Joyland - Review - East Nashville - Nashville - The Infatuation

"Does Sean Brock’s burger joint get the job done? Depends on the day. When Joyland is on, its crispy crustburger oozing with onions and cheese, chicken nuggets on a stick, and crinkle-cut fries are some of the finest fast food in town. The execution isn’t always consistent here, though. Sometimes, the char on the crustburgers is what can only be best described as “coal-adjacent,” or they’re out of Joysticks—a very sad moment when you’ve been daydreaming of that perfectly seasoned fried chicken on a stick. Despite opening in 2020, the space in East Nashville looks like it’s seen some better days. But it’s still a great spot to take your nieces and nephews for a casual lunch of burgers, fries, and malt shakes before or after a day out exploring the city. Plus, they’re great at accommodating other diets. Joyland has some satisfying gluten-free fried chicken, biscuits, and burger buns (which might even be better than the real thing). photo credit: Casey Irwin photo credit: Casey Irwin Food Rundown Crustburger The crustburger is a riff on the traditional smashburger. Essentially, it’s a very thin burger topped with cheese and onion served on a flattened potato bun. The burger is then toasted a skillet so it gets golden and crispy. The key here is the “thin burger”—the size leaves a very small margin for error. When done right, it’s a revelation. But even if it’s on the grill for a couple of seconds too long, it becomes a pile of char. photo credit: Casey Irwin Joystick The Joystick and the fries are easily the best things on the menu. Chicken on a stick is a very traditional snack out of Oxford, MS—Brock’s hometown—and Joyland does it justice. The meat is tender, and the fried coating on it really helps the accompanying sauces (we’re partial to the Joyland ranch) stick to the chicken. This is a must. photo credit: Casey Irwin Crinkle-Cut Fries Joyland’s crinkle-cut fries are perfectly salted and crispy, and the little crevices pick up the accompanying sauces. The fries are also just as good on their own. photo credit: Casey Irwin Buttermilk Biscuit The biscuits—which you can also find during brunch at Audrey—are a work of art. Moist and just a touch crumbly, they’re perfection with a pat of butter, a smear of jam, or as a bun for a breakfast sandwich. photo credit: Casey Irwin" - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones