Can't believe I haven't written about this place after all these years. Hands down the best authentic Japanese restaurant with some really amazing items especially in their rotating menus written on the blackboard. Can't go wrong with anything here but the best ones are the seasonal ones and those specials on the board. Be adventurous and try something that you won't see in typical Japanese eateries around here. Some of my favorites: - beef tongue curry - saba mentai roll (slightly sour marinated and grilled mackerel) - scallop creamy udon - grilled mackerel They use local organic veggies. Have good alcoholic beverages selection. Service is always prompt even when they're busy around lunch time. The place is cute and reminds me of the one featured in the Midnight Diner on Netflix . read more

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My mom's beean talking about this place for a couple years now, and I kind of wrote them off because any time I wanted Japanese, I wanted actual sushi. However, we finally stopped by last week since we went for a walk in the strip mall and didn't feel like going home to cook dinner. I splurged on the premium don, and my mom go the nabeyaki udon, which was one of several specials of the day. My don was amazing. It was $39, but had probably 8 different types of fish, each with multiple pieces. They all tasted super fresh. I recently left Oahu, and have been fully unimpressed with sushi at an affordable price on the mainland. This was it! Sure, it wasn't rolled or had nori, but it hit the spot. The prices are amazing for what you get. The place is amll, maybe seats 5 parties, though they have some out door seating. It's in a very unassuming strip mall in Foothill Ranch of all places, but the place is immigrant, Japanese owned, and doesn't have a lot of staff - husband in the back, wife in the front. Expect things to take a little time, but the service is great, the vibe is casual, and the food is GOOOD. I noticed out of the four parties, half were Japanese speaking. Like, the people know where to go. I hope they do well and seems they have been open for five years now. Don't expect sushi rolls, no eel sauce, etc, but do expect very well-done home style dishes that will fill your stomach and soothe your soul. I will definitely be back. read more

Got the prime beef sukiyaki to go and it was really yummy! The beef, tofu, and mushrooms were all flavored really well. It was a perfect lunch portion that doesn't fill you up too much. We called in and picked it up within 15-20mins and it was ready by the time we were there. My only complaint is the prices are pretty steep for portion size but overall happy with the food! read more

The Rice - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Found The Rice unintentionally, after a hike on the Whiting Ranch Trail. The Rice feels like a mom and pop kinda place, with a few tables inside and two tables outside. The menu is pretty expansive, and offers a variety of Japanese comfort food. The staff are really friendly. We sat outside initially as there were no tables available inside, but once a table became available inside, the cashier invited us to sit inside. We got pork curry udon, black cod bento box and cold brew matcha. Food was pretty good. The curry felt home made and had a unique umami aftertaste. The fish was fresh and nicely cooked. The side salad came with two types of house made dressing to choose from, and they were both really good. The cold brew matcha was $9 but it comes in a big jar and it was freshly made. Overall, a very nice experience, but I agree with others, that the price is a bit high. read more

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Dan Dan Udon is the bomb when it's available. Small like a Japanese restaurant. Service is nice and friendly but a little slow. read more

The Rice - Dan Dan Udon Special - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Food was unique. Very interesting tasting curry. Not sure if I liked it but I can definitely say I have never had any curry like this before, super herbal tasting. Also lamb chops were good but SO SMALL!!! For the price, I was not expecting the portion to be so tiny. The chirashi bowl was good though! Good quality fish and the rice was very well made! Super super small seating area. The owner does not allow big parties. 3.5/5 Overall decent uniquely flavored food, but definitely pricey for the portion sizes. If I returned, will stick to the chirashi bowls! read more

The Rice - Lamb Chop Curry - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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Hidden Gem in Foothill Ranch - The Rice is a Must-Try! After dining at The Rice, I had to share. This place absolutely delivers on flavor, quality, and service. From the moment you walk in, the ambiance is warm, modern, and welcoming. It's cozy, and quaint. You can tell the staff actually care about what they're serving. I ordered the Miso Mackerel, and it blew me away. Perfectly balanced flavors, fresh ingredients, and that comforting homemade feel without being heavy or greasy. What I really appreciate is the attention to detail--whether it's the presentation, the portion sizes, or even how clean and inviting the restaurant is. You get the sense that this isn't just another strip mall eatery; it's something special. The portions were the perfect size. I felt I didn't overeat, and was perfectly satisfied with the meal. Prices are totally fair for the quality, and it's the kind of spot you can bring a date, your family, or even pick up something quick and satisfying to-go. They have an excellent tea selection, as well as a selection of beer and sake ! Highly recommend this place if you're in the area--or even if you're not. It's worth the detour. read more

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Do: - Get the Donburi and bluefin toro bowl! - Enjoy the miso soup that comes fresh tofu Don't: get the curry lamb chop it was too small and not a traditional curry taste The service was amazing even though they had constant flow of customers walking in. We got their speciality teas and mochi dessert to end the meal. Would definitely come back again for the bowls. read more

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This entire meal was so amazing!! Came here with family and we ordered a bunch of stuff to share. First off the miso soup was pretty good, just your standard soup. But oh my gosh the salmon and hamachi, and unagi donburi was sooo good!! I came here like 2 months ago and I'm still thinking about it today. The salmon and hamachi bowl had some really fresh fish. The pieces of fish are so thick and I think this is really good value for $18. There was too much rice in the bowl though so the ratio wasn't the best, but the amount of fish was still a lot. My favorite was the unagi donburi bowl and the eel was so delicious!! I love the smoky flavor and the sauce paired with the eel. Again though there was way too much rice in the bowl. The kitsune udon was super light and refreshing as well! Service was super quick and food came out fast too :) read more

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Good: spacious parking in area with Chase bank & Ralphs supermarket, grilled cod bento box was delicious, some outdoor seating, and service. Bad: tiny place that could seat 3-4 small groups inside, miso soup was lukewarm (ick), 3% charge if paying with credit card, prices were quite high with most items $20+ which being in a strip mall is audacious for lunch. read more

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Incredible! Both the service and the food were outstanding. We went in skeptically because of the few recent poor reviews but were pleasantly surprised. We ordered the Prime Beef Sukiyaki Bento and the Deluxe Kaisen Donburi. The sashimi couldn't have been any fresher and the roe on top was sweet. The beef was tender and perfectly cooked and seasoned. Service was fantastic and we didn't have to wait as much as people have complained - probably waited 15-20 mins to get freshly cooked meal which is totally worth it. Family cooked meals tend to take time. And they brought in our miso soups (included in combos) while we were waiting. Portions were great for us. Probably not as large to take leftovers home but an entree size is enough to stuff an adult. We cannot wait to go back! read more

The Rice - Deluxe Kaisen Donburi - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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The Rice is amazing and pretty authentic! Definitely a hidden gym that is not easy to spot. Their fish bowls were so good and helped me to relive the fond memories I had of Japan! The place is super authentic, fish is super fresh. The sushi rice that comes with the meal is super good. I normally never finish the rice but I was tempted to eat all the rice here. The texture and quality of rice is A+. The name doesn't stand out, and I would have overlooked this place if not for the compliments from my friends. Give this place a try even though it's just called "The Rice" Cons: Pricey, but the quality of fish and prep is worth it! Pro-tip: They charge a 3% fee for using credit cards or gift cards. So either bring cash to pay or use a debit card to avoid the 3% fee. read more

The Rice - Kaisen bowl has variety fish - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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Pricey but the quality is there. The deluxe donburi is the best. They put premium sashimi in the bowl. The tuna is like the fatty tuna. They put smelt and salmon eggs. The sweet shrimp and scallop pieces are good. No complaints here. Every time that I got this deluxe bowl, I have been happy. The chicken and egg donburi was good. Very tasty. Seating is limited but we never had to wait too long for a table. Don't forget to try the soy sauce spray! HAPPY SASHIMIING!! read more

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The food is so yummy. I tried their 2 sashimi Don so far and I have to say " I fell in love with them yummy Japanese food". This is a " Japanese " cozy food place. Not fancy but must-go place. read more

There's no reason to travel to Japan or even Little Tokyo when you can get authentic Japanese food right here in Foothill Ranch. This small shop makes various dishes that taste authentically Japanese...because they ARE. Aside from the food the cooks and staff are Japanese and offer uniquely friendly Japanese hospitality. Even though most of their business looks to be takeout it's a popular place with limited seating. The interior only has four tables with a couple outside. It's a good idea to call and make a reservation on a weekend night if you plan to come with the family otherwise you may find yourself waiting. I ordered the curry pork dish and my wife got a beef bowl that came with miso soup. The curry was incredible. They create it using a secret mix of spices. The pork pieces were tender and delicious and a small salad was fresh with a vibrant dressing on the side. You'd expect a place named The Rice would have some good rice on the plate and they most certainly deliver. You're not going to find better prepared rice anywhere outside of Japan. A couple bites of my wife's beef bowl allow me to say that one is a winner too. The beef is so tender and flavorful. The Rice is located in a Ralphs shopping plaza that I go to multiple times each week and have overlooked until now. Big mistake on my part. This is going to be a spot I frequent often from now on. read more

The Rice - curry pork - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

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First time coming here and ordered the salmon and hamachi donburi togo! Was super excited because I was craving fish. Cute little restaurant and the lady was very nice and welcoming. I was surprised that the donburi came with miso soup but of course not complaining... until I did taste the miso. Flavor was not strong at all, mostly tasted like water. Onto the donburi, pretty good until I got to the tiny piece of hamachi on the side. Thought it was just a little extra they added in... did not expect a bone to be in my sashimi. read more

The Rice - Bone from hamachi in the salmon and hamachi donburi - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Really cute family owned spot. The donburi fish were fresh and thick pieces. We got the salmon hamachi. Also highly recommend the nabeyaki udon the noodles were perfect and broth was flavorful and not too salty. read more

Very underrated Japanese spot in foothill ranch. The place is small you can't really eat here with a huge group. A total of 4 small tables but the food was good. Seems pretty authentic, very glad I got to check this place out! read more

The Rice - Prime beef sukiyaki - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

The curry is very different, a lot of pepper. Not used to it. Jerk chicken fire tho would go for that. Follow their ig for a free drink

The food is very plain. Nothing special. Service was standard. No special ambiance. Very small place for quick bite. read more

I've been coming here at least twice a month, and every visit has been consistently great. Each dish is freshly cooked and full of flavor. Their current seasonal specials, especially the duck soba are absolutely delicious. The deluxe kaisen don is my all-time favorite, and I also love their udon noodle soup and fresh salad with the tasty house dressing. The owners and staffs are incredibly friendly, making you feel welcome the moment you walk in. It's a small place, but it has such a warm and inviting atmosphere. Definitely one of my go-to spots! read more

This place is a hidden gem. If you like Japanese food and you're looking for something more than your typical sushi restaurant - this is the spot. I haven't had Japanese food this good since being in Japan. read more

I recommend this place, food was very yum.and staff is friendly. We ordered soup and fried rice.

This is located in the Foothill Ranch Marketplace at the corner of Portola Parkway and Bake Parkway. Chase Mortgage is on the actual corner, but Ralphs is probably more visible or serves more as a landmark for this plaza. It's one of the rare Japanese owned and operated Japanese restaurants (there are more Korean and Chinese owned Japanese restaurants nowadays - nothing wrong with that, just an observation). The interior is small, with couple of tables and chairs that may roughly fit up to 15 people or so. There are outdoor seating as well. Personally, I think that their food is okay...tasty, but not out of this world. With that being said, I gave 4 stars for reasons below. My kid likes it, so thus, I've been here a few times. I recently came here with my kid on a Thursday around 2:30pm for a late lunch to go. Prices definitely have gone up since our last visit, as have every other restaurants'. We ordered the salisbury steak bento box ($20), the salisbury steak curry ($21), and the 8pc gyoza ($9). They do charge a 3% or 3.5% fee (sorry, don't remember) if paying with credit card. The salisbury steak burgers were tender and juicy, and went very well with the onion sauce. In fact, the burgers actually needed the sauce as they lacked a bit of seasoning for my taste. The sides change, and this time I got pickled cucumbers (tsukemono) and mac salad (came with a dressing rather than mayo). Both sides were good. The curry sauce was different from what I'm used to though. They make it from scratch using 21 different spices from India, so there's a strong flavor of those with a slight kick. Kind of like a mesh between Japanese and Indian curry. I think one reviewer said that it tasted medicinal...yeah, I see what you mean (medicinal spices: tumeric, saffron, nutmeg, ginger, etc.). I haven't tried any of their sashimi/raw stuff, but I've had a few of their other menu items like the jidori chicken and grilled salmon. A lot of their proteins are gently seasoned, and the whole menu reminds me of home cooked meals ("katei ryouri"). Everything is carefully sourced, from protein selection to using organic produce and butter, and they make a lot of their stuff from scratch like dressings and sauces. Definitely a great option if looking for something clean and healthier. read more

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5 stars! Excellent Japanese food. Very authentic very fresh and very delicious. Decent prices and portions it will fill you up even if it looks like it won't! read more

The service was great and the food was delicious!! I got the salmon donburi and they gave us a good amount of food. Would definitely come back! read more

Love the unagi. Very authentic Japanese food. I could eat here everyday. Very fresh and tasty as well. You should try lunch menu

Best japanese restaurant in foothill ranch,their beef sukiyaki & salmon aburi is so gooddservice always good and authentic japanese food read more

The Rice - Salmon Aburi & Gyoza - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

Love the unagi don. They use high-quality indigrents and food is very tasty. Service is good too.

This place is great. This is our go to spot for a quick Japanese eat and they rotate different specials from Japan. The servers are friendly and they offer great tasting water as well! read more

Absolutely loved The Rice! The food was fresh, flavorful, and perfectly cooked. The portions were generous, and the service was fast and friendly. Great spot if you're craving something simple, tasty, and satisfying. Will definitely be coming back! read more

Hidden gem in Foothill Ranch. Always quality food, authentic Japanese food. Owners even speak Japanese. Love the donburis, especially the ones with raw fish. read more

When I order out, I generally expect food prepared better than I can make it myself. The food here is really sub par and I can definitely make it better myself. We ordered several curries and donburis. The flavor of the curry was sour and the consistency was very soupy and loose. The pork is like thin slices that they probably bought at H mart and just pan seared. Low skill, bad flavor, overpriced for the low quality you get. One and done... never going back to this place. read more

We went for lunch and it seems they added items to their menu. I got the salmon/yellowtail bowl like I did before and the fish was so fresh! My wife had the grilled saba(mackerel) and she liked it. That's her favorite, so if she says it's good, it's good! Such friendly and caring service by the owner(?) We will be back!! read more

The Rice - Salmon/hamachi donburi - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

鰻丼と牛タンは美味しかったが、カレーはちょっと想像とは大きく違う味 これは薬膳カレーですな。 療養中の方にはピッタリかも 店の雰囲気は家族経営の昭和の食堂で懐かしい The eel bowl and beef tongue were really delicious, but the curry tasted a little different than my expectations. This is medicinal curry! It is good food for the person having health issues. read more

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So, my friend recently found this place and hasn't been able to stop raving about it. She asked if I'm down to try it and, I mean. Rice? Donburi? Gyoza?!!!! Who can say no! So, today was the day to try The Rice! And might I say, it was delicious. I got the unagi donburi and the eel was very fresh. The gyoza had the perfect crunch accompanied with yummy ponzu sauce and la-you (spicy oil) - the perfect amount to share. Friend ordered their sukiyaki bento box and we all enjoyed our food. Their food tasted very honest and sincere. While we were eating, we heard a customer who came in for a order pick up - say that he was so happy because they're his favorite restaurant. Yep! I am also a fan now, and will be visiting here again real soon! read more

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This was a first time try for take out and it was very good. I read the reviews and it looked like a great place. It's probably closer to 4.5 stars, but that rating doesn't exist and I couldn't give them 5 based on this one experience. I would say the customer service is 5 stars. From the moment I called in the order to when I picked it up I felt like the owner/staff was genuinely friendly and helpful. I order the salmon sushi bowl, special curry chicken and gyoza. The salmon was not top sushi quality so I would say it was average. The sushi rice was perfect so I wish the salmon matched. The gyoza was perfect and light and fluffy. I was really looking forward to the curry. I've had Japanese curry in Japan and ate a lot of it growing up in Hawaii. I've also had some good curry in California. They indicated they use 20+ spices so I thought I'd be blown away. It wasn't the Japanese curry I'm used to and come to love. This had more of a soupier vinegar type flavor. It was good, but it didn't have the flavor I was craving. I'll be back to try a couple different dishes and give them another chance. I want to love them because they were so nice, so maybe my next visit will bump them up to a 5. read more

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A nice little hole in the wall Japanese restaurant. With only about 3-4 little tables, this place packs a punch when it comes to delivering some original Japanese comfort food. They have everything from raw seafood dishes, to bento style and hot bowls. I was in the mood for a quick bite and the Jidori chicken bento sounded very good. I chose it with salt and pepper seasoning. It comes with some daily sides like pickles, macaroni salad, and daikon pickles. The plate itself comes with rice and a miso based green salad. It was all very good but I'm definitely getting something different next time as some of the sashimi and curry looked a lot better than my dish. read more

The Rice - Jidori Chicken Bento - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

The owner is extremely rude. My kids wanted Waba Grille but my husband and I wanted to at the Rice. We asked the waitress before we were seated if it was ok for our kids to bring in their Waba and she said it was fine. After we got seated and we were looking over the menu the owner ran out from the back and rudely yelled us about how they don't allow outside food. I explained to him that I asked the wait staff before we were seated if it was ok for my kids to eat their Waba inside. He replied with, "it doesn't matter! I'm the owner! It's very dangerous. This is not a food court! If you want to eat that, go eat outside!"And he pointed outside. I said, "No problem. We will happily take our business elsewhere." I understand why an establishment would not permit outside food, and that is exactly why I asked before we were seated. What is not acceptable is the owner's behavior. Clearly he needs to speak to/retrain his staff instead of yelling at and disrespecting customers over something that is not their fault. I don't recommend supporting this establishment because the owner is absolutely rude and disrespectful. I would suggest that you drive a little bit north and go to Okidoki by Meiji in Tustin. The seating is spacious and comfortable, the food is delicious and the service is always excellent. read more

Was picking something up from Walmart and needed to find a new restaurant to try. I saw they have high rating and decided to eat here. We arrived 20 minutes before they open, the staff was nice and accommodating, letting me use the restroom and letting us get seated first. Food was really good! We tried the following 3 meals and they were healthy and good portions. 1) grilled jidori chicken bento box - chicken was moist and soft. Eat it while it's hot or it'll harden. 2) grilled beef tongue bento box - perfection but I wished there were more slices of beef tongue. 3) salmon & hamachi donburi - very fresh sashimi, big bowl. The kitchen staff are all Japanese women and the food is healthy and authentic. They use special rice here. If you want bigger bowl, get the donburi. The restaurant and restroom are all very clean. We will be back again next time I'm in the neighborhood! But next time we will probably get 2 beef tongues and try the chicken cartilage appetizer. read more