Lee’s Cafe

Well, shit! One of my fave Chinese and «American» food places near my house in Montclair is closed! Closed March 1^st… damn! I just went there a couple of months ago and didn’t know it was closing. They had the best local Chinese food when I needed something quick and fast and didn’t want to drive too far. I remember fondly the beef chow fun to go and take home! Now all I’ll have is memories as I used to come here when we first moved here when I was just 12. It was the first Chinese place that I remember serving American food as well.

We have lost an Oakland icon. A friendly face always greeted me when I came in. My family and I are shocked and saddened by the closure. The old ways are fading away. This neighborhood spot will always hold a special place in my heart. The employees always held it down. The «crazy chicken» was what I ordered. Thank you for everything Lee’s Café.

Hi folks,
Lee’s is closed as of March 1, 2016.
The note on the door reads:
Lee’s Café will be closing its doors on March 1, 2016 after 26 wonderful years. We would like to thank all of our customers for your loyalty and support throughout the years. It’s been an honor and a pleasure serving you.
Best wishes,
Lee

Cheap eats… good Chinese and American food. The owners are very friendly. Don’t go there for the ambiance and don’t expect the best… but very satisfying and tasty.

Always come here with my family to eat. We always order Egg Rolls they are so tasteful & delicious. My boyfriend knows Mr. Lee for yeaaars & he is really nice and friendly.

The food at Lee’s reminds me of the 70s-​era suburban Chinese-​American food I ate as a kid in SoCal.
Some of the interpretations of traditional Chinese and Chinese-​American dishes are loose and/​or completely inaccurate, which has disappointed me on a few orders.
After navigating through much of the menu, I now always order the Lee’s Wor Wonton soup and Egg Foo Young – two Chinese-​American classics. They do these two dishes very well. If you live in the area and want comfort Chinese-​American food, Lee’s is definitely worth a try.
The owner’s warmth and friendliness and the old school vibe of this tidy little worn but clean restaurant keep me coming back. That, and it’s super close to home. Consider me a regular.
This is a little off subject, but I recently watched an interesting film about the evolution of Chinese food in America. You can probably stream it. It’s called «The Search for General Tso». It’s is a must-​see for curious food enthusiasts.

For the quality, price, and reasonable time having your meal ready Mr, Mrs Lee, and Mr Yee do a great job! It’s a great home cooked meal away from home in a charming, non-​fancy café. They’re right off of Highway 13 Lincoln/​Joaquin Miller Rd exit, next to Round Table on Mountain Blvd.

I’m always in the field for my job and the Lee family always provide a warm welcome and food that keeps me going for the rest of the day. Thanks guys!

Average Chinese food, but perfect for when you don’t feel like cooking. I’ve been there a few times and the consistency is off. Some days are better than others, but it’s not bad. Just not as good. If that makes sense.

We just moved in the area and we really wanted Mr. Lee’s to be a good neighborhood dive restaurant. Mr. Lee and his wife were very friendly upon arrival, which was nice. The décor is very out dated. Unfortunately the food is well below average and not good good. We had read good things about the pot stickers so we gave them a try. They were bland and not good. The asparagus and chicken and shrimp with mixed vegetables were made with to much corn starch which made the sauce thick and bland. Even the white rice was not cooked that well. There are much better options elsewhere.

A great place that we wouldn’t have found without Unilocal!
We were visiting the Chabot Space Center and were looking to fill up on food before we got there. We loved the food and prices here, and knew from the other reviews that they had generous portions. The taste and care were great, and it is truly a family restaurant in every sense of the word. Décor and vibe are right out of the 80s, but we’re fine with that!

The Chinese food here is Good! This place was my childhood restaurant that I would go with my family. Even as an adult I stop by on occasion, and the food is still good. Mr. & Mrs. Lee are nice people who make some good Chinese food. Give this hole in the wall a chance and you won’t be disappointed!

Lee’s Café brings back alot of fond memories for me. My parents used to take me here when I was a kid, and we always left there feeling satisfied. However, as we get older, our taste buds tend to change, and what I thought was really good food at age nine might not meet my criteria at age 31.
So I found myself in the bay area yesterday after a job interview, hungry as hell. I wanted something I hadn’t had in a while, and suddenly remembered how much I like Chinese food, and how much I used to love this place in particular. I incorrectly figured that they had long since gone out of buisness, but no! To my surprise, they are still alive and kicking. The decision was an easy one.
Funny enough, this place still looks almost exactly the same as it did back in the day, which is just fine by me. The atmosphere is that of a café/​diner style restaurant, and the menu is LARGE. And not only do they have Chinese food, but burgers as well.
Let me be clear, if you are looking for a PF Chang’s/Asian fushion style eatery, you’re in the wrong building. The food is simple, hot, and good. I ordered the Mongolian Beef with fried rice, and some egg rolls. And it tasted like how I rembered it, more or less. dishes will run you about $ 6.00-$ 9.00 a plate, and they give pretty generous servings. The service was friendly, and the atmpsphere was relaxed and casual. They also have both booths and a counter to sit at, for those who would rather watch television than engage in conversation.
All in all, the food here is good (not great) but far from bad, the prices are reasonable, and the atmpsphere is kick back. If you’re ever in the neighborhood and want some good Chinese food in a not so formal setting, this place is definitely worth a shot.

I’ve been to this place so many time’s over the last 8 or so years. Mr Lee café is alway’s busy with regulars, I see the same folks their all the time. The food is always fresh, hot, and good. I recommend it.
Thanks Mr. Lee for another great lunch!

I’m very impressed with their food, for such an unassuming restaurant in such an out-​of-​the-​way place. They never use MSG, so you don’t have to worry that they may have added it accidentally. The owners seem to be the cooks and are very friendly in a small town, local way. They don’t speak perfect English, but I’ve never had any trouble ordering food. I recommend for better-​than-​average, not high-​end food.

A five star for what it is.
What is it?
A cheap greasy spoon Chinese restaurant, good value. You might find a better deal in Chinatown but you’d have to find parking.
Don’t go here on a date, it’s not that kinda place.

Definitely not a place where you’ll go out of your way to eat at but if you live close by or off of 13 it’s pretty damn good place.
I’ve been going to lee’s since I was a kid and have tried just about everything on the menu. Lee always talks to me in Chinese, even though I don’t speak it.
Everything is what you expect. The burgers are cheap, lettuce tomato and onions. Fries and patties are frozen but it’s still great for the price and service. Always nice to help out some locals.
Chinese food. I would recommend the crazy chicken rice plate. Delicious.

Lee’s excels it what it try’s to be, a beloved place for locals who like a cook who they can talk to, even through a bit of a language barrier. If you show up on a single visit and order you might not be that impressed but once you find your «dish» you will find yourself judging all other Chinese food against Lee’s Café. Mine is chicken soup with extra book choi. mmmm delicious
This is where many reviewers lose their way. Don’t expect fine dining. Expect a local hangout where you will see a steady stream of take out diners loitering for a short «hello» with the staff and other patrons.
Lee’s has been around for a REALLY LONG TIME. There is a reason for this longevity. It’s like visiting the Chinese Uncle you wish you had.

Great place for a bowl of soup on a cold day or evening. Ordered the noodle with won ton. It also featured chicken, pork and shrimp. Nice savory broth with great flavor. It is tucked in a little shopping village right off highway 13.
Right next to the Round Table pizza, this place is a local hangout and they do alot of takeout business.
Not quote a 4 but the soup is really good…3.5 stars.

Affordable average chinese food. The good thing is they can pretty much create dishes asked for. Menu may be too extensive to be that fresh… if you know what I mean.
Hard to believe they offer burgers/​fries and regular breakfast orders as well–