China Joy

My family went to Maine for my graduation trip. My grandmother just came from Korea and couldn’t digest American style food so well. I searched for an Asian restaurant with my hopes up since I didn’t think that there will be a Chinese restaurant in Bar Harbor. The reviews didn’t suggest that it would be good so I was kind of worried. The first time we went there we ordered Kung pao pork and beef noodle soup (egg noodles) and fried rice. The lady was really nice and informative. Normally they only serve Kung pao sauce with chicken but she nicely changed it to pork and even asked us if we wanted fresh or barbecued style pork. I would say the fried rice was really just plane American Chinese style fried rice. But the noodle soup and the Kung Pao Pork without nuts and extra spicy was reallllly good. We went there the following two days for take out as well. On the second time I lost my wallet freaked out forgot I left it there on the bar while I was picking up my take out. When I called them the next morning she was really nice and remembered who I was and told me she though I would call the night before and was worried.
Tip: spicy beef egg noodle soup! Spicy Kung pao pork without nuts!

Given this is the only Chinese restaurant in Bar Harbor and my friends parents wanted Chinese food, so China Joy it is.
Right off the bat, some issues emerged: tea is charged for by person, not as a pot for the table. We had to grab our own chopsticks from a tray further back in the restaurant (otherwise forks and knives were provided, but for Chinese food that is super weird). We had 5 people so an extra and slightly wobbly table was added on to our booth.
On to the food.
Mixed vegetables with tofu: decent, not too salty. Tofu is of the crunchier exterior variety, and the vegetables are somewhat stewed in sauce but overall one of the better dishes of the night.
Fried shrimp: couldn’t eat because it was spicy, but others seemed to like it.
Beef slices: mistake. Way way too salty.
Boiled lobster: alright I suppose, but not the best I’ve had in Maine.
Rice: not good. Dry and un-​fluffy, which is the opposite of what you expect rice to be.
Overall, a 2.5−3 star dinner. Come here only if you need a quick fix of «Chinese» food.

Apparently, this is a restaurant below the average. We came here just for a different taste of lobsters.
We have eaten boiled lobster for 3 days in a row. This time we come here to taste scallion ginger fried lobster. The taste is just mediocre.
Other food like broccoli chicken, broccoli shrimp, fried rice and etc are all Americanized food and are not authentic at all.
One more hilarious issue is that they almost have no service and give a suggestion for 15% tip, but they mandatory tip people 15%.

Went here while on vacation this last weekend. It was some of the worst service I have ever had the misfortune of experiencing. My food was acceptable at best however my fiancés food had hair in it and her «hot chocolate» was essentially just warm water with absolute no flavor. When we went to tell the waitress just gave us this blank look like ok something is wrong that’s to bad and then just left without making any effort to remidee the situation. She was like ok «so you are done» returned 10 minutes later with the check that on top of had full charges for everything it included a 15 percent manditory tip which was not stated anywhere. Have never been so unhappy with a dining experience.

The lobster here is simply out of this world !! I wish I had a better picture to prove but then I was too busy devouring it all up! Don’t go by how the place looks from the outside its totally worth your moolah!
We were getting a little bored of eating the steamed lobsters and this place was such a welcome change .Our hostess was equally kind and explained us the different dishes on the menu in detail and especially how the lobster would be busted open and then cooked so that we don’t have to struggle a lot.
We ordered the curry chicken fried rice and lobster in black bean sauce and loved it .
I wanted to take another lobster as take out for dinner but my husband didn’t agree !! :P

If you want to try a different but more DELICIOUS cooking style of lobster, you should dine here for just once. Maine lobster is fresh and tender, but most establishments only steam it and serve with lemon and butter. Way too waste of great seafood!
I highly recommend Lobster with salt and pepper, along with chili if you like spicy. That’s the dish I ate twice in a day! Just imagine!
I didn’t eat any meat dishes or other Chinese dishes like Lo Mein, etc. So I cannot guarantee the authenticity of this Chinese restaurant. BUT if you want a decent lobster dish, you won’t be disappointed!

After coming to Bar Harbor for so many years and hearing my husband say he would like to try that restaurant just once, I finally relented. (I am not a fan of Chinese food). Service was prompt and helpful. The restaurant needs a lot of interior work so there is definitely not a New England feel when you go inside. The food was decent though. We had lobster cantonese and tung tung scallops, both with wonderfully light but distinct sauces and the shrimp fried rice was great. Beware of the hot mustard though… brutally hot so use sparingly. Would detract another star for lack of any ambiance, but the food was really pretty good.

Yes, this Chinese restaurant has lots of old school, non authentic Chinese food but they also have some very good authentic dishes and some of the classic resturant favorites like wanton soup and egg rolls are excellent. If you’re looking for Lobster in Bar Harbor (and isnt everyone?) the ginger scallion Wok fried Lobster is really outstanding and the aforementioned wanton soup is some of the best I’ve ever had and the portion, for the price, is a great value! I recently tried the Ma PO (sp?) tofu and pork, on the recommendation of a friend, and it was really yummy.

Most people don’t travel to Bar Harbor to eat Chinese food. But, if you start getting tired of even seeing the word «lobster,» and don’t care to wait 45 minutes to dine at a seafood restaurant or pub, China Joy could be your salvation. The place looks dumpy and plain, the young waitresses are constantly running to and from the kitchen, and everyone seems harried. On the night we came, service was extremely slow because of a big party in the outdoor dining section. But, once we got our food, it was well worth the wait. Everything — the steamed dumplings, noodles, seafood mix, and moo shu pork, was excellent. And, the manager was extremely apologetic about the delay caused by the party. My family and I would go again. We have eaten at many Chinese restaurants throughout the country and this one is well above average overall.

Wasn’t expecting much from a Chinese restaurant in Bar Harbor. Had lunch here and food was surprisingly decent. Nice outdoor seating. I would come back next time in Bar Harbor.

The food was bland. After a meal I felt like I I’ve eat nothing. Even though this place is only one dollar sign if you only want to grab a quick meal, I would never come back and waste my money here.

You cant just come to a Chinese restaurant and order fake Chinese beef, chicken dish like General Tso, teriyaki. You have to know what’s authentic. For example, you should try steamed whole tilapia fish with scallion and ginger. The name might be odd, but this is one of the best Chinese dishes.
You should also try Chinese style lobster. The lobster with scallion and ginger or lobster with pepper and salt are both delicious! So much better than the American boiled ones!
Had several meals here, this is the best meal!

I can’t say I will come again. I ordered lobster roll, eggplant with garlic sauce and big size chicken wing (14 wings) to go. When I opened up the package, there were only 6 wings! The lobster roll is like Vietnam style with little lobster meat, full of cucumber and lettuce! I knew that the lobster is cheap as $ 7 on the menu, but this one can’t worth more than $ 3! I really don’t like this place.

Not only was the food subpar, the waitress we had greeted us with sneers and a bad attitude. I then had to stare wide-​eyed as she screamed at my mother for «asking for straws at the wrong time — I’m taking your order» before giving my grandparents the most hateful glare I’ve ever seen.

Lobster with ginger and scallion was delicious as always. Don’t get the lobster fried rice as there is hardly any lobster in this.

Chinese cuisine is destroyed by this place.
Location: downtown bar harbor close to poorboy. The indoor decoration is poor but still integrates some chinese culture. Looks less sanitized and dirty, I was not sure if this is the place to eat. But my parents insisted that they could no longer handle American food, I have to start my eat-​shit series 4 on this road trip.
Food: I like some of the dishes, like fish, like eggplants. But the tofu is totally disappointed.
Service: Quote from my mother — if you treat people with smiling face, they will at least not offend you.
Overall: 2.5.

The food is ok. But be prepared to wait at least 40 minutes to get your food. And there was only one waitress in the restaurant so you need to wait patiently.

Ate here while on vacation it was delicious.
Chicken chow mein pad Thai General Tso and everything rice. Al good

We ordered one lobster and one crab in ginger and scallion style, excellent. If you are not a Chinese, you probably never ordered the lobster in a Chinese restaurant, please try it in ginger and scallion, they break the lobster into pieces, all the flavor into the meat, taste in a heaven, you will not regret it, much better than steamed, soaked in butter kind, healthier too, even looks like have more salt. As a picky Chinese foodie, I do not think they cook as good as places in New Jersey. But the seafood is much fresher. Besides little oil with ginger, then put lobster in, stir fry for a minute or two, some cooking wine, then add soy sauce, water, cook for about 5 – 10 minutes, last add some sugar and scallions, it is done. As long as it is fresh seafood, it is zero chance failed dish. One request to the business owner, I wish there are more green vegetable choice on the menu.

I agree with previous reviewers who say you shouldn’t eat here unless you are seriously craving a soy sauce fix. The food here doesn’t really taste like Chinese food. Obviously being the only Chinese restaurant, without competition, this place can stay alive regardless how terrible the food tastes.
We had ma po tofu that had more vegetables than tofu and was not spicy at all. It also did not taste like mapo tofu and how it should be cooked. We also had braised eggplant that was sickeningly sweet and had large chunks of pork. I think they might have used ketchup as the sauce base. Some of the pork were just not chewable. The food came with rice, it was a very small portion of rice, maybe equivalent to one bowl. We asked for additional white rice, and it cost $ 1.50. Ridiculously expensive for that tiny little bit of white rice.
The staff was friendly and helpful. That’s about the only good thing here.