Sweet Rice is tucked away in the corner of a bustling shopping plaza in Gardena. Upon entry, there's a framed Michelin Plate recognition on the wall, so immediately my expectations rose a few notches. Was immediately greeted by the friendly and cheerful staff. Was seated at a little corner table by the front window. After perusing the menu, I realized this was not your typical Thai restaurant. Sure, it had the usual staples you find at most Thai restaurants, like noodles, curries and tom yum soups. What I found intriguing were the atypical items on their menu, like Jok (Thai porridge) and Kao Kai Jeow (Thai Omelette). Ultimately ordered the Jok Kreung Nai and the Tofu Koi Sao. They were both wonderful. The Jok is the perfect comfort food. It's very similar to Chinese congee or Vietnamese chao (which has century egg, ground pork, ginger and scallions), but it also had pork maw which added a different dimension in flavor and texture. Oh, the Jok also included a poached egg, which was a pleasant surprise. The Koi Sao was very rich and robust with spices. It had a very mild kick to it so my spicy-adverse palate was able to handle it. Had the choice of tofu, chicken, or beef. Decided on the tofu which I think really absorbed the curry well. The noodles were perfectly al dente. The veggies (bean sprouts, mustard greens, cilantro, and onions) balanced the rich spices nicely. With all this delicious comfort food, I was way too full for dessert. Had to take the mango and sticky rice dessert to-go. On the way out, I noticed it was a pretty heavy dessert (as in, its weight). They gave a generous portion...a whole mango and a sizeable amount of sweet sticky rice. Enjoyed this hefty delight at home with the coconut cream. My expectations were exceeded. This might be one of my new favorite Thai places! read more

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A small family run, cozy restaurant/ cafe tucked away in a corner of a strip mall. I have only been here once, but it looks like they specialize in Thai dishes that are typically eaten for breakfast/ lunch as well as desserts. The two ladies here when I came in were super friendly and helpful. This place feels more like a fast casual type place as in you order at the counter, then find a table to sit and wait for your food. I thoroughly enjoyed my meal and experience here. The foods were comforting and done really well. The flavors and textures were on point. I was able to try the kao soi (curry noodles) with tofu and the jok kreung nai (rice porridge) with some pork, a poached and century egg along with scallions and ginger, etc. this was served with a doughnut or the patongo. The curry noodles weren't too spicy, and had tons of delicious flavor. The noodles are cooked perfectly.and the toppings were fresh. The porridge felt like home. I feel like different Asian cultures all have a version of their rice porridge and the flavors here just fave me a comforting nostalgic feeling. It was so good as well. The portions are bigger than you think so just keep that in mind. I couldn't even touch the mango sticky rice I also ordered, so I had to save that and eat that later. Parking is relatively easy to find, but it is located in a popular strip mall so it can get pretty busy depending on the time you go. I definitely recommend the spot if you're looking for some comforting deliciousness in great flavors. Especially for earlier in the day. I myself want to come back to try more stuff on the menu or if I just have a craving for the porridge. read more

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Finally, I returned to this piece of heaven after the indelible memory I had at the peak of the pandemic. I was here with my entire family the first time, and it was one of the highlights of our dining experience during that dark time. I realized this is within walking distance from my work, so it made perfect sense for me to visit during my lunch break. I ordered the kao soi again, but this time with beef instead of tofu. It was even better than I remembered. The broth was rich and the beef was tender. The mixture of other ingredients unified the taste in such way that I cannot imagine a better combination of culinary goodness. I also tried their homemade coconut ice cream, with some of my favorite toppings. This lunch experience set the bar so high that everywhere else might feel like a disappointment. Even though I ordered at the counter, the staff brought my food to me and cleared my table while I enjoyed my dessert. read more

Sweet Rice - Kao soi (beef) - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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Finally tried their food and it was so comforting especially on a cold, rainy day! I got the beef noodle soup. It reminded me of pho but a richer beef flavor. The meat was super tender was well. Also tried the kao soi which was actually really good! Never tried it before but it tasted like home with a hint of spice. Service was great as usual and the restaurant was clean. Come check it out! read more

Sweet Rice - Beef noodle soup - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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A perfect bowl of piping hot soup for the cold gloomy weather like today! Order the chicken Kao Soi soup and you'll be hit with flavor-texture bomb galore. So much flavor in one bowl: cilantro, lime, crispy onions, fresh red onions, crispy wontons, pickled mustard greens, and egg noodles all encompassed in a coconut curry broth!! Service was quick, inside is cozy, and there's a self serve ice water station I love it !! read more

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Sweet Rice is a cute spot for Thai food! Service is fairly quick and friendly. They have a decent selection of dishes including rice dishes, soups, and noodles. You order at a counter, grab your own water, and sit down to wait for your food. We tried their crab omelette and boat noodle soup. Both were pretty good although I wished the crab omelette had more crab flavor. You can see decent chunks of crab in it, but mostly taste the egg, jalapeño, and basil. Portion sizes are good here. My brother and I can eat quite a bit and found that two dishes was enough for us. read more

Sweet Rice - Crab omelette IG: @bobabitchess - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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Food was absolutely delicious we can not wait to go back! We Felt sincerely welcomed. Well balance flavors and authentic Thai food. We went on a Thursday afternoon and it was peaceful and the weather was perfect. read more

Sweet Rice - Soy kon noodles I believe is what our dish was named. Perfect portion size. - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

I can't believe I haven't written a review for Sweet Rice yet! Sweet Rice is def one of my favorite Thai restaurants in the South Bay. They're always consistent and the customer service is always so kind and accommodating! There literally hasn't been a bad thing I've tried on their menu so order away! I'm absolutely positive you'll be happy with whatever you get! They also have amazing Thai tea and coffee and dessert! Omg do not forget about dessert! They have, hands down, the best mango sticky rice. And on Fridays and the weekends, they have a tapioca dessert that's to die for! read more

Their chicken yellow curry is alright; not the best I've ever had. I like my curry a little more on the thick side. This was watery. The food came out quickly. Service was decent. read more

Sweet Rice - Chicken yellow curry - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

My favorite khao soi place, but sometimes depending on the day or time you go it sometimes taste different. Also, it's a little pricey for something that isn't consistent so hard to justify coming as often as I'd like. I really wish they still served their coconut ice cream. I no longer make the drive as that was my favorite thing. I'll come back if they serve it again :D. read more

My first visit at Sweet Rice was very delightful. I ordered the Thai Boat Noodle and really enjoyed it. It was so good that I went back a few days later to order some food to go for my family to try. I got the basil crab omelette which was good, and the yellow curry with chicken which was extremely salty. It was very disappointing. I also ordered sticky rice mango which was really good. And I came back in today because my bf was craving sticky rice mango. Unfortunately, for some reason, the coconut milk was salty, and the sticky rice was not cooked evenly. I feel kinda bad writing this review but the inconsistency is not what I expected. read more

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The older lady there is so rude. Always so grumpy. They usually give me extra sauce for months with no issue. This time she decides to charge me extra for the sauce. There's no sign posted anywhere. The other waitress gives it to me with no issue. It was also the way she speaks that was so rude. read more

Food: First right off the bat the food here is absolutely amazing. The kao soi was some of the best I ever had with the yellow curry flavor not being so overpowering. I also appreciate the little details of this place for example the chicken strips that you choose for your protein 90% of Thai restaurants you go those things are usually dry or overcooked but sweet rice does it right and it's so tender and moist. The tom yuk wasn't overly sour and perfectly balanced. Portions size was very fair and it's definitely become one of our go to destinations here in the South Bay. Service: You order at the counter and they have a dining area both indoors and outdoors. You grab your own drinks. Ambiance: Lots of takeout orders great for a casual dinner or lunch. read more

Sweet Rice - Tom yum - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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Ordered the chicken kao soi and it did not disappoint! There was so much chicken and the crunch from the wontons were such a nice addition. The curry is well seasoned and perfectly paid with the grilled onions. Note that you do order and pay at the counter then they bring you your food to your table. Even though the place was full only waited about 5-10min for our yummy food! read more

Sweet Rice - Chicken Kao Soi and Dirty Thai Tea - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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My partner and I had the khao soi , Thai beef noodle, and tapioca pearls. The two soups were delicious. The curry taste in the khao soi had so much flavor. I loved the broth of the Thai beef noodle. We added chile to our dishes and it was so tasty. The portions are big so next time we probably will order just one dish. Service was quick and welcoming. And the tapioca pearls was surprisingly good with the corn. The restaurant next to this one is owned by the same owner and they serve pad see ew which we plan to try next time. Will come again. read more

Clean, empty, decent food. I took myself out to lunch on my birthday (may1) and there were a LOT of choices in this mall. I went into another one, and was essentially ignored, so I kept walking un til I found Sweet Rice. There were no other customers but I was greet immediately and asked them for a recommendation. It was a noodle bowl, not quite enough fish sauce for my taste, but nice enough. Needed more green stuff, maybe some Thai basil. With so many choices in this town, it's not good enough to return to, read more

Very good. We got the Duck Porridge and the Mango Sticky Rice. Both are so good. The porridge might have a bit too much ginger (I just don't love them) but my partner who doesn't usually love porridge absolutely loved it. Want to go back some time. read more

Since my favorite Thai spot closed down- Yaa Ya Thai, I have been on the lookout for another one and without having to trek to Thai Town. The fortunate thing about Pacific Square is that there now are several to choose from all within steps of each other, including Bowl Thai which used to be in the Tozai Plaza but that's a different review for a different time. Got the yellow curry with chicken- it got the job done. I would be open to trying some of the other options offered in the restaurant. read more

Khao Soi FTW! I'm a huge boat noodle fan but everyone, including my friends that I went with raved about the Khao soi, so I had to opt for it with chicken. And let me just say, AHHH-MAZING!! It's definitely a dish I can see myself craving. We also ordered the omelette with pork, comes with white rice. Definitely could have done without this. Egg was fluffy but nothing special. Parking is easy, as the restaurant is in a strip mall/plaza with tons of parking spots. Can't wait to come back and get the Khao soi and try their boat noodles next time! read more

Sweet Rice - Khao soi with chicken - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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Tom yum noodle soup is the biz!!! Crab omelette is bangin' too! Pretty cool to have this local gem in LA Times "Best Of" series, reppin' good ol' Gardena! If I'm under the weather, this is one of my go to spots! Their soups are elixirs! read more

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Duck Noodle $19 (w/ tax) was OK edible but mostly (carbs) egg or vermicelli Noodles and soup. It has Very LITTLE meat that are VERY thin Slices of a duck. It's less than a duck leg (w/o the thigh part) of meat. What you see in that picture is all that was provided and they were slices (nothing below it). There are some bean sprouts and garnishes. The broth was ok, not something amazingly tasting to remember. Thai Villa in Lakewood has a better noodle broth. Payment is due at ordering and food served to the table. Hot sauces and water/ice is on the side and self serve. Including, take out containers. It's similar to food stalls in food courts in malls but 1 store. Staff was friendly and quick. The 5 tables were full so people do like it, but maybe they like noodles (carbs). It's an order/pay, sit and order will deliver to your table. Leave the reusable tableware on table for staff to pick up when they find time. read more

Sweet Rice - Duck noodle with THIN slices of meat, other parts are just skin (fat) - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

Stumbled upon this place when we were in the area, and it was interesting that right across it was another Thai place, Bowl Thai Grill. It turns out they are basically owned by the same people! I was quite puzzled, so I asked them why, and was told they had different menus, and we could sit in either locations, they would serve us on either side! Worked out great, because we had others ordering from Bowl Thai Grill...LOL! Very casual and pleasant vibe - staff (on both sides!) were friendly and helpful. This one had a feel of a market as well, there were Thai snacks and items packed to-go. The menu here is definitely not the usual Thai options, more street-food style, with items such as Kao Soi, noodle soups, and dessert like coconut ice-cream and mango sticky rice. We opted for a green curry (one of my go-to items to test authenticity!) and a basil omelette, which came over rice. Also ordered a Dirty Thai tea (which was a Thai tea mixed with coffee!) and a Cha Manaow, which is a Thai tea with lime juice - VERY tasty, and worked for me, since there was no milk in it. Thumbs up on the green curry, very tasty and flavorful, with a good amount of basil leaves, though I would have preferred eggplant, but it was with zucchini, which wasn't bad. It also came with a hard boiled egg, much to my surprise! The mango sticky rice was our dessert, and the mango was super fresh and ripe and sticky rice had the right texture. Mango sticky rice was part of their to-go items, so it was packed in a to-go box. All in all, a pleasant experience, and am looking forward to trying out the other items when I come back to the area soon. read more

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Had the wonton soup with egg noodles and the curry noodle soup both were really flavorful and hearty! Definitely will be back to try more.

This spot has Khao Soi that I keep coming back for it's that good. The soup, noodles, and toppings are perfectly balanced, and the flavors are straight-up addictive. The place is clean, the service is solid, and if they've got the coconut ice cream, don't even think twice just get it!Of course, the other dishes are great too, but I always find myself craving the Khao Soi! read more

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Bowl Thai and Bowl Thai Grill are both sister restaurants to Sweet Rice. I'm a fan of Bowl Thai and Bowl Thai Grill, just not this place. Found in the Pacific Square Plaza where Tokyo Central market is located. Sweet Rice is right next to Bowl Thai Grill. The food was just ok. My daughter and I came for lunch. Maybe I didn't know what to order but ordered based on reviews. Daughter ordered the duck noodle soup, which is her first time having duck. The meat was overcooked and dry. The broth was decent. I had ordered the beef noodle soup. It had meatball, beef slices, tripe, rice noodles (same used for pho), in a beef broth. I personally thought the broth tasted better on this one than the duck. The dessert was underwhelming imo. I had ordered the coconut ice cream with toppings of your choice. Turned me off when they busted out canned fruits and jelly in front of me. Service was good. Workers were cordial and polite. Food came out fairly quick. Ambiance look and feel fits to the Thai cultural theme. They have indoor and outdoor seating, but I believe they share the outdoor seatings with Bowl Thai Grill. It does get busy on the weekends especially during lunch/dinner rush so plan to go accordingly. I'd reconsider trying something different next visit like the Tom Yum Noodle soup or the omelets for brekkie. Otherwise, go with an open mind and read other reviews on recommendations. Food wasn't horrible, just didn't wow me. You're welcome! read more

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Casual Thai dining spot where you order at the counter. There's a good selection and the portions are a decent size. Service is pretty minimal but it wasn't a problem for this kind of eatery. I'd come back here to try the other menu items. Khao Soi: Get Full of wonderful flavors and textures. This is one of the better khao sois that I've gotten in SoCal. Make sure to squeeze all of those lime juices out to compliment the savoriness of the dish. Mango sticky rice: Get Perfectly ripe mangoes with coconut sauce and the sweet sticky rice...mmmm one of my favorite desserts and it's done right here. Food: 8/10 Service: 5/10 Atmosphere: 6/10 Value: 7/10 read more

Sweet Rice - khao soi - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

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A few friends recommended this place. The mango sticky rice was so good that i got to go. Not too sweet or overpowering it was just the perfect amount of sweetness. Can't wait to try more dishes! read more

Sweet Rice - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

Sweet Rice is just a short walk from the Tokyo Central & Main supermarket. In addition, they have a big parking lot, so finding a spot is easy. Food: My order included Khao Soi (coconut curry noodles), Beef Noodles, and Mango Sticky Rice. The standout dish for me was undoubtedly the beef noodles. Bursting with flavor and served with impeccably tender meat, it easily ranks among the best beef noodles I've ever had. The mango sticky rice was delicious and not too sweet. It's a perfect dessert for anyone who doesn't like overwhelmingly sweet desserts like myself. If you prefer your broth thick, you should try the Khao Soi. It offers a profound flavor profile without being overwhelmingly rich. Overall, the servings were also quite plentiful and generous! Service: I placed a takeout order over the phone and was pleasantly surprised to find it ready in less than 15 minutes! The staff member I interacted with was not just friendly but also efficient. The place was also clean and neat. Writing this review is making me hungry for those beef noodles - be back soon! read more

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The mango sticky rice is so good and the coconut sauce with it. Taste consistently the same each time I get it and the staff are usually pretty quick. read more

So many great flavors here! We got the Jok (rice porridge) and Kao Soi (yellow curry noodles) with beef. Both were great comfort food. Don't worry about having porridge for lunch or dinner; no one said you cannot have a breakfast item later in the day. The beef in the noodle soup was well marinated, adding to the complexity of the soup. We couldn't finish both bowls, so packed the remaining to-go. They were tasty when reheated too. For dessert, the mango sticky rice is a staple here. Boxes and boxes of mangoes are delivered here and they only use the ripest ones. The sticky rice had a slight salty flavor, which balances out the sweetness of the mango. Service staff is super friendly. I could not have asked for a better meal experience. read more

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I was so badly craving mango sticky rice and this was the place I ran into and I'm glad I did! First off, service was crazy fast! I was in and out in under 5 minutes. The sticky rice was sooo good! It definitely filled my craving! Definitely will be back again! read more

Absolutely delicious. I wish they out veggies in the yellow curry. I love Thai food and this is the very first time I saw a place with no veggies. Other than that it was delicious. read more

Mango Sticky Rice is an instant yes, fresh mango and a delicious side of rice that is cooked to perfection. The rest of the food is amazing as well. Tried their tum yum noodles, and yellow curry. Very savory, I had hoped the noodles would be more spicy as it was advertised but it was very mild so prepare to add more spice if you wish, delicious anyway. The place is a bit small and can be a bit busy but they have more seating outside. You do have to walk up to order and sit yourself down where available. The ladies at the counter are very kind and helpful, they get busy but still seem attentive to what's happening around them. I walked in not knowing it had earned a Michellin Star until after the fact so that was a pleasant surprise. read more

Sweet Rice - Action shot of the Mango Sticky Rice - Thai Near Me - Gardena, California

Sweet Rice is tucked away in the corner of the Tokyo Central plaza. Order before you seat yourself. Interior is bright with just a few tables for you to get your casual Thai fix. Service was quick and friendly. Tbh, all of the items were good but nothing out of the ordinary. The KAO SOI BEEF HOWEVER is absolutely delicious!!!!! Super umami, savory with a touch of sweet. I normally don't finish noodle soups but I could have had seconds. Memorable and mouth-watering. I'm drooling now as I type this.. Also, don't forget the condiments!!!! Love adding the chili oil and spicy vinegar to round out the flavors. I wish we ordered the coconut ice cream but it was sold out by the time we arrived ~ 8pm. Overall, I will be back for the Kao soi and famous coconut ice cream! read more

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I always come for their coconut ice cream and mango and sticky rice, which is absolutely delicious! We decided to dine in today and try their soup. We ordered a variety of soups to share. Small bowls for sharing are conveniently located near the water. We ordered the Kao Soi Curry Noodles, Tom Yum Noodle Soup, and the Ba Mee Nam Soup. All of their soups were absolutely delicious and I found the portion size to be perfect, with leftovers to spare. My favorite was the Kao Soi with chicken that had various textures and flavors that combined perfectly. Yellow Curry with noodles, topped with cilantro, onions, fried onions, mustard greens, bean sprouts, crispy noodles, and a lime wedge to top it all off. Highly recommended. The Ba Mee Soup had a broth similar to wonton soup and was generously filled with fish balls and fish cake, along with crumbled pork. This soup is made with egg noodles and also contains, bean sprouts, scallions, and roasted garlic oil. The Tom Yum soup was described as having a spicy tangy broth. I found it to be just slightly spicy. Made with rice noodles, this soup was also filled with fish balls, fish cake, crumbled pork, sun dried shrimp, bean sprouts, cilantro, scallions, peanut oil, and roasted garlic oil. They weren't selling coconut ice cream today, but we topped off the meal with mango and sticky rice. read more

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The curry is so flavorful. The Thai teas are so refreshing. Service was excellent, the ladies were very friendly. The place is small, but it's clean and they have plenty of seating. read more

The atmosphere was ho-hum, but the food was great!! This place is hidden, tucked away in the southwest corner of the plaza. Storefront is very cute and you'll know it when you see it. Sis said green curry was fire! Well-seasoned, hot, packaging was great as a go-order (nothing spilled on the bumpy ride home), and it was enough to feed her for two days!! Same for my meal!! And veggies packed separately from the soup (kao soi) so they didn't wilt when I did sit down to eat-- super special since I ate it in more than one setting. I appreciated the alteration of my meal to have mixed chicken and tofu. And of course the mango sticky rice was a great way to top it all off! Mango fresh and sweet. The woman behind the cash register was cordial. Greeted us on entry and exit. read more

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Delicious, authentic Thai noodle dishes. Friendly and efficient service. Self order at the counter with casual ambiance. read more

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Dined here because they have Khao Soi. Not to mention, their mango sticky rice is so delicious. You can tell once you walk through the door, they have cases upon cases of fresh champagne mangoes stacked up! Their Khao Soi is one of my favorites and I love that the curry broth is not too thick like gravy unlike at some places but very easy to eat. I love that they have fried wonton strips to add to the texture of the dish. Been here twice and I really enjoyed the food. read more

The coconut ice cream with toddy palm and lichee add mango is the best!! So refreshing on a hot day !!