Taiwanese Restaurant Joy to Open Second L.A. Location
Joy, a popular Taiwanese restaurant, is planning to open a second location on Wilshire Boulevard in Los Angeles. The expansion follows the success of its original Highland Park establishment. The new restaurant will bring the brand's well-regarded Taiwanese comfort food to a new neighborhood.
- The new location at 418 Wilshire Boulevard in Santa Monica was formerly a Wahoo's Fish Taco. - Joy's owner, Vivian Ku, also operates two locations of its sister restaurant, Pine & Crane, in Silver Lake and Downtown Los Angeles. - The original Joy in Highland Park opened in March 2018 on York Boulevard, taking over the spaces previously occupied by Ba restaurant and Elsa's Bakery. - Ku's family history is deeply connected to food; her maternal grandparents fled China and started a noodle business in Taiwan, and her family also has a vegetable farm. - The menu at Joy is inspired by the street food and night markets of Taipei, featuring dishes like minced pork on rice, dan dan noodles, and scallion pancakes. - As an homage to the previous tenant of their Highland Park location, Joy bakes Mexican wedding cookies and donates all proceeds from their sale to local community nonprofits. - The restaurant's name and concept are connected to Ku's grandfather's noodle company in Taiwan, which was named Pine & Crane, symbolizing longevity and endurance. - Vivian Ku is a Harvard graduate who initially pursued pre-med studies before enrolling at the Culinary Institute of America and gaining experience at the acclaimed Chez Panisse.
