I had a terrible experience here. My husband and I went to dinner at 7:30 on a Saturday night (before a movie). There were only four other tables of people eating in the entire restaurant. 7 people were working the kitchen brigade, 2 servers, a cashier, and a man who might have been the manager (button down shirt, black hair, black goatee) who was too busy chatting and flirting with the servers to do much else. They were completely out of diet coke and the ice machine was broken. Not a good start. We sat down at a table in front of the kitchen. Our appetizers were ready almost immediately (they weren't busy), but sat on the expo station for more than 5 minutes. We discussed walking over and bringing it to the table ourselves. One of the servers was standing right in front of it, but she was too busy talking to the kitchen staff, and the manager was too busy chatting and flirting with the cashier to notice. Eventually, she brought our lukewarm appetizers, one at a time (why she couldn't carry two plates- one of lettuce wraps and one of wontons simultaneously was lost on us). Then, almost immediately, another server came with our entree, apologizing because "the kitchen messed up the timing so they came out with the apps," (not true- our apps just sat at the window for more than 5 minutes getting cold). Our order was wrong- we ordered brown rice and got white, and the Kung Pao Chicken was horribly burnt (visibly- I would never have expected to have been served something looking like that). We didn't want to be late, so we went to get some soy sauce to make it more palatable, and took the one bottle that was not completely filthy. When we left, we passed the manager on our way out, chatting up the server at the dumpster. Bottom Line: Bad food, terrible service, our order was wrong, and the place was dirty and poorly maintained. There are certainly better options on the 29th street mall.
(1)
Diane M.
I really like Pei Wei. It so much cheaper to it's big brother P.F. :) What I really like is the orange tea- it is great! I always get a to go cup so I can take it with me. Portions are very large.
(5)
Ro T.
Last week I decided to have lunch here and was greatly disappointed. The restaurant was so cold, I had to wear my jacket to eat lunch. When I asked the waitress she said she would let someone know, well she didn't. I then went to cashier and asked her why it was so cold and she said "oh our heater has been broken for a couple of months!!" Seriously... they can't afford to get it fixed, that's just unacceptable.
(2)
Rick B.
This place *used* to be a good spot to eat, especially for lunch. Things have change over the past 2 years or so. Now the menu has been simplified down to just a few choices, yet it's kind of confusing to understand. I'm not sure which proteins are supposed to go with which dish. The food quality has gone downhill big time. It used really be 'the cheaper PF Changs' but now it resembles more of frozen food you get at the grocery store. The sauce is sugary and high in sodium. The dan dan noodles were rubbery. Really disappointing to see what's become of this place, because it used to be a good option.
(2)
SD L.
I liked the new order-online menu.
(4)
Jaimie B.
Meh. Soooo salty and the new menu is confusing. Not much flavor except for salt and overall tasted like fastfood/cheap. If I wanted fast food Asian, I would've gone to Panda Express. Gross!
(2)
Taylor D.
I love this place so much! There is nothing better than a quick serve restaurant that will always give you some fresh, hot food! My boyfriend and I are super picky and they easily customize everything for us. I am a huge fan of the Dan Dan Noodles and their Chicken Fried Rice! My boyfriend loves the Orange Peel Steak! I have gone here and have had my order made wrong, but they happily fixed it for me. You can also order online which is really convenient!
(5)
Jessica W.
I've been here twice and the staff has been extremely rude both times, and it wasn't even the same people. Every single table was sticky. They brought us the wrong food, and when we told them it was wrong, they argued with us until we showed a manager our receipt in order to get the food we actually ordered. Garbage place. Garbage people.
(1)
Day S.
This place is so horrible. The ghetto little waiter guy served me the incorrect size plate of shrimp, I told him it was the wrong size, he goes inside for a second and brings it back out and says "no this is a large mang". I wait for my friend to receive the EXACT same dish, sized large, and then I asked the waiter why, if we both ordered the same dish and same size, my friends plate had two times as much shrimp. All of the food here tastes like it was frozen and thrown into the microwave. It's probably the most unauthentic Chinese food I have ever had. I have tried shrimp, chicken, tofu, and beef and they are all mediocre.
(1)
Nanette F.
The best customer service anywhere, and very reasonable prices. My partner has a lot of allergies to foods, but gets his usual dinner custom-made. When the cashiers who know us (and a lot do, because we come often) see us coming, they already start writing up his order. We especially enjoy the warm greetings we're always given by cashier Adam, and manager Rich.
(5)
Sree Sagar R.
This is an amerian-chinese eatery. The dishes are decent but the problem is most of them taste kind of similar. This place is good to have quick lunch. The orange peel dish is one of my favorite here and I always substitute rice with fried rice, so I have no idea about the white/brown rice served here.
(3)
Julie L.
Yum! I haven't visited Pei Wei in awhile and even though the menu has changed, everything was delicious. We had one sushi roll, crab wontons, pad Thai and Mongolian chicken. Great flavor and service.
(5)
John D.
Place is great for a fast night takeout. Make sure to call in advance on weekends, it gets way busy. Food always tastes predictable, nothing over the top or underwhelming. Only once had a undercooked spring roll, slightly warm, cold meal while visiting. Still, happily fed and satisfied, I keep going back.
(4)
Matt B.
This place is straight up gross. My chicken dish came out looking worse than a microwaveable Uncle Bens TV dinner. It was bland, dry, and overcooked. I asked for extra sauce to try to make it better and it just made it worse. Their 'kung pao' sauce or whatever is literally soy sauce with peanuts. It was so salty, I could not eat more than a few bites. I will never be returning there. I would have had a better dinner by burning $30 and funneling a gallon of salt.
(1)
David C.
Food quality is poor along with service. Eat elsewhere at 29th street mall. Over priced for what you get. Large national chain so kind of expected. Waited 15 minutes during lunch for single dish. Pile of rice with no vegetables and okay honey chicken for $10. Pass!
(1)
Christopher N.
Very similar to PF Changs but not as stuffy. A good place for lunch for Asian inspired food but still very Americanized. It's good but not my first place to go for authentic Chinese food.
(4)
Heather B.
Sitting here at 9:15pm on 7/11/13 and watching the clowns in the kitchen yell, curse, bang pots around LOUDLY, and stand on the grill to clean to soap up & rinse wall off. All I wanted was some Spicy Chicken (which was tasty & well cooked), but I couldn't even enjoy it. Such poor customer service & concern for the 10 people still trying to eat amongst the obnoxious racket. If the goons & goonette in your kitchen are worried about rushing us outta here, have no fear. I won't be back. No Manager in sight... and too many other dining options in the immediate area to try. Mediocre food & disasterous customer service.
(1)
Liv C.
I went to this Pei Wei and ate a chicken chopped salad. Within a short time, I found myself with food poisoning. When I called the restaurant to let them know to check their product, they gave me a lecture. In any case, there's no question in my mind that this salad made me very ill.
(1)
Ashley B.
2012 Review #224: You know, I know it's a chain, but for big lunch meetings or an easy lunch spot in a popular area, Pei Wei is a good option. Why? -Complete nutritional information is available on their website, even for side items, kids items, etc. This is especially useful when you realize that the normal entrees are actually 2 portions, according to Pei Wei. -The "Diner Selects" menu is a cheaper option, with smaller portions. Choose a preparation (teriyaki, fried rice, lo mein, Hong Kong BBQ, honey seared, Mongolian, Korean), a protein, choice of white or brown rice, and a side (hot and sour soup, Asian slaw, spring roll) and it's at most $8. Mine was $6.40. Also, the portions are controlled and thus the calories are controlled. -Brown rice does not cost any extra -Stock velveting can drastically reduce the calories on the fried or sweet dishes -The chili sauce gives a nice punch -The tofu is cut very thinly and gets nice and crispy on the edges My only beefs are that the sauces are all a bit too salty/sweet/etc. and the wait times are pretty long for a semi-service restaurant. I've waited about 10 minutes most visits and that seems a little long to me. But, for a $6 lunch, I think this is a good option.
(4)
kari b.
This place is mediocrity at its finest. Sorta fresh. Way over sauced. I had a really gross salad once that was iceberg lettuce with a big gooey glop of chicken that had a ton of over corn starched sauce. Some stuff is good, like the lettuce wraps.When you add in the miserable parking situation at lunchtime, it's a no go for me!
(3)
Nathan L.
I used to love this place. Today, however I was incredibly disappointed. I ordered Thai Lettuce wraps during light-moderate lunch traffic. No large tops showed up that they had to deal with, either. It still took nearly 45 minutes for my food to arrive. Having to schedule time off work for lunch at a half-service restaurant is just not gonna cut it. When the food did arrive (to-go), about half of the lettuce leafs were brown and partially rotted. I am incredibly sad to say I won't be returning to this location. This Pei Wei no longer has the quality or the timeliness of the great lunch place I once knew.
(2)
Leanne G.
This is a fine place for lunch. The service is cafeteria style and the selection is good. The quality is OK. I had the green curry and it was a bit more oily then I prefer. Not quite spicy enough either. There was a decent amount of veggies and more chicken then needed. When I was done they had a compostable container for the take-out; very important to me. I hate styrophome!
(3)
Tagg R.
Their Pad-Thai is the best I've had anywhere, but I haven't had any other dishes I've particularly enjoyed. Their service has gotten much better recently.
(3)
Ryan A.
For fast food. It's pretty good. The Chopped Chicken Salad is a healthy option, and don't forget the fortune cookie (or two) at only 20 calories each
(4)
Talia H.
Pei Wei is a really great option when you are looking for something different and healthy. I love their honey seared chicken and brown rice. I also love that they let me order a kid's size meal. Often regular portions are too huge for me and the kid's is perfect. They are affordable and delish. I'm only sad because they have closed a handful of location and it has to be a special treat if I go to Boulder to eat here!
(5)
Brandi B.
You can't get pad Thai in anything other than molten volcano spicy and their soda machine syrups are all out of wack. Never going back!
(1)
Margaret A.
I was famished when I arrived at Pei Wei. So hungry I probably could've eaten a baby cow, and I'm a vegetarian. Unfortunately I found the food poorly cooked and bland. I just didn't find anything impressive about the dishes I ordered. The fried rice was not typical yummy chinese fried rice, it was just brown rice with some carrots and snap peas. I order the ginger broccoli and even the broccoli wasn't cooked through enough. Considering how hungry I was, everything could have tasted like a five star meal. The service was quick and the facility was clean. The prices are also inexpensive. From the look of the place I thought it would be much better. Based on other reviews maybe I went on an off night, but I'd be hesitant to waste my money there again to even find out.
(2)
Chas F.
We decided to give pei Wei a try. We ordered Beef fried rice Kids teriyaki chicken and rice Coconut chicken curry Pei Wei spicy Let me first say that this is associated with p.f. Changs. Its just the "fast food" version. So if you've ate there then you know what to expect, it just has less choices than changs. Everything was pretty good. The beef was tender and not fatty. The coconut curry was a little on the spicy side but not bad. My only complaint is the pei Wei spicy I ordered. I expected it to be spicy. On the menu it had the pepper sign indicating it was spicy and the description said it was spicy. But I get it and take a bite, it was SUPER sweet!! Not even a tad bit spicy. It tasted more like candied orange chicken. I added chili sauce to it but then it was sweet and spicy, just not what I was in the mood for. I wanted savory and spicy. Other than my food not being spicy but sweet everything else was fine. Just know that if you order spicy it may not be!
(3)
Aditya G.
I've never been disappointed here. Good food and great portions !!
(5)
Lindsay K.
This place is basically poor-mans PF Changs. Tasty, and decent for the money. No frills dining.
(2)
Evan T.
"Meh" describes Pei Wei well. For the most part, their dishes aren't too offensive, but there's no reason to ever seek them out, either, as they, when made right, are fairly typical sugary American-Asian food. But they are also inconsistent, which is shocking given such a standardized menu. I recently had their Pad Thai, and it was dry, flavorless, and horrible, as if they left out a sauce or something. Curiously, someone else in my party had the same dish, and theirs seemed to come out decent. I asked a server about it, and they said that's just how it is, and did nothing to remedy the situation. Pei Wei is a bit below average - it isn't awful, but there are always better options.
(2)
E.Z. H.
I originally gave Pei Wei a really low score after trying their take-out, and my low opinion of that option stands. But I've been back several times now for the eat-in option, and it's great! The eat-in portions are much more reasonable, the rice is better, the atmosphere is very pleasant - if I had never gotten take-out, they'd have had a 4-star review from the get-go. So I'm switching it to three stars and recommending that you eat there.
(3)
Renee B.
Great for a quick meal and excellent to go.
(3)
Kate S.
Authentic? No Inconsistent? Yes Constantly disappointing? Yes Like just about everyone else in Boulder, I'm still on the hunt for the best Chinese food in town. No, I'm not stupid enough to think the PF Chang's-offshoot could fulfill my fantasies, but I'd be dumb not to try it. BF and I go here sometimes when I think I'm in the mood for fake-o Chinese. Inevitably, what ends up happening is that I think I want one of their signature dishes, I get it, and then end up wanting something else. Their food always makes me so full, but in that ouch-I-really-should-not-have-eaten-a-whole-8-Âounces-of-food way. Their brown rice is weird - blech. Also, why does everything have mushrooms in it? Couldn't they choose one of their pre-prepared apps not to have the demon fungus in it? I used to love their Lemon Pepper chicken but they got rid of it after the second time I'd had it (CURSE YOU PEI WEI). If I could give 2.5 stars I would because Pei Wei is seriously in the middle of the pack - just average. It's fine for a quick lunch or dinner, but don't expect anything outstanding.
(3)
Greg H.
This was/is the absolute worst "Chinese" food I've ever had. Seriously they couldn't even cook rice! RICE! It's like a staple for a couple billion people in Asia. So if you want under cooked cold rice served with a couple cubes of chicken for $10 this is the place for you.
(1)
Sara S.
I got my usual crab cheese wontons and chicken lo mein. Both delicious! The only thing I would recommend is maybe a little more sauce on the lo mein. I was surprised we were in so fast and at a table at top of the lunch hour. I tigured it would be a zoo. It was overall great though!
(4)
Chris W.
My wife and I formerly went to their location in Westminster...or...Broomfield (I never know which of those cities I'm in - were the boundaries drawn by someone shivering with hypothermia or something?). Before that - when we lived in Golden - we went to that location. In short, we really like Pei Wei (and their "big brother" P.F. Chang's). Why? Thought you'd never ask! 1) It's good, dependable Asian food. There's a good fusion of of Chinese, Thai and Japanese (though no sushi, but we don't care for that anyway) and we find the recipes very flavorful and (at least for some of them) unique. What Chipotle is to Mexican food, Pei Wei is to Asian for us. Oh, that's a compliment by the way - just in case any Chipotle haters are about. 2) The price is reasonable. We typically order two spring rolls, two entrees and two drinks and the total is around $25 including tax. 3) It's fast. Sometimes you just want to stuff some Mongolian Beef into your face. OK, maybe it's just me. Pei Wei never makes you wait more than about 5 minutes - being a quick-serve establishment, you place your order at the register, find a seat and wait a few minutes for some great, fresh food! If you're looking for "gourmet" or "authentic" or any other adjective that means you're nearly impossible to please around Asian food, then Pei Wei might not be for you. For those who enjoy good food at at reasonable price served quickly, stuff your faces!
(4)
Amanda P.
We went to Pei Wei spur of the moment about a month ago when we were out and about in Boulder. I liked the decor. It truly was somewhere between a nice, more upscale restaurant and a diner. And there was plenty of seating outside and inside, so people weren't sitting on top of each other (something that makes me crazy). We were shuttled quickly along the line to the cashier, where we placed our order, got drink cups, and paid. We were given a number to display on our table for the food to be delivered. It's been so long I don't remember exactly what it's called, but there is some sort of amazing, kind of different tea they have there- Definitely try it. You'll know it when you see it. Our appetizers were brought out quickly (crab wontons, which were some of the best we've had with some sort of really good sauce, and edemame), quickly followed by our entrees. The portions were huge... I still have no idea how the boyfriend put it all away. I had enough for lunch, a snack later that night, and for the next day's lunch. I got the Japanese Teriyaki with chicken, which was very good. Everything tasted fresh and had just the right amount of zip to it. The boyfriend got something that was denoted as spicy, but he felt it wasn't spicy enough (but on the other hand, he likes things really, really spicy, so he's probably not a good yardstick to measure by in that department). I loved the experience. I thought it was much better than the average hole in the wall Asian place, and didn't mind helping serve myself to drinks, etc. because it helped keep the cost of the food low. We'll definitely be going back.
(4)
bet t.
We used to like Pei Wei. Not anymore. Service, experience, and food quality have all gone downhill. On our last visit, we wanted hot and sour soup, but they were out. Strike 1. We ordered meals anyway. My dish arrived with chicken instead of shrimp. Strike 2. The replacement dish with shrimp was cold. Not just cool, cold. I'm still not sure how it's possible to serve ice cold yet fried looking shrimp. Strike 3. At least they gave us a refund plus a $10 gift card. We returned to use the gift card. Ordered and sat down. The plates at the table were dirty, covered with bits of wet food. Rinse, people, rinse! I got up to get clean plates. Even the clean ones don't look nice--with black stains on them, they need to be replaced. Our hot and sour soup (yummy) and lettuce wraps arrived. Two minutes later, so did our entrees. The Thai dynamite chicken wasn't as tangy and tasty as in the past. There weren't lime wedges on the plate as in the past either. The Thai salad rolls were obviously right from the fridge. Ok but bland, even with sauce. The Hong Kong BBQ was not good. The sauce had a floury texture as if it wasn't cooked properly. After the food was delivered, no one from the restaurant stopped by to ask how the food was or to clear plates away. At one point, someone clearing the booth behind us was having a conversation with someone in the kitchen. The shouting back and forth was loud and distracting. I might stop by for take out soup, but we won't be back for a full meal.
(2)
Dustin G.
Damn! Burn on Pei Wei. Maybe they have changed their ways in the last 6 months or so? Ok, anyway, I went there today for the first time and this the low down: Walk in the first thing you will notice is the bright red floor, low lighting and sleek black chairs. The atmosphere is one of P.F. Changs meets fast food chain, which is somewhat strange: but also surprisingly chic for the food they were offering. The menus are huge monoliths sitting by the entry way - pricing ok. The tea was chai, standard...and with each dish you had meat or vegetarian selection. The tofu was sliced strangely and cooked somewhat weird, but different and interesting. This place even has the hot mustard and chili paste sitting by the fountain drink machines, straight out of P.F. Changs. The food however was iffy: I thought it was a 3.5, my gf thought it was a 2.5, my mom thought it was a solid 4. So, in the end: this place had a cool atmosphere, good prices, but mediocre food - definitely on the fast food end more than Asian gourmet let's put it that way. Different, but with a Chipotle across the street, forget it. Chipotle wins.
(4)
Alan M.
Pei Wei is great fast food. I have eaten there over 20 times and never had a bad experience. The only conclusion I can come to is that the people who don't like the place went to a different restaurant. I am a picky eater. I hate most fast food. I am snobby about my asian food. There food is not the best asian food I have ever eaten, but it shouldn't be because it is cheap. But unlike other cheap asain food I have eaten, Pei Wei actually tastes fresh and good. They don't use too much oil, the flavors are rich and appetizing. Lastly the decor is well done with an excellent ambiance.
(5)
Elise M.
Alright, I honestly had very high hopes for Pei Wei when I went there for my first time. Unfortunately, my first time will most likely be my last, I was very unimpressed. I was excited to try it, their food and overall demeanor is right up my alley: I love Asian food, and it seemed like a cool way to try it. Not so. I ordered Pad Thai, and after working my way through their maze of a dining setup, I made it to my table and started to eat. Bleh. Not flavorless, but worse in my opinion, there was enough taste for you to wish there was more. There were about 3 pieces of chicken in it, the noodles were bland, and it was very, very oily. I didn't finish my portion, so I took home the leftovers. I couldn't bring myself to eat it, even at my starving college student status, so it just sat there for a couple days before I threw it away. Not worth the visit, I'd say.
(1)
Brian I.
Asian concept restaurants like Pei Wei are springing up all over the US. Back in Boston, I was a huge fan of the Ginger Pad, a local lunch hotspot near my office which excelled in exactly the same concept as Pei Wei: stand on line, order your food, take a number, sit, receive your food, serve yourself beverages, and enjoy. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by Pei Wei. I ordered the Thai Dynamite while my wife took in ramen. We went on a Saturday at around 7pm - clearly at the peak of their rush - and were served with speed and friendliness. The dining area was packed, so we opted instead to sit at the bar area, where we enjoyed watching the line cooks work their magic. The manager was on hand, expediting plates during the slam - a distinctive mark of a well-run place. Everything was extremely well made, and there was clearly nothing for the kitchen to hide! It is what one might expect - Asian food tweaked for a mainstream US audience. And in that niche, Pei Wei excels in the way of my beloved Ginger Pad. They certainly give the incumbent chain noodle shop in Colorado - Noodles and Company - a bit of important competition.
(4)
Josh E.
high quality Asian food . of your looking for 1 dollar scoop quality just turn around and walk away. this is fine Asian owned by PF Chang at half the cost. I've never been disappointed . but if your used to crappy Asian and enjoy it maybe you this isn't for you !
(5)
Kristi A.
I was very disappointed in my dining experience tonight, 1/31/13. I waited 25 minutes for food before I decided to try to speak to the manager. I then waited 5 minutes in the line, and asked first where my food was and was told they were just backed up. I then asked to speak to the manager, who ignored me, and finally I asked if they could check on my table number....the food was rushed and I took it home in a to go box, but I will never return to this restaurant...a little customer service would have been such a good idea.
(1)
Jodi R.
Awesome, fast, reasonably priced,cool atmosphere!
(5)
James W.
Ok, wife & I are chinese-american, but were excited about Pei Wei coming to Boulder, cause we like the whole Chipotle, Qdoba, Noodles quick serve, convenient places for a reasonably-priced bite that's nicer than McDee, Taco Bell, Quiznos, etc. So we tried them when opened, and tried again, and tried again, and gave them another chance, and another... BOTTOM LINE - it's 60-70% (authenticity/quality) asian food, and if that's good enuff for you, enjoy! Well, what did we expect from a down-market chain of PF's? (We didn't like PF either, but will give them a second chance sometime...) The flavors that are supposed to "make" the dishes just aren't there or the balance is off. They are pretty consistent, convenient (fast) and the portions are decent if you happen to be at the 29th St mall. Room is very noisy, but choice to sit outside is nice. Otherwise goto China Gourmet in N. Bldr, or one of the thai or teriyaki places in town...they're much tastier
(3)
B C.
Everything is good. Plenty of Gluten-Free Options too!
(5)
Olivia S.
not a fan, you can find much better Chinese, Thai, or really and Asian cuisine at so many better places and for decent prices.
(2)
Ali M.
I am shocked by all the bad reviews of this place! Maybe its because I don't eat the meat, but I think Pei Wei kicks ass! First of all, its cheap. Like, a veggie/tofu entree is never more than $6.95 for a sh!tload of food Second, they have brown rice. Nice. Third, The tofu. Oh my god I don't know how they do it (probably heavily processed and I don't want to know) but it is so well cooked. The texture is awesome. Fourth, All you can eat fortune cookies, tons of veggie options, and you don't get locked into one ethnicity. You can have Thai while your friend has Japanese, your mom has Chinese and your dog has Korean. Done.
(4)
Hubert H.
If this is the best Asian Boulder has to offer ... Yikes yikes yikes. From the P.F. Changs franchise Pei Wei ... you know how Gregg Easterbrook in his column on professional football, TMQ, when writing about a poor team, refers to that team with the moniker: "warning: might contain football-like substance"? That's what I felt like after devouring their Pad Thai: may contain "Asian-like substance". Too much sugar, salt, and whatever else they put in that stuff, vinegar taste in the wrong proportions, etc. Asian, esp. Thai food, should express a subtlety of flavors, which was sorely lacking here. I went home with my leftovers, doused them in a pot of water to dilute the 'flavor', and reheated the dish to make it less unpalatable. Come on guys, let's go over to Bangkok / Taipei / HK / Fujian and find some really good chefs to start our own real Asian restaurant here!
(2)
Magdalena ..
It's okay, I've had better. I've been there twice and ordered different things each time yet the food tasted pretty much the same each time. I'm not crazy about it. It'll do in a pinch.
(2)
Beth B.
One of my go-to places for lunch and dinner in Boulder. I never dine here without ordering the crab wontons and my favorite dishes are the Chicken Pad Thai and the Pei Wei Spicy. Tends to be crowded at dinner with the university near by.
(5)
Zubey L.
this place is gross.. chain asian food. not a good idea... whats up with the meat.. some of it.. does't seem like meat.... the sauces they have on the food.. doesn't taste very good.. some is very very sour. i have given this place a few chances.. but i will never go here again
(2)
James B.
The food was great and expeditiously brought out. It's nice to get quality food without the added hassle of paying waitstaff, etc. The only problem was there was a dude in the bathroom for probably 20 mins. I was beginning to worry someone could be hurt or passed out. It doesn't take much imagination to think there was someone taking a massive dump; probably someone who eats MacDonalds routinely. The man that emerged was the same black-clad employee who served my dinner 5 mins later. Even with that I liked Pei Wei so you know it has to be good.
(4)
Deb K.
Any version of PF Changs is going to be a hit, but this place was really a nice surprise. Sort of the Noodles and Co. concept as far as order and be seated, but nice ambiance with the lighting and some booths scattered for more private dining. Super fresh veggies and very large portions of food. If you're up for very casual Asian, it's a good pick. Also, love that they bring chopsticks without you having to ask for them and seem pompous :)
(4)
H Y.
Everything that is bad about fast-food Chinese food. Fry some meat, cover it in sugary sauce and put it all on some rice. Oh, add some scallions and ginger to make it look good. Our dishes had too much sauce with overcooked beef/chicken over badly cooked rice. I couldn't taste much else besides the over-sweet sauce. Sorry, but having a bunch of woks in your kitchen does not qualify you to call it an Asian anything. This is Asian food for folks who like chop suey and order egg rolls with everything.
(1)
D H.
Great fast Asian food. Really good for business lunches as you can be in and out whilst having had a great meal in under an hour. I had the Spicy Korean Beef and would kick it up a notch next time, otherwise, enjoyed it and will be back.
(4)
Gluten-Free From A to Z.
FYI: Z is gluten-free (which means she can't eat wheat, rye, or barley) so our reviews are all from the gluten-free perspective. We care about how many gluten-free options the restaurant has and how helpful the staff is in dealing with our concerns. Gluten-Free Options: When you arrive, ask the cashier for the gluten-free menu, which is actually just a little card that tells you which of the regular menu items can be made gluten-free and how. There are five gluten-free options: an appetizer, two salads, and two stir fry items. Total From A to Z: 3 Stars A's Review: * * * Pei Wei makes a lot of tasty dishes, and offers a few of them in GF form. Their staff is well-trained and they whip out the GF menu right away when you ask. The GF menu itself is very short, and I think it would be better executed if they just put a GF icon next to the items on the main menu. The GF options are salads without dressing or a couple of unbreaded meat dishes. These are certainly tasty, but I would like to see more from Pei Wei. Z's Review: * * * Maybe it's not fair of me to only give Pei Wei three stars, since they are an Asian restaurant that actually has a gluten-free menu, but for some reason I wasn't completely thrilled about my visit. Perhaps part of the reason I was less thrilled is that Pei Wei is supposed to be the fast version of P.F. Chang's, which is awesome for gluten-free Chinese food. However, the gluten-free options at Pei Wei are much more limited. They don't even carry tamari! When asked, the cashier will hand you a card that lists the five gluten-free options. However, the card doesn't have descriptions of the food on it, so you are left to compare the card to the regular menu to try to decipher what you want to order. It would be a lot easier if the GF items were simply marked on the regular menu. I ordered the Pei Wei Spicy Chicken Salad. The chicken was actually really yummy. However, I didn't really enjoy the rest of the salad, partly because it had cilantro in it - which was not listed on the menu. I know the reason I didn't enjoy the salad is totally unrelated to being gluten-free, but as long as we're worrying about sensitivities to certain ingredients I would have liked to know what was actually in the salad, since cilantro doesn't agree with me.
(3)
M E.
Probably the best in the fast Asian food category. Light years ahead of places like Panda Express. You can come here and have a decent fun meal, but I don't find any part of it authentic. Somewhat bland/sweet tastes.
(3)
M C.
The first time we thought about eating at Pei Wei we walked in and were reading the menus when I noticed that the girl at the cash register was picking her nose. So we decided that wasn't the night for it and went elsewhere. Tonight we decided to give it a second chance, and I'm glad we did. As much as I hate to admit it, this chain beat most of the local Asian places I've been to in Boulder. For less money. It may not be the most authentic cuisine, but it tastes pretty darn good. It's almost exactly like Noodles, but Asian. This is a good thing as I like the Noodles dining format. Pay at the counter, choose a table, and they bring your food to you. You fill your own drinks which is fine with me since I don't have to wait for a server to come by and notice my cup is empty. I had the Pad Thai with scallops. I finished it off and enjoyed the last bite as much as the first, which is more than I can say about some other much more expensive restaurants I've been to. The flavors were fresh and distinct, but went very well together. Anyway, we'll be back, as long as the nose picker isn't working.
(4)
AJ S.
Pei Wei is gross. I have eaten there a few times, and every time I have gotten sick from it. The cooks are clueless, and if you watch them they just dump tons and tons of oil into everything they make, to make up for their lack of cooking skill. I don't know of any good cheap Asian food in Boulder (Chez Thuy is good if you want to spend a bit more), but I would recommend a place like May Wah over Pei Wei any day of the week. Pei Wei is terrible.
(1)
Marie E.
I was excited to eat at this place as I have heard mostly good things. I took my kids for lunch a couple of weeks ago. Firstly when I walked in, the person at the cash register appeared as if she'd rather be anywhere but there. Very unfriendly. I shook it off, and ordered Lo Mein for me, and teriyaki for my son. Our food came quickly, and looked very nice. Unfortunately it was flavorless. My son wouldn't eat his, and I tasted it...I didn't blame him. Probably wouldn't go back here.
(2)
nick w.
Fairly healthy, fresh ingredients (nutrition info on their web site) make up for the poor dining experience. You order at the counter and dishes are brought out somewhat randomly - your appetizer may come last.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot 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 Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
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.
Abigail M.
I had a terrible experience here. My husband and I went to dinner at 7:30 on a Saturday night (before a movie). There were only four other tables of people eating in the entire restaurant. 7 people were working the kitchen brigade, 2 servers, a cashier, and a man who might have been the manager (button down shirt, black hair, black goatee) who was too busy chatting and flirting with the servers to do much else. They were completely out of diet coke and the ice machine was broken. Not a good start. We sat down at a table in front of the kitchen. Our appetizers were ready almost immediately (they weren't busy), but sat on the expo station for more than 5 minutes. We discussed walking over and bringing it to the table ourselves. One of the servers was standing right in front of it, but she was too busy talking to the kitchen staff, and the manager was too busy chatting and flirting with the cashier to notice. Eventually, she brought our lukewarm appetizers, one at a time (why she couldn't carry two plates- one of lettuce wraps and one of wontons simultaneously was lost on us). Then, almost immediately, another server came with our entree, apologizing because "the kitchen messed up the timing so they came out with the apps," (not true- our apps just sat at the window for more than 5 minutes getting cold). Our order was wrong- we ordered brown rice and got white, and the Kung Pao Chicken was horribly burnt (visibly- I would never have expected to have been served something looking like that). We didn't want to be late, so we went to get some soy sauce to make it more palatable, and took the one bottle that was not completely filthy. When we left, we passed the manager on our way out, chatting up the server at the dumpster. Bottom Line: Bad food, terrible service, our order was wrong, and the place was dirty and poorly maintained. There are certainly better options on the 29th street mall.
(1)Diane M.
I really like Pei Wei. It so much cheaper to it's big brother P.F. :) What I really like is the orange tea- it is great! I always get a to go cup so I can take it with me. Portions are very large.
(5)Ro T.
Last week I decided to have lunch here and was greatly disappointed. The restaurant was so cold, I had to wear my jacket to eat lunch. When I asked the waitress she said she would let someone know, well she didn't. I then went to cashier and asked her why it was so cold and she said "oh our heater has been broken for a couple of months!!" Seriously... they can't afford to get it fixed, that's just unacceptable.
(2)Rick B.
This place *used* to be a good spot to eat, especially for lunch. Things have change over the past 2 years or so. Now the menu has been simplified down to just a few choices, yet it's kind of confusing to understand. I'm not sure which proteins are supposed to go with which dish. The food quality has gone downhill big time. It used really be 'the cheaper PF Changs' but now it resembles more of frozen food you get at the grocery store. The sauce is sugary and high in sodium. The dan dan noodles were rubbery. Really disappointing to see what's become of this place, because it used to be a good option.
(2)SD L.
I liked the new order-online menu.
(4)Jaimie B.
Meh. Soooo salty and the new menu is confusing. Not much flavor except for salt and overall tasted like fastfood/cheap. If I wanted fast food Asian, I would've gone to Panda Express. Gross!
(2)Taylor D.
I love this place so much! There is nothing better than a quick serve restaurant that will always give you some fresh, hot food! My boyfriend and I are super picky and they easily customize everything for us. I am a huge fan of the Dan Dan Noodles and their Chicken Fried Rice! My boyfriend loves the Orange Peel Steak! I have gone here and have had my order made wrong, but they happily fixed it for me. You can also order online which is really convenient!
(5)Jessica W.
I've been here twice and the staff has been extremely rude both times, and it wasn't even the same people. Every single table was sticky. They brought us the wrong food, and when we told them it was wrong, they argued with us until we showed a manager our receipt in order to get the food we actually ordered. Garbage place. Garbage people.
(1)Day S.
This place is so horrible. The ghetto little waiter guy served me the incorrect size plate of shrimp, I told him it was the wrong size, he goes inside for a second and brings it back out and says "no this is a large mang". I wait for my friend to receive the EXACT same dish, sized large, and then I asked the waiter why, if we both ordered the same dish and same size, my friends plate had two times as much shrimp. All of the food here tastes like it was frozen and thrown into the microwave. It's probably the most unauthentic Chinese food I have ever had. I have tried shrimp, chicken, tofu, and beef and they are all mediocre.
(1)Nanette F.
The best customer service anywhere, and very reasonable prices. My partner has a lot of allergies to foods, but gets his usual dinner custom-made. When the cashiers who know us (and a lot do, because we come often) see us coming, they already start writing up his order. We especially enjoy the warm greetings we're always given by cashier Adam, and manager Rich.
(5)Sree Sagar R.
This is an amerian-chinese eatery. The dishes are decent but the problem is most of them taste kind of similar. This place is good to have quick lunch. The orange peel dish is one of my favorite here and I always substitute rice with fried rice, so I have no idea about the white/brown rice served here.
(3)Julie L.
Yum! I haven't visited Pei Wei in awhile and even though the menu has changed, everything was delicious. We had one sushi roll, crab wontons, pad Thai and Mongolian chicken. Great flavor and service.
(5)John D.
Place is great for a fast night takeout. Make sure to call in advance on weekends, it gets way busy. Food always tastes predictable, nothing over the top or underwhelming. Only once had a undercooked spring roll, slightly warm, cold meal while visiting. Still, happily fed and satisfied, I keep going back.
(4)Matt B.
This place is straight up gross. My chicken dish came out looking worse than a microwaveable Uncle Bens TV dinner. It was bland, dry, and overcooked. I asked for extra sauce to try to make it better and it just made it worse. Their 'kung pao' sauce or whatever is literally soy sauce with peanuts. It was so salty, I could not eat more than a few bites. I will never be returning there. I would have had a better dinner by burning $30 and funneling a gallon of salt.
(1)David C.
Food quality is poor along with service. Eat elsewhere at 29th street mall. Over priced for what you get. Large national chain so kind of expected. Waited 15 minutes during lunch for single dish. Pile of rice with no vegetables and okay honey chicken for $10. Pass!
(1)Christopher N.
Very similar to PF Changs but not as stuffy. A good place for lunch for Asian inspired food but still very Americanized. It's good but not my first place to go for authentic Chinese food.
(4)Heather B.
Sitting here at 9:15pm on 7/11/13 and watching the clowns in the kitchen yell, curse, bang pots around LOUDLY, and stand on the grill to clean to soap up & rinse wall off. All I wanted was some Spicy Chicken (which was tasty & well cooked), but I couldn't even enjoy it. Such poor customer service & concern for the 10 people still trying to eat amongst the obnoxious racket. If the goons & goonette in your kitchen are worried about rushing us outta here, have no fear. I won't be back. No Manager in sight... and too many other dining options in the immediate area to try. Mediocre food & disasterous customer service.
(1)Liv C.
I went to this Pei Wei and ate a chicken chopped salad. Within a short time, I found myself with food poisoning. When I called the restaurant to let them know to check their product, they gave me a lecture. In any case, there's no question in my mind that this salad made me very ill.
(1)Ashley B.
2012 Review #224: You know, I know it's a chain, but for big lunch meetings or an easy lunch spot in a popular area, Pei Wei is a good option. Why? -Complete nutritional information is available on their website, even for side items, kids items, etc. This is especially useful when you realize that the normal entrees are actually 2 portions, according to Pei Wei. -The "Diner Selects" menu is a cheaper option, with smaller portions. Choose a preparation (teriyaki, fried rice, lo mein, Hong Kong BBQ, honey seared, Mongolian, Korean), a protein, choice of white or brown rice, and a side (hot and sour soup, Asian slaw, spring roll) and it's at most $8. Mine was $6.40. Also, the portions are controlled and thus the calories are controlled. -Brown rice does not cost any extra -Stock velveting can drastically reduce the calories on the fried or sweet dishes -The chili sauce gives a nice punch -The tofu is cut very thinly and gets nice and crispy on the edges My only beefs are that the sauces are all a bit too salty/sweet/etc. and the wait times are pretty long for a semi-service restaurant. I've waited about 10 minutes most visits and that seems a little long to me. But, for a $6 lunch, I think this is a good option.
(4)kari b.
This place is mediocrity at its finest. Sorta fresh. Way over sauced. I had a really gross salad once that was iceberg lettuce with a big gooey glop of chicken that had a ton of over corn starched sauce. Some stuff is good, like the lettuce wraps.When you add in the miserable parking situation at lunchtime, it's a no go for me!
(3)Nathan L.
I used to love this place. Today, however I was incredibly disappointed. I ordered Thai Lettuce wraps during light-moderate lunch traffic. No large tops showed up that they had to deal with, either. It still took nearly 45 minutes for my food to arrive. Having to schedule time off work for lunch at a half-service restaurant is just not gonna cut it. When the food did arrive (to-go), about half of the lettuce leafs were brown and partially rotted. I am incredibly sad to say I won't be returning to this location. This Pei Wei no longer has the quality or the timeliness of the great lunch place I once knew.
(2)Leanne G.
This is a fine place for lunch. The service is cafeteria style and the selection is good. The quality is OK. I had the green curry and it was a bit more oily then I prefer. Not quite spicy enough either. There was a decent amount of veggies and more chicken then needed. When I was done they had a compostable container for the take-out; very important to me. I hate styrophome!
(3)Tagg R.
Their Pad-Thai is the best I've had anywhere, but I haven't had any other dishes I've particularly enjoyed. Their service has gotten much better recently.
(3)Ryan A.
For fast food. It's pretty good. The Chopped Chicken Salad is a healthy option, and don't forget the fortune cookie (or two) at only 20 calories each
(4)Talia H.
Pei Wei is a really great option when you are looking for something different and healthy. I love their honey seared chicken and brown rice. I also love that they let me order a kid's size meal. Often regular portions are too huge for me and the kid's is perfect. They are affordable and delish. I'm only sad because they have closed a handful of location and it has to be a special treat if I go to Boulder to eat here!
(5)Brandi B.
You can't get pad Thai in anything other than molten volcano spicy and their soda machine syrups are all out of wack. Never going back!
(1)Margaret A.
I was famished when I arrived at Pei Wei. So hungry I probably could've eaten a baby cow, and I'm a vegetarian. Unfortunately I found the food poorly cooked and bland. I just didn't find anything impressive about the dishes I ordered. The fried rice was not typical yummy chinese fried rice, it was just brown rice with some carrots and snap peas. I order the ginger broccoli and even the broccoli wasn't cooked through enough. Considering how hungry I was, everything could have tasted like a five star meal. The service was quick and the facility was clean. The prices are also inexpensive. From the look of the place I thought it would be much better. Based on other reviews maybe I went on an off night, but I'd be hesitant to waste my money there again to even find out.
(2)Chas F.
We decided to give pei Wei a try. We ordered Beef fried rice Kids teriyaki chicken and rice Coconut chicken curry Pei Wei spicy Let me first say that this is associated with p.f. Changs. Its just the "fast food" version. So if you've ate there then you know what to expect, it just has less choices than changs. Everything was pretty good. The beef was tender and not fatty. The coconut curry was a little on the spicy side but not bad. My only complaint is the pei Wei spicy I ordered. I expected it to be spicy. On the menu it had the pepper sign indicating it was spicy and the description said it was spicy. But I get it and take a bite, it was SUPER sweet!! Not even a tad bit spicy. It tasted more like candied orange chicken. I added chili sauce to it but then it was sweet and spicy, just not what I was in the mood for. I wanted savory and spicy. Other than my food not being spicy but sweet everything else was fine. Just know that if you order spicy it may not be!
(3)Aditya G.
I've never been disappointed here. Good food and great portions !!
(5)Lindsay K.
This place is basically poor-mans PF Changs. Tasty, and decent for the money. No frills dining.
(2)Evan T.
"Meh" describes Pei Wei well. For the most part, their dishes aren't too offensive, but there's no reason to ever seek them out, either, as they, when made right, are fairly typical sugary American-Asian food. But they are also inconsistent, which is shocking given such a standardized menu. I recently had their Pad Thai, and it was dry, flavorless, and horrible, as if they left out a sauce or something. Curiously, someone else in my party had the same dish, and theirs seemed to come out decent. I asked a server about it, and they said that's just how it is, and did nothing to remedy the situation. Pei Wei is a bit below average - it isn't awful, but there are always better options.
(2)E.Z. H.
I originally gave Pei Wei a really low score after trying their take-out, and my low opinion of that option stands. But I've been back several times now for the eat-in option, and it's great! The eat-in portions are much more reasonable, the rice is better, the atmosphere is very pleasant - if I had never gotten take-out, they'd have had a 4-star review from the get-go. So I'm switching it to three stars and recommending that you eat there.
(3)Renee B.
Great for a quick meal and excellent to go.
(3)Kate S.
Authentic? No Inconsistent? Yes Constantly disappointing? Yes Like just about everyone else in Boulder, I'm still on the hunt for the best Chinese food in town. No, I'm not stupid enough to think the PF Chang's-offshoot could fulfill my fantasies, but I'd be dumb not to try it. BF and I go here sometimes when I think I'm in the mood for fake-o Chinese. Inevitably, what ends up happening is that I think I want one of their signature dishes, I get it, and then end up wanting something else. Their food always makes me so full, but in that ouch-I-really-should-not-have-eaten-a-whole-8-Âounces-of-food way. Their brown rice is weird - blech. Also, why does everything have mushrooms in it? Couldn't they choose one of their pre-prepared apps not to have the demon fungus in it? I used to love their Lemon Pepper chicken but they got rid of it after the second time I'd had it (CURSE YOU PEI WEI). If I could give 2.5 stars I would because Pei Wei is seriously in the middle of the pack - just average. It's fine for a quick lunch or dinner, but don't expect anything outstanding.
(3)Greg H.
This was/is the absolute worst "Chinese" food I've ever had. Seriously they couldn't even cook rice! RICE! It's like a staple for a couple billion people in Asia. So if you want under cooked cold rice served with a couple cubes of chicken for $10 this is the place for you.
(1)Sara S.
I got my usual crab cheese wontons and chicken lo mein. Both delicious! The only thing I would recommend is maybe a little more sauce on the lo mein. I was surprised we were in so fast and at a table at top of the lunch hour. I tigured it would be a zoo. It was overall great though!
(4)Chris W.
My wife and I formerly went to their location in Westminster...or...Broomfield (I never know which of those cities I'm in - were the boundaries drawn by someone shivering with hypothermia or something?). Before that - when we lived in Golden - we went to that location. In short, we really like Pei Wei (and their "big brother" P.F. Chang's). Why? Thought you'd never ask! 1) It's good, dependable Asian food. There's a good fusion of of Chinese, Thai and Japanese (though no sushi, but we don't care for that anyway) and we find the recipes very flavorful and (at least for some of them) unique. What Chipotle is to Mexican food, Pei Wei is to Asian for us. Oh, that's a compliment by the way - just in case any Chipotle haters are about. 2) The price is reasonable. We typically order two spring rolls, two entrees and two drinks and the total is around $25 including tax. 3) It's fast. Sometimes you just want to stuff some Mongolian Beef into your face. OK, maybe it's just me. Pei Wei never makes you wait more than about 5 minutes - being a quick-serve establishment, you place your order at the register, find a seat and wait a few minutes for some great, fresh food! If you're looking for "gourmet" or "authentic" or any other adjective that means you're nearly impossible to please around Asian food, then Pei Wei might not be for you. For those who enjoy good food at at reasonable price served quickly, stuff your faces!
(4)Amanda P.
We went to Pei Wei spur of the moment about a month ago when we were out and about in Boulder. I liked the decor. It truly was somewhere between a nice, more upscale restaurant and a diner. And there was plenty of seating outside and inside, so people weren't sitting on top of each other (something that makes me crazy). We were shuttled quickly along the line to the cashier, where we placed our order, got drink cups, and paid. We were given a number to display on our table for the food to be delivered. It's been so long I don't remember exactly what it's called, but there is some sort of amazing, kind of different tea they have there- Definitely try it. You'll know it when you see it. Our appetizers were brought out quickly (crab wontons, which were some of the best we've had with some sort of really good sauce, and edemame), quickly followed by our entrees. The portions were huge... I still have no idea how the boyfriend put it all away. I had enough for lunch, a snack later that night, and for the next day's lunch. I got the Japanese Teriyaki with chicken, which was very good. Everything tasted fresh and had just the right amount of zip to it. The boyfriend got something that was denoted as spicy, but he felt it wasn't spicy enough (but on the other hand, he likes things really, really spicy, so he's probably not a good yardstick to measure by in that department). I loved the experience. I thought it was much better than the average hole in the wall Asian place, and didn't mind helping serve myself to drinks, etc. because it helped keep the cost of the food low. We'll definitely be going back.
(4)bet t.
We used to like Pei Wei. Not anymore. Service, experience, and food quality have all gone downhill. On our last visit, we wanted hot and sour soup, but they were out. Strike 1. We ordered meals anyway. My dish arrived with chicken instead of shrimp. Strike 2. The replacement dish with shrimp was cold. Not just cool, cold. I'm still not sure how it's possible to serve ice cold yet fried looking shrimp. Strike 3. At least they gave us a refund plus a $10 gift card. We returned to use the gift card. Ordered and sat down. The plates at the table were dirty, covered with bits of wet food. Rinse, people, rinse! I got up to get clean plates. Even the clean ones don't look nice--with black stains on them, they need to be replaced. Our hot and sour soup (yummy) and lettuce wraps arrived. Two minutes later, so did our entrees. The Thai dynamite chicken wasn't as tangy and tasty as in the past. There weren't lime wedges on the plate as in the past either. The Thai salad rolls were obviously right from the fridge. Ok but bland, even with sauce. The Hong Kong BBQ was not good. The sauce had a floury texture as if it wasn't cooked properly. After the food was delivered, no one from the restaurant stopped by to ask how the food was or to clear plates away. At one point, someone clearing the booth behind us was having a conversation with someone in the kitchen. The shouting back and forth was loud and distracting. I might stop by for take out soup, but we won't be back for a full meal.
(2)Dustin G.
Damn! Burn on Pei Wei. Maybe they have changed their ways in the last 6 months or so? Ok, anyway, I went there today for the first time and this the low down: Walk in the first thing you will notice is the bright red floor, low lighting and sleek black chairs. The atmosphere is one of P.F. Changs meets fast food chain, which is somewhat strange: but also surprisingly chic for the food they were offering. The menus are huge monoliths sitting by the entry way - pricing ok. The tea was chai, standard...and with each dish you had meat or vegetarian selection. The tofu was sliced strangely and cooked somewhat weird, but different and interesting. This place even has the hot mustard and chili paste sitting by the fountain drink machines, straight out of P.F. Changs. The food however was iffy: I thought it was a 3.5, my gf thought it was a 2.5, my mom thought it was a solid 4. So, in the end: this place had a cool atmosphere, good prices, but mediocre food - definitely on the fast food end more than Asian gourmet let's put it that way. Different, but with a Chipotle across the street, forget it. Chipotle wins.
(4)Alan M.
Pei Wei is great fast food. I have eaten there over 20 times and never had a bad experience. The only conclusion I can come to is that the people who don't like the place went to a different restaurant. I am a picky eater. I hate most fast food. I am snobby about my asian food. There food is not the best asian food I have ever eaten, but it shouldn't be because it is cheap. But unlike other cheap asain food I have eaten, Pei Wei actually tastes fresh and good. They don't use too much oil, the flavors are rich and appetizing. Lastly the decor is well done with an excellent ambiance.
(5)Elise M.
Alright, I honestly had very high hopes for Pei Wei when I went there for my first time. Unfortunately, my first time will most likely be my last, I was very unimpressed. I was excited to try it, their food and overall demeanor is right up my alley: I love Asian food, and it seemed like a cool way to try it. Not so. I ordered Pad Thai, and after working my way through their maze of a dining setup, I made it to my table and started to eat. Bleh. Not flavorless, but worse in my opinion, there was enough taste for you to wish there was more. There were about 3 pieces of chicken in it, the noodles were bland, and it was very, very oily. I didn't finish my portion, so I took home the leftovers. I couldn't bring myself to eat it, even at my starving college student status, so it just sat there for a couple days before I threw it away. Not worth the visit, I'd say.
(1)Brian I.
Asian concept restaurants like Pei Wei are springing up all over the US. Back in Boston, I was a huge fan of the Ginger Pad, a local lunch hotspot near my office which excelled in exactly the same concept as Pei Wei: stand on line, order your food, take a number, sit, receive your food, serve yourself beverages, and enjoy. That said, I was pleasantly surprised by Pei Wei. I ordered the Thai Dynamite while my wife took in ramen. We went on a Saturday at around 7pm - clearly at the peak of their rush - and were served with speed and friendliness. The dining area was packed, so we opted instead to sit at the bar area, where we enjoyed watching the line cooks work their magic. The manager was on hand, expediting plates during the slam - a distinctive mark of a well-run place. Everything was extremely well made, and there was clearly nothing for the kitchen to hide! It is what one might expect - Asian food tweaked for a mainstream US audience. And in that niche, Pei Wei excels in the way of my beloved Ginger Pad. They certainly give the incumbent chain noodle shop in Colorado - Noodles and Company - a bit of important competition.
(4)Josh E.
high quality Asian food . of your looking for 1 dollar scoop quality just turn around and walk away. this is fine Asian owned by PF Chang at half the cost. I've never been disappointed . but if your used to crappy Asian and enjoy it maybe you this isn't for you !
(5)Kristi A.
I was very disappointed in my dining experience tonight, 1/31/13. I waited 25 minutes for food before I decided to try to speak to the manager. I then waited 5 minutes in the line, and asked first where my food was and was told they were just backed up. I then asked to speak to the manager, who ignored me, and finally I asked if they could check on my table number....the food was rushed and I took it home in a to go box, but I will never return to this restaurant...a little customer service would have been such a good idea.
(1)Jodi R.
Awesome, fast, reasonably priced,cool atmosphere!
(5)James W.
Ok, wife & I are chinese-american, but were excited about Pei Wei coming to Boulder, cause we like the whole Chipotle, Qdoba, Noodles quick serve, convenient places for a reasonably-priced bite that's nicer than McDee, Taco Bell, Quiznos, etc. So we tried them when opened, and tried again, and tried again, and gave them another chance, and another... BOTTOM LINE - it's 60-70% (authenticity/quality) asian food, and if that's good enuff for you, enjoy! Well, what did we expect from a down-market chain of PF's? (We didn't like PF either, but will give them a second chance sometime...) The flavors that are supposed to "make" the dishes just aren't there or the balance is off. They are pretty consistent, convenient (fast) and the portions are decent if you happen to be at the 29th St mall. Room is very noisy, but choice to sit outside is nice. Otherwise goto China Gourmet in N. Bldr, or one of the thai or teriyaki places in town...they're much tastier
(3)B C.
Everything is good. Plenty of Gluten-Free Options too!
(5)Olivia S.
not a fan, you can find much better Chinese, Thai, or really and Asian cuisine at so many better places and for decent prices.
(2)Ali M.
I am shocked by all the bad reviews of this place! Maybe its because I don't eat the meat, but I think Pei Wei kicks ass! First of all, its cheap. Like, a veggie/tofu entree is never more than $6.95 for a sh!tload of food Second, they have brown rice. Nice. Third, The tofu. Oh my god I don't know how they do it (probably heavily processed and I don't want to know) but it is so well cooked. The texture is awesome. Fourth, All you can eat fortune cookies, tons of veggie options, and you don't get locked into one ethnicity. You can have Thai while your friend has Japanese, your mom has Chinese and your dog has Korean. Done.
(4)Hubert H.
If this is the best Asian Boulder has to offer ... Yikes yikes yikes. From the P.F. Changs franchise Pei Wei ... you know how Gregg Easterbrook in his column on professional football, TMQ, when writing about a poor team, refers to that team with the moniker: "warning: might contain football-like substance"? That's what I felt like after devouring their Pad Thai: may contain "Asian-like substance". Too much sugar, salt, and whatever else they put in that stuff, vinegar taste in the wrong proportions, etc. Asian, esp. Thai food, should express a subtlety of flavors, which was sorely lacking here. I went home with my leftovers, doused them in a pot of water to dilute the 'flavor', and reheated the dish to make it less unpalatable. Come on guys, let's go over to Bangkok / Taipei / HK / Fujian and find some really good chefs to start our own real Asian restaurant here!
(2)Magdalena ..
It's okay, I've had better. I've been there twice and ordered different things each time yet the food tasted pretty much the same each time. I'm not crazy about it. It'll do in a pinch.
(2)Beth B.
One of my go-to places for lunch and dinner in Boulder. I never dine here without ordering the crab wontons and my favorite dishes are the Chicken Pad Thai and the Pei Wei Spicy. Tends to be crowded at dinner with the university near by.
(5)Zubey L.
this place is gross.. chain asian food. not a good idea... whats up with the meat.. some of it.. does't seem like meat.... the sauces they have on the food.. doesn't taste very good.. some is very very sour. i have given this place a few chances.. but i will never go here again
(2)James B.
The food was great and expeditiously brought out. It's nice to get quality food without the added hassle of paying waitstaff, etc. The only problem was there was a dude in the bathroom for probably 20 mins. I was beginning to worry someone could be hurt or passed out. It doesn't take much imagination to think there was someone taking a massive dump; probably someone who eats MacDonalds routinely. The man that emerged was the same black-clad employee who served my dinner 5 mins later. Even with that I liked Pei Wei so you know it has to be good.
(4)Deb K.
Any version of PF Changs is going to be a hit, but this place was really a nice surprise. Sort of the Noodles and Co. concept as far as order and be seated, but nice ambiance with the lighting and some booths scattered for more private dining. Super fresh veggies and very large portions of food. If you're up for very casual Asian, it's a good pick. Also, love that they bring chopsticks without you having to ask for them and seem pompous :)
(4)H Y.
Everything that is bad about fast-food Chinese food. Fry some meat, cover it in sugary sauce and put it all on some rice. Oh, add some scallions and ginger to make it look good. Our dishes had too much sauce with overcooked beef/chicken over badly cooked rice. I couldn't taste much else besides the over-sweet sauce. Sorry, but having a bunch of woks in your kitchen does not qualify you to call it an Asian anything. This is Asian food for folks who like chop suey and order egg rolls with everything.
(1)D H.
Great fast Asian food. Really good for business lunches as you can be in and out whilst having had a great meal in under an hour. I had the Spicy Korean Beef and would kick it up a notch next time, otherwise, enjoyed it and will be back.
(4)Gluten-Free From A to Z.
FYI: Z is gluten-free (which means she can't eat wheat, rye, or barley) so our reviews are all from the gluten-free perspective. We care about how many gluten-free options the restaurant has and how helpful the staff is in dealing with our concerns. Gluten-Free Options: When you arrive, ask the cashier for the gluten-free menu, which is actually just a little card that tells you which of the regular menu items can be made gluten-free and how. There are five gluten-free options: an appetizer, two salads, and two stir fry items. Total From A to Z: 3 Stars A's Review: * * * Pei Wei makes a lot of tasty dishes, and offers a few of them in GF form. Their staff is well-trained and they whip out the GF menu right away when you ask. The GF menu itself is very short, and I think it would be better executed if they just put a GF icon next to the items on the main menu. The GF options are salads without dressing or a couple of unbreaded meat dishes. These are certainly tasty, but I would like to see more from Pei Wei. Z's Review: * * * Maybe it's not fair of me to only give Pei Wei three stars, since they are an Asian restaurant that actually has a gluten-free menu, but for some reason I wasn't completely thrilled about my visit. Perhaps part of the reason I was less thrilled is that Pei Wei is supposed to be the fast version of P.F. Chang's, which is awesome for gluten-free Chinese food. However, the gluten-free options at Pei Wei are much more limited. They don't even carry tamari! When asked, the cashier will hand you a card that lists the five gluten-free options. However, the card doesn't have descriptions of the food on it, so you are left to compare the card to the regular menu to try to decipher what you want to order. It would be a lot easier if the GF items were simply marked on the regular menu. I ordered the Pei Wei Spicy Chicken Salad. The chicken was actually really yummy. However, I didn't really enjoy the rest of the salad, partly because it had cilantro in it - which was not listed on the menu. I know the reason I didn't enjoy the salad is totally unrelated to being gluten-free, but as long as we're worrying about sensitivities to certain ingredients I would have liked to know what was actually in the salad, since cilantro doesn't agree with me.
(3)M E.
Probably the best in the fast Asian food category. Light years ahead of places like Panda Express. You can come here and have a decent fun meal, but I don't find any part of it authentic. Somewhat bland/sweet tastes.
(3)M C.
The first time we thought about eating at Pei Wei we walked in and were reading the menus when I noticed that the girl at the cash register was picking her nose. So we decided that wasn't the night for it and went elsewhere. Tonight we decided to give it a second chance, and I'm glad we did. As much as I hate to admit it, this chain beat most of the local Asian places I've been to in Boulder. For less money. It may not be the most authentic cuisine, but it tastes pretty darn good. It's almost exactly like Noodles, but Asian. This is a good thing as I like the Noodles dining format. Pay at the counter, choose a table, and they bring your food to you. You fill your own drinks which is fine with me since I don't have to wait for a server to come by and notice my cup is empty. I had the Pad Thai with scallops. I finished it off and enjoyed the last bite as much as the first, which is more than I can say about some other much more expensive restaurants I've been to. The flavors were fresh and distinct, but went very well together. Anyway, we'll be back, as long as the nose picker isn't working.
(4)AJ S.
Pei Wei is gross. I have eaten there a few times, and every time I have gotten sick from it. The cooks are clueless, and if you watch them they just dump tons and tons of oil into everything they make, to make up for their lack of cooking skill. I don't know of any good cheap Asian food in Boulder (Chez Thuy is good if you want to spend a bit more), but I would recommend a place like May Wah over Pei Wei any day of the week. Pei Wei is terrible.
(1)Marie E.
I was excited to eat at this place as I have heard mostly good things. I took my kids for lunch a couple of weeks ago. Firstly when I walked in, the person at the cash register appeared as if she'd rather be anywhere but there. Very unfriendly. I shook it off, and ordered Lo Mein for me, and teriyaki for my son. Our food came quickly, and looked very nice. Unfortunately it was flavorless. My son wouldn't eat his, and I tasted it...I didn't blame him. Probably wouldn't go back here.
(2)nick w.
Fairly healthy, fresh ingredients (nutrition info on their web site) make up for the poor dining experience. You order at the counter and dishes are brought out somewhat randomly - your appetizer may come last.
(2)