One bite in and I turned to Laura and said, “This is the best burger in DC.” Congrats to my friend Patrice for opening Joia Burger in Mt Pleasant! It is a very simple menu: burgers, fries, and ube soft-serve ice cream (ube is a purple yam from the Philippines). Patrice, the owner of the award winning restaurant Purple Patch and fellow Mt Pleasant resident, wanted to create a neighborhood spot that offers burgers with “Filipino flair.” Diners can choose 1, 2, or up to 3 patties, although no reasoning has been offered why any sane person would not order 3. All burgers come topped with a slaw-style condiment she came up with herself: a diced mix of tomato, onion, pickle, lettuce, and a healthy dose of her “special sauce”. The result can’t be explained, it must be tried – trust me. Visit www.JoiaBurgerDC.com to learn more or just go tonight.