Been meaning to try this place for a while now and so happy I did. Ordered over the phone for lunch - very quick and staff is so nice I ordered the salmon and hamachi Donburi (no masago) and it comes with miso soup Their gyoza appetizer is also delicious! Ponzu and chili oil included Total bill for all this food was 22 Great quality fish and rice. Will be coming back again and again read more

See all

Total hole in the wall place but absolutely AMAZING! I stopped by on a whim and I was so pleased with everything we got! We the chicken cartilage and salmon kama for apps and the chicken otako don and mentai cream udon for mains. I have zero complains about any of the dishes. Everything was perfectly seasoned, flavorful, and very filling. Although I loved all 4, if I had to choose a favorite it would be the oyako don! So tender and juicy and each grain of rice was perfectly sauced. Seems like a family owned/run business. Everyone is very attentive and patient. The owner is kind and talked to all the costumers like they were long time friends. The space is tiny (about 3-5 tables) but they do well to make most of it! I will be back for sure! read more

The indoor seating was very limited. Food came out quite fast but it was a little expensive for the portion. I ordered a sukiyaki, which wasn't really a sukiyaki but tasted delicious nonetheless. read more

So excited we found this spot! Traditional Japanese bento boxes and great selection of different dishes. Tried the beef tongue bento box...yellowtail collar...mackerel bento. read more

The Rice - Beef tongue bento box. - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

My son and my favorite dining at Foothill Ranch Love to eat all day long and great Japanese food read more

The Rice - Comfy! Wait for the delicious food. - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

I really love their sashimi donburi bowls. They are soooo good. The sushi rice is delicious. I have tried a couple of their cooked food entree options and don't enjoy them as much. The only thing cooked that I have liked as much as the raw food is the salmon mustard cream udon and the gyoza. Their gyoza is some of the best I've ever had. I usually just stick to their donburi bowls and gyoza. Hits the spot every time! read more

STOP SCROLLING FOR OTHER OPTIONS and just go eat here lol Delicious authentic Japanese food owned by the nicest husband and wife couple! Tomo is the best and is super nice and accommodating. You can text or call in your order and it usually takes about 15-20 minutes. They opened right at the start of the pandemic - super unfortunate timing - but the good thing is that all their menu items are great for takeout and the quality of the ingredients is top notch! (For instance, they use Tamaki Gold brand sushi rice which is very expensive!) I've come here seriously probably over 50x LOL I love it so much and I love supporting small local businesses especially during this pandemic. My go to items are: - Kaisen don (chirashi bowl): comes with fresh salmon, yellowtail, bluefin tuna, mackerel, jumbo shrimp, salmon roe, and avocado over a bed of sushi rice. Tons of value for the money, and the fish is always super fresh and cut generously. - Unagi don (eel + rice bowl): delicious barbecue eel over a bed of rice. Make sure to add the sansho pepper which adds a nice kick and slight tingly numbing sensation similar to mala. Friends and family alike all prefer the unagi don here over even the extremely popular Fukada in Irvine. - Beef Tongue + rice bowl: thick cut, the right amount of chewy, and very flavorful. A new addition to their menu that I recommend if you like beef tongue. - Salisbury steak: I get the appetizer version rather than the meal, usually as a side order to another dish if I'm feeling extra hungry and want more protein. It's a simple dish. essentially a prime beef patty with a delicious caramelized onion sauce on it. Good macros lol - Salmon Hamachi Don (salmon + yellowtail rice bowl): if you're not a fan of mackerel, tuna, or shrimp, which all come in the kaisen don (my go-to order), this is a popular option as well. Generous cuts of salmon and yellowtail with masago and sushi rice. Also, the miso soup that comes with your meal is delicious and definitely a step above most of the miso soup I've tried. Hope this review helps you out! Enjoy! read more

The Rice - Chirashi bowl (to-go)!! So delicious and fresh. Good value - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

First lunch at this small Japanese cuisine restaurant near my work. First impression was that it was a bit small on the inside but what it made up for its size, it had good flavors! I tried the unagi don with the miso soup side and both were good! The unagi had a nice sticky soy-sauce based glaze and was very tender and the miso soup was not overly salty like I first expected, but was still flavorful with bits of seaweed and tofu. Staff was nice too but a little short-staffed. My only complaint was that I had wished the unagi don had come out a bit hotter as hot as the soup, as it was a little lukewarm when it came out but still really good either way! Also, to get to the restroom you'd have to go through the kitchen. Will try again someday. read more

The Rice - Unagi Don! - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

I have been to this restaurant many times now and felt it was time to write a review. This place is AUTHENTIC and DIFFERENT at the same time. The food is delicious! My family has tried a lot of items from their menu. Favorites for my family are: Sukiyaki Beef Bento Box (sides change often), Salmon Sashimi Donburi, and the Unagi-Don. All are SO GOOD. SO GOOD. Best in the area for sure. I will say, their Curry and Udon have a completely different flavor than anywhere else I have ever eaten at. It's not bad, just different flavors. The owner lady is nice and friendly too. read more

See all

This place nearby got 5 stars on Yelp so had to try it. Got the Salmon Don to go for myself. The lady didnt have the best english comprehension over the phone so ordering was a bit of a challenge for a big order. I was actually impressed from a small hole in a wall. The salmon tasted fresh and the portions were big. Overall was very satisfied and would definitely come back. Need to try a couple more times and if quality stays consistent will give 5 stars! read more

The Rice - Salmon Don - 5/5 - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

We've called in for takeout twice, and we have arrived both times only to find out the order was never created. Never had this issue before until lately. We won't be coming back. I would dine in instead of ordering takeout. Consider only ordering takeout on non-busy days or hours. Foods usually great, but staff gets overwhelmed when just slightly busy. Wouldn't have minded waiting for food if there was evidence of the order being placed, but the consistency in our orders being lost or forgotten is difficult to let go, especially when considering the time wasted driving back and forth during lunch work time we can't get back. read more

Literally 2-3x what you'd pay in Japan, but one of the few places in SoCal that tastes *just* like Japan. If the location and ambiance were better I might come back a bit more often... read more

We love the Udon noodle, the pork and the soup! The portion it's not too big. My daughter loves the salmon sashimi rice bowl. It's a small restaurant but it's very clean and neat. I recommend you give it a try. read more

See all

Good food always fresh , personable staff , ambiance is ok probably due to the small interior .

Great food and great service! The quality here is amazing, we literally licked every plate clean. We got lucky and got the biggest yellowtail collar. Literally melted in your mouth and perfectly crisp on the outside. read more

The Rice - Hamachi Kama - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

really quick and friendly service. was immediately greeted and sat down by tomoko. ordered the okame udon and it was piping hot, fresh out the kitchen and so yummy. definitely a good comfort food and the soup was light and cleansed my stomach aha. i liked the beancurd and shiitake mushrooms more than i thought i would. def would come back to have it again and or try other things on the menu read more

See all

This place looks like an casual cafe, but their seafood is very high quality. I especially loved the scallop. This is a must try place!! The Server is super friendly, too! read more

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

This place is just ok. Not sure why all the 4-5 star reviews. Possibly folks havent had more fillling and better Japanese food elsewhere? The food isn't terrible, but not great either. It's serviceable. However, the biggest issue I have is the really small portion for the bowls I get. 2-3 pieces of pork for nearly $20? I'll pass. I don't think this place warrants any lower than 3 stars as the food isn't bad, but the value isn't there either. It'll do the job if you're hungry and you're a local who do not want to go far. But if you're willing to go elsewhere, there's better Japanese food to be had. read more

They serve traditional dishes that reminds me of Japanese foods that my mother made when I was growing up. I ate the kasu zuke cod and it hit the spot. The portions are traditional Japanese size which was perfect for me for lunch. They serve High quality dishes at the right portions versus lower quality with a large portion. The owner was very nice and restaurant was very clean. Will be going back again soon. read more

Requested a salmon dish and they had no salmon. The miso soup was luke warm. Prices quite high for the quality and portions of food.

The owner is very rude and mean, the food taste really bad and they dumped it (i only had one bite)but still get charged , aftrr argue with thr owner i got kicked out and the owner told m never come back read more

Great prices for that quality. I have not had a single bad experience, been going here for a year. Favorite lunch spot. It is small but comfortable. There is some outside dining tables as well. The servers are the sweetest and kindest so if you visit please be sure to treat them well, love these ladies. The food is delicious and treated with care. My favorites are the Donburri and the salmon bento box! read more

A small, family-owned Japanese restaurant that just opened up a couple months ago. The food is great for takeout during this pandemic. My family's favorite is the unagi don - the eel is tender and flavorful, but not overpowering (great with the side pickles). We've also tried their prime beef sukiyaki, grilled jidori chicken with garlic, oyako don, and chirashi don. We're a 20 min drive away, so I'm surprised that their food was still fresh by the time we got home. They were generous with the portions given the price. The sukiyaki was high quality, and I liked that the sauce was not too sweet; however, I'd request that they cook the meat all the way through next time. The jidori chicken was tender with crispy skin - the garlic flavor was not very strong (oyako don is similar but sweeter with the eggs). The chirashi don was fresh and great for the price. Will definitely be back for more unagi don and other things on the menu! read more

See all

Delicious, high-quality, reasonably priced, and simple Japanese bento boxes with the most luscious piece of real tofu in the free miso soup! We recently tried a whole bunch of dishes and enjoyed them all: -Kaisen Donburi (super fresh and filling) -Oyako don (classic) -Prime beef steak bento (tasty but a bit small portion wise) -Grilled Saikyo miso black cod bento (perfectly cooked--totally hit the spot) -Curry with grilled Blackline natural pork + steamed veggies (we wanted both meat and veggies, so it was a huge portion of comfort food) -Grilled yellowtail cheek (huge portion, succulent, and dipping sauce was spot on) -Grilled salmon cheek (yellowtail was better) -Cold tofu (basic but hit the spot) -Gobo salad with sesame dressing (lasted us days especially after we kept adding salad filling to soak up the yummy dressing) So happy this mom-and-pop opened near our house so we can get fresh Japanese home cooked food without traveling into Tustin and beyond. We will be back for sure! read more

See all

I ordered a salmon donburi and my girlfriend ordered their prime beef sukiyaki. Firstly, their presentation is great considering it's all to go. This looked wonderful to eat and It was delicious! The salmon melted in my mouth due to how fresh it was! The sushi rice was tasty and they gave a good amount of masago! I tasted my girlfriend's prime beef and it was really good! It actually tasted like prime rib which was surprising. This was one of the best Japanese takeouts I've been to and I definitely want to come back again! read more

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

See all

You would never notice The Rice when walking by its front door. Where its unassuming interior decor would probably never convince you to walk-in. But if you didn't take a moment to give this absolute gem of a restaurant a try, then you would be missing-out on some of the most amazing Japanese food that California has to offer. And that says worlds and more, as this wonderful state has so many great Japanese restaurants on hand. The premise of The Rice is so simply perfect... traditional Japanese cuisine that so lovingly pleases the pallet, while so satisfyingly soothes the soul. Where every bite from every plate feels like home, while every morsel that kisses your mouth rivals even the fanciest of Japanese restaurants costing way so much more. And after you have finished all of your plates clean, you will find yourself happily thinking about the meal you just ate, where you will end-up planning your next meal there, because your stomach and heart will yearn to have more. The bento boxes are worth their weight in gold. From sukiyaki that is a wonderful pairing of salty and sweet with super tender slices of ribeye, to pork kakuni that is deeply rich in umami flavor with the most tender of braised bites... each box may as well be gift wrapped, because each meal feels like a present for your belly. The donburi is also done oh so right. From chirashi-styled perfect pairings of fish that also perfectly pair with your pallet, to melt in your mouth tender unagi, where the glaze is just the right highlight, while the eel becomes the true star... one bowl will never be enough, as you will simply want more no matter how full you are. While all of the udon offerings provide that lips satisfying slurp of noodles with each chopstick-full, while satisfying you down to your soul with each spoonful of soup. You simply cannot go wrong, so why not try them all. Each dish may seem basic and traditional by nature, but don't let that fool you, as each mouthful is bursting with the most delightful of flavors, where you will find yourself asking your inner-you why you haven't eaten here before. This restaurant is really just that good. And on top of the rave-worthy food, just to make things go from "awesome" to "even better", the service is fast and friendly, where the essence of Japanese polite manners comes complete with genuine smiles from The Rice's owners, which only makes you want to smile right back. So, while you would never notice The Rice when walking right by it. Where its interior may never standout, to lure you towards its tables. You should instead make it a point to give this place a try, as I am willing to bet everything that you will keep coming back for more. A 5-star rating from me and my whole family, for each and every time we eat at this gem... because it IS the perfect Japanese restaurant that California should be proud to have in its ranks. read more

Covid-19 Era review Pictures are worth a thousand words and it is definitely true in this instance. Just look at the pictures of the fresh sashimi, it looks as good and fresh as it tastes. Lover picked these up to go and ordered: -Salmon and roe sushi 4 stars -chirashi don 4 stars -hamachi kama collar 4.5 stars -kitsune udon 4 stars These reviews are rated based on quality, taste, and affordability. The quality is excellent here with extremely fresh sashimi. The chirashi bowl even had a little bit of toro, droolls. My only complaint is the salmon roe, it wasn't like any I've had before, not sure if this is a good thing or bad thing. My normal roe tastes salty and it is pretty much void of flavor. These roe tastes fishy, oily, and not salty at all. I don't think its supposed to taste like this because I've had to some pretty good ones in Japan. The hamachi kama was also excellent with the dipping sauce they provide. The udon I liked more because of the price. It was cheap for the taste and size. It was a simple dish was good. I wouldn't say the noodles are the best, the taste generic. Overally, these sashimi was good but not the best quality nor price. Yes I know of an even BETTER place. But this place is solid if you're in the area. Will be back. Thank you! read more

See all

I think this restaurant takes the cake for hole in the wall. It's a small restaurant located in the back hills of foothill ranch next to a Jamba Juice and a Pizza Hut. BUTTTTTTTTT it has some of the best Japanese food I've had. The bento boxes are well packed with good portions. I typically get the sukiyaki which is braised beef. It's flavorful and perfect when paired with rice. I also tried their egg omelette which for those of you who haven't tried a Japanese egg omelette, should definitely do so. The dashi stock shines through the egg and makes it savory and sweet. This place is my go to whenever I'm craving Japanese food. If you haven't tried, please do! The owner is so sweet and always explains each dish before packing up your food/serving it. Definitely recommend :) read more

This is my favorite restaurant in Lake Forest. The food is always fresh and good. The staff is kind and always helpful. We drive from Irvine and eat here several times a month. Highly recommended! read more

Our son, who lives in Irvine, took us here for lunch. It's a small mom & pop shop with 4 tables inside (there're mall sidewalk tables outside entrance as well). I appreciated the clean, bright, cozy interior and attentive service. The menu featured authentic familiar Japanese comfort food: donburi, udon, homemade curry etc. I think they serve beer as well. Our lunch choices: beef sukiyaki udon (not sweet as expected, but appropriately flavorful as noodle broth), tender prime beef sukiyaki with tofu (the standout), miso broiled Saba, and grilled jidori chicken curry were satisfying. The salad of salmon with generous portions of avocado was fresh and tasty. I didn't care for the cucumber salad, however. Overall, a pleasant lunch. Note: expect an additional 3.6+ % surcharge on credit card usage. read more

See all

Love the salmon bento box! Appetizer salmon kama is great and gyoza and cucumber sala are awesome! I'm a fan. read more

We've been waiting to try this place for so long! Before the owners moved to Japan, my fiance loved the previous restaurant here "Sushi Time" (og Foothill spot). He was sad as this was his go-to comfort spot for lunch; however, the good news is that The Rice is just as good!! We ordered the salmon and yellowtail bowl with rice and a miso soup. The fish was SO FRESH and the rice was perfectly cooked with a hint of seasoning. We also go the Kake Udon. Usually, I would need some type of meat or shrimp in my udon but it was so good on its own! The flavor was very clean and simple yet so delicious. Also, a huge bonus for me was that the soup came out extremely hot, just the way I like it! The quality is 10/10 here! This is a very authentic Japanese hole in the wall. I would definitely recommend trying it out. Although it is a little on the pricey side, it's worth it for the high quality that you get in the food. Can't wait to come back again. :) read more

The quality of the fishes here.... OMG ... it's so fresh. It's a bit expensive but worth it.

Authentic home style cooking - a very rare place to have in South OC! Really enjoyed all the dishes like miso mackerel and the burdock (gobo) sesame salad. Extensive menu for a tiny, casual restaurant. Everything is made with care and precision, just like in Japan. Service is extremely kind and gentle. Can't wait to go back. read more

Love how authentic this place is. In the corner of typical shopping center in Foothill Ranch. Lots of different options on the menu depending on what you feel like. The fish is fresh and everything tastes delicious. read more

First of all, I am so glad The Rice finally opened during this hard time. I have been wanting to try their food since they stared to prepared their opening, and then the pandemic happened. It seems it took an extra 4 months to start their family business. Even though its hard for them, the owners wanted to provide the highest quality and healthy food with affordable prices to support the community. I'm not an expert on ingredients, but I know the yuzu sauce, seaweed, and prime beef are very very good quality!!! The ingredients they use in each dish has so much thought and care put in to it. read more

The Rice - Japanese Near Me - Foothill Ranch, California

See all

I was very excited to try this place. The great reviews really impressed me. Sadly, it's way too expensive for what you get. Ordered two deluxe chirashi bowls and a beef tongue box. Total was over $90. The fish is mediocre. I don't think the quality is good enough to charge 30+ per bowl. Many of the fish cuts were tough and hard to bite through. It's also not enough subpar fish for the price. Bowl was more rice than anything. Same with the beef tongue. Beef tongue is my favorite and it's flavorless here and not tender here. I think they figure the onion topping will save it, but the tongue should be seasoned and stand on its own. There's nothing special about this place, not the quality or value. I won't be coming back. Makes me super sad bc I love small local businesses like this too. Big sigh... read more

I am so excited to have found this place through the gift card promo deal that the city does. It's a little hole in the wall authentic family place for Japanese food. They are super friendly and my orders have always been accurate. The service is always great and friendly as well. read more

Excellent food tucked away in a shopping center. You could tell they really cared about the quality and they were amazingly affordable. Their space was cozy and the staff attentive. read more

We have been coming here since before they changed their name. From the moment we stepped foot into this local gem of a Japanese restaurant, we were graciously welcomed by the owner, a lady whose kindness and hospitality rivals the comforting warmth of their food. What truly distinguishes this small business is the sheer quality and finesse of their culinary offerings. Every dish presented to us was a testament to the mastery of traditional Japanese cuisine. All their food was very good, especially the rice. We ordered the salmon and avocado salad, prime beef sukiyaki bento and pressed mentai mackerel roll. Everything tastes good and it's not heavy. The freshness of the ingredients stood out, while the balance and depth of flavors had us reaching for more. The owner's knowledge and passion for her food were clearly reflected in the exceptional taste and presentation, making each course a delightful surprise. Highly recommend! read more