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Good fast healthy food. It's like if chipotle had 10 times more options and was Korean. You pick rice or noodles bowl as a base then choose from wide range of protein, veggies, and sauces. The noodles option by the way should say "noodle soup" and they ask you clear or miso broth. Since it was already 2:30, I was starving and couldn't be bothered to make a million decisions so went with the "signature tofu noodle" on the menu. I only had 3 choices to make: spicy, ramen style noodles and miso broth. The eggplant, mushrooms and other veggies were great but cold and didn't appreciate that in my hot soup. The ramen noodles and the fresh firm tofu were the best part! This doesn't take the place of real ramen in terms of depth of flavor but think that's not the goal here. Big trendy place with great amount of seating. We ate in silence because we were starving and it was good.
Service: Came with a friend while we were in the area. The ordering process was smooth--you select your ingredients using a sheet, which keeps things simple. There were only two staff members preparing food, so even though it wasn't too busy, the wait was longer than expected. Staff was polite but minimal interaction overall. Taste: The food was flavorful and tasted fresh. Everything came together really well in the bowl, and it definitely felt like a more authentic take on a fast-casual rice bowl spot. The ingredients looked and tasted high quality. Ambiance: Very casual, more of a quick-eat or takeout kind of place. Not ideal for a sit-down meal if you're looking for atmosphere, but it gets the job done for a fast and tasty option. Overall Review: Rice Bowl is a solid spot for a quick and flavorful meal. Just be mindful that it's more expensive than similar build-your-own places like Cava or Chipotle, especially with add-ons. That said, the food tastes fresh and authentic, so it's worth trying if you're nearby.
3.5 stars overall. A fun idea. However, I suggest getting the pre-selected meals. We all went full custom and none of us really loved our dishes, and we only had ourselves to blame. The ingredients (udon, ramen, rice, chicken, beef, corn, edamame, seaweed salad) were all fine, but our personal combinations were just ok. I would say the chicken chunks were a bit too big, and the egg was slightly overcooked (the yolk was soft and just barely runny). We got here around 12:30-12:45pm on a Friday. There was a line that went across the bar and to the door, but it moved quickly. It took 10-15 minutes to get our food.
Found this on a whim while looking for lunch. Love this concept and wish it was all over. You can choose noodles or rice and then make your own bowl. Very fresh ingredients and friendly, yet efficient, staff. Located inside an office building with communal style seating for those on the run. Definitely try this out for a great noodle or rice bowl
A fast casual Korean restaurant in McPherson Square, this restaurant is a nice place to come for a quick lunch when working downtown. To order, you fill out a card with pencils provided by the restaurant. I prefer to see what I'm ordering as I go, but the process certainly helped the large line move along. The food was pretty good! I loved the bulgogi beef and the delicious mushrooms. I didn't care much for the pungent seaweed salad or the lackluster and watery sauces. Overall this was a pretty tasty lunch! I would definitely come back here in a pinch.
Fairly quick and really tasty place to grab a Korean rice bowl. Yum! Pretty big portion size. We stopped by while in town and on our way to see the sites, so ordered for dine-in and had to toss what we couldn't finish eating. But if you're local and can pack leftovers, then order to-go, and it's packed in a bowl with lid.
Legit the best bibimbap I've had in DC. The flavors are so tasty-- definitely recommend the spicy chicken. The kimchi is so good too! The restaurant is clean and has outdoor seating. Service is fast and professional. 10/10 recommend!
First time in DC and I saw this place on an IG reel and it looked really delicious - it definitely didn't disappoint! The menu was a bit overwhelming at first because there are A LOT of options. You can either get a preset ramen, poke bowl, bibimbap, etc. OR make it yourself. Just think something like Chipotle/CAVA. The service is good, super friendly and helpful. At the time there were only two servers on the line helping a crowd of ~10 people, so please be patient and it's worth the wait.
3.5 stars Rice Bar is a make your own bibimbap bowl place but also have other dishes including noodles. The food is healthy with plenty of vegetables to choose from and there is even black/purple rice ar no additional cost. The portion is pretty big. Mine was enough for two meals. The food is decent but a little on the bland side. I had much better bibimbaps. Not a fan of their gochujang sauce. It's a little bit too pungant for my taste but they do offer other sauces. I got my bibimbap bowl with an egg which has a nice runny yolk, but it's premade and lacking the fried parts. It would have been much better if it was freshly fried.
Overall quick service and good food. Will come back again. I went for lunch during work and there was a bit of a line but it moves pretty fast as you fill out your order on paper slips and hand it to them. I decided to make my own bowl and got the seaweed salad, cucumber, zucchini, carrots and tofu, with gochujang sauce. Everything tasted great, except the gochujang was overpowering. Towards the end of my meal the sauce was the only thing I was tasting. I love the concept and variety of options of this place though and will definitely come back again (and probably ask for a different sauce or less gochujang).
This place is sooooo good. The spicy chicken is not too spicy so don't be afraid of it! There were three of us here for lunch. You fill out a piece of paper and select either rice or noodles and then all your toppings! The service was spectacular and they were patient with us as it was our first time.
Very impressed. Stopped her for lunch and grabbed a customized noodle bowl. The portions are huge and each order is made quickly the way YOU want it. All the vegetables seem fresh which makes me wish I'd asked for more. There are options to please everyone and the line moves fast. I really appreciate the to go bowls provided by the door since there's no way I can eat it all at once. The music and atmosphere is fun too! While $12 seems like a lot to pay for lunch, the sizes and quality reflect the price.
2 months ago
my mom and i were starving ...., service was quick definitely recommend if you're in a hurry! it was super easy to order everything and the food was amazing (i may be biased because i inhaled it like kirby so i may not have tasted the full scope of flavors) i liked the noodles better the hot sauce wasn't spicy at all sadly. soup was good place was pretty clean :) a few tables, ~5 people a table read more
Great place for a quick bite. I was a bit disappointed that they didn't have any pescatarian options but the vegetarian selections did the job. You can mix and match various menu items to create something to your liking. Quick and cheap! read more
On a random weeknight, we stopped into Rice Bar around 6pm. Not crowded at all. Service was swift and friendly, and the food came out quickly. I got the Tofu Noodle Soup - a warm, deep broth with slightly chewy buckwheat noodles, bean sprout, carrot, zucchini, eggplant, shitake mushroom, radish salad, tofu, topped with a fried egg. Delicious! I ate it all up, every drop of soup. This place has a nice, sleek aesthetic, and it was a pleasant environment to savor the food, unbothered by a big crowd. Thumbs up for anyone who wants good food in a clean, bright space. If you haven't tried Rice Bar, you should stop in a give it a shot! read more
6 months ago
Good fast healthy food. It's like if chipotle had 10 times more options and was Korean. You pick rice or noodles bowl as a base then choose from wide range of protein, veggies, and sauces. The noodles option by the way should say "noodle soup" and they ask you clear or miso broth. Since it was already 2:30, I was starving and couldn't be bothered to make a million decisions so went with the "signature tofu noodle" on the menu. I only had 3 choices to make: spicy, ramen style noodles and miso broth. The eggplant, mushrooms and other veggies were great but cold and didn't appreciate that in my hot soup. The ramen noodles and the fresh firm tofu were the best part! This doesn't take the place of real ramen in terms of depth of flavor but think that's not the goal here. Big trendy place with great amount of seating. We ate in silence because we were starving and it was good. read more
1 year ago
Service: Came with a friend while we were in the area. The ordering process was smooth--you select your ingredients using a sheet, which keeps things simple. There were only two staff members preparing food, so even though it wasn't too busy, the wait was longer than expected. Staff was polite but minimal interaction overall. Taste: The food was flavorful and tasted fresh. Everything came together really well in the bowl, and it definitely felt like a more authentic take on a fast-casual rice bowl spot. The ingredients looked and tasted high quality. Ambiance: Very casual, more of a quick-eat or takeout kind of place. Not ideal for a sit-down meal if you're looking for atmosphere, but it gets the job done for a fast and tasty option. Overall Review: Rice Bowl is a solid spot for a quick and flavorful meal. Just be mindful that it's more expensive than similar build-your-own places like Cava or Chipotle, especially with add-ons. That said, the food tastes fresh and authentic, so it's worth trying if you're nearby. read more
2 months ago
3.5 stars overall. A fun idea. However, I suggest getting the pre-selected meals. We all went full custom and none of us really loved our dishes, and we only had ourselves to blame. The ingredients (udon, ramen, rice, chicken, beef, corn, edamame, seaweed salad) were all fine, but our personal combinations were just ok. I would say the chicken chunks were a bit too big, and the egg was slightly overcooked (the yolk was soft and just barely runny). We got here around 12:30-12:45pm on a Friday. There was a line that went across the bar and to the door, but it moved quickly. It took 10-15 minutes to get our food. read more
Found this on a whim while looking for lunch. Love this concept and wish it was all over. You can choose noodles or rice and then make your own bowl. Very fresh ingredients and friendly, yet efficient, staff. Located inside an office building with communal style seating for those on the run. Definitely try this out for a great noodle or rice bowl read more
A fast casual Korean restaurant in McPherson Square, this restaurant is a nice place to come for a quick lunch when working downtown. To order, you fill out a card with pencils provided by the restaurant. I prefer to see what I'm ordering as I go, but the process certainly helped the large line move along. The food was pretty good! I loved the bulgogi beef and the delicious mushrooms. I didn't care much for the pungent seaweed salad or the lackluster and watery sauces. Overall this was a pretty tasty lunch! I would definitely come back here in a pinch. read more
Fairly quick and really tasty place to grab a Korean rice bowl. Yum! Pretty big portion size. We stopped by while in town and on our way to see the sites, so ordered for dine-in and had to toss what we couldn't finish eating. But if you're local and can pack leftovers, then order to-go, and it's packed in a bowl with lid. read more
2 years ago
Legit the best bibimbap I've had in DC. The flavors are so tasty-- definitely recommend the spicy chicken. The kimchi is so good too! The restaurant is clean and has outdoor seating. Service is fast and professional. 10/10 recommend! read more
First time in DC and I saw this place on an IG reel and it looked really delicious - it definitely didn't disappoint! The menu was a bit overwhelming at first because there are A LOT of options. You can either get a preset ramen, poke bowl, bibimbap, etc. OR make it yourself. Just think something like Chipotle/CAVA. The service is good, super friendly and helpful. At the time there were only two servers on the line helping a crowd of ~10 people, so please be patient and it's worth the wait. read more
3.5 stars Rice Bar is a make your own bibimbap bowl place but also have other dishes including noodles. The food is healthy with plenty of vegetables to choose from and there is even black/purple rice ar no additional cost. The portion is pretty big. Mine was enough for two meals. The food is decent but a little on the bland side. I had much better bibimbaps. Not a fan of their gochujang sauce. It's a little bit too pungant for my taste but they do offer other sauces. I got my bibimbap bowl with an egg which has a nice runny yolk, but it's premade and lacking the fried parts. It would have been much better if it was freshly fried. read more
Overall quick service and good food. Will come back again. I went for lunch during work and there was a bit of a line but it moves pretty fast as you fill out your order on paper slips and hand it to them. I decided to make my own bowl and got the seaweed salad, cucumber, zucchini, carrots and tofu, with gochujang sauce. Everything tasted great, except the gochujang was overpowering. Towards the end of my meal the sauce was the only thing I was tasting. I love the concept and variety of options of this place though and will definitely come back again (and probably ask for a different sauce or less gochujang). read more
1 year ago
This place is sooooo good. The spicy chicken is not too spicy so don't be afraid of it! There were three of us here for lunch. You fill out a piece of paper and select either rice or noodles and then all your toppings! The service was spectacular and they were patient with us as it was our first time. read more
1 year ago
2 years ago
Very impressed. Stopped her for lunch and grabbed a customized noodle bowl. The portions are huge and each order is made quickly the way YOU want it. All the vegetables seem fresh which makes me wish I'd asked for more. There are options to please everyone and the line moves fast. I really appreciate the to go bowls provided by the door since there's no way I can eat it all at once. The music and atmosphere is fun too! While $12 seems like a lot to pay for lunch, the sizes and quality reflect the price. read more
I love Korean food! Naturally, when I found Rice Bar a block away from my hotel I had to try it. This is a great twist on classic Korean food with some great new additions. The concept is quite simple, you choose either a rice bowl or a noodle bowl. You can build your own or choose from some preselected combinations and customize from there. I went with the rice bowl (black rice as opposed to brown or white as the other options). I loaded up with tons of vegetables and finished it off with tofu, sesame seeds and sesame oil to keep it authentic and vegan. Everyone was polite and the service was incredibly fast. I would love to see these all across the country someday! read more
The concept is still good, even if it doesn't rock my world. My spicy chicken bibimbap was a bit of a dud. Ingredients were fresh, but the chicken was severely dried out, and the egg was sort of pre-fab. The cucumber on the menu was actually pickled, and that's a good thing. I regret not getting my gochujang sauce on the side. read more
6 years ago
Interesting concept. I've seen something similar to this before elsewhere. It's like a Korean version of 'Chipotle' or 'Cava' to make your own bibimbap (rice) or bibimmyun (noodle). It's conveniently located in Downtown DC, good walking distance from many of the major office spaces around there. I have been hesitant on trying this place for awhile now because I'm picky with Korean food (since I grew up eating Korean food my whole life). But after the whole lockdown situation, I been wanting to try different places to support the local businesses. They do have a similar layout as 'Chipotle' where you start off with a base (rice or noodle) and then move on to the toppings you'd like to add along with choices of protein. Thought the variety was excellent. I think you have to like somewhat of spicy food since a lot of their toppings and choices were red pepper based. When I got the food, it was slightly more expensive than I thought it would come out to but that was fine. Nothing unusual in DC. The food was pretty good for a quick fix Korean meal and I'd definitely go back at some point. It would've been nice if there was soup that came along with it. read more
4 years ago
Amazing scenery, deals, location and food. The staff was very nice and helpful. The outdoor seating is perfect for the summer. A fun date night or place to go solo or with friends! The curry tofu and ginger chicken was flavorful, tasty and fresh. I will be back for more! The grocery options are unlimited and unique! read more
Delicious lunch spot. They give you plenty of food so you won't go back to work hungry, and plenty of sauce you so won't be missing any flavor. You're given the option to select a classic/signature noodle or bibimbap dish, or build your own. FYI Rice Bar prefers you wear a mask. read more
Delightful lunch place in the Downtown area! It's hard to find a place that's healthy, tasty AND fairly affordable in the area. My favorite Korean cart on K street just closed but I was pleased to find that this new place fits the bill. It has the fast-casual feel where you go down an assembly chipotle-type of line to pick and choose what you want in your bibimbap bowl. Yummy korean fresh food! I ordered purple rice! Yes you heard that right. Nice coveted healthy purple rice to add to your bibimbap bowl. Also added bulgolgi beef that was tender and had the just the right amount of savory meaty goodness. Then added a ton of bean sprouts, greens, seaweed and marinated mushrooms. Mmm. Perfect lunch and douse it in spicy sauce and sesame oil. The interior of the place has a handful of seating -- it does get crowded during lunch time but you can manage to find some space. Bright, warm decor with wood accents. read more
2 years ago
3 years ago
3 years ago
It's unfortunate that I can only give this place 3 stars because the interior has cute decor, and it is very clean. I love the rustic-looking menu on the wall, and the line moves pretty smoothly. Staff very efficient and friendly. Portions are generous. The reason I went was because I was craving Korean bowls (bibimbap), and the ones here were not good (though the place is always packed!). I got the tofu bowl with brown rice, eggplant, mushrooms, seaweed salad, kale, and kimchi. I'd initially ordered plain tofu, but when I got to the tofu section, I noticed it was completely white (i.e. bland and not even sauteed to give it crunch as other Korean bowl places do sometimes), so I ordered the teriyaki tofu instead. It tasted fine enough. The problem I had with the bowl was that none of the flavors went together as they usually do at these kinds of places. My kimchi tasted very fishy, my kale very "green" if you know what I mean, and as a whole, the bowl was just disappointing. I really wanted to like this place because it's in a good, convenient location, but unfortunately, I have other Korean places I prefer for my bibimbap. read more
Walked over here from a visit to a work site and didn't regret it one bit. It's a bit of a choose your own/chipotle vibe. There were plenty of options for vegans and the servings were pretty generous for the price. The sauces were all really yummy as well. I'd definitely recommend checking this place out, it was tasty, filling, and the service was really great. read more
10 years ago
THE BIG: Yummmmmm, I love bibimbap...try saying that five times fast. Located in the heart of DC, closer to the corner of 15th and K. Small exterior does not do justice as the inside is quite spacious. It even has a tiny outdoor patio, perfect for spring/summer/fall eating. THE BLACK AND WHITE: I fortunately had a free lunch provided by MealPal and chose Ricebar. The automatic bowl was all veggie that included a brown rice base, pickled carrots, cucumbers, kimchi, stir fried eggplant, kale, and bean sprouts. To all of you who need meat in their meals...this provides alot of oomph and a meaty taste to help subside those protein kicks. Service was suprisingly very fast...as it is a fast casual korean restaurant. Craft drinks are located at the beginning of the line. Since I had meal pal, all I had to do was go to the front of the store and pick up my already to go bag. Super convenient! Staff were friendly and efficient. They knew exactly the portions to hand out and if you want a lil extra, don't be afraid to ask. You know the saying, if you don't ask...you'll never know. THE FINAL BAMBOO: It gets super hectic around lunch time. The bibimbap can be as low as $8 but with additional sides and toppings, you can easily spend over $12 on a bowl. You've been warned! read more
Wow, I loved Rice Bar! Everything about it just screamed urban ingenuity. When you go in, there about a thousand office workers (me included) waiting in line for their food and your first thought is "Well, it's exactly noon on a weekday and I'm gonna be here for hours waiting." Except you're not, because Rice Bar has an area for you to fill out a form detailing your order. It then goes through the line assembly style, like Chipotle but way more efficient and less of you trying to yell your order above other people to the person behind the counter trying to make your food. The whole process takes about 5 minutes, even during the lunch rush, and you don't have to talk to a single person. Somehow, Rice Bar provides plenty of seating and makes it very easy for you to eat your food there comfortably even if it's crazy busy. As for the food, you have a lot of options. You can choose the bibimbap route and get some kind of rice (white, brown, even black rice) or get noodles (ramen, udon, yam??) or even a salad base. You can choose toppings/meats after that and they for sure have everyone's Korean favorites. I had no idea what yam noodles were, but let me tell you, for having nearly no carbs and no calories, they were absolutely amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed my lunch, and it was perfectly filling without being too heavy. I also appreciated that the spicy peanut sauce was actually spicy, not super fiery but just a nice little bite on your tongue. I don't always work out of DC, but I can't wait to come back here next time I visit! read more
4 years ago
Rice Bar is a Korean fast casual lunch spot in downtown DC open only during the week day. It's a small place with only a few tables so most people get theirs to go. As you walk in, you'll grab a colored piece of paper (bulgogi, noodles, or gluten free option) and you start to build your order. Don't worry if you can't decide. They have a full menu of their own creations if you don't want to make your own. Once you give them your paper, it only take 45-60 seconds for them to make your lunch. You pay, grab a free mint as you go, and grab a craft soda or a fresh brewed Honest Tea. Don't miss the spicy sauce section as you exit. Enjoy! read more
10 years ago
I love this place. Quick, convenient, and delicious. It's very close to my job so I'm here every week. The staff are always very helpful and friendly and willing to help if you're stuck thinking up your own bibimbap creation. There is also a gluten free menu (printed on green paper) for those who are gluten intolerant. They also have there own staff creations but I prefer to make my own. You can choose to make your own noodle soup (with rice, cellophane, udon, or ramen noodles), bibimbap (with black, brown, or white rice), or salad. All run around $7. I typically go with the bibimbap and add my own toppings. Since I try to eat mostly plant based these days, I load up on veggies. You get four toppings and then pay extra for each additional topping. Kimchi is an additional $2, as is asparagus, tofu, and meat. Egg is an additional cost as well. They also have burdock root as a topping. The portions are very filling and usually end up being about two meals for me. Also note for those that are gluten intolerant, the gluten free tamarind sauce is NOT behind the counter for them to add for you while making your bowl (only the regular soy/tamarind sauce is) so you will have to tell him that you're adding your own sauce and grab a bottle in the self-service area. Don't forget to ask for a frequent customer card! After 9 bowls, you get one free. read more
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1015 15th St NW
Washington, DC 20005
Downtown
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(202) 589-0030
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http://www.ricebardc.com
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Rice Bar - korean - Updated September 2026
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