First Bite: Thai Street Food Comes to Roost in Pleasanton

After merging with the Chick’n Rice brand, Rooster and Rice makes its debut in the Tri-Valley.

The Thai-style chicken and rice dish called khao mun gai (a riff on Hainanese chicken rice) continues to trend in the Bay Area. The street food dish can be found at the newest outpost of Rooster and Rice in Pleasanton (the first location of the chain outside San Francisco). The new spot opens just months after Rooster and Rice merged with fellow local chain Chick’n Rice.

Though charming, everything is small. From the two-tops with colorful metal chairs filling the tight space to the three-item menu handwritten on a chalkboard wall, it’s almost all teeny. “So what’s big?” you might ask. The answer: the two giant rice cookers.

Khao mun gai is a Thai street food traditionally served cold on a bed of rice with fresh, crunchy additions. A simple yet filling meal, the original version at Rooster and Rice includes skin-on breast and thigh meat with jasmine rice, while the Marina has skinless chicken breast and brown rice. For vegetarians, there’s a tofu take with seasonal vegetables. But all options include a cup of broth, cool cucumber, and a thick, pungent sauce of chili, ginger, garlic, and fermented soybeans.

As an extra bonus get a soft-boiled egg topper for $2, or order bottled soy milk, coconut water, or Thai tea.

3120 Santa Rita Rd., Ste. B, Pleasanton, (925) 425-7500, roosterandrice.com. Lunch Tues.–Sat.