The dim sum is delicious and authentic! The fillings are plump and fresh. Most of the patrons are Cantonese speaking which is a sign that this is really the place to go to enjoy authentic dim sum in New York Chinatown. The constant chatter adds another interesting flavour to the dining experience.

Classic dim sum place for locals, tourists, and more. It gets overly crowded, especially on weekends but that's because this place is so so so delicious, and good. My group of 6 waited about an hour to get seated, but it was so worth it! I loved a lot of the dishes and we actually ordered more than we intended too. My least favorite was the fried pork chops. I usually love fried pork chops but it was a bit overly fried here. The best thing we ordered was the red rice roll with fried shrimp and bread. I could order 100 of these and not be sick of it. The shu mai was delicious too. Will definitely be coming back for the red rice noodles.

A very great restaurant for dim dum. They go by with a food cart and you get what you want. Wide selection of dim sum It’s recommended to go with a Chinese speaking friend to make it easier. But it is an amazing experience

+1

House of Joy Star Rating: ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ ⭐ Tucked into the constant hum of Chinatown, House of Joy is one of those rare dim sum halls that feels reassuringly untouched by trends—and all the better for it. This is not a place chasing polish or social-media fame; it’s where locals still come, where tables fill quickly, carts weave expertly through narrow aisles, and the language of choice is Cantonese, punctuated by the familiar rattle of porcelain and steam. The experience begins the moment you sit down. Metal carts arrive without ceremony, lids lifted to reveal plump har gow with translucent skins, siu mai glistening with pork and shrimp, and soft rice noodle rolls slicked with soy. Everything arrives hot, fast, and confidently traditional. The shrimp dumplings snap cleanly at the bite, the fillings fresh and properly seasoned, while staples like turnip cake and pork buns deliver exactly the comfort they promise—no reinvention required. What makes House of Joy special is not novelty, but consistency. The room is bustling, slightly chaotic, and unapologetically so. Servers move briskly, efficiency over pleasantries, yet there’s an unspoken warmth in how smoothly everything runs. You may need to point, gesture, or trust instinct when ordering—but that’s part of the charm, and part of why the food tastes so honest. In a city where dim sum has increasingly been rebranded and refined, House of Joy remains steadfastly itself. It’s the kind of place longtime Chinatown regulars return to week after week, and where newcomers quickly learn that authenticity doesn’t need explanation—it simply shows up on the table, steaming, familiar, and deeply satisfying. A true Chinatown classic, and a reminder that some of the best meals in New York are still the ones locals quietly keep to themselves.

Definitely enjoyed our dim sum experience in Chinatown NYC. The food did not disappoint and I love the traditional food carts going down ghe aisle. The tea was so delicious and hot to wash down the oils from the dim sum foods. We saw some other dim sum restaurants with high reviews but were looking for something more authentic and less like tourist attraction. We happen to walk by the Joy Restaurant and there was a line out the door so we knew we wanted to try out the food to see what the hype was. It was totally worth the wait and the food was delicious. If you’re looking for a more traditional dim sum restaurant with fresh foods, this place is it. I highly recommend this dim sum restaurant.

One of the few cart service dim sum spots left in Chinatown, the service ends in early afternoon. Steaming baskets with fresh and bouncy buns and dumplings. Go with a group to try a variety of items, and same some room for sweet chewey desserts at the end. Might be seated with strangers as is tradition.

+6

House of Joy in Chinatown is always packed, the kind of dim sum hall where you dine with your family and extended family 💌 The space traces back to 1989, when it operated as Delight 28, and today it still carries that classic banquet-style energy — loud, fast, a little chaotic. Since the weekend line wrapped around the room, I tried a different method: ordering everything to-go. Honestly, the best decision yet 🤍 My fav is the shrimp dumpling, siu mai, and red rice noodle rolls (with crispy edge inside). We still had to wait a bit for our order to be ready. All is only $50 and we got 8 dim sum 🥟

+6

On Thanksgiving Day, after watching the Macy’s Parade, we took the subway near the corner of W 59 Street and Central Park West to Grand Street. I searched for Pell Street on Google Maps to find the House of Joy restaurant. We arrived around noon, and the place was busy with people enjoying their meal. After requesting a table, we waited to hear number 37. I kept busy by taking photos of the rolling carts filled with steaming Dim Sum, and other Chinese tempting food. We sat across the table with two young Chinese males. Once they finished eating another couple took their place. We were in no hurry, so we ate slowly taking in the experience. On Christmas Eve, I returned to enjoy Dim Sum. Vhuntermassage LLC

+6

Maico Angelo Anderson Dabao

I recently had a wonderful dining experience at this establishment. The Chinese food was truly authentic and delicious. I was particularly impressed with the exceptional service provided by Miss Lan. Her attentiveness and professionalism enhanced our meal significantly. I highly recommend this restaurant. The pictures shows how satisfied how happy my colleagues and I were. Thank you for this amazing food journey especially to Miss Lan!

+1

Will Joines

We went in search of Peking Duck, and of the places we passed, this was the only one with the ducks hanging in the window! It was well worth it! 56 for a whole duck and they table dress it for you! Delicious! My only quibbl3 would be the use of Bao buns instead of the thin scallion pancakes, but it was still great!

Kathy OShea

Delicious Food! Duck Lo Mein, Beef and Broccoli, Spring tolls and soup dumplings Absolutely delicious and great service and atmosphere too!

Kya Arr

What an underatted gem in China town. Last night we just walking around china town and had to stopped by good looking different roasted meats at their windows. Super juicy crispy pork with on side flavourful of stirfried chinese cabbage. Bbq pork also really good with super competitive price. More than that staffs are super friendly and helpful!! Highly recommended

+1

Riz

While walking past the restaurant, we saw the ad for 2 lobsters for $48. Which seems like a very good deal. So we had to check it out. Both lobsters were decent size and were very delicious. Loved the spices they cooked the lobsters in. It was a challenge to finish both lobsters with two people but we eventually managed to finish it. And the service was also excellent.

Alice Woo

We saw a long queue outside this restaurant and decided to have dinner here (because long queue means the food is good). Their menu has a huge variety of dishes that can whet one’s appetite. We ordered Roast Duck with Rice, Roast Pork with Rice and a bowl of Shrimp Wanton Noodle Soup. The food tasted so delicious! The staffs are very friendly too. We enjoyed our simple dinner here!!

+17

Johnny G.

One of my favorite spots in Chinatown. Always get a nice table - the round tables are communal - can seat 5 - 7 people. Tasty fresh food - clean open kitchen and fantastic wait staff.

+18

Angeline Lim

I absolutely love the food. We went there in between hours during Chinese New Year and got their lunch specials. I can’t choose which is my favorite. The place is also very clean. I will definitely stop by again!

+5

Judy W

Nice staff. Kept refilling the hot tea and water. The beef broccoli was gone before I could photo it. The fish was fresh! The fish fillets with loofah veggies and fried fish is our regular dish. Singapore Curry noodles and string beans yummy! Our regular place.

Chris Lovett

Went here for a more authentic experience. 9rdered the Peking duck. They carved it right there and it was roasted perfectly. Taste was 11 out of 10. Also had the steamed dumplings which were done well. Fried wants s were a little more crispy than I like but still very good.

+1

decent food quality, wide variety of choices, incredible value. It only cost us $249 (including 20% tip) for a party of 10, that's really good value nowadays in NYC

+2

Super busy spot! Came by during lunch time last weekend and the wait was 30-40 minutes, crazy packed and food was just average. I liked the pink rolls with fried crunch and shrimp, probably the only thing I’d recommend and enjoyed eating the most. Other items either came a bit cold or not that fully cooked for the flavor to come out. Would say to pick a time when it’s less busy and you might get a better experience. Maybe it was an off day since my friend who lives nearby said the food usually tasted better.

+1

The table’s stacked with bamboo steamers soft shumai, tender braised meats, chicken feet, pork ribs all looking super fresh and glossy. Dipping sauces are ready to go, and everything just begs to be shared. It’s got that cozy, family-style energy where everyone grabs what they want and digs in together.

House of Joy delivered the full classic HK banquet-hall dim sum experience - bustling with roaming carts and aunties calling out dishes. It was fun to pick items directly from the carts, though I wish there had also been a menu option; getting staples like shrimp dumplings took nearly the entire meal. Being seated on the edge also meant slower service and fewer fresh rotations, so some items on the table sat a bit too long. That said, the food quality was strong overall - especially the tripe and the shrimp dumplings once they finally arrived. Service felt chaotic and made it easy to fill up on things we didn’t love before our favorites came around. It’s worth noting they accept cards, and smaller parties will be seated at shared tables. The wait can also be long - for our party of three, it was about an hour on a weekend morning.

Enjoyed a Tuesday night dinner here, no wait and seated at a big table, even though it was just two of us. The food is served quickly but quality isn't compromised. There were several staff on the floor, so everything was a quick and smooth operation.

Originally waited for another dim sum restaurant on Sat lunch because of its long wait, queuing for this and got table quicker than another restaurant. Surprisingly find this dim sum restaurant pretty tasty. The servers are attentive and wearing smiles. Though believe most restaurants in NY China town offer authentic dishes in great taste. The dishes here are pretty delicious and above standard. Good for dim sum lovers.

Came here for dinner on a Monday night - pretty empty with lots of tables. The waiters were VERY attentive and nice, very funny too lol - lowkey felt like I was getting micromanaged on the way I eat xD but they were just trying to be helpful. Vibe was nice, but the food overall was pretty mid compared to other places. It was like $37 pp (group of 6 people) after tax and tip :/ Dim Sum Palace is better imo - Shrimp fried rice: 7/10, exactly what you would expect - Braised pork: 8/10, one of the better dishes, but a little oily. I really liked the cabbage in this - Mapo tofu: 5/10, didn’t have much flavor - Green beans: 4/10, avg green beans - Roast duck (half): 8/10, soft bun and tender duck - Pork soup dumplings: 5/10, avg. Skin was kinda thick, and not much soup or pork filling - Stuffed eggplant: 3/10, not much flavor. I think it was filled with shrimp? - Steamed creamy egg yolk buns: 8/10, solid but not as good as the ones at Dim Sum Palace - Complimentary oranges: 10/10, so sweet! - Red bean soup: 11/10, I love this :’) reminds me of home

+6

Great dim sum place in chinatown. The energy is chaotic and super fun, and there’s a guy shouting out numbers to the waitlist of people getting a table. We shared a 4 seat table with 2 other people since they didn’t have any small tables. The carts came by often, and most of the food was very hot and fresh. Great siu mai and the red rice roll was something I haven’t had before but liked it a lot. Was pretty cheap, would def come back. Note: the bathrooms are down a level of stairs, so they wouldn’t be wheelchair accessible

+4

O V H

Very good roast pork 🐖 and very good eggplant! I always order 🍆 and this is the first place I have experienced where the eggplant comes with other vegetables. Way too much sauce but still good. The restaurant decor is nothing fancy but it is quite large. Service was good. The waiters spoke poor English which made it feel more authentic!

+4

Vincent Ty

The food we ordered were good. It is just weird that the servers don't know what kind of fish the steamed fish we had. There were only 3 to 4 tables. Yet, each time, we had to call them for water and hot tea refill.

Amy C

Order half toasted duck , black bean rib and fish with green bean. Over all food is good , a little bit salty though . Services are not good , especially come to pay the bill, the person at the counter is quite mean / not friendly . Careful what they charge you before you pay.

Sharon K

Came on weekday lunch and it was quite packed, We had to be seated with other customers which we didn't mind. Ordered roasted duck, crispy pork, and Chinese tea. Portions are definitely bigger than in Singapore, but too much rice. Roasted duck tasted good and the pork skin was crispy. They tasted like average roasted duck and pork hawker's food. Service was quick and clean. Atmosphere just like a normal Chinese restaurant, busy and fast.

Rumpelstiltskin

This place gets four stars for the amazing service and delicious soup dumplings. The pork over rice was on the dry side but did the trick. Love when I go to Chinatown and get exactly what I wanted out of Chinatown for a really good price.

+1

Looks like a party/celebration is happening, but it's just decorated like this. Food is good, but the only problem is the language barrier. They seem a little rude, but they got the things we want. They made a lot of noise (plates/cups)

+3

Karl Kwon

We had jumbo shrimp with broccoli, and it was delicious! However, all the Chinese staff seemed angry—no smiles, no warmth. The atmosphere felt unwelcoming, and it’s not great being served by people who look upset all the time. Please train them on proper manners and customer service.

Connie Kwok

This place is decent and caters to tourists, and has a nice broad menu and lunch specials even on the weekends. We enjoyed the soup noodle, and the fried noodle dishes the best. There were plenty of staff walking back and forth to flag down. Plenty of seating for solo or groups. Enjoy!

+3

I love going for dim sum in Hong Kong- the carts, the steam, the servers and the delicious variety of morsels offered to fill your belly with delight. Well, even though I was told this was like HK DIM SUM with the carts and noise and the hustle and bustle- IT IS NOT. The food was not hot, there were no gastronomic surprises, all the dishes tasted a like- BLAND (and I made sure to order a cross section) and were tepid not hot. So, so so dim sum at best. There are carts, there is noise and the place is packed. Therefore, you need to go decide on your own. The staff were nice and the host was charming. Alert: the restrooms are down very steep steps and could use some attention but this was a very busy time.

+6

Luís Andrade

The Food have some decent quality, and the prices are ok. The big problem here is the treatment given by the owner of the place. The waitress ladies were fine. He had no polishment to respond some questions about the menu, and in the end they put an wrong extra plate of 22 dollars. So the final due should be U$ 71 and rised up to U$ 114 with an incredible amount of 18% Tip tax. In the end the owner tried to argue and was rude saying we were in obrigation to pay tips. He even said we could go and that we didnt need to show up again in his restaurant.

The restaurant was full and they often had only one cart out at a time with a few dim sum options. They only let tables with a lot of WHITE people order. Overall, I would give this 0. I was there for 45 min and got only 2 dishes. They added a plate that was apparently a “special order soup dumpling” but made it seem like the regular priced dim sum dishes. I should’ve gone to Nom Wah Tea Parlour, Golden Unicorn, or Flushing.

My family of 4 put our name on the waitlist and waited 40 minutes to be seated at around 2pm on a Saturday. They called our number, and were seated at the furthest table at the end of the restaurant where no servers or dim sum carts appeared. Our table was disgustingly dirty and felt like a last-minute decision to cram us into a space that was not acceptable for receiving guests. The table had clearly not been cleaned after whoever had been there last. There were food scraps on the floor, and the table cloth (paper) was stained, with pen drawings on it. Our tea kettle was likewise dirty and stained. The cart that appeared served us dumplings that were cold. After complaining about our table, we were told that we'd have to reenter the waitlist to be seated again, with an indeterminate wait time. We tried to make the best of it, but after trying another few dumplings that were low quality and of the level of the most mediocre dim sum that I could find anywhere outside of NYC, we decided to cut our losses. This was a disgusting experience where they couldn't care less about food quality or customer service. DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME OR MONEY HERE. HORRIBLE.

Vanessa Mai

Warning: 18% tip will be added to your total price if you don’t pay attention to the breakdown. Me and my 2 daughters which is a party of 3 just had our first meal in NYC here today. We tried to play a bill guessing game and we all were wrong. To our surprise, our receipt came with a tip of $24.56 added to our total. I work in the service industry. I completely understand the importance of tipping. But you cannot take tip without the customer’s knowledge. No post, no sign, no label; absolutely no disclaimer whatsoever. When I asked why did I get charged a tip or how did I get charged a tip, the female server had no other explanations but kept insisting it has already automatically added. I came to the front and questioned this business motive again. The male server tried to explain. Sir, I get it that some people under tip but there are others that over tip. At the end of the day or maybe the cycle, it will balance out. Give or take it’s still the service industry. But you cannot take it without asking and expect a win win out of every ticket, everyday. Taking without knowledge or consent is not an honest business transaction. I did not write the tip. I was charged the tip for a party of 3 without knowledge. Our first meal in NYC ended in confusion and disappointment.

Tamirah Dior

I ordered pork pan fried dumplings. I didn’t know where to try But I happened to walk by here. Their customer service isn’t the best to people who don’t look like them. Or at least fair skinned. I asked questions about the menu & the waitress refused to answer or even ask the cook. A simple can you replace the pork with chicken in the lo mein question. She stood there confused. I just said okay only the dumplings. My dumplings weren’t that great & trust I’ve had many. As I get ready to leave she places my change on the table. I count it with the rest of my cash & a man was just watching me. I felt very uncomfortable. (That’s him in the picture) I get up to zip my coat, he approaches me loudly saying I only paid the bill not the tip. I said I know & he proceeds to argue with me about tipping her. Which was not his place to even ask because he never catered to me from the beginning. I hadn’t even picked up my bag or anything. How were you to know if I was going to tip or not. I still ended up tipping the waitress although she didn’t help much besides bring the drink and dumplings which was her job. But I would not recommend here if you’re a person of color. They’re only concerned of how much you tip them. Very rude and disgusting & just want to rush you out of their restaurant.