Joy House — Restaurant in Columbus

I tried this place a couple days ago on the recommendation of a neighbor. I decided not to get too fancy for a 1st-time visit & went with Pork Lo Mein. A pretty standard dish. There were 0 vegetables in the Lo Mein. Not 1 scrap of broccoli, scallion, bok choy, or anything that grows out of the ground. NOTHING. There was 1 tiny sliver of a shredded 🥕 & maybe 3 strands of mung bean sprout. The pork did taste delicious & there was a good amount. The overall flavor was pretty good. BUT - it was so greasy it was barely edible. I was also overcharged - literally and figuratively - paying * $9.75 ** for the Lunch service menu which showed this at $7.20. Dinner service, which began after 3pm, lists it for $9.65. I was there well before 3pm bc I arrived home BEFORE 3pm and this is a 10 minute drive from my house. After reading some other reviews, it appears this looks like somewhat of a pattern: overcharging the customer and/or being charged for items they didn't receive or receiving a less than full portion. I could care less about ambiance if taking food to go. And, if the food is delicious, as long as the place is up to code, I dont care about decor either. Neither of these two things is true. This meal was like something I could've gotten out of a roadside gas stop vending machine. I have a really difficult time swallowing the rave 5 ⭐️ reviews here. It seems implausible to me. More likely friends who are writing reviews to boost...

Finally found my “go to” Chinese restaurant! Best General Tso’s Chicken I’ve had in the Dublin/Hilliard/NW Columbus area, hands down! Made with chunks of chicken breast and lightly breaded - not padded with tons of breading like most places. The sauce was delicious. Shrimp with Lobster Sauce was equally delicious, with plenty of good sized shrimp cooked perfectly. The combination plates are the perfect amount of food for one person - not so much that you have to choose between overeating or saving for leftovers, but enough that you’re definitely full.

So, why only 4 stars? Two reasons: First, egg rolls were delicious, again the best in the area - based on flavor and the fact that they are not greasy. But…they’re a little light on the yummy filling, making them a little gummy/chewy, and they only give you one packet of duck sauce. Second, this is the only Chinese restaurant I’ve ever eaten at that didn’t include a fortune cookie with your order!

This place is good enough that I’ve overlooked these things but I hope they’ll take this...

Been looking for a good chinese place since we just moved. Got a flyer on the door today and decided to try, especially after looking at the prices compared to other places.

It tastes really good, like something from my childhood. It might not be as strong tasting as other places, but it tastes like home. Still really flavorful without being overly salty. Lots of veggies and a good balance of sauce, meat, and veggies. Meat is tender and not overcooked, almost like a stew. Food was done to order and quick.

My buddy tried the General Tso's, I got the veggie chicken, and my spouse got the honey chicken.

Maybe I'm just feeling sentimental lately, but I teared up a bit. There used to be a chinese place I grew up going to and it brought back those memories. Think we found our new...