Super happy to discover a casual place that serves poached chicken over rice. It is one of my go to meals when I don't know what to eat and now I don't have to trek to San Jose to get it. This place is a refreshing addition to Oldtown Salinas and adds variety to the regular run of the mill cuisines in the area. The chicken, egg, rice, and broccoli were all cooked perfectly. Cucumbers were also part of the plate but I nix those due to allergy so I can't comment on them. Everything was tasty and the spicy garlic sauce added an extra fragrance to the meal. I suggest using the garlic sauce sparingly if you have to talk to a lot of people. As flavorful as it is, it is potent! Very garlic heavy but in a good way! The person that took my order was pleasant and nice. I've been twice and plan to come back many more times. I've seen some other reviews mention the price but it is comparable to other restaurants in the area, including the fast food joints. To me the price is worth it for good, simple food that is on the healthier side and won't make you feel heavy or lethargic after lunch. Smaller plates are offered if you are looking to just try it out. Truly hoping this place sticks around. read more

This is what I've been waiting for in Salinas. So simple so delicious. A bit hard to find but worth the search, it's right inside the back door of Heirloom Pizza in Old Town Salinas. After meeting Greg, the man that does it all. I knew this was going to be special and it was. Every bite was leading me on to the next. The simplicity of this food is the perfect match and complement to each other. Tender chicken both pouched and fried were cooked with skill. The garlic rice was quality. The sauces were well thought out. What about bang for your buck you ask? Worth every penny. Just take out and no seating for now. Last words...let's go! read more

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Absolutely delish! Such a unique spot tucked into the back of heirloom pizza. You enter via the back alley/parking lot. There were lots of parking spots and ordering was quick and easy. Everything was cooked perfectly. Mango sticky rice and fried gai were unreal! I thought the portions were very generous, I believe they have a lunch special that is smaller, so next time I might have to try that out! I hope they keep that, or add a half order for those of us that can't finish the full size. read more

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I first discovered The Rice Gai back in October after seeing someone post about the food on Instagram. I'm not from the area, so it's always exciting to find a local favorite that truly delivers. Greg has always been kind and responsive when it comes to placing pre-orders, and now that The Rice Gai has a regular local pick-up location (tucked right behind Heirloom Pizza in Salinas), it's even more convenient to enjoy. The fried gai is consistently crispy and juicy, never oily. The mango sticky rice is the best I've ever had, and the Thai tea is rich, creamy, and perfectly sweet. The spicy sauce pairs beautifully with the chicken and adds just the right amount of heat. You can tell Greg genuinely cares about the food he's putting out and wants every customer to feel like their meal was made just for them. If you haven't tried The Rice Gai yet, you're truly missing out. read more

The Rice Gai - Fried Gai, mango sticky rice, and thai tea - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

Food was really really good! We had the poached chicken and rice and was not disappointed. The flavors of the sauces was spot on and the portion was filling. We arrived close to 3 and we sat at the Heirloom pizza bar ( they weren't open yet) and Greg took great care of us and shared his culinary experience and travels with us and made us feel super welcome. I would come back for sure read more

Everything I've tried from here has been on point! The fried chicken, the poached chicken, the poached eggs, the desserts, and the thai tea! Oh and the dipping sauces too. The owner is extremely cool too. We had a nice conversation about music. This place is definitely something that has been missing in Monterey County. read more

Tried it years ago when Greg was in San Jose and it was amazing. If it was amazing back then, I can only imagine how much better it now that he is mastering his craft! You can taste the love put into every meal. Drop that nasty fast food and support your local chefs! Keep up the hard work! read more

Welp yelp, I've become a regular-ish customer. I know the owners name lol. He recognizes me by face so I guess I've come often enough :) I don't eat gluten and it's nice to have the poached chicken option. The sticky rice and cheesecake are AWESOME as well. The only thing I've yet to try is the Thai tea. Give this place a try, we need more places like this here not just the Bay Area up north deserves healthier food!! read more

Hands down the best fried chicken sandwich in Salinas. Their spicy Thai sauce compliments it perfectly

I love fried chicken and this place did not disappoint. The chicken was super crispy and tasty and the steamed rice didn't make it soggy at all even tho I had to wait to eat it. I really like the sweet and the original sauce mixed together. We got the Thai tea, the fried chicken plate and the strawberry sticky rice. I don't like strawberries so I don't know what I was thinking trying it but it was okay. The location was a little difficult to find but despite that I think they still deserve 5 stars. read more

Killer food. Super nice guy runs it. I had the fried chicken rice plate. Everything tasted fresh and well made. Highly recommend

Greg is super nice! I was surprised that the dishes are very authentic in taste and super delicious. Well curated and he knows exactly how to execute a dish that's quick & simple to eat. read more

We love this place so much!! The food is always fresh and delicious! We love their spicy sauce. We usually go with the poached plates but our kids equally love their fried chicken plates too! You really can't go wrong with anything on their menu. You've got to try the Thai tea and sticky rice too! Everything is always great and it has become a staple that we can't get enough of :) Thanks for always taking care of us Greg! read more

Customer service was lousy. I would not recommend this to anyone.This food was sub par and the lack of care in customer service was obviously not there read more

The Rice Gai serving up yummy chicken and rice! You can have the OG Khao mun gai (poached) or Khao mun gai tod (fried). Love supporting local business, especially ones bringing OG Thai street food to Salinas! read more

The Rice Gai - Khao mun gai & Fried gai + - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

Food here has been consistently delicious. The star of the menu is the fried chicken but I haven't had anything bad. The poached chicken is moist, the sauces are so good and I like that the regular plates come with veggies. The fried mole sandwich is a little flavor bomb - so good! The cheesecakes are delicious too. I did a large-ish order for our office and the owner was super helpful. All orders were correct and it was a hit at the office Be sure to follow them in Insta for menu updates and specials. read more

If you haven't tried The Rice Gai yet, you're missing out! Greg is the man behind it all, and you can tell he puts a lot of care into everything he makes. The menu is simple but solid -- Khao Mun Gai (poached chicken), Fried Gai (crispy fried chicken), and Braised Pork. Each is served with garlic rice, broccoli, cucumbers, and his signature sauces that bring everything together. The food is super tasty, affordable, and is healthier than a lot of takeout options. Perfect for meal prepping or just grabbing something delicious that won't leave you feeling heavy after. I've ordered multiple times and always enjoy it. Greg is also a great guy, he genuinely cares about customer satisfaction and takes pride in what he serves. Don't skip the Thai tea and the green tea cheesecake either -- both are excellent. read more

The Rice Gai - The Poached Gai - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

Greg is the nicest guy and our whole family is so happy to support his business because the food is THAT good! Everything on the plate is just delicious and we'll forever be repeat customers. read more

The Rice Gai - One of each - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

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The Rice Gai is the best Thai food I've found in this area! The food is flavorful, reasonably priced, and such a nice treat. Highly recommend! read more

So, so yummy! I tried the fried chicken plate with both delicious sauces which pair well with the garlic rice and veggies. I only wish the plate was bigger. Must return soon. read more

Alright this is an honest review on @thericegai Again I'm being honest here, and to many considered personal preference. Location - With my experience l walked in from the back door in the parking lot next to casa serenos. Not the best location for a hole in the wall but not bad enough to ruin my experience. It's just a tight lot that offers minimal parking space. Packing and customer service - l ordered directly from the owner. I was quick to let him know it was my first time, and didn't know about the menu. Although he greeted me kindly, he wasn't very interactive with his customers, perhaps he deals with a regular clientele. Either way l personally feel like he could make his customers experience u little more special, like telling me more about his menu items sides, specials, and sweets. After all considering how much he's put into his marketing, you'd figure he'd like new customers to be fully informed on his menu. As a small business owner myself, I love to explain my menu in its entirety so my customer knows how many options he or she has. I also wasn't offered any sauce I guess it's only given upon request. That's fine. l didn't receive any napkins and wasn't asked if I needed any. Just basic accommodations to make your customer feel valued. Also Just shows their level of commitment to the customer. Food review - The food was seasoned very great!! The chicken was delicious although very dry. He used boneless chicken thigh which is naturally a juicy piece of meat. I was surprised and disappointed. Like I said the seasoning was on point. The garlic rice was fluffy and perfectly cooked. Yet a little bland. The garlic was delicious. Also pet peeve I would like the broccolini to be manicured better. It was mostly stalks and leaf. The sesame egg was delicious. Perfectly gooey center, no complaints there. The sauces were grainy and very very sweet. The spicy was better then the sweet. Also portion sizes too me didn't seem worth it for $18 especially considering chicken is one of the most affordable meats. Perhaps I should have ordered off DoorDash. But I just wanted to full RiceGai experience. See what him and his service has to offer. Conclusion - Over all l'd have to say for $18 this plate was very over hyped. Ofcourse I understand it's low cal food with a simple palatable menu. Either way. Still worth a try if your trying to watch your calorie intake or don't care much for over all quality 6 outta 10 Could recommend. I'll be back to try the matcha cheese cake. His sweet rice and cheesecakes do look extremely delicious.!!!! read more

The Rice Gai - Fried gai - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

Excellent food as well as excellent customer service, the mango sticky rice is probably my favorite! As well as the poached chicken and rice plate. read more

Fresh, flavorful, and comforting! The rice dishes were perfectly cooked, the meat was tender, and the veggies were fresh. The coconut mango dessert was the perfect sweet finish. Highly recommend for a solid, satisfying meal. read more

The Rice Gai - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

Thank you The Rice Gai! So yummy and delicious! Everything was so fresh. Happy I found you through IG! I will be back read more

The Rice Gai - Thai Near Me - Salinas, California

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Deliciousness! We got the combo plate with both fried and poached chicken on a bed of garlic rice with veggies and cucumber. Three different sauces, and all 3 were so good! Portions were large, service was awesome, food was great quality. We also ordered blueberry sticky rice, which was perfectly sweet. We were gifted a piece of cheesecake and even though we were full, we couldn't stop eating it! Definitely coming back when we are in town! read more

We love The Rice Gai!!! Salinas Valley Health ER has been group ordering for months! Everything comes perfect, as ordered and on time delivery. The food is delicious and makes everyone very happy! 10/10 recommend. This is your sign to group order for your place of work! Rice Gai is awesome!! read more

It is amazingly flavorful and enjoyable. The perfect amount of food, even enough to save if you want for the next day. The sauce that Greg makes himself is sooo good and adds that spice/tanginess to an already perfectly cooked chicken. Not to mention that each time I have ordered, my hard boiled eggs are the perfect amount of soft inside. So many good things to say about the taste and quality of the food! I have had the poached and fried chicken so far, and I highly recommend you try out the food!! read more

I had such an amazing experience today, Every bite was fresh, flavorful, and clearly made with care. You can really taste the quality in every dish! If you're looking for a spot that delivers on taste, cleanliness, and convenience, look no further. The Rice Gai is a must-try. 10/10, I highly recommend! Thanks to the owner Greg. Great service! read more

Delicious food and super kind staff. The mango sticky rice is the best I've ever had and the sauces are super flavorful. Definitely recommend! read more

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Oh my the food is to die for Michelin star simple and fresh do not hesitate go now the service was a 10/10

This weekend was the first time I was able to try it out. I'm so glad I did. I love supporting small businesses and their passion. Everything on my plate was absolutely delicious. I love chicken and I'm telling you it was made perfectly the first bit and that crunch and texture of the chicken. Writing this review and thinking about the food again is making me crave it. The sauce I'm going to have to buy a bottle of it next time. I highly recommend giving this place a try. Greg is so kind and friendly absolutely great vibes. Thank you again and can't wait to get my hands on another plate. read more

The service was quick, and the owner was very friendly. I ordered the crispy chicken, which had excellent flavor and was perfectly crispy. My husband chose the poached chicken. I tried it and felt it could use a bit more flavor; perhaps adding lemongrass during the poaching process would enhance it. We also received free strawberry sticky rice, which was a nice touch. I wish this business all the best as they continue to grow, and I hope they will have a sit-down restaurant one day. They truly deserve the recognition they are getting. read more

Delicious! I've had it twice now and both times my food fresh and full of flavor! The owner provided amazing welcoming service and even gave us some extras with my order. Must try!! read more

Their poached chicken plate is the best healthy meal in Monterey County. The flavors are consistently delicious. The chicken is perfectly cooked. The sauce is addicting. I love the addition of vegetables and the rice is also perfectly cooked. The jammy egg yolk is delicious - better than so many ramen shops! Highly recommend! read more

Customer service was amazing and the food was flavorful, tried both dishes and each were unique with their own flavor and sauces. Everything on the plate complimented each other. Would highly recommend! read more

After living in Salinas for a few years, it's always nice to experience somewhere new. The Rice Gai was wonderful service and delicious food. My partner and I both got the Khao Mun Ghai bowls with the fried chicken and it was phenomenal. The garlic rice is really well done with scrumptious vegetables on the side. The eggs were soft boiled to perfection. The chicken was delicious, but our only struggle was how big the pieces were. I would recommend either including a knife in the utensil set or maybe cutting the pieces into smaller, more bite-sized fragments. However, the chicken was super yummy. We also got Thai iced teas and they were probably the best ones in Salinas. Green tea cheesecake was wonderful and was a very fun new twist. The wait was super fast and the customer service was amazing. A very nice place to be and to wait briefly for our food. We loved the stickers too and hope to be back soon! read more

The Thai chicken and rice is a comforting, flavorful and perfectly balanced meal-- protein, carbs, greens and a perfectly poached egg on top. Super satisfying without being heavy, which makes it amazing for pre or post gym meal ( or honestly, anytime). The rice is soo fluffy, chicken is tender and the sauce? Game changer. You tell everything is made with care. also try the mango sticky rice read more

My mom and I got the fried gai plate:) The chicken was crispy just how we LOVE it. My mom enjoyed the plate without any of the dressings and I think that just shows how flavorful the plate itself is. For dessert I recommend the mango sticky rice! Definitely one of my favorites now! read more