The pho is absolutely disgusting. The service and seating here is horrible. The prices are way too high for the quality of the food being served. Just not worth the time or the money. read more

This place is definitely not worth your time or money. Other than the seating being absolutely horrible or the food having no taste, Rice Monkeys is not a clean place whatsoever. The front seating area was full when my significant other and I came in so we were seated in the back of the restaurant right by the bathroom/dishwashing area. I had a full view of where they prepare the food and I was appalled... they had raw, thawed out chicken on the floor in a bucket. The cook would pick up a piece of the floor chicken spray Pam directly on it then throw it on the grill. I made sure not to order any of the dishes with chicken so we both got the beef pho which was honestly just as bad. Not only was it served cold but the meat was rubbery, the broth had no flavor and no amount of sriracha or hoisin sauce could fix this nasty pho. I've had better pho in hospital cafeterias and that's not even a joke. This place was so bad that recommend staying at home to make Top Ramen over this. If I could rate it zero stars than I would. read more

Rice Monkeys - Have fun eating floor chicken - Sushi Bars Near Me - Durango, Colorado

Small local sushi joint packs a punch. Great option for dining downtown Durango:)

This place is 5 stars for a quick and amazing delicious dinner. We enjoyed the summer rolls, ceviche, bang bang shrimp, pho, and lime roll. Everything was impeccable and fast. Of course this place could use an outdoor patio and additional seating in general so customers feel more comfortable hanging out and enjoying their dinner with a drink. The only food recommendations I would add is to increase the pho flavors to include pork, meatball, and tofu options and the ceviche would be better paired with wonton chips. read more

Amazing quality of food and service once seated. Small seating area but comfortable. I was surprised to find such quality of sushi in the 4 corners! Definitely try this place, worth the wait! read more

Great chicken teriyaki bowl and veggie egg rolls. The food was grilled and sautéed in teriyaki sauce - not greasy! My wife and I shared one order of each - plenty of food as the chicken bowl was very generous. Great service! Outside seating available. Would definitely return. read more

Small joint, super casual, excellent staff, great for party of one, perfect location, fresh yummy sushi, love the take-out!!! Rice Monkeys staff make this place amazing, They treat everyone like a local, they made me smile tonight after a long day of business travel. Thank you! read more

The complete and utter lack of good sushi for the last three years that I lived in Boise, ID hit me like a ton of bricks as soon as I had my first bite of food here. Fish is fresh, rice is nicely seasoned and they're very generous with the proportion of fish to rice in both the sushi and rolls. If you're looking for straight up traditional sushi the menu will be sparse - it's a small selection for sushi but I'm guessing they keep their menu limited to focus on quality. The rolls are inventive and the two rolls I tried ( lime twist, main street) had some interesting southwestern flavors going on without detracting from the flavor/freshness of the fish. Got really busy very quickly but service was fast, efficient and friendly. read more

Rice Monkeys - So FRESH! - Sushi Bars Near Me - Durango, Colorado

One of my absolute favorite places to eat in Durango! Travelers, this place is a must! Sadly because of COVID they had to shut down the very small dining area, so order to go! Sushi is amazing and the customer service is fabulous! Mo is always smiling and working hard! 5 stars all around! read more

Fun place! Enjoyed the fusión part of the menu. Staff very helpful and professional. Great outdoor evening.

Stopped in for a quick lunch with a friend a couple of days ago expecting to only be swayed by sushi, but, oh was I pleasantly surprised at all the other mouth-watering options! Yes, of course I ordered sushi. And, it was delicious. The Funky Monkey roll was so full of flavor that you don't even need soy sauce. The Southwestern roll was tangy and very fresh tasting, if a bit lackluster. I'm looking forward to trying the many other rolls, though! I'm a sucker for egg rolls, and the veggie egg rolls didn't disappoint. They were the perfect crispy wrapper with just enough flavorful filling. We also got the Bang Bang shrimp. I'm still dreaming about them they were so good! I was really excited to see on the menu the various rice and noodle bowls. While I really wanted to try the pho (and I will next visit), we opted for the Chinese BBQ Pork. It was full of lots of great veggies, and the pork had a nice flavor if a little dry. It came with a ginger vinaigrette that I feel could have been a bit more amped up with flavor. In general, the flavor of the bowl could have been a bit more amped up, but I appreciated the freshness of the ingredients. Ended up taking home the rice bowl for next day leftovers, and it was quite delicious. Yes, the place is small, but it also touts itself as a take-out restaurant. The coziness isn't really a problem nor really unexpected. The service is fast, efficient and super nice. Ultimately, I can't wait to stop back in and try other things on the menu. Frankly, I hope to work my way through it all :) read more

The Southwestern roll is top-notch, but I think I enjoyed the Tiraditos even more. Try that if you're looking for an appetizer for your table. Very limited seating, maybe three four-person tables (and the table tops are TINY) and a couple bar spots. read more

Best place so far in Durango! No words to explain but the BESTEST!! Don't forget the Friendliest crew ever! read more

Rice Monkeys - Ben the sushi guy with the rest of the crew - Sushi Bars Near Me - Durango, Colorado

The problem with Rice Monkey is that there are so many delicious options that we over order each time. Because sushi is not an ideal left over we then feel compelled to stuff ourselves. No regrets, I can skip breakfast. If you have not eaten here I suggest you give it a go. However avoid peak times because it's small with limited seating. Or consider ordering take out. read more

I love this place....I just wish they would expand to a bigger spot. Fantastic food, always fresh and tasty and good portions.

Tried sushi for the first time here! And made it vegan! Had the V Is For Veggie roll with avocado on the side, made with sweet fried tofu, spring mix, cucumber, pickled carrots, and sweet chili sauce on the side. It was very fresh, colorful, and had very little wait time. :) read more

Tiny but great food and service. We were starving after an afternoon hiking in the mountains. The food and service were great.

The only thing I don't like about this place is the seating. For to-go, OMG there's no better Thai food. They just do it right. The seating is strange, one sided, cramped and very tight. If you don't get thereby 11:45 forget it until the 2nd shift, maybe 1:30ish. But if you get it to go, it's rare treat for gentrified Durango. Excellent food and choices. read more

Cute little place with fabulous food. The crunchy salmon roll was cooked to perfect crispy perfection. The poke bowl was full of flavor and perfectly balanced with the rice and protein. Sorry I didn't take pics, it was so delicious that we cleaned our plates before we got a chance to take pics! :) read more

Sushi in the mountains...yes!!! Rice Monkeys was a delightful find as I am new to town and looking to quench my sushi hunger. Their menu is much more than sushi, however. I ordered 2 sushi rolls (Southwest and Funky Monkey) but also got the Egg Rolls (it is actually a spring roll, but listed as Egg on the menu) and the BBQ Pork Rice Bowl. The Funky Monkey is the best roll I have ever had. It is a delightful combo of bright flavors with a surprising depth that makes your pallet sing. The Southwest was very bright and fresh tasting with the lime acidity, but the depth of flavor was missing, so the roll comes off as monotone in flavor. It was ok. The Egg Rolls (they are actually Spring Rolls) were fantastic. I am a spring roll fanatic and order them everywhere and these beat the best of the best in my book. The BBQ Pork Rice bowl was interesting. It did not come with any real moisture or popping flavor, but when I added the sauce on the side, soy sauce and the rest of the Spring Roll dipping sauce it gave the dish more punch. Rice Monkey is a solid choice with great food, great service and a fun, cozy atmosphere. I will be back. read more

Wow - this place is amazing! It is one of the best restaurants in Durango. The Pho is very filling, and the chicken one in particular tastes heavenly. It has basil and jalapenos in it for more flavor. The summer spring rolls are one of my favorite dishes. The peanut sauce is so tasty. The Asparagus Roll is also fabulous. It can get really crowed in here, but they will do takeout and delivery. Dining is very cozy, but the atmosphere is warm and welcoming. The employees and owner are extremely pleasant. Go here over Sushitarian so you don't have to witness the nut-job owner yelling at his staff. I also prefer it to South by Southwest - the prices there are too high for inconsistent service. Rice Monkeys for the win! read more

Don't be fooled by its small size and nondescript location. This place has the best sushi I've ever had in Colorado! We've been here twice, 2014 and then 2016 (because we were so happy with it the first time). Our latest meal included the Lime Twist. Wow... it's very interesting and tastes so fresh. No soy sauce or anything extra needed. The roll itself was perfect. The space is small so either wait, come early, or take-out. If ever we're close to Durango we will definitely eat here again. read more

This is by far the best sushi in Durango! Way way better than EBSW. May look look like a hole in the wall- but worth it! read more

Rice Monkeys - The volcano roll - Sushi Bars Near Me - Durango, Colorado

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Took the advice of several people and have only done take-out here. Rice bowls are excellent and filling. I had the Teriyaki and BBq Pork. My friend from California had the Chirashi Bowl and gave it a thumbs up which is pretty good considering he's a bit of a sushi snob. My kids and wife have eaten in here and all said it was great, so I don't think you will be disappointed. This is the same location where Fired Up got going and after great success they've moved into a much bigger space a few blocks down. I expect the same will happen with this restaurant. Great place to get started and see if you have what it takes. But once you do, it's time to move to something bigger. read more

GREAT food! I love the vermicelli bowls--they are a very filling meal. The place is packed from open to close every day. It has really taken off with us locals. My kids even love it and they were not big fans of sushi before eating here. Try the crispy asparagus roll or the rice paper wrapped egg rolls. All are delicious! Dinner for the family is a bit expensive ($50 for the four of us), but the value is there. Oct. 12, 2013 addendum: Yesterday, a friend of mine was craving soup and nothing else would do. I sent him to Rice Monkey for the pho. Later he sent me a text: "Excellent - great recommendation. It's a new favorite." I still eat at Rice Monkeys a couple times a week. The food is amazing, they really care about the presentation, and the folks are wonderful. I especially enjoy watching other diners when they are there for the first time. read more

I was a little nervous to go to a sushi place in a small town, so far away from the ocean (we're a Pacific Northwest family). We were so pleasantly surprised! It's a tiny little place, but if they are out of room, they offer to call you on your phone as soon as a table opens up. Service was very fast and friendly. Our waitress even offered to go over the menu because we were first timers there. My daughter *LOVES* miso soup so of course we ordered a bowl for her. They serve theirs with mushrooms and she loved them!!!! She even asked to go back today and just have a bowl of them for breakfast. Spicy tuna, shrimp tempura, and California roll (for the kiddo) were all delicious!! The funky monkey was alright, not bad, just not as good as the others. Everything tasted super fresh. If we go back to Durango, we'll be back again for sure read more

Legit Asian food in downtown Durango. Opted for a couple sushi rolls with my noodle soup - all of which was super tasty. It is a small restaurant that has a somewhat more authentic feel of what a real Japanese restaurant is really like, which is always a plus. One of my favorite restaurants in Durango by far! read more

Firstly, I feel I need to address the lack of space. The place is the size of a small shipping container and a bit awkward, especially if they put you in the back hallway seating. Don't try to come here with a group. I'm originally from San Diego, so I have high standards for sushi. I was pleasantly surprised by this place. The sushi was of good quality and flavorful. We tried several rolls and were quite happy with all of them. We'll definitely be back and want to try some more things on the menu next time. read more

This place makes FANTASTIC food. Amazing sushi, ceviche and seaweed salad. We ordered takeout every time (we ate there twice during our two week vacation) because their table area is pretty small. I didn't expect the quality to be so high considering we were in land locked Colorado, far away from any major cities, but this may be one of the best sushi places I've ever been to. read more

Did a takeout for a sushi combo order. It took 20 minutes because the chef decided to do the orders that came after us first. The sushi was only ok but it was the 2nd most expensive dish on the menu. No apologies for taking so long from the proprietor. Not a good way to run a business. Choose another restaurant plenty of better ones on Main St. read more

My boyfriend and I are currently visiting Durango for our vacation. We found Rice Monkeys on yelp and decided to try it because of all the good reviews. It is a very small restaurant with an open kitchen. The service is great the servers and chefs are friendly and very accommodating. When we got there we were put on a wait list and they said they would call us in 30 minutes. They called us in 30 and sat us promptly. We ordered, the Dragon roll, Shrimp Tempura roll and we both had Chirashi. The Dragon roll was delicious. Their Dragon roll has all the traditional items, eel, avocado and eel sauce. However, instead of a California roll filling their's has fried soft shell crab. The crab gives the roll an amazing crunch and an added layer of flavor that makes their Dragon roll unforgettable. The Shrimp Tempura roll was good too! The tempura was still crispy, the shrimp was sweet and had great flavor. It is a really good deal if you aren't into the fancier rolls. Now for the Chirashi! Their fish is so fresh and their sushi rice has a perfect sweet and sour balance to it. Their salmon was melt in the mouth good. The tuna was to die for along with all the other fish within the bowl. My boyfriend and I will definitely be dining here again before we leave and every time we return to Durango. Do not pass this place by. You will not be disappointed. read more

I would like to start this by saying, BEST SUSHI ever!! I've never once had anything but an amazing experience at Rice Monkey!! I made a very large delivery order on a Saturday evening, was told it would be an hour until delivery and it ended up only being 20 minutes late and the gentleman man delivered my order informed me that it was going to be no charge since it had "taken so long" These guys are the real deal! Amazing food every time, the staff is wonderful and on top on it, their business ethic is top notch. Thank you from my family! read more

My fiancé and I stopped in for lunch this past weekend. We were in Durango area for a get-away weekend. The restaurant has a very small seating area. We were seated at a mini bar table top in the hallway while we waited for a table in the front. It was nice to get our order started while waiting for a table. We were moved to a front table within 15 minutes and our food arrived pretty quickly after. We ordered a ceviche to start. It was absolutely delicious. We also ordered salmon nigiri and a few rolls. Everything was delicious! The service was excellent. The open kitchen is always a nice feature in a restaurant. Definitely recommend Rice Monkeys! read more

We get takeout sushi from here frequently when we pass through Durango. The people are always friendly, the timing reliable, and the rolls tasty. I wish they offered inari and some basic nigiri selections, but they deliver what they promise. read more

We ordered some sushi and a chicken teriyaki bowl to go. Everything was delicious. We really liked the spicy tuna roll and caterpillar roll.

Coming from the Bay Area (now living in Durango) we were hoping to find a Japanese spot that met our (spoiled) taste! Rice Monkeys does well to fill that void! My only 'complaint' is it's a tiny place and very popular, take out isn't a bad option! read more

In from out of town. The hospitality and service didn't go unnoticed. Don't let the small space food you this place is legit

Place makes very good sushi and surprisingly big for the money. In fact it would be good for the servers to remind you of this. But they have no A/C, so I suspect that wears on the staff. It was in the 90s at night when we went - should have turned around and found a cooler place. Staff seem surprised when asked to get us ice for water read more

I love this place. It is small, and crowded, that is okay here.... because it just works, and the food is great! Sushi, rice.... the peanut sauce with the veggie rolls is off the hook.... and also you can get some killer, little, strange ice cream things for desert! Just do it! read more

Rice Monkeys - Yummy. - Sushi Bars Near Me - Durango, Colorado

Funky, fun space. Their crunchy asparagus and avocado roll is delicious, and they have the most authentic pho in Durango - perfect sickie soup for when i have the sniffles! Downside - your hair and clothes smell like the fryer after being enclosed in such a small space. Ugh. read more