Joyland

Been waiting for our return to Charleston to try Joyland and the famous crust burger. Went in and the place was empty around 5pm on a Sunday. Workers were sitting at the counter watching their phones, meanwhile napkin dispenser was empty, garbage out the top of the bin, ketchup dispenser broken and tables not wiped down. Crust burger had no crust and was so onion forward that it felt like onion soup mix was mixed in with the patties. The fries were likely from frozen and it was just a disappointment all the way around. Not a good experience and just not good food. Nothing like the experience shown on Somebody Feed Phil, wonder if Nashville location gets more interaction with Chef Brock, I dont believe he would be happy with this location.

Let me tell yall, this place is really great. The burger was so crispy and cooked exactly how you want a smash burger. Chicken sandwich made with chicken thighs is the only way to go. Tyler was super nice and seemed genuinely happy to work there. Really great food, love Sean brock and whatever restaurant he opens im going to experience it. Also the ice cream and desserts are a must try.

First time trying Joyland and it was a great experience. I had the deluxe and my boyfriend had the crust burger, both delicious. The joy sauce was really good! Huge portion of fries (we both went for the curly fries). Staff was very friendly and the atmosphere takes you back to the time of old school soda fountains. Plenty of seating inside and out. Will definitely be back to try breakfast!

Wow this was a greasy burger. I like greasy burgers but to me it took a little bit of the flavor away from the patty. Went with the crust burger add bacon and it was solid but just felt the grease took away from the actual taste. The crinkle cut fans were great and the service was spot on, the sauces were joy ranch and fry sauce both grew on me as I ate. Wasn’t a huge fan at first but by the end I was scrapping out the last drops! I know this place is still new so will definitely come back and try it again.

Joyland, Charleston SC – A Whimsical Smash Burger Joint That Can’t Seem to Stick the Landing When Joyland first opened its doors in downtown Charleston, the buzz was palpable. With its pop art flair, playful neon palette, and bold promise of reinventing the smash burger, the concept had all the ingredients to become a cult favorite. Unfortunately, after two visits months apart, Joyland feels less like a culinary carnival and more like a case of style over substance. My first visit came on opening day, a mistake in hindsight. An hour-long wait in line ended with the disappointing news that nearly the entire menu was sold out. Only the flagship “Crustburger” remained. The burger itself was… fine. A seared crust offered a bit of intrigue, and while the flavor hinted at potential, the overall experience was dulled by the chaos of the kitchen and an air of unpreparedness. I chalked it up to growing pains and resolved to return. Months later, I tried again, this time opting for takeout in hopes of bypassing the wait and seeing the restaurant at full operational strength. I ordered a spread: the Crustburger, Joystick (a chicken skewer), curly fries, and a hand pie. The results were mixed, and mostly disappointing. The curly fries were the sole standout, impeccably crisp, generously seasoned, and portioned with care. It was the only item that truly lived up to the promise of comfort food done right. The Crustburger had regressed since my first visit. The patty was dry, the once-bold sear now flat, and the bun tasted stale, a cardinal sin in a burger joint where bread and beef are the entire show. The Joystick, while a clever name, arrived undercooked in the center — an unsettling and inexcusable flaw, especially for poultry. As for the hand pie, a strawberry-and-cheesecake hybrid, it offered more nostalgia than nuance. Resembling a gas station snack or a dressed-up McDonald’s apple pie, it lacked the freshness and texture that would justify its boutique pricing. It was overly sweet and forgettable. Even the small things added up: I was charged extra for ranch and never received it. Not a dealbreaker, but emblematic of a kitchen and front-of-house team still struggling with consistency and quality control. Joyland has undeniable charm. The interior is a dopamine rush of good vibes, a place you want to root for. But charming decor and clever names aren’t enough when the food doesn’t deliver. Charleston diners are discerning, and in a city filled with world-class comfort food, even smash burgers have to meet a higher standard. Joyland doesn’t need a menu overhaul or a brand reinvention, just tighter execution, better consistency, and a commitment to backing up its bold personality with equally bold flavors. There’s still time to turn things around. But for now, Joyland remains more potential than payoff.

Only giving two because the staff was so nice and the atmosphere was great. Waited forever to be able to come and finally got in on a day it wasn’t too busy. Ordered two crust burgers. Waited about 30 minutes, got served cold, like the cheese had rehardened cold, burgers. Fries on the top were warm but the bottom were also cold from sitting I assume. Such a let down.

We came when it opened and I have to say this was miles above the quality and service we received at that time, Tyler was really helpful and accommodating to ordering gluten free. They even have gf fried chicken so that was exciting!

I'm typically not huge on fast food, but I really enjoyed Joyland's Fried Chicken Sandwich. The chicken was tender on the inside, crispy on the outside and I totally appreciated the little touches of red pepper, carrots and onion as well as a gluten-free bun! The bun was toasted on the inside (soft on the inside), which is also a nice touch that most establishments don't do even at high end restaurants. My husband, son and daughter-in-law really liked the Joyburger Deluxe and Crustburgers which were nice and juicy. The negative reviewers complaints are not justified. They didn't bother to find out the type of establishment that they were going to?! They also should have expected to wait in line (which they were also a part of) and wait for their food during opening week as new employees and procedures are being worked out. 🙄 As we were waiting in line I could hear other people at tables saying, "that was good," and it is.

Charleston-legend Sean Brock opened up a location of his Nashville hot spot Joyland here so naturally I had to check it out, and it definitely didn't disappoint! I got myself a crustburger (think a smashburger with two patties, cheese, and onions on a bun that is also smashed like a pancake) as well as a "dipstick": dark chicken meat deep fried and covered in a BBQ sauce (with a little bit of hot sauce mixed in). The dipstick was ok but I loved the burger and curly fries. They were extremely filling and heavy - I don't know if they're cooked in lard or butter or whatever but just one double smashburger was more than enough for me. Curly fries are my jam and they hit perfectly. Joyland also offers crinkle fries but I ordered enough as it was. Washed it all down with a bottle of Mexican coke! As of writing this review they opened a little over a week prior to today, so they're still working out some kinks. The fountain machine wasn't operating and they only offered water and sweet tea outside of canned drinks. Our food took a while to come out, and this was before the lunch rush came in, so who knows how they handled that pressure when they're busy. Luckily these are easy fixes and shouldn't effect them in the long run (at least I would assume not). While the food was excellent, I don't see myself making another trip out of my way to go back. If you're downtown, it's worth a stop. If not, you can go to another establishment and probably get a good burger at a comparable price and maybe a little faster than what we ended up waiting for. I'd recommend to check it out though, if only to say you tried it.

Joyland did not meet my expectations. The fountain drink machine was out of service as well as the milkshake/ice cream machine There was no one at the counter to take our order for about 5 minutes. When the food arrived, one of the orders was incorrect. We got the crust burgers- which were good- but not great. Maybe they will imptove once the gliches are worked out.

Sean Brock has thrown his hat into the fast-food arena with Joyland which has left me with mixed feelings. We decided to try last Sunday, so we went there at 2:30 to avoid the crowds, mission failed as the restaurant was packed. The inside was bright and vibrant, seeming to use every color of the rainbow. I can't complain about the service as the staff was informative and very friendly and seriously busting their butts to get the food out. My wife and I both started with the chocolate shake, and it was very good with just the right thickness so it was thick, but you could still draw it through a straw and nice and chocolatey. My wife got the Joyburger, a standard smash burger with cheese and onions. The burger was quite tasty, but I wouldn't give it that wow factor, hard to compete with Heavy's right around the corner. The waffle hashbrowns were crispy but lacking in potato and no real spice. They do give you some Joy sauce which was like a milder Zaxbys Zax sauce which did help them in the flavor department. The crinkle cut and curly fries looked good and would probably be the better choice. My wife and I also tried the Joystick which is breaded chicken on a stick with choice of dipping sauce. The meat was plentiful but unfortunately somewhat dry. A better option would probably be the Dipstick which comes soaked in BBQ sauce. Finally, I got the Crustburger which is their signature item. Two super thin patties cooked to a crisp with cheese and onions on bread that reminded me of a grilled cheese. Now the flavor was quite good, very beefy and smoky, but after eating half I kind of got tired of nothing but crust. As much as I love the crusty edges, I also enjoy the juicy parts of a burger as well so it kind of became one note. That's just my opinion and you might try it and love it. Now they are brand new, and these could be just growing pains until they find their rhythm but if you are advertising the Sean Brock name, I would expect something more extra. They are worth at least checking out just pack your patience.

So happy to have Joyland here. The best biscuits. Service is great & I love the colorful atmosphere.

Well, someone beat me to the first-review-punch! But to be fair, since the line was to the door I shouldn't be surprised. Joyland is chef Sean Brock's (formerly of Husk fame) version of a fast food emporium. The restaurant is definitely full of fast food vibes--diner furniture, bright colors, clean lines, lots of white, no tablecloths, and a limited menu. There are essentially three sections--the dining area, the bar/register area, and additional outside seating. It's surprisingly small. The menu includes breakfast and lunch/dinner. Breakfast sandwiches (with a grab and go selection at the register) are biscuits with bacon, sausage, impossible, eggs, and cheese. Lunch and dinner includes various hamburgers, along side a Chicago dog and meat-on-a-stick options. I'm told that yesterday's soft open was nearly deserted--today's official opening is crowded as all get out! I've been in queue for about 30 minutes and am almost to the register :-/ But, hey! It's day 1! So, we placed our orders--crush burger combo with a choco shake and a CHI dog with fries. The shake is excellent! Softserv vanilla with chocolate syrup so thick I had to strain to get it thru the supersized straw. Off to a good start...The food has arrived and I've had my first bite of dog. It's good. Not great, not EXACTLY like the real thing, but awfully close--I'll take it. The fries are excellent. I went for crinkle (the server recommended) and they were hot, fresh, and wonderfully salty. The crush burger was also excellent. It's supposedly a level above smash and it delivers. The bun as well as the burger was crispy and it definitely provides an extra element of texture and flavor. Delicious! The prices are very reasonable for downtown Charleston and I can't complain about a $15 double burger combo. I also noticed that JL is on the CofC meal plan--nice touch. I'm full and happy! Welcome to Charleston, Joyland ;-)

A simple thing done excellently! Tastes that immediately transport one back to the teen years or childhood. If you are nearby DO NOT miss Sean Brock's love note to fast food! The care that is taken not only in ingredients, but in preparation is obvious and appreciated.

This is a college town and Joyland is in the heart of it. So the lines might be a little longer on the weekends. 9:00 am on Thursday during Charleston Wine and Food Festival week and we walked right in with no wait. The biscuits are some of the best you'll ever have. The breakfast burrito and waffle fries are fire. Smash burgers and chicken on a stick are ridiculously good! Love this place. Needs a pinball or Galaga though

Good but way over priced. I did carry out and walked in and the place was kind of a mess. I was mostly disappointed in the milkshake. Didn't taste anything special and it was just mocha syrup in vanilla milkshake base and was only filled 3/4 of the way full with no toppings...... not worth 7$. The crinkle fries were kind of soggy as if they'd been sitting there and didn't fill up the carton. Again, not worth spending almost 22$ on a burger meal.

Context: I downloaded yelp just to leave this review. That's how bad it was. Me and my girlfriend decided to get breakfast here with somewhat high hopes. THE FOOD IS AWFUL. Paid $30 for the worst food I've had in Charleston. "I don't even want to take this home with me" is exactly what you'll say if you eat here. Save your money and time on better food and just go to Chick-fil-A!

Don't listen to anyone who bad mouths this place. It is legitimately good. Most of the negative reviews are from people who likely went in the first week or 2 when the hype was crazy and they got angry because it took too long to get their food. Unfortunately, when I went in on a Friday at lunch time the place was practically empty when it should have been packed because this place is delicious. Go in with the expectation that you are getting FAST FOOD. That is what this is. Forget that it's owned by Sean Brock. If you understand that you will LOVE THIS PLACE. We got our food fairly quickly, within 10 minutes I'd say. I got the crust burger, the deluxe, some fries and a dipstick (my friend and I split it all). The crust burger was awesome. The lacing and toasted buns added texture while the onions, pickles and sauce did their thing. The deluxe was dressed more like a regular burger. Still fantastic! Both burgers tasted homemade. For real, hands down, THE BEST FASTFOOD BURGER I HAVE EVER HAD. I will say that the crinkle cut fries, while perfect crispy, were a bit over salted and the fry sauce that they came with was nothing special. What really stole the show was the chicken dipstick. It's what I believe is a Korean style fried chicken on a stick. The breading was incredible. So crunchy. The sauce on it, which seemed like something akin to a buffalo but not quite, was so good I was picking the crumbs out the basket. In all seriousness, ORDER A DIPSTICK. They could make a restaurant based around that alone. The inside is well designed and gives an off a nice old school diner vibe. Nothing amazing but def chill. Overall, as far as food quality goes (by fast food standards), this place gets a 10 outta 10 from me. Everything tastes so fresh and high quality. The service was adequate, the vibes are on point. Visit this place. Go here. You won't regret it. Just remember IT IS A FAST FOOD JOINT. 4.5 stars.

55 minutes is how long it took to get one mediocre burger and fries. It's basically a Steak&Shake burger and Arby's fries. After waiting that long they gave me cold fries. The drink machine was down, they had no sugar so there was no sweet tea and they were out of ice cream, they did not seem to be prepared to be open it's seems. Most of the staff were visibly irritated.

We were there opening day. Went for a biscuit in the morning BEST BISCUIT EVER then went back for lunch at 11 as we were driving home. We had the smash burger AWESOME and the chicken sandwich sooooo good! And the waffles tater tots yum!! 100% we will go again when we visit.

2nd day open so... Positive: 1. Location - Great Location Negative: Food: 1. Breakfast Burrito - Came out cold even though I waited like 10 minutes for it even though I think there were more employees working there than customers at the time. The "burrito" was incredibly greasy with notes of Big Mac sauce and rancid oil from the hash browns (see below). Overall not great. 2. Hash browns - Also came out cold... Crispy but also incredibly greasy at the same time. The oil tasted like it was rancid which also made them inedible. 3. Atmosphere - Despite visiting the 2nd day it was open there floors were somehow covered with so much grease my shoes were sliding on the floor. Pass

If I could give this place no stars I would. The food took a long time and it's awful. The bun was like a thin hard frisbee. Wanted to throw it out the window but was afraid it would come back. Do yourself a favor and go to Arby's.

Decent burger but I will go back next time I am in Charleston with the hope that I don't wait 45 minutes, it was crazy as they are trying to get the kinks out, will definitely eat again but only if they have it functioning efficiently and the wait isn't crazy.

Cheap, fast food. Nothing special. When we went, no one could explain the different items on the menu and all the soft drinks and ice tea machines were broken. We wont go back.