We Asked 3 Chefs to Name the Best Rice, and They All Said the Same Thing

The key to my heart has always been — and will always likely be — a bowl of perfectly steamed, white fluffy rice. It was the first solid food that I ate as a kid, and it’s the one thing that has been in my weekly (if not daily) meal rotation ever since.

As important as it is to cook rice properly, it’s just as crucial to have the right rice in the first place. That’s why I reached out to a handful of my chef friends (whose rice restaurants serve the absolute best rice) to figure out which one they stand by. Their unanimous recommendation? Wang Derm Jasmine Rice — and above all, a quality jasmine rice.  

It all started with a conversation I was having after shift with my friend Ohm Suansilphong, executive chef of Kru, a Michelin Guide-recommended and James Beard Nominated restaurant. I was eating out of a large bowl of freshly steamed rice, and it was so good that I had to ask, What rice is this?! 

Wang Derm Jasmine Rice, he shared instantly, and he hasn’t “switched from it … ever.” in every kitchen he’s cooked in, he’s only ever cooked with this jasmine rice. It’s grown in the Northern Countryside of Thailand, and has a very “fragrant aroma and high quality that you can taste,” he said.

Bryan Chunton and Pei Wei, co-owners and chefs of Zaab Zaab in New York City (which is also James Beard nominated, on the New York Times Best 100 List, and Michelin Guide recommended), are equally loyal to Wang Derm Jasmine Rice. It’s “soft and fragrant,” said Bryan, while Pei simply raved about its texture and the flavor. 

All three chefs get their rice from specialty restaurant stores, but you can also find it online at Instacart among other grocery retailers like DoorDash.

I wasn’t entirely surprised to hear that this Thai-grown jasmine rice is adored by such accomplished chefs. When I was growing up, my family ate rice at practically every meal. My aunt, Thiraporn Gosinanont, who is also the chef and owner of Peppermint, in Royal Palm Beach, Florida, goes through nearly a thousand pounds of rice a year. When I asked them about Wang Derm Jasmine Rice, they also said that it’s “the gold standard, best of the best” — but can be on the pricier end.