If I were to recommend one place in my life, it would be this one. There are no words that can adequately describe the experience of eating the onigiri here. I can't help but get teary-eyed just thinking about it. They also had unique flavors, like an eggplant one that I must try! Some people mentioned that the filling portion is small, and while there is some truth to that, the flavor of the rice, seaweed, and whatever magical topping they add is enough to satisfy. Others said the parking is bad, but that's just LA. And it has a bathroom! It's Little Tokyo, and there's a bathroom! But yeah, the service was really fast considering it's fresh food. I also went on a weekday around 3 p.m. with only a few other customers. read more

Rice & Nori - Beef Sukiyaki Onigiri on the left, Salmon Yuzu Miso Onigiri on the right - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

After we left Okayama Bakery, we were looking for a lunch spot and found Rice & Nori on Yelp with great reviews. They specialize in Sushi, Onigiri, and Hand Rolls. This place was popular and we made it in line just before the lunch crowd hit. There is a decent sized dining room, but we ordered takeout. I went with the 5 Handroll Set for $31. You choose 5 handrolls, 2 can be premium rolls. You also choose your Sashimi and Edamame is added as a side.. I chose Unagi, Scallops, Blue Crab, Yellowtail, Spicy Tuna and Tuna Sashimi. The order arrived in a decent amount of time. It did get crowded in inside and finding a spot to stand while waiting for your food became difficult. While waiting, I did notice that they also sell plants inside. Everything was absolutely delicious and fresh. I'll be back to try more. read more

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I have been eating here every week or two for several years now. Sometimes get Onigiri, sometimes get handrolls. Both are excellent. I usually get Spicy Tuna Mayo and Bacon Avocado Onigiri. Many of the handrolls are gluten free and you can ask for Tamari instead of Soy sauce if you need a gf option. Only bad thing about this place is when there is an anime convention and the line is out the door. read more

Huge comfy space that looked more like a cafe than a place for onigiri and musubi. No wonder why it's pretty busy as people could dine and chill. Besides, for the portion, the price was quite competitive. Everything's freshly made to order, but the serving time was pretty rapid. We got the salmon, tuna, and spicy scallops. All got flavorful, perfectly cooked rice wrapped in seaweed. The salmon was our top pick among all, but we did wish the protein stuffing ratio to rice to be higher. Probably would mean paying bit extra, but would certainly be worth. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I just got to Little Tokyo & I was super starving but I have dinner reservations at 5:15 before a show at the Mark Taper forum. So anyway, I needed something to eat but nothing humongous... and I love onigiri, so this place made sense for sure. It was a quick 5 minute walk over from the Hotel Miyako. Tucked inside Weller's court, Rice & Nori has been open since (I believe) 2018. The inside dining room was probably cute when they first opened, but it is looking rather rundown and a little unloved at this point, but it was functional. There is also outdoor seating in the courtyard. After ordering my onigiri from a helpful employee, they were warm & ready in about three minutes. $10 for two onigiri. There was a good amount of tuna in the spicy tuna mayo and typically this is my fave type of onigiri. I also got the spicy lobster shrimp & it was fine. There was no discernible lobster taste in my opinion. They held their shape fairly well, but got a little crumbly toward the end. This decent snack hit the spot & I'll make it to dinner now! :) So if you are in the mood for a quick Japanese-inspired snack, this place is totally fine. They have a single bathroom, & the line for it was quite long. There is also a random little plant stand in the space called Bozu, so you are in the market for a cute & expensive plant, this also might be the place for you. Arigato! read more

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The rice quality is really good! My only gripe... while the filling was good there was little to none.... I really wanted to love this place and I keep hearing good things but I've had the same quality at places for the same price with more filling. read more

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Quick, easy, simple, and delicious! Rice to meat ratio is pretty good for $4. Service is quick and simple. You order at the counter. Ambiance is chill. Kinda homey, but it's meant to be small. read more

Rice & Nori - Salmon yuzu, and miso salmon - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

We took the train out to Little Tokyo just to have a cute DTLA day. I know Little Tokyo has changed a lot over the years. A lot of restaurants have come and go while some stay that's super over priced or really bad food. Yet Rice & Nori changed my mind. We walked by and saw this shop and wanted to check it out since we've never seen it before. The prices are actually really reasonable for all their food. The interior is really cute and has a good amount of seating. The staff was super friendly and helpful when making decisions on the menu. I got the spicy salmon and Yuzu tuna nori. Mind you I usually have really high expectations for my nori because i'm used to them from hawaii or fresh nori. Yet these were EXTREMELY yummy and flavorful. I was surprised by the yuzu because it was sour yet really good! I would 100% return here and grab more snacks and food ! read more

Rice & Nori - Interior - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

fresh, warm, perfectly cooked rice, delicious filling, and crisp seaweed make these onigiri the perfect snack when you're around little tokyo. skip the supermarket cold onigiri, when you can just come here for maybe a dollar more to get a really great onigiri. the furikake on the edges really adds another burst of flavor. i had the yuzu miso salmon and really loved it. this is a japanese protein bar haha. it's great. read more

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Quick lunch option, in and out pretty quick. I ordered the 3 hand roll combo ( you choose your 3 flavors and protein) and it comes with one edamame and one sashimi ( choice of tuna, salmon, yellowtail) I also got their pineapple yuzu iced tea and it was delicious! Just the right amount of sweetness! read more

Rice & Nori - 3 Handroll Set ( ate 1 already when this picture was taken oops) was too hungry - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Friendly staff. Nice big clean space. Cafe style where you order, pay and then they call your name when its ready. If I lived nearby, id be here for lunch all the time. The onigiri was delicious. I got the spicy tuna mayo and the yuzu salmon. Inhaled both. Good portion sizes. Cannot wait to visit again! read more

Rice & Nori - Top left edamame & yellowtail, top right five hand rolls, middle spam & egg musubi, bottom 2 onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Rice & Nori is a small Little Tokyo spot that keeps its focus on onigiri, hand rolls, and other quick Japanese comfort foods rather than trying to be a full-service sushi restaurant. We walked into a compact, casual space that feels more like the type of place you stop into for a quick lunch or snack than somewhere designed for a long meal. The simplicity works in its favor, especially given how much attention goes into the food itself. The onigiri are the main reason to visit, and they are consistently the highlight of the menu. The rice is well seasoned, the fillings are generous, and each rice ball feels substantial enough to serve as an actual meal rather than just a snack. The Beef Sukiyaki onigiri stands out for its savory flavor, with the filling adding a richness that complements the rice without making it feel heavy. Beyond the beef, the variety of fillings gives you enough options to try different combinations on repeat visits. Beyond the onigiri, the hand rolls provide another strong option. The seafood tastes fresh, the nori maintains a good texture, and the rolls feel like a natural extension of the rest of the menu. Drinks such as the Matcha Horchata and Lychee Lemonade add some variety and give the restaurant a few signature items beyond the rice balls themselves. The Matcha Horchata is an interesting fusion drink that combines the earthy matcha with the creamy cinnamon notes of horchata, and the Lychee Lemonade offers a lighter, fruitier option for those looking for something refreshing. The portions are generous for the price, especially given the location in Little Tokyo. Service tends to be fast and efficient, which fits the restaurant's quick-service format. The staff are friendly and willing to make recommendations, which is helpful for first-time visitors who may not be familiar with onigiri beyond convenience store versions. Orders come out quickly, making it an easy stop whether you are exploring the neighborhood or simply looking for a casual meal. Rice & Nori succeeds by focusing on a relatively narrow menu and doing it well. The combination of flavorful onigiri, fresh hand rolls, reasonable prices, and quick service makes it one of the more reliable casual food stops in Little Tokyo. It may not be a destination for an elaborate dining experience, but for a satisfying and approachable introduction to onigiri, it is easy to see why so many people return regularly. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Service was extremely friendly & helpful! The inside was a little empty, it feels like here could be more tables in my opinion, but there are plenty of tables outside as well to sit and eat. The onigiri was delicious! It does kind of fall apart quickly due to how fresh it is, nothing a little fork or spoon can't fix though. We will definitely be back! read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Solid hole-in-the-wall type shop with fair quality fish and a good menu to try from. I liked their deal for hand rolls, sashimi, and edamame. Honestly can't beat that price in LA and I really liked the yuzu on the salmon sashimi! The staff are friendly and the vibe is pay before you eat, clean up before you go. I wouldn't consider this place exceptional, but I do think it's a little gem in its own right. There isn't a particular standout item, but it's a good spot to satisfy a craving without breaking the bank, and you can trust that the quality & care for the food is solid! read more

Yum! Super fast and tasty. My only complaint is the filling ratio to rice. There was probably 3/4 rice to filling. Plenty of option to sit inside or out in the courtyard in Little Tokyo here read more

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My coworkers recommended this great onigiri place... and then I noticed that I've already previously bookmarked it too! So I walked in with the girls and not only did they order onigiri, but they ordered rolls and musubi. I didn't get a chance to eat the salmon and tuna rolls --- apparently, it's the best my daughter has ever had and is her new favorite. They both like their tuna and salmon onigiris too. It's so nice that the person who made the onigiris considerately marked the wax paper with some of the fish fillings so that we could identify which onigiri is which. There is a line to order and a short wait for our food. Which is fine because there is a line for the bathroom too. Also, it gives interested customers like us a chance to browse through the BOZU FLOWERS plants for sale on one side of the restaurant. There is a large indoor dining area. Although it's also nice to walk around the courtyard. read more

Rice & Nori is tucked inside Weller's Court in Little Tokyo. We stopped by for a somewhat healthy dinner. My friend suggested this place since she has visited before. It's a nice casual spot with self service. It was pretty busy when we got there but luckily we were still able to grab a table. we each order the 3 hand roll set that comes with sashimi, edamame, and premium hand roll. i liked that at least for one of the hand rolls you can choose a premium option which i chose negi toro. the fish was pretty fresh and seasoned deliciously! i think it's hard for rice and fish not to taste good tbh. it's a simple meal but so satisfying. read more

Rice & Nori - 3 Handroll Set - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Such a cool little shop. The prices were amazing and more similar to Japan prices. The service was great as the guy at the counter answered my questions helpfully. My daughter made me come here and I'm glad she did. I tried the avocado and bacon and she got the salmon. The pineapple yuzu is a must try!!! Highly recommend. read more

Wonderful onigiris! Came here on a rainy Saturday and walked in to order our onigiris at the counter. The menu is very easy to read, and we got the beef sukiyaki, salmon yuzu, and spicy miso eggplant onigiris! We also got the negi toro and yellowtail handrolls. Not even 5 minutes later, our order was ready - SUPER QUICK! We had no trouble finding a seat at the clean tables on the other side of the cafe. The onigiris were warm and fresh! The beef sukiyaki is sweet and tender. The salmon yuzu was my favorite, tasting so fresh. The eggplant was also flavor-packed. The handrolls were also really tasty and not fishy at all. The onigiris have a great balance of rice and meat/fish. I think the prices are very fair, and I would definitely come here again. read more

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A little Tokyo classic! Perfect for a tasty filling cheap lunch that you can do quickly or on the go too if you need. It is worth getting your onigiri here rather than cold at the super market - here it's freshly made, warm, and has higher quality and more fillings. I've had a variety of the flavors here and enjoyed them all. The restaurant is fairly spacious if you'd like to sit and eat, and I often see families here, I'm guessing onigiri is a very kid friendly food. Service is friendly and quick. read more

located inside Weller's Court on the 1st floor. They have a small dining area and you order before you sit down. They have one gender neutral restroom that is for customers only. When I visited, the line for the bathroom was longer than the wait to place the food order. It does get super busy on the weekends (which was when I visited). Their onigiri was a decent size. I had their spam musubi with egg, and lychee lemonade. The lemonade was very refreshing and their lychee fruit were really cold to the bite. I wanted to give this a try, because I've heard so much about it. It was okay read more

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Visited Rice & Nori for the first time for the onigiri. The staff was very friendly and efficient. The Onigiri Tuna Mayo Spicy was certainly my favorite! The onigiris were very filling and I would definitely return to try again. There was a seating area that was spacious for indoor seating and also an outdoor seating area with a few tables as well. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Beef Sukiyaki was better than expected. Service was fast and efficient like in Japan. The ambiance was small and quiet. Would eat here again. read more

Rice & Nori - Beef sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I came here for lunch on a weekend and I was a bit disappointed with the quality on the onigiris. The main thing for me was the rice which is most of the dish. The rice didn't have the greatest texture and could've used a bit more water when cooking. This resulted in a harder texture which effected all of the onigiris I had. The furikake seasoning was also a bit too salty for my liking. As for the fillings, they were pretty decent. I got the the salmon yuzu miso, tuna mayo spicy, and spicy lobster shrimp. The spicy ones weren't too spicy. The prices for them are pretty good and cheap and 3 onigiris was enough to satiate me. However, the quality can be approved. I think I would rather just get a cheap onigiri at a Japanese supermarket nearby. read more

Rice & Nori - Menu - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Loved Rice and Nori! It's a small place and jokingly I call it Law and Order: Rice and Nori because the sign outside is the exact font for Law and Order. They have amazing combos and high quality fish They do have a multitude of options, but what they're known for is hand rolls. They range in price and quality; from Salmon and Tuna, to Crab and Lobster, it definitely has something for everyone for all price points. Parking isn't too bad, and there's parking underneath at the mall, but I usually never park there. I just park elsewhere and walk, but I wouldn't go out of my way to eat here, just if it was convenient and I wanted fresh fish and food. read more

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What I Ordered: -Onigiri Salmon Yuzu $4.00 -Onigiri Tuna Mayo Spicy $4.00 We were exploring Little Tokyo when I suddenly felt hungry, but the rest of my family wasn't. I needed a casual place for a quick bite, and somewhere they could use the restroom. Since it was my first time there, I asked the staff for recommendations. The Yelp reviews looked good, and the prices were very reasonable for the area. I ordered the Onigiri Salmon Yuzu and the Onigiri Tuna Mayo Spicy. I'm not usually a salmon fan, but I really enjoyed the Salmon Yuzu. My favorite was the Tuna Mayo Spicy - both were very filling and delicious! I'll definitely be back to try more of their onigiri. read more

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Avoid this location. Go to South Pasadena, where they are always pleasant and efficient and actually working. I've been here twice now, where the pickup time quoted in their recommended app says "15min" and then as soon as you complete your order this jumps up to 45min. 3X the estimated time? How?? But when I tried to cancel I still got charged for the order. The one time I did go in to wait for this ridiculously inflated pickup time I sat there for 30 mins watching five employees joking around and on their phones, only one or two of them doing anything related to customer service at any given time. When my order finally was ready, 30 mins past the original 15min quote time, they didn't even call it out! They knew I was sitting there waiting for it, but I had to go up and ask and sure enough it was sitting on a shelf getting cold. Thanks a lot, bros. AVOID THIS PLACE! read more

Revisited rice & nori in for their handroll set $19. I'm convinced their premium handrolls all tastes good cuz the baked snow crab handroll was UMAI and, previously, I tried the unagi one and it slaps. The set comes with 1 premium and 2 regular. For the regular, yellowtail and spicy tuna were solid picks. But only the snow crab was life changing (as expected of premium). Went with salmon sashimi for the set this time and glad I did cuz it came with some ikura - a nice surprise. Side note, the miso eggplant onigiri here is an uncommon flavor to see for rice balls and would recommend! Reminds me of Chinese style braised eggplant. read more

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My favorite onigiri spot, and I've yet to find another restaurant to compete. My personal pick would be the Salmon Yuzu Miso or Shio Salmon, and my husband likes it pretty basic and goes with either their Spam & Egg or just their Plain onigiri. I'm a big fan of salmon, and the yuzu miso gives it this sweet, slightly tangy, umami flavor that I just love coming back for! The rice can be a little on the stickier side, but I appreciate that they put parchment paper in between each onigiri and top each one with furikake as well. We like going to their Little Tokyo location since it has a cute little plaza outside and the food always comes out promptly and the quality has always been consistent! Even though we're in the Orange County area, if I am ever craving onigiri I just know we have to come here. Here's to hoping they'll open another location closer to the OC area!! read more

Rice & Nori - Plain Onigiri (Top), Beef Sukiyaki Onigiri (Middle), & Salmon Yuzu Miso Onigiri (Bottom) - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Randomly walked in and was surprised at how good it was. Limited seating inside as it gets busy and crowded, limited outdoor seating during weekends when little tokyo is popular. In the plaza with tokyo central and nijiya. Order at the counter and find your seat. The main highlight of this place was that every flavor was pretty accurate. The rice balls are full of rice, but pretty good texture. The handrolls are fresh, but okay. I personally feel like the balls taste better. I got the yuzu miso salmon (yuzu with salmon flakes not too moist but distinct yuzu taste), and the spicy mentaiko avocado ( avocado kind of hidden), but full of mentaiko ( has some spice not too much). The winner was the spicy tuna ( creamy and flavorful, canned tuna) their spicy isnt too spicy. The beef sukiyaki had the flavor but little too much rice to meat ratio. I also got a yellowtail handroll which was fresh, but i wished for crispier seaweed, not much flavor. The spam musubi is a bit cold and on the saltier side, I think their rice balls taste better. Truffle edamame- coated in truffle oil so actually has that flavor. Edamame pairs pretty well for a fresh bite. Lychee lemonade- actually lychee syrup + lemonade flavor has the canned lychee bit Yuzu pineapple- had distinct yuzu flavor. On the juice sweet side. Overall, recommend the rice balls over the hand roll sets. Definitely different than the market ones. May have limited seating! read more

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Yummy onigiri! Should've been one of the best onigiri I've had in a while. Order anything and it can't go wrong! read more

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Rice & Nori is a casual and cozy eatery serving up some delicious Japanese bites. This spot is located on the first floor of the Weller Court in the Little Tokyo area. There are nearby paid parking garages or street parking options all throughout the area. Inside, they have a nice setup with about 5-6 tables for seating and additional shared seating outside as well. For their menu, they have a solid selection of different onigiri and hand rolls to choose from. I opted on getting the Beef Sukiyaki, Spam & Egg, and Tuna Mayo Onigiris while wifey chose the Spicy Tuna Mayo Onigiri and the Yellowtail Green Onion Hand Roll. Overall, everything that we tried was delicious and packed with flavor. All of the staff here are very friendly and accommodating. This is a great spot to grab a quick bite if you are ever walking around the area and need a food boost! read more

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What went well? Food and service. Excellent! We enjoyed our lunch. The best in Little Tokyo... read more

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Rice and Nori in Little Tokyo was a really good find. The space itself was cool, clean, and had a nice look to it, and the overall vibe felt cool and casual. One thing that also stood out to me was their merch, it was actually really cool and felt well thought out. I got the spicy tuna rice roll, and that was easily the highlight for me. It was SO delicious. The rice was warm and soft, but still held together really well and didn't fall apart, which made the whole thing easy to eat. The tuna tasted super fresh, and the spice level was perfect, enough to give it a kick without overpowering everything else. I also got the matcha horchata. I'll be honest, it wasn't the best matcha I've ever had, but it was still solid. What I did appreciate too was that both the rice roll and the drink were very affordable, especially for a spot in Little Tokyo. The service was another big reason I'd come back. The workers were really nice, really cool, and made the experience feel welcoming. Even after only trying one main item, I'd definitely want to come back and try more of the menu. For me, the rice roll alone was so worth it, and the great service made the whole place stand out even more. read more

Rice & Nori - Spicy Tuna Rice Roll - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Came here for a quick snack while we were out. I love Onigiri so this was a no brainer. Staff is friendly and kind. I love the cool art work on the wall! There are plenty of seats for big or small groups I thought the items were super affordable and priced fairly. I got the spicy shrimp lobster and my husband got the salmon yuzu Both came out pretty quick! We enjoyed, the yuzu for the salmon onigiri came through so well. it was refreshing. I loved the shrimp lobster it was creamy and not too spicey. Def will be back when I am in the area! read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

I have tried several spicy eggplant onigiri, and theirs was very enjoyable. A lot of flavor, it held together nicely, and the perfect amount of furikake (more than a sprinkle!). I also enjoyed another vegetarian onigiri that had umeboshi and mustard greens. Interesting flavors and just thinking of it noe makes my mouth water. They have seating inside and one gender-neutral bathroom. I'd come back here for more onigiri! I only wished there was a way to tell which one was which when you buy several of them. The spam and egg is obvious (more like a spam musubi), but my niece ordered the chicken one, but mistakenly took my ume takana onigiri and ate 1/3 of it.. darn it, but she liked it! read more

Rice & Nori - Musubi and onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Much like Cava, but with an asian twist. Bbq beef on cold noodle & brussel sprouts was delicous! Great nutritional alternative to the many burger and fast food choices in the area. Casual to-go setting. Owner is super friendly & polite. Highly recommended. read more

Rice & Nori - 1/2 salad + 1/2 soba + chicken + brussel spouts + mushroom & cilantro dressing - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

The best onigiris in America not even just just California no I haven't tried onigiris in other states but I'm confident enough to say I know this is the best one in the country since there are no flaws with this and nothing I would change a must try ! read more

Rice & Nori - Their salmon yuzu is my fav - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

Rice and nori is in a mom and pop shop with good business and good service. Cozy atmosphere and good onigiris, give it a try! read more

Rice & Nori - Tuna onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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Quick, easy spot for take out or sit down! Great, fresh onigiri for reasonable prices starting at $4. Rice used is high quality sushi rice. Teas were from a bag but reasonably priced at $3. Line might be long, but it moves quickly! read more

Rice & Nori - Spicy Tuna Roll and Ikura Mentaiko Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Los Angeles, California

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