Rice Market

Wendy M. 6 months ago

Rice Market is a small, tucked-away market beneath a restaurant that quietly delivers some of the most interesting moments if you time your visit right. I visited twice in one weekend and had two completely different experiences, which is exactly why this place stands out. On Friday night, the space revealed a speakeasy-style experience hidden within the market. It felt intimate and unexpected, not flashy or overproduced. The kind of “you had to be there” moment that elevates a night out. When I returned on Saturday, Rice Market shifted into daytime discovery mode with rotating pop-ups that felt thoughtful and well-curated. One standout was a yuzu ice cream created by a Michelin-starred chef that was bright, citrus-forward, and beautifully balanced. Alongside it was a sando pop-up with sweet and savory options. Clearly a popular one because they sold out early. What makes Rice Market special is its scale and flexibility. It’s not a food hall, and it’s not trying to be. It’s a compact space built for experimentation, pop-ins, and surprise, where the experience changes by the day and even by the hour. If you love discovering places that feel personal, layered, and quietly cool, Rice Market is the kind of spot that rewards curiosity, especially when you catch it on the right day. —————————————— Found the Rice Market recently when needing to kill some time before a Lip Lab appointment. Had no idea that this lovely hidden gem was tucked under the Rice Asian restaurant on 14th St. in the NW section of DC. Rice in addition to the restaurant has a specialty market filled with all of the things including Sake, Asian snacks, cookbooks, sauces, teas and other items. Rice Market also hosts cooking classes and events in this space. It was fun just exploring their curated selections to see what Rice had in store. If you want something special for a home cooked Asian meal, I suggest that you stop by Rice Market. They’re likely to have what you need. You might check out the market before or after you grab a bite at the restaurant upstairs. For a quick snack, I opted for a Kani nigiri from the market. It was tasty & a perfect small bite while on the go.

Emily Friesen a month ago

I stopped by here after work. Amazing selection of Asian foods and bites. And their restaurant is fantastic. I had the happy hour sushi rolls and was still hungry so I ordered pad se ew. Very friendly staff and people! I will be back with my husband for date night. Cute place to shop and then eat.

Ana Bosquez a month ago

Wonderful place! The sushi was excellent, and the crispy red snapper was outstanding. It was a little spicy, but nothing too intense. The food arrived quickly, and I will definitely come back again.

Aya Rowe 9 months ago

Super stylish Asian specialty grocery store! The staff are incredibly knowledgeable, and they carry so many unique items you won’t find anywhere else. Since I was traveling from Boston, I couldn’t bring much back, but I was especially impressed by their gorgeous selection of dishware. The market, restaurant, and event space are all beautifully designed and truly a pleasure to experience. Highly recommend stopping by if you’re in the area!

Matt Endaya 9 months ago

Went on two separate occasions to try both the upper and lower area! Restaurant Area: Went on a random weekday it was empty which was nice. They had a dim ambient and the server was helpful and attentive to whenever I needed him. They had amazing food and sushi though I forgot what I got. Market Area: Pretty small and they do stock asian mainly ingredients so in-case you are coming in looking for chips, sweets, and noodles they don’t have the biggest assortment but they do have popular picks! They also had fresh food but I went with the onigiri which was amazing! The place in general was awesome but is definitely on the higher-end of pricing! They also had wifi (kinda). I was able to connect to the neighboring shop’s wifi lol which I guess counts.