What's good in Bakersfield besides Basque?

[ricepad]

I'm going to be spending a fair bit of time in Bakersfield over the next three or four weeks, and I'm pretty sure I couldn't eat Basque every night. Anybody got any recommendations for reasonably priced (say, sub-$20 entrees) places? I'll be staying near downtown, but I will have a car. Also...any places in particular that I should avoid? Thanks!

[Bakersfield Hound]

If you like County and Western then Buck Owens Crystal Palace is a good start for dinner. For Italian there Luigi's for Lunch 11:00 am to 2:30 om. Uricchio's for dinner is wonderful. For sandwiches there Sequoia Sandwich, great sandwiches. On the more expensive side there's Café Med for Middle Eastern food. Also on Middle eastern is Flames and Skewers, www.flameandskewers.com. Luigi's, Uricchio's, Sequoia and Flames and Skewers are close to each other off Chester and 17th Street area. If you need that Basque feed then Wool Growers or the Basque Hotel are the bill of fare.
Danny

[badseed]

agree with Bakersfield Hound but also try:

Moo Creamery - homemade ice cream, great burgers and salads.

Great Castle (near Downtown)
410 Union Ave
Bakersfield, CA 93307
[phone]
- very good chinese, mapo tofu, salt & pepper shrimp, cold sesame noodles.

La Costa Mariscos (near Downtown) 716 21st St
Bakersfield, CA 93301
[phone]
- Mexican seafood.

Thai House - one of the best Thai restaurants in Bakersfield.

J's Place - excellent soul/southern food, catfish, fried chicken, etc.

Elaine's Cafe & Market (Downtown)
1717 20th St
Bakersfield, CA 93301
[phone]
www.elainescafeandmarket.com
- Bakersfield's only vegan restaurant.

Mama Roomba (Downtown) - Carribean, jerk chicken, great sweet potato fries,

[badseed]

more links

[ricepad]

Yeah, these are the kinds of recs for which I had hoped! Thanks, Bakersfield Hound and badseed! Any others?

[tavmark]

There's a Pho place on Union (like 3rd and Union I think).

(My usual recs are Luigi's for lunch and Cafe med for dinner. If I think of others I post back.)

[heckonwheels]

I like the Crystal Palace too, but it probably will be more than $20 when all is said and done, especially if you see a show...which I highly recommend.

Bakersfield is home to my favorite taco place in the world at the moment. Tacos de Huicho on 18th Street, just east of Union (look for the bright green building) has the best spit roasted Al Pastor I've ever had and it's only 99 cents per taco. Also recommended are the fish tacos, the tripas, and the sopes. They have an awesom salsa bar, you've got to try their guacamole-based salsa. They have a full bar but the drinks, other than beer, underwhelm me. What we like to do is go to Mexicali (two blocks west on 18th) for the margaritas in their dark, little bar and head to Huichos for food afterward (or visa versa).

Be sure to have some ice cream and candy at Dewar's.