Rice Culture - Stuffed Waffles & Soft Serve

Rice Culture is one of those new-concept dessert spots that popped up after the fish waffle + ice cream craze became a sensation — and of course, we had to try it. If sweets are involved, I’m there. For me, it was just okay. The presentation is fun, but I found the flavor combinations a little strange and not the best mix. I’m Asian and familiar with these flavors, but it didn’t quite hit the mark for my taste. My daughter, on the other hand, loved it. That might be because she’s a huge fan of the concept itself and loves all things Japanese — so the playful, trendy vibe worked for her. Overall, Rice Culture is worth trying if you’re curious about new dessert experiences and enjoy experimenting with flavors. It may not be everyone’s favorite, but it definitely has its fans.

I used to enjoy visiting Rice Culture in Vienna, so I was very excited to see a new location open in Chantilly. The staff member working that day was kind and friendly, but since he was working alone, the atmosphere felt a little different from the attentive service I experienced in Vienna. The desserts we ordered were delicious, but for a newly opened store, I expected a bit more cleanliness. The taiyaki was also pre-made, so it didn’t feel as fresh. Perhaps if I hadn’t had the Vienna experience to compare with, I wouldn’t have had such high expectations—but I couldn’t help but notice the difference. I believe with more staff and a little extra attention, this location could really shine. I look forward to seeing Rice Culture grow in Chantilly and hope it becomes just as loved as the Vienna shop.

Bright and clean store. Definitely a younger crowd vibe. Each table has mini table games so you can play them while you hang out or wait for your orders. Taiyakis are freshly made, you can choose various fillers. As you bite into the taiyaki, the slight crunchy edges (esp the tail), combined with the soft cakey middle and the sweetness of the fillers simply will bring a smile to your face. If you cannot decide what flavor of soft serve you want, they will offer small samples to help you decide. The presentation is cute and adorable. Everyone bites into the fish tail of the taiyaki first as it's an unwritten rule before you cope a spoonful of the soft serve so you can create your own ice cream sandwich in your mouth.

Finally a rice culture near us for a while. They used to be a little pop up shop in south riding and i would go there all the time. First, the ambiance was nice, cutesy and great for a little dessert date spot after dinner. Serive is quick and fast and friendly as well. Plenty of parking spaces and the store was not too crowded when we got here. If you have not been here, there are kiosk to order so you don’t have to wait for the cashier. We love that. Now lets go to the food. *The taiyaki was warmed still when it was given to us, The filling was overflowing which is great! Outside is crispy and inside was warm and sweet. Perfect dessert. *Mini and Signature Swirl Soft serve : we got panda , ube, ube and coffee and everything was great. We love it. We added the cone to our swirl which is perfect to ease off the sweetness. *Coffee and pandan drink: Not our favorite, we would not get this again as it is a bit bitter and not enough foam on top like the advertisement photo. Overall, still love rice culture. Next time we come back we will shoot for the flan dessert!

To the uninitiated, this is like dessert waffle with mochi or custard cream inside. You order and pay at automated kiosks picking the flavors you like. You can mix and match. Half a dozen sounds like a good deal. The place is on the opposite side of Costco. I didn't know these buildings existed in the area. They have tiny food trucks selling freshly made ones in touristy places of Japan. Rice Culture gets it pretty close. I'd highly recommend waiting the advertised 25 mins to get yours freshly made. The pre-made ones sitting on the shelves do not taste the best they could be. Pandan is my favorite. Ube is pretty good. Nutella and Oreo aren't my flavors. Matcha is bitter than it should be. I wouldn't get it again. Saving the soft serve and drinks for next time!

The newest Rice Culture store to open in the DMV area! The interior was very cute and well-decorated with lots of vibrant colors and plenty of seating with board games. My partner and I got the Wednesday BOGO (second one 50% off) deal - we got two soft serves: one lychee calpico and one lychee calpico with lavender swirl + Nutella taiyaki. The taiyaki is only $1 to add on and is huge! When you pick up your order at the counter, you get to pick unlimited toppings to put on top of your soft serve! We picked corn flakes, Biscoff, and Oreo cookie crumble. The lychee calpico flavor was quite artificial but the soft serve itself was very creamy! The taiyaki was light and crispy and had an air pocket in the middle that was perfect for scooping and putting ice cream in for the perfect bite. I would've liked for the taiyaki to be toasted and warm when served but the taiyaki complimented the ice cream well.

Visited on a Saturday afternoon, and we tried the ube mango swirl with taiyaki, strawchee, and pandan viet iced coffee. Honestly, it was pretty mid. I had higher expectations when it came to both taste and value. It felt overpriced for what it was. The place was completely empty when we stopped by, which was surprising. One person was working, she was polite but seemed kind of bored, which was understandable given how slow it was. On the bright side, there’s lots of seating inside if you’re planning to hang out.

I recently tried Rice Culture and absolutely loved it! I ordered their ice cream signature with the Nutella taiyaki, and it was delicious. The taiyaki waffle was perfectly warm, soft, and fluffy on the inside with just the right crisp on the outside, and the Nutella filling was heavenly. Paired with their creamy soft serve, it was the perfect balance of rich and refreshing. The staff was friendly and welcoming, and the shop had such a fun, inviting vibe. I’ll definitely be coming back to try more of their stuffed waffles and soft serve flavors!