The Rice Box

American-​style Chinese food is one of life’s great pleasures for me. Ever since I was a kid, I’ve loved few things more than sitting down with a big saucy helping of General Tso’s chicken and a mound of white rice. However, since I’ve moved to Houston, it’s been hard for me to find a replacement for my childhood Chinese chow joints. While there are plenty of Chinese restaurants around, most of them are either too dumpy or too fancy for my tastes. That hasn’t stopped me from searching though, and recently my search brought me to the Rice Box on the suggestion of a friend.
I will say one thing about the Rice Box, they don’t make it easy for you to find it. Cooped up in the bottom floor of 5 Greenway Plaza, it probably took me a half hour of walking and driving to actually find the place. While I can’t really blame the Rice Box for this, Greenway Plaza really, really needs better signage. Once I had actually gotten there, I was pleased to find my food already ready to go (I’d ordered ahead online).
Having arrived back at work, I sat down and prepared to enjoy my lunch. I started with the egg roll (complimentary with most of their entrees) and was pleasantly surprised by it. Egg rolls are typically an afterthought at most places, but Rice Box seems to have put a decent amount of effort into there. They’re moist and chewy while retaining a pleasant crunch to the outer skin; the filling, while a little bland on its own, comes to life with the addition of a little hot mustard. With my egg roll tucked away, I got to work on my chicken. The Rice Box really shines when you compare it to typical Chinese takeout fare; the breading on my General Tso’s was light and airy and the sauce is complex and flavorful with real soy and chiles, rather than being one-​notedly sweet. As I ate my chicken, I realized that there was something markedly different about it compared to other variations I’d had; Rice Box uses dark meat chicken in their stir fries, which leaves the end product even richer and more tender than it would be with white meat.
The Rice Box is a really nice midpoint between the average Chinese restaurant and the more expensive Chinese you might get somewhere like Cooking Girl or Mala. While I’d love to see them actually get their hands on a brick and mortar store front with a parking lot and other such niceties, their current lunch counter set up seems to be working well and isn’t too bad. If you’re in the market for some really good American Chinese, I can’t recommend Rice Box more.

Flavor is decent, mega friendly staff, very few menu items but they will adjust to whatever you want with what they have (hence the 4 stars) Place is inside the building in their food court. You have to pay parking.

The Rice Box is easily the best spot for food in the mall area. From food truck to brick and mortar. People here are very knowledgeable about their food. Definitely my go-​to spot for a quick lunch break. Try the Curry Chicken made spicy with the noodles!

BEST. ASIAN. FOOD. (period). Originating as a food truck, this brick and mortar is in the Shop at Greenway Plaza and open for lunch only. The owners are super friendly, personable, and very brilliant people. Ive tried three different rice bowls and am stuck on them, but really need to try more. The bowls are built with a hefty amount of rice, then veggies and meat on top with an egg roll on the side. The detail of the sauces make the rice box the best because each sauce is fresh compared to most other asian food joints. 1) Mongolian beef is the most expensive item on the menu, but arguably the best. The meat and sauce compare to nothing Ive had in means of quality. 2) Orange chicken is USUALLY a tangy, dark orange glob of sticky mess. At RiceBox, there is fresh orange in a lighter sauce. In sum, if the world knew more about RiceBox, the world would be a better place.

The top spot down in the shops for food and in the general area. Sauces are very good. Employees are friendly and helpful.

Seriously some of the best food in Houston!
Amazing friendly staff, quick service. I tried the Orange Chicken which is lightly fried (I’m a health nut)
You must upgrade to the noodles. Totally worth it.
We chatted with Paul and he told us some other great recommendations for restaurants.
Talk about a great experience. Priced right and just amazing food!

My coworkers and I LOVE this place! I’d say at least one person in the office eats there weekly. I’ve had to have anything there that wasn’t delicious! They are fast, incredibly friendly, and give very generous servings. I would HIGHLY recommend Rice Box! DELICIOUS!!!

This is the worst «Chinese» restaurant I’ve ever had. That was a total waste of $ 12. I was hungry and saw a line, so thought it would be good, especially since I was starving. Told the guy I was vegetarian, wanted noodles & something spicy. He said all their dishes could be made with tofu and suggested Kung Pao entrée made with Tofu when I asked for the spiciest item on menu. He said it would be «da domb!» When I received my food, first thing I noticed was the soft, greasy eggroll. The bag it came in was drenched in oil. The Kung Pao Tofu was bland, flavorless and the noodles were burnt and tasteless. It was my first and last time there.

Delicious orange chicken. It tasted very fresh, and it wasn’t drowning in congealed orangey syrup. The guy at the register was super friendly and gave me a handout to show how to fold my takeout box into a plate. I didn’t get the hang of it, and felt pretty dumb! But that was a blessing in disguise since I needed to take half my food to go!
I will be back again.