Latest Venture From Chef Sean Brock Offers Up Favorite Handhelds Alongside All Day Breakfast Options

Jeff Walker,  Entertainment Writer / Restaurant Review

Comfort foods come in various forms. For some it's a home cooked meal. For others it's a favorite dish their grandmother makes, or an entree at a neighborhood eatery. And the sole reason they're called comfort foods, is because quite literally they fill us with immeasurable joy! 

Such is the reason behind the appropriately named Joyland in downtown Charleston. Opened as a partnership with renowned Charleston chef and restaurateur Sean Brock, Joyland brings together preferred comfort foods on one menu. Without question, burgers and hotdogs are among the most favored comfort foods, and combining them with an all day breakfast menu is ingenious.

Open seven days a week (8am-9pm Mon-Thurs, & until midnight Fri & Sat), Joyland is situated nicely at 145 Calhoun St. directly across from Marion Square. While the menu offers several options, it's rather concise, making selections somewhat easier.

There are two burgers including their signature Joyburger (aka a smashburger), comprised of two 3.5 oz. 100 percent all beef Bear Creek patties blanketed under American cheese, pickles, red onions, and Joy Sauce (trade secret), all on a Martin's potato bun. Oozing with flavor, it's like getting all your required food groups in a handheld delight. Ooh la la! 

Undoubtedly the most unique item on Joyland's menu is their Crustburger. Imagine if you will a crispier version of a smashburger presented the same way, except with a slather of their 'fancy sauce' (another trade secret). Served on a toasted potato bun, the Crustburger comes with lots of crunch and just the right amount of attitude whether you're eating it at 10am or 10pm.

Placed properly in a poppy seed bun and topped with mustard relish, onion, pickle, sport pepper, and a sprinkle of celery salt the Chicago Dog is crafted to perfection. And don't think for a minute they use some generic wiener in this legendary handheld food icon. No siree. Joyland's Chicago Dog begins with a Vienna Beef Dog (the windy city standard). Yum yum for the tum tum!

The remainder of the typical lunch or dinner time menu consists of a plump Fried Chicken Sandwich. Made with choice bird from Springer Mountain Farms Chicken the wich comes slathered in Joy sauce, mayo and creamy pickle slaw. Extremely filling and tasty for $10. Make it a combo meal by adding crinkle or curly fries and your favorite Coca-Cola beverage for just $5 more.

Prefer finger licking pop in your mouth quick bites then order the fries alone or Joyland's Joystick, a skewer of fried chicken nuggets, served with your choice of four homemade side sauces. Ooh la la!

The all day breakfast menu is equally as brief. You can sink your teeth and gums into an oversized warm fresh made Buttermilk Biscuit served with either good butter (as opposed to bad butter), and or strawberry and blackberry jams. Just like grandma used to bake, only bigger. You can get that same luscious biscuit adorned with egg & cheese or fried chicken. Maybe spice either up by adding bacon or sausage. 

Like your breakfast fare wrapped, then order the Breakfast Burrito, an ample tortilla teeming with eggs, bacon or sausage, hashbrowns, sauce and sour cream. Two lite bite eaters could easily share this abundantly delicious mouthful. No matter what time of day it is, maybe wash it down with some OJ or a hearty cup of coffee.

Of course you can bring the little ones in. Joyland offers four different kids meals served with a choice of fruit cup or small crinkle fries, and a juice box. The quartet include the ever popular hotdog and grilled cheese for $8 and $7 respectively. Great way to save money and feed the crew when downtown.

Got a sweet tooth, or like most enjoy a thick milkshake with your burger. Joyland deliver chocolate and vanilla shakes as well as malted versions to go with any of your all beef menu items. Go really old school and sip or spoon an ice cream float or a sundae. Not feeling up to ice cream but still have a hankering for something sweet, there's always their seasonal hand pies, little single serving flaky pies jammed with savory fillings. Delish!

The overall essence of Joyland is to bring joy to food lovers, by offering them a few of their favorite comfort foods and all day breakfast. Mission accomplished. Want even more reason to rejoice? Joyland makes your wallet happy. Aside from a combo meal every single item is priced under $10. That's unheard in downtown Charleston.

The best way to describe Joyland is a combination of a yesteryear roadside diner meets Tastee Freez (Dairy Queen up north). Left the house without eating breakfast, pop in Joyland after 8am for a biscuit or a burger (it's your call). Caught a show or just hanging downtown late on the weekend, pop in Joyland for quick pick me up bite. Joyland will fill your taste-buds and your tummy with joy.

With locations in Birmingham and Nashville, Joyland is creating a footprint in the southeast. Basically when you think of Disneyland you imagine the joy of amusement parks. In the not so distant future when you think of Joyland, perhaps you'll think of the joy of comfort foods.

Want more validation for Sean Brock's latest creation. Joyland was recently featured in Season Six of Netflix's Somebody Feed Phil!, featuring noted foodie Phil Rosenthal, the creator of 'Everybody Loves Raymond'.

Parting shots. Yes you can order online, and yes they offer outdoor seating when mother nature cooperates. And there's always some sort of really cool music playing in the background. As their website so proudly declares 'Make your place a Joyland' which in turn suggests, 'make Joyland your place'. Bask in the joy at https://eatjoyland.com/