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

[Tinker'n'Fun]

Thanks for all the review, please keep them coming. I am actually getting excited now...

 

[honugirl]

The double pan fried noodles rock too! My parents like Chang's spicy chicken noodle soup. The noodles in it are really good, but it's just a tad too spicy for me.

 

[dislaney]

I love the lettuce wraps and also the crab wontons. My favorite is the sea bass. If I don't get that I get the orange peel chicken or shrimp. Oh I'm getting hungry now! The chocolate cake is also Yummy!

 

[fall08CP]

OP, you can view the prices if you go to locations > order online.

I've never been but one just opened up about 20 miles away... so these meals are family style? Say I went with one other person.. we'd only order one meal to split or two? Do all the meat entrees come with white rice?

 

[rparmfamily]

Yes, the size of the portions are made for 2 people and it comes with a large bowl of white (perhaps brown) rice. We get a few plates and share, plus 1 or 2 appetizers. The plates run about $13-18 I think? I'm in HI so we pay more for everything, I'm not sure what your prices are LOL. Mongolian beef is $14.95 on the mainland I think and $17 here.

Also, I don't think it's considered "chinese" as much as it's "chinese fusion" KWIM? Kind of like the Tex-Mex idea.

We are heading there tonight! YUM!


We've done this deal before--it's a good idea of what you might typically order or eat for 2 people. This is plenty of food!
http://www.pfchangs.com/NewsEvents/NewsEvents4.aspx

 

[Cindy B]

Did you know Pei Wei bistro is the sister restaurant to PF Changs? I go to Pei Wei more often than the actual PF Changs. However, the menu items are the same.

I like: Dan Dan Noodles, Dynamite Noodles, Chicken Pad Thai, Crispy Honey Chicken and of course the lettuce wrap.

 

[BelleWDW]

We hate the lettuce wraps!

They are very messy to eat

Food is served "family style" ...so for 4 people maybe get 3 main dishes to share

For 3 people-we got Crab wontons first

Then two main dishes

and we had leftovers

 

[N&B'smom]

Mmmmmm....lettuce wraps....last time I got that as my entree. But I typically get beef with broccoli and so does my DD6. My DS10 loves their shrimp fried rice or dumplings. I absolutely LOVE PF Changs!!!

 

[camlace]

...with a large bowl of white (perhaps brown) rice.

yup...they have Brown and white rice. It is served family style, but depending on the dish, sometimes it is not enough for my husband and I to share. So we usually get 2 entrees and 2 apps for the variety then take the rest home.

Veggie lettuce wraps are a must for me; Chang's Spicy Chicken for my husband. Oh and the sauce they mix at the table is great, just let them know if you want it spicy or not.

 

[rparmfamily]

LOL yeah DH eats a dish by himself, but he's a big guy LOL.

 

[Zandy595]

My family LOVES the Mongolian Beef. The Honey Chicken was good, but not as good as the Mongolian Beef.

I usually really like things like the lettuce wraps, but didn't care for it when I tried it last month. The ginger flavor was a little too strong for my taste and I didn't like the texture of the chicken.

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

So if we ordered the Lettuce wraps and one other appetizer, then 3 entrees, we should at least have enough to eat there, and my have leftovers. We will want to have a little room left over for dessert or a cake since it is her b-day.

Is one order of lettuce wrap enough for us all to each try it?

 

[MariDisney]

We just went yesterday for a holiday celebration. There were 6 of us and with tip the bill was $180. We did have 3 appetizers and 3 desserts, though. As mentioned, the lettuce wraps are very good. My very favorite dish is the candied walnut shrimp. It is smooth and creamy and has honeydew in it. It's one of my favorite dishes in any chain restaurant anywhere.

 

[MariDisney]

So if we ordered the Lettuce wraps and one other appetizer, then 3 appetizers, we should at least have enough to eat there, and my have leftovers. We will want to have a little room left over for dessert or a cake since it is her b-day.

Is one order of lettuce wrap enough for us all to each try it?

I believe the lettuce wraps come with three or four leaves. We cut them in half for our group of 6.

 

[damo]

We hate the lettuce wraps!

They are very messy to eat

Food is served "family style" ...so for 4 people maybe get 3 main dishes to share

For 3 people-we got Crab wontons first

Then two main dishes

and we had leftovers

Love the crab wontons!!! We usually have crab wontons and wonton soup. Then we get a honey chicken, and another entree with vegetables and of course, rice. That easily feeds us three adults.

 

[rparmfamily]

We always ask for extra lettuce, as they only give you like 4? The extra lettuce is free. We normally get about 6 servings from the lettuce wraps.

 

[MineMail]

I'm not a huge fan of PF Changs because I really like (Americanized) Szechuan food. Still, the atmosphere/ambience is always good, the food is consistent, and the service is very good. I've been there several times with our family (kids included) and we once went with about 20 people. Eachtime, the server managed our tables extremely well.

This will sound strange, but my kids *love* the little dipping soy sauce the waiter prepares at the table with the chili oil, soy, etc. I think it was mainly the soy sauce and the waiter's flair for the dramatic, lol.

One thing to note is that, if you have special dietary needs, they're extremely accommodating. The menu is good for people with food allergies and they have a number of vegetarian dishes.

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

ITA - I think their ribs seasoning is very strange. We always finish chinese spare ribs, but these were so awful, no one wanted to eat more than one and no one wanted the leftovers.

Chang's is pretty Americanized, which would probably explain the mixed reviews you saw. It's not very authentic Chinese, but it is good quality fresh food, and the service is usually excellent.

I agree with your review. I also get the feeling that they took some traditional chinese menu items and made them more healthy. The Egg Drop Soup is an example: instead of the traditional chinese recipe that has a lot of cornstarch in chicken broth, PFChang's is more like a Progresso soup recipe. Just mho. I liked the difference in that case.

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.

I second the Calamari suggestion as well as the mini dessert cups. They still had both on the menu as of last month.

Also, I don't think it's considered "chinese" as much as it's "chinese fusion" KWIM? Kind of like the Tex-Mex idea.

That was my impression as well - for example, the Calamari is a take on the traditional italian dish.

 

[Macca1111]

Do they do anything for bdays? Any suggestions on desserts or should I get her a cake and have it at home. She will be 17 so a cake isn't totally necessary.

The Wall of Chocolate cake is just a slice, but it's big enough for everyone to share and still probably not finish. As someone mentioned above, they may do a mini dessert for free, but the cake would probably be more fun. I think they'd do a candle in the cake too (you're never too old for birthday cake!)

Is one order of lettuce wrap enough for us all to each try it?

As also mentioned above, lately they've been stingy with the lettuce, but you can always ask for more. There's enough filling for at least 6-8.

I almost always get the crispy honey chicken and the hot and sour with both white and brown rice. The chicken has a great flavor and is just the right texture - definitely my favorite "chinese" chicken dish (with the Panda Express Orange Chicken a close second) I used to love their specialty sauce, but it's much more watery now and I tend to mix my own. However, everything I've ever tried there has been good, so I hope you'll all enjoy!

 

[Tinker'n'Fun]

The Wall of Chocolate cake is just a slice, but it's big enough for everyone to share and still probably not finish. As someone mentioned above, they may do a mini dessert for free, but the cake would probably be more fun. I think they'd do a candle in the cake too (you're never too old for birthday cake!)

As also mentioned above, lately they've been stingy with the lettuce, but you can always ask for more. There's enough filling for at least 6-8.

I almost always get the crispy honey chicken and the hot and sour with both white and brown rice. The chicken has a great flavor and is just the right texture - definitely my favorite "chinese" chicken dish (with the Panda Express Orange Chicken a close second) I used to love their specialty sauce, but it's much more watery now and I tend to mix my own. However, everything I've ever tried there has been good, so I hope you'll all enjoy!

Thanks for all the info... DD all-time favorite is Panda Express Orange Chicken. As for the bolded is hot and sour a soup, and if so, can someone describe it for me?

 

[rparmfamily]

If she likes Panda Express she'll love PF Changs.