Joy Feast more than lives up to billing

Christine Putnam

The closing of the Chopstick Chinese Restaurant in Burbank ended an

era. How many of us remedied a bad cough or cold with their war

wonton soup? How many of us took our largest pots and pans to be

filled with their soup only to realize that five gallons of hot

liquid weighs more than we expected? And where in the Valley could

you find a quiet atmosphere, even on a busy Saturday?

Fortunately, Joy Feast Chinese Restaurant has recently opened at

2009 W. Alameda Ave. The bright, open atmosphere with etched-glass

windows and sophisticated Asian decor harmonize with the more modern

approach to Chinese cooking. A health-conscious menu and cooking

methods seem only too appropriate in such close proximity to

Providence St. Joseph Medical Center down the street.

Upon entering Joy Feast, you are immediately greeted by the statue

of a Chinese warrior, as if guarding the quiet and relaxing setting

that awaits you inside. Soft Chinese music plays in the background.

The menu at Joy Feast offers the usual Chinese comfort foods mixed

with some new and interesting alternatives. Fresh vegetables and

meats cooked in either vegetable oil or 100% cholesterol-free canola

oil make up the cornerstone of the Joy Feast philosophy, “healthy

Chinese gourmet.” Several of the dishes meet the low-fat guidelines

of the American Heart Assn. Any dish can be prepared to your dietary

needs, including salt-free, sugar-free and low-carb.

We ordered our entrees a la carte, chicken shui mai, cashew nut

chicken and barbecued pork with snow peas and water chestnuts.

Combination dinners are also available. Along with the many choices

for chicken, pork, beef, rice and noodles, Joy Feast also offers

seafood dishes, including cashew nut shrimp, the house specialty of

sesame shrimp, and hot garlic scallops. Entree prices range from

$7.75 to $10.95 for some of the seafood dishes.

At Joy Feast the food takes center attention. The square white

dishes bring out the crisp greens of the vegetables cooked to a

crunchy perfection. The barbecue pork was sweet and tender and the

portions generous. Our waitress seemed more than proud that we had

enjoyed every morsel down to the last crunchy water chestnut. We

found the dinner for two this evening a value at $23.38. Joy Feast

accepts major credits. The balance of healthy cooking and great taste

made the meal more than worth it.

The lunch menu, served from 11 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. daily, includes

your choice of 28 entrees served with an egg roll, daily soup and

your choice of rice. Prices range from $4.75 to $5.75. The elegant

atmosphere and fast service, makes this a great spot for a business

or special lunch.

Joy Feast provides carry-out and delivery orders. I’d call ahead

on the weekend. While I can’t guarantee the war wonton soup will cure

the common cold, I do suspect that Joy Feast is on its way to

becoming a Burbank landmark.