests and threw a frozen pizza in the oven. Delivery driver finally shows up and asks me if I have a pen so I can sign my credit card receipt. He then calls TWICE within a half hour of leaving asking if he left his glove in front of my house. Guess what. I DON'T CARE! STOP CALLING ME. Disaster. Maybe this was just an off night or the staff decided to drop acid.
(1)Max D.
The food was okay, but for me the highlight is their smoothies. The waiters were kind and ready to help. The menu seemed over ambitious with so many options spanning a lot of different countries. To be honest the food wasn't authentic and seemed not to expressive in its flavors. The rice dishes were rather dull and my own nasi goreng(fried rice) is much richer in flavor. I ordered the spicy seafood udon dish and I thought that was good though. The interior had nice decor though. My sisters vermicellie was tasty too, but overall I would only come back for the amazing smoothies. They had so many options and flavors that you could get.
(3)J L.
I like this location in University Village. The service & food was always great. Great place to eat on weekends with low crowd.
(5)Candace R.
Joy Yee is a great eat! The food was so good and the smoothies. Big portions of food to share and tgen some! The peice is reasonable as well. Overall I would definitely recommend this restaurant and I will be back for more!
(4)Eva D.
Their smoothies.......seriously YUM.
(4)Nelson M.
Restaurant Review A Joy Yee lifer! Simply put I enjoy the vast menu offered by Joy Yee with the large portions that usually leave enough for two meals. Although not everything is "amazing" You can't go wrong with the stone bowel rice and noodles. I would have to recommend thai basil fried rice, stone bowel rice, and udon on a cold winter night. The main attraction always for me is the mango fruit freeze with tapioca balls. Nothing beats a fresh fruit smoothie where they don't just mix up powder for your smoothies. All and all if you want inexpensive chinese food of good quality Joy Yee is the placed to go. Pro- Very large pan asian menu, overall prices are respectable Con- Limited delivery area, not all items are delicious but always hard to tell Hidden deal- 10% discount for UIC students if you show your icard
(4)Soyoung S.
They have yummy hot pot and delicious boba smoothies :3 Their staff is really polite and nice! And really diligent :) The menu is a monster, sometimes it takes my friends and I a good 15-20 to just decide, there is SO much selection!! And I love how they put pictures in of nearly everything, that really helps!! :D But as a Korean, I have to say..their rendition of Korean cuisine is extremely off HAHA :x
(4)Alexis M.
I used to love this place until, I went there on December 30th. My mother and I had ordered our favorite shrimp Tom yum soup with egg noodles. They brought out the soup with rice noodles. Then we told them we wanted egg noodles not rice noodles so when they brought it out again there was less soup and mushrooms. It was not warm anymore and lost some flavor because all they did was dump the soup out and take the rice noodles out and put the egg noodles in pouring the soup back into the bowl. Then the waiter couldn't do much. They didn't replace the soup and the said they will give us a discount. We received the receipt and they gave us 10 percent discount which is basically taxes in Chicago. Horrible customer service I will say.
(2)Sonjanita M.
Disappointed by orders the last few times...rice didn't seem quite done...crunchy when eaten...not as much flavor to the rice and they skimp on soy sauce now - 1 pack for a dinner size fried rice. I hope it improves. I don't even want to finish the rest of it. I may have to stop going to this location and just choose the one in Chinatown.
(2)Aditya K.
The food portions are really huge, but the food itself is not that great. They have some really good beverages and the only other plus of this place is they are BYOB. So if you are looking for a place to go and hangout with your friends have a couple of beers enjoy an appetizer or two, this is your best deal (cheap and huge portions), but if you are looking for some quality food, I would recommend doing a little more research and finding the right place with better food.
(2)Anna K. S.
Most memorable experience dining here for my cousin's rehearsal dinner. We all ordered so many different things, and tasted each others'!! EVERYTHING was sooooo good! I ordered a Korean pot of seafood, similar to soon tofu. TDF!!!!! Uncle ordered a whole fried fish. Amazing!! We also ordered a plethora of typical dishes and all were so memorable that I haven't stopped thinking about going back! Problem is...I live in Los Angeles :((
(5)Jonathan V.
Environment: 1/5 Employees: 2/5 Food: 1/5 Cost: 1/5 Parking: 2/5 Total: 7/25 Synopsis: When I think of Joy Yee, I roll my eyes as I utter three words, "BAD ASIAN FOOD!" My bestie Kristina V. suggested it as I told her I was a 7 out of 10 on the hungry scale, 10 being the most hungry. Joy Yee...cringe...Joy Yee...cringe! I knew already that the food would be bad because 1) I had it before and 2) Yelp reviews has indicated 3.5 out of 5 stars and 3) Asian food in Hawai'i is far, far, far superior in quality in comparison with the Asian food in the Midwest. Surprise, surprise. The Korean soup was watered down, and the Chae noodles with beef had a flat-line taste. Will I die next? It is quite hard to appease my Asian taste-buds as I have been to many restaurants were it was Korean owned and I have friends who are Koreans who have cooked me authentic dishes. To put the cherry on top of the disastrous food, two of the employees were playing on their phones while working. Can I get some service ova-hea!? Environment: You would think the design of the restaurant would cater to a casual restaurant. Nope. Comfort level was meant for you to eat and then get the hell out. Did I mention the décor echoed the same features? Yikes! Dark, damp...cave was my thinking process from start to finish. Finally, the seats were designed for tall people. Can I reach the table from here, mom? Employees: I am familiar with Chinese culture and the need to flag people down. Of course this is quite hard to do if the employees' attention is diverted by their Iphones. I even took a picture and posted on Yelp to prove it! At least at the end of our stay people smiled and thanked us. I guess.... Food: We had the Chae Chai Beef with Korean Tofu Soup? I think that was it. It had rice noodles with beef and egg. BLAND! And the Korean Tofu Soup! Is this a joke? The poor egg was poached in the soup without allowing me to mix it throughout the entire soup. Did I mention that it was watered down. BAD KOREAN FOOD! Kristina V. had indicated that this was the worse dish she had here. For the record she has had only "Asian" food while living in Chicago. Does not that say a lot? Cost: For the bad Asian food, 17 bucks between Kristina V. and I. Oh um..yea whatever. Parking: Fortunately, on Sundays the parking is free on Halsted, in the area. That is probably the only plus *ellipsis* However, parking is very limited on the street.
(1)Michael C.
Joy Yee is a huge staple of my diet whenever I want pan-asian food. I've had MANY different dishes here including the beef cube tomato over rice, spicy basil chow fun, lemongrass chicken, spicy basil fried rice, etc. This is by far the best chow fun I've ever had. The noodles are fat and fried really well, while not overly greasy. It comes with a ton of basil, green peppers, and jalapenos and the portions here are huge! Their over rice dishes and korean beef are pretty good and are pretty comparable to other korean places I've had. A couple things I did dislike were the pho which I felt was realllly bland. And the lemongrass chicken had a 1:1 chicken to onion ratio; it was quite overpowering. Overall Joy Yee is a great place to gather for food and friends, oh and delicious bubble tea!
(4)3 B.
Service was incredibly fast! Most of our food was served about 10 minutes after ordering and we had a large group of 20! Smoothies were fresh and delicious! The variety of asian dishes is great to choose from. The decor is fresh and modern. Love the bright yellow chairs!
(5)Melissah L.
As an out of towner, I was immediately struck by how young everyone was in this place. There are lots of college-aged students... which makes sense since it's on UIC's campus! It was a cool, casual vibe. Also, I didn't mind the chairs that everyone seems to hate so much... they were pretty comfy for me. My table ordered the basil tofu chow fun and the Mongolian beef. Delish! I wouldn't say it's authentic Chinese food, but the noodles were some of the fattest and most tender I've ever had and the portions are huge. We ordered both dishes with only mild spiciness, but I would say there was no spice in either dish whatsoever-- this was fine by me. Wish I'd tried the bubble tea!
(4)Betty Q.
My sister and I went on a Friday and to my surprise it wasn't super busy. We had a hard time choosing what to get, a common problem at Joy Yee due to the HUGE menu. I've been to the Joy Yee in Chinatown and in comparison this one is more cozy. We ordered the Kung pao chicken and crab rangoon. My sister looooved the crab rangoon, and she tends to be a picky eater too . The Kung pao chicken was good too and the portions were decent for the 10$ plus white rice. I also ordered a green tea smoothie with mango and that was delicious. I recommend this place and just make sure you go there with a specific type of food in your mind or else you'll be there for hours looking at what to get. Took us about 20 min to decide what to get. Only downside is they are very eager for their tip. Like chill, I'm going to tip you don't need to ask.
(4)Samah K.
I love Joy Yee's don't get me wrong but as a college student it is too expensive for me. I would suggest going to Thai Bowl on taylor street as a cheaper option. But i love Joy Yee's. Love all the options just wished it was reasonably priced.
(4)Faviola C.
This is a regular for me. My favorite thing...their fruit smoothies with tapioca!! I've had strawberry, mango-peach, peach, mango and pomegranate. All of them were made with fresh fruit except the pomegranate one. They only used pomegranate juice, which was way too sweet. Definitely not to my liking. I've had several of their dishes and I think my favorite is the cubed beef over fried rice in stone hot plate (I think it's the Korean Kimchi Beef Stone Hot plate but not 100%) . Love the flavor, portions are great (especially for lunch the next day). The kimchi (cabbage) gives the beef and rice the perfect touch. I've also had the Curry Chicken with Cocunut Baked Rice. I love curry so when I ordered it, I was pretty excited. It wasn't bad, but it was not great. Not that there was something wrong with it, but it was a tad bit sweet for me because of the coconut. I've also had another chicken dish. It's breaded and was supposed to be spicy (based on the waiter's comment) but was far from it. That has to be my worst experience with them. Too much breading, small chunks of chicken and it kind of tasted like orange chicken. If I would have wanted orange chicken, I would have ordered orange chicken. I've had their Crab Rangoon. They're good. Nothing much to those though. And I've tried their hot and sour soup which was also pretty good. Their service is good. The one issue...all of their staff don't speak English very well so it's hard to understand one another. Also one of them tried keeping $15 as a tip instead of bringing me my change on a $25 order. Had to kindly ask them 15 minutes later where my change was. All in all I like this place.
(4)Lucy C.
'Twas a cold winter night and my friends and I wanted to warm up before heading back home. A warm cup of milk tea always hits the spot, so we headed to Joy Yee's. Since we walked in with a mission, we were ready to order right as we were seated. That's also when the problems began. For starters, I hate their chairs. The stupid spider web design leaves awful marks on my legs if I wear shorts or dresses. Which is basically all the time. So they basically suck all the time. Also, they kind of force you to sit back/recline in them so it lowers my already short torso to the point that I can barely rest my arms comfortably on their sticky tables. Dislike. When we requested our warm beverages, the waiter tells us that they don't have hot tea because they make the tea in the morning and that it's lukewarm now. He then points at a random freeze and tells us to order that instead. First of all, why would you tell us that the tea we're about to consume late in the evening was made in the morning? In my experience, even cold milk tea is made fresh with hot tea, then cooled down with ice. And if we came in for the sole purpose of consuming a hot beverage, why did you think it's a good idea to suggest a freeze? Anyway, we were already there so might as well order. I said that I'd be okay with lukewarm tea and asked if they could at least microwave it or something. There was definitely ice in my drink when I got it. Don't roll your eyes at me when I send back a simple order that you messed up. And that second one was definitely not warm by any means. I'm not quite sure why we even left a tip.
(1)Stephanie S.
Been searching for a great Chinese place in the area. I don't think this is it but is fine. I usually get some kind of fried rice and sesame chicken. Seemed expensive and just OK. I usually love Chinese food cold the next day, but this just didn't taste good. The chicken was actually pretty gross the day after and I ended up tossing it. On top of that, this place is impossible to get to via car because there's never parking.
(3)Alissa K.
Chicken curry with coconut baked rice is to die for! Also the lemongrass chicken. I love the freezes, huge variety of flavors, and popping boba! The service is extremely fast. Portions are large. They also have really fast, friendly delivery.
(4)Anh B.
Good foods and smoothies but horrible service. The waitress keeps an eye on us when we were eating and talked in this annoyed voice asking for more tips after we made the payment. Like seriously?
(1)Marjorie F.
A friend of mine had a craving for Bubble Tea and this was the first place that came to mind. I laughed when I read my first review because I was in love with the Mango Bubble Tea. My choice still stands. For dinner, I enjoyed my Shrimp Lo Mein. Service was very good - attentive and speedy. The chairs changed a long time ago, so never mind my 2007 review. :) It was a satisfying meal with good service. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Leang E.
I have always been a fan of Joy Yee's and love that this location is the closest spot to me. I was glad to take the opportunity to show my sister's fiance how the food tastes here. It was an early Saturday afternoon, and it wasn't very busy. The restaurant is spacious, but the chair to table height is a bit off for us. I think the tables could be a little lower or the chairs higher. The service is quick and consistent with the other locations. I got the Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls and the Combination Sandwich and mini pho soup. This was a ton of food. All of it was delicious. The mini soup actually was more like a regular size to me. It was good even the next day. The prices are reasonable, and a great spot for any meal time.
(4)Esther Y.
My friend ordered the Walnut shrimp fried rice and the tempura shrimp. His fried rice had glazed shrimp, the size of a fifty cent coin, layered on top. The fried rice itself had finely chopped up vegetables incorporated evenly, so you'd have about an equal amount of chopped and stir fried carrots and green onions in every spoonful of rice. As for the tempura shrimp, it was deep fried with a perfect ratio of frying batter to shrimp accompanied by a sweet and sour sauce. A simple light snack to munch on before the main meal. It was neither too greasy nor too dry. The color of the tempura shrimp was also very pleasing to the eyes, a nice gold-yellow color with a hint of bright orange at the tails. I suggest future customers to wear clothing that covers the back side of their thighs or bring something to sit on top the chairs, because this restaurant have cool gray geometric designed chairs and it is a bit uncomfortable. It will leave temporary marks on your skin. This location will accept reservations as well as debt and credit cards. For non chopstick users, do not fear, forks and spoons are available. For chopstick users, I found that using the chopsticks were a bit uncomfortable since they were long, heavy, and rectangular-shaped.
(4)Mary H.
Excellent service and pretty good food for its price. I went there 30 minutes before closing. They asked if I knew what I wanted, and of course I did. I got the Governor's Chicken, Beef Cubes, and a Strawberry Bubble Tea with vanilla ice cream on it. It was great! But, the reason for the four stars is that the interior furniture could use a little revamping. Metal chairs are somewhat uncomfortable. I would not say this is an authentic Chinese food (if that's what you're looking for). It's a very good fusion of the different Asian cuisines
(4)Erika A.
The menu is so large its almost impossible to pick just one. I ordered the red curry shrimp...in coconut milk! Wow just as good as homade!! Very satisfied as was the rest of our table! only 4 stars because I am 4 blocks outside of their delivery area and they wont make exceptions
(4)Claudia M.
Joy Yee's on Halsted is ok. I really want to love it but it's just ok. I've ordered out a couple of times and dined in once with some colleagues. The noodles are kind of flavorless and a bit dry. They don't give you any hot sauce to go with your noodles. I tried the sea weed salad and it was tasty but a bit smelly. I really want to love this place because it is walking distnace from me but it's kind of bland and not really exciting. I'll go back and try some different dishes. :(
(2)Erik C.
Delicious ramen! Lots of students come to this location, so beware. Water stays full all the time. The food is completely delicious, get the veggie lo mein, beef cubes over tomato rice and definitely Korean spicy dumplings. Always leave with a bubble tea.
(4)Jelena Z.
Joy Yee's is hip and modern - I believe most people call this a minimalist approach. I call it clean, with its yellow walls and much-too-cool-for-me chairs. But I dig it, and the design aesthetic works well in Asian eateries. Modern European, for instance? No way. The menu is huge - you'll need an extra 10 or 15 to mull it over kind-of-huge. Variety is great, but it's just too much... I want to relax when going out for a meal, not feel overwhelmed. The food. Oh God, the food. I ordered the chicken banh mi and mini pho combo - best of both worlds, right? Making a choice between the two has always been my dilemma when dining out at a Vietnamese restaurant, so I was ecstatic to see the meeting of the heavens at Joy Yee's. But it pains me to report the pho is quite terrible... the broth isn't seasoned like the pho on Argyle, the meat is gristly to the extreme and the noodles are clumped together in a gummy mass. Moving on... ... to the banh mi. *shakes head*. Chewy bread with even chewier (and strangely sticky) fried chicken. I know this is a Asian Fusion restaurant, but you'd expect a banh mi to taste like oh, I don't know, maybe banh mi and not Hawaiian Chicken Katsu. I was not amused. In positive news, the Tha Iced Tea is the largest Thai Iced Tea I've ever laid eyes on and only costs about $3 (thought about initializing Thai Iced Tea to be less repetitive, but then realized my previous sentence would be super awkward.). Let's just forget about all of this.
(2)Tricia S.
I have been a fan of Joy Yee for 10 years. I was so happy when they opened a location on halsted. Last night I ordered take out - 4 dishes - and was seriously disappointed in the quality of all the dishes. The seaweed salad was not edible. I order this dish every time and it is usually delightfully gummy and refreshing. The salad had zero flavor and the texture was just wrong. The pad tai was tasteless. There were no fresh bean sprouts or shredded veggies to accent the dish or ground peanuts. Blah The egg roll vermicelli- grilled pork was not grilled and it was chewy like low quality Chinese take out mystery meat. The Japanese tofu was actually ok but only because the other dishes were so bad. It is too bad. The restaurant was not busy. It was early dinner time on a Friday when restaurants should be prepped with the best ingredients. I won't be going back.
(1)Vickie P.
Usually my go to fix for a smoothie or milk tea. But this visit, ordering was correct drink came out wrong. Also, milk tea shouldn't taste like sour milk or look like the milk is going bad.
(2)Joshua L.
I have nothing but good things to say about Joy Yees. I first went to the one in Chinatown in '09. Then, when I lived in the suburbs, we would go to the Naperville location at least once a month. When I moved downtown, I was delighted to see that the Halsted location was nearby, and we have continued our monthly (at least) tradition. Our experience has been consistently wonderful -- inexpensive, lot's of food, and always delicious. I've only sampled one dish that I didn't like (some weird veggie soup). The chicken Satay is a hidden treasure, and the Traditional Stone Bowl rice is always a hit. I'm always amazed at how quickly the food comes out, and I don't think I've ever seen the bottom of my drink, the wait staff is speedy and attentive. I'm shocked to see anything less than 4 stars. If I could put 10 stars I would!
(5)Monique C.
My husband and I order from Joy Yee for delivery or pick up at least a couple times a month. We've eaten in at restaurant a couple times (and tend to think the portions are larger eat-in but it's more convenient to order out). Having tried a variety, we now stick with the more tame choices: sesame or general tzo's chicken, fried beef dumplings and Vietnamese Spring rolls. I love Pad Thai but did not enjoy theirs. Maybe a personal taste thing but it was one of a couple things we tried that we didn't order again. Love this this place but the not all the menu items are as good as others.
(4)Evita Michelo M.
I fell in love with Joy Yee when I first visited the Evanston location a few years ago. I have been to the university village location a few times now, and this last visit on July 20, 2014 will be the last. We ordered the hot and spicy soup, crab rangoon, kimchi hot stone pot and the traditional hot stone pot. The hot and sour soup was good. The crab Rangoon was ok at best. The dough was a little chewy and there was a hair in one of the crab rangoons which made us stop eating the remaining three. They removed the crab rangoon from the check. I asked the waiter to ensure that the stone pots were sizzling hot based on one of my last visits when they were barely warm. This time they were sizzling. The kimchi stone pot was good although it could have used more kimchi. The traditional stone pot was ok, nothing that would make me want to got back for more. The bathroom is not very clean, and they have not repaired the hand soap dispenser. They repurposed an old siracha bottle and filled it with soap both in the men's and women's bathroom. Kudos for orginality and creatvity but come on, if you can't afford to fix or buy a new soap dispenser, what else are you skimping on! Overall disappointing experience, bad wait staff, and I will not come back here again.
(2)Kari G.
I love getting smoothes from here. The tapioca pearls are so fun! And great food for a great price. 10/10 would recommend
(3)Jonathan K.
Come for the boba, food is not great. One of the few times the quantity didn't make up for quality.
(3)Regina P.
It's been two hours and I haven't gotten my food delivered yet! I think this is the last time I ever order from this place, and to top it off I haven't received a courtesy call saying my food would be later than usual. I'm normally a very patient person as you can tell by me waiting 2 hours for food, but this is just ( insert swear word here). I just called and they said they were closing and all the delivery men have already made their way back to the restaurant. So where's my food that you said the delivery guy was bringing to me three hours ago when I first called to check on it? Shady much! Sheesh....
(1)BM K.
Was very happy with Joy Yee's wide selection. I ordered both the Szechuan Beef and Spicy Basil Noodle w/ Chicken Lunch Entrees. Both were huge and came with hot and sour soup and an egg roll, everything said and done my bill was only $17.50 and I have enough for two more meals easily. A great value indeed. I would say the food is above average and seemed fresher then your run on the mill Americanized Chinese place. I would return to Joy Yee again given the chance. I wanted to try some of the Bubble Tea and a couple of other many dishes.
(4)Debbie O.
This place gets four stars just for their amazing avocado smoothie. I'm new to the whole avocado smoothie trend, but boy, am I hooked. As a matter of fact, this place nails all their smoothies. I like the fact that you can actually see them making the smoothie, so you know that a minute ago, the avocado was still in one piece. Their smoothies are not too icey, just perfectly smooth and melts right in your mouth. Now onto the food: I came with a large group, so we were automatically interested in the big ramen bowl displayed at the window. We had heard it was pretty tasty, so we ordered it without hesitation. It was definitely the biggest bowl of ramen I have ever seen but a good challenge for the six of us. We also ordered the salted fish and ground pork with egg over rice. That was YUM. The ramen was very typical, nothing too special. The soup was rather salty, but the noodle was nice and chewy. I don't think I would order the ramen again, but I could definitely eat the salted fish and avocado smoothie everyday. In fact, we took the metro from the city all the way to Chinatown just for the avocado smoothie on my last day. It was definitely worth the trip.
(4)Jenny H.
10 STARS for the smoothies....and 3 stars for the food!!! I cannot tell you how much I LOVE THE SMOOTHIES HERE- fresh fruit, an endless variety of all really ripe, sweet, fresh fruit.....with a variety of well-made boba and fruit toppings. My favorite combo is papaya-coconut milk-lychee- you must get all three!! With green pearls and fruit topping- SOO GOOD!! I got their food here before, it's decent Chinese food, but the presentation is really cool- cut out pineapples, stone pots, cool dishes, so it probably looks and tastes a lot better because of the presentation. I got their spring rolls here- standard and good.
(4)Nari H.
Huge smoothies and milk teas that rival the ones I've had in China. Worth going to but not all the dishes are amazing, so it's good to know what to get. I enjoyed a tomato cubed beef dish and a spicy basil thai chicken noodle dish - sorry I butchered all those names. It's on the pricey side so if you're not super hungry, it's worth splitting an entree. I don't come a lot so I'd ask around or check out the reviews to see what's good.
(4)Sarah S.
I will definitely be going back here but my food was just A-OK this time around. I've been to the other Joy Yee's and I know what great food they have. This time I decided to cheap it up with their version of a banh mi sandwich which was A-Ok but not amazing. It had all the usual fixens and overall was fine...nice and cheap at $5.50. This past Saturday, I was surprised it was not completely packed like I'm used to at the Chinatown and Evanston locations. I suppose that's because the college kids go home during the weekend for the most part. The location is super clean and the staff is extremely attentive! Moreso then the Chinatown location. Our waters were refilled after just a few sips! Fantastic!
(3)Andrew T.
This place is not really Asian food. When you try to cook food that delights over 1/4 of the world's population, you are going to lose focus and overdiversify, watering down your product quality. Despite once being a regular patron at this place in my younger years for their drinks and on occasion, their food, this joint has never been a favorite of mine, and here are some reasons why. I have never been a fan of the spider web chairs. I would hate it even more if I was a cute girl who likes to wear cute shorts, but I am not. Their tables are too high/chairs too low for comfortable dining and their menus are stupidly large. They have a lot of variety in their menu, but in all honesty, it is too much. Their Chinese entrees are not really Chinese. Their Korean food is not really Korean. I have to say my last visit was the nail in the coffin for this joint. One cold Chicago evening (by cold I mean below zero before windchill), I asked for HOT milk tea. The waiter said they do not have hot tea because they only have hot tea in the morning, and will have to microwave tea to make our drinks hot, and then TOLD, not asked, us to order something else. Don't tell me what I can and cannot order. *Insert expletive comment here* On a lighter note, they do make their drinks with real fruit and not colored powder out of a canister. 90% of the time I come here is for drinks and the last time I hit up this spot will indeed be the last time. Good drinks, bad service, stupid chairs. Nuff said.
(1)Keith T.
Ok food, but the stuff was mean. The stuff needs everyone to have a UIC student ID in order to give a 10% off to each person.
(3)Jinho P.
The smoothies are tasty and very good but it's not food. It's just sugar and powdered flavoring with maybe a little spoon full of fruit. Proceed with caution because if you have digestive health issues like gluten intolerance (Celiac Disease) or food allergies this is where your stomach will hate you for the rest of the day/week/month/etc. Every dish has MSG and gluten is crawling everywhere. If you are looking for junk food disguised as something nutritional, this is it. I know, I am sounding a little snooty but really let's be honest, you'll regret it afterward. I am just trying to be helpful for those not blessed with an iron stomach.
(1)Heather L.
This Joy Yees is only a few steps away from me. Whenever friends visit from out of town, it is a default place to grab a quick bite to eat around University Village. They always enjoy it; the massive menu never fails to encourage conversation because everyone will be indecisive. For my fiance and I, there have been just as many three star experiences as two star ones - but I guess the suspense of not knowing which one it will be bumps it up to three for us. - If you and your acquaintance (trust me, you need two people for this) are pho fans. The rare beef with noodle soup is always solid. Make sure you ask for basil + works because sometimes they forget. - The Joy Yee milk teas, shakes and smoothies are a nice, sugary treat. - If you are going to order anything like orange/sesame/general tsao's chicken/pork/beef, make sure you ask them for "less batter." Although they fry up the minuscule chunks of meat by the tub-full, the cook might be generous enough to throw out some pieces that are merely fried dough. - Any of the Thai and Korean foods, with the possible exception of the curries, are horrendous. - The pineapple fried rice is decent - eating your meal out of a hallowed out fruit makes for a good first experience. - The service? I guess it depends on how much experience you have with Asian restaurants.
(3)ron s.
This place is the worst - with the worst delivery in the city. Really - you should not order from here. The owner and the manager taking the orders are unbelievably rude. The food is mediocre and it is really not worth it. Agree with Belle "Delivery service sucks! It takes 1.5 hours --online order to delivery. Due to unforeseen cell phone issue, Joyee blames me for not picking up phone and superbly argumentative (makes you want to cancel order)."
(1)Jacqueline N.
Although it was a cold day, my friend and I decided we needed to get boba while we were still in Chinatown, since we dont get to come here often. After getting dimsum we went to Joy Yee's to get some boba. I got the Strawberry Freeze with mango bits, mini boba and popping passionfruit boba. Let me just say that the mini boba is not mini tapioca that i was expecting/hoping for. It was this weird jelly like balls with seeds in the middle which made them look like frog eggs. minus 1 star. Not the most appetizing but I was not a fan of the texture. there was too much of it too so it was a disappointing drink in general. But I did like the strawberry slush with mango and the popping boba. The lady taking our order, was too distracted, and put in the wrong order for my friend. Minus 1 star for them there too. Despite these mishaps, I would still go to joy yee's again to try a different drink, definitely will be more thorough with my order and without the mini boba this time.
(3)Allison V.
It has been a while since I have been here. Stopped in for a quick bubble tea fix. The bubble tea was okay....not as fresh as I remember it. They have a number of flavors to choose from. The place was busy. It is brightly lit and reminds you of subway lighting. Okay for a lunch date, don't think I would come here for dinner.
(3)Jenny N.
Service here is way faster than the one in Chinatown. Can't wait til the one in Tinley/Orland Park opens up. They get three stars for being so expensive in a college area smh
(3)Ashley B.
Crazy selection! The menu seems to go on forever and it covers a wide range of noodles, from Japanese to Thai and everything in between. It's got lots of veggie-friendly items, which is nice. My boyfriend and I both got their bo bo tea's and they were delicious, I could go for one right now in fact. I got the seafood Shabu-shabu and it literally came in a cauldron, it was enormous. I had enough soup to last for days (but it's seafood, sooooo I tossed it). I usually love octopus, but it was somewhat alarming to see whole bodies in the soup... but it was delicious nonetheless. My boyfriend got some sort of pork dish that was equally good. Since then I've tried several of their noodle soups and curry dishes and I seriously can't say I've been disappointed with any of them. I can't wait to go back and try out some more things!
(5)Joey M.
I love Asian Fusion so the food here is good but it is pricy (for chinese food) The portions are large
(4)Kirsten N.
Joy Yee's Noodles is a small noodle shop located on 1335 S. Halsted. Contributing to Chicago's cultural melting pot of restaurants, their cuisine is based upon a Thai and Chinese background. They appear to have a minimal history with its first shop opening up in Evanston in 1993. The noodle shop with which I share my experience seems also to be a newer extension. Generally, they are, as I quote from their website, "the first in the midwest to offer Taiwanese style bubble teas." What sets them apart from other Asian restaurants seems to be their Southern-Asian fruit based smoothies with tapioca, because what is a bubble tea without tapioca? Upon entering the restaurant, I was surprised at the setup. Unlike many other smaller Asian restaurants in Chicagoland, this place felt more caught up with the millenium. The area was spacious with modern looking furniture that seemed more like something out of an art museum. The walls were of a softer shade of periwinkle, and the general feel was comforting. The table appeared to be made of a black marble so it felt a little bit higher class as well. Lastly, it wouldn't be a real asian restaurant without even a slight accent of the cultures which is shown by the lantern-like decor that hangs above the guests. Unfortunately however, Joy Yee's lacked a proper host stand, thus the appearance suffered as they merely taped a piece of paper indicating where to line up in order to be seated. As previously mentioned, the seats looked like an artist's creation and should have remained as such as it contoured the body in such an odd fashion it was fairly uncomfortable. Once seated, the moment I turned over the first page of the menu I was completely overwhelmed. The pages seemed endless. Studying item after item made the decision making process very difficult and fairly time consuming. Even when a photo was accompanied by the name, the list was mind-boggling and it took almost 5 minutes to realize there were a total of over 450 items on the menu. The menu begins with pictures and names of entrées all bunched together into a couple of pages. As the menu progresses, the individuals items become categorized by protein or style such as 'chicken', 'beef', or 'soup'. However there was an upside to this extended menu. About 3 pages of the menu consisted of the various flavors of bubble tea available in the restaurant, reflecting on what originally set Joy Yee apart. Along with representing its call to fame, they also set the prices within a reasonable range encouraging the return of guests to try another item on the excessive menu. The service of Joy Yee was fast and attentive. Aside from the couple minutes wait to be seated (possibly caused by my confusion of the location of the host stand), the server knew exactly when I was ready to order and he quickly came my way within seconds of placing down my menu. After choosing my entrées, the appetizer arrived within 10 to 15 minutes and the main course shortly after. The food had a fairly hefty portion, especially for a single diner. Both the dumpling and udon arrived hot, fresh off the stove and to balance the heat, I was constantly drinking water with which the server also continually topped off without my asking. Being born in Japan and having a mother that tends to cook authentic Japanese cuisine as well, I was disappointed at the quality of the Japanese beef dumplings I order. The dumpling itself had a crispy dumpling wrapper which is not how the traditional Japanese serve them. In addition, most dumplings in Japan are pork and using the most important components or green onions and sesame oil which I felt the beef dumplings lacked. As for the udon, I was fairly disappointed at the lack of flavors and seafood in a seafood udon. The picture rose my expected to shrimp, octopus, mussels, clams, the whole ocean. Instead, what I received was a soup of very good noodles and rubbery octopus with maybe one shrimp and one clam. Lastly, near the end of my meal, I found a fine string of plastic in my soup with which was only slightly deterred by it. Overall, I rate this restaurant a 3 out of 5 stars. They received a 3 potentially because I did not order bubble tea this visit which I understand is the reason people enter the restaurant. I've also been mislead by the name of Joy Yee's Noodles as the noodles of my meal were lacking. Even so, I would be more than willing to try for a second round and hope that I may have a better experience with the food considering their humongous menu.
(3)Angie K.
For a crazy affordable meal at a ridiculously low price, Joy Yee is your best bet. The decor is modern, clean and very spacious. Upon having lunch here last summer, I was seated immediately and servers quickly took our orders. The actual seating is my main problem as the spider chairs were really uncomfortable and I wasn't even wearing a skirt or shorts. Poor girls that due. Also, the table was really high and the seats were too low, which made it kind of awkward to eat comfortable. The menus are massive in actual page size and in the amount of options they have. I felt like I was in Honey I Shrunk The Kids for a moment. We each got a bubble tea (one strawberry banana, one mango), I had tofu pad thai, split crab rangoons with my bf and he had a sesame chicken. The portions were seriously for at least 2 or 3 people each, which is great if you are on a budget. The food and drinks were served really quickly and our waters were refilled at least 3 times each. The drinks and food was delish. No complaints. Rangoons were cripsy and large and the drinks were massive in size and with the perfect amount of tapioca. Pad Thai was not my top choice but it was pretty good and I had a ton left over for another meal. I'm fully aware that this isn't authentic Chinese food but for the convenient locations, wide variety of food options and insanely low price for the portions, I really like Joy Yee's. I would definitely go back and venture into their even cheaper lunch specials.
(4)Anna L.
Good is really good and you get a really big serving per dish. BUT. Delivery service takes too long and the staff can be rude. I always get the same waiter every time I go there even though I always hope I don't get him. I don't know his name but he's one of the older waiters. Really rude guy. Never smiles. Very short with you. I hate ousting workers usually, but I've had this guys like 99% of the time in the span of 4 years going there and he hasn't changed one bit. On a good note, food is amazing and bubble tea is amazing as well.
(3)Dawn U.
I have to say I was very disappointed in the service when order over the phone. I really love the red curry vegetables but I wanted to order the lunch special but was told I could not have the PORK egg roll for a veggie or some other substitute. I was told I could get it and "give it to someone else"! Really! How about substituting it for something vegetarian or offering a small discount? Will be ordering from another restaurant in the area that is befit arisen conscous! Disappointing!!!!!?:-/
(2)Becca C.
Good service, local, really good food, there's so many choices of food. I absolutely adore their fruit freezes. I love adding lychee jelly in it, they taste amazing. Perfect place to go with your friends
(4)Lauren T.
Was my go-to place in college (UIC '12) but i haven't been in a while since they raised their prices, changed their discount policies and got rid of my favorite appetizer, the spinach rangoon. without a doubt, some of the best Asian food I have ever had. I always ordered the beef cubes over tomato rice. I should expect to return soon, but the craving hasn't hit me yet.
(4)Vali B.
do you think I am a lesbian?
(1)Ale M.
Went there today for my grandmothers birthday with a partially large group. Everything was fine until our server brought out our food. He had two orders wrong and when we informed him of it he gave us an attitude and was very impolite. He made our visit very comfortable because the whole time we ate he just stared us down. Never again would I return to this location. Food was ok.
(2)Katie G.
If you want options, this is the place to go! Pages and pages of options for drinks, appetizers & dishes. To be honest, it's a bit overwhelming. Didn't know that the dishes are HUGE and ordered a drink, an appetizer a soup and a dish. Hahaha - I will have leftovers for a few meals! Had a pineapple lemonade - great! Ordered the chicken wonton soup as recommendation from another yelper. The soup was fantastic - the wonton dumplings were really flavorful. I just wasn't prepared that the 'small' soup I ordered was going to be the size of my head. I thought the waitress was joking at first. The large soup must come in a cauldron! As the soup was so good, I only got a few bites of my lemongrass chicken. More to eat tomorrow!
(4)Pari P.
Joy Yee's still holds the title for having the best bubble tea in my book. I don't even bother trying other places because I have been disappointed so many times. I appreciate that it still rocks even after being open for over 10 years. Hmmmm... just as good as back when I was in college.
(5)Emily V.
As a college student, I am looking for large and filling portions that are affordable. Joy Yee provides quality and quantity, at a reasonable price. They provide the classic dishes of orange chicken and pad thai, along with an array of dishes that you gather some confidence for (eel, not a fan). I usually go for the spicy shrimp and rice that is a portion best for 2. I appreciate their speedy service, I wait no more than 10 minutes for a dish. The smoothies are delicious, fresh fruit smoothies made right in front of you. My favorite would be banana smoothie with tapioca (YUM). Overall this place is meant for those who enjoy their food in large portions and for those who enjoy the traditional pan-Asian dishes.
(4)Lia V.
Holy HUGE menu!!!! If you have a hard time deciding on what to order.... don't go here because you will have an even harder time deciding due to the HUGENESS of their menu. I mean ... how does a place even make that much stuff? Yum yum yum though. We order from here often - delicioso bubble teas with tapioca balls - everyone loves them. I always get their miso soup. The spinach crab rangoon are scrumptious! I mean... not a healthy place what so ever so if you want some greasy delicious chinese food... go here or order out.
(3)Cristina P.
When I walked into the place I thought it was going to suck. I couldn't have been more wrong. I got a mango with tapioca drink. Delicious. I ordered Korean beef and rice & hot and sour soup. Everything was so good. Very Impressed.
(4)Allison B.
What happened?! Joy Yee was our old reliable for years. Nothing exceptional, just good solid food that we came back to the neighborhood for, long after we moved away. Until last week. We came in for lunch - admittedly it was an off hour, perhaps 2pm. We ordered crab rangoon for the appetizer (after being informed that the beef skewers were no longer on the menu), green curry chicken, and Mongolian beef. I wasn't expecting anything great for the rangoon, it being such an unadventurous item, but it was really worse than any I've had anywhere. It reminded me of the frozen hors d'oeuvre items one finds near the TV dinners section of your grocer's freezer aisle... a thick cardboardesque shell of generic breading surrounding a blob of some nondescript pasty filling. My husband's Mongolian beef was cold (there's a sentence I never thought I'd say). And finally, for the green curry chicken. What was, on previous visits, a nice light, warm green indicating quasi-fresh ingredients now glowed with the hue of artificial mint ice cream. Or maybe it was more of a cool, hospital/institutional green. Either someone knocked a bottle of green food coloring into this dish or there was something else equally unnatural going on. Food should never be that color. I admit, it may have tasted okay otherwise, but the visual component was so off-putting that it was difficult to finish. I'm really not a finicky eater, and I don't tend to leave negative reviews. But wow. It was such a disappointment. The end.
(1)Luke S.
Portions = Huge Price = Fair Food = Super Tasty! There is somewhat of a language barrier every time I eat here, but the food is out of this world! The menu is huge and I am always torn on what to choose. You really can't go wrong, but I will say that there are some authentic selections. Beware the food flavor will stick to your clothing!
(4)Vina O.
Only dish I ever enjoy at this place is the beef over tomato rice. It's so delicious and the portion is so plentiful that it's perfect to eat half then take home the rest. It tastes just as good nuked the next day too! Pair it with an avocado smoothie, and you have the best meal you can get at Joy Yee.
(3)Stacie N.
Just finished eating their food and feel worse about myself as a human being. Servings are large, I believe they do this to camouflage the fact the the food is horrible. By horrible I mean both our egg rolls & crab Rangoon were stale, I found a long dark HAIR in my shrimp dish, and nasty fatty strings holding some of the chicken pieces together. If you're a broke college kid trying to feed yourself for the week then this might be a good place to hit up, but If you're just looking for tastes quality, this is not the place for you. On their site they emphasize"a variety of tastes, large portions and, most importantly, low prices."...AKA - not really specializing and anything, and huge portions for cheap = horrible quality of food. I would rather have 1/4 (a proper serving) and have it be tasty vs. cardboard any day. Bottom line: if you're looking for quality, pivot turn and walk out of the door and/or website.
(1)Heather M.
They make a MEAN beef noodle soup. So good! The chicken chow fun was really great too, but unlike any other I'd had. It was basically chicken, bok choy and veggies in a white sauce, and the some thick rice noodles. It was so delicious. We also got this sweet crispy shrimp dish with walnuts that would probably be freat in the restaurant, but was soggy when it was delivered. Overall, amazing. I have found my go-to Chinese delivery!
(4)Lee P.
This place is awesome! Be warned the menu is HUGE but it does have pictures. I think we all spent about 15 minutes just looking at everything on the menu to figure out what we wanted. Everyone got something different, so it kind of let us see how everything was. The Kimchi Seafood Stone Bowl I got was awesome, it had great flavor and a lot of seafood in it. Could have had a little less rice but it didn't really bother me that much. I also ordered the soft shell crab appetizer with 4 pieces...it literally had 4 whole crabs in it. Every piece was pretty big and had great taste and was crunchy. My friends love the beef cubes with tomato sauce, but I did not get to try it. I think it would take me a year of going every week to actually try everything I saw on the menu.
(4)Heather H.
Holy huge portions, batman! Be prepared to share an entree or take home enough food for two more dinners. My husband got the egg drop wonton soup, which was your standard wonton soup-- a little sriracha went a long way in adding some flavor, but the wontons themselves were good. My dish was the winner of our two-- coconut chicken curry served in a coconut! First- who doesn't want their dinner served in a coconut?! Second-- the curry was one of the best I've had-- perfect level of heat without overpowering the rest of the dish. Will definitely come again and we are looking forward to our leftovers for the week to come!
(4)Disa C.
I've tried the food here many of times and its just ok. I feel like I can make it at home. But I love their Bubble tea!
(3)Alex Z.
Joy Yee's is a favorite tradition that I share with my friends. We were all back home from college, and we figured that there was no better way to celebrate a reunion by heading down to Joy Yee's for some killer crab rangoon, spring rolls, and a wonderful variety of meat dishes. Impeccable service is always nice too. Portions are satisfying, and the prices are reasonable. I don't think I've ever ordered something here that I've disliked. The freezes, jelly, and coffee drinks are always fun to have because they're delicious and they're so alluring. I'll always go back to Joy Yee's.
(5)Nektaria R.
Chewy balls rock. FYI - I have gone out of my way in the middle of the night to go to Joy Yee's for their bubble drinks. Very fresh and yummy custom ordered. Red bean with tapioca or taro or mango or green tea... I really don't pick the same one each time. I like changing it up and confusing myself. Food is OK. Lots of yummy appetizers. I can totally fill up on just those. There is a wide variety of foods on the menu but it seems to all taste the same to me and comes with a ton of rice. I probably need to do some research when in comes to the food and then maybe I'll be happier with the food as I am with the drinks. Not sure how some people I know are in love with the food here though. It's really not all that. The service is totally lacking. I'm sure they don't care though since both locations are typically pretty busy. Maybe I'll continue what I've been doing by exploring other restaurants and cafes for comparable drinks and eat Chinese at a yummier location.
(3)Darren F.
came here a few times to eat.. the service here is decent... they are pretty attentive on refilling our water every time we come... it can be a pain to look for parking since its around UIC.. the smoothies here is not as great as the original joy yee's in chinatown.. sometimes it will not be sweet enough or sometimes it will be too sweet.. some of the food here is lacking in flavor compare to the other locations that I've tried.. like the Malaysian seafood baked rice.. it was pretty bland and i have to add a lot of hot sauce.. this place needs to be a little more consistent with their drinks and food...
(2)Butters B.
I should have taken past reviews of this place into account so that's on me. I ordered delivery from this place tonight, and after receiving confirmation that my food was on its way, an hour past the delivery time my food still had not arrived. I called the restaurant and was told they forgot to make the food. Really?!? I have never been to the actual restaurant but if you are considering this place for delivery, please reconsider.
(1)NARDO Q.
Vietnamese sandwiches are awesome. The Chocolate and Coffee freezers are awesome! Soft shell crab rolls are also great. If you ask for it to be spicier then they will make it for you. GREATNESS!
(5)Jide F.
I can't count how many times I've been to Joy Yee's, both this location and the one in Chinatown. I can understand how overwhelming the menu can be but I really think there's something for everyone here. And they're nice and smart enough to place colorful, detailed pictures of almost all menu items. My standard orders are watermelon tapioca freeze, Korean BBQ short ribs and Thai fried calamari. I recently tried the Thai green curry chicken and it blew my mind! Light, curry flavor served with chicken and green beans. It wasn't too spicy and the coconut milk wasn't too creamy. They used to have the fried soft shell crab served over curry chicken but unfortunately they told me last week they discontinued it. Huge sad face as that was my favorite dish. I also like that Joy Yee's isn't stingy on their rice. As an Asian, I need my rice. The service is lightning fast and the food comes out super hot. Almost all curry/soup dishes I've ordered come out still bubbling. First time Joy Yee-ers should know that portions are pretty large. So a group of three can easily be benefit from ordering two entrees without overeating and getting a stomach ache- cuz you're definitely going to want to eat everything put in front of you.
(5)Michael L.
This is a place where you find yourself overpaying for a entree where it is 90% rice. The colors they paint on their walls are ugly and makes you feel like you want to leave because your eyes might bleed. The chairs makes you so uncomfortable that you wish you just did carry-out and ate at a nearby park bench. The customer service is terrible and please don't believe that you must spend $10 or more for a credit charge. I think they would be in trouble if Mastercard, Visa, etc. finds out they were telling their customers that. Unfortunately, I do have to visit this place once in awhile because I have friends and family who likes the bubble tea here. The good thing about this place is that they have large rooms where they can seat large parties here.
(1)Mary C.
I ordered the beef pho and found a 3ft long hair in the noodle, thank god I was only in the process of mixing the noodles around and haven't eaten it. Gross!
(1)Marie B.
Avoid the Low Mein Why? I am an Asian food junkie ~ I love just about everything. So, imagine my surprise when I ordered Low Mein and got this bowl of ick! My friend ordered the Chicken Satay and literally got chunks of unflavored chicken on a skewer. When in the area and need good ~ I mean adequately good ~ Chinese food, go to Mapo
(1)Caroline A.
OK. So the food is definitely not authentic, but it definitely hits the spot when I'm craving super fatty, super salty, msg-filled grub. The portion sizes are huge, and a girlfriend and I were able to share their Beef Cubes over Tomato Rice and an appetizer of shrimp tempura. Beef Cubes over Tomato Rice doesn't sound too appetizing, but it's actually really good. I think they just need an editor for their menu. The shrimp tempura wasn't my favorite. There wasn't enough panko around those babies! I also embraced my Asianess by indulging in a mango tapioca freeze. Pure sugar heaven. :) The second time I came to JYs, I had their chicken teriyaki and wasn't too impressed... stick to the beef cubes. I'll be back for their pineapple fried rice and more bubble tea!
(4)Nari L.
This place always has a special place in my heart. My favorite is the tomato beef cubes over rice and the chicken basil chow fun. I always crave the tomato beef cubes over rice, especially since I now live out of state now. Their milk teas are good but I actually prefer St Alps better for milk teas. All in all, I love this place bc I've been coming here consistently since I've been in highschool, all throughout college and now in my late 20s. Joy Yee's always has a special place in my heart.
(5)Diana D.
Yum Yum Yum. Stopped into joy yee per my fiancé's recommendation. So glad we did. Delicious food and great prices. I had the pineapple chicken with shrimp fried rice. Love that is was served in a pineapple soooo mouth watering. My fiancé order beef with tomato rice which was equally delicious. We were very happy with our order. Next time we will split one entree, portion size are large but it did make for yummy leftovers. We couldn't leave without getting bubble tea. My fiancé got the watermelon bubble tea and wow... What flavor and refreshing on this very hot day. We will be back!!!!
(4)Aaron Jae M.
Had mainly good experiences eating here. I've been here on dates and just to hang out with friends. Their menu is HUGE. I honestly don't know any other restaurant with this many things on their menu. This is usually a sign of a terrible restaurant but they somehow manage to do it. I've had their spicy korean soup, Vietnamese sandwiches, pork fried rice, sesame chicken, and thai green curry. I liked all of it. My favorite is definitely the sandwiches and the curry. Service was always pretty fast and the servers were polite, nothing above and beyond, but nothing bad. Their portions are typically 1.5-2 times the normal amount which is why everything is priced around 8-10 dollars so it is a great place for groups since you can share and take home leftovers.
(4)Phill C.
I'm giving this 2 stars since I've been to the Joy Yees in Evanston and Chinatown and liked the food, otherwise it would have been only 1 star. We were coming back from a baseball game and saw that they were still open. It was about 30 minutes until closing and the sign on the outside clearly said the last order must be placed 15 minutes before closing. When we walked in, the server who greeted us told us we had 5 minutes to order our food. We were kind of confused, but said that's fine. Then he said we have to order right away since the kitchen was closing. He obviously didn't want to seat us and wanted us to leave. So that's just what we did.
(2)Colin M.
Best Asian food I've ever had in the midwest!! Only issue is that is a bit awkward having the waiters stand around with nothing to do. Its also even more awkward when their is no music and they're all standing around staring at you eat.
(4)Luke D.
Joy Yee's has a hundred items on its menu. They could reduce it to one since everything tastes like fried. You get a lot of food here, which is a shame since we didn't eat most of it. Enormous portions are usually a sign of low quality food, which is certainly true at Joy Yee's. Compounding the awfulness, the oddly designed spider chairs seat you well below normal table height. If I could give this culinary abortion zero stars, I would.
(1)Tina B.
The have good soups and really good and especially exciting looking drinks that employ fruits and colors and Sprite and balls and that's all well and good. But let's talk for a moment about the biggest pain in the ass at Joy Yee's - their seating. You know how on a normal chair there is like a square part that you put your butt on, you know, to sit? Well here that square is turned and really shaped like a diamond instead and is about as big. This can be a real problem. Especially when you're fat or pregnant, and more especially when you're fat and pregnant, like I was the last time I tried to delicately perch my big enough for two ass upon one of those gems. I'm thinking this was all an attempt at "cool" and "hipply" "elegant" decor, but I'm going to say (or "ass"ume) this was a critical mistake. It's bad form to remind people of their big fat asses when they are saddling up to buy food in your restaurant. Probably benches might even be more in order. Or like a couch. Something that would make one feel dainty enough to partake in a few more pieces of average crab rangoon. Luckily, it's mainly just the soups and drinks that are worth getting here, and not the other, more ass-expanding offerings. And you can get the drinks and soup to go.
(3)Lauren D.
Every time I go to the doctor I stop by here afterwards for a bubble tea. Its my reward for being a semi-responsible adult. The bubble tea is always solid, however sometimes you can tell that they over-soaked their tapioca and it is just too soft. I have gotten lunch here a few times, and the lunch specials are a great deal. The spring roll appetizer is also pretty tasty with tofu.
(3)Tracy L.
Lots of seating space. You cannot go wrong with beef cubes over tomato rice =] MY FAV! The teriyaki short ribs are the bf's fav. And of course, treat yourself to a bubble tea...you deserve it! They have a HUGE selection of drinks and they've added a lot to their menu (bumped up the prices a little, but hey, it's a recession.) crab ragoons are big thick crusts, but a little on the oily side
(4)Wynee B.
Pretty decent food (if you know what to order). They have a really large variety on their menu. I would suggest hot plate or eel. Somewhat rude service but they grow on you. They always show Chinese dramas on the TVs whenever I'm there. Carryout is quite fast. Joy Yee is on my speed dial. Pretty large servings for a standard price. Their lunch special is really cheap, though. Just go if you want bubble tea. It's not authentic Asian cuisine but if you go to NU, you must go there. No matter what.
(4)Jose B.
Great food, LOTS of it for a fair price, chairs kinda uncomfortable but really who cares. I love this place!!! oh and awesome smoothies!!
(4)Ripple D.
Amazing food, amazing smoothies! Great atmosphere for restaurant dining, but the delivery service is fabulous as well for carry out!
(5)Dale T.
Used to be a great place to get good food... Heard it was starting to go downhill. Ordered chicken with salted fish baked rice. Chicken tasted like it was boiled first not stir fried. Disappointed. Ordered eel fried rice to go will see if that's better
(3)Aaron S.
Frankly, I haven't been inside this location - so take my review at face value. I ordered delivery, just to see if this location was putting out the same quality food that is available at the Chinatown location. The Chinatown location doesn't do delivery - and I was too tired to head over there for takeout/pickup - so I dialed the number for the sister location on Halsted and they were able to deliver delicious food to me. If you need a full review of the food (and the story behind why I order the same thing every time), I've reviewed the Chinatown location as well. My order was the Pad Thai Woon Sen, which is absolutely the best at Joy Yee's and I just can't find another place that makes a Woon Sen as delicious anywhere else in the city - so far. I also asked if they deliver their freezes, and when they said they do, I was skeptical, but it was definitely worth the risk to order my Banana Ice Cream Freeze and hope for the best. And I was not disappointed. My only concern was that the freezes and my hot food were in the same delivery plastic bag. They were separated with different paper bags, but the insulation wasn't perfect. My freeze was still freezy - at the sacrifice of miso soup being less than steamy and likewise for the Woon Sen. But the food was still a gastronomic delight, despite being served at a less-than-optimum temperature. Really, the food was 95% as good as the Joy Yee's in Chinatown that I'm used to eating from. That 5% difference was just a random issue I had with the shrimp in my food from this particular Joy Yee's. Someone in the kitchen must not have been paying attention while deveining the shrimp, because (to quote David Spade in Tommy Boy) mine looked like they had just finished Thanksgiving dinner.before being cooked and placed in my Pad Thai Woon Sen. It was a forgivable transgression and this place has managed to keep its 4-star rating in my book. I hope that if I ever make it inside this location, the food will be just as good and if it's less crowded with better service here than at the Chinatown location, the Halsted location might be earning its fifth star.
(4)Sandy R.
Joy Yee=Smoothies & Bubble Tea. Food = Alright. Why do I go here so often? It's convenient, and the portions are big enough to split with a friend, so we each pay less than $5 a meal. The fruit smoothies are the best, the fruits are fresh, and everyday I go there, I can see them preparing it for orders. The noodle soups are the best for cold days, or for when you have a craving for something with an umami taste. The authenticity of the asian dishes are questionable, I mean, they consider themselves fusion, but from past experiences, fusion means modern + oldstyle, so A+a=Dish, not A+B=dish. Because of this, some dishes are good, and some dishes are really bad. The service is always really good, too. My water always get refilled without me knowing...they are so fast! However, there is one lady that works there who is really nosy, and always stares at everybody and everything for a really long time, and sort of makes me uncomfortable when I we are deciding how much to leave for tip or how we are going to split our check. This makes me wonder what her motives are.. I hope she doesn't poison me for leaving her a low tip! haha.
(3)Brittany C.
I am such a fan of BYOB noodle places. I mean, is there ANYTHING better than bringing your own finely-chosen (or just UM, cheap) alcohol and enjoying some tasty asian-pleasures? I am not so sure there is... And all I HEAR about is Joy Yees this and Joy Yees that.. So of COURSE I was pumped. Let my tell ya the story: Friday night. Dressed up with my girls ready to start the night with a few bottle of wine, a bottle of champagne... Now, Im not saying we were in skanky attire, but lets just say we were a step above sweats. So we get there and should have turned around... It looks like a cafeteria. It is bright and loud, but "lunchtime" loud not weekend dinner loud. It is filled with UIC students in sweats and ponytails or those waiting to pick up some grub to take home for a night of studying. Now this is fine. It was MY mistake that I thought it was a little less casual. I totally love casual too. But just know what to expect. We BYOB'ed and it seemed like everyone was looking at us over their bubble tea, like we were marshians.. Pad thai was SO-SO, big portions but sort of blah. Maybe the taste was tainted by the awkward feeling that sent a blush up and down my face. I dont know. I may try it again for lunch or weeknight dinner. Once I can get over the humiliation caused by the inapproporiate fashion Faux Pais... eeeek!!!!!
(2)Vivian Y.
Holy Crap! Been living down the street from this locale for almost 2 years and I can't believe I haven't written a review!! If you're a fan of Joy Yee's or have Joy Yee's as a top of mind restaurant, then this is the location to visit in the city because it is not NEARLY as packed as the Chinatown Location. This location is big and spacious but the really need to do something about those chairs. They've already switched them out once since they opened (the other ones were like traditional Chinese redwood chairs that were diamond shaped and super uncomfortable) and now they have the space-age chairs that are way too low to slurp noodles. I love the food here if I am craving pan asian. Some stuff is very authentic while others are doing well at trying so. If you're a less adventurous asian food eater, Joy Yee's is a safe bet as there are tons of things that won't gross you out and there are no hanging pieces of meat in the window like there is in Chinatown. Personal favorites: Sesame Chicken Malaysian Ong Choy (veggie) **bring a six pack of beer - it's BYOB** Menu is too big to name, but top of mind are those two dishes.
(4)Rico T.
I never really liked this place, especially the one in Chinatown. The one in the Chinatown mall is too cramped & the food is prepared mediocre at best for my liking. To be fair, its been several years since I've stepped foot into a Joy Yee until this recent experience. The University Village location is actually quite nice. Visually appealing for sure. The chairs look cool, but feel a little weird to sit in. Maybe it's just me & I gotta shed a few pounds... Anyway, the food was not bad this time around. My friend had the mapo tofu lunch special, while I had the garlic pork over rice ( I suggest ordering this dish with a fried egg on top!) My dish was exceptionally tasty, probably the 3rd best palce in the city for this dish (#1 Siam Noodle & Rice, #2 Sticky Rice) I'd go back again.
(3)Dana D.
The first time we went here, it was great! Amazing food, quick service, and not to costly. The second time? Not so much. As busy as it was, we had three waitresses asking us every 10 seconds if we were ready to order, when we had just walked in and sat down! Finally, we just said yes, to get them to leave us alone. That was awkward. Anyway, I ordered lemon grass chicken, which is what I got the first time. It wasn't so good. There was barely any sauce, and the chicken was rubbery and tasted like it was all fat. Ew. I'd go again, but only because it's close and I love chinese food. Try a bubble tea or a tapioca smoothie, those are really good. Also, the color is a little too bright for my taste (i.e. highlighter green), so if you're hung over? I definitely don't recommend it.
(3)Larysa G.
They have the best drinks with tapioca ever!! And my favorite sea soup also there...love it. Service is good and fast but I don,t like they metal chairs..there are not very comfortable.
(4)kim b.
Always find something to eat here...when I can't make up my mind. One of my favorite crab rangoon in the city...only second to Indie Cafe in Edgewater. Bubble drinks are the best I've ever had anywhere in the US...and we live in the bay area, so we've tried a bunch, and these are in a league of their own. The Chinatown location has a drink window and you can just get that to-go if you want it. Favorites: String Bean Pork, lychee mango tapioca freeze, crab rangoon, anything over rice...so many selections! Parking can be kinda tough...so I prefer to go to Chinatown/Evanston sometimes cuz there's more options for parking. If I go for an afternoon snack...you can go to the bakery across the way in Chinatown and get a sesame ball...mmmm. I miss that.
(4)Martin H.
Joy Yee's Noodle is great and the best Pan-Asian restaurant in Chicago. This location is very large with a lot of seating (uncomfortable seats). Hands down their Bubble Tea is the best!!! They have the biggest selection of fruits that you can choose from and mix together. Their menu is one of the biggest I've ever seen at a restaurant. There is so much to choose from it takes you 10-15 minutes just to decide what you want. The food is great and the dishes they serve them in are extremely creative. Also, its BYOB! The one thing that lacks here is the service. Most of the waiters/waitresses can barely speak english so if you ask them something they'll get very confused and chances are make a mistake. For the BEST bubble tea and great Pan-Asian food, go to Joy Yee's!
(4)Jocelynne G.
Crap crap CRAP service. I wish I would NOT be hounded for tip every single time I eat here. We were only filling out the check/signing in and the servers were staring us down and circling our tables like vultures. They even said "You fill out the tip here." to us, when we were PLANNING on giving them tip in cash. Food isn't that great either, the service just totally ruins it all. There are much better places around my house for bubble tea anyway.
(1)Brenna O.
After the incredible buzz about Joy Yee having the best bubble tea in Chicago, I had to give it a try. We had a good experience there and a crappy experience, so I think it evens out to about a 3 star review. The first time was great - the novelty of the HUGE menu was fun, and it took us awhile to figure out our food and bubble tea selections. There are large portions, and the bubble tea comes in this huge beer glass with a handle, in case you feel like chugging it. I recommend the green tea, and my husband liked the mango. Our second time was comically bad, it felt like we were on a sitcom. Our waiter took our order eventually, and we got our food quickly enough but the red bean bubble tea my husband ordered this time was grainy and gross. We asked for it to be remixed or put through the blender again to maybe make it smoother, but it didn't really help. The hilarious part was that we saw our waiter sitting with the other staff having food, and then he was the one to clean up... and then he sat there hulling green beans. We sat there for so long trying to get his attention and laughing and wondering if we were ever going to get our check. He seriously forgot about us and didn't even look our way or tell another waiter to take care of us! We wrote "WTF??" on the check. So the service was totally horrible, the red bean bubble tea was undrinkable, and I was really disappointed. I don't think I'll be driving all the way to Joy Yee again anytime soon. BEBOBA IS STILL THE BEST BUBBLE TEA AROUND!
(3)Hfrrz h.
They are amazing. Once you stop being overwhelmed by them menu. I think that it is Great that they have so many choices. Most people wish other restaurants did. They make everything very naturally. The decor is amazing and the food has the spices that you would expect from a ethnic restaurant. They have huge portion sizes. Everything is made for two. The bubble teas are amazing and huge! Spicy fried dumplings and sesame chicken are my favorite but i like so many others.
(5)Bill M.
So this chick in building next to ours in the West Loop who claims to be a major foodie told me about this joint. I told her I loved Big Bowl. She made a sour face, and implied that if I liked what she viewed as touristy crap (although I disagree--I think Big Bowl is excellent), that I'd love Joy Yee. I thought it was so-so. A gazillion choices on the menu, which is typical of Asian hash-houses like this, but it often means everything is mediocre, nothing really that good. Which was the case. I had teriyaki chicken, a fairly easy dish to execute. They completely botched it, though. Burned or badly scorched and tough. VW (Veg-Wife) ordered garlic broccoli, which turned out to be ok, but nothing special. Rice was pretty good. The big deal here is that it's BYOB. The decor is weird and garish, the seating is not that comfortable, but service is generally attentive.
(2)Nichole S.
First thing I think of is this place is so damn confused. Stick to a cuisine and do it right then extend your menu. Spring rolls were greasy and so far from being vietnamese it was offensive and Im not even vietnamese. Bubble teas was amazing I cant lie it was damn near perfect. However my soup sucked broth was flavorless and lacking veggies it was a big steaming bowl of water and noodles. Things to work on..... The menu is stupid and unapproachable Your sauces on the table are far off have sambal siracha fish sauce soy sauce and vinegar not just siracha and oyster sauce Fry your spring rolls to order Go to a Argyle and do some research it feels like white people run this place and its too bad because its a great location
(2)Sarah D.
Love Joy Yee! They have never disappointed with anything I've tried on their menu (especially a fan of beef and brocolli and their chicken lo mein!) Always quick delievery and prompt service when placing orders over the phone.
(4)Kathy S.
I never really understood why everyone loved this place so much until I went with friends who knew what to order. The basil chow fun, tomato with beef cubes over rice and lemongrass beef are my favorites. Walnut shrimp was okay too but definitely not as good as the one at Yu's Mandarin in Schaumburg. I'm also very picky about my bubble tea but I LOVE their mango-lychee freeze. It is amazing and I crave it all the time. Heard their pineapple fried rice is good too so got to try that next!
(5)Dustin W.
Excellent noodle dishes and more traditional american chinese dishes. The orange and governors chicken were served crispy with a nice brown sauce and great texture. Beef pho and udon noodle soups were also spot on. I was most impressed with their willingness to allow for improvisation. I highly recommend a kung pao chicken with rice stone pot.
(4)Mark A.
Yo, yo, yo! I love this spot! They have a huge menu with Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean. If you've never had any of that before, it can be daunting looking at a menu like that. But...they...got...PICTURES! Of almost every dish! And good pictures, mind you, that make it extra hard to decide on what you want. The got pictures of their ga-zillion bubble tea and smoothie concoctions too! And...(next sentence coming out like I'm Wanda from Martin) they is suuh-OH good! It took me and my friend an extra 10 minutes to figure out what we wanted. Shrimp fried rice for her - average, easy dish, not really asking for quality here. But they did it well, and gave a lot of it. I, of course, being a man and trying to figure out how to try as many things at once, got the Vietnamese sampler of 3 dishes: Vietnamese chicken curry, some pho, and shrimp vermicelli. Bad-freakin'-ASS. My Taro Coconut Green Tapioca Freeze (as girly as it looked coming out) tasted like Danish Butter Cookies and a Mango Sundae. Yes, I would breathe that. I can't wait to go back. If I'm ever in that area during the day, I'd stop in for one of their drinks - I'm that sold. My Chinese brethren in the back also solidifying my claims. Right now, and probably for a long time to come my favorite asian (non-sushi) spot in the city. My mom...and MY CHINESE GRANDMA would eat here. I know it.
(5)Katty D.
Way over this place. 1 thing i will admit, their boba is the best tasting around, but otherwise, they serve mediocre food over a ton of rice to make you feel you're getting your money's worth. I came here with a group of 5 and we ordered a korean soup, a korean soup/bulgogi meat combo, orange chicken and fried green beans. It all tasted decent to me, but afterwards it all felt so heavy from the oiliness. I'd probably only come back here out of desperation for chinese food. Ambiance - trendy, to the point that they put you in uncomfortable oddly shaped chairs. Food Quality - heavy, oily, and eh. Service - really good, theyll get your order and your food out fast Value - i'll give them this, its quite affordable, we each only spent about $10 per person
(3)Ryan M.
Awesome place! The interior decor looks soo good. I love that on the outside you can see pictures of the food items, not just a menu listing. They have drinks with tapioca balls that are delicious/kinda weird. The portions here are huge! I always get the Vietnamese calamari. First of all the calamari is fried perfectly. Next all the calamari looks like the squid, not round tires. Finally the calamari is seasoned great, and the dipping sauce is sweet and hot, and very good. I hope my girlfriend goes back to UIC so whenever I visit we can go here!
(5)Shannon H.
Joy Yees has great Asian food for a reasonable price, and an interesting atmosphere. Personally I prefer to get my food to go and eat in at UIC to save money, but if you're not a student this may be a bit awkward. I highly recommend the Orange Chicken, the Chicken and Pineapple fried rice, and the Japanese Beef Dumplings, but given their extensive menu you're sure to find something you'll like. They tend to give you a lot of food so you won't go hungry and be sure to try the bubble tea!
(4)Kevin A.
WELCOME TO THE MATRIX adfadj韓辣豬肉石&Â957;板kfdasjfkdlfjd#$GREENCURRYdfajdkfl@#$#*Â0daj#*#$(fklsdfjdlkafjdPHOsdfjdkflads韓ůÂ71;豬肉石頭板ÂjfkldfjdkldKALBIsdjfksdfjkdslfjklsdfdFRIEDRICEsdf@Â#$#*jdkfljsdfkdsMAPOTOFUdfjsdk@#$*fldjsfk麻&Â#23110;豆腐jskflsdjkflKUNGPAOSHRIMP@#$Â&*#SkdvSK~dkdTERIYAKI(*(#$kdklankeliodskdjfleirkklÂa;(#$(8BOBA@#$*(dk Reading their menu is like decoding the matrix. Seriously, it's easier just to think of what you want and assume it'll be on there. Food-wise, it's 3-stars (kind of what you might expect for a pan-Asian place), but their bobas are spectacular.
(4)Claire Y.
I've only tried the bubble tea here so far... and they're excellent! My favorite is the strawberry lychee freeze (fresh fruit and juice smoothie with tiny ice bits). I hear the crystal jellys and the milk teas are also something to talk about. great for students that live nearby --- affordable menu and an EXTENSIVE list of teas that will never bore their tired brains.
(4)Ernest S.
I am not toting this place as the best asian restaurant, but they really do have some very tasty dishes. I think because their menu is so vast, your experience will widely vary depending on your selections. Its really hit or miss if you don't know what they do well and what they suck at. I have learned the hard way through many visits over the years, ordering different dishes and trying friends' stuff, all the while compiling my own "do's and don'ts" list in my head. And I give them five stars because at the end of the day I now look forward to eating their food, sometimes even craving it. Some of my favorites include: thai spicy basil chicken chow fun, beef cubes over tomato rice, lemongrass beef, pineapple chicken and shrimp fired rice, basil pork with egg over rice Stay away from: ALL their pho and pho-variation noodle soups (goto a real pho joint if this is what you're craving), mapo tofu, thai spicy shrimp with baked rice (the description is misleading, as it is not spicy AT ALL and instead very sweet) And you really can't go wrong with any of their drinks, they are seriously THE best bubble tea spot. My favorites include: mango-lychee freeze, avocado freeze, strawberry-lychee freeze, taro freeze, milk green tea with green tapioca
(5)kristina s.
I Loooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeee me some joy yees!!! The restaurant itself is nothing to get excited about... but the food is great and they have great fresh fruit smoothies, so good! They have an amazing selection of food, Vietnamese, Thai, chinease, Japanese... with pics of everything and I love everything I order, especially the chicken/shrimp pineapple fried rice, comes in a big pineapple and is so delicious.... If you Asian food this is the place to be... the service is usually good, if you get a server who speaks English, but the food makes up for that!!! Yummo!! Oh yeh and there are always leftovers, the portions are nice and big :)
(4)Eun Jee J.
This is hands down my favorite restuarant. True,, the food isn't really authentic Asian Cuisine, but they have the freshest and more delectable drinks, especially the bubble tea, yum. I love the lemon-grass chicken wings as a appetizer, and I always get the beef in black bean sauce over rice, or the spicy korean oyster and shrimp noodle soup. Yumms! I order delivery from here all the time, it takes about 45 minutes, but thats normal. But I do love it when it arrives in 25 minutes! I also love how you never have to wait long. Everything is bada-bing, bada-boom. You're in, sat, order, eat, out. I understand because its a popular place!
(5)Elizabeth D.
You can get just about anything Asian on their vast picture menu. My two staples are the Shrimp Rice Paper wraps and, of course, the bubble tea. The Shrimp Rice Paper Wraps, I order sans the wraps and the dish is a virtual veggie-palooza. The bubble teas are always amazing. In fact, I used to HATE tapioca and this is the only place where I need to have it. (Seriously, it's like little bursts of chewy goodness!) I haven't had a bad meal here. It's always worth the drive--in fact, just Yelping makes me want to go!
(4)Jess R.
I like this place. I just don't like eating there, the seats are SOOO uncomfortable and their waitstaff is questionalbe! I'd advise you to do take-out or delivery instead. I haven't ordered anything that I didn't like, yet.
(4)Donaye N.
My usual order is Beef Cubes with Tomato Sauce Rice! Can never go wrong with that...just oh so good! :) I recently discovered Thai Red Curry Beef Brisket Rice. It's very yummy!!! As far as the bubble teas, my fave is avocado w/ tapioca! :)
(4)Borat S.
Bubble tea was good but warm
(3)Dave R.
If I could give this place two ratings, I would. The food is excellent and reasonably priced (5 stars) but the service is the pits (1 star). Hence, the three star rating. Let's start with the food. It is always delicious. I like the wide variety of items and the different Asian offerings (i.e. Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese etc.). The Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls rock. I have had a number of the noodle dishes and they've always been very good. When I am sick or the weather is cold, I like to get the Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup). I'm also a big fan of the freezes, the Triple Berry one is my favorite. Now to the service. Like other reviewers, I think it leaves much to be desired. When placing a phone order, it is often difficult to understand the Joy Yee person on the line. Ask for a change to a menu item and you'll find yourself explaining what you want at least twice if not more. In person, the service is no better. The servers make it seem like they'd rather clean toilets than have to take your order. Service can be very slow even if the restaurant is less than half full. Asking for an opinion on a specific dish (i.e. is it spicy?) can be like pulling teeth. If you want good Asian food at a fair price, yet can deal with less than stellar service, Joy Yee is a place to check out.
(3)Jimmy D.
Disgusting pho. Automatically taking off two points for that one. We got the giant bowl meant to share between 4-5. There were only 3 of us, but we're gluttons so we thought it'd be alright. It was not. It was gross. Ugh. That's what I get for trusting Chinese folks to make my pho. BUT the seafood curry with coconut rice was really money although it was kinda cold when they brought it out. The dumplings we got were so damn good though, redeemed all the wrongs I mentioned earlier. Service was WAY better than Joy Yee in Chinatown. Those bastards are always trying to get you to hurry up, move over a table, or just ignore you completely. Here it was a very nice normal experience service wise.
(3)Tara H.
Every time I walked by Joy Yee, it was dark and the restaurant was closed so I had no clue as to what the decor looked like, but thought it was going to be a cute Chinese Bistro. I was sadly mistaken and it had more of a cafeteria-esque feel with perfectly placed tables for the nineteen million waiters/waitresses to move around efficiently to constantly rotate my table with questions and offer their services. I am not docking stars for their attentive staff, but I will say it is as overwhelming as the menu. There are so many options and so many people to make it happen that every few minutes there was someone else to distract me from conversation and my meal. I suggest eating there for lunch because you won't mind the cafeteria-vibe, but if you want to catch up with friends or loved ones over dinner, don't eat at Joy Yee. Oooh, and what is up with their chairs? I felt like I was sitting in a bronzed low rider sex chair without the suspension, fun or sexiness!
(3)B H.
OK...I am a fan! I LOVED everything that I ordered and also what my friends ordered too! Their bubble tea is delish and huge. The portions of food are giiiinormous...but in a yummy take home-and-eat-later type of way : ) I ate here 2 days in a row-I know-it was that good!!! and great prices too!!! I had beef chop chae, kim chi, and shrimp fried rice=yum, yum, and yum. I also had, thanks to my friends, pineapple chicken fried rice, walnut shrimp, basil chicken, basil chow fun, and shrimp with broccoli. All recommended! I will be back to one of their locations again soon!
(4)Aileen O.
Joy Yee makes great bubble tea. Their seemingly endless list of flavors and combinations makes it difficult to choose just one drink. Fruity? Milky? Slushy? With ice cream? With tapioca? Without? I go to Joy Yee's for their cantaloupe and mango bubble teas. They use real fruit, unlike other restaurants that use powder (Blech). Prices are comparable to other bubble tea places - it will cost you about $4 for one. Sometimes you have to wait a bit to get your drink, but it's worth it because you know they're making everything fresh. The drinks are very refreshing and do fill you up (it's those darn tapioca balls). Random side note, but did you know a tapioca ball has about 10 calories? Sheesh! I've tried the food as well. They have a huge menu spanning different Asian cuisines. Pretty typical food, but they have really big portions. If only this place were closer to downtown, I'd give it five stars! Open a Joy Yee in downtown!
(4)Kara G.
If you can get though their "menu" (which reads more like a novella than a menu, but hey, I would rather have too many options than too few), you'll be happy you spent the time to do so. Their food is awesome, and a good portion, so there should be plenty to bring home when you're done. Additionally, their bubble teas are awesome! Staff is really friendly and food is prepared and served quickly, which is good when you're a hungry hippo like I am. Only downside is their chairs- really uncomfortable. I would stay longer but I can't ever sit in the damn things for more than 30 minutes without my butt falling asleep and my back hurting!
(4)Ram. S.
You get so much food and it's delicious. The hardest thing is picking something to eat, they have so many options. I suggest you go online and take a look at their menu or when you're there ask for a suggestion. I used to really love their Pad Tai, but lately it hasn't been as good. I love their fried rice and sesame chicken.
(4)Alex C.
This place is a staple for me at dinnertime. You get more than what you pay for. The strawberry freeze is great, better than Jamba Juice. The Shrimp fried rice is my friend's favorite. I like the staff and the quality of the ingredients. I am a fan.
(4)Katie T.
Um... I really enjoyed the food. I mean... Crab rangoon was the best. I could bathe in the sauce. I shared a chicken basil with wide noodle dish and a shrimp lo mien dish with some friends. I don't know...I'm about ready to give up my favorite lo mien for this one. Food adultery...there's nothing better.
(5)James L.
I can see why Joy Yee's appealing. They have almost every Asian food on the menu! I never ate there until last week because I usually just come for the buble tea. I had the wings, seafood noodle and fried rice. All were good except the seafood noodle. Overall, this is still a good spot. Honestly, I really come for bubble tea.
(3)Fate O.
Foods delicious. One of our favorite places. We order pineapple chicken fried rice with shrimps nearly every time. A few times, it was cooked with too much oil but most of the times, they're made to perfection and we gobble it down!
(4)Scott P.
This place is solidly good. I was wandering around Chinatown yesterday afternoon and started to catch the hungries. I saw a long line of people standing outside a window, so I went to go investigate. Action news boba reporting at it's best. I took a look at the menu- holy CRAP that's alot of stuff that I don't recognize. I usually dig avocado shakes, so I opted for the 'avocado mini-freeze'. They have a pretty efficient system for moving the line along, so I had my tasty delicious shake in no time. And- what's that...?? Fruit along with my mini-tapiocas?!!? Hells to the yes, good people. The shake was absolutely delicious. So I wandered around a little more, looking for a place to eat. The window displays at Joy Yee looked pretty nice, so I sat down for some dinner. Ordered the FooChow egg noodle soup and the grilled squid. The squid was grilled perfectly but the sauce was just a little on the syrupy side. The soup was really tasty, but it was just a little disconcerting to see the veins still in the shrimp. I'm really not sure why they leave them in- I'm sure they have some good reason? The broth was quite tasty, and full of those little fried-shallot thingies that I love so much in Vietnamese egg-noodle soups. All-in-all, I really enjoyed my meal here and I'd like to come back and try some other stuff. There was a HUGE selection of menu items- you'll never want for variety here!!
(3)Gilbert G.
Bubble Tea . yes Food . eh Service . sucks
(3)Raul C.
Thai Spicy Basil Chow fun... have it for breakfast or lunch or dinner. BYOB is amazing. Just hit the Lush down the street. Gewurztraminer or Viognier with the dish is amazing. Bud select too. Everytime I'm sick, I come down to get a strawberry freeze. It always makes me feel much better. Oh and did I mention that the portions are huge. Find a friend and try to eat a quarter of it.
(4)Ayako M.
Pretty good, greasy Chinese food. I had the Kim-Chee and Pork noodles...was decent but definitely what my hung over belly needed! The spring rolls are more like spring-burritos! ridiculously huge. I would order from again for delivery but I don't think I would make a special trip.
(3)Mini M.
I really did not like my experience here. The server was VERY rude to us and very inpatient. The food was not that great either. The only reason why I would ever come back here would be for a smoothie (that I would take TO GO) .
(2)Laura K.
This location is ok for when I'm in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. The seating is awkward and chairs are uncomfortable. The food is great no matter what Joy Yee location you visit.
(4)Judy H.
I will give their fruit freezes 4 stars but 2 stars for the food. The mango smoothie is my favorite but my co-workers rave over the avocado smoothie....Personally I prefer my avocado diced with cilantro, lime juice and jalapeño. I think the problem with the food is that the menu is too expansive, the pictures are helpful but I think the quality suffers because there are just too many items to choose and then prepare. No matter, I will continue to come back for the fruit freezes with tapioca pearls.
(2)Darcy P.
I would give Joy Yee a five for the delicious drinks. I got the Mango tapioca freeze and my twin got the Taro Tapioca freeze. Both were HUGE and so tasty. The food on the other hand was mediocre. There weren't many veggie options and what we had was a bit bland. If we hadn't been starving, I would have recommended just getting the drinks and eating somewhere else. It was the lunch rush and I think they really wanted to get us out of there. We had barely finished our miso soup when they gave us the bill. Our waitress offered to put the rest of my sister's beverage in a togo cup. We had only been there a total of 20 minutes or less. Next time, I'll order my drink to go and eat somewhere else.
(3)Mary I.
3 stars for the food. 5 stars for the boba. The best boba here is the banana ~$5. The food is always ok, don't expect too much if you're asian. It's various dishes from vietnamese, thai, chinese, korean, but not very authentic. It's americanized asian food. The beef tomato rice is my favorite dish, but a little on the sweet side.. Mediocre food, good service. Fair price. ~$12 per person including tax/tip.
(4)Jourdan S.
This place is the jam. The only place to get real deal specialty asian soups, and ingredients like snails, short ribs, and spicy kimchi. Its super cheap and the portions are monstrous.
(4)Francesca R.
What a fun place! The menu is huge, but helpfully has both pictures and plastic replicas in the window. Amazing fruit freezes! The prices are low, and the portions are enormous. Fast, fun and delicious!
(4)Kari S.
Finally, another thai place I can get to from the West Loop! The broccoli chicken and chicken with vegetables (ordered a little spicy) are so far my favorites. They seem somewhat healthy and the quality of the chicken is top notch. They give you huge portions, so we always have leftovers. I am not a fan of their pad thai, which isn't surprising considering I only like two restaurant's pad thai in Chicago. It was too dry for my liking, and I prefer my pad thai not have that intense orange color. The smoothies look amazing, so that is next up on the list to try!
(4)Eric V.
Amazing food and crazy proportions make for a great time for large groups. Order by picture makes it easy to see what you're getting and the smoothie selection is delectable to say the least.
(4)Alyssa O.
Their Beef Cubes in Tomato Sauce Rice are amazing. Doesn't sound too exciting, I know, but I was surprised how good it was when a co-worker let me try hers. I'm so glad she did because I would never think to order it on my own. A lot of people like their tapioca freeze drinks too. The reason I am not giving them 5 stars is because I have yet to find something else I like on their menu. Pad Thai, fried rice, and Szechwan Beef were all disappointing, but the Beef Cubes in Tomato Sauce Rice dish deserves 5 stars on its own.
(4)Shayne W.
This is by far our favorite restaurant in the city. Only this location though, the other one is too tiny, and you have to wait too long. The service is always prompt and friendly and EVERYTHING is delicious! My boyfriend and I are both vegetarians and are very impressed by the abundance of options available to us. Our carnivorous friends are equally as impressed when we take them there too. They will make pretty much anything with tofu as a substitute. The mushrooms teriyaki and the veggie spring rolls are the best apps.!
(5)Ashley H.
Food - They have a huge menu. They offer almost every type of noodle, soup, and salad you could imagine. I ordered the Chicken and Broccoli and shrimp fried rice, and thought it was great. Just as an FYI - In addition to the large menu, the restaurant continues with this idea by making the portion sizes huge too. Therefore, come hungry or make sure you request a to go box. Parking - Parking is a little difficult since its close to UIC. They have street parking ($$$) and a parking lot (even more $$$).
(4)Yan M.
Extensive menu and great variety of food and drinks! We were deliberating for a long while before finally making up our minds....we ordered a bunch of food to share, ala family style but we probably ordered 2 dishes too many. My favorite were the deep fried fish with gravy and the Malaysian string beans. The fried calamari wasn't bad either and so are their many dishes.....
(4)Jonathan F.
The menus here need cliffs notes. Luckily, there is a picture for nearly every item. The soups are great, the service is fast (although they forgot put in part of our order last visit, but I can't stay mad), and their staff is friendly. Portions are crazy big. The chairs suck. They really, really suck (hopefully they read these reviews). Beverages were great. Prices are even better. It's only a five minute walk from home. UPDATE: They got new chairs!
(4)C H.
I liked this place initially but the only thing that I've enjoyed there was their Chinese food. Once, I got a very disappointing curry and their Japanese food lacks flavor, not in a Japanese sense, I mean the broth doesn't even really have a bonito flavor in their miso soup or anything else for that matter. Also, its a bit pricey for the disappointing Thai/Japanese food. Positively, the garlic shrimp is AMAZING and I really recommend the bubble teas and Chinese food in general. HOWEVER, the Thai iced tea is MONSTROUSLY GROSS.
(3)Liza P.
I only went here for the smoothies, but I fully plan on returning for the food. I walked by and they had their windows open, and the smells coming out of that place----oh.....my....gawd!!! And the food was just as beautiful to look at as it was to smell (and NO, I'm not referring to all the weird plastic food in the windows!). So my hubs ordered a Strawberry Mixed Berry Freeze, which I tasted and was really good. My kids both had a strawberry ice cream freeze, which was also good--all of them tasted so fresh and good--just like real fruit! Yum! I ordered the mango lychee tapioca freeze. I must say, at first I wasn't sure if I liked it, because lychee isn't a flavor I'm used to--never had it before, actually. And the tapoica was a little strange. But it really grew on me, and quickly! It isn't a heavy, sickly sweet sort of flavor--it's very light, and really refreshing. I imagine it would be very refreshing to drink on a muggy day. The tapioca beads are kinda pleasant--somewhat gelatinous on the outside, and very chewy on the inside......kinda like chewing on a fragile, yummy bouncy ball. It was good......I might even have it again. Or I might try the coconut and red bean paste freeze.
(4)Anna L.
Love the bubble tea...Can't get enough of it. I get it before going to work. The site in Chinatown was my favorite, even though they pack you in like a can of sardines. The one in University Village is much bigger.
(5)Teresa Y.
Big portions. That's all I can say. The staff is a toss up. Some days you may get a server that is completely rude (i.e. talking on the cellphone while taking your order), other days you may be blessed with a friendly and attentive server.
(3)Peggy K.
Dear Joy Yee's Management, it's time you changed your chairs. Seriously not only at this branch but also at Evanston's. These are hard chairs for human being. And my eating experience would be fulfilled. Up till now i am like a sitting skeleton or rather that part of a skeleton which does sit. That's my opinion of its decor in general. Service is sometimes a hit or miss. No matter how many waitsatff they have, i can never get the better service. Its just medium ok. Talking about the good, there are some credits to their profession--- eagerness to bring famous Asian foods and drinks in one place. In term of genuinity they may not be expert in all but they did a good job for my dish (japanese tofu with shrimp) and Thai iced tea is a very good choice second to those arrays of fruity smoothies. However, i will carry my own small pillow for the hard seat if i go there next time.
(3)Vanessa P.
Good news: those uncomfortable chairs are the thing of the past. Everything else is the same, from what I can tell. Same large portions, great bubble drinks and pretty good service. I had the Kim Chi Seafood Udon Noodles and it it delicious. Also, plenty of food for the next two days. Perfect.
(4)Abby T.
for some odd reason, I like this Joy Yee's location better than the chinatown one! I've been for lunch a number of times and the service is usually really quick. My reasoning for the 3 stars is that the quality of the meat is usually very poor. And some of the foods just sound really unappealing. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really eating dog meat.
(3)Pilsen C.
Okay, enough bubble tea reviews. Lets talk food, shall we? Bottom line here - there is no consistency in their dishes from one visit to the next. The dishes have always been prepared differently, and tasted differently. This could be a good thing (if youre adventurous), or a bad thing (if your taste buds a pre-set for certain flavors). All in all, this place is Chinese. Doesnt matter that the dishes come with names like "Korean-' or "Thai-"...ALL of the dishes are cooked by Chinese men in the back, and hence, will taste extremely Cantonese. But thats okay, because I know that i deserved my BiBimBop to taste like Chinese food rather than Korean because I was dumb enough t order BiBimBop from a Chinese restaurant. Twice. Three times. Not great, not too bad. There not much going on cuisine-wise in the area Id eat, with the exception of Jim's hot dogs around the block. But thats a different story.
(3)L N.
This review pertains to bubble tea only. Joy Yee's bubble tea is the best. The giant straws are endless delight. The colorful smoothies are pleasing to the eye. Tapioca balls are fun... who can resist those chewy morsels of tangy fruity goo? Love them. Mango, watermelon, lychee, and canteloupe are my faves. Also, one of the locations in Chinatown has an enclosed koi pond or something in the floor which is pretty nifty!
(4)Rachel H.
This location was one of those places that was "coming soon" for about 2 years. Similar to the 7-11 at Western and Logan Blvd that's been "coming soon" since 2002. Anyway... This location is a lot bigger than the Chinatown one and the service is much friendlier... ok, so the waiter was attempting to ask me out, but he WAS friendly. I got my usuals, the shrimp with lobster sauce and the spring rolls and my friend and I tried the chicken, shrimp and pineapple fried rice. The fried rice is very non greasy. I also got a canteloupe boba freeze. I don't know if it's because of the blizzard-like conditions but we were out of there in a flash and it was not at all crowded. My only peeve is the wobbly chairs with diamond shaped seats. Not the comfiest. I'll come to this location again, maybe with a cushion for my butt.
(4)Aaron S.
I finally got around to trying bubble tea thanks to a co-worker of mine. He recommended Joy Yee. I ordered the Peanut Milk Tea with Tapioca. I have to admit my first sip was a little bit like how Keanu Reeves felt when he watched Morpheus make his famous jump. Needless to say, I liked it! Anyway! I actually tried some of their food (Lemon Grass Beef) which was quite delicious! The meat wasn't tough or chewy like the many throw-away Chinese restaurants that we are all familiar with. The rice and the veggies were also cooked perfectly as well. Based on the quality of this dish, I'm very curious to check out other selections on their large menu. I will definitely order delivery from these guys again! You can count on that!
(5)Pete M.
I'm not sure what the big deal with this place is. I like that the menu is diverse and seems to span a few Asian cuisines. Prices are fair too. But the actual food is pretty boring and under seasoned. Slight card board taste to everything with no popping flavors typical with some of the cuisines. I'd go back if out of options, or desperate. There has to be better places out there.
(2)Mindy S.
After going to Joy Yee's for years (the original Chinatown location), I might have had my last taste of it tonight. The new location on Halstead that I'm reviewing has never made it above three stars for me, but tonight was over the top. I had one helluva time trying to order a pick-up for three drinks. Joy Yee's introduced me to these awesome fruit freezes with tapioca and I am thankful for that. Making it next to impossible to order on the phone, do to a language barrier...I was saying yes to the guy's question of "tapioca on all?" and he kept screaming "you do not understand me, do you want tapioca on the bottom or nothing?" I kept saying "yes, all three have tapioca"...this interchange got old after the third time through.... Showed up for the pick-up, people who didn't know what they wanted to order were called in front of me to place and pay for their order....awesome. Finally get up to a register to pay/get the pick-up. They only had me for 2 drinks. Really? I was on the phone for 10 minutes ordering 2 watermelon/lychees drinks and 1 papaya/mango drink. What gives, especially when I repeated the phrase, "three drinks" a few times throughout the call..... After 5 minutes of repeating the order back and forth until they FINALLY get it........I'm paid and confused as to why I'm waiting for all my drinks to be made when I pre-ordered. All the drinks were bagged up nicely, and just set behind the counter with three employees staring at me and I'm staring at them. "Is that my order", I ask? I was handed the bag and Mindy has left the building forever folks. I might try the original location again, but I've found much better places in Chinatown since.......... Get some English lessons Joy Yee so your customer interactions can be completely overhauled....tonight was bogus.
(2)Chirag P.
OK dishes, not too pricey and the bubble teas are great. But all the food in general is kind of "monotone" in flavor.
(3)Jennifer F.
Joy Yee's has everything a person could ever want... unless you are vegetarian/vegan. Not necessarily the most authentic asian dishes, but definitely delish. Beef cubes over tomato rice is so good, and the coconut curry is an all-time fave. And OMG the boba tea! That alone gets 5 stars. They have a HUUUGE boba tea list, and the flavor and consistency is always spot on.
(5)Ilya B.
Food is great and quick! But the website and online ordering system is poor. I'm downgrading this review by two stars because if you order online the minimum cost is $10, but many of the entrees are purposefully priced at $9.95, which makes you spend an extra few dollars on something you don't want just to fulfill the $10 minimum. If you change this, I'd rate 5 stars!
(3)Christa R.
OMG, this place is reeedic. So yummy. Huge spot, GREAT smoothies and the portions are GIGANTIC. I had a chicken fried rice with pineapple and chicken served in half of a pineapple. The calamari appetizer was also delicious. Give it a try. It's extremely good and the service is wonderful.
(4)Sang H.
For sure it's not the nicest asian fusion restaurant, but it's always busy because there is something for almost everyone. The menu is gigantic and the quality is, eh, but at least you have choices for groups of people that can't decide on what they want to eat. It's right in front of the UIC dorms, so there are kids crowding the place, and the workers seem used to this idea, so just don't care and just takes the order and brings out the food. Tip: Save your water, cause it is almost impossible to get the attention of a waiter to come over to you, let alone refill your water glass with more water.
(3)S B.
I LOVE JOY YEES!!! Options: endless. Portions: HUGE Bubble Tea: delicious Food: Delicious This was def. the place to have dinner for my friends and I when i lived on the UIC campus. It still is my favorite choice around there. The restaurant itself is very chill ... the only downer is that it doesn't have the 'asian atmosphere' to it. That may just be me though. I LOVE THIS PLACE. I'm craving the basil chicken right now! GOO!
(5)Luan N.
Thanks to Kathy P, I can add a few more dishes to my favorites list. I tried the beef cubes w/ tomato in Evanston. And I tried the beef basil chow fun-to-eat on Halsted. Amish S and I have concluded that the Halsted location is our favorite. There is no wait. Usually find parking in front. They make our favorite dishes better here, such as the Viet Calamari and mushroom/tofu kimchee soup. They use slightly larger calamari and breading tastes different from both the Evanston and Chinatown location.
(4)Ademola A.
First time I went there was last year and it was great. The chicken was good the smoothie was freaking amazing. You can mix to flavors to make it better. If I was just rating this one the smoothie the place would get a billion stars. But the only reason I gave it three is due to the fact that when I asked one of the servers what type of chicken it was he gave me "I don't know but its good right" I found that funny and scary at the same time. But still a great play to eat if you are around UIC
(4)vanessa o.
Great smoothies!! Food is okay. shrimp fried rice and sesame chicken is good but these are a few other dishes that I was not a fan of. 5 stars for the smoothies and 3.5 for the food
(4)Crista L.
I've never experienced fishy Pad Thai until I stepped in to Joy Yee. Can you order individual portions of food at Joy Yee or do the portions only come in family size (see: Costco / Sams Club) Wait, Joy Yee is the Sams Club of Asian Cuisine. not my style....
(2)Gabriela C.
I am in LOVE with the 'Korean Spicy Fried Dumplings'. The place is usually packed inside and out. (They sell smoothies outside as well).
(4)Rene F.
I went to the Halsted location with the family. I'm a fan of the smoothies and the food is good.
(4)Myle S.
On our family reunion visit to Chicago we had to stop at our beloved Joy Yee. We for sure started off with a fresh fruit boba drink (honeydew melon) but I loved the drinks so much I opted for a second fresh coconut one. After dinner our table of 15 must have had 8 To-Go boxes of leftovers. Wish I had one in San Francisco!
(5)Justin S.
There's just so much to choose from here. I think you definitely need to get the Beef Cubes though. This time around, I came in a group and we decided to order family style. We still got the Beef Cubes. Also, got the Shrimp in Lobster Sauce. Both dishes were awesome and I'd strongly recommend them! I couldn't remember the other two dishes but they were okay. Grab a boba (bubble tea) drink for dessert on your way out. I'm not a big fan of coconut, but combined with banana...MONEY!!!
(4)AL K.
my first bite of chinese food here in chicago was at joy yee's noodle shop. the menu has colorful pictures of what dishes they have and a wide assorment of bubble teas/fruit shakes. We ordered the chicken and salt fish in bamboo, seafood and chicken in a pineapple, vietnamese fried squid. presentation was great an A+++ but taste is just so so. We also found a strand of hair on the pineapple that made us somehow lose our appetite.ugh! service is fast. price is reasonable. good for lunches with friends and family with kids. I should make mention that the seafood soup was mostly made up of imitation crab, shrimp.etc. not exactly the best.
(3)Michael T.
Joy yee's is one of my favorite restaurants. Always good food and service. I love their pineapple fried rice and mango bubble tea. The only the I hate about joy yees is that it is a little bit expensive.
(4)Brett N.
Just got lunch through take-out. When I went to eat it I noticed that the shrimps have not been cleaned/de-veined. I called to let them know incase it was overlooked today. The manger proceeded to tell me that they do not clean their shrimp and that is how the shrimp is in all their dishes. Also, the singapore noodle was bland and definitely not the greatest I've tasted. I'm sure they have other non0shrimp dishes that are great but the I can help but to get turnoff when I manager is proud to tell me they dont clean their shrimp. No, thanks.
(1)Sarah D.
I LOVE JOY YEE'S. I only ever order the Beef Cubes with Tomato Sauce, but they are sooo good-how could I change to anything else? I stick with what works. Service is pretty fast and I've never been disappointed with the staff. While it can be a little expensive, especially for the area it serves (college kids) UIC students do get a 10% discount if they show their I-CARD (so pretty much you don't pay tax!) The staff all do tend to have thick accents so just be sure to listen well and you'll be fine. And while I've never tried the bubble teas-ALL of my friends have and they absolutely LOVE them, so I'm guessing they are pretty darn good.
(4)Ruru A.
Best bubble tea in town. 1 star off for location where finding parking is virtually impossible.
(4)Dax R.
The best thing to get is the BBQ short ribs. We also like the greenbeans with the salted fish. Also, try the fried calamari with the melted butter. My parents always order the whole snapper. Their extensive menu with pictures help!
(4)Claudia D.
Extensive, confusing menu, but it's good food. I can't ever remember what I've liked before so it takes me a long time to figure out what to order. I HATE THE CHAIRS AT THE TABLES---THEY ARE SO HARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE. Smoothies are great. Service is extremely slow. Huge takeout business.
(2)Varsha L.
I recently tried the pad thai, really good! would order it again, that and the spinach rangoon or whatever they are calling them! the eel appetizer was not good, well I didnt like it... We live close so we will prob always go back! DO NOT order take out from them, I asked for vegetables and tofu in my pad thai, there was barely any tofu at all...and husbands malaysian seafood dish has barely any seafood, a bunch of rice! We are boycotting for the next two months we decided! Also my Pad Thai lacked flavor this time to, it was really dry so minus a star for that!
(3)John A.
The food is alright, it just isn't anything special. If you are a big fan of Asian food, you can find something much better with minimal effort. If you are hungry and happen to by right next to Joy's then sure go in and have a huge bowl of something flavored with soy products, that makes it Asian right, putting soy sauce on it? What if we add some ramen too? Yea, that will make it really Asian, Should we be concerned on getting any one country's cuisine right? What do you mean, country, its Asian, duh. Sorry about that, what I am trying to get at is that this is a pretty mediocre knock off, although it is certainly adequate to sustain existence.
(3)Vaidehi T.
I wish yelp had a way to give half a star. This is a 3 and a half. Their menu is very extensive, their portion sizes are huge, food is tasty and prices are reasonable. Service is nothing to speak about. It is just a place where you can go in late nights and have a quick dinner. No hassle, tasty food. I have also had food delivered from here, their delivery service is good too.
(3)Amanda C.
I like this place, but it's always a hit or a miss. Sometimes what I order is fantastic, sometimes it's completely terrible. I still enjoy the place though. And I think their bubble teas are pretty good. Its a close walk from me, so I stop by to get one every once in a while.
(3)iddells E.
When you're handed a HUGE Pan-Asian menu and seated in a restaurant full of non-Asians, you could not help to think that the food will be inauthentic. Undoubtebly, the food was not authentic; however, I have to admit, it was pretty tasty. Husband ordered the beef teriyaki. If you've ever been to a Japanese restaurant, you would know that teriyaki sauce is pretty sweet and tangy. Joy-Yee's dish was good, but there was no hint of teriyaki anywhere, it was just a grilled garlic beef dish. I had the Thai Spicy Basil Chow Fun. Isn't Chow Fun Chinese? Why the Thai? Plus it wasn't spicy at all!!! Grrrr....but it was good. My brother ordered this dish that had tiny cubed pieces of marinated beef over a bed of what seemed to resemble Spanish rice. Again, good, but what is Spanish rice doing here?? Last time I went here, I got Thai beef green curry.....BIG mistake. Nothing like green curry.....at all! I don't even think they put any coconut milk in it, huge disappointment. I can picture Joy-Yee's owners looking out at their customers, laughing to themselves, and thinking "these people think that they're eating "real" Asian food...idiots!!" Bubble Tea.....what happened to the bubbles? I remember when I used to go here, their bubbles were perfect, chewy, and sweet! But now they were just tasteless pieces of rubber....no fun. Although, the avocado shake itself was good. I wouldn't even think of ordering any Korean or Vietnamese dish from here. I'm not going to risk it! If you really don't know anything about Asian food, get whatever you like. Bottom line.....it's all about quantity over quality here at Joy-Yee's.
(2)Jenny M.
really good drinks- food is hit or miss... one thing that is annoying- waiters dont like to give change back! i had to stare one down to bring me my $10 back! why would i leave $10 tip when my bill was only 25? & all they really did was bring my food out? plz let me decide the tip!
(4)Joanna K.
This place have the largest bubble teas menu and the drinks are huge! The drink was tasty. I ordered fried rice and seafood chow fuun which was good. The place is clean and trendy. There were many waiters standing at the front waiting around which I thought was awkward because I didn't feel like it was private.
(4)Trevor G.
I dropped by here today for lunch, and had the Szechuan green beans. They were edible, but nothing exciting. Szechuan green beans are usually fairly spicy, yet these were not. Conclusion? If you're going to do Joy Yee's, do the Chinatown location. If you're in a pinch, the University Village location is acceptable, but nothing special.
(2)Benson C.
Once I heard this place was opening up near the UIC campus, I knew I was gonna get fat off the fruit freezes and the food! However...it lacks the Chinese food quality. The restaurant provides alot of variety from Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese food but I think they're missing the point that it's a Chinese food restaurant, right? Well, if you're going to eat here for Chinese food, it's decent. I came here one time after being deprived of good Chinese food for a year and I thought it was pretty good. But then you realize after eating at a good, authentic Chinese or Hong Kong Style restaurant, it just doesn't compare. If you want the real stuff, find a restaurant in Chinatown where all the Chinese natives are eating. The only thing that keeps me returning are the fruit freezes with boba...Yum!
(3)Annie N.
I would never recommend anyone to go out of their way to get here, I simply don't think it is authentic enough. But if someone's looking for a quick asian food option around the area, and is not picky about what they eat, I'd say go to joy yee. I have had numerous items here, and they were all ok. I love chap chea noodles, and don't get to eat them often, so I like to get them here. During my last visit we ordered a chap chea with vegetable and vegetable udon to share between the 2 of us. The portion was ginormous, and we only finished the udon noodles. My friend took most of the chap chea to go. Both was good, nothing exceptional, but I really enjoyed the udon broth. We also order a shaved ice with bean and they were out. We wanted the Taiwan shaved ice to begin with, but they didn't have it (only served at China town location), and then they told us they were out of red bean - kinda annoyed me. So we went with a mix fruit shaved ice, and it was good, but there was not enough fruit in there with lots of shaved ice and watered out fruit juice. It was fine, but I probably won't order them ever again. Overall, it was ok. Service was fine. Waitress was short, but not rude. The food came out pretty quick. My only input is to order 1 main dish and an appetizer to share, and perhaps some desert.
(3)Roshni P.
Honestly the food is yummy, but the service is so bad that it ruins the meal in another way. The staff is always rude, doesn't matter if you dine in or you carryout your meal. If you are vegetarian, I advise coming with someone who has ordered before. I only say that because I came with my boyfriend once and neither of us had any idea how to order. The menu is pretty extensive which is intimidating and when I told the waitress that we were vegetarian, she looked a little shocked and confused. We actually got up and left, that's how lost we were. I came back with my cousin a few weeks after and now I have a feel of what I can and can't eat with my food restrictions. Another thing that was a downside to the visit was being placed right where the draft was coming in when the doors opened. It was freezing outside, why would you seat people in an area like that when there are open seats elsewhere. I might come back again, but I think if I ever want to eat food from here I'll just do carryout. On the plus side, the fruit smoothies are addictive; strawberry kiwi please!
(3)Jay O.
Talk about family style portions! (No complaints here). I had green tea boba and it was really tasty, for my meal I had the shrimp & scallop rice and it was sooo delicious!! Come by and check this place out! Oh and I definitely agree with the other comments below, the chairs are so annoying!!
(4)Swati B.
Meh. I live right by Joy Yee's...so you'd think that being so close by to it, I'd be going there all the time... the menu is so overwhelming you have no idea what to get...and there isn't much of a description either to help you out. The food is kinda...bland..i've had better... but the bubble teas....THOSE ARE GREAT! Totally refreshing, especially in the summer. Service is ok...borderline slow/rude... I'd say skip it...but stop in for the bubble teas
(3)Becca M.
My boyfriend & I used to come here regularly when he was a student at UIC for their lunch specials. So we stopped by here this past week & I already know that the servers are not the friendliest bunch in the crowd, but they're respectful enough for us to come back. HOWEVER, there was this one waitress who obviously did not understand the concept of giving the customer a pleasant experience. We arrived there around 3:20 to order off the lunch menu. We started w/ an appetizer of crab rangoons and some bubble tea & decided to place our lunch order but she stated it was "too late" (it was 3:28 on our phones). I asked if it was ok if we still ordered a lunch special b/c we did arrive before 3:30 & was technically ordering before the "ending time" but she just ignored us and walked away. I don't tolerate rude servers & especially if it's on purpose. Joy Yee's needs to learn the value of a customer b/c we're definitely not going back after that horrible service.
(2)Boon K.
This is the best bubble milk tea you can get in Chicago. The only thing I would get here but for the food it is just ok, nothing that stands out and I usually end up getting something korean but I really only come here for the milk tea. Just wish they were here when I was still at UIC.
(3)Niti B.
ahh I'll pass is usually the response I give to my coworkers when it's a saturday or sunday night at the hospital and they are looking to order food. The food is good but not great and definitely over priced for type of service and dining. now I understand that the portions are big and that they deliver but still with so many options for asian food in the medical district not worth it.... now I am not a fan of the smoothies that they carry but if that's your cup of tea maybe it's worth it. they have refreshing and unique flavors but for me I stear clear of the tappioca balls! they look like slimy eyeballs! it is a great hit so I may be the only one with the preference that nothing chewy be in my drink but I would pass.
(3)Renne H.
I live nearby and go every now and then to Joy Yee. I think it is good decent food, that hits the spot. Yes it is a bit pricey, but the portions are huge. Some of my favorites are the Szechuan won tons, string bean chicken, orange chicken, Vietnamese spring rolls, and the soups. I ordered four dishes for myself tonight and let's just say I'll have leftovers for days. I would order again. Try it once.
(3)Hannah N.
They are cheap, deliver, and have the best boba in University Village. The menu is... confusing at best. I order from here because it sure beats hospital cafeteria food. Their Korean cuisine is super off, way too much sugar, but otherwise I have no real legit complaints. Love the eggs, rice, and pork combo even more than their noodle dishes.
(3)Napkin Freak C.
very happening and busy but no need to wait, they have plenty of seating. besides, most folks are quick eaters. I ordered the smoothie drinks from them and it was awesome, very nice!
(5)Loan L.
This place is the best. Whenever I come to Chicago I always crave joy yees. The menu is huge and everything (food and drinks) are average to above average! It's authentic Asian food, and definitely satisfies the craving. The variety offered here can make a big group happy. The food menu is very extensive, with in color pictures, of dishes ranging from Chinese to Thai to Vietnamese to Korean. This place has it all and it's delicious. My favorite dishes are the tomato beef cubes, the beef chow noodles, and cong xing Cai. The dishes are huge portions and shareable. Perfect place to go for family style meals. The drinks menu is like heaven. Anything you could possibly want! There's milk tea, smoothies, freezes, slushies, etc. You can even adjust the sugar level. My favorite is the avocado smoothie and matcha milk green tea. Go here and check out everything!
(5)Andy N.
I have an extreme love-hate relationship with Joy Yee. On one end, you got a vast selection of Asian dishes to pick from. Most of it would be Chinese American, but if you're feeling Thai, Viet, or Singaporean, there is likely to be some rendition of their national dish here for you to eat. However, with so many options, you know Joy Yee probably won't be specializing in anything particularly amazing. First experience, I ordered some brisket noodle soup for lunch. The brisket was awfully chewy, hard, and overall not good. The soup came with thick rice noodles instead of thin egg noodles, which was disappointing. Plus a lack of vegetables in the soup made it nearly inedible. Second time, I just got a $4.50 boba, a strawberry-mint concoction. Given it was a hot day and it's large portion, I was extremely satisfied with the drink. Chock full of sugar, yes. But it was still a treat and decent quality boba in the UIC area. Third time, I was craving for some calamari so I ordered their Thai Fried rendition off the seafood menu. At $15, it was rather steep, but the take out included a very large helping of squid. However, it was pretty bland, with little to no real salt-pepper seasoning that I expected. I also ordered a small Wonton Chicken Soup, which I have to say was probably the best thing I've gotten from Joy Yee. So I've had some terrible experiences, and some decent ones. Overall, I think my love for Asian food helped push Joy Yee over to the 3 star side, but rest assure, a lot of their food is pretty unimaginative and lacks flavor. Despite the few gems here and there, make sure you are ready for basic quality Asian food and decent potion sizes.
(3)D D.
I wanted to love this place but I think my experience was just like the reviews - hit or miss. Love the drinks! Two stars just for the drinks! Got my favorite - taro with boba. This is the first place I've been to in the city that has good boba. Most places don't cook it right but here it was the perfect texture & taste (trust me, there's a difference). The food was just ok. I had the beef vermicelli bowl with egg roll. The egg roll was doughy & not light or crispy whatsoever. The beef was seasoned with a thick sauce. The sauce for the bowl was not your typical fish sauce vermicelli noodle bowl sauce. Very strange. My friend had a dish that was titled "lemongrass" something. She said it had no lemongrass flavor at all. My other friend loved his dish so again, hit or miss. The waiter was impatient with us when we had questions about the menu. It was pretty slow yet they had 4-5 waiters just standing at the register doing nothing. The most irritating thing - when they dropped the check off they lingered around waiting for us to pull our cards out. Chill out buddy it's not like you need the table. I'll definitely be back for the drinks thou it might take some convincing to stay for the food.
(3)Joe B.
Be prepared to go on a journey, a journey that will take your tastebuds to places they've never imagined before, Frodo-style. Minus the old wizard with the pointy hat/long beard and the life threatening task of destroying the most powerful sorcerer of all time. That aside, this place wow'ed me even upon opening the menu. One of the perks is that everything (EVERYTHING) comes with a picture, so you know exactly what you're getting. Of course, there is the classic beef cubes, tender little cutlets steeped in a mouth-watering sauce, so delectable that sweet little cherubims will come and serenade you with each bite. However, another suggestion of mine is the Pork and Sugar Cane Shrimp. It comes with noodles, pork, sauce, and a shrimp patty skewered by a real sugar cane. The shrimp is P-A-C-K-E-D with flavor, and the whole symphony of flavors come together when you pour the sauce over it. Also, if you came and didn't get the bubble tea (or any other kind of specialty drink), I'm sorry, but turn around and go back because you didn't actually get a Joy Yee's experience. It's amazing. All for an affordable price.
(5)Jeana C.
Pro: Great for large groups as there are many tables inside and there are many types of Asian dishes so it accommodates everyone. Pro: My favorite thing about here is that they make FRESH fruit smoothies. Personal rant: The only problem I have with this place is the amount of food items in the menu. It's too huge for me and I become very indecisive. Like over 50 different type of dishes type of deal here, no joke. I feel like when the menu is that huge, those businesses don't have signature dishes that everyone should go for. As a result, everything taste mediocre.
(3)Charcy L.
They have very good drinks like smoothies, milk tea, huge selections of drinks, large cups and decent prices , their food is ok but not impressive, I think food price is a little bit high, and it's so authentic Chinese, more like mixture of different counties in asian, I recommend try out their drinks^^
(4)Will M.
Best fruit smoothies ever. I am a huge fan of their jackfruit and durian freezes. They offer mango jelly as well as tapioca. Food is fusion, I'm more of an authentic person, but they are fast with the smoothies.
(5)Anooj S.
I went to UIC for undergrad and this was practically on the campus. It was a very popular location because it was great food for a great price, not to mention the huge portion sizes. For $10-15 you basically get two meals! The food was always great and the service wasn't bad either. The bubble tea is really good too! The fruit is definitely fresh in all of their smoothies. The only bad thing I have to say is that the menu is way TOO large and can be intimidating. I've tried to venture out before but I find myself overwhelmed with the number of options. That usually leads me right back to square one where I either order my orange chicken extra spicy with fresh jalapenos or spicy basil chicken (also extra spicy). I have had more entrees than just those two, but those were my most common. I went here for 4 years and due to my somewhat short-term memory I cannot recall the names or distinctive flavors of those dishes. I do suggest trying the spicy basil chicken!!! If any other fellow yelpers have suggestions on new entrees to try, do share!
(5)Elv A.
Great food choices! And pretty good service overall. I especially love their mango smoothies.
(5)Amber S.
Two stars---service is terrible! Went there at 3pm to get a smoothie and fruit cup fix. The girl at the cashier seemed new and seemed to be frazzled with every question I asked about the smoothie and the person assisting her seemed most disinterested in helping and was on her phone the entire time. Needless to say it wasn't so pleasant to order---but I ignored that. What really put me off was that they gave me a hard time for sitting down and wanting to drink my smoothie and eat my fruit. There were over 6 tables open---and there seemed to be a bouncer that was very reluctant to let me sit down to enjoy what I purchased from them. When I ignored them and sat down they came up to my friend and I and had said that we need to get up and give up our table if it gets too full. Seriously between the two of us we had about 15 dollars worth of smoothies and fruit from them so it's not like we were trying to free-load on them at all. That's probably how much we would have spent if we had eaten their lunch anyways. Needless to say I didn't leave a tip because even water was not offered to me while at the table.
(2)Kapil P.
Bland..absolutely Bland, Oily, 90% rice 10% meat and veggies. The seafood fried rice was terrible with chewy uncooked scallops and squid. Beef cubes over tomato rice was okay but the meat and rice were not at all proportionate..Easy pass for the next time. Do not go with the appetizing pictures.
(1)Jin W.
It has low delivery charge, fast delivery and great food. I even turned my co-worker into this place. She would order in the afternoon and take it home. LOL! Anyways, I love their pineapple fried rice, lemongrass chicken and korean short ribs.
(5)Tina L.
Could someone please tell them to change their chairs???!!~ Seriously, who was the designer who thought that these would be perfect and comfy for their customers? I wore shorts the day we went and I had marks all over my legs after lunch! I saw so many people with that issue... Anyway, their menu is HUGE. I think they could benefit from downsizing their menu, actually. Some of their dishes are lacking and just doesn't really seem to make the mark as far as flavors go. I think if the kitchen is overwhelmed with so many different dishes that it needs to push out, the dishes are not as thoughtful or flavorful as it could be. We ordered the beef cubes, wonton noodle soup, and string beans. All were pretty good, just not phenomenal...know what I mean? We were craving some soup, though, so I guess it somewhat satisfied our craving for a little... I think I'll come back for bubble tea, but I don't necessarily crave any of the other dishes. At least it's close to home and work for me, just in case I need to eat some Chinese food quick style.
(3)Patricia L.
Love coming to this place for their smoothies. They use real fruit so it always tastes fresh and never artificial! I love getting fruit on top and some sort of jelly in my smoothies as well. The tapioca (boba) can be a hit or miss, sometimes it's a bit too chewy or hard otherwise it's usually okay. The food is generally okay as well. I find that they drown their dishes in sauce, making the noodles or vegetables or whatever extremely soggy after a few bites. They have a huge selection of both food and drinks in their menu. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the smoothie combos. As for food, just don't expect the best.
(4)John L.
OK so they have the best smoothies eeeeeeeeever ...... I know cause i had to suffer to consequences of drink two large ones and going straight after on a flight to Europe. But food wise they are ok. The portions are huge so be ware you need to be extra hungry to finish them. As it is stated most of the plates are noodles with some additional options to start up. Service wise they were dreadful though it took them 40 min to get us one of the order in which time we were forced to take it with us back home. The waiters were constantly running around but it seemed difficult to get their attention
(3)Jill D.
Huge menu of Korean and Vietnamese dishes which was cool. Not sure they have a bar. Kinda bright in their, not a first date place. Service was ok, even though there were only a few tables of people in their (Super Bowl Sunday and a blizzard outside). I loved the chicken soup, and the basil chicken lettuce wraps. Very good, healthy (I think), and huge portions for the price. Check out the pics.
(4)Belle L.
Delivery service sucks! It takes 1.5 hours --online order to delivery. Due to unforeseen cell phone issue, Joyee blames me for not picking up phone and superbly argumentative (makes you want to cancel order). It's ironic to order food delivery and choose to starve patiently. My 3rd Delivery order shall be placed from Chinatown location.
(1)Jessie T.
I make it a point to go to Joy Yee's whenever I to to Chicago simply for the delicious ice blended bubble tea.. they are made with fresh fruit and are the most refreshing things ever.. they also have almost every fruit you can think of.. even durian, which is one of my favorites (don't judge)! They also have lots of options for customizing your bubble tea, from jellies, to tapioca, to boba, to fresh cut fruit. And if you're not into fruit blended tea, you can order a classic milk bubble tea. As for the food, it is pretty good, but not the greatest. I personally think their food menu is way too extensive, so that it is hard to decide what to order. The bubble tea is what you want, anyways!! The Joy Yee location in China Town has a separate outdoor line for that if you don't want to eat in. Both locations are just as good in terms of quality and service.. so it just depends which is closer to you.. in any case, you need to make your way to that bubble tea STAT!
(5)Teresa ..
Oh joy yee's, I love you. This is every college student's dream. Not only is the food and drinks cheap, but it's tasty and the portions are huge! My order was enough for 2 meals, and my drink was enough to be a meal in itself because of how massive it was! We ordered the hainanese chicken with rice, beef cube tomato rice, mango tapioca freeze, and taro tapioca freeze. Our entrees were filling, flavorful, greasy, and delicious. The tapioca was chewy and sweet, and our drinks were blended with the perfect amount of ice so that it was creamy. I tried my bf's mango tapioca freeze and you can tell and taste it was made from fresh mangoes! I highly recommend joy yees! You wont be disappointed!
(5)Kimmy N.
every time i'm in chinatown, i always have to stop by and get joy yee's bubble tea! i've never eaten their actual food but always had their bubble tea. they use fresh fruit and veggies. i've never been disappointed with any of the bubble teas. i love that you can get them with mixed fruit, bobba, or popping pearls which i absolutely love all of it. a few of my favorites from here is their strawberry kiwi, lychee, and taro! they make the best taro in the midwest!
(5)Jason M.
Joy Yee's makes for a pretty fascinating psychological study. It's authentic enough to draw in foreigners who might not want to walk the gritty streets of Chinatown and have to order solely by pointing at pictures on a menu. It's cheap enough for people like my dad to eat there and comment for the rest of the night how great it was, even though we both know that he's really talking about the bill. Yet, because it's an amalgamation of 3-4 different ethnic cafeterias, you don't hold it to a very high esteem, which is actually great for Joy Yee's because you taste the food and it reminds you enough of what you've had elsewhere, and then you're pleasantly pleased and stuffed. Joy Yee's has exceeded your expectations because your mind already set very attainable ones before you ordered. Make sense? My friend and I ordered the Green Curry w/ Chicken and the Basil Pork, both of which were actually quite good. the Green Curry was this synthetic-green color, but it tasted pretty alright. Just close your eyes, I say.
(4)Jennifer M.
You guys weren't kidding about the large portions and quick service! Had a nice dinner here, and would recommend for friends. Casual sit down that did remind me of a cafeteria. The menu is VERY overwhelming, and the list of their bubble and milk teas alone could have its own menu. Came here with my cousin to catch up on life, and we made the decision to order the beef cubes over tomato sauce rice and the chicken curry with coconut baked rice. Both dishes are family style, and could easily feed a family of four - per dish. I enjoyed both dishes, since they were different. The beef cubes had a nice flavor, and the rice was moist and easy for my chopsticks to handle! The chicken curry won more in points with the rich taste of curry and the addicting aroma of the coconut in the rice. So, so good! My cousin had one of the milk teas, and it came in this 22 oz. beer glass. No joke! I wish I had gotten one, but I know I wanted to leave room for dinner. I'm making sure I get one of those the next time I'm in the area. Tip: $2 parking garage around the corner for 2.5 hours!
(4)Marisol R.
I really wanted to like this place, after so many times that I have been. The last few experiences have been below par and I am so upset I wasted my time and money on these people. I called in a phone order, for a spicy chicken pad thai. When I picked it up and began to eat it a few problems. First, it was NOT spicy as I had requested. Second it wasn't the lunch special either, and last there was a weird odor coming from the food. An odor that would leave me to believe the chicken was spoiled. I am done with this place! Never again, they have sacrificed their quality for quantity. Do not go out of your way to dine here.
(1)Yare M.
Worst experience ever. There was hair in my soup that I was so looking forward to eat, I was starving. Order a Pho soup was about to share a serving with my lunch date and I found a short black hair in my food. I was immediately told they could bring another plate. I should have said no because I had lost my appetite after seeing the hair. When it was time to pay they charged me for my meal. If the waiter had any common courtesy they could see the plate was practically untouched. They said I still had to pay. I don't like to complain but this was a horrible experience. I was hungry when I walked in and hungry when I walked out after paying a $20 tab. I feel that they should have had more sympathy to my ruined meal. Worst customer service ever !! Never going back!!
(1)Arlene G.
had the soft shell crab here and I wasn't impressed with it. there was too much dough around it & I think it changed the taste of the actual crab. but the lettuce wraps were delicious. we also had thai basil fried rice which was flavorful. I usually don't go to this location but it was empty this nite so so problems at all with the service.
(4)Andrew H.
Divirery Puhweese.... I stepped out of my comfort zone and ordered Drinks only for delivery. It was great spending $25.00 on bubble tea x qty 4.
(5)Robert L.
They give you A LOT of food. So even though a plates like $15 it's worth it. Smoothies are really good too.
(5)Alejandro T.
This place is really awesome, their drinks are amazing, their menus are huge and are full of pictures in case you wanna check out some items. The staff is very friendly and helpful although you might have to speak up to get your order straight. The location is the only thing that kind of turns it down for me because I'm on the north side of town, but a trip here is totally worth it! Portions are big and filling (and obviously delicious), and even if you are not hungry you should totally get one smoothie 'cause they really are freaking awesome.
(4)Shradha A.
I went to this Joy Yee's twice in the same day? I was at a conference at UIC Forum and for lunch, I tried their mango lychee tapioca freeze, which was absolutely delicious and nothing short of 5-stars! Decided to try their food for dinner and was back at the end of the day! The menu is not very vegetarian-friendly, given tofu pad thai is literally the ONLY thing they can apparently make vegetarian (and don't forget to request no fish/oyster sauces). But they were quite accommodating and tried to put together a vegetable basil fried rice too. The portions here are very large and the freeze drinks are very filling - so order accordingly!
(4)Justine M.
We got the pad tai, beef cubes and basil pork with egg rice. all sooo good. got bubble tea afterwards....so fresh! service was good. our water glasses were never empty good priced.
(4)Kristen R.
So after being here for so many years, I still found myself staring at the menu for a good 30 minutes. The menu is just way too long and hectic. The restaurant seems to be trying to provide every type of food from every country on the face of Asia, but are careless to make it actually taste authentic or decent in that matter. I ordered the sauteed green beans and the calamari. The green beans were soaked in a dessert of grease; meaning it was cupcake frosting sweet and dripping in hot oily sweat at the same time. The calamari was tough and chewy and even better it was not hot or even warm, on top of that the pieces were not cut properly so we made a game of tearing the thing apart which was entertaining for about 3 seconds. I do commend them on their smoothies though, but a smoothie will not make a meal for me, and again even the smoothie menu leaves me crying when I hold up the line like it was my first time. They should just stick to one type of food be it chinese, thai, vietnamese, japanese, indonesian, or mexican food for all I care, if they could fix that I would think about visiting again. As for now I'd rather hit panda express, the shame of all Asian food. As far as the service, I had the lovely opportunity to hear 2 employees argue over who HAS to take our order, not sure what that was about, but if you're going to suggestively insult your customers - don't let us hear it.
(1)Linda H.
I love coming to Joy Yees for the "beef cubes tomato sauce rice". The one dish that will make me get into the car, drive into the South Loop, struggle to find parking, and fight off a bunch of college kids in line trying to order tapioca smoothies. It is THAT good. Their menu is overwhelmingly huge. I suggest giving it a once-over before stepping into the restaurant, or you could still be reading it after your friends have ordered and eaten their food. Its a fun place for groups, but can get loud. And as I mentioned before, parking is slim pickings unless you want to pay for the garage.
(4)LaTreesha W.
It was a warm refreshing night when some of my colleagues and I had cravings for Asian dishes. As college students, finding a place with authentic and delicious food for a reasonable price is an obligation. A casual dinner at Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen was the perfect option for us college students on a budget. Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen serves portions of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai (etc.) options including bubble teas for this college town. You will enjoy your time here due to the quick service provided, delicious food, and moderate prices. It was crowded and loud at the entrance. The decor in the restaurant was effortless in the lobby and dining area. There were barely any decorations. We had a group of four with no reservations. We were sat within minutes. The tables were close together like peanut butter and jelly, but there was a vast amount of available tables considering the place being fairly crowded. The tables were fairly high depending on where you were seated. The chairs were a unique design of spider webs. I actually thought the chairs were very creative considering my love for arts and crafts. The chairs were pretty, but not comfy. The menus were overwhelming. At first it was confusing to understand because the menu had so many options to choose from. The menu features all types of Asian food including noodle dishes, rice dishes, and fruit smoothies. I would recommend asking the staff for their recommendation of food choice, but we had a little communication issue. The staff didn't seem to know much English. Pictures of the menu choices were very useful in making a choice. The pictures of the food were very visible and convincing to eat. It's amazing how fast your food comes. We were served within 10 minutes. This restaurant has the best bubble tea in the area. I would recommend a fruit freeze which is basically a smoothie. The strawberry freeze is amazing. It tastes like beautiful, fresh, flavorful fruit. This smoothie is very relaxing to have. The food is always fresh and hot. My favorite dish is the beef cubes with tomato rice. The beef cubes are very tender. If you expect rice to be fluffy, mouthwatering, non salty and scrumptious then Joy Yee provides the perfect amount of sweet and flavorful in their tomato rice. I would highly recommend it. I would suggest for one to buy the seafood fried rice as well. It is a mixture of shrimps, scallops, mussels, etc. It has a beautiful touch of accuracy in every bite. The plates are well crafted. The amount of food you receive is quite substantial. You can split a dish for sure. Plan to take home mega leftovers. Joy Yee's provide great prices for massive portions. For instance, the large portion of beef cubes and tomato rice was about $10. The bubble teas cost about $5. They also have great weekday lunch specials. If you are a UIC student, you will be able to get a discount. Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen is an "above average" noodle shop with a great atmosphere. The food is fantastic with reasonable prices. This restaurant presents a variety choice of Asian type meals. After a long day out or a dine in with friends or maybe even if your on a budget, Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen is the just right place to be. I find it very comfortable going here. I am proud to say that I am a fan of Joy Yee's Noodles and I can not wait for my next visit.
(5)Jenny V.
I love joy yee's and i always will. i usually order the same things whenever i go here, but my family orders different things. story short. its all good. I don't know why but Joy Yee's has THE best tapioca smoothies. my personal favorite is strawberry mango, which isnt on the menu, but if you ask for it they'll make it. I know some people don't like tapioca, but if the smoothes didnt have them, it wouldn't be the same. I looove their beef cubes over rice, the beef is so flavorful and the tomato rice gives it extra flavor. My bf gets their vietnamese spicy calamari, beware, this calamari is strictly little octo-pi? squid? i usually can't eat things with tentacles, but i toughed it out cause it's delicious. there's so many yummy things at joy yee's but the beef cubes win me over most of the time, especially if i haven't been there in a while. for all those UIC students that live across the street, i envy you. if i lived there i'd eat at joy yees all the time.
(5)Peter F.
"Jack of all trades, master of none" That statement pretty much sums up this place. They serve EVERYTHING, but nothing is exceptional...besides the smoothies, which are pretty decent. If you want to experience good authentic asian cousines, this probably isn't the ideal place to go. However, someone who has never had exposure to asian food will like this place, just cause they don't know any better. I'm always weary of places that serves such a large menu (I'm talking over 100 items), since theres no way any of this can be fresh or remotely fresh. A lot of that is masked by the thick sauces that are found on many of the dishes. However, to their credit, the food does taste ok overall, so that's why I've given them 3 stars. Service is very impersonal and is typical of most asian restaurants, which still isn't an excuse for not having servers who speaks english. Overall, this place is ok, prices aren't bad, smoothies are good and its a nice place to eat with your family. The neighborhood is quaint, lively, and there are many great eateries within the block. Definitely take a look at Lucky's sandwiches stuffed with fries/coleslaw and Lotus Cafe's amazing banh mi sandwiches.
(3)Inigo M.
As expected for a Joy Yee.
(4)Mike A.
Great food. Great Selection. Service is poor. Seating is uncomfortable (think plastic cafeteria chairs). If you want Thai/Chinese food and are not picky regarding service, this place is top notch. I would not bring my parents here, as the decor is bland and again the plastic chairs are crap.
(4)Mark H.
Food was good and portions were very large. I actually could have split the portion with my wife. Freeze drinks were good, but I would skip the tapi next time. Crab rangoon was good. I would go back here.
(4)Michael M.
My favorite place for Vietnamese style soup. The vegetable udon noodle soup is great and big enough for two people to share. The entrees and spring rolls are really good too. They have a long list of bubble fruit smoothies. I usually get mine without sugar added since they are sweet enough on their own. Very fast and consistent service. Would highly recommend for a quick dinner or lunch.
(4)Peter R.
Oh Joy Yee, land of gynormous portions and Tapioca Tea. This is a good place to go if you have a serious attack of the munchies. The portions are so plentiful that you are bound to take some home. The menu can be intimidating for a newb, but just stick to the classics and you should be OK. My personal favorites are: Korean Beef over Rice Korean Short Ribs Beef Cubes in Tomato Sauce Rice Basil Chicken w/ Egg over Rice Chicken Teriyaki over Rice Lemon Chicken My main knock on Joy Yee is the service, and the food prep. I feel like my experiences dining here have never been consistently the same. Sometimes I get good service and the food is blah, or vice versa, or worse when both of them are blah. The one thing I can say that always taste the same is the Tapioca Tea/Freeze. They make them with fresh fruits and are always good to the last drop. I always order the Mango Tapioca Freeze because that is just how I roll son! If this place can remedy the consistency issue then this would easily be 4 stars in my book. Right now I can only give it 3, but a 3.475 stars if you want to get specific.
(3)Amy R.
Um...you can find better Asian food ANYWHERE else. It wasn't something I would return for, or even crave. I guess if you're catering to the college kids, its decent enough. Otherwise, I would recommend going somewhere else for food. The third start is just because their smoothies are good.
(3)Joanna M.
It's our Chinese restaurant (everyone has one right?). Their food is delish. Might not be authentic but that's alright with me. I definitely recommend their egg drop soup, lo mein, and chow fun. And their smoothies-- mmmm. Save room for one! They also have a great variety- which almost hakes if difficult to pick. Who am I kidding anyway, I always order the same thing any way. Maybe one day I'll go crazy and order some new things. (maybe)
(5)Lindsey F.
I've found that the fried rice dishes can be pretty plain, but if you add some hoisin sauce (at the table) you're back in business. We were there this weekend and I found the best deal of all! Try the Won Ton Chicken Soup - Small. It's only $3.50 and I could honestly fill up on it for a meal! Enjoy! This place is great and the service is always speedy and friendly.
(5)Julia C.
I used to be a fan of Joy Yee's back in the day. And by "back in the day" I mean when it was a tiny noodle shop where Shabu Shabu is now. I like how they constantly change their menu to bring in new, more interesting dishes. But I'm pretty sure they stopped caring about hiring friendly servers. We had the most awful service today. The people working there will talk about you in Chinese thinking you don't understand them. That's incredibly rude. We had a party of 5 and we're ALL Chinese. We understood EVERY word. If we've had our food for 10 minutes and we still haven't gotten our drinks even though we ordered them at the same time, of course we'd ask about the drinks! We're thirsty and the water had an oily film on top! Is it really necessary to talk about how we're being difficult and rushing them?? One of the servers came over, said "here's your check.", dropped the check on the table and ran off. First of all, we didn't even ask for the check yet. Second of all, she ran off so fast we didn't even get the chance to ask for boxes! We noticed that they tacked on a service fee. We asked a server about it and he told us they add it automatically for parties of 6 or more. Um... there were only 5 of us... I don't know how they could have miscounted if they stood there talking about us in Chinese for at least an hour. The food is decent. How could it not be with the insane amount of MSG they like to put in all their dishes? But the service is absolutely horrific. I guess they don't feel the need to improve their service if people are tripping over themselves to get in line for $4 bubble tea.
(1)Mark K.
Lots of great choices including currie! Had leftovers for dinner, delish. Perfect after mass at St Pats nearby
(4)Colleen C.
Ok, confession. One of the reasons I decided to play softball at UIC (recreational, of course), was so I could get bubble tea from Joy Yee's before/after/during our games. Screw Morgan's and Junior's for beer and brohans (thanks Emily D!), I just want some slushie, fruity, bouncy bubble teaz. Sigh, I have a problem. A mango+ice+tapioca balls problem. I'm refusing treatment.
(4)Nicole M.
This place sucks.. The servers are rude and were talking about us.. They dont even have sushi even though it shows on the menu. My boyfriend hated his soup, said it tasted like soap, they didnt even check to see if it was ok. We asked for the bill and they guy asked if we wanted a box, we said NO and he didnt even say, was it ok? Will never ever be back..
(1)Bitsy B.
Oh Joy Yee, your tapioca pearled smoothies used to be a joy, but now your place smells like old garbage and the floor's a greasy mess. What happened?
(1)Thomas S.
5 Star food! 1 Star service! They are so extraordinarily rude! Last year I ordered delivery and delivered the wrong food. I drove over to the shop to have it changed and the manager (that guy who yells at everyone and doesn't wear a uniform) told me that I didn't order it. He said he looked in the computer and that I was lying to get free food. SERIOUSLY! I had to drive back to my house and get the receipt- which I did because I figured I'd at least get an apology and my meal comp'd. When I got back his only response was, "So what." No apology, nothing. After I pointed out that he clearly wasn't the owner as no owner would so carelessly treat a longtime customer in this way, he refunded my delivery fee. At a time when unemployment is so high, they should have no trouble firing that manager and hiring someone who can do a better job.
(2)Bukola A.
Its worth it just for the bubble tea. I've both dined in and ordered delivery and both were great. Don't order beef cubes for delivery. Maybe it was a bad batch but the one I got was grissly (?). I recommend the Korean beef over rice and beef cubes (dine in).
(5)Hyon L.
I know a number of people that were seriously hospitalized from food posioning here. Customer's beware.
(1)Grace N.
It's my lazy-Asian dive, when I need my umami-fix fast and for cheap. I always get the Korean Spicy Shrimp and Oyster Noodle Soup, and it's food for the soul. But the uncomfortable prison seats really dampen the experience.
(4)Natalie L.
One of my issues with this place is the menu. I have a hard time ordering because (at least the take out / online menu) has no description. I ordered the Korean Spicy Beef noodle soup. The beef was really fatty. I did enjoy the won tons, though.
(2)Doris F.
Best Smoothies in Chicago!! I am not going to lie about this place. . . I have been here several times since I did my internship around the corner from this place. The service is hit and miss at times but overall not bad. Now, on to the food. . . Yum, yum! I think the sugar that they put in the food has me hooked. The veggie platters are good. Before being a vegetarian I loved the shrimp stone bake. Yum! Excuse me, I have to drool.
(4)Anna G.
I love most of their food. I'm a big fan of the sweet and sour chicken but not the orange chicken. I like my chicken crispy so that's why I go for the sweet and sour rather than orange chicken. There's a difference...trust me! Their bubble teas are delicious! However, they have very few friendly waiters, but I think that's because of the culture difference. Americans are used to being served with a fake smile well you're not gonna that here! They don't sugarcoat their answers to my dumb questions so that hurt my feelings a little... but I got over it by returning a fake smile of my own. Now I want some Joy Yee's!!!
(4)Jacob G.
The food at Joy Yee's is good. The portions are large and the prices are affordable. Of all the things on their menu, I enjoy their smoothies and fruit drinks the most. They're really good and they're so refreshing on hot summer days.
(4)Rachael N.
First of all, let me just say: Joy Yee's Chinese food is not that great. The only food I would get there is 1.) The beef cubes, and 2.) the pineapple fried rice (which you can find in many places in Northern California.) But the bubble tea.... WOW. I've had the Joy Yee's by Northwestern, the one in Chinatown, but today, I went to UIC's campus and had the tea there.... and it was GOOD. My cousin, after visiting his son at UIC told me that I "must try this tea at the UIC campus" so I did. The tea at Chinatown was not the greatest... it seemed so sloppily made, and just the flavors weren't all there. The tea at Evanston had good presentation... but the actual drink itself, was okay. However, the tea at the Joy Yee's a t UIC was GREAT- I got the papaya coconut green jelly tea, and it was good! My cousin got the jackfruit, and his daughter got the mango coconut one..... they were just blended and GOOD. I highly recommend them on their tea.. but not the food. Eat elsewhere for that. One more thing: the wait staff is a hit or miss. I was asking the waiter what kind of bubble tea to try, and he goes, "I don't know, I don't drink those teas." I then asked him why, and he stated, "Don't you know? All that sugar in those drinks go straight to your hips, and hips don't lie." I refrained biting his head off. haha.
(3)Diane R.
Whenever we have friends visiting from out of town,for some reason we always bring them here !:) Prices are reasonable especially if you're the one who'll end up paying the bill :) big portions & good food! ...hmmm... if there's one thing I just wish they'll improve on...I wish they'll clean the restrooms more often ... everytime we come here the floors were always wet & sticky!
(4)Jessica Y.
I used to love coming to Joy Yee's for their bubble tea and food, but now I prefer the drinks over the food, as it's not authentic enough for me. But when you're looking for quick and affordable, this is the place to go! The Halsted location's drinks seem more watered down to me. I always order the black milk tea with taipoca pearls and the bubbles are as yummy and chewy as ever, but the tea is too watered down, even with minimal ice. I would recommend customers stick to their smoothies at this location.
(3)Linh T.
I LOVED this restaurant. I went for the first time with 8 people and we all ordered different dishes. They have Thai, Korean, Viet, and Chinese dishes. There was also a huge variety of Boba. I ordered the strawberry mango with lychee jellies and came back and ordered another one later. They used all fresh fruits which I really liked. I also ordered the basil chicken and it was DELISH. All of the individual dishes could've fed 1-2.5 ppl depending on your appetite. The pho was only about $8 and it def could've fed 3 ppl, it was huge. My only complaint was that the menu was so extensive, it was hard to decide but I guess if that's my only complaint then that's not so bad. The service was also super awesome and fast. Our waiter was always accommodating to our needs and very patient. The cashier was kind of a rough and impatient though. Overall, I would def recommend this place to anyone visiting china town!
(5)Tiffany K.
I've been to Joy Yee's in Chinatown, and I had a good experience there from what I remember in my review. I finally had the chance to go to this location with a couple of friends, and I thought it was alright. What was really great was the bubble tea. Hands down. The red bean milk tea was absolutely delicious and not too sweet. Plus, it was HUGE and under $4! I ordered the Korean tofu and mushroom soup. Now, I guess I had high expectations because I eat this stuff almost everyday. Being Korean, I judge pseudo-authentic-but-not-really Korean food pretty hard. The soup didn't really taste like it was supposed to. It wasn't spicy enough, and it didn't even come with a side of rice! Who eats Korean soup/stew without rice?! But the portions are huge, and I guess I'll just order something else next time. My friend's green curry was AMAZING and super fragrant and spicy. My other friend's pad see ew was HUGE in portion size but lacking in the flavor department. Regardless, I'll probably come back here and order something different. But the red bean milk tea... I'll get that whenever, wherever!
(3)Tim Y.
One reviewer says that the uncomfortable chairs are a thing of the past....have they brought them back? The torture device I sat in was clearly not a chair. Service is super fast, though wait staff hovers a bit more than I'd like. The food is pretty darn good, portions are huge, prices are not. I only wish when food showed up at the table, I'd have the foresight to ask for a to-go container so I could pack up half of the metric assload of eats for later meals. For whatever reason, Americanized asian cuisine always sneaks up on me and I feel like a Weeble afterwards, waddling down the street (but not falling down.)
(3)Kelly S.
So far my favorite Asian restaurant in Chicago! Absolutely love their crab ragoons and just about anything chicken. That would include governor tso's, orange chicken, sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, mango chicken, etc. That's usually what we order when we go over there. Otherwise, I've tried their calamari (both types) and didn't like it. It's not like the calamari you'd get at an Italian place. If that's what you're expecting then I suggest you don't order it. I'm picky though so give it a shot if you want! Service is simple and fast. Food is always delicious and hot (as in temperature) and comes out quick. Dinner portions are huge so me and my boyfriend can easily share and still have some leftovers. It's the same with carry out as well. If you're a UIC student, they have a discount for you as long as you have your i-card with to show them. Their smoothies and bubble tea options are great in number and totally yummy! I'm giving it only 4 stars because there's an Asian restaurant that tops this place in Bartlett. Definitely try it if you're in the neighborhood! :)
(4)Liz P.
I had dinner here recently: the service was ridiculously fast, the basil chicken and green beans were really good, the portions were gigantic, and my meal even tasted good in leftover form the next day. I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)Joanne B.
Ready or not, here it comes! The food, that is, and in no particular order... At first, I found that the appetizers coming to the table after the entrees was odd but now I realize that it is part of Joy Yee's charm, along with the neon yellow walls and metal basket seating :-) I have been to three locations (Chinatown, Evanston, University Village) countless times and in small and large groups. Over the years, it has become a family favorite. On more occasions than I can count on my fingers and toes, Joy Yee's food and bubble teas have both created and satiated any/all cravings! The service is decent and can be likened to bees swarming, in a good way... The menu is vast yet consumer-friendly with pictures of many of their food and beverage items. Be prepared to share as the portions are quite generous, although after just one bite, you may want to keep it all to yourself! As mentioned, I have been going to Joy Yee's longer than I can remember and some favorites include: *Walnut Shrimp *Fish Chow Mein *Shrimp Lobster Sauce Noodle *Orange Beef *Beef Teriyaki Baked Rice *Korean BBQ Short Ribs *Crab Rangoon *Japanese Beef Dumplings *Fried Shrimp Sui Mai *Butter Fried Squid *Vietnamese Appetizer Platter *Watermelon Freeze with Fresh Fruit *Banana Ice Cream Freeze *Cantaloupe Freeze the list goes on and on...
(4)Insun M.
Thing that stood out the most was probably the extremey friendly service. Like a fine dining restaurant they filled our waters after every 1 or 2 sips. Food wise the only dish that really stood out was the schezuan beef and malaysian asparagus. The pineapple fried rice came out in the usual pineapple shell but it was so bland even sriacha sauce couldn't save it. This location is cleaner and more spacious then most of their other locations.
(4)Nancy L.
This place is always packed. I like their huge selection of food. The fruit smoothie is wonderful.
(4)Ray N.
My goodness, the Mango Smoothie was the best I've ever had...in my life. I'm from SoCal, and I haven't found a place that compares to Joy Yee's smoothies. Oh, the food was delicious, too!
(5)Bay T.
Im so glad this place opened by UIC. Their food is good and the pricing is reasonable. Their portions are always more than enough for a single person. However, i would recommend replacing the chairs. Although it add a sense of uniqueness to the place, but they are soo uncomfortable. Or mayb they can add cushioning to the chairs instead of replacing them. (just a thought)
(4)N K.
Love the bubble teas with fresh fruit. Highly recommend the beef with tomato rice and coconut chicken curry. The pineapple fried rice is usually pretty good too (especially if they serve it in a pineapple).
(5)Sam T.
The place is quick and efficient, just like the feel of the service. If you're looking for average pan-Asian food that is done quickly, come here. Otherwise, there are better places if you're looking for higher quality, more authentic stuff. Their smoothies and bubble tea are good - can't really get any better than this place in terms of bubble tea.
(3)Jenna S.
I really like Joy Yee's. I wouldn't say that I go out of my way to come here (it's all the way by UIC), but I'll definitely consider it if I'm in the area at class or with friends. The menu selection is unbelievable; overwhelming, in fact. They serve anything and everything of the Asian persuasion. And it's all prepared well. I almost always have Pad Thai with tofu (I know, I'm boring) but it tastes delicious and makes good leftovers. Their little boxes are delicious too (they're those rice and meat things that come in a cylindrical elevated bamboo container). And the bubble tea! They have absolutely everything: smoothies of every flavor, bubble tea, tea smoothies. The strawberry smoothie is my favorite. The service is good like 95% of the time and it's a good place to go with friends for lunch or dinner.
(3)Debie K.
It may be the nostalgia speaking-- it may be the beautiful menu with photos of each dish, it may be my gut full of chicken and beef-- or it might be the green tea ice cream causing brain freeze, but I LOVE Joy Yee's. Love, love, love. I used to patron this fine establishment everyday when I interned for a summer in Chicago. Seriously, the waiters would recognize me and probably knew me by name since it was conveniently and dangerously located right across the street from my apartment. My hard-earned intern pay would go straight into Joy Yee's pocket, in exchange for delicious Pan-Asian cuisine. (I'm usually very skeptical of restaurants that try to serve multi-national food, but somehow Joy Yee gets everything right.) I don't know if they put crack or MSG into their dishes but seriously everything I've tried here is absolutely delicious and I always stuff myself to the gills, even when I know I should have taken my last bite many minutes ago. Whether it's Chinese, Korean, Thai or even Japanese, every dish is beautifully presented and wonderfully flavorful. I cannot name a single item I've tried on the menu that I didn't enjoy. I have to note that Joy Yee's is one of the best Americanized-Asian restaurants I've been to. This is not the place to go if you want down and dirty authentic Chinese food. That's what Chinatown is for, people. This is definitely Americanized Asian food served with an emphasis on presentation-- you'll eat with your eyes before your stomach at Joy Yee's. Last but not least, the bubble tea counter is definitely something not to be missed. No matter how stuffed you may feel with fried rice, you must absolutely order one of their amazing bubble tea or freeze drinks. I strongly believe those green tea ice cream freezes were the fuel I needed to power through that summer as a lowly intern. With all sorts of exotic fruits and mixing options, the drink choices are endless. I only wish Joy Yee's would open a branch in New York, but I know I'd be in big trouble if that were the case. I may no longer live across the street but I have the sweet memories. Joy Yee's, I'll forever be a fan and will always think of you fondly from that amazing summer.
(5)Faye F.
TONS OF CHOICES! Great prices! Huge boba drinks!!!!!!!! I love this place. It's located conveniently near University Village so perfect for college students. I love their Korean-style spicy pork and beef dishes. Their large slushy boba drinks are very good (if you can't finish, you can ask for a to-go cup!) and can fill you up so beware not to waste all stomach space on drinks! Large servings so you can share with a huge group and take some home to eat another time.
(4)Sarah L.
It's Joy Yee's. What do you expect? It's very very cheap food...that goes right along with the taste. There is nothing "authentic" about their foods...and their 3,000 varieties of menus are consisted of mainly 10 different ingredients in different medium. However, it is really cheap and the portions are incredibly huge! It's good for college students with thin wallets, or shared food among 4 or more people.....but it's no fine dining. (And if you complain about the quality of the food or the atmosphere, you need to loosen up your wallet strings and go somewhere that actually has "separate" table!) I am definitely not a fan of their decor. I felt like eating at a North Korean refugee camp or something....Seriously, I understand that they want maximum number of patrons...but still, what's with the 3 lines of tables? I would order lemon grass chicken wings to go every once in awhile...but that's about it! :D
(2)YANI G.
Worst customer experience ever! You would think that with such a large menu QUALITY CONTROL would be on the top of their list! My experience is as follows: I ordered orange rice with beef cubes, yum I'm starving! I'm digging in and next think I know I'm almost breaking my tooth because there was GLASS IN MY FOOD! I put the piece to the side and decided to sift through the plate, I find another shard! I call the waitress tell her to replace my meal with something else, I decided not to freak out bc I was starving and just wanted to eat. Bill comes and they want to charge me for the full meal. $10 is not out of my budget but I did not recieve an apology from anyone or a discount. Which is the least they can do when you almost break a tooth or possibly cut your mouth with sharp glass. Asked to talk to the manager, waitress comes back and tells me I have to pay or it will have to come out of her check and that I need to get up to talk to the manager bc he didnt want to come to my table. Keep in mind this is only a $10 meal. Manager did not want to talk to me so I walk up to the counter and he dashes into the back! Waitress finally snatches the check out of my hand quickly tells me not to worry about it and walks away. Ridiculous way to handle such a serious issue. The food is hazardous and no one seemed to care. With an experience like that I will never return. You can see their intentions are not to make the customer happy but to make money off of you.
(1)Selena L.
I've been a fan of Joy Yee long before they opened this location and would recommend this over their Chinatown location if you want to beat the traffic. Pan Asian food that doesn't compromise the authenticity or taste. Some of my faves: scallop in meat sauce, korean bbq ribs, wonton egg noodle soup and of course bubble tea!
(4)Meghan B.
Joy Yee's menu is huge and overwhelming, and I think some things they do better than others. I ordered the Pad See Ew and it was pretty flavorless and generally disappointing. My friend tried the Korean tofu and mushroom soup and had a similar complaint. On the positive side, my other friend had the green curry, which was tasty and spicy. We also split the spinach and cream cheese appetizer and that was awesome, then again I will probably enjoy anything that involves cream cheese. The bubble tea is also a good deal because it's ginormous and only $4. They have a million flavors, and my personal recommendation is the red bean. I will definitely give Joy Yee's another chance. They have so many options on the menu to chose from, I will just have to chose wisely next time.
(3)Matt Y.
I can see the attractions of this place being near UIC and poor students but this place is definitely a hit or miss and misses most of the time. The quantities are hugh and often enough for 2 meals but this is definitely not authentic asian food at all. The Vietnamese sampler A came with Pho (worst Pho ever with way way too much cinnammon), beef on top of noodles and some sort of short ribs. This is where it gets interesting....the short ribs had a elastic quality to the meat that was just not natural but I'm afraid to know what makes the meat elastic. I'm Korean and grew up on short ribs and never ran into elastic meat. I can't even say that the meat was tough, it literally was like chewing on a piece of rubberband with the bounce back. Please somebody out there let me know if you ever tried this here and know what I'm talking about. Back to the Korean thing, don't get the Bulgogi and tofu soup combo either. Pretty bland to say the least. Just because you throw some cubes of tofu and kimchee into water and boil it doesn't make it either tasty or Korean. I do have to say that their pad thai is pretty decent most of the time and sweeter to gear towards the western palate. As a parting remark, the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign (a proud alum) alma mater statue on Green Street states "To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings"......to the students of UIC, 1. don't tell people that you go to U of I. UIC is not U of I. 2. I hope the future for you brings you more money to eat better food!
(2)Julie P.
Okay, I dont know if its just me but I dont really enjoy going to this place. Here are my reasons: 1. the chairs are super uncomfortable. 2. the green walls hurt my eyes and arent flattering. 3. the menu is waaaay to big that it gets stressful for first time customers ( i've been there more than a couple of times and i still get stressed) 4. the food is ok. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE KEEP SAYING THAT THE FOOD HERE IS SUPER GOOD OR THAT ITS THE BEST! I have tasted food much better elsewhere. I dont think there isnt anything special with the food except its in modern to jungle like dishes to make it look super nice. for the bubble tea...it taste okay. nothing to hype about. Ive tasted better elsewhere. i never liked joy yees. im just not a fan. so if you like wired chairs, menus that can just make it very overwhelming when your super hungry and food that taste ok...then this is the place for you.
(2)Richie D.
For sure my favorite Chinese spot. We go to pig out and the service is always there with a million and one servers. Their fresh fruit bubble teas and variety are astounding. They're absolutely huge and thank goodness they give you a plastic cup and cover to go if you don't finish it all. The menu is endless with pictures of every items (which I'm thankful for). Their little rice bamboo boxes are adorable. It is so good I can barely put it in words. Just try it out for yourself, whether here or at their Chinatown location! I even like the bright yellow walls, which isn't something I would ever admit.
(5)daynia S.
The menu is humongous and so many options. It takes a moment to get your mind to focus but staff are patient and helpful when you can't narrow it down to two meal options. Highly recommend going with a large group so you get a chance to try a little bit of everything.
(3)Alan W.
Huge fan of their Drinks.
(4)Kevin L.
What is there to say that some else hasn't already told you about this place. What I like is that this place is very consistent. we usually order the same dishes and one or two new ones, and they never have an off night. For a cheap dish try the cubed beef with tomato rice. Its small cubes pieces of meat with an orange tomato based rice. My favorite is the Curry Coconut Chicken Rice. I think inflation is starting to drive prices up a little bit, but the food is still worth it. This place has a big negatives over the Chinatown location. The tables are too high for the chairs. And both locations have terrible chairs, you know the ones with awkward shapes with big missing gaps in them.
(4)Emily D.
We bought the condo we were renting so finding some good delivery spots became even more dire. I know what you're thinking, "Dude, you are a Red Line stop away from China Town." But as I've discussed with Aurore L., I can't find a restaurant worth patroning there, not to mention after my tour and interest in the Chinese American Services League I just can't stomach supporting the low wages many establishments on the strip provide. Or should I be because at least it's getting money in their pockets? Oh the push and pull of where to get sweet 'n sour chicken. (Seriously, if you're looking for a great place to volunteer, CASL is fantastic.) With that in mind, I have no idea of Joy Yee is a saint of social services, but I do know that their chicken and pineapple fried rice is solid and their crab rangoon is creamy and crabby and cruncharific. But something about standbys like Orange Chicken, Lo Mein, Pad Thai. . . all a little off, and far too few vegetables. "Onions" does not mean one scallion. And flavor is frequently lacking. Joy Yee is a crap shoot, so it's best to stick with what you find is edible and interesting. And shame on me for not following Queen Colleen C's lead and just ingesting a liquid diet of bubble tea. That might be a better route. For now, I'm glad to have something predictable, mediocre and safe within reach during the winter hibernation months. Still, the search for solid Asian continues. . .
(3)Nicole C.
This place will always hold a weird place in my heart. The food is decent, and depending on what day you catch them- the service will match. I like the food, and I hate the location, and occasionally the people who eat here. So what do I do? I order to go.
(3)P S.
The best New Years Day slothfest ever required food. We were, after all, in the midst of a Star Wars marathon and all that bad writing and questionable acting makes people hungry. Chinese? Chinese. One hour and thirty minutes(!) later, we had our garlic chicken and orange chicken, Thai iced coffee and a watermelon freeze (no tapioca for either, thanks. Blech). The garlic chicken was tasty with some nice heat, the orange chicken was tasty if not a bit standard (but was spared that gloppy, bright orange sauce). We received one small rice per dish and if you like a nice 50/50 proportion in your bowl, do yourself a favor and order a third small rice. The Thai iced coffee, while not my thing, seemed to go over well and my watermelon freeze was a little bit of summertime in a cup. Yum. I need to try Joy Yee again to fully stand behind these optimistic four stars. It wasn't the world's best Chinese food, but it was tasty and definitely hit the spot. Plus you get a lot for your buck. You'll most likely have leftovers and you definitely will have a lighter wallet. $30 for those four items. Yowza.
(4)Stu S.
I am addicted to this place for their insane abundance of choices of delicious fresh fruit smoothies / freezes / bubble teas. I am more interested in the exotic fruits such as their Jack Fruit / Ice Cream Freeze, Tarot Root Freeze with "BOBBLE". For newcomers get the Triple Berry Freeze with tapioca or any Mango concoction then experiment from there. They allow you to customize them too. Now the food is average Asian cuisine covering many styles with some dishes being not good at all. However, if you are up to taking risks and hunt through their overwhelming menu you will find your favorite dishes to come back for. It just takes trial and error. I personally think their Pad Tai and Korean Vegetable Dumplings are great choices to accompany these amazing fruit smoothies as first timers. I do want to inform others that the portions here are enormous and I suggest ordering 1-2 appetizers and 1 dish to share with one other person so you have room to finish their tall heavenly drinks with thick straws otherwise you will be walking out of their hunch backed and bloated. I would like to know what everyone elses' favorite dishes are because the menu is too long to try everything out. However, their prices are very reasonable, they are open late and the service is prompt. My recommendation to improve this place is to reduce the food menu and focus on refining fewer dishes.
(4)Dan L.
This is the best place (Outside of Chinatown) to get awesome chinese food and killer smoothies. There's a million things on the menu and whether it's been deliver, takeout or dine in, I have never once had a problem and I always become severely stuffed with fried rice, egg drop soup with beef and some veggie lo mein.
(5)Amy G.
A friend and I stopped in for a quick late lunch before heading to a concert in Logan Square. As neither of us were feeling very hungry and were in a hurry, we both ordered teas and fresh fruit cups. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Twenty five minutes later and still no fruit cups nor drinks. We walked to the counter and saw all the fruit was pre-cut near the station to make the tapioca fruit freezes Joy Yee's is so famous for. Literally-- all the server or prep cook needed to do was spoon some of the already-prepared fruit into bowls. We approached the cashier who was ringing up a gaggle of UIC students. Once they finished he picked up the phone. Five more minutes pass-- he's clearly on a personal call. "Um, could we just get our food to go?" My friend asks softly. He doesn't even look up at us. Deciding better of dragging out an already fruitless (pun!) situation, we bail, head across the street, and opt for some wraps at Jamba Juice instead.
(1)Raquel D.
It's actually really 3 1/2, but bumped up for convenience in proximity to mi casa. It's almost always my go-to spot for last min delivery - they have me on file and i have them on speed dial. Hey, I get lazy in the cold winter! I always get the same thing here for some reason - basil chicken fried rice and the occasional meat won ton and chicken soup. I know, I know - whatta bore. But it's what I crave the most after almost having half the menu - one of my comfort foods, if you will. Plus, the rice and soup is enough for two (content) meals each for the hubby and I. And we likes to EAT. Of course, the shakes are bizzooomb! My all-time fav drink is almond milk tea, but I do love me some avocado shakes here and there. Easy on da tapioca, please. :)
(4)L Z.
I love Joy Yee, but service matters! I wasn't going to post this review. Instead, I sent them an email 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was never answered. I called this location to place a pick-up order while running errands. The machine said they were under renovation, which I thought happened months ago, so I decided to stop by anyway. They were open, so I parked, walked to the front and stood in line, for 10 min. I placed my order and started waiting. After another 10 min, I was called to the register. Turns out the noodles I ordered cost an additional $1. (Really?!) I paid the dollar, ordered a smoothie, and continued waiting. Mentioned the answering machine issue while I was at the register. The guy's response: "I don't know how to change it!" Long story short, after finally receiving my order and then reminding the staff I was waiting for a smoothie, I left - 30 minutes after arriving. I then found out at home that I was given the wrong noodles...
(1)Kayee I.
This place is getting only three stars because I absolutely cannot stand their chairs/seating. How obnoxious is it that I have to sit with my legs sprawled out because the seats are diamond-shaped? Take advice ladies and gents that may be wearing skirts... don't attempt to sit on one of these seats unless you plan on flashing all. The food quality here is just as good as the other locations. The menu does vary slightl in a positive way. Of course the hot pots are never available but it remains on the menu. The only thing that I tend to like at this location besides its beverage menu is the tri-sampler Vietnamese sampler which more than feeds two. The trio comes with a compartment with grilled spare ribs over rice, a compartment for rare beef pho, and bun thit. Yummmmm... I wasn't too much of the pho, but the other two items were delish. Vietnamese shrimp spring rolls are good too.
(3)Martha Z.
I don't know if I can ever order soft shell crab from any other restaurant again. The 2 piece portion at Joy Yee's was as big as my head and consisted of very tasty, sweet succulent crab meat. It blows all the other soft shell crabs out of the water, har har hardy har har.
(4)Say G.
We had spicy korean seafood noodles, sizzling (teriyaki?) strip steak and strawberry lemonades. I dug my noodles (mmm scallops) and shared at least half because the portion was really huge (and im a noodle pig). I didn't like the steak but the BF ate it happily. I'd eat here regularly if I was in the area and wanted delivery noodles, which would probably be dangerously frequent. Im guessing with the huge menu I wouldn't be terribly disappointed. That said I kinda expected better from them. Tasty but not very impressive... oh and I did not care for the cafeteria feel of the chinatown restaurant.
(3)Jeffrey H.
I love this place. The only reason why I didn't get them 5 stars is I tried to have them deliver. For some reason, the food didn't taste the same. So GO to the actual restaurant. Do not order take out. Eat it there fresh. It is fabulous. I suggest the Korean Beef w/ Rice, Sesame Chicken (very crispy), and bubble tea(my favorite is taro). I've had other foods and I was never disappointed. The service is fabulous. You don't just have one waiter, all of them will help you. Great service too. 5 Stars if you go there. Best thing about it. Menu w/ pictures. Everything has a picture. So I don't feel dumb when I ask, "what's that thing with the thing that tastes like this"?
(4)Kristen F.
Ok maybe I'm a sad little Jewish girl who doesn't know her ass from a kugel or whatever.. but I really love Joy Yee Noodle. I usually get take out and they're super fast with it so I can't comment on the state of their dining room but it always seems to be packed on a Saturday night. To me they have the best damn wonton soup I've had in while and their Pepper chicken was more chicken then vegetables. I do have to admit that their quality is not always consistent, sometimes my food is more Meat then Onions and Veggies but other times I will get food that has so many undercooked onions I can't eat it. Their Lunch Specials are really cheap, but then again I'm used to NYC prices, but the soup that comes with it, or whatever it is, is more like green tea then miso soup. I also don't like their coconut pineapple shake and I've had a lot of them at different places in Chicago. The coconut either isn't real and fresh or something..
(4)Mike O.
Joy Yee's, the one in University Village in particular, will always hold that special place in my heart as the go-to Pan Asian restaurant. That doesn't mean it's particularly amazing, but it's good enough that when I don't know where to go to eat I'll usually end up here. Food throughout all the locations is OK at best. One thing that's particularly struck me as odd about the place is that, regardless of how extensive the menu is, my friends and I always seem to get the same items each time we come to eat. That said, I'd recommend the lemongrass chicken wings for starters. They're yummy and meaty and a big step up from the greasy, breaded wings stereotypical of other Asian restaurants. My go to entree is the Kimchi Beef Hot Plate. At the University Village spot, the sauce is much thicker and more flavorful. It's a pretty simple sizzling dish or garlicky, sweet sauce, beef, onions and kim chi. It's hard to screw up. IMHO, Joy Yee's has the best boba drinks around. It's hard to find a place that uses fresh fruit like they do and blends as well as they do. The boba is never too soft or hard or chewy. It's always just right. The place is done up like every other Joy Yee's with the neon wall paint and the most uncomfortable chairs in the world. (Fun fact, go down to China Night on Taylor St in Little Italy to sit on the old Joy Yee's chairs. Much more comfortable.) Service can kind of suck when it get's busy. It's usually pretty good though. - Eat on!
(3)Leo L.
Im so used to going to the crowded Chinatown Joy Yee or Evanston, its nice to find one that actually seems like it has ROOM. I didnt have to wait either. Yay. My personal favorite is the Malaysian Seafood bake that comes in the log thingy. Im still trying to find out whats in that sauce... As with all Joy Yee's, portions are good for big eaters, and everything is tasty tasty. The chairs here are kind of narrow though.My gf is a size XS and even she mentioned they were small and uncomfortable. So wide people beware! Its located on the busy University Village Halsted strip so parking might suck at certain times of the day. I really like this place.
(5)Wayne C.
I get Joy Yee's all the time because I'm lazy and never go grocery shopping. It's cheap and close. The more and more I get it, the more and more I realize how their food is actually very sub-par. Very blah. Nothing exciting. And I've eaten there and their chairs are very uncomfortable. Also, when my friend ordered hot tea, they had no sugar packets and brought it to her in a clear glass? When she asked for sugar, they gave her a cup of the glucose syrup they put in their bubble tea. I'm obsessed with their Almond Milk Tea Tapioca and it keeps me coming back but really, there aren't a lot of choices for Chinese in the UV/Pilsen area. Eh.
(3)Joan A.
The food is mediocre, but the bubble tea is SOO good. I would recommend getting strawberry-peach or coffee-ice-cream-freeze.
(4)John C.
I don't get it...read my rant about Butterfly. All of this having multiple cuisines is really annoying. When I saw people eating Korean food here, I thought I was going crazy. First off, the Chinese food here isn't that good, now they are bringing in Korean food? Criminey!!! I've been to this one and the China Town one multiple times...so why do I keep going back? Because I can't find decent Chinese food in this town. I've had better in Denver, where there is no Chinatown and much less of a Chinese population than Chicago! People always tell me to go here and it is always crowded. So, if anyone has suggestions on delicious Chinese food, hit me up. And yes, I do need to bring someone who knows Chinese food and the menu to order for me next time.
(2)Sassy P.
I go here more than most places. The portions are huge, which is good because you can share amongst your friends. I think each dish can serve about 3 people. I've had the Pad Thai and Thai Spicy Basil Chow Funn. They are both really good noodle dishes. The food here seems pretty authentic. You should also try the Vegetable Lo Mein and Broccoli Chicken. I don't recommend the Hot and Sour Soup, wasn't very good. I love the Lychee Berry and Mango Tapioca Freezes. The menu is so huge, its overwhelming sometimes. So if you like trying new things, you won't have trouble here since there are so many things that you can order. Service is average. The place is very large and accommodates large groups. The chairs are really ridiculous. The are diamond shaped and not very comfortable to sit in. Parking is hard since its Halsted St and you have to find a meter spot. Another side note: Beware that this food is very unhealthy. They cook it with a lot of oil and you can tell its greasy. Recommended.
(4)My B.
Not authentic asian in the least, but a damn good alternate. If I'm too lazy to cook we can just hop on over a couple blocks and get a few dishes to split. The convience (sp?) is what makes everything worth it. I'm not looking for food cooked by Hong Kong or Iron chefs! Onto the drinks...of course we pick up bubble teas when we're in. The fresh fruit makes it all worth it! I stop by in the summer after work and pick up a refresher. BTW - I agree with everyone else that the chairs are akward.
(3)J J.
Yum for so many kinds of bubble shakes!
(4)Kristina B.
Oh Joy Yee's. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... 1 one thousand... 2 one thousand... Ok, enough referencing Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and onto the review! My first experience at Joy Yee's was at their Evanston location. A group of us gathered there and waited for a little bit, then finally got seated. This place was PACKED! Apparently, everyone else already knew about its delicious-ness and they were all eating on that very same night. The food -- spectacular. The second experience at Joy Yee's occurred at their Chinatown location. Again, it was PACKED! Apparently, everyone who didn't know about this place found out about it , then decided to have lunch on that very same day. The food -- again, spectacular. My latest experience at Joy Yee's involved their newest location near UIC, on Halsted. This place was busy, but not packed. Why? Because it's BIGGER! And the chairs/tables are set up with lots of space to walk around. How nice! The food -- need I say it? Highlighted food/drink items that I recommend you try: Peach/Strawberry freeze Chicken fried rice Orange chicken Lemongrass chicken wings Mongolian beef And my number one favorite: BEEF CHOW MEIN (minus the greens, thanks)! YUMM-O!!! The staff at all three locations is beyond nice and attentive. I honestly can't find anything wrong with this place aside from the fact that I don't have a bed set up in the back room to sleep over when I slip into a satisfying food coma. Oh man...
(5)Jie J.
Unfortunately, Joy Yee's like one of the fewest places to eat out around UIC (beside Thai Bowl, which is worse). Anyway, the reason why this Joy Yee receives 3 stars is because 1. Poor Customer service (For the ladies, watch out for the bald guy who sexually harassed my friend) 2. The food is kinda oily comparing to the ones in Evanston and Chinatown 3. Most waiters have little knowledge about the food they are serving 4. their chairs The great thing about Joy Yee's is, they have bubble teas, and great selection of food and easy parking on Roosevelt Street. Overall, I would recommend if you want go to Joy Yee's, choose the one in China-town (hard to find parking on weekend and night) or Evanston.
(3)Audrey T.
Do you like HUGE SOUPS and an enormous selection at fantastic prices? ME TOO!
(5)Eric P.
This place is really disappointing. I live close by and had passed by this place for months, eager to try it. I finally went for it recently and it was a major let down. I ordered the "Combination Seafood Noodle Soup" - it was somehow flavorless but overly salty! It did have a interesting mix of seafood, just little of it (and I'm pretty sure the crab was imitation). The noodles were also poorly prepared. Overall the place is a really unimpressive experience. Don't bother!
(1)C M.
Let me start off by saying this is the first time I've been compelled to write ANY review, let alone a bad one. I got the duck noodle soup. I've had this before at small, family-owned places and loved it. The one I had here was basically an $8 bowl of ramen. The duck was pure bone and fat, the veggies were sparse and tasteless, the udon was chewy and gross. I wouldn't even come here for a quick lunch. Skip the neon-colored franchise and hit up your local Asian takeout instead.
(1)James C.
i used to come here a lot back when the only location was in chinatown. Today i picked up food from the university village location and my order of 2 items took almost an hour. They quoted me 15 min so i got there in 15 min and then ended up waiting another 35-40 min for my food. Sure they were busy... but don't quote me 15 min when it's gonna take 3x that. also, there was this overweight girl that worked there and she was a little bossy. If I were the manager and I saw this, I would have a talk with her and eventually fire her. Here are the reasons why. 1. When the place got really busy, the one girl taking phone orders and walk in orders got swamped and had to check in the back for something. When this happened, the overweight girl took over but had way too much attitude. I think I saw her roll her eyes at 10 people including customers. 2. When someone that recieved their takeout order asked for hot sauce, she tried to get someone else to get it but when they weren't there to help her, she started slapping the wall to get her attention. When that was not successful, she walked around and got the bucket of hot sauce but instead of handing him a couple of the packets, she presented him with the whole bucket... almost like here... you take it. 3. When i asked why it took so long for my order to come out, she quickly said "we're packed" while she was looking over some orders and not even making eye contact with me or even apologizing. The only reason I can think that this person acts the way she does is either she's very close to the owner and knows she can't get fired or has quite possibly the worst customer service I've seen in a restaurant. Am i asking too much out of this establishment? Maybe now that I have experienced that... maybe i am. Other than this experience, this place is not too bad. The food is always good and oily. If you're the management and you read this (i doubt you will), please have a talk with your host/phone order personnel.
(3)Amanda T.
Joy Yee's on Halstead is def cleaner and more spacious than the Chinatown one, and the Naperville one as well. It's pretty much on the UIC campus which is super convenient. As for the food, it's ooookay. I find it average, nothing special. I do know a plethora that absolutely love it though, maybe I'm just super picky. But it's okay! Because the boba tea is awesome. So many flavors to choose from. My favorite is strawberry, watermelon, or lychee with strawberry or watermelon. The tapioca pearls are essential to the drink, so make sure you get those when you get a boba. And on a side note, ladies beware of a super friendly waiter that works there. He likes to butt into convos and will start messing with your cell phone if you leave it out...it gets a tad bit annoying.
(4)Elizabeth A.
This place is my handy "it's-late-don't-wanna-cook-tonight" place. Are all dishes great? Nope. Is food for pick up always piping hot? Nope (and that's taking in to account weather on the trip home). But do I consistently get a ton of food for a decent price that doesn't suck? Yup. And I've never had them mess up my order. So, it's perfect for what I need.
(3)D J.
Awesome, super fresh food.
(5)Wayne B.
Horrible service...which is slightly better than the typical Chinatown joint. Usually good food and great bubble tea...
(3)Olia H.
I love this place because the menu is so extensive it is really hard to try everything its also hard to try new things once you have found one you really like. My favorite: Drink: Strawberry peach Appetizer: Lemon grass chicken wings Entree: Beef Chow Mein w/out the veggies Go here because I told you so. No really. You have to try it.
(5)VotesWithCheckboo K.
What happened? When I used to live in Evanston, Joy Yees was wonderful. University Village - not so much at all... Noodles in Pad See Eiw fall apart and disintegrate. Everything has an overabundance of fish sauce (even the vegetarian plate my mother in law ordered???) Indifferent service. Thanks, no thanks.
(2)betsy b.
This pad thai was the most bland pad thai I've ever had. I even asked for is extra spicy...it had zero spice. It sucks too because the portions are so massive the majority is going to waste.
(1)Irena A.
Love this place!! I went here with a friend. She had the Pad see ew with shrimp. I had the coconut curry with chicken!!! It was to die for!! perfect curry.. And my friend's dish was also delicious!! the shrimp were so well cooked and fresh. I had the mango bubble tea!!! so yummy:) I almost forgot my doggie bag and the waitress ran after me to give it me! GREAT place!!
(5)Erin M.
For one their menu is huge! You have to go there just to see it. Two everything I have every had here, has just been prefect! Love the bubble teas too
(5)Alex C.
Tons and tons of Asian noodle, rice, and other dishes. They're all pretty good. You can get their bubble tea made with real fruit for a fair price.
(4)Ade Z.
I LOVE JOY YEE's the food is tasty and that is the only thing that gets three stars the service: annoying- clearly i am still looking at your large menu DONT COME ASK me 10x if im ready to order. The drinks always take forever to come the seats- ouch! its really odd to pick these seats and they aren't at a good height with the table. YUCK the crowd college students ga-lore so if you are a nice couple with some class expect to get treated like a college student with no trained pallette. w.e. parking is good there is a garage right around the corner 2 dollars for tow hours. i love the food and they are large portions so im guaranteed more food for during the week :)
(3)Linda T.
Lemme just say... Joy Yee's is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. They have more than one location, but this is one I like to frequent because it is not as crowded (compared to the Chinatown one), and the atmosphere is better -- it's spacious! =D Although.............. what is hilarious is watching my boyfriend try to properly and comfortably sit in one of those diamond-seated chairs. I'm not that big, but my butt does not fit on it at all. The food and service is awesome, and drinks are phenomenal. I never have to ask for a refill for my water. Trademark drink that I always get is the pineapple coconut green tapioca freeze. Don't walk into Joy Yee's without getting a drink!! =)
(4)Sameer A.
My Mediocre Experience. The menu is extensive but also kinda confusing. So many options, so many pictures, but not next to each other. Anyways, the hot& sour soup is disgusting. I enjoyed the smoothies. I was overwhelmed by the menu, so I ordered a classical kung pao chicken. Unfortunately, the chicken did not taste fresh. I leeched off of my friend's kung pao shrimp, which tasted fine. The portions are huge so be prepared. Oh and the chairs are extremely odd diamond shape which kinda forces you to sit diagonally, peculiar. The building is well done and spacious. The wait staff is mediocre. Not horrible. Not great. The price is decent, about $20. I will go again, but this time no poultry and hope for the best.
(3)Carlo L.
So I think I've been to all the Joy Yee Noodles now and this location was the last one and I'd rank it last as well. Along with other reviews, I found the chairs uncomfortable, the wait staff friendly but strange, and the food just a level below what you'd get at other locations. Not sure why though. We really like the fruit drinks at Joy Yees, but for some reason, none of the group I was with had anything good to say when compared to what we're used to at other Joy Yee's. With all that said, I'd go back. You just can't beat the crazy selection of asian dishes you'll find here.
(3)Robyn T.
Delicious food, good sized portions and cheap prices just like its Chinatown sibling. Do you have a bubble tea craving like I do? Luckily for you the University Village Joy Yee's offers delivery!
(4)Edward H.
OH HELL YES, even though you are well over a year behind your proclaimed opening date... I forgive you! I now have a new reason to say I love my neighborhood because Joy Yee is officially in the hizzouse! After a long and much anticipated wait, the local branch finally opened up in the UIC University Village. The decor is cool (the chairs, however, are not too comfortable); the dining area is nice and spacious (so very not Chinatown Joy Yee-like). The service is super attentive and the food comes out (ala Emeril) BAM in an instant. I've got all my favorites (Korean Scallops Stone Hot Plate and Japanese Tofu w/ 2 Mushrooms) all conveniently located near home base. This Joy Yee (at least for now) is by far the best of the bunch! If University Village gets a decent French and Italian restaurant as well, I'd have no reason to wander anywhere else... well, maybe to the movie theater.
(5)John M.
I really enjoy this place. Good food, good prices. FAST service. Those chairs are brutal though. Try the Mongolian Beef.
(5)Joey F.
They changed the chairs folks! also the Bi Bim Bop is pretty Go Od and all the other stuff is good too, I mean there is some average food, but the eel deal at this place puts $$$ sushi resturants to shame. AND fresh coconuts.... but yea some of the negative comments by Adriana Z about the crowd and stuff are pretty accurate. The chairs are AWESOME though, I have come in to bring friends form NYC just to check them out and sit in them for a while.
(4)Stacey P.
Le sigh. I love Joy Yee's, and have been frequenting the chinatown and evanston locations since their respective openings. I find the UIC location less excellent than the other locations, let me tell you why. 1. The chairs. What is with the chairs? They're the most uncomfortable seating arrangements evaaarr. You sit on a diamond, the back is a tall skinny long poll. It's hard to explain. Maybe they want you to get out of there fast? I don't know. 2. The service. I don't mind unfriendly waiters. I am weirded out by ...weird waiters. This one guy who works there always says the strangest things. This is a long story so skip to the next number if you're not up for it : I ordered a drink from one waiter, and he got the order wrong. The other waiter came up and asked if everything was ok, and I said actually... could fix this b/c he got my order wrong? The waiter said "You didn't order that from me. you have to ask him." ..weird right? Then, he kept interacting with us in odd unexplainable ways. 3. My order has been wrong MANY times. I ordered lemon grass chicken wings, spicy korean dumplings, and 3 drinks. Instead I got spicy lemon grass chicken wings, regular dumplings, and the wrong boba was in the wrong drinks. Basically, everything we ordered was messed up. 4. They didn't add sugar to my red bean coconut drink. Odd? Yes. 5. My friend and I just got back from getting some smoothies, i got green tapioca in mine and it came in ONE HUGE CLUMP. It wouldn't break up. It was like... stuck together. She got one with fresh fruit on top and half of them were rotten!!!!! .... On the other hand, I like the spacious interior! I don't smell like chinese food when I leave :) so... despite my complaints, it's still Joy Yee's... 3 stars.
(3)Izzy N.
Oh I remember noticing Joy Yee's when getting lost driving through Chicago on business a couple years ago. It was a no for me then, and it's a no for me now. My instincts are usually right and I judge a book by its cover everyday and I'll continue doing so after this. They just try to cover way too many bases here. To sum it up, it's shiteous pan asian for the masses. I think it's fine for when you're a desperate, poor student but there's so much better that can be had in this city. My friend suggested going here cuz I was in the mood for noodles... I should really stop trusting his judgement.
(1)Simon L.
The menu is lengthy...but let me simplify it for you: most of the dishes taste the same! Maybe that's how they make the production so efficient. Although they offer Chinese/Korean/Japanese etc, nothing really is authentic. We haven't quite found a dish which stands out yet. It seems like their drink business is doing pretty well...you constantly see a line forming just for their fruit drinks.
(3)Anna D.
I give this five stars based SOLEY on their boba drinks. I've tried boba drinks in Toronto, NYC, LA, San Fran, St. Louis, and Chicago and I have YET to find a place that can make drinks as good as this place!!! The difference is that they use FRESH fruits and give you plenty of drink for your buck. I've been hooked on their avocado tapioca and honeydew for years, but now have branched out to love their strawberry lychee freeze. I've been buying drinks from Joy Yee's for over 10 years now and I still haven't tried everything on their drink menu. I started out going to their one lil shop in Chinatown as a freshman in college and now they have several locations, including one on the UIC campus. If only this was there BACK THEN!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!
(5)Mason G.
I was very impressed with both the food and service Joy Yee's had to offer. I was also pleased to discover that the food isn't your typical Americanized Chinese food. They offer a wide (and I do mean wide) selection of dishes to choose from and both my girlfriend and I were very pleased with our food. I ordered the broccoli and beef dish and she the sesame chicken, which I happened to like the best. My only minor quibble is that they charged me for a Coke refill which I thought was kind of strange. I can't remember the last place the charged me for a refill on a Coke product! Also, their 'speciality drinks', the ones with the tapioca pearls, are quite good and are reasonably priced. For a 2 person meal I spent $27.00. Not bad for good service and quality food. We will definitely be returning!
(5)Julia F.
i wish i could give zero stars. if you are wondering why joy yee's noodle shop has decent reviews, it's because it is located on a college campus. no offense- i was a drunk/hungover/low-food-standard-having college kid once upon a time too. trust me - this food is NOT good. beyond greasy, no flavor, generally disgusting. you could find far better chinese in a shopping mall food court. seriously.
(1)Juliet H.
Joy Yee's was a place my brother first introduced me to, when I moved to Chicago. I love it. This place has everything!! Of course, the Chinese food is way superior over everything, but this is a great place to order American style Chinese food(i.e. sweet and sour chicken, orange chicken, beef and broccoli, etc). Their Korean food is o-kay, they throw in their Chinese flare, which isn't so bad. Also, we can't forget their bubble tea!!! Their bubble tea comes from fresh fruit, it's made to perfection. The service in Chinatown and the one in Halsted is quick. The delivery service from Halsted takes a bit of time so plan ahead. Overall a great place for quick easy Chiense food.
(5)Liv H.
Joy Yee's is awesome! They give you A LOT of food, and I love the cool plates/containers that they come in! I don't think there's anything on the menu that I haven't enjoyed, and I've been here probably 20+ times! The bubble tea is yummy, they use real fruit so it doesn't taste powdery! I wish they had different sizes of bubble tea though, because I can never finish the huge cup that they give me! I love that the menu has pictures so I know exactly what I'm getting. The menu is huge so it can be overwhelming, but I like that there's so many choices so you can always find something that you want to eat!
(4)A C.
The best boba drinks in Chicago area, easy. Dishes are good, but some times the meats aren't all that fresh. Depends on the day and what you order, but the boba drinks are so good it almost doesn't matter. You go there for the drinks.
(4)Jenn S.
So I've tried the food and it is d-lish! The portions are big and look just like the pictures on the enormous menu. The bubble tea's are not the only thing worth trying here.
(4)C D.
the chair was uncomfortable...seriously... please change it foods were ok i like the drinks and thats like all... go back? yes...for the drinks ...maybe XD
(3)Alicia G.
not the best chinese food i've had i definitely love their bubble tea and that they can add fruit to your drink which is cool. i love their appetizers. takes a while to order though cause their menu is so big i can never figure out what i want. but over its a good place to try out near campus.
(3)Shirley A.
The food and service isn't that great. The only thing good about the restaurant is the bubble tea. I've given this restaurant a number of chances to redeem itself over the years and it has yet to improve or change.
(2)Michael Y.
Great food and bubble tea drinks! Always stop there whenever I'm in Chicago!
(5)Sonal J.
Best restaurant ever hugeeee menu and excellent bubble tea
(5)Lbreeze Y.
Ugh seriously I can not eat here. My husband and I ordered from here one night because my friend was raving about it so we decided to try it. We order the fish cakes, crab rangoon, singapore noodle, and fried rice. The crab rangoon tasted like it had freezer burn all over it, and the fish cakes were just plain nasty. We ended up throwing everything out after a few bites of each. Yuck! I guess once you find a favorite chinese or thai food place stick with it. The only reason I will go to Joy Yee is for the bubble tea!! Bestest ever! Try honeydew with lychee freeze...so good! The only reason I gave this place any stars!
(2)Jennifer S.
I am excited about this location too! Its closer than Chinatown and more spacious. I agree though, the chairs are not comfortable but very pretty to look at! I love this place...their menu is HUGE (both in size and items offered) and everything is pictured too! Fun. The food comes out hot, and delicious and FAST!!! I wish they had more vegetarian options, more dishes with tofu BUT I still love this place and will frequent this location. Definately save room for one of their amazing smoothies/freezes/bubble teas. The juice bar is beautifully laid out with mosaic tile design. My favorite casual Chinese restaurant in the city!
(4)Oona B.
everyone goes, therefore, there is minimal space to move around - hopefully they have expanded, to serve their growing clientele. it is nice to see they offer korean dishes. it is a good place to take visitors to.
(3)Cherryl L.
This is the BEST BUBBLE TEA i have ever tasted in my life..Seriously, i'm from Philly and there is no other compared from Chicago..Hands down to them....I gave them 5 starts. I had mango lychee fruit bubble tea. I could really taste the fresh mangoes and fresh lychee. You know it's not powdered flavored but this is the real thing.... If I had more time in Chicago, I will go there everyday to try most of their flavors. THIS IS TRULY THE BEST BUBBLE TEA!!!!
(5)Robert Q.
Go there for the bubble tea(mango peach without sugar). The best I tried anywhere. Actually the old Chinese ladies behind the counter making the bubble teas are like the chinese version of the soup nazi from Seinfield".....mango bubble tea for you--Next!---you don't want tapioca---no bubble tea one year! " The food is ok; nothing will make you sick. The noodle soups were the best on the menu. The service is pretty quick and attentive.
(4)Suzy C.
The only thing I really love here is the boba tea (otherwise known as bubble tea of shakin' balls). Try the red bean and coconut combination, it's my new drug of choice. You'll be dreaming about it for days after you try it.
(3)janett p.
the food has gotten worse and the price has gone up...what happened to the old joy yee? I have to admit though...the smoothies are still delicious
(2)Kari C.
The last few times I've been here, I haven't been nearly as happy with the food. My favorite dish just doesn't taste the same anymore. It's not particularly bad, but wouldn't be my top choice for Asian food.
(3)Manda H.
I have had take out here for about a year now and finally made it over to sit and eat for lunch. I love how someone greets you at the door, even after I ran out to pay the meter. Portions are really big. I get a few meals out of the orange chicken and crab rangoon. Everything is fresh and colorful. I tried some of the seaweed salad but I still think Tank Sushi has the best. I have to say, one of my favorite parts in the dining experience is the menu. It is huge and every dish is show with a picture! no more "surprise," this is what you ordered.
(4)Dave C.
this establishment definitely doesn't serve up crap but they certainly do not serve amazing Asian food. i have no idea why this place is so popular. compared to other Asian places in the UIC area, Joy Yee's serves up a hot dish of mediocrity. this review also applies to the Joy Yee's in Chinatown too. there, one has so many options, thus, all the more reason not to go to Joy Yee's. please, do yourself a favor and get your Asian fix elsewhere.
(2)Dylan R.
This is is a good place. The food is cheap (for the amount you receive) and the drinks are absolutely amazing. I am not a total bubble tea fan myself so I never order them, but first hand I can say that they have amazing fruit freezes, much like a smoothie but with real fresh fruit. The food is very good as well, I typically only really order the three things regularly, Sesame Chicken, Pineapple Chicken with Shrimp Fried Rice, and Beef Teryaki with Baked Rice. Yet every time I try something new or taste something my friends have ordered I am never dissatisfied. The one thing that turns me off is in fact the service. You will be seated by one person, have a drink order taken by another, and if you're lucky (not) you'll have a different person take your food order, and then another one to bring out the food. They are all young servers and it tends to be a little annoying, but the food is well worth putting up with it. Or a better alternative is order take-out! Always good for a quick dinner or if you would like to take someone out to eat and you're in the area.
(3)Tracey G.
So I don't LOVE the food, but I LOVE the bubble teas and fruit smoothies. Wish I could go here everyday, just for the bubble tea. The menu is incredible. We used to eat here a lot, but I'm not a huge fan of the food. There are better places.
(3)Bridget B.
I like this place because the food is fresh and light. I ordered basic chinese food, chicken fried rice and kung pao chicken. They were both fresh and good but the fried rice does not have any veggies, which I would add next time. Also, they are chinsy on the soy sauce packets so ask for extras. Good prices too.
(4)Unknown K.
My eat in experience: Ordered to sit at the cafeteria table. The "waiter" pushed me aside to wipe off the table. He pushed my back to put my water down. The menu is done in "English" names so if you want pho or something like that, you have to try to figure out what they have translated it to. The "waitress" was serviceable. The soups were huge and not as described in the menu. Edible at least. My take out experience: Waited at the takeout counter and no one came. Walked around to the three "people" standing talking behind the counter. Was asked "What do you want to take home?" Ordered. Handed over money. Nothing. Waited 10 minutes. The chick yelled out "Rice noodle soup." 10 seconds later "Rice noodle soup last call." I asked: Is attitude included or does it cost extra? Answer: It's included. I suppose they think they are the only place to eat? Or, they are only appealing to college kids. So, if you miss that fun college experience of cheap mediocre food with a mixture of attitude and incompetence, stop by.
(2)Sid B.
Good chinese food...Had spicy chicken basil ..was fine...was kinda sweetish but tasty.....the jackfruit tapioca drink was awesome...one of its kinds! will be trying more flavors soon
(4)Jinna H.
I love chap chae noodles now. The food is very good, and I love a place that has Siracha!! Service was pretty prompt, even on a slightly busy night. Definitely a place to check out if you're in the area.
(4)Zenia R.
so sadly bleh. ordered the thai basil fried rice with beef, no flavor, no kick. my friend's dish wasn't much better. i've had take out from here before and thought it was decent, not sure what was wrong yesterday. it's an enormous menu and i feel like you need to dig through and know which are the hits. on a good note, my friend seemed to really enjoy the bubble tea.
(3)Joiera C.
This is one of my favorite spot in Evanston. I love their selection and the huge portions. Miss it already!
(5)Morgan N.
I live right down the street from here...and when I'm in the mood for take-out this is my place. I've ordered several times, usually its take-out but I've dined in there a few times. Their food is pretty great for me! I've gotten a variety of things over the last two years...and I've never had anything I didn't like. Everything is so rich in flavor. Their menu is huge, and since I can't understand half of it...I order by looking at the pictures. Their noodle soups, are great for those Chicago winter days...when you feel terrible. I usually get the sweet and sour seafood soup...and thats great. Price is great....and the portions are huge!!!! oh and their smoothies are great! I'll drop by there....just for a mango kiwi smoothie!
(5)Jason S.
Always have loved this place. While eating in is best, the delivered version beats most Asian delivery in town. I look forward to ordering again!
(4)Audrey M.
SO DELICIOUS. A bit less savory than Thai Place in DC, but with INCREDIBLE bubble tea. I had watermelon with boba and i swear they ground up a watermelon and put it in my glass. The food is great and with large portions, larger if you dine in. Great for a big group w/r/t size, however the chairs are a little weird and kind of uncomfortable at first. Also, the takeout is a little less reliable. However, the deliciousness that is joy yee and its bubble tea are enough to make me look past the flaws and award the five stars.
(5)leslie b.
Loving you is easy Joy Yee. Ever since I laid eyes on your menu I knew. 10 pages long, 10 inches high. You give me all the menu I can handle. With color photos of every dish and holy cow the bubble teas! I broke it off with my ex because I felt guilty about my crazy love for the avocado bubble tea. I spend to much time with you Joy Yee maybe it's not love at all maybe its an addiction.
(4)Ken D.
My brother and I went to Joy Yee for some Asian dinner yesterday (9/22) and the bad taste of crappy service is still fresh in my mouth. Although the food turned around fairly quickly, partially due to the ready to serve food they have (with ALOT of sodium). Outside of the taste which was expectedly good do to the additives I ONLY SAW MY WAITRESS ONCE. In hindsight was disappointed throughout my stay because I had to pull my waitress to order food and then after that I never saw the person again. I'm only giving it 2 stars because I need more sodium in my diet and they are apparently not short on that.
(2)Eric J.
This place is average at best. Pretty large menu, OK food. Very uncomfortable seating. Average price and food quality. Not a bad place for lunch. Hard to find street parking, but there is a pay lot on Maxwell street.
(2)Michael B.
bubble tea. everyone knows this is the best place in the midwest to go for it. summertime...i'd highly recommend the strawberry/raspberry freeze with tapioca...DO IT. i'm so happy they built this place...the chinatown one is TINY...so there's always a wait...the evanston one is bigger but there's always a wait at that one too! also, the blenders are farther away from the tables in this one so you don't have to scream over the "vrrrrrVRRRR!!!" action coming from them. food...um, they have every type of asian food there...nothing is spectacular since they don't have that one SPECIAL dish...well, not including their drinks. chairs...don't try to look cool sitting on them...you'll fall off. they're in this weird diamond shape so you have to seriously sit straight forward and completely upright or it won't work...plus, the backs are really skinny so again, if you sit diagonal or anything, you'll fall off. hey...strawberry/raspberry freeze with tapioca...that's all i gotta say.
(4)Kirstie S.
I really enjoyed my experience here. They had many veggie options and they did some amazing things with mushrooms. I went with a large group of people for a friend's birthday and it was very comfortable and an enjoyable experience. Service was great and the food was very flavorable. The menu is also rather extensive. I have heard their bubble tea or maybe I should say fruit smoothies are fantastic as well!
(5)Chanita S.
I come here often and I don't know why I haven't reviewed this place yet. I've been a fan of Joy Yee's ever since they only had one location which is the one in Evanston. Being a North Shore resident that I was, this was my local go-to spot whenever I wanted Asian food. Now that they've expanded to several other branches, a few locations of which I've visited, their food however remains consistently the same. For that, I applaud you. I decided to write a review for this one because it's my favorite location due to its cleanliness. For the branches that I've visited, food is consistent across the board as well as their service. Portions are HUGE and one entree easily serves up to three people so make sure to share and go with a family style type of dining. Bubble tea is awesome here, the strawberry mango is my favorite. Some of my usual entrees include: Korean BBQ Beef, Korean beef over baked rice, Teriyake beef over rice, Spicy Korean Dumplings, Basil Pork.....and the list goes on. Price wise, it's pretty good for how much food you get. Extremely fast service...very impressive.
(5)Zack M.
How can people like this place? It is as though they've never eaten at another Asian restaurant. The menu is huge but nothing has any flavor and it comes out cold. What was marked as spicy was mild. Pork tastes like chicken, which tastes like beef. The servers are on cloud nine and staring into space rather than helping our table. (Same at Evanston location). The only reason it gets a star is that they have great bubble teas/smoothies. Left over soup turned into a solid block of gel the next day, strange...
(1)Leigh K.
The most consistently delicious food ever. Joy Yee's is my go-to restaurant when I am working South Union Arts. The baked chicken rice in hot pot is what I get 99% of the time and it's absolutely always a two meal serving. I used to go to the Chinatown location all the time, but when this location opened up right around the corner from our space, I was overjoyed. The service is always very friendly. The carryout can take awhile, so many SUA staffers have the number programmed into our phone and go pick the food up before the event starts. Make sure you get a tapioca freeze because they are my favorite in the city. Do not fear the avocado cream freeze!
(5)Katie H.
You will be my downfall... Uni Village Joy Yee might not have the same sardine ambiance of Chinatown Joy Yee... but this is good. You get a seat immediately (as opposed to being stuffed into the tiny entryway in Chinatown for 45+ minutes) and the service is prompt. They're especially good about topping up your water glass ...usually as soon as you've had one sip. The food is amazing, especially Korean Beef over Rice. Always get a drink too because they prove the existence of God. I like the Avocado Tapioca Ice Cream freeze. Sounds bizarre, tastes like heaven in a plastic stein. Also - this may seem like a small detail - but your place comes laid with both chopsticks AND a fork (so you don't have to feel embarrassed to ask for it yourself). The only thing I don't like about this Joy Yee is the strange chairs - I'm not really sure how to describe them besides "uncomfortable".
(5)Andrew C.
I wouldn't say the food here is top notch, but their Bubble Tea's are OFF THE HOOK. I'll drink these all day even in the dead of winter.
(4)Jessica U.
You can't go wrong with this place. I've been going here ever since they just had this one location, but now they've opened up the other 3. I must say that their China town location, since they've expanded still surpasses the rest of them. The food just doesn't taste as good. Their bobas (tapioca freezes) are the absolute BEST in the city. It can't be duplicated. They use all fresh fruit and I swear they have a secret ingredient. I come here just to get it. They have tons on the menu, which is overwhelming, but at least they show you a picture. =) I highly recommend the teriyaki beef with baked rice and the korean beef over rice. Can you tell I like beef? OH, and btw, they have a special right now, the korean beef fried rice that is out of this world!
(5)Fred S.
I've only had the bubble tea...but its the best bubble tea in Chicago - hands down. I recommend the Taro...which almost tastes like Cookies N Cream somehow.
(5)Chicago D.
Joy's is a pretty good place overall - they make a mean bubble tea. But, why does EVERY worker need to eat while they handle food? I had the misfortune of going yesterday and sitting near the kitchen window (food is passed through a large window in a the wall from kitchen to dining room). I saw no fewer than five people eating while arranging the food to be carried out to the diners. They weren't eating the food off the guests' plates (thankfully). But they were eating things like apples, pieces of large Chinese-style buns and some food that must have been rejected by a customer.... ugh. I snapped a few pictures of the process but my dining companion got annoyed with me, so I stopped pushing the issue. The food is good - but, I guess the less you know about the kitchen and staff the more you can enjoy.
(4)Melissa C.
Love this place....Ive been to all the locations and they are all crowded because the food is delicious! Taro fruit with extra bubbles is the best bubble tea there is! They always hook it up with food....I can never finish a dish! I could never get sick of this place.
(5)Ethan C.
This Joy Yee's location is too trendy go to china town in stead ;-) --- The Joy Yee's experience is the first Asian fusion restaurant I have visited that actually has fantabulous food. Every Asian fusion restaurant I have been to are always very disappointing. The atmosphere is awesome, the food is awesome, but the most important thing, have a Joy Yee's bubble tea before you leave! There bubble tea is unlike any other restaurant, filled with fresh fruit, and bubbles!
(5)Linda N.
love the bubble tea here! i have yet to try the food at this location but i'm sure it's good too. the green tea tapioca ice cream freeze was delish.
(4)Gail T.
thank God for this one!!! so friendly-- they let us eat even though they only had 10 min left b4 closing. great alternative to the one in chinatown.. that one is just way too crowded. also, people here speak ENGLISH. its a plus.
(5)Sam M.
Good food with great service. The interior design is cool but the chairs aren't comfortable at all. THE best place to get food in that neighborhood.
(5)Joshua S.
Bring your appetite and reading glasses. Biggest menu Ive seen, not only in size but also in quantity of food. If you can not read, its ok, because everything also has a picture. Portions are huge, some interesting tapioca ball drinks. Little crazy and service was slow when I was there, but they may be working out the opening day kicks...
(4)Don W.
I finally had bubble tea. It's something that I can't find at home in New Hampshire, and someone on Yelp said that this is the best. I didn't have lunch at Joy Yee because there was a lunch waiting for me at the Hilton and I had to get back to work, but I was able to get away with a coworker long enough to get a bubble tea. Honestly, I wish I could have eaten at Joy Yee. The menus are enormous, there are lots of pictures and hundreds of things to choose from. I want to go back several times. The Halsted restaurant is clean, bright, and I got hungry just walking in. As for the bubble tea... I liked it, but I don't think I fell in love. It was a big smoothie with tapioca. I like smoothies and I like bubble tea. I don't mind tapioca, but after a while, you just come to the conclusion that there isn't anything to those big blobs. I'll go back for the food and I'll have another bubble tea. But I'll be there because the food looked and smelled good, not because bubble tea changed my life.
(4)Thomas R.
First visit tonight - take-out.... Staff: Acted like a bunch of pre-schoolers on a sugar high when interacting with each other. Rather subdued and unhelpful, uncommunicative to the non-Asians. A bunch of children who would rather be doing something else with their evenings I guess. Someone else there had called ahead for a very large order for a party and freaked out when they screwed up the entire thing. I waited forever and a day for my order which was: Korean spicy fried dumplings -- tasted like grease and nothing else. Not even a HINT of spicy. and Korean spicy beef and tofu soup. Bland, boring and not even resembling the yook gae jang I was hoping for. There were two leathery beef pieces that reminded me of the Steak-ums I ate as a child. I guess they still make them because they threw a couple into the soup. Not a hint of spicy. I've had more interesting bottled waters than the soup broth. Completely boring and having to wait ages for it in a key-lime flourescent-lit playground for sugared-up children is something I will pass on in the future.
(1)Amy D.
Sorry! I usually love Joy Yee's. Just so yucky this time. Had it this Friday. Was the most bland greasy dish I've ever had. So sad. Seems like their quality is just going downhill. I still like their drinks though, they can't mess up that.
(1)Lia N.
all i have to say is that i wish i wasn't feeling so terrible after last night to enjoy this place more. i went here for lunch, but unfortunately their lunch menu is only valid m-f, ugh. the lunch menu seemed to be a really great value though - if i can remember correctly it was 7.95 for a dish off the lunch menu. i ordered the sesame chicken, which is one of my favorite chinese dishes and it was really delicious. very crispy - NOT soggy (when it's soggy it's gross), so i would say that it was cooked to perfection. the portions here are HUUUGE. they come out on these large banana shaped plate-bowls and my dish came with rice. if you want soy sauce, you have to ask for it, which is kind of weird at an asian restaurant - but it is available if you ask for it. my friend ordered the green curry chicken fried rice, which was also really good! if you like spicy, this is definitely a dish for you. He also ordered one of the bubble tea drink with the tapioca balls and that was also really delicious! i am mad i wasn't feeling well because lychees are literally my favorite in smoothies and THEY HAVE THEM HERE. is it just me or is it really hard to find a good lychee drink in the US ? when i was in india i drank a ton of lychee smoothies and i absolutely crave them now. i digress. anyways, i will have to update my post when i go back to see if i enjoy the lychee bubble tea. but the point is, i plan on going back ! great service, large restaurant, and by the time we left, it was packed. the menu also has a large variety and i really appreciate the pictures that they have to show you what everything is. this is a really great place !
(4)Linda A.
I been here a few times, but I still hate the menu... its really bad to have so many options.. can you please settle on a few good items!? I guess I am just not a big fan the encyclopedia size menu... they also need to work on not having tables so close you can smell the strangers next to you... it's too awkward and uncomfortable when you can hear other's conversations. food is generally okay, service is decent... and smoothies are delicious..
(3)Anooj T.
This was our first visit to Joy Yee Noodle Shop and overall, it was a good experience. The large menu got confusing at times and we didn't realize how big the portions were. One entree and one appetizer order is easily enough to feed two people. We found the casual atmosphere to be comfortable. The seating (i.e. chairs), however, were not. The pork egg rolls I could do without. The Seasame Chicken and Orange Chicken, on the other hand, were very tasty. We slipped into a food coma by the end of the meal. We'll be back for smoothies next time.
(3)Laura W.
I'm done with Joy Yee. I've had too many run-ins with rude cashiers. Today, the cashier said tapioca costs extra. I've never been charged for tapioca in all the times I've been there, so I knew she was just being obnoxious. Anyway, we paid for the tapioca, 60 cents or whatever, which generated another order receipt. In the end, the girl making the bubble teas made four drinks instead of two. The manager was scolding the cashier as we were leaving. Serves her right, but I'm done with this crap.
(1)Kara M.
ok so at current moment i have a love hate relationship with joy yee. while on call at the hosp we ordered dinner from this place. i had the governor's chicken ( i know boring...but i like it) and a few other peeps ordered sesame chicken. they all looked alike, minus the seeds for mine at least, but it was really really good. so two days later when the wife wanted some chinese and we were in the area i promptly suggest joy yee as i really liked the chicken and didn't mind going back. so we went and i once again got the governor's chicken, then we ordered pepper steak with rice, and once of the beef soups....i got my chicken and it wasn't the same. even when the manager brought it out to me he called orange chicken and when i said no i ordered governor's chicken he said oh yeah this is govs chicken. it was not govs chicken. it was indeed orange chicken. i even had the table next to me taste it, as they ordered orange chicken, and she said it tasted like orange chicken with something extra added.....now i don't like orange chicken as i don't like the orange taste so i ordered sesame chicken...but the manager made a comment about me not liking that either so i decided to go with nothing.....the soup was just ok as it was a little bland but the pepper steak was pretty good. now, the saving grace was the waitress, she was soo nice with the chicken fiasco it's just that the manager was a bit of a tool. the reason they get 3 stars is because of the waitress and the fact that i think that the way it works is that they whip up a huge batch of whatever and tweak it to become other dishes...but it just doesn't work when you have a flavor as strong as orange....that being said i'd try it again on the off chance that the gov chicken tastes as good as it did that one night
(3)Lori B.
My husband and I love to order in Chinese food. The place we used to order from closed about 2 years ago. After months and months of trying to find tasty and spicy Chinese food, someone mentioned Joy Yee. We were in love with the food. And I am thrilled that it's more of a Pan Asian restaurant. My husband does not like Korean food, so I'm able to get some great Korean food while my husband gets Chinese. The portions are big too, so there are ample leftovers. The only draw back is that while they are starting to deliver, there is a small delivery zone and we live outside of it! Please expand to reach more of the north side of Chicago!!!
(5)M G.
We eat here often. The portions are huge, so between two people we get an appetizer and share an entree and its still too much food. The food is also very inexpensive. The Spicy Korean Dumplings and Basil Chow Fun are my favorites. The staff does a good job and the place is clean. It is also very big, with lots of seating, unlike the ChinaTown location. I agree that the chairs are very uncomfortable and barely fit your butt...and thats coming from a size 1 person. I recommend the Lychee Berry Tapioca Freeze.
(4)Edgar D.
I've been to their location in Chinatown, but I think this one is better. I almost always order the same thing everytime. Yes, I know, when there's a million and one things to order off the menu. But if you like something then like it, right. Anyway, always speedy service but chairs are little uncomfortable.
(4)Nichole N.
Today, for the first time I tried Joy Yee's Noodle Shop and I can gladly say I have found me a new Hot Spot. I love the vairety of fruit drinks/ SMOOTHIES and the wide range food menu. The service is excellent and very friendly. If you are considering eating here, don't be afraid to try something new you just might love it!!
(5)Deepika T.
Highlights: - Mango lychee shake - Strawberry lychee shake - Singapore rice noodles - Spicy green beans in garlic sauce - Spicy vegetable potstickers Only three stars though - Joy Yee's has a HUGE menu but very limited vegetarian options (pretty much the ones listed above). Their service was great. We strolled in about 30 minutes before closing time on a Tuesday night and ordered food 15 minutes before the kitchens closed, but they didn't rush us through anything.. Parking isn't all that easy to come by on this stretch, so drive around a couple of times.
(3)Jen T.
The bubble tea here is GREAT and not made from a machine, but instead, using fresh ingredients! Going here is worth it for this fact alone in my book. In general the menu is a little bit pricey, but the portions are huge, so you can either split with a friend or take some home for another meal later and it's totally worth it. There's a huge selection (plus they'll make adjustments as you need), so there's something for everyone, meat-eating to vegan. This place is a gem for UV, especially when you consider what other limited options are in the immediate vicinity.
(4)Philippe F.
Their menu is gynormous......I LOVE IT! I couldn't decide what do get....I wanted it ALL! So of course I went with the Vietnamese Sampler: Spareribs with rice, Grilled Pork Vermicelli, and Pho. Son of a mother lover did that hit the spot!!! I filled up so much on that, and our crab rangoon app, that unfort I was unable to fit a bubble tea in, even after unbuttoning and unzipping my pantalones. Joy Yee is a very clever name......because you will be jumping up with joy and screaming: YEEEEE, YEEEEE, YEEEEEE, all the way home.....
(5)Ryne D.
I've been to almost every Joy Yee's location, and they're all great. Their bubble tea is unparalleled for the Chicagoland area thanks to their usage of fresh fruit - no powder (I go for the mango mini pearl freeze). There's a huge variety of Asian food, most of which you don't see on your usual Chinese food menu. I was there today with a friend who made the best observation...even if you don't know what's good there, hopefully you're with someone who does. Then you share that dish with other people the next time you go there, and so on. Today I found out about beef with tomato sauce on rice, which was savory and excellent. For my recommendation, give the Japanese seaweed salad a go. The Halsted location is usually busier than the other locations due to being close to the UIC campus. Street parking is available if you're lucky, but the nearby garage is cheap. I've also done pick-up from this location which was speedy and easy. A great place to go if you're not afraid of trying new dishes.
(4)J J.
PRO's: fast. average $. DELICIOUS bubble teas (you can nix the tapioca). CON's: so fast they may rush through the order taking and mess up your order.
(4)Eric P.
People have got to stop over-hyping this place and eat real food. Yeah it'll satisfy the cravings of chinese food but it just a cheap substitute (figuratively speaking because it'll cost you quite a bit). I would say it's over priced for what you get especially now since the portions have gotten smaller and everything taste very very similar! It's sad how many people have been deceived. Look rule of thumb if the natives don't eat at a restaurant then it ain't real chinese food. Yes it's pan-asian but even that doesn't give it a good alibi for price, quality, and quantity issues. Thus only when I am desperate will I ever go to joyee's (usually my decieved friends). Had it at least 25 times and never really enjoyed it. But if you are going to come here get the best combination fruit freeze: Mango Watermelon Lychee! Amazing combination, my favorite! But do yourself a favor and ditch their nasty too starchy and non-sweet tapioca. Food wise: beef cubes with rice, french style short rib over rice, teriyaki beef.
(2)Rebecca G.
This place isn't amazing (but their boba tea is!) The food is pretty good, and their menu is huge, so I can't say I've tried everything, but the things I have tried I've liked them all. Many of the items are standard "Asian food" restaurant items, not that that's a bad thing, but if you are looking for really authentic food, this probably isn't the place to go. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the number of items on their menu as well as the size, they got it printed on oversized laminated paper, so it is sometimes a little ridiculous to handle, and if you go with a group they seem to get in the way easily. Pros: many options, decent prices, close to UIC campus (if you're a student), and boba tea! (not just fruit smoothies), takeout and delivery Cons: overpriced for what you get (but large portions), pretty generic for a lot of things you can order overall it's a place to check out if you want a fast place to jump in and eat, but not if you're looking for something adventurous.
(4)Catherine X.
After years of being a loyal patron to my faves: Kimchee and Beef, Basil Pad Thai, Beef Cubes with Tomato, and Honeydew Lychee Bubble Tea, I'm not ashamed to say that I used to have Joy Yee's on my speed-dial and the delivery boy used to know me. Anyway... Yes, it's not really Asian food. What did you expect when you saw Korean/Chinese/Japanese/Thai food all on one menu? Yes, their bubble tea is good, and they use *actual fruit*! Usually I ask for just a little tapioca because they like to give me a GINORMOUS serving of balls in my drink. (P.S. the leftover balls are good for shooting pigeons with through your straw. If you're judging me right now, you're probably from the suburbs.) The flavor of the drink can be a little spotty depending on the season it is. If you're an Asian girl, prepared to get hit on by the stocky Canto server with no neck. Gross-factor: last time I came here with friends, one of the guys saw a cook in the other bathroom stall with the door wide open. Sometimes you get dinner AND a show :D ... and he didn't wash his hands!
(3)Krsna V.
One of my favorites in this city. Authentic or no-authentic, it is good food.The bubble teas are the best. My favorites are mango and coconut. My fat ass always has a hard time sitting on these chairs. The chairs are very uncomfortable. The base is shaped like a triangle and it is just hard to sit on them. But, who cares?....the food and bubble tea makes it all better...i may be walking out looking like i have something stuck up there..... but, there is a smile on my face because i just got the mango bubble tea...mmmm!!! Now lets get to the food part, OK? The menu always amazes me. How can one restaurant have so many items? The pictures definitely help. Food presentation is always interesting. From the pineapple fried rice served in a scooped up pineapple to the sauna shrimp which are served in a wooden container that resembles a sauna, every presentation is a feast to the eyes. I have been here many times, tried different items, and have always been impressed. If you are not the adventurous kind, stick to the curry chicken wings, lemon grass chicken, sauna shrimp, and wings. Safe bets! Even my best friend's parents from the Bayou (southern Louisiana) liked the chicken wings and lemon grass chicken.....and they don't usually eat non-American food. I would totally give it 5 stars if not for the chairs.
(4)Angie E.
Food is decent here. The pineapple fried rice is nice and it's served in a pineapple. Atmosphere is ok; it's really busy and tight at times. The reason I would go back is for their sugar cane drink!!
(3)Stephanie C.
I've had a mixed experience with this place. I had undercooked chicken once at a group lunch. Luckily I noticed it before I ate it and they quickly gave me a different meal. Since then I have been brave and tried it again and it is pretty good. I hear that if you like Bubble Tea this is the place to go.
(3)Khadijah L.
Joy Yee is the Joy to my Yee. It means I like this place a LOT. This is a review for all Joy Yee. I come here to the University village quite frequently as I live close by, i think they need to give me a discount card! 1. Their food is consistent. From Naperville, to Chinatown, to University Village, to Evanston. Yes, I have been to all of them. 2. Their bubble tea *IS* the best in the city. Their smoothies too. Nowhere else can you beat the price and tastiness of their fresh mango smoothie. 3. How can you have 52846 things on your menu and keep the quality even and consistent at every location??? 4. While it may not be the best chinese/ best thai/best korean/best vietnamese/ best malaysian, joy yee is a place you can count on, and not disappoint. See #1 & 3. 5. Large portions. sometimes very large. check with waiter if you are unsure. 6. Fast, easy, it does not pretend to be what it is not. 7. Large pictures so you know what you get! See #6!! 8. Street parking may be difficult, but theres a garage around the back that is $2 for within 2 hours or 3, if I am not mistaken. Thats like what you pay for those stupid damn meters anyway. Things I like: -Basil Chow Fun -Basil Fried Rice** -Green Curry Chicken** -Korean Seafood Soup -Malaysian Baked Rice -Seafood Baked Rice -Mango Freeze w/tapioca -Green Tea Freeze w/tapioca* (roundhouse kicks Starbucks Green Tea Frappucino's ass. serious)
(5)Paulina N.
Their spring rolls are the BEST I EVER HAD. That's pretty much why I go to Joy Yee's haha. there is way too much to order from... Bubble tea is decent. Beef cubes are the bomb. Pretty much everything I had here was pretty darn good (my previous bf is a regular here)... everything except the soup :X it was alright... a little too bland for my liking.
(5)Linh P.
I love ths place. it was the highlight of my college career living right next to it. Food is always HUGE and fulfilling. Although i suggest they get more employees who understands english .
(5)klassy k.
it's true: their bubble teas are the jam. THE JAM! however, my korean beef and kimchee was only ok, and service was less than attentive (it was x-mas day and they were slammed, so this might be an unfair criticism). i would definitely go back, even just for the freakin tapioca ballz! yea boi!
(3)Eric P.
I would give this dump 0 stars if that was an option. I couldn't swallow half of the sh*t that was delivered to me. I would rather eat a can of cat food. People that voted this pace any more than 1 star have no taste buds.
(1)Jillian S.
The best of the best of this overwhelming menu: korean spicy fried dumplings basil chicken mongolian beef coconut baked chicken (it comes in a coconut!) lychee with tapioca freeze I have been coming to Joy Yee's faithfully for over 4 years. If someone says they want Asian food in Chicago, this is my go-to place! You can get anything you want here. The atmosphere is really fun too! When you come, try the bubble teas! They do not disappoint and are super fresh - real fruit, never powders!
(5)Elyse C.
i don't like writing bad reviews, but i really hate being lied to, especially when i am craving chinese food and want to give someone my money. i work in the west loop at a different restaurant, and it looked like i was going to get out at ten oclock. i saw joy yees website listed them closing at ten thirty, so i called around six to confirm the latest time i could place an order, "ten o'clock" was the official answer. i called at 9:44 to be safe (i know most people lie when the complain, twenty minutes actually means ten, but i made it a point to call at a specific time because kitchens sometimes close ten minutes early if its slow). somehow the hours of the restaurant changed over the afternoon and they stopped taking orders at 9:45, still refused to let me get food, and suggested their chinatown location, no thanks. their food was great when id go here in college, but this is a huge customer service error that late night diners should be wary of.
(1)Daniel C.
Portions are more than adequate and the drinks are incredible. I give it 4 stars because I find it hard to give 5 stars unless it's absolutely perfect. Had the pho, watermelon lychee smoothies and taro strawberry smoothie. The pho didn't come with fresh basil and lemon and that's the only oversight I could find. Portions were good, meat and tripe had the buttery texture/flavor I look for. But the star of Joy Yee are the fruit drinks. Fresh, with chunks of real fruit and just really really good. One of the best things offered by Chicago that is hard to match in other tea places I've been in New York or LA.
(4)Andrew P.
Joy Yee's came highly anticipated... Much to my dismay, the food did not live up to the billing. First off, Joy Yee's does not go through the usual grubhub or delivery dot com - so placing an online order was a headache as I had to register with yet another online delivery service that will probably fill up my email with random coupons or notices that there are new restaurants that i should try. Not a deal breaker, but annoying nonetheless. I know that Joy Yee's is dubbed a noodle shop, so it is probably my fault for not going with a noodle dish. I went with the yellow curry with duck. As experiences with curries go, you win some and you lose some. This curry, though, had to have been one of the most flavorless I have ever tasted. The duck was overcooked and I spent more time picking small bones out of the meat then I did eating the dish. The GF ordered pad thai... simple and classic. Even the pad thai left a lot to be desired. Very, very little flavor. I will say that the beef dumpling appetizer was quite fantastic. The prices were a bit high - after delivery charge, taxes and tip the entire meal ran $40... for two sub-par entrees and a great appetizer. The delivery was prompt, even early. So, I'm possibly willing to give Joy Yee's another try... I know now not to go with a curry. Maybe one of their specialty dishes will bring a better reaction. I don't know - we shall see...
(2)Celeste C.
First of all, Joy Yees has a GIGANTIC menu. Huge. Colossal. That being said, I pretty much order the same thing every time. The Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls are light and fresh and delicious. Great as a light lunch on their own. Or great as an appetizer to a huge stuff-your-face fest that is about to commence. The Sesame Chicken is everything you want in Sesame Chicken. Chicken. Sesame. An unidentifiable sauce. The fact is, if I'm looking for some major calorie-packed goodness and I don't care exactly what part of the chicken I'm actually eating, Sesame Chicken does the trick. Stay away from the noodles. Mostly unimpressive. And rice is decent. And always, ALWAYS, get some bubble tea.
(4)Joseph B.
Nice Place for lunch, huge menu and bubble tea with endless flavor choices choices
(3)Jane Y.
joy yeeees oh how i miss your bigger portions. and your old prices and your lovely uic discount. now its only for dine in. you dont give as much bubble tea either. its so sad because its the best. and so i've been cutting down because im a poor college student. sigh. but i will get some when i get more $$ please reconsider your prices. im really bummed. you get so much business too. *sigh
(3)Nona Gayle D.
I am giving them the one star because their food is good, and I'm giving them the one star because their service sucks. My family and I went to eat here literally the other day and after we had our meal which was fine, we were handed the bill. My father who decided to be nice and treat us, handed them a $100.00 bill since our bill was around $60.00. This is where the problem begins.... now I work in retail and can usually spot a weird bill... Joy Yee's refused my father's money. With no other explanation other than, we cannot accept this. It was so utterly rude that I myself was furious. My question is what if we had no other form of payment? What would they have done then? Called the police because we tried to give them good money? It was unbelievable, I will never go to that place again. By the time we left we felt insulted. I have never experienced such bad service in my entire life. The manager then tried to make amends before we left by giving us some empty reason why they could not take the bill. I then proceeded to question, did they want us to pay with 60 one dollar bills, or 12 five dollar bills? Was 100 dollar bill too much? Safe to say, Joy Yee's has lost my business. Sorry.
(1)Samra M.
Mmmm! I remember my first time at Joy Yee's , everyone had this hype about it, so I decided to give it a try. If you haven't tried bubble tea, or "boba" this is the place to give it a try, some may or may not like the tapioca pearls in the drinks and you can always substitute them with jelly or have nothing in them at all! PLUS they're made with REAL fruit and you can watch them make your drink right in front of you. As for the food, it has an asian zing to it. The atmosphere is lively because it is near UIC and college students usually drop by for take out and sit down to eat in between or after classes. Service was OK, some look mean and the others just hit on you, but then again I'm a college student, anyways they're pretty fast as well. You'll enjoy the food and it's great to bring company with.
(3)James R.
I got takeout on a Tuesday night. Ordered the thai curry beef, fried chicken over rice, wonton soup, spring rolls, and boba tea. The portions are huge! Unfortunately the taste does not follow suit. If you like greasy, slimy, bland chinese food with huge portions, this is the place for you. The only somewhat edible thing was the curry beef, which was bland and slimy. The boba tea was luke warm except for the iced portion at the top, but was otherwise the tastiest thing. Service was bleh, the server seemed to get angry when I did not pick up my boba tea immediately. One nice thing though is you can order online for pickup. I may be tempted to go back here for some more luke warm boba tea, but I think I'll be skipping on the solids.
(1)Debbie F.
Salted fish with pork and egg in a hot pot #409 was divine. The ham yu bits were perfect and the sauce soaked through the rice all the way to the bottom of the stone bowl. Finally found one well done authentic dish on their menu! Hahaha!
(4)Justin G.
A copy of the place of the same name in Chinatown, this place has a huge selection of food. Everything is tasty. The fruit smoothies are awesome too. My favorite is the Taro flavored.
(4)Daniel D.
Great food, very good service. We had bulgogi and chicken wonton noodle soup which were both excellent. Will definetely return!
(4)Marcel M.
After going to both a bunch of times, I feel the food is a tad bit better at the Chinatown location, but at least the bubble tea is still consistent. Bonus tips: A good option is extra tapioca. A nice double scoop of balls that you can ration when you enjoy the whole drink. If you like Halo-Halo, a Filipino dessert, then try out the coconut / jackfruit combo. Damn good.
(4)Naomi L.
Delicious!! I LOVE the boba here and all the dishes. Place is clean as well.
(4)Aman B.
Have been going here quite a few times now. The quality of food has always been consistent and selection is endless! The portions are HUGE! For newbies, there are actual images of dishes on their menu so can see what your going to get and save a disappointing surprise. The juices selections are vast and personally cannot leave without a mango freeze or their sugar cane freeze. Quantity wise, the juices can be a meal alone. If you are a vegetarian, there are some good choices but ASK before ordering. I used to order the Tofu Pad Thai but recently found out it is cooked in fish sauce. overall, this is a great place. They have some lunch specials from 11:30 - 3:30 if I remember correct where you save a few dollars but the portions are smaller. If your parking, it can be a hit or miss finding a spot on the street, especially when school is in session at UIC.
(4)Rebecca B.
Love the service, friendly! (Shout out to Winnie) Great price and generous portions.
(5)Wahid A.
Oh, I'm so sorry to have bothered you, Joy Yee, with my business. I didn't mean to have interrupted your hectic day of scowling at customers to pester you with a food request. I promise, it won't happen again. Or at least it won't happen unless I get really desperate for chinese food during another snowstorm and I walk to your establishment because it's the only one within walking distance to my house. Seriously, what's the deal with being so hostile to the people that keep you in business? Is it too much to ask that you at least pretend to not hate the guy handing you money? And for Christ's sake play some music or something when you put people on hold on the phone. That godless intermittent beep sounds too much like call waiting.
(2)Renee K.
I'll admit the food isn't the best I've ever had, nor is the service excellent, but what a fun place! The portions are huge, the smoothies are gigantic and delicious, and the presentation of every meal is delightful! I had this chicken, shrimp and lychee dish presented in a whole pineapple. My boyfriend had a beef teriyaki dish that was served in a wooden log over rice and our friend had the most colorful seafood udon soup I've ever seen. My avocado milk tea was yummy! And his pineapple coconut smoothie was great, although we will skip the tapioca balls next time. I can't quite appreciate the texture. Im looking forward to trying different dishes and new flavors of the extensive beverages offered. We will be back soon!
(4)Matt P.
Solid noodle joint ... the menu is huge, and you get massive portions for a little under $10.
(3)Brittany B.
Bubble Tea by delivery? What a dangerous invention!!!! I agree with the other reviewers...I've tried 10 different things on the confounding menu, but I just can't find anything I LOVE yet. Be careful what you order though!!! My husband ordered some spicy Brisket dish, which sounded yummy, but when it came it was DISGUSTING. It was basically just huge hunks of fat/gristle (no meat), like something Andrew Zimmern would eat on TV. Seriously, it was so gross I wish we had taken a picture of it. We had to throw it away outside because it smelled so bad. I wish we had taken a picture of it, that's how gross it was. Luckily for Joy Yee, it's bubble teas are so good, even a barf-inducing entree couldn't keep me away!!! I'll keep trying til I find a food product there that works for me!!!
(3)Megan L.
Holy crap! Menus the size of books. Yes, that means over 500 choices to choose from. And the portions you are given are ginormous. You definitely get what you pay for. So be sure to have an appetite. I'm personally hooked on the Tofu & Veggie Pad Thai. The taste is dead on. Perfect amount of veggies, tofu, & noodles. The only thing I don't like about this place is that they don't have bottles of soy sauce on the table. Sure, you can ask for some. I don't know about you, but I like more than a tablespoon of soy sauce. If you ask for A LOT of soy sauce (for everyone at the table) they'll still bring you one small shallow dish half full. Next time I go, I'll definitely be bringing my own bottle. I'm excited to go back and try other dishes & smoothies. Even though I live closer to the Joy Yee's on Halsted, I prefer going to the one in China Town.
(4)Kevin S.
HUGE MENU, fantastic bubble tea. All my Asian friends tell me this is the McDonalds of Chinatown, but I really like it. It's not a very typical Chinese place, but that doesn't detract from the food. You'll see a lot of Asians and non Asians alike here. One of my favorite memories of the place was the time my family and I were getting Christmas dinner here, and, totally unexpectedly, my best friend Jacob was already there with his family! So we all sat down and shared Chinese Christmas dinner together. The bubble tea is fantastic, and they have a ton of variations on it. regular, frozen, jelly, ice cream, fresh fruit, etc, with about a dozen (maybe more) types of fruit you can put in it. All of it is very good. Their menu is epic. Like several hundred dishes epic, with pictures of most items. All of the entrees have huge portions, enough for one and a half if not two people each. Eating family style is the best way to go, so the bigger the group, the more food you'll get to try. There's a bunch of vegetarian options, but for the size of the menu, I have to say it's kind of a small selection, and pretty typical: Lo mein, fried rice, there's a bunch of single-vegetable focused dishes, i.e. asparagus/broccoli in garlic sauce, and there's also things like Buddha's delight. The garlic mushrooms are a fantastic vegan appetizer, if not a little oily. I like the decor: very well lit, tables are clean, you can see all the fruit behind the bubble tea bar and there are several wax replicas of thier dishes as you walk in (including some fish heads that look at you). The odd plastic chairs are surprisingly comfortable, but you wouldn't know by looking at them. You won't see any lazy susans here, the big tables are looooong, which can make sharing between more than six people tough, but still doable. If you've been to a typical Chinese sit down restaurant before and you want to try something different, or it's the middle of the day, it's hot, and you want something frozen, then Joy Yee is definitely for you. If you want a more typical Chinese place, or you're with your Chinese friends that said they'd show you what to order off the secret menu, then there's other places in Chinatown for you.
(4)D. C.
This is a favorite in my family. The menu is very big, so everyone is sure to find something to satisfy. The kids love the tapioca freezes and Korean short ribs. The space is crowded and rather lacking in ambiance. But for an inexpensive, casual family night out, it hits the spot.
(4)Mia L.
I love Joy Yee. Their drinks are incredible. They have a large selection of food. It's a laid-back casual place. I love how the customers are diverse...then again you are in the uic area. If I could eat here everyday, I would. Joy Yum.
(5)Moses L.
Affordable, delicious, and filling. What more can you ask for? This place is one of my favorite Chicago joints. I make it a high priority to have a meal here while I'm in town. I've tried several dishes (all very large portions and delicious), but my favorites are the Basil Beef Noodles and Kimchi Seafood Udon. I'm never disappointed by these. Don't forget the Avocado Boba Smoothie. I know, it sounds gross. But you'll be surprised how refreshingly smooth and velvety the taste is.
(5)Jonathan C.
For the amount of food and the quality of food you get, this is an excellent place. The food itself I would rate a 4, but as far as the overall package (price, comfort, options) I would have to give it a 5. I have been going to Joe Yee's now over the last few years, I starting out by going to the original one located in Chinatown which has also had great improvement to this date. The drink selection is great (some new additions like Thai Ice Tea), and they offer more appetizers now. If you order both an appetizer and entree you are most likely not going to finish eating everything. I also do not know any other place where you can get beef teriyaki with baked rice and japanese beef dumplings at once and not pay more than 15 bucks. Other great items include the Malaysian Seafood with Baked Rice, and the Pad Thai, which will take you 2 days to eat. If you are a fan of soup, there are tons of great options and once again, large portions. There are pictures for mostly everything on the menu, so that helps you pick something but at the same time everything looks great, so it might be hard to choose one specific thing. Don't worry though, you'll be back to this place anyway. It can be a great place to go on a date unless it's really crowded. When that's the case, you're literally sitting to the party next to you (when the staff tries to separate the tables). I'm just not a huge fan of random people trying to say things to me when i'm eating with my girlfriend, just because they are sitting close by. Either way, you're going to love this place whether you are with a date or a group of friends and your wallet will be satisfied as well. If you are paying for 2, you are going to feel like you spent 50 bucks when all of your food comes to the table, but you're going to leave only paying 25 bucks most likely.
(5)Evan A.
for as popular as this place is, I have never had something remarkable. except their smoothies. Those are GREAT
(3)Laura P.
Have all the people who eat here ever had Thai or Vietnamese food before? IF they had they would realize that this is the worst imitation of it. Worst. Worst. Seriously, my noodles were so bland I thought they were just boiled in water and thrown in the container (yes, I had carry-out). The spring rolls were WARM and slimy. I absolutely adore Thai food which is why I was really disappointed....... The decor is enough to blind Stevie Wonder. Acid green is a great color....just not on acres of walls. Acid green walls+ track lighting by the hundreds every couple inches throughout the restaurant+bad noodles (how do you mess up vermicelli?)=Joy Yee. Not a joy for me. I would rather have Chinese water tourture than eat here. Ever again.
(1)Rene G.
always good.... yes i would have to say the service has always been an issue...even at Chinatown..but that is typical of any places where the staff are not fluent in English......some places have the mentality ....our food is good. we are established and have repeat customer. so who cares about our service. we will still be busy and remain open...there is A LOT on the menu...and when asking the staff what is on the item they themselves don't know....just there this past weekend.... order some freeze fruit drinks...DELICIOUS!!!.....ordered pai thai noodles, pineapple shrimp chicken fried rice and chicken wings...ALL GOOD as always! This place is always busy....no need to explain why.....place always clean as well....
(4)Monique C.
My husband and I order from Joy Yee for delivery or pick up at least a couple times a month. We've eaten in at restaurant a couple times (and tend to think the portions are larger eat-in but it's more convenient to order out). Having tried a variety, we now stick with the more tame choices: sesame or general tzo's chicken, fried beef dumplings and Vietnamese Spring rolls. I love Pad Thai but did not enjoy theirs. Maybe a personal taste thing but it was one of a couple things we tried that we didn't order again. Love this this place but the not all the menu items are as good as others.
(4)Amy R.
Um...you can find better Asian food ANYWHERE else. It wasn't something I would return for, or even crave. I guess if you're catering to the college kids, its decent enough. Otherwise, I would recommend going somewhere else for food. The third start is just because their smoothies are good.
(3)Dawn U.
I have to say I was very disappointed in the service when order over the phone. I really love the red curry vegetables but I wanted to order the lunch special but was told I could not have the PORK egg roll for a veggie or some other substitute. I was told I could get it and "give it to someone else"! Really! How about substituting it for something vegetarian or offering a small discount? Will be ordering from another restaurant in the area that is befit arisen conscous! Disappointing!!!!!?:-/
(2)Becca C.
Good service, local, really good food, there's so many choices of food. I absolutely adore their fruit freezes. I love adding lychee jelly in it, they taste amazing. Perfect place to go with your friends
(4)Darren F.
came here a few times to eat.. the service here is decent... they are pretty attentive on refilling our water every time we come... it can be a pain to look for parking since its around UIC.. the smoothies here is not as great as the original joy yee's in chinatown.. sometimes it will not be sweet enough or sometimes it will be too sweet.. some of the food here is lacking in flavor compare to the other locations that I've tried.. like the Malaysian seafood baked rice.. it was pretty bland and i have to add a lot of hot sauce.. this place needs to be a little more consistent with their drinks and food...
(2)Lauren T.
Was my go-to place in college (UIC '12) but i haven't been in a while since they raised their prices, changed their discount policies and got rid of my favorite appetizer, the spinach rangoon. without a doubt, some of the best Asian food I have ever had. I always ordered the beef cubes over tomato rice. I should expect to return soon, but the craving hasn't hit me yet.
(4)Vali B.
do you think I am a lesbian?
(1)Ale M.
Went there today for my grandmothers birthday with a partially large group. Everything was fine until our server brought out our food. He had two orders wrong and when we informed him of it he gave us an attitude and was very impolite. He made our visit very comfortable because the whole time we ate he just stared us down. Never again would I return to this location. Food was ok.
(2)Nari L.
This place always has a special place in my heart. My favorite is the tomato beef cubes over rice and the chicken basil chow fun. I always crave the tomato beef cubes over rice, especially since I now live out of state now. Their milk teas are good but I actually prefer St Alps better for milk teas. All in all, I love this place bc I've been coming here consistently since I've been in highschool, all throughout college and now in my late 20s. Joy Yee's always has a special place in my heart.
(5)Beth A.
I experienced the worst treatment and behavior from the delivery man. I received a call from him that he was outside the building, went outside and didn't see him anywhere. He called again 5 min later as I'm wandering around the parking lot looking for him and he precedes to yell and curse at ME for getting the address wrong. Horrible customer service, bland food, and no desire to ever get food from here again.
(1)Joanna M.
It's our Chinese restaurant (everyone has one right?). Their food is delish. Might not be authentic but that's alright with me. I definitely recommend their egg drop soup, lo mein, and chow fun. And their smoothies-- mmmm. Save room for one! They also have a great variety- which almost hakes if difficult to pick. Who am I kidding anyway, I always order the same thing any way. Maybe one day I'll go crazy and order some new things. (maybe)
(5)Lindsey F.
I've found that the fried rice dishes can be pretty plain, but if you add some hoisin sauce (at the table) you're back in business. We were there this weekend and I found the best deal of all! Try the Won Ton Chicken Soup - Small. It's only $3.50 and I could honestly fill up on it for a meal! Enjoy! This place is great and the service is always speedy and friendly.
(5)Shradha A.
I went to this Joy Yee's twice in the same day? I was at a conference at UIC Forum and for lunch, I tried their mango lychee tapioca freeze, which was absolutely delicious and nothing short of 5-stars! Decided to try their food for dinner and was back at the end of the day! The menu is not very vegetarian-friendly, given tofu pad thai is literally the ONLY thing they can apparently make vegetarian (and don't forget to request no fish/oyster sauces). But they were quite accommodating and tried to put together a vegetable basil fried rice too. The portions here are very large and the freeze drinks are very filling - so order accordingly!
(4)Justine M.
We got the pad tai, beef cubes and basil pork with egg rice. all sooo good. got bubble tea afterwards....so fresh! service was good. our water glasses were never empty good priced.
(4)Belle L.
Delivery service sucks! It takes 1.5 hours --online order to delivery. Due to unforeseen cell phone issue, Joyee blames me for not picking up phone and superbly argumentative (makes you want to cancel order). It's ironic to order food delivery and choose to starve patiently. My 3rd Delivery order shall be placed from Chinatown location.
(1)Robert L.
They give you A LOT of food. So even though a plates like $15 it's worth it. Smoothies are really good too.
(5)Kapil P.
Bland..absolutely Bland, Oily, 90% rice 10% meat and veggies. The seafood fried rice was terrible with chewy uncooked scallops and squid. Beef cubes over tomato rice was okay but the meat and rice were not at all proportionate..Easy pass for the next time. Do not go with the appetizing pictures.
(1)Jin W.
It has low delivery charge, fast delivery and great food. I even turned my co-worker into this place. She would order in the afternoon and take it home. LOL! Anyways, I love their pineapple fried rice, lemongrass chicken and korean short ribs.
(5)John L.
OK so they have the best smoothies eeeeeeeeever ...... I know cause i had to suffer to consequences of drink two large ones and going straight after on a flight to Europe. But food wise they are ok. The portions are huge so be ware you need to be extra hungry to finish them. As it is stated most of the plates are noodles with some additional options to start up. Service wise they were dreadful though it took them 40 min to get us one of the order in which time we were forced to take it with us back home. The waiters were constantly running around but it seemed difficult to get their attention
(3)Raj B.
Food has been diminishing in quality over the years. Lousy service, manager has a rude, un-inviting, zero friendly attitude. No way I will give them my business again. There are so many better options in the city. This place just lost its B list ranking in my book. After 2 bites, I said I didn't want the Pad Thai because it too fishy. She responds, thats how we make it. Nothing wrong w food, u pay. I said fine, U just lost a customer & won't be coming back... She walks away.
(1)Patrick F.
Joy Yee has big portions of food, so you will get a lot of bang for your buck here. With that being said the food is not that great. The service is below average and not friendly or personable. I had the chicken and shrimp pad Thai. It lacked any sort of flavor or depth to the dish and the noodles were a bit overdone. The interior is fairly clean but could use some work. I'm not sure if ill ever really have a desire to go back. I think this place is probably a student dining type of place, a lot of food for a good price where you don't really care about the taste.
(3)Jill D.
Huge menu of Korean and Vietnamese dishes which was cool. Not sure they have a bar. Kinda bright in their, not a first date place. Service was ok, even though there were only a few tables of people in their (Super Bowl Sunday and a blizzard outside). I loved the chicken soup, and the basil chicken lettuce wraps. Very good, healthy (I think), and huge portions for the price. Check out the pics.
(4)Patricia L.
Love coming to this place for their smoothies. They use real fruit so it always tastes fresh and never artificial! I love getting fruit on top and some sort of jelly in my smoothies as well. The tapioca (boba) can be a hit or miss, sometimes it's a bit too chewy or hard otherwise it's usually okay. The food is generally okay as well. I find that they drown their dishes in sauce, making the noodles or vegetables or whatever extremely soggy after a few bites. They have a huge selection of both food and drinks in their menu. I don't think you can go wrong with any of the smoothie combos. As for food, just don't expect the best.
(4)Matt Y.
I can see the attractions of this place being near UIC and poor students but this place is definitely a hit or miss and misses most of the time. The quantities are hugh and often enough for 2 meals but this is definitely not authentic asian food at all. The Vietnamese sampler A came with Pho (worst Pho ever with way way too much cinnammon), beef on top of noodles and some sort of short ribs. This is where it gets interesting....the short ribs had a elastic quality to the meat that was just not natural but I'm afraid to know what makes the meat elastic. I'm Korean and grew up on short ribs and never ran into elastic meat. I can't even say that the meat was tough, it literally was like chewing on a piece of rubberband with the bounce back. Please somebody out there let me know if you ever tried this here and know what I'm talking about. Back to the Korean thing, don't get the Bulgogi and tofu soup combo either. Pretty bland to say the least. Just because you throw some cubes of tofu and kimchee into water and boil it doesn't make it either tasty or Korean. I do have to say that their pad thai is pretty decent most of the time and sweeter to gear towards the western palate. As a parting remark, the University of Illinois in Urbana/Champaign (a proud alum) alma mater statue on Green Street states "To thy happy children of the future, those of the past send greetings"......to the students of UIC, 1. don't tell people that you go to U of I. UIC is not U of I. 2. I hope the future for you brings you more money to eat better food!
(2)Julie P.
Okay, I dont know if its just me but I dont really enjoy going to this place. Here are my reasons: 1. the chairs are super uncomfortable. 2. the green walls hurt my eyes and arent flattering. 3. the menu is waaaay to big that it gets stressful for first time customers ( i've been there more than a couple of times and i still get stressed) 4. the food is ok. I DONT UNDERSTAND WHY PEOPLE KEEP SAYING THAT THE FOOD HERE IS SUPER GOOD OR THAT ITS THE BEST! I have tasted food much better elsewhere. I dont think there isnt anything special with the food except its in modern to jungle like dishes to make it look super nice. for the bubble tea...it taste okay. nothing to hype about. Ive tasted better elsewhere. i never liked joy yees. im just not a fan. so if you like wired chairs, menus that can just make it very overwhelming when your super hungry and food that taste ok...then this is the place for you.
(2)Richie D.
For sure my favorite Chinese spot. We go to pig out and the service is always there with a million and one servers. Their fresh fruit bubble teas and variety are astounding. They're absolutely huge and thank goodness they give you a plastic cup and cover to go if you don't finish it all. The menu is endless with pictures of every items (which I'm thankful for). Their little rice bamboo boxes are adorable. It is so good I can barely put it in words. Just try it out for yourself, whether here or at their Chinatown location! I even like the bright yellow walls, which isn't something I would ever admit.
(5)daynia S.
The menu is humongous and so many options. It takes a moment to get your mind to focus but staff are patient and helpful when you can't narrow it down to two meal options. Highly recommend going with a large group so you get a chance to try a little bit of everything.
(3)Alan W.
Huge fan of their Drinks.
(4)Kevin L.
What is there to say that some else hasn't already told you about this place. What I like is that this place is very consistent. we usually order the same dishes and one or two new ones, and they never have an off night. For a cheap dish try the cubed beef with tomato rice. Its small cubes pieces of meat with an orange tomato based rice. My favorite is the Curry Coconut Chicken Rice. I think inflation is starting to drive prices up a little bit, but the food is still worth it. This place has a big negatives over the Chinatown location. The tables are too high for the chairs. And both locations have terrible chairs, you know the ones with awkward shapes with big missing gaps in them.
(4)Emily D.
We bought the condo we were renting so finding some good delivery spots became even more dire. I know what you're thinking, "Dude, you are a Red Line stop away from China Town." But as I've discussed with Aurore L., I can't find a restaurant worth patroning there, not to mention after my tour and interest in the Chinese American Services League I just can't stomach supporting the low wages many establishments on the strip provide. Or should I be because at least it's getting money in their pockets? Oh the push and pull of where to get sweet 'n sour chicken. (Seriously, if you're looking for a great place to volunteer, CASL is fantastic.) With that in mind, I have no idea of Joy Yee is a saint of social services, but I do know that their chicken and pineapple fried rice is solid and their crab rangoon is creamy and crabby and cruncharific. But something about standbys like Orange Chicken, Lo Mein, Pad Thai. . . all a little off, and far too few vegetables. "Onions" does not mean one scallion. And flavor is frequently lacking. Joy Yee is a crap shoot, so it's best to stick with what you find is edible and interesting. And shame on me for not following Queen Colleen C's lead and just ingesting a liquid diet of bubble tea. That might be a better route. For now, I'm glad to have something predictable, mediocre and safe within reach during the winter hibernation months. Still, the search for solid Asian continues. . .
(3)Nicole C.
This place will always hold a weird place in my heart. The food is decent, and depending on what day you catch them- the service will match. I like the food, and I hate the location, and occasionally the people who eat here. So what do I do? I order to go.
(3)P S.
The best New Years Day slothfest ever required food. We were, after all, in the midst of a Star Wars marathon and all that bad writing and questionable acting makes people hungry. Chinese? Chinese. One hour and thirty minutes(!) later, we had our garlic chicken and orange chicken, Thai iced coffee and a watermelon freeze (no tapioca for either, thanks. Blech). The garlic chicken was tasty with some nice heat, the orange chicken was tasty if not a bit standard (but was spared that gloppy, bright orange sauce). We received one small rice per dish and if you like a nice 50/50 proportion in your bowl, do yourself a favor and order a third small rice. The Thai iced coffee, while not my thing, seemed to go over well and my watermelon freeze was a little bit of summertime in a cup. Yum. I need to try Joy Yee again to fully stand behind these optimistic four stars. It wasn't the world's best Chinese food, but it was tasty and definitely hit the spot. Plus you get a lot for your buck. You'll most likely have leftovers and you definitely will have a lighter wallet. $30 for those four items. Yowza.
(4)Andrew B.
While this is not authentic Asian food I enjoyed my meal at Joy Yee's. Like most Asian places the menu is about 35 pages and there are pictures of everything. I went with a shrimp and pork dish, which was excellent. It had the right amount of oil with just enough spiciness. The portion was large, but I had to eat it all. I also had bubble tea with tapioca balls. They serve the bubble teas with wide straws so the balls and juice shoot right up through the straw. Next time, however, I will be passing on the balls and sticking with a regular smoothie! Service and atmosphere were average. I will definitely be going back to Joy Yee's when I have time for a long lunch.
(4)Stu S.
I am addicted to this place for their insane abundance of choices of delicious fresh fruit smoothies / freezes / bubble teas. I am more interested in the exotic fruits such as their Jack Fruit / Ice Cream Freeze, Tarot Root Freeze with "BOBBLE". For newcomers get the Triple Berry Freeze with tapioca or any Mango concoction then experiment from there. They allow you to customize them too. Now the food is average Asian cuisine covering many styles with some dishes being not good at all. However, if you are up to taking risks and hunt through their overwhelming menu you will find your favorite dishes to come back for. It just takes trial and error. I personally think their Pad Tai and Korean Vegetable Dumplings are great choices to accompany these amazing fruit smoothies as first timers. I do want to inform others that the portions here are enormous and I suggest ordering 1-2 appetizers and 1 dish to share with one other person so you have room to finish their tall heavenly drinks with thick straws otherwise you will be walking out of their hunch backed and bloated. I would like to know what everyone elses' favorite dishes are because the menu is too long to try everything out. However, their prices are very reasonable, they are open late and the service is prompt. My recommendation to improve this place is to reduce the food menu and focus on refining fewer dishes.
(4)Dan L.
This is the best place (Outside of Chinatown) to get awesome chinese food and killer smoothies. There's a million things on the menu and whether it's been deliver, takeout or dine in, I have never once had a problem and I always become severely stuffed with fried rice, egg drop soup with beef and some veggie lo mein.
(5)Amy G.
A friend and I stopped in for a quick late lunch before heading to a concert in Logan Square. As neither of us were feeling very hungry and were in a hurry, we both ordered teas and fresh fruit cups. And we waited. And waited. And waited. Twenty five minutes later and still no fruit cups nor drinks. We walked to the counter and saw all the fruit was pre-cut near the station to make the tapioca fruit freezes Joy Yee's is so famous for. Literally-- all the server or prep cook needed to do was spoon some of the already-prepared fruit into bowls. We approached the cashier who was ringing up a gaggle of UIC students. Once they finished he picked up the phone. Five more minutes pass-- he's clearly on a personal call. "Um, could we just get our food to go?" My friend asks softly. He doesn't even look up at us. Deciding better of dragging out an already fruitless (pun!) situation, we bail, head across the street, and opt for some wraps at Jamba Juice instead.
(1)Raquel D.
It's actually really 3 1/2, but bumped up for convenience in proximity to mi casa. It's almost always my go-to spot for last min delivery - they have me on file and i have them on speed dial. Hey, I get lazy in the cold winter! I always get the same thing here for some reason - basil chicken fried rice and the occasional meat won ton and chicken soup. I know, I know - whatta bore. But it's what I crave the most after almost having half the menu - one of my comfort foods, if you will. Plus, the rice and soup is enough for two (content) meals each for the hubby and I. And we likes to EAT. Of course, the shakes are bizzooomb! My all-time fav drink is almond milk tea, but I do love me some avocado shakes here and there. Easy on da tapioca, please. :)
(4)Crista L.
I've never experienced fishy Pad Thai until I stepped in to Joy Yee. Can you order individual portions of food at Joy Yee or do the portions only come in family size (see: Costco / Sams Club) Wait, Joy Yee is the Sams Club of Asian Cuisine. not my style....
(2)Gabriela C.
I am in LOVE with the 'Korean Spicy Fried Dumplings'. The place is usually packed inside and out. (They sell smoothies outside as well).
(4)Rene F.
I went to the Halsted location with the family. I'm a fan of the smoothies and the food is good.
(4)Brett N.
Just got lunch through take-out. When I went to eat it I noticed that the shrimps have not been cleaned/de-veined. I called to let them know incase it was overlooked today. The manger proceeded to tell me that they do not clean their shrimp and that is how the shrimp is in all their dishes. Also, the singapore noodle was bland and definitely not the greatest I've tasted. I'm sure they have other non0shrimp dishes that are great but the I can help but to get turnoff when I manager is proud to tell me they dont clean their shrimp. No, thanks.
(1)L Z.
I love Joy Yee, but service matters! I wasn't going to post this review. Instead, I sent them an email 2 weeks ago. Unfortunately, it was never answered. I called this location to place a pick-up order while running errands. The machine said they were under renovation, which I thought happened months ago, so I decided to stop by anyway. They were open, so I parked, walked to the front and stood in line, for 10 min. I placed my order and started waiting. After another 10 min, I was called to the register. Turns out the noodles I ordered cost an additional $1. (Really?!) I paid the dollar, ordered a smoothie, and continued waiting. Mentioned the answering machine issue while I was at the register. The guy's response: "I don't know how to change it!" Long story short, after finally receiving my order and then reminding the staff I was waiting for a smoothie, I left - 30 minutes after arriving. I then found out at home that I was given the wrong noodles...
(1)Edgar D.
I've been to their location in Chinatown, but I think this one is better. I almost always order the same thing everytime. Yes, I know, when there's a million and one things to order off the menu. But if you like something then like it, right. Anyway, always speedy service but chairs are little uncomfortable.
(4)Nichole N.
Today, for the first time I tried Joy Yee's Noodle Shop and I can gladly say I have found me a new Hot Spot. I love the vairety of fruit drinks/ SMOOTHIES and the wide range food menu. The service is excellent and very friendly. If you are considering eating here, don't be afraid to try something new you just might love it!!
(5)Deepika T.
Highlights: - Mango lychee shake - Strawberry lychee shake - Singapore rice noodles - Spicy green beans in garlic sauce - Spicy vegetable potstickers Only three stars though - Joy Yee's has a HUGE menu but very limited vegetarian options (pretty much the ones listed above). Their service was great. We strolled in about 30 minutes before closing time on a Tuesday night and ordered food 15 minutes before the kitchens closed, but they didn't rush us through anything.. Parking isn't all that easy to come by on this stretch, so drive around a couple of times.
(3)Jen T.
The bubble tea here is GREAT and not made from a machine, but instead, using fresh ingredients! Going here is worth it for this fact alone in my book. In general the menu is a little bit pricey, but the portions are huge, so you can either split with a friend or take some home for another meal later and it's totally worth it. There's a huge selection (plus they'll make adjustments as you need), so there's something for everyone, meat-eating to vegan. This place is a gem for UV, especially when you consider what other limited options are in the immediate vicinity.
(4)Philippe F.
Their menu is gynormous......I LOVE IT! I couldn't decide what do get....I wanted it ALL! So of course I went with the Vietnamese Sampler: Spareribs with rice, Grilled Pork Vermicelli, and Pho. Son of a mother lover did that hit the spot!!! I filled up so much on that, and our crab rangoon app, that unfort I was unable to fit a bubble tea in, even after unbuttoning and unzipping my pantalones. Joy Yee is a very clever name......because you will be jumping up with joy and screaming: YEEEEE, YEEEEE, YEEEEEE, all the way home.....
(5)Ryne D.
I've been to almost every Joy Yee's location, and they're all great. Their bubble tea is unparalleled for the Chicagoland area thanks to their usage of fresh fruit - no powder (I go for the mango mini pearl freeze). There's a huge variety of Asian food, most of which you don't see on your usual Chinese food menu. I was there today with a friend who made the best observation...even if you don't know what's good there, hopefully you're with someone who does. Then you share that dish with other people the next time you go there, and so on. Today I found out about beef with tomato sauce on rice, which was savory and excellent. For my recommendation, give the Japanese seaweed salad a go. The Halsted location is usually busier than the other locations due to being close to the UIC campus. Street parking is available if you're lucky, but the nearby garage is cheap. I've also done pick-up from this location which was speedy and easy. A great place to go if you're not afraid of trying new dishes.
(4)J J.
PRO's: fast. average $. DELICIOUS bubble teas (you can nix the tapioca). CON's: so fast they may rush through the order taking and mess up your order.
(4)Eric P.
People have got to stop over-hyping this place and eat real food. Yeah it'll satisfy the cravings of chinese food but it just a cheap substitute (figuratively speaking because it'll cost you quite a bit). I would say it's over priced for what you get especially now since the portions have gotten smaller and everything taste very very similar! It's sad how many people have been deceived. Look rule of thumb if the natives don't eat at a restaurant then it ain't real chinese food. Yes it's pan-asian but even that doesn't give it a good alibi for price, quality, and quantity issues. Thus only when I am desperate will I ever go to joyee's (usually my decieved friends). Had it at least 25 times and never really enjoyed it. But if you are going to come here get the best combination fruit freeze: Mango Watermelon Lychee! Amazing combination, my favorite! But do yourself a favor and ditch their nasty too starchy and non-sweet tapioca. Food wise: beef cubes with rice, french style short rib over rice, teriyaki beef.
(2)Rebecca G.
This place isn't amazing (but their boba tea is!) The food is pretty good, and their menu is huge, so I can't say I've tried everything, but the things I have tried I've liked them all. Many of the items are standard "Asian food" restaurant items, not that that's a bad thing, but if you are looking for really authentic food, this probably isn't the place to go. Be prepared to be overwhelmed by the number of items on their menu as well as the size, they got it printed on oversized laminated paper, so it is sometimes a little ridiculous to handle, and if you go with a group they seem to get in the way easily. Pros: many options, decent prices, close to UIC campus (if you're a student), and boba tea! (not just fruit smoothies), takeout and delivery Cons: overpriced for what you get (but large portions), pretty generic for a lot of things you can order overall it's a place to check out if you want a fast place to jump in and eat, but not if you're looking for something adventurous.
(4)Catherine X.
After years of being a loyal patron to my faves: Kimchee and Beef, Basil Pad Thai, Beef Cubes with Tomato, and Honeydew Lychee Bubble Tea, I'm not ashamed to say that I used to have Joy Yee's on my speed-dial and the delivery boy used to know me. Anyway... Yes, it's not really Asian food. What did you expect when you saw Korean/Chinese/Japanese/Thai food all on one menu? Yes, their bubble tea is good, and they use *actual fruit*! Usually I ask for just a little tapioca because they like to give me a GINORMOUS serving of balls in my drink. (P.S. the leftover balls are good for shooting pigeons with through your straw. If you're judging me right now, you're probably from the suburbs.) The flavor of the drink can be a little spotty depending on the season it is. If you're an Asian girl, prepared to get hit on by the stocky Canto server with no neck. Gross-factor: last time I came here with friends, one of the guys saw a cook in the other bathroom stall with the door wide open. Sometimes you get dinner AND a show :D ... and he didn't wash his hands!
(3)Krsna V.
One of my favorites in this city. Authentic or no-authentic, it is good food.The bubble teas are the best. My favorites are mango and coconut. My fat ass always has a hard time sitting on these chairs. The chairs are very uncomfortable. The base is shaped like a triangle and it is just hard to sit on them. But, who cares?....the food and bubble tea makes it all better...i may be walking out looking like i have something stuck up there..... but, there is a smile on my face because i just got the mango bubble tea...mmmm!!! Now lets get to the food part, OK? The menu always amazes me. How can one restaurant have so many items? The pictures definitely help. Food presentation is always interesting. From the pineapple fried rice served in a scooped up pineapple to the sauna shrimp which are served in a wooden container that resembles a sauna, every presentation is a feast to the eyes. I have been here many times, tried different items, and have always been impressed. If you are not the adventurous kind, stick to the curry chicken wings, lemon grass chicken, sauna shrimp, and wings. Safe bets! Even my best friend's parents from the Bayou (southern Louisiana) liked the chicken wings and lemon grass chicken.....and they don't usually eat non-American food. I would totally give it 5 stars if not for the chairs.
(4)Angie E.
Food is decent here. The pineapple fried rice is nice and it's served in a pineapple. Atmosphere is ok; it's really busy and tight at times. The reason I would go back is for their sugar cane drink!!
(3)Khadijah L.
Joy Yee is the Joy to my Yee. It means I like this place a LOT. This is a review for all Joy Yee. I come here to the University village quite frequently as I live close by, i think they need to give me a discount card! 1. Their food is consistent. From Naperville, to Chinatown, to University Village, to Evanston. Yes, I have been to all of them. 2. Their bubble tea *IS* the best in the city. Their smoothies too. Nowhere else can you beat the price and tastiness of their fresh mango smoothie. 3. How can you have 52846 things on your menu and keep the quality even and consistent at every location??? 4. While it may not be the best chinese/ best thai/best korean/best vietnamese/ best malaysian, joy yee is a place you can count on, and not disappoint. See #1 & 3. 5. Large portions. sometimes very large. check with waiter if you are unsure. 6. Fast, easy, it does not pretend to be what it is not. 7. Large pictures so you know what you get! See #6!! 8. Street parking may be difficult, but theres a garage around the back that is $2 for within 2 hours or 3, if I am not mistaken. Thats like what you pay for those stupid damn meters anyway. Things I like: -Basil Chow Fun -Basil Fried Rice** -Green Curry Chicken** -Korean Seafood Soup -Malaysian Baked Rice -Seafood Baked Rice -Mango Freeze w/tapioca -Green Tea Freeze w/tapioca* (roundhouse kicks Starbucks Green Tea Frappucino's ass. serious)
(5)Paulina N.
Their spring rolls are the BEST I EVER HAD. That's pretty much why I go to Joy Yee's haha. there is way too much to order from... Bubble tea is decent. Beef cubes are the bomb. Pretty much everything I had here was pretty darn good (my previous bf is a regular here)... everything except the soup :X it was alright... a little too bland for my liking.
(5)Linh P.
I love ths place. it was the highlight of my college career living right next to it. Food is always HUGE and fulfilling. Although i suggest they get more employees who understands english .
(5)klassy k.
it's true: their bubble teas are the jam. THE JAM! however, my korean beef and kimchee was only ok, and service was less than attentive (it was x-mas day and they were slammed, so this might be an unfair criticism). i would definitely go back, even just for the freakin tapioca ballz! yea boi!
(3)Eric P.
I would give this dump 0 stars if that was an option. I couldn't swallow half of the sh*t that was delivered to me. I would rather eat a can of cat food. People that voted this pace any more than 1 star have no taste buds.
(1)Elyse C.
i don't like writing bad reviews, but i really hate being lied to, especially when i am craving chinese food and want to give someone my money. i work in the west loop at a different restaurant, and it looked like i was going to get out at ten oclock. i saw joy yees website listed them closing at ten thirty, so i called around six to confirm the latest time i could place an order, "ten o'clock" was the official answer. i called at 9:44 to be safe (i know most people lie when the complain, twenty minutes actually means ten, but i made it a point to call at a specific time because kitchens sometimes close ten minutes early if its slow). somehow the hours of the restaurant changed over the afternoon and they stopped taking orders at 9:45, still refused to let me get food, and suggested their chinatown location, no thanks. their food was great when id go here in college, but this is a huge customer service error that late night diners should be wary of.
(1)Daniel C.
Portions are more than adequate and the drinks are incredible. I give it 4 stars because I find it hard to give 5 stars unless it's absolutely perfect. Had the pho, watermelon lychee smoothies and taro strawberry smoothie. The pho didn't come with fresh basil and lemon and that's the only oversight I could find. Portions were good, meat and tripe had the buttery texture/flavor I look for. But the star of Joy Yee are the fruit drinks. Fresh, with chunks of real fruit and just really really good. One of the best things offered by Chicago that is hard to match in other tea places I've been in New York or LA.
(4)Justin G.
A copy of the place of the same name in Chinatown, this place has a huge selection of food. Everything is tasty. The fruit smoothies are awesome too. My favorite is the Taro flavored.
(4)Daniel D.
Great food, very good service. We had bulgogi and chicken wonton noodle soup which were both excellent. Will definetely return!
(4)Marcel M.
After going to both a bunch of times, I feel the food is a tad bit better at the Chinatown location, but at least the bubble tea is still consistent. Bonus tips: A good option is extra tapioca. A nice double scoop of balls that you can ration when you enjoy the whole drink. If you like Halo-Halo, a Filipino dessert, then try out the coconut / jackfruit combo. Damn good.
(4)Andrew P.
Joy Yee's came highly anticipated... Much to my dismay, the food did not live up to the billing. First off, Joy Yee's does not go through the usual grubhub or delivery dot com - so placing an online order was a headache as I had to register with yet another online delivery service that will probably fill up my email with random coupons or notices that there are new restaurants that i should try. Not a deal breaker, but annoying nonetheless. I know that Joy Yee's is dubbed a noodle shop, so it is probably my fault for not going with a noodle dish. I went with the yellow curry with duck. As experiences with curries go, you win some and you lose some. This curry, though, had to have been one of the most flavorless I have ever tasted. The duck was overcooked and I spent more time picking small bones out of the meat then I did eating the dish. The GF ordered pad thai... simple and classic. Even the pad thai left a lot to be desired. Very, very little flavor. I will say that the beef dumpling appetizer was quite fantastic. The prices were a bit high - after delivery charge, taxes and tip the entire meal ran $40... for two sub-par entrees and a great appetizer. The delivery was prompt, even early. So, I'm possibly willing to give Joy Yee's another try... I know now not to go with a curry. Maybe one of their specialty dishes will bring a better reaction. I don't know - we shall see...
(2)Celeste C.
First of all, Joy Yees has a GIGANTIC menu. Huge. Colossal. That being said, I pretty much order the same thing every time. The Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls are light and fresh and delicious. Great as a light lunch on their own. Or great as an appetizer to a huge stuff-your-face fest that is about to commence. The Sesame Chicken is everything you want in Sesame Chicken. Chicken. Sesame. An unidentifiable sauce. The fact is, if I'm looking for some major calorie-packed goodness and I don't care exactly what part of the chicken I'm actually eating, Sesame Chicken does the trick. Stay away from the noodles. Mostly unimpressive. And rice is decent. And always, ALWAYS, get some bubble tea.
(4)Joseph B.
Nice Place for lunch, huge menu and bubble tea with endless flavor choices choices
(3)Jane Y.
joy yeeees oh how i miss your bigger portions. and your old prices and your lovely uic discount. now its only for dine in. you dont give as much bubble tea either. its so sad because its the best. and so i've been cutting down because im a poor college student. sigh. but i will get some when i get more $$ please reconsider your prices. im really bummed. you get so much business too. *sigh
(3)Naomi L.
Delicious!! I LOVE the boba here and all the dishes. Place is clean as well.
(4)Nona Gayle D.
I am giving them the one star because their food is good, and I'm giving them the one star because their service sucks. My family and I went to eat here literally the other day and after we had our meal which was fine, we were handed the bill. My father who decided to be nice and treat us, handed them a $100.00 bill since our bill was around $60.00. This is where the problem begins.... now I work in retail and can usually spot a weird bill... Joy Yee's refused my father's money. With no other explanation other than, we cannot accept this. It was so utterly rude that I myself was furious. My question is what if we had no other form of payment? What would they have done then? Called the police because we tried to give them good money? It was unbelievable, I will never go to that place again. By the time we left we felt insulted. I have never experienced such bad service in my entire life. The manager then tried to make amends before we left by giving us some empty reason why they could not take the bill. I then proceeded to question, did they want us to pay with 60 one dollar bills, or 12 five dollar bills? Was 100 dollar bill too much? Safe to say, Joy Yee's has lost my business. Sorry.
(1)Samra M.
Mmmm! I remember my first time at Joy Yee's , everyone had this hype about it, so I decided to give it a try. If you haven't tried bubble tea, or "boba" this is the place to give it a try, some may or may not like the tapioca pearls in the drinks and you can always substitute them with jelly or have nothing in them at all! PLUS they're made with REAL fruit and you can watch them make your drink right in front of you. As for the food, it has an asian zing to it. The atmosphere is lively because it is near UIC and college students usually drop by for take out and sit down to eat in between or after classes. Service was OK, some look mean and the others just hit on you, but then again I'm a college student, anyways they're pretty fast as well. You'll enjoy the food and it's great to bring company with.
(3)Stephanie C.
I've had a mixed experience with this place. I had undercooked chicken once at a group lunch. Luckily I noticed it before I ate it and they quickly gave me a different meal. Since then I have been brave and tried it again and it is pretty good. I hear that if you like Bubble Tea this is the place to go.
(3)James R.
I got takeout on a Tuesday night. Ordered the thai curry beef, fried chicken over rice, wonton soup, spring rolls, and boba tea. The portions are huge! Unfortunately the taste does not follow suit. If you like greasy, slimy, bland chinese food with huge portions, this is the place for you. The only somewhat edible thing was the curry beef, which was bland and slimy. The boba tea was luke warm except for the iced portion at the top, but was otherwise the tastiest thing. Service was bleh, the server seemed to get angry when I did not pick up my boba tea immediately. One nice thing though is you can order online for pickup. I may be tempted to go back here for some more luke warm boba tea, but I think I'll be skipping on the solids.
(1)Debbie F.
Salted fish with pork and egg in a hot pot #409 was divine. The ham yu bits were perfect and the sauce soaked through the rice all the way to the bottom of the stone bowl. Finally found one well done authentic dish on their menu! Hahaha!
(4)Aman B.
Have been going here quite a few times now. The quality of food has always been consistent and selection is endless! The portions are HUGE! For newbies, there are actual images of dishes on their menu so can see what your going to get and save a disappointing surprise. The juices selections are vast and personally cannot leave without a mango freeze or their sugar cane freeze. Quantity wise, the juices can be a meal alone. If you are a vegetarian, there are some good choices but ASK before ordering. I used to order the Tofu Pad Thai but recently found out it is cooked in fish sauce. overall, this is a great place. They have some lunch specials from 11:30 - 3:30 if I remember correct where you save a few dollars but the portions are smaller. If your parking, it can be a hit or miss finding a spot on the street, especially when school is in session at UIC.
(4)Rebecca B.
Love the service, friendly! (Shout out to Winnie) Great price and generous portions.
(5)Jillian S.
The best of the best of this overwhelming menu: korean spicy fried dumplings basil chicken mongolian beef coconut baked chicken (it comes in a coconut!) lychee with tapioca freeze I have been coming to Joy Yee's faithfully for over 4 years. If someone says they want Asian food in Chicago, this is my go-to place! You can get anything you want here. The atmosphere is really fun too! When you come, try the bubble teas! They do not disappoint and are super fresh - real fruit, never powders!
(5)Ilya B.
Food is great and quick! But the website and online ordering system is poor. I'm downgrading this review by two stars because if you order online the minimum cost is $10, but many of the entrees are purposefully priced at $9.95, which makes you spend an extra few dollars on something you don't want just to fulfill the $10 minimum. If you change this, I'd rate 5 stars!
(3)Will M.
Best fruit smoothies ever. I am a huge fan of their jackfruit and durian freezes. They offer mango jelly as well as tapioca. Food is fusion, I'm more of an authentic person, but they are fast with the smoothies.
(5)Erik C.
Delicious ramen! Lots of students come to this location, so beware. Water stays full all the time. The food is completely delicious, get the veggie lo mein, beef cubes over tomato rice and definitely Korean spicy dumplings. Always leave with a bubble tea.
(4)iddells E.
When you're handed a HUGE Pan-Asian menu and seated in a restaurant full of non-Asians, you could not help to think that the food will be inauthentic. Undoubtebly, the food was not authentic; however, I have to admit, it was pretty tasty. Husband ordered the beef teriyaki. If you've ever been to a Japanese restaurant, you would know that teriyaki sauce is pretty sweet and tangy. Joy-Yee's dish was good, but there was no hint of teriyaki anywhere, it was just a grilled garlic beef dish. I had the Thai Spicy Basil Chow Fun. Isn't Chow Fun Chinese? Why the Thai? Plus it wasn't spicy at all!!! Grrrr....but it was good. My brother ordered this dish that had tiny cubed pieces of marinated beef over a bed of what seemed to resemble Spanish rice. Again, good, but what is Spanish rice doing here?? Last time I went here, I got Thai beef green curry.....BIG mistake. Nothing like green curry.....at all! I don't even think they put any coconut milk in it, huge disappointment. I can picture Joy-Yee's owners looking out at their customers, laughing to themselves, and thinking "these people think that they're eating "real" Asian food...idiots!!" Bubble Tea.....what happened to the bubbles? I remember when I used to go here, their bubbles were perfect, chewy, and sweet! But now they were just tasteless pieces of rubber....no fun. Although, the avocado shake itself was good. I wouldn't even think of ordering any Korean or Vietnamese dish from here. I'm not going to risk it! If you really don't know anything about Asian food, get whatever you like. Bottom line.....it's all about quantity over quality here at Joy-Yee's.
(2)Jenny M.
really good drinks- food is hit or miss... one thing that is annoying- waiters dont like to give change back! i had to stare one down to bring me my $10 back! why would i leave $10 tip when my bill was only 25? & all they really did was bring my food out? plz let me decide the tip!
(4)Joanna K.
This place have the largest bubble teas menu and the drinks are huge! The drink was tasty. I ordered fried rice and seafood chow fuun which was good. The place is clean and trendy. There were many waiters standing at the front waiting around which I thought was awkward because I didn't feel like it was private.
(4)Loan L.
This place is the best. Whenever I come to Chicago I always crave joy yees. The menu is huge and everything (food and drinks) are average to above average! It's authentic Asian food, and definitely satisfies the craving. The variety offered here can make a big group happy. The food menu is very extensive, with in color pictures, of dishes ranging from Chinese to Thai to Vietnamese to Korean. This place has it all and it's delicious. My favorite dishes are the tomato beef cubes, the beef chow noodles, and cong xing Cai. The dishes are huge portions and shareable. Perfect place to go for family style meals. The drinks menu is like heaven. Anything you could possibly want! There's milk tea, smoothies, freezes, slushies, etc. You can even adjust the sugar level. My favorite is the avocado smoothie and matcha milk green tea. Go here and check out everything!
(5)Andy N.
I have an extreme love-hate relationship with Joy Yee. On one end, you got a vast selection of Asian dishes to pick from. Most of it would be Chinese American, but if you're feeling Thai, Viet, or Singaporean, there is likely to be some rendition of their national dish here for you to eat. However, with so many options, you know Joy Yee probably won't be specializing in anything particularly amazing. First experience, I ordered some brisket noodle soup for lunch. The brisket was awfully chewy, hard, and overall not good. The soup came with thick rice noodles instead of thin egg noodles, which was disappointing. Plus a lack of vegetables in the soup made it nearly inedible. Second time, I just got a $4.50 boba, a strawberry-mint concoction. Given it was a hot day and it's large portion, I was extremely satisfied with the drink. Chock full of sugar, yes. But it was still a treat and decent quality boba in the UIC area. Third time, I was craving for some calamari so I ordered their Thai Fried rendition off the seafood menu. At $15, it was rather steep, but the take out included a very large helping of squid. However, it was pretty bland, with little to no real salt-pepper seasoning that I expected. I also ordered a small Wonton Chicken Soup, which I have to say was probably the best thing I've gotten from Joy Yee. So I've had some terrible experiences, and some decent ones. Overall, I think my love for Asian food helped push Joy Yee over to the 3 star side, but rest assure, a lot of their food is pretty unimaginative and lacks flavor. Despite the few gems here and there, make sure you are ready for basic quality Asian food and decent potion sizes.
(3)Butters B.
I should have taken past reviews of this place into account so that's on me. I ordered delivery from this place tonight, and after receiving confirmation that my food was on its way, an hour past the delivery time my food still had not arrived. I called the restaurant and was told they forgot to make the food. Really?!? I have never been to the actual restaurant but if you are considering this place for delivery, please reconsider.
(1)NARDO Q.
Vietnamese sandwiches are awesome. The Chocolate and Coffee freezers are awesome! Soft shell crab rolls are also great. If you ask for it to be spicier then they will make it for you. GREATNESS!
(5)D D.
I wanted to love this place but I think my experience was just like the reviews - hit or miss. Love the drinks! Two stars just for the drinks! Got my favorite - taro with boba. This is the first place I've been to in the city that has good boba. Most places don't cook it right but here it was the perfect texture & taste (trust me, there's a difference). The food was just ok. I had the beef vermicelli bowl with egg roll. The egg roll was doughy & not light or crispy whatsoever. The beef was seasoned with a thick sauce. The sauce for the bowl was not your typical fish sauce vermicelli noodle bowl sauce. Very strange. My friend had a dish that was titled "lemongrass" something. She said it had no lemongrass flavor at all. My other friend loved his dish so again, hit or miss. The waiter was impatient with us when we had questions about the menu. It was pretty slow yet they had 4-5 waiters just standing at the register doing nothing. The most irritating thing - when they dropped the check off they lingered around waiting for us to pull our cards out. Chill out buddy it's not like you need the table. I'll definitely be back for the drinks thou it might take some convincing to stay for the food.
(3)Joe B.
Be prepared to go on a journey, a journey that will take your tastebuds to places they've never imagined before, Frodo-style. Minus the old wizard with the pointy hat/long beard and the life threatening task of destroying the most powerful sorcerer of all time. That aside, this place wow'ed me even upon opening the menu. One of the perks is that everything (EVERYTHING) comes with a picture, so you know exactly what you're getting. Of course, there is the classic beef cubes, tender little cutlets steeped in a mouth-watering sauce, so delectable that sweet little cherubims will come and serenade you with each bite. However, another suggestion of mine is the Pork and Sugar Cane Shrimp. It comes with noodles, pork, sauce, and a shrimp patty skewered by a real sugar cane. The shrimp is P-A-C-K-E-D with flavor, and the whole symphony of flavors come together when you pour the sauce over it. Also, if you came and didn't get the bubble tea (or any other kind of specialty drink), I'm sorry, but turn around and go back because you didn't actually get a Joy Yee's experience. It's amazing. All for an affordable price.
(5)Jeana C.
Pro: Great for large groups as there are many tables inside and there are many types of Asian dishes so it accommodates everyone. Pro: My favorite thing about here is that they make FRESH fruit smoothies. Personal rant: The only problem I have with this place is the amount of food items in the menu. It's too huge for me and I become very indecisive. Like over 50 different type of dishes type of deal here, no joke. I feel like when the menu is that huge, those businesses don't have signature dishes that everyone should go for. As a result, everything taste mediocre.
(3)Charcy L.
They have very good drinks like smoothies, milk tea, huge selections of drinks, large cups and decent prices , their food is ok but not impressive, I think food price is a little bit high, and it's so authentic Chinese, more like mixture of different counties in asian, I recommend try out their drinks^^
(4)Anooj S.
I went to UIC for undergrad and this was practically on the campus. It was a very popular location because it was great food for a great price, not to mention the huge portion sizes. For $10-15 you basically get two meals! The food was always great and the service wasn't bad either. The bubble tea is really good too! The fruit is definitely fresh in all of their smoothies. The only bad thing I have to say is that the menu is way TOO large and can be intimidating. I've tried to venture out before but I find myself overwhelmed with the number of options. That usually leads me right back to square one where I either order my orange chicken extra spicy with fresh jalapenos or spicy basil chicken (also extra spicy). I have had more entrees than just those two, but those were my most common. I went here for 4 years and due to my somewhat short-term memory I cannot recall the names or distinctive flavors of those dishes. I do suggest trying the spicy basil chicken!!! If any other fellow yelpers have suggestions on new entrees to try, do share!
(5)Elv A.
Great food choices! And pretty good service overall. I especially love their mango smoothies.
(5)Amber S.
Two stars---service is terrible! Went there at 3pm to get a smoothie and fruit cup fix. The girl at the cashier seemed new and seemed to be frazzled with every question I asked about the smoothie and the person assisting her seemed most disinterested in helping and was on her phone the entire time. Needless to say it wasn't so pleasant to order---but I ignored that. What really put me off was that they gave me a hard time for sitting down and wanting to drink my smoothie and eat my fruit. There were over 6 tables open---and there seemed to be a bouncer that was very reluctant to let me sit down to enjoy what I purchased from them. When I ignored them and sat down they came up to my friend and I and had said that we need to get up and give up our table if it gets too full. Seriously between the two of us we had about 15 dollars worth of smoothies and fruit from them so it's not like we were trying to free-load on them at all. That's probably how much we would have spent if we had eaten their lunch anyways. Needless to say I didn't leave a tip because even water was not offered to me while at the table.
(2)Tina L.
Could someone please tell them to change their chairs???!!~ Seriously, who was the designer who thought that these would be perfect and comfy for their customers? I wore shorts the day we went and I had marks all over my legs after lunch! I saw so many people with that issue... Anyway, their menu is HUGE. I think they could benefit from downsizing their menu, actually. Some of their dishes are lacking and just doesn't really seem to make the mark as far as flavors go. I think if the kitchen is overwhelmed with so many different dishes that it needs to push out, the dishes are not as thoughtful or flavorful as it could be. We ordered the beef cubes, wonton noodle soup, and string beans. All were pretty good, just not phenomenal...know what I mean? We were craving some soup, though, so I guess it somewhat satisfied our craving for a little... I think I'll come back for bubble tea, but I don't necessarily crave any of the other dishes. At least it's close to home and work for me, just in case I need to eat some Chinese food quick style.
(3)Christopher K.
Out of all the Joy Yee's locations across Chicago, this has been my go-to for the past couple years. I don't get to frequent it much since I'm currently in school in Southwest Michigan, but I thoroughly enjoy it when I do get the chance. I particularly enjoy their large menu, but the best part of the Joy Yee's experience has to be their bubble tea! Atmosphere & Comfort: Probably the biggest knock about this place is the atmosphere. Although plenty spacious, the restaurant is often crowded and loud. Moreover, their chairs are terribly uncomfortable. They're literally pieces of scrap metal from the junkyard welded together in vague resemblance of a chair. What makes it even worse is that it's sometimes cold inside the restaurant so I can imagine how cold the chairs must be to the skin. Overall, not the most comfortable spot to eat at. Food: My personal favorite is the Beef Cubes! Perfectly sized cubes of cooked steak over delicious tomato rice in a HUGE bowl! A very rich, savory, and filling meal much thanks to the incredible portion size. I'm craving some now just writing about it haha. Bubble Tea: My two favorite are the Mango Lychee and Thai Iced Tea. When it comes to fruit smoothie bubble tea, this place is the best I've ever had! The fruit is always fresh and the boba doesn't taste funky or old like some other places might serve them. Super refreshing and a great if you just want to pop in to grab a bubble tea! Service: The service here isn't spectacular. I've had some so-so experiences where the waitress was rude, but with a lot of Asian workers, it's not about being the most polite--it's about getting the job done and they definitely meet my expectations when it comes to timeliness and attention. That isn't to say that they are outright terrible, they just do their job. Overall: In retrospect, I almost always leave Joy Yee's with a good to great restaurant experience. The food is delicious as long as you get the right things (Beef Cubes!) and you can't leave without grabbing yourself a bubble tea! Great option for a casual lunch or dinner with friends/date.
(4)Zia H.
Love the beef brisket lo mein here! Also great pad see yew and great smoothies and bubble tea. Like the UIC location for its exceptional service.
(4)John W.
The take-out service was pretty lackluster. An employee actually suggested that I use the website to find the menu because they were out of take-out menus. That would have been a great suggestion had their site been optimized for mobile use and did not have a gigantic coupon that couldn't be clicked thru. In any event, I ordered the General Tso's chicken (tend to try it at all new Chinese spots). It was $12 (pricey), dark meat (ugh), and not very good. No vegetables were included either. Can't say I can recommend based on my experience. Rare moment when both service and food were subpar.
(2)Arlene G.
had the soft shell crab here and I wasn't impressed with it. there was too much dough around it & I think it changed the taste of the actual crab. but the lettuce wraps were delicious. we also had thai basil fried rice which was flavorful. I usually don't go to this location but it was empty this nite so so problems at all with the service.
(4)Andrew H.
Divirery Puhweese.... I stepped out of my comfort zone and ordered Drinks only for delivery. It was great spending $25.00 on bubble tea x qty 4.
(5)Adrienne T.
Food portions are ridiculous. I mean, I ate enough for two people and I still brought home leftovers equivalent to two meals. Now, was the service amazing? No. Most of the servers could barely speak English, so communication was a bit difficult at times. Was the food amazing? Nothing special. My friends ordered the green thai curry and pad thai - both overly sweet. I ordered the beef shabu shabu. - It kind of lacked flavor. I mean usually there are additional accoutrements available with the shabu shabu dining experience. Unfortunately, those were not served with my meal. But, were the portion sizes enormous? Yep, and then some. So yeah. If you could care less about dining authentic and are just really hungry, Joy Yee is the place to eat.
(3)K P.
I usually go to the Joy Yee in Chinatown but it's always packed. Decided to give this one a try. The food is comparable to the other location (delicious!) and the portions are big, which is appreciated!
(5)John M.
This place was my go to place for Thai Green Curry Chicken when I had a yearning for some. I think I must have had it twenty times, and as time has gone on, I hate to admit it, but the quality has slowly diminished. So last night I decided to go for my favorite, not having been there in about eight months. It was terrible. There was to much gravy, and not enough chicken or green beans, or the other goodies they usually put in there. And the chicken had a bad after taste. They insist on giving you a appetizer plate with your dinner, instead of a full size plate. Finally, what is with the very uncomfortable metal patio chairs? C'mon guys, the place is always packed with students from UIC Campus, so they can afford some full size plates, and decent tables and chairs. Until then, I have to un-bookmark this place, and find a new go-to place for my green curry chicken.
(2)Dustin T.
Best smoothies and bubble tea! I would give this place 5-stars if I were soley rating their drinks. The food is mediocre. I would not come here if are looking to eat legit Asian food. This place is more fusion/americanized Asian food.
(3)Sonia L.
Yum, yum, yum...Where do I start with this one? We ordered the mango bubble tea in a fishbowl...I wanted to dive in and swim in it. We also ordered one of the bamboo steamed rice, an udon soup, a dish with ground pork gravy and scallops (im sorry I do not remember the names---when you see the menu you will be just as stunned and confused by the huge, colorful, full of variety, something-for-everyone menu. Overwhelming and takes a moment to study this thing...I'd say this is the fun part! Everything we ordered was delicious! Satisfying and piping hot! You just can't go wrong here. Nice seating, parking was a little tough since it is the UIC area and street only. That should not stop you from going to this location. It sure in the heck won't stop me.
(5)Lati T.
So good! Hits the spot every time! And so many options...my friends and I will usually order a bunch of plates and ask for extra bowls so that we can share!
(5)Julio R C.
I've been to both the Chinatown location and this location and I feel that the quality of the food is better at this location. My favorite dish here is the beef cubes over tomato rice. It is the most popular dish and it is absolutely mind blowing. Joy Yee has always been a great spot for bubble tea as well. They have a plethora of flavors with pages of options in their menu. One small thing that I really appreciate is that they always keep the water flowing. The servers are extremely good at keeping your glass of water full. You never really have an empty glass of water. Overall, this is a pretty solid spot. Especially since it's in the middle of University Village where no one really goes to unless you attend UIC.
(4)Erika P.
Love this place! They have so many bubble teas to choose from. You must get a bubble tea even if you're so full you have to get it to go! They're the best! Love their basil chicken and pineapple fried rice. Mix the Siracha with the sweet hoisin sauce and add to anything for a sweet heat.
(4)Johnny T.
With a menu this big, I let the thumbs up icon guide me. The Vietnamese Pho Beef Noodle Soup rare beef was what I ended up with. The broth reminded me of wonton soup, but at 3x the price. The tripe was so chewy, rough, and tasteless that it could have been mistaken as an inedible garnish. The meat balls were good, had a light breakfast sausage taste and texture to it.
(3)Bonnie E.
I was craving "lemongrass" anything and was in the vicinity of Joy Yee so there I went. I don't usually get "lemongrass beef" (I always do chicken or shrimp it seems) so I went for it. The portion size was huge and it was delicious. The meat looked a little soft or something at first so I was somewhat hesitant, but I think it's just well-marinated. It tasted great & I could definitely taste the lemongrass which made it that much better. (Many places will indicate "lemongrass something" but you barely taste it.) I was exceptionally impressed when my "small" chicken wonton soup arrived and it was the size of a small SUV. Woo! Three buck fifty and I even took some home for the next day. There was a nearby table with frosty light green drinks and that's on my list for summer. It was pretty freakin' chilly outside, but they were moving a lot of cold beverages in this place so I guess they must be good! The service was good, the place a bit rowdy and loud (Saturday afternoon w/a kid event going on down the street) so don't expect to come here on weekends for an intimate lunch or anything. It's got a "fast food" feel but the quality is much better. Extensive menu, great prices, good service...definitely, I'm a fan!
(4)Jamie H.
Every time I've gotten anything from here I"ve gotten Pad Thai, Crab Rangoon and Bubble Tea/Smoothies. Everything has been good every time and the portions are very large. The past time I ordered online, it said it'd be one hour before it was delivered - which I was totally bummed about - but when I got the call 15 minutes later that they were here, I was ecstatic! It was very hot and fresh!
(4)Ramone B.
Average at best. I went with a friend before a concert & Joy Yee is near the venue. I had previously been to the Joy Yee in Naperville, and that visit was the same for me. #Blah. The menu is huge. It took me while to glance thru it. Joy Yee really didn't do much to decorate either one of these restaurants that I've been to because they both look really plain inside. Like a Korean school cafeteria. This location has plastic chairs, and my table wouldn't sit flat unless you stuck something underneath the table leg. The food was just okay. I went for a seaweed salad, and some Korean dumplings. I tried my friends pot stickers and they were good. My friend obsesses over bubble tea when I can't even do it. Those tapioca pearls kinda weird me out. Feels like I have a chewy booger in my mouth. I had coconut milk with red beans which was okay. The staff really doesn't pay much attention to you, and you really have to flag them down if you want something. This place is perfect for where it's at because college kids could care less, but my Tastes have far surpassed this place. I would never go back. Only if I were with friend that wanted go!!
(3)Ignacio S.
So it was my first time coming here and I was so disappointed because I had heard so many good things about the smoothies. So I come in with my friend and some sweaty worker comes up to us and doesn't walk us to our table, instead he says "over there!" And points all the way across the restaurant. And then later while we were waiting for our food, another waiter comes and asks if we order the dish he's holding, um no? Shouldn't you know who orders what? And then finally while we're still eating, the first waiter went to 2 different tables asking "is this your credit card?" I was in so much shock. This place is very unprofessional, the food was half decent, and I won't be eating here anymore. If you go here, I suggest you don't pay with credit card!
(1)Angie P.
Best tapioca freezes in the city. Made with fresh fruit and so yummy!!
(5)Bill L.
We consistently get great service here. we normally order online via grubhub and they are about as fast as Jimmy John's is known for being! Plus everything is always piping hott and typical big portions and I think really good food. I want to say I think it's expensive but just about everything else costs the same but smaller quantity and less quality. One last thing, we seem to always get the same delivery guy and he couldn't be anymore better at what he does. I know we typically come on Yelp to complain, and I have had some tough experiences with other places. it's nice to have a reason to brag about a place.
(5)Eva D.
Their smoothies.......seriously YUM.
(4)Lily P.
always a good place to stop by for giant boba (the avocado one tastes like it has 10 avocados) the hot and sour soup is really good, kalbi beef, jap chae is not the best, the green curry is amazing here, and all the portions are huge. This is a great place to go since there are just so many types of food someone is bound to find something they want to eat. The chairs are def not comfortable at this location though!
(3)Julia K.
I love Joyees. This is my go to place and I will never get tired of this place. Although, I would like the servers to be more nicer and pleasant but I like the food so I go back. I love their bubble tea. I usually get the strawberry, taro, or a lot of milk tea kind, and also coconut flavors are good. My favorite of all time is the tomato beef cubes. You can ask for kimchi in the rice too but I only had it once or twice. If you have never been to Joyees, order that because it's great. I also like the tom yum? soup noodle, and the Korean kimchi fried rice was good. There's some more that I tried but I forgot the name of it but the best is the beef cubes! Their portions are nice and big too. You can take it for togo if you don't finish it. The interior design is nice too. They just made it bigger and they have a upstair too as well.
(5)Stephen M.
Service is atrocious. Simply asked what the food was on the table next to us and the guy's tone was 'which one' in this annoyed voice...we repeated it again and he got annoyed and basically blew up at us. We had a hard time understanding you that's why we kept asking. The food is great, but the service is horrible. Don't be surprised and don't start chasing us if we don't give any tips. I don't have tolerance for people like you. Tips aren't and shouldn't be mandatory.
(1)Nicole Y.
NIGHTMARE. DO NOT GET DELIVERY ON A SATURDAY. 2+ hr to get food delivered less than a mile away. Called to check the status of the order an hour and a half in and was told the delivery driver was going to be there any minute. After 45min I gave up and apologized to my guests and threw a frozen pizza in the oven. Delivery driver finally shows up and asks me if I have a pen so I can sign my credit card receipt. He then calls TWICE within a half hour of leaving asking if he left his glove in front of my house. Guess what. I DON'T CARE! STOP CALLING ME. Disaster. Maybe this was just an off night or the staff decided to drop acid.
(1)Max D.
The food was okay, but for me the highlight is their smoothies. The waiters were kind and ready to help. The menu seemed over ambitious with so many options spanning a lot of different countries. To be honest the food wasn't authentic and seemed not to expressive in its flavors. The rice dishes were rather dull and my own nasi goreng(fried rice) is much richer in flavor. I ordered the spicy seafood udon dish and I thought that was good though. The interior had nice decor though. My sisters vermicellie was tasty too, but overall I would only come back for the amazing smoothies. They had so many options and flavors that you could get.
(3)J L.
I like this location in University Village. The service & food was always great. Great place to eat on weekends with low crowd.
(5)Candace R.
Joy Yee is a great eat! The food was so good and the smoothies. Big portions of food to share and tgen some! The peice is reasonable as well. Overall I would definitely recommend this restaurant and I will be back for more!
(4)Nelson M.
Restaurant Review A Joy Yee lifer! Simply put I enjoy the vast menu offered by Joy Yee with the large portions that usually leave enough for two meals. Although not everything is "amazing" You can't go wrong with the stone bowel rice and noodles. I would have to recommend thai basil fried rice, stone bowel rice, and udon on a cold winter night. The main attraction always for me is the mango fruit freeze with tapioca balls. Nothing beats a fresh fruit smoothie where they don't just mix up powder for your smoothies. All and all if you want inexpensive chinese food of good quality Joy Yee is the placed to go. Pro- Very large pan asian menu, overall prices are respectable Con- Limited delivery area, not all items are delicious but always hard to tell Hidden deal- 10% discount for UIC students if you show your icard
(4)Soyoung S.
They have yummy hot pot and delicious boba smoothies :3 Their staff is really polite and nice! And really diligent :) The menu is a monster, sometimes it takes my friends and I a good 15-20 to just decide, there is SO much selection!! And I love how they put pictures in of nearly everything, that really helps!! :D But as a Korean, I have to say..their rendition of Korean cuisine is extremely off HAHA :x
(4)Alexis M.
I used to love this place until, I went there on December 30th. My mother and I had ordered our favorite shrimp Tom yum soup with egg noodles. They brought out the soup with rice noodles. Then we told them we wanted egg noodles not rice noodles so when they brought it out again there was less soup and mushrooms. It was not warm anymore and lost some flavor because all they did was dump the soup out and take the rice noodles out and put the egg noodles in pouring the soup back into the bowl. Then the waiter couldn't do much. They didn't replace the soup and the said they will give us a discount. We received the receipt and they gave us 10 percent discount which is basically taxes in Chicago. Horrible customer service I will say.
(2)Sonjanita M.
Disappointed by orders the last few times...rice didn't seem quite done...crunchy when eaten...not as much flavor to the rice and they skimp on soy sauce now - 1 pack for a dinner size fried rice. I hope it improves. I don't even want to finish the rest of it. I may have to stop going to this location and just choose the one in Chinatown.
(2)Aditya K.
The food portions are really huge, but the food itself is not that great. They have some really good beverages and the only other plus of this place is they are BYOB. So if you are looking for a place to go and hangout with your friends have a couple of beers enjoy an appetizer or two, this is your best deal (cheap and huge portions), but if you are looking for some quality food, I would recommend doing a little more research and finding the right place with better food.
(2)Anna K. S.
Most memorable experience dining here for my cousin's rehearsal dinner. We all ordered so many different things, and tasted each others'!! EVERYTHING was sooooo good! I ordered a Korean pot of seafood, similar to soon tofu. TDF!!!!! Uncle ordered a whole fried fish. Amazing!! We also ordered a plethora of typical dishes and all were so memorable that I haven't stopped thinking about going back! Problem is...I live in Los Angeles :((
(5)Jonathan V.
Environment: 1/5 Employees: 2/5 Food: 1/5 Cost: 1/5 Parking: 2/5 Total: 7/25 Synopsis: When I think of Joy Yee, I roll my eyes as I utter three words, "BAD ASIAN FOOD!" My bestie Kristina V. suggested it as I told her I was a 7 out of 10 on the hungry scale, 10 being the most hungry. Joy Yee...cringe...Joy Yee...cringe! I knew already that the food would be bad because 1) I had it before and 2) Yelp reviews has indicated 3.5 out of 5 stars and 3) Asian food in Hawai'i is far, far, far superior in quality in comparison with the Asian food in the Midwest. Surprise, surprise. The Korean soup was watered down, and the Chae noodles with beef had a flat-line taste. Will I die next? It is quite hard to appease my Asian taste-buds as I have been to many restaurants were it was Korean owned and I have friends who are Koreans who have cooked me authentic dishes. To put the cherry on top of the disastrous food, two of the employees were playing on their phones while working. Can I get some service ova-hea!? Environment: You would think the design of the restaurant would cater to a casual restaurant. Nope. Comfort level was meant for you to eat and then get the hell out. Did I mention the décor echoed the same features? Yikes! Dark, damp...cave was my thinking process from start to finish. Finally, the seats were designed for tall people. Can I reach the table from here, mom? Employees: I am familiar with Chinese culture and the need to flag people down. Of course this is quite hard to do if the employees' attention is diverted by their Iphones. I even took a picture and posted on Yelp to prove it! At least at the end of our stay people smiled and thanked us. I guess.... Food: We had the Chae Chai Beef with Korean Tofu Soup? I think that was it. It had rice noodles with beef and egg. BLAND! And the Korean Tofu Soup! Is this a joke? The poor egg was poached in the soup without allowing me to mix it throughout the entire soup. Did I mention that it was watered down. BAD KOREAN FOOD! Kristina V. had indicated that this was the worse dish she had here. For the record she has had only "Asian" food while living in Chicago. Does not that say a lot? Cost: For the bad Asian food, 17 bucks between Kristina V. and I. Oh um..yea whatever. Parking: Fortunately, on Sundays the parking is free on Halsted, in the area. That is probably the only plus *ellipsis* However, parking is very limited on the street.
(1)Michael C.
Joy Yee is a huge staple of my diet whenever I want pan-asian food. I've had MANY different dishes here including the beef cube tomato over rice, spicy basil chow fun, lemongrass chicken, spicy basil fried rice, etc. This is by far the best chow fun I've ever had. The noodles are fat and fried really well, while not overly greasy. It comes with a ton of basil, green peppers, and jalapenos and the portions here are huge! Their over rice dishes and korean beef are pretty good and are pretty comparable to other korean places I've had. A couple things I did dislike were the pho which I felt was realllly bland. And the lemongrass chicken had a 1:1 chicken to onion ratio; it was quite overpowering. Overall Joy Yee is a great place to gather for food and friends, oh and delicious bubble tea!
(4)3 B.
Service was incredibly fast! Most of our food was served about 10 minutes after ordering and we had a large group of 20! Smoothies were fresh and delicious! The variety of asian dishes is great to choose from. The decor is fresh and modern. Love the bright yellow chairs!
(5)Melissah L.
As an out of towner, I was immediately struck by how young everyone was in this place. There are lots of college-aged students... which makes sense since it's on UIC's campus! It was a cool, casual vibe. Also, I didn't mind the chairs that everyone seems to hate so much... they were pretty comfy for me. My table ordered the basil tofu chow fun and the Mongolian beef. Delish! I wouldn't say it's authentic Chinese food, but the noodles were some of the fattest and most tender I've ever had and the portions are huge. We ordered both dishes with only mild spiciness, but I would say there was no spice in either dish whatsoever-- this was fine by me. Wish I'd tried the bubble tea!
(4)Betty Q.
My sister and I went on a Friday and to my surprise it wasn't super busy. We had a hard time choosing what to get, a common problem at Joy Yee due to the HUGE menu. I've been to the Joy Yee in Chinatown and in comparison this one is more cozy. We ordered the Kung pao chicken and crab rangoon. My sister looooved the crab rangoon, and she tends to be a picky eater too . The Kung pao chicken was good too and the portions were decent for the 10$ plus white rice. I also ordered a green tea smoothie with mango and that was delicious. I recommend this place and just make sure you go there with a specific type of food in your mind or else you'll be there for hours looking at what to get. Took us about 20 min to decide what to get. Only downside is they are very eager for their tip. Like chill, I'm going to tip you don't need to ask.
(4)Samah K.
I love Joy Yee's don't get me wrong but as a college student it is too expensive for me. I would suggest going to Thai Bowl on taylor street as a cheaper option. But i love Joy Yee's. Love all the options just wished it was reasonably priced.
(4)Faviola C.
This is a regular for me. My favorite thing...their fruit smoothies with tapioca!! I've had strawberry, mango-peach, peach, mango and pomegranate. All of them were made with fresh fruit except the pomegranate one. They only used pomegranate juice, which was way too sweet. Definitely not to my liking. I've had several of their dishes and I think my favorite is the cubed beef over fried rice in stone hot plate (I think it's the Korean Kimchi Beef Stone Hot plate but not 100%) . Love the flavor, portions are great (especially for lunch the next day). The kimchi (cabbage) gives the beef and rice the perfect touch. I've also had the Curry Chicken with Cocunut Baked Rice. I love curry so when I ordered it, I was pretty excited. It wasn't bad, but it was not great. Not that there was something wrong with it, but it was a tad bit sweet for me because of the coconut. I've also had another chicken dish. It's breaded and was supposed to be spicy (based on the waiter's comment) but was far from it. That has to be my worst experience with them. Too much breading, small chunks of chicken and it kind of tasted like orange chicken. If I would have wanted orange chicken, I would have ordered orange chicken. I've had their Crab Rangoon. They're good. Nothing much to those though. And I've tried their hot and sour soup which was also pretty good. Their service is good. The one issue...all of their staff don't speak English very well so it's hard to understand one another. Also one of them tried keeping $15 as a tip instead of bringing me my change on a $25 order. Had to kindly ask them 15 minutes later where my change was. All in all I like this place.
(4)Lucy C.
'Twas a cold winter night and my friends and I wanted to warm up before heading back home. A warm cup of milk tea always hits the spot, so we headed to Joy Yee's. Since we walked in with a mission, we were ready to order right as we were seated. That's also when the problems began. For starters, I hate their chairs. The stupid spider web design leaves awful marks on my legs if I wear shorts or dresses. Which is basically all the time. So they basically suck all the time. Also, they kind of force you to sit back/recline in them so it lowers my already short torso to the point that I can barely rest my arms comfortably on their sticky tables. Dislike. When we requested our warm beverages, the waiter tells us that they don't have hot tea because they make the tea in the morning and that it's lukewarm now. He then points at a random freeze and tells us to order that instead. First of all, why would you tell us that the tea we're about to consume late in the evening was made in the morning? In my experience, even cold milk tea is made fresh with hot tea, then cooled down with ice. And if we came in for the sole purpose of consuming a hot beverage, why did you think it's a good idea to suggest a freeze? Anyway, we were already there so might as well order. I said that I'd be okay with lukewarm tea and asked if they could at least microwave it or something. There was definitely ice in my drink when I got it. Don't roll your eyes at me when I send back a simple order that you messed up. And that second one was definitely not warm by any means. I'm not quite sure why we even left a tip.
(1)Stephanie S.
Been searching for a great Chinese place in the area. I don't think this is it but is fine. I usually get some kind of fried rice and sesame chicken. Seemed expensive and just OK. I usually love Chinese food cold the next day, but this just didn't taste good. The chicken was actually pretty gross the day after and I ended up tossing it. On top of that, this place is impossible to get to via car because there's never parking.
(3)Alissa K.
Chicken curry with coconut baked rice is to die for! Also the lemongrass chicken. I love the freezes, huge variety of flavors, and popping boba! The service is extremely fast. Portions are large. They also have really fast, friendly delivery.
(4)Erika A.
The menu is so large its almost impossible to pick just one. I ordered the red curry shrimp...in coconut milk! Wow just as good as homade!! Very satisfied as was the rest of our table! only 4 stars because I am 4 blocks outside of their delivery area and they wont make exceptions
(4)Claudia M.
Joy Yee's on Halsted is ok. I really want to love it but it's just ok. I've ordered out a couple of times and dined in once with some colleagues. The noodles are kind of flavorless and a bit dry. They don't give you any hot sauce to go with your noodles. I tried the sea weed salad and it was tasty but a bit smelly. I really want to love this place because it is walking distnace from me but it's kind of bland and not really exciting. I'll go back and try some different dishes. :(
(2)Jelena Z.
Joy Yee's is hip and modern - I believe most people call this a minimalist approach. I call it clean, with its yellow walls and much-too-cool-for-me chairs. But I dig it, and the design aesthetic works well in Asian eateries. Modern European, for instance? No way. The menu is huge - you'll need an extra 10 or 15 to mull it over kind-of-huge. Variety is great, but it's just too much... I want to relax when going out for a meal, not feel overwhelmed. The food. Oh God, the food. I ordered the chicken banh mi and mini pho combo - best of both worlds, right? Making a choice between the two has always been my dilemma when dining out at a Vietnamese restaurant, so I was ecstatic to see the meeting of the heavens at Joy Yee's. But it pains me to report the pho is quite terrible... the broth isn't seasoned like the pho on Argyle, the meat is gristly to the extreme and the noodles are clumped together in a gummy mass. Moving on... ... to the banh mi. *shakes head*. Chewy bread with even chewier (and strangely sticky) fried chicken. I know this is a Asian Fusion restaurant, but you'd expect a banh mi to taste like oh, I don't know, maybe banh mi and not Hawaiian Chicken Katsu. I was not amused. In positive news, the Tha Iced Tea is the largest Thai Iced Tea I've ever laid eyes on and only costs about $3 (thought about initializing Thai Iced Tea to be less repetitive, but then realized my previous sentence would be super awkward.). Let's just forget about all of this.
(2)Tricia S.
I have been a fan of Joy Yee for 10 years. I was so happy when they opened a location on halsted. Last night I ordered take out - 4 dishes - and was seriously disappointed in the quality of all the dishes. The seaweed salad was not edible. I order this dish every time and it is usually delightfully gummy and refreshing. The salad had zero flavor and the texture was just wrong. The pad tai was tasteless. There were no fresh bean sprouts or shredded veggies to accent the dish or ground peanuts. Blah The egg roll vermicelli- grilled pork was not grilled and it was chewy like low quality Chinese take out mystery meat. The Japanese tofu was actually ok but only because the other dishes were so bad. It is too bad. The restaurant was not busy. It was early dinner time on a Friday when restaurants should be prepped with the best ingredients. I won't be going back.
(1)Vickie P.
Usually my go to fix for a smoothie or milk tea. But this visit, ordering was correct drink came out wrong. Also, milk tea shouldn't taste like sour milk or look like the milk is going bad.
(2)Joshua L.
I have nothing but good things to say about Joy Yees. I first went to the one in Chinatown in '09. Then, when I lived in the suburbs, we would go to the Naperville location at least once a month. When I moved downtown, I was delighted to see that the Halsted location was nearby, and we have continued our monthly (at least) tradition. Our experience has been consistently wonderful -- inexpensive, lot's of food, and always delicious. I've only sampled one dish that I didn't like (some weird veggie soup). The chicken Satay is a hidden treasure, and the Traditional Stone Bowl rice is always a hit. I'm always amazed at how quickly the food comes out, and I don't think I've ever seen the bottom of my drink, the wait staff is speedy and attentive. I'm shocked to see anything less than 4 stars. If I could put 10 stars I would!
(5)Evita Michelo M.
I fell in love with Joy Yee when I first visited the Evanston location a few years ago. I have been to the university village location a few times now, and this last visit on July 20, 2014 will be the last. We ordered the hot and spicy soup, crab rangoon, kimchi hot stone pot and the traditional hot stone pot. The hot and sour soup was good. The crab Rangoon was ok at best. The dough was a little chewy and there was a hair in one of the crab rangoons which made us stop eating the remaining three. They removed the crab rangoon from the check. I asked the waiter to ensure that the stone pots were sizzling hot based on one of my last visits when they were barely warm. This time they were sizzling. The kimchi stone pot was good although it could have used more kimchi. The traditional stone pot was ok, nothing that would make me want to got back for more. The bathroom is not very clean, and they have not repaired the hand soap dispenser. They repurposed an old siracha bottle and filled it with soap both in the men's and women's bathroom. Kudos for orginality and creatvity but come on, if you can't afford to fix or buy a new soap dispenser, what else are you skimping on! Overall disappointing experience, bad wait staff, and I will not come back here again.
(2)Kari G.
I love getting smoothes from here. The tapioca pearls are so fun! And great food for a great price. 10/10 would recommend
(3)Jonathan K.
Come for the boba, food is not great. One of the few times the quantity didn't make up for quality.
(3)Regina P.
It's been two hours and I haven't gotten my food delivered yet! I think this is the last time I ever order from this place, and to top it off I haven't received a courtesy call saying my food would be later than usual. I'm normally a very patient person as you can tell by me waiting 2 hours for food, but this is just ( insert swear word here). I just called and they said they were closing and all the delivery men have already made their way back to the restaurant. So where's my food that you said the delivery guy was bringing to me three hours ago when I first called to check on it? Shady much! Sheesh....
(1)BM K.
Was very happy with Joy Yee's wide selection. I ordered both the Szechuan Beef and Spicy Basil Noodle w/ Chicken Lunch Entrees. Both were huge and came with hot and sour soup and an egg roll, everything said and done my bill was only $17.50 and I have enough for two more meals easily. A great value indeed. I would say the food is above average and seemed fresher then your run on the mill Americanized Chinese place. I would return to Joy Yee again given the chance. I wanted to try some of the Bubble Tea and a couple of other many dishes.
(4)Debbie O.
This place gets four stars just for their amazing avocado smoothie. I'm new to the whole avocado smoothie trend, but boy, am I hooked. As a matter of fact, this place nails all their smoothies. I like the fact that you can actually see them making the smoothie, so you know that a minute ago, the avocado was still in one piece. Their smoothies are not too icey, just perfectly smooth and melts right in your mouth. Now onto the food: I came with a large group, so we were automatically interested in the big ramen bowl displayed at the window. We had heard it was pretty tasty, so we ordered it without hesitation. It was definitely the biggest bowl of ramen I have ever seen but a good challenge for the six of us. We also ordered the salted fish and ground pork with egg over rice. That was YUM. The ramen was very typical, nothing too special. The soup was rather salty, but the noodle was nice and chewy. I don't think I would order the ramen again, but I could definitely eat the salted fish and avocado smoothie everyday. In fact, we took the metro from the city all the way to Chinatown just for the avocado smoothie on my last day. It was definitely worth the trip.
(4)Jenny H.
10 STARS for the smoothies....and 3 stars for the food!!! I cannot tell you how much I LOVE THE SMOOTHIES HERE- fresh fruit, an endless variety of all really ripe, sweet, fresh fruit.....with a variety of well-made boba and fruit toppings. My favorite combo is papaya-coconut milk-lychee- you must get all three!! With green pearls and fruit topping- SOO GOOD!! I got their food here before, it's decent Chinese food, but the presentation is really cool- cut out pineapples, stone pots, cool dishes, so it probably looks and tastes a lot better because of the presentation. I got their spring rolls here- standard and good.
(4)Nari H.
Huge smoothies and milk teas that rival the ones I've had in China. Worth going to but not all the dishes are amazing, so it's good to know what to get. I enjoyed a tomato cubed beef dish and a spicy basil thai chicken noodle dish - sorry I butchered all those names. It's on the pricey side so if you're not super hungry, it's worth splitting an entree. I don't come a lot so I'd ask around or check out the reviews to see what's good.
(4)Sarah S.
I will definitely be going back here but my food was just A-OK this time around. I've been to the other Joy Yee's and I know what great food they have. This time I decided to cheap it up with their version of a banh mi sandwich which was A-Ok but not amazing. It had all the usual fixens and overall was fine...nice and cheap at $5.50. This past Saturday, I was surprised it was not completely packed like I'm used to at the Chinatown and Evanston locations. I suppose that's because the college kids go home during the weekend for the most part. The location is super clean and the staff is extremely attentive! Moreso then the Chinatown location. Our waters were refilled after just a few sips! Fantastic!
(3)Andrew T.
This place is not really Asian food. When you try to cook food that delights over 1/4 of the world's population, you are going to lose focus and overdiversify, watering down your product quality. Despite once being a regular patron at this place in my younger years for their drinks and on occasion, their food, this joint has never been a favorite of mine, and here are some reasons why. I have never been a fan of the spider web chairs. I would hate it even more if I was a cute girl who likes to wear cute shorts, but I am not. Their tables are too high/chairs too low for comfortable dining and their menus are stupidly large. They have a lot of variety in their menu, but in all honesty, it is too much. Their Chinese entrees are not really Chinese. Their Korean food is not really Korean. I have to say my last visit was the nail in the coffin for this joint. One cold Chicago evening (by cold I mean below zero before windchill), I asked for HOT milk tea. The waiter said they do not have hot tea because they only have hot tea in the morning, and will have to microwave tea to make our drinks hot, and then TOLD, not asked, us to order something else. Don't tell me what I can and cannot order. *Insert expletive comment here* On a lighter note, they do make their drinks with real fruit and not colored powder out of a canister. 90% of the time I come here is for drinks and the last time I hit up this spot will indeed be the last time. Good drinks, bad service, stupid chairs. Nuff said.
(1)Keith T.
Ok food, but the stuff was mean. The stuff needs everyone to have a UIC student ID in order to give a 10% off to each person.
(3)Jinho P.
The smoothies are tasty and very good but it's not food. It's just sugar and powdered flavoring with maybe a little spoon full of fruit. Proceed with caution because if you have digestive health issues like gluten intolerance (Celiac Disease) or food allergies this is where your stomach will hate you for the rest of the day/week/month/etc. Every dish has MSG and gluten is crawling everywhere. If you are looking for junk food disguised as something nutritional, this is it. I know, I am sounding a little snooty but really let's be honest, you'll regret it afterward. I am just trying to be helpful for those not blessed with an iron stomach.
(1)Diana D.
Yum Yum Yum. Stopped into joy yee per my fiancé's recommendation. So glad we did. Delicious food and great prices. I had the pineapple chicken with shrimp fried rice. Love that is was served in a pineapple soooo mouth watering. My fiancé order beef with tomato rice which was equally delicious. We were very happy with our order. Next time we will split one entree, portion size are large but it did make for yummy leftovers. We couldn't leave without getting bubble tea. My fiancé got the watermelon bubble tea and wow... What flavor and refreshing on this very hot day. We will be back!!!!
(4)Heather L.
This Joy Yees is only a few steps away from me. Whenever friends visit from out of town, it is a default place to grab a quick bite to eat around University Village. They always enjoy it; the massive menu never fails to encourage conversation because everyone will be indecisive. For my fiance and I, there have been just as many three star experiences as two star ones - but I guess the suspense of not knowing which one it will be bumps it up to three for us. - If you and your acquaintance (trust me, you need two people for this) are pho fans. The rare beef with noodle soup is always solid. Make sure you ask for basil + works because sometimes they forget. - The Joy Yee milk teas, shakes and smoothies are a nice, sugary treat. - If you are going to order anything like orange/sesame/general tsao's chicken/pork/beef, make sure you ask them for "less batter." Although they fry up the minuscule chunks of meat by the tub-full, the cook might be generous enough to throw out some pieces that are merely fried dough. - Any of the Thai and Korean foods, with the possible exception of the curries, are horrendous. - The pineapple fried rice is decent - eating your meal out of a hallowed out fruit makes for a good first experience. - The service? I guess it depends on how much experience you have with Asian restaurants.
(3)ron s.
This place is the worst - with the worst delivery in the city. Really - you should not order from here. The owner and the manager taking the orders are unbelievably rude. The food is mediocre and it is really not worth it. Agree with Belle "Delivery service sucks! It takes 1.5 hours --online order to delivery. Due to unforeseen cell phone issue, Joyee blames me for not picking up phone and superbly argumentative (makes you want to cancel order)."
(1)Jacqueline N.
Although it was a cold day, my friend and I decided we needed to get boba while we were still in Chinatown, since we dont get to come here often. After getting dimsum we went to Joy Yee's to get some boba. I got the Strawberry Freeze with mango bits, mini boba and popping passionfruit boba. Let me just say that the mini boba is not mini tapioca that i was expecting/hoping for. It was this weird jelly like balls with seeds in the middle which made them look like frog eggs. minus 1 star. Not the most appetizing but I was not a fan of the texture. there was too much of it too so it was a disappointing drink in general. But I did like the strawberry slush with mango and the popping boba. The lady taking our order, was too distracted, and put in the wrong order for my friend. Minus 1 star for them there too. Despite these mishaps, I would still go to joy yee's again to try a different drink, definitely will be more thorough with my order and without the mini boba this time.
(3)Allison V.
It has been a while since I have been here. Stopped in for a quick bubble tea fix. The bubble tea was okay....not as fresh as I remember it. They have a number of flavors to choose from. The place was busy. It is brightly lit and reminds you of subway lighting. Okay for a lunch date, don't think I would come here for dinner.
(3)Jenny N.
Service here is way faster than the one in Chinatown. Can't wait til the one in Tinley/Orland Park opens up. They get three stars for being so expensive in a college area smh
(3)Ashley B.
Crazy selection! The menu seems to go on forever and it covers a wide range of noodles, from Japanese to Thai and everything in between. It's got lots of veggie-friendly items, which is nice. My boyfriend and I both got their bo bo tea's and they were delicious, I could go for one right now in fact. I got the seafood Shabu-shabu and it literally came in a cauldron, it was enormous. I had enough soup to last for days (but it's seafood, sooooo I tossed it). I usually love octopus, but it was somewhat alarming to see whole bodies in the soup... but it was delicious nonetheless. My boyfriend got some sort of pork dish that was equally good. Since then I've tried several of their noodle soups and curry dishes and I seriously can't say I've been disappointed with any of them. I can't wait to go back and try out some more things!
(5)Joey M.
I love Asian Fusion so the food here is good but it is pricy (for chinese food) The portions are large
(4)Kirsten N.
Joy Yee's Noodles is a small noodle shop located on 1335 S. Halsted. Contributing to Chicago's cultural melting pot of restaurants, their cuisine is based upon a Thai and Chinese background. They appear to have a minimal history with its first shop opening up in Evanston in 1993. The noodle shop with which I share my experience seems also to be a newer extension. Generally, they are, as I quote from their website, "the first in the midwest to offer Taiwanese style bubble teas." What sets them apart from other Asian restaurants seems to be their Southern-Asian fruit based smoothies with tapioca, because what is a bubble tea without tapioca? Upon entering the restaurant, I was surprised at the setup. Unlike many other smaller Asian restaurants in Chicagoland, this place felt more caught up with the millenium. The area was spacious with modern looking furniture that seemed more like something out of an art museum. The walls were of a softer shade of periwinkle, and the general feel was comforting. The table appeared to be made of a black marble so it felt a little bit higher class as well. Lastly, it wouldn't be a real asian restaurant without even a slight accent of the cultures which is shown by the lantern-like decor that hangs above the guests. Unfortunately however, Joy Yee's lacked a proper host stand, thus the appearance suffered as they merely taped a piece of paper indicating where to line up in order to be seated. As previously mentioned, the seats looked like an artist's creation and should have remained as such as it contoured the body in such an odd fashion it was fairly uncomfortable. Once seated, the moment I turned over the first page of the menu I was completely overwhelmed. The pages seemed endless. Studying item after item made the decision making process very difficult and fairly time consuming. Even when a photo was accompanied by the name, the list was mind-boggling and it took almost 5 minutes to realize there were a total of over 450 items on the menu. The menu begins with pictures and names of entrées all bunched together into a couple of pages. As the menu progresses, the individuals items become categorized by protein or style such as 'chicken', 'beef', or 'soup'. However there was an upside to this extended menu. About 3 pages of the menu consisted of the various flavors of bubble tea available in the restaurant, reflecting on what originally set Joy Yee apart. Along with representing its call to fame, they also set the prices within a reasonable range encouraging the return of guests to try another item on the excessive menu. The service of Joy Yee was fast and attentive. Aside from the couple minutes wait to be seated (possibly caused by my confusion of the location of the host stand), the server knew exactly when I was ready to order and he quickly came my way within seconds of placing down my menu. After choosing my entrées, the appetizer arrived within 10 to 15 minutes and the main course shortly after. The food had a fairly hefty portion, especially for a single diner. Both the dumpling and udon arrived hot, fresh off the stove and to balance the heat, I was constantly drinking water with which the server also continually topped off without my asking. Being born in Japan and having a mother that tends to cook authentic Japanese cuisine as well, I was disappointed at the quality of the Japanese beef dumplings I order. The dumpling itself had a crispy dumpling wrapper which is not how the traditional Japanese serve them. In addition, most dumplings in Japan are pork and using the most important components or green onions and sesame oil which I felt the beef dumplings lacked. As for the udon, I was fairly disappointed at the lack of flavors and seafood in a seafood udon. The picture rose my expected to shrimp, octopus, mussels, clams, the whole ocean. Instead, what I received was a soup of very good noodles and rubbery octopus with maybe one shrimp and one clam. Lastly, near the end of my meal, I found a fine string of plastic in my soup with which was only slightly deterred by it. Overall, I rate this restaurant a 3 out of 5 stars. They received a 3 potentially because I did not order bubble tea this visit which I understand is the reason people enter the restaurant. I've also been mislead by the name of Joy Yee's Noodles as the noodles of my meal were lacking. Even so, I would be more than willing to try for a second round and hope that I may have a better experience with the food considering their humongous menu.
(3)Angie K.
For a crazy affordable meal at a ridiculously low price, Joy Yee is your best bet. The decor is modern, clean and very spacious. Upon having lunch here last summer, I was seated immediately and servers quickly took our orders. The actual seating is my main problem as the spider chairs were really uncomfortable and I wasn't even wearing a skirt or shorts. Poor girls that due. Also, the table was really high and the seats were too low, which made it kind of awkward to eat comfortable. The menus are massive in actual page size and in the amount of options they have. I felt like I was in Honey I Shrunk The Kids for a moment. We each got a bubble tea (one strawberry banana, one mango), I had tofu pad thai, split crab rangoons with my bf and he had a sesame chicken. The portions were seriously for at least 2 or 3 people each, which is great if you are on a budget. The food and drinks were served really quickly and our waters were refilled at least 3 times each. The drinks and food was delish. No complaints. Rangoons were cripsy and large and the drinks were massive in size and with the perfect amount of tapioca. Pad Thai was not my top choice but it was pretty good and I had a ton left over for another meal. I'm fully aware that this isn't authentic Chinese food but for the convenient locations, wide variety of food options and insanely low price for the portions, I really like Joy Yee's. I would definitely go back and venture into their even cheaper lunch specials.
(4)Anna L.
Good is really good and you get a really big serving per dish. BUT. Delivery service takes too long and the staff can be rude. I always get the same waiter every time I go there even though I always hope I don't get him. I don't know his name but he's one of the older waiters. Really rude guy. Never smiles. Very short with you. I hate ousting workers usually, but I've had this guys like 99% of the time in the span of 4 years going there and he hasn't changed one bit. On a good note, food is amazing and bubble tea is amazing as well.
(3)Katie G.
If you want options, this is the place to go! Pages and pages of options for drinks, appetizers & dishes. To be honest, it's a bit overwhelming. Didn't know that the dishes are HUGE and ordered a drink, an appetizer a soup and a dish. Hahaha - I will have leftovers for a few meals! Had a pineapple lemonade - great! Ordered the chicken wonton soup as recommendation from another yelper. The soup was fantastic - the wonton dumplings were really flavorful. I just wasn't prepared that the 'small' soup I ordered was going to be the size of my head. I thought the waitress was joking at first. The large soup must come in a cauldron! As the soup was so good, I only got a few bites of my lemongrass chicken. More to eat tomorrow!
(4)Pari P.
Joy Yee's still holds the title for having the best bubble tea in my book. I don't even bother trying other places because I have been disappointed so many times. I appreciate that it still rocks even after being open for over 10 years. Hmmmm... just as good as back when I was in college.
(5)Emily V.
As a college student, I am looking for large and filling portions that are affordable. Joy Yee provides quality and quantity, at a reasonable price. They provide the classic dishes of orange chicken and pad thai, along with an array of dishes that you gather some confidence for (eel, not a fan). I usually go for the spicy shrimp and rice that is a portion best for 2. I appreciate their speedy service, I wait no more than 10 minutes for a dish. The smoothies are delicious, fresh fruit smoothies made right in front of you. My favorite would be banana smoothie with tapioca (YUM). Overall this place is meant for those who enjoy their food in large portions and for those who enjoy the traditional pan-Asian dishes.
(4)Lia V.
Holy HUGE menu!!!! If you have a hard time deciding on what to order.... don't go here because you will have an even harder time deciding due to the HUGENESS of their menu. I mean ... how does a place even make that much stuff? Yum yum yum though. We order from here often - delicioso bubble teas with tapioca balls - everyone loves them. I always get their miso soup. The spinach crab rangoon are scrumptious! I mean... not a healthy place what so ever so if you want some greasy delicious chinese food... go here or order out.
(3)Cristina P.
When I walked into the place I thought it was going to suck. I couldn't have been more wrong. I got a mango with tapioca drink. Delicious. I ordered Korean beef and rice & hot and sour soup. Everything was so good. Very Impressed.
(4)Anh B.
Good foods and smoothies but horrible service. The waitress keeps an eye on us when we were eating and talked in this annoyed voice asking for more tips after we made the payment. Like seriously?
(1)Marjorie F.
A friend of mine had a craving for Bubble Tea and this was the first place that came to mind. I laughed when I read my first review because I was in love with the Mango Bubble Tea. My choice still stands. For dinner, I enjoyed my Shrimp Lo Mein. Service was very good - attentive and speedy. The chairs changed a long time ago, so never mind my 2007 review. :) It was a satisfying meal with good service. I'll definitely be back!
(4)Leang E.
I have always been a fan of Joy Yee's and love that this location is the closest spot to me. I was glad to take the opportunity to show my sister's fiance how the food tastes here. It was an early Saturday afternoon, and it wasn't very busy. The restaurant is spacious, but the chair to table height is a bit off for us. I think the tables could be a little lower or the chairs higher. The service is quick and consistent with the other locations. I got the Vietnamese Shrimp Spring Rolls and the Combination Sandwich and mini pho soup. This was a ton of food. All of it was delicious. The mini soup actually was more like a regular size to me. It was good even the next day. The prices are reasonable, and a great spot for any meal time.
(4)Esther Y.
My friend ordered the Walnut shrimp fried rice and the tempura shrimp. His fried rice had glazed shrimp, the size of a fifty cent coin, layered on top. The fried rice itself had finely chopped up vegetables incorporated evenly, so you'd have about an equal amount of chopped and stir fried carrots and green onions in every spoonful of rice. As for the tempura shrimp, it was deep fried with a perfect ratio of frying batter to shrimp accompanied by a sweet and sour sauce. A simple light snack to munch on before the main meal. It was neither too greasy nor too dry. The color of the tempura shrimp was also very pleasing to the eyes, a nice gold-yellow color with a hint of bright orange at the tails. I suggest future customers to wear clothing that covers the back side of their thighs or bring something to sit on top the chairs, because this restaurant have cool gray geometric designed chairs and it is a bit uncomfortable. It will leave temporary marks on your skin. This location will accept reservations as well as debt and credit cards. For non chopstick users, do not fear, forks and spoons are available. For chopstick users, I found that using the chopsticks were a bit uncomfortable since they were long, heavy, and rectangular-shaped.
(4)Mary H.
Excellent service and pretty good food for its price. I went there 30 minutes before closing. They asked if I knew what I wanted, and of course I did. I got the Governor's Chicken, Beef Cubes, and a Strawberry Bubble Tea with vanilla ice cream on it. It was great! But, the reason for the four stars is that the interior furniture could use a little revamping. Metal chairs are somewhat uncomfortable. I would not say this is an authentic Chinese food (if that's what you're looking for). It's a very good fusion of the different Asian cuisines
(4)Heather M.
They make a MEAN beef noodle soup. So good! The chicken chow fun was really great too, but unlike any other I'd had. It was basically chicken, bok choy and veggies in a white sauce, and the some thick rice noodles. It was so delicious. We also got this sweet crispy shrimp dish with walnuts that would probably be freat in the restaurant, but was soggy when it was delivered. Overall, amazing. I have found my go-to Chinese delivery!
(4)Allison B.
What happened?! Joy Yee was our old reliable for years. Nothing exceptional, just good solid food that we came back to the neighborhood for, long after we moved away. Until last week. We came in for lunch - admittedly it was an off hour, perhaps 2pm. We ordered crab rangoon for the appetizer (after being informed that the beef skewers were no longer on the menu), green curry chicken, and Mongolian beef. I wasn't expecting anything great for the rangoon, it being such an unadventurous item, but it was really worse than any I've had anywhere. It reminded me of the frozen hors d'oeuvre items one finds near the TV dinners section of your grocer's freezer aisle... a thick cardboardesque shell of generic breading surrounding a blob of some nondescript pasty filling. My husband's Mongolian beef was cold (there's a sentence I never thought I'd say). And finally, for the green curry chicken. What was, on previous visits, a nice light, warm green indicating quasi-fresh ingredients now glowed with the hue of artificial mint ice cream. Or maybe it was more of a cool, hospital/institutional green. Either someone knocked a bottle of green food coloring into this dish or there was something else equally unnatural going on. Food should never be that color. I admit, it may have tasted okay otherwise, but the visual component was so off-putting that it was difficult to finish. I'm really not a finicky eater, and I don't tend to leave negative reviews. But wow. It was such a disappointment. The end.
(1)Luke S.
Portions = Huge Price = Fair Food = Super Tasty! There is somewhat of a language barrier every time I eat here, but the food is out of this world! The menu is huge and I am always torn on what to choose. You really can't go wrong, but I will say that there are some authentic selections. Beware the food flavor will stick to your clothing!
(4)Vina O.
Only dish I ever enjoy at this place is the beef over tomato rice. It's so delicious and the portion is so plentiful that it's perfect to eat half then take home the rest. It tastes just as good nuked the next day too! Pair it with an avocado smoothie, and you have the best meal you can get at Joy Yee.
(3)Stacie N.
Just finished eating their food and feel worse about myself as a human being. Servings are large, I believe they do this to camouflage the fact the the food is horrible. By horrible I mean both our egg rolls & crab Rangoon were stale, I found a long dark HAIR in my shrimp dish, and nasty fatty strings holding some of the chicken pieces together. If you're a broke college kid trying to feed yourself for the week then this might be a good place to hit up, but If you're just looking for tastes quality, this is not the place for you. On their site they emphasize"a variety of tastes, large portions and, most importantly, low prices."...AKA - not really specializing and anything, and huge portions for cheap = horrible quality of food. I would rather have 1/4 (a proper serving) and have it be tasty vs. cardboard any day. Bottom line: if you're looking for quality, pivot turn and walk out of the door and/or website.
(1)Lee P.
This place is awesome! Be warned the menu is HUGE but it does have pictures. I think we all spent about 15 minutes just looking at everything on the menu to figure out what we wanted. Everyone got something different, so it kind of let us see how everything was. The Kimchi Seafood Stone Bowl I got was awesome, it had great flavor and a lot of seafood in it. Could have had a little less rice but it didn't really bother me that much. I also ordered the soft shell crab appetizer with 4 pieces...it literally had 4 whole crabs in it. Every piece was pretty big and had great taste and was crunchy. My friends love the beef cubes with tomato sauce, but I did not get to try it. I think it would take me a year of going every week to actually try everything I saw on the menu.
(4)Heather H.
Holy huge portions, batman! Be prepared to share an entree or take home enough food for two more dinners. My husband got the egg drop wonton soup, which was your standard wonton soup-- a little sriracha went a long way in adding some flavor, but the wontons themselves were good. My dish was the winner of our two-- coconut chicken curry served in a coconut! First- who doesn't want their dinner served in a coconut?! Second-- the curry was one of the best I've had-- perfect level of heat without overpowering the rest of the dish. Will definitely come again and we are looking forward to our leftovers for the week to come!
(4)Disa C.
I've tried the food here many of times and its just ok. I feel like I can make it at home. But I love their Bubble tea!
(3)Alex Z.
Joy Yee's is a favorite tradition that I share with my friends. We were all back home from college, and we figured that there was no better way to celebrate a reunion by heading down to Joy Yee's for some killer crab rangoon, spring rolls, and a wonderful variety of meat dishes. Impeccable service is always nice too. Portions are satisfying, and the prices are reasonable. I don't think I've ever ordered something here that I've disliked. The freezes, jelly, and coffee drinks are always fun to have because they're delicious and they're so alluring. I'll always go back to Joy Yee's.
(5)Nektaria R.
Chewy balls rock. FYI - I have gone out of my way in the middle of the night to go to Joy Yee's for their bubble drinks. Very fresh and yummy custom ordered. Red bean with tapioca or taro or mango or green tea... I really don't pick the same one each time. I like changing it up and confusing myself. Food is OK. Lots of yummy appetizers. I can totally fill up on just those. There is a wide variety of foods on the menu but it seems to all taste the same to me and comes with a ton of rice. I probably need to do some research when in comes to the food and then maybe I'll be happier with the food as I am with the drinks. Not sure how some people I know are in love with the food here though. It's really not all that. The service is totally lacking. I'm sure they don't care though since both locations are typically pretty busy. Maybe I'll continue what I've been doing by exploring other restaurants and cafes for comparable drinks and eat Chinese at a yummier location.
(3)Jide F.
I can't count how many times I've been to Joy Yee's, both this location and the one in Chinatown. I can understand how overwhelming the menu can be but I really think there's something for everyone here. And they're nice and smart enough to place colorful, detailed pictures of almost all menu items. My standard orders are watermelon tapioca freeze, Korean BBQ short ribs and Thai fried calamari. I recently tried the Thai green curry chicken and it blew my mind! Light, curry flavor served with chicken and green beans. It wasn't too spicy and the coconut milk wasn't too creamy. They used to have the fried soft shell crab served over curry chicken but unfortunately they told me last week they discontinued it. Huge sad face as that was my favorite dish. I also like that Joy Yee's isn't stingy on their rice. As an Asian, I need my rice. The service is lightning fast and the food comes out super hot. Almost all curry/soup dishes I've ordered come out still bubbling. First time Joy Yee-ers should know that portions are pretty large. So a group of three can easily be benefit from ordering two entrees without overeating and getting a stomach ache- cuz you're definitely going to want to eat everything put in front of you.
(5)Michael L.
This is a place where you find yourself overpaying for a entree where it is 90% rice. The colors they paint on their walls are ugly and makes you feel like you want to leave because your eyes might bleed. The chairs makes you so uncomfortable that you wish you just did carry-out and ate at a nearby park bench. The customer service is terrible and please don't believe that you must spend $10 or more for a credit charge. I think they would be in trouble if Mastercard, Visa, etc. finds out they were telling their customers that. Unfortunately, I do have to visit this place once in awhile because I have friends and family who likes the bubble tea here. The good thing about this place is that they have large rooms where they can seat large parties here.
(1)Mary C.
I ordered the beef pho and found a 3ft long hair in the noodle, thank god I was only in the process of mixing the noodles around and haven't eaten it. Gross!
(1)Marie B.
Avoid the Low Mein Why? I am an Asian food junkie ~ I love just about everything. So, imagine my surprise when I ordered Low Mein and got this bowl of ick! My friend ordered the Chicken Satay and literally got chunks of unflavored chicken on a skewer. When in the area and need good ~ I mean adequately good ~ Chinese food, go to Mapo
(1)Caroline A.
OK. So the food is definitely not authentic, but it definitely hits the spot when I'm craving super fatty, super salty, msg-filled grub. The portion sizes are huge, and a girlfriend and I were able to share their Beef Cubes over Tomato Rice and an appetizer of shrimp tempura. Beef Cubes over Tomato Rice doesn't sound too appetizing, but it's actually really good. I think they just need an editor for their menu. The shrimp tempura wasn't my favorite. There wasn't enough panko around those babies! I also embraced my Asianess by indulging in a mango tapioca freeze. Pure sugar heaven. :) The second time I came to JYs, I had their chicken teriyaki and wasn't too impressed... stick to the beef cubes. I'll be back for their pineapple fried rice and more bubble tea!
(4)Aaron Jae M.
Had mainly good experiences eating here. I've been here on dates and just to hang out with friends. Their menu is HUGE. I honestly don't know any other restaurant with this many things on their menu. This is usually a sign of a terrible restaurant but they somehow manage to do it. I've had their spicy korean soup, Vietnamese sandwiches, pork fried rice, sesame chicken, and thai green curry. I liked all of it. My favorite is definitely the sandwiches and the curry. Service was always pretty fast and the servers were polite, nothing above and beyond, but nothing bad. Their portions are typically 1.5-2 times the normal amount which is why everything is priced around 8-10 dollars so it is a great place for groups since you can share and take home leftovers.
(4)Phill C.
I'm giving this 2 stars since I've been to the Joy Yees in Evanston and Chinatown and liked the food, otherwise it would have been only 1 star. We were coming back from a baseball game and saw that they were still open. It was about 30 minutes until closing and the sign on the outside clearly said the last order must be placed 15 minutes before closing. When we walked in, the server who greeted us told us we had 5 minutes to order our food. We were kind of confused, but said that's fine. Then he said we have to order right away since the kitchen was closing. He obviously didn't want to seat us and wanted us to leave. So that's just what we did.
(2)Colin M.
Best Asian food I've ever had in the midwest!! Only issue is that is a bit awkward having the waiters stand around with nothing to do. Its also even more awkward when their is no music and they're all standing around staring at you eat.
(4)Luke D.
Joy Yee's has a hundred items on its menu. They could reduce it to one since everything tastes like fried. You get a lot of food here, which is a shame since we didn't eat most of it. Enormous portions are usually a sign of low quality food, which is certainly true at Joy Yee's. Compounding the awfulness, the oddly designed spider chairs seat you well below normal table height. If I could give this culinary abortion zero stars, I would.
(1)Alejandro T.
This place is really awesome, their drinks are amazing, their menus are huge and are full of pictures in case you wanna check out some items. The staff is very friendly and helpful although you might have to speak up to get your order straight. The location is the only thing that kind of turns it down for me because I'm on the north side of town, but a trip here is totally worth it! Portions are big and filling (and obviously delicious), and even if you are not hungry you should totally get one smoothie 'cause they really are freaking awesome.
(4)LaTreesha W.
It was a warm refreshing night when some of my colleagues and I had cravings for Asian dishes. As college students, finding a place with authentic and delicious food for a reasonable price is an obligation. A casual dinner at Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen was the perfect option for us college students on a budget. Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen serves portions of Chinese, Japanese, Vietnamese, and Thai (etc.) options including bubble teas for this college town. You will enjoy your time here due to the quick service provided, delicious food, and moderate prices. It was crowded and loud at the entrance. The decor in the restaurant was effortless in the lobby and dining area. There were barely any decorations. We had a group of four with no reservations. We were sat within minutes. The tables were close together like peanut butter and jelly, but there was a vast amount of available tables considering the place being fairly crowded. The tables were fairly high depending on where you were seated. The chairs were a unique design of spider webs. I actually thought the chairs were very creative considering my love for arts and crafts. The chairs were pretty, but not comfy. The menus were overwhelming. At first it was confusing to understand because the menu had so many options to choose from. The menu features all types of Asian food including noodle dishes, rice dishes, and fruit smoothies. I would recommend asking the staff for their recommendation of food choice, but we had a little communication issue. The staff didn't seem to know much English. Pictures of the menu choices were very useful in making a choice. The pictures of the food were very visible and convincing to eat. It's amazing how fast your food comes. We were served within 10 minutes. This restaurant has the best bubble tea in the area. I would recommend a fruit freeze which is basically a smoothie. The strawberry freeze is amazing. It tastes like beautiful, fresh, flavorful fruit. This smoothie is very relaxing to have. The food is always fresh and hot. My favorite dish is the beef cubes with tomato rice. The beef cubes are very tender. If you expect rice to be fluffy, mouthwatering, non salty and scrumptious then Joy Yee provides the perfect amount of sweet and flavorful in their tomato rice. I would highly recommend it. I would suggest for one to buy the seafood fried rice as well. It is a mixture of shrimps, scallops, mussels, etc. It has a beautiful touch of accuracy in every bite. The plates are well crafted. The amount of food you receive is quite substantial. You can split a dish for sure. Plan to take home mega leftovers. Joy Yee's provide great prices for massive portions. For instance, the large portion of beef cubes and tomato rice was about $10. The bubble teas cost about $5. They also have great weekday lunch specials. If you are a UIC student, you will be able to get a discount. Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen is an "above average" noodle shop with a great atmosphere. The food is fantastic with reasonable prices. This restaurant presents a variety choice of Asian type meals. After a long day out or a dine in with friends or maybe even if your on a budget, Joy Yee's Noodle Kitchen is the just right place to be. I find it very comfortable going here. I am proud to say that I am a fan of Joy Yee's Noodles and I can not wait for my next visit.
(5)Kristen R.
So after being here for so many years, I still found myself staring at the menu for a good 30 minutes. The menu is just way too long and hectic. The restaurant seems to be trying to provide every type of food from every country on the face of Asia, but are careless to make it actually taste authentic or decent in that matter. I ordered the sauteed green beans and the calamari. The green beans were soaked in a dessert of grease; meaning it was cupcake frosting sweet and dripping in hot oily sweat at the same time. The calamari was tough and chewy and even better it was not hot or even warm, on top of that the pieces were not cut properly so we made a game of tearing the thing apart which was entertaining for about 3 seconds. I do commend them on their smoothies though, but a smoothie will not make a meal for me, and again even the smoothie menu leaves me crying when I hold up the line like it was my first time. They should just stick to one type of food be it chinese, thai, vietnamese, japanese, indonesian, or mexican food for all I care, if they could fix that I would think about visiting again. As for now I'd rather hit panda express, the shame of all Asian food. As far as the service, I had the lovely opportunity to hear 2 employees argue over who HAS to take our order, not sure what that was about, but if you're going to suggestively insult your customers - don't let us hear it.
(1)Linda H.
I love coming to Joy Yees for the "beef cubes tomato sauce rice". The one dish that will make me get into the car, drive into the South Loop, struggle to find parking, and fight off a bunch of college kids in line trying to order tapioca smoothies. It is THAT good. Their menu is overwhelmingly huge. I suggest giving it a once-over before stepping into the restaurant, or you could still be reading it after your friends have ordered and eaten their food. Its a fun place for groups, but can get loud. And as I mentioned before, parking is slim pickings unless you want to pay for the garage.
(4)Jenny V.
I love joy yee's and i always will. i usually order the same things whenever i go here, but my family orders different things. story short. its all good. I don't know why but Joy Yee's has THE best tapioca smoothies. my personal favorite is strawberry mango, which isnt on the menu, but if you ask for it they'll make it. I know some people don't like tapioca, but if the smoothes didnt have them, it wouldn't be the same. I looove their beef cubes over rice, the beef is so flavorful and the tomato rice gives it extra flavor. My bf gets their vietnamese spicy calamari, beware, this calamari is strictly little octo-pi? squid? i usually can't eat things with tentacles, but i toughed it out cause it's delicious. there's so many yummy things at joy yee's but the beef cubes win me over most of the time, especially if i haven't been there in a while. for all those UIC students that live across the street, i envy you. if i lived there i'd eat at joy yees all the time.
(5)Peter F.
"Jack of all trades, master of none" That statement pretty much sums up this place. They serve EVERYTHING, but nothing is exceptional...besides the smoothies, which are pretty decent. If you want to experience good authentic asian cousines, this probably isn't the ideal place to go. However, someone who has never had exposure to asian food will like this place, just cause they don't know any better. I'm always weary of places that serves such a large menu (I'm talking over 100 items), since theres no way any of this can be fresh or remotely fresh. A lot of that is masked by the thick sauces that are found on many of the dishes. However, to their credit, the food does taste ok overall, so that's why I've given them 3 stars. Service is very impersonal and is typical of most asian restaurants, which still isn't an excuse for not having servers who speaks english. Overall, this place is ok, prices aren't bad, smoothies are good and its a nice place to eat with your family. The neighborhood is quaint, lively, and there are many great eateries within the block. Definitely take a look at Lucky's sandwiches stuffed with fries/coleslaw and Lotus Cafe's amazing banh mi sandwiches.
(3)Inigo M.
As expected for a Joy Yee.
(4)Mike A.
Great food. Great Selection. Service is poor. Seating is uncomfortable (think plastic cafeteria chairs). If you want Thai/Chinese food and are not picky regarding service, this place is top notch. I would not bring my parents here, as the decor is bland and again the plastic chairs are crap.
(4)Mark H.
Food was good and portions were very large. I actually could have split the portion with my wife. Freeze drinks were good, but I would skip the tapi next time. Crab rangoon was good. I would go back here.
(4)Michael M.
My favorite place for Vietnamese style soup. The vegetable udon noodle soup is great and big enough for two people to share. The entrees and spring rolls are really good too. They have a long list of bubble fruit smoothies. I usually get mine without sugar added since they are sweet enough on their own. Very fast and consistent service. Would highly recommend for a quick dinner or lunch.
(4)Peter R.
Oh Joy Yee, land of gynormous portions and Tapioca Tea. This is a good place to go if you have a serious attack of the munchies. The portions are so plentiful that you are bound to take some home. The menu can be intimidating for a newb, but just stick to the classics and you should be OK. My personal favorites are: Korean Beef over Rice Korean Short Ribs Beef Cubes in Tomato Sauce Rice Basil Chicken w/ Egg over Rice Chicken Teriyaki over Rice Lemon Chicken My main knock on Joy Yee is the service, and the food prep. I feel like my experiences dining here have never been consistently the same. Sometimes I get good service and the food is blah, or vice versa, or worse when both of them are blah. The one thing I can say that always taste the same is the Tapioca Tea/Freeze. They make them with fresh fruits and are always good to the last drop. I always order the Mango Tapioca Freeze because that is just how I roll son! If this place can remedy the consistency issue then this would easily be 4 stars in my book. Right now I can only give it 3, but a 3.475 stars if you want to get specific.
(3)Benson C.
Once I heard this place was opening up near the UIC campus, I knew I was gonna get fat off the fruit freezes and the food! However...it lacks the Chinese food quality. The restaurant provides alot of variety from Japanese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Chinese food but I think they're missing the point that it's a Chinese food restaurant, right? Well, if you're going to eat here for Chinese food, it's decent. I came here one time after being deprived of good Chinese food for a year and I thought it was pretty good. But then you realize after eating at a good, authentic Chinese or Hong Kong Style restaurant, it just doesn't compare. If you want the real stuff, find a restaurant in Chinatown where all the Chinese natives are eating. The only thing that keeps me returning are the fruit freezes with boba...Yum!
(3)Dax R.
The best thing to get is the BBQ short ribs. We also like the greenbeans with the salted fish. Also, try the fried calamari with the melted butter. My parents always order the whole snapper. Their extensive menu with pictures help!
(4)Claudia D.
Extensive, confusing menu, but it's good food. I can't ever remember what I've liked before so it takes me a long time to figure out what to order. I HATE THE CHAIRS AT THE TABLES---THEY ARE SO HARD AND UNCOMFORTABLE. Smoothies are great. Service is extremely slow. Huge takeout business.
(2)Sarah D.
I LOVE JOY YEE'S. I only ever order the Beef Cubes with Tomato Sauce, but they are sooo good-how could I change to anything else? I stick with what works. Service is pretty fast and I've never been disappointed with the staff. While it can be a little expensive, especially for the area it serves (college kids) UIC students do get a 10% discount if they show their I-CARD (so pretty much you don't pay tax!) The staff all do tend to have thick accents so just be sure to listen well and you'll be fine. And while I've never tried the bubble teas-ALL of my friends have and they absolutely LOVE them, so I'm guessing they are pretty darn good.
(4)Ruru A.
Best bubble tea in town. 1 star off for location where finding parking is virtually impossible.
(4)Renne H.
I live nearby and go every now and then to Joy Yee. I think it is good decent food, that hits the spot. Yes it is a bit pricey, but the portions are huge. Some of my favorites are the Szechuan won tons, string bean chicken, orange chicken, Vietnamese spring rolls, and the soups. I ordered four dishes for myself tonight and let's just say I'll have leftovers for days. I would order again. Try it once.
(3)Annie N.
I would never recommend anyone to go out of their way to get here, I simply don't think it is authentic enough. But if someone's looking for a quick asian food option around the area, and is not picky about what they eat, I'd say go to joy yee. I have had numerous items here, and they were all ok. I love chap chea noodles, and don't get to eat them often, so I like to get them here. During my last visit we ordered a chap chea with vegetable and vegetable udon to share between the 2 of us. The portion was ginormous, and we only finished the udon noodles. My friend took most of the chap chea to go. Both was good, nothing exceptional, but I really enjoyed the udon broth. We also order a shaved ice with bean and they were out. We wanted the Taiwan shaved ice to begin with, but they didn't have it (only served at China town location), and then they told us they were out of red bean - kinda annoyed me. So we went with a mix fruit shaved ice, and it was good, but there was not enough fruit in there with lots of shaved ice and watered out fruit juice. It was fine, but I probably won't order them ever again. Overall, it was ok. Service was fine. Waitress was short, but not rude. The food came out pretty quick. My only input is to order 1 main dish and an appetizer to share, and perhaps some desert.
(3)Roshni P.
Honestly the food is yummy, but the service is so bad that it ruins the meal in another way. The staff is always rude, doesn't matter if you dine in or you carryout your meal. If you are vegetarian, I advise coming with someone who has ordered before. I only say that because I came with my boyfriend once and neither of us had any idea how to order. The menu is pretty extensive which is intimidating and when I told the waitress that we were vegetarian, she looked a little shocked and confused. We actually got up and left, that's how lost we were. I came back with my cousin a few weeks after and now I have a feel of what I can and can't eat with my food restrictions. Another thing that was a downside to the visit was being placed right where the draft was coming in when the doors opened. It was freezing outside, why would you seat people in an area like that when there are open seats elsewhere. I might come back again, but I think if I ever want to eat food from here I'll just do carryout. On the plus side, the fruit smoothies are addictive; strawberry kiwi please!
(3)Jay O.
Talk about family style portions! (No complaints here). I had green tea boba and it was really tasty, for my meal I had the shrimp & scallop rice and it was sooo delicious!! Come by and check this place out! Oh and I definitely agree with the other comments below, the chairs are so annoying!!
(4)Hannah N.
They are cheap, deliver, and have the best boba in University Village. The menu is... confusing at best. I order from here because it sure beats hospital cafeteria food. Their Korean cuisine is super off, way too much sugar, but otherwise I have no real legit complaints. Love the eggs, rice, and pork combo even more than their noodle dishes.
(3)Becca M.
My boyfriend & I used to come here regularly when he was a student at UIC for their lunch specials. So we stopped by here this past week & I already know that the servers are not the friendliest bunch in the crowd, but they're respectful enough for us to come back. HOWEVER, there was this one waitress who obviously did not understand the concept of giving the customer a pleasant experience. We arrived there around 3:20 to order off the lunch menu. We started w/ an appetizer of crab rangoons and some bubble tea & decided to place our lunch order but she stated it was "too late" (it was 3:28 on our phones). I asked if it was ok if we still ordered a lunch special b/c we did arrive before 3:30 & was technically ordering before the "ending time" but she just ignored us and walked away. I don't tolerate rude servers & especially if it's on purpose. Joy Yee's needs to learn the value of a customer b/c we're definitely not going back after that horrible service.
(2)Boon K.
This is the best bubble milk tea you can get in Chicago. The only thing I would get here but for the food it is just ok, nothing that stands out and I usually end up getting something korean but I really only come here for the milk tea. Just wish they were here when I was still at UIC.
(3)Niti B.
ahh I'll pass is usually the response I give to my coworkers when it's a saturday or sunday night at the hospital and they are looking to order food. The food is good but not great and definitely over priced for type of service and dining. now I understand that the portions are big and that they deliver but still with so many options for asian food in the medical district not worth it.... now I am not a fan of the smoothies that they carry but if that's your cup of tea maybe it's worth it. they have refreshing and unique flavors but for me I stear clear of the tappioca balls! they look like slimy eyeballs! it is a great hit so I may be the only one with the preference that nothing chewy be in my drink but I would pass.
(3)AL K.
my first bite of chinese food here in chicago was at joy yee's noodle shop. the menu has colorful pictures of what dishes they have and a wide assorment of bubble teas/fruit shakes. We ordered the chicken and salt fish in bamboo, seafood and chicken in a pineapple, vietnamese fried squid. presentation was great an A+++ but taste is just so so. We also found a strand of hair on the pineapple that made us somehow lose our appetite.ugh! service is fast. price is reasonable. good for lunches with friends and family with kids. I should make mention that the seafood soup was mostly made up of imitation crab, shrimp.etc. not exactly the best.
(3)Michael T.
Joy yee's is one of my favorite restaurants. Always good food and service. I love their pineapple fried rice and mango bubble tea. The only the I hate about joy yees is that it is a little bit expensive.
(4)Julia C.
I used to be a fan of Joy Yee's back in the day. And by "back in the day" I mean when it was a tiny noodle shop where Shabu Shabu is now. I like how they constantly change their menu to bring in new, more interesting dishes. But I'm pretty sure they stopped caring about hiring friendly servers. We had the most awful service today. The people working there will talk about you in Chinese thinking you don't understand them. That's incredibly rude. We had a party of 5 and we're ALL Chinese. We understood EVERY word. If we've had our food for 10 minutes and we still haven't gotten our drinks even though we ordered them at the same time, of course we'd ask about the drinks! We're thirsty and the water had an oily film on top! Is it really necessary to talk about how we're being difficult and rushing them?? One of the servers came over, said "here's your check.", dropped the check on the table and ran off. First of all, we didn't even ask for the check yet. Second of all, she ran off so fast we didn't even get the chance to ask for boxes! We noticed that they tacked on a service fee. We asked a server about it and he told us they add it automatically for parties of 6 or more. Um... there were only 5 of us... I don't know how they could have miscounted if they stood there talking about us in Chinese for at least an hour. The food is decent. How could it not be with the insane amount of MSG they like to put in all their dishes? But the service is absolutely horrific. I guess they don't feel the need to improve their service if people are tripping over themselves to get in line for $4 bubble tea.
(1)Mark K.
Lots of great choices including currie! Had leftovers for dinner, delish. Perfect after mass at St Pats nearby
(4)Colleen C.
Ok, confession. One of the reasons I decided to play softball at UIC (recreational, of course), was so I could get bubble tea from Joy Yee's before/after/during our games. Screw Morgan's and Junior's for beer and brohans (thanks Emily D!), I just want some slushie, fruity, bouncy bubble teaz. Sigh, I have a problem. A mango+ice+tapioca balls problem. I'm refusing treatment.
(4)Nicole M.
This place sucks.. The servers are rude and were talking about us.. They dont even have sushi even though it shows on the menu. My boyfriend hated his soup, said it tasted like soap, they didnt even check to see if it was ok. We asked for the bill and they guy asked if we wanted a box, we said NO and he didnt even say, was it ok? Will never ever be back..
(1)Bitsy B.
Oh Joy Yee, your tapioca pearled smoothies used to be a joy, but now your place smells like old garbage and the floor's a greasy mess. What happened?
(1)Thomas S.
5 Star food! 1 Star service! They are so extraordinarily rude! Last year I ordered delivery and delivered the wrong food. I drove over to the shop to have it changed and the manager (that guy who yells at everyone and doesn't wear a uniform) told me that I didn't order it. He said he looked in the computer and that I was lying to get free food. SERIOUSLY! I had to drive back to my house and get the receipt- which I did because I figured I'd at least get an apology and my meal comp'd. When I got back his only response was, "So what." No apology, nothing. After I pointed out that he clearly wasn't the owner as no owner would so carelessly treat a longtime customer in this way, he refunded my delivery fee. At a time when unemployment is so high, they should have no trouble firing that manager and hiring someone who can do a better job.
(2)Bukola A.
Its worth it just for the bubble tea. I've both dined in and ordered delivery and both were great. Don't order beef cubes for delivery. Maybe it was a bad batch but the one I got was grissly (?). I recommend the Korean beef over rice and beef cubes (dine in).
(5)Hyon L.
I know a number of people that were seriously hospitalized from food posioning here. Customer's beware.
(1)Grace N.
It's my lazy-Asian dive, when I need my umami-fix fast and for cheap. I always get the Korean Spicy Shrimp and Oyster Noodle Soup, and it's food for the soul. But the uncomfortable prison seats really dampen the experience.
(4)Natalie L.
One of my issues with this place is the menu. I have a hard time ordering because (at least the take out / online menu) has no description. I ordered the Korean Spicy Beef noodle soup. The beef was really fatty. I did enjoy the won tons, though.
(2)Doris F.
Best Smoothies in Chicago!! I am not going to lie about this place. . . I have been here several times since I did my internship around the corner from this place. The service is hit and miss at times but overall not bad. Now, on to the food. . . Yum, yum! I think the sugar that they put in the food has me hooked. The veggie platters are good. Before being a vegetarian I loved the shrimp stone bake. Yum! Excuse me, I have to drool.
(4)Anna G.
I love most of their food. I'm a big fan of the sweet and sour chicken but not the orange chicken. I like my chicken crispy so that's why I go for the sweet and sour rather than orange chicken. There's a difference...trust me! Their bubble teas are delicious! However, they have very few friendly waiters, but I think that's because of the culture difference. Americans are used to being served with a fake smile well you're not gonna that here! They don't sugarcoat their answers to my dumb questions so that hurt my feelings a little... but I got over it by returning a fake smile of my own. Now I want some Joy Yee's!!!
(4)Jacob G.
The food at Joy Yee's is good. The portions are large and the prices are affordable. Of all the things on their menu, I enjoy their smoothies and fruit drinks the most. They're really good and they're so refreshing on hot summer days.
(4)Rachael N.
First of all, let me just say: Joy Yee's Chinese food is not that great. The only food I would get there is 1.) The beef cubes, and 2.) the pineapple fried rice (which you can find in many places in Northern California.) But the bubble tea.... WOW. I've had the Joy Yee's by Northwestern, the one in Chinatown, but today, I went to UIC's campus and had the tea there.... and it was GOOD. My cousin, after visiting his son at UIC told me that I "must try this tea at the UIC campus" so I did. The tea at Chinatown was not the greatest... it seemed so sloppily made, and just the flavors weren't all there. The tea at Evanston had good presentation... but the actual drink itself, was okay. However, the tea at the Joy Yee's a t UIC was GREAT- I got the papaya coconut green jelly tea, and it was good! My cousin got the jackfruit, and his daughter got the mango coconut one..... they were just blended and GOOD. I highly recommend them on their tea.. but not the food. Eat elsewhere for that. One more thing: the wait staff is a hit or miss. I was asking the waiter what kind of bubble tea to try, and he goes, "I don't know, I don't drink those teas." I then asked him why, and he stated, "Don't you know? All that sugar in those drinks go straight to your hips, and hips don't lie." I refrained biting his head off. haha.
(3)Diane R.
Whenever we have friends visiting from out of town,for some reason we always bring them here !:) Prices are reasonable especially if you're the one who'll end up paying the bill :) big portions & good food! ...hmmm... if there's one thing I just wish they'll improve on...I wish they'll clean the restrooms more often ... everytime we come here the floors were always wet & sticky!
(4)Jessica Y.
I used to love coming to Joy Yee's for their bubble tea and food, but now I prefer the drinks over the food, as it's not authentic enough for me. But when you're looking for quick and affordable, this is the place to go! The Halsted location's drinks seem more watered down to me. I always order the black milk tea with taipoca pearls and the bubbles are as yummy and chewy as ever, but the tea is too watered down, even with minimal ice. I would recommend customers stick to their smoothies at this location.
(3)Linh T.
I LOVED this restaurant. I went for the first time with 8 people and we all ordered different dishes. They have Thai, Korean, Viet, and Chinese dishes. There was also a huge variety of Boba. I ordered the strawberry mango with lychee jellies and came back and ordered another one later. They used all fresh fruits which I really liked. I also ordered the basil chicken and it was DELISH. All of the individual dishes could've fed 1-2.5 ppl depending on your appetite. The pho was only about $8 and it def could've fed 3 ppl, it was huge. My only complaint was that the menu was so extensive, it was hard to decide but I guess if that's my only complaint then that's not so bad. The service was also super awesome and fast. Our waiter was always accommodating to our needs and very patient. The cashier was kind of a rough and impatient though. Overall, I would def recommend this place to anyone visiting china town!
(5)Tiffany K.
I've been to Joy Yee's in Chinatown, and I had a good experience there from what I remember in my review. I finally had the chance to go to this location with a couple of friends, and I thought it was alright. What was really great was the bubble tea. Hands down. The red bean milk tea was absolutely delicious and not too sweet. Plus, it was HUGE and under $4! I ordered the Korean tofu and mushroom soup. Now, I guess I had high expectations because I eat this stuff almost everyday. Being Korean, I judge pseudo-authentic-but-not-really Korean food pretty hard. The soup didn't really taste like it was supposed to. It wasn't spicy enough, and it didn't even come with a side of rice! Who eats Korean soup/stew without rice?! But the portions are huge, and I guess I'll just order something else next time. My friend's green curry was AMAZING and super fragrant and spicy. My other friend's pad see ew was HUGE in portion size but lacking in the flavor department. Regardless, I'll probably come back here and order something different. But the red bean milk tea... I'll get that whenever, wherever!
(3)Tim Y.
One reviewer says that the uncomfortable chairs are a thing of the past....have they brought them back? The torture device I sat in was clearly not a chair. Service is super fast, though wait staff hovers a bit more than I'd like. The food is pretty darn good, portions are huge, prices are not. I only wish when food showed up at the table, I'd have the foresight to ask for a to-go container so I could pack up half of the metric assload of eats for later meals. For whatever reason, Americanized asian cuisine always sneaks up on me and I feel like a Weeble afterwards, waddling down the street (but not falling down.)
(3)Kelly S.
So far my favorite Asian restaurant in Chicago! Absolutely love their crab ragoons and just about anything chicken. That would include governor tso's, orange chicken, sesame chicken, sweet and sour chicken, mango chicken, etc. That's usually what we order when we go over there. Otherwise, I've tried their calamari (both types) and didn't like it. It's not like the calamari you'd get at an Italian place. If that's what you're expecting then I suggest you don't order it. I'm picky though so give it a shot if you want! Service is simple and fast. Food is always delicious and hot (as in temperature) and comes out quick. Dinner portions are huge so me and my boyfriend can easily share and still have some leftovers. It's the same with carry out as well. If you're a UIC student, they have a discount for you as long as you have your i-card with to show them. Their smoothies and bubble tea options are great in number and totally yummy! I'm giving it only 4 stars because there's an Asian restaurant that tops this place in Bartlett. Definitely try it if you're in the neighborhood! :)
(4)Liz P.
I had dinner here recently: the service was ridiculously fast, the basil chicken and green beans were really good, the portions were gigantic, and my meal even tasted good in leftover form the next day. I'm looking forward to going back.
(4)Joanne B.
Ready or not, here it comes! The food, that is, and in no particular order... At first, I found that the appetizers coming to the table after the entrees was odd but now I realize that it is part of Joy Yee's charm, along with the neon yellow walls and metal basket seating :-) I have been to three locations (Chinatown, Evanston, University Village) countless times and in small and large groups. Over the years, it has become a family favorite. On more occasions than I can count on my fingers and toes, Joy Yee's food and bubble teas have both created and satiated any/all cravings! The service is decent and can be likened to bees swarming, in a good way... The menu is vast yet consumer-friendly with pictures of many of their food and beverage items. Be prepared to share as the portions are quite generous, although after just one bite, you may want to keep it all to yourself! As mentioned, I have been going to Joy Yee's longer than I can remember and some favorites include: *Walnut Shrimp *Fish Chow Mein *Shrimp Lobster Sauce Noodle *Orange Beef *Beef Teriyaki Baked Rice *Korean BBQ Short Ribs *Crab Rangoon *Japanese Beef Dumplings *Fried Shrimp Sui Mai *Butter Fried Squid *Vietnamese Appetizer Platter *Watermelon Freeze with Fresh Fruit *Banana Ice Cream Freeze *Cantaloupe Freeze the list goes on and on...
(4)Insun M.
Thing that stood out the most was probably the extremey friendly service. Like a fine dining restaurant they filled our waters after every 1 or 2 sips. Food wise the only dish that really stood out was the schezuan beef and malaysian asparagus. The pineapple fried rice came out in the usual pineapple shell but it was so bland even sriacha sauce couldn't save it. This location is cleaner and more spacious then most of their other locations.
(4)Nancy L.
This place is always packed. I like their huge selection of food. The fruit smoothie is wonderful.
(4)Ray N.
My goodness, the Mango Smoothie was the best I've ever had...in my life. I'm from SoCal, and I haven't found a place that compares to Joy Yee's smoothies. Oh, the food was delicious, too!
(5)Bay T.
Im so glad this place opened by UIC. Their food is good and the pricing is reasonable. Their portions are always more than enough for a single person. However, i would recommend replacing the chairs. Although it add a sense of uniqueness to the place, but they are soo uncomfortable. Or mayb they can add cushioning to the chairs instead of replacing them. (just a thought)
(4)N K.
Love the bubble teas with fresh fruit. Highly recommend the beef with tomato rice and coconut chicken curry. The pineapple fried rice is usually pretty good too (especially if they serve it in a pineapple).
(5)Sam T.
The place is quick and efficient, just like the feel of the service. If you're looking for average pan-Asian food that is done quickly, come here. Otherwise, there are better places if you're looking for higher quality, more authentic stuff. Their smoothies and bubble tea are good - can't really get any better than this place in terms of bubble tea.
(3)Vaidehi T.
I wish yelp had a way to give half a star. This is a 3 and a half. Their menu is very extensive, their portion sizes are huge, food is tasty and prices are reasonable. Service is nothing to speak about. It is just a place where you can go in late nights and have a quick dinner. No hassle, tasty food. I have also had food delivered from here, their delivery service is good too.
(3)Amanda C.
I like this place, but it's always a hit or a miss. Sometimes what I order is fantastic, sometimes it's completely terrible. I still enjoy the place though. And I think their bubble teas are pretty good. Its a close walk from me, so I stop by to get one every once in a while.
(3)Jenna S.
I really like Joy Yee's. I wouldn't say that I go out of my way to come here (it's all the way by UIC), but I'll definitely consider it if I'm in the area at class or with friends. The menu selection is unbelievable; overwhelming, in fact. They serve anything and everything of the Asian persuasion. And it's all prepared well. I almost always have Pad Thai with tofu (I know, I'm boring) but it tastes delicious and makes good leftovers. Their little boxes are delicious too (they're those rice and meat things that come in a cylindrical elevated bamboo container). And the bubble tea! They have absolutely everything: smoothies of every flavor, bubble tea, tea smoothies. The strawberry smoothie is my favorite. The service is good like 95% of the time and it's a good place to go with friends for lunch or dinner.
(3)Jennifer F.
Joy Yee's has everything a person could ever want... unless you are vegetarian/vegan. Not necessarily the most authentic asian dishes, but definitely delish. Beef cubes over tomato rice is so good, and the coconut curry is an all-time fave. And OMG the boba tea! That alone gets 5 stars. They have a HUUUGE boba tea list, and the flavor and consistency is always spot on.
(5)Trevor G.
I dropped by here today for lunch, and had the Szechuan green beans. They were edible, but nothing exciting. Szechuan green beans are usually fairly spicy, yet these were not. Conclusion? If you're going to do Joy Yee's, do the Chinatown location. If you're in a pinch, the University Village location is acceptable, but nothing special.
(2)vanessa o.
Great smoothies!! Food is okay. shrimp fried rice and sesame chicken is good but these are a few other dishes that I was not a fan of. 5 stars for the smoothies and 3.5 for the food
(4)Swati B.
Meh. I live right by Joy Yee's...so you'd think that being so close by to it, I'd be going there all the time... the menu is so overwhelming you have no idea what to get...and there isn't much of a description either to help you out. The food is kinda...bland..i've had better... but the bubble teas....THOSE ARE GREAT! Totally refreshing, especially in the summer. Service is ok...borderline slow/rude... I'd say skip it...but stop in for the bubble teas
(3)Debie K.
It may be the nostalgia speaking-- it may be the beautiful menu with photos of each dish, it may be my gut full of chicken and beef-- or it might be the green tea ice cream causing brain freeze, but I LOVE Joy Yee's. Love, love, love. I used to patron this fine establishment everyday when I interned for a summer in Chicago. Seriously, the waiters would recognize me and probably knew me by name since it was conveniently and dangerously located right across the street from my apartment. My hard-earned intern pay would go straight into Joy Yee's pocket, in exchange for delicious Pan-Asian cuisine. (I'm usually very skeptical of restaurants that try to serve multi-national food, but somehow Joy Yee gets everything right.) I don't know if they put crack or MSG into their dishes but seriously everything I've tried here is absolutely delicious and I always stuff myself to the gills, even when I know I should have taken my last bite many minutes ago. Whether it's Chinese, Korean, Thai or even Japanese, every dish is beautifully presented and wonderfully flavorful. I cannot name a single item I've tried on the menu that I didn't enjoy. I have to note that Joy Yee's is one of the best Americanized-Asian restaurants I've been to. This is not the place to go if you want down and dirty authentic Chinese food. That's what Chinatown is for, people. This is definitely Americanized Asian food served with an emphasis on presentation-- you'll eat with your eyes before your stomach at Joy Yee's. Last but not least, the bubble tea counter is definitely something not to be missed. No matter how stuffed you may feel with fried rice, you must absolutely order one of their amazing bubble tea or freeze drinks. I strongly believe those green tea ice cream freezes were the fuel I needed to power through that summer as a lowly intern. With all sorts of exotic fruits and mixing options, the drink choices are endless. I only wish Joy Yee's would open a branch in New York, but I know I'd be in big trouble if that were the case. I may no longer live across the street but I have the sweet memories. Joy Yee's, I'll forever be a fan and will always think of you fondly from that amazing summer.
(5)Faye F.
TONS OF CHOICES! Great prices! Huge boba drinks!!!!!!!! I love this place. It's located conveniently near University Village so perfect for college students. I love their Korean-style spicy pork and beef dishes. Their large slushy boba drinks are very good (if you can't finish, you can ask for a to-go cup!) and can fill you up so beware not to waste all stomach space on drinks! Large servings so you can share with a huge group and take some home to eat another time.
(4)Yelp R.
My wife and I ate here and ordered the beef pho. The meat was disgusting and inedible, overcooked with about 1/2 fat and 1/2 actual meat. We asked our waiter to exchange it for something else. He came back to us after talking to the owner and said that we would be charged for the new dish if we exchanged. We thought that was ridiculous so we just sent the dish back to the kitchen (and were still charged for it). This restaurant has 0 customer service. They didn't even clear the dirty dishes off of our table after we were finished. I am never coming back here again.
(1)Christa R.
OMG, this place is reeedic. So yummy. Huge spot, GREAT smoothies and the portions are GIGANTIC. I had a chicken fried rice with pineapple and chicken served in half of a pineapple. The calamari appetizer was also delicious. Give it a try. It's extremely good and the service is wonderful.
(4)S B.
I LOVE JOY YEES!!! Options: endless. Portions: HUGE Bubble Tea: delicious Food: Delicious This was def. the place to have dinner for my friends and I when i lived on the UIC campus. It still is my favorite choice around there. The restaurant itself is very chill ... the only downer is that it doesn't have the 'asian atmosphere' to it. That may just be me though. I LOVE THIS PLACE. I'm craving the basil chicken right now! GOO!
(5)Sarah L.
It's Joy Yee's. What do you expect? It's very very cheap food...that goes right along with the taste. There is nothing "authentic" about their foods...and their 3,000 varieties of menus are consisted of mainly 10 different ingredients in different medium. However, it is really cheap and the portions are incredibly huge! It's good for college students with thin wallets, or shared food among 4 or more people.....but it's no fine dining. (And if you complain about the quality of the food or the atmosphere, you need to loosen up your wallet strings and go somewhere that actually has "separate" table!) I am definitely not a fan of their decor. I felt like eating at a North Korean refugee camp or something....Seriously, I understand that they want maximum number of patrons...but still, what's with the 3 lines of tables? I would order lemon grass chicken wings to go every once in awhile...but that's about it! :D
(2)YANI G.
Worst customer experience ever! You would think that with such a large menu QUALITY CONTROL would be on the top of their list! My experience is as follows: I ordered orange rice with beef cubes, yum I'm starving! I'm digging in and next think I know I'm almost breaking my tooth because there was GLASS IN MY FOOD! I put the piece to the side and decided to sift through the plate, I find another shard! I call the waitress tell her to replace my meal with something else, I decided not to freak out bc I was starving and just wanted to eat. Bill comes and they want to charge me for the full meal. $10 is not out of my budget but I did not recieve an apology from anyone or a discount. Which is the least they can do when you almost break a tooth or possibly cut your mouth with sharp glass. Asked to talk to the manager, waitress comes back and tells me I have to pay or it will have to come out of her check and that I need to get up to talk to the manager bc he didnt want to come to my table. Keep in mind this is only a $10 meal. Manager did not want to talk to me so I walk up to the counter and he dashes into the back! Waitress finally snatches the check out of my hand quickly tells me not to worry about it and walks away. Ridiculous way to handle such a serious issue. The food is hazardous and no one seemed to care. With an experience like that I will never return. You can see their intentions are not to make the customer happy but to make money off of you.
(1)Selena L.
I've been a fan of Joy Yee long before they opened this location and would recommend this over their Chinatown location if you want to beat the traffic. Pan Asian food that doesn't compromise the authenticity or taste. Some of my faves: scallop in meat sauce, korean bbq ribs, wonton egg noodle soup and of course bubble tea!
(4)Meghan B.
Joy Yee's menu is huge and overwhelming, and I think some things they do better than others. I ordered the Pad See Ew and it was pretty flavorless and generally disappointing. My friend tried the Korean tofu and mushroom soup and had a similar complaint. On the positive side, my other friend had the green curry, which was tasty and spicy. We also split the spinach and cream cheese appetizer and that was awesome, then again I will probably enjoy anything that involves cream cheese. The bubble tea is also a good deal because it's ginormous and only $4. They have a million flavors, and my personal recommendation is the red bean. I will definitely give Joy Yee's another chance. They have so many options on the menu to chose from, I will just have to chose wisely next time.
(3)Luan N.
Thanks to Kathy P, I can add a few more dishes to my favorites list. I tried the beef cubes w/ tomato in Evanston. And I tried the beef basil chow fun-to-eat on Halsted. Amish S and I have concluded that the Halsted location is our favorite. There is no wait. Usually find parking in front. They make our favorite dishes better here, such as the Viet Calamari and mushroom/tofu kimchee soup. They use slightly larger calamari and breading tastes different from both the Evanston and Chinatown location.
(4)Sang H.
For sure it's not the nicest asian fusion restaurant, but it's always busy because there is something for almost everyone. The menu is gigantic and the quality is, eh, but at least you have choices for groups of people that can't decide on what they want to eat. It's right in front of the UIC dorms, so there are kids crowding the place, and the workers seem used to this idea, so just don't care and just takes the order and brings out the food. Tip: Save your water, cause it is almost impossible to get the attention of a waiter to come over to you, let alone refill your water glass with more water.
(3)Ademola A.
First time I went there was last year and it was great. The chicken was good the smoothie was freaking amazing. You can mix to flavors to make it better. If I was just rating this one the smoothie the place would get a billion stars. But the only reason I gave it three is due to the fact that when I asked one of the servers what type of chicken it was he gave me "I don't know but its good right" I found that funny and scary at the same time. But still a great play to eat if you are around UIC
(4)Varsha L.
I recently tried the pad thai, really good! would order it again, that and the spinach rangoon or whatever they are calling them! the eel appetizer was not good, well I didnt like it... We live close so we will prob always go back! DO NOT order take out from them, I asked for vegetables and tofu in my pad thai, there was barely any tofu at all...and husbands malaysian seafood dish has barely any seafood, a bunch of rice! We are boycotting for the next two months we decided! Also my Pad Thai lacked flavor this time to, it was really dry so minus a star for that!
(3)Wahid A.
Oh, I'm so sorry to have bothered you, Joy Yee, with my business. I didn't mean to have interrupted your hectic day of scowling at customers to pester you with a food request. I promise, it won't happen again. Or at least it won't happen unless I get really desperate for chinese food during another snowstorm and I walk to your establishment because it's the only one within walking distance to my house. Seriously, what's the deal with being so hostile to the people that keep you in business? Is it too much to ask that you at least pretend to not hate the guy handing you money? And for Christ's sake play some music or something when you put people on hold on the phone. That godless intermittent beep sounds too much like call waiting.
(2)Renee K.
I'll admit the food isn't the best I've ever had, nor is the service excellent, but what a fun place! The portions are huge, the smoothies are gigantic and delicious, and the presentation of every meal is delightful! I had this chicken, shrimp and lychee dish presented in a whole pineapple. My boyfriend had a beef teriyaki dish that was served in a wooden log over rice and our friend had the most colorful seafood udon soup I've ever seen. My avocado milk tea was yummy! And his pineapple coconut smoothie was great, although we will skip the tapioca balls next time. I can't quite appreciate the texture. Im looking forward to trying different dishes and new flavors of the extensive beverages offered. We will be back soon!
(4)Matt P.
Solid noodle joint ... the menu is huge, and you get massive portions for a little under $10.
(3)Brittany B.
Bubble Tea by delivery? What a dangerous invention!!!! I agree with the other reviewers...I've tried 10 different things on the confounding menu, but I just can't find anything I LOVE yet. Be careful what you order though!!! My husband ordered some spicy Brisket dish, which sounded yummy, but when it came it was DISGUSTING. It was basically just huge hunks of fat/gristle (no meat), like something Andrew Zimmern would eat on TV. Seriously, it was so gross I wish we had taken a picture of it. We had to throw it away outside because it smelled so bad. I wish we had taken a picture of it, that's how gross it was. Luckily for Joy Yee, it's bubble teas are so good, even a barf-inducing entree couldn't keep me away!!! I'll keep trying til I find a food product there that works for me!!!
(3)Megan L.
Holy crap! Menus the size of books. Yes, that means over 500 choices to choose from. And the portions you are given are ginormous. You definitely get what you pay for. So be sure to have an appetite. I'm personally hooked on the Tofu & Veggie Pad Thai. The taste is dead on. Perfect amount of veggies, tofu, & noodles. The only thing I don't like about this place is that they don't have bottles of soy sauce on the table. Sure, you can ask for some. I don't know about you, but I like more than a tablespoon of soy sauce. If you ask for A LOT of soy sauce (for everyone at the table) they'll still bring you one small shallow dish half full. Next time I go, I'll definitely be bringing my own bottle. I'm excited to go back and try other dishes & smoothies. Even though I live closer to the Joy Yee's on Halsted, I prefer going to the one in China Town.
(4)Myle S.
On our family reunion visit to Chicago we had to stop at our beloved Joy Yee. We for sure started off with a fresh fruit boba drink (honeydew melon) but I loved the drinks so much I opted for a second fresh coconut one. After dinner our table of 15 must have had 8 To-Go boxes of leftovers. Wish I had one in San Francisco!
(5)Justin S.
There's just so much to choose from here. I think you definitely need to get the Beef Cubes though. This time around, I came in a group and we decided to order family style. We still got the Beef Cubes. Also, got the Shrimp in Lobster Sauce. Both dishes were awesome and I'd strongly recommend them! I couldn't remember the other two dishes but they were okay. Grab a boba (bubble tea) drink for dessert on your way out. I'm not a big fan of coconut, but combined with banana...MONEY!!!
(4)John A.
The food is alright, it just isn't anything special. If you are a big fan of Asian food, you can find something much better with minimal effort. If you are hungry and happen to by right next to Joy's then sure go in and have a huge bowl of something flavored with soy products, that makes it Asian right, putting soy sauce on it? What if we add some ramen too? Yea, that will make it really Asian, Should we be concerned on getting any one country's cuisine right? What do you mean, country, its Asian, duh. Sorry about that, what I am trying to get at is that this is a pretty mediocre knock off, although it is certainly adequate to sustain existence.
(3)Prescilla X.
This place never dissappoints... I love the bubble tea, food, and did I say the million flavors of drinks yet? Definitely hate the decor, chairs, and service. Very cheap and delicious Chinese food, and now there's even sushi which isn't too bad at all. I always go to the location in China town and it's just as great no matter which location you go to.
(4)Jason P.
As a fellow Asian and who's lived in Chicago for my entire life, I consider Joy Yee's as a place to go where you refuse to take risks in Asian Cuisine and simply love the Americanized version of Pan-Asian food. Now let me make this clear, I don't hate the place. It's a lot better than P.F. Chang's (suck it to those who like P.F. Chang's), and I actually used to love Joy Yees until I realized I only love it because it's safe. It's make decent food, some dishes are better, but really, there is nothing special to Joy Yees...EXCEPT their bubble tea. Hands down, probably the best bubble tea in Chicago. I will go just for their exceptional ability to make unbelievable bubble tea. And they make it look so good in their humongous cups that people feel the need to sit down and eat too...bastards with their genius ways. Anyways, there are much better places to get Chinese, Korean and Thai food in Chicago but if you are a pansy and are contempt with your food searching, then Joy Yees is for you. I BLAME YOU ANDREWS UNIVERSITY STUDENTS FOR RUINING JOY YEES.
(3)Jake R.
Great food here. Orange chicken, governor's chicken, beef cubes with tomato sauce over rice are all great choices. The smoothies are to die for, also.
(4)Mindy S.
After going to Joy Yee's for years (the original Chinatown location), I might have had my last taste of it tonight. The new location on Halstead that I'm reviewing has never made it above three stars for me, but tonight was over the top. I had one helluva time trying to order a pick-up for three drinks. Joy Yee's introduced me to these awesome fruit freezes with tapioca and I am thankful for that. Making it next to impossible to order on the phone, do to a language barrier...I was saying yes to the guy's question of "tapioca on all?" and he kept screaming "you do not understand me, do you want tapioca on the bottom or nothing?" I kept saying "yes, all three have tapioca"...this interchange got old after the third time through.... Showed up for the pick-up, people who didn't know what they wanted to order were called in front of me to place and pay for their order....awesome. Finally get up to a register to pay/get the pick-up. They only had me for 2 drinks. Really? I was on the phone for 10 minutes ordering 2 watermelon/lychees drinks and 1 papaya/mango drink. What gives, especially when I repeated the phrase, "three drinks" a few times throughout the call..... After 5 minutes of repeating the order back and forth until they FINALLY get it........I'm paid and confused as to why I'm waiting for all my drinks to be made when I pre-ordered. All the drinks were bagged up nicely, and just set behind the counter with three employees staring at me and I'm staring at them. "Is that my order", I ask? I was handed the bag and Mindy has left the building forever folks. I might try the original location again, but I've found much better places in Chinatown since.......... Get some English lessons Joy Yee so your customer interactions can be completely overhauled....tonight was bogus.
(2)Chirag P.
OK dishes, not too pricey and the bubble teas are great. But all the food in general is kind of "monotone" in flavor.
(3)Ben S.
Reason: Best bubble tea tapioca freezes in the city and better than the ones I've had in Cali. Order: Have been here multiple times for Lunch/Dinner, and/or just Bubble Tea and always good and quick. Thoughts: Always consistent, always fast service, almost too fast. You can tell when they're trying to turn your table. The service is mostly good. Good Pho for a non-vietnamese place.
(3)Julie H.
I'm all about their tapioca! I heard this is the only decent place to get these yummy mushy boba balls and that is exactly where we went! I tried a few years ago to come here on my first visit to Chicago - but we failed to locate this place. On my second visit - success! Their food is quite good - there's so much on their menu, it was really hard to decide. So we did what all foodies should do - ask for their recommendation and popular dishes! You really can't go wrong - and we were def not disappointed. So go there...look at their pictures and then talk to the helpful staff... Minus one star - walls were way too bright in color for my taste...
(4)Kevin S.
HUGE MENU, fantastic bubble tea. All my Asian friends tell me this is the McDonalds of Chinatown, but I really like it. It's not a very typical Chinese place, but that doesn't detract from the food. You'll see a lot of Asians and non Asians alike here. One of my favorite memories of the place was the time my family and I were getting Christmas dinner here, and, totally unexpectedly, my best friend Jacob was already there with his family! So we all sat down and shared Chinese Christmas dinner together. The bubble tea is fantastic, and they have a ton of variations on it. regular, frozen, jelly, ice cream, fresh fruit, etc, with about a dozen (maybe more) types of fruit you can put in it. All of it is very good. Their menu is epic. Like several hundred dishes epic, with pictures of most items. All of the entrees have huge portions, enough for one and a half if not two people each. Eating family style is the best way to go, so the bigger the group, the more food you'll get to try. There's a bunch of vegetarian options, but for the size of the menu, I have to say it's kind of a small selection, and pretty typical: Lo mein, fried rice, there's a bunch of single-vegetable focused dishes, i.e. asparagus/broccoli in garlic sauce, and there's also things like Buddha's delight. The garlic mushrooms are a fantastic vegan appetizer, if not a little oily. I like the decor: very well lit, tables are clean, you can see all the fruit behind the bubble tea bar and there are several wax replicas of thier dishes as you walk in (including some fish heads that look at you). The odd plastic chairs are surprisingly comfortable, but you wouldn't know by looking at them. You won't see any lazy susans here, the big tables are looooong, which can make sharing between more than six people tough, but still doable. If you've been to a typical Chinese sit down restaurant before and you want to try something different, or it's the middle of the day, it's hot, and you want something frozen, then Joy Yee is definitely for you. If you want a more typical Chinese place, or you're with your Chinese friends that said they'd show you what to order off the secret menu, then there's other places in Chinatown for you.
(4)D. C.
This is a favorite in my family. The menu is very big, so everyone is sure to find something to satisfy. The kids love the tapioca freezes and Korean short ribs. The space is crowded and rather lacking in ambiance. But for an inexpensive, casual family night out, it hits the spot.
(4)Jonathan C.
For the amount of food and the quality of food you get, this is an excellent place. The food itself I would rate a 4, but as far as the overall package (price, comfort, options) I would have to give it a 5. I have been going to Joe Yee's now over the last few years, I starting out by going to the original one located in Chinatown which has also had great improvement to this date. The drink selection is great (some new additions like Thai Ice Tea), and they offer more appetizers now. If you order both an appetizer and entree you are most likely not going to finish eating everything. I also do not know any other place where you can get beef teriyaki with baked rice and japanese beef dumplings at once and not pay more than 15 bucks. Other great items include the Malaysian Seafood with Baked Rice, and the Pad Thai, which will take you 2 days to eat. If you are a fan of soup, there are tons of great options and once again, large portions. There are pictures for mostly everything on the menu, so that helps you pick something but at the same time everything looks great, so it might be hard to choose one specific thing. Don't worry though, you'll be back to this place anyway. It can be a great place to go on a date unless it's really crowded. When that's the case, you're literally sitting to the party next to you (when the staff tries to separate the tables). I'm just not a huge fan of random people trying to say things to me when i'm eating with my girlfriend, just because they are sitting close by. Either way, you're going to love this place whether you are with a date or a group of friends and your wallet will be satisfied as well. If you are paying for 2, you are going to feel like you spent 50 bucks when all of your food comes to the table, but you're going to leave only paying 25 bucks most likely.
(5)Evan A.
for as popular as this place is, I have never had something remarkable. except their smoothies. Those are GREAT
(3)Laura P.
Have all the people who eat here ever had Thai or Vietnamese food before? IF they had they would realize that this is the worst imitation of it. Worst. Worst. Seriously, my noodles were so bland I thought they were just boiled in water and thrown in the container (yes, I had carry-out). The spring rolls were WARM and slimy. I absolutely adore Thai food which is why I was really disappointed....... The decor is enough to blind Stevie Wonder. Acid green is a great color....just not on acres of walls. Acid green walls+ track lighting by the hundreds every couple inches throughout the restaurant+bad noodles (how do you mess up vermicelli?)=Joy Yee. Not a joy for me. I would rather have Chinese water tourture than eat here. Ever again.
(1)Rene G.
always good.... yes i would have to say the service has always been an issue...even at Chinatown..but that is typical of any places where the staff are not fluent in English......some places have the mentality ....our food is good. we are established and have repeat customer. so who cares about our service. we will still be busy and remain open...there is A LOT on the menu...and when asking the staff what is on the item they themselves don't know....just there this past weekend.... order some freeze fruit drinks...DELICIOUS!!!.....ordered pai thai noodles, pineapple shrimp chicken fried rice and chicken wings...ALL GOOD as always! This place is always busy....no need to explain why.....place always clean as well....
(4)Mia L.
I love Joy Yee. Their drinks are incredible. They have a large selection of food. It's a laid-back casual place. I love how the customers are diverse...then again you are in the uic area. If I could eat here everyday, I would. Joy Yum.
(5)Moses L.
Affordable, delicious, and filling. What more can you ask for? This place is one of my favorite Chicago joints. I make it a high priority to have a meal here while I'm in town. I've tried several dishes (all very large portions and delicious), but my favorites are the Basil Beef Noodles and Kimchi Seafood Udon. I'm never disappointed by these. Don't forget the Avocado Boba Smoothie. I know, it sounds gross. But you'll be surprised how refreshingly smooth and velvety the taste is.
(5)Jill H.
Very good, fresh, Asian food. The menu is enormous. We loved the wonton soup My chicken with vegetables were so fresh, if not a bit of a boring order. The portions are huge, so expect to share!
(4)Simma Down Na H.
I don't get it! Okay, I do get it! People go to Joy Yee because it looks hip...yellow walls, modern furniture, and boba tea. Yet, their food is just okay. I'm not speaking for the Asian population but to me, I think you get the best Chinese food from the "broke-down" family restaurants. I'm a fan of Cantonese food. The crab rangoon wasn't that great (I bet it was frozen food), too many vegetables on my mongolian beef, and walnut shrimp was a tad over-priced. I think it's a good place to hang with friends because Joy Yee's really seems to cater to the young crowd. Why doesn't Joy Yee's serve dumplings...I love dumplings!
(2)Jay G.
Since this place was so close to campus, my friends and I came here often. They have a wide selection of dishes to choose from, and a ton of drinks as well. I don't usually like to eat in because their chairs are so uncomfortable. But other than that, the food is pretty good. I've ordered for delivery a couple times, and they don't always get it right. I usually ask for extra sauce, and they never add more. I think they actually charged me for it too. I've only tried a few dishes, but so far they've been pretty good.
(3)Tracy L.
Lots of seating space. You cannot go wrong with beef cubes over tomato rice =] MY FAV! The teriyaki short ribs are the bf's fav. And of course, treat yourself to a bubble tea...you deserve it! They have a HUGE selection of drinks and they've added a lot to their menu (bumped up the prices a little, but hey, it's a recession.) crab ragoons are big thick crusts, but a little on the oily side
(4)Wynee B.
Pretty decent food (if you know what to order). They have a really large variety on their menu. I would suggest hot plate or eel. Somewhat rude service but they grow on you. They always show Chinese dramas on the TVs whenever I'm there. Carryout is quite fast. Joy Yee is on my speed dial. Pretty large servings for a standard price. Their lunch special is really cheap, though. Just go if you want bubble tea. It's not authentic Asian cuisine but if you go to NU, you must go there. No matter what.
(4)Tina B.
The have good soups and really good and especially exciting looking drinks that employ fruits and colors and Sprite and balls and that's all well and good. But let's talk for a moment about the biggest pain in the ass at Joy Yee's - their seating. You know how on a normal chair there is like a square part that you put your butt on, you know, to sit? Well here that square is turned and really shaped like a diamond instead and is about as big. This can be a real problem. Especially when you're fat or pregnant, and more especially when you're fat and pregnant, like I was the last time I tried to delicately perch my big enough for two ass upon one of those gems. I'm thinking this was all an attempt at "cool" and "hipply" "elegant" decor, but I'm going to say (or "ass"ume) this was a critical mistake. It's bad form to remind people of their big fat asses when they are saddling up to buy food in your restaurant. Probably benches might even be more in order. Or like a couch. Something that would make one feel dainty enough to partake in a few more pieces of average crab rangoon. Luckily, it's mainly just the soups and drinks that are worth getting here, and not the other, more ass-expanding offerings. And you can get the drinks and soup to go.
(3)Lauren D.
Every time I go to the doctor I stop by here afterwards for a bubble tea. Its my reward for being a semi-responsible adult. The bubble tea is always solid, however sometimes you can tell that they over-soaked their tapioca and it is just too soft. I have gotten lunch here a few times, and the lunch specials are a great deal. The spring roll appetizer is also pretty tasty with tofu.
(3)Brenna O.
After the incredible buzz about Joy Yee having the best bubble tea in Chicago, I had to give it a try. We had a good experience there and a crappy experience, so I think it evens out to about a 3 star review. The first time was great - the novelty of the HUGE menu was fun, and it took us awhile to figure out our food and bubble tea selections. There are large portions, and the bubble tea comes in this huge beer glass with a handle, in case you feel like chugging it. I recommend the green tea, and my husband liked the mango. Our second time was comically bad, it felt like we were on a sitcom. Our waiter took our order eventually, and we got our food quickly enough but the red bean bubble tea my husband ordered this time was grainy and gross. We asked for it to be remixed or put through the blender again to maybe make it smoother, but it didn't really help. The hilarious part was that we saw our waiter sitting with the other staff having food, and then he was the one to clean up... and then he sat there hulling green beans. We sat there for so long trying to get his attention and laughing and wondering if we were ever going to get our check. He seriously forgot about us and didn't even look our way or tell another waiter to take care of us! We wrote "WTF??" on the check. So the service was totally horrible, the red bean bubble tea was undrinkable, and I was really disappointed. I don't think I'll be driving all the way to Joy Yee again anytime soon. BEBOBA IS STILL THE BEST BUBBLE TEA AROUND!
(3)Aaron S.
Frankly, I haven't been inside this location - so take my review at face value. I ordered delivery, just to see if this location was putting out the same quality food that is available at the Chinatown location. The Chinatown location doesn't do delivery - and I was too tired to head over there for takeout/pickup - so I dialed the number for the sister location on Halsted and they were able to deliver delicious food to me. If you need a full review of the food (and the story behind why I order the same thing every time), I've reviewed the Chinatown location as well. My order was the Pad Thai Woon Sen, which is absolutely the best at Joy Yee's and I just can't find another place that makes a Woon Sen as delicious anywhere else in the city - so far. I also asked if they deliver their freezes, and when they said they do, I was skeptical, but it was definitely worth the risk to order my Banana Ice Cream Freeze and hope for the best. And I was not disappointed. My only concern was that the freezes and my hot food were in the same delivery plastic bag. They were separated with different paper bags, but the insulation wasn't perfect. My freeze was still freezy - at the sacrifice of miso soup being less than steamy and likewise for the Woon Sen. But the food was still a gastronomic delight, despite being served at a less-than-optimum temperature. Really, the food was 95% as good as the Joy Yee's in Chinatown that I'm used to eating from. That 5% difference was just a random issue I had with the shrimp in my food from this particular Joy Yee's. Someone in the kitchen must not have been paying attention while deveining the shrimp, because (to quote David Spade in Tommy Boy) mine looked like they had just finished Thanksgiving dinner.before being cooked and placed in my Pad Thai Woon Sen. It was a forgivable transgression and this place has managed to keep its 4-star rating in my book. I hope that if I ever make it inside this location, the food will be just as good and if it's less crowded with better service here than at the Chinatown location, the Halsted location might be earning its fifth star.
(4)Sandy R.
Joy Yee=Smoothies & Bubble Tea. Food = Alright. Why do I go here so often? It's convenient, and the portions are big enough to split with a friend, so we each pay less than $5 a meal. The fruit smoothies are the best, the fruits are fresh, and everyday I go there, I can see them preparing it for orders. The noodle soups are the best for cold days, or for when you have a craving for something with an umami taste. The authenticity of the asian dishes are questionable, I mean, they consider themselves fusion, but from past experiences, fusion means modern + oldstyle, so A+a=Dish, not A+B=dish. Because of this, some dishes are good, and some dishes are really bad. The service is always really good, too. My water always get refilled without me knowing...they are so fast! However, there is one lady that works there who is really nosy, and always stares at everybody and everything for a really long time, and sort of makes me uncomfortable when I we are deciding how much to leave for tip or how we are going to split our check. This makes me wonder what her motives are.. I hope she doesn't poison me for leaving her a low tip! haha.
(3)Jose B.
Great food, LOTS of it for a fair price, chairs kinda uncomfortable but really who cares. I love this place!!! oh and awesome smoothies!!
(4)Ripple D.
Amazing food, amazing smoothies! Great atmosphere for restaurant dining, but the delivery service is fabulous as well for carry out!
(5)Dale T.
Used to be a great place to get good food... Heard it was starting to go downhill. Ordered chicken with salted fish baked rice. Chicken tasted like it was boiled first not stir fried. Disappointed. Ordered eel fried rice to go will see if that's better
(3)Napkin Freak C.
very happening and busy but no need to wait, they have plenty of seating. besides, most folks are quick eaters. I ordered the smoothie drinks from them and it was awesome, very nice!
(5)Brittany C.
I am such a fan of BYOB noodle places. I mean, is there ANYTHING better than bringing your own finely-chosen (or just UM, cheap) alcohol and enjoying some tasty asian-pleasures? I am not so sure there is... And all I HEAR about is Joy Yees this and Joy Yees that.. So of COURSE I was pumped. Let my tell ya the story: Friday night. Dressed up with my girls ready to start the night with a few bottle of wine, a bottle of champagne... Now, Im not saying we were in skanky attire, but lets just say we were a step above sweats. So we get there and should have turned around... It looks like a cafeteria. It is bright and loud, but "lunchtime" loud not weekend dinner loud. It is filled with UIC students in sweats and ponytails or those waiting to pick up some grub to take home for a night of studying. Now this is fine. It was MY mistake that I thought it was a little less casual. I totally love casual too. But just know what to expect. We BYOB'ed and it seemed like everyone was looking at us over their bubble tea, like we were marshians.. Pad thai was SO-SO, big portions but sort of blah. Maybe the taste was tainted by the awkward feeling that sent a blush up and down my face. I dont know. I may try it again for lunch or weeknight dinner. Once I can get over the humiliation caused by the inapproporiate fashion Faux Pais... eeeek!!!!!
(2)Vivian Y.
Holy Crap! Been living down the street from this locale for almost 2 years and I can't believe I haven't written a review!! If you're a fan of Joy Yee's or have Joy Yee's as a top of mind restaurant, then this is the location to visit in the city because it is not NEARLY as packed as the Chinatown Location. This location is big and spacious but the really need to do something about those chairs. They've already switched them out once since they opened (the other ones were like traditional Chinese redwood chairs that were diamond shaped and super uncomfortable) and now they have the space-age chairs that are way too low to slurp noodles. I love the food here if I am craving pan asian. Some stuff is very authentic while others are doing well at trying so. If you're a less adventurous asian food eater, Joy Yee's is a safe bet as there are tons of things that won't gross you out and there are no hanging pieces of meat in the window like there is in Chinatown. Personal favorites: Sesame Chicken Malaysian Ong Choy (veggie) **bring a six pack of beer - it's BYOB** Menu is too big to name, but top of mind are those two dishes.
(4)Rico T.
I never really liked this place, especially the one in Chinatown. The one in the Chinatown mall is too cramped & the food is prepared mediocre at best for my liking. To be fair, its been several years since I've stepped foot into a Joy Yee until this recent experience. The University Village location is actually quite nice. Visually appealing for sure. The chairs look cool, but feel a little weird to sit in. Maybe it's just me & I gotta shed a few pounds... Anyway, the food was not bad this time around. My friend had the mapo tofu lunch special, while I had the garlic pork over rice ( I suggest ordering this dish with a fried egg on top!) My dish was exceptionally tasty, probably the 3rd best palce in the city for this dish (#1 Siam Noodle & Rice, #2 Sticky Rice) I'd go back again.
(3)Larysa G.
They have the best drinks with tapioca ever!! And my favorite sea soup also there...love it. Service is good and fast but I don,t like they metal chairs..there are not very comfortable.
(4)kim b.
Always find something to eat here...when I can't make up my mind. One of my favorite crab rangoon in the city...only second to Indie Cafe in Edgewater. Bubble drinks are the best I've ever had anywhere in the US...and we live in the bay area, so we've tried a bunch, and these are in a league of their own. The Chinatown location has a drink window and you can just get that to-go if you want it. Favorites: String Bean Pork, lychee mango tapioca freeze, crab rangoon, anything over rice...so many selections! Parking can be kinda tough...so I prefer to go to Chinatown/Evanston sometimes cuz there's more options for parking. If I go for an afternoon snack...you can go to the bakery across the way in Chinatown and get a sesame ball...mmmm. I miss that.
(4)Martin H.
Joy Yee's Noodle is great and the best Pan-Asian restaurant in Chicago. This location is very large with a lot of seating (uncomfortable seats). Hands down their Bubble Tea is the best!!! They have the biggest selection of fruits that you can choose from and mix together. Their menu is one of the biggest I've ever seen at a restaurant. There is so much to choose from it takes you 10-15 minutes just to decide what you want. The food is great and the dishes they serve them in are extremely creative. Also, its BYOB! The one thing that lacks here is the service. Most of the waiters/waitresses can barely speak english so if you ask them something they'll get very confused and chances are make a mistake. For the BEST bubble tea and great Pan-Asian food, go to Joy Yee's!
(4)Hfrrz h.
They are amazing. Once you stop being overwhelmed by them menu. I think that it is Great that they have so many choices. Most people wish other restaurants did. They make everything very naturally. The decor is amazing and the food has the spices that you would expect from a ethnic restaurant. They have huge portion sizes. Everything is made for two. The bubble teas are amazing and huge! Spicy fried dumplings and sesame chicken are my favorite but i like so many others.
(5)Bill M.
So this chick in building next to ours in the West Loop who claims to be a major foodie told me about this joint. I told her I loved Big Bowl. She made a sour face, and implied that if I liked what she viewed as touristy crap (although I disagree--I think Big Bowl is excellent), that I'd love Joy Yee. I thought it was so-so. A gazillion choices on the menu, which is typical of Asian hash-houses like this, but it often means everything is mediocre, nothing really that good. Which was the case. I had teriyaki chicken, a fairly easy dish to execute. They completely botched it, though. Burned or badly scorched and tough. VW (Veg-Wife) ordered garlic broccoli, which turned out to be ok, but nothing special. Rice was pretty good. The big deal here is that it's BYOB. The decor is weird and garish, the seating is not that comfortable, but service is generally attentive.
(2)Nichole S.
First thing I think of is this place is so damn confused. Stick to a cuisine and do it right then extend your menu. Spring rolls were greasy and so far from being vietnamese it was offensive and Im not even vietnamese. Bubble teas was amazing I cant lie it was damn near perfect. However my soup sucked broth was flavorless and lacking veggies it was a big steaming bowl of water and noodles. Things to work on..... The menu is stupid and unapproachable Your sauces on the table are far off have sambal siracha fish sauce soy sauce and vinegar not just siracha and oyster sauce Fry your spring rolls to order Go to a Argyle and do some research it feels like white people run this place and its too bad because its a great location
(2)Sarah D.
Love Joy Yee! They have never disappointed with anything I've tried on their menu (especially a fan of beef and brocolli and their chicken lo mein!) Always quick delievery and prompt service when placing orders over the phone.
(4)Kathy S.
I never really understood why everyone loved this place so much until I went with friends who knew what to order. The basil chow fun, tomato with beef cubes over rice and lemongrass beef are my favorites. Walnut shrimp was okay too but definitely not as good as the one at Yu's Mandarin in Schaumburg. I'm also very picky about my bubble tea but I LOVE their mango-lychee freeze. It is amazing and I crave it all the time. Heard their pineapple fried rice is good too so got to try that next!
(5)Dustin W.
Excellent noodle dishes and more traditional american chinese dishes. The orange and governors chicken were served crispy with a nice brown sauce and great texture. Beef pho and udon noodle soups were also spot on. I was most impressed with their willingness to allow for improvisation. I highly recommend a kung pao chicken with rice stone pot.
(4)Mark A.
Yo, yo, yo! I love this spot! They have a huge menu with Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean. If you've never had any of that before, it can be daunting looking at a menu like that. But...they...got...PICTURES! Of almost every dish! And good pictures, mind you, that make it extra hard to decide on what you want. The got pictures of their ga-zillion bubble tea and smoothie concoctions too! And...(next sentence coming out like I'm Wanda from Martin) they is suuh-OH good! It took me and my friend an extra 10 minutes to figure out what we wanted. Shrimp fried rice for her - average, easy dish, not really asking for quality here. But they did it well, and gave a lot of it. I, of course, being a man and trying to figure out how to try as many things at once, got the Vietnamese sampler of 3 dishes: Vietnamese chicken curry, some pho, and shrimp vermicelli. Bad-freakin'-ASS. My Taro Coconut Green Tapioca Freeze (as girly as it looked coming out) tasted like Danish Butter Cookies and a Mango Sundae. Yes, I would breathe that. I can't wait to go back. If I'm ever in that area during the day, I'd stop in for one of their drinks - I'm that sold. My Chinese brethren in the back also solidifying my claims. Right now, and probably for a long time to come my favorite asian (non-sushi) spot in the city. My mom...and MY CHINESE GRANDMA would eat here. I know it.
(5)Katty D.
Way over this place. 1 thing i will admit, their boba is the best tasting around, but otherwise, they serve mediocre food over a ton of rice to make you feel you're getting your money's worth. I came here with a group of 5 and we ordered a korean soup, a korean soup/bulgogi meat combo, orange chicken and fried green beans. It all tasted decent to me, but afterwards it all felt so heavy from the oiliness. I'd probably only come back here out of desperation for chinese food. Ambiance - trendy, to the point that they put you in uncomfortable oddly shaped chairs. Food Quality - heavy, oily, and eh. Service - really good, theyll get your order and your food out fast Value - i'll give them this, its quite affordable, we each only spent about $10 per person
(3)Ryan M.
Awesome place! The interior decor looks soo good. I love that on the outside you can see pictures of the food items, not just a menu listing. They have drinks with tapioca balls that are delicious/kinda weird. The portions here are huge! I always get the Vietnamese calamari. First of all the calamari is fried perfectly. Next all the calamari looks like the squid, not round tires. Finally the calamari is seasoned great, and the dipping sauce is sweet and hot, and very good. I hope my girlfriend goes back to UIC so whenever I visit we can go here!
(5)Shannon H.
Joy Yees has great Asian food for a reasonable price, and an interesting atmosphere. Personally I prefer to get my food to go and eat in at UIC to save money, but if you're not a student this may be a bit awkward. I highly recommend the Orange Chicken, the Chicken and Pineapple fried rice, and the Japanese Beef Dumplings, but given their extensive menu you're sure to find something you'll like. They tend to give you a lot of food so you won't go hungry and be sure to try the bubble tea!
(4)Kevin A.
WELCOME TO THE MATRIX adfadj韓辣豬肉石&Â957;板kfdasjfkdlfjd#$GREENCURRYdfajdkfl@#$#*Â0daj#*#$(fklsdfjdlkafjdPHOsdfjdkflads韓ůÂ71;豬肉石頭板ÂjfkldfjdkldKALBIsdjfksdfjkdslfjklsdfdFRIEDRICEsdf@Â#$#*jdkfljsdfkdsMAPOTOFUdfjsdk@#$*fldjsfk麻&Â#23110;豆腐jskflsdjkflKUNGPAOSHRIMP@#$Â&*#SkdvSK~dkdTERIYAKI(*(#$kdklankeliodskdjfleirkklÂa;(#$(8BOBA@#$*(dk Reading their menu is like decoding the matrix. Seriously, it's easier just to think of what you want and assume it'll be on there. Food-wise, it's 3-stars (kind of what you might expect for a pan-Asian place), but their bobas are spectacular.
(4)Claire Y.
I've only tried the bubble tea here so far... and they're excellent! My favorite is the strawberry lychee freeze (fresh fruit and juice smoothie with tiny ice bits). I hear the crystal jellys and the milk teas are also something to talk about. great for students that live nearby --- affordable menu and an EXTENSIVE list of teas that will never bore their tired brains.
(4)Jocelynne G.
Crap crap CRAP service. I wish I would NOT be hounded for tip every single time I eat here. We were only filling out the check/signing in and the servers were staring us down and circling our tables like vultures. They even said "You fill out the tip here." to us, when we were PLANNING on giving them tip in cash. Food isn't that great either, the service just totally ruins it all. There are much better places around my house for bubble tea anyway.
(1)Double L.
I really like this place for a few reasons. Mostly, they make awesome drinks that really hit the spot, especially in the summertime. I also think they do some dishes really well. Nothing is overly greasy and most things we have tried I would consider to be above average Asian fair. The menu is really diverse and covers something from most Asian cuisine. I think the food is a bit better at the location down in Chinatown but this one is way more accessible and they deliver, which I like. RrL
(4)Cathy H.
Oh, how I miss the fake Thai/Chinese/Vietnamese fusiony places of Southern California! Every time I find a new "X Noodle Shop" in Chicago, I want it to be one of two things: (1) greasy, all-Asian-get-down, full-of-msg, late-night goodness, or (2) an actual Asian noodle shop with a thousand different options, all piping hot and full of complex flavor (e.g. pho, or my favorite neighborhood noodle shop in Name the Asian Country of Your Choice). Sadly, Joy Yee is neither--it's just bland noodles in soups blander than Swanson's chicken broth. Does this mean you won't see me here every one in awhile, indulging in a bland soup in bland broth? No. Sometimes I just need some soup. But does this mean I won't be disappointed every time I eat here? Also no.
(2)Ernest S.
I am not toting this place as the best asian restaurant, but they really do have some very tasty dishes. I think because their menu is so vast, your experience will widely vary depending on your selections. Its really hit or miss if you don't know what they do well and what they suck at. I have learned the hard way through many visits over the years, ordering different dishes and trying friends' stuff, all the while compiling my own "do's and don'ts" list in my head. And I give them five stars because at the end of the day I now look forward to eating their food, sometimes even craving it. Some of my favorites include: thai spicy basil chicken chow fun, beef cubes over tomato rice, lemongrass beef, pineapple chicken and shrimp fired rice, basil pork with egg over rice Stay away from: ALL their pho and pho-variation noodle soups (goto a real pho joint if this is what you're craving), mapo tofu, thai spicy shrimp with baked rice (the description is misleading, as it is not spicy AT ALL and instead very sweet) And you really can't go wrong with any of their drinks, they are seriously THE best bubble tea spot. My favorites include: mango-lychee freeze, avocado freeze, strawberry-lychee freeze, taro freeze, milk green tea with green tapioca
(5)kristina s.
I Loooooooooooovvvvvvvvvveeeeeee me some joy yees!!! The restaurant itself is nothing to get excited about... but the food is great and they have great fresh fruit smoothies, so good! They have an amazing selection of food, Vietnamese, Thai, chinease, Japanese... with pics of everything and I love everything I order, especially the chicken/shrimp pineapple fried rice, comes in a big pineapple and is so delicious.... If you Asian food this is the place to be... the service is usually good, if you get a server who speaks English, but the food makes up for that!!! Yummo!! Oh yeh and there are always leftovers, the portions are nice and big :)
(4)Eun Jee J.
This is hands down my favorite restuarant. True,, the food isn't really authentic Asian Cuisine, but they have the freshest and more delectable drinks, especially the bubble tea, yum. I love the lemon-grass chicken wings as a appetizer, and I always get the beef in black bean sauce over rice, or the spicy korean oyster and shrimp noodle soup. Yumms! I order delivery from here all the time, it takes about 45 minutes, but thats normal. But I do love it when it arrives in 25 minutes! I also love how you never have to wait long. Everything is bada-bing, bada-boom. You're in, sat, order, eat, out. I understand because its a popular place!
(5)Elizabeth D.
You can get just about anything Asian on their vast picture menu. My two staples are the Shrimp Rice Paper wraps and, of course, the bubble tea. The Shrimp Rice Paper Wraps, I order sans the wraps and the dish is a virtual veggie-palooza. The bubble teas are always amazing. In fact, I used to HATE tapioca and this is the only place where I need to have it. (Seriously, it's like little bursts of chewy goodness!) I haven't had a bad meal here. It's always worth the drive--in fact, just Yelping makes me want to go!
(4)Jess R.
I like this place. I just don't like eating there, the seats are SOOO uncomfortable and their waitstaff is questionalbe! I'd advise you to do take-out or delivery instead. I haven't ordered anything that I didn't like, yet.
(4)Donaye N.
My usual order is Beef Cubes with Tomato Sauce Rice! Can never go wrong with that...just oh so good! :) I recently discovered Thai Red Curry Beef Brisket Rice. It's very yummy!!! As far as the bubble teas, my fave is avocado w/ tapioca! :)
(4)Borat S.
Bubble tea was good but warm
(3)Dave R.
If I could give this place two ratings, I would. The food is excellent and reasonably priced (5 stars) but the service is the pits (1 star). Hence, the three star rating. Let's start with the food. It is always delicious. I like the wide variety of items and the different Asian offerings (i.e. Thai, Chinese, Vietnamese etc.). The Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls rock. I have had a number of the noodle dishes and they've always been very good. When I am sick or the weather is cold, I like to get the Pho Ga (Vietnamese Chicken Noodle Soup). I'm also a big fan of the freezes, the Triple Berry one is my favorite. Now to the service. Like other reviewers, I think it leaves much to be desired. When placing a phone order, it is often difficult to understand the Joy Yee person on the line. Ask for a change to a menu item and you'll find yourself explaining what you want at least twice if not more. In person, the service is no better. The servers make it seem like they'd rather clean toilets than have to take your order. Service can be very slow even if the restaurant is less than half full. Asking for an opinion on a specific dish (i.e. is it spicy?) can be like pulling teeth. If you want good Asian food at a fair price, yet can deal with less than stellar service, Joy Yee is a place to check out.
(3)Jimmy D.
Disgusting pho. Automatically taking off two points for that one. We got the giant bowl meant to share between 4-5. There were only 3 of us, but we're gluttons so we thought it'd be alright. It was not. It was gross. Ugh. That's what I get for trusting Chinese folks to make my pho. BUT the seafood curry with coconut rice was really money although it was kinda cold when they brought it out. The dumplings we got were so damn good though, redeemed all the wrongs I mentioned earlier. Service was WAY better than Joy Yee in Chinatown. Those bastards are always trying to get you to hurry up, move over a table, or just ignore you completely. Here it was a very nice normal experience service wise.
(3)Tara H.
Every time I walked by Joy Yee, it was dark and the restaurant was closed so I had no clue as to what the decor looked like, but thought it was going to be a cute Chinese Bistro. I was sadly mistaken and it had more of a cafeteria-esque feel with perfectly placed tables for the nineteen million waiters/waitresses to move around efficiently to constantly rotate my table with questions and offer their services. I am not docking stars for their attentive staff, but I will say it is as overwhelming as the menu. There are so many options and so many people to make it happen that every few minutes there was someone else to distract me from conversation and my meal. I suggest eating there for lunch because you won't mind the cafeteria-vibe, but if you want to catch up with friends or loved ones over dinner, don't eat at Joy Yee. Oooh, and what is up with their chairs? I felt like I was sitting in a bronzed low rider sex chair without the suspension, fun or sexiness!
(3)B H.
OK...I am a fan! I LOVED everything that I ordered and also what my friends ordered too! Their bubble tea is delish and huge. The portions of food are giiiinormous...but in a yummy take home-and-eat-later type of way : ) I ate here 2 days in a row-I know-it was that good!!! and great prices too!!! I had beef chop chae, kim chi, and shrimp fried rice=yum, yum, and yum. I also had, thanks to my friends, pineapple chicken fried rice, walnut shrimp, basil chicken, basil chow fun, and shrimp with broccoli. All recommended! I will be back to one of their locations again soon!
(4)Aileen O.
Joy Yee makes great bubble tea. Their seemingly endless list of flavors and combinations makes it difficult to choose just one drink. Fruity? Milky? Slushy? With ice cream? With tapioca? Without? I go to Joy Yee's for their cantaloupe and mango bubble teas. They use real fruit, unlike other restaurants that use powder (Blech). Prices are comparable to other bubble tea places - it will cost you about $4 for one. Sometimes you have to wait a bit to get your drink, but it's worth it because you know they're making everything fresh. The drinks are very refreshing and do fill you up (it's those darn tapioca balls). Random side note, but did you know a tapioca ball has about 10 calories? Sheesh! I've tried the food as well. They have a huge menu spanning different Asian cuisines. Pretty typical food, but they have really big portions. If only this place were closer to downtown, I'd give it five stars! Open a Joy Yee in downtown!
(4)Kara G.
If you can get though their "menu" (which reads more like a novella than a menu, but hey, I would rather have too many options than too few), you'll be happy you spent the time to do so. Their food is awesome, and a good portion, so there should be plenty to bring home when you're done. Additionally, their bubble teas are awesome! Staff is really friendly and food is prepared and served quickly, which is good when you're a hungry hippo like I am. Only downside is their chairs- really uncomfortable. I would stay longer but I can't ever sit in the damn things for more than 30 minutes without my butt falling asleep and my back hurting!
(4)Ram. S.
You get so much food and it's delicious. The hardest thing is picking something to eat, they have so many options. I suggest you go online and take a look at their menu or when you're there ask for a suggestion. I used to really love their Pad Tai, but lately it hasn't been as good. I love their fried rice and sesame chicken.
(4)Alex C.
This place is a staple for me at dinnertime. You get more than what you pay for. The strawberry freeze is great, better than Jamba Juice. The Shrimp fried rice is my friend's favorite. I like the staff and the quality of the ingredients. I am a fan.
(4)Katie T.
Um... I really enjoyed the food. I mean... Crab rangoon was the best. I could bathe in the sauce. I shared a chicken basil with wide noodle dish and a shrimp lo mien dish with some friends. I don't know...I'm about ready to give up my favorite lo mien for this one. Food adultery...there's nothing better.
(5)James L.
I can see why Joy Yee's appealing. They have almost every Asian food on the menu! I never ate there until last week because I usually just come for the buble tea. I had the wings, seafood noodle and fried rice. All were good except the seafood noodle. Overall, this is still a good spot. Honestly, I really come for bubble tea.
(3)Fate O.
Foods delicious. One of our favorite places. We order pineapple chicken fried rice with shrimps nearly every time. A few times, it was cooked with too much oil but most of the times, they're made to perfection and we gobble it down!
(4)Scott P.
This place is solidly good. I was wandering around Chinatown yesterday afternoon and started to catch the hungries. I saw a long line of people standing outside a window, so I went to go investigate. Action news boba reporting at it's best. I took a look at the menu- holy CRAP that's alot of stuff that I don't recognize. I usually dig avocado shakes, so I opted for the 'avocado mini-freeze'. They have a pretty efficient system for moving the line along, so I had my tasty delicious shake in no time. And- what's that...?? Fruit along with my mini-tapiocas?!!? Hells to the yes, good people. The shake was absolutely delicious. So I wandered around a little more, looking for a place to eat. The window displays at Joy Yee looked pretty nice, so I sat down for some dinner. Ordered the FooChow egg noodle soup and the grilled squid. The squid was grilled perfectly but the sauce was just a little on the syrupy side. The soup was really tasty, but it was just a little disconcerting to see the veins still in the shrimp. I'm really not sure why they leave them in- I'm sure they have some good reason? The broth was quite tasty, and full of those little fried-shallot thingies that I love so much in Vietnamese egg-noodle soups. All-in-all, I really enjoyed my meal here and I'd like to come back and try some other stuff. There was a HUGE selection of menu items- you'll never want for variety here!!
(3)Gilbert G.
Bubble Tea . yes Food . eh Service . sucks
(3)Raul C.
Thai Spicy Basil Chow fun... have it for breakfast or lunch or dinner. BYOB is amazing. Just hit the Lush down the street. Gewurztraminer or Viognier with the dish is amazing. Bud select too. Everytime I'm sick, I come down to get a strawberry freeze. It always makes me feel much better. Oh and did I mention that the portions are huge. Find a friend and try to eat a quarter of it.
(4)Ayako M.
Pretty good, greasy Chinese food. I had the Kim-Chee and Pork noodles...was decent but definitely what my hung over belly needed! The spring rolls are more like spring-burritos! ridiculously huge. I would order from again for delivery but I don't think I would make a special trip.
(3)Mini M.
I really did not like my experience here. The server was VERY rude to us and very inpatient. The food was not that great either. The only reason why I would ever come back here would be for a smoothie (that I would take TO GO) .
(2)Laura K.
This location is ok for when I'm in the neighborhood, but I wouldn't go out of my way to visit. The seating is awkward and chairs are uncomfortable. The food is great no matter what Joy Yee location you visit.
(4)Judy H.
I will give their fruit freezes 4 stars but 2 stars for the food. The mango smoothie is my favorite but my co-workers rave over the avocado smoothie....Personally I prefer my avocado diced with cilantro, lime juice and jalapeño. I think the problem with the food is that the menu is too expansive, the pictures are helpful but I think the quality suffers because there are just too many items to choose and then prepare. No matter, I will continue to come back for the fruit freezes with tapioca pearls.
(2)Darcy P.
I would give Joy Yee a five for the delicious drinks. I got the Mango tapioca freeze and my twin got the Taro Tapioca freeze. Both were HUGE and so tasty. The food on the other hand was mediocre. There weren't many veggie options and what we had was a bit bland. If we hadn't been starving, I would have recommended just getting the drinks and eating somewhere else. It was the lunch rush and I think they really wanted to get us out of there. We had barely finished our miso soup when they gave us the bill. Our waitress offered to put the rest of my sister's beverage in a togo cup. We had only been there a total of 20 minutes or less. Next time, I'll order my drink to go and eat somewhere else.
(3)Mary I.
3 stars for the food. 5 stars for the boba. The best boba here is the banana ~$5. The food is always ok, don't expect too much if you're asian. It's various dishes from vietnamese, thai, chinese, korean, but not very authentic. It's americanized asian food. The beef tomato rice is my favorite dish, but a little on the sweet side.. Mediocre food, good service. Fair price. ~$12 per person including tax/tip.
(4)Jourdan S.
This place is the jam. The only place to get real deal specialty asian soups, and ingredients like snails, short ribs, and spicy kimchi. Its super cheap and the portions are monstrous.
(4)Francesca R.
What a fun place! The menu is huge, but helpfully has both pictures and plastic replicas in the window. Amazing fruit freezes! The prices are low, and the portions are enormous. Fast, fun and delicious!
(4)Kari S.
Finally, another thai place I can get to from the West Loop! The broccoli chicken and chicken with vegetables (ordered a little spicy) are so far my favorites. They seem somewhat healthy and the quality of the chicken is top notch. They give you huge portions, so we always have leftovers. I am not a fan of their pad thai, which isn't surprising considering I only like two restaurant's pad thai in Chicago. It was too dry for my liking, and I prefer my pad thai not have that intense orange color. The smoothies look amazing, so that is next up on the list to try!
(4)Eric V.
Amazing food and crazy proportions make for a great time for large groups. Order by picture makes it easy to see what you're getting and the smoothie selection is delectable to say the least.
(4)Ben H.
I'm striking the "Rare Beef and Beef Balls Noodle Soup" from the list of things I like here. The last two times i've ordered it the soup has been bland and mediocre, the very last time being nearly inedible. I still like this place but that dish has taken a turn for the worse! The other 4 of my top 5 remain in tact.
(3)Peter L.
I hate to be the guy whining about how everything was so much better back in the day, but I feel like every time I eat from Joy Yee's it's a little worse. My ex-favorite dish, the seafood chow mein, has become a bowl of bland in bland-flavored sauce. That's what happens when you try to make a billion dishes from every country in Asia. The post-meal feeling is how I'd imagine a stomach full of grease feels like. I'm glad to say that the bubble tea is still awesome. Expensive, but the sizes are large and the stuff is like crack. Hopefully the food will get back to where it used to be.
(3)Sam S.
Soo many options, they are offering very fresh fruits. If you like Tapioca you will like this place
(4)Dana D.
The first time we went here, it was great! Amazing food, quick service, and not to costly. The second time? Not so much. As busy as it was, we had three waitresses asking us every 10 seconds if we were ready to order, when we had just walked in and sat down! Finally, we just said yes, to get them to leave us alone. That was awkward. Anyway, I ordered lemon grass chicken, which is what I got the first time. It wasn't so good. There was barely any sauce, and the chicken was rubbery and tasted like it was all fat. Ew. I'd go again, but only because it's close and I love chinese food. Try a bubble tea or a tapioca smoothie, those are really good. Also, the color is a little too bright for my taste (i.e. highlighter green), so if you're hung over? I definitely don't recommend it.
(3)Abby T.
for some odd reason, I like this Joy Yee's location better than the chinatown one! I've been for lunch a number of times and the service is usually really quick. My reasoning for the 3 stars is that the quality of the meat is usually very poor. And some of the foods just sound really unappealing. Sometimes I wonder if I'm really eating dog meat.
(3)Pilsen C.
Okay, enough bubble tea reviews. Lets talk food, shall we? Bottom line here - there is no consistency in their dishes from one visit to the next. The dishes have always been prepared differently, and tasted differently. This could be a good thing (if youre adventurous), or a bad thing (if your taste buds a pre-set for certain flavors). All in all, this place is Chinese. Doesnt matter that the dishes come with names like "Korean-' or "Thai-"...ALL of the dishes are cooked by Chinese men in the back, and hence, will taste extremely Cantonese. But thats okay, because I know that i deserved my BiBimBop to taste like Chinese food rather than Korean because I was dumb enough t order BiBimBop from a Chinese restaurant. Twice. Three times. Not great, not too bad. There not much going on cuisine-wise in the area Id eat, with the exception of Jim's hot dogs around the block. But thats a different story.
(3)L N.
This review pertains to bubble tea only. Joy Yee's bubble tea is the best. The giant straws are endless delight. The colorful smoothies are pleasing to the eye. Tapioca balls are fun... who can resist those chewy morsels of tangy fruity goo? Love them. Mango, watermelon, lychee, and canteloupe are my faves. Also, one of the locations in Chinatown has an enclosed koi pond or something in the floor which is pretty nifty!
(4)Rachel H.
This location was one of those places that was "coming soon" for about 2 years. Similar to the 7-11 at Western and Logan Blvd that's been "coming soon" since 2002. Anyway... This location is a lot bigger than the Chinatown one and the service is much friendlier... ok, so the waiter was attempting to ask me out, but he WAS friendly. I got my usuals, the shrimp with lobster sauce and the spring rolls and my friend and I tried the chicken, shrimp and pineapple fried rice. The fried rice is very non greasy. I also got a canteloupe boba freeze. I don't know if it's because of the blizzard-like conditions but we were out of there in a flash and it was not at all crowded. My only peeve is the wobbly chairs with diamond shaped seats. Not the comfiest. I'll come to this location again, maybe with a cushion for my butt.
(4)Aaron S.
I finally got around to trying bubble tea thanks to a co-worker of mine. He recommended Joy Yee. I ordered the Peanut Milk Tea with Tapioca. I have to admit my first sip was a little bit like how Keanu Reeves felt when he watched Morpheus make his famous jump. Needless to say, I liked it! Anyway! I actually tried some of their food (Lemon Grass Beef) which was quite delicious! The meat wasn't tough or chewy like the many throw-away Chinese restaurants that we are all familiar with. The rice and the veggies were also cooked perfectly as well. Based on the quality of this dish, I'm very curious to check out other selections on their large menu. I will definitely order delivery from these guys again! You can count on that!
(5)C H.
I liked this place initially but the only thing that I've enjoyed there was their Chinese food. Once, I got a very disappointing curry and their Japanese food lacks flavor, not in a Japanese sense, I mean the broth doesn't even really have a bonito flavor in their miso soup or anything else for that matter. Also, its a bit pricey for the disappointing Thai/Japanese food. Positively, the garlic shrimp is AMAZING and I really recommend the bubble teas and Chinese food in general. HOWEVER, the Thai iced tea is MONSTROUSLY GROSS.
(3)Pete M.
I'm not sure what the big deal with this place is. I like that the menu is diverse and seems to span a few Asian cuisines. Prices are fair too. But the actual food is pretty boring and under seasoned. Slight card board taste to everything with no popping flavors typical with some of the cuisines. I'd go back if out of options, or desperate. There has to be better places out there.
(2)Kayee I.
This place is getting only three stars because I absolutely cannot stand their chairs/seating. How obnoxious is it that I have to sit with my legs sprawled out because the seats are diamond-shaped? Take advice ladies and gents that may be wearing skirts... don't attempt to sit on one of these seats unless you plan on flashing all. The food quality here is just as good as the other locations. The menu does vary slightl in a positive way. Of course the hot pots are never available but it remains on the menu. The only thing that I tend to like at this location besides its beverage menu is the tri-sampler Vietnamese sampler which more than feeds two. The trio comes with a compartment with grilled spare ribs over rice, a compartment for rare beef pho, and bun thit. Yummmmm... I wasn't too much of the pho, but the other two items were delish. Vietnamese shrimp spring rolls are good too.
(3)Martha Z.
I don't know if I can ever order soft shell crab from any other restaurant again. The 2 piece portion at Joy Yee's was as big as my head and consisted of very tasty, sweet succulent crab meat. It blows all the other soft shell crabs out of the water, har har hardy har har.
(4)Say G.
We had spicy korean seafood noodles, sizzling (teriyaki?) strip steak and strawberry lemonades. I dug my noodles (mmm scallops) and shared at least half because the portion was really huge (and im a noodle pig). I didn't like the steak but the BF ate it happily. I'd eat here regularly if I was in the area and wanted delivery noodles, which would probably be dangerously frequent. Im guessing with the huge menu I wouldn't be terribly disappointed. That said I kinda expected better from them. Tasty but not very impressive... oh and I did not care for the cafeteria feel of the chinatown restaurant.
(3)Jeffrey H.
I love this place. The only reason why I didn't get them 5 stars is I tried to have them deliver. For some reason, the food didn't taste the same. So GO to the actual restaurant. Do not order take out. Eat it there fresh. It is fabulous. I suggest the Korean Beef w/ Rice, Sesame Chicken (very crispy), and bubble tea(my favorite is taro). I've had other foods and I was never disappointed. The service is fabulous. You don't just have one waiter, all of them will help you. Great service too. 5 Stars if you go there. Best thing about it. Menu w/ pictures. Everything has a picture. So I don't feel dumb when I ask, "what's that thing with the thing that tastes like this"?
(4)Kristen F.
Ok maybe I'm a sad little Jewish girl who doesn't know her ass from a kugel or whatever.. but I really love Joy Yee Noodle. I usually get take out and they're super fast with it so I can't comment on the state of their dining room but it always seems to be packed on a Saturday night. To me they have the best damn wonton soup I've had in while and their Pepper chicken was more chicken then vegetables. I do have to admit that their quality is not always consistent, sometimes my food is more Meat then Onions and Veggies but other times I will get food that has so many undercooked onions I can't eat it. Their Lunch Specials are really cheap, but then again I'm used to NYC prices, but the soup that comes with it, or whatever it is, is more like green tea then miso soup. I also don't like their coconut pineapple shake and I've had a lot of them at different places in Chicago. The coconut either isn't real and fresh or something..
(4)Mike O.
Joy Yee's, the one in University Village in particular, will always hold that special place in my heart as the go-to Pan Asian restaurant. That doesn't mean it's particularly amazing, but it's good enough that when I don't know where to go to eat I'll usually end up here. Food throughout all the locations is OK at best. One thing that's particularly struck me as odd about the place is that, regardless of how extensive the menu is, my friends and I always seem to get the same items each time we come to eat. That said, I'd recommend the lemongrass chicken wings for starters. They're yummy and meaty and a big step up from the greasy, breaded wings stereotypical of other Asian restaurants. My go to entree is the Kimchi Beef Hot Plate. At the University Village spot, the sauce is much thicker and more flavorful. It's a pretty simple sizzling dish or garlicky, sweet sauce, beef, onions and kim chi. It's hard to screw up. IMHO, Joy Yee's has the best boba drinks around. It's hard to find a place that uses fresh fruit like they do and blends as well as they do. The boba is never too soft or hard or chewy. It's always just right. The place is done up like every other Joy Yee's with the neon wall paint and the most uncomfortable chairs in the world. (Fun fact, go down to China Night on Taylor St in Little Italy to sit on the old Joy Yee's chairs. Much more comfortable.) Service can kind of suck when it get's busy. It's usually pretty good though. - Eat on!
(3)Leo L.
Im so used to going to the crowded Chinatown Joy Yee or Evanston, its nice to find one that actually seems like it has ROOM. I didnt have to wait either. Yay. My personal favorite is the Malaysian Seafood bake that comes in the log thingy. Im still trying to find out whats in that sauce... As with all Joy Yee's, portions are good for big eaters, and everything is tasty tasty. The chairs here are kind of narrow though.My gf is a size XS and even she mentioned they were small and uncomfortable. So wide people beware! Its located on the busy University Village Halsted strip so parking might suck at certain times of the day. I really like this place.
(5)Wayne C.
I get Joy Yee's all the time because I'm lazy and never go grocery shopping. It's cheap and close. The more and more I get it, the more and more I realize how their food is actually very sub-par. Very blah. Nothing exciting. And I've eaten there and their chairs are very uncomfortable. Also, when my friend ordered hot tea, they had no sugar packets and brought it to her in a clear glass? When she asked for sugar, they gave her a cup of the glucose syrup they put in their bubble tea. I'm obsessed with their Almond Milk Tea Tapioca and it keeps me coming back but really, there aren't a lot of choices for Chinese in the UV/Pilsen area. Eh.
(3)Joan A.
The food is mediocre, but the bubble tea is SOO good. I would recommend getting strawberry-peach or coffee-ice-cream-freeze.
(4)John C.
I don't get it...read my rant about Butterfly. All of this having multiple cuisines is really annoying. When I saw people eating Korean food here, I thought I was going crazy. First off, the Chinese food here isn't that good, now they are bringing in Korean food? Criminey!!! I've been to this one and the China Town one multiple times...so why do I keep going back? Because I can't find decent Chinese food in this town. I've had better in Denver, where there is no Chinatown and much less of a Chinese population than Chicago! People always tell me to go here and it is always crowded. So, if anyone has suggestions on delicious Chinese food, hit me up. And yes, I do need to bring someone who knows Chinese food and the menu to order for me next time.
(2)Sassy P.
I go here more than most places. The portions are huge, which is good because you can share amongst your friends. I think each dish can serve about 3 people. I've had the Pad Thai and Thai Spicy Basil Chow Funn. They are both really good noodle dishes. The food here seems pretty authentic. You should also try the Vegetable Lo Mein and Broccoli Chicken. I don't recommend the Hot and Sour Soup, wasn't very good. I love the Lychee Berry and Mango Tapioca Freezes. The menu is so huge, its overwhelming sometimes. So if you like trying new things, you won't have trouble here since there are so many things that you can order. Service is average. The place is very large and accommodates large groups. The chairs are really ridiculous. The are diamond shaped and not very comfortable to sit in. Parking is hard since its Halsted St and you have to find a meter spot. Another side note: Beware that this food is very unhealthy. They cook it with a lot of oil and you can tell its greasy. Recommended.
(4)Kristina B.
Oh Joy Yee's. How do I love thee? Let me count the ways... 1 one thousand... 2 one thousand... Ok, enough referencing Who Framed Roger Rabbit? and onto the review! My first experience at Joy Yee's was at their Evanston location. A group of us gathered there and waited for a little bit, then finally got seated. This place was PACKED! Apparently, everyone else already knew about its delicious-ness and they were all eating on that very same night. The food -- spectacular. The second experience at Joy Yee's occurred at their Chinatown location. Again, it was PACKED! Apparently, everyone who didn't know about this place found out about it , then decided to have lunch on that very same day. The food -- again, spectacular. My latest experience at Joy Yee's involved their newest location near UIC, on Halsted. This place was busy, but not packed. Why? Because it's BIGGER! And the chairs/tables are set up with lots of space to walk around. How nice! The food -- need I say it? Highlighted food/drink items that I recommend you try: Peach/Strawberry freeze Chicken fried rice Orange chicken Lemongrass chicken wings Mongolian beef And my number one favorite: BEEF CHOW MEIN (minus the greens, thanks)! YUMM-O!!! The staff at all three locations is beyond nice and attentive. I honestly can't find anything wrong with this place aside from the fact that I don't have a bed set up in the back room to sleep over when I slip into a satisfying food coma. Oh man...
(5)Jie J.
Unfortunately, Joy Yee's like one of the fewest places to eat out around UIC (beside Thai Bowl, which is worse). Anyway, the reason why this Joy Yee receives 3 stars is because 1. Poor Customer service (For the ladies, watch out for the bald guy who sexually harassed my friend) 2. The food is kinda oily comparing to the ones in Evanston and Chinatown 3. Most waiters have little knowledge about the food they are serving 4. their chairs The great thing about Joy Yee's is, they have bubble teas, and great selection of food and easy parking on Roosevelt Street. Overall, I would recommend if you want go to Joy Yee's, choose the one in China-town (hard to find parking on weekend and night) or Evanston.
(3)Audrey T.
Do you like HUGE SOUPS and an enormous selection at fantastic prices? ME TOO!
(5)Eric P.
This place is really disappointing. I live close by and had passed by this place for months, eager to try it. I finally went for it recently and it was a major let down. I ordered the "Combination Seafood Noodle Soup" - it was somehow flavorless but overly salty! It did have a interesting mix of seafood, just little of it (and I'm pretty sure the crab was imitation). The noodles were also poorly prepared. Overall the place is a really unimpressive experience. Don't bother!
(1)C M.
Let me start off by saying this is the first time I've been compelled to write ANY review, let alone a bad one. I got the duck noodle soup. I've had this before at small, family-owned places and loved it. The one I had here was basically an $8 bowl of ramen. The duck was pure bone and fat, the veggies were sparse and tasteless, the udon was chewy and gross. I wouldn't even come here for a quick lunch. Skip the neon-colored franchise and hit up your local Asian takeout instead.
(1)My B.
Not authentic asian in the least, but a damn good alternate. If I'm too lazy to cook we can just hop on over a couple blocks and get a few dishes to split. The convience (sp?) is what makes everything worth it. I'm not looking for food cooked by Hong Kong or Iron chefs! Onto the drinks...of course we pick up bubble teas when we're in. The fresh fruit makes it all worth it! I stop by in the summer after work and pick up a refresher. BTW - I agree with everyone else that the chairs are akward.
(3)Olia H.
I love this place because the menu is so extensive it is really hard to try everything its also hard to try new things once you have found one you really like. My favorite: Drink: Strawberry peach Appetizer: Lemon grass chicken wings Entree: Beef Chow Mein w/out the veggies Go here because I told you so. No really. You have to try it.
(5)VotesWithCheckboo K.
What happened? When I used to live in Evanston, Joy Yees was wonderful. University Village - not so much at all... Noodles in Pad See Eiw fall apart and disintegrate. Everything has an overabundance of fish sauce (even the vegetarian plate my mother in law ordered???) Indifferent service. Thanks, no thanks.
(2)James C.
i used to come here a lot back when the only location was in chinatown. Today i picked up food from the university village location and my order of 2 items took almost an hour. They quoted me 15 min so i got there in 15 min and then ended up waiting another 35-40 min for my food. Sure they were busy... but don't quote me 15 min when it's gonna take 3x that. also, there was this overweight girl that worked there and she was a little bossy. If I were the manager and I saw this, I would have a talk with her and eventually fire her. Here are the reasons why. 1. When the place got really busy, the one girl taking phone orders and walk in orders got swamped and had to check in the back for something. When this happened, the overweight girl took over but had way too much attitude. I think I saw her roll her eyes at 10 people including customers. 2. When someone that recieved their takeout order asked for hot sauce, she tried to get someone else to get it but when they weren't there to help her, she started slapping the wall to get her attention. When that was not successful, she walked around and got the bucket of hot sauce but instead of handing him a couple of the packets, she presented him with the whole bucket... almost like here... you take it. 3. When i asked why it took so long for my order to come out, she quickly said "we're packed" while she was looking over some orders and not even making eye contact with me or even apologizing. The only reason I can think that this person acts the way she does is either she's very close to the owner and knows she can't get fired or has quite possibly the worst customer service I've seen in a restaurant. Am i asking too much out of this establishment? Maybe now that I have experienced that... maybe i am. Other than this experience, this place is not too bad. The food is always good and oily. If you're the management and you read this (i doubt you will), please have a talk with your host/phone order personnel.
(3)Amanda T.
Joy Yee's on Halstead is def cleaner and more spacious than the Chinatown one, and the Naperville one as well. It's pretty much on the UIC campus which is super convenient. As for the food, it's ooookay. I find it average, nothing special. I do know a plethora that absolutely love it though, maybe I'm just super picky. But it's okay! Because the boba tea is awesome. So many flavors to choose from. My favorite is strawberry, watermelon, or lychee with strawberry or watermelon. The tapioca pearls are essential to the drink, so make sure you get those when you get a boba. And on a side note, ladies beware of a super friendly waiter that works there. He likes to butt into convos and will start messing with your cell phone if you leave it out...it gets a tad bit annoying.
(4)Elizabeth A.
This place is my handy "it's-late-don't-wanna-cook-tonight" place. Are all dishes great? Nope. Is food for pick up always piping hot? Nope (and that's taking in to account weather on the trip home). But do I consistently get a ton of food for a decent price that doesn't suck? Yup. And I've never had them mess up my order. So, it's perfect for what I need.
(3)D J.
Awesome, super fresh food.
(5)Wayne B.
Horrible service...which is slightly better than the typical Chinatown joint. Usually good food and great bubble tea...
(3)betsy b.
This pad thai was the most bland pad thai I've ever had. I even asked for is extra spicy...it had zero spice. It sucks too because the portions are so massive the majority is going to waste.
(1)Irena A.
Love this place!! I went here with a friend. She had the Pad see ew with shrimp. I had the coconut curry with chicken!!! It was to die for!! perfect curry.. And my friend's dish was also delicious!! the shrimp were so well cooked and fresh. I had the mango bubble tea!!! so yummy:) I almost forgot my doggie bag and the waitress ran after me to give it me! GREAT place!!
(5)Erin M.
For one their menu is huge! You have to go there just to see it. Two everything I have every had here, has just been prefect! Love the bubble teas too
(5)Alex C.
Tons and tons of Asian noodle, rice, and other dishes. They're all pretty good. You can get their bubble tea made with real fruit for a fair price.
(4)Ade Z.
I LOVE JOY YEE's the food is tasty and that is the only thing that gets three stars the service: annoying- clearly i am still looking at your large menu DONT COME ASK me 10x if im ready to order. The drinks always take forever to come the seats- ouch! its really odd to pick these seats and they aren't at a good height with the table. YUCK the crowd college students ga-lore so if you are a nice couple with some class expect to get treated like a college student with no trained pallette. w.e. parking is good there is a garage right around the corner 2 dollars for tow hours. i love the food and they are large portions so im guaranteed more food for during the week :)
(3)Linda T.
Lemme just say... Joy Yee's is one of my all-time favorite restaurants. They have more than one location, but this is one I like to frequent because it is not as crowded (compared to the Chinatown one), and the atmosphere is better -- it's spacious! =D Although.............. what is hilarious is watching my boyfriend try to properly and comfortably sit in one of those diamond-seated chairs. I'm not that big, but my butt does not fit on it at all. The food and service is awesome, and drinks are phenomenal. I never have to ask for a refill for my water. Trademark drink that I always get is the pineapple coconut green tapioca freeze. Don't walk into Joy Yee's without getting a drink!! =)
(4)Sameer A.
My Mediocre Experience. The menu is extensive but also kinda confusing. So many options, so many pictures, but not next to each other. Anyways, the hot& sour soup is disgusting. I enjoyed the smoothies. I was overwhelmed by the menu, so I ordered a classical kung pao chicken. Unfortunately, the chicken did not taste fresh. I leeched off of my friend's kung pao shrimp, which tasted fine. The portions are huge so be prepared. Oh and the chairs are extremely odd diamond shape which kinda forces you to sit diagonally, peculiar. The building is well done and spacious. The wait staff is mediocre. Not horrible. Not great. The price is decent, about $20. I will go again, but this time no poultry and hope for the best.
(3)Carlo L.
So I think I've been to all the Joy Yee Noodles now and this location was the last one and I'd rank it last as well. Along with other reviews, I found the chairs uncomfortable, the wait staff friendly but strange, and the food just a level below what you'd get at other locations. Not sure why though. We really like the fruit drinks at Joy Yees, but for some reason, none of the group I was with had anything good to say when compared to what we're used to at other Joy Yee's. With all that said, I'd go back. You just can't beat the crazy selection of asian dishes you'll find here.
(3)Robyn T.
Delicious food, good sized portions and cheap prices just like its Chinatown sibling. Do you have a bubble tea craving like I do? Luckily for you the University Village Joy Yee's offers delivery!
(4)Edward H.
OH HELL YES, even though you are well over a year behind your proclaimed opening date... I forgive you! I now have a new reason to say I love my neighborhood because Joy Yee is officially in the hizzouse! After a long and much anticipated wait, the local branch finally opened up in the UIC University Village. The decor is cool (the chairs, however, are not too comfortable); the dining area is nice and spacious (so very not Chinatown Joy Yee-like). The service is super attentive and the food comes out (ala Emeril) BAM in an instant. I've got all my favorites (Korean Scallops Stone Hot Plate and Japanese Tofu w/ 2 Mushrooms) all conveniently located near home base. This Joy Yee (at least for now) is by far the best of the bunch! If University Village gets a decent French and Italian restaurant as well, I'd have no reason to wander anywhere else... well, maybe to the movie theater.
(5)Stacey P.
Le sigh. I love Joy Yee's, and have been frequenting the chinatown and evanston locations since their respective openings. I find the UIC location less excellent than the other locations, let me tell you why. 1. The chairs. What is with the chairs? They're the most uncomfortable seating arrangements evaaarr. You sit on a diamond, the back is a tall skinny long poll. It's hard to explain. Maybe they want you to get out of there fast? I don't know. 2. The service. I don't mind unfriendly waiters. I am weirded out by ...weird waiters. This one guy who works there always says the strangest things. This is a long story so skip to the next number if you're not up for it : I ordered a drink from one waiter, and he got the order wrong. The other waiter came up and asked if everything was ok, and I said actually... could fix this b/c he got my order wrong? The waiter said "You didn't order that from me. you have to ask him." ..weird right? Then, he kept interacting with us in odd unexplainable ways. 3. My order has been wrong MANY times. I ordered lemon grass chicken wings, spicy korean dumplings, and 3 drinks. Instead I got spicy lemon grass chicken wings, regular dumplings, and the wrong boba was in the wrong drinks. Basically, everything we ordered was messed up. 4. They didn't add sugar to my red bean coconut drink. Odd? Yes. 5. My friend and I just got back from getting some smoothies, i got green tapioca in mine and it came in ONE HUGE CLUMP. It wouldn't break up. It was like... stuck together. She got one with fresh fruit on top and half of them were rotten!!!!! .... On the other hand, I like the spacious interior! I don't smell like chinese food when I leave :) so... despite my complaints, it's still Joy Yee's... 3 stars.
(3)Izzy N.
Oh I remember noticing Joy Yee's when getting lost driving through Chicago on business a couple years ago. It was a no for me then, and it's a no for me now. My instincts are usually right and I judge a book by its cover everyday and I'll continue doing so after this. They just try to cover way too many bases here. To sum it up, it's shiteous pan asian for the masses. I think it's fine for when you're a desperate, poor student but there's so much better that can be had in this city. My friend suggested going here cuz I was in the mood for noodles... I should really stop trusting his judgement.
(1)Simon L.
The menu is lengthy...but let me simplify it for you: most of the dishes taste the same! Maybe that's how they make the production so efficient. Although they offer Chinese/Korean/Japanese etc, nothing really is authentic. We haven't quite found a dish which stands out yet. It seems like their drink business is doing pretty well...you constantly see a line forming just for their fruit drinks.
(3)Anna D.
I give this five stars based SOLEY on their boba drinks. I've tried boba drinks in Toronto, NYC, LA, San Fran, St. Louis, and Chicago and I have YET to find a place that can make drinks as good as this place!!! The difference is that they use FRESH fruits and give you plenty of drink for your buck. I've been hooked on their avocado tapioca and honeydew for years, but now have branched out to love their strawberry lychee freeze. I've been buying drinks from Joy Yee's for over 10 years now and I still haven't tried everything on their drink menu. I started out going to their one lil shop in Chinatown as a freshman in college and now they have several locations, including one on the UIC campus. If only this was there BACK THEN!! I LOVE THIS PLACE!!
(5)John M.
I really enjoy this place. Good food, good prices. FAST service. Those chairs are brutal though. Try the Mongolian Beef.
(5)Joey F.
They changed the chairs folks! also the Bi Bim Bop is pretty Go Od and all the other stuff is good too, I mean there is some average food, but the eel deal at this place puts $$$ sushi resturants to shame. AND fresh coconuts.... but yea some of the negative comments by Adriana Z about the crowd and stuff are pretty accurate. The chairs are AWESOME though, I have come in to bring friends form NYC just to check them out and sit in them for a while.
(4)Mason G.
I was very impressed with both the food and service Joy Yee's had to offer. I was also pleased to discover that the food isn't your typical Americanized Chinese food. They offer a wide (and I do mean wide) selection of dishes to choose from and both my girlfriend and I were very pleased with our food. I ordered the broccoli and beef dish and she the sesame chicken, which I happened to like the best. My only minor quibble is that they charged me for a Coke refill which I thought was kind of strange. I can't remember the last place the charged me for a refill on a Coke product! Also, their 'speciality drinks', the ones with the tapioca pearls, are quite good and are reasonably priced. For a 2 person meal I spent $27.00. Not bad for good service and quality food. We will definitely be returning!
(5)Julia F.
i wish i could give zero stars. if you are wondering why joy yee's noodle shop has decent reviews, it's because it is located on a college campus. no offense- i was a drunk/hungover/low-food-standard-having college kid once upon a time too. trust me - this food is NOT good. beyond greasy, no flavor, generally disgusting. you could find far better chinese in a shopping mall food court. seriously.
(1)Juliet H.
Joy Yee's was a place my brother first introduced me to, when I moved to Chicago. I love it. This place has everything!! Of course, the Chinese food is way superior over everything, but this is a great place to order American style Chinese food(i.e. sweet and sour chicken, orange chicken, beef and broccoli, etc). Their Korean food is o-kay, they throw in their Chinese flare, which isn't so bad. Also, we can't forget their bubble tea!!! Their bubble tea comes from fresh fruit, it's made to perfection. The service in Chinatown and the one in Halsted is quick. The delivery service from Halsted takes a bit of time so plan ahead. Overall a great place for quick easy Chiense food.
(5)Alyssa O.
Their Beef Cubes in Tomato Sauce Rice are amazing. Doesn't sound too exciting, I know, but I was surprised how good it was when a co-worker let me try hers. I'm so glad she did because I would never think to order it on my own. A lot of people like their tapioca freeze drinks too. The reason I am not giving them 5 stars is because I have yet to find something else I like on their menu. Pad Thai, fried rice, and Szechwan Beef were all disappointing, but the Beef Cubes in Tomato Sauce Rice dish deserves 5 stars on its own.
(4)Shayne W.
This is by far our favorite restaurant in the city. Only this location though, the other one is too tiny, and you have to wait too long. The service is always prompt and friendly and EVERYTHING is delicious! My boyfriend and I are both vegetarians and are very impressed by the abundance of options available to us. Our carnivorous friends are equally as impressed when we take them there too. They will make pretty much anything with tofu as a substitute. The mushrooms teriyaki and the veggie spring rolls are the best apps.!
(5)Ashley H.
Food - They have a huge menu. They offer almost every type of noodle, soup, and salad you could imagine. I ordered the Chicken and Broccoli and shrimp fried rice, and thought it was great. Just as an FYI - In addition to the large menu, the restaurant continues with this idea by making the portion sizes huge too. Therefore, come hungry or make sure you request a to go box. Parking - Parking is a little difficult since its close to UIC. They have street parking ($$$) and a parking lot (even more $$$).
(4)Yan M.
Extensive menu and great variety of food and drinks! We were deliberating for a long while before finally making up our minds....we ordered a bunch of food to share, ala family style but we probably ordered 2 dishes too many. My favorite were the deep fried fish with gravy and the Malaysian string beans. The fried calamari wasn't bad either and so are their many dishes.....
(4)Jonathan F.
The menus here need cliffs notes. Luckily, there is a picture for nearly every item. The soups are great, the service is fast (although they forgot put in part of our order last visit, but I can't stay mad), and their staff is friendly. Portions are crazy big. The chairs suck. They really, really suck (hopefully they read these reviews). Beverages were great. Prices are even better. It's only a five minute walk from home. UPDATE: They got new chairs!
(4)Liza P.
I only went here for the smoothies, but I fully plan on returning for the food. I walked by and they had their windows open, and the smells coming out of that place----oh.....my....gawd!!! And the food was just as beautiful to look at as it was to smell (and NO, I'm not referring to all the weird plastic food in the windows!). So my hubs ordered a Strawberry Mixed Berry Freeze, which I tasted and was really good. My kids both had a strawberry ice cream freeze, which was also good--all of them tasted so fresh and good--just like real fruit! Yum! I ordered the mango lychee tapioca freeze. I must say, at first I wasn't sure if I liked it, because lychee isn't a flavor I'm used to--never had it before, actually. And the tapoica was a little strange. But it really grew on me, and quickly! It isn't a heavy, sickly sweet sort of flavor--it's very light, and really refreshing. I imagine it would be very refreshing to drink on a muggy day. The tapioca beads are kinda pleasant--somewhat gelatinous on the outside, and very chewy on the inside......kinda like chewing on a fragile, yummy bouncy ball. It was good......I might even have it again. Or I might try the coconut and red bean paste freeze.
(4)Anna L.
Love the bubble tea...Can't get enough of it. I get it before going to work. The site in Chinatown was my favorite, even though they pack you in like a can of sardines. The one in University Village is much bigger.
(5)Teresa Y.
Big portions. That's all I can say. The staff is a toss up. Some days you may get a server that is completely rude (i.e. talking on the cellphone while taking your order), other days you may be blessed with a friendly and attentive server.
(3)Peggy K.
Dear Joy Yee's Management, it's time you changed your chairs. Seriously not only at this branch but also at Evanston's. These are hard chairs for human being. And my eating experience would be fulfilled. Up till now i am like a sitting skeleton or rather that part of a skeleton which does sit. That's my opinion of its decor in general. Service is sometimes a hit or miss. No matter how many waitsatff they have, i can never get the better service. Its just medium ok. Talking about the good, there are some credits to their profession--- eagerness to bring famous Asian foods and drinks in one place. In term of genuinity they may not be expert in all but they did a good job for my dish (japanese tofu with shrimp) and Thai iced tea is a very good choice second to those arrays of fruity smoothies. However, i will carry my own small pillow for the hard seat if i go there next time.
(3)Vanessa P.
Good news: those uncomfortable chairs are the thing of the past. Everything else is the same, from what I can tell. Same large portions, great bubble drinks and pretty good service. I had the Kim Chi Seafood Udon Noodles and it it delicious. Also, plenty of food for the next two days. Perfect.
(4)Shirley A.
The food and service isn't that great. The only thing good about the restaurant is the bubble tea. I've given this restaurant a number of chances to redeem itself over the years and it has yet to improve or change.
(2)Michael Y.
Great food and bubble tea drinks! Always stop there whenever I'm in Chicago!
(5)Sonal J.
Best restaurant ever hugeeee menu and excellent bubble tea
(5)Lbreeze Y.
Ugh seriously I can not eat here. My husband and I ordered from here one night because my friend was raving about it so we decided to try it. We order the fish cakes, crab rangoon, singapore noodle, and fried rice. The crab rangoon tasted like it had freezer burn all over it, and the fish cakes were just plain nasty. We ended up throwing everything out after a few bites of each. Yuck! I guess once you find a favorite chinese or thai food place stick with it. The only reason I will go to Joy Yee is for the bubble tea!! Bestest ever! Try honeydew with lychee freeze...so good! The only reason I gave this place any stars!
(2)Jennifer S.
I am excited about this location too! Its closer than Chinatown and more spacious. I agree though, the chairs are not comfortable but very pretty to look at! I love this place...their menu is HUGE (both in size and items offered) and everything is pictured too! Fun. The food comes out hot, and delicious and FAST!!! I wish they had more vegetarian options, more dishes with tofu BUT I still love this place and will frequent this location. Definately save room for one of their amazing smoothies/freezes/bubble teas. The juice bar is beautifully laid out with mosaic tile design. My favorite casual Chinese restaurant in the city!
(4)Oona B.
everyone goes, therefore, there is minimal space to move around - hopefully they have expanded, to serve their growing clientele. it is nice to see they offer korean dishes. it is a good place to take visitors to.
(3)Cherryl L.
This is the BEST BUBBLE TEA i have ever tasted in my life..Seriously, i'm from Philly and there is no other compared from Chicago..Hands down to them....I gave them 5 starts. I had mango lychee fruit bubble tea. I could really taste the fresh mangoes and fresh lychee. You know it's not powdered flavored but this is the real thing.... If I had more time in Chicago, I will go there everyday to try most of their flavors. THIS IS TRULY THE BEST BUBBLE TEA!!!!
(5)Robert Q.
Go there for the bubble tea(mango peach without sugar). The best I tried anywhere. Actually the old Chinese ladies behind the counter making the bubble teas are like the chinese version of the soup nazi from Seinfield".....mango bubble tea for you--Next!---you don't want tapioca---no bubble tea one year! " The food is ok; nothing will make you sick. The noodle soups were the best on the menu. The service is pretty quick and attentive.
(4)Suzy C.
The only thing I really love here is the boba tea (otherwise known as bubble tea of shakin' balls). Try the red bean and coconut combination, it's my new drug of choice. You'll be dreaming about it for days after you try it.
(3)janett p.
the food has gotten worse and the price has gone up...what happened to the old joy yee? I have to admit though...the smoothies are still delicious
(2)Kari C.
The last few times I've been here, I haven't been nearly as happy with the food. My favorite dish just doesn't taste the same anymore. It's not particularly bad, but wouldn't be my top choice for Asian food.
(3)Manda H.
I have had take out here for about a year now and finally made it over to sit and eat for lunch. I love how someone greets you at the door, even after I ran out to pay the meter. Portions are really big. I get a few meals out of the orange chicken and crab rangoon. Everything is fresh and colorful. I tried some of the seaweed salad but I still think Tank Sushi has the best. I have to say, one of my favorite parts in the dining experience is the menu. It is huge and every dish is show with a picture! no more "surprise," this is what you ordered.
(4)Dave C.
this establishment definitely doesn't serve up crap but they certainly do not serve amazing Asian food. i have no idea why this place is so popular. compared to other Asian places in the UIC area, Joy Yee's serves up a hot dish of mediocrity. this review also applies to the Joy Yee's in Chinatown too. there, one has so many options, thus, all the more reason not to go to Joy Yee's. please, do yourself a favor and get your Asian fix elsewhere.
(2)Dylan R.
This is is a good place. The food is cheap (for the amount you receive) and the drinks are absolutely amazing. I am not a total bubble tea fan myself so I never order them, but first hand I can say that they have amazing fruit freezes, much like a smoothie but with real fresh fruit. The food is very good as well, I typically only really order the three things regularly, Sesame Chicken, Pineapple Chicken with Shrimp Fried Rice, and Beef Teryaki with Baked Rice. Yet every time I try something new or taste something my friends have ordered I am never dissatisfied. The one thing that turns me off is in fact the service. You will be seated by one person, have a drink order taken by another, and if you're lucky (not) you'll have a different person take your food order, and then another one to bring out the food. They are all young servers and it tends to be a little annoying, but the food is well worth putting up with it. Or a better alternative is order take-out! Always good for a quick dinner or if you would like to take someone out to eat and you're in the area.
(3)Tracey G.
So I don't LOVE the food, but I LOVE the bubble teas and fruit smoothies. Wish I could go here everyday, just for the bubble tea. The menu is incredible. We used to eat here a lot, but I'm not a huge fan of the food. There are better places.
(3)Bridget B.
I like this place because the food is fresh and light. I ordered basic chinese food, chicken fried rice and kung pao chicken. They were both fresh and good but the fried rice does not have any veggies, which I would add next time. Also, they are chinsy on the soy sauce packets so ask for extras. Good prices too.
(4)Unknown K.
My eat in experience: Ordered to sit at the cafeteria table. The "waiter" pushed me aside to wipe off the table. He pushed my back to put my water down. The menu is done in "English" names so if you want pho or something like that, you have to try to figure out what they have translated it to. The "waitress" was serviceable. The soups were huge and not as described in the menu. Edible at least. My take out experience: Waited at the takeout counter and no one came. Walked around to the three "people" standing talking behind the counter. Was asked "What do you want to take home?" Ordered. Handed over money. Nothing. Waited 10 minutes. The chick yelled out "Rice noodle soup." 10 seconds later "Rice noodle soup last call." I asked: Is attitude included or does it cost extra? Answer: It's included. I suppose they think they are the only place to eat? Or, they are only appealing to college kids. So, if you miss that fun college experience of cheap mediocre food with a mixture of attitude and incompetence, stop by.
(2)Sid B.
Good chinese food...Had spicy chicken basil ..was fine...was kinda sweetish but tasty.....the jackfruit tapioca drink was awesome...one of its kinds! will be trying more flavors soon
(4)Jinna H.
I love chap chae noodles now. The food is very good, and I love a place that has Siracha!! Service was pretty prompt, even on a slightly busy night. Definitely a place to check out if you're in the area.
(4)Zenia R.
so sadly bleh. ordered the thai basil fried rice with beef, no flavor, no kick. my friend's dish wasn't much better. i've had take out from here before and thought it was decent, not sure what was wrong yesterday. it's an enormous menu and i feel like you need to dig through and know which are the hits. on a good note, my friend seemed to really enjoy the bubble tea.
(3)Joiera C.
This is one of my favorite spot in Evanston. I love their selection and the huge portions. Miss it already!
(5)Morgan N.
I live right down the street from here...and when I'm in the mood for take-out this is my place. I've ordered several times, usually its take-out but I've dined in there a few times. Their food is pretty great for me! I've gotten a variety of things over the last two years...and I've never had anything I didn't like. Everything is so rich in flavor. Their menu is huge, and since I can't understand half of it...I order by looking at the pictures. Their noodle soups, are great for those Chicago winter days...when you feel terrible. I usually get the sweet and sour seafood soup...and thats great. Price is great....and the portions are huge!!!! oh and their smoothies are great! I'll drop by there....just for a mango kiwi smoothie!
(5)Jason S.
Always have loved this place. While eating in is best, the delivered version beats most Asian delivery in town. I look forward to ordering again!
(4)Audrey M.
SO DELICIOUS. A bit less savory than Thai Place in DC, but with INCREDIBLE bubble tea. I had watermelon with boba and i swear they ground up a watermelon and put it in my glass. The food is great and with large portions, larger if you dine in. Great for a big group w/r/t size, however the chairs are a little weird and kind of uncomfortable at first. Also, the takeout is a little less reliable. However, the deliciousness that is joy yee and its bubble tea are enough to make me look past the flaws and award the five stars.
(5)leslie b.
Loving you is easy Joy Yee. Ever since I laid eyes on your menu I knew. 10 pages long, 10 inches high. You give me all the menu I can handle. With color photos of every dish and holy cow the bubble teas! I broke it off with my ex because I felt guilty about my crazy love for the avocado bubble tea. I spend to much time with you Joy Yee maybe it's not love at all maybe its an addiction.
(4)Ken D.
My brother and I went to Joy Yee for some Asian dinner yesterday (9/22) and the bad taste of crappy service is still fresh in my mouth. Although the food turned around fairly quickly, partially due to the ready to serve food they have (with ALOT of sodium). Outside of the taste which was expectedly good do to the additives I ONLY SAW MY WAITRESS ONCE. In hindsight was disappointed throughout my stay because I had to pull my waitress to order food and then after that I never saw the person again. I'm only giving it 2 stars because I need more sodium in my diet and they are apparently not short on that.
(2)Eric J.
This place is average at best. Pretty large menu, OK food. Very uncomfortable seating. Average price and food quality. Not a bad place for lunch. Hard to find street parking, but there is a pay lot on Maxwell street.
(2)J J.
Yum for so many kinds of bubble shakes!
(4)Alicia G.
not the best chinese food i've had i definitely love their bubble tea and that they can add fruit to your drink which is cool. i love their appetizers. takes a while to order though cause their menu is so big i can never figure out what i want. but over its a good place to try out near campus.
(3)Michael B.
bubble tea. everyone knows this is the best place in the midwest to go for it. summertime...i'd highly recommend the strawberry/raspberry freeze with tapioca...DO IT. i'm so happy they built this place...the chinatown one is TINY...so there's always a wait...the evanston one is bigger but there's always a wait at that one too! also, the blenders are farther away from the tables in this one so you don't have to scream over the "vrrrrrVRRRR!!!" action coming from them. food...um, they have every type of asian food there...nothing is spectacular since they don't have that one SPECIAL dish...well, not including their drinks. chairs...don't try to look cool sitting on them...you'll fall off. they're in this weird diamond shape so you have to seriously sit straight forward and completely upright or it won't work...plus, the backs are really skinny so again, if you sit diagonal or anything, you'll fall off. hey...strawberry/raspberry freeze with tapioca...that's all i gotta say.
(4)Kirstie S.
I really enjoyed my experience here. They had many veggie options and they did some amazing things with mushrooms. I went with a large group of people for a friend's birthday and it was very comfortable and an enjoyable experience. Service was great and the food was very flavorable. The menu is also rather extensive. I have heard their bubble tea or maybe I should say fruit smoothies are fantastic as well!
(5)Chanita S.
I come here often and I don't know why I haven't reviewed this place yet. I've been a fan of Joy Yee's ever since they only had one location which is the one in Evanston. Being a North Shore resident that I was, this was my local go-to spot whenever I wanted Asian food. Now that they've expanded to several other branches, a few locations of which I've visited, their food however remains consistently the same. For that, I applaud you. I decided to write a review for this one because it's my favorite location due to its cleanliness. For the branches that I've visited, food is consistent across the board as well as their service. Portions are HUGE and one entree easily serves up to three people so make sure to share and go with a family style type of dining. Bubble tea is awesome here, the strawberry mango is my favorite. Some of my usual entrees include: Korean BBQ Beef, Korean beef over baked rice, Teriyake beef over rice, Spicy Korean Dumplings, Basil Pork.....and the list goes on. Price wise, it's pretty good for how much food you get. Extremely fast service...very impressive.
(5)Zack M.
How can people like this place? It is as though they've never eaten at another Asian restaurant. The menu is huge but nothing has any flavor and it comes out cold. What was marked as spicy was mild. Pork tastes like chicken, which tastes like beef. The servers are on cloud nine and staring into space rather than helping our table. (Same at Evanston location). The only reason it gets a star is that they have great bubble teas/smoothies. Left over soup turned into a solid block of gel the next day, strange...
(1)Leigh K.
The most consistently delicious food ever. Joy Yee's is my go-to restaurant when I am working South Union Arts. The baked chicken rice in hot pot is what I get 99% of the time and it's absolutely always a two meal serving. I used to go to the Chinatown location all the time, but when this location opened up right around the corner from our space, I was overjoyed. The service is always very friendly. The carryout can take awhile, so many SUA staffers have the number programmed into our phone and go pick the food up before the event starts. Make sure you get a tapioca freeze because they are my favorite in the city. Do not fear the avocado cream freeze!
(5)Katie H.
You will be my downfall... Uni Village Joy Yee might not have the same sardine ambiance of Chinatown Joy Yee... but this is good. You get a seat immediately (as opposed to being stuffed into the tiny entryway in Chinatown for 45+ minutes) and the service is prompt. They're especially good about topping up your water glass ...usually as soon as you've had one sip. The food is amazing, especially Korean Beef over Rice. Always get a drink too because they prove the existence of God. I like the Avocado Tapioca Ice Cream freeze. Sounds bizarre, tastes like heaven in a plastic stein. Also - this may seem like a small detail - but your place comes laid with both chopsticks AND a fork (so you don't have to feel embarrassed to ask for it yourself). The only thing I don't like about this Joy Yee is the strange chairs - I'm not really sure how to describe them besides "uncomfortable".
(5)Andrew C.
I wouldn't say the food here is top notch, but their Bubble Tea's are OFF THE HOOK. I'll drink these all day even in the dead of winter.
(4)Jessica U.
You can't go wrong with this place. I've been going here ever since they just had this one location, but now they've opened up the other 3. I must say that their China town location, since they've expanded still surpasses the rest of them. The food just doesn't taste as good. Their bobas (tapioca freezes) are the absolute BEST in the city. It can't be duplicated. They use all fresh fruit and I swear they have a secret ingredient. I come here just to get it. They have tons on the menu, which is overwhelming, but at least they show you a picture. =) I highly recommend the teriyaki beef with baked rice and the korean beef over rice. Can you tell I like beef? OH, and btw, they have a special right now, the korean beef fried rice that is out of this world!
(5)Fred S.
I've only had the bubble tea...but its the best bubble tea in Chicago - hands down. I recommend the Taro...which almost tastes like Cookies N Cream somehow.
(5)Chicago D.
Joy's is a pretty good place overall - they make a mean bubble tea. But, why does EVERY worker need to eat while they handle food? I had the misfortune of going yesterday and sitting near the kitchen window (food is passed through a large window in a the wall from kitchen to dining room). I saw no fewer than five people eating while arranging the food to be carried out to the diners. They weren't eating the food off the guests' plates (thankfully). But they were eating things like apples, pieces of large Chinese-style buns and some food that must have been rejected by a customer.... ugh. I snapped a few pictures of the process but my dining companion got annoyed with me, so I stopped pushing the issue. The food is good - but, I guess the less you know about the kitchen and staff the more you can enjoy.
(4)Melissa C.
Love this place....Ive been to all the locations and they are all crowded because the food is delicious! Taro fruit with extra bubbles is the best bubble tea there is! They always hook it up with food....I can never finish a dish! I could never get sick of this place.
(5)Ethan C.
This Joy Yee's location is too trendy go to china town in stead ;-) --- The Joy Yee's experience is the first Asian fusion restaurant I have visited that actually has fantabulous food. Every Asian fusion restaurant I have been to are always very disappointing. The atmosphere is awesome, the food is awesome, but the most important thing, have a Joy Yee's bubble tea before you leave! There bubble tea is unlike any other restaurant, filled with fresh fruit, and bubbles!
(5)Linda N.
love the bubble tea here! i have yet to try the food at this location but i'm sure it's good too. the green tea tapioca ice cream freeze was delish.
(4)Liv H.
Joy Yee's is awesome! They give you A LOT of food, and I love the cool plates/containers that they come in! I don't think there's anything on the menu that I haven't enjoyed, and I've been here probably 20+ times! The bubble tea is yummy, they use real fruit so it doesn't taste powdery! I wish they had different sizes of bubble tea though, because I can never finish the huge cup that they give me! I love that the menu has pictures so I know exactly what I'm getting. The menu is huge so it can be overwhelming, but I like that there's so many choices so you can always find something that you want to eat!
(4)A C.
The best boba drinks in Chicago area, easy. Dishes are good, but some times the meats aren't all that fresh. Depends on the day and what you order, but the boba drinks are so good it almost doesn't matter. You go there for the drinks.
(4)Jenn S.
So I've tried the food and it is d-lish! The portions are big and look just like the pictures on the enormous menu. The bubble tea's are not the only thing worth trying here.
(4)C D.
the chair was uncomfortable...seriously... please change it foods were ok i like the drinks and thats like all... go back? yes...for the drinks ...maybe XD
(3)Gail T.
thank God for this one!!! so friendly-- they let us eat even though they only had 10 min left b4 closing. great alternative to the one in chinatown.. that one is just way too crowded. also, people here speak ENGLISH. its a plus.
(5)Sam M.
Good food with great service. The interior design is cool but the chairs aren't comfortable at all. THE best place to get food in that neighborhood.
(5)Joshua S.
Bring your appetite and reading glasses. Biggest menu Ive seen, not only in size but also in quantity of food. If you can not read, its ok, because everything also has a picture. Portions are huge, some interesting tapioca ball drinks. Little crazy and service was slow when I was there, but they may be working out the opening day kicks...
(4)Don W.
I finally had bubble tea. It's something that I can't find at home in New Hampshire, and someone on Yelp said that this is the best. I didn't have lunch at Joy Yee because there was a lunch waiting for me at the Hilton and I had to get back to work, but I was able to get away with a coworker long enough to get a bubble tea. Honestly, I wish I could have eaten at Joy Yee. The menus are enormous, there are lots of pictures and hundreds of things to choose from. I want to go back several times. The Halsted restaurant is clean, bright, and I got hungry just walking in. As for the bubble tea... I liked it, but I don't think I fell in love. It was a big smoothie with tapioca. I like smoothies and I like bubble tea. I don't mind tapioca, but after a while, you just come to the conclusion that there isn't anything to those big blobs. I'll go back for the food and I'll have another bubble tea. But I'll be there because the food looked and smelled good, not because bubble tea changed my life.
(4)Thomas R.
First visit tonight - take-out.... Staff: Acted like a bunch of pre-schoolers on a sugar high when interacting with each other. Rather subdued and unhelpful, uncommunicative to the non-Asians. A bunch of children who would rather be doing something else with their evenings I guess. Someone else there had called ahead for a very large order for a party and freaked out when they screwed up the entire thing. I waited forever and a day for my order which was: Korean spicy fried dumplings -- tasted like grease and nothing else. Not even a HINT of spicy. and Korean spicy beef and tofu soup. Bland, boring and not even resembling the yook gae jang I was hoping for. There were two leathery beef pieces that reminded me of the Steak-ums I ate as a child. I guess they still make them because they threw a couple into the soup. Not a hint of spicy. I've had more interesting bottled waters than the soup broth. Completely boring and having to wait ages for it in a key-lime flourescent-lit playground for sugared-up children is something I will pass on in the future.
(1)Amy D.
Sorry! I usually love Joy Yee's. Just so yucky this time. Had it this Friday. Was the most bland greasy dish I've ever had. So sad. Seems like their quality is just going downhill. I still like their drinks though, they can't mess up that.
(1)Lia N.
all i have to say is that i wish i wasn't feeling so terrible after last night to enjoy this place more. i went here for lunch, but unfortunately their lunch menu is only valid m-f, ugh. the lunch menu seemed to be a really great value though - if i can remember correctly it was 7.95 for a dish off the lunch menu. i ordered the sesame chicken, which is one of my favorite chinese dishes and it was really delicious. very crispy - NOT soggy (when it's soggy it's gross), so i would say that it was cooked to perfection. the portions here are HUUUGE. they come out on these large banana shaped plate-bowls and my dish came with rice. if you want soy sauce, you have to ask for it, which is kind of weird at an asian restaurant - but it is available if you ask for it. my friend ordered the green curry chicken fried rice, which was also really good! if you like spicy, this is definitely a dish for you. He also ordered one of the bubble tea drink with the tapioca balls and that was also really delicious! i am mad i wasn't feeling well because lychees are literally my favorite in smoothies and THEY HAVE THEM HERE. is it just me or is it really hard to find a good lychee drink in the US ? when i was in india i drank a ton of lychee smoothies and i absolutely crave them now. i digress. anyways, i will have to update my post when i go back to see if i enjoy the lychee bubble tea. but the point is, i plan on going back ! great service, large restaurant, and by the time we left, it was packed. the menu also has a large variety and i really appreciate the pictures that they have to show you what everything is. this is a really great place !
(4)Linda A.
I been here a few times, but I still hate the menu... its really bad to have so many options.. can you please settle on a few good items!? I guess I am just not a big fan the encyclopedia size menu... they also need to work on not having tables so close you can smell the strangers next to you... it's too awkward and uncomfortable when you can hear other's conversations. food is generally okay, service is decent... and smoothies are delicious..
(3)Anooj T.
This was our first visit to Joy Yee Noodle Shop and overall, it was a good experience. The large menu got confusing at times and we didn't realize how big the portions were. One entree and one appetizer order is easily enough to feed two people. We found the casual atmosphere to be comfortable. The seating (i.e. chairs), however, were not. The pork egg rolls I could do without. The Seasame Chicken and Orange Chicken, on the other hand, were very tasty. We slipped into a food coma by the end of the meal. We'll be back for smoothies next time.
(3)Laura W.
I'm done with Joy Yee. I've had too many run-ins with rude cashiers. Today, the cashier said tapioca costs extra. I've never been charged for tapioca in all the times I've been there, so I knew she was just being obnoxious. Anyway, we paid for the tapioca, 60 cents or whatever, which generated another order receipt. In the end, the girl making the bubble teas made four drinks instead of two. The manager was scolding the cashier as we were leaving. Serves her right, but I'm done with this crap.
(1)Kara M.
ok so at current moment i have a love hate relationship with joy yee. while on call at the hosp we ordered dinner from this place. i had the governor's chicken ( i know boring...but i like it) and a few other peeps ordered sesame chicken. they all looked alike, minus the seeds for mine at least, but it was really really good. so two days later when the wife wanted some chinese and we were in the area i promptly suggest joy yee as i really liked the chicken and didn't mind going back. so we went and i once again got the governor's chicken, then we ordered pepper steak with rice, and once of the beef soups....i got my chicken and it wasn't the same. even when the manager brought it out to me he called orange chicken and when i said no i ordered governor's chicken he said oh yeah this is govs chicken. it was not govs chicken. it was indeed orange chicken. i even had the table next to me taste it, as they ordered orange chicken, and she said it tasted like orange chicken with something extra added.....now i don't like orange chicken as i don't like the orange taste so i ordered sesame chicken...but the manager made a comment about me not liking that either so i decided to go with nothing.....the soup was just ok as it was a little bland but the pepper steak was pretty good. now, the saving grace was the waitress, she was soo nice with the chicken fiasco it's just that the manager was a bit of a tool. the reason they get 3 stars is because of the waitress and the fact that i think that the way it works is that they whip up a huge batch of whatever and tweak it to become other dishes...but it just doesn't work when you have a flavor as strong as orange....that being said i'd try it again on the off chance that the gov chicken tastes as good as it did that one night
(3)Lori B.
My husband and I love to order in Chinese food. The place we used to order from closed about 2 years ago. After months and months of trying to find tasty and spicy Chinese food, someone mentioned Joy Yee. We were in love with the food. And I am thrilled that it's more of a Pan Asian restaurant. My husband does not like Korean food, so I'm able to get some great Korean food while my husband gets Chinese. The portions are big too, so there are ample leftovers. The only draw back is that while they are starting to deliver, there is a small delivery zone and we live outside of it! Please expand to reach more of the north side of Chicago!!!
(5)M G.
We eat here often. The portions are huge, so between two people we get an appetizer and share an entree and its still too much food. The food is also very inexpensive. The Spicy Korean Dumplings and Basil Chow Fun are my favorites. The staff does a good job and the place is clean. It is also very big, with lots of seating, unlike the ChinaTown location. I agree that the chairs are very uncomfortable and barely fit your butt...and thats coming from a size 1 person. I recommend the Lychee Berry Tapioca Freeze.
(4)Jessie T.
I make it a point to go to Joy Yee's whenever I to to Chicago simply for the delicious ice blended bubble tea.. they are made with fresh fruit and are the most refreshing things ever.. they also have almost every fruit you can think of.. even durian, which is one of my favorites (don't judge)! They also have lots of options for customizing your bubble tea, from jellies, to tapioca, to boba, to fresh cut fruit. And if you're not into fruit blended tea, you can order a classic milk bubble tea. As for the food, it is pretty good, but not the greatest. I personally think their food menu is way too extensive, so that it is hard to decide what to order. The bubble tea is what you want, anyways!! The Joy Yee location in China Town has a separate outdoor line for that if you don't want to eat in. Both locations are just as good in terms of quality and service.. so it just depends which is closer to you.. in any case, you need to make your way to that bubble tea STAT!
(5)Teresa ..
Oh joy yee's, I love you. This is every college student's dream. Not only is the food and drinks cheap, but it's tasty and the portions are huge! My order was enough for 2 meals, and my drink was enough to be a meal in itself because of how massive it was! We ordered the hainanese chicken with rice, beef cube tomato rice, mango tapioca freeze, and taro tapioca freeze. Our entrees were filling, flavorful, greasy, and delicious. The tapioca was chewy and sweet, and our drinks were blended with the perfect amount of ice so that it was creamy. I tried my bf's mango tapioca freeze and you can tell and taste it was made from fresh mangoes! I highly recommend joy yees! You wont be disappointed!
(5)Kimmy N.
every time i'm in chinatown, i always have to stop by and get joy yee's bubble tea! i've never eaten their actual food but always had their bubble tea. they use fresh fruit and veggies. i've never been disappointed with any of the bubble teas. i love that you can get them with mixed fruit, bobba, or popping pearls which i absolutely love all of it. a few of my favorites from here is their strawberry kiwi, lychee, and taro! they make the best taro in the midwest!
(5)Jason M.
Joy Yee's makes for a pretty fascinating psychological study. It's authentic enough to draw in foreigners who might not want to walk the gritty streets of Chinatown and have to order solely by pointing at pictures on a menu. It's cheap enough for people like my dad to eat there and comment for the rest of the night how great it was, even though we both know that he's really talking about the bill. Yet, because it's an amalgamation of 3-4 different ethnic cafeterias, you don't hold it to a very high esteem, which is actually great for Joy Yee's because you taste the food and it reminds you enough of what you've had elsewhere, and then you're pleasantly pleased and stuffed. Joy Yee's has exceeded your expectations because your mind already set very attainable ones before you ordered. Make sense? My friend and I ordered the Green Curry w/ Chicken and the Basil Pork, both of which were actually quite good. the Green Curry was this synthetic-green color, but it tasted pretty alright. Just close your eyes, I say.
(4)Jennifer M.
You guys weren't kidding about the large portions and quick service! Had a nice dinner here, and would recommend for friends. Casual sit down that did remind me of a cafeteria. The menu is VERY overwhelming, and the list of their bubble and milk teas alone could have its own menu. Came here with my cousin to catch up on life, and we made the decision to order the beef cubes over tomato sauce rice and the chicken curry with coconut baked rice. Both dishes are family style, and could easily feed a family of four - per dish. I enjoyed both dishes, since they were different. The beef cubes had a nice flavor, and the rice was moist and easy for my chopsticks to handle! The chicken curry won more in points with the rich taste of curry and the addicting aroma of the coconut in the rice. So, so good! My cousin had one of the milk teas, and it came in this 22 oz. beer glass. No joke! I wish I had gotten one, but I know I wanted to leave room for dinner. I'm making sure I get one of those the next time I'm in the area. Tip: $2 parking garage around the corner for 2.5 hours!
(4)Marisol R.
I really wanted to like this place, after so many times that I have been. The last few experiences have been below par and I am so upset I wasted my time and money on these people. I called in a phone order, for a spicy chicken pad thai. When I picked it up and began to eat it a few problems. First, it was NOT spicy as I had requested. Second it wasn't the lunch special either, and last there was a weird odor coming from the food. An odor that would leave me to believe the chicken was spoiled. I am done with this place! Never again, they have sacrificed their quality for quantity. Do not go out of your way to dine here.
(1)Yare M.
Worst experience ever. There was hair in my soup that I was so looking forward to eat, I was starving. Order a Pho soup was about to share a serving with my lunch date and I found a short black hair in my food. I was immediately told they could bring another plate. I should have said no because I had lost my appetite after seeing the hair. When it was time to pay they charged me for my meal. If the waiter had any common courtesy they could see the plate was practically untouched. They said I still had to pay. I don't like to complain but this was a horrible experience. I was hungry when I walked in and hungry when I walked out after paying a $20 tab. I feel that they should have had more sympathy to my ruined meal. Worst customer service ever !! Never going back!!
(1)Sasha P.
I will keep this one short and sweet. We were looking for pho in the area and were told about Joy Yee's Noodle Shop. Walking in, Joy Yee's looks like a large cafeteria with long tables everywhere. There were only two other families there when we visited so everyone was pretty spread out. The service wasn't the best or the worst, it just wasn't memorable. The menu was overwhelming. Lots of options but way too much to all be done well in my opinion. My husband and I ordered the Beef Brisket and Beef Ball Pho to share. It was terrible, tasting of old meat, old broth, or both (?). The portion was so large though that we felt obligated to eat it, mostly because we feel guilty throwing away food. We muscled through it and it was not enjoyable. So much so, that we stopped ourselves from ordering a boba tea, just in case it wasn't up to snuff like our pho. When we were done, we paid and left, vowing to never return should we be in Chicago again. I see that others have had better experiences and that's great; however, mine was not a good one so I stick to my one star.
(1)Sarah S.
This place is always a solid good.. broccoli and beef and sesame chicken are my favs.. I always mix in other things like crab rangoon, soups, string beans, egg rolls, etc and they are all good. Service is fast and friendly. Fruit smoothies are very good also if you are into that kind of thing. This location is nice in summer since the UIC kids are gone so it is much easier to find parking.
(3)Amy H.
It seems like making a smoothie is such a trivial task. I asked him to split the smoothie order in two and he asked if I wanted fruit on it. I told him yes and he was in disbelief that I wanted him to split the fruit. After him my budging, I said it was fine that the fruit was in one cup. Then, I go to pay with my credit card and he told me I had to pay with debit because my order was under $10. Normally, I would understand this policy, but I have been to the Joy Yees in Chinatown and these things have never been a problem. The smoothies were good as always though.
(2)