Our Favorite Crispy Rice In NYC
eatingmynyc / February 8, 2023
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If you know us, you know that whenever there’s crispy rice on the menu, we’re ordering it. Few things are better than the combination of crispy, crunchy fried rice and spicy raw fish. We’ve tried nearly every rendition of this dish in NYC and have rounded up our ten favorites below.
Lure Fishbar
PC: Lure FishbarThe crispy rice options are endless at Lure. Choose between spicy tuna, hamachi, uni, blue crab, and wagyu. The rice part of their crispy rice is unlike anywhere else; they coat the rice in puffed rice of various sizes and furikake – Japanese seaweed seasoning blend – giving the rice itself an awesome flavor and texture. You can’t go wrong with the toppings either, from the classic spicy tuna, to the more unique uni or A5 wagyu.
Sushi On Jones
PC: @sushionjonesThere are four options when it comes to crispy rice at this omakase spot: bluefin tuna, king salmon, California uni, and Hokkaido uni. Each order comes with just two pieces, so we won’t judge if you want to try them all! We love the square, bite size portion, perfect for popping the whole thing into your mouth. They also dice the tuna and salmon into bigger pieces, so you really get to savor the flavor of the fish.
Bondst
PC: @bondstnycBetween the Big Eye tuna tarts, the great vibes and of course, the crispy rice, there are so many things we love about Bond St Sushi. Here, you’ll find two options for crispy rice: tuna and king crab. The tuna is topped with a Korean gochujang sauce, giving it a unique spiciness that is different from other spicy tuna mixtures we’ve tried. The Alaska king crab crispy rice is a fun twist on the classic: it’s served with a lemon aioli that gives the perfect acidity and serranos for a hint of spice.
The Lobster Club
PC: @majorfoodgroupIf you find yourself in midtown for a power lunch or are looking for a special place for dinner, The Lobster Club is often at the top of our list. If you’re like us and can be a little indecisive, you’ll love that each order of crispy rice here comes with two pieces of spicy tuna and two pieces of salmon. Both are served tartare style, with the sauce slathered on top of the rice instead of mixed into the fish.
KYU
PC: Newsbreak OriginalKYU’s NYC’s opening was one of our favorites last year, and their phenomenal crispy rice has a lot to do with it. We don’t know exactly what they coat their rice with but something about it is just so addicting. Our go to is spicy tuna with smoked chili, but they also offer hamachi with wasabi and spicy chickpea topped with soy aioli.
Katsuya
PC: Manhattan WestKatsuya’s classic rendition of crispy rice continues to stand out as one of our favorites in NYC. They go through thousands of orders here a week, and for good reason! The perfectly crisped cube and the way the spicy tuna is piped on is just pure perfection.
Blue Ribbon Sushi is a New York establishment, serving up some of the city’s best sushi since 1992, and their crispy rice is no exception. We wish more restaurants made theirs this way – served with a slice of avocado and a drizzle of eel sauce on top.
Nobu
PC: @noburestaurantsReal ones know that Nobu is home to the OG crispy rice. It’s served deconstructed, with crispy rice bites on skewers that you can dip into the spicy tuna, and a soy sauce for dipping as well. Ration the tuna carefully; you’ll quickly run out if you overload your first piece. And for your vegan friends, they also have an option with spicy avocado.
Momoya
PC: @momoyauwsIt would be hard to write about crispy rice without the inclusion of Momoya; one of the very first places we tried this beloved dish in the early 2000’s, and we’re happy to say that it’s just as good today. The rice is perfectly crispy, the spicy tuna is incredible, and each piece is topped with jalapeno for an extra kick, shiitake mushrooms for that umami flavor and a drizzle of a dreamy white sauce. We’re thankful every order comes with six of them!
Koi
PC: Koi RestaurantAnd, finally, no crispy rice list would be complete without the iconic Koi in midtown. This spot has been serving up crispy rice for as long as we can remember and it’s still some of the very best. With topping options including spicy tuna, yellowtail tartare and truffle avocado, you really can’t go wrong. But, if we had to pick just one, we’d say our favorite here is the hamachi tartare, which is a perfect mix of delicious yellowtail, roe, scallions, spicy mayo-sriracha sauce, and topped with tempura crunch.
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