When Fried Rice Meets the Cheeseburger: Red’s Chinese Goes Full New Orleans
\”This is where things are gonna get weird, folks\”. Guy Fieri perfectly sets the stage for what happens at Red’s Chinese in New Orleans. Chef Max has made something that sounds impossible but tastes amazing: Cheeseburger Fried Rice.
The idea is bold. As Guy says, the dish \”pretty much has everything that a cheeseburger has\” and still captures the authentic fried rice technique. This type of fusion could go terribly awry, but at Red’s Chinese, it has become a hallmark attraction.
The Art of the Awesome Sauce
Before the wok heats up, chef Max creates what he calls the “awesome sauce,” which is homemade Thousand Island that boosts the whole thing up a level. To start the base, he uses three egg yolks, then adds minced garlic and mushroom powder, which is one of Guy’s clear favorite secret ingredients. He then drizzles in some soy oil and fold in some processed pickle chips (relish style). As it is whipped, the mixture transforms into a garlic aioli, to which he adds some ketchup at the end.
Don't lose this list! Drop your email and we'll send it to you, so you've got it handy next time you're hungry or planning a trip.
Guy most definitely approves of the garlic aioli and pickle relish sauce as it comes together right before his eyes. This sauce is not a typical shortcut buy sauce; this sauce is the foundation of what makes the fusion work.
Building the Cheeseburger in a Wok
The fried rice is well worth the price. It starts with onions, then puts in what Guy calls “copious amounts” of bacon. Next, he adds ground beef that is awesome because it is cooked in the bacon fat. The rice is cooked in the leftover fat along with some white sugar and a special mushroom powder that gives the rice the umami flavor.
Now for the surprises. Guy did not expect for lettuce to go into the wok. Also going into the wok are roma tomatoes. The dish is topped with nacho cheese sauce, that scratch awesome sauce, yellow mustard, sesame seeds, and pickle chips.
Red’s Chinese, like Transported to Malaysia in Cincinnati OH, uses comfort food and reinvents it through surprising methods. Transported to Malaysia in Cincinnati, OH
The Verdict
Guys reaction tells the whole story: “One minute I get a bite in, it’s all cheeseburger, and I’m like okay… you picked the iconic aspects of both dishes and made them really sing.”
He notes the dish tastes “like exactly what it’s supposed to taste like,” with dill pickle on top the finishing touch to tie it all together. When asked what’s missing Guy has one answer: french fries. This dish has everything but french fries.
The energy of New Orleans is alive and well in this restaurant. It features an open bar and karaoke, plus Chef Max is featuring Crawfish Rangoon, and what Guy calls Eastern cakes on Western classics. Max’s vibe is what Guy says, “it must get rocking!” Plus, the fusion concept is evidence that it extends to the rest of the menu.
What Makes Red’s Chinese Work
One of the voices states that New Orleans is very traditional when it comes to their dishes, but she states that chef Brent has had the courage to fusion New Orleans cuisine with a different cuisine. That willingness to take risks, much like the creative takes you’ll find at Red’s Chinese, is what differentiates them from other places like where they serve Greek Spinach Pie in Marietta.
Guy sums it up best: “It’s just a great place that is never a bad choice. It’s awesome!”
Want to discover more Triple D spots with the unexpected and interesting flavor combinations? Look at our restaurant directory so you can plan your next food adventure.