Amazing food at amazing prices! The spring rolls are a must -- you get to choose three, and I went with pork belly, beef, and shrimp. All of them were incredible. Super flavorful, filling, and surprisingly healthy. The beef bowl was great too, and the paper-thin fried spring rolls were delicious. It's tough to find reasonably priced spots these days, but this place is a gem. The space is cute and cozy, and the servers are friendly and happy to help you build the perfect meal. Definitely coming back here again!! read more

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I got a spring bowl with leafy greens, noodles, lemon grass chicken, carrots, basil, bean sprouts, cucumbers & chopped peanuts with their traditional citrus sauce. I think it is fairly priced and a good amount of food. The vegetables are fresh and they there is a lot of variety of toppings to choose from The bowl is good and the sauce tastes fresh and light. The workers were nice, but I did feel rushed when ordering. I will go back to try their spring rolls! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Spring BOWL - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

A Vietnamese chipotle! My friend was excited to try this spot, so we met here around 6:30 PM on a Monday evening. Parking wise, there is a paid lot nearby as well as some street spots scattered throughout. Bathroom wise, there are none inside as it's a pretty small joint, but they can provide customers with a key for the restroom in the nearby lot. I ordered a bowl with chicken & shrimp as my proteins and both were quite delicious. All of the toppings and sides appeared very fresh and the workers were very helpful in explaining the different sauces and options. Overall, a solid spot to grab a more casual dinner in Pasadena. Highly recommend! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - BYO bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I was reluctant to write this 2-star review as I've enjoyed several meals on multiple occasions at this Paper Rice location but my most recent visit is what left me no choice but to bring my normally-5-star rating down to a 2. My family and I came to this Paper Rice location last weekened (we've also dined at the newer Whittier location as well) and ordered our usual noodle bowls (one with chicken and one with beef), a rice bowl with chicken, and a chicken banh mi. A few hours later, when we returned home, both kids, my wife, and I all had stomach issues within an hour or two of each other. At first, we didn't suspect it to be the Paper Rice we had earlier but we backtracked our last 3 meals (breakfast, previous day's dinner, and previous day's lunch) and they were the same foods we've eaten home-cooked before without any stomach issues. Sure, there is still room for human error or potential food contamination while cooking at home but very low/rare given we cook and eat those same foods and prepare them the same way we always do. I'm hoping that maybe we just had a bad batch of the citrus fish sauce (that we used on all of our bowls) since our youngest only had his own bowl that wasn't shared and did not try any of the banh mi. The common denominator was the citrus sauce. Anyway, our stomach issues were not the worst we've had but still significant enough to question whether we will return to this Paper Rice location. I want to reiterate that we really enjoy Paper Rice and have come on multiple occasions to both this location and the newer Whittier location but may give the Whittier location another chance as it's a bit newer and closer to us. read more

Open up a Paper Rice in Long Beach or surrounding city because this place is amazing. Loving the Vietnamese build your own spring roll or bowl style. Feels like a Vietnamese type Cava or Chipotle. Their have the right balance of flavors and on top of that has good quality ingredients. Second time I've been here and I got the chicken with vermicelli noodles and mixed greens. So well balanced but they forgot to give me their crispy egg roll shell which I was bummed about. You also get a sauce of choice on the side too. Inside there is very limited seating and there's no good parking nearby that I saw (I walked here). It's perfect lunch or grab and go spot. Would definitely come back. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

We found this place a couple years ago and ever since, if we are in the area, we always come here. Cons- parking!!! I do not like places that don't have free parking! No restrooms either. Pros- design your own spring rolls! Yum!! You get 3 per order and pick your protein and then all the inside items you would like. Lots of dipping sauces to choose from as well! Always fresh! Their drinks are great as well and they always let us sample! I love their lychee lemonade! I also tried their Vietnamese coffee today and it was strong. A little too sweet for me but the ice does help it water down. Great meal! Inside seating is also tough so if it's nice outside, sit in the courtyard on the side! Wish we had 1 closer in the OC! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - BYO Spring Rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Fresh and simple food! I had beef and vegetarian spring rolls! So good! Can't wait to go back! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Beef and Vegetarian Spring Roll - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Amazing service and good quality/healthy food. I loved the rolls and the crunch you can add in it was delicious. I underestimated how full you get so I had two meals from this one order read more

I absolutely loooove paper rice. Their spring rolls are the best! I have tried pretty much every option they have in meats but I find myself always going for the "nem" I think it's the best (: These are so light & healthy I don't feel bad eating these often haha their citrus sauce is the bomb! I could probably eat these everyday if I had one closer to me haha So flavorful! They've really mastered the ingredients to add in each & their "mix" seasoning so good! Everything just works. I've tried other spots that have opened after paper rice but none compare in flavor! They are a little pricey but everything is these days. I have tried their banh mih but they're alright, not the star of show. It was good but have had better elsewhere & wasn't loaded, lacked filling. They are always a packed house, I swear there's never a time I go & they're not busy or a line (sometimes out the door). Wish it was a little bigger, feel like we're all on top of each other when in line & people trying to exit. Paid parking lot right behind so quick walk. I will say the customer service is just okay, you get a lot of workers that don't speak up or greet happily. Oh & I do think they should wear some sort of hair nets as well... because 1 time I went here my friend sadly got a hair in her spring roll :( so kinda gross. So glad that wasn't my meal but very unfortunate for my friend cause we had got them to go!! So we couldn't even show them or place a complaint. So hair nets would prevent that! I'm so excited for the new Azusa one to open cause that'll be closer to home haha overall love the food here. Will always return for the spring rolls! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Perfect customizable and ok-priced healthy meal. Love that theres a super nice exterior seating area nearby. Just walk down the street to the left of the shop and you'll see it - refer to my video. I didn't have a great experience with one of the workers- he was way too quiet and I had to ask for every question to be repeated. He also didnt give me the correct vegetables and I only looked away for a second after listing them. There was another workers however that was much brighter who made it right and remade my bowl and gave me a comped tea for the mistake and experience. from 4 star to 5! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Spring Bowl and Spring Rolls (3) - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

This location located in Pasadena can be very busy during lunch. The location is mall so ordering ahead will probably be best if you are short on time. If you do have time, order your rolls as they are freshly prepared. Everything we have tried is pretty good. The banh mi was delicious and the spring rolls are great to beat the heat. Always get the crispy roll in your wraps. Perfect meal to enjoy at Disneyland. read more

Essentially a chipotle style Vietnamese build your own bowl or spring roll. Not too big inside but there is a couple of tables for dine in. Line moved fairly quickly since they have multiple people at the station taking each party's order. Ingredients were fresh. I was surprised that they told me to choose 2 proteins when the menu said only 1, and the price was not any different! Beef was charred and juicy while the Vietnamese sausage was what I expected. Portion looked average but it was so filling. Would come back if I wanted something healthy with a Vietnamese style twist. read more

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Food - 4/5 It's like a chipotle for spring rolls and bowls. They also have a few options for banh mi's. Ingredients feels fresh, flavors are solid and it's quick. Great spot for a quick lunch. Service - 4/5 Staff is super friendly and happy to answer questions Ambience - 3.5/5 Not much space to sit around and eat, but it isn't a formal dine-in kinda spot. Nothing crazy for ambience but bonus points for feeling clean read more

This isn't my first time here, and it's my go-to when I want something light but still really satisfying. I always get the three-roll combo with lemongrass chicken and garlic shrimp -- both are seasoned so well and taste fresh every time. I love that they add a thin, crispy egg roll inside the spring rolls for that extra crunch. The peanut sauce is non-negotiable (always get extra). It's rich, savory, and has that deep umami peanut flavor that makes the rolls addictive. I also tried the unsweetened black tea. It was strong & actually tastes like real tea, not diluted. I ate in this time and the space was clean, slow jamz were playing, and the whole vibe was relaxed. Street parking is available with a couple of garages nearby. If I could eat these rolls for lunch every day, I honestly would. read more

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My go-to spot when I'm craving something convenient, healthy, & delicious. I always order ahead online so my order is ready for pick-up when I arrive. Staff is friendly & helpful. The bowls & spring rolls always hit the spot but I wish they would bring back the house special sautéed salad on weekdays! Free parking for 10 minutes (for pick-up) in the connected parking structure. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - nem nuong takeout bowl - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

I don't live in Pasadena but every time I'm in Pasadena I make sure to stop in Paper Rice! If you love spring rolls this place is for you. Located on Green St you need to know that street parking is limited but there's a parking structure a few doors down from the restaurant so don't be turned off. The restaurant is small with two tables and a counter top. It's always so lively inside. You can order spring rolls (3) or a bowl and there's also sandwich options to consider. It's a "small" menu but it's a flavorful menu. I'm a creature of habit so I always get the spring rolls. You choose your protein (it can be the same or not), I go with the standard filling option (lettuce, cucumber, carrot, cilantro) I say "yes" to the crispy egg roll that goes in side and add peanuts to mine. My favorite dipping sauce is the citrus ginger. You can buy bottled drinks or get one of their lemonades. The staff is always friendly and the service is quick. If you have questions no need to be shy, staff is willing to give you advice on what to get. On the weekends they have fried sticky rice patties for sale. These are stuffed with minced pork, shrimp, mushrooms, and onions...GET AN ORDER!!!! You get two! I wish I was in Pasadena more often just so I can enjoy the food from Paper Rice! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - spring rolls with a lychee lemonade - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

When we come to Pasadena we always stop by Paper Rice. Our favorite is the crunchy thin lumpia rolled into their spring rolls. We had the made-to-order spring rolls (3 rolls in an order) with beef, lemongrass chicken and garlic shrimp as our protein. Every bite was flavorful. We also order the fried sticky rice patties (2 per order). It was sooo good. It's stuffed with ground pork/ shrimp, onion and mushroom. You get crunchiness of the rice in every bite. It's a small place. Line always out the door but the service was fast and friendly. Parking was in the attached structure. The menu is simple. We look forward to going back. read more

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Small Vietnamese fast casual eatery in Old Town Pasadena. It's that service style where you pick the item you want and you go down the line picking fillings, etc. and pick sauces at the end. The folks here are very friendly. Probably the most popular items to get here are the spring rolls. The ingredients are fresh and they portions are pretty generous. I got the 3 rolls and filed them with shrimp, chicken, and 'baked nem'. I got the citrus sauce and and a Viet coffee to wash it all down. I thought it was delicious and such a great grab and go food. I was in Old Town Pasadena meeting up with family at the shuttle pick up/drop off heading into the Rose Bowl for a Chappell Roan concert. I haven't eaten lunch, but wanted something quick, convenient, and tasty. I saw this place and been wanting to go and it was perfect! Only about 2-3 blocks from the shuttle pick up/drop off area as well . read more

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Food is good, service is very unprofessional. We came in around 5PM on a Saturday afternoon. Not too many people in line, wait is about 2/3 minutes before you can place your order. Most of staffs are busy either making the order from the customers in the store or online/phone orders. My daughter saw the baguette and wanted to get that. So I ask the staff if we could buy the bread only. Received a cold "NO" from the woman staff who is taking our order. As we are checking out/processing the payment, she went back making another orderS of rice paper while leave us hanging there. I understand your time making the rolls are precious, but so is the CUSTOMER! After we tap the card, we waited over ONE minute for her to gave us the food she packed prior to check out and the recipt. We tried to get her attention after we finished the payment, she just totally ignore us even though she is just right in front of us but only a counter away. I'm wondering if I was paying cash, would she still go back making the paper rolls with the same hand or taking even though to response back to us. There are few small round tables in the store for dining in, but most of chair are cheap plastic. I would not trust to put my kid on it, truly a safety hazard. read more

Needed a quick Vietnamese lunch and didn't wanna drive to San Gabriel or Alhambra for my lunch! Next to the best place in town for my Viet buds is in this little joint here-Pasadena! Lined up and pick my choices, selections with easy and friendly staffs assembled to "chipotle" you out and about! Enjoyed my lunch outside the alleyway areas. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Paper Rice has been holding it down in downtown Pasadena for about five years now, and it's easy to see why. The concept is super cute and creative--think Chipotle but for Vietnamese spring rolls. As a spring roll lover, this place is basically my dream. You get to build your own, step by step, and it's actually really fun. You pick your proteins (can be multiple), then choose your veggies and then the toppings. When you're done, sauce it up! It's that simple, but the combinations feel endless. Everything looked and tasted super fresh, and you can tell they care about quality. I loved that the bowls and spring rolls are fully customizable--I'm obsessed with green onions and jalapeños, so I swapped out cilantro and pickled carrots without a problem and it was perfection for me. The staff here was so nice too--they changed gloves for our food allergy which I really appreciated. The sticky rice items are only available Friday through Sunday, which makes me want to plan my next visit accordingly. It's definitely a little gem if you're into Vietnamese food. The line was long when I went, but it moved quickly, and the staff kept things flowing smoothly. It's more of a grab-and-go spot, with just a few seats inside, but it's still really cute and cozy. Perfect for a light and healthy meal that doesn't skimp on flavor. read more

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What a gem of a restaurant if you are into Vietnamese food. The vibe here is traditional yet modern, the food was fresh, tasty and well prepared, the options avail are the good and the young employees were GREAT! We had a Tofu Bahn Mi sandwich, a shrimp and chicken Bahn Mi bowl, spring rolls with peanut sauce. Wow!! We were pleasantly surprised by the GREAT taste of each item. The place was PACKED with customers with over 25 people waiting in line inside and outside of the restaurant. This is obviously a very popular place to eat. We will DEFINITELY be back very soon read more

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10/10 Build Your Own Spring Rolls: I tried three different varieties of spring rolls, and I loved that you can customize each one exactly how you want it. They also offer a wide selection of sauces to choose from -- just note that there's a small extra charge if you want more than one. Everything was absolutely delicious, and the ingredients were incredibly fresh. I can't wait to come back! Price: Everything is before tax's. 3 build your own spring rolls $13.50. Extra Sauce $0.75. It's a little on the pricey side, but that's expected when you customize and build your own. read more

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I've ordered spring rolls on various occasions and Paper Rice delivers a great product each time. The ingredients are always fresh, the egg roll shell always crispy, and the wrapper is never chewy. My order is always ready at the expected pick up time and the service is always friendly. Price is going to be higher than other options in the San Gabriel Valley, but it's expected since it's in Old Town. Still, I would recommend it if you're in the area. read more

I'm obsessed with this place. I have to stop eating it so i don't get sick of it. My favorite is the spring rolls, with either shrimp or beef, all 4 toppings , house mix, add jalapenos, add green onion. You need it with the HOUSE SPICY SAUCE , I order 2 sauces for mine. It's delicious. Also their beef bahn mi is very good. read more

Wow, this spot has quickly become one of my favorite lunch places to swing by when I'm in the area. Truly delicious. After being spoiled by the Vietnamese food hub that is Philadelphia, this is the first bun bowl I've had out here that felt comparably delicious. I am gluten free, and it's such a treat to be able to eat everything except the egg rolls + crunch sticks (?). For those with dietary restrictions, they have an allergy menu posted inside. Their protein options are also notably flavorful. I saw a video refer to this spot as the "Chipotle of rolls," which, I get what they were saying, but the quality of the food here is leaps and bounds superior haha. Go try it! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - build your own Spring Bowl with noodles, sausage, chicken, citrus sauce, veggies, and everything seasoning. all gluten free (yay!). - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

With the temperature hitting 90s in Pasadena, Paper Rice with its spring rolls and bah min sandwiches sounded like an excellent lunch choice. The parking was a challenge, but we were able to find a spot after couple minutes of searching through streets. The tiny store, with its mix of tables and window facing counter, can seat around 14 people. The cafeteria style ordering process was quite simple: get in line, browse the overhead menu, let the servers know what you want and how you want it, and then pay for it at the end. We ordered the following items: Bahn Mi Sandwich with Baked Nem: The baguette was fresh, soft and huge, almost enough to feed 2 people. The baked nem portion was generous, and meat was tender and savory. The jalapeno gave the sandwich a nice spicy kick. The slightly sweet dressing sauce was delicious. Lemongrass Chicken with House Mix Veggie Spring Rolls: Each order came with 3 rolls. The portion was sensible and personally I could eat at least 6 of them. The wraps had a nice texture, and the filling of fresh veggies with a hint of mint and crunchy bits were delightful. The vinaigrette soy sauces enhanced the overall taste of the rolls. A great Vietnamese street food experience worthy of repeating. read more

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The place serves rice rolls in the Chipotle style. You pick your options at the counter and they assemble it for you. Staff are pretty nice and are willing to ask questions about the options. The interior seems nice and clean and cozy. You also have the option to take your food outside to the local plaza outdoor dining tables. Price point seems a bit high but it's pretty consistent with these Chipotle style restaurants. Good for takeout and dining in read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Spring rolls with peanut sauce - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Service was very nice. Cashier friendly and very helpful. Nim was very nice for my first time here. A bit overpriced but the service and food was very tasty and definitely coming again! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - The Spring Rolls (2 rolls) and strawberry limeade. - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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Paper rice, is definitely worth trying for their spring rolls. They're customizable and offer a multitude of proteins, my go to is the marinated tofu which is flavorful and delicious. They also add in a fried egg roll crisp which adds a satisfying crunch to the spring roll. For three pieces you pay a little under $15. It's a tad pricey, but it's good for a light lunch. The bahn mi isn't worth trying in my opinion. Bread is fresh and crunchy, but they overdo it with the watery mayonnaise. Overall, the sandwich doesn't come together well. It's about $14 which is too pricey for a sandwich that is so boring. Service is good, I wouldn't recommend coming on a weekend without having ordered ahead as their line moves quite slowly. They don't validate parking for the lot behind either to my understanding so be prepared to find metered parking. read more

Stopped by just for the spring rolls after seeing someone post about it on TikTok. Love the idea of it and would want to return to try the Banh Mi and Viet coffee as well. I ordered the pork belly, shrimp, and sauteed beef, with house mix, garlic bits, and citrus ginger sauce, along with soy vinaigrette. I loved the citrus ginger sauce and would definitely go with that again. One cup of sauce was enough. My favorite out of the three way the pork belly. The others were good too, but I would 100% get the pork belly again. The servers were patient when we asked questions about the process worked and such, although pretty straight forward. There is some seating inside but can also feel a bit cramped but cozy. We ended up just grabbing it to go. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Love this spot! Was in the area with my kid for a video game event at the convention center and had to stop by for some spring rolls. I wish we had one in the valley! Their drinks are so good too, I tried their guava pineapple drink this time Fresh ingredients, great service- five stars! read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Shrimp and tofu spring rolls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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I love stopping by paper rice anytime I'm in Pasadena. Bowls are $14.50 while their spring rolls are $13.50. The best part about paper rice is truly the convenience! The food is fresh and you can customize everything you want chipotle style in store or order for pick up. I always order a spring bowl with rice noodles and braised pork belly. I've gotten their sautéed beef twice and it was good one time and extremely overcooked and dry the next. The pork belly, however is fantastic! Cooked perfectly tender and covered in garlic. Yum. Their nuoc cham isn't my favorite but it's a refreshing add to your bowl. It's less fish sauce and more on the citrusy side. Paper rice is located in old town Pasadena so I often enjoy coming here after a nice stroll. read more

Made a trip to Pasadena from LB for these! I love the selection. I always get spring rolls, 3 for $14.5 ain't bad. I got garlic shrimp, pork belly and beef. The pork belly was yummy but the pork was a tad dry. Everything tastes fresh and the house citrus fish sauce is a perfect dip, the soy dipping sauce is also bomb. Try the guava pineapple juice 1000/10 read more

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This is like a Chipotle style Vietnamese joint. Perfect spot for take out during a quick work lunch break. You can choose between a rice bowl option or spring rolls. The spring rolls are stuffeddd. You pick your protein, I usually get the shrimp, Lemongrass chicken, or Charbroiled nem. Then which veggies and other toppings you'd like. Finally, you can choose a sauce to pair with your dish. Love it here, quality is fresh too. Service is quick and efficient. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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When I first heard about Vietnamese spring rolls, Chipotle style, I had to check it out. Finding parking for this place can be a frustrating experience. We had to circle around so many times before we found a spot. The restaurant is small. Line was so long that it stresses outside the door. It was a bit of a wait to finally get inside. There is not a lot of seats inside. But there are additional outdoor seating just down the street. Ordering was simple. You have a choice between the spring rolls or their bowl. They also offer banh mi (Vietnamese sandwiches). We didn't try their bowl or their banh mi. Step 1: Pick your proteins Step 2: Pick your veggies and herbs Step 3: Pick your toppings Step 4: Choose your sauce We ordered two orders of the spring rolls. First set was: Baked Nem, Braised Pork Belly, Sauteed Beef with savory peanut sauce. Second set was: Baked Nem, Lemongrass Chicken, Garlic Shrimp with traditional citrus sauce. The spring rolls were ok. The peanut sauce was good. The traditional citrus sauce was a bit salty. I would stick with the peanut sauce. Overall, it was ok. read more

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I've been there twice now, and it is absolutely delicious. I'm not well-versed in Vietnamese food, I've only had pho and banh mi a couple times, and I thought I wasn't really fond of spring rolls before coming here. The first time I went I got a bowl w/ garlic fried tofu, noodles, and "the mix" for everything else, and the fried tofu is the best I've ever had. This last time I got spring rolls, all three with tofu. And usually I don't like putting sauce on things but the traditional citrus sauce is a must. I also can't wait to try the grilled sticky rice patties next time I go. The only thing is that it's pretty hectic to order, and it's hard to hear what the workers are saying, and vice versa, but they're very nice. It's small inside, so I wouldn't eat in there, but it's very easy to take the food to go. read more

Build your own spring rolls!? You don't need to say anything else to get me through the front door to try this gem of a spot. I've always been a fan of spring rolls, having grown up eating them at plenty of Viet restaurants and making them at home. At Paper Rice, you can choose to build your own 3-pack of spring rolls for $12, and the quality of the ingredients and professionalism of the rolling is not to be missed. They have one vegan friendly protein which was their soy tofu option and I was thrilled. Many of the toppings you'd add to a fresh spring roll are also already plant-based, so pick and choose what you like. I added nearly everything I could including the crispy wrapper stick for that extra crunch. Each order also comes with a dipping sauce of your choice. I went with a classic peanut butter based dip which put everything together nicely. Next time I'm in Pasadena, it'll be a no brainer to come back and try these again. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

Needed something fast and had always wanted to try this place. The service was super quick, which was exactly what I was looking for, and parking cost only $1, which was right next to the restaurant. My only complaint is that the outer portion of the spring roll was a little bit too chewy for my liking. It sometimes felt like I was eating plastic, and it was a little too thick, too; otherwise, everything was delicious. read more

Paper Rice - Spring Rolls & Bowls - Vietnamese Near Me - Pasadena, California

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My favorite spot for spring rolls and bowls. The only spot I know that does this and I hope there are more spots. Love that it's made to order and everything is so fresh. read more

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