Asian at Joya

The tastiest Asian restaurants are usually not the prettiest. Think fluorescent lighting, battered chairs, or everything red and gold and over the top. If that means you are missing out on all the delicious things Eastern countries have to offer, it is time to go to Joya.

Joya is the newest addition to the trendy hospitality empire of entrepreneur Casper Reinders. That means modern design and the fact that everything has been carefully considered. You can sink into the benches, and the place is full of plants (even trees). You almost get the idea that you have ended up in a lounge.

The menu features Thai and Japanese dishes prepared in a modern way. Do not expect a messy curry on a mountain of white rice here. The dishes are modern and small, because this is shared dining. We start with an oyster with green curry, a wonderfully fresh start to the evening.

Favorites

The absolute favorite during the next round is the beef tataki. The meat is perfectly cooked and gets umami from the crispy garlic, while the ponzu keeps it fresh. The Thai tom kha kai soup is poured at the table and tastes great, especially because of the freshness of the lime. They are anything but sparing with the seafood either; we even find a substantial scallop in our bowl. Jackpot! Not very Thai, but decadent and delicious.

Fancy babi pangang

The pork belly tastes somewhat like a refined babi pangang and is wonderfully tender. We are less enamored with the deep-fried enoki mushrooms. As soon as we bite into them, sunflower oil seeps into our mouths. Not a particularly pleasant feeling. Fortunately, the dessert with chili, mango, passion fruit and black sesame makes up for a lot.

Chinese beer

Alongside all the sharing dishes, there are also plenty of side dishes on the menu, because an evening of Asian food is of course not complete without a bowl of rice. You can choose to order everything at once, or start with a few dishes and then see what else you feel like having. Anything goes, but make sure to order a Chinese beer with it.

Joya
Spuistraat 3B
Amsterdam