Mr. Lee (Chinese: 李先生; pinyin: Lǐ Xiān Sheng) is a popular fast-food chain in mainland China, specializing in beef noodle soup and other Chinese-style fast food. The chain was formerly called California Beef Noodle King U.S.A. (Chinese: 美国加州牛肉面大王; pinyin: Měiguó Jiāzhōu niúròumiàn dà wáng).
The first franchise was opened in Beijing in 1988 by a Californian Chinese-American, Li Beiqi (Chinese: 李北祺; pinyin: Lǐ Běiqí), also known as "Mr. Lee." Li's face can be seen as part of the company logo, in a style similar to KFC's Colonel Sanders logo. Today, there are several hundred franchises are present in many major north-eastern Chinese cities. Notable locations include Shanghai, Nanjing, Tianjin, Harbin, Changchun, Qingdao and Shenyang.[1] Mr. Lee competes with foreign franchises such as KFC and McDonald's with lower prices and a greater appeal towards Chinese tastes.[2] Popular items on the menu include the original beef noodle soup, made from a unique recipe; and California Chicken, a cold dish dressed with red and green sauce. It also offers other Chinese staples such as wontons and dumplings.