I have been going to Bill Lee's 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 26 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 are comparable to the other restaurants in town.
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.
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