I didn't take pics, because we were celebrating an engagement, but I did want to post a review anyway...the ambiance is so fun and quirky! It's funky to find, because the entrance is in an alley. We were a party of 17, with many separate checks. Cat did an amazing job at keeping up with everyone's orders and drink replenishments! They have a little happy hour menu with a couple drinks and food items. We got the $1 egg rolls and they were basic egg rolls. I got ginger noodles and added chicken and I wasn't crazy about them...they were ok. Someone got the spam fried rice and I tried that and it was fantastic. Many of their plates are shareable. Parking was a pain, so I may not go back. But it's worth the experience. read more

Another great lunch at Hot Joy! The food was incredible -- I ordered the honey walnut shrimp. The shrimp were perfectly cooked. I'm afraid it spoiled me...I can't order that at Panda Express anymore it came with delicious egg drop soup, an egg roll, and fried rice. My guest had the fiery gato noodles with pork belly, and they were packed with flavor and just the right amount of heat. Our waitress was friendly, attentive, and really helpful when we had questions about the menu. We'll definitely be back! read more

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The best way to go to Hot Joy is for happy hour with a group of friends. If I was rating the happy hour alone it would be 5 stars. The $6 frozens and some other drinks are very well priced during happy hour. My favorite part is the happy hour $1 large egg rolls that come with a delicious sauce and $3 pork belly buns. This is one of my favorite happy hours in all of San Antonio. My friends and I will usually also get a few main menu items to share family style. The service is good, and the staff seem to help each other out to make sure all tables are taken care of and that everything comes out quickly. The menu changes every quarter, with a few classics like the all American sesame chicken and green beans that stick around so you can always find something. However, I feel like the food menu still feels a bit small and limited. Everything about this place is definitely very picturesque. I love their wall art, decor, dishes, cocktail presentation, and small details of how everything looks. The parking lot behind the building is always full, but I've always been able to quickly find a spot on the streets directly nearby. Do NOT sit outside. The outdoor seating area is bad. The outdoor furniture is uncomfortable and dirty, and seems very cheap compared to the rest of the restaurant. The plants are overgrown and in the way of the outdoor seating. The music outdoors was also way too loud and kind of inappropriate. One song was swearing every other word which is just too much. read more

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Wow ok everything here was so yummy. I cannot get over the green beans. That could have literally been my whole meal. Thankfully the table ordered other items / all were delicious. The shrimp, the pork belly, the egg rolls and crab Rangoon dip were all great. Next time I want to try a noodle dish. Also highly recommend the Monkey Fried Rice (it's a cocktail, and it was amazing). read more

Hot Joy - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

We unintentionally came down here for The lunar new year and the parking situation was a little rough. But we thoroughly enjoyed the walnut shrimp and Rangoon dip. Was my second time here and the staff always has good recs. Can't wait to come back and try more of the menu. It's a little dark and a higher noise level in a smaller space so just giving that heads up! read more

Hot Joy - Crab Rangoon Dip - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This place has always been wonderful. The food is always great. I've yet to have a bad meal or bad customer service. Every meal I've had has been incredible and the ambiance is great too. Their new location is very spacious and artsy. read more

Hot Joy - Cosmic Fizz - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The restaurant itself is beautifully decorated and very welcoming. The hostess at the front was a little slow seating my friend and I, she saw us but bused a table before greeting us and taking us to a table. We were happy to see that we made it in time for happy hour and happy to see that we also made it in time to take advantage of lunch specials. Our server was friendly and offered suggestions for drinks and my friend's food allergies. I got brisket and broccoli with hot and sour soup. The soup was very good. The brisket and broccoli wasn't quite what I expected, it was smoky and in a slightly sweet sauce but it was good and it was tasty reheated the next day . We also got and order of wings and they were nicer and crispy and flavorful. Our happy hour drinks were good enough to make us considering returning for happy hour. read more

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Stopped by for a few appetizers and mocktails everything we got to share was so good recommend hands down service was amazing and when certain items were out given recommendations that hit the spot so excited to come back again read more

Hot Joy - Crispy Sichuan Tofu Buns Four Egg Roll Plate - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

This place is gorgeous. We came late so didn't have any issues with parking, however parking could be difficult. There was a large party and our server did a good job at taking care of us. She took our orders as we were ready and the food came fast. The green beans were perfection. The egg rolls were tasty. The sesame chicken was flavored well but a little crispy for me. I enjoyed the fried rice. The ambiance is nice. Perfect for this post worthy photos. I will be back. read more

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Dinner was delicious and our server, entertaining. As soon as we told him we were from out of town he proceeded to tell us everything about the area and why dining with them was one of our best choices. They are located in one of the most entertaining areas in San Antonio, River Walk. The entrance to the restaurant is off of the main road, down the alley. It's well lit and inviting. Feels like you're entering through a speak-easy entrance. The food is great and so are the drinks. Great place to go with company or by yourself for lunch. You have to try their wings, so, so good and satisfying. We sat near the kitchen so seeing the chef in action was amusing in and of itself. read more

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After hearing all the wonderful things about this place, we had to try it. The wings were very good and popped so much flavor. I never thought I would eat spam but it was very tasty but just a little too salty. The inside had a great vibe read more

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So many dishes that I enjoy here. They need to bring back the brisket fried rice and keep it on the menu though!!! I loved it so much. Loved hot joy and their twice fried wings! Great flavor on those wings and super crunchy and juicy!!! I also really enjoy their decorations. It feels welcoming and very on brand. The service is nice and attentive. read more

Hot Joy - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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After the move to the new location and the removal of their happy hour specials, I am back. Recently they brought back the happy hour menu all week long. That is the only reason I came back to this restaurant. I got the twice fried chicken wings,the pork belly bun and a side of white rice. The chicken wings were still good and crispy with a nice flavor to them. The pork belly bun was tasty with a nice crispy pork belly inside. The white rice was nothing special. The service was good and the happy hour was a good value. I can now recommend Hot Joy as a great place for dinner because they brought back the happy hour specials. read more

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Almost got lost bc the Entrance to is in the back alley!beautiful inside the decor is amazing. Food was amazing though! The egg rolls, garlic noodles, and twice-fried chicken were all fantastic. If you're looking for a spot with consistently delicious food, this is it. Will definitely be coming back asap! Service was exceptional and fast. Waitress was very attentive read more

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Food was decent very salty The inside was cute besides the booth we were in the sun was going down and was in our faces for like an hour. Knives was a good waitress read more

Hot Joy - Menu - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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The decor is just all of the place. I mean, sure, the red lighting is cool, but like... the longer you look, the more you're thinking "why are there tiki masks / drinks?" Asian fusion??? That Dallas food critic was right about this place being a "clueless white-dude fantasy". Literally as I was sitting confused looking at the menu I googled this place's wings and got an article about that scathing review...yikes. My friends and I ordered the cornbread, the twice-fried wings, spam fried rice, ginger scallion noodles, and the hot fried chicken. Now, all of these dishes were VERY expensive for SMALL portions. "Share" style... yeah right. The cornbread was so small I don't even think you could really call it cornbread. Tasted good though despite that. The spam fried rice was extremely expensive for something I actually could make at home for less, but out of everything, it was the most appetizing. The twice fried chicken was okay but small portion for the price point. Like way too small and sad wings. I'd recommend BBQ Highland in Austin instead. The Hot Fried Chicken... don't even get me started on this. I should've read the description way more closely. The combination of ingredients and everything else made an extremely salty and barely edible dish. The rice was its only saving grace. The ginger scallion noodles were good, just really garlicky. In another setting, I'd even think they were delicious. But the food was not worth the price personally. If you want authentic and actually normally salted food, don't come here. Service was good though! Our server was very nice and got my friend a free drink for her birthday. That saved the night at least. read more

Hot Joy - Hot Fried Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

My oldest son and his wife brought my grandson to San Antonio for his first overnight trip. We had a wonderful visit which included a meal at this amazing restaurant. First, let me address parking. We were worried at first, but soon found a paid parking lot on another street. It was not a long walk, and fortunately, it was an unusually cool morning. We noticed it was much muggier and hotter on the walk back to the lot, but we weren't too bothered. Hot Joy is appropriately named. If you don't immediately feel joy upon entering this amazingly decorated venue, just go back to the nursing home and eat off your tray. I only wish this place had been around when my sons were little. We always played I Spy while waiting for the meal, and this place would have been epic for that! They have a lot of beautiful bright red Asian lanterns hanging all over the ceiling. There is a beautiful mural of a tiger on one wall. There are private booths with red upholstery with asian inspired geometric designs. Bruce Lee was hanging on the wall of our booth. They have a server named Skyler who is no doubt one of the best I have ever had the pleasure to encounter. She was friendly and knowledgeable about the menu. I really liked her and feel strongly that she added to our wonderful experience. The food was outstanding. We ordered a lot more dishes than our party of four adults needed, but we wanted to try lots of things. The servings were huge- even for appetizers. We started with the Sticky Pork ribs. They were perfectly grilled and very tasty. We also had the Joy Pockets, and Sichuan Tofu buns. There was plenty of each to share (there were 5 ribs on the plate!) We liked all of them, but my favorite bite of the meal was the buns. So good! We also ordered some of the full meal plates to share. The menu on the website is a little different, and unfortunately, my photo is not very good. We ordered the Roasted Pork Belly and the Hot Fried Chicken. The portions were huge, as you can see in the photos. They both came with a side of rice. The pork belly also had a dipping sauce that was wonderful and a side of kimchee. The only thing we had left was the Hot Fried Chicken. Out of all of the dishes, that was the least favorite among some of us. I thought it was really good, but just a tad salty for my tastes. The kids thought the sauce made the chicken too soggy. The wife said it was too hot (spicy) for her. I ate a lot of it, but there was so much we brought home for my younger son. He loved it! For dessert, we all shared the Hot Fudge Gochugang Brownie with banana ice cream. The ice cream was the best banana ice cream I have ever had! The brownie was gooey and rich and had a wonderful exotic taste. The gochugang was not overly prominent in it. Okay... as if the service, decor, and food wasn't enough, this place has amazing drinks. Let's just say that our table had seven of them, including my virgin Singapore Sling. The others like all of them, except one that my son ordered. He said it tasted, "gross". I didn't try it, but he is pretty well-versed in cocktails and tiki fare, so I trust his opinion. I should mention that the baby snoozed happily through the entire meal. He didn't even wake up when a loud high-pitched alarm went off for at least a minute. I know I will be back. Y'all know that my youngest is my usual adventurous dining partner. He was really upset that he didn't go with us. I will definitely take him soon. read more

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The food was delicious. The egg drop soup was probably the best I've ever had. Holden, our server was uber nice & gave us some great recommendations. read more

I love Hot Joy food! It's been one of my favorite for a few years now. I stopped going because it was really hard to get a table if you didn't have a reservation, but I went back and for my surprise they moved to a better and bigger location. I'd say that it can be tricky to find them but don't get discouraged the door is amazing. Service is good and food is outstanding, the decor is gorgeous! They don't have their our parking lot but there is plenty outside, if you go on the weekend may be a little harder but there are parking lots close by. read more

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Recommend: Maybe Food: Ordered Beef Bulgogi, garlicky noodles, and chili oil noodles. All the dishes were made to order and very hot. The bulgogi was delicious, the meat was very tender and the taste was really good. The garlicky noodles were ok, they tasted very much of garlic which is to be expected but almost bitter in taste. I've had the garlicky noodles at Best Quality daughter and they are tastier. The chili noodle were very spicy (I liked but just warning for others). Had a Mai Tai (strong but good) and had a frozen mixed drink (hurricane with something else. Sorry I can't recall). Service: Service was good, got sat down quickly, and order was put in quickly. The food took a little bit but it is expected since it was made fresh. Ambiance: Ambiance was cute, family style seating in some areas. read more

Hot Joy - Indoor seating - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

Went for Valentine's Day with my best friend. She recommended the place and it did not disappoint. The atmosphere was light and open sitting in the main room by the bar. The lemon pepper curry wings and cucumber salad were my favorite dish out of the three we shared. Nothing against the crab Rangoon dip it was just cold when I got around to trying it. The service was fantastic and I will definitely be returning not only for the food... They have a dog friendly patio. read more

Hot Joy - Shared the Crab Rangoon Dip, Cucumber Salad, and Lemon Pepper Curry Wings. - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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It's a definitely a cool spot for a late night in San Antonio. I stopped by after a concert in October. Wings were a tier above what you'd normally fine. They're really great! The egg rolls were exactly what I was craving this late at night. Chill spot in a fun part of town. I hope to go back soon. read more

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Amazing happy hour, music and ambience also rocked. I got the longevity noodle soup and the presentation was amazing. read more

Hot Joy - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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First time here and was recommended by my brother who is a SA local and we wanted to have some good Asian food! We got the lunch special which comes with your choice of entrees, with a side of white or friend rice, egg roll and choice of soup ( hot and sour or egg drop). It's pretty filling and perfect for family style eating because there's plenty to share and taste! The food in itself was amazing and full of flavors. The chicken dishes were cooked to perfection, crispy and breaded bursting with sweet and savory flavors. I do have to say for my order which was the sesame chicken I did find it a little saulty than usual and not as sweet. But overall we were all very satisfied with our meals. The lemon pepper curry chicken wings were a table favorite and the green sauce is very similar to the green Indian mint/cilantro chutney which we all enjoyed! Definitely recommend checking this place out! read more

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Hot joy was awesomeeee. We couldn't believe how good the food was here. The portions are HUGE yet so affordable, and the flavors are so good that you can't stop eating even after becoming full! They also have an excellent drink selection. We had a giant mojito in a dragon container that the server hilariously mentioned looked like Steve Harvey. We still can't unsee it. We sat outside and at night and it was stunning; felt very much like sitting in an alley in china. For sure coming back on our next trip to SA. read more

Hot Joy - Mojito - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas

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Ken with Offline - We OFTEN went to the South Town location and saddened when we heard about the move. The good news, we like the new location better! The huge ceiling space makes the entire facility feel so much bigger. Same vibe, and the food was STILL AMAZING. I challenge you to find better specialty wings. Take a cold shower good! Staff spot on. Price on average for the area... And other establishments. It has that new car smell!!! Great options for Cindi - 40 year vegetarian. Hers was dynamite... And I got a few bites. read more

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This place is SO cool! It's very uniquely decorated and has an awesome menu that's share-style. Fun drinks too! This is the new location off of broadway street which I like because of the open atmosphere inside. Service was great. A cool place to take friends from out of town. Not too expensive. Highly recommend! We got the twice fried chicken wings, pork belly buns, and sausage and prawn noodles. read more

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So yummy! Drinks were amazing and food! The only issue was when we walked in it said to be waited to be seated and I think we waited maybe 5-10 min and no one came and got us, so we just sat at the bar ourselves. But bartenders were great and friendly! read more

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BEST WINGS IVE EVER HAD!!!! i crave these wings alllll the time. the pork buns were my next favorite. i love it here read more

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Hot Joy has lost some of its charm. What once gave it character has shifted significantly since moving to the new location. The vibe feels a bit stuffy instead of the welcoming atmosphere it used to have, and the staff seems more distant. That said, one thing that hasn't changed is the flavor! The tofu buns are hands down my favorite item on the menu--I think about them constantly. I know change is tough, and I hope they find their essence again while keeping up the quality of the food! read more

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Hot Joy: A Culinary Adventure Worth Braving the Tiny Tables For Hot Joy, nestled at the intersection of Jones and Broadway, is an ambitious cocktail bar that dares to blend Asian fusion with the bold flavors of Texas. And while the tight squeeze at their tables might make you question your life choices, the culinary journey that unfolds is undeniably worth the minor discomfort. Let's talk food, because that's where Hot Joy truly shines. The Beef and Broccoli is a revelation. Forget your standard takeout version; this is elevated comfort food. The beef, imbued with a delightful smoky char, practically melts in your mouth, while the broccoli retains a satisfying crunch, each bite bursting with an "amazing flavor" that's hard to pinpoint but impossible to forget. This dish alone is a compelling reason to visit. If you're looking for something equally satisfying, the Pork Belly Tiki is a fantastic choice, though don't expect a traditional tiki cocktail. Instead, imagine a savory, comforting mound of pork belly fried rice. It's rich, deeply flavorful, and proved to be the perfect, hearty companion to the already impressive beef and broccoli. But the surprises don't stop there. The Firecracker Wings are an absolute must-try. These aren't just spicy; they're an experiential delight. The inclusion of pop rocks is a stroke of genius, creating a playful, tingling sensation that dances on your tongue, beautifully complementing the heat of the peppers. It's a unique and exhilarating experience that sets Hot Joy apart. For a moment of refreshing respite, the Cucumber Salad is a welcome addition. Its creamy, cooling nature provides a perfect counterpoint to the bolder flavors on the menu, ensuring you can keep going back for more. Even dessert is an adventure at Hot Joy. The Tres Leches offers a delightful twist, infused with subtle yet distinct notes of Thai tea. It's a sophisticated and delicious end to a meal packed with unexpected flavor profiles. Our server, Aria, deserves a special mention. Her amazing service, knowledgeable demeanor about the menu, and sweet personality were the perfect accompaniments to the vibrant food. She navigated the bustling atmosphere with grace and ensured our experience was as positive as possible. Now, for the elephant in the room - the tables. This is where Hot Joy stumbles. The tables are ridiculously small, and our experience was significantly hampered by this design flaw. We were seated at what felt like the smallest table in the establishment, which, given the sheer deliciousness and variety of the offerings, felt utterly impractical. The real low point, however, was the management's response to our predicament. Instead of finding a way to accommodate us, the manager repeatedly attempted to "condense" our dining experience by removing plates with food still on them, making us feel rushed to finish. This lack of hospitality detracted from what should have been a celebratory meal. Despite the frustrating table situation and the questionable management intervention, the sheer brilliance of the food and the exceptional service from Aria make Hot Joy a place we'd consider returning to. However, the hope is that management will address the table size issue. Because while the flavors are expansive and exciting, the physical space provided to enjoy them feels incredibly restrictive. Hot Joy, you're on the cusp of something truly special; just please, do something about those tables. read more

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We love this place - we have been coming for years! We love the new location - it's beautiful inside! We miss the old spot but this new place is very nice! The drinks are still amazing - got a swirl of the zombie and painkiller - so delicious - I love sweet frozen drinks My husband got the Smokey mezcal pineapple cocktail and loved it We ALWAYS get the wings - the absolute BEST! We got the bok choy and the bulgogi with udon noodles - so freaking good!! Can't recommend enough! Nice clean restrooms and street parking out front. Service was great, food came out quick and hot! read more

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Lost stars because the food was too salty, unbalanced flavors, and drinks were just ok. The cucumbers were crunchy and yummy sauce but too spicy for some of us. The pork bun was missing some flavor, too salty, and bun felt not fresh. The wings had a perfect crunch on them! But the sauce was way too salty and sweet, almost unhinged in taste. With some small changes this could have been 4 stars but overall they trying too hard and need more balance and subtle flavors. Ambiance was beautiful and service was awesome. read more

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The drink menu is excellent. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Gabriel our server was so helpful in directing us towards the food and drinks we'd most appreciate. The food is fresh and inventive and delicious every time. Wings, pork belly, and Susan fried rice are the best of their kind I've ever had. And every dish we've ever tried has been worthy of a return trip. The ambiance is next level. 50s Kitsch for days, yet also modern. It almost feels like a Quinton Tarantino movie set. The music is great and on theme. A bit loud for intimate conversation, but great for the casual party feel that the large community tables provide. (There are smaller tables and booths, as well) read more

Not sure what the mixed reviews are about. This place is bomb! And so are the flavors of the food! I went here for a weekend lunch with a friend. Service was prompt. I ordered a mocktail (not sure what the name was) and plates for the table. The Thai chili corn bread, garlicky noodles and tofu bun were great! Specially, the tofu bun! We really enjoyed our food and would be back for more! read more

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Last night we went to check out Hot Joy since reopening at their new location. We did go on a busy Friday night, our wait time was 45 minutes. Our server was so sweet. She gave us insight on the new menu. The interior design is so beautiful & the vibes were perfect We ordered Joy Puffs, Spam fried rice and Sizzlin' beef bulgogi very flavorful and a decent sized portion. ‍ Drinks ordered Rattlesnake Church & painkiller Love the new spot! We can't wait to go back. read more

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I got together with a few girlfriends to enjoy happy hour. I love the decorations in the restaurant and outside the restaurant. We really enjoyed ourselves. We had a great experience w/ Erin as our waitress. We tried the pork belly buns, the cucumber salad, the wings, the spam fried rice., & the curry empanada. We tried several of the drinks. Everything was excellent. We really enjoyed ourselves. It was not too busy & was a perfect time to pop in. We parked in the parking lot behind the building but if you find parking on the side, you can park on the street as well. You definitely have to try their Happy hour! read more

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Our group had a fun evening dining at Hot Joy! We ordered an array of appetizers along with some of the entrees. Personally, I thoroughly enjoyed the Joy Pockets, the Spam Fried Rice and the Smoked Fried Chicken. Our server was very patient with our group since we kept going back and forth on our selections. We ended up sharing all our meals and made it family style for our group. There were three entrees that got to our table quite late so they compensated all three meals without us having to request it. Nice touch. We ended up taking quite a few leftovers back home with us since we ordered way too much. The only drawback is the parking situation. Luckily, we were able to park along the street. The parking lot by the restaurant was full. Glad we got to experience Hot Joy. It was totally worth it! read more

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We really wanted to try something new and this Asian Fusion was the perfect choice. Decor and ambiance were outstanding. Food was tasty and flavorful. read more

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Read the hype. Wanted to try it myself. Disappointed. The twice fried wings everyone raves about might as well been covered in honey, the sugar content was off the charts. The pork belly bun was the best of the food. Beef lettuce wraps came with lettuce too small to wrap anything in. Wife's cucumber salad came after our entrees. The chargrilled oysters were laughable. No oyster. Ground beef. Best part.. they say they don't take cash in fine print on the menu I couldn't read it was so small. They force you to use a credit card then charge you a fee! Likely illegal. read more

Hot Joy - Small print - Asian Fusion Near Me - San Antonio, Texas