It's basically counter service with the employees taking your order and bringing you your food. The interior is clean and modern and the place was quite busy with a lot of people of Asian descent. The food was good and plentiful. Reasonable prices. Generous menu. I could see nothing wrong in the framework of our experience (there were four of us). read more

Drinks and customer service is still as good as the last time we went! I see people walking in after the closing time and was still allowed to order drinks. The girl that took our order wasn't sure on a few things so maybe she's new? The restaurant is very spacious and bright with lots of dining table. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Everything was delicious! We got a fairly basic order, and I'm still dreaming about it! Crab rangoons, orange chicken, and teriyaki chicken. All incredible. Will definitely be coming back read more

We stopped at Joy Yee - Evanston because we had some time to kill before going to another event. We had a Chocolate Cappuccino Oreo Freeze with no boba. The drink had a very rich chocolate and coffee flavor. The drink had crushed oreos mixed in too. I appreciated that touch but the oreos were hard to suck up through the straw. They have two separate seating areas, one for people who are ordering off the menu and a separate area for those who are just grabbing a drink and don't expect to be there very long. The restaurant was very cold despite having a double door designed to keep the cold out. I recommend their drinks and can't wait to go back and try some of the signature food that they are known for. read more

See all

My experience here is very different than their location Chinatown location. Overall the experience was okay. The staff was quick to take my order, I felt a little rushed. I got the beef chow mein and it was served on a large platter but it wasn't as much food as it seemed. The beef was a little tough. Most Chinese restaurants "velvet" their meat making it very tender which didn't seem like the case here and there were more mushrooms than meat. The boba was good but very expensive. read more

Joy Yee is a local Asian cuisine chain in Chicago that has multiple locations. This one is located in Evanston right outside of Northwestern University campus so also very popular with students. Joy Yee has too much choice on its insanely large and long menus which makes picking something to eat challenging. Recommend you go with lunch special that gives you choice of certain entrees plus soup and egg roll all for $11- $13 (depending on protein). Ironically this is the 4th time I've eaten here and the first time I flipped to the part of menu with lunch specials. They are quick and easy , and good for a variety Asian food. Nothing spectacular but you get solid food. Great for individuals or groups. They are super quick on the service. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Hot Sour Soup - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

This is so far one of my fav restaurants and smoothie place. I always get the avocado smoothie with tapioca. It's super tasty. The boba is also chewy and not overly sweet. Sweetness level: I personally prefer less sweet. You can ask the staff to adjust the sweetness level. The avocado portion is a lot. Well worth the price read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Literally the best place to eat! No other asian restaurant can compare to Joy Yee. Food always hits the spot and the service is always quick. The menu is huge so it's good if you research ahead of time what you want. The new location isn't as cramped as the old location, but I kind of miss how much cozier it used to be. Definitely recommend Joy Yee to everybody who wants good food read more

See all

I like going to joy yee for their smoothies especially but the food is also great. It's very consistent and delicious every time. Always busy but the service is good and it's really nice and bright inside! Would recommend their teas and smoothies read more

Food was scrumdiddlyumpous. I would recommend joy yee to literally everyone on the planet the boba is so good like period

Evanston is lucky to have lots of noodle shops and Pan-Asian restaurants, and the best of the best are always filled with International students from Northwestern. Joy Yee is a good option among these for your noodles, pho, and standard Asian dishes. My Kung Pao Beef was pretty good, service was adequate quick and dirty to move those tables quickly. Joy Yee is A-Okay, not a band option in Evanston! read more

This is truly a gem in this area! Food was so flavorful and fresh. We got a variety of dishes like pho, chicken wonton soup, and a basil tofu noodle dish. All were amazing! Easy to share dishes. I also ordered orange chicken, short ribs, and crab Ragu. Though many customers love the short ribs. I highly recommend trying everything you want from their menu, they will never disappoint you. Everyone at our table was happy with their food and we all had plenty of leftovers to take home. Also restaurant and bathroom was clean and atmosphere is good for small or large groups. The service is pretty quick and the portions are big so it's well worth the price you pay. Would definitely be back here again. Great for meeting up with friends or family. read more

This is more like a 2.5 star rating, let me explain why. I ordered for pick up. This was my first time and my order was ready when I went except they gave me the wrong drink to start but they fixed the problem right away. If this was just a Boba tea place it would get a higher rating. I had the Thai Tea Boba and that was quite delicious. You can't really go wrong with Thai Tea. It was a little on the expensive side because you can get good thai tea boba almost anywhere. Nothing quite stood out beyond the fact that it tasted how it was suppose to taste. The real problem I had with Joy Yee's, maybe it was just an off night or maybe this location but the food specifically the Pad Thai was not it. I love pad Thai and it's really hard to mess up it up but this dish lacked all the appeal and flavor. It was quite disappointing opening it up. I thought maybe looks could be deceiving. Nope. The pad Thai tasted how it looked-bland. Not sure if I'd give this place another shot especially when I can get Boba tea almost anywhere. Once you mess up pad Thai. I'm not sure I can trust how well they would make other food. read more

See all

There is a Reason why we keep a copy of "Joy Yee - Evanston" menu in the top kitchen draw, by the kitchen land line (switch from Land line service from Bell to many then most recently comcast baby.) Anyways peeps; the reason why my Momma and I keep a "www.joyyee.com Noodle & Pan Asian Cuisine" is because WE LOVE IT and are over impressed every time we order delivery. Their time estimates of food arrival is always correct. :) read more

The ambiance as awful: hard chairs, white walls with no art or decor- frankly it was cold and depressing. The food was eh. I would never go there again. Maybe it's good for Northwestern students for carry-out, but not for dining in. read more

Lots of seating and great service, with a decent vibe. Exactly what you can expect from joy yee- a huge variety of pan asian food options and tons of boba flavors. I think with such a large menu, nothing is particularly amazing, but everything is surprisingly good. The prices are very fair, and you can't really go wrong with this place. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - oolong milk tea - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

i love the large variety of choices i have when i visit this establishment. It has never disappointed me. I only wish I did not have to travel so far, but worth the road tripLo Mein read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Mango tea - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

This review is based solely on boba drinks. Walked in , tried ordering while the lady at the front was busy talking to other workers and in between phone calls. A few minutes later she comes to the counter and says " You! Hello! Drinks!" I grabbed my drinks and left. 2 stars only because drinks were tasty. The thing that I saw here was the workers sitting at a table which is used for guests, chopping up green beans on top of a trash bag. I mean, I don't work in the food industry but I'm pretty sure this should be done on a cutting board in the back of house away from everyone who is dining? Kinda gross. On top of a trash bag? I'm glad I came here for drinks only. read more

See all

In a nutshell: Joy Yee's a nice tribute to boba, not so much to Asian cuisine --- My family and I landed in Evanston today, and, craving something to stuff our stomachs with, we decided on Joy Yee, which was right next to our hotel. The place itself is quite spacious with good lighting, and although our server spoke in a rapid scramble of Cantonese and English, she was super enthusiastic and helpful. Kudos to whoever designed the menu-they have a smorgasbord of options available, and thankfully everything listed comes with a nice photo. The wide array of milk teas and smoothies offered is pure ectasy for a boba lover, since they have every imaginable flavour, from wintermelon milk tea to dragonfruit smoothies to manga boba green tea. I enjoyed a sweet matcha green milk tea with black tapioca pearls. For anyone buying the boba, beware of the thick, plastic sealing over the cups. I'm a pretty seasoned boba straw user, but after several attempts of aggressively attacking the seal on top, I still couldn't poke a hole through (plus I bent my straw lol). So I ended up stabbing a hole through with a trusty fork. The milk tea was worth the effort though, and you get a pretty large amount for each, though it may be excessively sweet for some and I don't think you can adjust the sugar levels. What surprised my parents and I was the huge portion size for each dish; my dad's beef noodle soup came in a bowl with the diameter of a medium-sized pan. The eatery does offer a bunch of take-out boxes though, so don't worry if you can't finish everything at once. My parents expressed excitement about the different Asian dishes offered, but we ended up being somewhat disappointed. Although they're meant to be savoury, all of our noodles turned out unexpectedly sweet. Mine, for instance, was pad thai chicken and shrimp noodles that came almost drenched in a saccharine sauce that was pretty off-putting and turned everything a shade of tangerine. My mum's spicy beef noodle soup tasted more sweet than spicy, and my dad's noodles also carried a strong kick of sugar, but maybe this will satisfy someone else's taste buds. In retrospect, I wish we had tried a wider variety of dishes, like the fried rice or the stir-fried garlic green beans, which are kind of more traditional Asian foods that might have been more resemblant of the real deal. The abundant choices for the boba might be kind of overwhelming for the uninitiated boba beginner, but for the milk tea fans and connoisseurs out there, Joy Yee might be just the place to expand your tea palette and find something new! read more

See all

Always a good spot, I've been coming here since I was a kid. The items to get are the beef cubes over tomato rice and avocado smoothie with boba. Food and service is always fast and delicious. read more

Get the garlic noodles with lemongrass chicken here. So good... They have huge portions for all the college students out there. The drinks are pretty good too. I was excited for the brisket udon stir fry but the noodles were over cooked so I'd pass next time. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Brisket udon stir fry ($14) - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Maybe because it was Christmas Day and I was so over bad appetizers that this meal was the best I've had in a long time. Mushrooms/basil tofu, Chinese broccoli/garlic sauce, dragon fruit smoothie. We've ordered these items from other locations but this location is the best. I drove it home two hours away and we reheated it! Something about the sauces that made it so amazing and how fresh and flavorful everything was. Thank you, thank you, thank you! We said that made our Christmas and this is now our annual tradition. read more

Great lunch specials and friendly service. Basil fried rice and spring rolls are awesome. Avocado milk tea with pearl is the best drink ever. Always packed. read more

I love the food at Joyee so much. I'm obsessed with the bulgogi beef and rice bowl, I get it everytime. I don't love sitting and eating in the restaurant because it's too loud and crowded for me. However, the takeout is always quick and consistent. They also give very big portions so you definitely get what you pay for. read more

I love love Joy Yee! This location is actually my favorite one. Their steak fried rice is so good

I haven't come here in a long time because the last time I came (around September 2022), there was a hair in my food and it felt so gross and dirty. Also note that I found the hair in my food after eating it. Anyways, I decided to try again since it was the only place open at a later time. Everything was alright, not the best, but expected because the menu is huge and has a ton of items. You can basically get any cuisine you want. While this isn't the restaurant's fault, my experience was a bit negative because there was a small child sitting next to me, but kept running around and was constantly coming within a couple inches of me. The parents just laughed and did nothing and it was just uncomfortable, as I value personal space. Probably won't be back for a while, but it is a reasonable place to go to for the price as well. read more

The Joy Yee I went to is the one in Evanston. Nestled near Northwestern University and in Downtown Evanston, Joy Yee is a Pan Asian Cuisine kind of restaurant that is not forgotten. They specialize in a variety of asian dishes that include Thai, Japanese, Korean to name a few. They are also known for their amazing tasting boba offering a variety of fresh options with endless toppings of tapioca or even mango slices. They have amazing service always, ask for Ming, who has worked for Joy Yee for almost 22 years. Paid parking can be found near the restaurant, which can be hit or miss sometimes. Do yourself a favor and download the Parking app and save yourself time. Joy Yee Noodle is a comfortable place to hang out and reunite with friends and family, whether you're catching up on conversation over boba or simply with one of many of their amazing dishes. One of my favorite dishes is the Korean Beef (Bulgogi style) over rice! Pair with a refreshing and delicious Watermleon with Tapioca as dessert. It does not disappoint If you're looking for amazing tasting Chinese food, Joy Yee is the one to go to. I've been coming for more than a decade. Cheers & Enjoy! read more

See all

Great selection of food, huge portions, and quick service. Delicious. Also, the boba menu is extensive and excellent!

Moderately busy at week day lunch. The waiters are attentive and lunch meals are a good deal. Food comes out lickity split. Getting the check and paying is also fast. For a fast Asian dining experience, this place is above average. I've come here before for the milk tea and thought some flavors were hit or miss, so I wasn't sure what to expect from the food. I know it would make more sense to order a Chinese dish at a restaurant like this, but I was craving the vermicelli and got it with the shrimp! Lunch started with a small spring roll and hot & sour soup. Soup was delicious! The meal is a generous portion and comes with fresh vegetables and perfectly cooked shrimp. The menu is so big, I'll be sure to be back. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - 122. Hot and Sour Soup - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Roach was found in my soup, the only "compensation" was 15% off my bill. I'd check my food when eating there.

an extension of chinatown, this kind of flat space was bustling with life, even right up to it's closing time. being the case, the springs still tasted fresh and bright. when it comes to pad thai, i get REAL judgy! that was my main course. theirs was pretty darn good. read more

I've always liked this place. Large portions quality food a little pricey but no complaints Look even the sesame chicken is good. Taste like orange chicken only better. Usually for me chicken is a filler in Chinese restaurants not this one. It stands own it's own. The salt and pepper squid is exceptional. There's a sanitized taste to all seafood in Chicago. This one you can still catch a hint of the ocean it once swam in - except it's a little tough. The chicken fried rice was also exceptional. The crispy lemon shrimp was fine and the soft shell crab was ok. Joy Yee was incapable of doing anything wrong. The quality has dropped just a bit but it's still worth 5 stars. Order just the right amount cuase the portions are large and it won't be that expensive. read more

See all

Excellent food, big portions and great prices. Service was very fast and friendly! We got the shrimp spring rolls, spicy korean beef and tofu soup and Thai basil chicken. Everything was so delicious! read more

See all

The service is fast and the food also comes out fast. It took them about 10 minutes. They are more casual dining style than fine dining. The ambience is a little on the loud side. We ordered the Chicken Pho and the Malaysian Beef String Bean. The Chicken Pho was flavorful with dry shallots and concentrated chicken taste in the soup. It looks different from the picture. Instead of the traditional free-range chicken pieces with bones, there were strips of chicken meat. If it is free range chicken, that would explain while the meat is tougher than usual. The String Beans is mild to medium spicy. The beef has been tenderized and typical of Chinese cooking. At the Chinatown location, I often order the fresh fruit juice boba drinks which is their specialty. At this location, I didn't see the fresh fruits on display, so I didn't order. As I watched, they had a lot of carryout orders and were fulfilled quickly. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Chicken Pho - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

I got the mango smoothie and my bf the coconut freeze with herbal jelly. His coconut freeze was very liquidy and not very slushy. I used to go to school around here over 10 years ago and remember when drinks were under $4. Now it's almost $6 pretax. It's nostalgic getting the frozen fruit smoothies but it's really not worth the money when you can get better quality juices and smoothies at juice shops or milk teas for less at other shops. Also other restaurants sell fruit smoothies for less. Needless to say I won't be back for smoothies. read more

This is a very popular place and I can see why. The menu is extensive and even the boba drink menu is comprehensive. So many choices and the portions were large. I highly recommend if you are near Northwestern U. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Large portions enough to share. - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

Joy Yee has been a mixed experience for me. Their seafood jjambbong was fine, but their "bulgogi" was ridiculously sweet. Also, I did not like their bubble tea; I thought it tasted watered-down. However, I will keep coming back for two reasons: - the smoothies are an insane deal and they are massive. I've had the red bean and coconut smoothie and the dragonfruit smoothie. They could be a full meal on their own! - beef cubes with tomato rice is incredible, and I've converted multiple people to the Beef Cube fan club. The beef is succulent, the rice is delightfully flavorful, and the caramelized onions are juicy and savory. It is $15 or so, but it always serves as 2 meals for me, or even 3. My favorite part of the meal is actually the rice and onions In the background of the second photo, you can see a dragonfruit smoothie. read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Hot Sour Soup - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

See all

I've been coming to this location for years and am surprised I've never reviewed this location before! This particular review is solely based on drinks and carryout. I haven't dined in since before the pandemic. As you walk in, they have their massive drink menu posted on the wall by the door and when you walk in. I have always gotten a fresh fruit freeze and haven't veered any other way. You can tell they use fresh fruit, and the freeze doesn't have an artificial taste. I like that there isn't any dairy in it! And the tapioca is always perfection! The space is clean and bright. Staff members are still wearing masks. I look forward to dining in again. Go to items are Crab Rangoon, Hainam chicken over garlic rice, and Chinese broccoli in garlic sauce. Hoping the food is as good as I remember it! read more

My friends and I are always down to make the drive up to Evanston for Joy Yee. I have never seen so many options for bubble tea. My favorite flavor is the Wintermelon boba with black tea - definitely try it if you're undecided on what to get. I tried the Almond bubble tea last night and it was really good, as well. Their food is amazing and they also have a large selection, too. I've gotten their chicken lo mein and their udon noodles and they've both been delicious. Definitely check out Joy Yee if you're in the neighborhood! read more

Joy Yee - Evanston - Almond boba & brown sugar boba - Noodles Near Me - Evanston, Illinois

Have been ordering delivery from here for 10 years regularly. Regularly because we really like the food. Tonight I go online to place our order and we are "out of range" now., so I call the Evanston shop, the woman on the phone says it's now Toast Tab taking the orders and that's what the owner wants. Just like that we're dumped. Too bad and we were generous tippers too. #noloyalty read more