I told y'all I'd be back for the food! Had a night hopping around downtown Bakersfield and the first stop was Bill Lee's for their mai tais! We sat in a booth in the cocktail lounge. I was pretty hungry so I ordered the Mongolian beef. It was tasty, but the meat could've been a little more tender. I had a bite of my friend's kung pao chow mein, and I think I might have to order that for myself next time. That was insanely good! It's the type had a nice amount of spice and a good chicken to chow mein ratio. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Strawberry Daiquiri - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Great bar Neutral tv shows would be appreciated Feels uncomfortable in a Chinese Restaurant It would be a hard decision wether to return based on this and I've been patronizing this place for over 20 years read more

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I think it's time to update my review since it's been well over 7 years. Overall, my review is still the same! I love Bill Lee's! It's one of my favorite deliveries either on a Friday night w my bestie or a Saturday date night in w my guy. We always order 2 dinners, side of fried shrimp and egg flower soup. It always arrives hot and fresh! So delicious always! If i make an in person visit, I love sitting in the dark bar. Always has great ambiance and super great service. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Egg foo young is delicious! #2 family style meal is a great choice - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Stopping at one of our favorite local spots but this visit was a miss fs. The egg flower soup was salty, the food had no flavor and the spareribs were cold. The Mai Tai was refreshing. The service was good and the lighting was great for the perfect mood but only three stars for the taste of the food and quality. read more

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You definitely can't go wrong with this place . The service is great and very helpful if you're needing assistance with menu options..and I'm saying that cus the place has options with big food portions.. for large groups or family plates .. inside it has multiple sections for setting an also a Bar up stairs for a more intimate setting with dim lights . Place is amazing in its own way ..the food was perfect not too salty or sweet when it came to the sauce or dipping sides ..the food takes a min to get to your table only cus it's made fresh and so worth the wait ! Thank you read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Pineapple wings & bbq ribs & egg rolls - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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Seated immediately. Looks cleaned up but outdated. The spicy mustard really kicks near nasal cavity into high gear!! Highly recommend a side of that! Egg rolls are hot and crispy but they do lack a little bit of that salty flavor I love. A sweet and sour sauce is very vibrant in past pineapple in it but it is not as sweet as I would like. The food..... well..... the peppered beef was salty, hot, and tasty. Fried rice - was ok I could survive with just that here. The noodles had a very strange jelly veggie mix - dislike. I did ask for vegetarian that did not work out so i had to eat around the chicken The egg rolls I also noticed had several different types of meat. This is located in a lower part of town. Right across from courthouse. The service was friendly but ultimately I disliked the food. read more

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Bill Lee's is a Bakersfield staple for a reason. Their Cantonese food is always delicious. I tend to lean towards the seafood, pork, or beef dishes. Which admittedly covers most of the menu as I bounce around the menu enjoying new delicious flavors each time. A few top of mind recommendations would be the Mandarin Combination Dinner, Mongolian Beef, Pepper Steak Dinner, Mandarin Duck Dinner, and Kung Pao Beef or Chicken. The Chow Mein and Fried Rice are delicious and are musts. I always go with the soft noodles for the chow mein, but my dad loves the crispy so you really can't go wrong with either. They're known around town, and in my family, for their Mai Tais. lol There are a few dining areas in Bill Lee's with the availability to rent out some of the areas for private events. Sitting in the bar area comes heavily recommended. My great grandfather and grandmother always chose to eat at the bar. My mom says she grew up in the bar area. Our family currently sits at the regular dining area as it fits the whole family easily. They also have an upstairs private dining area for events. My great grandfather used to have business meetings there back in the 1960s, giving it an extra special place in my family. They're location also makes it perfect for any events at Rabobank.. or.. Dignity Health Arena lol. Bill Lee's is a regular meal during hockey season before Condors games. Who am I kidding? Bill Lee's is a delicious regular all year long. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Bill Lee's has been a family favorite for at least 30 years. I always order the Pagoda Dinner which includes broccoli and beef, fried won tons, Chinese fried chicken and pork fried rice but I substitute the Chinese fried chicken for pork chow mein with pan fried noodles. All of their individual dinners are served with egg flower soup and crackers. Hot tea is also complimentary. The service is friendly and the food has remained consistent over the years. If you're in the mood for a cocktail try their famous Mai Tai. read more

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Food was delicious and each plate was huge .had to take it home.Staff was very friendly and helpful. I recommend very highly if u want to hang out with ur friends while getting ur grub on .... read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Pork Fried Rice Egg Foo Young Fried Shrimp,ribs - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

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A Place of Beauty and Cantonese Delicacies! We miss Sherman Lee, but his sons, and employees, who have been there for several decades, ensure that it is as good as ever! Consider a banquet! read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - The "New" remodel, from several years ago, is as aesthetically pleasing as ever! - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I ordered a Chef special for pick up. The food is always amazing a bit pricey $52 for Chef Special for 2 but you can easily feed 3 people. This was my plate my son also had a big plate and my wife also ate with us. The crunch of the first bite of vegetables in my chow mein absolutely delicious. The spare ribs were cooked perfectly, the fried rice classic ham eggs and their secret ingredients put the rice and with the chow mein over the top. Oh and the fried shrimp big shrimp and I love their cocktail sauce with the horseradish in the middle. Yummers we really enjoyed our dinner. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Chef specials come's with chow mein, fried rice, pineapple chicken, spare ribs, and fried shrimp. - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Damn good food. I totally enjoyed eating at Bill Lee's. The food was great. My server, Bella, was perfect, and the atmosphere was good. The star, for me, was the Paper Chicken. Haven't had it in years and I loved it. I highly recommend Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks. read more

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I ordered to go from here to bring for lunch with my customers here in Bakersfield. Their food was alright but not extraordinary to really rave about. I guess a lot of locals here like this place because I saw there were not a lot of great Chinese food places around here. However, what made my experience wonderful here was the friendly interaction and highly supportive service by a lady at their takeout here, Brooklyn. She spoke very highly of this restaurant and how much locals here love coming here. Great service and loyalty to this place where she works and to the owners. Brooklyn is a true asset to this restaurant business. read more

The food was delicious. The service was excellent and the inside was decorated. So nicely for Christmas. The mai tai was delicious too. We will definitely be going back. My grandson ordered the combination dinner with sweet and sour chicken and I ordered the mandarin combination dinner. We could have shared one dinner. We had lots to take home. I love that they have the old style chow mein you can choose with crunchy noodles. Everything was good! The waitresses checked on us regularly and made sure we had everything we needed. read more

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Great place to stop and have Chinese food. Our server was attentive and friendly. Very helpful when we had questions. The egg soup was delicious! Loved the flavor of our noodles. Portion sizes were generous. We ordered two lunch specials. And had enough for two lunches the next day as leftovers! Would have loved our orange chicken to come smothered in the sauce. The chicken is served sitting on top of the sauce. Love the vintage decor. read more

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Bill Lee's has been a Bakersfield staple for a reason, and as a longtime customer, it continues to deliver every single time. There's something special about a place that stays consistent year after year, and Bill Lee's does exactly that. I always get the pineapple chicken wings, and they never disappoint. They're crispy, flavorful, and perfectly balanced with the pineapple glaze. It's easily one of my favorite dishes in town. The complimentary tea served in a teapot is such a classic touch and instantly makes the experience feel warm and welcoming. The egg drop soup is comforting, rich, and consistently delicious. The service is friendly, the atmosphere is familiar and inviting, and the food is dependable in the best way. Bill Lee's isn't just a restaurant, it's part of Bakersfield's history. I'll gladly keep coming back. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Pineapple chicken wings with Pork Fried Rice - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Going here my entire life. I am 43 yrs old. The same excellent quality. Great place to enjoy and eat or take out.

Have to update based on multiple experiences from nearly ten years ago (has it REALLY been that long ago!?) Bill Lee's is an absolute LEGEND. Maybe it took ten years to figure that out. But their food combined with classic aesthetic is truly something to behold. Skip the main dining room and head straight to the bar. Better yet, head there during happy hour (typically 3-5 Mon through Fri) and find some amazing specials plus their LETHAL Mai Tais. Plan on taking an Uber because anymore than two will getcha! read more

A great dinning experience. We walked in and were seated immediately. Our waitress came over to our table and took our drink Oder promptly. You must've their hand made Mai Tai. They are fabulous. The food came out soon after our drinks arrived. The food was great. As you would expect from a restaurant that's been open since 1938. The ambiance was romantically lit but still great for families as well. We will definitely be going back. read more

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This place was solid! We came here on a recommendation while looking for a little snack and drink. What a cool vibe in the bar! We happened to come during happy hour - great deals on drinks and food! The potstickers were the perfect snack! We ordered Mai Tais - they were super sweet and strong but exactly what I expected. I only had one and I was feelin fine! The bar was a little messy with fans blowing napkins everywhere but other than that we had a great time in the funky little bar. Our server wasn't outwardly friendly with us but she was taking care of everything efficiently so no complaints. read more

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5 star for their drinks. The Mai Tai was like 12 dollars.... and I guarantee you it will take you places you've never been to before. This might be the cheapest way to get 10 out of 10 lit in a chill atmosphere with super chill staff. Definitely recommend this place when you're doing the walk through bar run in bakersfield. read more

This rating is for the bar. A hopping place that pours strong Mai Tais. I dont come to Bill Lees for food instead you come for solid drinks. You can buy complete dinners but we like the fried shrimp app. The free parking lot behind the restaurant is another plus. The bartenders move all night and they will remember you (so tip). A Bakersfield institution. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Lava flow - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Now this is Bill lees but this is the bar And I didn't know they had a bar until we slipped in on a Monday night it's a pretty decent bar it gives you an 80s feel and the food is just as good as the restaurant The my ties are on point the margaritas are on point and it's got a real cool vibe to it I didn't even know it existed definitely go back read more

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Always soooooo fiyahhhh! I wish prices were less tho but it's koo. how special is my fave and of course, the lunch special $13! read more

Hello, and Happy Memorial Day to all my family and friends. I come from a military family (Grandfather, Dad, Uncles, Nieces and Nephews). A big salute to those fallen soldiers and my wonderful family for serving our country!! Now for dinner. Boy, we were driving up from San Diego and my husband had a pang for Chinese. Most everything was closed, but we Yelped the open restaurants and fell into this gem! Omgoodness, what a great place. The ambiance was kinda quiet, a date night place, low lights, and our servers very attentive and knowledgeable on their menu items. They have an extensive menus of Cantonese, Mandarin, and some street dishes. Everything we ordered was delicious and in huge portions. My favorite was the pineapple chicken wings and their shrimp chow mein Cantonese style. My husband favored the BBQ and Black Bean Ribs, as well as the noodles. Everything was sooo good. We had a lot of dishes, but my hubby wanted leftovers for lunch. Dishes are between $14.50 and $18. We went placard to try different flavors. The area is in downtown Bakersfield. Plenty of parking in the back of the restaurant. If you can get street parking, it's the first door on your left. 2nd door is for pickup of your call in order. I'm happy we found a new place for authentic Chinese cuisine. We'll be back soon! read more

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​Total disappointment. This place is living off nostalgia. My family wanted to give them another chance, but it was a mistake. After a 40-minute round trip, I got home to find that one-third of our order was missing. To make matters worse, the food we did receive tasted old and stale. When I called to report the missing items, the staff was incredibly rude and dismissive. They clearly don't care about quality or customer service anymore. Save your money and go elsewhere--this is easily one of the worst-managed establishments in Bakersfield read more

the ambiance is super cool but somehow even the soy sauce is flavorless. blah blah blah the review needs to be longer.

Food is not how I remember it to be. My daughter had to send her BBQ spareribs back, the rice and chow main just wasn't working for us. Did they change their style, is it more Cantonese ? Service was good. Ambiance was nice. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - How I felt about bamboo chopsticks food - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

I was excited to try this place. The portions seem big until you actually open your bags of food. The pork came separate from the chow mein and there was 1% pork 99% bean sprouts in the cup. The noodles, flavorless. Spareribs, flavorless. The fried shrimp, flavorless!! The chicken for the chicken chow mein, dry and....flavorless! I swear it tasted like they boiled everything in unseasoned tap water. The sauce for the spareribs (sweet&sour and pineapple) tasted like water and stained my fingers orange. $70 and not an ounce of seasoning on anything. Food came out in about 5-10 minutes so you know none of it was fresh. This was the most disappointing thing I've eating in my life. My wife and kids were disappointed that I fed them this. The fried rice was fine read more

I went to this place once, 15 years ago, during a job interview. I didn't really think much of it. Then I read an article, of all places, San Francisco Chronicle, praising this place. Either the guy is insane, or I'm missing out. I must find out. I dropped by on a Thursday, this place was packed, with an older crowd. My instinct told me this is a Cantonese restaurant. I ordered some Cantonese classics. Remember if you come here and order some Mandarin dish like Kung Pao Shrimp or Orange Chicken, and you don't like it, it is on you. You have to know what to order in a Chinese place. This place is dark, moody, with surprisingly fancy China. Wood carvings, reminds me of the old school Cantonese restaurant I grew up eating at. I got the pot sticker appetizer. The pot stickers were crispy, and the sauce was amazing because it was seasoned with a disproportionately generous amount of ingredients, with a good kick. You know the chef went all out on this. I am very impressed. Next, Ginger Beef. It is a true Cantonese classic, with impossibly tender slices of beef, aggressive marinated and seasoned, with plenty of ginger and green onion. Simply perfect. (I make a Hongkong Variant of this dish, with medium rare ribeye. My wife's all time favorite indulgence). Then it's Shrimp Cantonese. Some restaurant call it shrimp with lobster sauce. Tender jumbo shrimp in a sauce of white onion, black beans, and egg white. It is a comfort food I can eat for the rest of my life. Pro tip, scoop up the sauce and mixed it with white rice. Sauce this good should not be wasted. Finally, Tofu with black mushrooms. I was a little hesitant when I saw the tofu was fried. When I put it in my mouth, it was a light, fluffy, juicy, pillow like in the mouth. Absolutely delightful. Conclusion? The hype is real. Go eat there. But please order some authentic Cantonese dish. The shocker? I ordered enough food to feed 3 people. And the bill was $67. Chinese food is always the best bang for the buck. read more

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If I could give this place -1 stars, I would. The customer service was very lackluster. The cashier couldn't even bother to check if certain dishes on the menu were allergen-friendly (free from eggs, dairy, etc.), which is a major concern for people with allergies and sensitivities. The food itself was also bland. No seasoning whatsoever and some parts had an odd, slimy texture to them. I ended up giving my meal to a homeless person as I couldn't finish it. Let me tell you: I stayed at a hospital for a couple of days, and even their food was miles better than whatever I ate. If you hate flavor, I would strongly recommend this place. Otherwise, avoid at all costs. read more

Ordered shrimp chowmein, shrimp fried rice & shrimp egg foo young, all was good except rice was plain & had only shrimp w/no green onion or egg, etc. like I always get, such a disappointment..Check your togo order to make sure all your ingredients are rice. read more

Great food. Very consistent. This is a good spot for lunch downtown. Food comes out quickly. Great for dinner also. Drinks are good!!

If you know you know!!!! I was raised on Bill Lees and I must say I still go very often and I'm never disappointed! It's an absolute family favorite! read more

My 60th birthday party and retirement party was marvelous. Bill Lee has the best food we were upstairs hosted very private affair. The service service was phenomenal and of course Joyful Sweets did the desserts. It was flawless. read more

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Mai Tai was amazing!!! Lunch was yummy. The egg drop soup, simple and delish. Priced great and affordable. $13.95 and my drink was $11.00 read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Lunch special and a Mai Tai. - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California

Our family has been going to Bill Lee's longer than I've been alive- 37 years plus! We remember loved ones who have passed on when we eat there. It's a family favorite. Today we went there for my mom's 60th birthday. In addition to the birthday, it was special because we had family members in town who we haven't seen in a long time. Also, it was a tad somber because my parents are moving out of state and it's likely their last meal at Bill Lee's. We were incredibly disappointed in the service. We had to ask multiple times for boxes and bags. The waitress had an attitude. We put in a to go order at the beginning of the meal to take home to someone who couldn't make it. They forgot about it and were annoyed that they had to remake it for us. We all left disappointed. I guess it's going downhill. Such a shame. read more

Went there recently on a Tuesday night. Soon as we were sat down they brought water and hot tea. This place might be dated, but is very clean. Waitress answered our questions and took our order in a timely manner. She then brought out egg drop soup and shortly after that the paper wrapped chicken. Which was very hot and fresh. Then our main entrées were brought out. These were also hot and fresh and tasted delicious. The food might look plain in the photos, but wow is it packed with flavor. Service was wonderful, they were very friendly and attentive. read more

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Went there when I served for jury duty last week, the food was good and the service was great. Would definitely come back again, this time when I don't have to go downtown for jury duty. read more

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If you are looking for Chinese food, this is your stop. Their food has remained the same over the years so if you're looking for some greasy & fried delights then this Is the place to go. When I went the other night, I enjoyed the egg drop soup, fried shrimp, fried rice and Dr.Chan- all which are nostalgic dishes since my family grew up coming here. I drink the hot tea they serve, too. The service is always friendly, although sometimes at times busy. The ambiance is family and group friendly at about $25 per person for certain setups. This restaurant is also known for their strong Mai Tais. Of course, I'll go back when I want greasy, tasty Chinese. read more

Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks - Chinese Near Me - Bakersfield, California