Citygoers walking down Telegraph Avenue may notice a familiar name on a new storefront. Rice Dynasty soft-opened February as the sister restaurant to Noodle Dynasty.
Inside, customers pore over warm, steaming plates of rice, pork and eggs — only a few of the many items offered — served in bamboo baskets. The interior features modern wood-paneled furnishings, high ceilings and sweeping windows to the street. The restaurant’s menu centers on rice-based dishes inspired by traditional Chinese cooking methods, according to owner Xihang Liu.
“Our signature technique is steaming rice together with carefully selected ingredients inside a lotus leaf, placed in a bamboo basket,” Xihang Liu said in a text. “This method allows the fragrance of the lotus leaf to infuse into the rice while blending the flavors of the ingredients beautifully. Steaming is not only traditional, but also a healthier way to cook that highlights the natural taste of each ingredient.”
This tradition bodes well for Rice Dynasty. Campus sophomores Mathan Liu and Elson Liu both ordered the char siu pork rice, one of the rice-based dishes the restaurant specializes in.
Mathan Liu said he appreciated the “generous” portions and the “good service” he received. He added that he was initially “curious” about the restaurant due to its shared name with Noodle Dynasty. Elson Liu also said the staff asked for feedback on the dishes.
Every dish highlights a family recipe that has been passed down for generations, Xihang Liu said. Popular dishes include lotus bamboo basket rice, Dynasty crispy chicken, Family Recipe stir-fried pork ribs and steamed double-layer milk dessert.
“We value simplicity, quality ingredients and traditional cooking methods,” Xihang Liu said in the text. “We believe that good food doesn’t need to be complicated — it just needs care, balance and respect for tradition.”
With its soft opening underway, Rice Dynasty is preparing for its official grand opening slated for later this month.
Behind the restaurant’s focus on rice and family recipes is a much more personal story for Xihang Liu, as Rice Dynasty honors his mother and the traditions she taught him.
“My parents own a rice mill company back in China, so rice has always been a big part of my life,” Xihang Liu said in the text. “Serving rice dishes made from recipes passed down in my family is a way to honor my mother, who passed away two years ago. She is a hero to our family. Rice Dynasty is not just a business — it is a tribute to her memory and to the traditions she taught us.”