Nitrogen management plays a crucial regulatory role in ensuring rice yield and improving eating quality. In recent years, the significant increase in rice yield has largely relied on the excessive application of nitrogen fertilizers. However, the overuse of nitrogen in rice cultivation has raised widespread concerns due to its contribution to environmental pollution, increased production costs, and risks to human health. At the same time, consumer attention has increasingly shifted towards the eating quality of rice. Therefore, the challenge of improving eating quality while maintaining rice yield has become a key focus of research in this field. This paper reviewed the current domestic and international research on optimizing nitrogen management for rice, with a particular focus on rice yield, starch and protein characteristics, and eating quality. It also analyzed the practical issues associated with nitrogen management in rice production and discussed the prospects of nitrogen management in rice cultivation. This study provided valuable insights for future nitrogen management in rice production, aiming to achieve both high yield and enhanced eating quality.