How is nobody talking about this place ?! Such amazing food. All the selections are packed with fish and they will heat up the onigiri if you ask! I got three different inari - a corn cheese, spicy mayo salmon, and a garlic ponzu tuna. All were so filling I didn't need a onigiri (but I ate it anyway). They have a combo selection of the inari or just pick each of your own. The Thai tea i got didn't have ice since they kept it cold in the fridge but when I asked for a cup of ice they said no problem. You honestly get more bang for your buck since the one Thai tea gave me two full drinks with the ice! Also saw they had sushi roll options. Everything looked so appetizing and made with love. Service was great and it's very cute inside with plushie mystery bags and cute branding all over. Amazing and I am officially HOOKED! Texting everyone I know to check this place out! MUST TRY ! read more

See all

It was my sister's and my first time at Rice Theory! The space is quite small, but super cute and lovely inside. We tried their spam musubi, spicy salmon, and corn. The spicy salmon was definitely our favorite! The spam musubi was alright to us, but still good. The corn was on the sweeter side, which I loved because I do love my sweetness! The workers were also very kind and welcoming when we walked in. They have sauces and utensils available on the side too, which was convenient! Overall, a cute spot to check out! read more

Rice Theory - spicy salmon, corn, and spam musubi - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Friendly customer service. Food is always fresh and consistent. They provide gloves to eat with, so your hands don't get dirty. Cafe is small, but clean. Only 2-3 small tables. More of a to-go spot. They also sell herbal tea, Thai tea, fresh soy milk, some bottled/canned drinks. It'd be perfect if they added matcha to the drink menu. read more

See all

Food- felt like everything was an inari-style pocket flipped upside-down and topped. Used to get inari from the grocery store and it'd be a sweet tofu pouch filled with sushi rice and flipped so you couldn't see the rice. Well, they've flipped it back over and parked some other stuff (salmon, tuna, seaweed salad) and voilà! Service- minimal. Unfortunately it looked like everything had been premade and the ones not place into a cardboard boat (already pre-placed) were over-refrigerated and the rice tasted accordingly. (cold and kinda hard) Ambiance- like a donut shop but with this specific kind of sushi. It was just about a block away from Sac City College, not that that had anything to do with any of the clientele. Everything was about $5 per item. It was a good amount of rice but like I said before, it had some stuff on top of the inverted inari. Spicy salmon, tuna, etc. The extra sauces were either in squeeze bottles or ketchup-style packets. Unagi, teriyaki, soy and sriracha sauces were there to flavor up your goods. I'd go back someday if in the area. I think these places caught on in the Bay and it's getting easier to store and transport seafood so sure, park it in the middle of the city and let's see how it goes! Didn't try the corn and cheese one. May have missed out. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯ Be different. Try it. If you don't like it, that's cool too. read more

See all

I loved Rice Theory. Lots of convenient handheld snacks packed ready to go. I wish I lived closer to buy more regularly, but it's probably better for my bank account that I don't! I got there before noon on a Sunday, so I had great selection. My eyes were bigger than my stomach, so I impulse purchased a lot on my long awaited first visit. I think I spent at least $50. Bill adds up fast. Price range is $2 to $9.50 as of June 2026. The most common price or mode is $4.75. There is a rewards punch card. I think you get a stamp for every $15 you spend. These were my favorites: * Sukiyaki Beef Roll $5 * Unagi Shrimp Roll $6.50 * Mayo Wasabi Salmon Inari $4.75 * Unagi & Egg Musubi $5.25 Depending how large each item is and how hungry you are, I would say order 1-3 items. Sukiyaki Beef was my favorite filling. Other Yelpers liked the Kurobuta Sausage the best, but I don't love its texture. I plan to try the onigiri one day. The SPAM & Bacon Onigiri and Spicy Beef Onigiri look appetizing. Some ingredients can fall out or fall apart, so they can be messy to eat. If you use sauces, that could lead to drips. The rolls fully wrapped in nori seaweed sheets and the musubi are the better handheld items. You can get fresh soy milk and Chinese herbal teas here. I would be interested in trying the well-rated Prunella tea in the future. Small barebones restaurant with limited seating: 2 tables for 2 and 2 long benches. Most customers order to go. There's an area with sauces (Unagi, Teriyaki, Yuzu, Sriracha, Soy), condiments, sauce containers, utensils, and napkins. read more

See all

I also wished I lived closer so that I could conveniently grab food to go on a regular basis. I got to try a selection of their inari bombs, egg salad, spicy crab, spice tuna, spicy salmon, and yuzu miso salmon. The yuzu miso salmon was the most flavorful, and the spicy crab was much spicier than the spicy tuna or spicy salmon. Though, what surprised me the most was that even as leftovers the next day, the rice was not hard and still tasted great the next day! read more

Rice Theory - Egg Salad, Spicy Ahi Tuna, Spicy Crabstick Salad Inari - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

When we first arrived at 1031 there was a sign saying they would be opened late for about 15 minutes bc deliveries were being made in the process. So we had another errand to run & returned about 23 minutes later. The door had like a code but it was unlocked so we were able to enter right away. There were customers inside already. I saw spam musabi & my wife ordered several just bc we wanted some the day before but the business we visited was out. My bad anyway for not searching earlier in the day. They had lots of variations of musabi so you can basically choose what you want. Best time to come is when they first open. I think personally. The ambiance of this business is very cute, neat, organized & clean. I took multiple photos of it inside but if you have questions I'm sure the employee there can assist you. Perfect for those picnics or a snack for a future road trip. Even though Oto's is just diagonally across the street they have totally different varieties of items on top of the rice for you. One must check this small business out. It's super kawaii & unique! It looks like they open everyday too. Parking is limited in this strip mall so best to shop early! What are you waiting for? read more

See all

If I'm in the area again, I'll definitely stop by. Not in the most attractive strip mall yet it oddly works as a grab and go place. The space is open yet they only have 2 small tables, wall benches and a handful of chairs. Definitely not a place you can dine at, not good for large groups either. Thankfully a family left so I was able to snag a table. The cases are a bit hazy but you can still see what's available. Easy to read the menu as you scan the cases. The worker was attentive and offered suggestions since I like all things spicy. But sadly they weren't spicy enough for me. No worries as they have a condiments bar with sriracha, eel sauce, etc. You can take sauces to go and pick up napkins and utensils as well. My 5 items was about $23. A good deal imo. They were not shy with their filling. A bit heavy on the rice for me but not a deal breaker. read more

See all

Ordered the kimchi salmon, eel, and bulgolgi. Each was about $4-5ish. I really enjoyed the salmon - it was fresh and tasty! The eel was okay VERY FATTY and very gelatinous. The skin was hard to eat. The bulgolgi was VERY DRY, flavor was okay but I just could not finish it bc the meat was so hard to eat :(. The person that helped me was attentive and it's a grab and go type of place. Overall I probably wouldn't come back again. read more

Rice Theory - Kimchi salmon, eel, bulgolgi - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I found out about rice theory from 2 good to go (2gtg), so whenever I was able to snag a bag from here through that app, the food was pretty decent from what I received. Parking is very tight since it's on a strip plaza and shares parking with other shops. I like spam musubi and rice balls, so this place is a "hidden" gem to me. They have a variety of rice balls, onigiri, rolls, inaris, and rice bowls. It's very convenient for if you want to do a picnic, want a snack to eat in the car when going out of town or a good snack for hiking. The rolls are easy for grab and go. The prices are decent, and I feel like you're getting your money's worth. Inside the shop, there's 2 tables for you to dine in, but it's best to take it to go since inside the shop is a bit small. Last time I was here, I got the spam musubi and Kurobuta sausage roll. I enjoyed both. They are a bit on the smaller side, but I'm okay with that. I haven't gotten a chance to try their inari, onigiri, or rice bowls. I'll have to make time to come back. Customer service is great also. The young cashier's behind the the register were patient with me while I looked at all the options and asked them a few questions. They were quick and efficient once I started naming iff my order. I'll be back! read more

See all

Tasty food, cute ambiance, and fast service! It was confusing to order bc the signs didn't match what was available but it was a good experience. :) read more

See all

Staff was super friendly food was great. Limited places to sit cuz its small but we loved it. If we lived closer we would probably grab food from here all the time. read more

Finally got to try this place out! Visited earlier today and was glad they were open. Plenty of options to choose from and easy to order. In and out in 10 minutes. Fresh options and we enjoyed all the things we ordered. We definitely will be back. read more

Rice Theory - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I've been wanting to try Rice Theory and I'm so glad I got a chance to try it. It's such a cute grab and go place. I went there at 1 pm so about half the stock was still left. I ordered the plain onigiri, wakame salad inari, wasabi salmon inari, crab meat roll, spicy crabstick onigiri, and smoked salmon and cream cheese onigiri. I cut up the crab meat roll in pieces so it was like sushi. The smoked salmon and cream cheese onigiri was pretty good like a Philly roll. It was a bit more Americanized with the smoked salmon slices. Kid friendly options are the plain onigiri and wakame salad inari. My kids like the plain onigiri which was flavored with some seasoning and they liked the wakame (seaweed) without the inari. Most of the food is behind a case so they will grab it for you. Service is fast and they package everything so cutely. They also sell drinks and some decorations. I loved everything I ordered and there's definitely more I want to try. I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

I actually went to Oto Oto Market across the street to get a bento box but apparently on Mondays they do not have any prepared food. As I was leaving, I saw Rice Theory right across the street so went there. They have a wide range of options in regards to musubis. I went with the standard spam and also the sukiyaki one. Both were very well made and tasty. They have them premade so getting in and out was fast so if you are in a hurry, this is a great place. read more

Rice Theory - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

We had a great experience and its not too far from the Sacramento zoo. We probably could have walked over, but there were plenty of parking spots. The place is small, but has a good amount of seats You can also grab some food and head over to the park for a picnic. That would be a cute date with friends and family. The food was good. I would rate it an 8 out of 10. The price is perfect too. They dont over charge and also have a good balance of rice to protein. Its a must try place if you are around..if not a good quick stop to grab something on the go. read more

This was an impromptu stop. My friend and I were doing some trinket box treasure hunting on March 6th and got very peckish around 3:00 p.m. We were by rice theory and my friend had said that he had tried it a long time ago somewhere else and was wondering if this was the same place. So we stopped in. When we got there we were greeted by the individual behind the cash register and she asked us if we had any questions. We asked what were some of the more popular items chosen and she gave us a rundown of what people typically get. We did enjoy her because she was playful about buying basically a handful of items to give everything a little bit of taste. We decided to have the RT roll, spicy tuna salad inari, and the tuna egg salad. While we waited we checked out the rest of the store which was super cute. As you could tell with some of my pictures they had some really cool items for purchase near the cash register that were connected to chinese/lunar New Year. And there was all these little designs throughout the shop that were just so playful and fun. The space itself was not very large but definitely comfortable. There was music playing in the background and it was just a nice space to casually be in and enjoy a nice moment with friends. The items we got were definitely delicious great flavors, not overly spicier creamy, and the vegetables added into them were definitely fresh because they had a nice crunch to them. I want to definitely go back and try the rest of the food there because again what we had as a snack was definitely yummy yummy yummy read more

See all

with drinking matcha on an empty stomach, i was on the brink of DEATH (headache & dizziness) went to rice theory and got the garlic salmon onigiri and the unagi salmon roll, so yum! their card system was down unfortunately however, the owner got right on it and let me pay via apple pay. fox news was on?? but the music and the artwork was nice. will be there again read more

Rice Theory - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Maybe I received an old batch of the spam musubi since it was towards the end of the day, because the one I ate had a sour after taste. I took tiny bites, trying to figure out if it's their sauce, but it didn't make sense as to why it's sour and sweet. Eventually I tossed most of it away because it tasted odd. The other two items tasted just okay to me. Nothing to hype about especially for the price. I had better ones at local Korean market for cheaper and fresher. I did find it a bit unusual that the beef gimpap roll had been sitting on the counter by the cash register since morning and not under a heater or in the fridge. I might give it another try next time when they first open for a fresher and better experience. read more

Rice Theory - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

I went right in before taking my exam at the nearest college. I was planning on fasting today but my tummy was screaming out for food. I stopped by and there was so much to choose from. Like gourmet sushi, onigiri, musubi and more. I got their seaweed salad in an INARI style sushi. That was delicious. I also got a roll of unagi with a crispy shrimp in the middle. This one was really delicious. If I had more of an appetite, I would've bought a whole lot more. I just didn't want to be over full during my exam. The place inside is cute, clean and comfortable. I love it. read more

See all

A super cute onigiri/inari/masubi shop in one of my favorite neighborhoods in Sacramento. Parking is a bit challenging in this lot. Inside, there are a few small tables. This is not a good place for a large group or a long dinner. There is always a to-go option. I ordered the inari combo (four inari pockets in spicy salmon, kimchi salmon, yuzu salmon and wakame) for $10. All were great but I will stick to fish inari next time. Also tried the egg and spam masubi and spicy salmon roll, along with kimchi fried rice. Everything was super affordable and they gave us a huge serving of rice for $10. I would come back to try different menu items. read more

Came here from Too Good To Go app and was pleasantly surprised with all the goodies we got. Had no clue of this place prior and will definitely be back to try some of the offerings. We were able to get the spicy shrimp and tuna masubi, California roll, and something with dehydrated pork. I have never tasted any of those things and boy were we in for a treat. The service was great and the location and store had a cozy vibe. This place definitely scores a 10/10 from me and my boo read more

See all

I've been in quite a few times now and as they've settled in they've added different menu items and even some fun merch like bags. The location has some parking, but it can be very busy. There is some additional parking on the neighboring street. Inside is small, but they have a couple tables to enjoy food there. The staff here is really friendly and they're happy to answer any questions you have about the different menu items. They offer rice rolls, inari, onigiri, some specials, and some drinks. My favorite items are the inari and the rice rolls with sausages. The prices range based off the toppings but most are around $4-5. The inari is pretty filling and the fish always tastes fresh. read more

See all

Rice rolls, onigiri, and stuffed inari here! I LOVE the EXPANSIVE selection here. Warm, comforting musubis, and cold fresh sashimi inari The beef sukiyaki roll was amazing, good amount of meat, pickled radish, carrot, and the rice wasn't heavily seasoned. The spicy salmon inari was sooo yummy, very fresh and fragrant. However, the yuzu miso salmon was not my favorite, it was just okay. The unagi egg musubi my friend got was also very yummy but she said the rice was too heavily seasoned with rice vinegar. The girls working were also super friendly and helpful. They greeted us when we walked in and let us know we could ask them to pick out whatever we liked. I asked them what their favorites were and I appreciate the detail in their answers. The shop is really unassuming up front, but cute and comfy inside. I appreciate the yuzu and unagi sauce and the free gloves they offer as well! read more

See all

Came for a Too Good To Go order which was a surprise bag of a few of their fresh made items. My bag had 2 different musubis, 2 different inaris, and 1 handroll. The items were still fresh and hot and absolutely delicious. I'd come back again, great snacks or meal for on the go, on the road, or just to enjoy a nice treat. read more

Rice Theory - Too Good To Go - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

I got the kimchi salmon inari and a fantuan. The inari was very decent but the tofu skin could have a little more flavor. The hot fantuan had a youtiao, mustard greens, sausage, etc. The youtiao was a bit strangely textured (not crispy from the steam and also dry). I generally prefer harder rice for fantuans and onigiris but my friend strongly preferred their fresh, soft rice. Service was customarily pleasant and they still had a lot of food options on display which surprised me. I arrived close to closing time on a random weekday. I want to try more of the inari! read more

Came by for a little snack the other day. Parking lot is a little crazy but it wasn't too hard to get a spot. We ordered 4, I can't remember which ones at this point, and I can't find a good picture on Yelp to reference. Everything was good though! My only desire is that it was made fresh to order, but I understand that would take way more time to get customers in and out the door. The rice was a little hard, and the whole meal was cold when we got it. I honestly don't eat this very often, so not sure if it's supposed to be that temperature? In any case, I'm assuming it would taste better the rice at least wasn't cold. Flavor of the fish was delicious though! read more

Thankful for Tik Tok, as it led me to Rice Theory! If you are looking for fresh and tasty onigiri or inari, this is the place to be! Some things to keep in mind: Parking isnt plentiful, its located on a main road, and while there are parking spots out front, I can see parking filling up quick on a weekend. I went around 2pm on a Wednesday. They take tap or card ( i forgot my wallet, so thankfully I could use my phone to pay) They have a TON of options, so be prepared to be overwhelmed of what to order! I ordered 3 inari, 2 onigiri and 1 unagi and rice and spam musubi....all totally 31 dollars including tip. Honestly not bad, for all that I got and it was all great fish! I did order to go, but I believe there were one or two tables if you wanted to dine in. They also have sauces, chopsticks and napkins for you to grab on the way out. The staff are super friendly and that makes it easy to order and i will definitely be back! read more

Rice Theory - Tuna onigiri - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Rice Theory is a cozy hidden gem on Freeport! My friends have been wanting to try this place so we decided to go and grab a few things. Most of everything that I got was salmon (love salmon) and I will say that the salmon inari did not disappoint. The wrapped onigiri and mini rolls were good as well, but did not taste like they were freshly made. My advice for this is to go early. We went pretty late and got the last of whatever was in the case. It's a small space so there's not much seating at all, and it's pretty cramped, so I'd say this is more a take it to-go kind of spot. We were lucky a family left right as we checked out and got to sit inside for a bit. Was it good? Yes. Would I come back? Maybe if I'm in the mood for it, but I wouldn't go out of my way to get it. read more

Rice Theory - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Food was pleasant enough for a quick "to-go" option. There were plenty of options available on the day we visited, but because we had just eaten, I wasn't interested in buying/trying anything. Hubs wanted to try, so he picked out a spicy tempura shrimp musubi and a spicy tuna onagiri. He said they were both tasty, and would be good for takeaway meal. I believe they also offer a variety of herbal teas. Service was fast, polite and efficient. Interior was neat and clean; there are a few tables, chairs and a long communal bench for eating inside. It's sparsely decorated, but styled in a cute way. They also sell a few branded bags and tees. No outdoor seating; parking lot offers limited spaces, making this a great "neighborhood" walking destination. They are located along Hollywood Park neighborhood. Definitely recommend you come out and support a local small business! read more

See all

I've gone to Rice Theory so many times and I've never left a review, but I'm making one now because I think they deserve so much hype :D ! 10/10 ! Every time I go, the workers are always attentive and very nice, they never rush you to order and they also recommend different Inari depending on your taste. Personally I am not a big fan of raw fish but Rice Theory has definitely changed my perspective on it! I always get the Spicy Mayo Salmon and Cream Corn Inari, they're both my top 2! There's also a small sauce stall you can use to add extra sauce onto your items which is really helpful Overall the vibe of the shop is great, it's always clean and I feel welcomed every time :D Safe to say they are a comfort-food spot to me! read more

See all

What a cute spot! Love the grab and go especially when you're short on time but still want quality food. I got their pickled musubi and spicy salmon and they were both delicious. Staff are friendly. Happy to have found this place on a whim while I was looking for "fast" but good food! read more

Rice Theory - Pickled musubi - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

Maybe it's my Japanese heritage, but this place just hit a comfort food spot for me. It reminded me of my trips to Japan where this type of food was common. I really enjoyed Rice Theory's take on this classic form of food - the rice ball! Rice in many forms - onigiri (rice ball classic), inari (soybean sweet pocket stuffed with various ingredients, musubi (rice with some form of protein typically and often spam), and rolled sushi with creative fillings like sukiyaki. So much fun for rice fans! As of writing, they had a 4.4 rating which to me is about right. Not quite perfect, but definitely above average. FOOD: First of all, the rice here is good. Again, something that can't be taken for granted. The ratio of filling to rice is generally really good. The rolls were perfect and I loved how the onigiri had the ingredients all mixed in with just a touch of nori (seaweed) so you can hold it. I don't like my onigiri covered in seaweed - it takes away from the flavor of the rest of the rice ball. The stuffed inari could have used maybe a touch more rice, but I think that's personal preference. They don't skimp on the most expensive part - the fish (or other protein you choose from). SERVICE: Like I said, they don't skimp. Portions are nicely sized for the price and for under $20 you are likely to feel nicely full. For a few dollars more you can walk away stuffed! And the people are super nice. Great service and wonderful packaging whether you eat it here or away. Limited seating so beware and don't lean on the glass! I also appreciated that they are careful about the time the inari sits there. Even before the day is over they move older ones and discount them so they stay fresh constantly. COST: Very reasonable considering the quality and quantity. It's grab and go so you can get as little or as much as you want! I'll definitely be back. read more

See all

My friend, and I found this place through an Instagram reel and decided to check it out while we were in the area! The kimbap and inari were super chilled - cold and refreshing for a hot day in Sacramento. The inari was stuffed with fish and so flavorful! We shared the spicy tuna and the ginger salmon. Please note that there is limited seating inside - only a few tables. I think most of the people who order from here take it to go. read more

See all

One of my go-to spots for onigiri and inari! The quality here is top-notch--you can really taste the freshness in every bite. Everything is made daily, and the flavors are always on point. Service is quick since most items are grab-and-go. Located in the plaza across from Oto's, it can get a little tight on parking since the lot is small, so plan accordingly. There is indoor seating, but it's best for smaller groups--not ideal for large parties. Inari must-tries: Spicy Salmon Garlic Ponzu Salmon Ahi Tuna Garlic Ponzu Hamachi Rolls/Musubi favorites: Kurobata Sausage Roll Spam & Tamago Musubi Shrimp Tempura Musubi Get there early--popular items tend to sell out fast, especially on weekends! read more

See all

Absolutely love Rice Theory! Every time I come here, there's always something new in the menu. I love that they provide the plastic gloves to make eating mess free! Personally, you can't go wrong with anything on the menu. Anything with salmon, ebi or crab, or wrapped in purple rice is always good! read more

Rice Theory - Japanese Near Me - Sacramento, California

See all

Very nice quick-grab Japanese spot with a great diversity of Inaris, Onigiris, and Musubis, plus much more. While the Onigiris are smaller than what is sold at other locations, everything had flavor and warmth. All of the items looked and tasted great. I especially enjoyed the purple rice burrito and only wish it had the crunch inside. The staff were super nice and were able to give good recommendations. There was some seating to enjoy your food, and a good option of sweets and drinks. The only downside is that the strip mall it is located in has limited tight parking spots. With that being said, if I find myself coming home from Sacramento again, this will be my go-to before hitting the road. read more

This place is so fun! Everytime I get so many yummy things and am never dissatisfied! Love the huge variety of options! Everything has great flavor and tastes fresh. The branding ofc course is adorable. This is was my first time trying a drink and it was so good! They add the milk/cream right when you order it so it's SUPER fresh and tastes great! This place is my go to lunch stop when I'm in this area which I wish was more often. read more

See all

Overall I gave it 5 stars, the food was as advertised good good,tried 4 items, the spicy salmon,the unagi musubi,another salmon and the 4th was so good I forgot what I ate,customer service was also excellent. Every reason to go back for more read more

Stopped by for a quick lunch after visiting Fairytale Town and loved the variety of musubis, inaris and rolls. Our favorite was the egg and spam musubi. Would like to come back again to try some of their other items. read more