Restaurants

What Da Chick brings Thai chicken rice to Watertown

The restaurant opened Nov. 9.

What Da Chick in Watertown What Da Chick

updated on November 9, 2021

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At street vendors and in restaurants throughout select Southeast Asian countries, you’ll often find chicken rice: a popular dish that’s tweaked depending where it’s made, but generally consisting of poached chicken, dipping sauces, and freshly steamed rice.

On Nov. 9, a new chicken rice spot opened at 1 Crawford St. in Watertown: The cheekily-named What Da Chick, which specializes in khao man gai, or Thai-style chicken rice.

This is the second restaurant for Sacharun “Cara” Manvicha, who also opened Thai restaurant and sushi bar Thai Bar Shi in Weymouth. She owns What Da Chick with her two business partners, and saw an opportunity to bring a unique dining experience to the neighborhood.

“My boyfriend and I love to eat Thai-style chicken rice,” she told Boston.com over the summer. “We saw this location; it’s close to my house. Thai chicken rice is not around the neighborhood this much, so we thought it was a good opportunity.”

Customers are able to easily spot the restaurant, with its bright yellow signage and a giant chicken painted on an exterior wall. Inside, the casual eatery offers chicken rice options with a medley of sweet and spicy sauces.

“The sauces are going to be spicy and garlicky,” Manvicha said, noting that the rice is also infused with Thai spices and garlic. “They’re very flavorful.”

What Da Chick’s opening menu features appetizers like fried gyoza, wings, seaweed salad, and popcorn chicken, plus a short list of chicken rice options that include a crispy chicken rice, a spicy chicken rice, grilled chicken rice, and combinations. For dessert, there is shaved ice with mixed toppings. Family size chicken rice orders feed four to six people, and Manvicha said that a to-be-determined oversized entrée that will serve as a “food challenge.”

“We’re still working on that, but we love a competition,” Manvicha shared. “I think it’s going to be so much fun.”

What Da Chick seats roughly 30 people for indoor dining. In a rush? The eatery also offers pickup, with delivery to come.

What Da Chick; 1 Crawford St., Watertown; Mondays—Saturdays from 11:30 a.m. to 9 p.m., Sundays from noon to 8:30 p.m.; whatdachick.com