Ming's Cafe - Bakersfield

Ming's Café downtown on L Street is a sweet, tucked away gem. I went to dinner there with my husband and my 5 month old son on September first, a Thursday night. I called ahead of time to see when they were going to close and a woman told us 8:30, but she said that she would wait until nine for us. I made the call at like 8:15. She was really courteous on the phone and I told her that we would be there before nine and we were, barely. There were no other customers there. We had the place to ourselves and what a place it is. The dining room was bright, welcoming and clean. It was a cheerful environment. There were decorative Chinese urns arranged neatly around the room, ornately decorated, very beautiful pieces of art. The atmosphere was very appealing, I was quite pleased. There was a bouquet of red silk roses that were tidily arranged in the middle of each table. They have a buffet table that they set up for larger parties. The service was unsurpassed. I am a friendly person and I have usually been treated fairly and courteously, but this couple went out of their way to make our dining experience a real treat. They kept the place open just for us. Michael and Wendy are a husband and wife team, and boy do they make a great one. Michael is the chef and he has been cooking for more than forty years. He started out cooking in China for a couple of years and he moved to America and worked in Wyoming for several years before he came to California. In 1981 he saw the for sale sign on the building at 1918 L Street and he bought the place then and there. He and his wife remodeled and decorated and have been in business ever since. Wendy was our waitress and she was the sweetest most welcoming woman. She was very helpful when we asked for suggestions on what was good to order. She made us feel very comfortable and I appreciate how kind she was, it was refreshing. I mentioned that we brought our 5 month old son with us. He has a very sweet disposition and was well behaved during our dinner. We were worried, babies can be demanding and fussy, but to our delight Wendy kept him occupied and they had a great time together. My husband and I got to eat our dinner without our son crying for our attention, we actually got not only to taste our food, but enjoy it. The food was magnificent. I was blown away by the quality of the ingredients, not only that but the preparation was exceptional. The pork was unbelievably tender. At a lot of places the pork is tough and on the dry side, Ming's Café is first rate. We tried their pork pot stickers and holy moly they were the best I have ever had and not only did they perfectly prepared, but they were huge, they dwarf all other pot stickers and I have seen a lot of pot stickers! We also got the wor wonton soup and it was better than PF Chang's, now that I mentioned that I have to say that all of their food was better than that of PF Chang's and PF Chang's is good, but Ming's Café is out of this world. In saying that I must also say that they are far better than Bill Lee's as well and I feel bad because I have been going there for a long time. We also had the egg rolls, which were the size of chimichanga burritos! It was totally impressive, to say the least. Their portions are pretty massive. The Ming's special chow mien was so meaty and delicious and the vegetables were not over cooked and were not raw, they were just right, that takes skill. It had chicken, shrimp, pork, broccoli, snow peas, bell pepper, onion, it had everything and there was a lot of it. The wor wonton soup was packed with wontons and veggies. The pot stickers you have to see to believe, absolutely awesome. We also got the sweet and sour pork and the sweet and sour shrimp and we were both amazed at the sauce. Most places serve this bright red sweet and sour sauce that is either premade or tastes like it, but not at Ming's. Michael makes it with his own recipe. I asked about it and it is top secret. It was the best, it wasn't too sweet and it was just an incredible homemade sauce. I wish I had brought my camera, it was all so amazing. I was so impressed with Ming's Café and the staff. The most important things about going out are atmosphere, staff attitude, quality, preparation and flavor of ingredients and price and as far as I am concerned Ming's Cafe is such a value for the price. We were treated so well that I don't want to eat Chinese food anywhere else. Michael said that he also prepares American food just as skillfully. I can't wait to go back.

Ming’s café downtown on l street is a sweet, hidden gem. I went there with my man and my 5 months old son on september first to evening, a Thursday night. I called the time ahead to see when they wanted to close and a woman told us 8:30, but she said she would wait for us until nine. I made the call at 8:15. she was really polite on the phone, and I told her we were there before nine and we were barely. we had the place for us and what a place it is. the dining room was bright, welcoming and clean. it was a happy environment. there were decorative Chinese urns neatly arranged around the room, ornately decorated, very beautiful works of art. the atmosphere was very appealing, I was very satisfied. there was a bouquet of red silk roses, which were arranged in the middle of each table neatly. they have a buffet table that they have set up for larger parties. the service was unmatched. I am a friendly person and I have been treated in the regular pretty and polite, but this couple went out of their way to make our food a real tasty bite. They kept the place open for us. michael and wendy are a man and a woman, and young make them a great one. michael is the cook and he has been cooking for more than forty years. He started cooking a few years in China and moved to America and worked several years in wyoming before he came to California. In 1981 he saw the sign on the building at the 1918 l street and bought the place. he and his wife redesigned and decorated and have been in business since. wendy was our waitress and she was the sweetest friendly woman. she was very helpful when we asked for suggestions, what was good to order. she made us feel very comfortable and I guess how kind she was, it was refreshing. I mentioned we brought our 5 months old son. he has a very sweet disposition and was well pampered during our dinner. we were worried, babies can be challenging and restless, but to our joy kept wendy occupied him and they had a great time together. my man and I have to eat our dinner without our son crying for our attention, we have not only to taste our food, but enjoy it. eating was great. I was blown away from the quality of the ingredients, not only that, but the preparation was exceptional. the black was incredibly tender. at many places, the black is hard and on the dry side, ming’s caffe is the first price. we tried their pork pot stickers and holy moly were the best I ever had and not only did them perfectly prepared, but they were huge, they were all the other pot stickers sticker and I have seen a lot of pot stickers! we also got the Wor root soup and it was better than pchang’s, now, as I mentioned that I must say that all their foods were better than those of pchang and pchang’s is good, but ming’s caffe is from this world. I also have to say that they are much better than bill lees and I feel bad because I have been there for a long time. we also had the eier roles that were the size of chimichanga burritos! it was absolutely impressive to say the least. their shares are quite massive. the special chow mats of the ming was so meaty and tasty and the sweet was not over cooked and were not raw, they were just right, that needs chic. there had been hulls, pork, brokkoli, snowbsen, paprika, wobbles, there had everything and there was a lot of it. the Wor-worn soup was filled with sommes and vegetables. the pot stickers they need to see to believe absolutely awesome. we also got the sweet and acidic pig and the sweet and acidic garnel and we were both amazed at the sauce. most places serve this bright red sweet and acidic sauce, which is either prefabricated or tastes like it, but not at ming’s. michael makes it with his own recipe. I was wondering about it, and it's secret. it was the best it was not too sweet and it was just an incredible homemade sauce. I wish I had brought my camera, it was all so amazing. I was so impressed by ming’s caffe and the personal. the most important things about going out are atmosphere, personal creation, quality, preparation and taste of ingredients and price and regarding me ming’s cafe is such a value for the price. we were treated so well that I don't want to eat Chinese food. michael said he also prepares American food as cleverly. I can't wait to go back.

Omg, 10/10 would definitely recommend to try it. the sweetest couples own and operate it. the man is the cook and the woman is the waitress. eating was amazing, tasty and cooked to order. the service was not the second, the best I ever had! we will definitely return!

The ming’s cafe offers a completely different culinary experience from a typical restaurant. the owners are some of the friendly restaurant owners I have ever met. the food was delicious and I felt more than a hospitable in someone home than a restaurant. everything is very good, but the pork is particularly delicious.

Clean friendly wonderful atmosphere great table roman mood setting place eating delicious service super fresh boiled nothing like an almost food place all freshly cooked to order, michael wendy and peter is with a fantastic family