Rice Thai Cuisine

Rice Thai Cuisine Restaurant Review:

Out with the old, in with the contemporary is the rallying cry behind Rice in downtown Ventura. The stylish Thai restaurant replaced a hackneyed version of the same, introducing a modern approach to design and presentation, as well as a menu that surpasses traditional favorites like curries and pad thai. You won’t have to gnaw an appetizer of deep-fried beef jerky into submission; it isn’t nearly as tough as it sounds, and the sweet marinade works well with a spicy chili dipping sauce. Nightly specials may include fresh local fish like halibut, nicely grilled and topped with chili sauce and cilantro. Though only beer and wine are served, soju “martinis” are available in exotic flavors like green apple, lychee, blue-melon and cucumber-ginger, as is a variety of saké. For dessert, bypass the standard mango with sticky rice and try the Channel Island Delight, a textural medley of sticky rice topped with coconut ice cream, sugar palm seeds, chewy coconut jelly and crispy bits of dried coconut. Family-owned and family-run, the restaurant boasts unfailingly friendly service.