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    Rooster & Rice

    4.3 (115 reviews)
    Closed 11:00 am - 8:00 pm
    Updated 2 weeks ago

    Order Rooster & Rice Takeout or Delivery

    Rooster & Rice Photos

    ROOSTER & RICE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Dogs allowed

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    Ying L.

    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.

    Chicken and rice
    Karmen N.

    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.

    The cutlet
    Pretty D.

    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.

    Menu
    Carrie Z.

    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.

    Jenina M.

    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.

    Hat Yai Chicken
    Sara A.

    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.

    Chicken
    Yurie H.

    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!

    The Original (chicken thigh only), The Cutlet, Add Veggies
    Julia V.

    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

    The Original
    Brian M.

    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.

    Jenny P.

    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.

    Crispy panko The original chicken and rice
    Nan N.

    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

    The Original with KMG Sauce (Khao min gai) & sriracha ($16.11 total)
    Michelle N.

    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

    Larb chicken sandwich
    Johnny T.

    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.

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    I visited this new thai restaurant in Costa Mesa with some friends and had a delicious dinner here…read more I ordered the Grilled Pork Neck as an appetizer, thai tea for my drink, and the Khao Kra Prao Crispy Duck for my entrée. All the food came out relatively quick and service was also friendly and the staff were checking in regularly for water refills and to ensure we were having a good meal. The thai tea was creamy and rich and one of the better ones I've had compared to most thai spots in the area. The grilled pork neck was tender and juicy and the included dipping sauce added some extra sweetness. The portion size was also good and easy to share. The Kra Prao Crispy Duck was absolutely delicious and one of my favorite thai dishes I had. The crispy duck was crunchy and had good flavor and the sauce mixed with the peppers and the crispy fried egg on the side with the rice made for a filling plate! Overall, my friends and I had a great dinner here and I would highly recommend checking out Nai Tong if you are in the area and want some amazing Thai food! There's plenty of seating inside and it's well-lit and they just recently opened, so it isn't too busy right now.

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    I've been during to Siam Station for a few years now, and I'm happy to see they've been expanding!…read moreEveryone on the menu is delicious, and this last time I went I ordered a chicken Pad See Ew ($16), Yellow Curry ($16) and Mango Sticky Rice ($12) for dessert. The Pad See Ew has great flavor, although I prefer their Pad Thai, the yellow curry came with a side of rice and had a rich coconut taste, and the mango sticky rice was the perfect dessert to end the meal. The staff is always nice, and this particular location has limited seating both inside and outside. Siam station is definitely a place I would recommend if you're craving some Thai food.

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    The consistency here is off - never quite sure what we're going to get. When it's good, it's…read moreamazing and the best restaurant around. When it's bad, like last night - I don't even want to take more than 2 bites. I ordered the cashew chicken yesterday, the sauce was clumpy and almost like glue? Instead of a nice smooth sauce that tastes good. Additionally; the veggies, chicken and cashews in the dish were scorched! It was burnt and still packed up to-go by the cook. There were also pretty minimal veggies in it. I get the cashew chicken because it was nice large slices of bell pepper and other veggies.....yesterday was small, soggy, overcooked little pieces of bell pepper.... No thank you

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    HUNGRY BOY Thai Cafe'

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    My go to spot for take out Thai food (:…read more I always order the pat see ew with tofu & beef spice level 1. The food is always amazing and fresh. You can't forget how flavorful it always is! For dessert I always order the mango sticky rice. It's the perfect way to end your meal. Thanks for always making the best Thai food!

    I've been to this plaza a few times and have seen Hungry Boy Thai Cafe. After seeing how good their…read morereviews were, I finally decided to try it out! They have a fast casual set up where you order at the counter and when your food is ready, someone will bring it to your table. Their menu is pretty simple and straightforward. They have Stir Fries, Curry, Noodle Soups, and Soups, and you can choose the type of protein you want: veggies, tofu, chicken, beef, shrimp, bbq pork, chicken satay, or fried chicken, each at different price points. We got a Pad See Ew with Chicken, and it was tasty! There was a decent amount of broccoli in it. They also ask you what spice level you want. We ordered mild, and it had a slight kick to it. We also tried their new menu item, Thai Basil Eggplant. It comes with ground chicken, bell peppers, onions, and jasmine white rice. I ordered mild spice level as well, but it wasn't as spicy as the Pad See Ew. It was still very flavorful and definitely goes well with the rice. It came out piping hot! I would get this again!

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    Mango Sticky Rice
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    Tom Yum Noodle soup. Vegetarian option with Tofu or Mixed vegetables
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    Chicken yellow curry from the kitchen.

    Rooster & Rice - thai - Updated July 2026

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