We tried the original, hat yai, and larb popcorn chicken. The original is a classic and was enjoyable, but the hat yai was the standout for me. Juicy and tender fried pieces of chicken over a bed of flavorful rice is perfection! The ginger scallion and habanero sauces go very well with these dishes as well. Personally not a big fan of the KMG sauce. The popcorn chicken was just ok, but I would definitely keep coming back for the hat yai chicken! Small seating area inside but there wasn't really anyone there when we went for a weeknight dinner. Service was fast and efficient. read more

Solid Hainan chicken. Only gripe is I wish they gave you all 3 of the traditional sauces instead of making you pick between the ginger scallion oil and soy sauce ginger Opted for all thigh ($1 extra) Hat yai chicken was standard read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I'd probably rate it closer to 4.5! Wanted to eat something on the "healthier" side and so glad I checked this place out! I got the original but all breast and with the ginger scallion and habanero sauce. It was delicious!! Portion was more than enough for me, I could have split it into two meals if I wanted to. I ate it for lunch and didn't even eat dinner because I was still full! I wanted to try the KMG sauce but it was an extra 1.50 and to be honest, that seems a bit on the pricey side for a small container of sauce. I get they make it themselves though but still! Even the original being $16 I thought was also on the pricey side. Service was the usual, nothing stood out to me. Inside is small with a few tables and I saw a lot of people doing takeout like me. Parking is awful in this plaza and the only entrance into it is on Baker. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Came here for the first time and picked up the original rice plate $16. It came with rice, some cucumber slices, choice of 2 sauce. Friendly service. Plenty of parking. They do have tables for dine-in. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Been wanting to try this place because I love Hainan chicken. Let's start with the things I didn't like. I hated the parking. I thought they shared parking with the other businesses so when I turned into a parking lot, it wasn't connected so I had to go all the way around to actually get to the specific entrance so that was annoying. Also parking was horrible, no spaces so when I got to the dead end, it was hard to maneuver my car and make a complete 180 turn around. If some is behind you, good luck trying to turn around. When I ordered my food, you get to choose 2 sauces but it was specific. One hot sauce and one other sauce. I said i don't want the hot sauce, can i just have the other one and i had to pay extra!!!! Ugh, that it kind of not great because i feel like I shouldn't have to pay extra since I can't tolerate hot sauce. Other than that, the meal itself was yummy and would definitely recommend it. read more

This place is always consistent. It's tucked away, and I somehow always get lost trying to find it , but the food is worth it. I usually get the skinless Hainan chicken with soup. The soup is always perfectly seasoned, the sauces that come with the meal are delicious, the chicken is incredibly juicy, and the rice is always cooked just right. Definitely one of my go-to spots whenever I'm craving Hainan chicken. read more

My husband saw this place on his way to his dentist appointment. He stopped by after and picked up some dinner for us. The chicken with rice is different than what I'm use to. The flavor was definitely different than the Hainanese Chicken but in a good way. It was pretty good, i would definitely get it again. The chicken wings were not bad, cutlet was pretty good also. Would come back and get the chicken and rice again and try other items. read more

Rooster & Rice - Chicken and rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I wanted to like this place but it failed in all areas. Ordered the Cutlet and the Original. All I got was a paper thin barely there chicken. Rice was super dry with no chicken flavor. read more

Rooster & Rice - Ordered the Cutlet. All I got was a paper thin barely there chicken. Rice was super dry with no chicken flavor. - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Rooster & Rice specializies in Khao Mun Gai ( Thai chicken and rice). Usually, I pass by this restaurant, whenever I'm in the area. Since I was hungry and wanted something quick, this was a safe option. Parking in this area is a hit and miss. Most of the time, it's a miss. It can be tough, finding a spot during busy hours. There are a lot of businesses in the plaza. Workers are friendly and greet you right away. Also, they're willing to answer any questions you have. The worker recommended the hat yai chicken, which my boyfriend ordered. There's about 5 tables inside the restaurant. Space can be kind of tight. There's also a bathroom, which was kept pretty clean. I ordered the cutlet, while my boyfriend ordered the hat yai chicken. My portion came with Thai Sriracha, but I preferred my boyfriend's sweet chili sauce. I kept on dipping my chicken in his sauce. The chicken was crispy, but I didn't feel like there was a lot of meat. Also, I found the chicken to be a tad bit salty. The rice and chicken broth had minimal flavor. I also wish there were more vegetables, since the pickled vegetables I had were super finely diced. To be honest, I felt like the only flavor was coming from the sauce... I give this restaurant a 3.5 stars. The food wasn't bad, but I don't know if I can see myself coming back. I do recommend it though if you want to try some Thai chicken and rice. read more

Rooster & Rice - The cutlet - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Khao Mun Gai (chicken and rice) is one of my favorite dishes, and I'm constantly on a mission to find a spot that rivals my favorite place in Portland. After trying the Rooster and Rice location in San Francisco, I was happy to see them open here in Costa Mesa. The Chicken & Rice: The chicken is tender and the rice has a nice texture. The Sauce: Flavorful and it brings the dish together. The Soup: Too salty for my taste. The Menu: I've tried The Original and The Macro, and both earned a 3.9-4.0 out of 5.0. For the price point ($15), it feels reasonable compared to the rising costs of eating out elsewhere in the area. This is a casual spot with some seating, but if you're planning on dining in, get here at least 45 minutes before closing. While they will continue to take orders right up until the end, the staff starts the "end-of-night" cleaning 30 minutes before closing. read more

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Great quality meal that is healthy! Came to Rooster and Rice for a weekday lunch, not too crowded, most people seem to take out. Their menu is simple and has mostly hainan chicken dishes. I got the rice less chicken dish ($15) and my hubby got the original ($15) also got the chicken skin to share. They have four sauces to choose from. The chicken was tender and soft, give you a decent amount as well. The ginger scallion sauce was fresh and ginger forward. My hubby said his rice was good, chicken skin was hot and crispy a bit too salty for me. Overall solid lunch place with fresh meals. Would love to try the Thai chicken my next visit! read more

Rooster & Rice - Chicken - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Been wanting to try this place for so long! We got the Original and the Cutlet. The Original was super comforting, simple, flavorful, and the chicken was really tender. I paid extra to have only chicken thigh for the original since I know thigh is usually more juicy, but someone of my chicken was more on the dry side. The sauce definitely saved it. The KMG sauce was super addicting! The cutlet was insane, such good seasoning and it was cooked perfectly. The steamed veggies were meh, I mean it's a side so don't expect too much. It just tasted like bagged frozen veggies. But besides that I would definitely come again! Service was quick, the food came out hot, and the workers were so nice. Seating is very limited, we came during the lunch rush but most people order to go read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original (chicken thigh only), The Cutlet, Add Veggies - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Great eats. Quick and easy dinner. The portions are large enough to serve as two meals. I really enjoyed how healthy and fresh the food was. The rice is so flavorful. The ginger green onion sauce was FIRE!!! I highly recommend rooster and rice for people trying to eat healthy without having to sacrifice flavor. read more

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Loved the popcorn chicken!! It's nice and crispy and the chicken quality is great and cooked to perfection and not too chewy. So fun to dip them into the sauces. They have vegetarian options with tofu that pairs well with their sauces. The hat yai is a more traditional option and is also made very well if you want a bone in option. Service is pretty quick and you can easily to take out or pick up orders. Ambiance is casual and it's very easy to park out front. read more

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I needed a quick lunch so I decided to try Rooster & Rice. Since this was my first time, I went with the Original, which is chicken breast and thigh meat with skin, fragrant chicken rice, cucumber, cilantro, and KMG sauce. Although it does not look very appetizing at first glance, it was delicious. The chicken was so tender and when you dip it in the sauce, it elevates the whole meal. The rice is great. The cucumber is crisp. The chicken broth is ok, but maybe I don't understand its purpose - do you dip into it or pour it over? I will definitely be back to try it again and ask some questions too. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

It's ok. Got the crispy panko and the original. All the components (chicken, rice, soup) are pretty bland (yes, not supposed to be intense flavored since the sauce accompanies but this is more bland than it should be). Pricing-wise it's not worth it to go out of your way. The hot sauces have a chemically taste to them. Bottom line: this chicken and rice is made more for the "mi Trang" clientele if you catch my drift read more

Rooster & Rice - Crispy panko The original chicken and rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

The perfect healthy and quick meal. I would love if they offered a different vegetable option other than raw carrots and cucumbers. Rice and chicken are cooked perfectly every time and always flavorful!! HAVE to get the ginger scallion sauce read more

The inside is small with a few seats, so I would recommend takeout. Parking in this plaza is atrocious and small. I got the original chicken with KMG sauce ($16.11). Hainan chicken tasted healthy, nothing too crazy. KMG sauce was the highlight of the meal, savory and sweet at the same time. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Yelp you fooled me! There is no way this place is deserving of a 4.7 star rating. If you look at those who gave 5 star ratings, they barely have any reviews or friends. Fishy! First off, the parking lot is incredibly hard to get to. The businesses in front of the strip center it's located in all have their own parking lots that is roped off. The only entrance I found is from Baker St. I had the Original with KMG Sauce (Khao min gai) & sriracha which came out to $16.11 total. They charge you for extra sauces so I opted for just 1. You can hear them freshly chop the chicken in the back. Food was promptly delivered nicely presented. I was excited! But after one bite of the chicken and rice together, I was so disappointed bc they were both dry and flavorless. I was trying to space out the KMG sauce but eventually just dumped it all in and mixed everything up. Unfortunately that didn't save it either. I'm also not a big fan that although I dined in, it was all served in cardboard with plastic utensils. Service is friendly and they checked in on me. I enjoyed music while dining. I should've known the quality would be sub par bc this place is not ran by Chinese people. Wanted to support a small local business but won't find myself returning here read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original with KMG Sauce (Khao min gai) & sriracha ($16.11 total) - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I recently visited Rooster & Rice's Irvine location and tried The Original and the Fried Chicken Skins, and overall the experience was a mix of delicious food, friendly service, and a few drawbacks. What worked -- the food & service The chicken in The Original was juicy and well-prepared: a nice balance of breast and thigh, with good flavor on its own even before sauces. The rice, cucumber, and herbs complemented the chicken nicely, making for a satisfying meal -- I felt it hit all the right notes for comfort-food Hainan/Thai-style chicken rice. The Fried Chicken Skins side was a fun indulgence -- crispy, flavorful, and a good crunchy contrast to the softness of the chicken rice. It felt like a guilty treat, but in a good way, and definitely added value to the meal. The staff was excellent. During my visit I saw them handle a couple of difficult customers, yet they remained polite, professional, and helpful. What didn't quite land -- seating & drink options The indoor seating situation was underwhelming; just 4 small two-tops. Not a place to cone catch up or hang out. Drinks are limited and basic: only a handful of options like Thai tea, bottled water, etc. That's fine if your focus is the chicken rice, but if you're looking for a more "full restaurant" drink menu (e.g. sodas, handmade beverages, cocktails) -- you may come away wanting more. Final Thoughts: Rooster & Rice delivers on what it promises: a strong, satisfying take on Hainan/Thai-style chicken rice, reasonably priced and served with generosity. If you're in the mood for a no-frills, flavor-focused meal -- especially with crispy chicken skins on the side -- this is a solid spot. That said, if you're expecting a nice dine-in atmosphere -- this might not be the best match; consider it more of a casual, grab-and-go or casual lunch/dinner vibe. Overall: Recommended -- especially if you care about the food quality more than ambience. read more

Haven't really been eating in Costa Mesa lately, but Rooster & Rice caught my eye for having a very low number of reviews--must be new--and I was right! First off, the spot is located in a narrow plaza alongside some other great options like Made Coffee or Myung Dong. Parking's pretty decent, although I went during a work lunch so results may vary. The menu is fairly simple, and they specialize in khao mun gai, otherwise known as Thai-style chicken and rice. You can think of it like a Hainan chicken-style dish. While that did look good, I ended up ordering one of the specials: the larb fried chicken sandwich. Never had a fried chicken sandwich with Asian-inspired flavors, and had to go for it. And wow. I was VERY impressed by the fry quality. The chicken was impeccably juicy, but it was also crispy and extremely light and airy. Somehow it didn't feel greasy, and the slaw added an extra bit of freshness. It comes with just a pickle and choice of Habanero or Sriracha sauce, but I ordered steamed veggies on the side. The Sriracha sauce was infused with something like honey to make it a bit sweeter and thicker, I'd say it's a pretty good addition but I'd much rather opt for some sort of citrusy yuzu mayo sauce. Overall I legitimately can't stop thinking of the sandwich and will be back VERY soon to try the other fried options. Really eyeing the cutlet dish or the wings. read more

Rooster & Rice - Larb chicken sandwich - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Long overdue review! It's tough finding healthy food on the go that doesn't wreck your wallet or your taste buds but Rooster & Rice nails it. The chicken breast with veggies is my go-to: simple, clean, and ridiculously satisfying. It hits that Hainan chicken craving without the guilt. Huge shoutout to Dulce, she's always friendly and on top of it. Hope the team recognizes her, because her great service alone keeps me coming back. Tips: - Entrance to their plaza is off Baker, not Bristol - You need to exit same way you entered the parking lot, it's a dead end read more

This is a new spot in Costa Mesa serving both Vietnamese and Thai fusion. Ordered: The Original Breast and thigh with skin, over fragrant jasmine chicken rice, garnished with cucumber and cilantro. Served with side of chicken broth and one sauce (KMG, Ginger Scallion, Siracha, Habanero. The Hainan chicken was super tender, juicy and delicious. I got the Ginger Scallion dipping sauce. Next time, I need to get the KMG special sauce. Both the seasoned rice and the soup were good, too. I had to go back the next day to try the Thai version. This time I ordered online via Yelp (Grubhub) to avoid the wait time. My order was ready within 35 minutes. Ordered: Hat Yai Chicken Thai fried chicken leg, cucumbers, chicken rice, fried shallots and sweet chili sauce. This chicken dish was absolutely amazing with crisp on the outside and soft and juicy on the inside. The seasoned rice was good, too. There are only 3 small tables to dine in. Service is super friendly. The parking lot of this location is very small and tight. There are few spots for 5 min parking only. Highly recommend if you're in the area! read more

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Food is always solid as well as healthy and simple ingredients. Service is quite fast and prices are reasonable.. I like the packaging too. Will keep coming back. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Ample parking, small little hole in the wall with only 3 small tables inside to eat. The restaurant is clean and inviting, the servers are warm and friendly. The chicken is so tender and and the ginger sauce is to die for. I loved my original bowl and the chicken katsu was very crispy and delicious. Highly recommend this place! read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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The original chicken rice is authentic, delicious and well complimented with a hot broth and great sauces. The staff provide quick order taking as well as giving you the food. Ambiance is casual and comfortable. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

I am so excited Rooster and Rice has opened a location in Costa Mesa. Not to say Irvine isn't worth a drive for their food but Costa Mesa is closer for me so I will definitely be coming by more often! A nice little location with three wee tables. Very clean! Service is super friendly and helpful. Of course the Original and Larb Chicken Sandwich are always a must but we also tried the CM special dishes Jumbo Chicken Wings and Khao Soi. Both of these dishes just shot to the top of my must haves as well! The chicken wings are Thai fried whole wings and you get your choice of sauce. If you can handle the heat I suggest the habanero!! They have KMG, ginger scallion and Thai sriracha to choose from as well. The Khao Soi is warming and so flavorful! So love they have noods on their menu! As always their chicken is so juicy and cooked to perfection. 100% recommend! For more parking there is a small lot all the way down at the end of the parking lot. read more

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I was attracted to this business because they offer a "riceless" option with steamed vegetables in place of rice. I ordered this with the thigh meat and ginger scallion sauce. The chicken was very tender, and the ginger scallion sauce is a good complement that elevates the poultry in a subtle way that satisfied my craving for this type of comfort food. However, the vegetables were rather watery, and I kind of wish the selection of vegetables were more thoughtfully paired with the chicken, such as shredded cabbage slaw with larger florets of steamed broccoli or sautéed zucchini. I also tried a bite of the hat yai chicken, which was freshly fried for us. The texture was delightfully crispy and the interior was dripping juiciness. The flavor is also great and paired very nicely with the sweet chili sauce as well as the habanero sauce. Our only complaint is portion size - we wish there was more! Especially for the price and extra charge for sauces, a more generous portion of rice and one more piece of hat yai chicken would have rounded my overall 3.5/5 impression up rather than down. Nevertheless, I think this business serves a tasty dish in a quick, casual setting that has potential to be a go-to spot. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Riceless (thigh meat) with Ginger Scallion and Habanero sauces - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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My better half recommended this place as she heard a lot of good stuff about it.... small joint, three tables, two for two and one for four so be aware when not ordering to go. The surface of our table was super sticky, maybe due to the sauces, after a brief wipe a bit better but still.... ew. The food however... the bomb. Wings super tender, hot habanero sauce definitely recommended when you do not mind spicy. The larb sandwich was nice too, again tender and nicely cooked through. Yes, recommended but next time I'll take it to go. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Rooster & Rice is a great restaurant for a quick bite. I've been here multiple times and I always get the Original, which is the chicken breast and thigh, rice, cucumber, cilantro, and KMG or ginger scallion sauce, and either sriracha or habanero sauce. I prefer getting the ginger scallion sauce and the habanero. But their KMG sauce is really popular. It's more tangy and it was pretty good, however I like to get a hot sauce which has that zesty taste as well, so I just wanted to balance that out. The chicken is always juicy and I see people saying that the chicken itself lacks flavor in the Original, but I'm pretty sure that's what the sauces are for... I love that it comes with a side of broth. However I do think the texture of the rice is sometimes too hard and the amount of cucumbers given is inconsistent. One time I received only 4 pieces which was a little disappointing, and it was also a little bitter. Besides that, I have no issues with my food and I continue ordering the same thing. Parking can be difficult to find, and there are not many tables to sit inside at all. This is definitely more of a to-go place. I usually come on a weekday so the service has always been fast--I receive my food in 5 minutes or less. Prices are comparable to other places around and the food was delicious so I would definitely recommend checking out Rooster & Rice. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Fair heads up, parking sucks and its not their fault. Seems all the surrounding businesses are packed in tight. That said they are next door to my daily go to coffee shop so I find parking everyday. Its dooable, but can be a booger. This is a new lil shop in the strip at Baker/Bristol next to "Made coffee". I went for my 1st time this week and got the "Khao Soi". I thought it was VERY good. "Northern Thai coconut chicken curry broth with egg noodles". I ate about 2/3 and took some home. My wife also enjoyed the take home portion. Friendly staff, new and clean spot. Four or five tables inside, simple straight forward menu, good prices. Ill be adding them to my routine lunch spots. Did I mention they are next door to the BEST coffee shot in OC? Check them out. read more

I would say overall it's pretty good but I'd give this a 3.5 if I could. The rice was dry as if it had been left out for a while and I thought the sauces weren't to my liking, except the ginger scallion was pretty good. read more

absolutely obsessed. crispy, juicy, seasoned, saucy -- they do chicken right hat yai fried chicken -- thai-style leg, super crispy with fried shallots and sweet chili sauce larb chicken sandwich -- tangy, spicy, and that king's hawaiian bun is a game changer the original (hainan-style) -- clean, comforting, super fragrant rice and bomb sauces (get the ginger scallion) cutlet -- thick, crunchy panko crust with moist chicken inside. comes with thai sriracha + broth and pickled veg for the perfect balance portions are generous, everything was fresh + hot, and the flavors were bold but balanced. the space is chill, clean, and service was quick and friendly if you're into quality chicken -- fried or poached -- this spot's a must read more

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Loved the light crunchy texture of the Larb Fried Chicken Sandwich. It had a nice little kick to it. I paired it with a side of Sriracha Sauce but it didn't need it. The hint of kefir lime was outstanding. Very juicy chicken. My husband got a side order of white chicken and side of jasmine rice because reviews said the poached chicken is very plain. That is what he likes and that is what he got. Very plain poached chicken in chopped pieces. No photo of his. Sorry. They said a side of a La cart chicken is 8 oz. But there is no way that it was more than 4 or maybe 5 oz. tops. read more

Rooster & Rice - Larb Chicken Sandwich, you can really taste the lime. Very juicy and very crunchy. - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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I would give this place a 3.5 star. The popcorn chicken was good. It's good flavor and crispness. I liked the lemongrass flavor. I also ordered Hat Yat chicken. The skin was good and flavorful. However i was disappointed with rice. It was undercooked, too chewy/hard for my taste. Please note this is not a dine in restaurant. I have no issue finding parking on a Saturday. read more

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Wanted something unique for lunch, went here on my lunch break and it didn't disappoint. Parking was pretty okay but I can see how it can be troublesome during peak hours. Food was pretty good, well seasoned but a tad salty for my liking, sauce was kinda water down? I think overall without the cucumber, it would be super salty for me but best to say I liked it just wished the sauce was more saucey or counter the saltiness. Place was clean & pretty well kept. I would definitely visit this place again with my son & husband. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

Maybe im crazy for this, but this place didnt hit like i thought it was going to. I got the riceless, and the chicken was really bland. I also crunched into something while eating it. Tendon? And is it just the side sauce that gives it flavor? If so, i feel like there was a lost opportunity to boil the chicken in something that really imparted flavor into it. The veggies were good, but i was hoping for more from here. Ive been so excited to try it, but i guess ive crossed it off the list now! read more

Five stars for: The cheerful service, checking-in to see if we're ok while waiting for the food to be served and during eating. The clean restaurant and restroom The delicious hainan chicken read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original ,Hat Yai Chicken, Fried Chicken Skins - Thai Near Me - Costa Mesa, California

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Service was very good! Staff was very on top of everything! Food was so food and the portion size is worth the price you pay read more

Food was very good! Fresh ingredients, delicious sauces. Very healthy option if you're looking for something not too heavy. Service was very friendly and the food is made to order. Very clean inside with a few tables you can sit at. It's a popular option between my coworkers and I. read more