Top 15 Affordable Restaurants in Bakersfield, CA

Saved by grace Through JesusChrist My husband took me out for dinner to celebrate my birthday and let me tell you...as soon as you step in the atmosphere is very pleasant. While we sat to wait for our table the aroma was amazing. The food is delicious, the service is great but what I liked most is that the owners came by our table and asked my husband and I about the service and food. At first we thought he was a manager...he was very humble and I appreciate the birthday card I received. May God bless this family owned restaurant. Thank you for bringing a taste of Brazil cuisine and experience to Bakersfield. God bless

Rakesh Samtani Its your typical Basque restaurant, but the frog legs and escargots are amazing, which is why we went to try it the first time. Definitely on the pricey side, limited menu, not much of a choice for appetizers, Entrees were good, comes with all the Basque sides, like salad and soup and vegetables, the sauces for the steak are extra, so keep an eye on that. But overall a good experience.

Mary Had a great experience at Kimchee Korean Restaurant. The boneless chicken was perfectly seasoned and really flavorful, and the dip it came with complemented it well. The gimbap tasted fresh and wholesome, yet still very satisfying. I also enjoyed the vegetable pancake — crisp, light, and packed with flavor without feeling heavy. The banchan tastes really good as well. Overall, everything felt well-balanced and thoughtfully prepared. Would definitely come back.

Thomas Rutledge I cant say enough good things about Sandrinis. Between the atmosphere being the right kind of chill and engaging, great food, regular events, and a nice scotch menu this location hits nearly all my kickback bar needs. Smoking room in the back if youre so inclined.

Leslie Iacono Came in for drinks. They do not have a full bar only beer and wine. They had a few vegetarian options I will try in the future. Cheese empanadas. Some mushroom sautéed thing. Tapas share style plates. Bar tender/ server was so nice

Tony Sonder delivers on every level. I came here for brunch with colleagues, and between the welcoming service and health-conscious menu, it impressed us all. The food is as flavorful as it is beautifully plated — from crisp, fresh salads and vibrant bowls to shareable bites like fried tofu and buffalo cauliflower. Even the cocktails are crafted with care and balance. The atmosphere ties it all together: modern, inviting, and detailed with touches like their glowing “Good Choices” wall that make the space memorable. With accommodating hospitality, creative dishes, and a vibe that feels both relaxed and refined, Sonder has earned a place on my return list. Highly recommended.

Victoria Harp I got a chance to eat at Cask Strength Bar and Kitchen before the grand opening and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND IT! My boyfriend and I got the truffle fries and the stuffed mushroom as appetizers. The fries were excellently seasoned and the mushroom was so delicious I would order it alone if I just wanted a light meal. My boyfriend got the Cajun noodles and I got the lamb. I am not a huge lamb person, but it was so tasty and delicious. The meat was soft and also seasoned exceptionally. The atmosphere was great and the exposed beam is beautiful. The serving staff was great and extremely friendly. I would definitely go there again for date night or meet up with friends there after work.

Dominic Alvarado The food took a while to make, but, you know what that means the foods gonna come out great and fresh, and it really was an awesome taste of Oaxaca heritage. The best in Bakersfield, i recommend the tlayuda mix plate and the molcajete mix. With a cold beer on the side.

Jeffrey Bahr I am a vegetarian and asked our server Natalie if they had other options than the garden burger for vegetarians. I asked if they could do the taco salad her response was ‘ I don’t see why not ‘ . My taco salad was fantastic. The presentation was unbelievable. It looked as though it should be on the cover of a gourmet magazine! In a world with such negatives it was nice to see the welcoming smiling face of Natalie’s .Eddy the cook did a wonderful job with our meal .

Gregg Williams The staff was excellent. Vanessa took my order and escorted me to my seat, giving me the a booth of my choosing even though I was all alone. She was very courteous. I chose the steak and all you can eat shrimp. The steak came just as I had ordered and was tasty. Marisela, my waitress, was also excellent. She brought me whatever I needed, sometimes even before I asked for it. I would certainly return here next time that I’m in town.

Will Golding Cute spot!! And very accommodating people, we were moving across the country so we had our cat with us and it was chilly out. Luckily they were kind enough to let us bring her in and they even cooked her a little piece of chicken! 10/10 folks. Local food, good eats but more than anything else, awesome people. Only thing I didn’t love was how sweet the sweet potato fries were but tbh everything else was exactly what I needed. Parking can be tricky but we arrived just as a school Nextdoor was getting out so idk if it’s always like that. Might’ve just been our timing.

Tony Mamma Mia made our office lunch feel like a true Italian getaway. From the moment we sat down, the staff treated us with warmth that felt more like family than service. The food was on point — pasta perfectly cooked, drinks refreshing, and dessert the kind of sweet ending you hope for. What stood out most was the service. The team wasn’t just efficient, they were naturally attentive in a way that made us feel at ease. No forced routine, no overbearing approach — just genuine hospitality. We ended up staying longer than planned simply because the atmosphere was that comfortable. Mamma Mia is one of those places you look forward to returning to, not just for the food, but for how welcome they make you feel. Highly recommend.

Bryan M203 The dirty bird sando is one of the most superb sandwiches I’ve had recently. The service was excellent the server even offered me a free refill to go on my Arnold palmer

Kelcie Jones I stopped by during my lunch break and am so pleased. I tried the loaded tater. The potato was perfectly cooked, a generous heaping of chopped brisket, cheese, and sour cream (I opted out of chili). Also the barbecue sauces they gave me were delicious. Then washed it down with a crisp cold cream soda. Definitely will stop by again soon.

Robbie Johnson My Uber driver the night before recommended this place. He was spot on. My coworkers and I travel up and down California for work. We have found some really good tri-tip and we have found some really bad tri-tip. This Tri-Tip sandwich rocks! The salad, just the basic side salad, was enormous. Way too much for me, and Im a fat guy. The drinks were great. (Its hard to screw up tap beer.) Happy that they have Cali Squeeze on tap. Shelby made an amazing jalapeno margarita. And let me give more props to Shelby. She can carry on a great conversation. Even when they were trying to close the bar and clean things up. She was genuinely attentive and we had a great chat. Hell, I may even get a tattoo now. LOL My work has given me more opportunity to be in the Bakersfield area, and this will definitely be one of my new stops!