I used to teach in Osaka, so I really miss having onigiri everywhere. They don't always translate well in U.S. restaurant settings, so the most reliable versions are usually found at Japanese supermarkets. I love both locations of Rice & Nori, but the Pasadena one wins for the free parking. If you're really hungry, go for the rice balls, their thicker take on onigiri. If you want something lighter, mix it up with a few hand rolls instead. Grab a sake can honoring the Dodgers, and you've got a perfect lunch spot. They used to go a bit heavy on the nori, making it overly salty, but on my recent visit, they nailed it. read more

Rice & Nori - Dodgers Sake - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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This is one of my go to spots for a quick and filling meal! Their onigiris are definitely the best thing on their menu, I have had the handrolls but I think that their nori is soggy and is hard to bite through. My absolute favorite onigiris are the shio salmon and the spicy lobster shrimp. They are very filling ! I will usually get 2 or 3 if I am super hungry. The food always comes out fast and is better eaten at the restaurant! But on the weekends can get kind of busy. read more

Rice & Nori - Shio Salmon Onigiri, Spicy Lobster Shrimp Onigiri, Beef Sukiyaki Onigiri, Chicken Teriyaki Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Was recommended to come here for their handroll sets since I love all things sushi, handrolls & all I wanted to see what the hype was all about (: It was very busy when we went around lunch time during the week. Thankfully we found a seat on a bar stool area. I ordered the set of 5 to try out each one & got some edamame & yellowtail on the side & everything was super good (: loved it! Would definitely just get water next time cause the lemonade was just okay. Would definitely come back again for more hand rolls. Maybe try some other things on the menu! (: Street parking was easy to get then we just ran across the street! read more

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Got UberEats since they're having a BOGO on the Tuna Mayo Onigiri. My order came pretty fast - less than an hour It normally costs $4 each but I got 2 for $4! What a deal! I was impressed with how big the Onigiri was and how fresh it was! The rice was very soft but the tuna was a bit too salty. The rice and tuna ratio was perfect and I had chunks of tuna in every bite! I also got the Matcha Horchata ($5) and it was nothing special. The matcha tasted very weak and bland. The Horchata was decent and not too sweet but tasted pretty artificial. Overall, I really enjoyed the Onigiri and thought it was a great deal but I would pass on getting the drink again read more

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Went to Pasadena to check out Rice and Nori to get some onigiri. They have hand rolls as well if you do not want too much rice. They have meat, veggie and seafood options for their rice balls. You order at the register and find your own seating. Once your order is ready they will call you to go up and pick it up. The onigiris are pretty decent size and I was full after 2 of them. They range from $4-$5 depending on which filling you get. I got the salmon yuzu miso and spicy lobster shrimp today. The rice was nice and sticky and the seaweed was crispy. There was a good amount of filling inside and everything was made fresh to order. This is a good spot for grab and go or having a quick meal. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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This place is usually my go-to spot for hand rolls and onigiri. The value typically is decent, more on the pricy side and of good quality. However in my most recent trip it's making me think they're skimping out on serving amount. I would give this place 5 stars but my most recent experience was more of 3, so this averages to 4/5. When ordering in person, depending on how busy it is wait time is around 10 min to 25 minutes. Lately I've been doing Uber Eats and picking up. Make sure to specify you want soy sauce and ginger/wasabi otherwise they won't give you any. My favorites are the tuna mayo spicy onigiri, blue crab hand roll, and the spicy lobster shrimp onigiri. When they decide to give fair servings of protein. In my most recent trip on Easter Sunday, I ordered thru Uber Eats and got the usual order - tuna mayo spicy, spicy lobster and unagi hand roll. The spicy lobster shrimp was very disappointing there was probably two tiny pieces of lobster and shrimp (1 piece each) and rice. I paid $6 for pretty much rice and a tiny piece of lobster. The unagi roll was disappointing as well. Very little amount of unagi and they charge $7. There's plenty of seating inside, 2-3 tables of 4 seats, one long table, and plenty shared outdoor seating for the plaza. read more

Rice & Nori - Menu as of 2-29-24 - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

There's some public lots and street parking to get here. They have a decent amount of indoor and outdoor seating although they can fill up quick. It's a chill and casual atmosphere for a small meet up. There's might be a line but it moves quickly to order. The food arrives fairly quick. I got the salmon yuzu and tuna mayo onigiri. They were tasty! The rice was still warm and there's a nice salty taste from the toppings. The Beef onigiri tastes like a bite from a beef bowl, which makes sense. It's pretty good, especially since I prefer fish for my onigiri. read more

Rice & Nori - Front: Tuna Mayo Onigiri, Salmon Yuzu Onigiri Back: Beef Sukiyaki Onigiri, Chicken Teriyaki Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Tried a trio roll combo $21 was pleasantly surprised added a pineapple drink to wash it down. Sat outside in shady patio. Nice corner location Mission & Fair Oaks. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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You can easily find street parking near the restaurant. I just turned to the side street and found parking instantly. The restaurant is clean and cute. As soon as you walked in, there's snacks for sale. I came for the onigiri (rice ball) and hand rolls which are their specialty. I ordered the five hand roll set and a few onigiri. The spicy tuna mayo rice ball was the best, very flavorful. The salmon miso and avocado-spicy caviar rice balls were good. They were big for its price (of course you are paying mostly for the rice). The handrolls were good. For some I had to dipped in soy sauce. It was nice that the set came with edamame and a few tiny sashimi cut (one piece cut up into a few smaller pieces). read more

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Love the food but I refuse to eat there again. I consistently get between $45-$75 worth of food each time. The employees rudely ration the utensils, soy sauce, ginger and wasabi. I am not asking for excess. I want 1 chopstick set and 1 packet of soy sauce per person. If I am spending $75, don't make me beg for 3 soy sauce packets. The managers attempt to reduce waste or save on packets given went too far. I have spoken to 10+ people that no longer go there because of this issue. read more

Rice & Nori is a casual, quick, hand roll place. I love it because it's affordable, casual, or a great place to take out. I got the 3 hand roll set which came with 3 hand rolls of choice, edamame, and nigiri or choice. The fish was fresh and it's great food for value. While I've had better tasting places, Rice & Nori is definitely worth the price. There is a large parking lot and street parking. There is also indoor and outdoor seating available. read more

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Rice&Nori is a place where you order first then get seated. Ordered the 3 rolls with edamame and sashimi. Honestly this meal made me full! It's definitely a place for a quick grab and go. They have indoor seating and outdoor. Parking here wasn't too bad. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I come here several times a week and have one consistent complaint: the customer service can be surprisingly rude. I have several friends who have had similar experiences as well. The staff is extremely stingy with basics like soy sauce and utensils, and often acts annoyed when you ask for enough for the number of people you ordered for. We were given one soy sauce packet for a meal for four people. On another visit, after spending quite a bit of money, I politely offered to pay for a cup of ice. One employee handed it to me, only for another employee to come out from the back specifically to announce that they "don't give those out." It felt unnecessarily uncomfortable and unwelcoming. The food keeps bringing us back, but the repeated interactions are starting to outweigh it. Unfortunately, I understand now why some friends have stopped coming here altogether. read more

I come here cause its super convenient and more of a fast food sushi spot. It also fills me up when im hungry. I got the 5 meal set and i like how it comex with edamame, sashimi, and handrolls. The sashimi comes with a truffle dipping sauce and roe. For the sushi i always get salmon with no sesame seeds for the regular and depending on my mood, either toro or all salmon again. I get the salmon sashimi too and it gets me stuff with all the food. For the drinks my favorite one is the lychee lemonade but there are times where it could be too sour. Lines go by really fast and you sometimes have to ask for utensils and a water cup if they dont give it to you. Theres a container of vold water that have to pour yourself. It is also self clean up if you dine indoors as well. I dont think ive seen people leaving their trash for the workers to pick up. They also dont wipe down the tables if its dirty. I used handsantizer to wipe it down myself. Not sure if you had to reach out to someone to do it or not. read more

Rice & Nori - 5 set with lychee lemonade - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Hand rolls and sashimi that feel way more fresh and flavorful than you'd expect from such a casual spot. Rice & Nori nails that sweet spot of being fast but still high quality. Portions are generous and everything is put together neatly (no falling apart mid-bite). A few things worth noting: - They're quick, convenient for when you're on a schedule. - Their onigiris are filling. - They have hand roll sets; great way to sample different flavors. The space is small, but if you absolutely want to dine in, I recommend snagging one of the patio tables. It's in the shade and you can watch the hustle and bustle of Mission St. read more

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- will always be one of favorite on the go spots! quick service, never too busy, you can get in and out within 10 minutes :) only difficulty is finding street parking - i will forever go back for the salmon yuzu onigiri, i think there's the perfect amount of tang from the yuzu and there's a generous amount of filling - the hand rolls are amazing as well! most of the time the filling ends up dripping out the other end :3 love how vinegary the sushi rice is - albeit it could appear pricy for one, but two is more than enough to fill you up read more

I can't count the amount of times I have ordered from here via Uber Eats and not once ate at the actual restaurant until now. I absolutely love this place. This is my go to for handrolls/ onigiri. Came here with a co- worker to celebrate a new job position during our lunch time. We ordered: - Blue Crab Hand Roll X3 - Spicy Tuna Hand Roll X2 I also want to mention that I have ordered from here many of times: - Blue Crab Hand Roll - Baked Snow Hand Roll - Spicy Tuna Hand Roll - Bay Scallop Hand Roll - California Onigiri - Tuna Mayo Oinigiri - Salmon Yuzo Miso Onigiri - Yellowtail Sashimi Everything that I have ordered from here has been nothing but great, and fresh. I haven't had any disappointments. I will say though, the rice ratio in the onigiri could be a little less. But, that's just me. read more

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My new favorite monthly lunch stop. Friendly customer service and delicious fresh hand rolls. I always order the pineapple yuzu too

Have gone to their other location in LA and was surprised to find one in Pasadena. I got quite lucky with street parking right away so I'm not sure if there's any other issues with parking. It's a small, chic location with some outdoor seating. The food was also delicious. The staff said two to three nori would fill you up and I was quite full with just two. I'm not a huge eater but can sometimes overeat. Once you let the food settle in your stomach, it really fills you up. Just give it some time. read more

For the location, in South Pasadna, the pricing is reasonable and the atmosphere is easy to walk into. Onigiri are in the $4+ range, and not only the onigiri but also the hand rolls are good. The rice has a nice sheen, and the furikake on top pairs well. The salmon yuzu is highly recommended. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I ordered a beef rice ball, Spicy Lobster Shrimp Rice ball, yellowtail hand roll, and pineapple iced tea The Yellowtail Handroll was very good, good rice to yellowtail ratio. The yellowtail tasted very fresh, the size of the handroll is small. I would recommend to order this. The Spicy Lobster Shrimp was good overall. The spicy Mayo in here is not spicy at all, but still tastes good. I wish there was more meat, but I guess for the price it isn't too bad. Overall I would recommend to order it if you like the taste of spicy mayo. The Beef Rice Ball was very good and a much better meat to rice ratio than the Lobster Rice Ball. I would recommend to order this. The pineapple Ice tea was not overly sweet and tasted refreshing. I would recommend to order this. Overall I would definitely recommend this place if you are in the area. I wouldn't drive far for it but everything I had tasted great. It came out fast even during lunch rush hour (when I came) and the staff is friendly. The ambience is very casual and moderate volume. read more

Rice & Nori - Pineapple Yuzu Ice Tea - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Although I have everything to make this at home, I have been to check Rice and Nori out. The server at the corner was quick and efficient. The spicy miso eggplant rice ball was flavorful! It was just enough for a snack. The other vegetarian choices were the mushroom kombucha, umeboshi plum or plain rice. I'll be back! read more

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Was in the south pas area running errands and decided to swing by here for a quick lunch. I've had rice & nori before but the downtown location in Little Tokyo. I ordered the salmon yuzu and spicy tuna onigiri and both were just okay. The rice to fish ratio was way off in my opinion. I'd say it was like 80% rice and 20% fish. It was also overly salty. Service and staff was really good tho and this restaurant is much nicer and bigger than the other location. But the quality is better at Little Tokyo and they put more fish in their onigiris. read more

Rice & Nori - Spicy Tuna Mayo Spicy Onigiri & Salmon Yuzu Miso Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Prob my favorite place around. Anytime my daughter and I want to have a little date together this is my go to. Anytime I'm in South Pas it's my go to. I can't get enough, it's really that delicious! I highly recommend the salmon hand roll, spicy tuna hand roll, the beef suyaki rice ball, and the salmon sashimi. Get some spicy mayo on the side to dip it in! My daughter loves the chicken teriyaki rice ball, sashimi, and spicy tuna hand roll as well. We do not like the salmon rice ball, kind of reminds me of like a canned tuna (which is something I don't care for, if you're a fan of that style of tuna it could be a win for you). The horchata matcha is good too. I do think they could clean a little bit more under the dining counters against the window. (Specifically the floor area it gets dusty.) I've tried to find other places like it in the area, as we live further from it, and have come up short. Not many do the roll style hand rolls, I've only found triangular shaped hand rolls, and these are better!! I wouldn't say it cheap, it can add up, but it's great to have sushi without having to do all longer sit down at a restaurant where you're served. I like the quick service model of this restaurant where you order at a counter( get your food quickly and then sit at a table to eat and leave. It is probably already at the max price I would spend here though. Overall we really love it and highly recommend it. It's our favorite place around!! Absolutely delicious! read more

Very delicious with generous portions. The rice is well cooked and flavorful, and the nori is fresh and fragrant, which makes each bite satisfying. Portions are large and filling, offering excellent value for the price. A great choice if you want a hearty, well prepared meal that does not compromise on taste. read more

Rice & Nori - Nicely packed with individual paper wrap - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

My husband and I stopped here on our way back from Oxnard, as we were headed back to the IE. Sushi always hits for me when I've been eating bad so i was trying to find a decent place to stop when i stumbled on this page on Yelp. I'm a huge hand roll fan and thought the onigiri would be filling. I will say my husband and I shared this and i def could have doubled it and been happily stuffed! So just a FYI. We got the 2 Onigiri and a combo set of 5 hand rolls i believe. It comes with 1 sashimi and edamame. Of the top of my head i believe we got the salmon yuzu miso and a tuna mayo spicy oni. The salmon yuzu miso was BOMB. Super good. Would get 2 of those. For handrolls i believe we got the baked lobster and baked snow crab from premium; spicy tuna, salmon and yellow trail from the reg handrolls. They were all super good. I love spicy tuna so i loved that one the most. But that's just me being bias. The service was really quick, they were pretty busy so they aren't really on you about stuff. More of a chipotle style vibe? If that makes sense. We did get good recommendations from the cashier so that's a plus :) Lots of seating for a small joint, but good overall! I would 100% come again but def get more foood for my big back self read more

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I love this place!! I'm so happy I discovered it. Fast, casual eats. Spicy tuna hand roll is so tasty and all of their onigiri is fire. They also have great prices. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Great place for a quick bite to eat in or for take out. Their onigiris are FRESH! Parking/Environment: There's a dedicated parking lot. On a Sunday early afternoon, it didn't seem too packed but we just parked in the 10 minute spots since we only ordered take out. There were high and low seating indoors and some outdoor patio seats. Food: Aside from their onigiris and hand rolls, they also sold Japanese snacks and drinks. We ordered Spam & Egg Musubi ($4.25), Salmon Yuzu Miso ($4), Spicy Lobster Shrimp ($5.50), and Spicy Tuna Mayo ($4). They were sooo good and hit the spot! Wish I ordered more. read more

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Now this is a delightful little Japanese spot that can't be passed up if you happen to be cruising the area. They offer a nice diverse menu with a focus on fresh hand rolls. I was definitely game for all the items on their menu but they highly recommended getting their five piece hand roll set. I got the Blue Crab, Smoked Salmon, Spicy Tuna, Snow Crab and Lobster Shrimp. I can say these were really tasty and the price was way cheaper than going to a restaurant. I also tried the Salmon sashimi which was pretty good for the price too. The service was decent and they have shared parking so it tends to get hectic. One last thing, they offer Sake and Cocktails so that's an added plus for some of us! LoL! And that's my take on this tasty experience, Peace... read more

Rice & Nori - 5 Handroll Set with Salmon Sashimi - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

Pretty casual place! I liked the fish, my favorite were yellowtail scallion and blue crab. Their blue crab was heavier in mayo which I didn't mind. The salmon was also good, between the yuzu salmon, sukiyaki and spicy lobster shrimp - my fav was probably sukiyaki and lobster. I would skip the salmon next time.. rice is well seasoned. Each sashimi you get a different sauce, I had yuzu for my yellowtail and garlic soy for the albacore. You order, pay then find a seat, then and get your food all at once. I think because of this, the nori gets soggy. I wish they had a more sit down service because the food is great, or a way to not get them at once. Not bad, would recommend if you're in the area! read more

Rice & Nori - 5 5 Handroll Set side of edamame and albacore sashimi - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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I've had Rice & Nori bookmarked for long time and was finally able to stop by. We came in on a weekend and it did not disappoint. The restaurant was pretty packed the entire time with people flowing in and out. The restaurant has some small plants and succulents for sale. Plus they sell chips, candy and drinks too. The menu is pretty vast full of options for their Onigiris. Handroll sets of 3 and 5 were also options. We decided on trying the handrolls and a few Onigiris. 5 handroll set includes 2 premium HR, edamame, and sashimi for $28. Solid deal and great for sharing. On top of that we ordered the Salmon Yuzu miso and Spicy Lobster Shrimp Onigiris per the staff recommendation. A freshly made Onigiri is so delicious! They looked so appetizing like straight out of an anime. Both of them were good choices! Filled with proteins and good on each bite. The handrolls as well, all of them were good! So much food for about $40+ for 2ppl is a good for lunch. Overall, nice staff and clean restaurant. We'd come back again in the future. The rice balls are worth a return visit. read more

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Made fresh and warm, the onigiri are delicious. We ordered the baked lobster and shrimp, beef sukiyaki, spicy shrimp and spam and egg. Everything was light and not overly heavy, great for a snack lunch. Staff is friendly and fast. There is limited parking but spots turn around quickly. read more

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Came here for lunch. They have hand rolls and musubis. Me and my friend ordered a total of 4. The rice was fresh, seaweed was crispy and the filling was decent. It's pretty expensive for what it is but the place was packed on a Saturday lunch time. Parking is shared with chipotle and another restaurant. read more

Rice & Nori - Salmon roe and miso tuna - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

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Look out La Cañada, Little Tokyo's esteemed Rice & Nori has landed. Although the quick expansion has led to a reduction in quality in the other locations, this location was perfect. Staff were friendly and there is plenty of outdoor seating. Would return. read more

Rice & Nori - Spam and Egg Onigiri (top left), California Onigiri (bottom left), Tuna Mayo Spicy Onigiri (bottom right), Handrolls (top right) - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

After We Roll Nori in Westwood closed, there was hole in my heart the size of a plump filled onigiri. Luckily I found Rice & Nori, and my heart is full once again. Jokes aside they make the best onigiri in LA. This location is my favorite. Couldn't recommend them enough. Yuzu Salmon and Spicy Lobster Shrimp are my favorite, and I think they make excellent Miso Soup as well. Wroth the drive. Im suprised they dont have a Michelin bib gourmand. Maybe next year. read more

This place is so good! They have a great variety of rolls and onigiri! The price is really good for how much food you get. Service and food comes out pretty quickly! Tuna with mayo - very flavorful! My fav onigiri that they have. Salted Salmon - this was my gf's favorite one. She has to get one of these each time. Spam and Egg - good spam to rice ratio and the egg is tender. California - has a good amount of avocado in it! Salmon roll - the salmon was so gooood! I could eat so many of these! read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

I know there's one in Little Tokyo, but I haven't stopped by. I was in the area for an event and decided to stop by for a quick bite to eat beforehand. There's seating inside and there's some seating outside as well as a small lot in front as well. I got there before the real dinner rush, so there was only a couple people ahead of me in line. Service was quick and efficient for a single to go onigiri. I got their mentaiko avocado onigiri and it came out freshly made and warm. There was a spot of mentaiko on top, a small glop of soft, fresh avocado and some mentaiko on the inside. Wish the nori seaweed was just a tad less soggy, but everything else was perfect. Not too salty and was the perfect snack. Don't mind trying their hand rolls and more of their onigiri in the future. read more

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There was a long line on a Saturday afternoon, but 10-15 minutes max wait. This is also the second location from the Little Tokyo store. Presentation and food is great! read more

Rice & Nori - Bottom: Miso Eggplant Spicy Onigiri, middle: Salmon Yuzu Miso Onigiri, top: Tuna Mayo Spicy Onigiri - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

What a cute shop in South Pas! Simple menu with some great rice ball and roll options, for a reasonable price. They sell a lot of Japanese snacks in store too. I tried both the tuna mayo onigiri and the California roll one. Of the 2, the tuna mayo was my presence. Lots of good flavors and the rice was nice and fluffy. Perfect spot to grab food for a picnic or concert at Hollywood bowl. All in all nice little gem in town. read more

Rice & Nori - Japanese Near Me - South Pasadena, California

We had a pleasant experience at Rice and Nori. For the price point, it is a five star for sure! The rolls were good and the musubis weren't bad at all. Would love to go back for some more! read more