Gai Chicken & Rice

- 118 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038

For New Yorkers seeking a swift, flavorful, and authentic taste of Thai street food, **Gai Chicken & Rice** in the Financial District (FiDi) offers a focused and highly celebrated menu. This establishment is a fast-casual specialist dedicated primarily to the revered Southeast Asian dish known as Chicken and Rice, or Khao Man Gai (Thai-style Hainanese Chicken Rice). Having evolved from a popular Chinatown food court stall to its own standalone location on Fulton Street, Gai Chicken & Rice brings the traditions and bold flavors of Bangkok's street food to the bustling streets of Lower Manhattan.

The core philosophy of Gai Chicken & Rice revolves around providing a simple yet deeply satisfying meal built on high-quality chicken and fragrant, perfectly cooked rice. They offer several distinct preparations of chicken, catering to various palates, but all are centered around the concept of a balanced, comforting, and quick meal. The dishes are designed to be enjoyed rapidly by the area's busy clientele, making it an essential destination for a quality **Quick bite** or **Comfort food** fix.

The atmosphere of Gai Chicken & Rice is best described as a **Simple**, bustling, and unpretentious venue, focused entirely on the food. It operates primarily as a takeaway spot, noted for its **Limited Seating**, which typically consists of only "2 small tables for a quick meal." This means the experience is geared towards efficiency and convenience, with a high volume of orders being prepared quickly and smoothly. Despite the fast pace, the service is consistently mentioned as **Quick** and the staff as **Friendly**.

The most popular items on the menu—the various Chicken & Rice bowls—are praised not just for their taste, but for the careful composition: juicy chicken (whether steamed, roasted, or fried), served over fluffy, flavorful **Ginger Rice**, complemented by fresh vegetables like cucumbers and tomatoes, and tied together with a choice of signature sauces, such as the famous **Spicy Green Sauce** that packs a powerful, authentic punch.

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Gai Chicken & Rice is conveniently located at **118 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038, USA**, positioning it perfectly within the densely populated and highly trafficked Financial District. This location is particularly beneficial for the lunch and dinner crowds pouring out of nearby offices and for travelers exploring the historic downtown area.

The venue is noted for its **Convenient Location**, being central and well-connected to public transport, including the Fulton Street subway station complex. For the busy New Yorker, this accessibility is key. However, visitors should be aware that the space is small, designed predominantly for **Takeout**. While it does offer limited seating for a **Quick meal**, the emphasis is on efficiency and getting a high-quality meal rapidly. Its business model makes it highly functional for the surrounding area's fast-paced environment, minimizing disruption to the daily flow.

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Gai Chicken & Rice is expertly tailored to the needs of the Financial District, providing services that prioritize speed, convenience, and flexibility:

• **Primary Service Model:** The restaurant operates mainly as a **Take away store** and a grab-and-go location.
• **Dining Options:** It offers a very limited **Dine-in** capacity with only a few small tables, making it ideal for a quick sit-down during lunch or dinner.
• **Delivery Services:** To cater to the corporate and residential density of FiDi, the restaurant offers **No-contact delivery** through various platforms, allowing customers to enjoy the food at their office or home.
• **Menu Offerings:** The menu centers on customizable plates and bowls:
  • **Chicken & Rice Bowls ($14.47+):** Options include the traditional **Steamed Dark Meat Bowl (Khao-Man-Gai)**, **Roasted Chicken Bowl**, **Fried Chicken Bowl**, and the highly praised **Spicy Fried Chicken Bowl** with garlic chili crunch.
  • **Protein Platters ($11.72+):** These allow for a choice of protein (Fried, Roasted, Sticky, or Spicy Chicken) served with a side of choice, offering flexibility for different appetites.
  • **Salads:** For a lighter option, they offer salads topped with any of their chicken preparations, as well as a **Vegetarian Bowl** option.
  • **Tenders & Wings:** Includes classic, **Sticky (Thai BBQ)**, and **Zaab (chili lime)** varieties, available with or without fries.
  • **Sides:** Includes **Ginger Rice**, **Regular Fries**, **Truffle Parm Fries**, **Zaab (chili lime) Fries**, and a side of clear, balancing **Vegetarian broth** soup.
• **Catering:** Gai Chicken & Rice provides full **Catering** services, suitable for corporate meetings and larger gatherings with half trays of various proteins and sides.
• **Payments:** Accepts common payment methods including **Credit cards**, **Debit cards**, and **NFC mobile payments**.

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Gai Chicken & Rice has cultivated a dedicated local following based on several key features and quality highlights:

• **Signature Thai-Style Chicken:** The restaurant is a specialist in the Thai version of Hainanese Chicken Rice, known as Khao Man Gai, which is highly appreciated for its authentic flavor profile. The **Steamed Dark Meat** option provides the classic, clean, and comforting experience of this dish.
• **Spicy Fried Chicken:** The **Spicy Fried Chicken** option is a major customer favorite, praised for its irresistible crispiness, bold flavors, and being topped with a delicious garlic chili crunch. Customers enthusiastically return for this highly addictive protein preparation.
• **Flavorful Ginger Rice:** A cornerstone of the dish is the **Ginger Rice**—Thai Jasmine rice perfectly seasoned with ginger purée and cooked in chicken broth, providing a deeply aromatic and flavorful foundation for the chicken.
• **Potent Green Chili Sauce:** The accompanying sauces are crucial, and the **Spicy Green Sauce** (often noted as the Ginger Chili Sauce) is celebrated for being a bold, flavorful condiment that "packs a punch and ties everything together beautifully," offering that characteristic Thai heat and zest.
• **Speed and Efficiency:** Its focus on fast-casual dining means **Quick Service** is a promise, making it an ideal destination for time-constrained FiDi workers who still demand a high-quality, made-to-order meal.
• **Authentic Street Food Vibe:** Gai brings an authentic piece of Bangkok's famed street food culture to New York, focusing on a single, well-executed dish with variations, providing an experience that feels genuinely regional and specialized.
• **Vegetarian Accommodations:** While chicken is the focus, the availability of a **Vegetarian Bowl** option and a clear broth on the side ensures that customers with different dietary preferences can still enjoy a satisfying meal at the location.

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For your next quick lunch or catering order in the Financial District, you can contact Gai Chicken & Rice using the following details:

• **Address:** 118 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038, USA
• **Phone:** (646) 476-6565
• **Mobile Phone (Direct):** +1 646-476-6565

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For any New Yorker, particularly those in the downtown area, Gai Chicken & Rice is an absolutely essential choice for two main reasons: **focused excellence** and **unbeatable speed**. Unlike typical Thai restaurants that offer sprawling menus, Gai specializes, dedicating itself to perfecting the classic chicken and rice dish. This focus translates directly into quality, ensuring that every component—from the juicy chicken (whether **Grilled**, **Steamed**, or **Crispy fried**) to the fragrant **Ginger Rice**—is executed with high-level consistency and authentic flavor.

The **Spicy Fried Chicken Bowl** comes highly recommended and is worth choosing for those who love bold, crunchy, and savory flavors, perfectly complemented by the spicy green chili sauce. The generous inclusion of a clear, light chicken soup on the side is a welcome touch that elevates the meal from a simple rice bowl to a complete, balanced, and comforting experience—a true hallmark of the traditional street food presentation. Furthermore, as a grab-and-go specialist with praised **Quick Service**, it’s the most efficient way to enjoy genuinely delicious, authentic Thai comfort food without compromising your lunch break, making it a powerful contender in the FiDi quick-service food scene.

Gai Chicken & Rice

118 Fulton St, New York, NY 10038, USA