Joy Luck House

A cozy little gem in the heart of DC! I dropped by Joy Luck House for a quick lunch and was pleasantly surprised. I ordered the Chicken Fried Rice, Pad Thai with Chicken, and a set of Steamed Pork Dumplings. Everything came out fresh, hot, and flavorful. The fried rice had that perfect smoky “wok hei” flavor, and they didn’t skimp on the chicken. The Pad Thai was tangy and just slightly sweet—super satisfying for a noodle craving. The dumplings were soft and juicy with a well-seasoned pork filling. Service was fast and friendly. I arrived right when they opened at 10:30am, and by 11:00am, the place was already packed! It’s clearly a local go-to spot, especially for lunch. Seating is limited, so I recommend coming early if you want to avoid a wait. This isn’t a fancy restaurant, but that’s part of the charm—simple, fast, no-nonsense Chinese comfort food done right. Closed on Mondays, so plan ahead if you’re in town. I’ll definitely be coming back to try more from their lunch specials.

I wouldn't recommend dining in, but this a solid Chinese takeout for reliable and moderately priced standard dishes. Tonight I had steamed shrimp dumplings, scallion pancakes and wonton soup - all for $20, which is a good value for the neighborhood. The shrimp dumplings were fresh and the soup was warm and soothing. Scallion pancakes were meh, but considering the price it's a nice 8-piece portion to fill you up on a chilly evening.

While the restaurant is small, and right off of the busy road. It offered a cozy and welcoming atoatmosphere. The lady behind the counter was friendly and helpful with our orders. The food was really tasty and was prepared to order. The steamed soup buns were sooooo good and I had to get a second order before leaving our meal. The chicken in garlic sauce was really flavorful and was something I would get again. The Beef Szechuan was alright but I would probably choose something else next time as it wasn't as flavorful as everything else. All around great section for the evening.

We stopped by here to buy some sesame balls and moon cakes. They have moon cakes in various flavors, from red bean to pineapple to taro and dates. We weren’t hungry enough for a full meal, otherwise we would have tried more of the food, but the pastries are well worth the visit!

Great $12 lunch and soda special. Enough room to sit in restaurant comfortably. Great food. Nothing too fancy, but a step up from typical Chinese in America food. So hot and fresh too!

The food in this small place was very good. The dining room was neat and cozy. The service was excellent. Although you must order at the kitchen counter, a waitress will bring the meal to your table. The food was served in disposable carry out bowls and plates, but it tasted fine, regardless.

I love the food and the decorations! It has a great experience with quality food and I’m impressed by the authentic flavors and vegetables.

ROACH!!! We placed a bulk order for a corporate lunch and a colleague found a roach in the beef and broccoli. The store manager said, "what do you want us to do about it." Unprofessional and unsanitary this ROACH is marinated and glistening, and the store is still pushing out batches of this beef and broccoli. DC BEWARE!

Ah, the Joy Luck House in Washington, DC - where every bite is a delightful dance of flavors! Let me regale you with my recent culinary escapade at this restaurant gem. Upon perusing the menu, my eyes locked onto the Sweet and Sour Pork like a moth to a flame. The crispy goodness of the pork paired with that tangy sauce was a match made in foodie heaven! Each bite was a symphony of textures and tastes, leaving me craving more long after the plate was empty. And let's not forget the Roast Pork fried rice - a dish so comforting and satisfying that it could make even the grumpiest of food critics smile. The savory roast pork mingling with the fluffy rice created a party in my mouth that I never wanted to end. The ambiance at Joy Luck House is as warm and inviting as the flavors they serve. The staff exudes hospitality and charm, making you feel like a cherished guest in their culinary abode. It's the kind of place where you come for the food but stay for the beautiful dining experience. In conclusion, if you find yourself in Washington, DC, needing a culinary adventure that will tantalize your taste buds and warm your soul, look no further than Joy Luck House. Trust me, your palate will thank you. Your heart will be forever grateful for the joy this place brings. Bon appétit!`

The food came out quickly and it was so good. It was so affordable as well and right in the middle of gallery place. Hope to make it back on a less hot day!

We ordered takeout, although eating in would've been a fine option as well! Easy to overlook because of its 'hole in the wall' vibe, but in my opinion, well worth the visit and price. Absolutely LOVED this food, all was delicious. We ordered a beef dish that was advertised on a photo outside the restaurant and that really stole the show. Dumplings were fantastic too.

The dim sum here was really yummy! I loved the shumai and pork buns. The shumai were stuffer very full of meat. The pork buns were huge! And they were filled with delicious savory ground pork which is my favorite. The custard buns were just okay. They also had a great lunch deal for Chinese takeout. The service took about 10 minutes for 2 orders of dim dum to go. It is a small local place in china town and the staff was very nice.

Came in for a lunch special. I ordered orange chicken with steamed rice, My friend ordered the beef with broccoli and steamed rice. Everything tasted fresh and flavorful. Good portions, and the place was clean.

Stayed at a local hotel and wanted some quick food on my way to a show at the arena. Joy Luck House is one of those hidden spots that people probably overlook because it's not aesthetically appealing. However, the quality, service, prices and most importantly, taste of the food makes up for it all. I love Chinese food, but wasn't that hungry so I ordered a bunch of dumplings: pork (fried, 6pcs), chicken (fried, 6pcs) and shrimp. Each of them, delicious. While I was there, there were so many DoorDash and UberEats drivers coming in and out to pick up food and it's just so telling of how delicious the food was. I have to say that the boba was decent. I think it'll satisfy the craving because the bubbles themselves were good. The tea however, I could say otherwise. The black milk tea tasted traditional and was good, but the honeydew milk tea tasted artificial. Definitely not a boba spot, but good to satisfy a craving or to accompany the food.

The scallion pancakes were fantastic. With that said, everything BG else I've tried was just fine. As another Yelp reviewer put it, something's missing taste wise in the food. However, I am no expert in Chinese food. The first time I went I got the pork buns, egg tart, and scallion pancakes. As I said I loved the scallion pancakes. I got them to go and they were pretty oily so when I reheated them in the pan I didn't need to add any oil. The egg tart was good too, it hit the craving but I've had better. The second time I went I got fish congee and breadstick and moon pie with egg. I had never had either before so I was excited to branch out. It was not my thing. I didn't get any of the main meat dishes, I would probably try it one more time for take out and get a chicken or beef dish.

I came by for some bubble tea (as they call it on the East Coast!) after a long day of walking and didn't want to get tea from a chain. We ordered a lychee bubble tea ($6 pre tax and tip) to share. It's a decent size and not too sweet with soft, chewy boba. However, I don't taste much of the lychee flavor and the boba wasn't as sweet as I would like it to be. The place is sizeable and quiet during our late afternoon visit on Easter Sunday. Plenty of tables with Chinese music playing in the background as well as windows in the front great for people watching. The food looks good and I would definitely try if I didn't already have dinner plans! Service was quick and fast. I wouldn't come out of my way to go here but worth checking out if you're in the area and want to support a local business!

We wanted to grab an early bite before our Washington Wizards basketball game. Wanted to go to China Boy but they only do takeout so we settled on this place. Aesthetic wise, nothing to boast about. Just few tables and chairs and counter where you place the order. This is not a sit down take your order kinda place but will do for what we need. We got the pork with preserved egg congee with 2 fried crullers. I got the shrimp wonton with rice noodle soup. Both these dishes are alright and nothing to go 5 stars on. My son got the sticky rice which was as a miss for sure. It was cold and lack taste. In total, this was an average restaurant with mediocre Chinese food.

Ordered via DoorDash, the food is very delicious. I recommend the soup dumplings and pork bao!

A hole in the wall corner restaurant in Chinatown. There wasn't much service or atmosphere to speak of. It was just a "matter of fact" small venue. Only a few tables inside. It was more like a carry out than a sit in eatery. I was looking for something spicy to shock my senses. So I ordered 3*Szchuan Noodle Soup重庆酸辣粉：clear potato noodles in a big bowl of sour & spicy soup with green spring onions, red peppers, bean sprouts and crunchy peanuts. It was indeed spicy, so spicy that my lips were burning numb, and my nose running. It was a big bowl, but not filling.

We ordered a small hot and sour soup, it was somehow tasteless, but spicy. So I would not recommend the hot and sour soup. The beef chow foon tasted fine, a little bland. We also ordered the roasted duck rice which was also bland. The rice was dry. Overall, for the price, it was not terrible--except for the soup.

Two women entered before and excitedly told the woman behind the plexiglass, "is this the place with the famous moon cakes?" The woman said, nonchalant as can be, yes, moon cake. But we got something else: egg drop soup, fried pork dumpling, and cheese wonton. The egg drop soup was deep, velvet, scaldingly hot, but good. The dumpling were a bit under cooked and may have been pre made. The cream cheese wonton were as tasty as can be and should be tried!

I had the lemon chicken and the wonton soup, both were very delicious. I mistakenly read the menu from the restaurant next-door, Joi look house does not have duck. FYI. Staff was very friendly and the food came out piping hot! Yeah, ambience is very simple but comfortable. This is the kind of Chinese restaurant you would expect to find in Chinatown. Yes, I would recommend this restaurant.

Friendly service. No frills. Food came out in to-go boxes and were all SUPER hot, evident that it was fresh. The bao were tasty (both the pork and custard) and the steamed dumplings were popping hot and fresh tasting. They gave huge portions of the beef fried rice too.

The Food was terrible. Will never order from them again. Meat was fatty and nasty plus it's expensive.

Great for takeout which is perfect these days! I ordered dumplings and mooncakes and loved both! I used to walk by this place all the time before working from home but never stopped in. I had read reviews about unfriendly servers, so just never felt compelled to visit. Well, I would not hesitate to order for pickup or delivery. In fact when I stopped in there were a lot of drivers picking up their orders so seems like this is the way to go!

All I had was the moon cake but it was fabulous :) Fair prices and a great place to run in to for a sweet treat!

Each time I visit this place, my experience is different. The menu has evolved to include many more standard dishes. My takeout order of chicken/string beans was pretty good. I prefer bland, as a caution to others who don't. I especially liked the congee with freshly made breadstick. Neatly packaged and fast service. Closed Mondays. The place is small but looked inviting to sit down. My guess is the pandemic will solidify their identity and service. My previous visits were not as good. The breakfast pastries were emphasized and were not consistent in quality nor availability.

Craving Dim so ordered from here to go! Scallion pancakes: 10/10 so delicious!! Steamed Roast Pork Bun: 10/10 Pan fried chicken dumplings: 0/10, absolutely no flavor, didn't even eat them Mini custard bun: 10/10 Red bean moon cake: 10/10 It was my first time trying many of these items and I was very pleased! Would have given 5 stars if not for the dumplings. I've had better from the frozen section of the grocery store!!

I visited Washington DC during the winter holiday. Stayed at a hotel near Chinatown and was able to try different restaurants for several days. They were all underwhelming (all below Hongkonger's taste standard ). This evening, however, I decided to try my luck at Joy Luck House and ordered some foods to go. I ordered Singapore Rice Noodles, shrimp Wonton Soup, lean pork congee with breadstick. To my surprise, I love their food!!! Especially the Singapore Rice Noodles. Taste just like the ones from Hong Kong!!!!

Wow! What a great tiny place in DC Chinatown. Everything cooked to order, one by one. I had scallion pancakes that were crisp, flavorful and not greasy, packed full of flavor. Then there was sliced pork and broccoli. Delicious! My brother had crispy beef that was just amazing, steamed pork buns fresh out of the steamer. And the shrimp egg rolls! Oh my! Again, crispy and not oily. We had such a great lunch and a great time. Loved it.

Let me start off by saying that I love uplifting Asian owned businesses, but I am really disappointed by experience here. The place is a bit dirty, no one greeted me even after I sat down for almost 10 minutes, and at no point did anyone even offer me water. I asked if I could use the bathroom and the answer was no. I was so thirsty and needed to go to the bathroom so bad that I just got my order to go instead. You can imagine that the server wasn't particularly warm or welcoming. Ok, so customer isn't their strong point, but maybe the food is authentic and good right? Nope. The ma po tofu I ordered was really disappointing and not spicy. The soup dumplings tasted like the ones from Trader Joe's, and the custard buns I ordered were definitely not freshly made. The rice wrapped in leaves was also very underwhelming. I am really disappointed because these are the types of dishes I grew up eating/making with my family. While the prices are reasonable, the meal I had wasn't worth $60+. There are better restaurants in the area. Just to end on a positive note though, the food is well-packaged, the crispy beef was good, and the congee was exactly like I imagined it would be. The food looked much better than it tastes, but at least it looks nice. Conclusion: I feel like if the food is mediocre, the service should at least be better. You can't have bad service AND bad food. Gotta pick one.

Great place to grab a quick bite if you're in the area. Service was friendly, food came out quick. We ordered shrimp fried rice, pan fried dumplings, and sesame chicken. Rice was a bit bland but tasted great with a little soy sauce, chicken and dumplings were good. It wasn't super busy during Friday dinner rush if you want to sit down but would definitely be a good takeout option.

We stopped in to grab sesame balls and egg tarts to go. Wish they had more grab and go items.

horrible! not sure how it got such good reviews but it was TWRRIBLE. PORTIONS ARE TINY. TGE EGGPLANT was drowning in oil, shredded beef was burned and tasteless and portion was tiny. the steamed rice however was good.

Great fresh rice rolls. The dumplings were also bomb. We got takeout because they don't have dine in. Also cash only

We saw Yelp reviews that this place was the only bakery in DC Chinatown. We wanted to see the pastries there, but we ended up actually having dinner here on 8/17/19. This is a small, tight restaurant that can not accommodate large groups of people. A table here can only fit up to 4 people. The physical environment of the restaurant is not modern, sleek, and clean. The white walls are dirty and tables are coated with grease. We ordered beef chow foon and sesame chicken, each for $10.95, which is a deal in DC. Our entrees were served in 10-15 minutes. The portions were large for 2 people and couldn't be finished. Service was spotty. We had to ask our waitress for water and serving spoons. No refills were offered. We sat at a table near the cashier area for carry out, but those customers had no place to wait and stared at us while we ate. Finally, we looked at the Chinese pastries on the shelves, but they didn't look fresh especially the burnt egg custards for $1.95 each. Prices were 50-75 cents higher when compared to Chinese bakeries in Maryland and Virginia. Overall, we recommend trying another Chinese restaurant in Chinatown if you have concerns with cleanliness and spaciousness.

I have ordered takeout here a couple of times because they are close by and have some Chinese comfort foods that I crave, like congee. Every time it has been very okay. They have things that seem pretty authentic on the menu but don't have that authentic touch when you actually try them. For example, the sichuan string brings were not wok-fried or blistered the way they should be--it was more like regular string beans with some soy sauce and chili flakes. Perhaps it's because I've only gotten takeout, but I don't feel particularly compelled to try them in person.

Visited this yummy restaurant. We ordered chicken fried rice and moo goo gai pan (chicken with veggies & mushrooms)-$23-not including tip. Food was tasty and yummy! You order at the counter and they bring out the food in to-go containers inside bag. Inside bag, they provided plates so you can eat at the table. So essentially no server taking orders, but can eat at the restaurant's 6-7 tables. We made sure to clean up the table after finishing.

Had Mao Po Tofu and Chow Foon with Chicken and Black Beans. Tofu dish was lacking in flavor. Both were oily. Next time we'll try China Express next door.

Super cute. Shrimp Chow Foon was delicious. Not too crowded and had a good atmosphere.

We had dinner there on a Friday night. The place was empty. They weren't very nice. Kind of rude, really. The food was a bit disappointing. The hot and sour soup had an odd taste so no one would drink it. The sesame balls, usually one of my favorites, were not very fresh. The scallion pancakes, which I was looking forward to, weren't very good either.

Food was extremely stale and inedible. I didn't sit down to eat, I ordered it to go. Maybe if I was eating there in person, the quality would have been better. Guess I will never know. First time eating there, and do not have a desire to return.

The food was good, but their mooncakes were out of this world I've tried many many many mooncakes in China and theirs may just be the best (or at least some of the very best!!) I've ever had.

This was the only bubble tea place that I came across while walking around in Chinatown. There was a long line....so it seemed like it was an obvious choice to stop by. I definitely didn't regret it I ordered the Thai bubble tea and a mochi ball. It is a small space and can get crowded. There is very limited seating. The mirrors in the restaurant make it look bigger inside. The staff is very friendly

I got the double roasted pork belly, general tsos chicken, and steamed pork buns with lo mein. Double roasted pork belly was the best out of all of them - well roasted and flavorful. General Tsos chicken was right balance of sweetness and not too much bread on the outside. Steamed pork buns were underwhelming - not enough meat or flavor, more bun than meat. Lo mein was great too - would highly recommend.

Fairly dull, run of the mill Chinese restaurant in DC Chinatown. It's small, so I think they do most of their business by take away. I was hankering for some Chinese food for lunch so walked to Chinatown. There were many places to choose from so I rolled the dice on Joy Luck. Not great luck. It was ok, just ok. I order the Szechuan chicken. The portion was decent but the food itself was so bland, I could hardly taste anything. Service was just ok. Dont think I'd try my luck here again, many other option nearby.

The delivery was fast but unfortunately the quality wasn't up to par. The shrimp and broccoli was mushy and tasteless.

Quite frankly I only come here for the egg tarts. Just two, every Sunday. Sometimes I get the traditional ones or something that's a bit more ambitious but every time I get them, I wholeheartedly believe that its worth the money and time which are both surprisingly little for 2 egg tarts. I'll be back next Sunday :)

I ordered Orange Chicken and Vegetable Lo Mein. Like other reviewers, I found the Lo Mein was seriously lacking flavor, but the abundant amount of mixed vegetables helps balance the score. I will add chili sauce and seasoning for leftovers, which should help some. The orange chicken was very orangy, but there weren't any orange rinds. At least they're upfront about flavor coming only from juice and not real oranges. I'll add rinds to the pan when I heat it up. It came with broccoli, which despite having seasoning sprinkled on the stalks was bland. The chicken was the star of this show. It was juicy, crispy, and seasoned just right. This was all accompanied by a container of rice, which was nice and sticky. With an iced tea (sweetened), it came to $37.00 and was enough for 3-4 total servings, so very much worth the price.

The food was amazing! It took a little bit of a wait but it was so worth it, it was fresh, hot, and delicious! The ambiance was slightly off because of the cars reader chiming every few seconds, but I still recommend it!

The schezuan shrimp tasted like it had been cooked melted plastic - weird fuel taste. The orange chicken was ok. Spring rolls ok. Tea is expensive and takes a long time. This is the first time I've had bad Chinese food. But I did get a good fortune in the cookie.

Admittedly, I only came in here for the Moon cakes! I was so excited to see the sign in the window. The last time I had one, I was in Singapore. I ordered pineapple, egg custard, and red bean moon cakes. Each one was delicious- with an order of four or more you get a decorative tin. The service was incredibly fast - especially seeing as they were packed - we were all seemingly heading to the Phil Collins concert down the street. The restaurant is small and in the heart of DC's Chinatown. I really liked this place. I'm looking forward to coming back and having a full on meal. I think if the moon cakes were any indication- the rest of the food will be phenomenal. It was a great place - a lot of fun. It seems it was the worst kept secret - it looked like a lot of people came there and were regulars or sought this place out.

Really wanted to like this restaurant. I really wanted to love the "fresh cut noodles". This was not good at all to me. The broth of the soup was so unflavored. I expected a Chinese soup that could contend with a Vietnamese pho broth. It doesn't. We also had the general Taos and sesame chicken. It doesn't compete to the run of the mill chinese fast food dives all over the country. I don't recommend high expectations if you order from here unless you have tried and trued the menu for something that's actually good. I gave a 2 bc it was well packaged.

I had chicken congee and steamed soup dumplings. Both were great. I also tried their portuguese egg tart. Delicious! Service was kind and polite. Food was missing some element of pop. Couldn't put my finger on it. Maybe I should've asked for sauces to see if they had anything that could've helped. Overall, good experience.

Sad to see all the negative reviews. This place is awesome! I ordered pickup this afternoon and was delighted by the service, as well as the quality and quantity of the food provided to me. I happened to be walking around Chinatown, craving fresh noodles when I stumbled upon Joy Luck House. After reading some of the reviews, I was a bit hesitant to order from them, but decided to test my luck. After all, the pandemic has significantly disrupted the casual dining experience and a lot of businesses are hurting. I am glad I followed my gut. After a smooth ordering experience through Yelp, I showed up to the restaurant and found my order waiting for me on the counter, packaged with extra sauce and napkins, and bundled with care. Inside was shrimp rice noodles, vegetable spring rolls, and dumplings. The shrimp rice noodles did not disappoint. Piled throughout the dish were fresh, miniature shrimp and an abundance of vegetable. This place did not skimp on the shrimp. As for the dumplings, there was a good amount for an appetizer, and enough to share between me and my partner. We also ordered the vegetable rolls, which came in a pair of two and were coupled with a package of duck sauce. Overall, I would say that I was satisfied with my take-out experience, considering the simple fact that the staff was friendly, and the food was delicious. What more can you ask for?

I have yet to try food off their lunch or dinner menu, but I love their breakfast and dim sum! (Even if their dim sum menu is on the smaller side). There's also a small bakery selection. Great place to eat your traditional Chinese breakfast! Their 豆浆(soy milk), 米粥 (congee), 油条 (fried bread stick), 葱油饼 (scallion pancake), 小笼包 (soup dumplings), 锅贴 (pan fried dumpling), and 蛋挞 (egg tart) are all top notch. I think what really made this place 5 stars is how nice the staff are. My Chinese American self struggled to order in Chinese and the waitress (she also seemed like she might have been the owner?) was very patient and let me practice ordering. This place definitely has a family friendly vibe.

I stopped by this restaurant right before the Washington Wizards game because it was not too far from the arena. I was a little skeptical because I hadn't looked at any reviews prior to visiting and I was pressed for time. I ordered the General Tso's chicken with spring rolls. The inside was very small, but I was able to get a table and eat there. It turns out the food was very good. It didn't take long for me to receive my order and I could easily tell that the food was fresh.

I came to Chinatown a bit early hoping to find domain, but nothing opens before 10/10:30 which I'm surprised by because back in NYC where I'm from most dim sum restaurants open super early for breakfast. I walked around for a whole and ended up eating at this place. I got their lunch special (mon to Fri 10-3?), It comes with a tea or soda and a rice dish. I got a general tso's chicken and a soda. I also ordered shrimp dumplings ($4.50). Over all the service was straight forward no frills. They also have Chinese buns here as well.