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The Chicken Rice

4.3 (270 reviews)
Updated 3 months ago

Order The Chicken Rice Takeout or Delivery

The Chicken Rice Thai Restaurant Photos

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THE CHICKEN RICE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed
Good for kids

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Recommended Reviews - The Chicken Rice

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Larb Crispy Chicken Rice and Hainan Chicken Rice
Deanna T.

I stumbled upon The Chicken Rice during the height of the pandemic. It's essentially a Thai spin on Hainanese chicken and rice. Thinking back, each time I visited this shop was right after completing an important task. When they first opened their brick and mortar shop, it was a very short walk from the OC Superior Court. Recently, I've learned that they have relocated to 4th Street Market (4SM), which is about a 15 minute walk from the courts. This is a good move as the new location allows for more visibility and plenty of seating within 4SM. Food/Drinks: Hainan Chicken Rice - this entree is just as good as it was four years ago, but instead of pickled veggies, they have now substituted it with fresh cucumbers. Definitely recommend. Crispy Chicken Salad - wanted some greens, but can't recall this entree being all that memorable. Larb Crispy Chicken Rice - wow! For those craving more spice and flavor, this is the one to order. Would highly recommend for those wanting more umami and texture. Thaiger Milk Tea - I liked the play on words here and also they used to offer a small and large size. I definitely recalled this being extremely sweet. I guess there's a reason this is no longer on the menu. They now offer a rewards program supported by Toast, so returning customers can earn one point for each dollar spent. Shame that I don't live in the surrounding area anymore or else I would be here whenever I'm at 4SM. Metered parking right outside the food hall or at one of the nearby parking garages. Service is also very friendly and helpful!

Melody L.

Got the Hainan chicken and crispy chicken. I thought the portion size was small for the price, still felt hungry after. The chicken for both dishes was just ok. The rice was pretty flavorful. Sauces had a unique taste in a good way. The person taking my order was friendly and I got a beeper to let me know once my order was ready.

Byron C.

This place is bonkers, Hat Yai surprised me, knew I wanted to eat it again first time I ate it. Food is perfect for me, 10/10 lol, very savory! Food court, parking in Downtown Santa Ana is normal, structure is free and not a far walk. Inside the 4th street market food court, may not be 100% easy from the street but just follow your map/gps and it's there. Casual food court. I got the split hainan/hat yai, not sure if I want full hat yai, eating there 2nd time today, been looking forward to it!

The Chicken Rice Food Stall
Alan S.

The Chicken Rice is one of the top spots in OC for original Khao Man Gai. It's been a minute since my last visit, so I was surprised to discover that they relocated from their previous Santa Ana location into the 4th Street Market. The Chicken Rice joins a number of innovative food makers featured in this food hall. I parked at a nearby meter but according to their website, there are two parking structures off of 4th and 5th Streets that offer the first 2 hours free! I recommend making it a combo with the Chicken & Rice which includes 2 choices of protein, soup and vegetables. My go-to protein choices are Hainanese Chicken and Crispy Chicken, so I get to enjoy the best of both worlds! The combo includes a choice of signature ginger rice or steamed rice, but you can choose brown rice (+$1) or sticky rice (+$2) for an additional charge. They also allow their customers to select 2 sauces from 8 different options. The Ginger Chicken Oil is a nice complement to the Hainanese Chicken and I enjoyed dipping the Crispy Chicken in their Spicy Soybean Chili Ginger sauce. If you're a Hainan Chicken fan like I am, The Chicken Rice is a must try!

Hainan Chicken
Nghi T.

I've been meaning to try this place since moving to the OC and this place did not disappoint! I ordered the food for delivery and it came quickly. Everything was correctly. chicken is so good and the rice is divine. Portions are great for the price. I will definitely be back to try all their other chicken options!

Kailyn W.

After looking at all the different food options in fourth street market, my partner and I chose to come to Chicken Rice, after seeing hainan chicken on their menu (I appreciated they had pictures of the menu items). I had never had hainan chicken before but my partner has, so I was excited. When we were ordering, the service was friendly, helpful and fast. The lady gave us the choice between two different sauces with our meal. When the food came out and I had my first bite, I was in heaven. The broth was incredible and warmed me up inside. The chicken was tender and delicious. The rice at the bottom was also yummy, as it soaked up all the juices. Our meal also came with a side of broth, so I was enjoying dipping my chicken in both the broth and in the sauces. I can't wait to come back to Chicken Rice for some more hainan chicken and to try their other dishes!

Hainan chicken rice
Vivienne A.

If you really like Hainan Chicken rice then this place is NOT the real deal. I ordered white meat with rice. Got ginger scallion sauce which is pretty authentic. But the chicken is dryer than my cats' dried freeze chicken cat food. It's not fun swallowing it down my throat. The rice is ok. The soup is not the typical Hainan chicken soup but a sweet miso?! Just don't do it! Save yourself $15 bucks.

Kayla H.

My boyfriend picked up the hainan chicken dish for me and it was delicious. I can't say much about the service but I do know the chicken rice is located in the 4th street market. It's a food hall with plenty of options and this one is a solid option. Food Consensus: The hainan chicken was simple but flavorful. The quality of chicken was solid and the soup was flavorful. The sauces along with the chicken and ginger rice were chef's kiss. It was such a comforting dish that my boyfriend and I both enjoyed. I will definitely be getting it again when I head to that food hall. I would highly recommend checking out this spot in the 4th street market. They're serving up some solid hainan chicken.

Combination - hat yai chicken (on the left) and hainan chicken on the right)
Takeshi H.

Located in the ever popular 4th Street Market with their expanding inclusion of mom/pop independently owned restaurants is The Chicken Rice. For ambience this is a food court so expect noise, crowds, and lines. Parking if you're lucky can be found on the street but more likely to be in the adjacent parking structures. The service is brief and brisk but not unpleasant and cannot really expect much from a food court where the interaction is only for a moment. As for the food had a mixed opinion - for starters, this is Hainan Chicken "thai" style vs. "singapore" so there are differences. Thai version tends to have more bold flavors especially with their sauce while Singapore has a more subtle approach. The chicken in itself was moist but lacked a notable flavor profile but the ginger scallion sauce makes up the gap. The same problem was found in the rice which was more on mild side and did not have a strong flavor or aroma. Now on the other hand the hat yai chicken does have a much stronger presence as combination of both sweet/salty/savory which is a great way to enjoy a different spin on fried chicken but need to eat it quickly as if wait for too long it can become somewhat soggy. The complementary soup is just a nice way to cleanse the pallet whether at the beginning or end of the meal. The price point is fair considering the portion size is quite ample and filling. Overall, an establishment worth it to try for a food item that is not always the easiest to find amongst the OC region.

The lid did not stay on the soup and more than half spilled out
Yvonne T.

Food was good but they messed up my sauce order. Got 2 regular soybean ginger sauce instead of spicy soybean ginger chili sauce. It was supposed to be spicy for both orders but when I asked the cashier about it she sighed and rolled her eyes. The soup lid popped off and leaked through the paper bag.

Hainan Chicken, Crispy Chicken, Small Soup, Ginger Scallion Oil
Timothy Spencer T.

TDLR: It's a mom and pop shop inside a food court that does well by their namesake. It's not the best that I've ever had, but it doesn't need to be. The price is well within what one would expect given the portions, and this place deserves more business. Hainan chicken: I'm not gonna lie. It tastes kinda flat. It's like I'm eating white chicken that tried to be Hainan via method acting. Don't get me wrong, the flavors were good, and adding in the ginger scallion mostly fixes the problem. I just missed that unique Hainan taste that I'd normally get from traditional Singaporean or Singaporean inspired restaurants. Crispy chicken: The crunch profile is exactly what I was looking for. The batter melts in your mouth and offers little to no resistance after you bite in with your teeth. The chicken meat was tender and marinated well. I wouldn't advise using the ginger scallion sauce here because you will just taste the ginger scallion sauce. Ginger rice: Same with the Hainan chicken. I expected this strong flavor that is normal with the rice paired with Hainan chicken. Unfortunately, I got what felt like plain rice that was given a ginger essence. Things improved when it came to texture and portions. Soup: I don't know. Imagine the taste if you made a light broth with bonito flakes, scallions, and green onions. That was it. It does compliment the strong flavors of the meal by being on the light side when it comes to taste. Ginger Scallion sauce: Whatever ginger was missing from the rice was found here and then some. Whatever flavor was missing from the Hainan chicken was found here, and whatever flavor barely found in the soup WAS FOUND HERE. If you love ginger, this sauce is for you. Take it easy on it though, since adding too much would overpower whatever your eating with it. Service: I called to pick the order up. The lady (who I assume owns the business) was nice. She rang me up when I got there. No frills, no drama. Just the way I like it. Ambiance: The place is a stall in a foodcourt. I didn't focus too much on how many seats were available, but the area is cool and clean.

Orange Chicken with brown rice
Michael A.

Ok so yes sometimes I forget to take pictures especially when the foods good. This place has simple execution with really good food. Located in the fourth street market in Santa Ana this spot has really good chicken with rice which is a great combo especially when they have like 6 different kinds of chicken you can pair with either ginger, white or brown rice. They have like 5 different sauces too I personally like the ginger and soy ones they're delicious. I posted the orange chicken but but i also ordered the bbq chicken which was good and last week I tried the Hainan which was ok but so far the orange and bbq are my favorite. Staff is friendly and the mood here is super chill free WiFi and clean

Pretty cool food court

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6 months ago

DELICIOUS. Ate it 3 days in a row. New period craving. Chicken is so juicy and flavorful

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1 year ago

Not going to lie, the food was pretty amazing, I highly recommend you give this place a try.

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1 year ago

Takes me back to Singapore and Thailand street food. So delicious and well prepared. Truly enjoyed it.

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Ask the Community - The Chicken Rice

Are there free parking?

There's metered street parking and a nearby structure that I know of. I haven't seen any free spaces in the times I visited that where super close.

What is Thaiger milk tea?

Thai iced tea with brown sugar

Does their tom yum soup come with noodles?

No, it does not

View All 4 Questions

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I've passed by The Crack Shack many times when visiting Hi-Time, and I finally decided to stop in…read morefor lunch on a Saturday afternoon. There is a good sized parking lot behind the restaurant. The ordering counter is on the front side of the building. Once parked, you can either walk around the building, or walk through the open-air covered patio. I walked around to get a closer look at the unique chicken-head Beatles' Abbey Road mural on the side of the building. The menu is obviously chicken-focused, and features various sandwiches, wraps, and salads, along with several sides. They also have a small breakfast menu served until noon on the weekend. After ordering, they will give you a number and bring your food when it's ready. I really enjoyed the dining area, which is a covered, open-air space with a high ceiling. I sat in one of the booths towards the front. Each booth has a classic painting on the wall with chicken heads on it. There are also many different types of tables thoughout, and more seating upstairs on the second floor. There is also additional seating in front of their full bar. I had the Coop Deville sandwich (fried breast, pickled fresno chiles, pickles, napa cabbage, lime mayo, artisan brioche bun, $14.50). The chicken breast was thick and piping hot, and had a great crunchy crust on it. All of the ingredients went together well and I loved the flavor. The bun was very fresh, and the sandwich wasn't as messy as I thought it might be. I was still a little hungry, so I went back and ordered the regular sized hand cut fries (regular size $4.50, large size $7.50). They are tossed in schmaltz (chicken fat) and a light dusting of spices. They were hot and fresh, and the regular size was way more than I could eat by myself. They have a self-serve sauce bar with five options on tap including ketchup, Srirarcha T000 Island, Sweet Baby G's BBQ, ranch, and pineapple mustard. I dipped my sandwich in the BBQ and Srirarcha Thousand Island, and my fries in the BBQ, ranch, and pineapple mustard. They have a cornhole game towards the back, are dog friendly, and host trivia night on Thursdays. I enjoyed the food and atmosphere, and would definitely return.

Overpriced tiny portions. The food tastes great which keeps me coming back - only to be…read moredissatisfied every time I go. This time I got the tenders and they are completely overcooked and crunchy (in a bad way). I think if the food was just a slightly better value I would feel taken advantage of each time I go there.

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When you enter, the menu is displayed on the screens and you order on a tablet. The service was…read morequick and the food was hot even after the walk back to the hotel. I got a medium spice Nashvylle and fries. The heat, I think, was more than a medium but if you eat with the bun and coleslaw it helped with the heat. I really enjoyed the sandwich. The chicken was crisp and juicy. It is a messy eat so be careful especially when eating on a hotel bed.

Byrds hot chicken - 3.5/10 Pros: Juicy chicken and friendly…read moreservice, crinkle fries, buttered and toasted bread instead of plain bread. (over toasted). Fresh and hot. Cons: No restroom, messy storefront, no fountain drinks nor refills, sticky tables, limited seating. Cheese fries were bland and it tasted to milky, wouldve been better with spice or seasoning. Regular crinkle fries were to salty and after a few bites needed a drink. It was also inconsistently cooked. The seasoning was sour, herby? The toast was burnt. The chicken needs more breading, it was also very soggy on the bottom. There was oil pooled at the bottom. The breading was falling off the chicken and made it difficult to eat. I had to take a seperate bite of chicken and then breading. The seasoning is not like your regular hot chicken and is not close to the seasoning, it reminded me very much of canes just spicy. The seasoning was very inconsistent, some be salty, spicy, or bland. The sauce was also way too herby and tasted weird, i'm not 100% sure what sauce it was but I'm thinking it was the 24K sauce. Also for a medium spice I expected it to be more spicy and colorful.

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The Chicken Rice - thai - Updated May 2026

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