Red’s Chinese

The person who delivered my food had the nerve to text me this after he dropped off my delivery. I guess he didn’t think my tip was «enough». Great customer service…

I’ve never had a worse experience at a restaurant. I would suggest eating elsewhere. The atmosphere seemed inviting but that proved to be short lived. It’s New Orleans and there are so many more (welcoming and delicious) options. Do yourself a favor and steer clear.

We got takeaway from this place on a dark and stormy night. We had a night of netflix and chinese ahead of us. I was even thinking some chilling might occur.
This is what we got:
Royal Ribs
Kung Pao Pastrami
Yaka mein
I’ve never thought food from a restaurant was disgusting. Until I took a bite of those royal ribs. and then a bite of some of the kung pao pastrami. They were, indeed, disgusting. The smell was nasty and the taste matched. If it wasn’t takeaway, I would have returned the food and left. The ribs were overseasoned. Very overseasoned. The bbq sauce was overpowered by the seasoning. The spice combination did not smell edible. The pastrami had fermented beans in it. I didn’t expected them and nor did my mouth. Yuck. Eek. Methinks not.
The fortune cookie said «don’t seek advice from a fortune cookie.» and then on the back it said, if i want another fortune, go to

After literally throwing away the food, and then reading that snarky fortune cookie, I flipped out at my SO for suggesting we get food from this place. She got angry because I got angry at her. I got angry from eating bad food. We didn’t chill that night. Thanks Red’s.
If you do end up going here since your officemates are intent on trying this place, get the Yaka mein, it was alright.

big fun in here. fusion fusion fusion. we tried pastrami fried rice, pineapple rice, general tso, congee, OMG what else? four of us just sampling as much as possible including the big pineapple rum drink.
most excellent. flavorful food with a twist. not really chinese but fused with chinese. if you haven’t been here its really great. I look forward to this being a new staple for us.
it is pretty loud inside, and lots of hustle and bustle… cause this place is busy. waitress was in the weeds, and handled it really well.

I could have not been more disappointed by this place. Despite the rave reviews, impressive menu, and trendy Bywater location, Reds Chinese was simply bad. All of the food I ordered was bland and unseasoned. The beef in my Bok Choi and Beef was poorly butchered and hastily cooked. It was like poking at something on a cafeteria plate… The Hawaiian fried rice was dry and had no flavor. The chicken in it was over cooked and there was no pineapple in the dish whatsoever despite it being on the menu. As if the bad food wasn’t enough, I’ve had stomach issues since eating at this place. New comers be wary, Reds has a great reputation but can’t even come close to living up to the hype. Let’s put it this way, my girlfriend and I had a ton of leftovers, and decided to throw them away rather than saving them.

Well, I have to say the food is horrible. None of them taste like real Chinese food. Plz never try the scallion noddles and generals chicken.
Btw, do not use their restroom. The decoration in there is really weird. I don’t understand their restaurant’s culture. What is that? Death?
I will never take my family back here again. My little son got really scared by the atmosphere .
Never, never trust their four stars reviews.

It was the first time the cold spell hit New Orleans (and then days later went back to 80 degrees) but I was starving and craving something warm so a friend suggested we go grab Red’s. From what I’ve been told it’s a homage/​connected to Mission Chinese in San Fran, but don’t quote me on that.
It’s the lower part of what looks like a house on St. Claude. I’d suggest parking on St. Claude or not far off it, especially if you’re coming by yourself. The space is quaint and wasn’t busy which was perfect for us.
Together, to share, we ordered 4 sliders ($ 12), yaka mein ($ 10 size) and the ginger scallion noodles ($ 10), so I guess you could say we really ordered oodles of noodles. This was more than enough plus leftovers for us two.
The yaka mein was uh-​mazing. As you can see from the lack thereof a picture, it’s because we just dove right in like Olympic synchronized divers Kelci Bryant and Abby Johnston. The broth was perfect, not-​too-​salty, with little boiled eggs bobbing around chubby udon noodles with hearty pieces of beef short rib just lurking under the surface. The $ 10 bowl was easily shareable between the two of us, and we may or may not have sipped up the rest of the broth like a tasty beefy cocktail. I would say next time, I probably wouldn’t get two noodle dishes again just because we ended up taking the ginger scallion dish home in two to-​go containers to be enjoyed the next day. The flavors weren’t as bold as the yaka mein which actually made it a great second dish with fresh scallions, a heaping bowl of silky noodles, a big yummy egg, and light flavors that can be kicked up with a couple shots of Sriracha.
The sliders (I can’t remember the meat) were OK. I liked that they’re on steamed bao buns, but would’ve liked more texture and flavor, but I’m pretty sure their slider recipes change often, just an FYI.
They were out of their warm toddy cocktail at the time, so I ordered La Diabla, with ginger, crème de cassis, arbol-​chili infused Sombra mezcal. I’m not big on tequila, but the smoky cousin is muy delicioso especially when infused. I would love for them to have hot sake on the menu. They didn’t at the time, but maybe they’ll bring it back!
Will 100% be back to try other dishes, and will need that yaka mein in my life again; the ultimate cold weather comfort food and hangover cure!

This stuff was gooood. The fried chicken! sweet, spicy, and lemony. I also love the smashed cucumbers ap. the soups are yummy and they deliver to my neighborhood quickly and accurately. to be honest I’ve never been in the place (lol) so the only ambience I have to worry about is my house, which is just fine.

Where do I begin with this place. We ordered almost the whole menu for a table of 6 people and it was just $ 20 a head with tip.
Cucumber appetizer: excellent
Rice Dishes: excellent
Ribs: unbelievable
General’s Chicken: unbelievable
Everything had a different spice and it was so nice, with great service to boot. This is Chinese food in name only, it should have its own category. Excellent choice and the more people you bring the better because the dishes are family style.

This place has a different twist on Chinese food. The service was great and the portions were huge. The only thing that I would come back here for is the ribs.
Ribs: Sweet and sooo delicious! Falls straight off the bone!
Ginger scallion noodles: These noodles were so bland. All you taste is ginger and scallion.
Hawaiian fried rice: So I don’t understand why you would put curry in fried rice. The curry was overpowering and it made the rice inedible. There’s fried chicken in the rice, which was the only thing we ate.

Reiterating what other reviewers have said, Red’s is a hidden gem located in an unassuming building. My boyfriend and I actually drove past it even with the help of Google Maps – there is no sign in front of the building.
With that being said, the food here is pretty damn good, and the portions are HUGE for the price. We started off with the Smashed Cucumbers in Tahini Sauce & the Hot & Sour Soup. The cucumbers were light & refreshing, but a little one-​note. As for the Hot & Sour Soup, it’s easily the best that I’ve had at any Asian restaurant; the soup was chock full with veggies & Monkfish, and contained the right amount of sourness. It’s definitely a must-​order whenever I return to Red’s.
For the entrees we had the Ribs and the General’s Chicken. If we would’ve known how big the portions are, we would’ve only ordered one entrée to split. Both were incredibly filling and will be good leftovers for lunch tomorrow.

Red’s is a true hole in the wall. Inconspicuously situated in the lower left section of a 4-​plex building on St. Claude St; it’s the last place you’d expect to find a great Chinese (fusion? innovative Chinese?) restaurant. There’s no sign with ‘Red’s Chinese’ on it, just a lit up red square letting you know where to go in, which is the opposite of what you expect upon seeing the exterior. Now to the food:
The good:
Hot and Sour soup is one of the best I’ve had. It packs a flavor punch and contains lots of mushrooms and chunks of Monk fish.
Fried Prawns w/​Sausage and Chili Sauce: DAYUM. Very good, perfectly crispy fried, enough so that you can eat the entire prawn w/​shell, no peeling necessary.
General Lee’s Chicken: A large half of chicken fried in one big piece with the bones and smothered in nuts and their special ‘Lee’s’ sauce. Much sweeter than spicy. Overall still delicious if you’re looking for something on the sweeter side.
Shaved ice dessert: Ugh, I can’t remember what it was called exactly. This is awesome! Just see the pictures.
The meh:
Pastrami rice cake dish: This was ok, but the pastrami was SO (emphasis added) fatty that there was a quarter inch of liquefied fat on the bottom of our dish. It had potential but it was just a little too much.
Hawaiian Fried Rice: I’ve seen other reviews praising this dish. We thought it was just OK. Not bad, but nothing to write home about. Wouldn’t get it again but wouldn’t turn it down if it was offered, ya know?
Portions are big, wait staff and chefs are friendly. AND they have a nice courtyard in the back to sit out on! ⁴⁄₅

So, google maps lied. There is no streetcar to this place. When the streetcar driver inquired what it was I was looking for he had no clue about this place. In fact, the über driver didn’t either. And I liked that! There is no signage out front just a big red square. The only person who knew what I was talking about was the girl at Continental Provisions and she was the type of person I would expect to be in the know. I was torn between the Kung Pao Pastrami and the General’s chicken. I went with the General’s Chicken and I’m not looking back. It was so good I had to photo every piece (sorry for the sticky finger, dark lighting photos). It was fusion food that was perfectly and purposely inauthentic Chinese. A half a chicken deep fried, coated in delicious sauce (I could taste fish sauce for sure), topped with peanuts and cilantro garnished with oranges. I ate two pieces and got the rest to go. As soon as I got back to the hotel I was back for round two.
If you are looking for something different and delicious… you found it. They do deliver but not the the warehouse district sadly for me. BUT they did write me back on FB in a heartbeat.

Absolutely the best kept secret in New Orleans,
Amazing infusion of food it’s fresh & spicy.
With hands on owners thats shown in every detail in the plate that they care…
Simply must try, impossible to regret it.
FYI: I think the best part is that its incognito you would never imagine what you’re going to receive from outside.

This is a easy 5 star hole in the wall. I’m almost hesitant to review this place for fear that too many people will show up, but it is my duty as an elite Unilocaler to help you out as per the Unilocal Elite oath-​to-​office I took (didn’t you take one too?).
There is absolutely no way you’ll find this place if you don’t already know what you’re looking for. The sign out front has a big red square on it. That’s it. No words, no nothing. Inside boasts a no frills diner style restaurant. The food however, is delicious.
There was a big group of us so we ordered all sorts of things. I can’t begin to tell you what they were. I ordered the General Tso’s Chicken. Instead of the normal chunks of fried chicken, it came out as whole fried chicken wings. Awesome. Just plain awesome. It had a hint of sweet to it so if that isn’t to your liking, you may want to steer clear.
Service was «family» style with the entrees showing up on serving dishes instead of individual plates.
This place is worth the trip. Go and enjoy an awesome dinner. Stop thinking about it… just go.

If it weren’t for the chefs I would give this place probably a 3 or 4 out of 5 stars. The food is AMAZING… but you must sit at the bar top towards the front of the restaurant and chi chat with the chefs. Tobias is the head chef and totally cool. Very good sense of humor. Max is also super sweet and loves to have people sitting up there to chat with.
Honestly my first experience here would have been ruined if it weren’t for those two guys. My boyfriend and I walked in and had no idea what was going on and honestly I was kind of in the mood for «real Chinese» food. But we just seated ourselves without being greeted or anything and getting passed by other guests.
Max must of noticed I seemed agitated and basically saved the entire evening. And I’m happy he did. Made us feel really welcome and let us try a couple little tasters of other dishes while we waited for our orders. The servings are very large and delicious. I’m excited to see what other dishes they may come up with as their business grows.
So congrats to you guys for making amazing food! If everyone there were more attentive in their service I’m sure the business will do well.

It’s that ‘yeah!’
Just because i’m into this Unilocal life, does not mean i know of everything there is to know about whats happening in my city, and in that quest to acquire more knowledge, even my friends, at times, end up putting me on game.
Celebrating a good friend’s birthday, we were invited to join in on a ‘family-​style’ feast at Red’s Chinese, which we did make reservations for. Never hearing of it before, i was a bit skeptical when Chinese was brought up for dinner, but coming from this gal, i should’ve known better. I am ashamed to have even had a spec of doubt about it. That little concern quickly vanished. As soon as you hit the door, it hits you. The aromas had me tasting the air because i was convinced something would come of it.
They’ve got the fully open kitchen space, which i really like to see in restaurants. I marvel at the mechanics of how some kitchens are ran at times. Plus an open kitchen typically means a very clean one, especially in newer joints. The lighting is really dim in here, like a click or two too dim. It took a minute for my eyes to adjust, but once my eyes and i were in agreement, the brain had to jump in and demonstrate some restraint because everything on the menu looked like a winner.
We were in a group of seven and top to bottom we ordered:
The South Lake Porridge which tasted better than it smelled, i added a little Sriracha and it was cool. But my least favorite of everything.
(2) Craw Ragoon, which were very tasty, especially used in the mustard sauce.
The ginger scallion noodles which were also really good, i’d go for those again.
General lee’s chicken, which was my favorite but a strong second is the Kung Pao Pastrami, trust me, get both of those dishes when you come here you will be in amazement at how good they are.
The Bywater eggplant which we were worried would be too spicy because of the reviews, but they were perfect.
A couple rounds of drinks and the Chinese donut for dessert, and between seven people we were all full and the tab was only $ 170!
But let me get back to that chicken tho. My god, you can see the flavor in it once the dish hits your table, it has this glow, almost like that perfect plate of food on commercials, except in real life. Peanuts are a part of this dish, so if you have allergies, you may want to ask them to hold off on those, but for real goodness’s sake, i hope you don’t and can experience this dish as it is intended.
I am going back, second night in a row for that chicken. The menu changes daily so be sure to check the website or call before ordering if you’re unsure as to what they’re offering. Pick up and Delivery available, but do note they add .25 per dish for pickup and delivery.
Nicely done, i’m with it.

I was super excited to try Red’s because I had heard a lot of good things from friends. I got takeout the other day and was disappointed on all fronts. The food took much longer than they said on the phone and ended up being very subpar. Maybe I didn’t order their best items; other things on the menu could possibly better, but I got two entrees — the beef and bok choi and the Hawaiian fried rice. The beef was reminiscent of a cafeteria Salisbury steak and honestly grossed me out. The Hawaiian fried rice was very dry and the pineapple was undetectable or potentially left out of the dish entirely. These dishes were $ 18 and $ 14, respectively, which was a lot for Chinese takeout, so I expected a lot. It broke my heart to throw perfectly good food in the garbage, but I knew there was no way I would be eating these leftovers. I would definitely not order Red’s again or recommend it to anyone I know.