Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice

November 18, 2009 | Reviewer: Abi

Price: $3.00
Serving: 1 cup, 5.68oz
Calories: 250 per serving, 625 per box
ALL INFO BELOW FOR 14.2 ounce box
Calories from Fat: 350
Fat: 35%, 23g
Saturated Fat: 10%, 2.5g
Trans Fat: 0g
Cholesterol: 7%, 25mg
Sodium: 90%, 2175mg
Protein: 20g
Carbohydrates: 28%, 82g
Fiber: 15%, 3g
Sugar: 5g
Weight Watchers: 14 POINTS

Tai Pei says: Chicken, vegetables, and fried rice with oyster flavored sauce.

Abi says: For years readers have implored me to try these faux-take-out meals, but even though I enjoy a great many items from 7-11 (including the Monterey Chicken Taquito – immensely satisfying when you’ve been drinking) I’m wary of the frozen meals. Frozen meals at 7-11 are overpriced and low on variety, inducing me to look elsewhere for lunch. Elsewhere being Safeway, the place that had these meals on sale at 2 for $7.00. Meaning $3.50 each. Not exactly a bargain.

The rice must be heated for about 6 minutes WITHOUT taking off the plastic. And then left to sit on your desk as you ponder the precise moment when it will be okay to open the plastic portion without burning yourself. I can say with certainty that it takes more than 1 minute and 30 seconds for that moment to arrive.

The actual contents of the carton are disheartening in their mushy glory: 10 thumbnail-sized chunks of albino chicken (and I have little thumbs, the image on the package is a lie), 8 chunks of baby corn, 12 carrot shreds, 16 peas, and a mass of lumpy steamed rice with replete with salt, oyster flavor, salt, yeast extract (AKA MSG) and salt. Oh, and caramel coloring.

In an effort to do something (anything) to improve this dish, I added soy sauce. While my arteries considered that a mistake, at least it confused my tongue enough to allow me to finish the meal. How is it that leftover fried rice is so amazingly delicious, yet this frozen fried rice was the worst lunch I’ve had in weeks?

Ingredients: COOKED RICE (WATER, RICE), COOKED WHITE CHICKEN STRIPS (CHICKEN WHITE MEAT, WATER, MODIFIED TAPIOCA STARCH, SALT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE), SAUCE (SOY SAUCE [WATER, WHEAT, SOYBEANS, SALT, ALCOHOL, VINEGAR, LACTIC ACID], CANOLA OIL, SESAME OIL, OYSTER FLAVORED SAUCE [WATER, SUGAR, SALT, OYSTER EXTRACTIVES, MODIFIED CORNSTARCH, CARAMEL COLOR], DEHYDRATED SOY SAUCE [SOY SAUCE (SOYBEANS, WHEAT, SALT), MALTODEXTRIN, SALT], SUGAR. CONTAINS LESS THAN 2% OF: NATURAL FLAVOR [POTATO MALTODEXTRIN, NATURAL FLAVOR, YEAST EXTRACT, SODIUM PHOSPHATE, SALT, POTASSIUM CHLORIDE], ONION POWDER, GARLIC POWDER, FLAVOR ENHANCER [AUTOLYZED YEAST EXTRACT, SUNFLOWER OIL, LACTIC ACID], XANTHAN GUM, SPICE), CARROTS, GREEN PEAS.

CONTAINS: OYSTERS, SULFITES, WHEAT, SOYBEANS.

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comments

14 Responses to “Tai Pei Chicken Fried Rice”

Marvo on November 18th, 2009

I’ve passed by these in the freezer aisle many times in Safeway. I’ve been tempted to pick them up, but then I get distracted by the TGI Friday’s potato skins next to them.

I wonder if Panda Express would ever venture into frozen entrees. I’m sure they would do a better job than these folks.
Anj Kay on November 18th, 2009

Heh, weird. I wrote up the reviews for Tai Pei’s Chicken Dumplings and Pork Dumplings just yesterday. I just haven’t sent them in yet. As you’ll see, I had a better experience with both of mine.
rob on November 18th, 2009

I’ve had these three or four times, “mushy” is the perfect description. They cost $2.50 here so if you are looking for cheap and fast calories they aren’t awful, but if you have more than $3 in your pocket you can do better elsewhere.
Jody on November 18th, 2009

I’ve had this and I didn’t mind it too much. Oh well.
Maywither Dragon on November 18th, 2009

baby corn and carrot shreds are my favorite!
Michael on November 18th, 2009

I’ve had these before as well, and thought they were disgusting.
Chrissy on November 18th, 2009

Try the Garlic Shrimp! It’s good, and a staple. I’m a lazy college kid, I’m pretty well versed in frozen stuff
christine on November 18th, 2009

Sounds yucky!
mbaesq on November 18th, 2009

Sadly enough I have to agree with this review. Surprisingly bad, mushy, and with hardly any chicken.

Even the canned Chung King chow mein would be preferable to this disaster.
Shannon on November 18th, 2009

I’ve tried this and I hated it. The chicken is small and it’s not good. bleh.
Jonnie on November 18th, 2009

Wow. Don’t you just hate it when the box totally deludes you thinking that it contains pieces of protein bigger than your little pinkie? They should stop enlarging the pictures or slap on warning labels instead.
harleytexas on November 25th, 2009

I’ve always had good experiences with this product and had a lot of large pieces of chicken in the package. If it lost the corn, it would be better. I would and do purchase this when I want some fried rice.
Rachel on November 28th, 2009

Try the Teriyaki Chicken from them! I love it!
James on December 6th, 2009

I love these things. You definitely should try taking them out of the plastic, though. , and opening the box slightly (Where the ends are still folded over, but it lets it vent more).

Every time I do that, it’s not mushy and it tastes great.