Paper Rice

I found out about this spot from Secret Los Angeles yesterday morning and visited later that evening since I had to go to Pasadena. It was so fresh and tasty. I ordered spring rolls—1 pork belly, 2 shrimp. I selected spicy and savory peanut sauces. I didn’t like the sauces. The spring rolls are good without. It was like eating a handheld salad. I will definitely go back!

Faviola Bugarin Lopez

This is a cool concept, walked after smelling the food when someone opened the door. I got the 3 spring rolls, shrimp, beef and chicken. Shares with a friend but I would Recommend the beef it was savory and delicious. Shrimp was good too. Over all I loved it, would I come here again if I’m already at downtown Pasadena. Staff was friendly all young men and they did fantastic with questions and getting the line down.

Mia Ng

I came here and ordered the beef and nem nướng spring rolls — delicious and super fresh. One of the best parts is that you can really customize your meal to your liking. I got two dipping sauces. While they’re not the traditional Vietnamese ones, they were still really tasty. The fish sauce had a strong sour flavor with a ginger kick — not typical for spring rolls, but surprisingly good. The spicy sauce was also on the sour side and had a nice heat to it. Portions are generous, and considering the location, the prices are very reasonable.

A. Nicole

Decided we wanted to try this place that was suggested to us. Why not get out for the day. This is a small place so it can be crowded and we waited outside in line BUT they definitely move quickly. I like the idea of being able to create your own spring rolls. Pricing is about what you would expect for the area. I could’ve eaten about 6 of these rolls. House sauce was great! Customer service was quick and easy. There is seating outside close by in a public area so we went there to enjoy. Overall it’s a decent place to go if you live in the area or in the area and just want to eat light or have a snack.

Rodrigo “funning”

I was looking for something healthier and this popped up. It was highly recommended and I decided to stop by. I ordered their salad bowl with chicken and beef. I got the traditional citrus sauce with fried crispy onions and garlic. Overall it was delicious, a very light but filling meal for lunch. Now their lychee lemonade is also amazing and I highly recommend that drink. Parking is limited to street or paid structure parking. Update I had their spring rolls with no noodles, shrimp, chicken and pork. All three were delicious and the peanut sauce made the lunch complete. I’d definitely get that again.

Brandi

Best spring rolls I’ve ever tasted. I tried one of each protein. All six were delicious. The sticky rice patties were really crispy and sticky- was getting stuck to my teeth. I want to come back again and try their items in the menu. It is a small place with very few seating. The parking garage next to it is an $8 flat rate fee. Loved the friendliness of the staff.

Andy Ng

Build your own spring rolls!? You don't need to say anything else to get me through the front door to try this gem of a spot. I've always been a fan of spring rolls, having grown up eating them at plenty of Viet restaurants and making them at home. At Paper Rice, you can choose to build your own 3-pack of spring rolls for $12, and the quality of the ingredients and professionalism of the rolling is not to be missed. They have one vegan friendly protein which was their soy tofu option and I was thrilled. Many of the toppings you'd add to a fresh spring roll are also already plant-based, so pick and choose what you like. I added nearly everything I could including the crispy wrapper stick for that extra crunch. Each order also comes with a dipping sauce of your choice. I went with a classic peanut butter based dip which put everything together nicely. Next time I'm in Pasadena, it'll be a no brainer to come back and try these again.

Renee Matthews (Real Estate Negotiator)

I found out about this spot from Secret Los Angeles yesterday morning and visited later that evening since I had to go to Pasadena. It was so fresh and tasty. I ordered spring rolls—1 pork belly, 2 shrimp. I selected spicy and savory peanut sauces. I didn’t like the sauces. The spring rolls are good without. It was like eating a handheld salad. I will definitely go back!

Susanna SS

The spring rolls and banh mi hit the spot! There are a lot of choices for customization from fillings, toppings, vegetables, and sauces. It’s a fast, convenient setup so waits aren’t bad despite long during lunch rush. I appreciate that Paper Rice introduces good fast yet modern and approachable Vietnamese food in Pasadena.

John Mogannam

Very tasty little spot to grab a snack or lunch. Definitely busy and for good reason. We had the Banh Mi and the rice cakes. Both of which were very tasty though I can't vouch for "authenticity". Also their lychee lemonade was 💣. Overall really enjoyed the food and would definitely come back if I was in the area more often.

Soul Soul

For fast food this place is really, really good! Extremely fresh. All the staff wears sneeze guards and gloves when handling the food. It’s fast HEALTHY food. Highly recommend paper rice if you’re in the area and want a quick meal. GF options too. The lychee lemonade is tasty. 😋

sofi

I’ve been coming here for the past two years, and they always have the bestspring rolls ever. Line can be long, but worth it every time. I love the concept of choosing everything that goes inside and their sauces are so good. Pro tip: go on weekends and grab the Xôi Chiên (Fried sticky rice w/shrimp and beef). They are my favorite!

Today marked my second visit to Paper Rice, and the reason I came back is because the service is excellent and the food is tasty and fresh. All the staff is friendly and great, especially Justin, who feels as if he's managing the store. Turns out he's just a part of the staff. He does a great job of taking caring of people's needs and maintaining a good flow. I expect to see him move up the ladder and become a part of management. I'll be back a third time for sure!

Best Vietnamese food ever, even though options are limited, they always make them so delicious. 1000% recommend, hands down the best spring rolls I’ve ever had in LA county!

shant fernezlian

Today marked my second visit to Paper Rice, and the reason I came back is because the service is excellent and the food is tasty and fresh. All the staff is friendly and great, especially Justin, who feels as if he's managing the store. Turns out he's just a part of the staff. He does a great job of taking caring of people's needs and maintaining a good flow. I expect to see him move up the ladder and become a part of management. I'll be back a third time for sure!

Renee Frisbie

Delicious options for concocting your own spring roll. Quick service, not too expensive for the amount they give you was generous. Most definitely will go there again. It’s a popular place, but worth the wait if you come at peak hour. Would love to hire them for party or business after hour party.

Good and quick with a variety of selections. Think of it as the Vietnamese Chipotle. Choose between rolls or a bowl. Very little seating so plan on taking out to eat. Don’t be put off by the line as it moves quickly, and the food is good.

This is an inventive spot that allows you to build your own bowl with asian-inspired flavors. They also allow you to build your own spring rolls, which is cool. I got the bowl which was quite a lot of food, but too many noodles, in my opinion. I would recommend the spring rolls over the bowl.

Viggy Vanchi

This is an inventive spot that allows you to build your own bowl with asian-inspired flavors. They also allow you to build your own spring rolls, which is cool. I got the bowl which was quite a lot of food, but too many noodles, in my opinion. I would recommend the spring rolls over the bowl.

Greggory Williams

Good and quick with a variety of selections. Think of it as the Vietnamese Chipotle. Choose between rolls or a bowl. Very little seating so plan on taking out to eat. Don’t be put off by the line as it moves quickly, and the food is good.

Went to Paper Rice in Pasadena. This was more of a personal stop because I wanted to walk around Pasadena and kept seeing this place pop up as a highly rated spot for bowls and spring rolls. It was raining and we were craving something warm and fresh, so we figured alright let’s try it. I saw mixed stuff about it online. Some people say it is fire, others say it is way too expensive for what you get, so I went in a little hesitant and honestly I get why now. The food itself was good. I got the beef bowl with rice noodles and mixed greens. Great flavor, super fresh, the citrus dressing they give you pairs really well with everything. So no complaints on taste. It was definitely a solid bowl. But the price for what you get is crazy. Everything is an add on. One dollar here, seventy five cents there, two dollars for this, three dollars for that. I asked for a little bit more beef because the scoop they gave me was honestly pathetic, and they told me it would be extra. For the price of the bowl already, that was wild to me. Same thing when I asked for a little more green onion. Everything was extra. That is where the controversy makes sense. The portion sizes are just not worth the fifteen to twenty dollars you are paying. If someone is paying that much, the bowl should be big and actually filled, not this tiny half filled portion. Flavor wise, they are doing it right. The flavor is there, the chicken tasted good, the beef tasted good, everything was seasoned well. But the value is not there at all. Because of that, this is not a place I would come back to. Too expensive for what you get, even though the food itself was solid.

Solid Spring Rolls and Banh Mi, But Pricey for the Portion Size I visited Paper Rice with my sister and niece after seeing it on social media. My sister, who’s obsessed with spring rolls, was excited to try it. I was in town for my sister’s wedding, and before heading back to Houston, we decided to check out the spot. I got the three spring rolls with a banh mi on the side. The process for the banh mi is pretty cool: they make the spring rolls right in front of you, and when you order the banh mi, they give you a ticket, and then they prepare it in the back. The spring rolls were good, but for the price, I feel like they should give more protein in each roll. The portions were inconsistent, and I think they should use a scoop to ensure the protein is evenly distributed across all the rolls. I tried garlic shrimp, sautéed beef, and lemongrass chicken. My favorite was the sautéed beef—it had a nice, slight spiciness. The shrimp, which cost an extra $1.50, didn’t really impress me. They were mediocre at best. The chicken was decent, but I’d stick with the sautéed beef if I go back. Since I don’t eat pork, I skipped that option, but the banh mi was definitely the highlight of the meal—amazing! As for sauces, they offer four different options. Since I’m allergic to peanuts, I didn’t try the savory peanut sauce, but my niece did. She said it was anything but savory—it was actually very sweet. I tried the citrus house sauce, which was OK. There was also a house sauce, which I didn’t try, but it was described as spicy. Everyone in our party agreed that all the sauces needed more fish sauce; they just weren’t salty enough for our taste. To feel full, I’d recommend getting the three spring rolls and a banh mi. That combo will cost you about $30, and if you want a drink, expect to spend more. I brought my own water, but I did notice that for three people, one drink, and only one person ordering a drink, the bill was close to $70, which felt a bit pricey. They also offer a bowl option, which I saw several people order during my visit, but honestly, it didn’t seem very filling to me. I’d say this place feels more like a snack than a full meal. Parking Tip: Good luck finding street parking. Your best bet is to park in the attached parking garage, but keep in mind that they do not validate for this garage. We were there for about 30-45 minutes, and it cost us $3. Would I go back? Only if I’m in the area.

Mitchell Neller

Went to Paper Rice in Pasadena. This was more of a personal stop because I wanted to walk around Pasadena and kept seeing this place pop up as a highly rated spot for bowls and spring rolls. It was raining and we were craving something warm and fresh, so we figured alright let’s try it. I saw mixed stuff about it online. Some people say it is fire, others say it is way too expensive for what you get, so I went in a little hesitant and honestly I get why now. The food itself was good. I got the beef bowl with rice noodles and mixed greens. Great flavor, super fresh, the citrus dressing they give you pairs really well with everything. So no complaints on taste. It was definitely a solid bowl. But the price for what you get is crazy. Everything is an add on. One dollar here, seventy five cents there, two dollars for this, three dollars for that. I asked for a little bit more beef because the scoop they gave me was honestly pathetic, and they told me it would be extra. For the price of the bowl already, that was wild to me. Same thing when I asked for a little more green onion. Everything was extra. That is where the controversy makes sense. The portion sizes are just not worth the fifteen to twenty dollars you are paying. If someone is paying that much, the bowl should be big and actually filled, not this tiny half filled portion. Flavor wise, they are doing it right. The flavor is there, the chicken tasted good, the beef tasted good, everything was seasoned well. But the value is not there at all. Because of that, this is not a place I would come back to. Too expensive for what you get, even though the food itself was solid.

Robin

Solid Spring Rolls and Banh Mi, But Pricey for the Portion Size I visited Paper Rice with my sister and niece after seeing it on social media. My sister, who’s obsessed with spring rolls, was excited to try it. I was in town for my sister’s wedding, and before heading back to Houston, we decided to check out the spot. I got the three spring rolls with a banh mi on the side. The process for the banh mi is pretty cool: they make the spring rolls right in front of you, and when you order the banh mi, they give you a ticket, and then they prepare it in the back. The spring rolls were good, but for the price, I feel like they should give more protein in each roll. The portions were inconsistent, and I think they should use a scoop to ensure the protein is evenly distributed across all the rolls. I tried garlic shrimp, sautéed beef, and lemongrass chicken. My favorite was the sautéed beef—it had a nice, slight spiciness. The shrimp, which cost an extra $1.50, didn’t really impress me. They were mediocre at best. The chicken was decent, but I’d stick with the sautéed beef if I go back. Since I don’t eat pork, I skipped that option, but the banh mi was definitely the highlight of the meal—amazing! As for sauces, they offer four different options. Since I’m allergic to peanuts, I didn’t try the savory peanut sauce, but my niece did. She said it was anything but savory—it was actually very sweet. I tried the citrus house sauce, which was OK. There was also a house sauce, which I didn’t try, but it was described as spicy. Everyone in our party agreed that all the sauces needed more fish sauce; they just weren’t salty enough for our taste. To feel full, I’d recommend getting the three spring rolls and a banh mi. That combo will cost you about $30, and if you want a drink, expect to spend more. I brought my own water, but I did notice that for three people, one drink, and only one person ordering a drink, the bill was close to $70, which felt a bit pricey. They also offer a bowl option, which I saw several people order during my visit, but honestly, it didn’t seem very filling to me. I’d say this place feels more like a snack than a full meal. Parking Tip: Good luck finding street parking. Your best bet is to park in the attached parking garage, but keep in mind that they do not validate for this garage. We were there for about 30-45 minutes, and it cost us $3. Would I go back? Only if I’m in the area.

Over priced for what you get. Granted you get to customize your spring rolls. Savory peanut sauce was salty and on the watery side. Traditional citrus sauce is a water down version of nuoc mam. I got one of each meat option. Garlic shrimp was an extra $1.50... 3 small to medium size shrimp was $1.50 extra. 3 of them. When I asked about what sauces they had. I was promptly told to see the board under step 4. Nothing else was said to me. Good luck finding street parking. They "can not" validate the parking garage that is attached to them.

D C

Over priced for what you get. Granted you get to customize your spring rolls. Savory peanut sauce was salty and on the watery side. Traditional citrus sauce is a water down version of nuoc mam. I got one of each meat option. Garlic shrimp was an extra $1.50... 3 small to medium size shrimp was $1.50 extra. 3 of them. When I asked about what sauces they had. I was promptly told to see the board under step 4. Nothing else was said to me. Good luck finding street parking. They "can not" validate the parking garage that is attached to them.

I find it idiotic and insanely ridiculous that I have to pay $20 after taxes for 3 lobster spring rools that only include 2 incredibly small lobster pieces the size of a nickle per spring roll? To me this in just OUTRAGEOUS! Even when I order the beef instead, I still could not believe how INSANELY LITTLE PORTIONS WERE PROVIDED! I've learned this place TRULY 100% LACKS QUANTIY that doesn't faily meet the market value what is demanded upfront!

RedHood Ninja

I find it idiotic and insanely ridiculous that I have to pay $20 after taxes for 3 lobster spring rools that only include 2 incredibly small lobster pieces the size of a nickle per spring roll? To me this in just OUTRAGEOUS! Even when I order the beef instead, I still could not believe how INSANELY LITTLE PORTIONS WERE PROVIDED! I've learned this place TRULY 100% LACKS QUANTIY that doesn't faily meet the market value what is demanded upfront!

For a place that makes a clear point about sustainability, I find it ironic that any unopened packaged utensils are to be discarded. The service is rude and can barely be audible. It was my first time and the staff were just mute or abrasive. Do not come here unless you really want to spend on overpriced rolls.

Georgiana Yasumura

For a place that makes a clear point about sustainability, I find it ironic that any unopened packaged utensils are to be discarded. The service is rude and can barely be audible. It was my first time and the staff were just mute or abrasive. Do not come here unless you really want to spend on overpriced rolls.