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Rooster & Rice

4.3 (115 reviews)
Special Hours Closed
Updated 3 weeks ago

Order Rooster & Rice Takeout or Delivery

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ROOSTER & RICE ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Moderate noise
Casual
Dogs allowed

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Recommended Reviews - Rooster & Rice

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Reviews With Photos

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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1 year ago

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7 months ago

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1 year ago

Good clean quick bite. Cannot go wrong. Wings are massive too! Their sauces are quite tasty as well.

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1 year ago

Friendly service, clean, and food looks so fresh and delish. Got the Hat Yao chicken which is their friend chicken thigh with rice and sides

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7 months ago

The food texture is perfect Great when you're craving something clean and nourishing

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

So excited that a new location was opened here, it's the perfect lunch spot for a quick healthy bite

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

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8 months ago

The Original meal is very good. The chicken broth is great. Reminds me of Savoy from Alhambra. Ginger Scallion Sauce is really good.

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10 months ago

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Went there with friends, very cozy and fast service. The restaurant is beautifully decorated--a great place for gatherings!

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1 year ago

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9 months ago

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1 year ago

Best chicken rice !especially the chicken and rice bowl, soup very testy,nice service

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1 year ago

Tasty! We enjoyed the comfort food! You can't go wrong with chicken and rice! Order the wings and the original

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1 year ago

Amazing absolutely love. Hahahhahahahahahha love love love. Original and khao soi. Customer service great as well

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1 year ago

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1 year ago

Simplified, delicious menu in a clean setup! I love Hainan chicken and hits the spot!

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1 year ago

Absolutely love this place! Great service, amazing atmosphere, and the food is always fresh and delicious!

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Rooster & Rice - thai - Updated July 2026

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