Cajun Rice from Popeyes
I don’t enjoy writing bad reviews, and I don’t enjoy eating bad food, but sometimes it happens. Such is the case with Popeyes Cajun Rice. Despite being a fan of the chain, and enjoying the other items I’ve eaten there, this dish left me totally disappointed.
The first time I tried the rice it was bad, however I figured my experience might be an isolated incident or anomaly. But after eating the rice four different times now, I can no longer make that assumption or excuse. On each occasion, I got the same results. Some people refer to this (or similar dishes) as “dirty” rice, and I cannot help making a pun and joke here — because indeed this stuff does tastes a little bit like dirt.
It looks good enough, with plump grains of rice being coated with the Cajun meat mixture they use. Looks can be deceiving, and this might be the best example of that I’ve encountered recently. I don’t understand how ground beef, chicken gizzards, green onions and various other spices can blend together and taste so awful and dry, but they do. My eyes said it appears delicious, but my taste buds told a different story.
I simply have nothing good to say about the flavor of this item. I would not order it again under normal circumstances. I don’t want to harp on this too much because I’ve plenty of love and respect for Popeyes in general. So keep that in mind Popeyes fans, before you give me a hard time. Read my reviews of their other items like Cajun fries, onion rings, beans with rice, and loaded chicken wrap. You’ll see I’m a fan too.
The Cajun Rice from Popeyes is simply unappetizing to me. It’s dry, dull, almost bitter taste leaves me empty and unsatisfied. This dish escapes a score of “F” by a narrow margin, saved only because (#1) adding some Popeye’s Hot Sauce makes it edible, and (#2) I’m assuming it’s an ‘acquired taste‘, so I won’t write it off completely.
Price: $1.49 / $3.49 Website: Popeyes.com
Fast Food Critic Score: D-
Click here for rating system details.
Nutrition Facts - Cajun Rice from Popeyes (regular).
Calories - 170
Calories from Fat - N/A
Total Fat - 6 grams
Carbs - 22 grams
Saturated Fat - 2 grams
Trans Fat - 0 grams
Cholesterol - 60 milligrams
Sodium - 530 milligrams
Protein - 8 grams
And you tried it four more times? Dude, you’ve got stamina!
See ya in a week….
I commented on this at a different website recently - this was my take on their dirty rice:
What a disappointment. I really liked the texture and moistness, but it really lacked the depth in flavor that it used to have. I’m not sure if they chinced on the spices, but the rice did not have any sort of excitement or variability to it. It had a brownish-grey flavor, not totally undesirable, just weak, tasting the same from the first bite through the aftertaste.
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Yeah, it does deserve an F. I used to love this so much too when I was a kid.
Looks like it could use some butter. Very low fat for fast food, that’s probably where they get it wrong.
My first thought when i saw the picture was that it needed some spices or something..it looks rather bland. so the hot sauce sort of helped?
I’m sure theres at least one item on every fast food menu that deserves this grade… or even an F.
It does look a little too dry. I make it a point to not order the side dishes, I always just get the default cajun fries with my orders. Plus, with the cajun fries, you get so much more than a small little cup of the other sides. I feel like i’m getting a better deal with the fries.
The seafood platter items are also a big waste of money. I mean, a couple of measly fried shrimps is pathetic looking.
What about the Jambalaya, I think you should review that someday. I’ve seen some people order it, and it looks like crap actually.
Wow,
Looks disgusting. I’ve never had Cajun rice so I can’t really judge.
If it’s really that bad, kudos to you for eating it 4 times!
If you want really good rice, try the dirty rice at Bojangles chicken…their chicken is also top notch too!.
The thing is… I kept ordering it thinking it would get better, or that maybe I would get accustomed to the taste and start to like it.
But it didn’t — and I didn’t.
The dirty rice there used to be incredible. I’ve had it on occasion recently, and it has definitely gone the way of the McDonalds french fry. It looks the same, but it’s definitely lost it’s soul. What a shame!
Where do you live at? The rice we have at our Popeye’s does not look anything like that, and actually it’s quite good. It’s called “Dirty Rice” though. I live about 35 minutes from New Orleans.
Hello Jessica, I’m in Texas.
Different recipe you think?