[5][6][7] Mike Seely included Joe's in Seattle Weekly's 2009 overview of the city's ten "most intimidating" dive bars.

He described the business as "a shabby oasis of downtrodden Americana in Seattle's bustling Chinatown" and wrote, "During lunch hour in the middle of the week, the bar is populated by maybe a dozen patrons.

The smell of unwashed ass and armpit sweat in the air is so thick I could cut it, but that's par for the course at Joe's.

"[8] In 2010, Seely said Joe's was the city's "top hobo bar" and wrote, "In fairness, Joe's, which sits across from the ID's bus and rail (both preferred means of transport for actual hobos) tunnel entrance, has taken some steps in the past couple of years to make itself more attractive to non-hobos.

You cannot miss the neon in the windows, and the open doors, where men spill onto the sidewalk in rumpled raingear, wizard outfits, and all of those T-shirts that feature Joe Camel and choppers and American flags.