Joy on York

Run by Vivian Ku, who also runs Pine & Crane in Silver Lake, this sleekly designed, community-focused Taiwanese spot draws sizable lines for some of the best fast-casual food in Highland Park. Efficient staff members will nimbly help you order at the counter, which features a rotating selection of various chilled Chinese starters. On its small menu, the standouts include a thousand-layer pancake with egg, cheese and basil (be sure to ask for chili oil) and the chiayi chicken rice bowl. Our favorite dish, however, is the pillowy clamshell bun, which can be made vegan with bean curd and mushrooms. If you can, save room for the peanut and black sesame hakka mochi.