Accessibility
- Wheelchair accessible entrance
- Wheelchair accessible seating
oChef » GAI Chicken & Rice – San Francisco
GAI Chicken & Rice - San Francisco
Photo from GAI Chicken & Rice
GAI Chicken & Rice at a glance
San Francisco South of Market
- 🥢 Fusion Restaurant
$$
Price per Person $21–$30
mentioned by 96 of the guests
#370 out of 2403 places to eat in San Francisco
#4 Fusion Restaurant out of 14 in San Francisco
Excellent
8.3 out of 10
Food
Service
Ambience
Value
386
Reviews
87.8%
Satisfaction
Often praised
- Flavorful Food
- Quick Service
- Good Value
Frequently criticized
- Casual Ambiance
- Food Inconsistencies
- Self-Service
The restaurant, a vibrant Fusion Restaurant in San Francisco’s South of Market neighborhood, offers a truly unique dining experience. When you step into GAI Chicken & Rice, you’ll immediately notice its casual atmosphere, perfect for a relaxed meal.
Whether you’re looking for a quick bite or a satisfying dinner, this spot provides a welcoming environment where you can enjoy delicious food.
Overview: Introducting GAI Chicken & Rice
GAI Chicken & Rice offers a straightforward yet satisfying experience, often praised for its fresh ingredients and flavorful dishes. Many appreciate the top-notch service and quick delivery, making it a reliable choice for a convenient meal.
However, the dining environment can be a bit dingy and casual, with some noting tight seating and occasional cleanliness concerns. While the food generally impresses, a few experiences mention cold dishes or weak soup, suggesting some inconsistency.
Excellent
8.3
out of 10
386
Reviews
87.8%
Satisfaction
38
negative
9
neutral
339
positive
GAI Chicken & Rice earns a solid overall score of 8.3, reflecting a generally positive customer experience. This is further supported by a strong 87.8% customer satisfaction rate, indicating that most diners leave content.
These figures are based on 386 customer observations, with a significant majority of 339 positive remarks against only 38 negative ones. Digging deeper, Service stands out with an impressive (8.5), closely followed by the Food (8.4), both rated highly for their quality and efficiency.
Value also receives a good score (8.1), suggesting that customers feel they get a fair deal. The Ambience, while still good (7.2), is where the restaurant shows the most room for improvement compared to its other strong points.
What people like
- Flavorful, fresh food
- Excellent, quick service
- Great value, portions
What people don't like
- Casual, dingy ambiance
- Occasional food issues
- Self-service setup
If you’re seeking a quick, flavorful, and affordable meal with reliable service, GAI Chicken & Rice is certainly worth considering. Its strong 8.6 recommendation score suggests a high likelihood of a satisfying experience, especially for takeout or a casual bite.
However, those prioritizing a polished dining atmosphere might find the casual setting less appealing. Focus on the excellent food and efficient service, and you’ll likely enjoy what GAI Chicken & Rice has to offer.
Similar Restaurants in San Francisco
- Fusion Restaurant
8.9
out of 10
out of 10
290
92.8%
- $$
- Little Saigon
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fusion Restaurant
8.6
out of 10
out of 10
482
88.2%
- $$
- Little Saigon
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fusion Restaurant
8.4
out of 10
out of 10
344
85.8%
- $$
- Transbay
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fusion Restaurant
7.9
out of 10
out of 10
671
78.7%
- $$
- Mission District
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fusion Restaurant
7.8
out of 10
out of 10
253
79.8%
- $$
- Union Square
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
- Fusion Restaurant
7.7
out of 10
out of 10
358
79.6%
- $$
- Mission Bay
- Food
- Service
- Ambience
Verdict: Our expert take on GAI Chicken & Rice
Food (8.4 out of 10)
mentioned by 100% of the guests
When it comes to the food, this spot truly shines! With a fantastic score of 8.4 and customer satisfaction at a solid 88.8%, its clear diners are loving whats on their plates. Based on 261 positive remarks, guests rave about the real chicken, quality, and flavorful dishes, especially the Hainanese Chicken Rice and delicious sauces.
However, a few of the 28 negative comments point to areas for improvement. Some found the chicken to be processed, while others described the food as bland or even greasy. There were also isolated concerns about cold food upon delivery.
Food
294
Reviews
88%
Satisfaction
28
negative
5
neutral
261
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Delicious, flavorful chicken
- Excellent Hainanese rice
- Great variety of sauces
What people don't like
- Food can be bland
- Processed chicken concerns
- Some food cold
Often praised
- foodIt's my go-to place, and I visit 4 days a week because I know I can always count on a healthy choice and fresh ingredients with every order. The food is excellent, the service is top-notch (rated 5/5), and the atmosphere is also fantastic (rated 5/5).
- riceI enjoyed the great food and the great delivery service. The crispy chicken was absolutely delicious, and the rice was so flavorful. I highly recommend this place for a satisfying meal.
- chickenThe chicken was tender inside and crispy outside, and tasted great
- FoodFood:5
- chicken riceMy experience at GAI Chicken & Rice was simple, flavorful, and comforting. They specialize in Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice.
- portion sizeshocked by the portion size, which was very generous
- portionsWe order the same meals for delivery, and I can honestly say that the meals delivered are exactly like how we order them when we dine in. Delicious and the same generous portions.
- saucessauces were beyond delicious
- Crispy GaiMixed Gai and Crispy Gai with Hainan sauce, which were both delicious
- chicken and riceIt was super easy to order and the food came out fast. The chicken and rice default dish was great, packed with flavor from simple ingredients, and the portion size was good. While the seating was a bit tight, it was decently easy to grab a table.
Frequently criticized
- chickenThe chicken tasted a little funky
- foodThe food shouldn't be cold.
- soupthe soup tasted weak
- Crispy Gai saladCrispy Gai salad and my ticket read ranch dressing and I didn't receive any
- Gai Sandopretty heavy
- Hainanese chicken riceThe soup also tasted weak. Even with the addition of sauces, the meal did not come together as proper Hainanese chicken rice should.
- Rooster's chickenRooster’s chicken also caused me to have a reaction where I experienced indigestion and slight difficulty breathing
- Rooster's soupRooster’s soup, in contrast, tastes like straight up chicken stock from a carton with an extra pound of salt added
- Singapore-style chicken rice chili sauceslightly disappointed by the lack of Singapore-style chicken rice chili sauce
- boiled birdLiterally boiled bird.
If you're craving delicious, flavorful chicken and rice with excellent sauces, this place is definitely worth a visit. While a few experiences mention blandness or processed chicken, the overwhelming majority find the food to be a consistent hit. Go for the authentic Hainanese chicken and those amazing sauces!
Service (8.5 out of 10)
mentioned by 44% of the guests
When it comes to service, this spot really shines! With a solid score of 8.5 and customer satisfaction at a fantastic 89.8%, its clear guests are generally thrilled. Out of 49 comments, 44 rave about the experience, highlighting incredibly fast service, speedy delivery, and reliable pickup.
Many also appreciate the friendly staff and efficient ordering. However, its not entirely perfect, with a few minor hiccups noted in 3 comments. Some experiences mention a wait to order or a less personal seat-yourself setup.
A couple of isolated incidents even reported being hung up on, suggesting there might be occasional inconsistencies in phone service or during peak times.
Service
49
Reviews
89%
Satisfaction
3
negative
2
neutral
44
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Fast, speedy service
- Friendly, helpful staff
- Reliable, accurate orders
What people don't like
- Long wait to order
- Phone service issues
Often praised
- ServiceService:5
- serviceIt's my go-to place, and I visit 4 days a week because I know I can always count on a healthy choice and fresh ingredients with every order. The food is excellent, the service is top-notch (rated 5/5), and the atmosphere is also fantastic (rated 5/5).
- staffThis is a great place to dine in and order in. When we've eaten at the restaurant, the staff is always very nice and always accommodates my boss who is in a wheelchair. We order the same meals for delivery, and I can honestly say that the meals delivered are exactly like how we order them when we dine in.
- deliveryMy experience was great! I ordered on dd and the food was fresh and delivered quickly. It even came with soup.
- packagingthe packaging kept everything tidy—no leaks
- pickupit was ready for pickup in just 10 minutes
- CarlosCarlos helped with with the order and provided excellent, thoughtful and attentive service
- centralized locationThe centralized location on market st makes delivery so speedy.
- consistencyHowever, it has become a staple in my takeout rotation! It's always reliable, consistent, super yummy, and relatively healthy!
- delivery serviceMy experience was fantastic! I enjoyed the great food and the great delivery service. The crispy chicken was absolutely delicious, and the rice was so flavorful.
Frequently criticized
- hung up on methey hung up on me
- serviceWhile the seating was a bit tight, it was decently easy to grab a table. The place is casual and dingy with no service and a seat-yourself setup, but overall, it's a fun place to get a quick healthy bite. I enjoyed the good value and it was relatively inexpensive for a hearty portion.
- wait to orderThere shouldn't be a 5 minute wait to order
If you're looking for quick, reliable service with a friendly touch, this place is a solid bet. You can generally expect your order to be fast and accurate, whether dining in or getting delivery. Just be mindful that a rare hiccup in phone service might occur.
Ambience (7.2 out of 10)
mentioned by 27% of the guests
The ambience here generally hits the mark, with a 7.2 score and a 71.4% customer satisfaction rate, both indicating a good experience. Many of the 20 positive opinions out of 28 total highlight the pleasant vibe and atmosphere, often described as clean and inviting. Guests appreciate the signage and store front, with some even feeling transported to a Singaporean Hawker market by the decorations and seating.
However, not everyone is completely charmed. A few of the 7 negative opinions point out that the restroom can be a disaster zone, and some find the place a bit dingy and casual. There are also comments about its location in a run-down part of the city or on a busy street corner, which can detract from the overall atmosphere.
Ambience
28
Reviews
71%
Satisfaction
7
negative
1
neutral
20
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Pleasant atmosphere
- Clean interior
- Hawker market vibe
What people don't like
- Dirty restroom
- Run-down location
- Dingy atmosphere
Often praised
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:4
- atmosphereIt's my go-to place, and I visit 4 days a week because I know I can always count on a healthy choice and fresh ingredients with every order. The food is excellent, the service is top-notch (rated 5/5), and the atmosphere is also fantastic (rated 5/5).
- Singaporean Hawker marketThe food arrived very fresh, hot, and was well packed. They offer a wide menu that can satisfy various tastes, and it truly transported me back to the feeling of eating at a Singaporean Hawker market.
- cleanThe place was clean
- clean interiora clean interior
- decorations and seatingThe decorations and seating are nice
- good spotit’s a good spot to go out to eat
- grab a tableThe chicken and rice default dish was great, packed with flavor from simple ingredients, and the portion size was good. While the seating was a bit tight, it was decently easy to grab a table. The place is casual and dingy with no service and a seat-yourself setup, but overall, it's a fun place to get a quick healthy bite.
- signagethe signage attracted us in
- store frontRustic beautiful store front
Frequently criticized
- AtmosphereAtmosphere:2
- atmospherethe only thing detracting from the atmosphere can be that it's on a very busy street corner
- placeplace is pretty dingy and casual
- restroomthe restroom was a disaster zone
- run-down, dirty part of the cityWeird that it's in a run-down, dirty part of the city.
- takeout containersThey use takeout containers only which is really bad for the environment.
If youre looking for a casual spot with a lively atmosphere and dont mind a potentially busy location, this place could be a great fit. Just be prepared for a no-frills experience, and perhaps check the restroom before you settle in.
Value (8.1 out of 10)
mentioned by 17% of the guests
When it comes to value, this spot truly shines! Customers are absolutely thrilled, giving it an excellent customer satisfaction rating of 93.3% and a good score of 8.1. With 14 positive remarks out of 15 total and not a single negative word, its clear that guests consistently find the "price, " "value for money, " and "affordable" options to be a major draw, often praising the generous portions for a "reasonable price.
" Its rare to see such unanimous praise, but when it comes to pricing, there's simply no downside here. Reviewers found absolutely nothing to complain about regarding the cost, highlighting that the pricing is consistently reasonable and inexpensive without compromising on quality. This means you can expect a great deal every time.
Value
15
Reviews
93%
Satisfaction
0
negative
1
neutral
14
positive
Rating distribution
What people like
- Great value for money
- Reasonable pricing
- Affordable options
What people don't like
Often praised
- priceI absolutely love their Hainanese chicken, which I believe is the best in San Francisco. The delivery was super quick, and the portions were a great size for the good price. I highly recommend this place!
- valueGreat value and taste
- Price per personEverything was absolutely delicious. The reviewer's metadata indicates a strong recommendation for Fried Chicken, a price range of $10–20 per person, and a 'Somewhat recommend' for vegetarians. The atmosphere received a score of 2, while service and food received scores of 4 and 5 respectively.
- affordableVery affordable
- discountYou even get a discount if you eat before or after a show
- extra meat optionextra meat option is a good value
- inexpensiveThe place is casual and dingy with no service and a seat-yourself setup, but overall, it's a fun place to get a quick healthy bite. I enjoyed the good value and it was relatively inexpensive for a hearty portion.
- pricingpricing is reasonable
- reasonable pricefor a reasonable price
- reasonably pricedWhile the restaurant wasn't busy with dine-in customers, they were clearly swamped with delivery orders, evidenced by a very long order slip. Overall, this is a great place to order reasonably priced, good chicken rice, and I recommend it if you're in the area.
Frequently criticized
No complaints so far.
If you're searching for a place where your wallet will be as happy as your taste buds, this is it. The overwhelming consensus is that you get fantastic quality and generous portions for a truly reasonable price, making it an absolute must-try for anyone seeking great value.
How are the prices at GAI Chicken & Rice?
You’re looking at roughly 21 per person – reported by 96 diners. That puts it in the $21–$30 category. For a Fusion Restaurant, it’s comfortably mid-range: not a steal, but not bank-breaking either.
While the average is 21, it’s interesting to see that most guests actually spend in the $11–$20 range, with a good number also in the $21–$30 bracket. This suggests a nice mix of options, with prices clustering around the average but leaning a bit towards the more budget-friendly side for many.
Here’s a quick look at what guests spend per person, based on the latest 96 reviews.
Comparing the value for money of this Fusion Restaurant against similar spots in San Francisco.
Overall, for a Fusion Restaurant, we think the pricing feels quite fair. It offers a good balance, allowing guests to enjoy a diverse menu without breaking the bank.
Customer Reviews: what people think about GAI Chicken & Rice
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Food Exploration
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Lunch
9
Classic Chicken Gai is a classic favorite!
My experience at the restaurant was overwhelmingly positive. The Classic Chicken Gai was a standout dish, described as both heavy and yummy. It's a definite yes from me!
- Classic Chicken Gai9
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Takeout
9
Amazing Food, Great Options
I have been ordering food from here for to-go orders. The food is always amazing. My favorite is The Original with chicken leg and thigh.
The Thai soy sauce is the best. Since I don't like veggies, there are options I can choose for all of them. I'll try Thai ice tea for the next time.
- food10
- The Original10
- Thai soy sauce10
Price per Person
- $61–$70
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Group Type
- Couple
Group Size
- Couple
Service Type
- Dine-in
Meal Type
- Dinner
9
Authentic Thai Chicken Rice
My experience at GAI Chicken & Rice was simple, flavorful, and comforting. They specialize in Thai-style Hainanese chicken rice. The poached chicken was tender, served with fragrant jasmine rice, a flavorful broth, and house-made sauces (spicy, sweet, and savory).
The portions were generous, and the pricing was reasonable. The vibe is casual and fast-casual, making it a great place for a quick, satisfying, and healthy meal. Fans love the authenticity and consistency.
- chicken rice9
- poached chicken9
- jasmine rice8
Price per Person
- $21–$30
Visit Type
- Delivery
Service Type
- Delivery
Meal Type
- Dinner
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Best Hainanese Chicken in SF!
My experience at Gai was fantastic! I absolutely love their Hainanese chicken, which I believe is the best in San Francisco. The delivery was super quick, and the portions were a great size for the good price.
I highly recommend this place!
- Hainanese chicken10
- delivery9
- portions9
Price per Person
- $11–$20
Visit Type
- Quick Meal
Service Type
- Takeout
Meal Type
- Lunch
Wait Time
- Short (6–15 min.)
9
Tasty Gai Chicken, Fast Service!
My experience with Gai Chicken was fantastic! I ordered through DoorDash and my food was ready for pickup in an impressive 10 minutes. The Original Gai was delicious, and I highly recommend trying it with the Hoi A Tangy Sauce – it was my favorite part.
I would definitely order again.
- Gai Chicken9
- Original Gai9
- Hoi A Tangy Sauce10
What GAI Chicken & Rice offers
Crowd
- Family-friendly
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Transgender safespace
Payments
- Credit cards
- Debit cards
- NFC mobile payments
Children
- Good for kids
- High chairs
Popular for
- Dinner
- Lunch
- Solo dining
Amenities
- Gender-neutral restroom
- Restroom
Offerings
- Quick bite
- Coffee
Dining options
- Catering
- Counter service
- Dessert
- Dinner
- Seating
- Lunch
Service Options
- Onsite services
- Takeout
- Delivery
- Dine-in
Parking
- Paid street parking
Atmosphere
- Casual
FAQs
Is GAI Chicken & Rice accessible for everyone?
Yes, GAI Chicken & Rice is designed to be welcoming for all guests. You’ll find a wheelchair accessible entrance and wheelchair accessible seating, ensuring a comfortable visit for individuals with mobility needs. They also provide gender-neutral restrooms for your convenience.
What kind of dining experience can you expect at GAI Chicken & Rice?
At GAI Chicken & Rice, you can enjoy a casual dining experience perfect for various occasions. They offer counter service, seating for lunch and dinner, and even catering options. It’s also a good spot for families, as they provide high chairs for children.
What is the overall customer sentiment for GAI Chicken & Rice?
GAI Chicken & Rice holds a strong overall score of 8.3 and a customer satisfaction of 87.8%. Customers particularly praise the Service (8.5), Food (8.4), and Value (8.1), while the Ambience (7.2) is considered good but less stellar.
What do customers appreciate most about the food at GAI Chicken & Rice?
Customers frequently highlight the food for its fresh ingredients, flavorful profile, and generous portions. The chicken is often described as tender and crispy, with delicious sauces.
Are there any common criticisms regarding the dining experience?
Some customers note the ambience can be dingy or casual, with tight seating and occasional cleanliness issues in the restroom. There are also isolated reports of food being cold or soup tasting weak.