Bamboo Asian Noodles and Tapas Bar
514 E State St, Rockford, IL, 61104
Bamboo Asian Noodles and Tapas Bar Menu
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Visit below restaurant in Rockford for healthy meals suggestion.
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Address :
514 E State St
Rockford, IL, 61104 - Phone (815) 316-2455
- Website https://www.bamboorockford.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : Yes
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Dinner
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Trendy
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : No
WE SERVE THE FOLLOWING STATES
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Bob G.
We were driving through Rockford and looking for something non-chain and different than the typical pub food. We checked out Bamboo Noodles and were pleasantly surprised. When you walk in, you feel like you are in a nice Chicago place. The exposed brick walls and the decor made you feel at home. It was empty but this was 2:00 on a Saturday. The menu had a good selection from Vietnamese, Thai, and various other Asian tastes. We started out with a couple spring rolls, which were fresh and large. Next we had to decide between an entree or tapas. While the tapas menu looked good, the fact that the prices were essentially the same as the means yet were smaller pushed us to order a full plate. I tried the seafood Oho and my wife tried the Pad Lo, which is a sweeter form of Pad Thai with no peanuts. Both were delicious and large enough for left overs. We highly reccome Bamboo Noodles if you are near Rockford.
(4)Kristan M.
Yum! We love this place. Attentive staff, excellent food, clean bathrooms and a great environment. One our favorite down town spots to eat.
(5)Mathew K.
I've been a few times and had great food and service. The meals are reasonably priced and I think it is the best pad thai around the area, which really isn't that hard to make well but I still appreciate it. Without drinks and appetizers you could easily get a great meal for under $10.
(4)Bilguun G.
I went there once and thought the food was good. Gotta go there more to explore more of what they have to offer. Great atmosphere.
(4)Spencer Q.
Great if you order the right thing.... I have been here about four times now and can say that when they get it right, there are few bowls of food I prefer. In particular, the pho soup is the best I have ever had ( I'll admit I've only tried about four others). I actually crave it all the time. Additionally, I was introduced to jerimiah weed there. Very fun drink in the summer. The biggest downfall is that some of the possible plates you can order are real flops. Personally, the short ribs did not do anything for me. I am used to short ribs where the meat is falling off the bone. This is not what you get at bamboo. Very tough. I will admit this may be my inexperience with Vietnamese cuisine. Also, there is a papaya salad that even the staff try to steer you away from. All that being said, bamboo is VERY reasonable when it comes to price. Two people can easily eat and drink there for about forty bucks and have tons of leftovers. You cannot find a better deal in Rockford. Go, try it, and find what you like. When you do you will not be disappointed!
(4)Margie L.
I've been visiting this restaurant since it first opened, and shame on me for not writing a review sooner. This is by far the best Asian-influence restaurant in Rockford! The owner is really cool and when he's there, he always greets us. No matter who is working, the service is always impeccable. Every week they have interesting cocktail specials as well as dining specials. The pho is a mouth-watering caldron of aromatic broth with delicious meats and supple noodles accompanied by fresh bean sprouts, chilis, cilantro and thai basil. The appetizer platter never disappoints-the wings are amazing (and I really don't care for wings). The satay, rangoon, eggrolls are something I actually crave when I haven't been in a while. I usually order one of the specials, the pho, or when I'm really hungry, the thai chow-mein; crispy noodles with your choice of protein and veggies in a rich, brown gravy. It may not be a truly "authentic" thai dish, but it's so good, who cares? The portion on this dish is so big, it covers the entire plate! Quality food, service and very reasonable prices will keep me coming back. Thanks, Bamboo!!
(5)Michael S.
Loved this place. Pad Thai with tofu was terrific, & only $8.50.
(4)Suzie H.
I have been here three times and it's ok, however, I feel other restaurants are better. I will say their desserts are very good. I also like their restaurant design.
(2)Katy O.
There isn't a wide selection on the menu and I can't even remember what I ordered. Overall cute atmosphere, but forgettable. Maybe go for drinks, but not for food. Go down the street to Kuma's instead, you'll thank me!
(2)Jeffrey S.
I tried the Pho at Bamboo. It is about what I expect from a fusion resturant. Acceptable but not something to write home about. My experience at most fusion resutrants is that it is similar to eating from a can. It is good in a pinch, but no where near homemade or from an authentic ethnic eatery. I will try Bamboo again and will try other menu items. But if you are looking for excellent Pho, there are much better places in Rockford to go.
(2)ryan m.
Ignore the uncultured Estephan below this and go to this restaurant NOW! It is the best Southeast Asian restaurant in Rockford (and might I add that it's ABOUT FREAKIN' TIME we got some of these restaurants in Rockford!) and they will happily substitute the tripe for more "normal" cuts of meat. Just ask. The portions here are RIDICULOUSLY huge, and I for one worry how they are going to stay in business with the prices set so cheap! The Sukiyaki Soup is jammed to the brim with vegetables, beef, AND seafood and it's only $7! Are you kidding me? The beer selection is amazing too. The Rogue Soba Ale is delicious and I don't see why this isn't offered at the Japanese restaurants here in Rockford. Need I say more? Get down and support what seems to be a trend working to change Rockford's dining scene (Uncle Nick's as Yelps top rated restaurant? Are you kidding me?)- local but authentic ethnic food!
(5)Mary A.
I had a long talk with the owner who is in the process of creating a new menu marked with all potential allergens. She has also started educating her staff which shows a great willingness to fix a terrible mistake. I am willing to upgrade my review stars as she shows a true regret and willingness to anything to make up for the trauma my friend and I dealt with that night. The progress makes me hopeful nothing like this will ever happen at bamboo again. Here's to hope for the future of this restaurant.
(3)Liz G.
Bamboo is a great lunch spot for a good meal at a good price. I have ordered carry-out quite a few times and find that it is good to call about 30 minutes in advance and arrive a few minutes later than you tell them. I have ordered Chicken Lettuce Wraps which were great. I have also ordered the Fried Rice with Chicken and that was also very good. They have large portion sizes for a reasonable price. People I dined with had the Duck and said it was delicious. Cool environment. Good food. Good prices. A-OK.
(3)Caesar C.
Love this place. Great ambiance. There's even a bar if you want to get a drink. The food is great and low priced.
(5)J S.
Great place all the way around.. The Pha is AWESOME.. the prices are great, and they have prob the best spring rolls around.. I would suggest this place to anyone anytime.. So impressed
(5)Elizabeth E.
I tried pho for the first time at Bamboo last summer. Pho might not seem like the most logical choice for a hot night - a big bowl of fragrant broth with noodles and tender meat that you top with an assortment of fresh garnishes - but it was warm in a good way - nourishing and comforting without making me overheated. The whole experience - receiving the oversized bowl, adding the bean sprouts and lime, fishing out meatballs with chopsticks and a spoon - reminded me of Tampopo, as it absolutely should. On our second visit - the day after Thanksgiving - we were blown away by Bamboo's Laotian options. I ordered the Laotian Spicy Green Papaya - more properly known as Tam mak hoong: shredded unripened papaya, fish sauce, anchovy paste, and a few other things I can't remember at the moment. The waitress was skeptical. "Have you had the papaya salad before?" "No, but it sounds good." "OK, I just wanted to make sure because it's not sweet - it has fish in it." "Yes, I know." My husband was also concerned that it would be too fishy, but I was firm in my choice, and glad of it when a beautiful, funky, and fresh salad was presented to me. Even better, however, was his lunch: Nam khao. It wasn't just good - it was crazy good - a nutty, crunchy rice salad studded with cured pork eaten by hand out of lettuce leaves. I got lucky - he had a few too many appetizers and wasn't able to finish, so I scooped up bite after bite, trying to figure out what and how exactly it was made. The secret? The rice is made with coconut milk, then rolled into a ball along with curry paste and other seasonings and DEEP FRIED. Once it cools, the rice ball is crumbled up - crispy bits and all - and tossed with the rest of the ingredients. It was unlike anything either of us have ever had - and we can't wait to get more of it. On the whole, we've been totally pleased with our experiences at Bamboo, despite many bug bites from the patio in the summer, and a drafty table near the door in the winter. We'll definitely eat at Bamboo again!
(4)ken i.
Fantastic! Maybe my favorite place in rockford! Great food! Great service! The blackened scallops are superb! Great eclectic atmosphere!
(5)Nicholas M.
This lovely downtown gem really deserves a 4.5/5 but oh well. The restaurant has great decor, excellent food, and usually great service. Ambiance / Location 4/5: Ambiance is lovely, romantically lit, exposed brick on walls with lovely artwork, bamboo plants, and high back built in seating on east wall. New entryway should reduce cold air blowing in the winter time. There is a small outdoor seating area that has walls high enough to help you forget you're in the parking lot for the car dealer next door. The location is downtown in the 500 block of state with a lot of other great businesses, which means parking can sometimes be a challenge. Food 4.5/5: The food is excellent, focused, and entirely asian, lots of Vietnamese, Korean, and Japanese flavors play well with staples like eggrolls, springrolls, and crab rangoon. The fried rice was not my favorite, though i consider that a largely american dish and usually avoid it anywhere. I have been there several times and usually get the Red Curry Chicken which has excellent flavors. You can adjust the spice level of any dish by request and they have always been spot on with my expectations. Drinks 4/5: The beer selection is OK, mostly asian imports which are not my favorite, but you can always find something different to try. The cocktail menu is the place to be here and it is great, fresh, delicious, and ever changing cocktails aplenty. The specials are also very good making this an attractive place for a weekday lunch or dinner. Service 4/5 (with a caveat): I have had great service here, and not so great service here, however, the few times there have been snafus when the owner has been in the building she has provided EXCELLENT customer service and makes things right. Some of their food is a little too adventurous for my wife, and the owner prides herself on earning repeat customers, we love this place. I recommend you go downtown and give this and any of the other places in the area your business, Bamboo tries hard and delivers excellence on many fronts.
(4)Daniella D.
I'm just going to say that I wasn't that impressed. This was my 3rd time here. Each time I've gone I've had high expectations because I really like the concept and the location downtown. However the food just doesn't seem inspired. My husband and I agreed that the crab rangood appetizer (5 for about 6-7$) was the best item on the menu. He ordered the grouper and shrimp which was kind of a minced shrimp and fish patty. He likes fish but this he wouldn't even finish 1/2 of it. It comes on a banana leaf and I noticed the leaf kind of turned over. I asked him if he finished the fish and he was like no, it's so bad I can't eat it and I'm hiding it under the banana leaf so they take it away. I thought that his tactics were both funny and sad. The calamari was rubbery. The fried rice was something I'd put together in my wok with a bag of frozen vegetables. Needless to say we will not be returning for dinner. We would however return for crab rangoon and a beer or coctail. I would say to my friends judge for yourself.
(2)Lauren B.
I was just in town for work and saw a lot of highly rated restaurants so went down to check them out. Bamboo did not disappoint! I got the salad rolls which I thought were perfectly done and the peanut sauce was delicious. My main dish was the pad see eaw with shrimp. The shrimp were cooked perfectly compared to other places which tend to overcook them. The dish had a healthy serving of broccoli which I also liked. I would definitely eat here again! Also the people were nice. We carried out
(5)Vrati D.
I ordered the spicy dragon noodles and loved it! It wasn't as spicy as I liked, but they had a large selection of hot sauces and spices to add! The service was great and the food came out super fast! I highly recommend this place!
(4)Jon h.
I was (and still am) rooting for this place, but I've just had sub-par food too many times. Some of my friends really enjoy it, so I've eaten there quite a bit. The biggest issue I have with Bamboo is consistency. There are times when I've really enjoyed what I've eaten, but then other times the food is just plain bad. Even if you find something you like, it may be great one day, but taste completely different on another. I hate complaining at restaurants, so I usually just deal with what I've gotten. I also have an issue with their concept as a tapas bar. To be honest, I think they label themselves this way to justify small portions, yet they price these "small plates" as entrees. So according to the pricing, they are putting themselves on par with Abreo, which serves far more refined and fresh food. Despite the often sub-par food, I've always had very good service. If you are comfortable with voicing a complaint, they will make sure you're taken care of. Ultimately, Bamboo could be a good restaurant, but the food has a long way to go to catch up to some of their neighbors.
(3)Gregory H.
I discovered the gem of a restaurant about 3 months ago and I can't stop going there. I've tasted about half of the menu items, and I've not been disappointed with any of it. I don't claim to be an Asian food expert. Although I've been to Thailand, China, Japan, and Korea. I've had "authentic" and I guess my american palate may not be as refined as some. The atmosphere, and service is wonderful. The staff really makes one feel at home, that is, if your Mom was an incredible chef. The food flavors are impeccable, and the vegetables are cooked to be hot and still crispy. Their specialty drinks are wonderful as well. And finally save room for desert. The tempura cheesecake is to die for.
(4)Nikki T.
Great cocktails and bar menu selection. They even offer some non-alcoholic for your friends/kids that wouldn't drink alcohol. My absolute favorite crab Rangoon is served here. They are bigger than the average crab Rangoon, are stuffed with a great amount of delicious filling so you don't have ridiculous amounts of folder over fried wonton overhang, and are lightly fried perfectly. I crave these constantly. I haven't been in here for a full meal yet because we always just stop for appetizers and drinks but I'm excited to finally try something and will try to edit when I do.
(5)Julie T.
My friend and I enjoyed our lunch on Saturday November 22. It was nice that this restaurant was open on a Saturday as it seemed others were closed. The waitstaff greeted us nicely and were very pleasant. We questioned about the appetizers and whether we could get it vegetarian and our waitress promptly ran over and gave us a more refined vegetarian menu. That alone made me like this restaurant even better. We ordered a tasty, and refreshing vegetarian spring roll. I ordered the Pad See Ewe with Tofu, a typical choice whenever I eat Thai. I asked for no egg. My friend ordered the Pad Thai Tofu. The waitress asked if she was okay with egg. She left and quickly returned to ask if I was vegan, to tell me that many of the sauces contained oyster sauce. Again, it is refreshing to know that they want to ensure the customer is happy. The food was piping hot and the noodles were definitely freshly made. The overall meal was delicious. I would come here again and will try the pho next time!
(5)Tbura B.
I ordered Nam Kow and Tom Ka soup. Nam Kow was amazing...i drove passed by on my business trip and just randomly picked this place. Love it. Tom Ka was a but too watery and not sour but overall it was so good and I see myself come back again. The menu is interesting and it brings together good Asian fusion food. This is Rockford. ...wow
(4)Kathy L.
This place has a nice ambiance. It's really cool looking. The food....hmmmm. The food is okay. The sticky rice was like a rubber ball. I had to cut it with a knife-with great effort. The seafood green curry had imitation crab in it. The Thai basil chicken was good but it was red. All the Thai basil chicken I have ever had was light green. The house duck wasn't bad either. Nothing was great though. However we had chocolate creme brûlée and that was heavenly. Also the "tapas" portions are huge. My co-worker and I ordered 3 and we wanted a light dinner. Three tapas, here, was like ordering three full meals. Insane
(3)Marisa Y.
This is one of the worst Asian restaurants you could ever go to. Seriously, walk 2 more minutes and go to Kuma's for legit and, more importantly, edible food. I got pho here with my boyfriend. He got a soup as well. We split the papaya salad. My pho was decent, but his tom ka soup was disgusting. The noodles were clumped together and clearly were old noodles that had been thrown in the soup after sitting out for awhile. It was disgusting and inedible. I almost sent it back for him, but I didn't want to make our waitress feel uncomfortable. The papaya salad was doused in fish sauce. We ended up only eating my pho between us. The waitress noticed how little we ate of the other two, but didn't put two and two together, I guess. I shudder that this place somehow has 4 stars right now.
(1)Lindsey G.
Not my cup of tea but I LOVE The cucumber salad. I get excited because they sell the salad at the farmers market in the summer. The spring rolls were good and crispy but most of their dishes come with noodles that taste like slimy gelatin. I am a major texture person and can't get past the noodles!
(2)Kirsten R.
Love this place. The bar staff is nothing but amazing. From the first time that I went to Bamboo I was nothing short of pleased. The atmosphere is comfortable and the people who work there always make sure that you are taken care of. The owner is a gem and so is the manager Danielle. Highly recommended.
(5)Kali S.
Came in for dinner while in town visiting and it was amazing. I enjoyed the atmosphere and drinks were really good. Had the cucumber salad and the pho. Everything was fresh and very flavorful. I would highly recommend this!
(5)Rick D.
Wow! My wife and I went there for the first time. Let me preface this by saying that I am picky and usually prefer traditional , American fare. If it weren't for the bartender and server, I would've found my way to fried rice and chicken, or settled for the crab rangoon ( the best btw!). Instead, we were brave and let the girls order for us! I'm so glad we did that. When you go to Bamboo, and you're not sure what to order, let them do it for you! The entrees they served us were phenomenal! We had the Nam-Kow and Ladna! We can't wait to go back again! Great experience!
(5)Peter Y.
Absolutely did not expect food like this in Rockford, IL. This is one of the best Asian fusion restaurants I've ever been to. Every single dish we got was delicious, and they were all of a different Asian ethnic food. I started off with a Lychee martini, just because it sounded interesting. I usually dislike martinis, but this was delicious. The vodka was pretty faint, but the lychee flavor gave it a very refreshing taste. Great way to cleanse my palate before continuing on to the actual meal. From there, we got their springrolls, which was massive and generously stuffed with shrimp, lettuce and various other veggies. Next, we got an order of the pho, which was extremely fresh and flavorful. Then we ordered a Lao's Ladna, which were fried thick noodles smothered in delicious gravy. This was the first time I've tried Lao cuisine, and it didn't disappoint. On top of that, we got their shrimp lettuce wraps, with grilled shrimp skewers laid on top of fresh lettuce leaves and an eggroll, Eggplant Panang, a Maylasian inspired dish comprised of fried crunchy eggplants in a mouth watering curry sauce and Massaman Beef, sliced tender beef in a creamy coconut sauce. Not only was everything absolutely delicious, but we ended up paying only $24 each!!! What a steal :)
(5)Danielle H.
One of my favorite restaurants in Rockford! I have been here several times and have always had great service and even better food. Even chose them as my birthday restaurant 2 years in a row. They have a great healthy selection and even a gluten free menu which is awesome because my step mom was able to find something to eat easily. The lettuce wraps either chicken or shrimp are fantastic and the spring rolls aware tasty. I can't resist the fried cheesecake either. Yum!
(5)Marisa M.
My mom and I stopped in for a late lunch/early dinner and were very happy we did so! We both love Asian, but oftentimes have trouble finding good quality Asian food. We were warmly greeted and welcomed to sit wherever we like, so we chose a seat near the window to be in the light. The waitress was very helpful in recommending popular dishes and also in giving her own opinion of dishes on the menu. We shared the house salad with the peanut dressing which was light and delicious! We then split the spring rolls as well as the blackened scallops. Loved the spring rolls, but the scallops were not my favorite, however I'm glad I tried them. Perfect for a filling yet not heavy meal! Would definitely come back to try the pho! It looked very good!
(4)Matt N.
We were looking for something to do on a Monday night and Bamboo happened to be open. Bartender and waitress Breanna and Alexis were totally awesome. Super great service, awesome food, best drinks around. Check it.
(5)Nita W.
Ordered takeout from here twice since the first review. One time they forgot my egg roll order. Second time there was hair in my pho noodles and the nam kow I loved so much the first time was not as good.
(3)Steve M.
My Bamboo Pho Special tonight had no noodles and no meatballs. Not sure what their problem was tonight.
(2)Josh T.
Excellent spring rolls, but ask for the hot sauces if you want to add a kick! The Pad Thai is quite good, but the Red Curry Chicken is too thin (more like a soup). They need to add brown rice to the menu! Very comfortable environment.
(4)Drew N.
Pho soup was great. Shrimp wrap was pretty good. Mango sticky rice with ice cream was awesome. Good drink portions. Great atmosphere, large bar. Wait staff was very nice. Recommended.
(4)Tabassum N.
I love their pupkin salad, spring rolls, curried grouper. The ambience is good and service is fast. We request everything with highest level of spice and simply love the food.
(5)Junio D.
I dont give 5 stars to often, but we just visited this restaurant, I am here to.tell you the Pad thai with chicken and peanut sauce... Yes, i did say peanut sauce was amazing! The springrolls were excellent as well. The springrolls had shrimp, fresh vegetables, and laced with strips of chicken.... Awesome! Great tastes all around! For desert, we had to try the sticky rice with mangos and ice cream. I had no idea rice and mangos could be so amazing as a desert. The Tempura "Fried" Cheescake was good too, but it really needed some vanilla ice cream with it to make it complete. Great atmosphere, Very friendly service staff, ask for Ashley... She was well attentative and gave great advice! Also, i have to mention. The drinks dpecials were so tasty as well. Try the Hot Chocolate Vortex or the Polar Punch.... Yum! To sum it up, i live next to two asian restaurants, but would definetly make the 45 min trip to come and dine here again.
(5)Marybeth B.
It is so great to see a place like this succeeding in Rockford! Great atmosphere, very nice staff and everything I've tried has been great. First of all, GET THE CRAB RANGOON! These are probably the best rangoon I've ever had. They're fresh, perfectly fried, come with a delicious sauce and the filling is creamy, sweet (but not too sweet) and yummy. Just order them! I also highly recommend the Tom Ka soup- flavorful coconut milk broth full of fresh veggies and chicken. So good! You can tell they really use quality ingredients. I really want to try drinks and dessert here sometime, the selections look amazing!
(5)Heather M.
I am no Rockford native, but I'm pretty sure that if I lived here, I would be visiting Bamboo all the time. The restaurant has an awesome, trendy, City-of-Chicago vibe with food that has far-west-suburbs pricing. The exposed-brick walls have nice up-lighting that makes for the perfect setting for the full range of occasions--date night to girls' night! There's a fireplace up front, and a curtain right inside the door that helps keep out the cold drafts--a big plus on a freezing winter night. We were there on a Saturday night, and it was the perfect mix--busy enough to keep up an energetic atmosphere, but a large enough restaurant to accommodate us with little wait. Relatedly, our self proclaimed "fill-in-when-they-need-me" waiter was a lot of fun and put up swimmingly with our indecisiveness and general lack of knowledge. They have a decent selection of beers and wines, as well as a few martinis and drink specials. The food menu was relatively simple, but there were plenty of options, including noodle dishes, Pho soups, and Asian-inspired tapas. I had a simple noodle dish, which was delicious (although I wouldn't recommend spending extra for the seafood mix; the crab is imitation) and way more food than I could handle. For the restaurant's average $8-$10-a-plate pricetag, this is a phenomenal deal! The music selection the night we were there was curious--a lot of disco and dance-style music--but it was set at just the right volume to encourage a fun atmosphere and still allow people to talk. All in all, this is a fantastic option--pho real!
(5)Jennifer Q.
Came here on a Friday night out with some friends. We got there about 7:30 and were able to be sitted right away. I immediately loved the decorating! The wall has exposed brick and has that warehouse look, and the room is a little narrow and runs way into the back. Bamboo is not a big place but very comfortable. After being seated we were able to order drinks, and look over the menu. I ordered the Thai Chicken with vegetables and rice. I loved it! Very tasty and flavorful. It was dark meat chicken with Chinese broccoli and other veggies all sauteed with a slightly sweet sauce. Delicious! Overall the food was great and the atmosphere was comfortable and friendly. Parking was the only challenge, and since downtown Rockford is not really the safest place to be, we were able to find a place around the corner for the restaurant. I would definitely come here again!
(4)Kim B.
Loved the egg rolls! Pho was great. Service was okay. Our waitress was missing in action most of our visit. Had to flag her down for refills. And another waitress brought them to us. I did notice that other tables with other waitresses got great service. And another waitress had to bring us our check. Our personal service is the only thing keeping me from giving 4 stars. That and the drunk 70's old school rockers sitting at the bar getting drunk. We will return despite the service we received.
(3)Adam D.
Super cute atmosphere and the food, although having a limited menu, was pretty good. Their 'drink selection is a little limited as well. We were able to sit right down no problem, on a Saturday 'lunch hour' and the staff was accommodating and decent to interact with.
(3)Jeanne L.
One of Rockford's newest Asian fusion restaurants (watch out Kuma's and Marc's!). The servers all wear tshirts with fun sayings like "Pho Real", "Got Sticky Rice?", etc. It's got the hip feeling in music and decor of a sports bar. The bar is also well stocked, serving a good number of Asian beers and cocktails. (Try the lychee cocktail!) The place is supposedly known for it's Pho, but we ordered the "Asian Tapas" (which aren't real tapas at all, but rather slightly smaller portions of dishes, that are meant to be shared). Review of tapas: Peapod Tips: These are the leaves, not the pods. Delicious. This is the ONLY place in Rockford that serves this. Also, not even all places in Chicago's Chinatown serves this. Salt & Pepper Shrimp: Not quite like the real thing, since the shrimp are completely de-headed and de-shelled (so they aren't as intimidating for the inexperienced). But they taste quite good, complete with an mm-mmm crispy fried layer. Vietnamese Short Ribs - Delicious! And possibly perfect. Fried Plantain with Ice Cream - Mmm my stomach smiled thinking about it! [update - more food]: Pad Thai - although not as despicably "soy-sauced-up" as at Thai Hut, the restaurant did not properly nail the subtle flavors that I find essential in Pad Thai, but that doesn't mean that it tastes bad either. Pho - I've only had this while hungover, so I may not have been the best judge. It was quite soothing at the time, but I think it was also a little off in the taste of the broth. Fried Ice Cream - OMG. TERRIBLE. The only redeeming thing about this was that I could peel off the fried layer. Skip this and order the Fried Plantain which comes with ice cream.
(4)Kyle I.
I concluded this past saturday night that bamboo does not really have a great selection of food. After perusing the menu 3-4 times I realized that you either have 3 choices at bamboo: pho , pad thai , or appetizers (their so called "asian tapas") I guess they're pushing the "sticky rice" which cost a dollar little extra, instead of regular white rice. No comment. I had pea pods tips (which were pretty tasty, especially since they're hard to come by) 60& of salt and pepper shrimp. I say 60% because real S&P shrimp are not de-shelled, de-veined, nor de-headed (arguably, by all Chinese people, where most of the flavor comes from.) ;) On seperate hung-over occasion I ordered the pad-thai, which tasted like pad-thai, and not straight soy-sauce noodles. I'm not a pad thai connoisseur, but I do know that it is harder to make than it seems so I will give them credit for that. The bar seemed to be pretty well stocked for the usual asian assortment (Sapporo, Kirin, etc etc.) However, the one beer I requested was unavailable at the time. The name escapes me right now because it was a few months ago so.... yeah.... For Rockford, the place is decent and definitely worth going to, if your in the mood and there are no other options open that late (analogous to the predicament the GF and I were in.) Bamboo purports to stay open til midnight.
(3)Britney L.
Bamboo is great! Awesome atmosphere, employees are always nice. I particularly enjoy eating out on their patio in the summer. It's a nice walk from where I work - fast for to-go orders too! Prices are reasonable, not too expensive. Good choices, something for everyone! It's a staple downtown Rockford.
(4)Matt H.
Bamboo is the kind of restaurant that Rockford needs and I hope people support it and other establishments like it! My wife and I just moved here from Minneapolis, MN and are used to great cuisine. We have finally figured out that downtown Rockford has some great restaurants and not just the standard chains on E.State St. Bamboo is exactly what we miss from MPLS. Great Thai fusion that is super-tasty as well as the waitress who was really cute and nice, as well as helpful. I hope Bamboo and places like it stick around for years to come!
(5)Chris W.
Bad, bad and yes, bad! I went in for the first and last time a few months ago and the experience is still one that I tell everyone about just so they are certain never to enter this establishment. With such great places to eat right across street I don't see how this place stays open. Brio, Social and the Irish Rose can out cook this place ina heart beat! I went with a good friend and had been many good things about Bamboo and it's "amazing" food. We asked the waitress what the more popular dishes were and such so on her recommendation we ordered the sampler appetizer platter and I went with pad thai. The sampler was horrid from the egg rolls to the nasty chicken. It was bland, cooked poorly and lifeless. My friend and I didn't even finish the appetizer while we waited for the main course to arrive. When it did it looked delicious but we were so very wrong. The food was awful and some of the least tasty food I've ever eaten in an asian restaurant. Chains like Happy Wok left me with fonder memories of the food. This was the first time I've ever complained so much they comped all of the food and drinks. It wasn't enough to get me in again and I will definitely stay away as you should. Such high hopes ruined by awful food.
(1)Maureen T.
I live, work and eat downtown Rockford and this place is usually the first place that pops in my mind when my co-workers talk about ordering take-out or when I'm meeting someone for lunch. The prices are fantastic for the amount of food that you get (I almost always leave with left overs). It makes me sad to read about people having such poor experiences here. The environment is fun and upbeat and the wait staff have never been anything but friendly. In the summer, they have outdoor seating and live music on the weekends (sometimes).
(5)Margaret K.
I got takeout from this place when I was craving some Thai food the other night. Having lived in nyc for years, I was hesitant about the quality, but they proved me wrong! The spring rolls are huge, flavorful, and just plain delightful. Plus the portions of the Entrees are HUGE! It's like 3 meals for me! It's the good ol' Pad Thai that you know and love. And I didn't eat there, but the place had some good ambiance! My Grade: A
(4)Doreen D.
Went to Bamboo on New Years Eve with no reservation. They sent us to the bar as they looked over the seating and reservations they still had coming in. We were able to order some martinis developed for the evening and shortly after that they had a seat for us. The service was great. They were having a private party and closed while we were there, but there was never any rush. The food was very good, prices really reasonable and portions large. The decor with the exposed brick walls and lighting was nice and perfect for a date night. We were hesitant to go as I'm not a noodle fan and with noodles in the name of the restaurant it put us off. But I had a great lettuce wrap and my friend had the pho. With an appetizer and drinks our bill was still around $40. We'll be back!
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