These are time sensitive. You do not receive credit if you write them after the deadline each week.
First, there's a blog entry (about 250 words) which will have you respond to a hopefully thought-provoking question. Each week, you must do the blog entry with enough time left in the week to be able to enter into dialogue online with your classmates. Write, reply, write more, reply more, and then write and reply more.
Second, there's a reading. There’s no blog entry associated with this. Just read.
Third, there's a written response to the reading. Your reading and writing on the blog must be completed by the SATURDAY (by midnight) of the week in which the reading falls. This entry should be a long paragraph. YOU DO NOT NEED TO RESPOND TO OTHER STUDENTS' PART THREE EACH WEEK.'
Monday, November 9, 2015
WEEK NINE BLOG ENTRY
The best restaurant in Bakersfield is...
--or-- (because maybe you don't know Bakersfield:))
One of the best restaurants in Bakersfield is the Tofu House Korean BBQ. If you are willing to try new and tasty delicious food, then Tofu House is a great place to go. I love spicy food and I knew that Korean restaurants are known to serve delicious spicy foods. A mutual friend of mine recommended Tofu House and I did not hesitate to try it myself. When I first went into the restaurant, I was not sure what to order, but the waitress recommended the spicy beef soup with glass noodle. The spicy beef soup with glass noodle also came with a salad and a choice of steam rice. When the plate arrived, it surprised me because it was a large bowl and the salad was also a lot for just one person, the dish could feed about two people. I was not sure what to try first, the salad or the soup, but I went for the soup. When I took the first bite, a sensation of flavors dissolved in my mouth. Every time I took a bite, I could taste something differently each time; it was either the soft beef, the vegetables or the hot spicy flavor of the soup. Since the beefy soup was a bit spicy, I had to try the salad and the rice in order to relief the spicy sensation. Tofu House Korean Barbeque restaurant is a great place to try Korean food because, it provides its costumers a great variety of foods and drinks that the family can enjoy.
Hello Yesica, I enjoyed reading your blog entry. It sounds like the spicy beef soup was amazing! I don't really eat spicy food, I wish I had a high tolerance for spicy food but I don't :( On the other hand, my fiancé loves spicy food so I am sure he would love this soup. I will definitely have to visit this restaurant soon. Thank you for sharing!
Hey Yesica, glad you liked the restaurant! I’ve only been there once, but I remember the food was really good. If I remember correctly, I got the Bulgogi beef which I shared with my girlfriend. They did have a wide variety of foods to choose from and am glad I found something we enjoyed. Maybe next time I’ll try the spicy beef soup since it sounds like you enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation and hope you have a great week!
Hi Jazmin, I do really enjoy eating spicy foods. This restaurant also serves food that are not spicy, so hopefully you and your fiance can try some time.
Hi Jesse, the Bulgogi beef also sounds really good. The next time I visit this restaurant I will try to have the Bulgogi beef, it sounds really good.
The best restaurant in town would have to be Olive Garden. My favorite type of food is Italian. My husband and I have gone there to eat many times and we always receive excellent service. Despite the long wait, their food and service is great. To start off the entrée, the server will ask if we want to accompany the meal with a soup or a salad. The appetizer also comes with breadsticks that smell like garlic oil. Either of the two are delicious. The dressing on the salad is one I have yet to taste anywhere else. If we choose the soup, it is always warm and creamy. The best part of the appetizers is that they include free refills. When my husband and I go, we always get seconds. A common platter that many people enjoy is the “Tour Of Italy.” The name is almost self explanatory to it’s food. This plate include chicken alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmesan. At the end, they serve my favorite chocolate, chocolate mints. Everything about this restaurant is extremely elegant and fancy. This food is beyond compare to any other Italian food restaurants.
My friends and I love going to Olive Garden. The latest we have ever gone is at 11pm after a concert. There was no one in the restaurant and we had, I thought, the entire place to ourselves! Since we were so loud, the servers were also having a good time and laughing along with us. Surprisingly, Olive Garden is cheaper than Frugatti’s, which I probably will never go back to because it is so expensive!
Hi Mike, I did not even know that Olive Garden stayed open so late! Also, I pass by Frugatti's every day but I have never been inside. I've always wondered, is the food good at all?
I love Olive Garden! Waiting there is definitely worth the wait. I love having their bread sticks and then salad! I know you mentioned soup. My favorite is the Toscana Soup. My aunt actually makes it homemade and it taste just like Olive Garden's soup! I have seen Tour of Italy on the menu, but have not tried it. But I have tried the chicken parasmean though! By the way, even though Frugatti's is more expensive, they are a restaurant who have more authentic Italian food. They have a variety of Italian food that are worth trying! Thanks for sharing and now I am hungry! :)
I like Olive Garden a lot too. How do people turn away those amazing breadsticks?! I usually go for the soup and salad, but I get pasta here and there as well. I haven not tried Tour of Italy, but I definitely might next time since you mentioned how good it is. Thanks for sharing. :)
I love Italian food and Olive Garden is amazing. The bread sticks are great, they are so rich in flavor and they are very addicting. Every time we go eat there I have to make sure that the bread doesn't stay right in front of me because by the time dinner gets to the table, I have no more room for left. Also, great choice by choosing the Tower of Italy. Its so perfect when you just want a little bit of everything. Everything there is great, and those chocolates, they just put the cherry on top.
I love Olive Garden. It is definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I have never had a bad experience there and the food is always so good. I love their salad and breadsticks. My favorite dish is the Baked Ziti; amazing! To finish it off my favorite dessert is their raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. Everything is amazing!
I love Olive Garden! I love their soup and I love their salad! It is to die for! My favorite soup is the Zuppa Tuscana! When I order the salad I always order extra tomatoes. The bread sticks are good too but only when they're super warm. I love their service, they are polite and fast!
The best restaurant I have ever been to is Sabor Cocina Mexicana in Thousand Oaks, CA. If any of you visit Camarillo or Thousand Oaks area, I highly recommend making a trip to this restaurant. My fiancé and I went to have dinner at this restaurant on Valentine's Day last year. I was in the mood for Mexican food and went on yelp to search for Mexican restaurants nearby. I came across Sabor Cocina Mexicana and when I read that they had churros stuffed with Nutella and served with vanilla bean ice cream, I was running to the car. My first impression of the restaurant was the authentic Hispanic feel but it had elegant twist to it. The booth that our waiter took us to was private and surrounded by beautiful green plants. As we sat down, the waiter lit a few tea light candles that were floating in votive holders filled with water at our table. There were huge, beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling that had deep plum colored hearts attached to them. I really was impressed with the decor. My fiancé ordered tacos de carnitas and I ordered chicken enchiladas. My fiancé and I are both really picky with our meats/chicken and hate when there is fat on there. Both my chicken enchiladas and his carnita tacos were free of meat and chicken fat. The food was delicious and I think that was clear since we ate every last bite of our dish. I then asked the waiter about the Nutella stuffed churros and he said we could not leave without trying them. I obviously had to order this desert. When the desert came out, I took a bite of the churro covered in cinnamon, warm Nutella oozing from it and vanilla bean ice cream topping it off. Oh man, was I in heaven. Every calorie of this desert was well worth it. Unfortunately, I am now craving this desert and this restaurant is about a two-hour drive from Bakersfield. I will have to find a way to convince my fiancé for us to make the drive to this restaurant soon.
Hey Jazmin. I haven’t been to Sabor Cocina Mexicana , but from what you’ve said, maybe I should try it out soon. I love Mexican food and so does my girlfriend, so this sounds like an experience we would both enjoy. Too bad there isn’t one in Bakersfield, but if it really is as delicious as you say, then maybe we’ll have to go out and try it. Thanks for sharing and hope you can convince your fiance to drive you there once more.
Hello Jesse. Since you mentioned that both you and your girlfriend love Mexican food, I highly recommend this restaurant. Also, there is a "romantic" feel which I'm sure your girlfriend would like! Yes, unfortunately there isn't one in Bakersfield. I recently moved here so it sucks that this restaurant is far from here. Hopefully you can take your girlfriend there one day, it really is worth the drive.
The best restaurant, in Bakersfield, so far, is Maui Pho Fusion BBQ Grill on Ming Ave., next to Home Depot. Now, I know there are many restaurants out there but, being from out of town, I haven't driven around Bakersfield to examine its nightlife or social scene. I'm married, so that maybe one factor. Although my wife deserves to have nice meals out but we tend to drive out of town (over the hill) for something this good. Yes, it's that good. I can't take the credit for being introduced to it. My wife's friend from her work took her. They had the Chinese chicken salad and Chinese fried chicken. When my wife took me, it was fortunate; we met the owner as we sat at the front counter. (I almost said bar, but then thought you may-think they serve alcohol, so I rephrased it, but maybe they do, we had ice tea. I don't know why I'm still talking in my head, so) OK. At the front counter we met, I know her face, but can't think of her name. I asked the wife but she says she doesn't know English when she gets lazy and doesn't want to communicate. I can't blame her; she just came home from work at 10pm, and running all shift answering, "call lights". (Must be exhausting) Nurse's, Doctors, all Health Professionals, everyone- would love to take a break in this place. Anyways. The chicken? Masarap. (Means delicious in Tagalog, and that's all she wanted to communicate to you, and also to go there.) The owner is extremely sweet. Extremely sweet, I felt right at home, and my wife very friendly, loves to meet people. She is a talker. So, I watched this dance of communication. Happily little dance. It was the undertone I could witness, to determine, if they were, both, Chinese! Ah, I got it. (I just couldn’t put one more comma, even though, I wanted to.) If you’re friendly, everyone looks Chinese to her. That's a nice idea to have, isn't it? Just imagine everyone is the same as your race, hmmm...I like. Well, that first visit we had Asian chicken salad and the fried chicken. I shouldn't have had the fried chicken but, yeah. That good. It leaves this glisten of oil and spice that sparkles when the light hits it. You see it and, ah. Yes, finger licking-good. We ordered the pot stickers to go. Now the owner, I have to find out here name, hold on. Luckily, I'm a search, monster! I love it! I can find, it. It's like, a little task, a competition, of an amazing internal race. (OK, breathe, that should, well, all have been in, well, whatever you call this? Wait. Hold on. http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/parenthetical, see.) The owner, Lynn Chan, said they were a specialty, (and she told me the secret) but you'll have to go to Maui Pho on Ming Ave., to find out. (Hint: masarap.)
YES! I work across the street from Maui Pho and am constantly eating lunch here during fall and winter. Compared to any other places that serve pho, this one tops all of them. I love that they have the drive through. This always makes it so much more convenient during lunch hour. Their homemade mango tea is also amazing!
I agree! They opened one in Delano and I always go! Their pork rice is so good! They're soups are yummy too! You should definitely try the shrimp one! Their orange chicken is my favorite too. Overall great service and great food.
The best, we hit the truck going out of town, on our way to the Tejon Conservancy for membrane water potential analysis on the oak species (drought research). I enjoy the carne asada burrito, but without rice...any thing they have is probably great.
Hello Professor Schmoll, if you are looking for the best taco truck in town, you really need to try Tacos Jalisco off of Union Ave and Pacheco. I am not sure what it is that they do to make such delicious tacos, but you will feel like you have drifted to heaven after taking the first bite. Please give it a try sometime. You will not regret it!
The best restaurant I have ever been to in Bakersfield would have to be Los Hermanos. They have the best Latin American and Mexican food there! There is actually one located close by CSUB on Stockdale in the Town and Country Village next to Kern School Federal Credit Union. If you want something quick and amazing that place is the best to be! Every time I go there, I always try the Mexican Bowl with steak or chicken or the Chile Verde Burrito. They also have a salsa bar that has from no spice to the hottest salsa. I usually pour Pico De Gallo salsa or mix in the hottest red sauce on top of my meals. They serve a variety of burritos, tacos, nachos, chimichangas, and other assorted foods to enjoy. My boyfriend actually introduced me to this place. He is full white and loves Mexican food. He wanted me to try it and I fell in love with their authenticity of Mexican food served there. The employers are very friendly and are willing to serve you in any way they can. This is a great place for friends going out for lunch, cheap college student, or families who are in the mood to try some amazing Mexican food.
I have tried places like La Mina, Victors Mexican Grill, Chipotle, etc. to find a good place to match my taste buds like LA has. I will try Los Hermanos as you have recommended. I’m glad that it’s something quick and, importantly, cheap for college students. Thank you for this!
Hi Brittany, I love Los Hermanos! I think it has more of an authentic taste than places like Chipotle. I have been on a major taco kick lately, and I love their carnitas. I also order a large horchata every time I go. Good choice!
I might be cheating when I do this, but I have to present to everyone 2 different places.
I unfortunately have not been out in Bakersfield long enough to try the delicious and different places of this city. However, due to ASI, I do a lot of traveling to the different CSU campuses for meetings and thus am exposed to different eating areas. If I had to pick one that does not associate with my Korean culture, I would have to pick a small Italian restaurant in Long Beach called P3 Artisan Pasta. If the meeting had not ended past 9pm, I would’ve never found this restaurant but I am so glad that I did. The pasta that I had tried was the red pepper peppardelle with Alfredo (not sure if that is the name or just the description…none the less, super good). Ordering might be a little complicated but the servers are super nice and go into detail when explaining the different types of pasta and their sauce. The price was adequate, not too pricey, and was perfect for students in general.
In the same city, in the complex that I was staying in, there was a breakfast restaurant called, The Breakfast Bar. Now, just like the above-mentioned restaurant, I would’ve never visited The Breakfast Bar if I were not staying in the complex. My team and I ended up coming for breakfast two times in a row for their delicious lemon pancakes. Now, I love lemon bars but don’t like lemon water or lemons in general, so I guess I like sweet lemony tastes. Their pancakes were coated with sugar and had a lemon syrup that tied it all together in great harmony. It was delicious!
Make thanks for sharing your restaurants! My brother-in-law actually attends a school in Long Beach currently so I cannot wait to tell him and my sister about this place. It is so fun to learn were other people enjoy eating so you don't feel like you are exploring something for the first time! Hope you are having a great end of the quarter!
The best restaurant in Bakersfield, in my opinion, is El Fogon on East Brundage Lane. Their menu looks like any other mexican food restaurant consisting of tacos, burritos, tortas, sopes, and other assorted foods to enjoy, but believe me when I say the food is absolutely amazing. The portions are ridiculously large while still being quite inexpensive. Everything is homemade right in front of you as soon as it ordered which adds to the freshness of all of their food. They also bake “Pan Dulce” right there in the restaurant which is equally delicious. I highly recommend the Chile Verde Asada burrito, but be sure to bring an appetite because it is massive; it covers every inch of the food container it is served in and has to be cut in half to fit. I can never finish the burrito in one sitting, so it’s pretty convenient it’s cut into two pieces. If you’re not feeling Mexican food, they also serve chicken wings and 24 inch pizzas which I also recommend. The employees are extremely friendly and the atmosphere makes it easy to get comfortable. This is a great place to go if you’re really hungry for quality Mexican food and don’t want to pay a lot. I love the authenticity of the food, and am glad I was introduced to this establishment by a friend.
As I have written in my post, I love Mexican Food! I have never heard of that restaurant but I feel like it is worth trying as you described the food! I love Chile Verde Asada burritos also! I have tried the burrito at many different Mexican restaurants, but I must try it there! I will definitely go check it out! Thanks for sharing.
I have never heard of this place, but now I feel like I need to put it on my list of places to try. I love anything chile verde, and I get it at every Mexican restaurant I go too. Also, who doesn't love large portions because leftovers are great! Can't wait to try this place out. Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jesse, I never would have tried El Fogon if it wasn’t for my boyfriend and his grandma. The chile verde burrito is excellent, but I have yet to try the pan dulce. I love how you can actually watch them making the food; it makes for an unusual experience.
So I’ve been trying to decide for the last 10 minutes between Mama Roombas and Disleyland’s Blue Bayou…
I have to go with Mama Roombas though because it is here in town and I think everyone NEEDS to try it sometime. Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t know why I didn’t use it for my restaurant review. Mama Roombas is a Caribbean restaurant located downtown on Eye Street. It’s a very small seating area and from the times I’ve gone, usually pretty crowded but I think that’s one of my favorite parts about it. The family atmosphere is very inviting and the small area makes it fun and upbeat. The plates served here are larger portions made for the whole table to be able to share. I believe they are called “tappas”. I like this serving style because you can try a variety of dishes instead of having to order a single item. Some of my favorite dishes from Mama Roombas are actually from the appetizer portion of the menu; the empanadas and ceviche. There are two different kinds of empanadas and they are both amazing, filled with so much flavor and the sauces provided on the side are perfect additions. The ceviche is very unique and unlike any traditional recipe I have tried. In a traditional recipe I dislike the fine chopped fish or shrimp but Mama Roombas uses bigger pieces of ingredients. The avocado, corn, tomatoes, and onions are left in larger chunks and whole shrimp as well. Oh my gosh, the dessert! I don’t remember what it was called exactly but they were fried bananas with a caramel type dipping sauce that was to die for! There are not enough words to type to describe the great amount of flavor in these dishes! The friendly staff and atmosphere really help tie the whole experience together so I really hope you are all able to try what Mama Roombas has to offer!
I will have to try it out. I've been looking for a fantastic Caribbean place, especially for jerk chicken. I had my first really good jerk chicken at a place in Vegas (off the strip place near industrial area: name forgotten). My wife is slowly being introduced to spicy food, so I'd like to show her this type of flavor pallet. Thanks so much for sharing.
Maegan, that restaurant sounds amazing! I cannot believe that I have never heard about it. However, I can see how you had a hard time deciding between the two places. The Blue Bayou is seriously one of my all time favorite places to eat because well of course it is in Disneyland which makes everything better, but it also has such a cool atmosphere and amazing Monte Cristos! Thanks for sharing with us!
Hey Maegan, I love that you brought of the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. Each time we visit we always make sure to eat something at this restaurant. Not to mention their lemonade is AMAZING. I also really enjoy the view. I love the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and being so close while eating always gets me excited.
The best restaurant in Bakersfield, in my opinion, is Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que. I may be biased because I have worked there for almost a year, but the food truly is amazing. I am also a huge fan of barbecue food, and I try it basically everywhere I go. First of all, Lucille’s gives out these complimentary biscuits before your meal that is to die for. They are encrusted with sugar, and they come with apple butter. Yup, apple butter! Two things you would think wouldn’t go well together, but it’s actually just like an apple concentration mixed with the butter to make it sweet. The biscuits could double as a dessert for this reason. They also have peach lemonade that makes my mouth water every time I think about it. I have not found its equivalent anywhere else. Not to mention the pulled pork queso dip or the BBQ chips with BBQ ranch dressing that I am obsessed with. And the choice of sides that come with your entrée is overwhelming. How am I supposed to choose between the cheese crusted mac n cheese or the sweet potato fries or the BBQ beans? They’re all so good. All of the meat is smoked in the in house hickory smoker, and it makes the meat so good I can’t even. I’ve tried almost the entire menu, and there are very few meals that I could live without. If you are a fan of barbecue, I suggest Lucille’s. It’s a little higher priced for some of the large plates, but they’re worth it because the portions are huge! I hope you all try it and love it like I do.
My brother keeps telling me to try Lucille's smokehouse. I have never been but I am not going to lie I am tempted to try it now. I am not a fan of BBQ but after reading your post you seriously sold me out to try it. I'm definitely going to try it now.
Hello Carly. Before I read your post and saw Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ in your first sentence, I knew I had to read your post to see if you would write about their biscuits. I love their biscuits and the apple butter is delicious!
I have only been to Lucille's 1 time. When I went I must say that I enjoyed the biscuits and the apple butter. I don't remember what I ate but I do remember that. And it was delicious.
I now have a small list of restaurants I need to try here in Bakersfield thanks to this week’s blog post. I love trying new food but I prefer being recommended a new place to eat instead of just trying my luck and hope the food is somewhat descent. Since I don’t live here in Bakersfield I’m not too familiar with the all the restaurants that are here in town. When I do come to CSUB for my classes I will grab a bite with a few friends at Olive Garden, Chilis, Chipotle or BWW. But a place I really enjoy going to is Shogun Palace. For family dinners or events my family and I will usually agree to eat at Shogun to enjoy great company over a delicious dinner. The teppanyaki is extremely entertaining and the food itself is delicious. Not only do they serve great food but they also have great customer service. The waiters and waitresses will swing by and make sure everything is fine. The chefs are extremely friendly and make sure you receive your food the way want it. I recommend for people to try the Vegas roll or the Malibu roll. If you go for dinner I do recommend to try the teppanyaki and to get the steak with shrimp and veggies. This place is by far one of my favorite restaurants to eat with family for dinner.
Hi Jeannette, I hope your having a great week. I really enjoyed reading your post, and it sounds like you really like going to Shogun Palace. I haven’t lived long enough in Bakersfield to know about this restaurant, but it sounds like a great place to go with the family. I will definitely try it one of these days, thanks for sharing.
Hi Jeannette, I have tried shogun here and Bakersfield many times, and I used to love it. But next time you want teppanyaki you should try Akiras! It is really awesome!
It is not the best restaurant I have ever been too, but one of my favorite restaurants in Bakersfield is The Mark, which is located in downtown Bakersfield by the Padre. This restaurant is very nice with linens on the table and low lighting, but my favorite part is that it is not a chain. The restaurant does not seat that many people at a time so when you are there it feels as though you are in an intimate setting no matter who you are with. Another reason that this is my favorite place to eat in Bakersfield when I am ready for a night out is that they do a wonderful job accommodating for food allergies. I have numerous strange allergies and when I give the waiter a card listing all of them the chef simply makes up something fun for me to eat every time. I am never worried that I will be given something that I said I could not eat when I go to this restaurant. That was about all I have to say about this place so I will tell you all about another of my favorite places in Bakersfield which is called Shogun. This is a fun place where they cook the food on a table grill at your table. Much to my grandma's surprise every time we take her, there is only the option of what meat you want when you choose to eat at the grill. However, I don't think anyone would want to choose not to eat their fantastic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Also, this place is great at accommodating for dairy and gluten allergies (although there is always a chance of cross contamination - and I just bring my own GF soy sauce for them to use since they don't carry that at the restaurant)!
Hi Janel, I'm so glad you wrote about this restaurant, I've always wanted to try it and I've never got to it. It seems very fancy and somewhere you can go on a very romantic date... I like how you mentioned the fact that there is not a lot of people around, I guess sometimes it’s good to be in a not so noisy restaurant. I'm also allergic to a lot of things that sounds like a great restaurant to go to where they will accommodate with that. I will be paying The Mark a visit, thank you.
I love the mark! I actually didn't about this while I was deciding on a restaurant. I've only been there twice but I like the atmosphere, it's really cool and classy. The staff is great and very helpful when describing dishes and helping you decide what you might like best. It is a little pricy but it's a great spot for a special occasion.
The best restaurant I have ever been to in Bakersfield is J's Place. J’s place is very similar to a famous restaurant called Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles, they are known for their famous Southern style cooking. Every time I go to J’s Place I always get the same meal because I feel that it really doesn't get any better than chicken and waffles. I grew up around Mexican traditional foods like posole, tamales, and enchiladas so when I first visited this restaurant I fell in love with how different the food was. The first time I heard of chicken and waffles I thought "no way", but soon after trying it I couldn't think of a better combination. They also have amazing sides; my favorite has to be the macaroni and cheese. The texture and taste is so amazing, the cheese is rich in flavor and the noodles are perfectly cooked. I must admit, I had three sides of the macaroni and cheese the first time I tried it. Lastly, the red Kool-Aid is amazing. When they asked me what I wanted to drink and one of the options was Kool-Aid, it immediately caught my attention because they don't serve that beverage at any other restaurant. I decided to try it. I left the restaurant completely fulfilled because I chose a great meal and a great drink sweet drink to accompany it. This restaurant is not the healthiest when it comes to calories but if you ever have cheat day and want to try something different and delicious, try J’s Place.
Hi Jennifer I am always looking for new restaurants to try around Bakersfield (I love food!) Waffles and chicken? It doesn't sound very appetizing, but you definitely sold through. I'll be trying J's Place soon Have a great weekend
I completely agree with you! I love J's place the food is great. If you ever want to get outside the box and try something new try the Ox Tails. My boyfriend first had me try them and I fell in love with the flavor.
I am a big foodie! I just love food and I always enjoy trying new foods and restaurants. It is hard for me to choose ONE restaurant. To me it depends what I’m craving; my favorite foods varies from Italian Food to Mexican Food. If I’m craving Italian Food my go to restaurant would be Olive Garden. I love Olive Garden! I know Olive Garden is considered a “chain” restaurant and some might say there are better Italian restaurants in town but I am hands down all for Olive Garden. I love their salad and the breadsticks. Something about their salad dressing that I just cannot get enough of. I could live off of their salad with breadsticks. My favorite dish would have to be the Bake Ziti. The five cheese marinara is simply delicious. For dessert, my favorite is their Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake; it is to die for! I have never had a bad experience there and they are always so friendly.
Now, if I’m craving Mexican Food, my favorite is Los Molcajetes on Brundage Lane. Their food is delicious and their drinks are great. The restaurant has live music and it always has a fun atmosphere. My favorite are their enchiladas and my fiancé likes their Steak which I believe it’s called “carne misteca” and it comes with grill shrimp and it is really good. Overall, it’s a fun restaurant to go hang out and enjoy some drinks and good Mexican Food.
Hi Carolina! I agree with 100%, I love Olive Garden and so far it is the place I choose to go when I am craving Italian food. Their portions are huge, (along with the salad) so I don't have room for desert but next time I am there I will try that cheesecake. Have a great weekend
The best restaurant I have ever been to is Orange Hill Restaurant located in Orange County. For my 21st birthday, my boyfriend and I had traveled to Orange County to try the steak at this famous Restaurant. Not only was the food AMAZING, but the view was incredible and so romantic. The city lights twinkle like stars at night and you also get to see Disneyland fireworks while sitting outside on the patio. The walls of the restaurant are glass, so whether you are inside or outside, the view all around is breath taking. The staff was extremely friendly and considerate about our comfort. As a couple, we both love steak so we are constantly trying new places. Although the ambiance of Orange Hill Restaurant was like no other, I would still have to say that the Padre here in town has the best Rib-eye steak. The reason I chose Orange Hill as the best restaurant is because I have never been anywhere with a view as beautiful as this one. In sum, this restaurant is the best as of view. However as of food quality, I would have to say the Padre here in town has the best food. I have been to the Padre about four times and have never been disappointed with the Rib-eye. Although it is a bit pricey, you get the quality that you pay for.
Hello Patricia, My boyfriend and I are also crazy about steak and that is what we order to almost every restaurant we go to. I have never ate at The Padre but I have heard that they have really good food. So far the best tasting steak I've had in town is from Tahoe Joe's but now I'm curious to try The Padre's steak. The restaurant in Orange Hill that you described sounds amazing I would love to go their and try the steak and be able to experience that beautiful view. It sounds so romantic and breathtaking I would love to experience it for myself.
I am very indecisive when it comes for me to choose a restaurant. I am always afraid that I will not find anything appetizing, so I stick with salads. That is not the case with a restaurant known as Keedy’s (Palm Desert, Ca). Every now and then when I am able to head to my hometown, La Quinta several friends of mine head to the well-known restaurant. This is one of my favorite restaurants and our visits there have become tradition. They have a decent set up within that simply makes you feel like you are home and along with that the employees are very kind. We get there during the breakfast/brunch rush and sit at the counter on the era appropriate swiveled chairs. The counter is where all the action happens! Plates of food are sliding out from the kitchen, shakes are being made, and all other systems are a go. If you prefer something quite they do have back rooms to choose from, but those are always empty since I have been there. I have tried practically every meal that is under, “BREAKFAST”, they cannot go wrong. The portions are huge! My favorite meal are the chilaquiles with an over hard fried egg. For those who do not know what it is, it is simply strips of fried corned tortillas simmered in red or green salsa, and topped with an egg. It worth a try!
I honestly do not have an absolutely favorite place to eat, I am an indecisive person when it comes to choosing food options. But I do love Mexican food and burgers. My favorite place to get drinks and food would have to be Camino Real on New Stine Rd. Their signature house pink margaritas are great. The staff is so friendly and I love the environment of the restaurant itself. My favorite thing to eat when I go there would have to be their guacamole and chips. The restaurants makes their own chips from scratch and sticks about 8 or so of them in the dip. These chips are huge. The texture of the guacamole and fresh crunchy chips together is great. The restaurants friendly and helpful staff coupled with the great food is some of the best services you could ask for. My favorite place to get a burger is this little food place is Nagi’s. This place is one of the local places that have been in town for years. This little burger stands has some of the best burgers I have ever tasted. They are just a small independently owned business that has evolved over the years but they still have some of the fast food I have encountered. The restaurant has only family employees and they alternate shifts. It so small that if you are a regular they attempt to remember your face and name. Their friendly nature and good food is another reason why I will continue to be a loyal customer to these establishments.
Hello Shannon, I have visited Camino Real restaurant and I have to agree with you they have great drink specials and service. Their food is also amazing my favorite meal their are their fish tacos they are battered and extremely delicious. Another really good meal is their enchiladas everytime I go to this restaurant I finish my whole plate and leave with a happy filled stomach. I love their micheladas and their mixed drink called fruta fresca. The staff is always so nice and friendly which is why I keep going back.
Hello everyone, it’s really hard to pick the best restaurant in Bakersfield because there are many restaurants that have great tasting food. I personally love food so I waste a lot of my money on food. However if I had to choose one restaurant I would probably pick Tahoe Joe’s because their steak is the best steak I have ever had. Every time I go there I order their famous steak, mashed potatoes and vegetables because it’s my favorite meal out of all the restaurants I have gone to. The steak is well done and juicy, and the mash potatoes are so creamy and have the best flavor I have ever tasted. Everytime I go to Tahoe Joe’s I say I’m going to try something new, but I never do because I don’t want to miss out on some steak. I always look over to see what the tables around me ordered and all the food looks so good. Next time I go I plan to keep my word and try a new dish because I am more than sure all of their meals taste great. Another restaurant that is the best in Bakersfield would have to be Bj’s Restaurant and Brew house. Their pizza is the best. I am really picky about my pizza so before trying Bj’s I only liked Rusty’s pizza. However I would classify Bj’s as a great restaurant because not only do they serve great pizza they also offer a lot of other great meals such as jambalaya, shrimp fettuccini and steak. They offer great service and their famous and delicious Pizookie dessert. They deliver their food in a timely manner and constantly check up on you to see if you have enough water or appetizers.
I don't really have a favorite restaurant in Bakersfield, but I do have one in Tulare! It's called La Piazza, and it's Italian food. It is the best Italian food I have ever tried. The moment I walk into the door I order the fried calamari and bread with butter. It's is so delicious, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. After my appetizer I order lemon chicken with steamed vegetables sautéed in a lemon sauce. I also get a side of Alfredo pasta with cheese. Once I'm done with all that I order a coffee cake. I definitely recommend this place! It is so good.
I think the best restaurant in town is Kanpai. They have sushi and they have teppanyaki, which both happen to be my favorite type of food! I think that their sushi is the best in town! They have this roll with blue fin tuna that it absolutely to die for. They also have a really nice bar to sit and socialize at with friends. I go there a lot with my cousins and friends to have a nice dinner and some wine. The service there is really great too! My favorite server would have to be Daniel! He is awesome and very funny; he is always making everyone laugh. I really enjoy my time when I am at Kanpai, good food, nice people, and some great conversation. That is why Kanpai is my favorite restaurant
The best restaurant in Bakersfield is the Del Taco in Mt. Vernon. They have the best burritos and fish tacos. And let’s not forget about the cheesecake bites!
Only kidding...my favorite restaurant in town is Mama Roomba. It’s a little Caribbean place downtown on Eye Street. I think the place is unique, and it’s the only Caribbean restaurant I’ve ever been to. My favorite dish is the fried chicken with mango chile sauce. The dish has a unique flavor; the chicken is flavorful and the breading is crunchy, and the mango sauce adds a little kick. The cassava (yucca) fries are also very interesting, with a flavor that is kind of a cross between regular potato fries and sweet potato fries. I also really liked the mussels, which were boiled and served in broth, so it tasted kind of like a mussel soup. My only complaint is that I would like to see a bit more of a dessert menu, as I have a major sweet tooth.
It’s a smaller place, with some interesting artwork on the walls. The serving staff is small, and there seems to be the same employees working during the couple times that I’ve been there. Also, I haven’t seen the episode, but I hear the restaurant was featured on an episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.”
One of the best restaurants in Bakersfield is the Tofu House Korean BBQ. If you are willing to try new and tasty delicious food, then Tofu House is a great place to go. I love spicy food and I knew that Korean restaurants are known to serve delicious spicy foods. A mutual friend of mine recommended Tofu House and I did not hesitate to try it myself. When I first went into the restaurant, I was not sure what to order, but the waitress recommended the spicy beef soup with glass noodle. The spicy beef soup with glass noodle also came with a salad and a choice of steam rice. When the plate arrived, it surprised me because it was a large bowl and the salad was also a lot for just one person, the dish could feed about two people. I was not sure what to try first, the salad or the soup, but I went for the soup. When I took the first bite, a sensation of flavors dissolved in my mouth. Every time I took a bite, I could taste something differently each time; it was either the soft beef, the vegetables or the hot spicy flavor of the soup. Since the beefy soup was a bit spicy, I had to try the salad and the rice in order to relief the spicy sensation. Tofu House Korean Barbeque restaurant is a great place to try Korean food because, it provides its costumers a great variety of foods and drinks that the family can enjoy.
ReplyDeleteHello Yesica, I enjoyed reading your blog entry. It sounds like the spicy beef soup was amazing! I don't really eat spicy food, I wish I had a high tolerance for spicy food but I don't :( On the other hand, my fiancé loves spicy food so I am sure he would love this soup. I will definitely have to visit this restaurant soon. Thank you for sharing!
DeleteHey Yesica, glad you liked the restaurant! I’ve only been there once, but I remember the food was really good. If I remember correctly, I got the Bulgogi beef which I shared with my girlfriend. They did have a wide variety of foods to choose from and am glad I found something we enjoyed. Maybe next time I’ll try the spicy beef soup since it sounds like you enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation and hope you have a great week!
DeleteHi Jazmin, I do really enjoy eating spicy foods. This restaurant also serves food that are not spicy, so hopefully you and your fiance can try some time.
DeleteHi Jesse, the Bulgogi beef also sounds really good. The next time I visit this restaurant I will try to have the Bulgogi beef, it sounds really good.
The best restaurant in town would have to be Olive Garden. My favorite type of food is Italian. My husband and I have gone there to eat many times and we always receive excellent service. Despite the long wait, their food and service is great. To start off the entrée, the server will ask if we want to accompany the meal with a soup or a salad. The appetizer also comes with breadsticks that smell like garlic oil. Either of the two are delicious. The dressing on the salad is one I have yet to taste anywhere else. If we choose the soup, it is always warm and creamy. The best part of the appetizers is that they include free refills. When my husband and I go, we always get seconds. A common platter that many people enjoy is the “Tour Of Italy.” The name is almost self explanatory to it’s food. This plate include chicken alfredo, lasagna, and chicken parmesan. At the end, they serve my favorite chocolate, chocolate mints. Everything about this restaurant is extremely elegant and fancy. This food is beyond compare to any other Italian food restaurants.
ReplyDeleteHi Sylvia,
DeleteMy friends and I love going to Olive Garden. The latest we have ever gone is at 11pm after a concert. There was no one in the restaurant and we had, I thought, the entire place to ourselves! Since we were so loud, the servers were also having a good time and laughing along with us. Surprisingly, Olive Garden is cheaper than Frugatti’s, which I probably will never go back to because it is so expensive!
Hi Mike,
DeleteI did not even know that Olive Garden stayed open so late!
Also, I pass by Frugatti's every day but I have never been inside. I've always wondered, is the food good at all?
Hi Sylvia,
DeleteI remember staying until 1am for some reason! Haha. I have only tried their alfredo and it was the same as Olive Garden I want to say.
Hi Sylvia,
DeleteI love Olive Garden! Waiting there is definitely worth the wait. I love having their bread sticks and then salad! I know you mentioned soup. My favorite is the Toscana Soup. My aunt actually makes it homemade and it taste just like Olive Garden's soup! I have seen Tour of Italy on the menu, but have not tried it. But I have tried the chicken parasmean though! By the way, even though Frugatti's is more expensive, they are a restaurant who have more authentic Italian food. They have a variety of Italian food that are worth trying! Thanks for sharing and now I am hungry! :)
Hi Sylvia,
DeleteI like Olive Garden a lot too. How do people turn away those amazing breadsticks?! I usually go for the soup and salad, but I get pasta here and there as well. I haven not tried Tour of Italy, but I definitely might next time since you mentioned how good it is. Thanks for sharing. :)
Hi Sylvia,
DeleteI love Italian food and Olive Garden is amazing. The bread sticks are great, they are so rich in flavor and they are very addicting. Every time we go eat there I have to make sure that the bread doesn't stay right in front of me because by the time dinner gets to the table, I have no more room for left. Also, great choice by choosing the Tower of Italy. Its so perfect when you just want a little bit of everything. Everything there is great, and those chocolates, they just put the cherry on top.
Hi Sylvia,
DeleteI love Olive Garden. It is definitely one of my favorite restaurants. I have never had a bad experience there and the food is always so good. I love their salad and breadsticks. My favorite dish is the Baked Ziti; amazing! To finish it off my favorite dessert is their raspberry white chocolate cheesecake. Everything is amazing!
Hi Sylvia,
DeleteI love Olive Garden! I love their soup and I love their salad! It is to die for! My favorite soup is the Zuppa Tuscana! When I order the salad I always order extra tomatoes. The bread sticks are good too but only when they're super warm. I love their service, they are polite and fast!
The best restaurant I have ever been to is Sabor Cocina Mexicana in Thousand Oaks, CA. If any of you visit Camarillo or Thousand Oaks area, I highly recommend making a trip to this restaurant. My fiancé and I went to have dinner at this restaurant on Valentine's Day last year. I was in the mood for Mexican food and went on yelp to search for Mexican restaurants nearby. I came across Sabor Cocina Mexicana and when I read that they had churros stuffed with Nutella and served with vanilla bean ice cream, I was running to the car. My first impression of the restaurant was the authentic Hispanic feel but it had elegant twist to it. The booth that our waiter took us to was private and surrounded by beautiful green plants. As we sat down, the waiter lit a few tea light candles that were floating in votive holders filled with water at our table. There were huge, beautiful chandeliers hanging from the ceiling that had deep plum colored hearts attached to them. I really was impressed with the decor. My fiancé ordered tacos de carnitas and I ordered chicken enchiladas. My fiancé and I are both really picky with our meats/chicken and hate when there is fat on there. Both my chicken enchiladas and his carnita tacos were free of meat and chicken fat. The food was delicious and I think that was clear since we ate every last bite of our dish. I then asked the waiter about the Nutella stuffed churros and he said we could not leave without trying them. I obviously had to order this desert. When the desert came out, I took a bite of the churro covered in cinnamon, warm Nutella oozing from it and vanilla bean ice cream topping it off. Oh man, was I in heaven. Every calorie of this desert was well worth it. Unfortunately, I am now craving this desert and this restaurant is about a two-hour drive from Bakersfield. I will have to find a way to convince my fiancé for us to make the drive to this restaurant soon.
ReplyDeleteHey Jazmin. I haven’t been to Sabor Cocina Mexicana , but from what you’ve said, maybe I should try it out soon. I love Mexican food and so does my girlfriend, so this sounds like an experience we would both enjoy. Too bad there isn’t one in Bakersfield, but if it really is as delicious as you say, then maybe we’ll have to go out and try it. Thanks for sharing and hope you can convince your fiance to drive you there once more.
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
DeleteHello Jesse. Since you mentioned that both you and your girlfriend love Mexican food, I highly recommend this restaurant. Also, there is a "romantic" feel which I'm sure your girlfriend would like! Yes, unfortunately there isn't one in Bakersfield. I recently moved here so it sucks that this restaurant is far from here. Hopefully you can take your girlfriend there one day, it really is worth the drive.
DeleteThe best restaurant, in Bakersfield, so far, is Maui Pho Fusion BBQ Grill on Ming Ave., next to Home Depot. Now, I know there are many restaurants out there but, being from out of town, I haven't driven around Bakersfield to examine its nightlife or social scene. I'm married, so that maybe one factor. Although my wife deserves to have nice meals out but we tend to drive out of town (over the hill) for something this good.
ReplyDeleteYes, it's that good. I can't take the credit for being introduced to it. My wife's friend from her work took her. They had the Chinese chicken salad and Chinese fried chicken. When my wife took me, it was fortunate; we met the owner as we sat at the front counter. (I almost said bar, but then thought you may-think they serve alcohol, so I rephrased it, but maybe they do, we had ice tea. I don't know why I'm still talking in my head, so) OK.
At the front counter we met, I know her face, but can't think of her name. I asked the wife but she says she doesn't know English when she gets lazy and doesn't want to communicate. I can't blame her; she just came home from work at 10pm, and running all shift answering, "call lights". (Must be exhausting) Nurse's, Doctors, all Health Professionals, everyone- would love to take a break in this place. Anyways. The chicken? Masarap. (Means delicious in Tagalog, and that's all she wanted to communicate to you, and also to go there.)
The owner is extremely sweet. Extremely sweet, I felt right at home, and my wife very friendly, loves to meet people. She is a talker. So, I watched this dance of communication. Happily little dance. It was the undertone I could witness, to determine, if they were, both, Chinese! Ah, I got it. (I just couldn’t put one more comma, even though, I wanted to.) If you’re friendly, everyone looks Chinese to her. That's a nice idea to have, isn't it? Just imagine everyone is the same as your race, hmmm...I like.
Well, that first visit we had Asian chicken salad and the fried chicken. I shouldn't have had the fried chicken but, yeah. That good. It leaves this glisten of oil and spice that sparkles when the light hits it. You see it and, ah. Yes, finger licking-good. We ordered the pot stickers to go. Now the owner, I have to find out here name, hold on. Luckily, I'm a search, monster! I love it! I can find, it. It's like, a little task, a competition, of an amazing internal race. (OK, breathe, that should, well, all have been in, well, whatever you call this? Wait. Hold on. http://www.vocabulary.com/dictionary/parenthetical, see.) The owner, Lynn Chan, said they were a specialty, (and she told me the secret) but you'll have to go to Maui Pho on Ming Ave., to find out. (Hint: masarap.)
YES! I work across the street from Maui Pho and am constantly eating lunch here during fall and winter. Compared to any other places that serve pho, this one tops all of them. I love that they have the drive through. This always makes it so much more convenient during lunch hour. Their homemade mango tea is also amazing!
DeleteI agree! They opened one in Delano and I always go! Their pork rice is so good! They're soups are yummy too! You should definitely try the shrimp one! Their orange chicken is my favorite too. Overall great service and great food.
DeleteThese are great so far--no Luigi's, anyone? Mama Roomba? Or that awesome taco truck from my youth on the east side, El Taco Loco?
ReplyDeleteThe best, we hit the truck going out of town, on our way to the Tejon Conservancy for membrane water potential analysis on the oak species (drought research). I enjoy the carne asada burrito, but without rice...any thing they have is probably great.
DeleteI have heard that El Taco Loco is delicious. I am so curious to see how good it is for myself.
Deleteyes, before there was a food craze and food truck race, there was El Taco Loco. Que viva El Taco Loco!
DeleteHello Professor Schmoll, if you are looking for the best taco truck in town, you really need to try Tacos Jalisco off of Union Ave and Pacheco. I am not sure what it is that they do to make such delicious tacos, but you will feel like you have drifted to heaven after taking the first bite. Please give it a try sometime. You will not regret it!
DeleteThe best restaurant I have ever been to in Bakersfield would have to be Los Hermanos. They have the best Latin American and Mexican food there! There is actually one located close by CSUB on Stockdale in the Town and Country Village next to Kern School Federal Credit Union. If you want something quick and amazing that place is the best to be! Every time I go there, I always try the Mexican Bowl with steak or chicken or the Chile Verde Burrito. They also have a salsa bar that has from no spice to the hottest salsa. I usually pour Pico De Gallo salsa or mix in the hottest red sauce on top of my meals. They serve a variety of burritos, tacos, nachos, chimichangas, and other assorted foods to enjoy.
ReplyDeleteMy boyfriend actually introduced me to this place. He is full white and loves Mexican food. He wanted me to try it and I fell in love with their authenticity of Mexican food served there.
The employers are very friendly and are willing to serve you in any way they can. This is a great place for friends going out for lunch, cheap college student, or families who are in the mood to try some amazing Mexican food.
Hi Brittany,
DeleteI have tried places like La Mina, Victors Mexican Grill, Chipotle, etc. to find a good place to match my taste buds like LA has. I will try Los Hermanos as you have recommended. I’m glad that it’s something quick and, importantly, cheap for college students. Thank you for this!
Hi Brittany, I love Los Hermanos! I think it has more of an authentic taste than places like Chipotle. I have been on a major taco kick lately, and I love their carnitas. I also order a large horchata every time I go. Good choice!
DeleteHello Everyone!
ReplyDeleteI might be cheating when I do this, but I have to present to everyone 2 different places.
I unfortunately have not been out in Bakersfield long enough to try the delicious and different places of this city. However, due to ASI, I do a lot of traveling to the different CSU campuses for meetings and thus am exposed to different eating areas. If I had to pick one that does not associate with my Korean culture, I would have to pick a small Italian restaurant in Long Beach called P3 Artisan Pasta. If the meeting had not ended past 9pm, I would’ve never found this restaurant but I am so glad that I did. The pasta that I had tried was the red pepper peppardelle with Alfredo (not sure if that is the name or just the description…none the less, super good). Ordering might be a little complicated but the servers are super nice and go into detail when explaining the different types of pasta and their sauce. The price was adequate, not too pricey, and was perfect for students in general.
In the same city, in the complex that I was staying in, there was a breakfast restaurant called, The Breakfast Bar. Now, just like the above-mentioned restaurant, I would’ve never visited The Breakfast Bar if I were not staying in the complex. My team and I ended up coming for breakfast two times in a row for their delicious lemon pancakes. Now, I love lemon bars but don’t like lemon water or lemons in general, so I guess I like sweet lemony tastes. Their pancakes were coated with sugar and had a lemon syrup that tied it all together in great harmony. It was delicious!
Make thanks for sharing your restaurants! My brother-in-law actually attends a school in Long Beach currently so I cannot wait to tell him and my sister about this place. It is so fun to learn were other people enjoy eating so you don't feel like you are exploring something for the first time! Hope you are having a great end of the quarter!
DeleteThe best restaurant in Bakersfield, in my opinion, is El Fogon on East Brundage Lane. Their menu looks like any other mexican food restaurant consisting of tacos, burritos, tortas, sopes, and other assorted foods to enjoy, but believe me when I say the food is absolutely amazing. The portions are ridiculously large while still being quite inexpensive. Everything is homemade right in front of you as soon as it ordered which adds to the freshness of all of their food. They also bake “Pan Dulce” right there in the restaurant which is equally delicious. I highly recommend the Chile Verde Asada burrito, but be sure to bring an appetite because it is massive; it covers every inch of the food container it is served in and has to be cut in half to fit. I can never finish the burrito in one sitting, so it’s pretty convenient it’s cut into two pieces. If you’re not feeling Mexican food, they also serve chicken wings and 24 inch pizzas which I also recommend. The employees are extremely friendly and the atmosphere makes it easy to get comfortable. This is a great place to go if you’re really hungry for quality Mexican food and don’t want to pay a lot. I love the authenticity of the food, and am glad I was introduced to this establishment by a friend.
ReplyDeleteHi Jesse,
DeleteAs I have written in my post, I love Mexican Food! I have never heard of that restaurant but I feel like it is worth trying as you described the food! I love Chile Verde Asada burritos also! I have tried the burrito at many different Mexican restaurants, but I must try it there! I will definitely go check it out! Thanks for sharing.
Hi Jesse,
DeleteI have never heard of this place, but now I feel like I need to put it on my list of places to try. I love anything chile verde, and I get it at every Mexican restaurant I go too. Also, who doesn't love large portions because leftovers are great! Can't wait to try this place out. Thanks for sharing.
I didn't know of this place's existence at first either, but I sure am glad I was introduced to it. Make sure to bring an appetite!
DeleteI love Mexican food and have never heard of this restaurant. So thanks for sharing, I will definitely have to try it now!
DeleteHi Jesse, I never would have tried El Fogon if it wasn’t for my boyfriend and his grandma. The chile verde burrito is excellent, but I have yet to try the pan dulce. I love how you can actually watch them making the food; it makes for an unusual experience.
DeleteSo I’ve been trying to decide for the last 10 minutes between Mama Roombas and Disleyland’s Blue Bayou…
ReplyDeleteI have to go with Mama Roombas though because it is here in town and I think everyone NEEDS to try it sometime. Actually, now that I think about it, I don’t know why I didn’t use it for my restaurant review. Mama Roombas is a Caribbean restaurant located downtown on Eye Street. It’s a very small seating area and from the times I’ve gone, usually pretty crowded but I think that’s one of my favorite parts about it. The family atmosphere is very inviting and the small area makes it fun and upbeat. The plates served here are larger portions made for the whole table to be able to share. I believe they are called “tappas”. I like this serving style because you can try a variety of dishes instead of having to order a single item. Some of my favorite dishes from Mama Roombas are actually from the appetizer portion of the menu; the empanadas and ceviche. There are two different kinds of empanadas and they are both amazing, filled with so much flavor and the sauces provided on the side are perfect additions. The ceviche is very unique and unlike any traditional recipe I have tried. In a traditional recipe I dislike the fine chopped fish or shrimp but Mama Roombas uses bigger pieces of ingredients. The avocado, corn, tomatoes, and onions are left in larger chunks and whole shrimp as well. Oh my gosh, the dessert! I don’t remember what it was called exactly but they were fried bananas with a caramel type dipping sauce that was to die for! There are not enough words to type to describe the great amount of flavor in these dishes! The friendly staff and atmosphere really help tie the whole experience together so I really hope you are all able to try what Mama Roombas has to offer!
I will have to try it out. I've been looking for a fantastic Caribbean place, especially for jerk chicken. I had my first really good jerk chicken at a place in Vegas (off the strip place near industrial area: name forgotten). My wife is slowly being introduced to spicy food, so I'd like to show her this type of flavor pallet. Thanks so much for sharing.
DeleteMaegan, that restaurant sounds amazing! I cannot believe that I have never heard about it. However, I can see how you had a hard time deciding between the two places. The Blue Bayou is seriously one of my all time favorite places to eat because well of course it is in Disneyland which makes everything better, but it also has such a cool atmosphere and amazing Monte Cristos! Thanks for sharing with us!
DeleteClem, the Jerk chicken is my dad's absolute favorite! He even places an extra order when we go just so he can take it home for for his lunches.
DeleteHey Maegan, I love that you brought of the Blue Bayou in Disneyland. Each time we visit we always make sure to eat something at this restaurant. Not to mention their lemonade is AMAZING. I also really enjoy the view. I love the Pirates of the Caribbean ride and being so close while eating always gets me excited.
DeleteHi Maegan
DeleteI have explored the many restaurants around Bakersfield, but I will definitely try Mama Roombas.
The best restaurant in Bakersfield, in my opinion, is Lucille’s Smokehouse Bar-B-Que. I may be biased because I have worked there for almost a year, but the food truly is amazing. I am also a huge fan of barbecue food, and I try it basically everywhere I go. First of all, Lucille’s gives out these complimentary biscuits before your meal that is to die for. They are encrusted with sugar, and they come with apple butter. Yup, apple butter! Two things you would think wouldn’t go well together, but it’s actually just like an apple concentration mixed with the butter to make it sweet. The biscuits could double as a dessert for this reason. They also have peach lemonade that makes my mouth water every time I think about it. I have not found its equivalent anywhere else. Not to mention the pulled pork queso dip or the BBQ chips with BBQ ranch dressing that I am obsessed with. And the choice of sides that come with your entrée is overwhelming. How am I supposed to choose between the cheese crusted mac n cheese or the sweet potato fries or the BBQ beans? They’re all so good. All of the meat is smoked in the in house hickory smoker, and it makes the meat so good I can’t even. I’ve tried almost the entire menu, and there are very few meals that I could live without. If you are a fan of barbecue, I suggest Lucille’s. It’s a little higher priced for some of the large plates, but they’re worth it because the portions are huge! I hope you all try it and love it like I do.
ReplyDeleteMy brother keeps telling me to try Lucille's smokehouse. I have never been but I am not going to lie I am tempted to try it now. I am not a fan of BBQ but after reading your post you seriously sold me out to try it. I'm definitely going to try it now.
DeleteHello Carly. Before I read your post and saw Lucille's Smokehouse BBQ in your first sentence, I knew I had to read your post to see if you would write about their biscuits. I love their biscuits and the apple butter is delicious!
DeleteHi Carly,
DeleteI have only been to Lucille's 1 time. When I went I must say that I enjoyed the biscuits and the apple butter. I don't remember what I ate but I do remember that. And it was delicious.
Have a great a weekend,
Shannon
I now have a small list of restaurants I need to try here in Bakersfield thanks to this week’s blog post. I love trying new food but I prefer being recommended a new place to eat instead of just trying my luck and hope the food is somewhat descent. Since I don’t live here in Bakersfield I’m not too familiar with the all the restaurants that are here in town. When I do come to CSUB for my classes I will grab a bite with a few friends at Olive Garden, Chilis, Chipotle or BWW. But a place I really enjoy going to is Shogun Palace. For family dinners or events my family and I will usually agree to eat at Shogun to enjoy great company over a delicious dinner. The teppanyaki is extremely entertaining and the food itself is delicious. Not only do they serve great food but they also have great customer service. The waiters and waitresses will swing by and make sure everything is fine. The chefs are extremely friendly and make sure you receive your food the way want it. I recommend for people to try the Vegas roll or the Malibu roll. If you go for dinner I do recommend to try the teppanyaki and to get the steak with shrimp and veggies. This place is by far one of my favorite restaurants to eat with family for dinner.
ReplyDeleteHi Jeannette, I hope your having a great week. I really enjoyed reading your post, and it sounds like you really like going to Shogun Palace. I haven’t lived long enough in Bakersfield to know about this restaurant, but it sounds like a great place to go with the family. I will definitely try it one of these days, thanks for sharing.
DeleteHi Jeannette, I have tried shogun here and Bakersfield many times, and I used to love it. But next time you want teppanyaki you should try Akiras! It is really awesome!
DeleteIt is not the best restaurant I have ever been too, but one of my favorite restaurants in Bakersfield is The Mark, which is located in downtown Bakersfield by the Padre. This restaurant is very nice with linens on the table and low lighting, but my favorite part is that it is not a chain. The restaurant does not seat that many people at a time so when you are there it feels as though you are in an intimate setting no matter who you are with. Another reason that this is my favorite place to eat in Bakersfield when I am ready for a night out is that they do a wonderful job accommodating for food allergies. I have numerous strange allergies and when I give the waiter a card listing all of them the chef simply makes up something fun for me to eat every time. I am never worried that I will be given something that I said I could not eat when I go to this restaurant. That was about all I have to say about this place so I will tell you all about another of my favorite places in Bakersfield which is called Shogun. This is a fun place where they cook the food on a table grill at your table. Much to my grandma's surprise every time we take her, there is only the option of what meat you want when you choose to eat at the grill. However, I don't think anyone would want to choose not to eat their fantastic fried rice and grilled vegetables. Also, this place is great at accommodating for dairy and gluten allergies (although there is always a chance of cross contamination - and I just bring my own GF soy sauce for them to use since they don't carry that at the restaurant)!
ReplyDeleteHi Janel,
DeleteI'm so glad you wrote about this restaurant, I've always wanted to try it and I've never got to it. It seems very fancy and somewhere you can go on a very romantic date... I like how you mentioned the fact that there is not a lot of people around, I guess sometimes it’s good to be in a not so noisy restaurant. I'm also allergic to a lot of things that sounds like a great restaurant to go to where they will accommodate with that. I will be paying The Mark a visit, thank you.
I love the mark! I actually didn't about this while I was deciding on a restaurant. I've only been there twice but I like the atmosphere, it's really cool and classy. The staff is great and very helpful when describing dishes and helping you decide what you might like best. It is a little pricy but it's a great spot for a special occasion.
DeleteThe best restaurant I have ever been to in Bakersfield is J's Place. J’s place is very similar to a famous restaurant called Roscoe’s Chicken and Waffles in Los Angeles, they are known for their famous Southern style cooking. Every time I go to J’s Place I always get the same meal because I feel that it really doesn't get any better than chicken and waffles. I grew up around Mexican traditional foods like posole, tamales, and enchiladas so when I first visited this restaurant I fell in love with how different the food was. The first time I heard of chicken and waffles I thought "no way", but soon after trying it I couldn't think of a better combination. They also have amazing sides; my favorite has to be the macaroni and cheese. The texture and taste is so amazing, the cheese is rich in flavor and the noodles are perfectly cooked. I must admit, I had three sides of the macaroni and cheese the first time I tried it. Lastly, the red Kool-Aid is amazing. When they asked me what I wanted to drink and one of the options was Kool-Aid, it immediately caught my attention because they don't serve that beverage at any other restaurant. I decided to try it. I left the restaurant completely fulfilled because I chose a great meal and a great drink sweet drink to accompany it. This restaurant is not the healthiest when it comes to calories but if you ever have cheat day and want to try something different and delicious, try J’s Place.
ReplyDeleteHi Jennifer
DeleteI am always looking for new restaurants to try around Bakersfield (I love food!) Waffles and chicken? It doesn't sound very appetizing, but you definitely sold through. I'll be trying J's Place soon
Have a great weekend
Hi Jennifer,
DeleteI completely agree with you! I love J's place the food is great. If you ever want to get outside the box and try something new try the Ox Tails. My boyfriend first had me try them and I fell in love with the flavor.
Have a good weekend,
Shannon
Jazmin yes that's what I thought but I'm so sure you will enjoy it.
DeleteI am a big foodie! I just love food and I always enjoy trying new foods and restaurants. It is hard for me to choose ONE restaurant. To me it depends what I’m craving; my favorite foods varies from Italian Food to Mexican Food. If I’m craving Italian Food my go to restaurant would be Olive Garden. I love Olive Garden! I know Olive Garden is considered a “chain” restaurant and some might say there are better Italian restaurants in town but I am hands down all for Olive Garden. I love their salad and the breadsticks. Something about their salad dressing that I just cannot get enough of. I could live off of their salad with breadsticks. My favorite dish would have to be the Bake Ziti. The five cheese marinara is simply delicious. For dessert, my favorite is their Raspberry White Chocolate Cheesecake; it is to die for! I have never had a bad experience there and they are always so friendly.
ReplyDeleteNow, if I’m craving Mexican Food, my favorite is Los Molcajetes on Brundage Lane. Their food is delicious and their drinks are great. The restaurant has live music and it always has a fun atmosphere. My favorite are their enchiladas and my fiancé likes their Steak which I believe it’s called “carne misteca” and it comes with grill shrimp and it is really good. Overall, it’s a fun restaurant to go hang out and enjoy some drinks and good Mexican Food.
Hi Carolina!
DeleteI agree with 100%, I love Olive Garden and so far it is the place I choose to go when I am craving Italian food. Their portions are huge, (along with the salad) so I don't have room for desert but next time I am there I will try that cheesecake.
Have a great weekend
The best restaurant I have ever been to is Orange Hill Restaurant located in Orange County. For my 21st birthday, my boyfriend and I had traveled to Orange County to try the steak at this famous Restaurant. Not only was the food AMAZING, but the view was incredible and so romantic. The city lights twinkle like stars at night and you also get to see Disneyland fireworks while sitting outside on the patio. The walls of the restaurant are glass, so whether you are inside or outside, the view all around is breath taking. The staff was extremely friendly and considerate about our comfort. As a couple, we both love steak so we are constantly trying new places. Although the ambiance of Orange Hill Restaurant was like no other, I would still have to say that the Padre here in town has the best Rib-eye steak. The reason I chose Orange Hill as the best restaurant is because I have never been anywhere with a view as beautiful as this one. In sum, this restaurant is the best as of view. However as of food quality, I would have to say the Padre here in town has the best food. I have been to the Padre about four times and have never been disappointed with the Rib-eye. Although it is a bit pricey, you get the quality that you pay for.
ReplyDeleteHello Patricia, My boyfriend and I are also crazy about steak and that is what we order to almost every restaurant we go to. I have never ate at The Padre but I have heard that they have really good food. So far the best tasting steak I've had in town is from Tahoe Joe's but now I'm curious to try The Padre's steak. The restaurant in Orange Hill that you described sounds amazing I would love to go their and try the steak and be able to experience that beautiful view. It sounds so romantic and breathtaking I would love to experience it for myself.
DeleteI am very indecisive when it comes for me to choose a restaurant. I am always afraid that I will not find anything appetizing, so I stick with salads. That is not the case with a restaurant known as Keedy’s (Palm Desert, Ca). Every now and then when I am able to head to my hometown, La Quinta several friends of mine head to the well-known restaurant. This is one of my favorite restaurants and our visits there have become tradition. They have a decent set up within that simply makes you feel like you are home and along with that the employees are very kind. We get there during the breakfast/brunch rush and sit at the counter on the era appropriate swiveled chairs. The counter is where all the action happens! Plates of food are sliding out from the kitchen, shakes are being made, and all other systems are a go. If you prefer something quite they do have back rooms to choose from, but those are always empty since I have been there. I have tried practically every meal that is under, “BREAKFAST”, they cannot go wrong. The portions are huge! My favorite meal are the chilaquiles with an over hard fried egg. For those who do not know what it is, it is simply strips of fried corned tortillas simmered in red or green salsa, and topped with an egg. It worth a try!
ReplyDeleteI honestly do not have an absolutely favorite place to eat, I am an indecisive person when it comes to choosing food options. But I do love Mexican food and burgers. My favorite place to get drinks and food would have to be Camino Real on New Stine Rd. Their signature house pink margaritas are great. The staff is so friendly and I love the environment of the restaurant itself. My favorite thing to eat when I go there would have to be their guacamole and chips. The restaurants makes their own chips from scratch and sticks about 8 or so of them in the dip. These chips are huge. The texture of the guacamole and fresh crunchy chips together is great. The restaurants friendly and helpful staff coupled with the great food is some of the best services you could ask for.
ReplyDeleteMy favorite place to get a burger is this little food place is Nagi’s. This place is one of the local places that have been in town for years. This little burger stands has some of the best burgers I have ever tasted. They are just a small independently owned business that has evolved over the years but they still have some of the fast food I have encountered. The restaurant has only family employees and they alternate shifts. It so small that if you are a regular they attempt to remember your face and name. Their friendly nature and good food is another reason why I will continue to be a loyal customer to these establishments.
Hello Shannon, I have visited Camino Real restaurant and I have to agree with you they have great drink specials and service. Their food is also amazing my favorite meal their are their fish tacos they are battered and extremely delicious. Another really good meal is their enchiladas everytime I go to this restaurant I finish my whole plate and leave with a happy filled stomach. I love their micheladas and their mixed drink called fruta fresca. The staff is always so nice and friendly which is why I keep going back.
DeleteHello everyone, it’s really hard to pick the best restaurant in Bakersfield because there are many restaurants that have great tasting food. I personally love food so I waste a lot of my money on food. However if I had to choose one restaurant I would probably pick Tahoe Joe’s because their steak is the best steak I have ever had. Every time I go there I order their famous steak, mashed potatoes and vegetables because it’s my favorite meal out of all the restaurants I have gone to. The steak is well done and juicy, and the mash potatoes are so creamy and have the best flavor I have ever tasted. Everytime I go to Tahoe Joe’s I say I’m going to try something new, but I never do because I don’t want to miss out on some steak. I always look over to see what the tables around me ordered and all the food looks so good. Next time I go I plan to keep my word and try a new dish because I am more than sure all of their meals taste great.
ReplyDeleteAnother restaurant that is the best in Bakersfield would have to be Bj’s Restaurant and Brew house. Their pizza is the best. I am really picky about my pizza so before trying Bj’s I only liked Rusty’s pizza. However I would classify Bj’s as a great restaurant because not only do they serve great pizza they also offer a lot of other great meals such as jambalaya, shrimp fettuccini and steak. They offer great service and their famous and delicious Pizookie dessert. They deliver their food in a timely manner and constantly check up on you to see if you have enough water or appetizers.
I don't really have a favorite restaurant in Bakersfield, but I do have one in Tulare! It's called La Piazza, and it's Italian food. It is the best Italian food I have ever tried. The moment I walk into the door I order the fried calamari and bread with butter. It's is so delicious, just thinking about it makes my mouth water. After my appetizer I order lemon chicken with steamed vegetables sautéed in a lemon sauce. I also get a side of Alfredo pasta with cheese. Once I'm done with all that I order a coffee cake. I definitely recommend this place! It is so good.
ReplyDeleteI think the best restaurant in town is Kanpai. They have sushi and they have teppanyaki, which both happen to be my favorite type of food! I think that their sushi is the best in town! They have this roll with blue fin tuna that it absolutely to die for. They also have a really nice bar to sit and socialize at with friends. I go there a lot with my cousins and friends to have a nice dinner and some wine. The service there is really great too! My favorite server would have to be Daniel! He is awesome and very funny; he is always making everyone laugh. I really enjoy my time when I am at Kanpai, good food, nice people, and some great conversation. That is why Kanpai is my favorite restaurant
ReplyDeleteThe best restaurant in Bakersfield is the Del Taco in Mt. Vernon. They have the best burritos and fish tacos. And let’s not forget about the cheesecake bites!
ReplyDeleteOnly kidding...my favorite restaurant in town is Mama Roomba. It’s a little Caribbean place downtown on Eye Street. I think the place is unique, and it’s the only Caribbean restaurant I’ve ever been to. My favorite dish is the fried chicken with mango chile sauce. The dish has a unique flavor; the chicken is flavorful and the breading is crunchy, and the mango sauce adds a little kick. The cassava (yucca) fries are also very interesting, with a flavor that is kind of a cross between regular potato fries and sweet potato fries. I also really liked the mussels, which were boiled and served in broth, so it tasted kind of like a mussel soup. My only complaint is that I would like to see a bit more of a dessert menu, as I have a major sweet tooth.
It’s a smaller place, with some interesting artwork on the walls. The serving staff is small, and there seems to be the same employees working during the couple times that I’ve been there. Also, I haven’t seen the episode, but I hear the restaurant was featured on an episode of Food Network’s “Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives.”