AFR School Cafeteria American Fried Rice
by American Fried Rice (AFR), Bangkok, Thailand
Fried rice made with ketchup, hot dogs, and raisins? This is "American Fried Rice", a Thai dish invented during the Vietnam war supposedly the invention of Thai chefs who wanted to cater to the presumed tastes of American servicemen. While they may have missed the mark a bit, the dish is not half bad, and in fact, it's a guilty pleasure of mine!
American Fried Rice was allegedly invented by a Thai-Chinese chef named “Go Jek” who catered to the US troops stationed in Thailand during the Vietnam War. Unlike traditional Thai fried rice, this dish features seemingly random "American" ingredients such as ketchup, bacon, ham, and raisins. It’s a hearty and satisfying meal that reflects the fusion of two very different food cultures. As an American myself, I've always felt a little embarrassed to order this dish, but when I learned of a restaurant that exclusively serves premium and upscale American fried rice dishes, I knew I had to check it out.
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| khao pad American, or American Fried Rice (AFR School Cafeteria by AFR), Bangkok, Thailand |
American Fried Rice is a restaurant specializing exclusively in its namesake, created by famous Thai chef Chalee Kader. Lacking a physical location, the restaurant is delivery only.
I ordered the AFR School Cafeteria, a fried rice box created to nostalgically evoke the tastes of a school lunch, featuring sausage, ham, and a fried egg. It arrived in a bright and cheerful box along with a packet of Maggi and ketchup.
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| American fried rice with ketchup and Maggi seasoning (AFR School Cafeteria) |
American Fried Rice (shortened to AFR) is known for their upscale ingredients and high-quality American Fried Rice dishes. The most famous offering from this restaurant is the "AFR School Cafeteria AFR" which consists of a fried rice bathed in ketchup and mixed up with a generous handful of raisins and other seasonings and topped with a super hearty and savory offering of crispy fried onions, sausage, fried ham, a giant piece of fried chicken, and a fried egg sunny side up.
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| American Fried Rice by delivery in Bangkok, Thailand (traditional Thai fusion dish) |
This was one of the most hearty, filling, and savory dishes I've ever had.
It was really tasty, though the tastes (which include the combination of meat, ketchup, and raisins) can be a bit odd at first. I ended up really loving how all of the flavors - amplified by ketchup and Maggi seasoning - combined into a really rich and filling rice dish.
It's not American. Not at all... but this "American Fried Rice", steeped in a rich history and creative flavor profile, is a Thai dish worth trying.
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| American Fried Rice with raisins and ketchup, Bangkok, Thailand |
Price
AFR School Cafeteria American Fried Rice costs 230 baht, which is quite expensive for fried rice in Thailand, however the price is more than fair when you consider the massive portion size, expensive ingredients, and high-quality dish that will be delivered to your door.How to order
American Fried Rice (AFR) is an online "ghost restaurant" that is made-to-order only. Orders can be placed by LINE, by Grab, or by other online food delivery services. I ordered via Grab. Check out the article in BK magazine for more information about how to order:
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