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    Bamboo Bear

    4.8 (17 reviews)
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    BAMBOO BEAR ATMOSPHERE

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    Tiffany H.

    You're not going to get a better deal on food in idyllwild. That small plate is LOADED to the brim! Great place to get takeout. It can get backed up at times, especially towards the end of the day when some things are running low and they have to make more. But, the staff was accommodating and let me try some stuff while I waited, and even gave me some bottled water for my pup which was very kind of them. I had the bbq pork- it was a touch on the fatty side but the taste reminded me of all the bbq places in Chinatown. My friend got the orange chicken- this looked to be their most popular dish by far and her bowl was so big she could only eat half. I tried some of hers and you really can't go wrong with it. Really great stuff, keep doing what you're doing

    Front entrance to Bamboo Bear
    Dakota D.

    There is a new asian place in Idyllwild and it is 5 star. Came by Bamboo Bear for a little lunch to go and it is delicious. Bamboo Bear is located on the ground level of the fort next to the shoe / moccasin place. Look for the glowing Beckoning cat in the window, or follow your nose to this delicious little gem. The place opens at 11am and at 1045 there were already two people on line. The line moves fast as it is only 'to-go' and the large majority of the food items are already out and ready for pick up at 11am. Large Bowl with two entrees and one side Orange Chicken, tri-tip broccoli beef and chow mein: 5 star all around. The orange chicken is texturally perfect - hot, crispy chicken pieces tossed in a tangy, savory orange/garlic/ginger sticky sauce. Delicious and yummy. Tri-tip broccoli beef - tender slices of well-seasoned beef tossed with perfectly cooked green broccoli. Not swimming in gravy, not soggy at all. Very clean delicious flavor! Chow mein: 5 stars. Tossed with a little cabbage and lightly seasoned, the noodles are very thin, chewy and also have a great flavor. At 13.99 this is a good deal. Lumpia: 5 start and OMG. Delicious. Traditional (pork) filipino lumpia. Growing up in San Diego I had the opportunity to eat my fair share of traditional lumpia. Those who do not know, traditional lumpia is made with simple ingredients: ground port, carrot, onion, salt, pepper all wrapped in won-ton wrappers and fried. Although recipes may vary, the simpler the better, and when done right, lumpia is a deliciously fried savory treat. They lumpia at Bamboo Bear is done perfectly and is hot and fresh, ready to order. You have the option of eating it plain, or getting a side of sweet chili sauce. I recommend trying it plain, and also with the sauce to see which you prefer. If you have never tried lumpia before, I encourage you to check it out. Service: 5 stars. Great service at Bamboo Bear, and I think the people here are still figuring out their flow, so give them a little time and I assure you the (possible) wait is well worth it . A side note... I ordered a spam musubi but it did not make it into my bag. I did not ask for a receipt, so I cannot say whether or not I was charged, but I'll chalk this up to new business hiccup. I look forward to coming back to Bamboo Bear soon and ordering more delicious asian food!

    Chow mein, bbq pork, kung pao chicken

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    5 months ago

    The food is fresh and absolutely delicious! Very friendly and fast service. A great addition to Idyllwild!

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    4 months ago

    great food, good price and outdoor tables so you can eat right there! Parking in he area took only minutes to find.

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    Matiki Island BBQ

    Matiki Island BBQ

    4.2
    (416 reviews)
    76.3 mi
    $$

    Ordered #2 and #7…read more The rice that comes with it was very old. Most likely left over. It was very hard. I like the Mac & cheese. The meat was dry and fatty for my liking. Plenty of parking spaces.

    Finding a good plate lunch on the mainland is challenging; it often focuses more on quantity than…read morequality and lacks the authenticity I remember. When I heard about this place, I was excited because it was said to be the real deal. First, the service was fantastic. It truly embodied the spirit of Aloha. Talking to the staff felt like chatting with my auntie--they were welcoming and super stoked about me trying this place for the first time This was the highlight of my visit. **Chicken Plate:** The chicken was well-seasoned and cooked with just the right amount of char. However, the portion was quite small, and the rice was incredibly mushy, as if too much water had been used. Don't get me started on the salad, it was just four or five big pieces of lettuce and a watery dressing. **Beef Plate:** Like the chicken, the beef was cooked well and had great flavor. Unfortunately, the rice was again extremely mushy. The mac salad was bland and seemed to consist of just noodles, potato, carrots, and mayo, with no noticeable seasoning. I had to add my own seasonings at home to make it edible. Overall, it wasn't the worst plate lunch I've had on the mainland, but it certainly wasn't the best either. I probably won't be returning. This makes me sad because I had really high hopes.

    Photos
    Matiki Island BBQ
    Matiki Island BBQ
    Hawaiian BBQ

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    Hawaiian BBQ
    533 Viet Fusion

    533 Viet Fusion

    3.8
    (959 reviews)
    11.4 mi
    $$

    I have been wanting to come here for years, based on the great Eater 38 and Yelp reviews, and…read morefinally had the chance. We came with a group of 10 of us, so got to taste a lot of dishes. For appetizers, our favorites were the crispy ginger green beans (so flavorful and tasty!), the hand-rolled crispy egg rolls (yum!); and the crunchy tiger shrimp spring rolls (freshy and tasty; liked these better than the poached shrimp spring rolls or mango spring rolls). For entrees, our top favorites were the (1) chicken protein bowl w/ fresh seasonal vegetables in a delicious sauce w/ a touch of chili oil and tamari soy sauce; (2) the sweet tamari glazed salmon w/ wok fried rice noodles nad peanut tamarind sauce; and (3) the pad thai trio (w/ pork, chicken & shrimp). The tiger shrimp vermicelli w/ shrimp wontons (like a crispy egg roll), was good, but not the best I've had; noodles were thicker than usual. The spicy red curry ramen w/ pork belly had a very flavorful sauce, but the coconut broth made it quite heavy. The Vietnamese crepe w/ pork & shrimp was good, but had too many bean sprouts. The Fried Chicken was good, and very generous portion, but had a lot of breading and bones. Next time would like to try the pho. They also have a happy hour, currently 5-6 pm at the bar and outdoors w/ cocktail, wine, beer and appetizer specials. Friendly service and nice ambiance. Would definitely return!

    Another lucky visit to this remarkable restaurant. Intoduced to this Vietnamese fusion restaurant…read morea number of years ago by my PS resident friends, we got the chance to visit again last night. Delightful menu surprises ensued and this time I was taken to a new culinary level with the Chili Osso Buca bowl. How could I ever have the traditional Osso Buca again having tried this transformative vision! We also were introduced to the lobster popcorn (I leave the description to your imagination...because the preparation will surprise you with culinary delight!). Fellow guests had their usual preferred bowls, a vegetarian pad Thai that was worth singing about and some wonderful grilled pork and veggies. Trying to plan our next visit to this gem in the desert. Hopefully it is soon. The service, as always is the very best, whether you are a regular or first time visitor, chairs are comfortable and indoor and outdoor seating satisfies every happy customer. Creative drink menu and desserts. C

    Photos
    Inside
    Inside
    Lobster popcorn
    Lobster popcorn
    Very very good pho !  Very fresh.... Easier to eat it at the restaurant than at home.  Restaurant is beautiful

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    Very very good pho ! Very fresh.... Easier to eat it at the restaurant than at home. Restaurant is beautiful
    Desert Moon

    Desert Moon

    4.8
    (114 reviews)
    11.0 mi

    I'm so sorry I didn't take a single picture. The food was so good that I completely forgot about…read moretaking a picture and was consumed by the great experience. This was my birthday dinner. I ordered the set menu, at $40. I picked the crab stuffed snapper. (I think it was snapped, either way, omg delish!!!) it included a small wedge salad that was exceptional and dessert! The blue cheese was ample and the dressing not overpowering, as many places tend to cover the lettuce up with dressing. I wanted to try the escargot, not part of the set menu.. Escargot is one of my finicky treats. I have not had a good escargot in decades, seriously decades. The typical butter and garlic, steel snail plate, and shells were not here! YEA!!!! The escargot was served under a light pastry shell that soaked up the sauce and added to a tasty treat. I wish it had been served in a small ramekin, without the individual pockets. They serve it the way it should be offered. The pastry shell is exactly what I had hoped it would be. The serving dish aside, the dish was outstanding and EXCELLENT; I definitely recommend! This used to be a Mexican restaurant, which was a long time ago. Yet, they have created a vibe that doesn't feel like reimagining a Mexican restaurant space. Nope, it has a wonderfully calm vibe, simple and elegant water feature, dark vibe without feeling like a dark restaurant. An inviting space with booths and tables far enough apart that talking at our table didn't disturb other tables, and we didn't hear others either. I'm super sorry, but I can't recall out server's name. I want to say Alicia, but that's not it. No worry, we had three different people stop by our table and each of them was a treasure. The table was always clean and they were always nice. I tend to say hello to servers, or say "thank you" if they pour water or take a dirty plate. It was very nice that they smiled and engaged for a moment. The friendly service, not invasive or fake, makes them a team that's hard to beat. Parking is ample, both off or on street parking. Lastly, remember I said it was for my birthday? Well, after dinner they brought out a small candle lite dessert that was awesome. And, they began quietly singing a happy birthday tune. But, this restaurant instills a wonderful and open vibe, a comfortable space. They began singing a quiet happy birthday, but the entire restaurant began singing it too! Omgoodness!!! That unprompted joy can only happen in good places. Six stars please.

    Came here for restaurant week. All employees were friendly and attentive…read more Ahi wontons - excellent! Generous portions, fresh, and flavorful. It was a little more on the acidic side than most places but it was tasty. House salad - fresh but nothing special. Mushroom soup - excellently earthy and tasty. Steak and fries - it was fine. Nothing to write home about. I could tell my husband was a little disappointed. Snapper and crab - I've never had snapper but it was tasty, cooked well, and seasoned well. The rice, spinach, and sauce were also tasty. Ice cream with berries - ice cream is never a dessert i would choose but that's what came with the restaurant week menu. It was fine. I appreciate the berries and the chocolate and berry drizzles. Also, always love a place that still does bread! Overall, it was good but nothing outstanding. I wouldn't make it a point to go back but I wouldn't mind if someone wanted to go there and invited me along.

    Photos
    Other inside
    Other inside
    Ossobucco. Tender and flavorful!
    Ossobucco. Tender and flavorful!
    Desert Moon

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    Sandfish

    Sandfish

    3.9
    (1.4k reviews)
    11.8 mi
    $$$

    We had dinner second day in Palm Springs. We were group of 10 and I tell you, a must try. You will…read morenot be disappointed! Service and food were excellent. We ordered many verities of food and nothing was disappointing.

    A Wonderful Surprise for Two Very "Basic" Sushi People…read more My husband and I usually stick to the classics -- a California roll or something tempura‑based is about as wild as we get -- but this place had such great recommendations that we decided to be a little adventurous. I'm so glad we did. Reservations were simple to make online, and I loved that we could choose between bar seating, patio dining, or indoor dining. We chose indoors, and the atmosphere was beautiful: warm lighting, stylish decor, and a really inviting vibe. The staff was excellent from start to finish -- friendly, patient, and genuinely helpful. I ordered a whiskey cocktail recommended by our waitress (I wish I remembered the name), and it was absolutely delicious. We started with the gyoza, which were sublime -- perfectly crisp on the outside and tender inside. For maki, we tried the Experiment roll and the Ginger Shallot roll. Both were phenomenal. I was nervous my husband would hate them, but the ingredients blended so harmoniously that even he was impressed. Truly fantastic. We also ordered the bao buns, which my husband thought were incredibly juicy and flavorful. The only miss for me was the miso soup -- a bit too salty -- but everything else more than made up for it. We left absolutely stuffed, but also excited to come back and try even more adventurous rolls next time. For two people who usually play it safe with sushi, this place was a delightful step outside our comfort zone.

    Photos
    Scandinavian roll on outdoor patio
    Scandinavian roll on outdoor patio
    Chicken Gyozas
    Chicken Gyozas
    Two excellent glasses of wine

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    Two excellent glasses of wine

    Bamboo Bear - polynesian - Updated June 2026

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