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    The Rice

    4.6 (331 reviews)
    ModerateJapanese
    Open 11:30 am - 2:30 pm, 4:00 PM - 7:30 PM

    The Rice Photos

    Business Info

    THE RICE ATMOSPHERE

    What's the vibe?
    Casual
    Outdoor seating
    Dogs allowed

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    Recommended Reviews - The Rice

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    Cold brew matcha
    Valerie C.

    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.

    Dan Dan Udon Special
    Stephanie C.

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

    Lamb Chop Curry
    Katherine N.

    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!

    Miso Mackerel - excellent flavor, warm, and delicious
    Alex K.

    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.

    Salmon ikura donburi
    Long Z.

    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.

    unagi donburi
    Katrina D.

    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 :)

    Lukewarm miso soup
    Diana F.

    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.

    Deluxe Kaisen Donburi

    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!

    Kaisen bowl has variety fish
    Martin M.

    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.

    Albacore
    Kelly C.

    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!!

    curry pork
    Timmy S.

    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.

    Bone from hamachi in the salmon and hamachi donburi
    Helen T.

    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.

    Prime beef sukiyaki

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    8 months ago

    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

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    8 months ago

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

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    10 months ago

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

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    1 year ago

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

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    Page 1 of 9

    Ask the Community - The Rice

    Does the curry contain any dairy?

    Yes - all their curries are made with dairy. I also asked them as a fellow lactose intolerant

    Which items are vegan? Can they do a tofu vegan bento box or vegan sushi?

    Don’t See Your Question? Ask Away!

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    Terra Sushi - Atlantic Queen $17.95

    Terra Sushi

    4.5(504 reviews)
    1.9 mi
    $$

    The service and food is great here! We are always greeted warmly like family members…read more The sushi is very fresh and tasty! Today we got the Chicken Katsu. Very good! I highly recommend this business!

    This is a very reliable sushi spot in the area for consistently solid rolls. As a caveat, I…read morewouldn't say the flavors are anything out of this world or particularly unique compared to some other sushi spots, nor is it especially "authentic" (the large specialty roll menu makes that pretty clear). That said, I'm not complaining: as a sushi spot in America that caters to Western tastes, this place hits. Some of my favorite rolls are the Bella, the Mission Viejo, and the Seared Tuna roll. One minor area for improvement is to-go orders. They seem to get very busy, and there could be better predictability around wait times. The order processing for peak hours (6pm on a Saturday) was about an hour, but on my most recent visit, my pickup order was delayed by about 30 minutes, pushing it to 90 minutes. It was frustrating for me, but I think it can be even more frustrating for Door Dash drivers since they're paid per delivery and long, unexpected waits can throw off their entire queue and earnings for the night. I do want to commend their customer service, though. They have always been great dining in, but this time, they could tell people were frustrated and genuinely tried to reshuffle orders and adjust priorities. Overall, improving order flow and wait-time forecasting would make a noticeable difference!

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    Fat Fish Sushi - Salmon skin hand roll and a whole bunch of rolls.

    Fat Fish Sushi

    4.1(416 reviews)
    1.3 mi
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    My wife, kids, and I visited Fat Fish. The boys LOVE sushi and thought it would be a good treat for…read morethem tonight. I told the owner that we would have three AYCE and my wife would be ordering beef off of the menu because she is allergic to fish. The owner instantly got mad and angrily told us that we ALL get AYCE, or none of us will. I explained that my wife can't eat fish. She got more angry and said that this is her policy. Rather than endure more of her fury, we left. I want to support little businesses and we went out of our way to go to this restaurant. Needless to say we will not be back. Her policy is fine. It is her restaurant and I respect her right to set her rules. The attitude was uncalledfor.

    Fat Sushi is a newer addition to the Lake Forest Gift Card promo - so we decided to check it out…read more Its located in a shopping plaza off of Lake Forest Drive. Plenty of parking. Nothing fancy here to see, just a local mom & pop type sushi joint, which we are fans of! We were seated right away in one of the few areas inside. Everything was clean and bright. a little warm inside as it was a hot day and they had the door open, with a breeze. I saw one sushi chef that greeted us and he was making the rolls and dishes at the front. I ordered a hot sake and it was super hot and really good. We also got a few rolls, which were all delicious, a salmon skin hand roll - the salmon was on the chewy side and a little cold, and the agadashi tofu, which had a lovely dipping marinade. The fish on the rolls were nice fat pieces, and so fresh and yummy. Next time will have to try some nigiri.

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    Fat Fish Sushi
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    Sashimi

    4.4(618 reviews)
    1.2 mi
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    Came here after playing softball nearby at the lake forest rec park because I wanted sushi,…read moresearched Yelp and this place is highly rated less than a mile away (3 minutes drive according to iPhone). Off we went. Parking was easy in a large strip mall. No hostess here - you are greeted by the 2 sushi chefs upon walking in to sit wherever you'd like. The picture menu is easy to order off of. There are 2 big screens in the room. Tonight they were playing the World Baseball Classic. Women's restroom was clean - check! You get complimentary edamame upon being seated. Just 1 server handling all orders at the time we came in - a nice Korean lady, who at times seemed oblivious ie cleaning empty tables instead of giving us our check at the end of the meal when it was very apparent we were done. lol I looked for something on the menu that has unagi AND salmon but no dice so opted for dragon roll. My other half ordered #8 (forgot the name but it was good though I preferred my dragon roll more) but all in all our rolls came out delicious. Looking around, this place appears to be both a local spot and date spot from a few couples in the room. At the end of our meal our server brought us 2 pieces compliments of the chef, who said it was yellowtail. They have a stamp card that yields 10% after 5 meals and 20% off after 10 meals. We now know where we'll go after our weekly softball games!

    A little disappointed. I'm usually not one to leave negative reviews, especially for Japanese…read morerestaurants, but I feel like they have potential to do better -- which is why I wanted to leave an honest review. FYI -- no photos because we were busy with a cranky toddler. First, the service was genuinely great. The sweetest lady helped us with the menu and served our food, and we really appreciated her kindness. We were also given complimentary edamame, which was thoughtful, although it was bland, dry, and cold -- almost like it had been sitting in the fridge for a while. Since it was complimentary, we didn't think too much of it. For the mains, we ordered the beef teriyaki and chicken teriyaki bento specials. Unfortunately, both proteins were sliced extremely thin. The chicken especially had a jerky-like texture, and both the chicken and beef lacked flavor. After reading other reviews, they had similar experience. The teriyaki sauce itself was also pretty bland. The tempura was okay, but the tempura dipping sauce tasted watered down and lacked the usual savory depth you'd expect. The one standout was the roll topped with salmon and avocado with spicy tuna inside. It was presented beautifully and tasted fresh and well-balanced. Based on this, I honestly think rolls are what they do best. I really hope they improve the preparation and seasoning of the chicken and beef because it was a major turnoff -- and this is coming from someone who eats pretty much everything. It's hard to justify paying around $22 for a bento when the main protein feels flavorless and insubstantial. With so many good Japanese resto in Lake Forest, I would skip this until the proteins are fixed.

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    Sashimi - Sushi bar - The best seat in the house; truth.

    Sushi bar - The best seat in the house; truth.

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    Fukada

    4.1(3.1k reviews)
    5.3 mi
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    Fukada is an OG traditional Japanese comfort food restaurant located in the Los Olivos area in…read moreIrvine. This spot is located in a plaza with a good amount of parking spots. They are technically a takeout spot, but they do have a good amount of seating inside and outside after you get your food. For their menu, they have an extensive selection of foods you can mix and match with for combos. I ended up getting the Katsu Don and the Mixed Tempura and everything tasted delicious. All of the staff here are very friendly and welcoming. There is a reason why this spot has over 3,000+ positive reviews!

    Service was great. The nice gentleman who helped me brought out my food as soon as I paid…read more Everything was packed up nicely and secured. I always get the Lunch Special Noodle Combination. Kake Udon 4/5 I love a good udon with just green onions. Their broth is really good and it totally hit the spot for me. Spicy Tuna Don 5/5 Love it so much! My friend introduced us to this place three years ago. At the time, I was pregnant and got the Oyakodon (It was tasty, but I know people come for their spicy tuna don) , but she said that I had to come back and try it. I did and ever since, that's what I order. They also give you a heart amount of rice, which I told mind because I love rice. I'm a carb girly. The next time I come back to Fukada, I want to try their Seafood Salad. My husband really likes it.

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    The Rice - japanese - Updated May 2026

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