The Rice Factory (Oahu)

The Rice Factory on Oahu is a true Hawaii gem. Here you can get fresh rice milled on the spot alongside other Japanese treats like onigiri and ohagi.

The Rice Factory

I go back and forth between Hawaii and San Francisco often. And on every flight to SF, guarantee you can find a five-pound bag of rice in my carry-on suitcase. The rice is from The Rice Factory, and this is the main rice we eat at home in both Hawaii and SF. We keep many different types of rice (mochi rice! arborio rice! purple rice!) in the pantry, but this is our go-to, dinner-at-home rice. We love it very much. 

The Rice Factory has a tiny retail stop in Kaka'ako. The bulk of their business is restaurant wholesale (you can find their rice at served at MW Restaurant, Halekulani, Hy's Steak House, etc.), but they have a devoted retail following...

How To Order Rice

There are three parking stalls so hope you get lucky. When you walk into the store, you'll see giant bags with six different types of rice (all from Japan). The 6th option is mochi rice, so you probably don't want that for your daily rice.

I usually get Yumepirika and/or Nanatsuboshi, we go through A LOT of rice at home.

Once you pick your rice, select what percentage of polishing/milling you desire:

• 0% = brown rice
• 50% = this is the one we usually get
• 70% = they call this one a good intro to brown rice 
• 100% = white rice

Neat, right? All rice starts as brown rice, but the more you polish away, the more white the rice gets. A 100% polish is what's known as white rice. They mill the rice on the spot in the back room (there's a window if you want to watch them mill).

The rice is hand-packed in pretty paper bags and it's still warm when they hand it over. Such joy! This warm rice feel reminds me of that happy, warm laundry feel.

Home Goods

I think of The Rice Factory stores as having four sections:

• Rice.
• Home goods.
• Pantry and frozen.
• Fresh prepared food and snacks. 

The home goods part has everything from plates and cups, chopsticks, beautiful donabes, and these cute bento boxes.

Pantry and Frozen

The pantry goods has everything from soy sauce to tinned fish (so many different kinds, I'm working my way through them all), furikake, miso soup mix, sushi vinegar, bonito flakes, nori sheets, etc.

There is also a freezer box with fish and ikura (when in season) and other treats. 

Food: Fresh Sweets and Drinks

On certain days, they offer special treats made in-store. They update customers on this via emails and on Instagram.

The food range from fresh drinks like this vinegar drink...

...where you can opt to add soda and/or honey, to onigiri (I haven't seen those in awhile so be sure to get a few if you spot them), and...

...ohagi! It's surprisingly had to find good ohagi in Hawaii. And what's super cool is that they make many different types of ohagi.

Ohagi are Japanese sweets made of mochi rice. The mochi rice is cooked, and formed into a tight (but not too tight) ball, and then wrapped with red bean paste. The Rice Factory's trio container above has two regular ohagi and a third one that's dusted in crushed, toasted rice. That one is my favorite.

Food: Special Vendors

The Rice Factory also has special events where they host local food vendors. In October they featured HONOBONO, a popular local kimchi maker. The owner was selling kimchi and two special drinks (Kokuto Iced Matcha Latte and Amazake Iced Cortados).

FYI for next time: pre-order the HONOBONO kimchi in advance. I didn't and they were sold out by the time I arrived! l'l; be sure to order early for their next event.

On that same day, The Rice Factory team was making Komeko Matcha Muffins! It was so fresh, they were steaming the muffins a few feet away from the cash register. Loved how it warmed the room, a happy feel. And all that good food!

I ordered one matcha muffins and an amazake iced cortado from HONOBONO. It was my first time having amazake and espresso together. I enjoyed them both in the car while the muffin was still warm ^_^

Food: Seasonal Specials

They make seasonal treat for holidays. For Valentine's Day, they had fresh chocolate mochi!

Four big pieces to an order. Fresh mochi rolled in cocoa powder and stuffed with dark chocolate ganache. Like a mochi truffle! I appreciate how all their sweets are never too sweet.

Fukubukuro Bags

At the start of each calender year, The Rice Factory sells fukubukuro bags which are mystery surprise bags. They usually have two options. This year there was a $55 bag or $100 bag.

I got the $55 bag, and here is what was inside! Lots of good pantry treat like pickles and furikake and vinegar and seasonings. And the fish sponge! So cute hehe. The bag also came with a two pound bag of rice plus two pieces fresh mochi to celebrate the new year.

I like visiting The Rice Factory because they keep changing things. My mom and I are always finding reasons to stop by. Always new food products. New drinks, new snacks. I learn a little bit more with each visit, that's also a happy feeling. Till next time ^_^

The Rice Factory: Insider Tips

• If you can't get to the store, The Rice Factory has a regular stall at the Kakaa'ko Farmer's Market (Saturdays, 8am-12pm).
• If five-pound bag is too much rice, they also have tiny pre-packed one-pound bags.
• Did you know giving rice as a gift is considered good luck? Load up on the one-pound bag for little office/holiday gifts.
• Store the uncooked rice in the refrigerator. It will be fresh for a month (this is why I buy in smaller five-pound bags as opposed to a ten-pound bag)
• Take advantage of their website - it has valuable (and interesting!) information like details on degrees of rice polishing and the correct way to cook rice.

INFO: The Rice Factory | 955 Kawaiahao Street, Honolulu, Hawaii 96814 | (808) 800-1520 | the-rice-factory-honolulu.square.site

COST: Prices start at $13.99 for a five-pound bag of rice. Snacks and drinks (when available), and pantry items start at $3. 

HOURS: Mon: 10am-6pm, Tues: closed, Wed-Sat: 10am-6pm, Sun: 10am-4pm