Rice Paddy — Restaurant in Phoenix

Repeated Disappointments: Extended Wait Times and Unpleasant Encounters

It is with great disappointment that I share my recent and recurring negative experiences at Rice Paddy. Living just across the street, my fiancé and I are frequent patrons of this establishment, making our recent encounter all the more disheartening.

Despite our consistent efforts to call ahead for takeout orders, the wait times have consistently extended beyond two hours, creating frustration and inconvenience. What’s particularly troubling is that it seems our orders only gain attention when we physically arrive at the restaurant, emphasizing a lack of consideration for loyal takeout customers.

Adding to the disappointment is the unpleasant atmosphere within the restaurant, exacerbated by the owner’s concerning behavior towards the staff. Witnessing him yell at employees and experiencing his aggressive confrontation with my fiancé during our recent visit was entirely unacceptable. This unprofessional conduct detracts from what should be an enjoyable dining experience.

It’s essential to note that this is not an isolated incident; we’ve encountered extended wait times on multiple occasions. As regular patrons who live in close proximity to Rice Paddy, these recurring issues have significantly diminished our once-positive perception of the establishment.

While we acknowledge the efforts of other employees who intervened to deescalate the situation, the consistent long wait times and inappropriate behavior underscore the need for significant improvements in management and customer service standards at Rice Paddy.

Given our unfortunate experiences, I regret to say that I cannot recommend Rice Paddy to others at this time. I sincerely hope that this feedback serves as an opportunity for management to address these ongoing issues and restore the welcoming atmosphere that initially drew us to this establishment.

Below is pictured the man who aggressively approached my...

Pho is one of my favorite foods and while I won’t claim to be an authority on what makes a good bowl of pho, I do know what I like. And, I definitely like the pho at Rice Paddy!

First and foremost, the broth was tremendous and is (I believe) the biggest differentiator when it comes to pho quality. The chef (Fong -sp?) has developed an impressive depth of flavor in his broth which when I spoke to him after my meal, he explained was the result of a process involving multiple steps including a very lengthy initial bone broth production in a special giant “pot” that to my eye seemed related to a water heater as the bone broth is kept under constant heat. After reaching the right depth of flavor the bone broth is elevated to “pho broth” by introducing Fong’s proprietary blend of herbs and what he referred to as remedies, which not only develop the flavor but add health benefits too.

The proteins, herbals and noodles were all fresh and worked very well in the soup. The photos included with my review will explain more effectively what you can expect, so have a look.

Spring rolls were also excellent. There was a definite herbal note which paired surprisingly well with a small amount of cucumber in the roll; something new to me and very successful.

Finally it was quite warm out when I had my meal but the immaculately clean restaurant was very comfortable with ample climate control, nice booth seating and low-key music providing unobtrusive ambience.

Thank you Rice Paddy and chef Fong. I’m looking forward...

Walked into this small restaurant and was immediately hit with strong kitchen fumes. The lack of ventilation was overwhelming the smell and smoke lingered in the air and irriated our eyes and nose the entire time. I tried to be understanding given the limited space and layout but it made for an uncomfortable start.

It was a Thursday evening and it seemed like they were understaffed. Our food took over 40 minutes to arrive and the table next to us actually gave up and left before theirs even came out.

To the foods-The shrimp spring rolls were fresh and enjoyable. The pho, however was a letdown. It was extremely greasy, with a thick layer of oil floating on top. On the bright side, the rice noodles were thin and cooked well and the beef was tender. So it was a mixed experience with the pho. I ordered fried rice but was mistakenly given a pork chop (or chicken I couldn’t even tell) instead. It was extemely dry and overpowered by seasoning which was barely edible.

Another odd aspect was that the owner’s children were occupying a central table, lying around and playing games loudly on a laptop. I understand it’s a family run business and that can be part of the charm but it did come across as unprofessional to other guests.

What really sealed the experience though was the lack of service. No apology for the delay or the incorrect order and the general vibe felt like we were an inconvenience rather than guests.

Unfortunately, I won’t be returning and can’t recommend this...