About Us

FRIED RICE started out as a fun nickname for the artistic and cultural diversity of our neighborhood in New York City's Lower East Side. In an era recently plagued by xenophobia and fear of the "other", we have always seen this small grid of city blocks as a place of inspiration, diversity, creativity and affinity for the uncommon perspective. It's disparate elements are all mixed up into something greater than its parts. 

On an average day, walking up Essex Street near Seward Park you might come across an old man sitting at the park's fountain playing a traditional flute, his melody layered over nearby sounds of hiphop and neighbors battling it out on the basketball courts in multiple languages. Just down the block are music halls, delis, mosques, taco stands, mahjong rooms, storefronts of young entrepreneurs and uncompromising creativity rising up from each corner.

Founder and designer MAYA joked with friends that her neighborhood was much like her favorite comfort food, fried rice: "all mixed up in a good way". 

Today we are fortunate to have grown into an international community of friends, artists and customers who are all deeply inspired by that diversity of cultural and creative perspectives in urban life, in our own neighborhoods and around the world. 

Inspired by creative minds.