Sushi is an incredibly delicious thing to cook and eat, however it is not easy to get it right. We have all been disappointed when our sushi has not turned out the way we’d hoped.
One of the main problems with making your own sushi is choosing the appropriate rice. What kind of rice you use in sushi can make all of the difference — you can’t just use regular rice and expect your sushi to be restaurant quality.
Why, you may ask? Well, because sushi rice requires a higher starch content so as to allow the rice to absorb more water and become “sticky”. Sushi rice should be soft and moist and melt in your mouth — regular varieties like Basmati rice are too dry for sushi.
That’s why it’s important to get proper sushi rice to make sure you get great results. By getting special “sushi”, “japonica” or “calrose” rice, then you can make sure that the sushi you cook at home is delicious.
However, not all sushi rice was created equal! Even if you buy the right type of rice and prepare it to perfection, bad quality rice can still ruin your sushi. You want rice that will soak up water and become sticky (but never soggy), and stay fresh and light, even if you don’t eat the sushi right away.
Therefore, it’s very important you pick the best rice for sushi. Here are some of the best options for sushi rice, and which one is our most favourite.
Our Best Rice for Sushi at a Glance
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#1. Botan Calrose sushi rice
For more than sixty years, Botan has been producing exceptional quality sushi rice in California in the United States. If you want high-quality sushi rice that meets all of the US standards, then Botan is a great choice.
This rice is medium grain, making it ideal for making sushi.
The Botan Calrose rice comes in several different sizes, including 15 or 20 pound bags. It’s great if you generally buy your sushi rice in bulk, and it won’t run out for a long time.
- 1-15 pound bags
- All Natural
- Kosher certified
- Made in United States
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#2. Tamaki Gold Rice Sushi
Produced by Tamaki, another brand with decades of experience crafting delicious sushi rice, this is a great option if you want to make delicious sushi. This brand is famous worldwide thanks to its exceptional quality.
This rice is short grain, and has been milled. It is ideal for making sushi and that is what it is most famously known for.
This rice comes in smaller qualities, in bags of 4.4 pounds. This means its an ideal product if you don’t want to use and store a larger bag of rice. It’s also a resealable bag, which is very convenient.
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#3. Nishiki Medium Grain Rice
Grown in California, Nishiki is a highly respected name in sushi making, thanks to its exceptional quality and taste. Its medium grain rice is among the most popular types of rice for making delicious sushi each and every time.
This rice is very easy to cook to perfect for sushi, and stays moist and fluffy. As well as being used for sushi, it can also be used for other types of cooking such as stir fries. The taste of this rice really is exceptional, and will add quality to any dish.
This rice is sold in 5 pound bags, which are convenient to use and store. They are available to be bought in bulk for those who use a lot of sushi rice.
- 5 lb. bag
- When flavor and texture of the rice is crucial in cooking, Nishiki is the brand people look to.
- This along with consistent quality has made Nishiki the most popular rice brand today. Sushi experts agree that Nishiki is their number one choice.
- If you have leftover rice, put it away by saran wrapping it and refrigerating until it is time to eat again. When reheating, adding some water to the rice will fluff it up
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#5. Lundberg Family Farms Organic Sushi Rice
For those looking for the healthiest option for making sushi rice, then Lundberg’s offering is likely to be just perfect. This rice is certified organic, gluten free and non-GMO. Plus, it is vegan and kosher so everyone can enjoy it.
This product is famous for its exceptional quality and taste, while Lundberg are also well-known for their sustainable farming practices. So, not only does this rice taste great, but you can also feel good about using it, as well!
This rice comes in several varieties including Black Japonica, Black Pearl and classic Organic Sushi Rice. The bag is 16 ounces, and has a resealable top for convenience. It’s recommended that the rice is stored in the fridge.
- EXOTIC & BOLD: This gourmet blend of black & mahogany rice is succulent, with a roasted nutty flavor & exotic sweet spiciness. Plus, it’s high in health-promoting anthocyanin antioxidants, like those found in blueberries & blackberries.
- THOUGHTFULLY CRAFTED: This alluring whole grain cooks with a woodsy aroma, adding depth to any dish. Fill wonton papers with this rice to create Black Japonica ravioli, or use it in a chicken & rice soup. Good for your soul & your busy schedule!
- GOOD FROM THE GRAIN UP: This product is Non-GMO Project Verified, gluten-free, 100% whole grain, vegan, & Kosher. At Lundberg Family Farms, we strive to make every bite of our grains as healthful as they are delicious.
- LEAVE THE LAND BETTER THAN YOU FOUND IT: There’s more to food than flavor. Our focus on organic, non-GMO & diverse grains helps create a food system that doesn't drain our earth’s resources, & that puts meals on your table of the highest quality.
- CULTIVATING A FAMILY TRADITION: For over four generations, the Lundberg family has produced high-quality organic rice products. Our mission is to honor our family farming legacy by nourishing, conserving, & innovating for a healthier world.
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#6. Koshihikari Rice 4.4 Lb
This is premium quality rice from Japan that you can use for various dishes including sushi and rice balls etc. As an estimate you would get 8-10 sups for raw rice from one bag of 4.4 lbs. Koshihikari comes from the pedigree of Nippon species of rice in Japan. You will love it line most of the consumers who already have used this rice brand and are satisfied too.
Customer reviews
Taste is just amazing; however you need to choose new crop rice as after some time it may smell badly.
Perfect and restaurant quality sushi rice brand.
- 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐞: The premium quality of this sticky white rice results from years of cultivar improvement efforts. It features a quick cooking time with the best digestibility and is cultivated using the traditional farming principle.
- 𝐒𝐨𝐟𝐭 𝐘𝐞𝐭 𝐒𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐤𝐲 𝐓𝐞𝐱𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞: This Japanese rice is grown on farms and pure water is used for making sake. This variety is the utmost choice of chefs owing to its pearly, white color and soft yet slightly sticky texture.
- 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢: This short grain rice variety features a slightly sweet flavor, off-white color, and soft texture making them ideal for sushi. Also, its glycaemic index is low compared to others and has a high amount of resistant starch
- 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬: The koshihikari rice variety is short-grain rice cultivated in a traditional way. It is not only used to make sushi but also in biryani, risotto, paella, pilaf, and other ethnic food.
- 𝐏𝐚𝐜𝐤𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐝: This short grain white rice package weighs 4.4 pounds and comes packed in airtight pouch. Moreover, the package features dimensions of 11.22 x 7.68 x 5.31 inches.
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
#7. Kokuho Rice Sushi, 5 Lb
If you talk about the length, it is medium grain category rice that comes in 5 pound pack. Medium grain rice has a tendency of being sticky, more than long grain rice. It is sweet in taste and can be used in dishes that happen to be good as a sweet taste like rice pudding and sushi etc. Its quality of being sticky can be used fondly in recipes that need sticky rice.
- New crop and highest grade
- Easy to prepare, hardly take 15 munutes
- Medium grain
- Plump and nice when steamed
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Short grain rice brands
While short-grain rice brands are considered to be the best for multiple cuisines in Japan therefore, we have categorically listed some of them here.
Tamanishiki Super Premium Short Grain Rice, 4.4-Pounds
This short grain rice is of good taste and textures both, and it’s an amalgamation of both Koshihikari and Yumegocochi rice types better for sushi and rice cakes preparation. Lets go through what users have to say about this;
- This Japanese rice brands have made our meals amazingly delicious and it also looks good at presentation as well. Since this best Japanese rice brands have been machine cleaned and packed under quality parameters, so you need not to put time and efforts in cleaning it again
- People who have used it for Sushi creation have liked the taste, texture and right amount of stickiness to serve the purpose of cuisine making. It also can be used to cook other varieties of rice as well like rice balls and sweet rice etc. with great aroma and flavour.
- You need to be a little attentive while cooking, as it may easily get burn at the bottom it kept on high temperature. However, this is quality product that you would not mind paying a little extra for.
- Tamanishiki Super Premium Short Grain Rice, 4.4-Pounds
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Shirakiku Rice, Koshihikari, 15 Pound
This is one of the best short-grain rice species of Japan; it can be used as an everyday consumable ingredient. It has that stickiness and taste that would keep buying this again and again.
Premium Sushi Rice
While Nishiki is one of the finest premium sushi rice, however you can try tamanishiki for the purpose as well as it has great taste, textures and stickiness of short grain rice, which is a must for sushi preparation.
Customer Reviews
You would not regret choosing any of these Japanese rice brands because of quality and taste
Follow the sushi making recipes and you can prepare accordingly
An overall review rating of 4.3 out of 5 denotes that this rice is very reliable and liked by a lot of users already.
- 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐮𝐦 𝐐𝐮𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐞: Years of cultivar improvement efforts have resulted in the premium quality of this organic rice. It features a quick cooking time and is cultivated using the traditional farming principle.
- 𝐍𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐲 𝐂𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝: This Japanese rice is grown on a pure organic farm, and pure water is used for making sake. Its pearly, white color and soft yet slightly sticky texture are unparalleled by any other variety.
- 𝐈𝐝𝐞𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐨 𝐌𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐒𝐮𝐬𝐡𝐢: This short grain rice variety is ideal for making sushi because it contains a slightly sweet flavor, off-white color, and soft texture. Its glycaemic index is low compared to others and has a high amount of resistant starch.
- 𝐏𝐞𝐫𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐃𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐞𝐬: Koshihikari rice variety is a short-grain rice variety cultivated in the natural environment. It is used to make sushi, but its versatility makes it ideal for use in other ethnic dishes such as biryani, risotto and paella.
- 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: This short grain white rice package weighs 15-pound and comes packed in a pouch. To preserve it, keep it at a cool (10 to 15 ° C), dark place with low temperature and humidity.
Last update on 2025-01-20 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
Japanese Rice Brands
We all know the origin of famous cuisine Sushi is Japan and how can a delicious sushi be prepared without good quality rice. So we thought to bring to you some sushi special Japanese rice brands that would make your dish memorable and worth appreciation. Obviously anyone would want to celebrate good time with loved ones and making sushi n such get together is a wonderful idea and to boost your thought we have some amazing and tasty Best Japanese rice brands to discuss about below.
And the winner is…
We love all of these sushi rice brands and the way that they make sure that your sushi is absolutely perfect and totally delicious.
Of all three, our favourite is the Nishiki Medium Grain rice. This rice is world-famous and well-respected for a reason, that being its exceptional flavour, texture and quality. If you really want to impress with your sushi making, you should definitely consider Nishiki Medium Grain Rice!
