Mama Lee

Best salt & pepper chicken I’ve had in a very long time! The fried pork chop was very good as well. Both were seasoned well and crispy. The side veggies and braised pork had lots of flavor and portion was very generous. You have an option of white, purple and brown rice. Mama lee was attentive, super friendly and like an auntie who always wants to over feed you.

After a decade of living in NYC, I've found it. A place where the cooking is as good as my mother's. Got there at ~7:30p assuming we'd have to order carry-out since it was close to closing. Ms. Lee not only welcomed us in, but turned on a space heater and quickly brought out a soul-warming bowl of chicken soup. We ordered the salt and pepper chicken, egg with tomato (iykyk), and two beef noodle soups. She chuckled at us and told us to make it one beef noodle - there was no way we'd finish two. Salt and pepper chicken - nicely fried, golden crust, not overly salted. Egg and tomato - a little bit of preserved vegetable in it for salt, cooked to a perfect consistency. The stunner of the meal? That beef noodle soup. The bowl must have weighed a couple pounds. Beef was fall-apart tender, without being too fatty, and included a good amount of tendon. And that broth - a richness of flavor that may only be exceeded by 永康牛肉麵, where my dad used to go when he was in college. She brought a second bowl of broth because the first (very large) bowl was overflowing with beef and noodles already. And a container of her homemade chili oil. On our way out (with copious leftovers), she gave us a container of purple rice and another of pumpkin soup, refusing tips because "this is a family restaurant". Don't venture to Mama Lee's for the decor, for predictable opening hours, or to have the avant-garde Taiwanese food in town (886, win son, etc.). Go because it's been 10 long years since you've gotten to go back to see your extended family in Taiwan and you want the food you were fed there as a kid when you visited every summer. If you'll excuse me I'll be tucking into these leftovers for the rest of the weekend.

Ten stars for service. I was warned the owner was super nice and she was! The food was very good (the braised beef was so soft and the salt and pepper fried chicken was one of the best I've ever had). Everything was made so fresh and to order. The portions were huge! Will definitely come back to try the other menu items like the eggplant, porkchop and meatballs. Seating inside is very limited. There was only two tables but takeout is always a great option as containers are packed carefully anyway. Parking is street parking around the area.

this place is a must try if you are in the area. It is run by the SWEETEST woman. Portion sizes are huge and food is authentic and delicious. Everything is made to order so it’s super fresh. I got the braised beef and the meat was so tender. Eggplant with garlic sauce came with a variety of yummy vegetables. She also included complimentary chicken soup with an entire chicken leg and radish. They also offer purple rice!!! Will be going back to try the whole menu.

we ordered Buddha's delight and three cups chiken. Both are so yummy and Mom(the owner) is really kind and nice. I was feeling so warm like I am home. Even the prices are reasonable. I'll definitely come here again.

The restaurant is not big, but the people here gave us the kind of warm feeling as I’m at home! They are friendly and full of positive energy! The food is delicious and it’s not as oily as other place! Love the family style feeling that this restaurant presents!

Love this home cook style dishes. The beef stew is a must. I have not tried their 3 wine chicken which is a signature Taiwanese dish. Very pleasant from both the husband and wife owner. There are two different menu, one is more gear towards lunch and appetitzer, and the other is more for dinner dishes. Be sure to ask for both regardless.

Amazing food and atmosphere! Took my taiwanese girlfriend here and she absolutely loved it! It reminded her of her grandmother’s cooking. We ordered the Beef Noodle soup, three cup chicken, string beans, and ribs! We will definitely be back! S/O to Wei for the good service!

Best salt & pepper chicken I’ve had in a very long time! The fried pork chop was very good as well. Both were seasoned well and crispy. The side veggies and braised pork had lots of flavor and portion was very generous. You have an option of white, purple and brown rice. Mama lee was attentive, super friendly and like an auntie who always wants to over feed you.

After a decade of living in NYC, I've found it. A place where the cooking is as good as my mother's. Got there at ~7:30p assuming we'd have to order carry-out since it was close to closing. Ms. Lee not only welcomed us in, but turned on a space heater and quickly brought out a soul-warming bowl of chicken soup. We ordered the salt and pepper chicken, egg with tomato (iykyk), and two beef noodle soups. She chuckled at us and told us to make it one beef noodle - there was no way we'd finish two. Salt and pepper chicken - nicely fried, golden crust, not overly salted. Egg and tomato - a little bit of preserved vegetable in it for salt, cooked to a perfect consistency. The stunner of the meal? That beef noodle soup. The bowl must have weighed a couple pounds. Beef was fall-apart tender, without being too fatty, and included a good amount of tendon. And that broth - a richness of flavor that may only be exceeded by 永康牛肉麵, where my dad used to go when he was in college. She brought a second bowl of broth because the first (very large) bowl was overflowing with beef and noodles already. And a container of her homemade chili oil. On our way out (with copious leftovers), she gave us a container of purple rice and another of pumpkin soup, refusing tips because "this is a family restaurant". Don't venture to Mama Lee's for the decor, for predictable opening hours, or to have the avant-garde Taiwanese food in town (886, win son, etc.). Go because it's been 10 long years since you've gotten to go back to see your extended family in Taiwan and you want the food you were fed there as a kid when you visited every summer. If you'll excuse me I'll be tucking into these leftovers for the rest of the weekend.

Ten stars for service. I was warned the owner was super nice and she was! The food was very good (the braised beef was so soft and the salt and pepper fried chicken was one of the best I've ever had). Everything was made so fresh and to order. The portions were huge! Will definitely come back to try the other menu items like the eggplant, porkchop and meatballs. Seating inside is very limited. There was only two tables but takeout is always a great option as containers are packed carefully anyway. Parking is street parking around the area.

this place is a must try if you are in the area. It is run by the SWEETEST woman. Portion sizes are huge and food is authentic and delicious. Everything is made to order so it’s super fresh. I got the braised beef and the meat was so tender. Eggplant with garlic sauce came with a variety of yummy vegetables. She also included complimentary chicken soup with an entire chicken leg and radish. They also offer purple rice!!! Will be going back to try the whole menu.

we ordered Buddha's delight and three cups chiken. Both are so yummy and Mom(the owner) is really kind and nice. I was feeling so warm like I am home. Even the prices are reasonable. I'll definitely come here again.

The restaurant is not big, but the people here gave us the kind of warm feeling as I’m at home! They are friendly and full of positive energy! The food is delicious and it’s not as oily as other place! Love the family style feeling that this restaurant presents!

Love this home cook style dishes. The beef stew is a must. I have not tried their 3 wine chicken which is a signature Taiwanese dish. Very pleasant from both the husband and wife owner. There are two different menu, one is more gear towards lunch and appetitzer, and the other is more for dinner dishes. Be sure to ask for both regardless.

Amazing food and atmosphere! Took my taiwanese girlfriend here and she absolutely loved it! It reminded her of her grandmother’s cooking. We ordered the Beef Noodle soup, three cup chicken, string beans, and ribs! We will definitely be back! S/O to Wei for the good service!

Came here for a casual weekend lunch. Did not need to make a reservation and waited maybe 10 mins. The restaurant is pretty small but people eat fairly quickly given the casual nature. It's mostly self-serve as well; you order at the counter and pay at the counter when you are done. There is water by the cashier that you can get yourself. Personally, I preferred this so we are not waiting to order and such. The food was very authentic Taiwanese, you get your traditional popcorn chicken and ground meat rice, loved the flavors! If you are looking for the more traditional traditional Taiwanese taste you would love it here! The price is super good, our whole meal was like $30, which is hard to find anywhere nowadays. Would definitely recommend!

I love Mama Lee because it's the most home-y environment that reminds me of the local Taiwanese shops I used to go to. The owner (Mama Lee) is so caring and treats her customers like she is inviting us into her home. Aside from that, the food is very authentic. I've tried many dishes and I recommend ordering more of the Chinese dishes that have a pleasant spice kick to it.

Okay this is a very belated review. I ordered pickup on a Sunday... maybe a month or two ago? It was a rainy Sunday evening that I ordered 1 pork chop over rice and 2 lu ruo fan for my family. Apparently I was the last customer of the night and they took my order even though they were closing soon. Mama Lee gave us some extra pork chops for my family to share. It was a very kind warming gesture and I greatly appreciated it! For those who don't know, Mama Lee is primarily a "mom and pop" shop where she does majority of the cooking and sometimes manages the front. It is a small family owned business. I highly recommend good quality Taiwanese food not to mention that Asian Mom hospitality of making sure everyone is well fed! Oh, and also the food is great and the portions are generous! This is my second time visiting (first time being a few years ago). Support locally owned businesses!

We are usuals at this location but went to visit her Williamsburg location because it's been too long and we needed a dose of Mama Lee's love and heartwarming food. She informed us that she's trying to get the staff settled there before returning to Bayside, hopefully sometime 2024. Williamsburg is doing very well at it's much larger and trendy location with more staff but she expressed how much she missed being at the Bayside location. If any of you regulars have time, drop on by the new place to show her some love. Plenty of street parking nearby.

Taiwanese food with a home cooked feel to it. Mama was super warm and friendly. I was openly weighing my options between ordering the salt and pepper chicken with rice, or the pork chop with rice. I ended up choosing the chicken dish, but when I opened up the container at home, saw that she had also included two pork chops on top of the rice! The food was made with love in only ten minutes time. If you walk in and there isn't anyone there, just ring the bell or say hello. Credit cards are accepted. A water bottle comes with the meal.

Took my grandma here (she complains about EVERYTHING) and even my grandma loved this place!! Mama Lee was so generous and took such good care of my granny... wouldn't even accept tips and prevented us from over ordering. just love LOVEEE this place so much!

I had a great experience dining in at Mama Lee! Food 3.5/5, but service is outstanding (very friendly and kind people working here!). Ambiance is more like I'm coming over to a friend and have their mom-made food. Casual and no frills! The lady owner/chef came out and checked on us near the end, and she topped our rice bowl with even more rice, veggie & a piece of braised rib. Fried chicken pieces were dusted with some salt, pepper & sugar seasoning. They're as expected but not the best I've had. I wish we switched out to the purple rice because the I didn't like how the white rice was a bit mushy. Ok dish! The beef noodle soup is flavorful, and there are 4 big pieces of beef shank. So soft and tender! Also good amount of book choy in there! The noodle shape isn't my most favorite type for this specific dish, but overall, I think it's a solid bowl. A little big for 1 person, but great to share! I'd totally go back to try out other dishes or pick up some food togo if I lived near Mama Lee, but it's a bit far off our way from Brooklyn. Worth a stop if you're nearby and crave homemade Chinese/Taiwanese food.

Is the bayside location even open anymore? Food is only good if you can eat it, this place is closed more often than not. I guess that means the service is bad? But the owner is very generous with portions ... when you can manage to get a hold of them. I hear they have a Brooklyn location. Feeling very second rate in this side of town...

Today Mama Lee s Taiwan style pork chops really brought me back to Taipei instantly! They were like in tempura coding outside light n delicate. The aroma sent me to those Taiwanese night markets.... Another surprise was the Dai Kong soup. It was like a breeze in Spring, so refreshing! The service was nice and ppl spoke in family like soft, slow tone. It definitely differentiated from Chinese restaurants from mainland. The only thing I wish was they had Taiwanese Zongzi that I miss the most.

I've been to Mama Lee a few times years ago and remember that I loved it! My family and I ordered take out back in November around Thanksgiving. Love the hospitality here, they are soo nice and caring and normally add some soups and random little add ons. We've gotten grape tomatoes to beef jerky! So cute and nice. We loved the dishes so much, we actually ordered again to celebrate Christmas! Our favorite dishes- three cup chicken, sautéed string beans and the braised pork, tofu and egg over rice.

If you're looking for delicious, authentic Taiwanese food, look no further! This is one of my favorite mom & pop shops! It's a local Taiwanese restaurant with great service and delicious food. The prices are also good for the portions given. There's a variety of different dishes that are perfect for sharing but also individual dishes such as the classic beef noodle soup or braised pork over rice. I've been ordering from here for years and typically get take out. I usually pick a variety of dishes to share, family style, and each one comes with a choice of white or purple rice. I love all their dishes but definitely get the large pork meatballs (aka lion's head meatballs) and string beans! All their dishes are seasoned well and pairs best with rice. They also give complimentary soup with every order. Highly recommend supporting this local shop if you're looking for a tasty meal and comfort food.

Mama Lee indeed. It felt like coming home the moment you step in. Food was packed with flavors reminiscing of a good home cook meal. The lady, whom I assume is Mama Lee made us felt very welcomed and took her time to joke around. She kept checking up on us and offered a complementary dish on the house. I would come back when there is a craving for warmth.

I think my European, Australian, Japanesian, literally anywherean outside of America brothas, can get behind the no-tax no-tax policy. Much to the chagrin of other patrons, this allusive business is known for their sporadic and irregular operating days. So when we realized that they were open, it became a cause for celebration since we're infrequently in the neighborhood. As a group of 4, we powered through the menu and order the greatest hits ( minus the popcorn chicken :'( ). First up was the complimentary clear chicken soup. A broth so refreshing, you'd wish you were sick. I can't tell if this appetizer was courtesy for all dine-in patrons or they were just being extra hospitable to the mother-in-law. Round 2 was the Lion's head meatball that was so absolutely tender, a stripper with daddy issues gave more resistance. Pro tip: use the oyster sauce gravy for literally anything else. (Perhaps spice up that sex life). Speaking of spice, the chili oil was very robust in flavor without violently handling your tongue (must have). Round 3: Hong Shao Tofu (home style). I'm convinced more people would transition to plant-based food items, with the right sauce. Round 4: Deep Fried Porkchops-- LET'S GOOOOOOOOO. The dish itself comes with around 5 hand sized cutlets (sorry Conservatives, not Trump hand sized) that run on the thin side but also crispier. I was taken aback by the choice of seasoning as there was a peculiar sweetness and familiar florality. Several bites in and it dawned on me: this is a cinnastick. For the more cultured people reading this, a cinnastick is Dominoe's breadsticks dipped in a cinnamony powder. It's dense, it's delicious, don't judge me. Cinnamon and sugar were an interesting choice for porkchops but I'm with it. 5: And to end our journey is the savory oyster sauce ladened mushroom dish. It was a nice healthy finisher to cut through the savoriness of the last dishes.

First time going there at their store opening 11:30am. Greeted by a nice lady and I ordered Zha Jiang noodles and Taiwanese pork chop over rice. After 20 minutes, the lady handed me the food and she said for next time to not do walk in anymore as they're call to order and recommended a day before. Wow. Place must be great. I did like the Zha Jiang noodle but wasn't impressed with the Taiwanese pork chop compared to all those that remember 69 in Flushing.

This is the best Taiwanese food you can get. I'm writing this on New Year's Day with a killer buzz so I can't really formulate coherent sentences, but I love mama Lee and you should too!

The food was delicious and the service great. Walk in and help yourself to tea or an orange while waiting. We ordered the fish and pork chops. It's not a place for a large group. Only a few small tables as most do take-out.

Never judge a book by its cover! Came into this small restaurant it's like discovering a amazing hidden gem. Food is delicious, fresh and authentic. Mama Lee is super friendly and approachable. Will definitely comeback

We've been going here for more than 10 years. My child likes the salt and pepper chicken. (He made us write that.) Otherwise, we like pretty much everything. Owner is welcoming and thoughtful.

Mom and pop shop. Super nice people, food is amazing for the price and portion size. Maximum seating is 4 a group. Highly recommend the mopa tofu and rice, and beef noodle soup. No need to tip, but we tipped because the mama was really nice to us. Cash preferred.

Place is closed. Has been for months. Not sure why no one is updating this fact. Don't go and phone goes to voicemail.

Great spot for a delicious home cooked Taiwanese meal! They're only doing take-out during this time and they have a limited menu so make sure you call ahead to see their availabilities. Their hours can be erratic and it took us 6 months to finally try it out since moving in to the neighborhood. To eat we had the Lion head meatball, which comes with 2 giant meatballs, an order of the 3 cup chicken and the eggplant in garlic sauce. The meatballs were juicy and flavorful and the 3 cup chicken was the best i've had. The eggplant in garlic sauce had pieces of pork in it and lots of garlic. Very fragrant and tasty. The best part was that nothing was over salted. Seasoning is on point and they offer purple rice which was a nice healthy alternative. There's also complimentary soup, and i'm not talking about the msg packed kind. This is soup you can imagine your mom makes for a family dinner. Overall, a great little restaurant for tasty Taiwanese dishes. Excited to try more from their menu and hoping they'll bring some more items back!

Small but intimate no-frills restaurant! There are only 2 tables that seat 3-4 people so make sure to call ahead to check for availability if you decide to dine-in. It seems like Mama Lee handles both the orders and the cooking, so there may be a bit of a wait depending on the day/time. You order at the counter, and there's complimentary tea while you wait :) It was only Mama Lee working that day, but our food came out pretty quickly even though it seemed like she was juggling with a bunch of takeout orders as well. We ordered the beef noodle soup, and it was probably the best I've had in NY! Not greasy/oily at all, and the soup was soo tasty. There was also a good portion of beef as well, which is always a plus! The other dish we ordered was the braised pork over rice which was soo delicious as well. The meats for both dishes were very tender, and the pork was perfectly braised. Make sure to get a side of chili oil if you like an extra kick ;) Mama Lee is so so sweet, and her cooking really tastes like home Would highly recommend checking this place out!

I love this adorable restaurant. The aunty that runs the place is super friendly and hospitable, you feel like you're in the home of a relative on a visit, not picking up food haha xD Portions are truly American-sized, the lids almost have trouble staying shut. Value for money??? YES!!! Like their fellow Taiwanese restaurant Chimama, Mama Lee's delivers hearty home-style food. Some dishes can be a bit heavy but it's guaranteed that your heart and belly will both be content. I highly recommend the eggplant dishes, the tofu and mixed pork over rice ($11.50) is fantastic also. Parking nearby is easy enough and they have card OR cash payment. Stop by, you won't be disappointed! ^^ ~

Fantastic preparation. Generous servings. Pretty much all takeout service, but food is packed meticulously.

Not sure what happened but i was not impressed by all the food we got here. They are only open for take out and cash only. We had the salt and pepper fried chicken, fish fillet with pickled vegetables, and the beef noddle soup. Everything was very mediocre with the fish being the worst dish . the fish was soggy, overly soft, extremely salty and had no aroma or flavor what so ever. The salt and pepper fried chicken is one of my favorite from Taiwan and the one here was not crispy enough and the meat was sweet and no basil. Basil in this dish is a must. The beef noddle soup was just okay. Overall perhaps they had an off day. The woman worked behind the counter was very friendly however. I would like to give them another chance if I'm ever in the area!

Excellent food and fabulous customer service Definitely 5 Very generous Home cook flavor

Everything tastes like a homecooked meal in Taiwan. Always a treat when I venture out to Queens for small businesses like this, it warms my heart =) It is true what others have said that service can be slow and sporadic but that's because it's a one woman team. I don't know how the owner does it, she takes the orders, does all the cooking, phone calls, and packs the food. Also true that she is super friendly and warm.

We used to really like this place but unfortunately after our most recent experience here, I can no longer recommend Mama Lee. I had heard of some changes in the kitchen and they had trouble finding a chef but it's really in poor shape right now. Thankfully, the prices have remained rather stable but that's about all that I have that is a positive. Interestingly, the container sizes are larger now and I guess you technically get more food but seeing as how it's actually much worse in quality, it's not a good deal at the end of the day. Beef stew- price has gone up to $20 but probably the best remaining item here. It comes with a good amount of Shanghai bok choy (filler or a nice veggie reprieve depending who you ask) with large chunks of beef tendon/meat. The flavor used to be stronger in the meat, the sauce more condensed. It's still a good recipe but kind of seems like it's mailed in. Mapo tofu- this was so strange. Like they put all the random stuff they had in the kitchen. A piece of broccoli?? Bamboo shoots, wood ear mushroom, other random veg. One of the other recent reviews has a picture but you can tell pretty quickly this is neither mapo tofu nor anything resembling it. Importantly, the flavor was not good. Fish with pickled vegetables (suan cai)- another in the strange category. Random peppers, other veggies ... not much fish to be found in here and the flavor was very bland. This dish was just wack. Peking pork chops- wow, just all stuck together with way too much breading caked on, and an utterly uninspired sauce. We also got a veggie dish which was ok but not anything one can't easily cook at home. They used to be very generous with soup and rice, and our order initially came with only three small containers of rice (for five entrees). I really don't understand what's going on with this place. Some of the people are still the same but they have serious problems in the kitchen. I feel bad leaving a negative review but honestly I am rounding up to 2 stars. Truly, it was a disappointing experience and not even all that cheap either. I hope they can right the ship and find a better chef but as of now, it's really poor cooking coming out of here. Especially sad as we have a distinct lack of good taiwanese restaurants in nyc... (don't get me started on the stinky tofu we picked up from Nan Bei Ho next door)

"Usually, sometimes, maybe" pretty much sums up the store front hours. I love the quality of the food but as a working mom I need to be able to rely on steady hours and over the years it's just been a hit or miss. You always need to call to see if it's open on a given day despite displayed hours, which feels like more work. If you have the energy to chase them and find out if they're open and what's in stock then more power to you.

Definitely one of the better Taiwanese restaurants I found in Bayside. They are so friendly on the phone and the food was quite yummy. More details in the pictures.

Great service, hospitality and food! I'm not Taiwanese but honestly I felt so at home with the food. You can taste a mom's touch in all of these dishes (maybe that's why they named it mama lee). The menu is short and perfect, we got eggplant string beans and pork chops. The meal started with complementary cabbage pork soup and they even gave us complementary fried chicken. I loved the lotus roots in all the dishes it was extra crunchy. Even the vegetarian only dishes were so umami and so many textures. You have to try it for yourself I will be back again

I've been a loyal patron of Mama Lee for 7 years, drawn in by their consistently great food and homey vibe. While their hours can be unpredictable, the authenticity they serve up more than compensates. A special nod to the previous chef's Taiwanese chicken roll - the current version, though tasty, doesn't quite match the original's magic. Highly recommended!

This was the best Taiwanese restaurant I have been going to. When I got there, Mama Lee was always welcoming as she brought us soup. I know the price has changed over the years but the food never disappointed. There were two four seated tables on the right. We started with the soup after ordering four main courses. The soup was free and it tasted as natural as it can get. She changed the soup from day to day. There are few dishes I recommended which I believed it was the best around the area. Her lion head (meatballs) was the first dish to go for with the perfect balance of taste and texture. It came with two large size meatball on top of vegetable. The meat melted in the mouth while tasting the spices that was not over powering. I suggested you share with people. The sweet and sour fish was my second on the list. First of all, I hated fish because of fishy taste but here the fish was super fresh with no bone. If you like sour and sweet food, sweet and sour fish is a must order dish regardless of you like fish or not. Salt and pepper chicken was of the classic. Simple and crispy period. I always ended my last pick with a vegetable. I usually asked for vegetable of the day as season will determine. Always ready to come back for the next meal.

Mama Lee is special. Since coming here years ago, I've been searching for better restaurants that serve my favorites dishes: Taiwanese beef noodle soup and dandan mian. I certainly found some that are better than Mama Lee, but her cooking is still unquestionably good. So why 5 stars rather than a 4? Because you'll be hard-pressed to find another restaurant that gives you the same feeling that Mama Lee does when you're dining in her establishment. Even though other restaurants might serve slightly tastier dishes, and even though you might enjoy the aesthetic of other venues more, eating at Mama Lee will evoke feelings of familial love. I haven't experienced that in any other restaurant in my life. Dining here made me feel as though she was my grandma making a home cooked meal for me. She treated us as though we were part of her family, with some The Farewell (2019) vibes. No spoilers but eating here felt incredibly warm, and I'm looking forward to re-experiencing that. YMMV though obviously. Speaking Mandarin probably helps lol.

We stumbled across this - small 4 table primarily take out place. But the tables were full of locals/regulars that all seemed to know Mama Lee. The menu was small but there was enough to choose from - even for my my finicky husband. The food was really good and plenty full. But the staff - and Mama Lee - couldn't have been nicer - accommodating and appreciative. If ever I felt like I was a guest of a friends grandmother - it was here at Mama Lee's.

Thought the food was fantastic. Exactly what you'd get from your Asian grandmother. She works hard back there so she deserves the support.

Fantastic and friendly service. We loved the taiwanese pork chop and the five spice braised beef. They gave us a radish/carrot welcoming soup + homemade roasted peanuts. Overall a Comforting food, we will come back for sure

So glad we were able to finally try Mama Lee's! This has been on our list of places to try on Yelp and while we were down the block, decided to finally try. We ordered the pork chop over rice and the braised pork, tofu and egg over rice. Both were delicious and the portions were large AND the owner- Mama Lee was very nice on the phone as well as in person. While waiting for the food, there was also a new customer ordering with his wife and as they were new to Taiwanese food.. had lots of questions and needed assistance with the menu in choosing their meals. Mama Lee was so patient and nice. It is sad to see that such a small gesture like this touched my heart as it is more prevalent to see the opposite nowadays. We will definitely be back, would love to support such yummy food and kind people. Their hot sauce was so delish!!! Make sure to order!

This is one of the best mom-n-pop businesses of the borough and certainly a contender for best Taiwanese in all of NYC. Mama Lee is such a wonderful establishment that I don't think I could give it a higher recommendation if I tried. They are a five star spot that shines bright in an otherwise drab part of Bayside; all while serving up some of the best Asian comfort fare in the whole city. Anyone who is a fan of the cuisine owe it themselves to pay this place a visit. The place is so small that it I think it has something like 4 tables in it. Decor is minimal and the front area is cluttered with all sorts of stuff; almost like you're in someone's home. It is fitting after all, the food is strictly comfort but has the kind of variety that would put other restaurants to shame. Mama Lee is real; she runs the house, answers the phone, and even cooks a lot of the food. She has a lot of busy bees helping her in the back, but she's always very eager to greet folks as they come into the door. I don't even know where to start with the food. I have deliberately ordered random things in hopes of seeing Mama Lee serve me something I didn't actually like. Yet everything is wonderful. I love the multigrain rice. The picked fish fillets are extremely tasty. The lions head and string beans are off the chain. Her pork chops are straight fire, the salt and pepper chicken is full of flavor and the mapo tofu is very good. Three cup chicken and braised five spice beef is strangely addicting. I especially love the fried egg with turnip and tomato + egg dishes since they're extremely homestyle. But of course, no one is perfect. This isn't a place for large groups (#1), the prices might feel expensive (average main dish is $15+) and she runs out of dishes all the time. The latter is what happens when places use just enough to keep things fresh. Definitely call ahead of time (#2) to verify if your preferred dishes are available. I don't come here nearly enough. Once this pandemic is over and I can roam the mean streets of Bayside freely again, I will surely pay Mama Lee a visit. ___________ (#1) And that was before COVID. (#2) Mama Lee speaks English well. Fear not non-Mando friends.

I can't possibly say enough wonderful words about Mama Lee! Each and every dish she makes is absolutely phenomenal, and that has not changed over the many years we have been enjoying dinners there. Her 3 cup chicken and Lionshead meatball are singularly superb. But the food only begins to describe the incredible experience of being welcomed into Mama Lee's world of homey comfort. The restaurant itself is simple, unpretentious, mostly takeout. She now has only two tables, down from four pre-Covid. Her smile is welcoming and infectious. Dine-in customers are greeted with a complimentary tureen of soup that she has been simmering all day. The soup is different each day but always delicious. Each and every one of her dishes is prepared individually and by her. The portions are generous, and the tastes are utterly scrumptious. We are not Taiwanese and not even Asian but every Asian patron says her food is akin to being back at home. We have gotten to know Mama Lee and have heard about her family and her dreams. It is an honor to have a chance to eat there and experience the warmth that surrounds everything she does. Pro tip: Call ahead before leaving your house to make sure she is open, because she is not open every day anymore. As a final note, my 104 year old mom feels the same way and is glad that she is still well enough to go out to eat at Mama Lee's!

Mama Lee's is one of the best "home-cooked" / comfort food spots in Bayside. It's a neighborhood gem as many have said here on Yelp. I've had the lucky chance to have tried it many times via take out. During this Pandemic, more than ever before, it's vital to frequent our local mom and pop run joints. While she's serving a limited menu at this time, it's enough to give you a taste of why this spot is a favorite. Not only is Mama Lee's food like a taste of home, she's really like "mama" when I came by to pick up my order. She said to me, "wow, your order was so much meat, you need to eat some vegetables". And in true mama form, she gave me an order of sauteed veggies with oyster sauce - with her compliments. This pick up, I ordered (something for lunch and for dinner): - Fried pork chop over rice (Taiwanese style) - excellent, fried to perfection with the pork still juicy and so much flavor, generous portion as well. - salt and pepper fried chicken - crispy and packaged properly, no top lid, just bagged with the paper bag to keep it from getting cold while not letting the steam cause moisture. Smart! - Lions Head Pork Meatballs - hands down the best pork Meatballs ever. They were moist, tender and paired with cabbage. It was two orange sized shaped meatballs, huge!! This was the entree portion. There is a version over rice for a smaller meal. - Jia Jiang Noodle with pork and tofu (sauce was so savory, the pork was minced and tofu cubed). A complete meal over flat thin noodles. Okay so it was a lot of meat but everyone wanted something particular. Lots of good eats. The pic of the current menu shows you what's available to order. The crossed out dishes means it's currently not available. (Note: try to call ahead and order as the prep time is approx 30 mins). I did a walk in on this visit because the line was busy each time I called. That's a good sign that she's busy. :-)

I have always heard amazing reviews from friends and family about this place but never got around to trying it until recently. In a quieter part of Bayside away from Bell Blvd, Mama Lee is situated in the middle of the block as a small cozy spot. The space itself is quite small, fitting only around 5-8 tables of four. We chose to dine in, but from what I noticed, most people call and choose to pick up. The restaurant itself is owned by Mama Lee and Papa Lee, two very friendly people who seem to manage the whole place by themselves (with maybe one or two others). They remind me of my own grandparents, and the food itself definitely reminds me of my mom/grandparents home cooked meals. Unfortunately for us, coming in at 7PM meant service was going to be really slow, between the people already seated and the people coming in to pick up food. It took us about 45 minutes to get our food (including ordering time). But let me tell you it is WORTH the wait. We ordered the Beef Noodle Soup and Minced Pork, Egg, and Rice. Beef Noodle Soup: I am not usually a noodle soup kind of person but Mama Lees has changed that for me. The most tender, juiciest beef slices mixed with rich broth, reminded me of home. I will say I eat pretty plain food so it did err on the saltier side for me but overall would DEFINITELY recommend. The minced pork, egg, and rice (not as good as the beef noodle soup but a close second). They give a lot of rice and the pork was flavored and seasoned to perfection. Mama Lee was even going around asking if people needed more rice. Both dishes together cost $23.90 (including tax and tip) and my boyfriend, who eats A LOT of food, and I were completely filled up! So worth it!! If you are in town, definitely stop by Mama Lee's for affordable, authentic, and filling Taiwanese food. Next time we'd probably just order take out though which seems a little more efficient for us. Ambience: 3/5 Price: 5/5 Food: 5/5

If you're looking for authentic Taiwanese food, look no further. A relatively small storefront run by a sweet lady who seems to run the entire place by herself! She seems to take phone calls, cook the food, pack the food and work the register all by herself so just be mindful that you will have to wait 30+ minutes for your food during normal peak hours. But you will not be disappointed. Food tastes authentic and is extremely delicious. She also gave us complementary chicken soup with our lunch to go order!

MamaLee's is that warm fuzzy Taiwanese craving that feels like a hidden gem on Bell Blvd. My wife and I simply called ahead to order take out of 2 Pork chops over rice take out rather than use any apps to order food so that the restaurant doesn't have to pay extra fees on our order. When she picked up it turns out they had already closed but she still took our order over the phone and stayed open which was really nice. She said about 15-20 minutes and we actually showed up early about 10 minutes. When we got there Mama Lee herself welcomed me in, gave me some hand sanitizer and the food was already ready. She even threw in some salt & pepper chicken for free (which we never asked for). I paid and took the food home. I know these are "small" gestures but during times like these, these small gestures are what keeps restaurants and businesses like MamaLee's so authentic. As I'm home eating the pork chops the portions are huge so my wife and I are saving one for tomorrow. They both came with soup with pork and veggies which is delicious and the pork chop itself is crispy and juicy! The salt & pepper chicken is also delicious and has that nice crispy texture and juiciness. This restaurant and its food sits dear to my heart (and stomach) because ever since my grandma passed away 7 years ago I haven't had home cooked Taiwanese food and when I eat at MamaLee's it reminds me of her and her cooking. Hope my fellow Yelpers can support MamaLee's business during pandemic and continue to order because not only is the service amazing but the food, portion of food, and price for food are all so worth it.

I've been wanting to go there for awhile but I keep forgetting until yesterday. The pork chops were crispy and the beef is so tender ! Not only is the food amazing but the service is amazing. I'm not sure how mama Lee does it. She takes the orders and handles the cooking . She's super sweet and my kids really enjoyed it. Will have to come back soon again!

Craving for some comfort Chinese food? Mama Lee got you covered! Both the food and service were outstanding! Mama Lee is no question one of the best restaurants at its​ price range! First of all, Mama Lee greeted us in all smiles, so welcoming that I was thrown off my expectation of a typical Asian restaurant service. I felt like I​ was going to an Asian grandma for some secret home cooking that would warm your soul. The food did not disappoint! While waiting for the meal, she brought out some legit pork and bone marrow soup. Not some watered down or powder miso like soups but a bowl filled with a fist-sized​ chunk of bone marrow and all its deliciousness. Honestly, she had me at the soup. The three cup chicken is a must try. The dish has a ​mouthful of flavors while the chicken was tender and juicy. The herbs and spice were distinctly​ fresh. The chili pepper beef had such a fragrant​ smell and the pepper was crispy,​ NOT saggy like your typical restaurant dishes. Both dishes had a wonderful balance of savory​ and spiciness. You can choose between white rice, fried rice, or purple rice... yes PURPLE origin rice, which was​ all complimentary​ with your dish. GET THE PURPLE RICE! Though the restaurant is small, having only 4 or 5 tables, the food is completely worth it. I wouldn't​ even mind eating while standing. The price is extremely reasonable, especially considering the large portion with the tip included!!! I swear Mama Lee is undercharging​ all of us! Bottom line, I am IMPRESSED by Mama Lee's hospitality and her food! Eating here made me feel like eating at my grandma's house. I will no doubt come back. I have already been raving this place to everyone, much to the dismay of many local Asian​ customers, who are trying to save this gem of a place all to themselves.

I honestly tried to move to Bayside because of this restaurant. We always order way too much but we never regret it because everything is just so good at Mama Lee. My usual dishes are the shredded pork with bamboo shoots and the eggplant w/garlic. Every visit, I tell myself that I need to try something new but it's so difficult because those items are just so tasty that I always feel like I have to get it The food is always fantastic, and the service is phenomenal. Mama Lee is honestly one of the nicest business owners I've ever come across. She is so kind to her customers that it really feels like you're going to your friend's mom's place for a family meal.

I typically don't write reviews but I feel the need to write one for this establishment. The food is delicious, authentic, and reminded me of my time in Taiwan. The owner is super sweet and clearly loves what she does which makes the food and restaurant even more special.

If I could give this place more than 5 stars I would! I love Taiwanese food and this place definitely hits the spot. Make sure you call to see if they're open before coming. The customer service here is great. They are so friendly and I love seeing Mama Lee. My favorite item on their menu is the lion head meatball. It's huge and packed with so much flavor. I highly recommend this. I won't go into every dish (I've had just about everything on the menu), but some of the other dishes I usually order are the minced meat over rice (delicious), fried pork chop (they make it a tad sweeter and less breading here), and eggplant (so good). This is comfort food so if you are in the mood for something homey, definitely come here. Their eggs and purple rice also compliments the dishes really well so make sure you get those too! I wish we had something like this in Brooklyn. I will be back. Thank you Mama Lee for always making me feel at home when I eat your food.