Restaurant Review: Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks in Bakersfield, California

Enjoyable Chinese Food

Teresa Wilson
I have been going to the Chinese restaurant, Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks in Bakersfield California since forever it seems like. My parents moved us to Bakersfield, CA in 1971 and sometimes they would bring home some of those cartons of rice and chow mein and other goodies like those yummy crispy noodles! Once in a great while we would go to the restaurant to eat but usually it was take-out.

I didn't go to Bill Lee's on a regular basis and eat inside the restaurant until my daughter was a toddler, about 27 years ago. One of the best friends that I've ever had would take my daughter and I to Bill Lee's about once a month, sometimes twice a month. We would just sit and eat and visit, sometimes for a couple of hours. My daughter would sit in her high chair eating her sweet and sour pineapple chicken sticks and her rice and her crispy noodles. She must have enjoyed them because she certainly got them all over her face and clothes!

Over the years I have tried different menu items at Bill Lee's but I always come back to my absolute favorites:
Chicken fried rice
Chicken Chow Mein with crispy noodles
Sweet and sour boneless pineapple chicken
Broccoli beef

Those are the foods that I generally stick to whenever I go to Bill Lee's. I usually go with other people and we order everything ala carte and share it. I have found that the dinners don't work for me because I don't eat pork and substitutions cost more for each change. Plus I don't always like the choices you get on a dinner, they are too restrictive for me so, ala carte ordering it is!

The egg flower soup is also a tasty menu item. It comes with the meals but not with the ala carte items. It does cost extra if you want it with your ala carte meal and you can order either a cup or a bowl. They bring you a bowl of oyster crackers to go with your soup too. They are tasty and the kids love them.

A pot of hot tea comes with whatever you order at Bill Lee's and it's very good. When you order take-out from Bill Lee's, just ask for tea and they will give you the dry tea leaves and you can make your own pot at home.

Prices at Bill Lee's Bamboo Chopsticks are comparable to the other restaurants in Bakersfield California.

For myself and my family, we like Bill Lee's and think that they have some of the best Chinese food in Bakersfield. I have tried different Chinese restaurants in town but I always come back to Bill Lee's. Bill Lee's is located at 1203 18th Street, Bakersfield CA 93301 and their phone number is (661) 324-9441.

Published by Teresa Wilson

Teresa Wilson is a California native who currently resides in the San Joaquin Valley. Teresa loves animals and enjoys writing about them, especially anything about horses. Teresa often finds herself busy w...  View profile

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  • Marcy4/23/2012

    I'm visiting in Bakersfield, went online to find a chinese restaurant. Went to Bill Lee's, ordered the Barbecue Pork, sliced too thick and seemed to be Canadian style bacon rather than the pork loin, didn't eat it. I ordered the Vegetable Chop Suey, which was stir fried in a tremendous, excessive, amount of oil. I made the mistake of eating it. I suffer from acid reflux, when I eat too much oilly food I regurgitate, I can feel it coming on. Why in this United States of America, can we not get properly prepared food? I think cooks should be required to pass a government test for a license to be able to cook in a restaurant.

  • Kim Linton2/7/2008

    Nice review!

  • Sue D.12/23/2007

    Chinese is my favorite, and this sounds like a good one. Great review.

  • Shannon12/9/2007

    I LOVE Bill Lee's!

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