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Rice Thief

4.2 (202 reviews)
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Updated a few days ago

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RICE THIEF ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Dogs allowed
Good for groups

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Recommended Reviews - Rice Thief

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Vincent F.

We came here for dinner with some awesome friends. My gf was craving marinated korean crab and have been meaning to come here for a while. We ordered marinated raw shrimp, marinated blue crab, marinated spicy crab, galbi, seafood pancake, korean stew, calamari and galbi Overall the marinated crab was very good. Never had before but basically tastes like uni. The spicy was the best version of the 2. It had a whole depth of spicy flavor that wasnt too over hot. The other sode dishes were average. Seafood pancake was good but we've had better elsewhere. Galbi was good. The korean stew was not that great and would not recommend getting again. Overall, I'd come back but only order the marinated crabs

Gamja Tang ( Pork Bone Soup)
Manan D.

My girlfriend and I came here for soup on a frigid 6 degree day. I loooove Korean food but I haven't really been to a place like this that specializes in seafood and has none of the common dishes. The food here was superb though and I will definitely come back to try the seafood specialties!! We had kimchi mandus (dumplings), pork bone soup, and a seafood pancake. The seafood pancake was huge and full of flavorful chunky pieces of seafood- certainly the best one I've ever had. You can tell this spot takes their seafood seriously. I also enjoyed the crunchy mandus and smoky soup. I thought the vibe of the place was cute and dimly lit- it would be a good date spot. Also, our servers were all fast and quite friendly. I think at one point our guy came in and said "special care package for two!" which was cute lol. Overall, lovely spot which is different from the typical nyc Korean fare. Try it out!

Hot Korean Tea and Black Sesame Cocktail
Gia H.

Soy sauce marinated crabs were so worth it! Would come back for them. Ambiance was cute - dim lighting felt comforting. Service was good.

Rachel A.

I've gotten takeout when they were just selling out of their home kitchen so I was super excited to eat-in at their restaurant. There were 4 of us and we ordered the jokbal and Memil noodle appetizer. It was delicious. The spicy sauce on the noodles helped to cut through the fattiness of the jokbal. One person in our party was allergic to shellfish so he got the salmon rice bowl and he said it was delicious and very filling. The other three of us shared the seafood tower which included a little bit of everything. It also included a stew (not pictured). I love their marinated Argentinian red shrimp and their spicy crabs, but everything was delicious. The soy sauce crabs had eggs and all the crabs were full of meat. We actually struggled to finish the entire tower towards the end. Also ordered some of their in-house sikhye and other drinks and everything went together so well with the food. The location is pretty small so definitely recommend a reservation. Looking forward to going here again when I'm back in NYC!

Iris C.

3.5 stars for this visit Updating my review with a few diff dishes we got. My husband wanted to come here for his bday since we were craving some crab! It was one of my friends first time here so we decided to get the seafood tower for some variety which was $180. I would've skipped this and just got regular orders of the scallop, red shrimp, and gunsan crab. The regular white shrimp, abalone, salmon could be skipped IMO. I thought the spicy crab tasted a bit better this time but I still prefer the soy, as the flavor comes through more vs just spice! The congee that came with this was also not hot - it was luke warm when it came out. We also got the fried calamari and it was crispy and delish! The pouch drinks weren't bad either. The one thing I'd skip entirely is the gotge haemul jungol. Size wise it wasn't super big but it wasn't worth the price ($44). The quality of the crab was bad - super mushy and not fresh tasting. The flavor was ok but again, nothing special. I'd focus on getting the raw foods next time - gunsan crab (and blue crab too) and definitely the red Argentinian shrimp!

red shrimp
Fiona O.

Food was good. I don't think this type of food is personally my favorite, but I can see people who do like it REALLY liking this place. I liked the marinated crab mainly because it masked the raw taste (I do like raw food, but maybe this one isn't meant for me). Steamed egg was great, and the shrimp was alright for me. Abalone congee was also good, but nothing crazy. I'm not sure if I'd go out of my way for this place, but that's only due to personal preference. Server was great though! Also, make sure to not wear any light colors if you get the marinated crab.

crispy tap water
Joshua R.

It's so clean and the service is just as good as the food. Also this is the crispiest tap water I have ever drank

Steamed Egg
Sharon C.

This was probably top 5 spots I've been wanting to try since moving to NY. We started off with drinks (sikhye was fantastic) & pork belly kimchi pancakes. The pancakes were absolutely one of my favorite bites of the night - SO crisp, while maintaining that fluffy texture inside. The Rice Thief Tower was honestly what my dreams are made of - it came with steamed egg, rice, nori, and mushroom soup, along with (i think) all the marinated seafoods. My favorites were the Argentinian red shrimp & the soy marinated crab. All the other seafoods were good too, but I think some could have been marinated a bit longer or stronger as I felt they lacked a little flavor. But maybe that's how the dish is! Absolutely loved the experience of getting to go and try, and ending the night with barley tea.

Raw seafood tower
Tiffany F.

I don't understand the hype of this place... we ordered the kimchi stew and the seafood tower combo. The kimchi stew was good. However the soybean soup that came with the seafood tower was completely bland. The best item of the night was the tiny portion of abalone congee. When the seafood tower came out it was beautiful but it was incredibly fishy. Every single item tasted the same. If you're going to soy marinate every protein then maybe change it up a little? The spicy crab also wasn't spicy at all... this was incredibly disappointing and we didn't even finish it as a hungry group of 4. To make things worse, we ordered a few cups of hot barley tea to wash down our meal ($4) each at that... and when I went to the bathroom, the staff kicked out my friends at the table even though they were still sipping on the hot tea. There were PLENTY of empty tables around and it was absolutely unnecessary.

3 Spicy Crab
Calbert C.

Came here on a Tuesday night with friends at 7:30pm with reservation. It wasn't too crowded at that time. The service and ambiance was good. First time having raw crab and wasn't a huge fan. Definitely better with rice. I preferred the spicy one. I do prefer the premium gunsan crab over the blue crab. You can use disposable gloves for the crab and take them off when eating rice but it becomes a hassle switching back and forth. The rice wine is overpriced but it's to be expected at a restaurant. The rice bowl was probably my favorite item as it was very flavorful. This is probably a good place for someone who likes raw marinated crab but I personally would not be coming back. Hard to find parking if coming from Long Island.

Ximena L.

Recently went in for their tower and it was amazing. Service is very attentive, and things came out quickly. This is definitely a lot for 2 people, 3 would be absolutely stuffed. Only thing is I wish it came with more seaweed for such a big amount of food.

Soy Platter
Michelle T.

We had high expectations being that this place was featured in many IG videos, perhaps many people likes it but after the first crab we were done. The rice thief bowl was not worth it and the portion of rice with massago was imbalanced. The red Argentina shrimp is the best while everything else was just satisfactory. The staff were quick and attentive. Good thing is that the crab does have the gooey goodness of orange intestines .

Ailun H.

Everyone and their mothers recommended Rice Thief, and I love soy-marinated raw crabs, so I knew I had to go. Two of my college friends and I got a reservation for lunch this past Saturday the day before without issues. When we arrived, it wasn't very packed, and we didn't wait very long before we got our food. We were given disposable aprons and gloves to enjoy our food. One of my friends and I shared the following which we really enjoyed together. We weren't full, but satisfied after all the food. BLUE CRAB (3) - 28 The crabs were pretty small and didn't have a lot of meat. Also, they didn't give us crab leg crackers, and I wasn't going to risk chipping a tooth or two to bite down on the claws. However, I enjoyed the soy marinade and the creaminess of raw crab. Most of the meat was in the body, but there was quite a bit in the cartilage (the area between body and claws) too. I honestly could have eaten at least two of these, but my friend enjoyed the crabs more than I did, so she had two of the bodies. WILD RED ARGENTINE SHRIMP (3) - 18 The red shrimp was incredibly juicy, meaty, and creamy. Surprisingly, I enjoyed it more than the crab because of it. I ate everything, including the head and brains. The soy marinade was perfect. I ended up eating two of these. I could probably order six of these just for myself. RICE THIEF BOWL - 8 The rice came in a small plate (Sad! I was expecting more rice for how much each one was) with lots of different toppings: seaweed salad, roasted seaweed, masago, daikon, and a bit of sesame seeds. I was told to mix up the toppings thoroughly before dropping a spoonful or two into the body of the crab, and mix the rice with the marinaded crab meat. That was fantastic. It went well with both the crab and shrimp. The Rice Thief bowl is pricy but definitely worth it. I'd pay extra for this over white rice. HOMEMADE FRIED BEEF MANDOO (4) - 14 We ordered this to share in case the above was not enough food. The beef mandoo was thick and fried nicely, but nothing out of the ordinary. Personally, I would rather order more raw crab or shrimp with another Rice Thief bowl to share. Wow, this was so good. I'd definitely come back again for the raw crabs and shrimp. The interior is new and modern, and plenty of space between tables and it didn't feel too tight.

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KAL

KAL

4.5(337 reviews)
1.3 miAstoria
$$

Super cute small family-run Korean spot in Astoria! Good service, great calm vibes, and reasonable…read morepricing make it a great option for authentic Asian food in a neighborhood that lacks options. Had a smattering of apps along with some soju, and it was a good time. Food was good but it was more the authenticity and casual good vibes that boost the rating up. The banchan was solid, nothing exceptional, and for $4 was a bit steep. The chicken was also similar, good but nothing standout. The spicy rice cakes though were really good. Only complaint is that it was pretty lacking on rice cakes - it was half fish cake (which tbh I prefer but maybe not everyone does). I can tell the food quality is good though, so I'd be eager to try more of their signature dishes, such as the Bulgogi. Definitely worth a shot if you're in Astoria craving Korean food!

I ordered this via door dash so I can't speak to the ambience or service inside per se. I ordered…read morethe Galgi Bibimbap with Ban Chan, Buns, and a side of Kimchi and a side of rice. Turns out I did not need the additional sides of rice and of Kimchi as far as amount of food goes, however I think I liked the flavor and "kick" of the side of Kimchi over the Kimchi that was in the Ban Chan..... The food was pretty good! As I mentioned it came via door dash and the dasher was on a scooter and it was a few miles away so by the time it got to me it was only warm and not hot but that isn't really something the restaurant can do anything about. However I did ask for utensils to be included and I think that is something the restaurant has control over and I didn't get any utensils so there is that....

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KAL
KAL - Tofu Stew, Tonkatsu

Tofu Stew, Tonkatsu

KAL - Tofu Stew

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Tofu Stew

Nubiani

Nubiani

4.5(519 reviews)
2.7 miKoreatown, Midtown East, Midtown West

What a nice kbbq experience!!…read more I rlly liked the shrimp & chive pancake bc it wasn't super heavy and not full of batter like other places. Pretty light and crispy with a lot of shrimp and chives. Skirt steak was my fav, very tender and so much authentic flavor. Boneless short rib tasted like wagyu, very marbled and fatty and almost melts in your mouth. Honorable mention to the steamed egg that the meal comes with. Super fluffy and sweet!! They cook the meat for you and service is rlly good, they're super attentive when side dishes run low. Definitely will need a reservation! They offer 10% discount if you bring cash. Will be coming back again :)

We made reservations for 4 people a week before and came to the restaurant on time. Unfortunately…read morethe seating was very uncomfortable and the manager of the restaurant refused to switch the bench for 2 chairs to accommodate my disability because "it didn't fit their decor perfectly." We were deeply offended and left the restaurant to eat at the nearby restaurant. We would never return. This place should be shut down because they discriminate against the disabled and refused to switch 1 chair to accommodate my back injury. How upsetting is that? Service is horrible. Do yourself a favor, don't bother to come there! Oh and also they tell you that you can only spend 1.5 there, a limit on your stay. You get the picture. Don't waste your time and better spend your money elsewhere.

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Nubiani - Bar seating

Bar seating

Nubiani - Steamed Egg

Steamed Egg

Nubiani - Kimchi Stew / 김치찌개

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Kimchi Stew / 김치찌개

Mokja - Pork belly & squid platter

Mokja

3.8(414 reviews)
0.9 miAstoria
$$

While I wouldn't put Mokja's food above anything I'd find in either of the KTowns (#1), it is a…read moreperfectly acceptable Korean option for those not wanting to venture outside of Astoria. The place is quaint, small enough for 4-person groups or date nights, but not made for large parties. It's the kind of casual spot perfect for a random drop in or a takeout order. The menu range is impressive. The food skews from pocha style pub food to Korean Chinese to traditional classics that shouldn't be missed. There are lunch specials and combinations, along with random misspellings ("bahn mi", "buger" etc.) that have become commonplace with many of these menus. The Korean fried chicken (soy garlic) is an easy go-to as is the bulgolgi burger, which is a pricey guilty pleasure. I appreciate their inclusion of (various!) jajangmyeon and tangsoo yuk, both famous from their Korean Chinese roots. Though the portions could be more substantial, I dig their jiggae lineup of kimchi, seafood, and budaejiggae. They've also got pajun, mansion, ramyun and naengmyeon as well. The variety is definitely in point. Service has been solid during all of my experiences. They're good about explaining the menu and are attentive throughout the meal. ____________ (#1) Manhattan or Flushing.

Oh, what an experience--if your idea of fine dining is paying somewhat premium prices for…read moreaggressively underwhelming food. Let's start with the soup. Calling it a "soup" feels generous. What arrived was a half-cup of what I can only describe as lightly flavored hot water, bravely tinted to resemble broth. No vegetables, no texture, no effort--just a cloudy liquid that seemed to apologize for its own existence. Then came the main course, which somehow managed to lower expectations even further. The beef--if that's what it was--had the remarkable quality of tasting like absolutely nothing. Not bad, not good... just absent. It's almost impressive how something can be cooked, plated, and served while completely avoiding flavor. The side dishes? Minimal. The sauce? A tiny smear, presumably symbolic. You get a masterclass in how to charge restaurant prices for cafeteria-level disappointment. This isn't just a place I won't return to--I'd actively warn friends to steer clear unless they're curious what culinary emptiness feels like. There are far better ways to spend your money, including not spending it here.

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Mokja - Inside the restaurant

Inside the restaurant

Mokja
Mokja

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Sik Gaek - Bulgogi Hot Pot

Sik Gaek

3.9(648 reviews)
1.2 miWoodside
$$

Came here with a friend to catch up and the food here was great!…read more The Marinated short ribs were delicious and so was the army strew. The army stew was not only flavorful but also had a bunch of toppings inside. The servers were super attentive and even asked us if we wanted our hot pot to be reheated once it sat for a while as we chatted. That being said, I do want to point out that I believe this place is more suited for a bigger group of people. My friend and I enjoyed everything about the meal however, the hot pot was huge and we finished only like 1/4 of it and ordering the meats was a little weird. I am use to going to KBBQ where they tell me that the minimum meat orders is 2 but here, you must at least have two orders of any meat you choose. We both wanted the marinated short ribs with pork belly but ended up with two orders of the marinated short ribs because we were more in the mood for something marinated. Now, this is just a preference of ours but in case you want more of a variety of foods, I would recommend coming here with a bigger group of friends and grabbing a few drinks as well!

Ate here today by myself on MLK Jr. day for lunch. I definitely got and ate the spicy squid and…read morepork that it tasted really good and delicious. The service there was also attentive, pleasant and friendly and many thanks to my server named Jeong to get my meal. I couldn't agree more about it. Finally, I would definitely eat and come back again next time! :)

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Sik Gaek
Sik Gaek - Korean Army Hot Pot

Korean Army Hot Pot

Sik Gaek - Kimchi Hot Pot

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Kimchi Hot Pot

Rice Thief - korean - Updated May 2026

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