Joy’s Village

Cons: The owner might have changed again. Waitress is really rude and unhappy. Highly recommend this place if you want bad service and hostile attitude.
Pros: near the campus

Joy’s is a great place to go if you’re looking for a lot of pretty authentic Chinese food at a reasonable price. They have a very extensive menu (which someone was kind enough to post pictures of on Unilocal) so ordering may take you a while if you’re not sure what everything is.
The Location: Under an apartment complex, very interesting. Not the most comfortable place, but it’s functional.
The Price: The prices are extremely reasonable considering the amount of food you get. Most dishes come with a large side of rice. My roommates and I, all male college students, were very full after finishing our meals. It is definitely possible to get a filling meal here for under $ 10.
The Food: I would say the food here is better than most Chinese restaurants you can find around campus (Panda…), but it’s definitely not life-​changing Chinese. They have a lot of offerings, which is great if you’re looking to explore Chinese food options, but none of them really stand out. I got the Beef & Tofu Hot Pot, a side of white rice, and a scallion pancake. The hot pot was delicious, but the beef and tofu come in very large pieces which makes you eat rather quickly. It’s a blend of beef, somewhat crunchy-​then-​chewy tofu, and veggies. It’s worth a try if you’ve never had anything like it before. The scallion pancake was bland and unimpressive– I would not recommend it. I also tried the General Tso’s Chicken, the Sweet & Sour Chicken, and the Black Pepper Chicken. The General and S&S Chicken were very average, mildly spiced and served in large portions. The Black Pepper Chicken had a great texture and just the right amount of pepper– it could have used more onions but I would definitely recommend it.
Hope this helps!

The food is dirty and the service is horrible!!! Never come to this place! There is a little stone in my food! Never happen this thing before. The people here are rude! They should call here rude village!

Situated in that bizarre subterranean mall near campus, Joy’s has always been on my to-​do list (actually, I think I was here once long ago, before Unilocal.)
Park on the street, or at the elevated lot in front of the «dorms.» Make your way down into the mall, wondering if you’re in the right place. Enter one of the best Chinese places on campus. Enjoy.
They have the usual suspects, but check the board in front of the register or the «specialties» section of the menu for authentic dishes. A mostly Asian clientele confirms that these will be interesting choices. I went with my usual crab Rangoon, but skipped the other half of my «test kitchen» choices (Mongolian beef) for the beef with ginger and scallions. Well, guess what? It is a close cousin to Mongolian beef. Tender slices of meat in a soy-​based sauce; lots of ginger, some scallions, and some peppers. It’s not marked «hot,» and it’s not super spicy, but be aware if you don’t like heat (I do, and would rate it mild.) I loved it. Better than Mongolian beef, but closely related.
The crab Rangoon were fine– hot, crunchy, with a decently-​crabby filling. Service was minimal but good. The food came out fast, prices are very good for what you get. There’s not much in the way of décor, but it’s comfortable enough. My phone would not work at all in this sub-​basement, but you can connect to the student housing wifi free for two hours.

Their food is OK for their price but their service is horrible. There was this one lady with red-​dyed hair serving us, she rudely asked us whether we were ready to order in Chinese. After we were done, we were trying to split the bill. She ended up charging over what we were supposed to pay and she rudely forced us to leave since she couldn’t figure out what was wrong! No apologetic gesture or whatever was shown at all. Joy’s Village clearly did not appreciate their customers. Never coming back again.

As someone grew up in China, I have to say I am very picky on Chinese restaurant. This restaurant seems like a popular place but it does not serve authentic Chinese food. I have ordered their three cup chicken and I was shocked when the dish comes. The chicken is fried in a batter… It is not three cup chicken at all. Their tom yum soup is a disaster. I would not go to this restaurant again…

Went here with some friends after hearing good things about it, but now I really don’t see what all the fuss is about. I tried five different things and found them all rather mediocre, especially in comparison to similar places I’ve been to. Prices were also rather expensive for Chinese offering virtually nothing under $ 8. I mean, I got Lo Mein and it was something like $ 9 which is absolutely insane considering it was seemingly identical in quality to most Lo Mein you can get elsewhere for around $ 5 (only better.) Only plus was that my food was brought out very fast, though now I wonder if it wasn’t brought out a little too quickly.

I’m glad this place is hidden underground because if not I’m sure it would be way too popular. I walked down the stairs to explore Joy’s a few years back and it has been one of my greatest culinary discoveries.
The menu has such an amazing range of food. Personally I go with Mongolian beef or beef with broccoli. As a chef, I can tell the chefs here are very experience and they cook the meals for just the right amount of time. The seasoning and sauces so naturally bring out the flavor of the beef. I have also tried the chicken and it is great!
At times the server can be difficult to understand but that only speaks to the authenticity of the people that work there.
Quaint atmosphere and speedy service!

I like to consider myself a connoisseur of hidden gems in Columbus, especially East Asian food. Joy’s Village is quickly rising to my #1 spot for Chinese food.
At Joy’s you can find Americanized takeout favorites as well as some more traditional dishes you’re not likely to find elsewhere in the city. Ohio State University has a lot of students from China who pack this place well into the night during the school year.
The wait staff are a little rude, but it’s nothing personal. It’s worth it for the good food!
I recommend the scallion pancake, ham fried rice, and tender greens with garlic sauce. I’ll be sure to update with more of their delicious dishes.
**Update**
The Americanized dishes like cashew shrimp and crab Rangoon are not stellar. Be sure to try more traditional Chinese options. All of the vegetables in garlic or oyster sauce are excellent.
**Update**
The Chengdu twice-​cooked pork is a must-​try!

I’d like to learn from the cooks about how to make these fantastic dishes! Especially the ma po tofu!

When you have a lot of international students coming here you knowwwww it’s authentic Chinese comfort food. Order from the Chinese menu and try some real Chinese food, be open minded and try something new and scary.

I think it’s one of the best Chinese restaurants in campus. The location is convenient and the price is very reasonable and the food is always delicious. No wonder the place is always packed during the lunch and dinner time.
They even have bubble teas, it’s just getting better and better.

If you want (relatively authentic) chinese food on campus, then Joy’s Village is the place to go. Man, international chinese students love this place — they’re always here!
Get the fish fillet dishes. The black pepper fish balls and spicy fish fillet are heavenly. I always order them when I’m here. The mapo tofu is pretty decent here too. The congee is a bit overpriced and meh, avoid it if you can.
They have a wide selection of both Americanized and authentic chinese dishes. They also introduced bubble tea recently but do yourself a favor and skip it. I ordered the green milk tea and it was very watered down and bland. I could taste the powdery texture! It was only $ 3 but you really get what you pay for. Go next door to D’Licious café if you’re craving bbtea.
I will give Joy’s four stars though bc it did improve its interior this year with new seating and furnish. It’s also downstairs in the basement so it gives off a homely and cozy vibe.

I spent a lot of my life at Joy’s… seriously though. My parents used to bring us here yyyyeaarrrssss ago, like a couple different ownerships ago. I think they have only improved through time. I’m very glad the new owners have spruced up the place a bit and are planning to expand the area. Sure, the service could use a little bit of improvement, but it’s not detrimental to the eating experience.
I’m never disappointed by the food, and you get a good portion for the price. They have both authentic Chinese items, as well the Americanized standards. Some recommendations: Three Cup Chicken, Duck Fried Rice, Beef Chow Fun (that greasy deliciousness), Beef Stew Hot Pot, Si Chuan Xiao Chao, Chinese Broccoli… oh boy, the list could go one forever! I might just stop there myself today… :)

Have to say Joy’s Village is the closest one among those better Chinese restaurants around campus, and it is also busy and popular. Although its ownership changed this summer, its menu items did not change much and even added a list of authentic Chinese food written in Chinese. Classic Chinese diner on campus!

Lately I’ve been exploring The Ohio State University campus area. As we all know this area is not known for great restaurants and such, but there are some cool gems to be found if you just look for them. Joy’s Village is one of those places. It’s located in The Ohio Stater Mall which is an underground mall on N. High and and E Woodruff.
This place caters to a primarily Chinese clientele judging from the people eating there and that fact that their menu is in Chinese with English translations. Don’t worry, the people here speak decent English and are pretty friendly too. If you like a casual, mom and pop, hole in the wall, no pretense, decently priced type of restaurant, then you are going to like this place.
The prices are reasonable with the Ginger Shrimp being $ 8.75 for a portion big enough for two people to easily share. There was a generous amount of shrimp, lot’s of vegetables and plenty of sauce. I ordered it spicy which they got pretty close to what I wanted. They also provide a heaping bowl of rice on the side.
The Hot and Sour Soup was pretty good too. It was spicier than most places and it had enough kick to gave me the sniffles for a few minutes. It was thick and rich with that satisfying pungent aroma I like.
Joy’s Village would stand shoulder to shoulder with most any other Columbus area Chinese restaurants and it’s definitely one of the top eateries in The Ohio State University campus area. Don’t let the odd location deter you from checking it out and enjoying some really good Chinese food.

Authentic food, and very friendly Chinese staff. Good for groups of friends or family, and much better if done family style.
For god’s sake, don’t order American-​Chinese dishes like sweet and sour or orange chicken. Go for something more authentic and you will be surprised by how delicious real Chinese food is.
I personally recommend the shuizhuyu (水煮鱼), a traditional Sichuan spicy fish in a spicy sauce with cabbage, or the Yuxiangqiezi (鱼香茄子), which is a delicious eggplant dish with an aromatic sauce. If you’re feeling chicken, the Gongbao (宫保鸡丁) chicken is also a delicious choice.

This is one of the better Chinese food options in Columbus for sure. The food here tastes pretty authentic and is not crazy greasy, so it reminds me of home cooking. I tried the duck noodle soup, which had generous pieces of duck although the noodles were a tad overcooked. I also tried the fried pork chops, which were much less greasy than they usually are from other restaurants. Prices were reasonable, service was decent, and I left feeling contented and happy as opposed to bloated and gross like I usually feel after dining out for Chinese food.

This food is authentic. Here’s a tip if you want to experience Chinese food: You don’t order one meal just for yourself. You order a few dishes and share it among your friends. And don’t get General Tso’s, for the love of god.
The restaurant is one of the few authentic Chinese restaurants we’ve been blessed with on campus. I like ordering some leafy green vegetables, eggplant, and maybe a meat dish. If you DO want a personal meal, the fried rice is good.
The atmosphere has that great hole in the wall feeling that most good restaurants have.
The price is pretty good. It can add up though with multiple dishes, but that’s no problem if you are eating with friends.
Overall, a good place to go for authentic Chinese Food. Don’t pass over it just because it’s in that weird underground mall.

Not the best location… parking can be a challenge, and the restaurant is situated in this strange underground mall. The menu is in Chinese, but is abbreviated in English. There is a language barrier too, so if you have a special order, be advised of that.
Now the food… absolutely outstanding! Without doubt, the most (truly) authentic Chinese food in the city. The food easily gets 5 stars!