Heng Heng Chicken Rice
Restaurant · East Hollywood ·
Casual Thai spot for Hainanese chicken & crispy fried chicken
Casual Thai spot for Hainanese chicken & crispy fried chicken
"Located on a busy strip of Hollywood Boulevard in Thai Town, this unfussy, diner-like spot is known for Thai-style poached chicken and rice paired with a zippy garlic sauce, with specials taped to the walls and mismatched chairs. The simple menu—variations of chicken, pork, and fish with rice or noodles and a selection of appetizers—packs an amazing depth of flavor. First-timers should try the Hainan chicken and rice that put the place on the map: a comforting plate with a simple side of radish soup sprinkled with white pepper; the white meat is juicy, while the dark meat packs even more flavor (you can also opt for both). Despite the name, the zaab fried pork is the most memorable dish, inspired by a popular fried chicken at KFCs in Thailand—streaked with fat and coated in a crunchy rice flour batter, bright with lime juice and nutty from toasted rice powder, freshened by sliced shallots, green onions, and cilantro; there’s also an excellent fried chicken version. Garlic sauce is available on every table, and it’s worth requesting a side of the pork belly dipping sauce—Thai chiles with lime juice and fish sauce—for a welcomed punch. Best for a casual solo lunch or a chill and affordable dinner with friends, with the added perk of free parking in the motel lot next door (grab a dashboard pass from the restaurant)." - Kat Thompson
"When a craving hits for Thailand’s KFC-style crispy, spicy fried chicken salad, I head here for the zaab crispy chicken — not your colonel’s fried chicken (because it’s better). Choose pork or chicken, then dig into fried bites tossed with slivered red onions, lime juice, chiles, toasted rice powder, cilantro, and green onions, all served with comforting chicken fat rice; I’ve had it at least a dozen times and it still hasn’t disappointed me." - Eater Staff
"At the front of the Dixie Hollywood Hotel, this counter turns out some of LA’s best Thai-style Hainan chicken, with steamed sets under $20 that include a generous portion of dark or white meat and garlic rice or noodles. The Hainan chicken is a must for first-timers, with crispy fried chicken, pork belly, and Thai chicken noodle soup beckoning on return visits. Must-try dishes: Hainan chicken, crispy chicken." - Rebecca Roland
"A go-to for tender Hainanese chicken, showcased as an example of the city’s excellent affordable essentials rooted in diasporic cuisines." - Eater Staff
"Look around in this small diner in Thai Town, and you’ll see Thai-style hainan chicken rice on every table. That’s probably why you’re at Heng Heng Chicken Rice in the first place—it’s some of LA’s best. The juicy dark meat is lightly seasoned to balance the bold garlic rice, funky chili fish sauce, and a side of chicken broth with enough white pepper to send a tickle up your nose. It’s a beautiful plate of poultry, but still second to Heng Heng’s less famous but superior crispy zaab chicken: A pile of chopped fried chicken (or fried pork belly) coated in a lime-lemongrass-fish sauce marinade that’s zippy and so deliciously punchy that we inhale the entire plate in minutes." - brant cox, arden shore, garrett snyder, sylvio martins