Joyful Chinese Dining
9699 N Hayden Rd,Ste 102, Scottsdale, AZ, 85258
Joyful Chinese Dining Menu
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Address :
9699 N Hayden Rd,Ste 102
Scottsdale, AZ, 85258 - Phone (480) 998-8188
- Website https://www.joyfulchinesedining.com
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch, Dinner
Parking : Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Noise Level : Quiet
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Categories
Chinese Cuisine
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
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Kris R.
My daughter and I ordered take out only on a few occasions, each time wishing it would rise to the level of our native San Francisco favorites. Alas, it did not, and perhaps that is an unfair comparison. Bottom line, on the 3 times we ordered to go, the orders were incorrect when we arrived home. The food seems to be fresh, but the preparations are not consistent, nor are they authentic Chinese. Bland and Scottsdalian. I suppose the great reviews here, may be warranted my Mid-western snow birds who don't know better. I am not sure great Chinese food exists in Scottsdale.
(3)Shira M.
Love the shrimp and lobster sauce. Shrimp stuffed Eggplant so good. The moo shoo pork was flavorful with crisp veggies and yummy crepes. Combo fried rice was really tasty.
(4)Myrna C.
Delicious! ! Clean restaurant. Traditional atmosphere. The staff is exceptional with sevice and wonderfully pleasant. Food is light...not heavy or oily. Chow mein.....delightful! Thank you for a wonderful meal.
(5)Sam M.
Without a doubt the best 10 dollars I've spent on food, great portions to price ratio and excellent food quality, I will continue being a regular
(5)Michelle P.
What can I say? My sister told me about this place and I wasn't sure as it's located in a nondescript strip mall shopping center. Don't let that fool you or the modest decor. It is insane ! I call it crack Chinese because I cannot get enough of it! I have a bunch of co workers hooked too. The moo goo gai pan is great....chicken cope suey with super fresh vegetables .. To die for. This is the most authentic Chinese I've ever had. I'm there three to four times a week!
(5)Nancy S.
I live nearby and have been to this restaurant many times. The food - good - always tasty and I can recommend the sweet and sour soup, tofu vegetables, pork and vegetables, beef and broccoli - never had a bad dish here. The service - better to do take-out than dine-in. They don't have a lot of help so you wait a long time. This might be a family business. I'm not sure. But if you call in your order, they have it ready fast.
(4)Ryan P.
I'm typically not a Chinese food eater, but my fiance loves it. This place is good overall. We do takeout, so I can't speak on eating in. The food is fresh and portions are very good. My only complaint is that it seems a bit overpriced but it's worth it. For a picky Chinese eater, I won't go anywhere else.
(5)Tucker O.
Best Chinese food in town, period. The food is always fresh, the dining room is always clean, the service is impeccable and the waitresses always pleasant. I really can't say enough about joyful! You'd think I was paid to write this review but truth is the food is just fantastic. At this point it's the only Chinese place I go. Whenever I get the chance I bring my friends and family; every person I've brought has loved it. Also extremely cheap prices which is crazy considering if they charged 400$ per Kung pow two Id still go there every week. Joyful is a go to place for any occasion. Much like a fine cigar joyful is relaxing and full of amazing flavor. So next time your thinking of enjoying a cigar on the balcony; think again. Think joyful.
(5)Eric B.
We've eaten here 3 times now and haven't been disappointed yet. We've tried their Kung Pao Beef, Egg Foo Young and their General Tsos which were all good.
(4)Sassy K.
After several months of trying to find good Chinese food, I was so happy to try this place last night. I stopped in for take out on my way home and within a few minutes, I was happily on my way with fresh, hot food. The veggie spring rolls were crisp and light. Kung pao beef was tasty, with tender slices of beef -- I would have liked it spicier so next time I'll ask, but it was good nonetheless. Chow mein and bok choy with mushrooms were both yummy. If you're in the area, this place is definitely worth trying.
(4)Haleye T.
Went there after reading the reviews with a hankering for some great Chinese food! I got take out and it took only about 10 minutes! So, Great selection of Asian cuisines including Chinese and Thai. Food is tasty and served right from the wok. The lunch combos were particularly good and an excellent value....highly recommended
(5)Tracy M.
I was being super lazy tonight and ordered grubhub delivery from joyful dining tonight. I was a little skeptical based on some other previous reviews, but live very close to the location and was interested in trying it anyways. I will tell you I ordered the crap puffs, crispy duck with fried rice and barbecue pork slices... They were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing! I was hesitant on the way I would have received my food, but when it was delivered to my location the duck and crab puffs were still crisp! And everything was still warm! They did an amazing job! Everything tasted fresh and had very good flavors I would honestly recommend this place to anyone and will come back again! This is the longest review I've ever made because I really felt like this please deserves it! :)
(5)Ben S.
The food here rocks. It's a mom-and-pop shop & they r really-really nice people. The only drawback is that there are no windows on the inside so take out is my favorite thing to do. Portion are healthy, taste is good and price rivals that of a meal at mcdonalds. Totally recommend!!
(5)Pickles C.
Nothing Joyful about it. Worst I've had in years. The restaurant is in a failing strip mall. No windows, dark and dingy and it smelled of Pine sol. Staff did not greet us with a smile ( I can't blame them, maybe too depressed). We went at lunchtime and the place was empty - save for one table. I ordered the Kung Pao as a safe bet. The chicken was hard and rubbery, the sauce was salty - tasted mostly like soy sauce. I thought maybe it was just me, so I took the rest home for my husband. He said it was "inedible". Then I told him where I went and he said "I could have told you that, that place is awful". My friend ordered the Shrimp in Lobster sauce, she said it was ok, but she would never go back. The egg rolls were soggy and greasy and the fried rice was non nondescript. I have no idea why anyone would give this place 5 stars! I know it's been around a while - maybe they are regulars.
(1)Chad P.
Went there for lunch.....YUCK! This is the worst "Chinese"I have had in a long time. I got the Hunan chicken and it was horrible. The chicken was chewy and hard. The sauce was salty and greasy. The egg roll was a mushy mess and tasted like it had been frozen. The service was not very good either. Either I have higher expectations of food than others that reviewed, or I might have caught them on a bad day.
(1)Leanna A.
Joyful is a great place to go for some good Chinese food. It's located in a small shopping center along with a dry cleaners, a gas station and a few other mom and pop places. Every time I go to Joyful I always enjoy my meals. I usually go for dinner and get their chow mien dinner special, which comes with chow mien (obviously), egg fried rice, a vegetable egg roll and two tempura shrimp. Their Joyful house chicken is also very delicious. It has just the right amount of batter on it, and is fried to crispy perfection. The Chinese food has never been sub par, and always tastes like its made to order. You can also hear the chefs in the back cooking your meal as the order is given to them, so no worries about freshness. They also serve Thai cuisine. I've had some of their curries, and although they are good, they're not the greatest Thai curries I've had. However, that being said, my rating for Joyful still stays at a four star, because it is a Chinese eatery, not a Thai joint. Probably the only downside to Joyful would be the interior seating, as it is very dated, dark and silent--except for the Asian television that the owners and employees sit down and watch in their down time. The service is alright, as the waitresses (I'm assuming they're all family) don't speak much English and seem to hover over your table as you're holding conversation. It's not terribly bothersome though. If you're looking for a quiet, moderately-priced place to get un-overdramatized Chinese food, joyful is the place to go.
(4)Tony S.
This has to be one of the worst restaurants in Scottsdale. The food is just pitiful. The service is OK as befitting a small neighborhood restaurant. We had egg rolls that were so dripping in oil that it was leaking out as you picked them up. Bright yellow oily drippings. Not cool. The kung pow was so-so as was the garlic chicken. The best part of the meal was the almond cookie! Even the fortune cookie was sub par. I will not be returning!
(1)Kristine F.
Once was quite enough for me! For those of you who have been eating Chinese in Scottsdale for many years, like I have, the location is the old Eddie Chans. I don't think "Joyful" has been cleaned since Eddie Chan left 20 years ago. If you like dark and gloomy with dirty bathrooms and cobwebs in the corners of the restaurant and on the fake plants, this is the spot! It is the Addams Family gone Asian! I don't know about other people, but if a place is dirty, especially the bathrooms, I don't want to eat there! Had I used the facilities first, I would not have stayed there to eat. Like my grandma used to say, "Soap is cheap". There really is no excuse for not dusting and cleaning a restaurant. I shudder to think what the kitchen looks like. The food is barely mediocre. Pass on this place!
(1)Corey M.
Good food. We have eaten here several times, always takeout. They get a little upset when you ask for lemon, but the food is good.
(4)Lauren H.
I was visiting Scottsdale for the holidays and was not willing to shell out a fortune for one of the hotel Christmas buffets, so I decided to go for Chinese. Because they were so crowded, I decided to get the food to-go. The cashier was quite friendly, but that can only get one so far. First off, despite my pleading that I definitely needed to get chopsticks or some utensils because I was staying in a hotel, and despite her repeated assurances...I get back to my room and of course no sticks, no fork, no napkin, nada. I had the hot and sour soup, it was alright. The crab puffs were actually pretty good. But the shrimp in lobster sauce did not taste very good and actually upset my stomach. If this is the best the area has to offer, remind me to skip the Chinese food if I come back to town.
(2)German S.
Very nice neighborhood restaurant. We had the tangerine chicken and the Kong Pau beef; both were flavorful and fresh. Neither was particularly spicy, so if that's your preference you might want to be specific about it when ordering. The vegetable spring rolls were also very well done and the service was attentive and pleasant. A good overall choice for a casual dinner with friends and family.
(4)Nitti L.
Went there on a Sunday evening, it wasn't busy because of the long weekend. We saw many regular customers who waitress knew what they like to order. Interior is nice, waitress are friendly, food is great. I won't say it's the best Chinese restaurant in town, but it's pretty good; we will go again. They are on the east side of Hayden; that shopping center is easy to miss. We missed it until GPS asked us to make a U turn.
(4)Lauren E.
We've been here multiple times now, but we stopped going a bit ago. I think we just thought that it was a bit grerasy? But I guess all Chinese can be greasy. Good food and good prices. Would go back if I was craving Chinese.
(3)Susan W.
Joyful Chinese not all that joyful for me. It's tough to find a traditional Chinese restaurant these days. Most everything is some sort of Asian fusion grill. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I like that too. But I was excited to find an "old school" Chinese restaurant near my house. We went to Joyful Chinese for dinner. It's a modest place, but a pretty nice atmosphere for a Chinese restaurant. We were happy to see that most of the tables were filled - usually a sign of good food. In the evenings, they offer a Dinner Special plate for a value price. There are about a dozen entrees to choose from and each platter comes with a small egg roll, two fried shrimp, egg fried rice, and then the entrée of your choice. I think it was about $10 or so. I ordered the Black Pepper Steak and I thought it was pretty good. My husband thought it was too spicy and not in a good way, just a bland heat. He ordered the Joyful House Chicken. The sauce was sickeningly sweet. Neither of us could finish it and that's saying something for the two of us "clean your plate" eaters. The vegetarian egg roll was just okay, the shrimp were a tad better. But overall, the food was sub-par and we won't be returning.
(3)Champagne B.
I have to say that I miss Eddie Chan's, which was in this location for about 25 years. The food is about the same, but the prices were better. Oh well, economy and all that. I've only had takeout from here. I feel like I'd be dishonoring Eddie Chan's memory by sitting down to eat. A bit better quality than you might expect from a hole-in-the wall joint in a creepy, half-deserted strip mall.
(3)Michelle F.
This is our favorite place for Chinese food in the valley! Everyone in our family loves it here, and that is saying something with 3 picky teenagers! We come here to eat about once a month and they always remember our order. One time my son came in with his friends and he couldn't remember what I order for him, and the server had to remind him ~ and she was spot on. We always start off with a large order of wonton soup for my kids and me. The broth is so delicious and they are very generous with the wontons and pork. My husband gets a bowl of hot and sour soup and loves how spicy it is. From there, we order fried wontons, Mongolian beef, the Joyful House Chicken, Moo Shu Chicken and Honey Walnut Shrimp. Everything s always tasty and the portions are very large (we always have leftovers). They are super friendly here and are very good about refilling the hot tea and rice bowl (my kids can't seem to get enough). I am craving the Moo Shu Chicken right now... We have been coming here for about 3 years and will continue to do so.
(5)Joe B.
This review isn't so much about the food as is it is about shady practices and lack of customer service. Being from NYC I'm very biased when it comes to Chinese food. Admittedly Joyful is better than all the other Chinese restaurants I've tried here in the Scottsdale. The shady practices come in when I placed an order to go. Total, $42.40. Seems there credit card "swipe" machine was broken and had to make an impression by hand. Ok, no problem.Order was filled I signed the receipt for the $42.40. Two days later I go to my bank to withdraw money and check balances. To my surprise Joyful took the liberty of charging me $742.40!! I'll cut to the chase. Joyful denied charging me this amount even as I showed them my bank statement and had them speak to an associate from BoFA. 5 days to clear up by stopping payment, filling out reams of paper work etc. A nightmare that could have been handled easily by Joyful by looking at the facts/checking them and refunding my 700.00. They've lost a customer. Unfortunate because it took me a year to find adequate Chinese here in AZ. The search begins anew.
(1)Jeremy P.
I like Chinese food. When I lived in San Francisco, I lived in the Inner Richmond (before it was run over by the Hiptards, when it was a fun Chinese neighborhood), and would go to various restaurants with a friend, Chinese, so we got taken care of all the time. Now in LA, it's more about Korean and Thai, but I still love my Chinese food. I flew in to see the parents, and we headed over to Joyful for dinner. The parents have been there a few times, and a friend of theirs is a NY'er who is fanatical about his Chinese food, and he goes once a week. Spoke to the wait staff, from Hong Kong and Macau via Vietnam and then Los Angeles. They have Cantonese and Mandarin style, as well as a few Thai and curry dishes. We ordered egg rolls, vegetable egg rolls, vegetable egg foo young, beef chow mein and chicken moo shu. All were amazingly good, and fresh. That's the key: really, really fresh. The chow mein noodles were homemade, nice and fresh. The beef was a nice quality, and thick pieces. The moo shu, for me, was the best. They hand roll the crepes in the back, coming out in tightly wound roll. The chicken and vegetables were nice and fresh, white meat. And the extra hoison sauce was perfect. And they give you almond cookies and fortune cookies at the end, which isn't really Chinese but who cares. :) All in all, it's a four and half star place. The fifth star, however, is to offset Lauren. Sorry you didn't get utensils, but really the food is much better than 2 stars. And, the hotel should have been able to supply you with fork, knife and spoon ... just tip the bell boy $2 and you would have been set.
(5)James F.
Came in for lunch at 2:25. Was told lunch special was only til 2:30, so we thought, "great we made it in just in time for lunch". Unfortunately they had decide to close lunch early this day so no soup and no fried rice. Makes me wonder if I am getting the old food. Overall the food was good but nothing special. I would gave given them 4 stars but I was disappointed with the lunch, I would have loved some soup.
(2)Angela N.
From the get-go we liked this place. The fried dumplings were wonderful and crispy on one side and lovely and soft on the other and the dumpling sauce was amazing and just spicy enough. My husband refused to let it go and finished it over the course of our meal! On this, our first trip, we had Tangerine Beef and the Crispy duck. The tangerine beef sauce was sweet and a bit tangy with a touch of spice and the beef was crispy and very tasty. The duck was amazing. The tastes were multilayered and well balanced and the crispy coating was salty and peppery and almost buttery under it all. Together it created a very complex savory and sweet dish with a kick of spice at the tail end. The flavors in the duck were very reminiscent of Cantonese food in Shanghai...this is the first time I can say this about a restaurant in the states that isn't located in a Chinatown. The wait staff was friendly and very helpful, welcoming us back and giving information on some local Asian markets as we left. I highly recommend this place!
(4)hilary c.
I really like this place and try to stop in whenever I'm in the area. Food is always good and so is the service. Had the wor wonton soup for the first time and I loved it! It had chicken shrimp and wontons plus cabbage, zucchini and snap peas in a hearty broth. This is my favorite Chinese place around. I only wish I lived closer to it! I also had the lunch special beef and vegetables but got it with chicken instead. Amazing! Just what I had hoped for! Delicious chicken with mushrooms, bok Chou, snap peas and more in a tasty brown sauce. So good I want to come back for dinner!
(5)Cecilea M.
It is difficult to find good Chinese food in the Tempe/Scottsdale area. With that said, in comparison to the various Chinese places in the Tempe/Scottsdale area, the quality and taste of the food here is pretty good for the price. It is more expensive than ACE (which I am a fan of because it is decently good food for a really cheap price), but the quality is also better too. This would be my go to place for Chinese take-out if not for the location. :(
(4)Johnson M.
This place is GREAT! So when I first started going here I scored and found a dish that was absolutely amazing... Hunan Spicy Two. I literally ordered this dish every single time I went under the thought that the dish was so delicious there was no way anything could match it. By suggestion of the owner, I began to branch out and I gotta say, every dish is better than the last... like they just keep getting better. Their sauces are spot on and amazing. Absolute perfection every time. I'm a big fan of sauces in Chinese cooking and their dishes are made saucy and not dry.... so good. It's a restaurant with no windows and the inside isn't totally chic, but it's no-nonsense mostly Cantonese style Chinese food with a hint of Thai. Give it a shot. *Note: Credit cards are accepted for $10 or more.
(4)Terry M.
This is my families take out of choice. I have never eaten inside so can't comment on the dining room service but have always had a great experience with the food.
(5)Casey K.
First (and last) time at Joyful. On the positive side, they are friendly, the service is good, the place is clean and it's also relatively nice for a strip mall Chinese restaurant. On the downside, which is the most important factor, the food is mediocre, at best. Actually, I take that back. It's pretty bad. 2 stars for the above mentioned pluses, but zero stars for the food. War wonton was the smallest "large" portion I've ever seen. No pork present and it only had 2 strips of chicken, (processed and rubbery) 2 whole wontons and 1 broken piece of a third. Never had this few wontons in a large serving and never saw such a small bowl. Taste was okay, portion and "stuff" in it, was minimal. Other items well priced and large portions, but wasn't interested in eating them, so it didn't matter. Sweet and sour sauce too sour and too thin. I am surprised at all the positive comments, but then I noticed they are rather old, so maybe things have changed since. Wish it was better, cuz the location is perfect, the price is right and they seem to be nice people. I'll take Golden Wok over this any day.
(2)Laura M.
Been more than a bit busy as of late and haven't done any reviewing. (Although I do admit I've been using Yelp (as always) for my viewing pleasure-- just haven't been giving anything back.) However... last night's takeout dinner from Joyful Chinese was so good, I had to take a moment to post a review. I must do everything I can to ensure that others frequent this establishment, so I will continue to have my much needed Chinese fix met. I admit it, I am addicted to Asian food. I love it all--sushi, dim sum, Thai, Vietnamese, etc., etc.-- but none more than just good old-fashioned Chinese takeout. I MUST have it once a week, or I begin to have serious withdrawal symptoms. When I lived further North in Scottsdale, we used to alternate between Flo's and Shanghai Club weekly. Flo's, while a bit out of the realm of usual Chinese, is always delicious and Shanghai Club was (IMO) the epitome of really good, traditional Chinese fare. However, these days, Flo's is too far to be convenient and alas, Harry finally succumbed to the pressures of the economy, and it seems as if Shanghai Club is no more. (I almost cried when I discovered they had closed-- I'd been eating there since it opened (as Royal China) in 1992.) Since the loss of my favorite place, hubby, son and myself have been searching (in vain until now) for a suitable replacement. We have tried--literally-- just about every Chinese restaurant within miles of our home. Most have been absolutely AWFUL, and a couple have been okay, but not worthy of a weekly repeat. Finally(!!) last night was a winner!! Joyful Chinese was voted by all three of us as delicious and near perfect on all dishes!! First off, we had the Hot and Sour soup. This is the dish by which we tend to judge all Chinese restaurants. (Flo's is a bit nontraditional with undertones of Cilantro but oh so good, and Shanghai Club's was perfect in every way!) Most of the places we have tried as of late can not make a good Hot and Sour if you paid them-- which we did!! The usual mistakes include too dark, too cloying, too peppery hot and not depth of flavor hot, too bland, and so on, and so on. When we picked up our box of food last night, Jacob almost yipped with glee when he saw the color of the H&S through it's container; it looked perfect!! And the flavor lived up to its color. The soup was hot (but not peppery); it was sour. The taste was full-bodied but not at all cloying, and it was filled with the correct amount of egg, tofu, shrimp and other goodies. All in all it was delicious!! In addition to the soup, we had pot-stickers, Black Pepper Beef, Yui-Shan Pork and Curry Chicken (minus the potatoes-- I don't really like them and besides, who needs the added carbs!). Everything was wonderful!! The pot-stickers were as good as Angela N. described in her review back in April-- "wonderful and crispy on one side and lovely and soft on the other and the dumpling sauce was amazing and just spicy enough." The main dishes were all delicious and (as they should be) each unique in its flavor. (Sooo many of the places we have tried recently seem to make every dish taste almost exactly the same--yuck!) The beef was tender and flavorful with the perfect amount of pepper and spice. It had an excellent balance of green peppers, onions and mushrooms but still more beef than anything. The pork was perfectly spicy and pungent and it had all the appropriate julienned veggies (carrots, celery, etc.) that help make Yui-Shan one of my favorite dishes. Finally, the curry chicken was full of flavor, spicy but not killer hot and just the right amount of coconut milk to make the sauce thick and rich but not goopy or cloying. I can honestly say that I liked all three of these main dishes equally. And when I asked the hubby which one(s) he'd like to take, as leftovers, for lunch today, he stated that they were all so great I could choose my pick first. That's high praise from him!! (For the record, I gave him the beef, I took the curry and I saved the leftover Yui Shan to eat cold (yum!) for breakfast one morning. I know it sounds weird, but try it; it's delish!!) Wellll... this review got a bit long. But I needed you to understand just how important it is that you try Joyful Chinese (and send everyone else you know there too). They've been open for 4 years, according to the very nice lady who took our order, and only 4 people have reviewed them. Trust me; go there, and then write a review. We need to keep great-tasting, traditional Chinese places like this around. There are far too many mediocre ones taking over!! p.s. As a side note-- if my memory serves me, this is the location that years ago used to be Eddie Chan's when he and Flo were still married. So the place has been there forever (even though the center is mostly dead), and it still looks like I remember it from when I was a kid, and my parents used to take us here weekly. Now you know where my addiction started.
(5)John C.
Forget the Big Chain Chinese Restaurants; this is by far the BEST Chinese restaurant in the Valley serving Outstanding FRESH food with friendly warm welcoming service. Don't miss this one.
(5)Sarah P.
Hands down the worst service I have ever received! The server was extremely combative and rude. There was a group of us dinning and we had asked to be put on separate checks which of course didn't happen. We gave cash for two people and cards for the other two. When the server came back she had only on card and cash for only one persons change. When my friend asked for her change the server came back with the wrong amount. When my friend called her back to our table the server very rudely asked "what exactly it was we wanted of her" my friend politely told her she wanted her correct change and that she still owed our other friend his card. She walked away mumbling under she breath something about being too busy for this kind of crap. All the server had to do was apologies nut instead they became combative and rude. I'm sorry but no place should be too busy to provide quality customer service! I would give this place zero stars if I could.
(1)A B.
BEst Chinese in AZ!!! Three flavor golden noodles are absolutely delicious and can be made vegetarian! Broccoli beef is so yummy beef is tender!
(5)Cactus P.
The office eats here for lunch once a week. The lunch speicals gets you out of the place for $10 or less. They have some Thai dishes too which adds to the variety. The meals are tasty and large and we waddle out and usally need a nap when we get back to work. The folks are friendy so we cant help but come back over and over and over agian.
(5)Leanna A.
Joyful is a great place to go for some good Chinese food. It's located in a small shopping center along with a dry cleaners, a gas station and a few other mom and pop places. Every time I go to Joyful I always enjoy my meals. I usually go for dinner and get their chow mien dinner special, which comes with chow mien (obviously), egg fried rice, a vegetable egg roll and two tempura shrimp. Their Joyful house chicken is also very delicious. It has just the right amount of batter on it, and is fried to crispy perfection. The Chinese food has never been sub par, and always tastes like its made to order. You can also hear the chefs in the back cooking your meal as the order is given to them, so no worries about freshness. They also serve Thai cuisine. I've had some of their curries, and although they are good, they're not the greatest Thai curries I've had. However, that being said, my rating for Joyful still stays at a four star, because it is a Chinese eatery, not a Thai joint. Probably the only downside to Joyful would be the interior seating, as it is very dated, dark and silent--except for the Asian television that the owners and employees sit down and watch in their down time. The service is alright, as the waitresses (I'm assuming they're all family) don't speak much English and seem to hover over your table as you're holding conversation. It's not terribly bothersome though. If you're looking for a quiet, moderately-priced place to get un-overdramatized Chinese food, joyful is the place to go.
(4)Kris R.
My daughter and I ordered take out only on a few occasions, each time wishing it would rise to the level of our native San Francisco favorites. Alas, it did not, and perhaps that is an unfair comparison. Bottom line, on the 3 times we ordered to go, the orders were incorrect when we arrived home. The food seems to be fresh, but the preparations are not consistent, nor are they authentic Chinese. Bland and Scottsdalian. I suppose the great reviews here, may be warranted my Mid-western snow birds who don't know better. I am not sure great Chinese food exists in Scottsdale.
(3)Ben S.
The food here rocks. It's a mom-and-pop shop & they r really-really nice people. The only drawback is that there are no windows on the inside so take out is my favorite thing to do. Portion are healthy, taste is good and price rivals that of a meal at mcdonalds. Totally recommend!!
(5)Tony S.
This has to be one of the worst restaurants in Scottsdale. The food is just pitiful. The service is OK as befitting a small neighborhood restaurant. We had egg rolls that were so dripping in oil that it was leaking out as you picked them up. Bright yellow oily drippings. Not cool. The kung pow was so-so as was the garlic chicken. The best part of the meal was the almond cookie! Even the fortune cookie was sub par. I will not be returning!
(1)Kristine F.
Once was quite enough for me! For those of you who have been eating Chinese in Scottsdale for many years, like I have, the location is the old Eddie Chans. I don't think "Joyful" has been cleaned since Eddie Chan left 20 years ago. If you like dark and gloomy with dirty bathrooms and cobwebs in the corners of the restaurant and on the fake plants, this is the spot! It is the Addams Family gone Asian! I don't know about other people, but if a place is dirty, especially the bathrooms, I don't want to eat there! Had I used the facilities first, I would not have stayed there to eat. Like my grandma used to say, "Soap is cheap". There really is no excuse for not dusting and cleaning a restaurant. I shudder to think what the kitchen looks like. The food is barely mediocre. Pass on this place!
(1)Corey M.
Good food. We have eaten here several times, always takeout. They get a little upset when you ask for lemon, but the food is good.
(4)Lauren H.
I was visiting Scottsdale for the holidays and was not willing to shell out a fortune for one of the hotel Christmas buffets, so I decided to go for Chinese. Because they were so crowded, I decided to get the food to-go. The cashier was quite friendly, but that can only get one so far. First off, despite my pleading that I definitely needed to get chopsticks or some utensils because I was staying in a hotel, and despite her repeated assurances...I get back to my room and of course no sticks, no fork, no napkin, nada. I had the hot and sour soup, it was alright. The crab puffs were actually pretty good. But the shrimp in lobster sauce did not taste very good and actually upset my stomach. If this is the best the area has to offer, remind me to skip the Chinese food if I come back to town.
(2)German S.
Very nice neighborhood restaurant. We had the tangerine chicken and the Kong Pau beef; both were flavorful and fresh. Neither was particularly spicy, so if that's your preference you might want to be specific about it when ordering. The vegetable spring rolls were also very well done and the service was attentive and pleasant. A good overall choice for a casual dinner with friends and family.
(4)Nitti L.
Went there on a Sunday evening, it wasn't busy because of the long weekend. We saw many regular customers who waitress knew what they like to order. Interior is nice, waitress are friendly, food is great. I won't say it's the best Chinese restaurant in town, but it's pretty good; we will go again. They are on the east side of Hayden; that shopping center is easy to miss. We missed it until GPS asked us to make a U turn.
(4)Lauren E.
We've been here multiple times now, but we stopped going a bit ago. I think we just thought that it was a bit grerasy? But I guess all Chinese can be greasy. Good food and good prices. Would go back if I was craving Chinese.
(3)Susan W.
Joyful Chinese not all that joyful for me. It's tough to find a traditional Chinese restaurant these days. Most everything is some sort of Asian fusion grill. Not that there's anything wrong with that, I like that too. But I was excited to find an "old school" Chinese restaurant near my house. We went to Joyful Chinese for dinner. It's a modest place, but a pretty nice atmosphere for a Chinese restaurant. We were happy to see that most of the tables were filled - usually a sign of good food. In the evenings, they offer a Dinner Special plate for a value price. There are about a dozen entrees to choose from and each platter comes with a small egg roll, two fried shrimp, egg fried rice, and then the entrée of your choice. I think it was about $10 or so. I ordered the Black Pepper Steak and I thought it was pretty good. My husband thought it was too spicy and not in a good way, just a bland heat. He ordered the Joyful House Chicken. The sauce was sickeningly sweet. Neither of us could finish it and that's saying something for the two of us "clean your plate" eaters. The vegetarian egg roll was just okay, the shrimp were a tad better. But overall, the food was sub-par and we won't be returning.
(3)Champagne B.
I have to say that I miss Eddie Chan's, which was in this location for about 25 years. The food is about the same, but the prices were better. Oh well, economy and all that. I've only had takeout from here. I feel like I'd be dishonoring Eddie Chan's memory by sitting down to eat. A bit better quality than you might expect from a hole-in-the wall joint in a creepy, half-deserted strip mall.
(3)Michelle F.
This is our favorite place for Chinese food in the valley! Everyone in our family loves it here, and that is saying something with 3 picky teenagers! We come here to eat about once a month and they always remember our order. One time my son came in with his friends and he couldn't remember what I order for him, and the server had to remind him ~ and she was spot on. We always start off with a large order of wonton soup for my kids and me. The broth is so delicious and they are very generous with the wontons and pork. My husband gets a bowl of hot and sour soup and loves how spicy it is. From there, we order fried wontons, Mongolian beef, the Joyful House Chicken, Moo Shu Chicken and Honey Walnut Shrimp. Everything s always tasty and the portions are very large (we always have leftovers). They are super friendly here and are very good about refilling the hot tea and rice bowl (my kids can't seem to get enough). I am craving the Moo Shu Chicken right now... We have been coming here for about 3 years and will continue to do so.
(5)Joe B.
This review isn't so much about the food as is it is about shady practices and lack of customer service. Being from NYC I'm very biased when it comes to Chinese food. Admittedly Joyful is better than all the other Chinese restaurants I've tried here in the Scottsdale. The shady practices come in when I placed an order to go. Total, $42.40. Seems there credit card "swipe" machine was broken and had to make an impression by hand. Ok, no problem.Order was filled I signed the receipt for the $42.40. Two days later I go to my bank to withdraw money and check balances. To my surprise Joyful took the liberty of charging me $742.40!! I'll cut to the chase. Joyful denied charging me this amount even as I showed them my bank statement and had them speak to an associate from BoFA. 5 days to clear up by stopping payment, filling out reams of paper work etc. A nightmare that could have been handled easily by Joyful by looking at the facts/checking them and refunding my 700.00. They've lost a customer. Unfortunate because it took me a year to find adequate Chinese here in AZ. The search begins anew.
(1)Jeremy P.
I like Chinese food. When I lived in San Francisco, I lived in the Inner Richmond (before it was run over by the Hiptards, when it was a fun Chinese neighborhood), and would go to various restaurants with a friend, Chinese, so we got taken care of all the time. Now in LA, it's more about Korean and Thai, but I still love my Chinese food. I flew in to see the parents, and we headed over to Joyful for dinner. The parents have been there a few times, and a friend of theirs is a NY'er who is fanatical about his Chinese food, and he goes once a week. Spoke to the wait staff, from Hong Kong and Macau via Vietnam and then Los Angeles. They have Cantonese and Mandarin style, as well as a few Thai and curry dishes. We ordered egg rolls, vegetable egg rolls, vegetable egg foo young, beef chow mein and chicken moo shu. All were amazingly good, and fresh. That's the key: really, really fresh. The chow mein noodles were homemade, nice and fresh. The beef was a nice quality, and thick pieces. The moo shu, for me, was the best. They hand roll the crepes in the back, coming out in tightly wound roll. The chicken and vegetables were nice and fresh, white meat. And the extra hoison sauce was perfect. And they give you almond cookies and fortune cookies at the end, which isn't really Chinese but who cares. :) All in all, it's a four and half star place. The fifth star, however, is to offset Lauren. Sorry you didn't get utensils, but really the food is much better than 2 stars. And, the hotel should have been able to supply you with fork, knife and spoon ... just tip the bell boy $2 and you would have been set.
(5)James F.
Came in for lunch at 2:25. Was told lunch special was only til 2:30, so we thought, "great we made it in just in time for lunch". Unfortunately they had decide to close lunch early this day so no soup and no fried rice. Makes me wonder if I am getting the old food. Overall the food was good but nothing special. I would gave given them 4 stars but I was disappointed with the lunch, I would have loved some soup.
(2)Angela N.
From the get-go we liked this place. The fried dumplings were wonderful and crispy on one side and lovely and soft on the other and the dumpling sauce was amazing and just spicy enough. My husband refused to let it go and finished it over the course of our meal! On this, our first trip, we had Tangerine Beef and the Crispy duck. The tangerine beef sauce was sweet and a bit tangy with a touch of spice and the beef was crispy and very tasty. The duck was amazing. The tastes were multilayered and well balanced and the crispy coating was salty and peppery and almost buttery under it all. Together it created a very complex savory and sweet dish with a kick of spice at the tail end. The flavors in the duck were very reminiscent of Cantonese food in Shanghai...this is the first time I can say this about a restaurant in the states that isn't located in a Chinatown. The wait staff was friendly and very helpful, welcoming us back and giving information on some local Asian markets as we left. I highly recommend this place!
(4)hilary c.
I really like this place and try to stop in whenever I'm in the area. Food is always good and so is the service. Had the wor wonton soup for the first time and I loved it! It had chicken shrimp and wontons plus cabbage, zucchini and snap peas in a hearty broth. This is my favorite Chinese place around. I only wish I lived closer to it! I also had the lunch special beef and vegetables but got it with chicken instead. Amazing! Just what I had hoped for! Delicious chicken with mushrooms, bok Chou, snap peas and more in a tasty brown sauce. So good I want to come back for dinner!
(5)Cecilea M.
It is difficult to find good Chinese food in the Tempe/Scottsdale area. With that said, in comparison to the various Chinese places in the Tempe/Scottsdale area, the quality and taste of the food here is pretty good for the price. It is more expensive than ACE (which I am a fan of because it is decently good food for a really cheap price), but the quality is also better too. This would be my go to place for Chinese take-out if not for the location. :(
(4)Johnson M.
This place is GREAT! So when I first started going here I scored and found a dish that was absolutely amazing... Hunan Spicy Two. I literally ordered this dish every single time I went under the thought that the dish was so delicious there was no way anything could match it. By suggestion of the owner, I began to branch out and I gotta say, every dish is better than the last... like they just keep getting better. Their sauces are spot on and amazing. Absolute perfection every time. I'm a big fan of sauces in Chinese cooking and their dishes are made saucy and not dry.... so good. It's a restaurant with no windows and the inside isn't totally chic, but it's no-nonsense mostly Cantonese style Chinese food with a hint of Thai. Give it a shot. *Note: Credit cards are accepted for $10 or more.
(4)Terry M.
This is my families take out of choice. I have never eaten inside so can't comment on the dining room service but have always had a great experience with the food.
(5)Casey K.
First (and last) time at Joyful. On the positive side, they are friendly, the service is good, the place is clean and it's also relatively nice for a strip mall Chinese restaurant. On the downside, which is the most important factor, the food is mediocre, at best. Actually, I take that back. It's pretty bad. 2 stars for the above mentioned pluses, but zero stars for the food. War wonton was the smallest "large" portion I've ever seen. No pork present and it only had 2 strips of chicken, (processed and rubbery) 2 whole wontons and 1 broken piece of a third. Never had this few wontons in a large serving and never saw such a small bowl. Taste was okay, portion and "stuff" in it, was minimal. Other items well priced and large portions, but wasn't interested in eating them, so it didn't matter. Sweet and sour sauce too sour and too thin. I am surprised at all the positive comments, but then I noticed they are rather old, so maybe things have changed since. Wish it was better, cuz the location is perfect, the price is right and they seem to be nice people. I'll take Golden Wok over this any day.
(2)Laura M.
Been more than a bit busy as of late and haven't done any reviewing. (Although I do admit I've been using Yelp (as always) for my viewing pleasure-- just haven't been giving anything back.) However... last night's takeout dinner from Joyful Chinese was so good, I had to take a moment to post a review. I must do everything I can to ensure that others frequent this establishment, so I will continue to have my much needed Chinese fix met. I admit it, I am addicted to Asian food. I love it all--sushi, dim sum, Thai, Vietnamese, etc., etc.-- but none more than just good old-fashioned Chinese takeout. I MUST have it once a week, or I begin to have serious withdrawal symptoms. When I lived further North in Scottsdale, we used to alternate between Flo's and Shanghai Club weekly. Flo's, while a bit out of the realm of usual Chinese, is always delicious and Shanghai Club was (IMO) the epitome of really good, traditional Chinese fare. However, these days, Flo's is too far to be convenient and alas, Harry finally succumbed to the pressures of the economy, and it seems as if Shanghai Club is no more. (I almost cried when I discovered they had closed-- I'd been eating there since it opened (as Royal China) in 1992.) Since the loss of my favorite place, hubby, son and myself have been searching (in vain until now) for a suitable replacement. We have tried--literally-- just about every Chinese restaurant within miles of our home. Most have been absolutely AWFUL, and a couple have been okay, but not worthy of a weekly repeat. Finally(!!) last night was a winner!! Joyful Chinese was voted by all three of us as delicious and near perfect on all dishes!! First off, we had the Hot and Sour soup. This is the dish by which we tend to judge all Chinese restaurants. (Flo's is a bit nontraditional with undertones of Cilantro but oh so good, and Shanghai Club's was perfect in every way!) Most of the places we have tried as of late can not make a good Hot and Sour if you paid them-- which we did!! The usual mistakes include too dark, too cloying, too peppery hot and not depth of flavor hot, too bland, and so on, and so on. When we picked up our box of food last night, Jacob almost yipped with glee when he saw the color of the H&S through it's container; it looked perfect!! And the flavor lived up to its color. The soup was hot (but not peppery); it was sour. The taste was full-bodied but not at all cloying, and it was filled with the correct amount of egg, tofu, shrimp and other goodies. All in all it was delicious!! In addition to the soup, we had pot-stickers, Black Pepper Beef, Yui-Shan Pork and Curry Chicken (minus the potatoes-- I don't really like them and besides, who needs the added carbs!). Everything was wonderful!! The pot-stickers were as good as Angela N. described in her review back in April-- "wonderful and crispy on one side and lovely and soft on the other and the dumpling sauce was amazing and just spicy enough." The main dishes were all delicious and (as they should be) each unique in its flavor. (Sooo many of the places we have tried recently seem to make every dish taste almost exactly the same--yuck!) The beef was tender and flavorful with the perfect amount of pepper and spice. It had an excellent balance of green peppers, onions and mushrooms but still more beef than anything. The pork was perfectly spicy and pungent and it had all the appropriate julienned veggies (carrots, celery, etc.) that help make Yui-Shan one of my favorite dishes. Finally, the curry chicken was full of flavor, spicy but not killer hot and just the right amount of coconut milk to make the sauce thick and rich but not goopy or cloying. I can honestly say that I liked all three of these main dishes equally. And when I asked the hubby which one(s) he'd like to take, as leftovers, for lunch today, he stated that they were all so great I could choose my pick first. That's high praise from him!! (For the record, I gave him the beef, I took the curry and I saved the leftover Yui Shan to eat cold (yum!) for breakfast one morning. I know it sounds weird, but try it; it's delish!!) Wellll... this review got a bit long. But I needed you to understand just how important it is that you try Joyful Chinese (and send everyone else you know there too). They've been open for 4 years, according to the very nice lady who took our order, and only 4 people have reviewed them. Trust me; go there, and then write a review. We need to keep great-tasting, traditional Chinese places like this around. There are far too many mediocre ones taking over!! p.s. As a side note-- if my memory serves me, this is the location that years ago used to be Eddie Chan's when he and Flo were still married. So the place has been there forever (even though the center is mostly dead), and it still looks like I remember it from when I was a kid, and my parents used to take us here weekly. Now you know where my addiction started.
(5)John C.
Forget the Big Chain Chinese Restaurants; this is by far the BEST Chinese restaurant in the Valley serving Outstanding FRESH food with friendly warm welcoming service. Don't miss this one.
(5)Sarah P.
Hands down the worst service I have ever received! The server was extremely combative and rude. There was a group of us dinning and we had asked to be put on separate checks which of course didn't happen. We gave cash for two people and cards for the other two. When the server came back she had only on card and cash for only one persons change. When my friend asked for her change the server came back with the wrong amount. When my friend called her back to our table the server very rudely asked "what exactly it was we wanted of her" my friend politely told her she wanted her correct change and that she still owed our other friend his card. She walked away mumbling under she breath something about being too busy for this kind of crap. All the server had to do was apologies nut instead they became combative and rude. I'm sorry but no place should be too busy to provide quality customer service! I would give this place zero stars if I could.
(1)A B.
BEst Chinese in AZ!!! Three flavor golden noodles are absolutely delicious and can be made vegetarian! Broccoli beef is so yummy beef is tender!
(5)Cactus P.
The office eats here for lunch once a week. The lunch speicals gets you out of the place for $10 or less. They have some Thai dishes too which adds to the variety. The meals are tasty and large and we waddle out and usally need a nap when we get back to work. The folks are friendy so we cant help but come back over and over and over agian.
(5)Shira M.
Love the shrimp and lobster sauce. Shrimp stuffed Eggplant so good. The moo shoo pork was flavorful with crisp veggies and yummy crepes. Combo fried rice was really tasty.
(4)Myrna C.
Delicious! ! Clean restaurant. Traditional atmosphere. The staff is exceptional with sevice and wonderfully pleasant. Food is light...not heavy or oily. Chow mein.....delightful! Thank you for a wonderful meal.
(5)Sam M.
Without a doubt the best 10 dollars I've spent on food, great portions to price ratio and excellent food quality, I will continue being a regular
(5)Michelle P.
What can I say? My sister told me about this place and I wasn't sure as it's located in a nondescript strip mall shopping center. Don't let that fool you or the modest decor. It is insane ! I call it crack Chinese because I cannot get enough of it! I have a bunch of co workers hooked too. The moo goo gai pan is great....chicken cope suey with super fresh vegetables .. To die for. This is the most authentic Chinese I've ever had. I'm there three to four times a week!
(5)Nancy S.
I live nearby and have been to this restaurant many times. The food - good - always tasty and I can recommend the sweet and sour soup, tofu vegetables, pork and vegetables, beef and broccoli - never had a bad dish here. The service - better to do take-out than dine-in. They don't have a lot of help so you wait a long time. This might be a family business. I'm not sure. But if you call in your order, they have it ready fast.
(4)Tucker O.
Best Chinese food in town, period. The food is always fresh, the dining room is always clean, the service is impeccable and the waitresses always pleasant. I really can't say enough about joyful! You'd think I was paid to write this review but truth is the food is just fantastic. At this point it's the only Chinese place I go. Whenever I get the chance I bring my friends and family; every person I've brought has loved it. Also extremely cheap prices which is crazy considering if they charged 400$ per Kung pow two Id still go there every week. Joyful is a go to place for any occasion. Much like a fine cigar joyful is relaxing and full of amazing flavor. So next time your thinking of enjoying a cigar on the balcony; think again. Think joyful.
(5)Eric B.
We've eaten here 3 times now and haven't been disappointed yet. We've tried their Kung Pao Beef, Egg Foo Young and their General Tsos which were all good.
(4)Sassy K.
After several months of trying to find good Chinese food, I was so happy to try this place last night. I stopped in for take out on my way home and within a few minutes, I was happily on my way with fresh, hot food. The veggie spring rolls were crisp and light. Kung pao beef was tasty, with tender slices of beef -- I would have liked it spicier so next time I'll ask, but it was good nonetheless. Chow mein and bok choy with mushrooms were both yummy. If you're in the area, this place is definitely worth trying.
(4)Haleye T.
Went there after reading the reviews with a hankering for some great Chinese food! I got take out and it took only about 10 minutes! So, Great selection of Asian cuisines including Chinese and Thai. Food is tasty and served right from the wok. The lunch combos were particularly good and an excellent value....highly recommended
(5)Tracy M.
I was being super lazy tonight and ordered grubhub delivery from joyful dining tonight. I was a little skeptical based on some other previous reviews, but live very close to the location and was interested in trying it anyways. I will tell you I ordered the crap puffs, crispy duck with fried rice and barbecue pork slices... They were cooked perfectly and tasted amazing! I was hesitant on the way I would have received my food, but when it was delivered to my location the duck and crab puffs were still crisp! And everything was still warm! They did an amazing job! Everything tasted fresh and had very good flavors I would honestly recommend this place to anyone and will come back again! This is the longest review I've ever made because I really felt like this please deserves it! :)
(5)Ryan P.
I'm typically not a Chinese food eater, but my fiance loves it. This place is good overall. We do takeout, so I can't speak on eating in. The food is fresh and portions are very good. My only complaint is that it seems a bit overpriced but it's worth it. For a picky Chinese eater, I won't go anywhere else.
(5)Pickles C.
Nothing Joyful about it. Worst I've had in years. The restaurant is in a failing strip mall. No windows, dark and dingy and it smelled of Pine sol. Staff did not greet us with a smile ( I can't blame them, maybe too depressed). We went at lunchtime and the place was empty - save for one table. I ordered the Kung Pao as a safe bet. The chicken was hard and rubbery, the sauce was salty - tasted mostly like soy sauce. I thought maybe it was just me, so I took the rest home for my husband. He said it was "inedible". Then I told him where I went and he said "I could have told you that, that place is awful". My friend ordered the Shrimp in Lobster sauce, she said it was ok, but she would never go back. The egg rolls were soggy and greasy and the fried rice was non nondescript. I have no idea why anyone would give this place 5 stars! I know it's been around a while - maybe they are regulars.
(1)Chad P.
Went there for lunch.....YUCK! This is the worst "Chinese"I have had in a long time. I got the Hunan chicken and it was horrible. The chicken was chewy and hard. The sauce was salty and greasy. The egg roll was a mushy mess and tasted like it had been frozen. The service was not very good either. Either I have higher expectations of food than others that reviewed, or I might have caught them on a bad day.
(1)