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My wife is Chinese, and we visited for the first time her members of her family from Beijing. They said the dim sum was the best they have had outside of China (my Occidental taste thought it was great too, albeit I have never learned to love chicken feet or curdled blood). As for the comment about lack of attention, everyone has to be assertive to get service, but that seems to be common to this genre of restaurant. Once we snagged someone, they did our bidding efficiently.

Joy Stin Lau is in Chinatown Philadelphia, and it's no secret that this place is one of the best. Sure the service is a little off due to the language barrier but thats kinda the point of Chinatown after all. I want my Chinese food as authentic as it can come and these people are always SOOO nice too. Its a large restaurant's and a lot of its patrons are not just well spoken Americans at all but local Chinese speaking residents who live in the area. You need to keep this in mind when you go. If your having trouble telling them what you want, point it out on the menu, if there is still a question or problem go to the front counter, someone there is usually always well versed in English and will be more than happy to help. They are open late, they are directly beside a great lot and they offer validation savings for this lot as well. Durring lunch you can park there for 5 dollars with Joy Tsin Lau validation! How sweet is that?! Their dim sum is to die for and the family style meals are always a good way to go for a small crowed of friends. Anything they make that they call "house" style TRY it! You will be glad you did! I have never had anything I didn't like here. I have always come home with left overs which never made it to the next day and I highly recommend you try a drink from the bar. They make a fantastic Mellon Ball and they have a house drink called a Suffering Bastard that will knock you on your rear for sure! They have many specials which are posted around the establishment but in Chinese, if you are feeling rather adventurous all you have to do is ask. There will usually be someone there who can explain and get you a fabulous meal! When it comes down to it, there is way more pro's to con's in this place. And when your eating you tend to forget you had to wait 5 more minutes for your food because the waiter wasn't sure what you were saying. Top Picks for Joy Stin Lau: House Fried Rice Dim Sum House Wor Saw dinner for 2 or more Peking Duck Lo Mein Shu Mai Crab Rangoon House Pan Fried Noodles Shrimp Rolls House Wonton for 2 and so much more...

We are from Maryland and for many years traveled to Philly for good quality dim sum at Lakeside Deli Cafe, which unfortunatly closed lately. After many attempts to get a tea pot on the table we had to nearly raise our voice to get their attention at Joy Tsin Lau. All the cart rollres were doing a "huge favours" to not asian looking customers when finally after a long chat bitween each other and food being chilled complitly apeared by their tables. We decided next time to spend our money in Wheaton and Silver Spring MD, where the quality of the food and attitude is uncomperable with Philly's dim sum places.

It seems like every weekend for the past month, I've been at Joy Tsin Lau's for an incredible brunch feast. They cart around the food, passing by your table frequently with either the soup cart, fry cart, steam cart, dessert cart, special foods cart, and there's one or two more. In order from best to least best, I usually get the following (if I can somehow find room): shark fin dumplings (w/ pork and shrimp), shrimp balls, fried green pepper shrimp, crab claw, quail, sesame balls, fried pork dumpling, fried veggie dumpling, pork shu mai, spinach dumpling, shrimp in rice noodle, and spare ribs. They also make a mean sticky rice in tea leaf with bits of meat, but it's not my thing. Anyway, the service ain't so hot, but if you speak chinese it probably helps a lot. You may have to point out the food you want, but it's no big deal. Each dish is usually ~$2.50 and comes with 3-4 decent sized pieces. They have a few small dishes for $2 and large one for ~$4. Joy Tsin Lau is also great for lunch and dinner with its huge array of American-Chinese dishes and many more authentic ones. Parking lot next door is usualy $3/ 20 min. but you get $2 off if you validate.