Chalee Thai-sushi — Restaurant in Bucksport

I can’t recommend this place highly enough! From start to finish, everything about my visit was perfect.

I ordered the egg fried rice with crispy chicken, and it was nothing short of heavenly — the rice was perfectly seasoned, light yet flavorful, and the chicken had the most satisfying crunch with every bite, all while staying juicy inside. You can tell they really care about their ingredients and preparation.

To start, I tried the unagi nigiri, and it was just as impressive. The eel was buttery and rich, the rice expertly formed — truly some of the best I’ve had. And to top it all off, they surprised me with a complementary plate of assorted fruits, which was such a thoughtful touch and the perfect refreshing finish to my meal.

The staff was warm and attentive without ever being overbearing, and the cozy, inviting atmosphere made me feel right at home. This is one of those rare spots where every detail — from the food to the service — comes together beautifully.

I’ll definitely be coming back (probably sooner than later!). If you’re even thinking about trying this place, stop thinking and just go. You won’t regret it!

Now, I know some people might raise an eyebrow at the average entrée price being around $20, but let me say this: you’re absolutely getting what you pay for. This isn’t your run-of-the-mill takeout spot with cheap but forgettable dishes — it’s a restaurant that elevates Asian cuisine with incredible attention to detail, top-quality ingredients, and flavors that rival any high-end dining experience. It’s worth...

I am genuinely shocked at the bad reviews but very happy to see that the owner responded. Good for you!! We were SO happy that a Thai/Sushi restaurant had come to Bucksport. We've been there only three times but were pleased. We got the lunch specials - an amazing price of $19 -- ginger soup, small salad, 1 rangoon and 1 spring roll, then main dish. What a great deal!! The ginger soup is delightful and I expect you will get a lot of orders for that once cold season hits. I got drunken noodles three times. Two times very tasty with medium spiciness. Spouse got a curry first time and fried rice second and third time. Both were very tasty and NOT salty, which is important to us. Both times I got a tuna role. Large tuna pieces. Served in a box with fresh fruit and flowers, which I thought was so cool!! And it's always fun to watch a sushi chef. Excellent service. Great atmosphere to wait for take-out, although it didn't take long! I hope you maybe build a small deck out back for customers to sit out.

However...I just got the Penobscot roll. Ordered it w/o knowing what was in it as I placed a rush order on the phone and was told it was a special. It had a whole over-ripe banana. I've never had banana in sushi before. Can't say it was a good combo -- tuna and banana. I love all your other stuff but this ended up in the trash. 😪 Has anyone else had banana in sushi? Not the restaurant's fault but just a menu suggestion. Everything else...

Ordered the chicken Pad Thai and egg fried rice with shrimp. The shrimp included was good but fried rice had no flavor, not sure what seasonings it was fried in but tasted more like brown rice without salt. The chicken Pad Thai had 2 thin and small flavorless strips of chicken on top, absolutely not worth the money.

Also I wanted to order sushi but was informed they’re not serving it this week because the only sushi chef is not working. That’s a missed opportunity for return business to not serve half of your menu for an entire week. The business’s Facebook page posted photos of sushi yesterday but make no mention that it’s unavailable to order anywhere except when you call and get yelled at for trying to order it.

When I went to go pick up the food the employee rushed to the door to hand me the bag so I wouldn’t come inside but did not include any utensils to eat with. I informed her that I was staying in the hotel next door, and was the only customer at the time of pick up so to not include utensils is negligent and disappointing.

This place only has an advantage because it’s the only Thai restaurant nearby, but if it was in a larger city like New York or Boston with more competition it would be obvious to more people that the food isn’t worth the price. All in all I would give this place 0 stars if I could. You’ll over pay for unflavored meals and rude...