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    The Joy Bus Diner

    4.7 (454 reviews)
    Closed Closed
    Updated a few days ago

    Services - The Joy Bus Diner

    Community Service/Non-Profit

    The Joy Bus Diner Photos

    Business Info

    THE JOY BUS DINER ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Moderate noise
    Outdoor seating
    Good for groups

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    Recommended Reviews - The Joy Bus Diner

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    Reviews With Photos

    Jennifer Caraway's published cookbook
    Natasha A.

    We are big fans and will be returning! We feel lucky that this is in our neighborhood. We had the Chicken & Waffle, Mimosa with freshly squeezed oranges, side of Rosemary Potatoes, and the Cheese burger with fries. We loved that all proceeds go to the non-profit. Amazing place and organization.

    Jamie K.

    Super glad that we stumbled upon 'The Joy Bus Diner'!!! Founded and operated by 'Chopped' champion Chef Jennifer Caraway, this place lives up to her esteemed reputation! Since 2016, this non-profit diner has been directly supporting homebound cancer patients through sponsored meals. The menu is deep, and the food is incredible! And honestly, I feel confident with all of their options. The place was packed and everyone looked satisfied. I ordered the chilaquiles which were a delightful offering of crispy tortilla chips covered in earthy red chili, topped with a velvety poached egg, on a bed of hearty pinto beans that had a hint of cumin, all which was drizzled with a rich crema and crumbled queso fresco. My dad had the Rueben and he said it was in his top-three he's ever had! Even during the Saturday brunch rush we were seated promptly, the kitchen was swift and our waitress was kindly attentive to our needs. We will definitely be adding this fine establishment to our short list, and can see why this is a community staple.

    The Camper.
    John F.

    A few years ago, we heard about The Joy Bus Diner and the amazing cause behind it. As my wife is a cancer survivor, the idea of a charitable organization that provides food to cancer patients and their caregivers was of great interest to us. We finally decided to try the diner, and oh my goodness--this is no substandard food kitchen. This is top-notch food at reasonable prices and for a great cause. You can't go wrong! We arrived on a Sunday at their new location, which is super nice, VW bus and all. :) While relatively small, it is many times larger than their old location around the corner. You can sit inside at a table, at the bar, or at one of the few patio tables on a nice day. We sat inside for this first visit, and a friendly server took our order. We chose to order from the breakfast menu, and I ordered The Camper: Crispy double-dipped fried chicken thigh smothered in savory gravy and topped with cheese, three slices of Nueske's peppered bacon, and an over-easy egg, served on a housemade butter biscuit. My wife ordered the CSA Scramble: Farm-fresh veggies from Crooked Sky Farms CSA basket scrambled with three eggs, served with fruit, sliced tomato, and 9-grain toast. Needless to say, we were both impressed. The Camper was absolutely perfect. I would not change a thing. The gravy was just special, and there was so much food, I took some home. My wife's dish was fresh and perfect for what she was looking for. Do consider donating to this worthy cause. We chose to, and you can even donate right on your bill so that it goes right on your credit card if you so choose. But even if you just pay for your meal, you are helping out, which is so great about eating at this place. Do yourself a favor and stop in to see the friendly people at The Joy Bus Diner!

    Lacy K.

    Chef Jennifer Caraway created the Joy Bus Diner after losing her friend Joy to cancer. Run mainly by volunteers, the diner has been feeding the community not only in the diner but through home delivered meals for 15 years. Thursday thru Sunday from 7-2, you can grab breakfast or lunch at the diner on 32nd and Shea. You can donate a meal for $15 when you pay for your own meal or check out their website for more donation and volunteer opportunities. Volunteers cook, serve you, and deliver meals to cancer patients in their own homes. We enjoyed a breakfast of fresh squeezed orange juice, eggs benedict, and a quinoa power bowl. The food was fresh, and it felt good knowing that all profits go to such a great cause. Also, in the diner, you'll find @wildthingsbotanicals and can purchase a beautiful plant after your meal. Owner Cherry has been a part of the diner for 7 years and delivers bouquets to home bound cancer patients along with their meals. While in the bathroom, you'll overhear old tv sitcoms. And be sure to checkout articles hanging on the hallway walls that show the amazing impact that Jennifer and her Joy Bus Diner have made over 15 years.

    Andrew W.

    What an awesome concept and business! We love supporting local businesses and this one especially so because of its cause! Our waitress and all the staff were so incredibly friendly and nice! Our food portions were massive and it's a great value! Would 100% recommend and hope to come back!

    Bathrooms
    Joy T.

    A restaurant that not only serves really good food but also gives back to the community, by providing meals to cancer patients. This space of a diner is beautifully decorated, with inside dining as well as patio seating. You can buy merchandise as well as beautiful potted plants. Our server was sweet, helpful and complimentary. The food came out pretty quickly. The presentation of all that we ordered was attractive as it was delicious. If you haven't tried this place you must put it on your list. Your stomach will be happily satisfied as well as knowing that you've helped this diner help our community of those suffering with cancer.

    Wild things botanicals plant setup - profits go to delivering flowers to the cancer patient's homes
    Robyn V.

    What a fantastic find and wonderful visit to this darling little diner. We went on a Sunday, it was busy as to be expected, sat outside on the shaded patio and had great service, fabulous food, the best biscuits I've ever had in my life with a pimento cheese spread I added on. We also ordered the avocado toast, Belgian waffle with yummy fruit topping, a side of their breakfast rosemary potatoes, and Shakshouka / Shashouka which is so very rarely on a menu. That was the highlight for me, and I plan to go get more of it when I visit later today! -- The story behind this place and that they use their profits to hand deliver meals to 240+ cancer patients that are housebound, and visit with them is just incredible. And also the plant set up by Cherry, owner of Wild things botanicals is also delightful as can be, and I left with a darling cactus family.

    Plants inside
    Jaquay R.

    What I appreciate most about this place is that this is a non-profit business. When you dine here it is for a good cause. 100% of the revenue goes back into the charity of delivering chef-inspired meals and visitation to cancer patients in the Valley. I dined here for the first time with my sister and had invited a friend. I honestly was more impressed by the story, history, and volunteer opportunities than I was the food. The food was good, but learning about the overall mission was even greater. I ordered The Joy Bus Burger with bacon and fries. It was visually appealing and tasted good too. The inside has a fun vibe with a pac-man arcade game, the dine-in Joy bus, and many photos on the wall. The volunteer staff is amazing and our waitress took time to share details on the volunteer program when I asked. I definitely want to join in on the awesome way they are serving the community in need.

    Belgium waffle
    Lisa O.

    The food is great, the service is fantastic, and the cause just makes it even more worthwhile. I hate to rave about this gem, would like to keep it all to myself but then again, they deserve high praise for a job well done. Five stars cuz I wouldn't change a thing!!!

    Joan P.

    Had lunch at the fabulous Joy Bus Diner earlier this week, and the word that best describes my experience is "delightful". Everything was delightful from the moment I walked in! That includes the bright dining room filled with enthusiastic staff and volunteers, the Power Bowl salad I had along with a WOW beer, my lovely server Alena, and the happy view from my seat of the adorable Joy Bus filled with beautiful plants! It is ALWAYS delightful to dine at The Joy Bus Diner! What an incredible organization, with a noble mission, delicious food and a superb leader, Jennifer.

    Great advice from the loo.
    sandy b.

    Service was attentive. Super clean place and adorable. I liked that there was local food stuff to purchase. I found the shakshuka a bit spicy and then a volunteer said almost every dish had a kick.

    The "Traditional" Eggs Benedict"
    Gracie F.

    Such a cute place. Loved the decor and the vibe. Staff was very nice and inviting. It was a Sunday and they had a DJ. I thought it would be too loud like those other breakfast joints (Hash Kitchen), but it was surprisingly perfect. Was loud enough to enjoy, and yet soft enough to have conversations with your party without shouting. However the music in the ladies restroom was obnoxiously loud. I had a coffee and the Traditional Eggs Benedict. The coffee was good, but I wish they had flavored creamer or flavor pumps (I know that's a personal preference, but it's letting coffee drinkers know it's half n' half only). I added the salmon (+$2) to the meal and the salmon was a bit fishy, so might not have been as fresh as I'd hoped it would be. The "smoked ham" was a sausage patty, which was odd. Now the star of the show, the eggs, were perfectly cooked (I can't stand over cooked poached eggs). That alone was the best part! The hollandaise sauce could have used just a bit more lemon, but was still delicious. Velvety, smooth and creamy. I didn't think I'd miss the English muffin, but I stand corrected. The toast was good, but got soggy as I ate. I missed that English toast chew. Regardless, I'd go back again. More than likely try something else. It wasn't bad, but it also wasn't as good as it could be. I'll give them another shot, mainly because of the ambiance and the staff!

    Classic Eggs Benedict with rich, light hollandaise, rosemary potatoes, & orange slices
    Amanda S.

    Loved this place so much! The food is AMAZING & it is all for a great cause- to help provide meals to home bound cancer patients. Although it has a beautiful sign, it is set back in a shopping center off 32nd St just south of Shea. I drove by for years without really noticing it. Plus, there's a few other great spots competing in the neighborhood. The space is cozy, staff & volunteers are great, there's a cute bus with a dining table and...did I mention the amazing food? Everything coming out of the kitchen had our mouths watering. We picked the Shakshuka and Eggs Benedict. Both great choices. I hear their smash burger is also fantastic as a lunch pick. Worth the stop, even if you have to drive a bit out of the way!

    Chilaquiles

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    15 days ago

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    20 days ago

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    5 months ago

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    Sinai T.

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    4 months ago

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    Sinai T.

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    7 months ago

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    Sinai T.

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    8 months ago

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    Joanna M.

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    8 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    6 months ago

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    2 months ago

    Great concept of helping the community and having a delicious meal! The staff was super friendly and the decor had a great vibe!

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    4 months ago

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    15 days ago

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    1 year ago

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    4 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    Joanna M.

    Thank you for dining with us and supporting our mission!

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    10 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    2 years ago

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    Joanna M.

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    2 months ago

    Great food and servers are volunteers and very friendly! Go and support the cause.. bring meals to shutting-ins with cancer!

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    9 months ago

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    Joanna M.

    Thank you so much for supporting the mission and dining with us.

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    11 months ago

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    5 months ago

    Unique food from master chef recipes. Excellent service. Proceeds help deliver healthy food to home bound cancer patients.

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    Sinai T.

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    1 year ago

    Loved eating here, I love what they stand for and everything they do. Food is amazing!

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    Joanna M.

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    1 year ago

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    3 months ago

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    8 months ago

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    Page 1 of 12

    Ask the Community - The Joy Bus Diner

    Are there gluten free options?

    Good morning. We do not have specific gluten free menu choices but we can definitely try to accommodate any allergies.

    Do they have soufflé pancakes here? I've seen someone post about them but haven't seen any on their website/menu.

    No,they do not

    Do they take reservations?

    No, just show up and if you do have to wait it's worth it.

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

    Review Highlights - The Joy Bus Diner

    This is a non profit that supports cancer patients & their families by delivering fresh healthy meals when in need.

    Mentioned in 89 reviews

    Read more highlights

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    i called back the next day to give a donation to help pay for the meals she provided and to thank…read morethem for helping us since it was AZ Gives Day. The woman I talked to was delightful.

    I have never been more humiliated in all my life than I was today at approximately 11:05AM! After…read moreshowing great concern about a young child that was clearly not being supervised by an adult, I was denied a food box. I was denied by the supervisor stating that I had already received food twice this month. I am NOT a food stamp recipient, in fact I was on the phone with DES at the time that I was called up and informed him of that fact. I am attempting to help my family any way I can. The supervisor denied us even an emergency food box. The heartless guy referred me to St. Mary's Food Bank which is many miles away from Desert Mission (where I was after having waited in line), even more miles away from my home. End result, I was unable to drive the extra 10+ miles to get to St. Mary's. I have very little gas, absolutely no money and a bald tire (very unsafe to make that trip). My family will go hungry this evening and this completely unacceptable. If the option of ZERO stars were available, that's what my review would firmly be after this inappropriate conduct.

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    Chef Nils educates shoppers with cooking demonstrations
    Chef Nils educates shoppers with cooking demonstrations
    Desert Mission Food Bank recently received a very generous donation from the folks at Compass Bank!
    Desert Mission Food Bank recently received a very generous donation from the folks at Compass Bank!
    Desert Mission Food Bank

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    The Joy Bus Diner - breakfast_brunch - Updated June 2026

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