Joyful Restaurant — Restaurant in Christchurch

Joyful Restaurant is an absolute gem in Christchurch! I can't say enough good things about this place. From the moment I walked in, I was greeted with warm smiles and an inviting atmosphere. Here's why I love Joyful Restaurant:

Delicious Food: The food at Joyful Restaurant is nothing short of amazing. Each dish is bursting with flavor and has its own unique taste. I've tried several items on the menu, and they never disappoint, especially the dumplings! Friendly Staff: The staff here is incredibly welcoming and attentive. They make you feel like a valued guest, and their recommendations are spot on. It's clear that they are passionate about what they do. Clean and Cozy Ambiance: The restaurant's interior is tastefully decorated, creating a cozy and inviting atmosphere. Whether you're here for a romantic dinner or a casual lunch, the ambiance is perfect. Great Value: Joyful Restaurant offers excellent value for the quality of food and service you receive. I always leave feeling satisfied and without breaking the bank. It has to be one of the best cost effective Restaurants in Christchurch Extensive Menu: Their menu is diverse and caters to different tastes. Whether you're a fan of classic dishes or more adventurous options, you'll find something to delight your taste buds. I highly recommend Joyful Restaurant to anyone looking for an exceptional dining experience in Christchurch. It's a place that truly lives up to its name, spreading joy through fantastic food and exceptional service. I'll...

Took the family to joyful last night, because we enjoyed the last experience......however this time was different 🤔 we always get the dumplings they are no doubt so delish😋 We clearly order twentyfive dumplings but got thirty😉 but before they came out they started bringing out 6 plates of wontons....Which are also good as long as you order that many they did apologize about it maybe that's why we got an extra 5 dumplings..... I thought they had gone "Wonton mad" !😆 The chicken corn soup I could eat a large pot of that!!! So yummy. For my main I thought I would try the lemon chicken, I was quite hungry and started eating at first I didn't notice but the texture of the chicken was unlike anything I've had... my mum said are your sure its not fish....no it's definitely not fish I had to stop eating it it was the texture that put me off😣, lemon sauce was good but not the chicken!!! My mum's Sweet and sour pork was a bit tough. Satay chicken my partner got he wasn't to excited about it lots of Vegies💪...it was a bit runny😞..... kids loved the foo-young chicken and garlic ribs😍, so that brings me to the service they are so nice and apologetic and when you wave them down they come a running... but all that doesn't create amazing food, we did order combination fried rice Thank god they forgot to make it we had enough by then. Hey that's my opinion you should try it I love it...

I’ve always loved Joyful and have recommended it to so many friends, but this time was honestly really disappointing.

First off, the service when we were ordering was quite unpleasant. The waitress wearing the cap had a rude tone – not sure if she was having a bad day, but it really showed.

Then we noticed the cutlery was dirty. We politely asked the same staff member (the one with the cap) if we could have them replaced, but she didn’t say a word – no apology or even basic acknowledgement. We had to ask again before she finally brought clean ones. It just felt like we were bothering her.

We also ordered rice, which didn’t arrive for ages. I ended up asking another waitress, and about 5 minutes later, the same waitress came over and asked, “Did you even order rice?” I reminded her that she was the one who even asked us what size to get – medium or large – and still, no apology. Just left a really sour taste.

One last thing – our booking was at 4:30pm. We arrived a couple of minutes early, and the staff just didn’t open the door. I totally get that they may not officially open until then, but when the overall service is already this poor, little things like that just add to the whole negative experience.

Really disappointed this time. I genuinely love Joyful and this was the first time I left feeling like I didn’t want to...