P.F. Changs... Need some help. Updated with Dinner Report. Post #67

[RadioNate]

Love the garlic chicken with broccoli and obviously the lettuce wraps. For extras I like the spicy green beans and garlic snap peas.

I have a good friend from China (Hong Kong) and he likes PF Changs just fine. No it isn't authentic but it doesn't really claim to be.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Their Beef Szchuan is quite good. Ma Po Tofu is good as well.

They have a pretty interesting menu of cocktails as well.

Can you expain the beef dish to me? We don't venture into new foods often and if I am going to try new foods this time.

 

[RadioNate]

Thanks for the heads up at least for me. I have HBP, so I will take a water pill right after the dinner...

Any MSG here? forgot to ask that.

NotUrsula, I am sure that I wouldn't know real Chinese food if I tried it. I can relate why your guests wouldn't want to eat at the chain though. American-Chinese is what we are used to and I certainly wouldn't go to China to have my chicken 'n dumplings. (by no means am I trying to sound snarky, no matter how I say this it doesn't come out right)

No they do not use MSG. I'm pretty sensitive to it and I've never had an issue there. I have asked about it when dining and have always been told that they do not use MSG.

 

[Katieinwonderland]

Ooooh, DH and I LOVE this place! He always eats General Tso's chicken when we get take out, and he loves Changs Spicy chicken, I'd recommend that. I love the crispy honey chicken, and the orange peel beef.

We always get the lettuce wraps too, and the salt and pepper calamari, which is soooo good!

From what I can gather it's not all that authentic, but the food is great and I think it's very reasonaly priced. For the two of us we have two apps, two entrees and two cocktails for around $60.

 

[Pumbaa_]

My favorites here are the lettuce wraps - SO good!

Second favorite thing is hte chicken noodle soup. Sounds weird, but it has a nice heat, has fresh tomatoes, mushrooms and is made a batch at a time. If you like a little heat with your food, you can't go wrong with this one.

I am not a huge fan of the entrees. Appies rock, but the entrees meh

Fried rice is very good also

They have an amazing chocolate cake. I think it is 7 layers. Moist and rich! I would get that. They may offer a free mini dessert for her bday

Have a great time!

 

[HsvTeacher]

I recommend the crab wontons as an appetizer and honey chicken as an entree. the honey chicken!!!

 

[nutterbutter2010]

I got the ribs there once. They have two different kinds, I think I got the 5 spice one. Wasn't a fan.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

I got the ribs there once. They have two different kinds, I think I got the 5 spice one. Wasn't a fan.

thanks for this, I am always leary of beef. Not sure why. But DS tries to get ribs every once in a while, I will remind him not here...

 

[mhsjax]

I find their food extremely salty. Yes, Chinese food (what we think of as Chinese food) is high in sodium in general, but I find PF Chang's to be really salty, and at the same time, too tame with the heat on hot dishes, skimpy with sweetness on the sweet dishes. So they underseason everything except the salt!

Pleasant restaurant, pretty safe to take people to, but your average strip mall take out place run by actual Chinese folks probably has tastier food.

Wow, I was beginning to think that I was the only person who felt like this. I completely agree with everything you said. Everybody raves about it so I couldn't wait to try it. I didn't like it.

NOw if somebody were to really want to go there for dinner or lunch I would go, but it would NEVER be a choice of my own to go there.

 

[ReneeA]

I love the lettuce wraps, but I also find the entrees "meh".

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

It may be an appetizer night with a fee entrees to pass....


Noodles. This is what I think I may lean towards. Sounds good to me.

 

[maelstrom]

I like the chicken lo mein.

 

[mom2grace]

Chicken lettuce wraps

Chang's Chicken with a side of veggies

Banana wontons with their ice cream for dessert....yummo!

 

[monkey68]

I love the Mongolian Beef. Also like the salt and pepper calamari. I haven't been there for a while, but last time, they had these mini dessert cups, and after a big meal, that was a perfect size. You could get a sampler of all the different ones, not sure if they still do that or not though.

 

[rparmfamily]

LOVE PF Chang's!!

It is "family" style I think, you order an entree and share, it comes out on a long big plate.

We usually get the lettuce wraps and hot & sour soup (big bowl) to start.
Honey Chicken
Mongolian Beef
Sweet Sour chicken
all to share w/white rice.

Enjoy!

 

[solotraveler]

Can you expain the beef dish to me? We don't venture into new foods often and if I am going to try new foods this time.

Oh sure!!

Officially, the menu says:

BEEF A LA SICHUAN
Crispy beef strips with julienne celery and carrots. Our spiciest beef dish

It's basically beef in a spicy sauce with celery and carrots. The beef is "double cooked," so it's a bit on the crispy side. Some places make the dish REALLY spicy, but PF Changs takes the middle road with it.

If you enjoy spicy food, I think it could be worth a try.

 

[AshleyW]

Oh, my gosh. This thread is making me so hungry.

I've never eaten at this place, but there's one in Des Moines that I've been begging DFi to take me to next time we head out there to go shopping. This definitely isn't making it any better.

 

[hulagirl87]

I think I might be the only person who says "no" to the lettuce wraps. I had them once and got deathly ill for 3 days. Bad news!

DH and I go there often. He likes the sweet and sour chicken and I like the chicken with broccoli and the crispy honey chicken. And I love the hot and sour soup!!!!!

Oh and the great wall of chocolate.... um, yum!

 

[honugirl]

Crispy Honey chicken, lemon chicken, chicken lettuce wraps. It's all good! We love PF Changs! It's one of the only restaurants I've ever been to that I've NEVER had a bad meal. I've been to ones all over the country too.

 

[rparmfamily]

Never had a bad experience at a PF Chang's either. Sounds yummy...I could go for it right now!

OP--enjoy!!! I think most people enjoy them but of course not everyone likes everything KWIM?