I was expecting this place to be pretty good because they are a sister company of PF Chang's. They have more of a Panda Express vibe than a full service restaurant. Their food is mediocre at best.. I will definitely not be returning here for their bland over priced food.. I think either PF or Panda would be far greater choices for dining than Pei Wei..
(2)
Laurie W.
Pei Wei is my fav fast-food Asian restaurant. I almost always come to the one at the U of A on University Ave.. Love to sit on the patio and "people-watch!" Only negative I have (and it is not about the food) is that they have a pigeon and bird problem on the patio. Those flying rats are way too aggressive. They fly up and land right on your table!! Owners, if you are reading this, you need to do something. It may also be a health issue if it isn't solved.
(5)
Jen F.
If I could give this place a million stars I would. Even though it is a chain the food is really good!!! The prices are great and reasonable and the food tastes just like PF Changs. I love the orange iced tea- probably my favorite thing in the resturant! I just wish they would get wireless internet there so that I could sit outside with my food and play on the internet! Come on PeiWei get your game up!
(5)
Kate L.
I hope someone from Pei Wei corporate reads this review, because I'm writing it with the specific intention of them knowing how great the staff is at this location. My husband, son and I have lunch here almost every week--it's fast, food is always good, and it's kid friendly. If you've been to any other Pei Wei (regional chain I think), it's very consistent with the other Pei Weis. What makes this place stand out is the service. One individual in particular is exceptional is Laine (Layne?). She always welcomes us, is kind, friendly and helpful. There's a regular staff of familiar faces there, and they all couldn't be more friendly folks. There's a lot of dining options on University. We go back to Pei Wei all the time, because they are great in dealing with my 3-year old, food is always good, and the staff is always amazing.
(5)
Drew P.
Pretty solid food. Its an American style Chinese restaurant. No table service although this allows for cheaper prices this is the same company as PF Chang's. Free fortune cookies as many as you want. They have oranges to garnish you orange green tea. We eat here at least once a month. Wish they had a reward program
(4)
Melissa C.
Truth be told, I don't like Chinese food... at least not the Chinese food here in Tucson. Growing up in Los Angeles, there were so many authentic, delicious options available. In comparison, I find that most of the Chinese food here tastes like Panda Express. But my husband loves it, so Pei Wei is our compromise. The ingredients are pretty fresh, there are plenty of vegetables to choose from, and since they stir-fry everything made to order, they are happy to accommodate special requests. Sesame oil, stock, soy sauce, chili, yes please. Sugary, corn starchy, goopy sauces, no thank you. I like that brown rice is an option here, the orange ice tea with sliced oranges is refreshing, and the won ton soup is light and flavorful. Plus, the service is quick and efficient, so it's a great place to come for lunch when you're pressed for time. We've brought the kids here on the weekends, and it's pretty easy to find menu items that appeal to them as well. One of these days, maybe I'll find a Chinese restaurant that appeals to me. For now, Pei Wei, you're the one.
(4)
Guillermo R.
This review is strictly on the food quality and taste. If it were based on the location, service and parking situation, it would be around 2 stars. The food was delicious. What to order? Here's what I ordered: Chicken lettuce wraps - diced chicken in a some sort of sauce, the sauce is what really sets this dish apart. It's fantastic. Kung pao chicken - extra spicy on fried rice w/o peanuts, this dish was by far the best one. The chicken is breaded and tossed in a spicy sauce and it's got fresh snap peas and carrots. Overall, the food was really good. I'm usually not a huge fan of Asian chain restaurants but the food is delicious.
(4)
Linda B.
This place was soooooo delicious! My husband and I truly believe this is Asian take out in all of Tucson. The Crispy Dumplings, Green Beans, Thai Dynamite Shrimp, Spring Rolls, all of it was just so delicious!!! And they were so quick and friendly. It's the first place that comes to mind when I want lunch just for me or Asian food.
(5)
Ryan M.
Pretty good for the most part. They'll forget to put the extra sauce I order with my meal in the bag sometimes but no biggie
(4)
Alyssa O.
it seemed like a glamorized panda express. The location is great, but the food failed to impress.
(2)
Jinny H.
As a college student with not much to eat on campus, I have been to Pei Wei frequently. It's an okay place to eat- the prices are good for a location on campus, and they have a lot of food options. My complaint is that the food is pretty bad- the sushi I had was dry, the sauces in the bowls were a bit much, and the fried rice was oily and salty. But what can I say? It's on campus and convenient. Perfect for starving college students.
(2)
P C.
I admit that I don't like chain American pseudo Chinese food but heard much about it so decided to try it out. Just potstickers and edamame for a start, these can't go wrong eh? Well, edamame is fine except the serving is pitiful for the large size that we ordered - not satisfying. Potsticker is the most horrid I've ever tasted. The skins were tough as cow hide, the filling dry and separated from the skin as if it's the unwilling partner. Great disappointment as crispy but moist and tender potstickers are our favorite. The only redemption is that the potsticker sauce is good. Don't think I'm tempted to go back again.
(1)
Eleana H.
If you want an ungodly amount of salt in your food.. this is it! Prepare to be served food doused in sickly sauces and oil. Yes its cheap, yes its fast... and yes you will get sick if you traditionally eat very healthy and then end up here for a meal. If you have an ironclad stomach and rarely get sick from eating gross amounts of salty foods cooked in oil then this is the place for you! The only thing I ever get here if I am forced to eat here is a bowl of steamed rice.. and some shrimp entree with no sauce or sauce on the side. Even their healthy options here are oversalted or smothered in sauce.
(1)
Isabel K.
I start my review with a caveat that I am not a huge fan of chain restaurants and I am not a huge fan of Americanized, corporate Asian food. That said, Pei Wei has never really been my first choice but the boyfriend had a craving so there you have it. He got the Pad Thai and I got the ginger beef as take out. Pros: fast, cheap.... I appreciate that they have restructured their menu to include an emphasis on gluten free items. Asian food is deceptive to the GF world since you think that a protein, veggies, and rice or rice based noodles should be an easy GF yes.... Little do most restaurants publish that a fair amount of gluten finds it's way into the sauce. Tricky. So, good for you Pei Wei, I genuinely appreciate that you are looking out for the Gluten sensitive of the world. Cons: salt, salt, and a bit more salt. I am offended by any restaurant that markets and brands itself on the guise of being fresh and healthy when most of the menu items are boasting of a sodium content of 2,000 mg per serving or more. Setting aside my concern for my blood pressure and cardiovascular health, when I can't eat my broccoli because it is so salty tasting, I would call that a fail. Further fail: the beef in my ginger beef was indelibly tough and overcooked. I ended up spitting it out after chewing on it without success for about a minute. The tofu in the boy's Pad Thai crumbled like sawdust because it was so overcooked. The veggies in his dish were the highlight of the two meals, well cooked so that they were still crunchy and not overly sauced. The beef was a bit on the well side but I could say that is more of a preference thing than a it's inedible thing. Moral to the story: next time Pei Wei comes up as a dinner choice, I don't think I will cave in the spirit of compromise. Not coming back. There are so many better options that are local and truly fresh!
(1)
Michael R.
Pei Wei is essentially the happy medium between fast Chinese and sit down--the food is decent but you still seat yourself. While a little on the expensive side, it's still delicious and quick.
(4)
Natasha C.
So I actually hadn't been to pei Wei in awhile because my chicken hadn't been cooked properly a few times - now that time has passed we decided to try them again- and it was absolutely delicious and fully cooked chicken! We tried their new menu item the Thai Chili and Lime and it was delicious finished the entire plate - looked so yummy forgot to snap a pic(doh!) and then I tried the sesame chicken super yummy! Oh and the staff super friendly and helpful!
(4)
Ayla M.
I love Pei Wei but this location is horrible! I ordered Mongolian beef with brown rice tonight and it was so salty I had to throw it away. Such a waste. Not to mention parking is a nightmare. I won't come to this location again, yuck.
(1)
Jimmy O.
Only a few words today. Overpriced, too sweet, excellent service, ain't what it use to be! Will not return ever again. Was not impressed, very commercial taste not authentic. Why is it so hard to find a place these days with good food and customer service!?
(1)
Patrick M.
Food was just ok, nothing great. Seemed like not a lot of thought went into what they provideded.
(2)
Josh M.
I have worked next to Pei Wei for last the last five years. In that time I have on average eaten there 2-3 times a week. Out of those meals I can count on one hand the amount of times my order has been right. I don't order anything crazy. Ginger broccoli meat with a side of extra broccoli and carrots. Out of these ingredients I have received every possible way these parts could combine. I have received no extra anything, doubles, wrong meat or chicken combo, wrong sides, no sides and so on. If you want good food it is good and served hot. If you want exactly what you ordered go somewhere else. So my two stars are for taste not listening skills.
(2)
Dana W.
Recently stopped by to pickup lunch, much rather go here than panda express if you are looking for express Chinese. Ordered the Mandarin Kong Pao Chicken...WOW! The Senses were overwhelmed. Delicious and pleasing to the eye, mouth and stomach. The portion was good and the flavor was great...(possibly better than PF Changs). Was very busy and did take a few mins to get my food...(Dummy ME didn't call ahead) Next time I will. If you eat in order at counter and pay, then seat yourself. p.s. lettuce wraps are the bomb!
(4)
John B.
"Asian food" for non-asians...seriously. From the trendy logo to the electronic screens displaying the menu to the white peach tea in silk bags and absolute lack of chinese characters, this place screams "unauthentic". The first time I came here, I just ordered the green tea. It was around $2. They have a decent selection but green was one of my favorites. Their tea is all organic. The infuser is made of silk which isn't necessary and the tea didn't taste like green tea. The next time I went, I decided to try their food. I ordered the sweet and sour crispy chicken with white rice. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and didn't taste too bad, however the price was too much and the food wasn't authentic. The atmosphere was great. Everything seemed rather clean. The service was ok. The food arrived in a few minutes. In short: the food, though unauthentic, was edible. The tea was disappointing. The price was too high. I won't be back.
(2)
Ray C.
Im here to try their new black pepper chicken! Im using the coupon to buy one and get one free! The Black pepper chicken was really good. I really enjoyed this plate. Getting sesame chicken and brown rice for lunch! I enjoyed this enivornment eating my lunch outside by the University Ave! The weather is just perfect I got a sesame chicken with brown rice! I'm impressed that it was so good as PF Chang's! It was only $8.35! Worth it
(4)
Adam F.
The service was much better than the food. While the chicken was good, the rice and noodles had no flavor to it. It also was a a little too pricy for the food. It wasn't terrible, but you could definitely find better Asian food.
(3)
Erin Y.
The first time we tried Pei Weight was in 2003 on Oracle. Back then, they don't have much of modern Chinese Bistro in Tucson. At the time, restaurant is not about decor and style. Our mind were blow with their style. I still remember the first dish which was a lettuce warp. The flavor was perfect. Now a day, we do have to as them to go easy on the salt or we have to take extra high blood pressure pills after :o) Bottom line, this place is great. Highly recommended.
(4)
Michael F.
If there is one thing I have struggled to discover in Tucson it's good casual chinese/asian fusion food. While there is nothing special about Pei Wei in general it's one of my favorite places in Tucson to grab some quick and consistently decent asian food. I love their crab wontons, I am always happy with my entree and their soups are always good. Plus the cost is very reasonable and I know what to expect when I walk through the door. One other note their Hot Teas are delcious my wife had some of the citrus whatever it was and it was heavenly!
(4)
J L.
Great chicken lo mein. Honey seared chicken is good too. The quality and taste of the food is comparable to that of their PF Chang's chain, yet better priced. Typically quick, and way better service than the Pei Wei on Broadway. Just be sure to watch out for the birds on the patio!
(4)
George C.
I freaking love Pei Wei!!! I am rarely disappointed with the food, and when I am, it is usually my fault for messing with the basic ingredients. It is always fresh and fabulous at Pei Wei! My only wish would be a Southside location.
(5)
Ashley E.
Big portions and fast service, but something just doesn't make me crazy about this place.
(3)
Daisy F.
too sweet
(3)
Arya N.
I love peiwei. It's always good, large portioned, and quick. I always say it's like panda express prices and ease, with PF Chang's food quality and decor. Everything on the menu is awesome and popular and theyre always changing and adding things to it to make it better! Like I said, I love PeiWei. Even the salad is good for pete's sake.
(4)
Maximiliano L.
Pei Wei is average fast food Asian-American food. It is nothing special but if you are hungry it can do the job.
(2)
Aaron S.
Great artisan asian cuisine, great atmosphere & service. Pei Wei certainly has the best sauces and chicken (grilled) along with great Lo mein, and could be the best Kung Pao, if only the dish weren't missing zucchini I like in my kung pao.
(4)
Stephen H.
Eating here feels very good and that feels very bad. Its close to my new digs and has been way decent every time I've gone. Gots all the unAsian mixed bag of Americanized Asianess of a PF Changs without the me-so-wealthy bar and price. I like how my Chinese roomie rolls his eyes at me if I ask what he wants me to get him from the PDub. The answer is....Korean Beef
(3)
Jesse F.
Quick Asian food cooked AFTER you order, not bad.
(3)
Emily R.
Loves it. My girlfriends and I try to make a trip to Pei Wei every now and than, especially the University location...our old stomping grounds! It's a faster, cheaper, more casual PF Changs. I always get the honey chicken with brown rice...so good. The lettuce wraps are delicious too. The great thing about Pei Wei is that they give you a huge portion, sooo.. leftovers, yay!
(4)
Dan L.
I could eat Dan Dan Noodles with shrimp everyday. pass on their sushi though
(4)
Ayla R.
Pei Wei is cheap and cheerful, corporate asian food. The consistency in service and quality is great. Even among locations. Parking is rough at the University, so I rarely go there. Especially for a chain asian place, but after happy hour sometimes you need a layer of pad thai.
(4)
Rahul P.
Bad Customer Service We went at 8:50 and the first thing the lady at the counter said was she was closing at 9:00 and that we have to have a take out.This is the second time something like this happened with the same person at the counter.She always seems to be in a hurry during closing hours. Will never visit again
(1)
Moe G.
Average food from your stereotypical Americanized Asian restaurant. I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and got 80% noodles, 10% water (what I assumed to be sauce, but definitely didn't coat anything), and 10% veggies/chicken. It tasted fine, but mostly bland; pretty pricey for mostly noodles and water. The staff was super friendly, but that doesn't make up for the pricey, boring food. I would skip over this place if you're considering it.
(2)
Jerry W.
Can't say much about Pei Wei. The staff is friendly, but the food... It is just way too americanized and can not be called as chinese food at all.
(2)
Jose O.
I haven't been back to this particular Pei Wei for a couple of years for two reasons: access and sodium. Access by car to this location is terrible. Parking is extremely limited plus it's that backing in slant type. There is the optional parking garage a few blocks away, but that kind of defeats the purpose for fast food takeout for me. If you're health-conscious, the food is good, BUT check the nutritional value. Come on. 5000 mg of sodium in an order of Pad Thai? So, the food is pretty good, the restaurant is very pleasant, and they have the nicest takeout plastic flatware, napkins and carry out bags in the area. Nutrition/Parking-Conscious Buyer Beware!
(2)
Brooke R.
Gross. The only redeeming factor is the location.
(1)
Kirstin B.
Nestled in the midst of the busy Main Gate area, Pei Wei is pretty decent chain place. I love their coconut curry chicken, which is just the right amount of spicy and sweet. Another dish which is sure to please is the pad thai noodles. So if you are looking for a quick lunch in a nice setting, give this place a go.
(3)
Jen W.
I actually prefer the other locations where the tables are clean and there are not long lines. This location is loud and crowded, but the tables are spread far enough apart so that you can have a good conversation. Other tables won't hear what you are saying unless you scream! The brown rice is very dry, but most of the entrees have a lot of sauce. The fried rice is awesome. I kept stealing my friend's. It's short-grain and has some sauce in it. I ordered the Mongolian chicken - the only veggies in it were mushrooms. Once again, I kept stealing my friend's honey seared chicken which was like a light colored battered sweet and sour type chicken. So delicious. Some great American-Chinese food. I am not sure what was going on with the pad thai. It reminded me of how some of their dishes are just random mixes of red chile pepper flakes, soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar and are barely discernible from each other. Anyway, $9 for a large plate of food - you can go 300 calories to 900 calories - they have nutritional charts. And the food came in about five minutes though the place was crowded. There aren't really servers, but if you go up to any of the staff with requests, they are extremely nice.
(4)
Sarah C.
I'm not usually one to slam a business, and it takes A LOT for me to complain. But tonight's visit to Pei Wei on University still haunts me. I want to preface this with the fact the staff was highly friendly; really sweet people. What wasn't sweet was the cookie that had a hair stashed in it (sold at the front register, bagged, and loaded with something more than chocolate chips). I wanted to believe it was my hair, or my friend's hair...but truly, it was baked in, my gentle tugs at it didn't break it free. In addition, much to my terrified dismay, my meal, though it tasted mighty good, had one last tidbit left hiding with the few shrimp and scattered bell peppers. I couldn't figure out if it was a bug de-legged, a strange oval-shaped spice, or quite simply, a pellet from a small animal of some kind. I do hope the wine in my glass derailed any funk from tonight's stroll into this bistro. I love Pei Wei, but wow, tonight was downright gross.
(1)
eden j.
I love it. Great American-style, pan-Asian, whatever you want to call it food. Whatever it is, it's really tasty. I'm a big fan of the orange chicken (not really hot enough, but I add lots of red pepper sauce) and the teriyaki bowls are a nice value- very filling and very tasty. Several good appetizers too. I think it's a bit over-priced for lunch, though not too bad if you stick with a bowl (only about $7 with chicken). Sure, it's probably not 'real' Asian food, but it gives you the Asian food flavor at least and the service is usually fast.
(4)
Leo B.
Fast food PF Changs I believe without the salt and pepper Calamari. Don't waste the money.
(1)
Lisa H.
Cheap enough and decent enough to get your moneys worth. The noodle bowls are $6.75, and their signature dishes are about a buck more. I tried their black pepper "blazing noodle" bowl, and it surely was blazing. I was surprised at both how spicy the food was (which is a very good thing) and also the temperature of the food itself- obviously the plastic serving bowl is designed to retain heat! The dish featured thai basil, cilantro, scallions, red tomatoes, snap peas, and a black pepper tomato sauce. The sauce was far from being 'tomatoey', and complimented the dish well as it was not is own entity. It simply coated the rice noodles the way that a proper noodle sauce, done Thai style, should. I chose to get beef with my dish, and it was tender and not overdone- and there was plenty of it. The bowl provided me with enough to fill up there, and then still have leftovers. I was confounded when I initially requested that our server bring me a bottle of the infamous Sriracha to compliment my meal (this was before it arrived, and there was no way that I would have used it after discovering the pleasant heat of the meal!), only to have her tell me that they did not have it, despite the fact that it is blatantly listed as a ingredient in one of their featured Thai style dishes. They describe the hot sauce by name in the menu as the key component in the "Thai Dynamite" dish. Our server was a bit clueless; however she did try to compensate by offering me the token Asian restaurant chili paste. Are you freakin' kidding me? If its not Sriracha, then there no comparison. My boyfriend had the lo mein dish with beef, and I tried a bite. Ick. Too greasy for me, and not enough spice. The shiitake mushroom I nibbled down was pretty durn good though. We paid 16.00 bucks for both of our noodle bowls, and he ordered a drink while I got water. Actually, once I realized that you could fill your cup up with whatever you wanted and no one would care, I got the awesome chai tea, which is sweet enough to drink cold even without milk (yes I love chai lattes!) but not sickening sugary. It is spicy and damn good. M y boyfriend got the mandarin orange tea- also very spicy and good. Beware- the tea needs ice and if you don't get it, it will be a bit warm from the brewing. Unless you are like my man and enjoy it that way. Another thing that is a bit unusual is that you order and pay first, then seat yourself. As this location seemed a bit crowded, I imagine the seating can get sticky sometimes, but they have several tables outside. In April in Tucson, those outdoor tables were packed! We found seating and our food arrived fast. I would say this place is touch and go as my dish I enjoyed, my boyfriends less so- but the family next to us had lettuce wraps and some type of won tons that looked fabulous. Next time I will go for the apps! Much cheaper than PF Changs and for good reason- you get what you pay for! No MSG makes this place 1000 times better on that principle alone than more than half of the other so Asian joints in this depressing excuse of a city. Can't wait to get back to Seattle to hit up Ohana's, Fu Lin, or Pho Bihn; or any place, for that matter, with some culture other than the monotonous college life that permeates this town.
(3)
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Address :845 East University Boulevard
Tucson, AZ, 85719
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Street Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No Has TV : Yes Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Alysia W.
I was expecting this place to be pretty good because they are a sister company of PF Chang's. They have more of a Panda Express vibe than a full service restaurant. Their food is mediocre at best.. I will definitely not be returning here for their bland over priced food.. I think either PF or Panda would be far greater choices for dining than Pei Wei..
(2)Laurie W.
Pei Wei is my fav fast-food Asian restaurant. I almost always come to the one at the U of A on University Ave.. Love to sit on the patio and "people-watch!" Only negative I have (and it is not about the food) is that they have a pigeon and bird problem on the patio. Those flying rats are way too aggressive. They fly up and land right on your table!! Owners, if you are reading this, you need to do something. It may also be a health issue if it isn't solved.
(5)Jen F.
If I could give this place a million stars I would. Even though it is a chain the food is really good!!! The prices are great and reasonable and the food tastes just like PF Changs. I love the orange iced tea- probably my favorite thing in the resturant! I just wish they would get wireless internet there so that I could sit outside with my food and play on the internet! Come on PeiWei get your game up!
(5)Kate L.
I hope someone from Pei Wei corporate reads this review, because I'm writing it with the specific intention of them knowing how great the staff is at this location. My husband, son and I have lunch here almost every week--it's fast, food is always good, and it's kid friendly. If you've been to any other Pei Wei (regional chain I think), it's very consistent with the other Pei Weis. What makes this place stand out is the service. One individual in particular is exceptional is Laine (Layne?). She always welcomes us, is kind, friendly and helpful. There's a regular staff of familiar faces there, and they all couldn't be more friendly folks. There's a lot of dining options on University. We go back to Pei Wei all the time, because they are great in dealing with my 3-year old, food is always good, and the staff is always amazing.
(5)Drew P.
Pretty solid food. Its an American style Chinese restaurant. No table service although this allows for cheaper prices this is the same company as PF Chang's. Free fortune cookies as many as you want. They have oranges to garnish you orange green tea. We eat here at least once a month. Wish they had a reward program
(4)Melissa C.
Truth be told, I don't like Chinese food... at least not the Chinese food here in Tucson. Growing up in Los Angeles, there were so many authentic, delicious options available. In comparison, I find that most of the Chinese food here tastes like Panda Express. But my husband loves it, so Pei Wei is our compromise. The ingredients are pretty fresh, there are plenty of vegetables to choose from, and since they stir-fry everything made to order, they are happy to accommodate special requests. Sesame oil, stock, soy sauce, chili, yes please. Sugary, corn starchy, goopy sauces, no thank you. I like that brown rice is an option here, the orange ice tea with sliced oranges is refreshing, and the won ton soup is light and flavorful. Plus, the service is quick and efficient, so it's a great place to come for lunch when you're pressed for time. We've brought the kids here on the weekends, and it's pretty easy to find menu items that appeal to them as well. One of these days, maybe I'll find a Chinese restaurant that appeals to me. For now, Pei Wei, you're the one.
(4)Guillermo R.
This review is strictly on the food quality and taste. If it were based on the location, service and parking situation, it would be around 2 stars. The food was delicious. What to order? Here's what I ordered: Chicken lettuce wraps - diced chicken in a some sort of sauce, the sauce is what really sets this dish apart. It's fantastic. Kung pao chicken - extra spicy on fried rice w/o peanuts, this dish was by far the best one. The chicken is breaded and tossed in a spicy sauce and it's got fresh snap peas and carrots. Overall, the food was really good. I'm usually not a huge fan of Asian chain restaurants but the food is delicious.
(4)Linda B.
This place was soooooo delicious! My husband and I truly believe this is Asian take out in all of Tucson. The Crispy Dumplings, Green Beans, Thai Dynamite Shrimp, Spring Rolls, all of it was just so delicious!!! And they were so quick and friendly. It's the first place that comes to mind when I want lunch just for me or Asian food.
(5)Ryan M.
Pretty good for the most part. They'll forget to put the extra sauce I order with my meal in the bag sometimes but no biggie
(4)Alyssa O.
it seemed like a glamorized panda express. The location is great, but the food failed to impress.
(2)Jinny H.
As a college student with not much to eat on campus, I have been to Pei Wei frequently. It's an okay place to eat- the prices are good for a location on campus, and they have a lot of food options. My complaint is that the food is pretty bad- the sushi I had was dry, the sauces in the bowls were a bit much, and the fried rice was oily and salty. But what can I say? It's on campus and convenient. Perfect for starving college students.
(2)P C.
I admit that I don't like chain American pseudo Chinese food but heard much about it so decided to try it out. Just potstickers and edamame for a start, these can't go wrong eh? Well, edamame is fine except the serving is pitiful for the large size that we ordered - not satisfying. Potsticker is the most horrid I've ever tasted. The skins were tough as cow hide, the filling dry and separated from the skin as if it's the unwilling partner. Great disappointment as crispy but moist and tender potstickers are our favorite. The only redemption is that the potsticker sauce is good. Don't think I'm tempted to go back again.
(1)Eleana H.
If you want an ungodly amount of salt in your food.. this is it! Prepare to be served food doused in sickly sauces and oil. Yes its cheap, yes its fast... and yes you will get sick if you traditionally eat very healthy and then end up here for a meal. If you have an ironclad stomach and rarely get sick from eating gross amounts of salty foods cooked in oil then this is the place for you! The only thing I ever get here if I am forced to eat here is a bowl of steamed rice.. and some shrimp entree with no sauce or sauce on the side. Even their healthy options here are oversalted or smothered in sauce.
(1)Isabel K.
I start my review with a caveat that I am not a huge fan of chain restaurants and I am not a huge fan of Americanized, corporate Asian food. That said, Pei Wei has never really been my first choice but the boyfriend had a craving so there you have it. He got the Pad Thai and I got the ginger beef as take out. Pros: fast, cheap.... I appreciate that they have restructured their menu to include an emphasis on gluten free items. Asian food is deceptive to the GF world since you think that a protein, veggies, and rice or rice based noodles should be an easy GF yes.... Little do most restaurants publish that a fair amount of gluten finds it's way into the sauce. Tricky. So, good for you Pei Wei, I genuinely appreciate that you are looking out for the Gluten sensitive of the world. Cons: salt, salt, and a bit more salt. I am offended by any restaurant that markets and brands itself on the guise of being fresh and healthy when most of the menu items are boasting of a sodium content of 2,000 mg per serving or more. Setting aside my concern for my blood pressure and cardiovascular health, when I can't eat my broccoli because it is so salty tasting, I would call that a fail. Further fail: the beef in my ginger beef was indelibly tough and overcooked. I ended up spitting it out after chewing on it without success for about a minute. The tofu in the boy's Pad Thai crumbled like sawdust because it was so overcooked. The veggies in his dish were the highlight of the two meals, well cooked so that they were still crunchy and not overly sauced. The beef was a bit on the well side but I could say that is more of a preference thing than a it's inedible thing. Moral to the story: next time Pei Wei comes up as a dinner choice, I don't think I will cave in the spirit of compromise. Not coming back. There are so many better options that are local and truly fresh!
(1)Michael R.
Pei Wei is essentially the happy medium between fast Chinese and sit down--the food is decent but you still seat yourself. While a little on the expensive side, it's still delicious and quick.
(4)Natasha C.
So I actually hadn't been to pei Wei in awhile because my chicken hadn't been cooked properly a few times - now that time has passed we decided to try them again- and it was absolutely delicious and fully cooked chicken! We tried their new menu item the Thai Chili and Lime and it was delicious finished the entire plate - looked so yummy forgot to snap a pic(doh!) and then I tried the sesame chicken super yummy! Oh and the staff super friendly and helpful!
(4)Ayla M.
I love Pei Wei but this location is horrible! I ordered Mongolian beef with brown rice tonight and it was so salty I had to throw it away. Such a waste. Not to mention parking is a nightmare. I won't come to this location again, yuck.
(1)Jimmy O.
Only a few words today. Overpriced, too sweet, excellent service, ain't what it use to be! Will not return ever again. Was not impressed, very commercial taste not authentic. Why is it so hard to find a place these days with good food and customer service!?
(1)Patrick M.
Food was just ok, nothing great. Seemed like not a lot of thought went into what they provideded.
(2)Josh M.
I have worked next to Pei Wei for last the last five years. In that time I have on average eaten there 2-3 times a week. Out of those meals I can count on one hand the amount of times my order has been right. I don't order anything crazy. Ginger broccoli meat with a side of extra broccoli and carrots. Out of these ingredients I have received every possible way these parts could combine. I have received no extra anything, doubles, wrong meat or chicken combo, wrong sides, no sides and so on. If you want good food it is good and served hot. If you want exactly what you ordered go somewhere else. So my two stars are for taste not listening skills.
(2)Dana W.
Recently stopped by to pickup lunch, much rather go here than panda express if you are looking for express Chinese. Ordered the Mandarin Kong Pao Chicken...WOW! The Senses were overwhelmed. Delicious and pleasing to the eye, mouth and stomach. The portion was good and the flavor was great...(possibly better than PF Changs). Was very busy and did take a few mins to get my food...(Dummy ME didn't call ahead) Next time I will. If you eat in order at counter and pay, then seat yourself. p.s. lettuce wraps are the bomb!
(4)John B.
"Asian food" for non-asians...seriously. From the trendy logo to the electronic screens displaying the menu to the white peach tea in silk bags and absolute lack of chinese characters, this place screams "unauthentic". The first time I came here, I just ordered the green tea. It was around $2. They have a decent selection but green was one of my favorites. Their tea is all organic. The infuser is made of silk which isn't necessary and the tea didn't taste like green tea. The next time I went, I decided to try their food. I ordered the sweet and sour crispy chicken with white rice. The food arrived in a reasonable amount of time and didn't taste too bad, however the price was too much and the food wasn't authentic. The atmosphere was great. Everything seemed rather clean. The service was ok. The food arrived in a few minutes. In short: the food, though unauthentic, was edible. The tea was disappointing. The price was too high. I won't be back.
(2)Ray C.
Im here to try their new black pepper chicken! Im using the coupon to buy one and get one free! The Black pepper chicken was really good. I really enjoyed this plate. Getting sesame chicken and brown rice for lunch! I enjoyed this enivornment eating my lunch outside by the University Ave! The weather is just perfect I got a sesame chicken with brown rice! I'm impressed that it was so good as PF Chang's! It was only $8.35! Worth it
(4)Adam F.
The service was much better than the food. While the chicken was good, the rice and noodles had no flavor to it. It also was a a little too pricy for the food. It wasn't terrible, but you could definitely find better Asian food.
(3)Erin Y.
The first time we tried Pei Weight was in 2003 on Oracle. Back then, they don't have much of modern Chinese Bistro in Tucson. At the time, restaurant is not about decor and style. Our mind were blow with their style. I still remember the first dish which was a lettuce warp. The flavor was perfect. Now a day, we do have to as them to go easy on the salt or we have to take extra high blood pressure pills after :o) Bottom line, this place is great. Highly recommended.
(4)Michael F.
If there is one thing I have struggled to discover in Tucson it's good casual chinese/asian fusion food. While there is nothing special about Pei Wei in general it's one of my favorite places in Tucson to grab some quick and consistently decent asian food. I love their crab wontons, I am always happy with my entree and their soups are always good. Plus the cost is very reasonable and I know what to expect when I walk through the door. One other note their Hot Teas are delcious my wife had some of the citrus whatever it was and it was heavenly!
(4)J L.
Great chicken lo mein. Honey seared chicken is good too. The quality and taste of the food is comparable to that of their PF Chang's chain, yet better priced. Typically quick, and way better service than the Pei Wei on Broadway. Just be sure to watch out for the birds on the patio!
(4)George C.
I freaking love Pei Wei!!! I am rarely disappointed with the food, and when I am, it is usually my fault for messing with the basic ingredients. It is always fresh and fabulous at Pei Wei! My only wish would be a Southside location.
(5)Ashley E.
Big portions and fast service, but something just doesn't make me crazy about this place.
(3)Daisy F.
too sweet
(3)Arya N.
I love peiwei. It's always good, large portioned, and quick. I always say it's like panda express prices and ease, with PF Chang's food quality and decor. Everything on the menu is awesome and popular and theyre always changing and adding things to it to make it better! Like I said, I love PeiWei. Even the salad is good for pete's sake.
(4)Maximiliano L.
Pei Wei is average fast food Asian-American food. It is nothing special but if you are hungry it can do the job.
(2)Aaron S.
Great artisan asian cuisine, great atmosphere & service. Pei Wei certainly has the best sauces and chicken (grilled) along with great Lo mein, and could be the best Kung Pao, if only the dish weren't missing zucchini I like in my kung pao.
(4)Stephen H.
Eating here feels very good and that feels very bad. Its close to my new digs and has been way decent every time I've gone. Gots all the unAsian mixed bag of Americanized Asianess of a PF Changs without the me-so-wealthy bar and price. I like how my Chinese roomie rolls his eyes at me if I ask what he wants me to get him from the PDub. The answer is....Korean Beef
(3)Jesse F.
Quick Asian food cooked AFTER you order, not bad.
(3)Emily R.
Loves it. My girlfriends and I try to make a trip to Pei Wei every now and than, especially the University location...our old stomping grounds! It's a faster, cheaper, more casual PF Changs. I always get the honey chicken with brown rice...so good. The lettuce wraps are delicious too. The great thing about Pei Wei is that they give you a huge portion, sooo.. leftovers, yay!
(4)Dan L.
I could eat Dan Dan Noodles with shrimp everyday. pass on their sushi though
(4)Ayla R.
Pei Wei is cheap and cheerful, corporate asian food. The consistency in service and quality is great. Even among locations. Parking is rough at the University, so I rarely go there. Especially for a chain asian place, but after happy hour sometimes you need a layer of pad thai.
(4)Rahul P.
Bad Customer Service We went at 8:50 and the first thing the lady at the counter said was she was closing at 9:00 and that we have to have a take out.This is the second time something like this happened with the same person at the counter.She always seems to be in a hurry during closing hours. Will never visit again
(1)Moe G.
Average food from your stereotypical Americanized Asian restaurant. I ordered the Dan Dan noodles and got 80% noodles, 10% water (what I assumed to be sauce, but definitely didn't coat anything), and 10% veggies/chicken. It tasted fine, but mostly bland; pretty pricey for mostly noodles and water. The staff was super friendly, but that doesn't make up for the pricey, boring food. I would skip over this place if you're considering it.
(2)Jerry W.
Can't say much about Pei Wei. The staff is friendly, but the food... It is just way too americanized and can not be called as chinese food at all.
(2)Jose O.
I haven't been back to this particular Pei Wei for a couple of years for two reasons: access and sodium. Access by car to this location is terrible. Parking is extremely limited plus it's that backing in slant type. There is the optional parking garage a few blocks away, but that kind of defeats the purpose for fast food takeout for me. If you're health-conscious, the food is good, BUT check the nutritional value. Come on. 5000 mg of sodium in an order of Pad Thai? So, the food is pretty good, the restaurant is very pleasant, and they have the nicest takeout plastic flatware, napkins and carry out bags in the area. Nutrition/Parking-Conscious Buyer Beware!
(2)Brooke R.
Gross. The only redeeming factor is the location.
(1)Kirstin B.
Nestled in the midst of the busy Main Gate area, Pei Wei is pretty decent chain place. I love their coconut curry chicken, which is just the right amount of spicy and sweet. Another dish which is sure to please is the pad thai noodles. So if you are looking for a quick lunch in a nice setting, give this place a go.
(3)Jen W.
I actually prefer the other locations where the tables are clean and there are not long lines. This location is loud and crowded, but the tables are spread far enough apart so that you can have a good conversation. Other tables won't hear what you are saying unless you scream! The brown rice is very dry, but most of the entrees have a lot of sauce. The fried rice is awesome. I kept stealing my friend's. It's short-grain and has some sauce in it. I ordered the Mongolian chicken - the only veggies in it were mushrooms. Once again, I kept stealing my friend's honey seared chicken which was like a light colored battered sweet and sour type chicken. So delicious. Some great American-Chinese food. I am not sure what was going on with the pad thai. It reminded me of how some of their dishes are just random mixes of red chile pepper flakes, soy sauce, garlic, and rice vinegar and are barely discernible from each other. Anyway, $9 for a large plate of food - you can go 300 calories to 900 calories - they have nutritional charts. And the food came in about five minutes though the place was crowded. There aren't really servers, but if you go up to any of the staff with requests, they are extremely nice.
(4)Sarah C.
I'm not usually one to slam a business, and it takes A LOT for me to complain. But tonight's visit to Pei Wei on University still haunts me. I want to preface this with the fact the staff was highly friendly; really sweet people. What wasn't sweet was the cookie that had a hair stashed in it (sold at the front register, bagged, and loaded with something more than chocolate chips). I wanted to believe it was my hair, or my friend's hair...but truly, it was baked in, my gentle tugs at it didn't break it free. In addition, much to my terrified dismay, my meal, though it tasted mighty good, had one last tidbit left hiding with the few shrimp and scattered bell peppers. I couldn't figure out if it was a bug de-legged, a strange oval-shaped spice, or quite simply, a pellet from a small animal of some kind. I do hope the wine in my glass derailed any funk from tonight's stroll into this bistro. I love Pei Wei, but wow, tonight was downright gross.
(1)eden j.
I love it. Great American-style, pan-Asian, whatever you want to call it food. Whatever it is, it's really tasty. I'm a big fan of the orange chicken (not really hot enough, but I add lots of red pepper sauce) and the teriyaki bowls are a nice value- very filling and very tasty. Several good appetizers too. I think it's a bit over-priced for lunch, though not too bad if you stick with a bowl (only about $7 with chicken). Sure, it's probably not 'real' Asian food, but it gives you the Asian food flavor at least and the service is usually fast.
(4)Leo B.
Fast food PF Changs I believe without the salt and pepper Calamari. Don't waste the money.
(1)Lisa H.
Cheap enough and decent enough to get your moneys worth. The noodle bowls are $6.75, and their signature dishes are about a buck more. I tried their black pepper "blazing noodle" bowl, and it surely was blazing. I was surprised at both how spicy the food was (which is a very good thing) and also the temperature of the food itself- obviously the plastic serving bowl is designed to retain heat! The dish featured thai basil, cilantro, scallions, red tomatoes, snap peas, and a black pepper tomato sauce. The sauce was far from being 'tomatoey', and complimented the dish well as it was not is own entity. It simply coated the rice noodles the way that a proper noodle sauce, done Thai style, should. I chose to get beef with my dish, and it was tender and not overdone- and there was plenty of it. The bowl provided me with enough to fill up there, and then still have leftovers. I was confounded when I initially requested that our server bring me a bottle of the infamous Sriracha to compliment my meal (this was before it arrived, and there was no way that I would have used it after discovering the pleasant heat of the meal!), only to have her tell me that they did not have it, despite the fact that it is blatantly listed as a ingredient in one of their featured Thai style dishes. They describe the hot sauce by name in the menu as the key component in the "Thai Dynamite" dish. Our server was a bit clueless; however she did try to compensate by offering me the token Asian restaurant chili paste. Are you freakin' kidding me? If its not Sriracha, then there no comparison. My boyfriend had the lo mein dish with beef, and I tried a bite. Ick. Too greasy for me, and not enough spice. The shiitake mushroom I nibbled down was pretty durn good though. We paid 16.00 bucks for both of our noodle bowls, and he ordered a drink while I got water. Actually, once I realized that you could fill your cup up with whatever you wanted and no one would care, I got the awesome chai tea, which is sweet enough to drink cold even without milk (yes I love chai lattes!) but not sickening sugary. It is spicy and damn good. M y boyfriend got the mandarin orange tea- also very spicy and good. Beware- the tea needs ice and if you don't get it, it will be a bit warm from the brewing. Unless you are like my man and enjoy it that way. Another thing that is a bit unusual is that you order and pay first, then seat yourself. As this location seemed a bit crowded, I imagine the seating can get sticky sometimes, but they have several tables outside. In April in Tucson, those outdoor tables were packed! We found seating and our food arrived fast. I would say this place is touch and go as my dish I enjoyed, my boyfriends less so- but the family next to us had lettuce wraps and some type of won tons that looked fabulous. Next time I will go for the apps! Much cheaper than PF Changs and for good reason- you get what you pay for! No MSG makes this place 1000 times better on that principle alone than more than half of the other so Asian joints in this depressing excuse of a city. Can't wait to get back to Seattle to hit up Ohana's, Fu Lin, or Pho Bihn; or any place, for that matter, with some culture other than the monotonous college life that permeates this town.
(3)