Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks Restaurant

I always enjoy dining at Bill Lees. The cuisine is always consistently delicious. I highly recommend the combination dinners…sweet and sour spareribs, jumbo shrimp, and of course the BBQ spareribs. The Chinese fried chicken is delicious as well! If one is in for cocktails …. The Bill Lees Mai Tai is incredible! I would recommend Bill Lees for a fine dining experience

Bill Lees used to be the best. Not so much the fried shrimp was over cooked. The soft noodles were all stuck together. The pineapple pork spareribs was nothing but cartilage and could not eat. The almond chicken was unappetizing they now use ground chicken instead of breasts. The egg flower soup and fried rice was the only edible things we had. Very pricey for the poor quality. We alerted the server he just shrugged his shoulders like oh okay. Will not be going back so sad to see it go down hill like this

This place is probably one of the places I visited over many years and though they are consistent on one or two things their inconsistencies on several others are just too hard to forgive. The highlighted this place for the last 20 years that I’ve been in Bakersfield has been there crispy noodle chow mein. It is the only thing I order when I go here as honestly no one in Bakersfield that I’ve tried went in and out of business can raise a fork to the best crispy noodle chow mein. I’ve had since moving from New York. also, their pork at foo young is another staple in which my wife orders every time we go here so we stuck to those two dishes as The remaining menu food (which I’ve tasted from other peoples plates ) is mediocre BEST. I don’t know how else to say it. One other note if you go to their bar order their mai tai it is literally one of the best drinks they make probably downtown. It’s only one other place on the east side that can compete. I’ll do a review on that place later. The service has always been exceptional and you’re always greeted with a smile. The Inside is outdated and needs some refresher paint as well as some lighting inside. The restaurant is pretty dull/dark. I don’t quite know what to say about this place. It is really going downhill as far as a couple of aspects. I will let you decide when you get there first and foremost. I think their biggest issue is they just haven’t changed at all sinceI arrived in Bakersfield in the early 2000s they have not changed a thing about their place or their food and it doesn’t seem like their menu is changed either. This is only my opinion and I don’t know if anyone else feels the same, but if you want to continue supporting this place as I will, when I am in the need for crispy noodle chow mein I will be there, again. That is the only thing I order because it is the one menu item they have that has not changed over the years. That is a good thing

It is unfortunate that this established restaurant of Bakersfield is having to hire unprofessional staff - which despite how great the food is - can ruin a name. I placed an order at 5:33 pm. I was told one hour. I called to find status of the order when I had yet to receive it after 1.5 hours at 651pm. I asked the first girl to check with the kitchen to see how much longer my order would be. The first girl said she couldn't tell me because the cooks do not speak English. I asked for the manager at this point. Another girl then got on the phone by the name of Cherish. She heard my complaint and told me the kitchen got backed up and my order would be delivered around in another half hour to 45 mins. This means I would be waiting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. It was not until after she heard my complaint that Cherish disclosed she is not a manager and that Francisco is the manager and he does not speak on the phone with customers on Tuesdays. I then told her she led me to believe she was the manager and I wanted to speak to the manager. She said, "They try not to bother him." I told her clearly they have not been trained well because I asked to speak to a manager. She continued to be combatitive. I canceled my order. I hope this restaurant finds better help to assist their customers. I hope they find a manager who speaks to customers when asked for on Tuesdays. I hope the kitchen is trained to speak to the other staff when asked about orders because apparently the girls disclosed the chefs, just complete orders as they deem necessary since no one can communicate with them. I HOPE THE OWNERS READ THIS REVIEW. They have worked too hard to allow and have room for rude service, whether it is in the restaurant for dining, pickup, or delivery.

After years of getting delivery I will not be eating here anymore. Takeout cashier very rude read my order correctly and entered it wrong and told me it was my fault. She wouldn't pull up my order history to verify even though other cashiers do when I call. (I get the same thing every time) When I received the wrong order I called to let her know I got the wrong order and she hung up on me so I figured I’d just leave this review instead of arguing over food. Save yourself the headache dealing with rude staff

Never a bad experience here in the many years we have been coming. Had been awhile since our last visit and I'm happy to say it's just as good as I remember. A bit of a wait to get seated during a busy lunch period, but well worth it. Food, service and ambiance was all top notch. Bill Lee's is still setting the bar for a fine Chinese experience

Ordered combo dinner last night with pot stickers as a side. Delivery was faster than told it would be which was good. Everything tasted a bit "off". Sweet and sour chicken was just strange tasting. I was eating and after about 10 minutes I was puking my guts out. I swear on my mom's eyes I was was projectile vomiting!!!!!! I did not eat anymore of this 25 dollar waste of money after this. What a waste of time and money. Never EVER going to order from this E-Coli restaurant again.

To who it may concern, I grew up in Bakersfield, born and raised in 1954, my family found Bill Lee's as one of our main staple's to our meal's. My grandfather Vernon Sandy, and my Uncle Rex Williams, Rex was president of Security First Bank they played card's with Bill Lee, we now live in Enid Oklahoma, and we do not have anything compared to Bill Lee's here in our town, and thought wouldn't it be Great to have a Bill Lee's here in our Town. Just a thought, a person can only ask, I'm sure it would be Well Received. Well until we are back in Bakersfield we will stop in for sure. Thank You for your time, and remember Enid could sure use some Bill Lee's . God Bless

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.

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!

My husband and I have been coming to Bill Lee's since we were kids. Both of us remember Mr. Lee walking around the restaurant smoking his cigar, visiting with customers. The ambience was joyful and relaxed. You could see people feasting on their meal. I, myself LOVED their Shirley Temples....as a kid back in the 70's, that was a treat............ The waiters and waitresses were attentive, smiling, caring and kind.. If they were not, you could hear Mrs. Lee in the back taking care of the problem. FAST FORWARD TO 2025 My husband and I decided to eat at Bill Lee's since we do not live in California anymore. We ate during lunchtime and arrived a little bit before one pm. There were two waitresses and a busboy. The busboy was wonderful. At 1:10 pm we were still waiting. The two waitresses walked by, and nothing. The busboy brought us waters. FINALLY, a waitress came up and asked, "you ready to order?" My husband, then replied,"could we please have tea, or something to drink?" I then interrupted and very nicely added that "we had been waiting 10 minutes, and nothing one had greeted us or asked us what we wanted to drink..." Our waitress replied, with gigantic attitude, "well you have water. I've been busy running around waiting on these tables. Now, are you ready to order?" At this point we should have left, but we really wanted to eat a good meal. She did not make eye contact, didn't smile, and was just an awful waitress. INCIDENTALLY, I don't blame her entirely. I blame management for not hiring enough help. The help they do hire, must like to work with the public. Lastly, the food was DELICIOUS. The Goo Lo Yuke was not dry but moist, the pork chow mein was just wonderful. I LOVED the food, but it was overshadowed by horrible service.

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.

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.

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.

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

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!

The service is always Friendly and the food is delicious hot and tasty I love going there for the best Chinese in Bakersfield

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

Amazing old school place. One of the best lighted bars I have ever had the pleasure to frequent. Food, drinks and service are solid. My highest recommendation.

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.

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.

Your service is great. They go above and beyond. I'm in and have ordered out and when I called in, Michelle was very kind and helpful inside the restaurant. The lighting is a little dark, but there is other parts to the restaurant which I enjoy them. The seating is very nice. It's very quiet. Their tea is excellent the hot tea. I would definitely recommend the shrimp and I love the lunch special two thumbs up for the service. And the food, I am a definite customer and will continue to be. You can't go wrong with Bill Lee. Restaurant thank you for the excellent service.

Show this place is a landmark. We stopped back in. Kids were out. We went to the bar and ordered our food to go. Our order was almost $200. While at the bar waiting. AND having drinks. Our bartender (mirellla) it was so out of sorts I asked her name from a different bartender because she was so unfriendly. She seems very angry so incredibly rude and inattentive. VERY clear if you aren't one of her regulars she doesn't care.i would think the business would want people to come in and have a few drinks while waiting for their food. Clearly not. Last time I will step foot in that bar.

Love love love the Bar! Great mood lighting in the whole restaurant Prices have gone way up for the same mediocre food No lunch menu anymore Very limited choice of dishes Great location and building. I wish someone would takeover the restaurant and create a better menu and get better recipes! Definitely recommend the Bar! Food is ok

Bill Lee's has a reputation for good food. This time, it didn't have a good taste I don't know if there's a new cook or just a bad day. I paid $50 and was disappointed with the portion and quality.

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.

This place is probably one of the places I visited over many years and though they are consistent on one or two things their inconsistencies on several dishes are just too hard to give 5 stars. I visit this place at least twice a year for the last 20 years that I've been in Bakersfield and the highlight has been their crispy noodle chow mein. It is the only thing I order when I go here as honestly no one in Bakersfield that I've tried went in and out of business can raise a fork to the best crispy noodle chow mein. I've had since moving from New York. also, their pork at foo young is another staple in which my wife orders every time we go here so we stuck to those two dishes as The remaining menu food (which I've tasted from other peoples plates ) is mediocre BEST. I don't know how else to say it. One other note if you go to their bar order their mai tai it is literally one of the best drinks they make probably downtown. It's only one other place on the east side that can compete. I'll do a review on that place later. The service has always been exceptional and you're always greeted with a smile. The Inside is outdated and needs some refresher paint as well as some lighting inside. The restaurant is pretty dull/dark. I don't quite know what to say about this place. It is really going downhill as far as a couple of aspects. I will let you decide when you get there first and foremost. I think their biggest issue is they just haven't changed at all sinceI arrived in Bakersfield in the early 2000s they have not changed a thing about their place or their food and it doesn't seem like their menu is changed either. This is only my opinion and I don't know if anyone else feels the same, but if you want to continue supporting this place as I will, when I am in the need for crispy noodle chow mein, or Egg foo yung I will be there, again. Those the only thingsI order because it is one of the few menu item they have that has not changed over the years. That cook has to be absolutely worn out if it's the same guy or girl hats of them. That is a good thing!!

Bill lees used to be the best in town, now it's becoming the worse....no way to complain about ur delivery order. I called the restaurant after my 1st order for the nite was too bad to eat and reluctantly they sent Another one out that was equally as bad, no resolve...no one wants to throw away $65 every nite ....

I think Bill Lee's bamboo chopsticks has the absolute best chow mein! It's different than the typical noodle chow mein, though I think they have that. The one I like, has crunchy noodles, lots of bean sprouts, and a light sauce, that I have tried to replicate unsuccessfully a few times. Service is always great. I really like the statues at the entrance. It has that classic fine dining Chinese restaurant decor. Some areas of the restaurant are dark, while others are nicely lit. There's a bar area that I've never been to, but there's often people in there when I walk by. They do have a takeout counter and I wish the girl there that I interacted with was much friendlier like the front hostesses and wait staff.

Its so hit and miss ,there no standard anymore , it was the same forever , could always depend on the same favor , every time , but anymore , it seems to be a gamble on the basic food , fried rice , chow mein , crunchy noodle , mostly stale now , 50 % of the time , the fried scrimp are either great , or dried out. Im stuck out here and nobody else delivers , so continue to roll the dice.

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.

Bill Lee's has been a long going staple in Bakersfield since 1938. I remember coming to Bakersfield in the 1970s to visit family for the summer, and this would be one of our go-to spots. Honestly, not much has changed as far as decor goes, I think the only thing that's really changed are the tables and chairs since the booths still look the same. Over the past few years, the menu has downsized considerably, and they no longer offer a lunch special menu. One thing Bill Lee's is Bakersfield famous for is their Mai Tai's, if you know, you know. What keeps me coming back to Bill Lee's is their Chow Mein. I'm a sucker for the way they make it. Their plating has not changed in all the years I've been coming here, and if you paid attention to the beginning of my review, you can guess I passed my younger years a few years back. Getting back to Bill Lee's review. Another thing that has changed is the service. It's not what it used to be. They are not so as attentive as they used to be, and the male host looked like he was getting ready to go ride a fancy skateboard up and down the sidewalk. I understand that over the past recent years the restaurant business and service industry has changed and for an old schooler like me, it's tough to get a grip on. We did get here just after 3pm so it's possible that they were between shifts. I ordered the Mandarin combination plate. It came with the customary bowl of egg flower soup and oyster crackers. My plate consists of Almond chicken chow mein soft noodles, fried rice, three fried shrimp, and three bbq pork spare ribs. My husband ordered the combination plate that gave you a few different options, he chose the pork chow mein soft noodles, fried rice and the sweet and sour chicken. I was satisfied with my dish. My husband said that the sweet and sour chicken was dry due to they use white meat vs dark meat. All in all, Bill Lee's is very consistent with their food. It's nice place to treat your friends and family out to a semi fancy place for lunch or dinner. You don't have to get overly dressed up to enjoy a nice meal at a mid-scale restaurant. They do offer a few American food items to choose from as well, prices start at around $15.00

Most of the food was average. The chow mein was lacking noodles but was tasty. My favorite dish was the the Beef in Oyster Sauce. That was the bomb! Big, thick pieces of beef smothered with tasty Oyster Sauce. We had the food delivered, so I have zero input on the ambiance of the establishment.

We are business lunch regulars here. The food is consistent and good. However, this is the second time we experienced sub-par service from a particular server (slim older Asian lady with curly hair in a top knot ponytail/bun). We were taken to our table and seated by the host. For a minimum of 15 minutes we were ignored by the servers (we did not know which one was ours). I had to go ask the front desk for our server since we only have an hour for lunch. She did not come to our table right away. When she did it was 22 minutes after 12 and she was moving very slowly. She said "ready?" and I said "we've been ready and we have to hurry now in order to get back to work on time". She sort of smirked and took our order. No apology, no improvement in service. First, she did NOT offer us any hot tea and she did not bring any. Second, when we asked for a ticket and 2 boxes, she brought 1 instead. We tried to say no we need 2 but she ignored us. I had to go to the back to find another server to give me a box. Business people cannot lunch here if this is the type of service they will receive. Unfortunately, even a great product will not make up for shoddy lackadaisical service.

First of all, I would like to say that I haven't been here since I was a child and a lot of people kept telling me not to go there because it wasn't good. My boyfriend wanted to come here for his birthday because he heard the drinks were good. He wasn't caring about the food, but OMG the food was amazing!! I got egg foo young and I think he got broccoli beef and everything was fresh. Everything came out very quickly. The staff was nice. Our only regret is that we didn't eat in the bar because everyone in the bar look like they were having fun. We will definitely over and over and over and over.!

i have been going to bill lee's since i was 4 or 5 years old, basiclly my whole life, my mom would take my brother and sister and i once a month, and she used to go when she was a young girl, that why when we would go over there we all would rub the buda's belly and go sit in our favorite corner boothon the right side near the kitchen, my mother knew a couple of the waitresses, and we were always at her table, then big bill lee would come over and say hi, he didn't know my mother personally but he knew her first name, because he'd known her since she was young, it was said when we didn't see him any more to greet use, I would take my daughter in there at least once a month so she could see where u used to eat 25 years ago i started just getting delivery since it's just me now, and the service was good back then i would get my food a half hour to 45 minutes just a little longer then getting a pizza, but it was ok because it was worth it, around ten to 15 years ago i notice the food tasted a little different but it was still good last few time i ordered they messed up my order, this time they messed it up again i call and the girl said, yeah i did mess it up so now, there sending me anther order and i had friends other and now were have already waited 2 hours to get our food and it's still not here, funny thing is it's paid for already and i've aready tipped the guy, took over an hour to get it the first time and supposed to be another hour to get our food, but there still Just got a call, all the drivers left for the day im a little disgusted with them right now

This place is not the same. It used to be great. We had a massive order delivered for a family get together. Everything was extra greasy. The rice looked and tasted like reheated leftovers. All 5 of the chow mein orders were dripping with greasy noodles and were either half burned or barely cooked. The Mongolian Beef was in a thin pale sauce with no flavor. The fried shrimp seemed like it was soaking in the oil way too long and then fried again. The paper wrapped chicken was oily and tasted bland. They really ruined this place. It was embarrassing because no one wanted to complain since it was a celebration. We ate it and pretended it was "okay". We have lived here 50+ years and used to be the best. Not anymore.

Visited with family and can't believe this is my first review of Bill Lee's as my family has been coming here for years! I absolutely adore the 80s new wave decor of this restaurant! Upon sitting down my child needed a diaper change and when arriving to the restroom, I didn't see one available. Yet, there was a stall in use and as we waited awhile for the stall to open...the person never came out so not sure if there was a changing table available yet would kindly recommend that a second changing table be added to the other stall. Now onto to the food, I ordered my usual drink Shirley Temple's (an absolute must and favorite at Bill Lee's), the BBQ Pork Rib Appetizer, and the fried shrimp dinner with Cantonese style noodles. The dinner came with egg drop soup and this soup is simple perfection! The oyster crackers that accompany this soup just are delightful. We received our dinner and ribs came at the same time as our dinner which honestly was preferred! The ribs were perfectly seasoned and very meaty! Highly recommend the bbq ribs to anyone visiting! The fried shrimp dinner came with plenty of shrimp which was fried to perfection, fried rice which was so delicious and seasoned well, and the Cantonese style chow mein! I love that the chow mein was loaded with veggies yet lacked a lot of noodles. My only critique is to present more noodles in the chow mein side as what noodles I had was absolutely delicious! Had a great dinner with family and can't wait to come back!

Really good drinks and service The food was good too will return. Try the mi ties and vary clean

A place I have gone to for quite a while with little disappointment. Menu has recently changed by only 45¢ but whatever, I'm glad the employees are getting paid more and the food quality is still fantastic! I order the same thing every time. Your meal starts with a pot of hot tea and any of combo dinners I *believe* come with egg drop soup, it has no vegetables but that is a preference of mine either way. Always comes warm and is delicious. Ribs are a childhood staple for me, always juicy and tender- rice is flavorful! My boyfriend and got nearly the same order but I ordered "special" fried rice. It's about a 2$ up charge but adds more green onion, egg, and bean sprouts! I can't live without it. This meal (as of 4/06/2024) comes to about 40$ and I find it well worth as the leftovers will be a whole other meal just for me. Service is always well and you will never see someone just standing around, and they have all been good for me in my years coming here. Ambiance is also quite nice, artwork in the wood and internal architecture is beautiful, there is always quietly playing classical and it has never once looked dirty to me. Overall, a wonderful experience place.

I've been ordering from Bill Lee's for over 20 years. I live across town from the restaurant and have never had an issue with delivery or service until today. I own a small business that's only a mile from the restaurant. I called to place an order for delivery to my business and was put on hold several times and finally told that they didn't deliver to my business. I asked what the reason was and was told she didn't know but the manager said no. I asked to speak to the manager and was told that he was too busy and he would call me back. I asked when I should expect the call and was told that he would call when he could. I asked to just be put on hold and I'd be happy to wait. I sat on hold for nearly 10 minutes and finally hung up and called back. I really like their food, so I'd decided to go ahead and order and I would just go pick it up myself instead of arguing about a delivery. I tried 3 times to call back and was immediately put on hold each time without being greeted or given a chance to say anything. I then attempted to call from my office phone and was again given the same treatment. I guess I'm not getting chinese tonight, and will have to give my money to a business that wants it. Bill Lee's obviously doesn't.

My visit this evening was a big disappointment. My niece had been telling me how much she and her coworkers love doing lunch in Bill Lee's bar so I thought I would check it out. It has a very cool old school vibe. The lighting is dim. It is built around a kind of oval shaped bar. A few banquet dining tables around one side for dining and bench seating along the other wall with round bar tables & cozy chairs on the other. We sat at the bar which was sparsely populated, only 4 other patrons. It took a while for our bartender to notice us. We ordered but the bartender forgot my companion's drink. I had to call out to her to get her her attention. Most of our visit she had her back turned away from our side of the bar as she was busy visiting with a couple of guys rarely turning around for the occasional check in her other customers. We finally got her attention to order our food which did come out quickly. I ordered the Moo Goo Gai Pan and my companion ordered one of their individual meals. The food was just average. I didn't post pictures of our meal because the lighting in the bar gave all my pictures a dark red cast. Not appetizing at all. When I went into the bathroom it had not had any attention in quite some time. There were paper towels spilling out of the bin and scattered over the floor. Needless to say my visit was sadly under whelming.

Probably the best if not it's a tie ! Great food fair prices quick friendly service! One of our go to places!

Food is fine, unfortunately took over 45mins when I arrived to fill my togo order. Appreciate the explanation yo delay of my food but nothing was offered for the inconvenience. Apology from management and a kind gesture would go a long way. And at $90 for a total I expected more.

It is unfortunate that this established restaurant of Bakersfield is having to hire unprofessional staff - which despite how great the food is - can ruin a name. I placed an order at 5:33 pm. I was told one hour. I called to find status of the order when I had yet to receive it after 1.5 hours at 651pm. I asked the first girl to check with the kitchen to see how much longer my order would be. The first girl said she couldn't tell me because the cooks do not speak English. I asked for the manager at this point. Another girl then got on the phone by the name of Cherish. She heard my complaint and told me the kitchen got backed up and my order would be delivered around in another half hour to 45 mins. This means I would be waiting for 2 to 2-1/2 hours. It was not until after she heard my complaint that Cherish disclosed she is not a manager and that Francisco is the manager and he does not speak on the phone with customers on Tuesdays. I then told her she led me to believe she was the manager and I wanted to speak to the manager. She said, "They try not to bother him." I told her clearly they have not been trained well because I asked to speak to a manager. She continued to be combatitive. I canceled my order. I hope this restaurant finds better help to assist their customers. I hope they find a manager who speaks to customers when asked for on Tuesdays. I hope the kitchen is trained to speak to the other staff when asked about orders because apparently the girls disclosed the chefs, just complete orders as they deem necessary since no one can communicate with them. I HOPE THE OWNERS READ THIS REVIEW. They have worked too hard to allow and have room for rude service, whether it is in the restaurant for dining, pickup, or delivery.

There is a reason I became the Duke of Bill Lee's and visit this restaurant more often than any other in Bakersfield. It's because of their timeless cuisine, fantastic friendly service, and the environment throughout the building that hasn't changed in over 30 years coming here. Where "Cantonese cooking is an art" is an understatement. Brian, the 3rd generation owner/operator was even cooking Christmas Eve! We came in as a party of 6, sat in the lounge to be able to watch NFL football, and we're lucky enough to have Van serve us. Yes, the same Van that has worked at Bamboo Chopsticks for 30+ years. As someone who went to school with both my parents, and worked for a short time with my wife, we always get a chance to connect. The cocktails gave our conversation an added kick. As far as the food, there's nothing we enjoy more than ordering family style to get a taste of just about everything. 3 of them did the trick as 2 were Specialty of the House, and the 3rd was a #2. Authentic chow mein, special pork fried rice, BBQ pork ribs, fried shrimp, fried chicken, and their fantastic egg flower soup. There are also other fantastic meals there such as the kung pao, sweet and sour pork or chicken, beef broccoli, duck, steak, and chop suey to name a few. Overall, you can't get much better in terms of historical dining in Bakersfield.

Mom used to bring me here as a kid so I returned the favor. Started off at the bar and of course had a mai tai. The service was great. The food was just average. Ordered the paper wrapped chicken, which was very good. The barbecue pork was ok. I had the broccoli and beef and the beef was not great quality. Too much gristle. My mom had the fried shrimp with crunchy chow main and she said it was good but not something she would order again. Had a Diet Coke with my meal and it tasted like metal, just not a great flavor. Overall just an average experience.

My wife and I are from Bakersfield and have been coming to Bill Lee's for many years. Frankly, the food has always ranged from okay to good but was a solid choice when you were hungry for Chinese. We recently got two dinner's to go and were amazed at the poor quality of the food. Terrible soupy chow mien. Pork fried rice, without the pork, or any taste to speak of. Ribs from some unidentifiable animal. Just nasty dishes in general... Please look at the overall reviews before considering eating here. Choose anywhere else!

My party and I ate at the bar area as we enjoyed their famous Mai Tai drinks . Sweet bartender always made sure our drinks were filled ... she was very delightful and we enjoyed her conversations. Over all... I'll drink the Mai Tai again... as for the food, it was too greasy for me but I think it's normal for Chinese food.

Best Chinese food in town, fresh fast food. Great service, love that they deliver and very fast .

I'm on the fence with this one. Located in the bones of what was a tiki classic and a holy grail for bucket mug collectors, now sits a vast space that hasn't been redecorated since 1991 (teal, deep pink and grey everywhere), serving just palatable America-washed Chinese fare. This is no more obvious than the grilled cheese on the menu and side of ketchup/mustard served in the same bowl. That said the mustard was legit and hot! Great with the fried rice. My companion enjoyed his spare ribs, but wasn't wowed. My fried shrimp on the other hand was bland, tasteless rubber. I ate two and then gave up. But! The fried rice was pretty darn good -- although IMO a tough one to mess up. Great with a dash of soy n the mustard not too much tho, it bites! Starter egg flour soup was so perfect for a chilly night. Checked this off my hubs venues-of-tiki-past list. Will we return???? ‍

Fried pot stickers are so delicious with the special dipping sauce. Can't go wrong with Shrimp Fried Rice. Kids loved the orange chicken. Service was 10/10.

I grew up going to Bill Lee's as a kid so it's a nostalgic trip down memory lane every time I go here. I'd give the food 3 stars (some items 2 stars), but the nostalgia, service, ambiance and experience are a solid 4 stars and has me coming back again and again.

Cantonese style pork chow mein. Amazing! Staff were very friendly and fast service as well.

It's kind of upscale chinese restaurant. We had an early dunner on a weekend, the parki g was easy, they have their own parking lot. The food was good but i can't jidge it for sure since i had a plate that i have never tried before and it was the sea cucumber, it was good and kind of chewy. The service was good but again their prices might be high for being upscale dining.

Great Food Customer service is great as well.... The Mai Tai's are very tasty and the pork spare ribs are very delicious... Definitely a place to bring family and friends

Just went out with my grandsons and my sons for Mother's Day to Bill lees restaurant, but when we walked in the receptionist started talking down to us about my grandkids about getting food on the floor so we told her we won't be eating here. I have never seen such rudeness. I will never return to this place again. If you have children I would recommend that you don't eat here either! I though restaurants were trying make money. I guess they hired the wrong person for that! It's not child friendly!!!