the rice factory — Local services in Honolulu

I've been visiting and purchasing rice here since before covid. It's such a good place to buy good rice from Japan. My favorite rice is milled white Oborozuki from Hokaido. Why? Well, I meal prep for the week, so the rice is good for bentos and as leftover rice. It doesn't taste dry after reheating it up days later, it still has a chewy, sticky, soft texture which taste the best. I do buy other types of rice here like nanatsuboshi, and yumepirika...all delicious depending on the dish i make. Their brown rice is good, however you must soak it over night prior to cooking it. I sometimes forget to do it so I stop buying them. I also buy rice toppings, dried seaweed and soybean powder from here. All delicious depending on what I make. I highly recommend buying your rice here. It's also cheaper than buying it at foodland or nijiya market where they mark it slightly higher. *Something I wish they would bring back...we used to be able to bring our old rice bags back to be reused. After covid, you cannot do that anymore. Therefore they have become my new plant pot holders,...

Perfect little Japanese rice shop. It seriously feels like you pass right into Japan when you go through the curtains. The staff is so friendly and helpful. The rice is incredible. If it’s one of the main parts of you dish why settle for anything but the best! You can get your rice polished anywhere from brown all the way to white rice. They do it fresh to order right in front of you. Besides rice they have so many different Japanese delicacies. From bonito flakes, to aged shoyu, to vinegars. You will always find an intriguing new ingredient to add to your dishes at home. They also have a wide variety of dish-ware straight from Japan. The best restaurants have their signs out front for a reason. It’s a rare treat to find something this authentic in America. Seriously a must stop...

Updated April 2022: Still a great little shop for all things rice (including Japanese vinegars, seasonings, koji, tableware). Got some Oborozuki and some organic Kamiakari rice, both milled for me (whole grain / brown is what I chose).

Original (spring 2021): Super-cool, tiny little shop, even if you don’t end up buying rice. Though, the assortment of individual rice varieties available to purchase, most farmed organically or sustainably, might make anyone into a rice fan. There’s also a large selection of rice toppings, like furikake and sauces, and gluten-free rice pasta. The furikake & sauces are free of chemical additives, which was a relief (and rare) to see. Kind staff is bilingual (Japanese-English), and a calm, peaceful...