Literally translated as “oily rice with chicken,” Khao Mun Gai is one of the most popular street food dishes in Thailand, often found at food stalls or in city restaurants.
The clean and simple nature of Khao Mun Gai is woven into our business DNA. From our minimalist menu to our straightforward interiors and streamlined operations, we’ve managed to uphold the highest standards with the simplest of means – demonstrating excellence and authenticity in everything we do.
By focusing on the basics of good business and great food, Rooster & Rice has proven its staying power even in the most uncertain of times, quickly infiltrating new cross-country markets despite the global pandemic with 10 locations and counting.
And because we’ve made such a concerted effort to get things right the first time around, our franchisees don’t have to worry about making any mistakes once they open for business.
Plus, our tried-and-true processes mean customers can always expect to experience the same lovingly prepared, superior-quality dish: as savory and subtly comforting as a delicious home cooked meal.
Rooster and Rice is a case study proving that simple when done well, can still provide a five-star dining experience.
Susanna L.
I couldn’t resist the smell of the fragrant food. I dug in and devoured the whole dish. It was so good.
Pam M.
The ‘original’ with its succulent meat, cooked to perfection each and every time. The broth has a rich clean taste.
Arlene C.
Joining Rooster & Rice means you’ll have access to experienced restaurateurs, seasoned investors, expert franchise operators, and more. Each member of this support network can serve as a regular contact, available for ongoing coaching that can help reinforce best practices for you and your new hires.
Lew comes from a hospitality background, currently operating INDO Restaurant & Lounge in Palo Alto, which he opened in 2012.
In 2015, after reuniting with childhood friend Tommy Charoen – a fellow Bay Area local – Lew decided to co-found the finest chicken and rice concept around: Rooster & Rice. Since then, Lew and Charoen have focused their attention on creating simple dishes executed to absolute perfection.
An experienced financier, Min Park has always had a strong love of food and an affinity for the restaurant industry. Now, as Chief Financial Officer and Lead Investor at Aroi Hospitality Group, Park jumped at the opportunity to invest in Rooster & Rice while working across the street from the brand’s second location. After experiencing the food firsthand and seeing the impressive traffic filtering through the space throughout the day, he knew it was a concept worth investing in.
Born into a restaurant family in Thailand, cooking is in Charoen’s blood. He cut his teeth working and training in the kitchen at the Venetian Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas before relocating to California and showcasing his French cooking methods as Corporate Executive Chef of the Straits Restaurant Group. Known for his ability to envision Eastern world cultural flavors prepared with Western culinary traditions, his food began to take on a unique flair. His Rooster & Rice recipes are inspired by his mother, who recently passed away from cancer. She taught him how to make the chicken and rice dish that has become well-loved by Rooster & Rice customers.
Gary Occhiogrosso has spent nearly 40 years working in the franchise industry as a sales and brand development specialist. Pulling from his vast wealth of experience, Occhiogrosso works with franchisors and aspiring franchisees alike to help them achieve their growth goals and improve selling strategies. As a consultant to the Rooster & Rice franchise development team, Occhiogrosso is helping to guide the brand toward continued growth across the country.
Since opening our doors, we’ve quickly become the go-to brand for Khao Mun Gai in the Bay Area. This is due in large part to our premium line of finely tuned recipes, each carefully designed with the consumer in mind.
Indeed, we’ve made a point of listening to our customers and constantly developing new innovations inspired by their feedback. One recent example: our ginger scallion sauce, which debuted to much fanfare in 2021.
And, by allowing our chef to focus on one singular dish, we’ve been able to produce exciting variations on the original Khao Mun Gai classic––all of which can be launched seamlessly across multiple locations.
Since 2015, Rooster & Rice has expanded to a total of 10 locations, each with a different model. Our no-frills menu reduces labor costs and overhead, paving the way for a flexible brick-and-mortar footprint that can thrive in virtually any market or retail space…even a lucrative ghost kitchen.
All this helps make us one of the best franchise businesses in our corner of the market.
There’s no secret to our path to success other than showing up and putting in the work. This is the best we can ask of ourselves and our franchisees – and its why we represent such a promising opportunity in the food franchise industry.
Are you ready to speak to a member of our team?
The ideal candidate should have $100,000 in liquid funds and a passion for simple, clean food executed to perfection. Previous restaurant experience is preferred but not required as we’ve got your back. Potential candidates should embrace sustainable restaurant practices and value community involvement. Welcoming and respectful attitude required.
Rooster & Rice boasts an experienced roster of industry professionals with proven track records. Our leadership, including two former founders of the food delivery app Caviar (which sold to Square in 2016 and is now part of Doordash), helps propel the brand forward toward continued growth. Each member of our leadership team can serve as a regular contact, available for ongoing coaching to help reinforce best practices for you and your new hires.
From our minimalist menu to our straightforward interiors and streamlined operations, we’ve upheld the highest standards with the simplest of means. All of these are to make your life as an operator much simpler.
Our training program consists of four weeks of training – two weeks at Rooster & Rice’s corporate headquarters and two weeks onsite. Our confidential operations manual developed by franchise industry executives will help you run your daily operations smoothly from day one.
Estimated Initial Investment: $325,100 – $467,500
Required Liquid Capital: $100,000
Franchise Fee: $35,000
Don’t hesitate to contact us if you’re looking for support in this area.
We don’t offer direct financing but we can put you in contact with third party financing.
Our royalty fee is 5% of gross sale.
The initial term of agreement is ten years.
This website and the information contained on this website are for information purposes only, are not intended as an offer to sell a franchise or a solicitation of an offer to buy a franchise.
The offering of a franchise can be made by prospectus only in the form of a Franchise Disclosure Document. In the states of California, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, New York, North Dakota, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin we will not offer you a franchise unless and until we have complied with applicable pre-sale registration and/or disclosure requirements. In the State of New York, the offering of a franchise can be made only by a prospectus that has been previously filed and registered with the Department of Law of the State of New York. The application for registration of an offering prospectus or the acceptance and filing thereof by the Department of Law does not constitute approval of the offering or the sale of such franchise by the Department of Law or the attorney general of the State of New York.
Regularly requested by Tommy Charoen’s fellow chefs after a long day’s work in the luxury kitchens of Las Vegas, Khao Mun Gai began life as a simple comfort dish from Thailand.
Though today the dish is available in many different mouthwatering variations, Chef Charoen’s version is a clear standout––the result of years of fine-tuning, inspired by a recipe from his very own mom.
Khao Mun Gai has since become the signature offering at Rooster and Rice, a charming, no-frills restaurant concept developed by Chef Charoen and co-founder Bryan Lew.
The dish represents the best of Asian street food culture, proving good meals can indeed come in humble packages. Once you try our take on this delectable combination of fragrant rice, poached chicken, and homemade soybean sauce you won’t ever be the same.
In 2018, Rooster & Rice teamed up with two former founders of the food delivery app Caviar (which sold to Square in 2016 and now part of Doordash) to expand from the Bay Area into developing a model fit for franchising efforts.
Over the past six years, Rooster and Rice has developed a loyal following of diehard fans, mostly thanks to our simple, chef-driven, 100% chicken-and-rice-based menu.
Plus: Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Rooster and Rice has displayed immense resilience, keeping all locations open (and profitable!) and showing massive promise, even at a time when health and safety measures threaten to disrupt sales and productivity levels.
All of these factors combine to make Rooster and Rice of an exclusive club within the already under-penetrated Asian QSR market (11%) in the U.S.. Still, our goal in branching out as a chicken franchise business has never been to gentrify a beloved cultural tradition or to cater to a limited group of “tastemakers.”
Instead, we aim to make Khao Mun Gai accessible to wider audiences and spread the word that “basic” can sometimes be delectably complex.
We hope you’ll join us on our quest to satisfy the world with our simple-yet-flavorful dishes made from just two key ingredients: chicken and rice.
303 2nd St,
San Francisco, CA 94107
415.896.2000
3120 Santa Rita Rd,
Pleasanton, CA 94566
925.425.7500
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669.770.8314
1 Stanyan, Unit #2
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415.702.6364
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95050
125 Kearny St,
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.705.1500
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San Francisco, CA 94132
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San Francisco, CA 94114
415.346.9700
Local Kitchen
369 California Ave
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650-590-8600
(Summer 2022)
Stomping Ground
1223 West 34th Street,
Suite B-400 Houston, TX 77018
303 2nd St,
San Francisco, CA 94107
415.896.2000
3120 Santa Rita Rd,
Pleasanton, CA 94566
925.425.7500
Door Dash Kitchen
1531 Main Street. Redwood City,
CA 94063
Delivery & Pick Up via
Door Dash EZCATER
2211 Filbert St,
San Francisco, CA 94123
415.776.3647
1078 E Brokaw Rd, Ste 40,
San Jose, CA 95131
669.770.8314
Local Kitchen
369 California Ave
Palo Alto, CA 94306
650-590-8600
1 Stanyan, Unit #2
San Francisco, CA 94118
415.702.6364
2855 Stevens Creek Blvd
Santa Clara, CA 95050
125 Kearny St,
San Francisco, CA 94108
415.705.1500
3251 20th St. Ste 186
San Francisco, CA 94132
4039 18th St,
San Francisco, CA 94114
415.346.9700
(Summer 2022)
Stomping Ground
1223 West 34th Street,
Suite B-400 Houston, TX 77018