I'm not vegan anymore but this place is still absolutely amazing. You don't have to be vegan to…read moreenjoy good food. Their Thai tea is the best one I've had in town. The people are kind and the restaurant is very chill. I don't remember the name of the dish but I had like a beef noodle soup that was delicious.

My husband and I visited Asian Vegan Bistro for dinner on a Friday night, and surprisingly, we…read moreappeared to be the only diners in the restaurant. On what is typically one of the busiest nights of the week, it did make us wonder if that was an early signal of what was to come. To start, the menu is undeniably extensive...spanning multiple Asian cuisines with a wide variety of dishes, from ramen to curries to appetizers like tofu satay and crispy enoki. While ambition and variety can be a strength, here it felt more like quantity came at the expense of execution. We ordered a range of dishes to get a fair sense of the kitchen: tofu satay, crispy enoki, tonkotsu-style ramen (soy milk-based), drunken noodles, and ma po tofu - all items that, on paper, should deliver bold, distinct flavors. Unfortunately, most fell flat. The tofu satay lacked depth, the crispy enoki was an interesting concept but noticeably under-seasoned, and the ramen broth missed the richness and complexity you'd expect from that style. The drunken noodles and ma po tofu similarly leaned mild and muted, rather than vibrant or aromatic. To be fair, the concept of a fully plant-based Asian menu is appealing, and there is clear effort behind offering such a wide selection. However, in this case, the breadth of options seems to dilute the overall quality and consistency of the dishes. Overall, while I appreciate the intention and inclusivity of a fully vegan menu, the execution didn't quite meet expectations...especially given how many flavorful reference points these dishes typically have.

What can I say? Soooo glad we stopped here at The Botanist for lunch today on our way to Paso…read moreRobles. My husband commented that it made him want to move to Bakersfield which made our server Emily laugh. Limited parking in back and some street parking. We walked in without a reservation at 11:15 on a Friday and were the first customers of the day. Great decor, dim lighting, vintage looking furniture which does not sacrifice comfort for artistry. Our cocktails and meals were spectacular: Botanist Fashioned: 5/5-the brown sugar cinnamon syrup added a spicy bite to each sip which was unexpected and fun. Watermelon Sugar High:4/5-refreshing with watermelon juice freshly made in house and an ice cube with mint frozen in it. Seared cauliflower: 4/5-great appetizer for 2. The crispy chicken sandwich and the Botanist smash burger:5/5-Both had super flavorful pickles and toasted buns which always add a lovely crunch to each bite. If you're ever in Bakersfield and are at least 21, this place is well worth it! We'll hopefully be back someday. Highly recommend!

I honestly was just looking for some take-out but I had such a good time at the botanist!…read more I love a good moody interior so I sat at the bar and the lovely bartenders were so sweet! I ended up getting a burger, fries, and a mocktail! The food was amazing but, from a student's perspective, I will say it wasn't a cheap eat. I really enjoyed the experience though so I didn't mind the little splurge! :) Would definitely come back here with friend for the apps and drinks!

This place just keeps getting better. I need to see them featured on more "best of" lists for…read moreBakersfield! The food is beyond incredible. I can't stop eating the paneer butter masala (surprising to absolutely no one), and the garlic naan. If you're brave, get it spicy-- it will blow your face off, but in a good way (like a hot kiss instead of a bomb). But be warned-- their drinks come in cans and if it's super hot, you may need to order more than one, lol. I impressed my company by not needing to drink much during my spicy meal, and yes this is a casual heat tolerance brag, I'm sorry! Anyway, the service is really wonderful even if the communication can be a little rusty because I'm a basic monolingual bish. They just want you to enjoy your food and your time with them, so don't be shy and ask questions if you're unsure about something you're ordering. They have vegan and vegetarian options. I've only gone with meat eaters and they have not been disappointed. This is one of the best restaurants in Bakersfield and I'm worried people are totally asleep at the wheel on this one. They deserve your support, they're family run and worthy of your time and money! Other awesome things to try: dal, any breads, egg rolls, any green curry.

I cannot say enough good things about the food here…read more I have not been disappointed in all the times I ate at Indian Village. Today I had the Garlic Naan, ALWAYS great, the Basmati Rice, and the Paneer Tikka Masala. Heaven!!!!!. I am stuffed and happy. Service is always great, they actually know be by name which is nice because to many restaurants I'm just a person. The atmosphere is pure Indian.

The owner Joe came by said hello that is such a beautiful site, don't see that anymore! Chicken has…read morean amazing flavor mesquite! We got the yellow rice and pinto beans! Amazing! My favorite was the green salsa my husband the red! Will definitely come again!

First time at this restaurant! Service was amazing, and food was delicious! Great place to go for a…read morequick bite or even hangout! Definitely recommend this restaurant!

This place is amazing. Great service, good vibes, and beautiful art. My friend and I went to eat in…read morethe gallery. Very respectable service and attentive as well. I recommend this place. The food was amazing as well, I got the tri tip melt and my friend got the sweet potatoes and Brussel sprout bowl. Very delicious!!

A Delicious Thank You to Teachers!…read more What an incredibly thoughtful way to give back to the community! One of our teachers at school entered a drawing for a free catered lunch from Locale Farm to Table, and we were so lucky to win! The drawing was the owner Heather's way of giving back and showing her appreciation for teachers. She was especially touched by our teacher's story, which made the win feel even more meaningful. Many of us who work at the school already dine at Locale and absolutely love the food, so we knew we were in for a treat. Heather brought some of their most popular dishes, including a hot honey goat cheese spread with Pyrenees bread, roasted butternut squash and Brussels sprouts, a fresh garden salad, and a chocolate and strawberry pastry for dessert. Everything was absolutely delicious! What really stood out, though, was how much thought Heather put into making sure everyone could enjoy the meal. She heard that we had some vegetarians among us and went above and beyond by preparing additional dishes without bacon so everyone had plenty to eat. That extra touch meant so much and really showed how genuinely caring and thoughtful she is. Having this incredible meal right before the first day of school was such a special treat. Teachers and school staff work incredibly hard, and feeling appreciated in such a generous way was truly wonderful. Thank you, Heather, for your generosity, kindness, and for supporting our school community! We are so grateful, and, of course, already looking forward to our next visit to Locale!

So many vegan choices. Everything is fresh and service comes with knowledge and a smile. The…read moremarket has fresh food choices and a little grocery section with packaged selection

Every time I drive into Bakersfield I make it a point to stop at Natures Food market for a juice…read more The Rock-it fuel is my go to. I love the turmeric and ginger, it gives it such a good taste. The servers are always so nice. Definitely recommend Natures food market for a healthy treat.

Kuma Sushi was a pleasant surprise. The ambiance is contemporary with a unique feel. The space is…read moreopen and airy, making it comfortable and inviting. One thing I noticed was the mix of different tables and chairs throughout the restaurant. It almost feels like a hodgepodge of furniture, but somehow it works and fits the contemporary vibe rather than feeling out of place. The food was excellent, the service was friendly, and the prices were very reasonable. We received our food surprisingly fast, which was a nice bonus. There was a mistake with one of our rolls, but the staff handled it well. They quickly remade the roll and brought us a replacement at no charge, which I really appreciated. One of the highlights was a custom roll with jalapeño, avocado, and asparagus. I added cream cheese and had it deep fried, and it honestly tasted like a sushi version of a jalapeño popper. It was absolutely amazing and something I would order again in a heartbeat. Overall, it was a great experience from start to finish. Good food, good service, reasonable prices, and a unique atmosphere. I would definitely recommend giving Kuma Sushi a try.

Had ordered from the restaurant before on DoorDash and this time I decided to pop in. I was…read morepleasantly surprised at how cute the space is. The parking is a bit of a challenge right now due to the construction in downtown. However, there is a lot right next to them that you can park in and there is also parking on the street directly in front of their door. The restaurant is modern and decorated in Asian theme. The bathroom and the restaurant is very clean. And the staff was very attentive, professional, and very pleasant. I enjoyed the food I ordered via DoorDash, but this time I got it fresh right out of the kitchen and the counter, and it was amazing. We started with the jalapeño bomb, and mixed tempura in a size small. Both those appetizers were delicious and perfect for sharing. Then we ordered a California roll on soy paper, the Kuma special sushi roll, and the creamy salmon roll. Everything was fresh and very shareable. We could've easily shared our meal with two other people needless to say we had leftovers to take home. I definitely recommend this place and I look forward to going back. There are other things on the menu such as fried rice, udon, and teriyaki plates. They also had a couple of desserts, so I am definitely planning on trying one of those. Enjoy!

My f*cking favorite burger spot…read more The monster burger is my order every time. I rave about this place to everyone I know, and encourage my people to stop here if they're taking a road trip to Vegas or LA from the bay. I finally tried the milkshakes this time around. The banana was ok, the pineapple was better. I like that it's not hella artificial. I love that they use real fruit bits. I'm not a huge fan of crinkle cut fries usually, but I like theirs. Why? Because they actually fry the fries to a crisp and then they're well seasoned. Yum. Every time I've come through, the girls working have always been really nice. Customer service is on point. I usually hit the drive thru and then park to eat. It's definitely a good place to people watch.. but I keep my doors locked lol. There's always a lot of movement on the street...

The food is so good here. Family and i drive from the other…read moreside of town just to eat here. Love the shakes and the customer service has been top tier! Outdoor seating is nice too.

Not a great place for vegan options! The soup was water based and had very little flavor, and their…read morekimchi tasted weird to me. The japchae was on the sweeter side if you like that. The bibimbap rice also had very little flavor and did not get very crispy on the hot stone. The star of the show was definitely the veggie pancake - super crispy and flavorful even without egg. We loved the sauce that it came with! The server was super nice and made sure to separate the vegan banchan from the non-vegan banchan. She was also very attentive and double checked with the chef to make sure all our dishes were vegan.

Another amazing visit! Decided to try something completely new and was not disappointed! Absolutely…read moredelicious! My boyfriend and I couldn't get enough of the army stew! The server was so sweet and attentive. There was music playing and light chatter all around. Couldn't recommend this place enough and now will recommend their army stew!

What a day I was invited to go grab a bite and after changing out of work clothes and into some…read moresneakers I headed out. This was my first time here, this place is small but don't let it fool you they have mad traffic. The service was excellent and the food was 10/10. Chill vibe, they offer beer, Jaritos and fountain drinks. My burrito was so massive that I could eat half lol. Walked it off at the bluffs and seen some shooting stars.

Absolutely floored by this place--it's a hidden gem!…read more Seating inside is pretty limited, but they do have outdoor tables and chairs, which honestly adds to the vibe. Parking is street only, but trust me... it's 100% worth the hassle. From the moment we walked in, the experience was great. We were warmly greeted and given the option to get recommendations or browse the menu ourselves, which I appreciated. After taking our time, we ordered the chicken quesadilla, nacho fries, and a California burrito, along with salsa verde, chubbie salsa, and chipotle salsa. The food? Incredible. A solid 10/10. Everything was packed with flavor, the meat was juicy (not dry at all), and the salsas absolutely stole the show. On top of that, the staff really made the experience stand out. Everyone was friendly, attentive, and kept checking in to make sure we had everything we needed. Great food, great music (nothing but bangers the whole time), and amazing service. I'll definitely be back!