Cily Chicken is my personal favorite in Chinatown! Came by to-go here today after a good climb session nearby. As with any place in Chinatown, parking is sparse, so be expected to circle the block. Cash only, but they have an ATM on site. Not a lot of seating in person, but things usually move pretty fast for you to be able to get a seat without too long of a wait. We called in an order today though since we didn't have the time to sit in. Our food was ready insanely fast. And it was still amazingly good! I always get the set 2 combo here and split with a friend or my wife. I'd recommend paying $2 extra for the mixed to get both the well breaded fried chicken, but then also get the moist juicy boiled chicken too. This is also one place where I will finish all of my rice because it's so good. As for the interior, things are a bit crowded because of the narrowness of their lot. However, given their limitations, they make a surprising amount of seating work pretty well-- just expect not to have the most privacy in this spot. read more

Cash only, but worth it for the flavors. Went on a Sunday around 1:30PM and it was packed, popular even off hours. Specializes in Thai-style chicken rice. I got the mixed chicken, friend got the fried rice. The chicken was tender and juicy with a ginger-forward marinade that really shines through. Sauces were bold and aromatic, complementing the meat perfectly. The rice was slightly dry and very gingery, but still flavorful and well-cooked. The fried rice had a savory, umami taste with hints of soy and egg, though also a bit dry. Soup was light, clear, and refreshing, with subtle herbal notes that balanced the richness of the main dishes. The space is cute, with charming wall paintings of whimsical chickens. Service is a bit slow since they're understaffed, only two servers with one who seems to be the owner. They sometimes forget extras like water or the check, but it's clear they're doing their best. Overall, a small wait and cash-only hassle aside, it's worth coming back to try more dishes. They do have an ATM inside if you forget cash. read more

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Nestled within Chinatown sits this casual, delicious spot that serves some of the best chicken in the city. They specialize in Hainanese-style chicken, served perfect for a quick solo meal or shareable sets. It's a cash-only establishment, but they also operate an ATM by the front door. My partner and I stopped in for dinner on a weekday evening, and the restaurant was about a quarter-full. There's a few tables with booth seating on one side, as well as high-tops lining the righthand wall. The menu offers a diverse selection, although we opted just to try for the chicken itself. Service was quick and friendly, and we got our food within 7-10 minutes of ordering. We opted for the Set 2, which feeds for two and allows you to have a mix of the boiled and fried chicken. The Food Breakdown: Boiled Chicken (5/5) - I was pleasantly surprised by how moist and juicy this was, given that it's easy to make boiled style dry. The dipping sauces complemented it well, making it our favorite. Fried Chicken (4.5/5) - The flavor and crunch were fantastic; also a must-get to share. The only drawback from it being 5-stars was that it didn't seem to be cut into individual slices as well, since we had to manually cut some of the chicken with a fork. Radish Soup (5/5) - The hints of ginger in the broth made it such a great finish to the meal. Normally soup is treated as 'garnish,' but I opted to drink it after we ate and it was a great decision. Cily Chicken provides traditional Thai cuisine in addition to its notable Hainanese chicken, so it'll definitely be worth a revisit to taste more of its menu in the future. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Exterior (view of entrance on Race St.) - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The only downside is that they only accept cash. Please at least accept Venmo or some other non-cash-but-still-kind-of-cash alternative! The food here was SO good! We just got the half chicken (mixed) + eggplant tofu, and both dishes were great, and was enough for the two of us to share. I really liked the hot sauce, to my surprise, as well as the scallion ginger (not to my surprise). I wish I lived close so I could come again. I saw others order the set/combo for chicken rice and it looked like a LOT of food, so I think I'd be able to get away with two or at least one and a half meals with one order! I think between the types, I highly preferred the "boiled" chicken. The place itself was a little dim. Maybe not the best spot for a huge party? But comfortable for 2-4 for sure. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Mixed half chicken - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I only came here to support a new friend. He enjoyed his chicken a lot and seems to come here regularly. I had gotten a coffee so that he wouldn't feel so out of place. I wasn't hungry and the coffee was okay for me. So the rating is on the coffee only. They only take cash and they have card machines but they probably stopped working. Some bum who was probably mentally ill tried to force two young looking women to give him $3 and some of the employees of the shop pushed him out and had to lock the door. Then the bum was banging on the shop door to come in and one or two employees went out to handle the bum. Very sad. The one woman switched her seat to sit beside the other on in a booth seat which was covered by restaurant memorabilia unlike the other seat which had more of a window view from the outside. I would feel reasonably safe in this restaurant with this shop's employees. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Thai iced coffee - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cily Chicken Rice and Thai Food is a casual, cash-only eatery. I'd highly recommend their Signature Chicken Rice sets. --- Cily Chicken Rice and Thai Food offers a diverse menu, but is most known for their Thai Khao Man Gai, similar to the Chinese Hainanse chicken rice. The interior is small and casual. However, I wasn't the biggest fan of the high top seating since the chairs are wobbly- if you leaned on the table when getting into your seat, you would flip the light table or chair over getting seated if you weren't careful. They do have non-high top seating, but since it was busy we were seated at these tables. The seats by the door are also unfortunately subject to a wind tunnel every time the door opened and closed. I ordered a mixed Signature Chicken Rice set for 2. It came with fried and boiled chicken, flavorful ginger rice, radish soup, and three types of sauces. The portions were spot-on for two people and everything was very flavorful. The chicken was crispy/boiled perfectly and boneless, and the rice wasn't dry at all. There were three sauces- orange sauce (sweet and spicy chili), brown sauce, and yellow sauce (classic ginger scallion oil). We really loved our meal; the boiled chicken and soup were my favorite parts of the meal. The service was fast, friendly, and efficient at turning tables or refilling water. I also appreciated how they reaffirmed they were cash only before seating since I've had other restaurants neglect it until the end of the meal. There is an ATM by the door. Overall, I'd recommend the Signature Chicken Rice Sets at Cily Chicken Rice if you'd like a quick and "healthier" meal to share with friends and family! read more

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My Thai friend recommended this place and it did not disappoint! We stopped by for a late lunch and ordered the tod mun fishcake to start and shared a chicken platter for 4. The fishcake was very good. Slightly crispy on the outside, savory and soft on the inside. It came with a Thai chili dipping sauce. A perfect sharing appetizer. The entree chicken platter was the star of the show. Absolutely delicious and the perfect amount for 4 people. It came with seasoned rice and a side soup for each person. Both boiled and fried chicken was so tender and juicy. The drinks we ordered (iced green tea and iced coffee) were on the sweeter side so not my preference but still good. read more

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I loveeeeeeeee cily chicken! It's a hit every time. If you love Thai tea, you have to try it here! read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

YUM YUM YUM!! I've tried a couple of chicken rice places, but I get why this one is the most popular. This restaurant is CASH ONLY but they do have an ATM in the front you can use if needed. The food was reasonably priced and SO delicious. I could eat 3 bowls of JUST the rice. The original chicken is so tender and the fried one so satisfying. I definitely think you should get the mixed plate so you can try both types of chicken. The soup they give you is SO flavorful. It is so comforting and clean. I loved this spot so much. The staff are so kind as well. Highly recommend this spot!!! read more

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The food was better than average if you the only chicken rice in Chinatown. The service was good. Only issue. CASH ONLY. Not a problem ..just go and get cash from ATM. They also charge sales tax when they demanded only cash. I don't think they reporting the SALES to IRS . read more

This is by far the best chicken in Philadelphia. I had similar Hainanese and Thai chicken in LA, and it didn't come close. The ambiance is casual and the service is impeccable. This is the first restaurant I take people to when they are visiting Philly. read more

Really good and affordable Hainan chicken rice! The menu has other Thai dishes but I'd stick to what they specialize in as there are plenty of good Thai restaurants in the city but Hainan chicken is a little more distinct. It's not a fancy or glamorous meal by any means, but comfort food in tight but cute quarters (not sure I'd recommend coming in a group bigger than four) at a super affordable price point. They offer sets for one to four people, which are great for sharing and keeping the cost down even more. Each set comes with bowl of seasoned rice and radish soup for each person, a portion of boneless chicken with some cucumber slices, and three dips (spicy, sweet, and a savory oil). For the chicken, you have the option of either getting boiled or fried, or a mix of the two. Despite its unimpressive name and look, I would definitely recommend the boiled chicken - the fried chicken I tried was somewhat tough, while the boiled chicken was so tender and juicy and flavorful. Plus, boiled is the more traditional style of the dish anyway. The soup was also delicious and I wonder if it's the stock from boiling the chicken. Overall a satisfying and easygoing meal that I'd be happy to have again. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Set 2 Boneless Chicken with 2 Sets of soup and rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Green curry and radish soup/ginger rice (comes with sets) always hit the spot. The chicken is good too and what they are most known for but the other entrees are worth getting. Price range is a tad higher but when you're craving healthier comfort food, it's worth it. Smaller dining space as is typical for Chinatown but cozy setting. Service is usually good too. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Green Curry - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Great chicken rice value combo set for two - a mix chicken set of hainanese and fried chicken. As a SEAsian, it felt nostalgic eating with a fork and spoon combo, which IMO is the best way mixing the sauces (chili, ginger and BBQ(?)) with the rice and chicken, and scooping it directly into your mouth. Its a choose your own flavor adventure on your plate. Service was prompt, and the music choice was happening. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Chicken rice set for two - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Cily Chicken is a great, trendy spot to satisfy your cravings for Hainanese chicken, which I have found to be quite difficult to find in the U.S. I always order the chicken set meals with both fried and boiled chicken, and both come out very well made. The fried chicken is always crispy, the boiled chicken is always tender and flavorful, and even the rice is fragrant and seasoned well! Service is kind and helpful, and food comes out fast without sacrificing quality. This is a go-to spot that I will continue to visit regularly when I am in Philly! read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Boiled and fried chicken set for 2 - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

We had heard about this place online and decided to stop by for a super late lunch / early dinner. We got the hainan chicken rice and massaman curry with chicken. The hainan chicken was impeccable and the rice was delicious. The meat portion for both was reasonable. The curry didn't have a ton of sauce (not enough to sufficiently cover all the rice). Will definitely be coming back for more chicken rice! read more

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First time trying, we ordered set 2 (for 2 people) with the "mixed" option. It was good choice as we got to try both the soft and crunchy version of the chicken. 2 out of the 3 sauces were heavy on ginger plus the ginger rice, you must like ginger enough to enjoy the meal. The soup with radish was a refreshing change and added a good balance. Overall, pretty good. Next time I will prob try the thai street food, such as pad Thai. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Set 2 Boneless Chicken with 2 Sets of soup and rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great spot for quality chicken and quick service! The star of the menu is the chicken set - which you can get steamed or fried - including delicious garlic rice and a comforting soup. Would highly recommend! read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Set 2 Mixed Style - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Food: Ordered mixed boiled chicken breast and fried chicken over ginger rice. Fried chicken was on the dry side Boiled chicken bland Ginger rice was a tad too dry and missing chicken flavor - needed a bit of chicken fat. Radish soup was good Service: We sit down. Server: "It's cash only." Gives us menus. "It's cash only" Order food. Meal served. Brings us the check and says "It's cash only" I was starting to think I looked homeless. Will not return read more

Best food I had in Philly! I was dining in alone - and wasn't seated, so I sat at the bar and waited for a menu. They told me to order in the front to-go, so I shyly corrected them that I'd be dining in. I selected the boiled chicken, and an order of fried dumplings. The chicken was juicy, and the rice had just a slight hint of flavor. Even without the sauces, it was good! However, the star of this dish is definitely the radish soup. The soup was warm and hearty, and paired well with the chicken and rice. I've had my fair share of dumplings - and while I'm not sure that these were made in house, they were definitely cooked to perfection. Perfectly crispy, with the right amount of crunch. While I definitely felt rushed to finish my meal and get out of there, I still recommend stopping by for some hainanese style chicken rice. If you plan on dining in, do make sure you make a reservation or call in advance because there is limited seating options. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Set 1 Boneless Chicken Over Rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Great spot for chicken and rice. They have other items too but I haven't tried them. They have the regular boiled chicken with a brown sauce, ginger rice, and radish soup. They also have a fried chicken version that comes with an orange sauce. They also have a ginger sauce that comes with the meal when you get a combo set with half boiled chicken and half fried chicken. While I usually like the regular boiled chicken, I think the fried chicken version is better here. All of the chicken are boneless so it's easier to eat. Located on a small street in Chinatown. Great for take out. The fried chicken warms up well in an air fryer. read more

Delish chicken and rice place with huge Portions that are honestly very shareable, savory soup, and awesome take on the classic hainan chicken. You won't go wrong with that item on their menu! read more

We've been coming here regularly after our ultrasound appts and love the food! My wife loves their Hainanese chicken - especially their garlic scallion dipping sauce, which I agree is very good. My go-to is their drunken noodles-- so good! There's a hint of smokiness to it that I'm addicted to. Our only complaint is that they pack you in like sardines here. We've eaten here 3 times and it can be a bit tough with a pregnant belly when you're wedged so tight that people have to scoot over to squeeze out. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Hainanese chicken- a nice clean soup to go with it. - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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#Ilovethaifood Cily chicken rice has Grandma putting her foot in it !! Exactly cook !! !! read more

Easily one of my favorite restaurants in Philadelphia! Their chicken is absolutely delicious, and you can have a choice between the traditional Hainan chicken or the fried chicken as well. The meal sets come with rice, soup, and chicken for a great price. The noodles are also delicious, I would really recommend their stir-fried rice noodles. The restaurant itself is quite small, so seating can be a challenge for larger groups. However, their service is quick and straightforward, no frills. Would recommend takeout from this place too! read more

Excellent Hainan chicken rice! One of our favorite restaurants in Philadelphia. We like our chicken boiled but you can get it fried too.

Garlic rice is delish. I prefer the poached chicken. The others in our group like the fried chicken. The ginger sauce needed more salt . We ordered more than we could finish. Service very good read more

Solid hainanese chicken spot. Their ginger sauce is perfectly balanced and everyone's food was still warm upon delivery. Definitely recommend both their boiled and fried options as well as the optional gizzard addition if you're a fan of it! read more

The service and food were well worth it. I think the amount of food I got was great for the value and the taste was there for me. The area is well lit and clean. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Set 1 Boneless Chicken Over Rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Been here a few times. Located in chinatown in Philly, this place specializes in Hainanese chicken and rice. The interior is pretty modern and somewhat trendy. The food comes out relatively fast. I've only ordered the chicken and rice dish. I tried both the fried and boiled options. I'd say the boiled option is better. The rice is flavorful and seasoned well. It's a good place to grab a quick bite. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Boiled chicken and rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Solid option for chicken and rice in Philly's Chinatown! Cute interior design and you can pay by Venmo. I enjoyed fish cakes and the Mixed fried and steamed Set 1 Boneless Chicken Over Rice--seemed like the best of both worlds. It was delicious--I loved the depth of the flavor of the rice, as well as the protein. You could tell they cooked it for a while to get the flavor right! Service was friendly and prompt. read more

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Hainanese chicken rice is one of my favorite comfort meals, and I was so excited when I found out this place in Chinatown specializes in it! We ordered the set for 2, which came with the chicken fried and boiled. I prefer the boiled option as personal preference, but the fried was very crispy and tasted just as good. The rice is flavored well, and the set also comes with a light chicken broth/soup. The service was quick. The restaurant itself is on the smaller side, so seating is a bit tight but still comfortable. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

I went here right after their lunch break so we were the first customers. We ordered their vegetable and tofu dish, and fried chicken and boiled chicken combo. I felt the tofu dish could have had more veggies in them for the price, but it was tasty. The sauce that comes with the chicken is good, especially the ginger sauce. I personally like the fried chicken (which paired well with the chili sauce), but both types of chicken were delicious. Ginger rice was nice and comforting, although I was not a huge fan of the soup except for the daikon (the soup was too salty for me). The service was quick and efficient; this place is not spacious, but it seemed like they were getting fair numbers of take out orders coming in. I would go back again and try some more items! read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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The hainan chicken rice here is an excellent value. It tastes great, the quantity is reasonable, and the price is reasonable. It was quite enjoyable. I like the soup that comes with it with the large radish. It was delicate and had a nice sweetness that worked with the overall meal. The service was good and they are very fast and getting the food out. The interior nice and clean as well. I would recommend coming here for a quick dinner, especially if you want lighter, but still delicious, flavor. read more

Food: I always get the set when I come here. It comes with chicken soup, ginger rice, the 3 classic sauces (scallion oil, sweet soy sauce, chili sauce), and the boneless chicken. You can choose to get all fried or all boiled. However, I tend to opt for half and half. The soup and rice is flavorful. The chicken pairs perfectly with the sauces. Sometimes they serve organs such as the chicken gizzard. The set is a really good deal! Service: Pretty quick and food doesn't take very long. Ambiance: Smaller restaurant. I would say it's probably hard to come here if you have a group larger than 4. Definitely expect a wait on the busier nights. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Set 4 Boneless Chicken with 4 Sets of Soup and Rice - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

This Chinatown gem is the best. Small and unassuming but the staff is friendly and the food is authentic. Their Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles) is the best I've ever had. The radish soup is really good as well. Don't pass this place up. 10 out of 10. read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Pad Kee Mao (Drunken Noodles), chicken with a fried egg, radish soup, pork gyoza. - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Wow. I ordered the set #1 mixed and the flavors were well worth the extra $2. Rice was also very flavorful. Service was quick for myself and for the other tables. It has a very hip vibe and the staff was attentive without being intrusive. I really enjoyed it and I think you will too. read more

Stopped by after some sightseeing and ordered the mixed chicken rice dish for 1. Don't have this around my way so it was a treat getting to taste something different. Amazing taste on the chicken, both poached and fried as well as the sauce presentation. Fabulous! Service was fast, and food was bomb. Glad we arrived before the rush because place was starting to get packed (6pm ish). Recommend if in the area! Radish soup was on point and complimented it all! read more

Cily Chicken Rice - Interior - Thai Near Me - Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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I'm from Maryland, and every time I am In PA I have to stop by for some chicken and rice. It's flavorful and the rice is so fragrant. The best I've had so far and I only stumbled upon this place and they got me hooked. Highly highly recommend read more

I went to this place TWO DAYS in a row because I loved it that much! I wanted a good pick me up meal, and the mixed set was perfect for that. I don't know if I loved the fried chicken or boiled more but the SAUCES were SO GOOD. I finished the entirety of the ginger one cause I loved it so much. I did try the Thai iced tea but it was a little too sweet for me. I also tried the mango sticky rice for dessert, but I felt like I tasted mango more than coconut. The mango DID taste really good, I just wanted more coconut (personal preference). 10/10 would go back read more

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