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    Rice & Nori

    4.4 (985 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Open • 11:00 am - 9:00 pm
    Updated 3 months ago

    Order Rice & Nori Takeout or Delivery

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    RICE & NORI ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Moderate noise
    Casual
    Trendy
    Good for kids

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    Recommended Reviews - Rice & Nori

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    Yvette M.

    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.

    Jessica G.

    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.

    Eliko S.

    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!

    Top left edamame & yellowtail, top right five hand rolls, middle spam & egg musubi, bottom 2 onigiri
    Kerri B.

    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!

    Beef Sukiyaki Onigiri on the left, Salmon Yuzu Miso Onigiri on the right
    Marrie N.

    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.

    Salmon yuzu, and miso salmon
    Megan Belle M.

    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.

    3 Handroll Set ( ate 1 already when this picture was taken oops) was too hungry
    Grace C.

    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!

    Interior
    Matthew G.

    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 !

    3 Handroll Set
    Cecilia Y.

    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.

    Victoria L.

    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

    Nick S.

    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.

    Kiyomi F.

    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!

    salmon yuzu miso onigiri
    Danielle G.

    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.

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    Rice & Nori Reviews in Other Languages

    Ask the Community - Rice & Nori

    Is there mirin in the sushi rice?

    Is there parking validation?

    Yes. Parking here is very expensive... so get your validation for sure.

    Best place to park?

    You'll have to find a parking structure. There is one near the shopping plaza.

    Are the onigiri set raw or cooked? For example the spicy lobster shrimp and tuna

    Cooked.

    Do they have any vegetarian onigiri options?

    Hello Veronica B.,Yes we do. For the Vegetarian Onigiri we have the Shiitake Konbu ( Japanese Mushroom, Marinated Kelp seaweed, carrots, burdock root)… 

    View All 7 Questions

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    Chubby cattle is back and here to stay. Our server ESTHER was awesome and provided great service. I…read morerecommend the Gold combo with my personal favorites being the Beef tongue platter and the A5 Brisket. Don't forget to get some Shitaki mushrooms and let those babies cook until they create a gentle oasis of deliciousness.

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    IZAKAYA OSEN

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    4.3(2.2k reviews)
    2.9 mi•Silver Lake
    •$$$
    Kid friendly
    Wheelchair accessible

    This never fails to be a good date night spot. We went late at night on a weekday so there was no…read morewait. One of my favorite non-sushi dishes are the skewers, the miso sea bass in particular. It's so delicate, savory and so buttery. I also loved the new take on the spicy tuna crispy rice by serving thin slices of tuna on a wonton chip. The silverlake roll was just alright and I'd probably not order it again because there's so many more outstanding dishes worth my stomach space.

    Fresh sushi with a unique spin…read more Had a reservation around 8PM on a Monday and waited for a bit for an indoor table to open (outdoor lighting was kinda bright lol) Got the DineLA for $120 pp. - Truffle Chawanmushi: hearty and always one of my favorites - Pomegranate Halibut - Shrimp Croquette - HOT! Reminded me of dimsum shrimp balls. - Bara Chirashi - LOVED the different textures and flavor profiles of the various components of this dish. Esp the Shiso flowers (tartness) - Miso Soup - Premium Sashimi (scallop, Otoro, salmon): salmon was my favorite! otoro was oh-so-fatty melt in your mouth - Premium Sushi (Golden eye snapper, ebi uni, and I forgot the other): Golden eye snapper was my FAVE! - Miso black cod: sweet, savory, buttery, also melt in your mouth. tasty! - Yuzu Sorbet: refreshing - Birthday matcha ice cream and basque cake.: cake was yummyy - Roku Rose was alright Overall, glad I got to try the DineLA tho the pricepoint def does reflect the higher quality of ingredients. I'd potentially come back for special occasions. Service was friendly, but it felt a little disorganized tbh. Felt like we had to flag people down for drink orders. Also felt rushed through our courses. Wish they waited for all of us to finish before collecting our plates. Easily found free street parking around the corner so don't have to do valet

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    Looking for a sushi place in KTown and Kopan Izakaya hit the spot perfectly! Love the buy one roll,…read moreget second 50% off and our server was helpful in guiding us through the menu. We ordered seaweed salad, shrimp shu mai, Cilantro Salmon Roll, baked Baby Crawfish roll, house Eel & Avocado roll and Truffle Salmon Blue Crab signature dish. Everything was delicious and fresh, but I would've like a bit more unagi in the eel roll. My favorite was the baked baby crawfish. There was plenty for the 2 of us to enjoy. Service was attentive, friendly and quick, maybe because they weren't too busy at 3pm on Sunday. We were seated in a booth and the lighting was low and felt slightly clandestine, which we both liked. This would be great for a business meeting or after work drinks and starters. They validate parking for 2 hours and the 2nd floor location was easy to find. I look forward to bringing friends here for more private whispers and town gossip over good food. Cheers! "CC"

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    KazuNori | Downtown LA

    4.4(3.7k reviews)
    0.4 mi•Downtown
    •$$

    There's a parking structure nearby where you can park and get your ticket validated, which makes…read moreparking pretty convenient. Seating inside is very limited and consists entirely of bar seating, so don't expect to come here with a large group. The staff was very attentive and did a great job making sure we had everything we needed throughout the meal. One small detail I really appreciated was the restroom. They have two types of hand soap: scented and unscented. The unscented soap is meant for when you're going back to continue eating, while the scented soap is for after you've finished your meal. It's such a small touch, but it really adds to the overall experience and shows how much thought they put into the details. For the food, we got the 6-hand-roll set, which ended up being plenty to fill us up. The rice was perfectly warm and had a slight seasoning to it, which helped bring everything together with the flavors of the fish and seafood. The hand rolls were fresh and satisfying without feeling overly heavy. Price-wise, I think it's fair for the quality you're getting. Overall, Kazunori is a solid spot for hand rolls if you're in the area or just craving some good sushi!

    I've visited this location numerous times, but this review is based on my most recent visit…read more * Parking is available in the same building for $7. Street parking is also available, but it can be difficult to find and may require a bit of a walk. * We were a party of two. My partner ordered three ankimo hand rolls because she loves ankimo, and I ordered the six-roll set. * The rice in my first two rolls was a little too hot, possibly because it had just been prepared. From the third roll onward, the temperature was fine. * After my partner had the second ankimo roll, we both felt that there was too much sauce and that it was overpowering the ankimo. We had just visited the Pasadena location the week before, where the flavor was much more balanced, so the difference was noticeable to us. * We asked the server if they could use a little less sauce on the next ankimo roll, but we were told that everything was standardized and could not be changed. * We tried to clarify that we were not asking them to change the ankimo recipe or any pre-made seasoning. We were simply asking for a little less of the sauce that the chef squeezes on while assembling the hand roll. However, we were given the same answer again that it was standardized and could not be adjusted. * At that point, we stopped asking and just accepted it as it was. Interestingly, the last ankimo roll actually tasted just right, which made us think the chef may have understood what we were asking for even though there seemed to be some miscommunication with the server. Overall, the food itself was not the main issue. We've visited this location many times and have generally had good experiences. This visit was disappointing mainly because a very simple request turned into a communication issue that we felt could have been handled more easily.

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    4.1(10k reviews)
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    Daikokuya is a long time staple of Little Tokyo, whenever I'm in town on business or vacation I…read moremake a point to visit. Their ramen noodles are always cooked perfectly (I like them a little firm) and their broths are super flavorful, their eggs cooked perfectly. I usually enjoy their spicy or black garlic broths which add extra kicks. Daikokuya can be busy throughout the day, but there servers and kitchen staff work hard to turn around orders and tables relatively quickly. Anytime is a good time for ramen from Daikokuya.

    Daikokuya is a solid ramen franchise from the Bishamon group. I miss how close the Hacienda…read morelocation one back in the day, and now the closest one to me is the MPK location, but if any of my out of town, out of state, out of country friends are visiting and they have a hankering for ramen with a strong, but not super heavy kotteri flavor. The location isn't super big and it does get super busy with people putting their names on the wait list and people queueing busily outside (overflow of people waiting for many of the other restaurants along this part of the block too). Overall the ramen isn't bad, chashu is nice and fatty and tender. Ramen is rich and filling. It's nice that it already comes with an egg too and you don't have to add another one. Lots of other side dishes and combos too if someone in your party doesn't want ramen. However, with the increases in prices, the fact that there's many other options in LT, and the fact that there are other Daikokuya locations, it's an alright LT option.

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    Budonoki

    4.6(377 reviews)
    3.4 mi•East Hollywood

    Budonoki is easily the best meal I've had during my most recent trip to LA. In my party of four, we…read moreshared the following dishes: two orders of the spicy tuna handrolls, two orders of the negima -- "jidori chicken oyster with negi", a scallop crudo, a curry pan (two pieces to an order), a charred Japanese sweet potato (three pieces to an order), an order of aburi salmon (six pieces to an order), budo-"gnocchi" -- made with rice cakes instead of actual potato gnocchi, wagyu zabuton -- prepared as steak frites, and a few cocktails. Although their menu is regularly updated and posted on their website, they'll also have a piece of paper on the table listing on the special of the day. On our visit, the special was fried yellow tail, but we ultimately passed since our order was already loaded. After you place your order, the dishes are coursed out so not everything hits the table at the same time. Pacing was perfect and service was polite and attentive. Of the items we ordered the crowd favorite was the fries from the steak fries dipped into the sauce of the budo-gnocchi dish. The fries were effectively a perfected version of the McDonald's fry: golden and crispy, crunchy on the outside, fluffy on the inside. The wagyu was sliced into beautiful bite-size pieces and was melt-in-you-mouth tender. Definitely a must order! Another favorite of mine was the Japanese sweet potato. The surface of the potato is beautifully brûléed, there's an intense richness from the glob of miso koji butter on top, and the chives add a nice freshness to the dish. I cannot recommend Budonoki enough if you're a foodie. Seriously some of the best food I've had in LA.

    Parking is hard to find. I came in expecting more authentic…read moreflavors but it's more of a fusion Americanized type place. Maitake salad: tasty but it was extremely salty Negima: too sweet Aburi salmon: this actually made me mad because this is one of my fav sushis lol. the salmon had black pepper on it... there was fish also in the middle which is not usual for oshi sushi...it made it fall apart... the wasabi was sweet (?!) Cute place for drinks (they have really cute cups for some of the drinks) If you are looking for Japanese food I wouldn't pick this place.

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    Budonoki - Quarter sheets x TOMATO PANZANELLA: munak ranch heirloom tomatoes, focaccia croutons, chickpea-miso dressing | $18

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    kodo

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    4.3(568 reviews)
    1.3 mi•Downtown

    The inside is low lit & gives an elevated ambiance. Service was fantastic and very attentive. We…read morestarted with the pacific oysters & spicy tuna crispy rice. The pacific oysters are a good size and I really enjoyed the yuzu-kosho ponzu sauce on it. The spicy tuna crispy rice have a good amount of spicy tuna on top & I loved how crispy they made the rice underneath. The Kodo trio comes with uni, toro, & wagyu and the Toro sampler comes with o-toro, chu-toro, akami. All of these handrolls were phenomenal & just left you wanting more. The Wagyu katsu you cook on a hot stone at the table which I liked as an interactive dish. The Wagyu cheeseburger was dripping with juice but still had those crunchy edges. The Uni pasta was beautiful & delicious. The Chimichurri prawns I could eat multiple plates of- the shell comes sliced down the middle so you just have to peel it off. For dessert we ordered the Kodo basque cheesecake & Miso chocolate torte. I love a basque cheesecake & the sesame crumble added great texture. The miso chocolate torte made me wish I ordered my own. Everything from start to finish was amazing, it's hard to pick favorites. Parking- valet $13

    I really enjoy eating here because service is fast and friendly. You get a lovely meal and every…read morestaff member you meet is always so friendly. Food is delicious, drinks are good, and parking isn't hard to find if you're willing to walk a little. The design kinda dark inside, but the patio is always nice. The best part? I can be in and out in less than an hour if I wanted!

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    Inside Dining Area

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    Entrance Seating

    Rice & Nori - japanese - Updated September 2026

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