Joy & James Cafe, Filipino Fried Chicken

LTH,

I was driving East on Lawrence Ave when, out of the corner of my eye, what do I spy? Fried Chicken, well, at least a sign that reads Fried Chicken. I pop a quick U-turn park and walk into a pleasant little combination Filipino grocery (dry goods only)/snack shop.

The very nice owners of Joy and Jame's Cafe, Floencio and Iding Alonzo, said they had been in that location for 3-years and, before that, had a restaurant in Philippines. Florencio went on to say they cooked Manilla style and their fried chicken was slightly less marinated then Isla Pilipina. They knew Mike, of Mike's fried chicken fame, which is now Isla Pilipina, and said Mike, who I take it is quite a character, had moved back to the Philippines.

The chicken was quite good, especially given the fact it was reheated. Crisp, lightly marinated in the same style as Isla Pilipina, and still juicy. Joy and James Cafe's fried chicken may just replace Spring World's $3.95 lunch as the best lunch deal in Chicago. One half of a, admittedly, somewhat small, chicken with two scoops of rice and a David Hammond approved container of ketchup, was only $3.39.

I also tried a pork roll, 10-inches long, about 1-inch in diameter of pure deep-pork pork sausage. Quite good dipped in Rooster brand Sriracha. They had a few steam table items and prepared Filipino style pork, which looked excellent, though I thought I'd save the pork for another day.

Joy and James Cafe has a few tables for eating in, but does quite a bit of carry out, they also cater. Joy and James Cafe is a nice little place, run by nice people, with good, inexpensive food.

Enjoy,
Gary

Joy & James Cafe
4701 W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL 60635
773-736-2233

Isla Pilipina
2501 W Lawrence Ave
Unit D
Chicago, IL.
773-271-2988

Oh man, that was on my be-the-first-to-try list, I spotted it every time I went to the silent films at the Gateway this summer. I couldn't tell what nationality it was, whether it was a Southern fried chicken place that somehow wound up in that area, or what. Glad to know the story, not surprising I suppose that it should prove to be Filipino.

Mike G wrote:Oh man, that was on my be-the-first-to-try list, I spotted it every time I went to the silent films at the Gateway this summer. I couldn't tell what nationality it was, whether it was a Southern fried chicken place that somehow wound up in that area, or what. Glad to know the story, not surprising I suppose that it should prove to be Filipino.

Yea, I've been meaning to try this place for ages too. Kudos to Wiv for being the "first", good enough for us if not Lill. Now, who can get to the HFC, Halal Fried Chicken on Da'Bomb next to Ambala first?

Actually, I tried this place nearly two years ago in my pre-CH/LTH days. I was underwhelmed, but given Wiv's glowing review, I guess it's worth another visit. Who knows, maybe they are doing something different now.

Like SteveZ, I had tried James and Joy before and had been somewhat underwhelmed. On my one visit there, I found the deep fried unbreaded chicken good. It was definitely the star of the show.

I also took home a sample offering of stewed beef that was far too sweet and gingery for my taste and a pork dish that had been sitting on the steam table far too long. Filipino style eggrolls were crispy on the outside and frozen in the middle.

I do remember how nice the lady running the place was. Maybe its time to give them another visit.

They must have gotten a new awning or something, because they sure set my new restaurant detector off, but obviously they're not one.

I believe you're right about the awning, Mike. I noticed it last week when passing by on my way to work.

stevez wrote:but given Wiv's glowing review, I guess it's worth another visit.

Woaaaa, slow down sailor.

I ain't saying Joy and James Cafe is Chez Helen, OT's on a day you catch the chicken hot out of the fryer or even the 64th and Cottage Grove Harold's.

I said the chicken was quite good, especially given the fact it was reheated, crisp, lightly marinated and still juicy. Joy and James is a good lunch option, given the cost, the fact it comes w/two scoops of rice, and how nice the owners are. I'm betting if one could get the chicken hot from the fryer it would be elevated to new heights.

Speaking of lunch options, just East on Lawrence on the 4500 block is the Dog Hut (House?). A cute as hell little building, and I do mean little, serving dogs, tamales, pepsi, no coke, and chips, no fries. Unfortunately, the dog house uses skinless Vienna, though when I inquired the fellow serving the dogs answered, for skinless they have a little snap. He must be a natural casing man himself, but, for some odd reason, the general public seems to prefer skinless.

Dog Hut's hot dog was pretty good, or should I say as good as a skinless hot dog can be. Served on a no poppy seed steamed bun, my order of w/onion, mustard and sport pepper came as requested. Overall Dog Hut gets high marks on it's tiny free standing building and great hot dog stand aura, but I probably won't be back. Life's too short to eat anything but natural casing hot dogs.

Dog Hut (House?)
4500 block of W Lawrence Ave
Chicago, IL

G Wiv wrote:Speaking of lunch options, just East on Lawrence on the 4500 block is...

Also right around there, which I would have written up but I have lost the business card with specifics of the place, is a Serbian store with just amazing, million layer burek. It is pizza burek, you purchase a slice or more from a pie shaped burek instead of other burek which are stand-alone pastries. Inside is sharp feta or comforting ground meat, but really it is all about the layers.

This particular Serbian store only sold roast pork on Saturdays, so I could not sample, but even mid-week the aroma remained.

I think the place is called George's and it is around 4500 West on Lawrence.

Rob