I've been reaching for sushi since I was six months old (according to my parents) and this is the first time I've been served a hand roll propped up on a glass like that. Thats some creative stuff. And don't worry you have a seperate plate for your hand roll to fall apart onto if your having one of those days. This place is unique. I'm no vegan but, after the spicy tuna handroll, came the sweet potato over crispy rice. I drizzled a little chili oil over it for an extra kick. Good choice. Next was the avocado ramen bowl. Pretty much ordering that everytime now. Finally a huge spicy garlic albacore cut roll (forget the 3 letter acronym name) that tasted fresh and clean. I had four people taking care of me literally... I'm a little demanding and they were on point. A menu of higher consciousness... read more

Rice may not be suitable for purists looking for 100% traditional sushi and Japanese food. But it is suitable for everybody else who wants a new, healthier take on Japanese food that still retains all of its authenticity. Plus, how many other Japanese restaurants out there are gluten-free and offer extensive options for both vegans and seafood lovers? It's on the pricey side, but totally worth it and you won't find this stuff anywhere else besides Shojin, its counterpart restaurant in Downtown. I'm from the South Bay, so I was elated to find out about Rice opening in Manhattan Beach. Don't get me wrong, Shojin is totally worth the trek to DTLA, but saving gas and driving shorter distances is never a bad thing. This isn't RA Sushi; you won't find a hip bar/club vibe here. It's a tiny low-key place with dim lighting, but a good place to have a chill, relaxing meal. It may be difficult to find initially, but the main entrance is on 9th street. (I always park a few blocks south on Manhattan Ave. in the residential area to get free parking and a nice walk.) But let's be real, this place is all about the food! I love how fresh-tasting and flavorful their miso ramen is without overdosing on salt and fat. It's some of the best miso ramen I've ever had. They prove that you don't need pork, egg, or kamaboko (fish cake) to make a great ramen. Their gluten-free noodles obviously aren't authentic ramen noodles, but the difference in texture doesn't take away from the taste. In fact, it's a miracle that they have ramen, tempura and agedashi (fried) tofu that are all gluten-free and vegan while holding their own against the traditional versions. I haven't tried any of the seafood sushi, but I honestly haven't felt the need to. I've managed to try every vegan roll on the menu, and I can say that each one is well executed, surprisingly filling, and tastes pretty gourmet. There's no need for basic kappa maki or even soy sauce here. They even have their own vegan version of a spicy California roll called the "Dynamite Roll." I'm not even a huge fan of regular California rolls, but this is one of my favorites. They somehow figured out how to fuse authentic Japanese ingredients like shiso, gobo, and miso with ingredients like tempeh, kale, and quinoa. Whoever developed these recipes definitely knew what they were doing. For example, I would've never thought of putting agedashi tofu or shiitake mushroom tempura on sushi rolls, let alone be successful doing so. The menu has quite a few risky moves like these that are so tastefully done that they pass with flying colors. Nothing here is a cop-out. I'm not knocking the Jogasaki truck, but you could always go there if Rice isn't your thing. read more

The SERVICE was exceptional. The employees go so above and beyond with their hospitality. The bathrooms are clean and well-stocked with little extravagances like lotion, mouthwash, q-tips, etc. All of the employees seemed especially good natured and sincere. They brought me a bin for my purse so I didn't have to place it on the ground, something I had never really thought twice about before. When you get your check they ask you to sign their guest book and leave you with a thank you envelope with your receipt in it. The FOOD was also really wonderful. I had the miso soup, portobello fries, dynamite roll and rainbow roll. Everything was tasty and satisfying in a more wholesome than usual sort of way. The water is something to rave about. It was perfectly flavored with lemon and mint. One of our friends arrived late and hadn't had a chance to see the menu before trying the dynamite roll. We didn't tell him it was vegan until after he had finished eating and was completely fooled into thinking it had fish and a cream sauce. read more

What is this place doing in Manhattan Beach??? I couldn't believe when a friend told me there was a place with bomb Japanese vegan eats in the South Bay. I said no thanks, I got Shojin down the street from me. But I was convinced to go one time and I was turned. You get can vegan sushi, side vegetables, ramen, mains. You get the full spectrum. You can't leave here without eating like a mfer. The crispy rice roll was on point. The fried lotus chips were good and salty. The eggplant with tempeh was my fav! I appreciate that they add proteins to their vegan food - usually you end up in veg and rice heaven without that protein to balance it out. Not at Rice - you get it all. The ramen, while not very traditional, had amazing broth and good noodles. I wouldn't be able to come here and just order ramen, though. Miso soup wasn't anything special. We went on a Tues night and it was quiet, but I was told it was a one off. Usually it's poppin in there. So our service was amazing and the food came super fast - but this may not be typical. OK Rice - I absolutely hate going to the South Bay but I will for you!! read more

A haven for those with food allergies. When I asked what I could eat, the server said-- well, everything! Every single thing I had was absolutely beautiful and tasty. The 22 lunch special was well worth it including multiple courses. The gf ramen was a little low on taste, but all other items I highly recommend. I will absolutely visit again. read more

No thank you. I found out about this place though a Yelp email and boy was I disappointed. First, I had no idea that they only served their sushi with brown rice. Needless to say, this is not my bag of fun. The waiter said that this is "the concept" of the establishment, which I can appreciate, so no disrespect there. So, why the 1 star? Waited for 1 hour, yes 1 hour, for one dish. It was a 6 piece sushi roll and it did not taste good. It was my boyfriend's dish, so we decided to leave without getting the completion of our order. Also, the crowd was very snobby and the girl next to me kept ogling. Just not a positive experience. Went to Mama D's down the street immediately after and it was a world of a positive difference. read more

Great food, poor service. Had a 7pm reservation, but we were not seated until 730. Waitress was not very friendly and slow to take our orders. Once we had finished our dessert, she took forever to bring us the check. Food was great. Especially the kale. Do not plan on returning due to poor service. Food was very good but not worth the excessive waiting. read more

Finally, a nice GF restaurant! I am so glad more and more businesses are becoming more aware of gluten sensitivities and healthy eating. I made reservations a couple months back and have been meaning to write a good review. The atmosphere is relaxed and quaint. It's a smaller place, but feels comfortable. Everyone who was working was super nice. The Ramen we are was delicious! I can't wait to go back! Thanks again! read more

Rice - So good! #ramen #glutenfree #gf - Japanese Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

I first heard of this place through Yelp in a mass email. I usually delete these emails but this one had the word "vegan" in the title and since I'm vegan I thought maybe I should open it. Boring story short, my wife and I went last night. We went to the address on the website and walked into a door that was recessed off of the street and up some stairs in what seemed like a business complex. The entryway was tiny, cramped and looked right into the kitchen. I thought that maybe we had made a sad mistake. However, after a few minutes we realized we walked into the back door like idiots. Anyway, once we discovered the front door, checked in and met our friends we were led to our table on the very minute of our reservation time. This is where the adventure began. What happened next is tough to put into words. The vegan sushi was exceptionally good. Take the feeling an 8 year old goes through on Christmas morning, turn that into a taste and add a little warm sake poured through a unicorn's ear. Ok, it wasn't that hard to put into words. For those of you that don't have imagination, that's some pretty awesome food. We started with the crispy potatoes which, I imagine, french fries all over the world aspire to be. I bet in all those teenage french fry rooms they have posters of the crispy potatoes on their walls. Role models. Plus there was some kind of amazing creamy curry sause that made my mouth feel like it just fell in love. Then the rolls came. Oh, sweet rolls. We got the Dynamite Roll, the Purple Treasure, the Yellow Brick Road and the Crunchy Garden. Out of these, my wife and I literally fought over the Yellow Brick Road- PM me your email and I'll send a photo of three chop stick shaped welts on my right hand. The Dynamite roll was amazing too- It has a little kick by it goes away fast. Purple Treasure was good, but different- it's really tough to call cooked eggplant sushi but if you accept it the flavor is awesome. The only one we were meh about was the Crunchy Garden. I just don't think you can give anything a name with the word "garden" in it and have it be good. It was flat and boring compared to the other dishes we got. I'm a huge Shojin fan and this place is neck and neck. The advantage of this place is that they serve non-vegan food too so I don't have to go into a sales pitch to my non-vegan friends trying to convince them that they aren't going to be eating twigs and grass for dinner. Five stars, this place is awesome. read more

Perfect meal from start to finish! Not only are the rolls delicious, they each come with a different, tasty garnish such as pan fried kale chips, arugula with a yummy mustard dressing, or kale citrus salad. All seafood was extremely fresh and the rolls were perfectly sized (not too big). Gorgeous presentation as well. We brought our 3 year old and 4 month old, and felt completely welcome, even though it's a very small, peaceful place. Not only was the staff kind and friendly, but they went the extra mile by giving our son a set of his own "training chopsticks" at the end of the meal (and rushing across the restaurant to hold the door for my husband and the infant carrier). We appreciate that they use organic products whenever possible and love that brown rice is used instead of the usual white sushi rice. Prices seem pretty typical for sushi in the area. All rolls are 12 and each of the rolls we ate included a sizable salad garnish. Our new favorite place - thanks to the stellar reviews on yelp. read more

I want to go to this place all of the times! CUTE little place in MB. And I do mean little! Great sake selection. Kale chips were garlic-y and delicious, and the brussel sprouts were phenom-nom-nom! We had the best service and they've got vegan options! Get excited! Parking can be interesting, so have patience for that. read more

Don't let the healthiness fool you.... flavors are spot on! I'd highly consider becoming vegan! jk... I could neverrr... I need my red steak. Environment is super quaint and romantic. You'll definitely get your free space and less noise. As a true sushi lover, I never thought it could be possible to have "healthy" sushi. Healthy- brown rice only, no heavy cream or milk in ice cream, fresh fish never frozen. Ceviche Salad- Highly recommended, fresh fish not frozen, size is great for 2 Agedashi Tofu- Not recommended, attempted to create fried food healthy is a no no. Bland and missing a lot of crunch. Yellowtail Sashimi- I live for yellow tail.. fresh and delicious Sunset Pier- Couldn't stop eating the kale, was a-ok but wouldn't mind getting it again The Yellow Brick Road- again.. fried food wasn't right but overall was delicious and savory Green Tea Ice Cream- JAW DROP, no cream? you sure? delicious read more

LOVE this place! My friend and I ordered the lunch special, and each dish was beautifully done and delicious! My absolute favorite was the orange kale salad. The dressing was mmmmm good! The lunch special came with miso soup, salad, an appetizer, and entree. The portions were generous and I was very full after. We also had the vegan ice cream and that was the best ice cream I've ever had in my life! Even though I was full, I didn't feel so guilty because everything is gluten free and organic! This place is a must. read more

Rice - Lunch special - Japanese Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Just Blah. Parking in downtown Manhattan Beach can be a bit of a chore and requires patience as well as quarters for the meter. It is a nice, quaint location by close to the beach. I had the strawberry mojito which was good on a hot South Bay afternoon. My wife had a lemonade. Didn't sip hers but, she seemed fine with it. For starters we had the vegetable tempura which was fine. We had the miso soup and the dynamite roll that mostly everyone else raves about. I tried it and it was just okay. I was so looking forward to the my vegan crunch rolls after reading the tips and reviews about them. Unfortunately, the flavor profile on these items are weak and disappointing The ambiance here is nice and the presentation of the drinks, food, and flower in the candle are pleasing to the eye. Service was fine. The restrooms are outside as they they share their space in a business complex so, you will need a key to their immaculate, super clean restroom that even has mouthwash available. They proudly display their "They love us on yelp sticker" on their door. Not going to come back unless it's for a quick drink. read more

WILL NOT RETURN.... Exclaimer: I eat a plant based diet so I can in no way attest to any of their fish dishes... However, if a restaurant can't even do veggies right then that should be an immediate warning sign. We went to Rice and the place is in the old Pennylane sushi location. Somehow the remodel has made the place even smaller feeling. The server/host greeted Us and asked if we had a reservation...the place was less than half full. Nicely decorated and clean appearance. We ordered an app and three vegan rolls. The food arrived promptly but the portion sizes are TINY! Well presented but so little in actual food quantity. The rolls were the width of my thumb and about 6 inches long cut into 8 pieces, imagine a sushi bite that is thin and about as round as a roll of nickels. APP: veggie tempura. The food was perfectly cooked. There was just hardly any of it. One of each vegetable so we are now fighting over the best ones, and a tempura piece of lettuce....come on! Dragon Roll. Tastiest of our rolls but drenched in sauce. No real veggie substance. Yellowbrickroad roll. Same deal but very bland and tiny. Comes with kale chips on the side which were swimming in oil and unseasoned. Purple something roll. Eggplant was like a sponge filled with oil. Hardly anything to it. Our server did not bring us ginger and wasabi. We asked for some and she gave us a questioning look but disappeared and returned with a miniscule amount. While both tasted fresh, the ginger is overly sweet and the wasabi has no kick, very bland. We had to ask for refills 5 times. SUMMARY: clean and presentable. The food is sub-par and lacking in any notable taste. The portions are ridiculously small and for the price , entirely not worth it. read more

Great atmosphere, great for a date. The rolls are priced well for what you get. A lot of healthier versions of rolls that youre used to. Dont come here expecting California rolls, great little shop. Got the Beach Spider roll which was fantastic, the spicy tuna rice cake was also delicious. Great and fast service as well! read more

Rice - Beach Spider Roll - Japanese Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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10 stars if I could! Delicious, authentic, healthy Japanese food with attentive staff .... planning to make the long drive to eat here again. read more

lunch specials here are the way to go! i love the matcha ice cream and the cute ambience. great for vegans and non vegans alike! they even have their own geotag on snapchat! read more

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Exceptional! I agree with the other reviewers--what a gem! The atmosphere charming and traditional in all the right ways. Great vibe. Service is excellent, as is the food. Quality is top-notch. And, how great that they offer everything gluten-free and many vegan options. It's hard to find Asian places that are entirely gluten free, but this place is it! Sushi is fresh and prepared by artisan sushi makers. I can't get enough. Delicious! read more

Holy vegan sushi. This place is phenomenal. I tried a bite of everything our party had ( that was vegan of course) and it was all magical. I don't know what they do to their tempeh, but it is so good. My recommendations are the eggplant, fried cashews, sweet miso ramen, and sweet dynamite roll. Ask for it with soy paper instead, it's so good! Chocolate cake sealed the deal for the end of the meal. Wait staff is great and surprisingly, this place is pretty kid friendly. Can't wait to go back! read more

Delicious food paired with amazing customer service. Thank you for having vegan options! I had the spicy miso vegan ramen and it was phenomenal. I look forward to coming back and trying other menu items. read more

Rice - Vegan crunchy miso ramen with a little bit of spice! - Japanese Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

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Incredible food. Best vegan sushi I've ever had in my entire life, best sushi ever as a matter of fact. The service was incredible and the best I've had at any restaurant in a very very long time. The prices were disappointingly steep which will prevent me from visiting more than once a year. Overall I had a great experience and I recommend it if you have money to spend and are looking for a beautiful experience and incredible food. read more

I will definitely drive back from la to this hidden jewel in Manhattan beach. A Japanese place where everything is gluten free and vegan , it is just what I needed. read more

The food was great. We ordered and shared various sushi rolls. I had a Pumpkin soup that was delicious. For some reason - though I rarely drink alcohol - I ordered sake which was wonderful (they have a large variety, the kind I ordered was served COLD and having tasted it other members of my party ordered the same). The service was a little off, although they were attentive we were left wondering on a few occasions whether or not we were going to receive dishes we ordered and had to ask the waiter/waitress for them a second time. Its not a big deal, but I don't go to a restaurant to keep a tally on my orders, I go to eat! All of what we ordered was gluten-free, but it still had all the flavor you could want in a delicious meal, prepared with obvious care and attention to detail. Bathroom is a little tricky, out the back, down some stairs, but when you do make it there/in you will find it to be just as lovely as the restaurant itself. We'll be back! read more

This place serves up some seriously yummy food. Great for vegan and non-vegan as they have many choices for both. The miso cod was especially delicious and the asparagus with sesame sauce was petite and crisp. There's more on the menu that I'd like to try so will definitely be back! The service was VERY attentive, more so than what you might be used to. Some people might find it bothersome but I appreciated their efforts to make sure our drinks were full and used plates were cleared. read more

The Dynamite Roll and Spicy Miso was delicious! The service was awesome, I will definitely be back.! read more

Rice - Japanese Near Me - Manhattan Beach, California

Really yummy sushi! Such cute ambiance and plenty of outdoor dining space in the back. They have so many delicious vegan options too! The crunchy dynamite is super spicy so if you're not into that, just beware. And the green tea cake was so delicious and I'm not a fan of sweets. Will definitely be coming back here soon. read more

Their vegan sushi menu is amazing! The dynamite roll and crunchy miso ramen was sooooo good. Great ambiance, clean, friendly staff, and made to order dishes. read more

Nice little restaurant less than a block from the beach. I enjoy visiting this spot for dinner when I am in town for work. Great service, and I have always been able to walk in a get a table. Everything on the menu is not only delicious, but also is Gluten Free if you are looking for that. Go check it out and enjoy! read more

We just found out about Rice , We couldn't be more happy to find a Sushi/Japanese restaurant that is both a " normal " and also a VEGAN , with the use of only organic ingredients and brown rice for their sushi . All the dishes We tried were just GREAT!! ( Vegan for my wife ) and seafood for me. It is worth a try !! read more

Awesome sushi - try the crispy spicy tuna - like a tuna tartare on a crispy brown rice sushi. Highly recommended after a run on manhattan beach to fill up your energy :) read more

Was really excited to try this place based on other reviews....wish I didn't. For $100 we were starving after!! The portions are a joke. Rock shrimp had 5 (yes, 5!!!!) small pieces of shrimp. The only thing we liked was the baked crab hand roll. Otherwise blah.... read more

Rice mixes traditional Japanese style dishes (many with a Vegan/Gluten free twist--what brought me to their door) with the American style of a sit down dinner (which we're all likely familiar with). It's a small, intimate setting, so make a reservation if you're a large group (5+). There's quite a number of dishes to choose from, a few more if you're not vegan, a few less if you are. Visiting with my family, a whopping 9 people, we shouted out dishes that intrigued us and kept on doing so throughout the meal, re-ordering ones we liked, trying out new ones. Though there were many, a few stood out: the Dynamite Roll--(really not that spicy, but pleasant if you're tired of bland; Spicy Miso Soup--a bit oily, but delicious for it; Green Breeze--vegan green tea cake, 'nuff said. Since the dish sizes are smaller, don't hesitate to order a few apiece and share (how most Asian dining is done). Be aware that ordering too many apiece will rack up the bill--it is Manhattan Beach after all! read more

Inventive menu. There are always new specials. The chef is very creative and can really bring together so great flavors. With so many different options it is also vegan friendly. Even for those who are not vegan i recommend giving those menu items a shot. read more

We live a few minutes away and got take outs. Staff were pleasant and service was fast. The mushroom soup special was great and the brussell sprouts were decent but everything else was really not good at all. We got a mix of nigiri and rolls and all of the fish (salmon, yellowtail, tuna) was very "fishy" and just didn't taste fresh. The brown rice fell apart when trying to pick the sushi up with chopsticks and even when resorting to our fingers. Honestly, we ended up throwing most of it away. On top of all that it was over 120 bucks for just my wife and I. I can't understand all the great reviews. Maybe the pure vegan stuff is better but if you want real sushi this is not the place to go. read more

Its hard to find a restaurant that caters to Vegans and this is the one. SUSHI was excellent, so many items to choose from. I was in heaven! Everything was delicious. We had 3 different types of sushi from the Vegan side of the menu and each was so creative, unique and DELISH!!!! The chocolate cake was out of this world. The service was top notch. We went on a Friday night at 6:30. Around 8pm it got really crowded so arrive early. read more

My friend and I are happy to have chosen this place for lunch based on the quality/taste of food as well as service. We had their Beach Salad, SGA Roll as well as the Purple Treasure Roll. I looooved their rolls especially the eggplant on the purple treasure. I also enjoyed their iced green tea which comes with unlimited refills. Our server was outstanding and on top of it all. I enjoy the little touches that Rice remembers to include such as the way the bill is presented and the mouth wash in the bathroom. I took one star off because I didn't enjoy the ice cream trio dessert very much due to a funny non-creamy taste. read more

Very good! Service and food both exceptional. A very nice quaint upscale ambiance upon walking in. The sushi is healthy and something you feel good about after eating. Definitely will be back! read more

Wonderful plant-based sushi options. Surprisingly delicious and you don't miss the fish. The service is wonderful.

very cute place, call ahead to make reservations! I was excited to try their vegan rolls, however, majority were fried tempeh style which really masks the flavors of the actual vegetable. Their regular rolls and nigiri were delicious and very reasonable priced. We got the eggplant, brussels sprouts and agedashi tofu apps - all very flavorful and and not too heavy. note - if you don't like brown rice, you won't like this place. EVERYTHING including nigiri is made with brown rice. read more