Rice Rice Baby

About Rice Rice Baby

Rice Rice Baby is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant located in Mount Maunganui, Bay of Plenty, celebrating straight-up Vietnamese cuisine with no fusion compromises. With over 2,000 five-star Google reviews, the restaurant has earned recognition from prestigious outlets including Deloitte's Fast 50 list, The Urban List, and The Denizen.

The venue offers a carefully curated menu spanning traditional Vietnamese snacks, bánh mì baguettes, fresh summer rolls, and signature dishes like Phở Bò, Waterfall Chicken, and creative noodle salads. The drinks program is equally thoughtful, featuring cocktails with Vietnamese-inspired infusions, a curated wine list, local beers on tap, and authentic Vietnamese coffee.

Beyond dine-in service, Rice Rice Baby offers online ordering for pickup and delivery, gift vouchers, a loyalty rewards program, and full catering services for private and corporate events. The restaurant's commitment to quality and authenticity has made it a beloved destination for Vietnamese food enthusiasts throughout the region.

Rice Rice Baby — Authentic Vietnamese Cuisine in Mount Maunganui

Rice Rice Baby has become a beloved destination for authentic Vietnamese cuisine in Mount Maunganui, earning over 2,000 five-star Google reviews and recognition from prestigious publications including Deloitte's Fast 50 list, The Urban List, and The Denizen. The restaurant's commitment to "straight-up authentic Vietnamese food, no fusion" sets the tone for an uncompromising approach to the cuisine.

The Menu Philosophy

The restaurant's menu spans the breadth of Vietnamese culinary tradition. Traditional snacks like bánh phồng tôm (prawn crackers) and roasted garlic chilli peanuts set the tone for drinks. Vietnamese baguettes (bánh mì) arrive with pickled carrot, daikon, coriander, and homemade mayo, available with pork, chicken, or tofu and avocado. Fresh summer rolls come with avocado and peanut hoisin sauce, while crispy spring rolls showcase traditional fish sauce accompaniments.

Small plates progress through Saigon-style dumplings with chilli and fish sauce, sticky fish sauce chicken wings with fried garlic, tamarind spare ribs layered with lemongrass, and green chilli fried chicken. The vegetarian offerings—vegan nest spring rolls, District Three cauliflower bites with sriracha mayo, and Vietnamese vegan wontons—receive equal attention to technique and flavor.

Large Plates & Signature Dishes

The large plate section showcases Vietnam's regional diversity. Bùn Bò Huế brings spicy beef noodle soup with pineapple and lemongrass broth; Phở Bò represents the iconic beef noodle soup tradition; Hủ Tiếu Gà delivers southern-style chicken noodle soup with fried garlic and shallots. The Waterfall Chicken—poached in spiced broth then deep-fried and served with ginger rice—stands as a standout signature dish. Bún Thịt Nướng (grilled meat noodle salad) showcases the restaurant's approach to fresh, herbaceous Vietnamese flavors.

Creamy Chicken Curry arrives with coconut cream and vegetables, while specialty items like crispy pork belly in sticky sauce and lemongrass tofu round out the mains. A Vietnamese duck salad with pomelo, apple, and peanut dressing offers sophisticated complexity.

Beyond the Plate

The cocktail menu demonstrates thoughtful creativity, with Vietnamese-inspired infusions like lemongrass gin (Saigon Sour), coconut tequila (Hot Lips), and lychee vodka (Handsome Stranger). A curated wine list ranges from Prosecco to Pinot Noir, with local options featured prominently. The beverage program includes local beers on tap and authentic Vietnamese coffee—hot or iced.

Rice Rice Baby serves online for pickup and delivery, offers gift vouchers for friends and family, runs a loyalty rewards program, and provides full catering for private and corporate events.

Signature items

• Phở Bò
• Bánh Mì
• Bún Thịt Nướng
• Cơm Gà Xôi Mõ
• Gỏi Cuốn
• Cà Ri Gà

Menu

Dessert

• Chè Chuối — Cold banana sago pudding with coconut cream and peanuts

Cocktails

• How I Met Your Father — Blueberry lavender gin, rosewater and prosecco
• Strawberry Spritz — Strawberry infused aperol, orange, mandarin soda and prosecco
• Handsome Stranger — Butterfly flower vodka, citrus, lemonade and lychee
• Tall, Dark + Spicy — Gingerbread spiced rum, lime and ginger beer
• Juicy Gossip — Peach infused vodka, aromatic bitters, ginger beer and mint
• Hot Lips — Coconut infused tequila, lime, guava juice and chilli salt
• Bitter Cougar — Pink grapefruit infused gin, orange bitters and tonic
• Skinny Dip — Watermelon infused vodka, lime, soda and mint
• Caramelised Colada — Caramelised coconut rum, pineapple juice and coconut cream
• Saigon Sour — Lemongrass infused gin, cointreau, soda and lemon
• Pash + Dash — Passionfruit infused white rum, lime, soda and mint

Beer & Cider

• Good as Gold Lager — On tap
• Heartbreaker Hazy IPA — On tap
• Saigon Special Green Label — Bottled
• Tiger Crystal Ultra Low Carb — Bottled
• Steinlager Light — Bottled
• Heineken Zero — Bottled
• Orchard Thieves Apple Cider — Bottled

Large Plates

• Bùn Bò Huế — Spicy beef noodle soup with chilli, pineapple, lemongrass broth
• Phở Bò — Traditional beef noodle soup with rice noodles and fresh herbs
• Hủ Tiếu Gà — Southern style chicken noodle soup with fried garlic and shallots
• Hủ Tiếu Chay — Tofu and vegetable noodle soup with wonton
• Cà Ri Gà — Creamy chicken curry with coconut cream and vegetables
• Cơm Gà Xôi Mõ — Waterfall chicken poached then fried, served with ginger rice
• Cơm Chiên Tôm — Spicy prawn and coconut fried rice with vegetables and peanuts
• Xôi Mặn — Sticky rice with grilled meat, pâté and pickled carrot
• Ba Rọi Chiên Giòn — Crispy pork belly in sticky sauce with chilli and ginger rice
• Đậu Hủ Xào Sả Ớt — Sweet and spicy lemongrass tofu with ginger rice
• Gỏi Vịt — Vietnamese duck salad with apple, pomelo and peanut dressing
• Bún Thịt Nướng — Grilled meat noodle salad with fish sauce and peanuts
• Bún Chả Giò Chay Đậu Hủ — Tofu and nest spring roll noodle salad with garlic soy sauce

Small Plates

• Gỏi Cuốn — Fresh summer rolls with avocado and peanut hoisin sauce
• Chả Giò — Crispy pork spring rolls with traditional Vietnamese fish sauce
• Chả Giò Rế Chay — Vegan nest spring rolls with sriracha
• Há Cảo Chợ Lớn — Saigon style prawn and pork dumplings with chilli and fish sauce
• Cánh Gà Chiên Nước Mắm — Sticky fish sauce chicken wings with fried garlic and herbs
• Sườn Rang Me — Sticky tamarind spare ribs with chilli, lemongrass and pickles
• Gà Chiên Sốt Muối Ớt Xanh — Green chilli fried chicken, boneless pieces in herb sauce
• Mực Chiên Tiêu — Salt and pepper squid with house green chilli sauce
• Bông Cải Trắng Chiên — District Three cauliflower bites with vegan sriracha mayo
• Hoành Thánh Chay — Vietnamese vegan wontons with mushroom, tofu and sesame

Drinking Snacks

• Bánh Phồng Tôm — Prawn crackers made from tapioca, shrimp and garlic
• Đậu Phộng Rang Tỏi Ớt — Roasted garlic and chilli peanuts

Coffee & Beverages

• Authentic Vietnamese Coffee — Served hot or iced
• Juices — Fresh juices
• Kombucha — Fermented beverage
• Sodas — Soft drinks

Vietnamese Baguettes

• Bánh Mì — Pork, Chicken, or Tofu & Avocado — Pickled carrot, daikon, coriander, homemade mayo, with or without pâté

Frequently asked questions

Is Rice Rice Baby authentically Vietnamese?

Yes, the restaurant specializes in straight-up authentic Vietnamese food with no fusion. Over 2,000 Google reviews confirm the authenticity.

Do you have vegetarian and vegan options?

Yes, the menu includes many plant-based dishes including vegan spring rolls, tofu dishes, vegetable noodle soups, and vegan wontons, all clearly marked.

Can I order online?

Yes, Rice Rice Baby offers online ordering for both pickup and delivery through their website.

Do you provide catering?

Yes, they offer full catering services for private and corporate events. Download their catering menu for details.

What are your hours?

Open daily from 11:30am until late (specific closing time varies by day).

Do you have a loyalty program?

Yes, Rice Rice Baby has a rewards program available through their website. Members earn points on purchases.

Tips

• {"body":"This signature dish—poached in spiced broth then deep-fried—is a standout and uniquely presented.","title":"Try the Waterfall Chicken"}
• {"body":"The cocktail menu features creative Vietnamese infusions like Saigon Sour and Caramelised Colada.","title":"Pair with Vietnamese-Inspired Cocktails"}
• {"body":"The authentic Vietnamese baguette with pickled vegetables and homemade mayo is iconic and portable.","title":"Order the Bánh Mì"}
• {"body":"Sign up for loyalty points on every purchase and unlock exclusive member benefits.","title":"Join the Rewards Program"}

Good to know

• {"family":"Family-friendly with casual dining atmosphere; takeaway and delivery available","dietary":"Extensive vegetarian and vegan options clearly marked; many gluten-free and dairy-free dishes available","payments":"Online ordering, gift vouchers available, rewards program for loyalty customers"}