The Rice House Prepares to Expand Its Asian Fusion Offerings

Most St. Louis natives love to get their hand on a good order of Chinese food, whether it’s a St. Paul sandwich or a box of chicken fried rice. The Rice House owner Kenny Truong has a plan in place to make sure St. Louis County and the entire country know about the flavorful St. Louis-style cuisine.

Truong opened The Rice House in Florissant at 8438 N. Lindbergh Blvd. in 2011 and ever since then has become popular throughout the area for Asian fusion. Now, Truong has plans to expand and make an additional location in town at 2725 N. Highway 67.

“The Rice House is Chinese food but unique Chinese food,” he said. “I’m letting everyone know what real Chinese tastes like.”

Truong grew up in St. Louis after his parents immigrated from Vietnam during the Vietnam War in the 1970s. His grandparents originally immigrated from China, he said.

His parents opened a take-out Chinese restaurant in St. Louis City, which is where he learned all of the tricks of the trade for cooking.

“I’m delivering what my mom taught me,” Truong said. “The recipes are the same.”

After graduating with a degree in business from the University of Missouri, St. Louis in 2007, Truong decided to combine his parents’ recipes with his business know-how to create The Rice House.

Although Truong offers traditional St. Louis Chinese fare such as St. Paul Sandwiches, fried rice and other local favorites, he’s put a modern-day twist on items such as his Philly Cheesesteak Wontons, the Angry Bird St. Paul sandwich and Breakfast Fried Rice.

“Chinese is at the core but with some Cajun flare,” Truong said. He said that he’s been inspired by watching Emeril Lagasse and other professional top chefs on Food Network.

“If this is what the best has to offer, I’ll just mimic what they do.” he said.

Truong said that in trying Chinese cuisine outside of St. Louis, it’s completely different, and his mission is to make sure that everyone gets a taste of his food.

He said in the next five years, he hopes to open five Rice House locations and is considering locations in Maryland Heights, Creve Coeur or possibly St. Charles.

The Rice House II location, which was recently approved by Florissant City Council, will offer a dine-in experience, as Truong’s current location only offers take-out. It will also sale liquor, he said. He plans to open the second location sometime in August.

The Rice House is currently open Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. and Friday through Saturday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m.. For more information, check out The Rice House website or Facebook page.