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oChef » Joyful Kitchen – San Francisco
Joyful Kitchen - San Francisco
Photo from Joyful Kitchen
Joyful Kitchen at a glance
San Francisco Mount Davidson Manor
- 🥡 Chinese Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 24 of the guests
#2226 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#256 Chinese Restaurant out of 276 in San Francisco
Average
5.7 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
251
Reviews
52.2%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Delicious Food
- Good Value
Frequently criticized
- Uncleanliness
- Rude Service
The restaurant Joyful Kitchen invites you to experience authentic Chinese flavors right in the heart of San Francisco’s Mount Davidson Manor. This casual Chinese restaurant is a perfect spot when you’re craving a quick bite or looking to share a variety of small plates with friends.
You’ll find a welcoming atmosphere where delicious food and convenience meet, making it an ideal choice for any meal of the day.
Overview: Introducting Joyful Kitchen
Joyful Kitchen offers a mixed experience, often praised for its flavorful Chinese fare and generous portions. Many appreciate the quick turnaround for orders, making it a convenient option for a meal.
However, some diners have noted inconsistencies in the overall dining experience. While the food often receives compliments for its taste and portion sizes, there are concerns about the service, which can be inconsistent, and the general upkeep of the dining area.
Despite these points, the restaurant maintains a certain popularity, especially during busy times.
Average
5.7
out of 10
251
Reviews
52.2%
Satisfaction
91
negative
29
neutral
131
positive
Joyful Kitchen holds an overall Restaurant Score of 5.7, placing it in the average category. Customer Satisfaction stands at 52.2%, indicating a mixed reception among patrons.
This suggests that while some aspects are well-received, there’s a notable portion of diners who leave less impressed. Looking closer, Food leads with a score of (6.4), followed by Value (5.2).
Service (4.5) and Ambience (4.4) both fall into the lower end of the average range. These insights are drawn from 251 customer remarks, with 131 positive observations and 91 negative ones, painting a picture of a place with clear strengths and areas for improvement.
What people like
- Delicious Chinese food
- Generous portions
- Good value pricing
What people don't like
- Unclean dining environment
- Rude staff attitude
- Credit card surcharges
If you’re seeking a quick, satisfying Chinese meal with good portion sizes and reasonable pricing, Joyful Kitchen might be worth a visit. The Recommendation Score of 5.9 suggests it’s a decent option, particularly if you prioritize the food itself over other dining elements.
However, be prepared for potential inconsistencies in service and a less-than-pristine dining environment. It’s a place that delivers on certain fronts but might disappoint if you’re looking for a consistently polished experience.
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Verdict: Our expert take on Joyful Kitchen
Food (6.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 93% of the guests
The food here generally hits the spot, with a 6.4 score indicating an average but leaning positive experience. Many diners rave about the delicious cheong fun, flavorful salt and pepper wings, and comforting rice rolls. With 92 positive remarks out of 151 total comments, it seems there's a lot to love, especially the authentic Cantonese dishes and generous portions.
However, the 60.9% customer satisfaction suggests a mixed bag, with some significant concerns. A notable 42 negative comments point to issues like soggy and cold food, tough beef, and a general lack of flavor in certain dishes. There were also mentions of unhygienic soy sauce and inconsistent food quality, indicating room for improvement.
Food
151
Reviews
60%
Satisfaction
42
negative
17
neutral
92
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Authentic Cheong Fun
- Flavorful Wings
- Generous Portions
What people don't like
- Inconsistent Food Quality
- Soggy/Cold Dishes
- Lack of Flavor
Often praised
- foodI ordered a few items for a party and was happy with the portion for the price. The food was delicious. I will definitely come back for future parties.
- Chinese foodMy experience at this restaurant was with their really good Chinese food. It's a very popular spot, especially on a Saturday afternoon.
- cheong funI've tried their cheong fun with shrimp, beef, egg and corn, and liver. All of them have been great and I love this style of cheong fun, where the toppings are on top, rather than inside. I've also tried their pan fried noodles.
- porridgeThe porridge was also good, not too watery, not too thick
- portionsgenerous portions
- rice rollsAlthough the rice rolls are delicious
- Chinese dinner entreesThe other more standard Chinese dinner entrees were made well
- House Special PorridgeRecommended dishes:House Special Porridge
- Special Rice Noodlesknown for their Special Rice Noodles
- Sweet & Sour SpareribsSweet & Sour Spareribs my fav by far - SO YUMMY!
Frequently criticized
- foodMy experience at this restaurant was an absolute disaster. It used to be tasty three years ago, but now the food is not fresh at all. The service is slow and rude, and they overcharge without notice.
- beefThe beef was not tenderized, chewy and rough.
- gravyThe consistency of the gravy was too watery, as well as too much of it.
- porridgeThe porridge was a bit plain
- soy sauceI absolutely do not recommend the rice rolls here. While the rice rolls themselves are delicious, the soy sauce is very unhygienic! The waiter's attitude was truly not good at all; they didn't smile once.
- Americanize Chinese fooddon't come here for good American Chinese food
- Chinese chicken saladthe dish was $20 & it was not that good
- Mongolian BeefMongolian Beef is super salty
- bean sproutsLots of bean sprouts, maybe too much bean sprouts
- beef chow funthe beef chow fun I had here must’ve been the worst beef chow fun
If you're craving authentic Cantonese comfort food like their highly praised cheong fun and salt and pepper wings, this spot might be worth a try. However, be mindful that some dishes can be inconsistent, with reports of blandness or quality issues, so choose wisely.
Service (4.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 67% of the guests
When it comes to service, theres a definite bright side! Many customers rave about the "friendly staff, " "waitress, " and "service speed, " often noting how quickly their "food" arrived. With an average 4.5 score and 42% customer satisfaction, it seems about 21 positive remarks out of 50 total highlight these good experiences.
However, its not all smooth sailing. A significant number of the 27 negative comments point to issues with waiter's attitude, staff being rude, and frustrating wait time. Some even mentioned service being slow or feeling ignored, which can certainly put a damper on your meal.
Service
50
Reviews
42%
Satisfaction
27
negative
2
neutral
21
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Friendly staff
- Quick service
- Professional service
What people don't like
- Rude staff
- Slow service
- Poor attitude
Often praised
- serviceI also disliked the inclusion of ginger slices, as this is not typical for Hong Kong style crispy noodles. On a positive note, the food arrived quickly and the service was excellent. Joyful Kitchen was busy at 7: 30 pm on a Wednesday, possibly due to Emmy's Restaurant next door being closed for indoor dining.
- ServiceGreat service cording online
- everyoneeveryone was super friendly.
- foodAt least the food came out fast
- food cooked, packed, and ready to gogot my food cooked, packed, and ready to go in 15 min
- lunch deliveryGreat Chinese lunch delivery
- reasonable serviceMy experience at the restaurant featured good food and reasonable service. However, it felt expensive from a competitive perspective, and the additional 4% credit card surcharge further contributed to this feeling.
- restaurant ownersThe restaurant owners are very friendly and gracious.
- serverThe server was very nice to us
- service speedThey're fast
Frequently criticized
- serviceIt used to be tasty three years ago, but now the food is not fresh at all. The service is slow and rude, and they overcharge without notice. I would not recommend this place.
- waitressI've been to this restaurant twice. On my first visit, the waitress forgot my order. The food itself is nothing special.
- argument with the bosslooking for an argument with the boss
- billwhen giving the bill, he just threw it over
- bossthe boss was super rude about it
- business hoursalways closed when their business hours says their open
- consistencywould think that they would want to be consistent
- deliverytheir delivery is slowly
- moralitythey are lack of morality
- ownerThe owner is a selfish prick
If you're in a rush and hoping for a quick meal, you might find the service here hits the mark. But be aware that the experience can be a mixed bag, with some guests encountering less-than-friendly staff or frustrating delays.
Ambience (4.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 22% of the guests
Looking at the overall vibe, this place presents a somewhat mixed picture, with a score of 4.4 and customer satisfaction at 40.9%. Despite this, there are some definite upsides, with 9 positive remarks among 22 total observations. Many customers appreciated the clean interior and the fact its a family-run place, giving it an authentic Cantonese street style feel, along with clean cutlery and a cute logo.
However, the atmosphere isnt without its challenges, drawing 12 negative comments. Several patrons noted issues with cleanliness, specifically mentioning dirty and sticky tables, utensils, and glasses. Concerns were also raised about the restroom needing attention, along with observations of dirty carpeting, gum stuck to tables, and even flies, suggesting some areas definitely need improvement.
Ambience
22
Reviews
40%
Satisfaction
12
negative
1
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Clean Interior
- Family Run Vibe
- Authentic Street Style
What people don't like
- Dirty Tables/Utensils
- Flies Infestation
- Unkempt Restroom
Often praised
- authentic Cantonese street styleauthentic Cantonese street style that reminds me of my childhood
- clean cutleryThey have clean cutlery
- customersThe restaurant was full with customers on every table looking like they enjoyed the food
- cute logoand a cute logo
- family run placeNice family run place.
- interiorThe interior is quite clean
- parkingWe found parking right away
- placeThe place is clean
- popularityVery popular on a Saturday afternoon
Frequently criticized
- atmosphereAtmosphere:2
- dead fishI'm not going to lie, this place is cheeks, and not in a good way. The conditions were appalling: dead fish in the fish tank, raw meat handled by uncovered hands on patron tables, dirty carpeting, gum stuck to tables, piled-up boxes, and mildew. The restaurant was infested with flies, a persistent issue I've noticed on multiple visits, suggesting a breeding ground of rotting food.
- dirty carpetingDirty dingy carpeting
- fliesThe place is buzzing with flies
- glassesthe glasses were dirty and sticky
- gum stuckGum stuck to tables
- mildewMildew
- picturesDon't rely on the pictures either
- restaurant presentationhow their restaurant is displayed
- restroomthe restroom (one, unisex) can use some TLC
If youre looking for an authentic Cantonese street style experience and dont mind overlooking some cleanliness issues, this spot might be worth a visit. However, be prepared for a potentially mixed bag regarding the overall upkeep, especially in areas like the restroom and table cleanliness.
Value (5.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 37% of the guests
When it comes to value, some diners are quite pleased, often highlighting the good pricing and generous portion for the price. Many appreciate finding genuine cheap eats here, making it a go-to for affordable meals. With 9 positive opinions out of 28 total, there's a definite upside to what you get for your money.
However, the overall sentiment for value is a bit of a mixed bag, with a score of 5.2 and customer satisfaction sitting at a rather low 32.1%. Many find it feels expensive from a competitive perspective, especially with issues like cash only policies and unexpected credit card surcharges. These points, mentioned in 10 negative opinions, definitely give some diners pause.
Value
28
Reviews
32%
Satisfaction
10
negative
9
neutral
9
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Generous portions
- Affordable prices
- Venmo payment option
What people don't like
- Cash only policy
- Credit card fees
- Can feel expensive
Often praised
- pricesI saw a photo of their cheong fun on Instagram and was excited that this place was located near me. I've been here countless times since the prices are cheap and affordable. They're fast and the food tastes great.
- VenmoSimilar to the porridge, they are what they are and don't promise more than that. The cash only policy wasn't too bad since they accept Venmo, but otherwise, it would have been an inconvenience.
- cheap eatssome cheap eats
- portion for the pricehappy with the portion for the price
- pricingPricing is good too.
- valuevalue is good
Frequently criticized
- 15% tips15% tips were already added to the total
- CASH OR VENMOThe only con here is that they only accept CASH OR VENMO.
- cash onlyCash only though
- credit card feedid not notify in advance that they have a credit card fee
- credit card surchargeMy experience at the restaurant featured good food and reasonable service. However, it felt expensive from a competitive perspective, and the additional 4% credit card surcharge further contributed to this feeling.
- expensiveseemed expensive
- overchargeIt used to be tasty three years ago, but now the food is not fresh at all. The service is slow and rude, and they overcharge without notice. I would not recommend this place.
- pay with cashtry to convince customers pay with cash
- pricethe dish was $20 & it was not that good
- transaction feecharge transaction fee of credit cards from customers
If youre looking for genuinely affordable eats and are prepared to pay with cash or Venmo, you might find some good deals here. However, be aware of potential extra fees for card payments and a general feeling of it being overpriced by some, which could lead to disappointment if youre not careful.
How are the prices at Joyful Kitchen?
You’re looking at roughly 30 $ per person – reported by 24 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While the average hovers around 30 $, it’s interesting to see that many guests actually spend less, with a big chunk of reviews falling into the $11–$20 range. There are also a few folks splurging on more premium options, showing a nice mix of price points.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 24 reviews.
How this restaurant’s value for money stacks up against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, we think the pricing feels quite fair for a Chinese Restaurant in San Francisco, especially considering the variety of price points available. It seems like you can find something for different budgets here.
Customer Reviews: what people think about Joyful Kitchen
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Group Type
- Solo Dinner
Group Size
- Solo
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Immediate (0–5 min.)
1
Worst Beef Chow Fun Experience
My experience at this restaurant was overwhelmingly negative, primarily due to the food. I ordered the beef chow fun, which I believe was the worst I've ever had in my life. The beef was tough and flavorless.
I had the dry version, which is usually saucy, but this dish was completely devoid of flavor. It contained a lot of bean sprouts, perhaps too many, and no other vegetables. The chili sauce was also disappointing; it wasn't hot or spicy, but rather bland.
It was like orange oil with no chili flakes, making it comparable to motor oil. The service was indifferent, though I was the first customer after they opened at 5 pm on a Sunday, so I might have avoided worse. Overall, it was a complete miss.
I cannot recommend this place, especially if you value your health, as I experienced the worst stomach pain shortly after leaving, requiring three trips to the restroom. The bill was $17 plus tax, and I rounded it to $20, leaving a tip of $1. 49.
- bill5
- beef chow fun1
- beef1
- bean sprouts2
Price per Person
- $31–$40
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
8
Popular Chinese Breakfast Spot
This isn't a very fancy restaurant, but it's a popular Chinese breakfast spot with a lot of tasty dishes. I visited for lunch and found the food to be excellent, earning a perfect 5/5. The House Special Porridge was a standout recommended dish.
While the food was great, the atmosphere was a bit lacking, scoring a 2/5. However, the service was good, rated at 4/5. The price per person was between $30–50.
- tasty dishes9
- lunch specials8
- House Special Porridge10
- atmosphere4
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
2
Terrible Service, Salty Food
We were so excited to try the food at this restaurant. Unfortunately, the Mongolian Beef was super salty. The waitress was very rude with a bad attitude.
When I dropped my utensils and asked for another one, she mumbled and rolled her eyes. I suspect she was frustrated working alone, but that's no excuse to take anger out on customers. We wanted to enjoy our day and our food, but this experience ruined it.
We are not coming back and don't want anyone else to ruin their beautiful day 😤.
- Mongolian Beef2
- waitress1
- utensils2
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Delicious Rice Rolls and Entrees
My experience at this restaurant was quite positive. It was packed when I arrived, but the clean cutlery and cute logo were nice touches. The veggie portions were generous, and I particularly enjoyed the simple rice noodle roll.
They also offer a large combo version of your choice. The standard Chinese dinner entrees were also made well. I would definitely come back.
- clean cutlery8
- cute logo7
- veggie portions8
Price per Person
- $31–$40
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Long (31+ min.)
1
Disaster - Not Worth It Anymore
DO NOT GO. My experience at this restaurant was an absolute disaster. It used to be tasty three years ago, but now the food is not fresh at all.
The service is slow and rude, and they overcharge without notice. I would not recommend this place.
- food1
- service1
- overcharge1
What Joyful Kitchen offers
Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
Crowd
- Groups
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- Checks
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Restroom
Offerings
- Alcohol
- Beer
- Small plates
- Quick bite
Dining options
- Breakfast
- Brunch
- Table service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- No-contact delivery
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Dine-in
Parking
- Free street parking
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
What service options are available at Joyful Kitchen?
At Joyful Kitchen, you have several convenient service options. You can enjoy a relaxed dine-in experience with table service, or opt for takeout or delivery. No-contact delivery is also available, ensuring you can enjoy your meal however you like.
Is Joyful Kitchen suitable for families and accessible for everyone?
Yes, Joyful Kitchen is designed to be family-friendly and accessible. You’ll find high chairs available for your little ones, making it a good choice for kids. The restaurant also features a wheelchair accessible entrance and seating, ensuring a comfortable dining experience for all.
What is the overall customer sentiment for Joyful Kitchen?
Joyful Kitchen has a mixed customer sentiment, with a Customer Satisfaction of 52.2% and an overall Restaurant Score of 5.7. While the Food (6.4) is generally appreciated, Service (4.5), Ambience (4.4), and Value (5.2) receive average to lower-average scores.
What do customers appreciate most about Joyful Kitchen?
Customers frequently praise Joyful Kitchen for its delicious Chinese food, generous portion sizes, and good value pricing. Many also highlight the speed of service, noting that food often arrives quickly.
What are the main concerns customers have about Joyful Kitchen?
Primary concerns for customers include an unclean dining environment, with mentions of flies and dirty conditions. There are also complaints about inconsistent or rude staff attitudes and the practice of adding credit card surcharges.