Undeniably, the best sushi rice is a crucial ingredient to make excellent sushi. However, for those who want to make delicious sushi at home, choosing high-quality sushi rice might be hard.
Don’t worry. Let’s scroll down my review of the 10 best sushi rice brands to ease your mind. My review will deliver you more essential information to opt for the best sushi rice brands that suit your needs the most.
What Makes The Best Sushi Rice Outstanding Than Others?
Regarding rice, you might be confused to differentiate the best sushi rice from other popular rice cultivars. Hence, I’ve included some main points in the table below for you to ease your concern.
Which Brands Of Sushi Rice Are The Best?
Let’s take a quick at some top-notch brands in producing sushi rice to narrow down your searching. With products from these brands, along with some tips and tricks to store rice, you’ll always have delicious rice to whip up delicious meals.
Tamanishiki
There is no need to introduce this renowned brand, which produces high-quality short-grain rice for making the best sushi. The rice’s premium quality is the combination of Koshihikari and Yumegokichi cultivars, which is raised and proceeded professionally in California.
Tamaki
Tamaki is the sushi rice producer under Tamaki Corporation that delivers authentic Japanese rice’s with superior taste. This trusted brand concentrates on integrating the upgraded milling technology with traditional farming principles.
Yuki Tsubaki
It is an established brand of Japanese short-grain rice that has becomes widely popular. Its products are favored due to high productivity and superb characteristics, including excellent taste and extraordinary texture. Besides, the company delivers various Japanese rice all over the world.
RiceSelect
Established 35 years ago, it is famous for providing rice products with flavorful and aromatic texture. In terms of sushi rice, It also makes a great point for creating high-quality rice like the Japanese rice preferred by most customers.
Lundberg Family Farms
For organic sushi rice, Lundberg Family Farms will always be on the top list. The company not only grows top-notch quality rice but also ensures the rice is organically certified by USDA.
Which Are The Best Sushi Rice Brands To Buy?
Tamanishiki, Tamaki, and Koshihikari are trusted brands producing the best sushi rice that I strongly suggest you should consider. Their products are favored thanks to the fantastic flavor and ideal texture. Besides, you might consider the sushi rice delivered by Kokoho with the premium quality at an effective price.
Below are the best sushi rice brands to try in 2023. Keep reading to figure out the best one that satisfies your demand.
- Best Overall: Tamanishiki 10003 Sushi Rice
“Raised in California, premium short-grain rice, all-natural, non-preservatives, and thickness.” - Best Budget: Kokuho Medium-grain Sushi Rice
“Medium-grain milled rice, Kosher certified, gluten and wheat free, and made in the United States.” - Best Versatile: Tamaki Gold Sushi Rice
“Top-notch brand of premium quality rice, versatile uses, perfectly sticky and rich texture, and short-grain type.” - Best Gluten-free and Kosher: RiceSelect Sushi Rice
“Sweet flavor, soft and sticky texture, no preservatives or additives, low in fat, gluten-free, ergonomic recyclable and BPA-free package, and Non-GMO verified.” - Best Organic: Lundberg Family Farms Organic Sushi Rice
“A classic Japanese type, short-grain rice, USDA organic, verified by Kosher and Non-GMO project, and gluten-free.” - Best Premium: Yuki Tsubaki Premium Sushi Rice
“Ultra-premium quality, fluffy and savory cooked rice, sticky texture, and made in Uonuma.” - Best Sticky: McCabe Organic Sushi Rice
“White short-grain and round rice, USDA certified organic, moisture cooked texture, and sun-dried in California.” - Best Calrose Rice: Botan Calrose Rice
“Natural and medium-grain rice, all-purpose table, moist and sticky texture, easily seasoning absorption, made in the United States, and certified Kosher.” - Best Medium-grain: Nishiki Premium Rice
“Combination of balanced flavor and extraordinary sticky texture, consistent quality of medium-grain rice, and made by renowned brand.” - Best Short-grain: Shirakiku Japanese-style Sushi Rice
“Typical Japanese rice, high-quality short-grain rice, nutritionally deficient, and great tasting.”
Best Sushi Rice Comparison Table 2023
Aiming to save your time and effort in researching the best sushi rice brands, I’ve included the best ones in the comparison chart based on vital features. Let’s scroll down for more details!
My Reviews For The Best Sushi Rice Brands in 2023
Looking for the best sushi rice to add to your list of ingredients to make dragon roll sushi? If that is the case, you’ll need to carefully compare different products and evaluate their pros and cons. Hence, my best sushi rice brands reviews will support you in choosing the most valuable one.
1. Tamanishiki 10003 Sushi Rice
(Best Overall)
For making sushi, choosing Tamanishiki 1003 Sushi Rice is a no-brainer. It offers premium quality short-grain rice, which combines Koshihikari and Yumegokichi rice strains. Hence, the texture is extraordinarily sticky and moist for making the great-tasting of sushi.
With the Tamanishiki 1003 Sushi Rice and an easy-to-use kit for making sushi, you’ll soon be able to make restaurant-quality sushi right within your home. The fantastic flavors from the rice, along with the beautiful sushi shape, will definitely impress everyone you know.
Additionally, this sushi rice is all-natural, which means no preservatives and gluten are added to this sushi rice. Consequently, you no longer worry about harmful contamination in your soft rice. Furthermore, it is ideal for people on a diet due to low-fat ingredients.
Key Features:
- Rich flavor
- Excellent sticky texture
- Natural ingredients
- Raised in California
Pros
- Sticky and moist texture
- Top-quality short-grain rice
- Natural and non-artificial ingredients are good for your health
- It’s straightforward to use
Cons
- It’s slightly pricey
Product Specifications:
Brand | Tamanishiki |
Product dimensions | 19.01 x 12.91 x 2.99 inches |
Weight | 15.23 Pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup uncooked (42g) |
Calories per serving | 150 kcals |
Protein per serving | 2g |
Pack | Pack of 1 |
Type | White short-grain rice |
2. Kokuho Medium-grain Sushi Rice
(Best Budget)
At an affordable price, you might choose the sushi rice from KoKuho. It is medium-grain milled rice, though its unique thick texture makes this sort of sushi rice outstanding for making the best sushi. Certainly, the rice is preferred because of the soft and rich flavor, which absorbs seasoning easily and deeply for great tasting sushi.
Additionally, the Kokuho Sushi Rice is certified by Kosher about the quality, especially in terms of non-gluten and wheat-free ingredients. Therefore, this product is suitable for all people, no matter what you are allergic to gluten or not.
Key Features:
- The new variety of rice
- High-grade quality of rice
- Gluten and wheat free
- Plump and sticky texture while cooking
- Simple preparation
Pros
- The sushi rice is a fresh variety for the high-grade quality
- Unique thick and rich texture
- Compact to various uses even people who are sensitive to gluten or wheat also
- It’s simple to prepare on stove or rice cooker
- Reasonable price
- Certified about the original and quality
Cons
- It is not recommended for vegan
- Cooking longer than the short-grain rice
Product Specifications:
Brand | Kokuho |
Product dimensions | 17.17 x 12.13 x 3.94 inches |
Weight | 15.23 Pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup uncooked (45g) |
Calories per serving | 170 kcals |
Protein per serving | 3g |
Packs | Pack of 1, Pack of 2, Pack of 3, Pack of 4 |
Type | White medium-grain rice |
3. Tamaki Gold Sushi Rice
(Best Versatile)
For the top-notch brand in producing high-quality rice, look no further! The Tamaki Gold Sushi Rice might be your ideal choice. In detail, this short-grain rice delivers a sticky texture and a balanced flavor. Hence, it is straightforward to make with ease.
As a bonus, it is a well-rounded rice used to make sushi and many other dishes. It has amazing flavor and consistent quality, allowing you to make different sushi types with ease. Also, the rice has an outstanding long-lasting lifetime for your convenient use and storage.
Even when cooked, this rice can still last for quite a long time. As a result, the shelf life of sushi made from this rice is quite decent as well. Suffice to say, getting the Tamaki Gold Sushi Rice is one of the best choices you can make.
Key Features:
- Top-notch short-grain rice
- Adapting to various dishes
- Sticky rice and rich flavor
Pros
- The signature quality of short-grain rice
- Versatile purposes
- Providing rich flavor and ultra-sticky texture
- Prolonging the lifetime of maintenance
- Affordable price
Cons
- Lack of vitamin A value in this sushi rice
- Carefully maintenance to avoid the bugs in the package
Product Specifications:
Brand | Tamaki |
Product dimensions | 17 x 9 x 4 inches |
Weight | 15 Pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup prepared (45g) |
Calories per serving | 160 kcal |
Protein per serving | 3g |
Pack | Pack of 1, Pack of 2, Pack of 3, Pack of 4 |
Type | White short-grain rice |
4. RiceSelect Sushi Rice
(Best Gluten-free And Kosher)
Are you looking for sushi rice that meets your dietary demands? I highly recommend picking the one from RiceSelect.
First and foremost, it won’t take your much concern about the quality because this sushi rice has a combination of soft, sticky texture, and sweet flavor. As a result, it is ideal for making not only sushi but also rice puddings. Notably, this kind of sushi rice is created with a low quantity of fat and cholesterol or sodium; even no preservatives are added.
The RiceSelect is packaged in a food-grade jar, which is recyclable and eco-friendly for use. Further, let’s get rid of your worry if you consider what you eat since the Non-GMO Project and Star K verify the reliable quality without gluten.
Key Features:
- Packaged in a food-grade jar
- Sweet flavor
- Soft and sticky texture
- Non-GMO verified
- No preservatives or additives
Pros
- Ergonomic and eco-friendly package
- Rich texture and tasting flavor
- Taking advantage of this sushi rice for various uses
- Ideal for keto people
- The quality is verified
- No harmful or sensitive ingredients are added
Cons
- Might be a bit dry for some people
- Can be tricky to roll into sushi shape
Product Specifications:
Brand | RiceSelect |
Product dimensions | 8.56 x 8.56 x 7 inches |
Weight | 9.25 Ounces |
Serving size | 1/4 cup dry (45g) |
Calories per serving | 160 kcals |
Protein per serving | 3g |
Pack | 4 packs |
Type | White short-grain rice |
5. Lundberg Family Farms Organic Sushi Rice
(Best Organic)
The next valuable option is the Lundberg Family Sushi Rice. If you’re concerned about whether rice is vegan or not, this product is what you need.
One of its highlight features is organic, which is verified by the USDA. Most of us can also try this sushi rice regardless of gluten allergy or diet because it is gluten-free and ideal for vegan. Certainly, this quality is certified by the Non-GMO Project.
Furthermore, this sushi rice is renowned for its high quality that’s comparable to classic Japanese short-grain rice. In other words, the cooked rice is not only fluffy and soft but also sticky, which helps to keep the ingredient in sushi firmly.
Because the Lundberg Family Sushi Rice can stay fluffy for quite long, it also affects the length of time sushi can sit out. While sushi made from low-quality rice might fall apart or gain a chewy texture, this product can guarantee to keep the ingredients intact while maintaining its fluffiness.
Key Features:
- Classic Japanese and premium short-grain rice
- Verified organic by USDA
- Gluten-free rice
- Quality is certified by non-GMO
Pros
- Organic ingredient without gluten
- Everyone can enjoy even gluten people or vegan
- High-quality rice like authentic Japanese short-grain rice
- Certified quality by USDA and non-GMO project
- Low in fat and cholesterol
- Cooking with ease
Cons
- Must require more effort to repackage the rice from insects or bugs
- Short expiration date
Product specifications:
Brand | Lundberg Family Farms |
Product dimensions | 9 x 4 x 2 inches |
Weight | 2 pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup dry (45g) |
Calories per serving | 160 kcals |
Protein per serving | 5g |
Pack | Pack of 1 |
Type | White short-grain rice |
6. Yuki Tsubaki Premium Sushi Rice
(Best Premium)
Concerning premium sushi rice, the Yuki Tsubaki Premium Sushi Rice will be deserved in your top list. However, it’s certainly worth every penny.
First and foremost, this kind of sushi rice is extraordinarily rare with the ultra-premium short-grain rice. Indeed, the result of cooked rice won’t make you disappointed due to the soft, savory flavor and thicker texture. Therefore, you make your delicious sushi without extra effort and enjoy the better seasoning absorbing in the rice.
Additionally, it is made in Uonuma and delivered by Yuki Tsubasi, a famous and reliable brand in producing sushi rice. Hence, you are ensured about its top-notch quality.
Instead of worrying about the quality of this fantastic sushi rice, you can spend your efforts on making the best side dishes to serve alongside sushi. This way, your perfect sushi will have a chance to shine on the dinner table and capture everyone’s hearts.
Key Features:
- Ultra-premium Japanese rice
- Famous and reliable originals
- Fluffy and sticky rice
Pros
- Top-notch quality of rice
- Specific and reliable origin
- The flavor and texture is perfect, like typical Japanese sushi rice
- Cooking without hassles
Cons
- Pricey
- The content on the package is written totally in the Japanese language
Product specifications:
Brand | Yuki Tsubaki |
Product dimensions | 13.23 x 9.17 x 4.13 inches |
Weight | 11.11 Pounds |
Serving size | Not specified |
Calories per serving | Not specified |
Protein per serving | Not specified |
Pack | Pack of 1, Pack of 2, Pack of 3, Pack of 4, Pack of 5 |
Type | White short-grain rice |
7. McCabe Organic Sushi Rice
(Best Sticky)
The next contender will be the McCabe Organic Sushi Rice. Outstanding other sushi rice, its highlight feature is unique stickiness. Along with that, you make the most of this organic and short-grain rice to make various delicious dishes, including great sushi, rice puddings, and more.
McCabe dries sushi rice under the California sun, contributing to a more nutritional value such as vitamin D and extra minerals. Finally, the package is designed firmly and durable for convenient transport without breaking into several small parts.
Key Features:
- 100% organic short-grain rice
- USDA and CCOF certified organic
- Sun-dried in California for extra nutritions
Pros
- Great flavor and texture
- Taking advantage of the rice for all-round purposes
- USDA and CCOF certified organic rice
- More nutritions are added in the sushi rice due to sun-dried California
Cons
- Lack of cooking direction for using in the rice cooker
- Might require to transfer into another container for long-lasting maintenance without bugs or insects
Product Specifications:
Brand | McCabe |
Product dimensions | 10.2 x 6.93 x 2.64 inches |
Weight | 1.5 Pounds |
Serving size | 45g |
Calories per serving | 160 kcal |
Protein per serving | 5g |
Pack | Pack of 1, Pack of 2, Pack of 3 |
Type | White short-grain rice |
8. Botan Calrose Rice
(Best Calrose Rice)
For calrose rice lovers, you take a glimpse into the Botan Calrose Rice. It’s thoroughly processed by the producers to deliver you natural and high-quality rice. For this reason, though it’s not kind of authentic short-grain sushi rice, its amazing moist and sticky texture makes it stand out for sushi. Indeed, this Calrose Rice is favored by the extraordinary stickiness and easy seasoning absorption.
Furthermore, it is extremely versatile. Aside from making sushi, you can also use it to make rice puddings, gruel, or other dishes of that kind. Plus, it has trusted origin and verified quality to ensure your health’s best safety while using.
Key Features:
- Natural medium-grain rice variety
- Soft and stickier texture
- All-round table rice
- Kosher certified quality
- Made in the United States
Pros
- The rice is proceeded carefully and thoroughly with clearly and verified quality
- Making the most of this rice for versatile purposes
- Natural and top-notch quality in terms of flavor and stickiness
- Reasonable price
Cons
- It’s not exactly short-grain sushi rice
- Taking more time to rinse before cooking
Product Specifications:
Brand | Botan |
Product dimensions | 19.02 x 12.99 x 3.7 inches |
Weight | 15.35 Pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup uncooked (45g) |
Calories per serving | 155 kcal |
Protein per serving | 3g |
Pack | Pack of 1, Pack of 2, Pack of 3, Pack of 4 |
Type | White medium-grain rice |
9. Nishiki Premium Sushi Rice
(Best Medium-grain)
In terms of making sushi by medium-grain, the renowned premium grade rice from Nishiki might meet your demands.
Even though it is not the classic Japanese short-grain sushi rice, this one delivers the same texture and flavor. Unquestionably, the Nishiki’s rice is the extremely sticky, soft, and balanced flavor for making sushi without troubles.
Additionally, while processing, the rice is milled to perfection status, which means that the rice is cleaned without rinsing before your cooking. Therefore, you can save a lot of time on cooking preparation.
Key Features:
- Balanced flavor
- Exceptionally sticky texture
- High-quality medium-grain rice
- Made by Nishiki – the reliable brand
Pros
- It’s effortless to prepare
- Saving time and effort on making sushi
- Healthy ingredients for your health
- Providing authentic quality like typical Japanese sushi rice
Cons
- It is not entirely traditional origins due to medium-grain rice
Product Specifications:
Brand | Nishiki |
Product dimensions | 3.45 x 4.88 x 12.1 inches |
Weight | 5 Pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup uncooked (42g) |
Calories per serving | 150 kcal |
Protein per serving | 3g |
Pack | Pack of 1 |
Type | White medium-grain rice |
10. Shirakiku Japanese-style Sushi Rice
(Best Short-grain)
Supposed you are seeking authentic Japanese short-grain rice, and you should pick the Shirakiku Japanese Sushi Rice. Undeniably, it will provide you with high-quality flavor and texture for making sushi. Certainly, it is regarded as absorbing perfectly vinegar or other seasonings to make the ideally delicious sushi.
Furthermore, Shirakiku’s sushi rice is rich in nutritional values and enough calories for each serving. For this reason, it is not only used at home but also widely used in most restaurants.
Key Features:
- Typical Japanese rice
- Top-grade short-grain rice
- Delicate flavor
Pros
- Providing authentic flavor and texture of typical Japanese sushi rice
- Made by the famous and reliable brand
- Delivering high nutritional values
- It’s straightforward to prepare
- Satisfied flavor
Cons
- The package might need to replaced with the container to avoid insects
- It’s quite expensive
Product Specifications:
Brand | Shirakiku |
Product dimensions | 17.72 x 13.78 x 2.76 inches |
Weight | 15.01 Pounds |
Serving size | 1/4 cup uncooked (45g) |
Calories per serving | 160 kcal |
Protein per serving | 2g |
Pack | Pack of 1, Pack of 2, Pack of 3 |
Type | White short-grain rice |
Fundamental Things About Choosing Sushi Rice
Keep in mind these essential things when it comes to buying sushi rice. Furthermore, knowing which elements contribute to the best sushi rice will solidify your decision.
Flavor And Texture
For making delicious sushi, the rice must be soft and moist to absorb seasoning deeply . Furthermore, it’s highly important to have a sticky texture for holding other ingredients with ease. Therefore, the rice’s flavor and texture play an important part in making delicious sushi.
I strongly recommend opting for the classical Japanese short-grain and round rice for the best authentic flavor and texture to meet that standard. Plus, this kind of rice won’t take you much time and effort to prepare. Otherwise, you can choose the medium-grain rice and yet check carefully whether it has the required sticky texture or not.
Moreover, you can consider choosing brown rice due to the nutritional value and satisfactory quality. However, sushi enthusiasts might frown upon the idea of using brown rice in this Japanese treat.
Non-pre-washed Rice
Unquestionably, the starch is one of the important factors that contribute to the rice’s stickiness. You should pick the rice that has not been pre-washed. In other words, opting for the rice that needs rinsing will contribute to a better sticky texture.
Newly Produced Rice Is Better
Newly harvested rice or first crop rice are be the essential elements that you shouldn’t forget.
Old rice won’t not only deliver you the top-notch quality but also take more time to cook. Consequently, you can keep an eye on the package or on the product description to verify whether it is still new.
Thanks to that, you are no longer concern about the limited expiration date and enjoy the best rice quality without extra effort during preparation.
Simple Preparation And Low Maintenance
You should check the package carefully for the instructions and the suitable kitchen utensils that can be used to cook that sushi rice.
What’s more, the rice with low maintenance certainly saves you much time and effort. Most sushi rice doesn’t come with a high-quality package; therefore, you should repackage or transfer it into a container for long-lasting use, plus avoiding insects or bugs.
How To Cook The Best Sushi Rice?
Below are five common steps I would like to share for making the best sushi rice with the rice cooker.
- Step 1: Measuring the quantity of rice that you intend to cook. You can calculate according to cups for the nearly exact portion following your demands.
- Step 2: Rinse it underwater to remove dirt and small remain particles. Please don’t do this step for too long or you will remove all the starch and essential nutritions.
- Step 3: Pouring rice in the rice cooker with the same portion of water. For example, 1 cup of sushi rice will need 1 cup of water. However, you should carefully follow the instruction on the package to measure the clear water for that type of sushi rice.
- Step 4: Turn on the button and waiting for the cooked rice with a soft and moist texture.
- Step 5: Add vinegar and mix the cooked sushi rice in a slicing motion.
FAQs
There are several frequently questions asked will be explained in this part.
My Top Pick
My ultimate choice is the Yuki Tsubaki Premium Sushi Rice. Despite the premium price, its quality worths every penny.
Firstly, it is made by a reliable and top-notch brand in producing premium quality sushi rice. Furthermore, this kind of sushi rice delivers the authentic tasting flavor and the nice texture of typical Japanese sushi rice.
A cheaper, yet still has top-notch quality, is Kokuho Medium-grain Sushi Rice. It’s straightforward to prepare in a short time with ease. Hence, I no longer find it too hard to make delicious sushi.
Hopefully, my review can help you with more useful information to pick the suitable sushi rice that meets your needs the most. If the article has helped you, please like and share the post with your friends and family.