Service, food quality, and quaint spot that always always always delivers! My husband and I came here three different times during our Irvine trip to enjoy delicious food with our pup outside. The Hainan chicken is always incredible and everything is fresh to order. I can say this spot is one of my faves that will always be a stop for food when I am in California! read more

A classmate recommended this place, but I was disappointed. The service felt very unfriendly. There was no warmth in the greeting, it felt like I was inconveniencing them. I was the only person waiting, and someone quietly mumbled my order number. I looked up because I thought I might have heard it, then he called it again with no smile or thank you. It just felt awkward and unwelcoming. The wings were super oily and not crispy at all. Oil spilled all over me when I took them out of the bag because there was so much excess oil. There was barely any seasoning, and I honestly could have made better wings at home in the air fryer. The chicken itself was just okay, but there were a lot of tiny chopped-up crumb pieces instead of actual chicken pieces. My soup container was less than half full, even though I did not spill anything. The vegetables tasted like generic frozen broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, and they were so salty that I could not even eat them. Not worth it. I will not be returning. read more

I love Hainanese Chicken Rice so I was excited to try a Thai style one. The store is cutely decorated but it has no seating inside. There are outdoors seating in the plaza. Hainanese Chicken rice was good portion and the fried chicken was crispy. It's a good quick bite if you work in this area. read more

See all

Perfectly poached and well seasoned chicken. I like their ginger soy sauce. They were busy at lunch time but service was fast. Outdoor seating available and parking was not an issue. Please come and create your own adventure. read more

See all

Stopped Rooster & Rice to try out their version of Hainanese chicken rice. And also tried out the Hat Yat chicken rice. The location has no seating in the store and will have to eat the food outside or take it to go. We ordered our food at the counter and took the food as takeaway. The original chicken rice was tender and rice was flavorful. The Hat Yat chicken was nicely fried, but would have been nice to pair with some fresh spice to kick up the flavor. We had also ordered the fried chicken skin, which was also missing some spice. read more

See all

Solid takeout spot near Spectrum! Not too many things on the menu, pretty easy to order for indecisive people. We ordered: - original: very very mild flavor. Chicken is cooked very tender but I would recommend dipping it in the side soup as you eat! Pairs very well with the ginger scallion and KMG sauces. - hat yai: very crunchy seasoned flavor! Also very tender under the batter, personally this was my favorite dish. I think ordering those two dishes was a good move, a good contrast between strong/mild flavors and textures. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original, Hat Yai Chicken - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Came for lunch and tried The Original (steamed/boiled style chicken) and my friend got The Cutlet (fried katsu style). Friendly and fast service. No seating inside, but there's a few tables and chairs outside. Both entrees were deliciously flavored and cooked, along with the sauces they came with. The rice was a little soggy for my liking but overall, it was good. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Came here for lunch with my mom because we heard its like a thai verison of Hainan chicken & wow did we enjoy our lunch. I was a little surprised by how small this place was - its like a quick service grab & go place because there's no seating. There's a few tables & chairs outside though. My mom got the original Hainan chicken & i got the fried verison. I really liked how flavorful mine was. Pretty decent portions as well. Would definitely come back! read more

Ah, unfortunately this spot missed the mark for me. I found the chicken to be underwhelming and frankly, quite dry (even the dark meat portion). The sauces were also just okay, I think Savoy in the SGV is still the blueprint for a solid hainan chicken rice. May have been a bad day though, and might need to revisit. Quick service and clean interior however, so plus points for that. read more

Rooster & Rice - hainan chicken rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

I love coming here but it's a very strange rule that the owner doesn't allow customers to switch the sources. We genuinely don't like the the sources it comes with (Sitacha), Hope the owner is reading this and make the switch. Add: I was given Siracha & pickles (not change allowed for either of them. read more

Rooster & Rice - Sources - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Decent chicken and rice place. Was a little baffled when I saw they sell chicken skin by itself, fried chicken skin?!??! I had to get it and see why it earned a spot as menu item. What did I realize? Its like eating chips with sinfully tasty grease bursting in flavor. Is this healthy? No a chance. Will i come here after a Costco run? Bet. read more

Rooster & Rice - Chicken skin order - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Omg what was there not to love about the food from Rooster & Rice? I am drooling just remembering the taste of their popcorn chicken pieces & khao man gai. The rice and chicken thighs paired perfectly with the dipping sauce and it was absolutely delectable. The meat was so tender and rice had a wonderful flavor to compliment the entire dish. The popcorn chicken were perfect -- lightly battered, tender meat, and flavor explosion in every bite. The order was placed via Doordash for delivery and arrived perfectly packaged and without delay. I think I know what I am ordering later tonight! read more

Rooster & Rice - Popcorn Chicken - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Pretty good hainan chicken rice! Service was very quick and there's tons of free parking. There are no seats and tables located inside but plenty outside. There also doesn't seem to be a bathroom available for customers, which I would definitely keep in mind if you plan on staying for a while. I ordered the original with KMG sauce and Siracha. It was $16 for one portion including tax and I was able to finish the entire plate in one sitting so the price is a little steep for what you get for sure. I've had hainanese chicken at some of singapore's most famous hawker stalls and while this isn't the same quality, it definitely captures the essence of those dishes. It's convenient, quick, and close to Chapman's Rinker campus. read more

See all

Though I think the sauce really carries the entire dish, Rooster & Rice has a truly delicious Thai chicken rice. The poached chicken is well cooked with a decent texture as well; having a bite of the soft chicken, delectable and savory sauce, and crispy veggies in one spoonful is an addicting experience. It's also nice that extra cucumbers and cilantro are available as free options. 5.4/10. Note that the location is primarily geared for takeout, though some seating is available outdoors. Service was good though the only interaction I had was for picking up an online order. read more

Rooster & Rice - Broth - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Chicken rice is a simple, but delicious comfort food. This is a Thai version which differs with the sauce, but very similar to the ever popular Hainan chicken. This place does it right with nice fresh flavors. It is a simple, but flavorful dish with sauce. Broth was also amazing. Great spot for takeout! read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

I ordered the Original and I thought it was okay - while the chicken and rice were moist and well cooked, the cucumbers were soggy and the broth was lukewarm and a little bland :( I would have also liked a little more chicken for the amount of rice served. Prices here are a bit high for a takeout spot in my opinion. Maybe I would have had better luck ordering something else. read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

When I'm in the mood for something simple yet delicious, this is my go to spot. +1 for it being less than 10 minutes from where I live. I'm usually a "chicken breast + ginger rice" kind of gal here -- simple, satisfying, and clean. But I decided to live a little and tried the fried chicken skin... and oh boy, it's sinfully delicious. Crispy, salty, and totally addictive (my arteries might protest later, but it was worth it). The chicken breast is lean but juicy, and paired with the ginger rice, you get comforting, well-balanced flavors without feeling weighed down. The ginger scallion sauce is umami and adds just the right zing and is not overpowering. It is definitely more of a takeout place and there are tables outside, but don't expect to dine in here . read more

This was my first time trying a chicken rice place and I must say I was very impressed. I got The Original with the ginger scallion sauce. The chicken was tender and well seasoned on its own, but the ginger scallion sauce paired with it perfectly. The rice was also nicely seasoned and not too dry, but the accompanying chicken broth more than makes up for it. My only complaint would be I wish the portion size was a tad bit bigger. I also ordered the popcorn chicken as well which I would also recommend. The seasoning had a little bit of everything: spicy, salty, and with a lemony twist included. Each piece had the right ratio of chicken to batter and the portion size was right for the price. I could see myself coming back here again. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

I love Rooster & Rice! The chicken is always cooked perfectly, and the KMG sauce ties everything together so well. The portions are generous, and I really appreciate the sturdy packaging, it makes takeout super easy. I usually order the Original with KMG sauce, and I find myself craving it all the time. Definitely one of my go-to spots and a place I'd recommend to anyone who loves simple, flavorful comfort food! read more

Visiting from San Diego and wanted a quick lunch. This place was perfect! No seating inside but there were tables outside. We got the original with KMG sauce. Omg sooo good. I couldn't stop thinking bout the sauce. Next time ima try the ginger scallion one. We also got the popcorn chicken and it was so crispy. We will definitely be back for those fried chicken skins too. I wish there was a hainan chicken spot in SD like this! Healthy and quick lunch spot for sure. read more

Rooster & Rice - Popcorn Chicken and The Original with some teas from next door - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Tried Rooster & Rice for the first time after seeing so many people recommend it, and it actually lived up to the hype. The chicken was soft without being greasy, the sauces were amazing, and the garlic rice was probably my favorite part. Portions are pretty good for the price too. Feels like one of those easy reliable places you crave again a few days later. read more

The chicken skins were amazing. The menu didn't fit my tastebuds but the skins gave this review a 4 instead of 3!

I like their original chicken breast with rice with the ginger scallion sauce. It reminds me of what my dad used to make when I lived at home. The soup is really good. It is soothing and compliments the dish so well. The portion is a good size, so make sure you have an appetite. I would highly recommend you try this place. read more

Almost $40 for some chicken and rice is kinda crazy!! I ordered one with regular rice and mixed (breast and thigh) and got brown rice with breast. I was super disappointed considered how great it was last time. The broth and fried chicken skin is super salty. You can definitely just share one portion and have extra chicken added and you'll have enough rice. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

We came here to grab a quick lunch. My husband and I ordered the skinless chicken with rice and cucumbers. It came with a cup of broth. I was going to opt for tofu (vegetarian option) instead of the chicken but I wanted to try their poached chicken. There were 4 sauces to choose from: their house sauce, ginger & scallion, habanero, and siracha. We tried all 3 but skipped the habanero. The flavors of all 3 sauces were tasty. Surprisingly, the ginger and scallion didn't have much of the ginger flavor. My chicken came with skin on 1/2 of it. There was plenty of parking on a Sunday afternoon. They do not have a restroom for you to use. Overall, this was a great takeout place. read more

See all

I dream about coming back!! It's so good!!! I love how balanced and filling their plates are and how yummy each sauce is! It's counter service and the staff are super friendly and food came out fast! Can't wait to be back! The original: 10/5 I would get this over and over again and next time I would probably get more than one sauce just to have a variety. The soup is great and the rice is seasoned perfectly. They give great portions so the price definitely justifies the value and it is beautifully prepared! Fried Chicken Skin: 5/5 How can you go wrong with chicken skin?! So good! crispy, salty goodness!!! read more

Rooster & Rice - The original plate - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

Irvine has been needing a quality Hainan chicken restaurant and IMO Rooster & Rice fills that void. Rooster & Rice is a fast-casual concept originating from the SF Bay Area and specializing in Khao Mun Gai (KMG) or Organic Thai-Style Chicken Rice. The Irvine location can be found in a strip mall off Alton Parkway near Technology Drive and Bass Pro Shops. The restaurant is small and unfortunately there isn't any room for tables or seating inside so if you go during the dinner hour like we did, be prepared to sit outside if you dine-in and dress accordingly. We ordered The Original which is described as chicken breast and thigh with skin served over fragrant jasmine chicken rice and garnished with cucumber and cilantro. A side of chicken broth is included and your choice of KMG sauce or Ginger Scallion sauce. If you like it hot, there is also a choice of Habanero or Sriracha sauce. We also tried the Hat Yai Chicken or Thai fried chicken served with cucumbers, chicken rice, fried shallots and sweet chili sauce. I devoured my meal so quickly that I could've easily finished both entrees. I can't get enough of Hainan chicken, so I'll be back again and again! read more

See all

I consider myself a chicken and rice connoisseur, and Rooster & Rice is easily the best in Irvine. If you're craving a simple, satisfying meal, this is where you should go. They specialize in Thai chicken and rice and do it extremely well. The vibe is clean and casual, perfect for a quick meal or an easy sit-down. Staff is friendly, efficient, and gets food out fast. The chicken is tender and flavorful, the rice is great, and the broth is warm and comforting. What really stands out is how well everything comes together, especially with the sauces. I've had everything on the menu multiple times and would happily eat here all the time. Portions are generous, prices are reasonable, and I always leave full. If you like chicken and rice, this place is a must. read more

Overall probably 3.5/5, it's a pick up place. There's some tables outside that you can use to eat. The original chicken rice: 3/5. The chicken was pretty dry but the sauce that came with it was decent. There's other places that are probably better that are close by. Looking at other reviews, maybe I just caught them on an off day The cutlet chicken: 4/5! Much better than the original one. Good amount of crispiness and very flavorful. Rice wasn't bad either Didn't like the broth that came with it but that didn't bother me too much. read more

Rooster & Rice - Panko The Cutlet - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

This is my favorite spot for lunch. They're located in a strip mall, and seem like they're meant for to-go orders based on their lack of seating. For me, this is perfect for a quick lunch pick up. The service is fast, though I recommend ordering online so it's ready by the time you get there. The food is always great, I love their Hainan chicken, especially paired with their ginger sauce read more

We needed a quick to go lunch and opted to try Rooster & Rice as it seemed like a healthier carry out and placed the order on Yelp and it was ready by the time we got there. The food was packaged nicely and I loved how flavorful the rice was. The sauces served with the chicken were flavorful and I loved the added cucumbers to give it a refreshing bite as the chicken did tend to feel a little oily as I got more into the plate. Overall, still a great lunch and glad we got to try the chain. read more

Rooster & Rice - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

Come here if you are craving for Hainan inspired chicken with seasoned rice. They have different dipping sauces upon your choice. I had: 1. Popcorn chicken 2. The cutlet 3. The original: Khao Mun Gai, habanero, the original read more

See all

I ordered from this place at least a few times a month! I am Cantonese and grew up there for years. I love this place's scallion and ginger sauce so much!! I even ordered the extra big size everytime I come here. It is just like the taste of my childhood! Their chicken is juicy and tender (I got thigh only unsure how the breast tastes since I never ordered white meat)! Also, it is a good post workout meal to get the protein I need. Portion size is huge for the price! I think it is hard to find this portion size nowadays, especially in OC. Highly recommended! read more

Omg. I no longer work up in the Irvine area so I made the trip to come get some chicken rice which I love. I generally order ahead of time but this time I waited to get inside. It was my first time actually in the location. I got the number one, which is the OG chicken rice and chicken broth. I don't make any modifications. I love it the way it is, although I do order an extra chicken broth because I'm quite honestly, I'm not sure what they do to it but it's outstanding. The food was freshly prepared and well packed. I like that they put the soup in a small plastic bag to prevent any leaking. The chicken is tender and flavorful. The rice also taste very good. I don't recall seeing any seating inside, but there is some outside. There's also parking out front but can be hard to get sometimes during the peak hours. Overall, definitely come and try this place. Reminds me of Singapore I love it so much. I could probably eat this every day. Super helpful service. I watched the customer ahead of me interact with the cashier who was super helpful. It seemed like it was this guy's first time and he kind of walked him through the ordering process and what to expect. read more

See all

We get rooster rice because it's close by to the spectrum! They really only do takeout here and there's no seating inside to enjoy your food. We really like the chicken and the KMG sauce here. The staff are also pretty friendly and quick to explain the menu and all the different sauces. I have been coming here quite a bit and they will usually forget to give you any sauces you picked so just remember to remind the staff if you are missing your sauce! read more

Rooster & Rice - Original plate, the kmg sauce is really good - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

I ordered online however they took forever, i only order the popcorn chicken... through online it says 20-22 minutes, i went pick it up after half hour but still not ready. read more

Randomly stumbled on Rooster & Rice while driving around cuz our toddler had fallen asleep in the backseat and we were hungry, lol. Arrived just as they opened at 11am and ordered the classic hainan chicken and larb popcorn chicken to go. YUM. The larb popcorn chicken was delicious!! The seasoning reminded me of the seasoning packets you get in mama's instant noodles, which is super flavorful and tangy and yummy! The hainan chicken was tender and flavorful and rice wasn't too oily, and the dipping sauces were good. Would definitely order again if in the area! read more

Rooster & Rice - The Original - Thai Near Me - Irvine, California

See all

For those who know Thai food, Khao Mun Gai is Thai chicken and rice. It is not Hainan chicken, which is Chinese. This is thus far my fave place for KMG. I get the #2 because I prefer skinless chicken breast. I sub the brown rice for chicken rice. Love that the chicken is tender. Nice to see meaty pieces as opposed to skin/bone/odd looking chicken from other places. The KMG sauce is a must. It is savory and sweet with ginger, garlic, brown bean and hint of tamarind. A meal so simple done right. Really reminiscent of the KMG in Thailand. read more

I love this place. The place is small and located next to a boba shop. I order the original and the no carb plates. The chicken is super tender even the breast which is unusual. The sauces are great, esp the KMG sauce. The rice was flavorful. They have really good portion sizes and the prices were decent. read more

The place is super convenient and the food is really good! Easy parking and there's no wait.