The dish itself originated from immigrants from Hainan and became iconic in Singapore and throughout Southeast Asia. Traditionally, poached chicken is served with fragrant rice cooked in chicken fat and broth, alongside chili, ginger, and soy-based sauces. One of the earlier notable specialty concepts in OC was The Chicken Rice in Tustin. The restaurant focused specifically on Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice ("khao man gai"). I had went to this place for the first time back when it was located on 4th Street in Santa Ana. It was hidden within their food court area but I am glad they were able to move to their new location inside 99 Ranch supermarket to attract more businesses, since it caters more to their demographic tastebuds. Great business move! The food quality of the crispy chicken was something you'd get from Thailand itself. Flavorful and juicy chicken with a crunchy skin exterior. Pair it with the aromatic ginger rice and it's everything you'd want in this dish. It comes with a side of sweet and sour sauce, but I'd prefer the soy and scallion ginger sauce. Great portion size and pricing too! 5/5 I remember their Chicken Pad Thai since their rendition of this dish was on the wetter side(which I prefer over others). The noodles were perfectly sauced and that splash of lime gave it that extra tangy, sweet and savory taste. Make sure you mix the beansprouts and peanuts to really get that bite of happiness. I just wish there was more chicken, but I could see why it's not available at their new location. 4/5 I used to grow up eating this at Banana Boat Restaurant (iykyk) so this was a similar nostalgic feeling when I tried this. Wish there was a fried egg on top. read more

The Chicken Rice - Crispy Chicken with Ginger Rice - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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I really wanted to love The Chicken Rice but am a little underwhelmed by what I got. I ordered the Hainan chicken meal and was super disappointed with the soup. I was hoping for the savory gingery, garlicy flavor but got some weird, sweet seaweed in my soup. It threw me off since that's what I ate first. The chicken was cooked well and wasn't dry at all. The rice was a little mushy. I liked the convenience of having this restaurant inside the 99Ranch Market. You can grocery shop while you wait for your order. The down side is is that if you want to eat there, there are not a lot of seats. The service was fine. The person taking my order didn't really understand all the questions I was asking about the menu options so I stuck with the basics to not over complicate anything. She was nice enough though. read more

We found this place while shopping inside 99Ranch supermarket one day, it got us curious as we very much enjoy good chicken rice, and made sure we would come back asap to try it out. Located inside the 99 Ranch Supermarket, in the bakery section, this food court style outlet deserves a lot of praise for the quality of their chicken rice and very friendly and helpful service at the counter. As is typical with any food court order, you simply decide what you want to eat, place your order, pay for it, and they'd call you when the food is ready for pickup at the counter. Meanwhile, it's probably a good idea to go find a table or bar seat while you're waiting as there are only about 8 tables available. With food court food, I don't really expect the highest quality food, but was pleasantly surprised here as the Thai style Hainanese Chicken Rice was actually quite good. Sure, Thai style chicken rice is quite different from authentic Hainanese chicken rice, but they're both just as delicious. What we especially liked was that they include several types of sauces... my favorite being the ginger and scallion sauce... but also soya sauce, chili sauce, etc. My only gripe would be that the spicy chili sauce is not very spicy, and it's a bit sweet. Additionally, we liked that we could request a regular order of chicken meat, which is a mix of white and dark meat, or just dark or white meat. My wife ordered the regular and I ordered white meat.... with an added order of chicken meat for me. Ok, the first thing that surprised me was how fresh, hot, fantastically fluffy, fragrant, and delicious the chicken rice was... you can also opt for regular white rice. I don't usually eat rice, but this was so good that I actually finished it! Next, the Chicken. Very fresh and very well cooked....ok, the white meat was ever so slightly dry, but i tried some of my wife's dark meat and it was absolutely tender, juicy, and delicious... especially when dipped in my favorite ginger and scallion sauce. Your also get a side of hot clear chicken soup and few pieces of cucumber with the order. Overall, we were very happy with the chicken rice here.... decent portion size too, the very friendly and helpful counter service, and simple yet clean food court style environment inside the very new 99 Ranch Supermarket... so much so that we would definitely come back here again for our next chicken rice craving. read more

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I wasn't really impressed with Chicken Rice. It's a small stand inside 99 Ranch. I ordered the Duo Chicken rice plate with crispy chicken and orange chicken. The orange chicken had very little orange flavor and was extremely crispy. My plastic fork broke and I had to eat with my fingers. The crispy chicken was cooked OK but had little flavor. The Miso soup also had little flavor. There are a few tables so I ate there before paying for my groceries. Chicken Rice is a one and done for me. read more

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This eatery is inside the 99 Ranch Market, and if you like ginger, you'll love these dishes! Their signature ginger scallion sauce and ginger rice is what most come for. Their chicken is really good, and their meals come with a mini cup of Miso soup. They do provide a few tables and chairs so you can dine in, although most take to go. read more

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Tucked away in a 99 ranch market, this place serves up hainan chicken rice or Khao Mun Gai. I think this place is Thai style, but I can't really distinguish the difference to other location outside of the sauces. The meal comes with 2 sauces and rice chicken and soup. There are a variety of sauces but I opted for spicy miso and ginger scallion. Rice was well seasoned and chicken was tender. Soup was a seaweed type of soup. Portion was pretty substantial. There is some seating inside. Overall good spot for some hainan chicken rice. read more

The Chicken Rice - Hainan Chicken with Ginger Rice - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

The fact of the matter is, I've been your big fan since you were still operating on 4th Street EastEnd Kitchen in Santa Ana. Though your soup can use a bit more ginger, however your chicken and rice are fantastic! This is my to go place for Hainan chicken rice ... hands down! read more

Tustin is The Chicken Rice's second location and can be found near the intersection of Newport Avenue and 1st Street in Larwin Square. It's not a standalone restaurant but instead is located inside the recently opened 99 Ranch market. There are a few tables if you plan to dine in, but I expect most patrons will order for takeout. We started with the Crispy Tofu appetizer, but it was tasteless and not memorable. The restaurant's specialty is Thai Style Hainanese Chicken Rice and their signature dish includes ginger rice, soup and cucumber. The restaurant offers a half and half option for an additional $3 and a choice of two of the following: - Hainan Chicken - Crispy Chicken - BBQ Chicken - Larb Crispy Chicken - Hat Yai Fried Chicken - Orange Chicken Each order also comes with a choice of two sauces from the following selection: - Fresh Ginger & Chili - Soybean Ginger - Spicy Soybean Ginger - Ginger Scallion - Sweet Soy Sauce - Sweet & Sour I'm partial to the Hainan Chicken dipped in the Ginger Scallion sauce and the Hat Yai Fried Chicken paired with the Spicy Soybean Ginger. The restaurant staff is helpful and friendly too. I'd also recommend trying their original location at the 4th Street Market in Santa Ana. read more

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Wow, The Chicken Rice has me hooked on their Hainan Chicken - I've lost count of how many times I've ordered it since they opened. Absolutely love how tender and perfectly cooked the chicken is each time, and the sauces they serve with the chicken are so deliciously addictive in the best way! I love the Ginger Scallion Oil and Spicy Soybean Ginger for my dipping sauces. The Orange Chicken is also very tasty. Other than Hainan Chicken, the Hat Yai fried chicken is also our go-to order for half and half. Can't wait to try more menu items, but we always have to order the Hainan Chicken because it's THAT good! You can order at the counter or electronic kiosk. Located within 99 Ranch so the parking lot is large. Pair with a tea from Wushiland (also inside 99 Ranch) and you've got yourself a delightful combo! Ambiance is casual and there are some tables around the order counter (both front and back). Hope you enjoy! read more

The Chicken Rice - Orange chicken and Hainan chicken - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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If you're a fan of Hainan chicken, you'll want to make a pit stop at Chicken Rice in the 99 Ranch Market food hall. They've got the basics covered--tender steamed chicken with those classic sauces (ginger oil, miso ginger--you know the drill). But then there's a dish I haven't seen, or notice before, which is the Hat Yai Chicken. The prices? Friendly enough that you won't need to refinance your house, and the portions will keep you fueled for either a shopping spree or a post-boba food coma (yes, Wushiland moved in--resistance is futile). There's also seating, so you can have your chicken before buying too many things you don't need in the market. I would totally hit up this place again and get to do my weekly grocery shopping at the same time. read more

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This restaurant is located inside the 99 Ranch Market! We got the Hainan Chicken Rice and the Khao Sao. - Hainan Chicken Rice: Flavor was okay decent. I've had places better. - Khao Sao: Great coconut flavor. A little sweet. Definitely would recommend getting extra spicy. Defining will go again! Want to try their main restaurant in Santa Ana location. read more

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Came here a couple times since its convenience when I shop at ranch 99. I always ordered the steams chicken rice with skin on. The only thing I wish they could improve is the sauces, the ginger sauce is not salty enough and I tried to spicy soy and a bits of the sweeter side. I wish they can give us the typical dark soy sauce, hot chili sauce and ginger sauce for this chicken. Soup was good and comforting. And rice is flavorful...chicken is juicy read more

Khao Soi was very good. Friendly and helpful service, ample clean tables. Inside Ranch 99. read more

The Chicken Rice - Khao Soi - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

Was craving Hainan Chicken and met up with a friend here. The place is tucked inside a 99 Ranch Market and has about 5-6 tables to eat at. When I got to the counter, I asked about the different kinds of chicken they serve and the helpful cashier explained them quite clearly. Wanting to try something new, I ordered Hat Yai chicken in a combo with steamed Hainan Chicken and ginger rice. You get to choose two sauces, so I went with the standard ginger and green onion along with a Spicy Soybean Ginger Sauce. It comes with a cup of chicken broth on the side, which you can drizzle over your rice or just have as a side soup. Hat Yai chicken was good--it's deep fried without batter--but I think I'll stick with regular Hainan Chicken next time, only because I prefer the chicken steamed. A solid meal option in this part of town! read more

The Chicken Rice - Hainan Chicken and Hat Yai Chicken with Ginger Rice - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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Chicken portion was large and the ginger rice was flavorful and tasty, plus great sauces to complement the entire Hainan Chicken rice dish together. The Khao Soi was also tasty and it came with two large drumsticks and creamy curry broth. The staff were friendly and super nice. The ambiance is casual in the food court area inside 99 Ranch Market in Tustin. Highly recommended! read more

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Located inside the supermarket, when you turn and walk towards the boba, walk past the bakery and it will be on your left. It's a chill area that has plenty of choices to choose from. At the time when I went there the Haninan Chicken Rice was $15, and it came with 2 sauces of your own choice. The lady was very nice and patience with me. The food came out fast and neatly packaged. The chicken was tasty and flavorful. The rice had flavor too! I usually like the rice to be a bit more oily and stronger green onion taste. But one of the sauces is the green onion! I just wished they gave more. We also got the mango sticky rice for dessert. The mango is soft, ripe and good! The sticky rice was definitely sticky, I kind of wish they gave us more coconut sauce, but maybe it's just because I like my food to be more saucy. I am intrigued and confused why the sticky rice is blue. read more

My experience here started on a bad note. Didn't realize it was located inside the 99 ranch market. Surprisingly there's a food court inside.. it looked promising and Yelp reviews are what brought me here. High price point in my opinion, especially for a grocery store food option. I ordered the combo and picked the hainan chicken dark meat with larb chicken. I liked the larb but everything else went downhill. The broth it came with was unnecessarily hot and burned my tongue lol. The hainan chicken was rubbery and the rice was not up to par either. Maybe I'm just spoiled by the best hainan chicken in Alhambra. I think 3 stars is being generous... read more

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Finally, a decent Hainan chicken joint has opened up in OC. After enduring years of disappointments from places like Rooster and Rice and Side Chick, and various ghost kitchens, I was pleasantly surprised to find that this place does Hainan chicken pretty well! Their chicken was tender and well-cooked and the ginger scallion sauce paired very well. We also like the sweet soy sauce too! They also offer fried and barbecue chicken and both of those options are good too! read more

Try it again today and the soup is better now (less sweet). Sorry for the messy picture showing the food read more

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New (mostly takeout) joint in 99 Ranch, with some seating options inside the grocery store. The chicken was good and tasted exactly as expected. The soup could have been more flavorful. Would recommend for takeout especially since Tustin doesn't have a lot of choices when it comes to Hainan chicken. They will give you a buzzer to pick up the food when it's ready. read more

Alright option for hainan chicken within a 10-20 mile radius of Tustin. Very few places wow me for this kind of dish to begin with since it is hard to execute and there are many cultural adaptations but I enjoyed the unique and varied sauces having tried the ginger scallion oil and spicy soybean ginger here. Sometimes the secret is in the sauce and that's definitely the case here! Chicken could've been a little bit more tender but was not bad. The seaweed soup was also a nice touch. (It's always the little things, you now?) Restaurant is located inside a 99 Ranch and seating is minimal so it is best to order to go. read more

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In order a few things. The regular Hainan chicken rice, yellow curry chicken and mango sticky rice. Yellow curry was great. Got a good kick, but the chicken(breast) was a bit dry. Should brine it, velvet it or use thigh meat. Mango sticking rice was okay. Mango was a bit on the sour side. The rice had really good flavor. So the hainan chicken would've been great. Looks tender and the sauce was amazing. Spicy ginger was good! Here's the BUT, the chicken had a funky smell. The smell you get if you leave meat out for hours at room temperature and it's starting to spoil. I came at around 5pm, so my assumption is, the chicken was cooked in the morning and left out and not refrigerated. read more

Love the chicken rice especially the hainan chicken with the ginger scallion sauce (also like to add sweet soy sauce). They also offer combinations where you can get multiple types of chicken in one order, and I'm a fan of the hat yai fried chicken if you go that route but ultimately the hainan chicken is the most consistently satisfying. It's in a small food court / bakery area in the 99 ranch but it pairs super well with getting a tea from wushiland then doing some shopping read more

Saw the good reviews online and decided to check it out. The place is inside of a food court and with the hainan chicken order you get to pick 2 types of sauces. I decided to get both sauce with the standard ginger scallion. We then proceeded to sit outdoor. As we begin to try the food, the chicken meat was tender, but the rice was tad dry and sauce lack flavor. We had hainan chicken from a lot of different places but the ginger sauce is always very flavorful that adds on to the taste of the chicken and rice. We talked about wanting to go back and ask for salt, we just end up putting some soup over the rice. I like the texture of the chicken coz it was really tender, they have another location so maybe we would give the other place a try next time. read more

Chicken rice was good. Larb chicken was good too. The ginger sauce is also well done. Reasonable priced. Worth checking out. Inside the food court of Ranch 99 read more

Wow! The Chicken Rice is fast (super tasty) food done right. Located within 99Ranch must offset costs for the consumer. Since it's located in the store, don't expect IG/TikTok aesthetics. Haha. Taye (sp?) helped me out and he was very friendly and knowledgeable. He works at Tuk Tuk and Sen too! For ~$18.50, you get delicious chicken (I chose Hainan chicken and friend chicken), broth infused rice, and tasty broth. It was so good I was thinking about the gym session needed to earn this meal again. The spicy soybean ginger pairs well with the fried chicken. Hidden gym! Check it out! read more

Food was delicious. I enjoyed the fact that they focus on just a few dishes and perfected it. The spicy soybean sauce is my go to. My husband tried it for the first time yesterday and got a second bowl. It was so delicious I even went back and got my brother one to go too. I got the Hainan chicken and my husband got the crispy chicken. Attached with my post is the photo of the food. Pretty decent portion, delicious and most definitely satisfying, it even comes with a small bowl of broth. I'll a regular for sure. read more

The Chicken Rice - Both crispy chicken bowl and Hainan chicken bowl with ginger scallion sauce and spicy soybean sauce. - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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Placed an order on DoorDash. Bbq Chicken with Fur everywhere, super disgusting! I don't even know what to do. Try eating it but I can't. Not sure how they sell this kinda stuff man read more

The Chicken Rice - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

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Hainan chicken and rice was good. Soybean paste was very flavorful. I wish they have sticky rice and mango in season . It would've been perfect if they other desserts. A little pricey for the size but it was satisfying and fulfilling for me. read more

The Chicken Rice - Thai Near Me - Tustin, California

Had the hainan chicken with the spicy sauce. Food was excellent. The chicken was moist and flavorful the spicy sauce adds a little bit of that kick and the rice was seasoned to accompany the chicken perfectly. Tik helped us and was so nice! She told us how they just opened and they're in the 99 ranch market in the right corner by the bakery. Also got the mango sticky rice that hit the spot for something sweet after the spicy/salty of the main meal. Great place to go to get a pretty healthy chicken dish that's bursting with flavor! Go here if you want something amazing for not too much $! I will definitely be back. read more

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Derive, clean Resturant, friendly staff! Rice n chicken plates are fantastic! Check them out for sure!

This is a walk up counter order type of place. That being said, it's simply delicious. Chicken is tender, soup is clean and not oily, rice is fluffy and delicate. Sauces they give you are delicious! I did not enjoy the fried chicken pieces for the appetizers but everything else was amazing! Would come back again and again! read more

Super crispy delicious chicken. Rice is tasty. The portion of chicken is big!! I ordered the spicy soybean sauce, good, but couldn't taste the spice. read more

Ordered delivery. Came on time and still hot. We enjoyed the chicken and rice. Cooked perfectly. Would order again.

The Chicken Rice is one of those hidden gems that feels both casual and special at the same time. If you're craving comfort food done right -- with flavors that feel home-cooked yet elevated -- this place definitely deserves a visit. I'd easily give it four solid stars for its food quality, warm service, and laid-back ambiance that makes you want to stay a little longer than planned. Let's start with the food, because that's where The Chicken Rice really shines. The menu is focused and confident -- not overwhelming, but with just enough variety to please everyone. The signature chicken rice is absolutely delicious. The chicken itself was juicy, tender, and perfectly seasoned, with that delicate balance of salt and garlic that makes every bite satisfying without feeling heavy. The rice, cooked in savory broth, had the right texture -- soft but not mushy, flavorful but not greasy. Together, it's comfort food at its best: simple, honest, and well executed. Their sauces deserve special mention too. The chili sauce adds the perfect punch, and the ginger-garlic sauce ties everything together beautifully. You can tell that someone in the kitchen really cares about balance and flavor layering. I also tried a side of sautéed greens and an egg drop soup -- both fresh, flavorful, and surprisingly light. The portions are generous but not overwhelming, and the prices feel fair for the quality you get. Now, onto service -- warm, professional, and welcoming without being intrusive. The staff seemed genuinely friendly and attentive. I appreciated that they checked in just the right amount of times -- enough to make sure I had everything I needed, but not so often that it felt rushed. When my order took a few extra minutes (the place was busy during lunch), they politely apologized and even offered a complimentary drink refill. It's those small gestures that make a big difference and show real hospitality. The ambiance is relaxed, modern, and clean -- exactly what you want from a casual dining spot. The lighting is soft, the décor is simple but tasteful, and the tables are well spaced so you don't feel crowded. There's a nice blend of energy -- not too loud, not too quiet. You can come here for a quick meal, a casual date, or even a friendly catch-up without worrying about the noise or pace. The music was subtle, the air smelled like fresh ginger and warm rice, and everything felt comfortable. If there's one area that could be improved (the reason for four instead of five stars), it would be the wait time during peak hours. Because the food is made fresh, it can take a bit longer than expected. It's not a dealbreaker -- just something to plan for if you're in a rush. Overall, The Chicken Rice delivers exactly what its name promises: great food made with care, a kind and efficient team, and a cozy environment where you can relax and enjoy your meal. It's the kind of place that doesn't need to shout to get your attention -- it wins you over quietly, one bite at a time. If you're in the area and want a comforting, flavorful meal served by people who genuinely care about your experience, this spot should absolutely be on your list. Four strong stars -- and I'll definitely be back for another plate of that perfectly seasoned chicken and fragrant rice. read more

I had the Orange Chicken, I seemed like it was prefrozen prior, kind of socks after the positive reviews I was hoping for better... I love the market though I'll try them again the owner was nice. read more

tasty authentic stuff - grateful to have some chicken rice that's reminiscent of the ones I've had in south east Asia - worth the visit and great for a casual lunch read more

The Hainan chicken plate is good. It's a good take out place. The service is fast. It's inside a 99 Ranch market.

Been getting delivery from their other location for a while now, so I was excited to learn there's one inside the 99 Ranch right near where I work. Stopped by for grocery shopping and I could not resist getting some takeout. Food itself was delicious, exactly like their other location. I ordered the duo where you get two protein choices, but I opted to get double Hainan chicken as it's my favorite. Ginger rice always hits the spot & the soup is a refreshing palate cleanser. So why not five stars? Because you get the choice of 3 sauces at the other location and only 2 here. And I asked for sweet soy sauce but they gave me sweet & sour instead -- I didn't notice til I got home because the to go bag was all packed and stapled up. I think this happened because the cashier was simply distracted -- he was eating at the counter with his back turned & watching a movie/show with earbuds in when I approached & by the time I got my order, it seemed some family members had dropped in and one of the children was running around and in & out of the kitchen. These little distractions didn't bother me too much, but when I got the wrong sauce & 1 less than the other place . . . well, that's why I nicked a star. Also, a small pet peeve is that I want a bit more cucumber in the order, but both locations give about the same amount. Not a dealbreaker, just a small disappointment. Would I still come back? Definitely. And I'll bring work friends with me. But I'll definitely re-check my order before I leave next time. read more

What a fantastic surprise! This is owned and operated by the same entrepreneur who gave us Tuk Tuk (Santa Ana, Orange, Irvine). The food is excellent (my wife grew up in Bangkok and is very impressed). Pricing is reasonable, service is great (all Thais working there), but take out only since it is inside the 98 Ranch Market. Easy parking and you can shop while you wait. read more