Rice Bar

Really tasty. Fast. Big portions. You can build your own bowl or choose a featured recipe. Minimal seating but seats seem to open regularly. You will be sitting next to a stranger during peak times. There is takeout though also. I'd recommend asking for it to-go anyway cause you might not finish the whole thing.

This is a really neat place. Came with a group of people of very diverse dietary needs and tastes during lunch and everyone got something they loved, those who eat vegan, those who do gluten-free and those who are dairy-free, and it was all tasty. Great noodles and sauces. Plus the people who run the place had a good attitude and simply aimed to serve us. Great choice if you want fresh and custom!

I enjoyed my meal! Pleasantly surprised with the speed of service for how large the crowd was when we arrived. Portion seemed good except they add so many up charges that it is quite expensive in the end. Do not think $10-15 think more like $18-$22 for not a massive meal. The veggies seemed fresh and the rice was good! Downsides would be that my bulgogi was primarily fat not meat. And the fried egg on top was cold. I liked the style and ease of the order cards!

Loved this place! It’s very close to the National Mall, avoid those food trucks and take the extra 5 minute walk towards this place. It’s in the main floor of an office building, so during lunch will be crowded but they work fast since everything is premade fresh and you just choose your ingredients beforehand on a piece of paper. Chipotle style but base is rice and/noodles 😊 All protein is extra, the bowls are very yummy and affordable if you get the vegetarian option and maybe just add one protein.

Great for a quick Korean food. Made to order. Noodle or rice based. Go here if you go to Smithsonian Air and Space Museum which is walking distance. Very good food!!!

First time trying the place. We were not sure what to order first but decided to try both rice dish and noodle dish. I did not have high expectation for noodle soup but it was unexpectedly light and good flavor. I picked bulgogi for rice dish. It was good as well. Service was fast. I'd eat here again. There's some gluten free option as well even though no meat for that option.

My daughters and I chose this restaurant based on online reviews. The portion sizes were generous, although I personally felt the food could have been better. I did, however, thoroughly enjoy the light and refreshing pineapple cream soda. The service was excellent.

Highly highly recommend!!! Had the skewers and the dumplings. Skewers were better. Seem to be known for their bowls. I can see that this place gets busy during rush hour.

Solid place to eat if your going on the mall. You build your own bowl or choose a preselected one I get bulgogi bimbap. Its very good with tender bulgogi that is well seasoned adding great flavor to the the rice and other toppings. Plus a fried eggs goes on top adding some nice richness. I usually add the Korean red sauce for spice and sweetness. Service is very nice and friendly and will direct you if you need help or a suggestion. Its nice place to sit inside with plenty of outside seating.

Sometimes having too many choices & decisions to make can hinder a good dining experience. Thankfully, they have "signature" items to choose from. Other reviewers describe Rice Bar as a Korean/Asian chipotle-like eatery and that's accurate. Items are fresh and plentiful. Many choices of starch (rice, noodles, etc.), proteins, sauces, etc. Good value if you choose basic meals though with enough additions, you can easily spend $20 on your meal. Lots of counter seating in a tight space. It's likely that much of the clientele do takeout. Service was standard fast-food style.

Very quick bite to eat Korean fast food joint. You can pick your own fresh toppings and/or complete a slip as you walk into the door hand it to the prep person and go to the cashier. Unless you know what you're eating you wont know what you're eating there is no clear labels or labels for the sauces etc ,you literally have to ask what sauce it is and what's that before you add it to your bowl. Technically it's not a rice bar per se ,they have Ramon as well as other noodle base selections in addition to rice, brown rice, etc. The prices are too next time I'll try the chicken curry maybe ....its also a little tight in there so seating is first come first serve .

Accidental find before visiting the art museums near. So happy with the food here. Got a rice bowl with bulgogi and 4 veggie toppings. Healthy and delicious!

5 Stars Great spot for a quick and satisfying noodle or rice bowl! The ordering process is simple, grab a tag, I selected buckwheat, 4 ingredients (my choice- broccoli, mushrooms, roasted onions, seaweed), fish broth or miso and pick up your meal at the cashier. The service is fast, and the miso soup is always hot, adding extra flavor to the bowl. The prices are reasonable, and the atmosphere is inviting, with modern music playing and plenty of indoor seating. Whether you're in a rush or looking to sit and enjoy your meal, this place delivers on both quality and convenience. Highly recommend!

I like the paper ordering system but I was a bit overwhelmed at the options. I ended up building my own options. It turned out pretty good. But I should have ordered a rice bowl. It is part of their name so I bet their rice bowls are good.

This is my go-to lunch spot at work. There are virtually no restaurant options in L'Efant Plaza but Rice Bar would be a great spot even without competition. The line can get long but they move it along quickly. Basically, this is a Korean bowl restaurant that is take out only for all the federal workers nearby. Prices are decent and the entrees are filling. My go-to is the spicy tofu bimbimbap bowl. It comes with brown rice, kimchi, carrots, mushrooms and brown rice. It's delicious and I have it topped with spicy mayo. Overall, this is a convenient spot to grab lunch for those who work nearby.

Can I just say this was literally the best place we ate in DC! If you are going to the Air and Space Museum or anywhere close then get lunch here. You have to be looking for this place.... It's on the bottom floor of a high rise. It was popping for lunch. You order on a paper. Some high and some low seats... super small busy shop. Was able to sit easily but this place cannot really accommodate a wheelchair or stroller. The food was awesome - if you can eat in with the metal bowl vs takeout container I imagine it's better. They do have fountain or bottled soda. The only thing to be aware of is that is technically doesn't have a bathroom. I think there was one that people were able to use but just one (didn't see).

This is a noble 3 Review. Service: This is the kind of place where you walk up and fill out a form to get your order. You pick the ingredients, there are some presets for novices like me. You hand the slip to a person behind counter and they may your meal. Ambience: This is in an office building a block off the mall. Convenient and quick lunch spot where you eat at the counter. I would be doing you a disservice to say it was a romantic date night spot, it is not that. The food is great. You can configure to create Korean and Japanese bowls or soups. It is up to you to create a masterpiece or something less.

Great lunch spot! Very quick service. Walk in, fill out the sheets individually and hand them to counter staff. The bowls were ready in moments. The restaurant was full but seats turnover quickly. The portions were huge! The tastes were excellent. Would definitely recommend.

All five family members enjoyed lunch here today. Service was fast and easy with filling out individual order sheets. Gluten free options abound as well! Flavors were excellent and the bowls were put together quickly! Each to order and loaded with fresh veggies, and proteins of choice and mine was topped off with a delicious miso broth. Nice atmosphere and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Well run establishment!

We stopped here for lunch while visiting DC, family of five with 16, 14, 12 yo kids. We came during prime lunch hour, so seating was completely inadequate for the lunch crowd size. Thankfully, there is a courtyard with plenty of picnic tables with umbrellas. It was a hot day, but it wasn't too uncomfortable. I think you can have a good meal here if you're familiar with the ingredients and know what you like, but for us it ended up being a complete miss. You order by filling out a sheet of paper and handing it to the chef. If you have questions there is limited opportunity for interaction. I didn't understand if you were getting a signature bowl if you're still supposed to make some selections (base, for instance). And there were some specials written on the wall, but not on the sheet, and no place to really write those in. The ordering ultimately frustrated me and I decided I would just eat everyone's left overs. Of the four dishes I tried, one had a cubed beef as a protein - horrible, meat was tough, chewy, with lots of gristle. The chicken noodle dishes were not offensive, but nothing I would ever return for as I'd much rather just go to a ramen shop. The one bowl that was OK had a black rice base and some sort of shaved beef. This one had potential with some customizations. People obviously like the place, so my review ultimately will best serve people new the restaurant and looking for a place to have a sit-down lunch. Between the difficulty of figuring out what you like and lack of seating, I'd recommend go elsewhere.

So this is sort of like an Asian chipotle. You fill out your selection in a paper slip and they will make your bowl. It was quick, tasted great, and the price was very reasonable.

Fast casual establishment specializing in bibimbap bowls made to order (similar layout to Chipotle). Bibimbap is a Korean dish consisting of rice topped with sautéed veggies, chili paste, protein, and sometimes addition of fried egg. You can choose from their specialty bowls or make your own. Our selected bulgogi & kalbi specialty bowls were filled with varieties of fresh veggies and tasted hearty, perfect for a quick lunch break! The sauces help make it a cohesive, so grab some more at their sauce bar!

This place is delicious, has healthy options, and is super efficient with their service. You choose your noodles or rice, several good veggie options, and a protein. There are a lot of choices, and everyone in my group was happy with their dishes. I highly recommend anything with spicy peanut sauce

Really good food, better than expected. Great place to come after walking, they also have gluten free options !

Was looking for an affordable, non-touristic meal before walking the National Mall and this definitely was the right call. A Chipotle-style line service for Asian noodles and rice. This place was probably the most popular eatery in the building, and certainly for good reason. It's reasonably priced (with a daily special), had some healthy elements, and tasted great. Plenty of dining tables outside in the courtyard of the building.

Went here after a day at the Museum of the Bible. I like this concept of designing your own bibimbap. Feels like chipotle sort of lol. I got a rice bowl w/ black rice as the base, roasted seaweed, cucumber, bamboo shoots, bean sprouts for my toppings, seasoned ground beef, bulgogi and an egg for my meats and gojujang as my sauce. It was pretty good the flavors were emasculate however my only gripe was the black rice like I think it was hard like not enough water. The service was great! They were working very hard and it was only two people prepping the bowls. The place was bustling so the ambiance was loud and filled with people enjoying themselves.

Really good! The portions are large, service was great. The place was in a good location near a metro stop. A little pricey, but delicious!

On my DC trip, me and my friend went here for lunch. It's a small space with A LOT of volume! The food is tasty but not enough seats for the amount of people that come through. Sonthe idea is for to fill out the form, givile it to the cook/server and they will assemble your plate as indicat3d on your form. It's like an assembly line for food. Would go again. We lucked up and found some seats!

Stop by here for lunch after a long day at the national mall. Overall I thought the food was pretty good. We ordered a couple of their Bulgogi Bibimbap bowls. They are pretty tasty and filling. You can make your own bowl or order one of their premade ones. They have a good amount of seating inside. This location does be pretty packed lunch time so take that into consideration.

This was an absolutely fantastic hidden gem! The build your own bowl was super customizable and delicious, and everything was made super quickly. Staff were very helpful and kind, and I definitely would come back again! Highly recommend the build your own

Fast, delicious, and customizable bimbap could never be a bad thing. Ladies at the counter are quick and friendly, though seating felt a bit tight. But what can you do with it's location? Take it to go and find a better spot to sit, I suppose.

You get to pick the ingredients in your ramen, then they put it together like it was a Chipotle restaurant. There was a line out the door but it moved quickly. Communal seating was ok. It's in an office building right near the L'enfant metro station with no obvious signs outside. Ramen was good.

This place was tasty. Right across from museum. Fast service and good food!! Busy with the museum but able to accommodate.

Loved it! Wish I was staying longer in DC I would go again. Food was fast and delicious.

Super solid. The wait can be significant if it's around lunch but WORTH IT. I have been in DC two days so far and have eaten there twice. If you are like me am not sure what this is, if you are doing a rice base it is basically poke but without (but possibly with) raw fish. Service is efficient and not looking to make friends. Ate in both times, it works. Prices are totally reasonable. I'm a fan. I'm. Going to have lunch there tomorrow. Three for three. Recommend.

Good selection for build-your-own as well as signature bowls. This place is good for quick to-go, otherwise it gets crowded easy and hard to eat at for large parties. Food otherwise is super yummy and good, chicken breast could have been more flavorful. Otherwise good experience!

This was a first for us but it is like a chipotle style noodle and rice bowl place. There are also paper order forms if it's easier to pre-fill your order. I got udon with beef, edamame, seaweed salad, spicy cucumbers, crispy onions, chili sauce and a drizzle of spicy mayo with miso broth. All phenomenal. All sauces are offered as condiments too if you are unsure at first. All I can say is yum! Everything was incredible and the owner was so friendly and polite. It's a small seating area so get there before the crowd if you want a seat!

Great portions for a girly that struggles to finish meals!! It was very delicious, light, and healthy. The customer service was really nice and the employee explained the system well. It was my first time here and it was a great experience!

Probably one of the best things we ate in DC. Extremely fresh & flavorful. There is a lot of people and it is a small location, but if you're just in the area and need a quick bite, highly recommend. The service line goes quickly and you're on your way to having a delicious, healthy meal.

It's a build your own rice bowl bonanza. The flavor of the chili oil made everything taste so good. Pick your base, pick your veggies and pick your protein. I built my own bulgogi bowl and add chili oil. It was delicious. I'll be back for sure.

Rice bar is the cutest restaurant I've ever been in with a whole mini market downstairs. I was in heaven. They have a lot of spices, cookware, and so much more for you to pick from. I told my son about this place and he is excited to check them out. I came here for lunch and ordered the veggie fried rice. The rice was amazing, filled with so much flavors. The price was about 18.00 but it was worth it because I had some for lunch and dinner. The service was great from both upstate's and down stairs. They have outside seating as well. Go check them out soon!

I like the build your own places so this was great. They were out of rice forms and since we had never been here before we were somewhat confused. Staff wasn't super helpful. The food we did get was great. Fresh ingredients, decent portion sizes.

The food was absolutely delicious. The menu was very well organized, especially for those of us who are not very familiar with Korean food. The food prices were reasonable considering the quality of the food.

The bibimbap with white rice, zucchini, bean sprout, roasted seaweed, carrot, egg, kimchi, bulgogi, and go chu jang was alright but I wish the rice was fluffier and the meat was less soggy. On the bright side, the service was fast since it's served cafeteria style.

Hit the spot- delicious after day of site seeing. Teenage boys were very happy and full. Customization was great. Service quick

Could have had nicer customer service to be honest....good food the proportion was a little smaller than expected....nothing amazing but good. They have me a lot of corn too for some reason...I like corn but it was kind of odd.

This was far better than I expected it to be. We found this place on Yelp after coming out of the Air and Space museum. Walking up to it, I was disappointed that it was a "build your own" type of joint, but I was very wrong. The staff were very kind and patient as I navigated the menu. I decided to get the yam noodles and built a ramen style soup. When done, I was blown away by the flavors. I really wish we had one of these here where I live cause I'd be there weekly.

Stopped at this location on my recent trip to DC and was AMAZED by what I ordered. So many options to choose from to build your meal, a nice and modern atmosphere, and was able to receive my order quite promptly! I got bimbibop with black rice, bamboo shoots, radish salad, seaweed & peanuts with the spicy tofu entree and hot chili sauce (I love my spice!) and wow... the tofu alone sold me. Some of the smoothest and buttery tofu I've ever had, literally melting in your mouth. The extra ingredients added even more to the experience and the amount of spice felt just right. Throughly impressed with my visit here and will be coming back on future trips!

So many options to choose from. The original bowl was delicious, I definitely would be going every day if it was a bit cheaper. Great service, and almost no wait time.

The restaurant was pretty good, and I had got a custom bowl with the ramen noodles, lettuce, spicy tofu, cucumbers, and teriyaki sauce. The bowls do not come with enough sauce, but there is some sauce near the garbage bins. The service was quick, and I liked the fact that you wrote your order on a slip of paper instead of actually having to interact with human beings. The ambiance was basic, but the food was tasty, and that's what matters. Overall, quite a good restaurant.

Hit the spot for decently authentic Korean food. Close by to all the museums - less than a 10 minute walk from the Museum of Natural History. We had the bulgogi bibimbap and noodles. The kids loved it. When the place is run by Koreans, you know you're in the right spot. We all experienced food coma afterwards.

The service was really good, and the food delicious. I'm going to come back . I ordered for the rice bowl and was good

I was super happy with my recent visit to Rice Bar. We were doing the tourist thing in DC last weekend and got hungry while we were near the Capital. So what did we do, ... we whipped out Yelp and looked for something quick and easy that had good ratings. Thank you Yelp! Thank you, Yelpers! Thank you, Rice Bar! Rice Bar is a small place, but it is an efficient place. They feature an assembly line style food prep like Chipotle or Subway. The Rice Bowls were delicious. I had the classic bowl rather than try to make my own. My bowl featured fresh ingredients and a tasty combo of flavors. I ordered the spicy peanut sauce for a final topping and really liked it. I also just have to say ... I love how Koreans put an egg on everything. The egg worked here, just like the peanut sauce. The staff is friendly enough, and they are good at what they do. There was enough seating for everyone that came in while I was visiting even if the place is on the smaller side. Rice Bar is more a move 'em in move 'em out kind of place. All in all, it was super good, it was super fresh, and I was super pleased with my visit.

Bibimbap was absolutely amazing- quality matches the Korean food I had in SoCal all my life. Will definitely be coming back here again. Pro tip: don't pay extra for sauce, you can get it for free at the back.

I'm always leery of Korean fast food spots but I was pleasantly surprised. There is usually a long line, which should've been an indicator of how good it is, but it goes fast. I wanted something light and I wanted a soup, so I opted for the tofu noodle bowl. A bowl of clear broth or miso soup comes with it. I just poured the soup into the bowl to satisfy my craving for something warm. It's very filling and flavorful and the veggies looked and tasted fresh. I'll def have to come back and try some new combinations.

Great spot for lunch in a bit of a desert of decent places to eat. Long line that moves quickly. Easy ordering system allows you to customize everything. Not a ton of seating but lots of people ordering to go. Fast friendly service.

Food is very fresh and I love spots where you can order at the counter. There were a few mistakes with my order (mushrooms added), but it was still very tasty. I appreciate that this location offers metal bowls instead of plastic. Asparagus protein portion seemed a little small but portion overall was good.