Rice by Mama — Restaurant in Ventura

Had the worst experience EVER at this restaurant the other night! My boyfriend and I vowed that we will NEVER patronize Rice by Mama's again! It was that bad!

First of all, we ordered 3-4 times a week from Mama's @$14 @ dinner, mostly to take home. We were "regulars". They didn't care.

We came in the eat in the restaurant 3 nights ago.. We both ordered LadNa...noodles, broccoli , and chicken, (mine,) or tofu, (his.) We both ordered medium spice but got bland instead. I requested my noodles be on the side and was told, "That's up to the cook!!"

15 min later, the waiter dropped MY food off and left without mentioning why my boyfriend did not receive his dinner! (More about that later!) In addition, what I received was noodles and chicken coated with LadNa "sauce," and about 10 pieces of PLAIN steamed broccoli in a square bowl.....no sauce. He dropped it off and hurried away. The waiter then IGNORED our table. I finally spoke to one of the waitresses to bring me a LadNa the way they normally serve it...with all the ingredients. She took back the dinner.

TEN MORE minutes passed, and the waitress dropped off my dinner (that now had 3 pieces, not the previous 10 pieces of broccoli,) and hurried off! (Was the COOK now the one getting even with us?) Meanwhile, my boyfriend STILL had not received his dinner, we were being completely IGNORED, and my food was getting COLD while I waited for my boyfriend to be served his meal! I finally had to get up and go stand at the cash register to get someone's attention and ask why my boyfriend was not served his meal? (It's like they never intended to make his dinner in the first place!!!)

15 MORE min went by and he finally got his meal...it had 2(!) pieces of broccoli, btw. Meanwhile, my food had turned completely COLD, so I gave up and boxed it up to take home.

When I mention to the cashier all the problems we had, her response was to LAUGH! I later learned that the cashier I spoke to was the restaurant MANAGER.

We paid our bill and when my boyfriend mentioned that his vegetarian dinner only had 2 pieces of broccoli, the manager laughed again! We were dumbfounded by her response and left. They lost 2 regular customers. Strange restaurant. We will...

Love this place! My dad and I go out to eat every Wednesday and this is one of the places we frequent (at least once or twice a month).

Servers are extremely friendly and do their job very well - know the menu, serve quickly, attention to detail, even take time to chat with the customer. My experience with the menu is narrow as I only order a few different items, but from personal experience and observation of other customers they enjoy the food and have large portions (sometimes enough to take home). The Pad-Se-Ew (with Siracha!) is hands down my favorite and some of the best I've ever had. The Tom-Kha veggie soup is a great preface to the main course. Busy restaurant but in a good way. I love the white noise that is a happy and bustling restaurant. Mellow lighting and exposed brick walls add to the warmth. Take your family here and there's likely something they'll enjoy eating. The staff always accommodates any changes we like to make. Fits the bill for different occasions: a casual night out, enjoying a cold SingHa at the bar, or a nice date (think Khakis and a tucked-in shirt).

Great job Rice by Mama! As a long time Ventura local, I'm proud to have you as a part of our community. Thanks for the...

I'm so glad the bff and I decided to take a chance here! With rave reviews and nearby competition from other Asian restaurants, I was a bit skeptical at first, but this hidden gem truly exceeded our expectations. Parking was a breeze, and we were grateful to find a spot right near the restaurant. Just a heads up for future visitors: be prepared with quarters or download the app, as the credit card machine wasn't functioning during our visit. The restaurant itself is cozy and intimate, with outdoor seating that's perfect for enjoying a nice day like the one we had. We opted to sit outside and soak up the ocean breeze, which only added to the overall ambiance. We shared the Chicken Pad Thai and egg rolls. It was the perfect amount of food for two people. The Pad Thai was cooked to perfection, with a great balance of sweet, sour, and savory flavors. The egg rolls were crispy on the outside and fluffy on the inside, with a delightful dipping sauce. Rice by Mama has earned a spot on my list of favorite Thai restaurants in Ventura, and I highly recommend it to anyone looking for authentic and delicious Thai cuisine. Don't let the nearby competition deter you – this spot is worth...