This is by far my favourite restaurant and always use it for a birthday of mine, lovely workers and excellent food
My go-to restaurant every time I touchdown Christchurch. I simply can't get enough of their delicious wonton noodles soup; well-balanced pork + prawn filling in thin wonton wrappers with springy egg noodles submerged in clear & not-overly-seasoned broth. Their deep fried chicken nibbles and pan fried dumplings are a must order when we bring the kids; they scoffed the lot before we get to the second helping, say no more - they are that good! Service is okay, typical for a Chinese restaurant.
Current menu as pics on app were old and out dated. Quick, fast service. Busy so make a booking if wanting to sit in. Takeaways, quick and easy.
Amazing menu! Extremely polite and helpful staff! Wonderful food at a GREAT price! Dumplings were incredible! Sweet Honey Glazed Pork and Chicken Fried Noodles were marvellous! Great value for money!!! Good portion sizes! Will definitely be back! Thank you so much for being so “JOYFUL”
I have been there once but It give me a deep impression.You can see many different Chinese food
there.The taste is not quite different from food in China. Their food style comes from Guang Dong China, so in there the food is not spicy inside and the food is a little bit sweet. This kind of taste is my favorite one. I will go there again, If I have enough money.
I have been here for meet my friend. We ordered something with whole fish and some cake and corn soup. Food was quite big portion and tasty but waiting staff was not friendly at all.
Trusted Zomato to pick a restaurant to eat for a night in Christchurch. Came across Joyful Restaurant for some Chinese food and it did not disappoint. Food came out fast and staff were friendly. We ordered the Thai style fried rice, beef in xo and the fried flat rice noodle with beef. Rice maybe could've done with a lime, but other than that everything was quite good. Good place for Asian food in Christchurch !
Great food, great service. Very satisfied! I especially loved the fried rice and lemon chicken. Exceptionally yummy. Will definitely be coming back here.
nice meal,good prices.Recommended if you want to try Chinese foods,tasty and spicy.One of my favourite place,service is quite fast and the place is clean.
Had lunch at joyful with a bunch of girls. We ordered around 8 dishes in total and went family style - decided to share and split the bill.
The lady who took the order was very helpful in suggesting portion sizes and placing orders. The service was very quick. Very generous portion and all of the dishes tasted really good. The entire bill when split among the 7 of us came to only 18 dollars which i think is very reasonable considering the quantity and quality. The only problem i had with the place is that there were no staff around even though it was a non-rush hour. They quickly place the food on the table and hurry back. We had to help ourselves to sauces and condiments from other tables. Once the food is served, pretty much no one attends to you. Consider yourself lucky if you get a smile or a thank you from any of the staff. Will come back for the great food though :)
went to joyful for the first time with a group of friends...food didnt take long to come out...so much flavour and generous portions..even had leftovers to take away...definately recommended and will go back
Had lunch with the girls here last week. Really lovely atmosphere. We ordered 3 different meals between the three of us and we still manage to take some home because the serving sizes were big. Gotta say the dumplings were our favourite ! Not the last time I'll visit that's for sure 😊
Came here a couple of weeks ago with my sister for dinner! Was amaaaazing! We ordered the wontons w/ sweet and sour sauce for starters and a Bami goreng and sweet and sour pork... Let's just say there's a reason I only got a chance to get the entree photo!! This place has mixed reviews so I decided to bite the bullet and try it for myself and am sooo glad I did! Apart from the amazing food and huge servings! My sister and I halved the bill after a starter and two mains and it cost us $20 each! We were amazed!! Great food! Great serving sizes! Great customer service! Great price! What more can you ask for??
Tasty food although it was greecy. Good customer service . Been there twice with freinds. Good environment. Would like to visit again .
Joyful is one of the most popular Chinese restaurants in Christchurch. It was our first stop when we were back in town for the weekend. Food were good value and yummy as always. Had this crispy noodles dish. The meat and vegetables were deliciously cooked and served on the noodles which had been deep fried. Yummy and crunchy at the same time. So good.
Good value, have been to Joyful before and after the earthquake and the standards are all the same, as well as the food.
Have tried almost all soup noodle dishes and the value of each dish is great.
I have been here several times with friends and family- maybe because it is the only good Chinese restaurant I have come across in chch
Their service has been always good and fast. As for food, its good but pricy for a Chinese restaurant - in comparison to the ones in AKL.
Service isn't always great but the food never fails to disappoint. The beef with XO chilli I one of my all time favourite take outs - and the dumplings are to die for!!
The Joyful has been a Chch fixture for nearly 30 years, since it originally sat in Armagh Street. It looked nothing then like it does now though, then the name seemed almost ironic! They still serve good Cantonese style Chinese. Whole fish and crispy skin chicken are two highlights of their menu.
Tonight though was a light meal. We ordered a big plate of dumplings and a pork and tofu soup. The dumplings were fried perfectly - with a delicious pork and chinese veg filling. The soup is a long time favourite. It seems so simple yet I've tried to recreate at home with minimal success. The bill was $21.
Wonderful fresh food, would have to be the best Chinese restaurant in Christchurch. We went during the afternoon so it was not all that busy and were served very quickly.
This place is ALWAYS busy but that does not take away from the food and service. Everytime we have been there it has been a great night with delicious food and the price has always been low than we thought (always a bonus)
One of the busiest restaurants we have been to, a year ago and again this month. Very Chinese approach in the dining room – not unusual for customers to spill food on the floor under tables, but the friendly staff clean well before putting someone else at the table. Great range of food choices and very reasonable prices. If you like Chinese food, go – you will not be disappointed. (Booking recommended).
Always gives me nostalgia. Been coming here with my nana since I was little. Love the dumplings Yum
I eat at Joyful Restaurant regularly. The food is always amazing and the staff a generally very good. This restaurant is very very good value for money; the atmosphere is great and they are very child friendly. Every now and then on a busy day we may wait a little but so what!!!????..... it's cheap and cheerful and if you are with good company it really doesn't matter.
See you again soon Joyful!!
In my business as a horse trainer I often entertain owners, The Joyful is a fantastic dining experience. The food is outstanding and the restaurant layout suits groups of people. My only fear is that it is now so popular that you need to book in days ahead.
We went there last night. 60 of us. We had the best time. Great food and excellent service. No problems at all even though we were such a large group.
The staff were very attentive and the food came with no gaps or waiting between courses. We made a lot of noise but never felt we were disturbing the other diners. Would recommend dining here to any one.
I have been going here for 10 years and even though 5 years was over seas, every time I came back I had to go.
Now I'm back living here it is a weekly occasion.
Would recommend to anyone and the dumplings are great
Have been a long-term fan of Joyful since well before the earthquakes. V pleased to have them up and running again! I have taken literally dozens of groups to Joyful over the years: friends, international visitors, and international students. We have never been disappointed - the food is consistently fresh, hot, flavoursome and attractive on the plate. Our most recent visit a couple of weeks ago simply confirmed for us the consistency of this very popular restaurant. Certainly, their prices have gone up considerably, but understandably so, given the rebuild/relocation etc. I hope Andrei will give them another chance - as the other reviews show, his experience is very atypical.
Great meal at Joyful Restaurant last night it was the first time we had been. Amazing food brought super quick. Lots of very helpful smiling staff. Would definitely visit again soon. And they have a take away menu.
Amazing food in a plush setting but very affordable. We dine here every 2 weeks. Crispy skin pork and chilli beans with minced pork are our faves. Would love to see dim sum menu added for lunch diners.
OOhh my god when I heard you were re-opened in Riccarton it made my year! I missed your wonderful food and generous plate servings.
Always had wonderful experience dining in at "Joyful". Worth the trip from Greymouth to Christchurch to eat your food again! Hallelujah best Chinese food ever!
Their food is so good, no wonder the high rating. We usually have dinner early, so were lucky enough to get a table without booking.
I wasn't that hungry, probably due to long distance driving and a decent pie for lunch. They use fresh ingredients and the appropriate cut of meat for different dishes. The portions are generous. The dishes are very flavourful, with some a bit too salty to my liking. Overall it's awesome!!
Food is nice here 👍 highly recommend their peking duck👍 however their staff is a bit rude, saying something in mandarin to ask us go faster because they are closing soon.
Ate here for our parents' anniversary! Make sure you book as they get very busy specially during weekends. They serve a little late but that is totally understood because there were really so many people dining. Their cake section was amazing and commendable as well. I have previously had a bad experience with Chinese food before so I'm quite careful but Joyful Restaurant really delivered here. Awesome experience and will definitely be back in the future :)
Jessica Edwards-Walker
+5
Delicious flavours and great service. Definitely need to book as a very busy restaurant. Dumplings and wontons are a must for the starters.
Great authentic Cantonese flavors, incredible vibe and ambiance.
Great value and taste. Portion sizes are large. Easy to find free park at the back of the restaurant
Went with a group and got the set menu. All the dishes were really delicious, and portions were generous. The dumplings, crispy skin chicken, and sweet and sour pork were particularly good. Service was fast, friendly, and attentive. Will definitely go back.
![5]( "Recensione")
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 definitely be back!
The dumplings is my favourite so normally go for large plate. Crispy skin chicken also all time favourite.... Everything is good, so go for a good dinner. The staffs has been more friendly lately, so great improvement.
Oh Yey!! I’m So happy we have discovered a restaurant in Christchurch that serves absolutely amazing delicious authentic Chinese food. The menu is full of so many great choices!! The staff are friendly, the atmosphere is lovely. I highly recommend going here, but probably best to book ahead as very popular and very busy. We live 20mins away, it is so well worth the drive.Thank you for treating us to the best Chinese flavoursome food in town. You will now be our regular go to from now on!! 👍🏾😀
If you're a food enthusiast on the lookout for an extraordinary dining experience, look no further than Joyful Restaurant.
From the moment you step inside, you're greeted with an ambiance that exudes elegance and warmth, setting the stage for an unforgettable culinary journey.
Been going here for 5 years and never had a bad experience. Everything is cooked perfectly and quickly so you can get on with having a good time in life. You want good Chinese, then you go here.
The Peking duck is brilliant.
A really busy restaurant which also does some really good Peking duck. Arguably one of the best.
The staff were friendly and the place was quite clean despite being fully packed.
They also do some really nice cakes which are sold at the back near the cashier, I would really recommend the cheesecake as it was soft and jiggly, not too sweet and almost melts in your mouth despite it being eaten the next evening.
Food is always good but seating at tables lining the right hand side was too close. The furniture arrangement made it tiresome for someone who is not slim and agile to wriggle in and out of their seat without banging into the backs of the neighboring chairs.
“Best Chinese Restaurant in Christchurch”
Thank goodness for Joyful Restaurant, I love the food here, I've been dining at this as well as the old location for over 15 years and never have I been disappointed. Egg foo yong, crispy skin pork, lemon chicken, spicy squid and fried dumplings are my favourite dishes. Love Joyful.
Love the dumpling with vinegar sauce. The crispy skin Chiken is so well done with crispy skin and moist inside. Yum. Service is good this time, ice water with lemon... great touch.
An error has occurred! Please try again in a few minutes