Joy Cafe in Highland Park

 This past weekend, I went to a AfroFuturist Performance in Highland Park on the invite from my friend Jean. It was on one of the hillsides in HP. There were a lot of people, it was dark and it was the future.

Afterwards, hungry in the present, Jean recommended Joy, a Chinese food place her work cohorts often eat at. It was late on a Thursday night so not much was open but Joy was.

When we walked up, it was packed but we only had to wait for ten minutes or so on the caveat that we sit at the counter. I love sitting at the counter. Is that unusual? Why is it such a 2nd choice in the mind of cafe's? They're always kind of apologetic about it.

I asked Jean to order for the two of us and look at the bounty. it was absolutely and perhaps surprisingly outstanding. I really loved the Mapo Tofu, so spicy and comforting. Perhaps the mushrooms were on the top of both of our lists. The herbs and oils gave the feeling they had just come back from some mythical forest and dug these fresh mushrooms up. Or maybe they came back from the future? We at them in the present. They certainly have a deep and authentic vibe, this place called Joy at 5100 York Blvd, LA CA 90042.