We have been fans of Yardbird since they opened. I recently tried their new spot Always Joy is a new project of chef Matt Abergel and Lindsay Jang. Its menu blends izakaya roots with global flavors, something I’d refer to as “gwai lo” Japanese while trying to describe it to my friend. The surprise that we loved was the soft serve dessert with granola – I typically don’t order dessert.
The menu is creative – we didn’t try everything as there was only two of us and to be honest were not drawn to everything on the menu that borders on fusion cuisine.
Always joy menu is seasonal and organised into:
- Small Plates Light bites and starters, skewers or vegetable-forward dishes.
- Mains seafood and meat dishes, including braised and grilled options.
- Noodles & Rice staples like yakisoba and tomato rice with smoked olives.
- Desserts soft serve variations with granola!
- Beverages A curated list of highballs, sake, and cocktails designed to pair with the food.
