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Joy (Chinese cuisine)  $$

 8.5
JaT Rating

1495 Beach Park Blvd., Foster City, 94404  (Directions)


650.345.1762


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Homestyle cooking from the many regions of China


Reviewer: Jason
Total Reviews: 1040
Reviewed: 12/27/2006
Rating: 8.5
My photo gallery 		Thanks to Wallace for submitting Joy restaurant to jatbar. I lived in Foster City and had no idea there were places to eat on Beach Park Blvd. We arrived around 7 and had to wait 15 minutes for a table. Wallace had a pre-order menu for me so I didn't have to look at the menu. I went with the Kao-Fu, 3 cup chicken, and braised pork.

kao fu (image 5) - cold shanghai style appetizer, bread puffs (gluten), soy beans, black mushrooms, and bamboo shoots. Interesting taste as I've never had this before. The bread puffs were soaked in a soy/oil? based sauce. If you can get passed the items being served cold, I think you'll enjoy this dish.

3 cup chicken (image 7) - first time trying, 3 different sauces with basil and chicken meat. They should just rename this as crack cocaine. It is ridiculously flavorful and experiencing withdrawals right now. It's kinda sweet, kinda sour, kinda salty, kinda peppery. If I had to guess, I have a feeling it's one of the dishes where they put an obscene amount of garlic and cover up the flavor trail with sugar, wine, and soy sauce. You have to try this dish.

braised pork (image 9, 10) - This slow cooked dish takes a long time to cook, be patient. Portion size is enough for 2 people and price is nearly $17. It's one of the most tender pieces of pork you will have. Eating the skin/outer layer of fat is somewhat of a dare, imagine eating 1 inch of pure fat. Tempted for a minute but had to pass. Haven't a clue what's in the sauce, but it's kinda salty. I've had similar dishes in other cuisines but it's a first for me as a chinese dish.

I haven't had any of these dishes before so it's difficult to compare with other restaurants. What I can do is tell you is I thoroughly enjoyed all 3 dishes. I would have no problems ordering the same exact meal on my next visit, it's delicious. Supposedly they have a secret menu but you'll have to bring someone who speaks or reads chinese. I'd highly recommend making a visit to Joy restaurant but I beg you, don't order the same dishes you eat at PandaX.

quick notes

- service was fast and waiter provided excellent service.

- 99.9% all asian people eating here

- you can order food to go

- large vegetarian section
 
9
Agent Rating


Reviewer: Lainie
Total Reviews: 41
Reviewed: 1/8/2007
Rating: 9
My photo gallery		 I'm so glad you guys decided to write a review about this place! I absolutely love it because it's a very regional specific type of Chinese food that most don't get to try. If you love Chinese food and are wanting to get a little more adventurous, this is the place. The food is very flavorful and the staff is friendly. Since it's tiny, they get pretty popular on the weekends so expect a slight wait.

Along with the dishes mentioned abovle, here are a few other specialties to try. The 'Crystal Shrimp' is superb served with a dark vinegar sauce. It's great to have along with the 'Braised Pork' because the pork is a rich hearty dish and the shrimp has a clean flavor. Nice counterpart.

One dish that is a classic there is the 'Lion's Head Meatballs.' It's on the so-called 'secret' menu but so worth ordering. Rich and hearty and perfect for a chilly evening. It's a couple of very large meatballs in a rich beef broth flavored with five spice and star anise, served with some rice vermicelli noodles and greens. It's a real winner.

If you're EXTREMELY daring, order the 'Stinky Tofu.' Natives know which dish I'm talking about. If you love tofu you have to try it. It's not for the faint of heart. Even many natives are wary, so you either love it or hate it. It's basically fermented tofu. Think of it as blue cheese for the Chinese set :). You can either order it fried (more of an appetizer) or steamed (which is what I prefer).

To get a hold of the 'secret' dishes (which aren't so secret) you need to bring a native Mandarin speaker or someone who reads Chinese characters. Or if you're feeling really daring, talk to the staff (some don't speak English but ask for another waiter. they don't mind) to get some really good suggestions that aren't on the English menu.
 


Reviewer: wchane
Total Reviews: 148
Reviewed: 5/24/2007
Rating: 9
My photo gallery		 Little is left to be said about Joy, except I wish it was a bit closer as it's quite a ways out of my normal stomping grounds. It's hidden in what's almost a residential section of Foster City, the 'not-so-secret-menu' is sprawed all over its walls and on a seperate chinese only menu. There is a translation floating around online however I have long lost it.

Service is decent for as busy as this small restaurant is, anyways...we ordered the now standard 3 cup chicken with a variety of other small plates including tepan (fatty pork) and stinky tofu (fried, i don't dare order the steamed variety).

Food's great, suits my taste buds and best of all very reasonably priced. enough for me to suck up the gas bill to drive up to Foster City.

Highly Recommended.
 
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gumbysiufu ate...

salty soybean soup, knife cut noodles in OX sauce

“Wonderful food. I usually order from the little one sheet Chinese menu. Everything is good on that. You should bring someone who can speak or at least read Chinese. ”

10/18/2007 9:26:30 AM