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    The Joy Luck

    3.9 (437 reviews)

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    THE JOY LUCK ATMOSPHERE

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    Quiet
    Casual
    Trendy
    Happy hour specials

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    Jason H.

    I came to The Joy Luck to give it another chance. I've probably been 2 or 3 times in the past ten years and never cared for it. This time I brought my partner. She has wanted to try it for a while. Upon arrival we were quickly greeted, seated, and provided QR codes for the menu. Unfortunately, jokes on us since there was limited to no cell phone service or wifi available. We requested a physical menu and we're told that it is not accurate. I could rant about this practice but will save it for another time. Like my previous experiences, the food doesn't stack up against competitors. They are pricier and bland. Maybe I'm not ordering properly because a lot of people give a lot of praise but The Joy Luck has not been lucky for me. Will pass in the future and recommend you do too.

    Pork Buns
    Shelley S.

    Stopped in here for my birthday lunch. Even though I couldn't eat the pork buns, it was still a great visit. My sons and husband ordered the chicken general tso. I ordered beef and broccoli. Service was good. Seating was somewhat compact.

    Pork Soup Dumplings
    Paul J.

    I saw that The Joy Luck had some Taiwanese food on their menu so I went to try it. It was my fault for having my expectations so high. The food was alright, and it didn't taste very authentic. I got the pork soup dumplings and braised pork belly stew over rice (substituted the rice with lo mein). The food was okay. I didn't expect much because this isn't a dim sum place but the soup dumplings were okay. The braised pork belly stew was okay too. The lo mein noodles through it off, which I expected, but they didn't have other noodles you could substitute it with. Everything in general tasted like it wasn't authentic and it felt like a collaboration of flavors more than a mixture. The environment was fine. It was pretty empty when I went and had a nice dim atmosphere. The server was friendly and helpful. All in all, The Joy Luck was okay but I don't think I'll come back here. The food isn't bad, but it just doesn't taste very authentic.

    Entrance
    Joseph G.

    The joy luck is highlands neighborhood of Louisville Chinese restaurant off the popular strip or bardstown road. Me and majority of the family came in here for dinner after my oldest daughter conducted a search on places in louisvilel that serves pork dumpling soup. After she mentioned joy luck I immediately said let's go because I've heard good things. So we made the trip. Like most highlands establishments it is street parking only. The inside and outside is very elegant but on the smaller side. Has a nice vibe and a fun atmosphere. On the back wall where are family sat they had a chalk wall for kiddos to draw on. So my 7 and one year olds had a blast with that. Food wise they didn't have pork dumpling soup but did have pork dumplings. So my daughter was still happy with that. She said it was amazing and can't wait to try it again. My youngest two Daughters shared a chicken lo mein and both liked it a lot. My wife and I both got the orange chicken. She got the side of rice and I did the lo mein. The orange chicken had very good flavor and was a decent portion size. Lo mein had good flavor too. But I'd say the orange chicken was by far the better food. Service here was hit and miss. Our waitress was very nice and awesome with the kiddos. Food came out fast and was hot. Our waitress was bad on getting refills though. Almost went through our whole meal without getting one and it was not crowded at all in there. Overall we had a great time here. Kids loved the chalk wall art. Oldest daughter has a new top dish and the wife and I enjoyed the orange chicken. Pricing wasn't terrible either. Sometimes I the highlands places will price gouge because of the popularity of the area but this establishment seems to be on the fairer side. Nice place and worth checking Out. We will return for sure.

    Outdoor seating
    Binio L.

    Excellent place! From.the moment you walk in the place feels peaceful. Great modern ambiance and plenty of natural light. Great service! The host was also my server and he did a flawless job. Asked enough times of everything was good, took my order and brought the food in a quick and timely manner. The food was excellent as well, amazing flavor good portion and high value lunch. It has indoor and outdoor choice of seating, I went for indoors to enjoy a cool experience. Parking is on the street, but it allows for a great short walk to get to the restaurant. The place is very clean and fresh. I will return to try some other entrées.

    Thai Curry Lunch Special
    Jessica H.

    The Joy Luck is one of my favorite spots for Asian food in the Highlands. Maybe most notable, they have some of the only soup dumplings I've found in Louisville. Some of my other favorites are the Szechuan chicken (lightly fried chicken with fresh garlic, jalapeño and spicy Szechuan oil) and the braised pork belly stew over rice. I really enjoy their lunch specials because they are served with a spring roll, rice, and choice of soup. I feel like it's a bargain for elevated quality they offer and appreciate the variety that can't be found elsewhere. They have other locations, but I have only been to Highland's location and have always received exceptional service. Pictured below is a the five flavor lunch (ginger, garlic, onion & five spice & lemon zest with mixed vegetables) with wonton soup and a spring roll and the Thai curry lunch (red & green peppers, onion, carrots, potatos, coconut cream), with egg drop soup and spring roll.

    Delivery bag
    Herman P.

    My wife ordered from restaurant via door dash due to Covid 19 restrictions. For 2 entrees and 2 appetizers for total price of $67 is was NOT worth it! It's not that the cost was only factor BUT minuscule portions relevant to cost and mediocre flavor! The Crab Rangoon was only thing that tasted as expected. Everything else was flavorless that even my kids didn't like the Chicken Fried Rice (which they normally love) as it's their typical order. We paid it and learned a lesson! My photo is review posted to Google. I had just arrived from out of town(now have to stay indoors) and normally when we ordered from our usual, there's plenty of food but outrageous the portion, price and mediocre flavor

    Pork Mu Shu
    Holly A.

    When we walked in to the Bardstown Road location, we had to wait for a bit to be noticed. However, we quickly learned that they were having issues with staff calling off for the evening. Being a former server and bartender, I understand these things. There was only one or two people on the kitchen and one person handling service. That didn't stop them from making sure that their customers were cared for and tended to. The cook in the kitchen helped serve the food and made the food taste splendid. Starting off with some signature cocktails and flights, I will say try the smoked cocktail. Cannot for the life of me remember what it was called, but very delicious. We spilt a round of starters, fried pork dumplings, crispy duck wings and egg rolls. They did not disappoint. The duck soup is more than enough for three people to split or a nice leftover for the next day. Pork pad Thai, chicken mushu and cumin beef. All very good.

    Little sumo sake
    Rhonda P.

    Service was very good. Wait staff was great about answering questions. Yes, the lucky dog sake is in a juice box. But it was cold and tasty. Loved the spicy wonton and crab Rangoon. I was very glad to have a brown rice as an option. You can have white rice or lo mein.

    Bourbon chicken

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    1 year ago

    Sat on the patio for the St. Patrick's parade. Service was OUTSTANDING! Food was fun and delicious!

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    We were pleasantly surprised. Food was delicious and all 5 of us loved what we got. Highly recommend walnut shrimp!

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    Page 1 of 11

    The Joy Luck Reviews in Other Languages

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    Pretty Decent

    Pretty Decent

    4.6
    (33 reviews)
    1.4 mi

    Pretty Decent is an amazing Plant Bar ... yes you read that correctly, a Plant Bar, which is such a…read morecool concept. I've been a few times now and it's always very chill and relaxing, and I love the music selection. When you walk in the plant shop is in the front and the bar is in the back. I recommend heading to the bar, grabbing a delicious hand crafted cocktail and relaxing for a bit. However if you're super eager to shop grab a cocktail to enjoy while you walk around the store. I've only ever had the Carajillo bc it's so damn good. It's light, refreshing and delicious. It consists of dark matter cold brew, Licor 43, Paranubes Cafe de Olla, Alma Tepec pasilla chile liqueur, hazelnut, cinnamont. They have the best mezcal by the bottle selection which I believe you can purchase some online. While sitting at the bar, I noticed all the bottles neatly displayed on the shelf behind the bar and none of the labels are ones I've ever seen before. In addition to being able to shop for plants, they also offer Plant workshops that you can sign up for online! Some of the workshops include a price for two people so pay attention to what you're signing up for. And if you happen to get hungry and need a snack, they also offer a few light bar snacks that consists of chips and salsa, spicy oaxacan peanuts, spicy pickled carrots, and Nemi Mexican lime crunchy snack.

    Hidden gem alert! If you're strolling in Frankfort Avenue and happen to pass what looks like a cute…read morelittle plant shop... STOP. GO IN. TRUST ME. Behind the lush greenery and unassuming storefront is Pretty Decent, a mezcal bar that's anything but "pretty decent"--it's ridiculously cool. My only regret is that I didn't get more pictures to share because this place is very cool. But I was enjoying myself too much to be bothered with my phone. The vibe? Immaculately chill. Moody lighting, thoughtful design, and a playlist that makes you want to stay all night. It's the kind of place that feels like a secret you're lucky to be in on. We started with a Paloma recommended by Ethan (bartender and apparently low-key rockstar). It was refreshing, perfectly balanced, and an excellent recommendation.. We chatted mezcal, music, and more--Ethan's the kind of bartender who makes you feel like a regular on your first visit. Got to talk mezcal with the owner, John, who's clearly passionate and seriously knowledgeable. He shared stories about sourcing, traveling, and working directly with producers. Learned more in 10 minutes from him than I have from any spirit tasting I've done. Super generous with his time and samples, which led to me walking out with a bottle of Espadín, an agave spirit, I'm now obsessed with. You don't find places like this often. It's got soul, character, and people who actually care about what they're doing. Come for the plants, stay for the mezcal. Pretty Decent? Nah--Pretty Damn Exceptional.

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    Walk closer!
    Walk closer!
    Front of store
    Front of store
    Plants

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    Prova

    Prova

    4.9
    (14 reviews)
    1.5 mi

    I absolutely love going to their events, everyone there is so kind & personable! The place is…read morecasual fancy with lights at each table, a decent sized bar, & an art gallery towards the restrooms! Giuseppe is super kind & introduced my friends and I to a local artist that's a bartender on Sundays named Topher, whose art made us laughhhhh, so you have to check it out yourself! Topher was letting us know that the place is animal friendly even indoors & that he sells prints when he's working, so please support!!

    My wife came home one day and told me she wanted to try a new place called Prova. Since I'm always…read moreup for trying somewhere new, I agreed immediately. One Sunday afternoon we had a free time in our schedule and decided Prova would be our destination. We arrived shortly after they opened and were greeted by a festively decorated space that immediately set the mood. The friendly bartender welcomed us, and we took seats at the bar. After looking over the Christmas drink menu, I went with the Yippee-Ki-Cocoa Motherf**er--and wow, it was incredible. Made with truffle bourbon, chocolate amaro, cocoa, and topped with whipped cream and popcorn butter dust, it was hands-down delicious. My wife chose the Zabaione eggnog and reluctantly let me have a taste--it was excellent as well. From the Hemingway's Holiday Spain to the Gingerbread Man-Hatten, every drink we tried was fantastic. They were out of a couple of items, but that barely put a dent in our options. And I can't forget to mention our bartender--he was outstanding: knowledgeable, friendly, and attentive. We're already looking forward to going back and ordering from their standard menu.

    Photos
    Prova
    Prova
    Presentation of the drink creations

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    Presentation of the drink creations
    The Whirling Tiger

    The Whirling Tiger

    4.5
    (49 reviews)
    1.6 mi
    $$

    In need of a festive, holiday, pick me up - OR - just need to add to your already festive mood?…read more.. This IS where you need to go to accomplish either Check it out before the seasonal menu - decor are gone Popped in here Tuesday (mostly to sit beside the decor) & for a holiday coffee with a small bite. The moment you walk in you're engulfed in kitschy decor and... it's GREAT!! My server was so nice. Showed me their standard menu & the holiday menu. Even pointed out there was an upstairs ((which wasn't aware of)) I placed my order: peppermint mocha & a sausage egg cheese croissant. Neither disappointed! They also have seasonal cocktails as well.

    This was stop 5 on our tour of Louisville distilleries and bars. I definitely liked the…read moreneighborhood feel of this bar. Nice and cozy inside. This place was also down the block from our Airbnb so we could walk there. They had a lot of boozy coffee drinks and I really like that. I decided to try their Espresso Martini. This was our last bar stop prior to going out to dinner with friends. My drink had a house made espresso, Absolut vodka, Borghetti (coffee liqueur), a rich simple syrup, and coffee beans. My drink was rich and delicious and I absolutely loved their espresso. I do not recall what drinks my friends ordered. By the time we were leaving there was plenty of people in the place and appeared there was some sort of event gathering. We will have to come back here and with all the coffee drinks they had this may well be the place to start our day next time.

    Photos
    Downstairs in your Grandmas Livingroom
    Downstairs in your Grandmas Livingroom
    Liquor selection at the Whirling Tiger.
    Liquor selection at the Whirling Tiger.
    Cozy inside

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    Cozy inside
    Seven Cocktails + Bourbon

    Seven Cocktails + Bourbon

    4.5
    (44 reviews)
    1.7 mi

    Great great experience here. We had a 4 top at the low bar on a Friday. Had to wait about 15…read moreminutes. They don't take reservations. It was a full house but everything was really good as far as drinks and food. Staff was nice considerate and updating you when it comes to something taking too long, getting another beverage. The whole 9 yards. We got the Neapolitan flat bread and it was great! Also the popcorn of the night was lime chili and it'll knock your socks off! So tasty. Drinks were French 75, house margarita, a smoked and sour, and another drink my friend got I can't recall the name of. The ambiance is so cute down to the light when you enter with the name. The vibes is warm low light. Parking is street only and limited. You may have to park a block up and walk.

    I have to say that although overall I had a decent time here, the first 15 minutes of my visit here…read moreleft a lasting negative impression on me. I walked in around 5:15pm on a monday night, with plans for a friend to join me around 5:30. The sign at the host station said to wait to be seated. So I waited. And waited. and waited... Folks walked in after me, waited for a bit and then sat themselves at the bar. But I did not want to sit at the bar, we wanted to sit at a table. The server seemed to be willfully ignoring me and avoiding my attempts at eye contact. The bartender was taking care of everyone at the bar as well as making drinks for the rest of the patrons too, he saw me eventually and was looking around for the server or (nonexistent?) host to help me out. The bartender ultimately told me that I could just seat myself wherever I wanted, so I did. There were maybe 3 table seated at this point, it was not that busy. Then it took yet another chunk of time (6 pages read in my book I never leave home without) before I got water and menus. I was frustrated but was looking forward to seeing my friend and was ready to make the most of it. All that said, I like the vibe of the space. The dark, cozy vibes. We came because we wanted cocktails and something to nosh on. And eventually we got that. We shared a flatebread and an Asian-inspired hushpuppy sort of situation. They were pretty tasty and nice to have with our cocktails. The cocktail list is longer than expected and with a lot of intriguing sounding offerings. The two I had were very tasty and delicious! I would maybe come back again and sit at the bar so a solo visit if I had a stretch of time and no rush. My overall memory of the visit is still about the over-long wait/being ignored for such a long time after entering.

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    Smoked and sour four you
    Smoked and sour four you
    Seven Cocktails + Bourbon
    Bar

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    Bar
    The Last Refuge

    The Last Refuge

    4.1
    (152 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    Must try: Signature Cocktails!…read more Why: What a neat experience enjoying some cocktails inside a restored church. The bar wall filled with liquor bottles ceiling high was like wow! I enjoyed the Revival Cathedral and Rhubarb Revelation specialty cocktails made with Heaven's Door Whiskey. Both were refreshing and went down smoothly. I didn't try any food but many folks around me seemed to enjoy their meals and drinks. Notes: I came on a Sunday around dinner time and it was packed. Luckily, I found a seat at the bar because someone was just leaving when I arrived. Bartender was welcoming, friendly, helpful and attentive all while serving back to back customers. The decor, stained glass, chandeliers, and walls filled with bottles was really cool to see. Great ambiance for small or large groups. Tons of seating at bar, tables, and comfy side chairs. I'd like to come back with family and friends to enjoy other drinks and try their food next time.

    Walking into The Last Refuge, there's a moment where you almost feel conflicted -- a bar inside a…read moreformer church carries a strange weight to it at first. The soaring ceilings, stained glass, and echoes of what the building once was make you pause and reflect. But then "Break On Through (To the Other Side)" came on, the drinks started flowing, the energy shifted, and suddenly you stop overthinking and simply admire the beauty of the space and what it has become. The atmosphere is stunning, moody, and unlike anywhere else. We originally ordered one of their signature drinks only to find out they couldn't serve it after the order was placed, but Alain handled it well and made things right with 30% off, which was appreciated. Also, huge thanks to Sean and Mike working security. Walk-ins were completely full for the night, and honestly without their help and kindness we probably never would've gotten a reservation. They treated us incredibly well and set the tone for a great evening. A memorable experience, beautiful setting, and a place that somehow balances reverence, history, and nightlife all at once.

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    Restaurant
    Restaurant
    Sweet Jesus
    Sweet Jesus
    The Mary Chicken Sandwich

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    The Mary Chicken Sandwich

    The Joy Luck - taiwanese - Updated June 2026

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