I was a fan of Rice Bar on 19th when I used to work closer to it and then they opened a second location literally across the street to my current job! Score. Rice Bar is basically Korean Chipotle but with tons more options. You start with either a noodle or rice base (rice comes in brown and black as well as basic white, or you can sub lettuce if preferred) and then load on the toppings. Four veggies are free and any "meats" are at an additional charge (asparagus, tofu and egg are the vegetarian meats). Then you pick a sauce and good to go! I've found that the staff doesn't have a heavy hand with the sauce but it's also available for you to add more on your own, so I usually mix and match. Atmosphere is great - welcoming and natural with lots of light. There is outdoor seating as well as in. Plus it's always super quick to get in and out, a work lunchtime plus. read more

I want to like this place more than I actually do: service is fast, the location is great for downtown workers, and they even have a gluten-free menu. However, I've made soup bowls and noodle bowls and bibimbop bowls and consistently find the food to be just a little bit off: underseasoned and overcooked. read more

I have been to this restaurant on 19th street many times. I was glad to find this location. The menu, order system and even the layout of the restaurant are all very similar to the one on 19th. I was able to order my usual dish - Tofu bibimbap. I really cannot explain what or how but the dish tasted different from 19th street. As a matter of fact, I returned to the 19th street location a few days after this visit and I was relieved to have my tofu bibimbap to my taste. I will try here again hoping it was just one off day.... read more

I like the layout of the Rice Bar! They have so many selections and is not stingy at all when it come to the food! The prices are ok, it kind of remind me of a Chipotle, but smaller and the food just seem fresher to me! The staff was attentive and nice and the wear mouth mask etc (awesomeness) I will definitely return... read more

Rice Bar - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Best short ribs I have had in my life. Fall off the bone and full of flavor. Everything else I added in my bowl was amazing also. Super fast and the serving size was generous. I was full all day after eating the bowl. read more

As a fellow korean, I would have loved to give a higher rating, but honestly, it was one of the most lukewarm, bland korean food I have had ever in my life. I tried the spicy chicken noodle bowl with udon noodles (as recommended). The broth was flavorless and lukewarm. And the noodles were overcooked. The vegetables were the only good part of the whole dish. To me, it seemed that put most of their focus on their toppings, that they did not put as much care to the core ingredients to all the dishes. Honestly, they can probably do away with a third of their toppings and it will make everything taste better. Overall, it lacked the depth of flavors that korean food offers. However, kudos to this great idea of doing a bibimbap/ noodle bar. This restaurant really is a great set up but with a lack of depth. Despite everything, their service is friendly and fast. And this place is packed during lunch time. read more

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Came here for lunch recently with a coworker and really enjoyed the experience. It's quick, healthy, delicious, and a lot more interesting than your run-of-the-mill downtown DC lunch option. read more

This is the second store for Rice Bar and I've been waiting for it to open for weeks now. It's bibimbob or noodle soup, Americanized and probably a little bit healthier. The good: Fresh tasting with lots of good vegetables. Really friendly staff. The ordering is a bit confusing at first, but Chipotle style and quick. They have a lot of different options to add with your bibimbob. Some of them are non-traditional but the traditional ones like kim chi are really well done. The eggs looked really well cooked as well, everything seems high quality. This is also really convenient to my office. The bad: It's pretty pricey for what it is. I haven't figured out how best to order but we are talking about $9.00 for vegetarian easily and more if you want kalbo or other beef options. Suki asia is only 4 or 5 blocks away and it is way cheaper for a more traditional bibimbob (and you get miso soup as well). I'm really excited that this place is opening up in an area that needs more variety. If it were cheaper I could see myself coming here a lot more, but it is really nice to have as an option. read more

This area desperately needed an affordable, quick, delicious option. Rice Bar delivers just that. I have been two or three times now. The decor is wonderful, and the service is always speedy and friendly. The black rice is awesome as are the spicy cucumbers. I highly recommend the spiciest sauce option, as well. This is an ideal lunch option for any vegetarian. The food tastes different than anything else. It has Korean flavor with a great combination of spice and acid. Check it out. read more

Not going to repeat everything else said by prior reviewers in terms of the process, what it's like, etc. the other reviews are pretty accurate. My personal pros and cons below.. Pros: Good Portions Soup is served on the Side (can dump it into your noodles or as I like to, have it as a side) Lots of options for toppings - vegetables, etc. and all taste very fresh My fave combo: zucchini, bamboo shoots, broccoli, corn, mushroom, asparagus, kale and carrots ( I know, I pay extra for the things I add) with the bulgogi and any noodle (I've tried them all and like them) The black rice is good if you want rice but I usually like the noodles They give perfect amount of sauce and then you can add more if you want. I prefer the spicy and the red sauce that begins with the letter G as well as adding sesame seeds on top. Can be healthy if you want without sacrificing flavor. Quick and nice service staff Cons: Takes a few tries to find your perfect combo of stuff Hard to get seating most times A little pricey for the amount of meat you get and I don't like that you have to pay for kimchi or egg as those seem more like staples in korean dishes. I didn't like the spicy chicken but I only tried it once maybe they were having a bad day Overall def recommend! read more

Went in for lunch today and loved it. This is a fast casual style place, on the order of Shophouse or Cava. There are three rice options (white, brown, black) as well as lettuce, noodles, and broth. Lots and lots of veggies to choose from, and lots of proteins. Overall, possibly more options than they need to offer. This neighborhood was really in need of more places to get a rice bowl, and this totally fits the bill. My bowl came to $12, which is definitely a little more than I normally spend on lunch, but it was a huge portion and everything seemed really fresh, especially the steamed broccoli. read more

Chipotle to Mexican is like Rice Bar to Korean (or generally Asian food). It's num nums, the service is pretty quick, and it's nice to have a new spot within walking distance of work. read more

I would suggest building your own bibimbap so that you'll be able to match your taste perfectly. The mushroom and kimchi are a must at this place! The bowl is so big you'll have enough for 2 meals. read more

Rice Bar - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is great! We wanted to try another bibimbap place but it closed at 3 so we ended up here. I tried the white rice with kalbi, roasted seaweed, mushrooms, kimchi, sprouts and cucumber. They topped the bowl with a healthy squirt of gochuchang. It came to around $9 and was delicious and insanely filling. I didn't come close to finishing it. You have a ton of different options for both rice and noodle dishes. I'm giving the cleanliness factor the benefit of the doubt--it's clearly designed so you bus your own tables but there were a ton of dirty tables and only two guys on duty up front who didn't have a chance to clean it. Other than that, they were very friendly and explained how to order as we were first timers. Definitely worth a stop. read more

I'm almost embarrassed to say yesterday was my first time getting lunch here. It was really good! I got the bulgogi bibimbap with gochujang, and it was delicious and very filling - enough for a hearty lunch and a snack later on. There were plenty of people in line ahead of me but it moved quickly. Everyone who was working there was friendly, the space was clean, and the price was reasonable. I'll definitely be back. read more

Rice Bar - Bulgogi bibimbap with gochujang (spicy sauce) - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Goid service. Owner was very helpful In making recommendations. My husband had thecsugnature bimibap and I had the signature buckwheat in cl ear broth - yum! read more

Walked by this place when I was looking for a place to have dinner at and thought I might give it a try. I had Bulgogi ( Short rib) Bibimbap and it was very good. I came in late, so they ran out of eggs, but would give me two pieces of tofu instead. The food is very worth the price and the location is not far from my school. Will come back and try some other dishes :) read more

The atmosphere of this place was modern and upbeat. There was a wide variety of choices on the menu from rice bowls to noodle bowls. I was craving bibimbap, and I ordered a create-your-own bowl with bulgogi and egg. It was absolutely delicious and the price was not bad at all. read more

This was the freshest Bibimbap I have ever had. I have had many (being from SoCal), and this one was one of the better ones I have had! I got the bulgogi bibimbap with cucumbers, seaweed salad, bean sprouts, and fried onions. I don't recommend getting the fried onions-they are like the ones on top of a Thanksgiving green bean casserole and I am not certain why they were even an option. I would have gotten edamame or something more substantial. Anyway, it's about $11 without egg or kimchi by the time you are finished. This is a pretty typical DC price, but it is still a bit much for a take out dinner. Still very good food! read more

Yup, it's delicious. If you're responsible you can get a meal and a half to two meals out of the bowl, so the prices are pretty good. Pro tip: if you're not getting the crispy onions then you're doing it wrong. Do it! Also the black rice is delicious. read more

Delicious! So, why the three stars? Here's the run down... I had the brown rice, corn, kale, bean sprouts, marinated cucumber (extra yum), edamame, the Korean BBQ ribs for the protein, and I topped it with green onion, chili oil and a touch of teriyaki. The flavors were amazing! I enjoyed everything except the BBQ beef ribs. Don't get me wrong, the meat was very flavorful, but it was like chewing on beef jerky. It was so tough! I'm not exaggerating the jerky part in the slightest. It was a very flavorful jerky that was only softened slightly by the sauce it was in. Also, I really wanted the egg on top, but the eggs on the bar looked over cooked and likely wouldn't have had any run to the yolk, so I decided to skip that $1.95 up charge. If I had chosen a different protein for this review I would have likely given this all five stars, at least 4 and a half. As for the staff, they were very helpful. It was my first visit, so I was unsure how it all worked. I'm not a fan of the, mark your order on a card thing, because I like to see the toppings before I add them. Thankfully, the crew went with it and my order ended up being very different from my card. Additionally, the cards are such a waste of paper, in my opinion. Definitely give this place a try, but skip the Korean BBQ for the protein or at least ask to sample it first. read more

One of my favorite go-to lunch spots near my office! I was so happy when this opened. Super quick. Their rice bowls are filled with flavor and they don't skimp you on the amount of food! I enjoy being able to design my own bowl. My go-to choice is the rice bowl with bulgogi, kimchi, carrots, bean sprouts, edamame, corn, soy and spicy peanut sauce. SOOOOO good. I do wish they wouldn't hit you with a $2.95 upcharge for the kimchi tho. Regardless, amazing lunch spot. read more

I had an hour break from class at General Assembly and this place was perfect! The food was fast, delicious and the guy behind the counter was friendly and helpful. I wish we had one in Baltimore in Canton!! read more

Rice Bar - Beef bulgogi with udon noodles in miso broth. The beef, burdock root and cucumber were all delicious! - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

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Tastes good! The bowl is also very big for me. I had radish salad, toasted onion, mushroom, bean sprout, bulgogi, egg and asparagus. The owner gave me a lot of beef and added extra sauce for me. Nice place! read more

Rice Bar - Me and my friends' bowl :3 - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Ordered two bibimbops, one with brown rice, one with black rice; both undercooked, and just barely warm. The brown rice was also lumpy. The eggs were also overcooked, to the point of being hard boiled under the glossy, bright yellow surface. None of the veggies tasted fresh, with the exception of the corn. I ordered broccoli, but was so engrossed in my conversation, I didn't notice it wasn't added to the bowl. I mixed the contents of my bowl at the table only to realize a couple bites in that instead of broccoli I got eggplant. I'm not a fan of eggplant, but I can live with it. My wife, in the other hand is allergic to eggplant. This is the kind of mix-up that really should happen. We both left more than half our bowls uneaten. read more

I was excited to try this place since it's "make-your-own" bibimbap. Was pretty disappointed in terms of how overpriced this place is with a small selection of vegetable choices. But then again, living in LA with amazing and cheaper Korean food may leave me very biased. I guess if there are no other Korean options around the area this place is great for a quick fix. read more

Over $11 for a moderate sized bowl of food? No thanks, I'd rather go to Roti instead.

I had a delicious soup bowl with clear noodles and clear both. Very light with the bulgogi as the meat along with edamame, corn, seaweed salad and mushrooms. The service was quick and was self seating. The sauces were very light which didn't leave you with a heavy feeling like most Asian foods. read more

Rice Bar - Front view - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Really quite enjoyable place for a small price. You can order either a "signature" dish or design your own. I the spicy chicken dish with the noodle base. Ingredients were fresh and colorful. Although I arrived just ahead of 7:00pm closing, staff was attentive and seemed determined to make a dish I'd be happy with. read more

Rice Bar - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

So the food not bad. However pretty expensive. It says the rice bowl is $6.95 which appears a great deal but then the proteins are like +$2 soooo. It ended up being more. I'd say my bowl was pretty mediocre. I also wish my bulgogi beef portion was bigger too. I had so much rice but hardly any meat or toppings w it. I would've had to end up paying a lot extra for that. Lastly, the poor guy working. He had no one else there to help him. He had to put up w the cashier which was not working and the customers waiting. It is not his fault. Poor guy. He was nice though. read more

Unexpectedly heartwarming. That is the best way I can describe Rice Bar. On a cold day I stepped into Rice Bar seeking soup and a respite from the cold wind. The workers behind the bar were so open and welcoming that I felt the chill subside. As a newbie to Korean fare, I asked for their recommendations on what I should add to my guk su soup. They offered several different types of noodles, two types of soup base, and a variety of fresh add-ins. I chose the fish miso, with a rice noodle. Add in carrots, mushrooms, and a variety of other recommendations, and I was in soup heaven. The only issue I had was that the broth wasn't quite warm enough. I don't know if that was the normal temp or a one-off, but it won't prevent me from going again. The soup was amazeballs. read more

Rice Bar - Soooooo goooood thanks to the recommendations of the Rice Bar crew. - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

Stumbled upon this spot today and it hit the spot. I ordered the spicy chicken rice bowl with brown rice, broccoli, mushrooms, peanuts and carrots with gochujang sauce. It was amazing!! I will be coming back again read more

Rice Bar - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

I tried the signature bowl for my first visit with black rice. The eggplant, kale and carrots were all really good, but the bulgogi beef tasted a lot like salty and chewy beef jerky, and I did bite into one very hard piece of rice. I may try another protein the next time I visit, but they have to get the basics right. The quality of the beef I ate today was below par compared to other fast casual spots. read more

Great quick lunch spot. All the Ingredients are super fresh and there is a lot of variety. I customized it right babe babe that people with ground beef. It is casual dining so there is seating inside and outside. There is a lunch rush but they get the orders out quickly. Definitely a nice spot. Highly recommended read more

Very good! Crowed so hard to find a seat. Delicious bulgogi. Pleasant atmosphere. Staff was quick & accomodating.

Great lunch spot. Tasty, customizable Korean-fusion-y lunch bowls and a great selection of sauces. read more

Rice Bar - Korean Near Me - Washington, DC, District of Columbia

This place is great. There are so many different combinations and there is something for everyone. They even have a gluten free option for those concerned. There aren't as many drink options as I would hope for, but I've been here two days in a row and I'm not tired of it yet. read more

I was craving Korean food and decided to try this place for lunch. Think: the chipotle version of Korean BBQ. This is a great place to be a little experimental and try a bit of everything. I ordered the Bulgogi Bibimbap and substituted the runny egg for an extra veggie. They were very nice and gave me tips on the traditional way to dress my rice bowl: with sesame seeds, sesame oil and signature Korean bbq sauce. I'm giving this place 5 stars because the service was extra friendly, there was plenty of seating, the food was fresh, the prices were reasonable for lunch, and the location was good... oh and they sell wine if you want it! There's nothing bad to say about my experience and I encourage all newbies of Korean dining to try it out! read more

I love this place. Not giving it 5 stars based on taste. Compared to authentic Korean food, it's a solid 3. However, considering how easy, quick, and tasty this can be to get the job done, it deserves 5 stars! The base with no meats is cheap only $7. If you want protein, it costs more but that's ok. I don't like meat anyway. And they let you have as much sauce as you want of any of their many sauces. Please try with black rice, it's so yum. read more

If you have a bibimbap craving near 14&K street, this is the only choice for a few blocks. Lines can be a bit long around lunch time, but if you come early, there is no wait. The inside is chic and clean with nice tables for groups of 4 or high tops along the windows for solo seating. The food is a bit pricey for lunch, easily breaking the $15 barrier if you start including bowl add-ins. The flavor is a solid "meh." Neither delicious or disappointing. The bulgogi meat is a little dry and the flavor tastes more salted than flavored. read more