The Rice Shop

Talk about HOT new business. Unilocal could not be more on point!!! The passion Chef Tony has for his food amazing. Not only does it show in his food but hearing him describe the menu (it was first time for both Suzy H and I), and later talking about food the kim chi vinaigrette (the thought process about making small batches keeping everyday fresh) first time I seen vinaigrette with that kind korean twist. The vibe the guy exuberates passion for his food, such small business (literally ten chairs in the whole place) he literally takes your order then makes your food, friendly, easy going next thing know talking stories about running/​jogging, and cares about his customers. The menu for all its simplicity cause five different bowls and few sides. I love it! Cliché. Quality over quantity. The same thing could be said for menu in restaurants. On this late lunch between two of us just about ordered the whole menu. Not that hard too do.
We ordered «Korean Beef Short Rib», «Mochiko Chicken», and «Kentucky Fried Fish». The sides ordered the «Pickled Veg», and «Phở-​King Egg». I start with the Star of the show also the most popular bowl out of the five Mochiko Chicken. Hands down. The BEST Mochiko Chicken ever had in Vegas. I had it few times mostly in Hawaiian theme restaurant but the one at The Rice Shop. The things stands out is the breading is amazing. It not heavy batter on light side more tempura batter light. Nice crispy. The chicken is nice pieces and perfectly cooked and moist. The sauce perfect compliment especially get some on the rice. Onolicous. The Kumg Pao Broccoli. If ever went vegan give me bowl of that Broccoli be good too go. The portion size is great and even better is only $ 9. Steal of deal. It redefine chicken bowl non of this mass market teriyaki bowl that so had been food. Mochiko Chicken Bowl that should be the standard for chicken bowls.
The Korean Beef Short Rib not your kalbi style but marinates the beef same style and truth Kalbi just without the bone. The beef was nice tender and juicy. Mention earlier the kimchi vinaigrette with the bok chou/​cucumber salad. Refreshing with kick. Not at all over the top spicy way. Perfect light side salad compliment the short rib and the rice.
The Kentucky Fried Fish. Again the batter was delicious. Fried Fish all about only good as the batter. This one nice light not heavy and get nice chunk of fish not small scrapes. The fish cooked perfect. The aioli sauce on top is awesome. Just like the previous two bowls on point but yet each one completely different with different textures and tastes. It puts the gourmet in rice bowl. Still your simple brown paper bowl all the bowls served in. Another love it. Nothing simple about the flavors going on in every bowl.
The sides the Phở King Egg was different. Soft poached egg. The best part crack the yolk get creamy yellow river comes out combine it was the chicharrones. Amazing. You can use it as dipping sauce with your bowls. We just had it by itself. The pickled Vegs assortment of cauliflower, carrots, cucumbers, and one more forget. All very tasty.
Really everything had was five star awesome. The service if busy might have wait cause not much of staff just Chef Tony. We went for late lunch so perfect time. NO doubt plan on coming back for more.
It hidden little bit. Main thing is literally right across Dessert Breeze Park next to Other Mama. I think that awesome see two small business restaurants next one another. Both really good.

Found out about the Rice Shop on Unilocal via ‘new businesses’ and liked their model from the start. Fresh made to order rice bowls with various premium proteins and sauces. I went in around 4pm, Tony walked me through the menu and gave me a brief background on himself and his concept for the Rice Shop. He recommend I try the Kentucky fried fish bowl, and the Mochiko chicken. I also ordered a pork belly bowl and he threw in the egg with dashi and chorizo so I could try it with each bowl. The Mochiko chicken is definitely one of the best chicken dishes I’ve tried, it comes out moist and decadent with a ton of flavor in the mochiko breading. The sauce and veg bring everything together with the BEST RICE for a rice bowl ever. I grew up in Hawaii and married into a Filipino family, so I like to think I know how rice should taste when paired with any given protein. The Rice Shop has the BEST RICE tho. It’s akin to sushi rice in grain size and flavor, and is served in soft scoops like you’d find at a Hawaiian Okazuya. The fish is also spot on in terms of seasoning on preparation, fried flaky and moist with a nice crunchy flavorful coating. The slaw and creamy tangy spicy sauce he pairs with the fish is incredible, and makes for a perfectly composed rice bowl fit for any food snob or picky significant other. The pork belly bowl was very very good, yet still pales in comparison to the fish and chicken bowls in my opinion. Tony (owner/​operator) just knows what’s up. Great flavors, super value, simple menu. A fast, easy, delicious spot with a local feel. Can’t beat it. It’s located right next to Other Mama and is depending on word of mouth and fundamental quality to sustain it’s business. I really couldn’t recommend it more to anyone of any age or cultural disposition.

I’m a big fan of their mochiko chicken. Love the flavor, the crispness, the freshness. Friendly owner too. Looking forward to trying rest of the dishes!

Rice Bowls
Korean Beef Short Rib ($ 10): Bok choy, cucumber, kimchi vinaigrette.
Mochiko Chicken ($ 9): Kung Pao broccoli, peanuts.
Kentucky Fried Fish ($ 9): Cabbage slaw, jalapeño, hot sauce aioli.
BBQ Pork Belly ($ 9): Honey-​mustard kale, sambal sour cream.
*All rice bowls are garnished with Thai basil, cilantro, and scallion.
Everything is delicious. The only bowl I didn’t love was the Korean Beef Short Rib, but there’s a good possibility that’s due to my bias (there’s no pleasing me when it comes to Korean eats) and I am willing to try it again. Either way, the other three bowls are amazing. I love the proteins and the different ways they’re prepared, I love the different complements/​vegetables, and the different sauces. You’re getting a completely new experience with every bowl. I also love the garnishes — Thai basil, cilantro, and scallion just really freshen up and tie everything together. I love my herbs!
I can’t even pick a favorite among the three. The Mochiko Chicken has the perfect mochiko breading and flavor with juicy meat. The Kentucky Fried Fish is really stellar. I had to be convinced about this dish because it didn’t speak to me in any way, but I am so glad Anthony told me to go with it. The fish is lovely and the crispy exterior is insane. Plus, that aioli and slaw is so good. The BBQ Pork Belly is amazing. The best flavor and texture on the pork belly and I love the kale and sambal sour cream. YES TO ALL OF IT!
Sides
Leafy Greens ($ 4) with Wasabi Ranch, Creamy Miso (Sesame), or Chinese Black Vinaigrette.
Phở-​King Egg ($ 3): Sous vide egg, phở broth, crumbled chicarrones.
Pickled Vegetables ($ 3)
The Leafy Greens is a rather simple salad, but the housemade dressings will blow you away. The Wasabi Ranch has that same delicious creaminess you love about ranch with a tiny punch of robust wasabi. It seriously goes with everything. The same can be said about the Chinese Black Vinaigrette. OMG, I am obsessed with this dressing. Seriously, the best flavor EVER! I’m kicking balsamic vinegar to the curb!
The Phở-​King Egg is something else. A really, really good «something else.» First, you have this thickened phở broth that is already delicious on its own. Then, add the most perfectly-​cooked egg ever (sous vide FTW). Last, top generously with crunchy chicarrones and fresh scallion. After you’re done admiring the beautiful dish, you mix everything really well and shove it in your mouth (or pour it over your rice). It is very good.
So, I’ve tried everything on the menu except the Thai Shrimp Bayou Rice Bowl (and the Creamy Miso dressing). It’s not that I don’t want to try the shrimp, but I love the chicken, fish, and pork belly so much that it’s hard to stray! The bottom line is that Chef Anthony Zappola (previously of Tom Colicchio’s Heritage Steak) is doing it right and you needed to be here yesterday.

I stopped by on a rainy afternoon when the place was thankfully slow for a moment. I had the opportunity to talk to chef/​owner Tony. This is a hardworking guy with a great concept. I had the fish bowl which was fantastic. Perfectly fried and seasoned fish, cabbage had an excellent viniagrette and a lightly spicy cream sauce perfectly drizzled over. This is the kind of food you get when someone truly cares about the product coming across the counter. Hearty and filling rice bowls with inventive yet accessible flavor combinations. I will be back to try more. You should definitely check this place out!

Amazing food, my new favorite spot. I’ve tried everything on the menu and the Kentucky Fried fish and pork belly are my two favorites. The salad is super fresh and the Wasabi ranch mixed with one of the other dressings is superb. Everything is cooked fresh to order in 5 minutes or less with fresh ingredients made from scratch. The Rice Bowl is becoming addicting as I am now starting to crave a bowl at least weekly. A must try if you haven’t yet.

A friend told me about this place. Very happy to have stopped in. Great food quality and service. A former strip chef making food with integrity out of this little shop. Recommend the Kentucky Fried cod, and the mochiko chicken. Both are well worth the trip and money spent. Keep up the great work

To the woman who wrote a reviewing saying «the masses want what they are used to», ummm no. Please don’t speak for the masses. That kind of thinking is why food in Vegas is all about quantity and zero focus on quality. If i wanted teriyaki chicken I can go to the dozens of chinese restaurants nearby. I prefer options and variety and with that being said, I really enjoy this place. It’s different, it’s made with love, not greasy, oversauced or riddled with MSG. My go to is the Kentucky fried fish but ive enjoyed everything ive tried.

Another strip mall jewel has set up shop in Las Vegas. Chef Tony, who has experience as an executive chef in both NY and LV, is hustling and bustling in his new Westside venture. I was turned on to this place by a friend at my gym who said she heard a lot of people raving about a rice bowl place on Durango. The rumors were true — this place delivers on tastiness and freshness! My husband and I shared the pork belly rice bowl and the fish (aka KFC rice bowl). We both preferred the fish, but I liked being able to share two different meats. We’re going to go for the chicken and beef next, since I’m sadly allergic to shrimp. The bowls came with perfectly cooked rice — the kind of perfectly cooked, fluffy rice judges expect from chefs on cooking competitions, but very few people actually execute successfully. It’s the kind of rice my mom makes in her expensive Tiger rice cooker, but I can’t replicate in my admittedly crappy Costco rice cooker. I stress the rice perfection because of the couple of (misguided) reviews who have a problem with the rice — this is steamed rice, not fried rice. Fried rice is best made from day old rice that is separated in a wok. This space used to belong to Angel’s Fried Rice, so a few of their former patrons seem to be taking out their longing for fried rice on this place.
We also split the phở-​king egg, which was my favorite item we ordered. I’m not a phở person, so for me, this dish reminds me of the best quality Filpino arroz caldo you can imagine with a yummy and yolky egg on top. We also ordered the side salad, which came with 3 generous portions of homemade dressings — wasabi ranch, creamy miso/​sesame, and chinese black vinaigrette. My husband loved the wasabi ranch, where I liked the vinaigrette the most. We didn’t even bother using a fork, we just grabbed the veggies by the handful and dipped them in the dressing. The vegetables in our salad, and in our rice bowls, were very fresh and paired well with the rest of the food. One of the many reasons I was so excited about this place was it gave me another healthy option to dine out at. Yes, I know, their meat is fried, but you can load up on delicious veggies here and actually enjoy it!
TLDR? Come here for a quick lunch or dinner option, where you don’t have to sacrifice freshness or flavor to enjoy.
Only con about this place? Chef Tony is a Cavs fan, but we won’t hold that against him ;P. I’m hoping this place thrives in 2016!
EDIT — Updated this from 4 to 5 stars because my husband would sneak off here on his own because the dishes were so tasty! I had his leftovers and everything was still amazing the next day!

Located in an unassuming strip mall on Durango, The Rice Shop is a great spot for a quick but hearty meal.
We ordered the pork belly bowl and the Kentucky fried fish bowl. Each bowl included a generous amount of protein and fresh vegetables and of course rice. The flavors were stellar and everything was cooked well. I enjoyed every bite and look forward to returning again.
The owner was so attentive and accommodating. You can tell he really cares about getting honest feedback to enhance the customer experience.

The fish bowl was incredible. I was in Vegas just for the day and just happen to walk by. I will go back.

I’m always on the lookout for a good place for some quick takeout, and I think I’ve just found a new favorite to add to my list.
I work close by, and placed my order right before heading over to pick it up — to my surprise, it was ready by the time I got there not 5 minutes later. That’s quick turnaround for fresh food, and you can really taste the quality. I got the mochiko chicken and loved every bite; it was wonderfully crunchy on the outside and tender and juicy on the inside. The sauce that was in the dish was well done and not overpowering, adding enough flavor that it really helped turn the meal into something great. Delicious!
The menu is relatively small, but that’s not a negative to me: whatever you’re in the mood for is probably covered. Chicken, shrimp, BBQ pork, fish, and beef are all available (in one item each) with their own complementing sauces and vegetables.
Chef Tony was very friendly and focused on service, which is fantastic for a place he seems to run solo. I’ll definitely be coming back again and again! For the price (about $ 9) this place is a must-​try.
The only thing I’m not sure about is vegetarian options, which is important for me since my wife is a vegetarian. I’ll edit my review later with her take on the food!

I really wanted to give them more stars as Chef Tony is a nice man, but I leave honest reviews in hopes that the owners will make a change and listen to suggestions.
This is a Asian Southern Fried Fusion place. They serve white rice bowls with various Asian meats and veggies, each with their own light sauce.
I ordered the Fried Fish Bowl and for the picky eaters in my house chicken bowls. The dish bowl was really tasty. I really loved the quality of the rice. Nice texture to it and cooked to perfection. The fish was yummy too. Crisp on the outside and soft and hot on the inside.
The chicken bowls came with broccoli and peanuts. My family hates nuts in their food. I tried my husband’s chicken and it was very heavily coated in bread and over fried. My husband refused to eat more then a few bites. I finished off his rice.
I know Tony wanted to go with something different. I admire him for that. But please take my suggestion to heart– the masses want they are used to. When I go into a rice place I expect to see fried rice on the menu. And there is none. Sad considering it used to be before Tony revamped it. Use your current menu as your specialty menu, but please add more of the normal dishes that Americans are used to. Fried Rice, Brown Rice, White Rice. Teriyaki Chicken, Orange Chicken, Kung Pao, Curry– all that can be added as the topping to the rice bowl. You get the idea.
Also, all the meat is fried. A healthy wok option with Asian veggies is a must. I will come back to give it one more shot in a few months once he has time to see what people are looking for in a rice establishment. As it stands, my husband will never eat here again with their current menu.
It’s worth a try if your in the area though. Definitely something different, although not for picky eaters.

The menu is small, the restaurant is petite, only lunch is served and owner Tony Zappola serves as cashier, waiter, busser, chef and no doubt bottle washer. My wife chose the mochiko chicken rice bowl — large chunks of kung pao chicken, broccoli and peanuts that had her smacking her lips. Not to be outdone, though I think I might have been, I chose Thai Shrimp Bao rice bowl — plump shrimp, black bean gumbo, celery and pickled chilis. The flavors and colors were brilliant. In the end it proved to be too much food for lunch though not much was left in either of our bowls when we finally raised the white flag.

Read reviews about The Rice Shop here on Unilocal and decided to give it a try. I wasn’t sure if this place would be open on Christmas Eve. As I walked in, Chef Tony greeted me and he was very friendly. He said that he wasn’t sure about how many people would stop in, but his plan was to be open for lunch only. As I was looking over the menu on the wall, he kindly explained to me that there were five different rice bowls with different Asian meats. Each bowl comes with rice, but different vegetables and sauces are used to accompany each meat. So it was basically Asian rice bowls with a Southern twist.
Decided to try the Mochiko Chicken bowl. I took my order to go and waited about 5 minutes while he cooked everything. Good to know that everything is made to order! When I got home, the food was still hot and fresh. The portion size was pretty big, I couldn’t finish the whole bowl. The chicken was good — somewhat crunchy on the outside and nice and hot on the inside. Not sure what kind of sauce was in the bowl, I’m assuming it was some sort of Kung Pao sauce? I thought it was alright and appreciated that it wasn’t too spicy, although it did have a kick to it.
Overall, I wasn’t impressed, but please keep in mind that I am a picky eater. I think the only fusion dishes that I like are from Sushi restaurants. Glad that I got to try this place, but I think I just prefer my Mochiko Chicken on a bed of Furikake rice or plain rice for that matter, LOL. If you like fusion restaurants, definitely check this place out!

Zappola and The Rice Shop are setting new standards in culinary professionalism, talent, and art for competitors to either adopt, adhere to or just fade away.
High end fresh quality food offered at a reasonable price.
I’d be happy to eat here everyday for lunch.
Super easy to get to with easy access from Durango, Spring Mtn, Flamingo and Sahara.

Formerly a dismal-​at-​best fried rice counter, The Rice Shop is a serious upgrade and a welcome new business in this up-​and-​coming plaza! Rice bowls sound so simple, but they’re comforting, fresh, and hit just the right spot when done well.
Menu has about five different bowls, each with their own protein and complementary sauces, all with rice and veggies. The Mochiko Chicken Bowl is the only one I’ve tried so far and it was great– generous portion of fresh, juicy chicken with a great sauce, crisp veggies, and a scoop of rice. So long as you go in knowing it’s mochiko influenced and not some strictly-​authentic version of the dish, you should enjoy it. There are a few sides available, one being a salad with a choice of three house-​made dressings (black sesame vin was my favorite.)
Owner and Chef Tony is a treasure– I accidentally came just after close, but he opened up, let me in, and made my tasty dinner. He’s charming and chatty and has some great plans for this place. I’ll be coming back to try their Shrimp Bayou and porkbelly bowls soon!

This place is a hidden gem. Food is excellent, extremely nice chef/​owner. We had the Korean beef short ribs and the pork belly. It was the perfect portion. Salad is good too. I tried the homemade wasabi ranch and cheese black vinaigrette, both had great flavors. We will definitely put this in our rotation

Chef Anthony did a great job with this menu! Perfect rice bowl portions at a reasonable price. I’m excited to be one of the first to taste such delicious, FRESH flavors. Congratulations & cheers to your future success! We will definitely be back soon.

Absolutely loved every bite here. I work in a Casino where Chef Anthony Zappola was the Executive Chef, he is charming and quite but I never knew his Rice bowls were explosive with deliciousness. This plaza across from Desert Breeze Park is home to Zaytoons Mediterranean deli, The Other Mama and other great food spots, but The Rice Shop is definitely a must eat in this Plaza.
I was blown away, the leafy green salads were super fresh with home made dressings made from scratch. The miso sesame + wasabi ranch + chinese black bean vinaigrette were all superb!
The rice bowls were perfect in every way!