I love this place! Right on MLK Jr. with easy parking. Never a wait. Cozy, fun Asian fusion. I love the Niku Udon - so much flavor! Other favorites are Tonkotsu Ramen and the Edamames appetizer. Outstanding service - you order at the counter, but the food is served quickly at your table. read more

Went here with a friend for the first time last night. we are migrants from House of Taste, (one of our favorite places) however we are not a fan of the downsizing of their menu, particularly the fact that they removed some of the wonderful appetizers which they hosted (our favorites being the Szechuan dumplings...) however Rice Forest seems to have this covered! Their Szechuan dumplings are arguably just as good) maybe even better due to the excess amount of sauce which is a almost ginger rice vinegar base, with added chili oil.) I do not currently know of another place that has Szechuan chili dumplings like this, (would love a shout out if you know of another place to get it!) I was very impressed and thoroughly enjoyed each item which we ordered. I have only had takoyaki one other occasion from the Akira food truck. And while that was OK I thought that this tasted a lot better. The cabbage was great with it too. The sauce was also probably better. The Bonito flakes are cool, but they don't have that here. (That is a very small concession though for food, that is overall better.) tofu was browned and seared properly. For added flavor. I have very few chagrins with this place. We will absolutely be back. Me and several friends who are fans of house of taste wish it were in a different location, as being next to Fayetteville high school is both not exactly convenient or that desirable (pretty packed full of young whipper snappers! And the place is a bit small! A real Izakaya deluxe!) if they add a dapper beef Bulgogi or gochujang-kissed Bibimbap to the menu it'll be a done deal and be the ultimate seduction and become our crews new haunt (despite the distance.) read more

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This little restaurant is wonderful. We have eaten there twice now and so far everything has been delicious. It is very clean and authentic with good service. This last visit we had the dumplings, potstickers, chicken katsu and niku udon (pictured) on the first visit we had the Black pepper steak and it was also delicious. read more

Rice Forest - Chicken katsu, dumplings, potstickers and niku udon - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

Presentation on point. Flavor was popping. Service is quick. Food takes time to cook and it's totally worth it. Limited seating, so order takeout if you don't feel like hanging around. Bao is a must. read more

Rice Forest - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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This place is delicious! Go give it a try. The Szechuan dumplings and Yakisoba are bomb. Give it a try! read more

Rice Forest - This place is delicious - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

The wife and I went to try Rice Forest for the first time. We waited for the past couple of months after they opened, before dining here to give them time to work out any issues that always come up when you open a new restaurant. It was a Saturday lunch time about 12:45pm. We walk in and the dining room is really small and it was nearly full there were only a couple of places available to sit down. We think to ourselves "Great, it must be good." We look at the menu and decide what we are going to get. Walk up to the counter to order and the young lady at the cash register shows us a list of all the dishes they were out of. It wasn't just one or two items, it was probably somewhere between two thirds and three quarters of the items on the menu. Every item we had decided we wanted to try, was on their sold out list. At this stage we decided to eat elsewhere. We will go back sometime and I will update my review then but we were a little disappointed that they haven't got their act together by now. read more

Service was great. The food was horrendously salty, almost inedible. I won't be back. The flavors in my chicken rice noodle soup may have actually come through if it weren't for all the salt. And I am a person who likes using a lot of salt in my food. But this was BEYOND. read more

Food, service, ambiance everything it's good! It's a very small business, worth the wait if busy. read more

Rice Forest - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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This review's strength is the uniqueness and intense flavors of the "snacks" or starter dishes. I went in and got the basil chicken nuggets and the sichiuan dumplings. The texture and flavors of both of these are worth your visit. The chicken bites were crisp outside with a noticeable but not overpowering herbal taste from the fried basil leaves. The dumplings came in a savory chili sauce, topped with the most amazing crispy garlic. Usually, a steamed-style sampling will have a small filling and leave some air pockets that make it hard to eat with chopsticks. Not these. These dumplings were plump and flavorful, filled with the most delicious sauce we used to dip other things in. My other order, the udon noodles in broth, was OK. It was a delicate broth with udon noodles, thin fatty beef, and other accompaniments. The broth was good, but the overall dish needed more of a flavor punch for me to love it. The noodles alone were what you would expect, but the overall dish didn't wow me. When I return, I will load up on "snacks" for my meal and maybe try another style of main noodle or a rice-forward dish. The service was good. When you walk in, you order at the counter, and the staff brings the food to your table when it is ready. The space is small, with just several tables and ample bar seating. The ambiance is pleasant, lit well, and cozy. read more

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My best friend and I popped in for lunch on Saturday and were so pleasantly surprised by this new Asian fusion spot! We ordered several things from the menu to try as much as possible and it didn't disappoint! Everything we ordered was equally as flavorful as it was aesthetically pleasing in its presentation. The building is small so I could see it being quite the wait during peak hours but I can guarantee that the wait would be so worth it! We've already planned to come back and work our way through the rest of the menu! read more

Rice Forest - Galbi Beef - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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One of the best spots in nwa, everything is amazing and there is something truly healing about their niku udon especially. A go to comfort spot for sure. read more

This spot is a gem! Friendly staff and the environment was intimate. I appreciate the chilled water (90 degree weather) that we had and how it was available for us at our seats. The attention to detail, especially with the egg rolls, was spot on. Both noodle dishes were yummy, but the star of the show was the HK Bbq dish! All of our dishes were delicious, we will come again soon! read more

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came to Fayetteville for the day and saw this place on TikTok, I was impressed by the authenticity of the food. The service was fast and workers were very nice. There's even a patio to eat outside if you want. read more

Very neat tiny spot definitely worth trying. We had a few of the dishes and everything was yummy. I wouldn't go there with more than 4 or so people since it's very small inside. All the dishes were very tasty, perhaps takeout next time. read more

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So so so good!! Try everything! I dream about the Sichuan Dumplings. Great service, cozy space. read more

Rice Forest is THE Chinese+Japanese restaurant we've been needing in Fayetteville. I order the Sichuan Dumplings just about once a week-both in house and to-go. The dumplings are hearty and hold up well for leftovers for days after. Their egg rolls are divine and the pork bao are amazing. The Chicken Katsu is amazing- order the seasoned rice if you can (lemongrass and ginger). Their Udon noodle soup dish is great, but could use a little more flavor. The service has been great every time I go. Drink options are pretty limited as well, but their hot jasmine tea is lovely. They are always slammed during the dinner rush and the seating area for the restaurant is extremely limited (at least for this winter), so plan accordingly. It appears they have an outside patio, so hopefully that will open up with warmer weather. read more

The food was EXCELLENT! Today we stop by for late lunch and was extremely impressed by the quality and taste of their asian cuisine. We tried the teriyaki chicken also the chicken katsu and galbi ribs all excellent! The portions were very good sizes and full of flavor. I lived in Japan for 12 years and also Guam for 3 years. I know exactly what good Asia food taste like and for Arkansas that was one of the best Asian dishes I've had in the state. Other than my wife making it from scratch well done the service was okay and ambience is nothing special but it was clean. read more

Rice Forest - Teriyaki chicken, chicken, katsu, and galbi, Korean style ribs. - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

I love a meal with complex flavors. I crave the Sichuan dumplings and Korean BBQ pork. Best thing I've eaten in years. The staff is always friendly and humble. Cutest little location makes for a tight fit but generally everyone is accommodating and helpful and the takeout is top quality. This is my fave spot in NWA. read more

I really enjoyed the style of the restaurant as it was cozy in the dining area and felt like a dining area that would be in a downtown area. Food was good. read more

Rice Forest - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

Great food. Really nice server. The place is sharing a space with Starbucks so it's a little confusing at first. We walked from our airbnb. Not recommended as it's a pretty busy street. read more

First time trying this place out and it was ok. Very small interior, so not recommend for a large party. You order at the counter. Galbi Beef was a favorite! Next, I enjoyed my ramen with udon noodles because I like thick noodles. It was flavorful! I wish they asked if you wanted to add spice or offered to give us some chili oil. The Szechuan Dumplings were a nice appetizer. Bit spicy at all, I didn't taste the Szechuan in it. It was nice getting the free desserts at the end! I enjoyed that. read more

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Tasteful, plentiful, vibrant, cozyWe went there on a Saturday night and it was fairly busy. It's a small place with only three long tables that you may share with someone else that is there for dinner. But it wasn't bad at all. The food came to us fairly quickly and was fresh. I had the Black pepper steak and my wife had the Teriyaki chicken. Both very good and would highly recommend. If I had any complaints, maybe just a bit salty. But it is really good. Friendly staff. read more

Rice Forest - Teriyaki Chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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Love this little place on MLK. I especially liked the Yakisoba and teriyaki chicken dishes. read more

This was a great experience. Food was fresh and flavorful. Inside is small but bright and clean. Service fast and friendly. Will definitely be coming back again. read more

Their dumplings, Japanese black pepper steak and chicken and rice noodle bowl were amazing. We have never had a bad experience here.

TLDR: the vibes were immaculate. Thought I wasn't going to like it because I hate asian fusion and americanized asian food as an asian. The recommendation for the popular szechuan dumplings did not disappoint! It felt authentic, homey, and tasted even better. The service was top tier and the resting was very well decorated. Hoping to try other items and be blown away soon. read more

The food was really good. The seating area is kind of small. You order at the counter. Overall we enjoyed are experience. read more

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Food is really tasty, not a huge menu but a nice selection of rice and noodle dishes and appetizers. The space is small and doesn't encourage lingering but you also don't feel rushed. Very clean and minimal, it's all about the food. I will try to go regularly ... read more

My husband and I came here for date night and already shared with friends who love Asian cuisine that this is going to be our next double-date place! The interior is small and cozy! Not too many tables, but there is bar seating and outdoor space, so perfect for warmer NWA fall days. The food is INSANE! We shared a few plates and apps, and already know we're going to try new food when we go back. Not because we didn't like what we got, but because we loved it and want to try more! Service was a little slow, but this is simply because we went right after they opened and they shared it was the busiest night they'd had since opening. Can't wait for more bao buns! read more

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Quaint little spot. Service was fast and friendly. The dumplings and egg rolls are phenomenal. I split the chicken udon noodle with my daughter and left very satisfied. The crisps in the soup was a nice surprise and gave it wonderful texture. read more

Wonderful and quick service! Food was so delicious. I am so glad I finally got to try this place !

As someone grew up in China, I can say that their dumplings taste just like home. They are delicious and perfectly wrapped. The Hainanese chicken is melt-in-your-mouth tender, with aromatic rice that's simply divine. The staff is always warm and welcoming, and the cozy vibe makes it feel so relaxed. If you love authentic Chinese food, this is the place. I keep coming back--and you will too! read more

Rice Forest - Hai Nan chicken - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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I had the yakisoba with vegetables. It was excellent! Small restaurant, 3 tables and seats along the wall. Very cute and clean, nice family owned business. My only wish would be that they lower the music, too loud for a conversation. read more

The food was unique and plentiful overall. Yet the meat portion was small - especially for an order in excess of $18. The service was fine with the exception of rude customers - or possible employees hanging out - interjecting into conversation in greatly poor taste. The ambiance was fine. Overall - will most likely not patron again unfortunately. read more

Our meal was absolutely amazing. Everything that hit our table was packed with flavor. I plan on trying every item in the menu.

Well priced, with reasonable portions. Limited menu just means that they pay close attention to detail. Order at the counter, get a number and they bring the food out. Can't recommend this place enough for lunch or a quick dinner. read more

Place was super cute, staff was very nice, and the food was incredible. It is really great to see a small business on MLK here in Fayetteville and Rice Forest exceeded my expectations. Seriously, some of the best food you can get on this street and stop by if you are passing by! read more

Rice Forest - Bao Nini - Asian Fusion Near Me - Fayetteville, Arkansas

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One of my favourite new spots in Fayetteville, with arguably some of the best Asian Fusion food you can find in NWA. Alongside its sister company Roll N' Fold in Rogers. Their appetizers are incredible and worth spending a little extra money on. The service is always fantastic with the staff helping with some recommendations and favorites! read more

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Best Asian-style food in NWA. This beats anything I've had in larger Midwest cities. Great price, awesome experience. And my favorite - Pay before you eat so you can leave right after! read more

I NEVER leave reviews for restaurants, but this place was so good I made a yelp account haha. My husband doesn't even like Asian food half the time, but he said we're for sure going back. We had the BBQ pork rice dish, gyoza, taro bao, and crab rangoon. The HK pork was AMAZING. I look forward to going back to try more of the menu! read more