Went there because we ere looking for a good Chinese buffet and Joy luck got good reviews We were very disappointed The buffet was uninspired ,, and not very good The hot and sour soup was watery and neither hot nor sour The egg rolls were inedible The chicken dishes were tasteless, and greasy To be fair the lo mein was good and so were the pot stickers,( but there was no sauce for them at the buffet table) Even the rice was not good Won't be going back read more

Either I've been spoiled by other sushi places or the sushi here has gone downhill. All of it was dry, tasteless, and they used strange ingredients like bell peppers and something that looked like fried chicken. I was disappointed there was no spring rolls on the buffet, but they did have coconut shrimp. The egg roll was decent but I couldn't identify the ground meet in it. I still hope to try the hot pot menu sometime but I will not come back for the buffet. read more

What a shame! I see a lot of good reviews but I have really been disappointed lately. My wife and I have been going here for about the past fifteen years. This used to be--hands down-- the best Chinese buffet in St. Louis. It has been going downhill continuously for about the last three years. Most recently went here on Saturday 8/16. We arrived at about 12:10. Most of the food bins were full but the food seemed like it was either left over from the day before or it was like it was cooked about 8:00 in the morning and then warmed up. However, some things were not warm. The green beans were cold, the dumplings were cold, etc. We'll be looking for a new go-to place. read more

-stars. Horrible place to go. They charge 15% gratuity fee for a party of more than 5. It's a buffet, why is there gratuity if it's self serve. The guy picked up the plate and spilled shrimp on my 4 month old baby and the guy was laughing. Also the soda is watered down. We got our bill and it was $77.74, but then we ordered a coke and all of a sudden the price was $90. We went there because we thought it was family friendly, but I don't think it's funny that the baby was covered in shrimp. read more

It was 95 outside and almost as hot inside.Food was hard and over cooked. Server didn't show up to give us drinks until the guy at the sushi bar yelled at them. Would not recommend and will not return. Very dark. Food was subpar at best. read more

Their Hot and Sour soup is fantastic, one of the best I've had in the city, great spice to it! The buffet is pretty basic and does have a large variety of chicken, shrimp, and beef dishes. The dishes I tried were all pretty flavorful I really enjoyed their grill station as well, the vegetables and meats were higher quality than some of the other girls I've gone to and they add in the sauce for you (I went for the spicy one and it didn't disappoint). I'm really looking forward to going back or having take out and trying something from the menu. From what I saw other tables ordering and from some of the other reviews on here, that seems to be where to go for the best dishes here. read more

Their buffet is only so-so. I've had worse but I've certainly had better. The problem was the service - I was there for an hour and from the time I was seated until I went up front to pay my bill, I never saw a waiter or a waitress. The gentleman who "seated" me (and by "seated", I mean he waved his hand toward an empty table) and brought my drink never once smiled or said welcome. No one came to clear plates, check to see if all was OK, or offer a refill on soda or water. It's not like it was terribly busy, either - I'd say it was only about a third full. There are plenty of other places with better food that at least *pretend* they're happy to see me and my money, so next time I go out to eat, me and my money will go somewhere where we'll at least get a smile. read more

Went there yesterday for lunch after reading some of the reviews here. I love a good Chinese buffet and they had a nice selection of what you would expect to find with wider selection of sushi than I usually see. I'll definitely return. Cons- Most of the tables have built in hotplates and apparently to make that happen the base of the tables is very (very) wide, providing little leg room. I'm about 6' and it wasn't comfortable. I was seated at a booth so I couldn't push the seat back, might be better at a free standing table. Oddly enough they don't serve coffee. I mean, who doesn't serve coffee? read more

I've been eating here since I was a kid. I love the large variety that they offer. Everything is always fresh and not left out for long. They even have a sushi station where they will customize a sushi role for you. Love this place! read more

$26 for a meal that left me feeling like I was going to be sick, and I wasn't sure if I was eating real food or dumpster diving produce.

There was a large selection but much of the food did not taste very good. The noodles were good and the sesame chicken and general Tso's chicken were decent, as was the hot n sour soup. It was just very hit and miss. The egg roll tasted freezer burned- I took a bit and didn't eat it. the crab rangoon had good flavor but was undercooked and doughy. The pot sticker was not good. The fried rice tasted very weird- maybe it was just not fresh. The service was ok but had to wait for refills on water and had to ask for ice. I don't plan on going back. read more

What a party. Came here for Chinese New Year with the fam. My boy lisko ate 12 hotdogs and a side salad. Crab rangoons were fantastic. Can't complain tho. The bartender was slingin drinks like gangbusters and the sweet and sour was flowing like milk and honey. A plus! read more

I like going to joy luck because i enjoy there food and they always take care of there buffet nothing is sitting for to long empty ... The one thing they can do is add more daily a different variety ... Other than that its great .... read more

I was initially against going to a buffet but my bf insisted that it was good and really clean. WELL! Got to buffet stations and the selections looked yummy with plenty steam coming from the warmers. We pack a plate up and head back to our table. Just to find that NOT ONE SINGLE THING on our plates were even warm! Literally, like they're taken our plates of food out of a cooler. He and I have different food allergies so we didn't even have the same food on our plates--still COLD and hard food! The manager says that he will have them bring fresh food out, and he apologizes...while I discover something floating around the bottom of my sprite. Annoyed with all of this, we are notified that new and fresh food has been put out. We decide to try the hibachi since it's guaranteed to be hot. While walking up, the guy about to make our food is PICKING HIS NOSE!!!! Emphatically! In front of us!!! This experience was so overwhelming we stopped in our tracks and turned around! We left immediately, after notifying the same manager about what's happening. He said he'd talk to the guy. I told him don't forget to have him wash his hands--because by the time we got to the door, he was working on a hibachi order. YUCK!!!! read more

Came here to check out the hotpot. It was a dissapointing experience. Ate with a group of 5 and got two different soups. Both were more oil than broth and the quality of the "all you can eat" meats and vegetables were questionable at best. The only upside is that your hot pot comes with entry into the normal buffet, which some may go for after you get tired of the hotpot. read more

Since they don't have a lot of nice options I don't really eat very much but if they had more options other than things outside of their food it would be much better read more

It's not often you find a buffet that tries to do so many things for so many people, much less do it well. Typically, Chinese buffets are simple: Americanized Chinese food, a sushi station, maybe a hibachi grill, some generic desserts, and voila! Start making money. Every once in awhile you get places that want to be fancier, offering crab legs and some authentic Chinese items. Then you have Joy Luck: simple buffet to rake in some base profits, a full non-buffet Americanized Chinese menu for eat-in, takeout, or delivery, and FULL SERVICE HOT POT + MASSIVE SZECHUAN CHINESE MENU. Color me impressed. THE GOOD HOT POT: For those who don't know, Hot Pot is basically what the Melting Pot copies when you go there and eat non-dessert items. Boiling pot of stock, a selection of pre-cooked meats and vegetables, and off you go. Seems simple, seems sorta "what's the point" to some, but it's so fun! If the stock is done right, which is definitely the case here with their spicy stock, you get some really enriching flavors to pair with the food you cook. Speaking of the food, there are lots of options: beef, lamb, pork, shrimp, squid, tripe, tofu, enoki mushrooms, glass noodles, an assortment of vegetables and other stuff that I can't think of at the moment. Additionally, the dipping-sauce station: 20 different sauces to choose from for you to mix and match at your leisure. Finally, if you're eating with others and are a little concerned about the spice, they provide half-and-half pots with regular stock as well. Overall a great setup. Extra plus: The buffet is included in the hot pot price, just in case you want to gorge on some of that food too. SZECHUAN MENU: Have you had Szechuan cuisine before? No? Well be prepared to have your mouth on fire. If you like spicy food, this is the place for you. There are a lot of really good authentic Chinese restaurants on Olive, but none to my knowledge serve this wide variety of Szechuan-style food. It's even more impressive considering it's being cooked in the same kitchen where all the buffet food is coming from. If you want a taste of authentic China, ask for this menu next time. All you have to do is check the back of the restaurant and see large groups of Chinese people ordering off that menu to know it's legit. THE BAD HOT POT TABLES: Great food, good service, sore knees. Let me explain: a lot of the Hot Pot Accessible tables are based out of the booths, as the burners are directly connected from the floor to the tables. The shell around the burners take up a lot of space below the table, so it's a little uncomfortable if you happen to get one of the booths that sit tighter together. You have to squeeze your legs in. Too often have I banged my knee or had to sit at an awkward angle. Fortunately the food is worth it. If you want more space, request another table. They have plenty others scattered throughout the restaurant with a little more leg room. I wish they had invested in smaller burners that take up less space, but then again those cost a lot more money. Oh well. PURGATORY BUFFET: Should you go strictly for the buffet? Well if you're hankering to stuff your face until you can't move, buffet-style, you really don't have any other options in St. Louis. Honestly, Joy Luck's buffet is pretty bare-bones simple, but it will suffice as it's a good price point/cheap way to get full on decent food. OVERALL Joy Luck is so much more than a buffet. Of course, I know their bread and butter is the buffet as this is the most profitable part of their business and gets the most foot traffic. I just hope that people read and like the reviews discussing the more authentic side of their food. It's delicious-ness that deserves to be recognized and tried out by those adventurous (or nostalgic) enough to give it a shot. You won't be disappointed! read more

Solid Chinese buffet! Good friendly service, good food. They keep it consistent across the days I've been there, same offerings but still tasty. read more

This review is for their menu orders, not buffet. Joy Luck has got a great selection of traditional Chinese food. This place has always been know for Szechuan cuisine. And they definitely do their dishes right. Chengdu spicy beef was awesome. The spiciness is toned down a bit but can surely be changed upon request. I will definitely revisit. read more

I'm writing this review from my booth. It's my first time eating here (having lunch) and I'm really glad I stopped in. This is by far the cleanest buffet I've ever seen. There are tons of friendly employees around so my water glass hasn't been empty, which is good since this general chicken is making me thirsty. The lunch buffet is only setting me back $6.99. The food is great so it's well worth every penny. I recommend trying this place if you haven't done so already. I'll absolutely be back. read more

Want a variety of Chinese food that is all you can eat and is reasonably priced? What's that, you say you want it to taste great as well? Well then, you're looking for the Joy Luck Buffet! It just doesn't get any better! The service is home style and fast. You'll be brought right to your table immediately upon entering and your drink will be waiting for you before you can even return to your seat after visiting the buffet. You're choices range from General Tso's Chicken all the way down to fruit slices. Don't forget to try the sesame balls, they're delicious! Once you finish your plate, just set it to the side of the table and go for more food. Usually the used plate will be gone by the time you return. Don't want buffet food? That's fine, just ask for their menu! They have plenty of entrees to choose from as well. read more

One of my favorite Chinese restaurants in Saint Louis! Great food and customer service, they love feedback. As a Chinese, the real Sichuan dishes are great, as they are the real taste of Sichuan food. Every time I've got a visiting fellow, I always take them to Joy Luck. Hotpot is also one of my favorite. I love this place, and I highly recommend you all to try at Joy luck. read more

It's not much to look at on the outside or inside and the location isn't all that great, but the food was very good. There was a wide variety of dishes on the buffet, fresh sushi, and a Mongolian grill all included in the cost of the buffet. (the buffet and a drink was about $9 for lunch) The wait staff was always quick to take away dishes and keep your drink filled. When I first went in, I was a little leery because there weren't many people there, but then the place filled up quick. They also have a pretty good sized menu if buffets aren't for you. read more

I live and work in Maplewood so Joy Luck is very convenient for my family and I. There really is two Joy Luck restaurants the first is the average buffet and the second is the secret authentic cuisine. We normally eat at the buffet. For around $30.00 for a family of five it is exactly what you would expect. The buffet is dominated by Chicken for lunch and becomes more varied at dinner featuring frog legs, ribs, and many seafood dishes. Sometimes the service is slow especially with drink refills. The buffet is always hot and fresh. Do eat the spring rolls skip the sesame chicken. Bottom line expect to get what you pay for, this is not P.F. Changs! read more

Very good sushi. Standard hibachi. Standard menu. Son didn't like the lo mein. I tried the shrimp dishes. They had pepper whole prawns, they were fine. They did have 6 flavors of ice cream. read more

Fantastic buffet at a great price! It offers so many options, including sushi. I found this a great spot to introduce my preschooler to Chinese food. He loved picking from all the dishes displayed. I want to go back and try the hot pots. read more

Ah what it felt like to be young, 19, and completely broke again. That's the feeling I got when I sat down to eat at Joy Luck buffet. Your standard regurgitated Chinese American buffet fare. But for a $6.50 lunch buffet special it's actually worth the money. I found this place to be pretty descent. And it's the only other buffer I know of that isn't First Wok buffet in Crestwood. If you are in the mood to just pig out on some Chinese buffet, come here. It does the job, that's for sure. It's off Manchester Road. read more

Hands down Joy Luck my favorite Chinese buffet in St. Louis. The buffet offers every appetizer known to man, tons of dishes, and even sushi. I learned yesterday that the warm donut like dessert is heavenly when combined with the chocolate pudding. Think of it like a stuffed beignet. The buffet is very affordable coming in at $7.04 (no beverage ordered). read more

The cheapest buffet we've ever had. We read these positive reviews so we went there for lunch. The customer photos posted about this place are dishes from the menu. The buffet is disappointing. All they are capable of is cooking chicken: orange chicken, sesame chicken, fried chicken, sweet chicken, ginger chicken... Only one beef and one shrimp dish, to tell you that the red-meat and seafood categories are not empty. Nothing else, Literally. They even fail to offer fruits except those canned fruits - foul processed fruit without any healthy vitamins floating in aspartame water. (we saw some grapes) There is a sushi bar where people make something that barely called sushi. Rice rolls with some cucumbers/seaweed is what it is. Great services? Well, they led us to a table and then left. After we almost finished one plate of all kinds of greasy chicken, they realized something and came to ask us something to drink. The price is reasonable. This is the reason for two stars. read more

Hot pot. Hot fantastic. Serious foodgasms. Got the half bland half spicy. The spicy was a bit tooo spicy for my mom's taste. The dipping sauces were a little bit different than what I had before possibly due to regional differences. Brings back memories of grad. school. Ate hot pot on cold nights with a bunch of buddies. Long & sometimes intellectual conversations peppered with humor ensued. Will sooo come back & bring some buddies who have never had such delicious enjoyment on their palates. Awesome staff & great ambience. Loved the bathroom (women's bathroom that is). read more

For a solid Chinese buffet with options ranging from steamers (clams) to classic Szechuan dishes, sushi, soups, frog legs, crawfish, salmon and much more, this is a good stop for lunch or dinner! $10 for the unlimited weekend buffet and very good service! Clean, relaxing space. read more

To fully enjoy this place you MUST look at the "Authentic Menu". The buffet is not much different from others and nothing really stands out overall. However, if you ask for the Authentic Menu you will be pleasingly overwhelmed with dozens upon dozens of really, really good choices. I've tried seven items off this menu and all are good. So far may favorite is Ma Po bean curd. Even if your not a fan of bean curd, get this for the sauce alone and use it to embellish other dishes. Seriously, the sauce is magical. read more

Food was ok; selection was ok. they kept everything fresh and full on the buffet, which was great. However, the service was terrible--they checked on our drinks only once, and never took any dirty dishes off our table. Also, something my husband ate was off-- he spent the evening/night paying for it. :/ read more

Great buffet and service, with reasonable prices. Good family place, clean, friendly, pleasant atmosphere and really tasty food!

This place is just an average chinese buffet. Total price was about 18 dollars for 2 people. I got one single cup of water throughout my meal. Most of the food i ate was warm or getting cold. Some foods just didnt look safe to eat. And it was a bit hot inside. I suppose this would be a place to try if you are curious. read more

Cheap but bland. Everything tastes the same and all chicken dishes - one beef dish and no pork. Better to find a place where you order off the menu for better quality and taste. read more

I have been back now 3 times and I noticed an issue, at least for me. Lack of hot vegetable entrees. I saw none except garlic string beans and potatoes. One could rob veggies from other dishes, but, for vegetarians this wont suffice. I am not devout vegetarian but try to reduce meats and when I looked at my plate, sure was a lot of meat. Maybe rely on the Mongolian stir fry. read more

If you are looking for a nice comprehensive Chinese buffet, I would recommend Emperor's Palace in Chesterfield Valley over Joy Luck. If you are looking for a cheap Chinese buffet, then this place is decent enough. But really, the attraction here is the Chinese menu, not the buffet. As a Chinese person who has eaten at all the Chinese restaurants in town, I recommend this place over all else. As far as I know it is the only place that offers Chinese style hotpot, which is similar to Fondue at places like the Melting Pot but with a bigger variety of ingredients and unlimited amount of vegetables and meat. The pot itself is placed on a gas burner and divided into "spicy" and "nonspicy" sections which will already have pre-made soup base inside when the pot is placed on your table. The waiter will initially bring you dishes of lamb, pork, beef, mushrooms, tofu, glass noodles, shrimp, squid, imitation crab, cabbage, two types of sauces (some sort of sesame sauce and garlic oil which is pungent and gives you horrible breath for days after-wards - I swear. I can't get it out of my system after 10+ times of teeth brushing) and a bowl of cilantro. Once your pot is boiling you can drop whatever you want from the plates into it and wait a few minutes for them to get fully cooked before you fish them out with these special spoon made of wires. When you run out of soup or any of the ingredients, you could request more. It is delicious (esp on winter nights) and $17 dollars per person after tax. Other than hot pot, their regular items off the Chinese menu are also delicious. They are known for their spicy flavors, which is a signature of Sezchuan dishes (These are fairly authentic Sezchuan cuisines, not your takeout places bearing Sezchuan in its names) Highly recommended for asians looking for authentic Chinese dining and for non-asians who are feeling adventurous :P read more

We had a terrible time at the restaurant. The service was terrible specifically from the Assistant Manager on Thanksgiving evening. He turned an annual tradition into an unforgettable event. After paying the bill at the table for a party of eight plus a hefty tip, the Assistant Manager yells as we are leaving the restaurant, "Did you forget to pay? You need to pay now!" The guy must have been new or something. This is the fifth year straight that we've patronized this restaurant on Thanksgiving. We brought elders to the restaurant expecting them to be treated with honor. Shame on you Joy Luck for a bad experience. We'll take our tradition and our dollars else where. read more

I used to go to Joy Luck on a regular basis and always found it to be ok. I recently stopped in in mid-Feb 2012 and was surprised to see the place had been renovated and is now much nicer than before. They also seem to have gone an "all you can eat buffet" all the time establishment. I can tell you the food is what you would expect from a Chinese buffet with all of the regular menu items available but I was a little shocked (and happy) to find they installed a sushi bar as part of the buffet options. If you like Chinese buffets you will probably like this one and the price is very cheap. I cannot complain about Joy Luck as it is what I expected and have come to know: Chinese food on the cheap. read more