Richard M.
Yelp
Just tried Ta Joia and I'm stuffed.
I accidentally ordered two entrées/meals. Oops.
Tl;dr - You should definitely try the Spicy Chicken. There's a reason it's their most popular dish. And if you're feeling especially hungry, order it with the Feijoada (Brazilian Rice, Black Beans, a fried egg w/ Pico and Cilantro Sauce) - delicious.
Growing up in Seattle, I/we all have our favorite teriyaki spot(s). However, over time I've found myself less and less interested in it, because so many places over cook and over sauce their food. So the chicken or beef is dry and it's swimming in sauce. That wasn't the case with Ta Joia.
I caught wind of it via the Yelp Top-100 for 2024 and decided to check it out because we live in the Bothell/Mill Creek area.
I wanted to try the favorites, I was hoping to do two proteins, with feijoada, but I accidentally ordered that + spicy chicken and beef over white rice. Oops.
While it was way too much food for me, it was a happy mistake, because I got to try both via the two different options to compare the two.
I don't have a preference between normal white rice and feijoada, because I could see myself ordering either depending on my mood.
The feijoada has a nice Brazilian/Latin flavor profile that is hearty. It's perfect for a cool day, because it's almost like having a stew. Whereas traditional white rice allows the protein(s) to shine.
The spicy chicken was "moist," and not over cooked. It has a nice char to it and a great spice which was both flavorful and mild. The beef on the other hand was thin, yet tender. It has a very nice sweet, soy flavor.
I would honestly recommend both. Very good.
I look forward to coming back and trying the rest of this diverse, and likely delicious, menu.