Joyland Restaurant
Hamburger restaurant · East Nashville
901 Woodland St, Nashville, TN 37206, USA
Highlights
Chef Sean Brock's spot for burgers, fried chicken & biscuits
Chef Sean Brock's spot for burgers, fried chicken & biscuits
"Joyland is chef Sean Brock’s colorful nod to the fast-food joints of yesteryear. Now with locations in East Nashville and Sylvan Heights, Joyland doles out single or double four-ounce patties using a customized beef blend from Bear Creek Farm, a sustainable cattle and heritage hog farm located in Williamson County, Tennessee. You can also change it up with a crispy crustburger with onions and cheese on a gluten-free bun, plus add crinkle fries and a boozy milkshake." - Ellen Fort
"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
"On its surface, Joyland Restaurant bears all the hallmarks of your typical fast-casual burger joint: counter service, playful primary colors as decor, a simple, takeout-focused menu, and the smell of grilled beef in the air. But because Sean Brock’s at the helm of this East Nashville spot, everything’s a cut above. The burgers benefit from a proprietary blend of beef from Bear Creek Farm, for example, and the biscuits and beer bear one of Brock’s go-to grains: Jimmy Red corn. Don’t miss the house-made soft serve ice cream with sprinkles — the perfect treat to enjoy on the patio outside." - Ellen Fort
"Visit Sean Brock’s Joyland, his ode to the fast-food joints of yesteryear. Burgers come with single or double four-ounce patties of a customized beef blend from Bear Creek Farm. You can also opt to change it up with a pimento cheese-topped burger or a crispy “crustburger.” The fried crispy sandwich and onion rings are highlights as well." - Kellie Walton
"Dogs are invited to hang with their humans on the outdoor patio of Chef Sean Brock’s fast-casual burger joint. It’s water bowls for four-legged friends and Joysticks and CrustBurgers for their beloved humans." - Jackie Gutierrez-Jones
