by Bottom Line: The Ragin’ Cajun Chicken Sandwich from Red Robin may not have too much of that Cajun twang, but it brings some heat and good flavor.
Red Robin is certainly a great destination for a good burger, but they have plenty to offer on their menu beyond those beef patties. They do some darn good fish and chips and they also have some tasty wings and chicken tenders (and I would love it if they brought back that pot roast burger). And of course they make a good chicken sandwich including this newest entry with a Cajun (sort of) kick. That comes with a breaded and fried chicken breast filet that is dipped in cayenne pepper sauce and topped with Pepper-Jack cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, and chipotle mayo.
To start of with, this is a big filet slice that is cooked through quite well and is rather juicy. It has a fair amount of breading, but not to the point that it overwhelms the meat. There is not much crunch to that crust because it is soaked pretty well in that sauce, but it still has some good texture. And speaking of that sauce, it is similar to a Buffalo sauce with the expected tang and kick of heat. There is actually very little Cajun flavor to this–some additional seasoning with a Creole kick would have been nice–but it is still quite a tasty chicken sandwich. The lettuce and tomato are fresh and add a nice counterbalance to the heat. The Pepper Jack cheese and the chipotle aioli get mostly lost in the mix, but they add a bit of creaminess and may help bump up the heat. And the brioche bun tastes freshly cooked and helps elevate the sandwich to the next level.
As for the heat, it gets to Medium on my scale or maybe just a touch above. This one won’t set your mouth on fire, but it still delivers a kick. I would have like more Cajun flavor, but for a spicy chicken sandwich, this one is still quite good and rather filling.
And since this is a big sandwich, it also packs in the calories. It tallies up to 1020 cals and 66 grams of fat (plus 3180 mg of sodium!), so it will certainly challenge your resolve to lose weight in the new year. And that doesn’t include the side of fries which tacks on another 400 or so cals per order (and remember they are bottomless). So if you do splurge on this, plan on scheduling some extra time in the gym!
This is a rather pricey sandwich at over fifteen bucks in my area (including those endless fries), but that is getting to be about the standard price these days at sit-down restaurants. This is a limited time item, and it appears that not all locations carry it, but if it is on the menu and you are not craving a burger too much, I recommend giving it a try.
Nutrition Info:
Calories: 1020
Fat: 66g (21g Sat/1g Trans)
Protein: 21g
Carbs: 67g
Sodium: 3180mg
