The story
Since 2014, Sweet Rice has been a family-run staple in Gardena, bringing the genuine, home-style flavors of Thailand to the South Bay. This dedication to authentic taste has not gone unnoticed, earning the restaurant a spot in the Michelin Guide’s Recommended list for 2026.
The menu is a deep dive into classic Thai comfort food, beginning with their selection of Jok (Thai rice porridge). Served with a poached egg, century egg, and crispy rice noodles, it’s available with ground pork, pork maw, or roast duck. Their Khao Tom (rice soup) offers a lighter option with shrimp or chicken, each bowl finished with dried shrimp and shiitake mushroom.
Curry lovers will find a trio of options: a mild yellow curry with chicken and potato, a spicy green curry with bamboo shoots and Thai basil, and a rich, nutty Panang with kabocha squash. The Sweet Rice Specialties section features a tender five-spice braised pork leg stew (Khao Kha Moo) and a Friday-only Khao Man Gai—Thai-style Hainan chicken with garlic rice.
Noodle soups are a cornerstone of the menu. The fiery Tom Yum Noodle and the dark, aromatic Thai Boat Noodle are standouts, alongside a pink-hued Yen Ta Fo with fermented bean curd broth. For a dry option, the Ba Mee Haeng is tossed in a special house sauce. The restaurant’s signature dessert, Mango Sticky Rice, is a simple, perfect finish.
Sweet Rice is open Tuesday through Sunday for takeout and online ordering, offering air-conditioned comfort and ample parking.
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