Rice Thai Eatery — Restaurant in South Lake Tahoe

RICE THAI EATERY – WORTH THE DETOUR

Discovered this spot during their grand opening (Aug 19). Picked up the guai teow chicken noodle soup for my dad—it hit the mark. Comforting, aromatic, and light without any MSG heaviness (which I’m sensitive to). The broth had depth, and the basil added a lovely layer of warmth.

Returned the next evening for a full dine-in experience—and glad I did.

What we ordered: • Khao Man Gai (mix of crispy and steamed chicken): The chicken was moist and flavorful, with well-balanced sauces that tied it all together. The rice—often the benchmark—was aromatic and well-seasoned. I would’ve personally preferred it a touch more moist, but perhaps that’s their style. • Khao Soi Noodles: Generous portion. Slightly sweet broth, balanced well by the pickled mustard greens. Noodles were cooked perfectly. Loved that they brought out the traditional Thai spice tray—made the dish customizable and complete. • Pad Krapow (Pork with sunny-side egg): Bold flavor and well-executed. My Southeast Asian mum—who knows her Thai food—gave it a solid stamp of approval. • Paradise Beef Hotpot (B9): The star of the night. Tender beef, gelatinous tendons, and beef balls in a rich, aromatic broth that was spiced but not overpowering. Hearty, soulful, and comforting—especially paired with rice or rice noodles. • Stir-Fried Mixed Veggies: We requested cabbage in place of Chinese broccoli, and it was done simply but well. A nice fresh contrast to the deeper flavors of the other dishes. • Fried Spring Rolls (complimentary appetizer): A thank-you for leaving a review during grand opening week. That said, I would’ve written this even without the freebie—we already had more than enough food!

Ambience & Service Friendly, attentive staff with the kind of warm hospitality that makes a difference. The space is clean and comfortable without trying too hard. You get that genuine Asian customer service touch that’s often missing these days.

Location A bit tucked away behind Whole Foods—but worth seeking out if you’re not already in the neighborhood.

Final thoughts: Authentic flavors, thoughtful presentation, generous portions, and service that makes you feel cared for. Rice Thai Eatery is off to a strong start. I’ll definitely be back.

Footnote: Don’t skip dessert. The mango sticky rice was a perfect finish—warm, soft sticky rice with rich coconut flavor, paired beautifully with sweet ripe mango. A...

The restaurant’s closing time was 9:30 PM. We informed the staff that we would arrive by 9:15 and placed our order at 9:20. I specifically requested that the food not be too spicy, as we had children with us. However, the green curry served was extremely spicy. After tasting it, we politely asked if they could adjust or remake it.

Unfortunately, the staff refused to make the dish again, even after we requested multiple times. When we raised the concern about being charged for food that we couldn’t eat, they responded rudely and insisted on payment within just a couple of minutes of serving it. After further discussion, they took the curry back, added hot water, and returned it almost immediately, which did not resolve the issue.

What made the experience even worse was that the staff began turning off the lights while we were still eating. If the restaurant does not wish to serve customers after 9:30, it would be more appropriate to stop taking dine-in orders close to that time.

Dining out is not only about food but also about service and ambience. Unfortunately, none of these were provided here. This was one of the most disappointing dining experiences I...

Extremely Disappointing and Frustrating Experience. I rarely leave negative reviews, but I feel compelled to share how upsetting our visit was. The food was just okay, but the service was honestly terrible and left us feeling completely ignored and frustrated.

We waited 20 minutes just for someone to take our order. It felt like we were invisible. After that, it took another 45 minutes before we saw our first dish. By then, we were already hungry and annoyed. When the second dish finally arrived, it was the wrong one. No apology, just confusion. We had to ask again for the extra rice we ordered, and when it finally came, we were charged for it twice. We didn’t even bother arguing about the extra charge at the restaurant because we just wanted to get out of there as quickly as possible. We explained the issue on the receipt and left no tip. To make matters worse, we later realized we were overcharged by $10.

This whole experience felt like a scam, and it honestly ruined our night. I would strongly urge others to avoid this place—you...