After my disappointing food, I contacted Pei Wei by email. They responded back and were very thankful that I took the time to tell them I wasn't happy with my food. They were very concerned and said they wanted me to be happy and this wasn't their normal standard. They sent me 3 ten dollar be our guest cards to come back and try their food again. That was above what I spent on my order. Now that is a company I can recommend and I wanted to pass that on. I haven't yet used the cards, but plan on doing so in the near future.
(3)
Brad P.
I've been to a few different Pei Wei restaurants and it's never anything spectacular, but decent enough. This location is rough. The place was just trashed. Every open table had trash and already-eaten food on and under it. Our food was taking forever so I asked if they could make our order to go. Apparently that is a big ordeal? At least the manager acted like it. We were there for a while longer... still no food - So I finally just asked for my money back and we left, still hungry. I think I'll pass on Pei Wei from here on out.
(2)
Annette M.
Good (P.F. Chang's-style) food. Staff did a great job welcoming and explaining the order-before-you- sit-down menu, especially since it was their first day open and the height of dinner rush. We had the Thai Dynamite chicken and sweet and sour chicken. Fans of Chang's brown rice, rejoice - it's here, too! Pleasing decor, menus displayed on flat panel screens; a few parking spots for people carrying out.
(4)
John A.
Food is great , service had been lousy 50% of the dozen times we gone. Somebody's meal gets forgotten or comes out late after the others ate served. They were out of control tonite AGAIN!
(3)
Patty M.
This food is so, so marginal. I have tried multiple times because it's so close to work to find something good. The sauces can be cloyingly sweet. The curry tastes like melted peanut butter. Even lettuce wraps are just ok.
(1)
Brenda T.
Fast, quality food! I love the Dan Dan Noodles:)
(4)
Nancy K.
Stopped for lunch during the week. Good food, decent prices, fresh and flavorful. I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Vivian D.
Pei Wei's has promise. The place is easy on the eyes and has a good variety of offerings that you can customize in terms of proteins. I would definitely suggest avoiding the noodles, or at least ordering only one dish of them per table. We have been there twice--once for take out and once to eat in--and we have ordered a total of three noodle dishes. One was incredibly yummy (kids lo mein) but the other two (Dan Dan noodles and kid's lo mein) were served with gummy, massively overcooked noodles. The problem is the kitchen, to be sure, but it is indicative of the chaos of the place at the moment, The greeter tonight was a hot mess of inefficiency. I have never seen someone mess up and fail to keep straight a party of four, a party of five, and two parties of three waiting to order and take seat. (you can't order unless you have a seat, and the is no place to way tigger than in the front entrance where everyone is trying to order take out---this was a nightmare tonight.) He was as affable as could be, but really was out of his depth trying to take names and get people seated. His bumbling backed the place up and wrecked chaos later as multiple parties had the same seating number. Customers and waitstaff alike grumbled, and the manager seemed nonplussed, no matter he was impervious to any slights of his abilities. We will try Pei Wei's again because once the front of the house was out of the way, the kitchen delivered solid rice dishes--- sesame chicken, honey seared chicken, thai dynamite chicken, and thai green curry with tofu (one of the ugliest dishes I have ever seen but pretty tasty) and nearby tables made me curious about other dishes. I should add that the soda/water dispensing device is pretty high tech, and they have coke with orange, coke with raspberry and some other variations that you don't normally see. Don't go expecting great service, don't order too many noodle dishes, and you may have a pretty solid dining experience.
(3)
Swt P.
No, this place is not PF Chang's, though the menu and the aroma are alike. If you enjoy eating at PF Chang's, you will be disappointed with Pei Wei. Our last visit, we ordered Egg Rolls, Honey Seared with Crispy Chicken, Kid's Lo Mein and Spicy Korean Steak. We were disappointed with the taste and quality of the food. Kid's Lo Mein tasted just like a frozen food that was reheated and served in the microwaveable bowl. Spicy Korean Steak turned to be too salty to eat - this should be renamed Salty Korean Steak. I still don't know why it's called Korean, because this is no Korean food at all). Pork Egg Rolls tasted not delicious. Honey Chicken was a bit soggy and salty too. My advice: Stick to PF Chang's for a better taste. Or I will get my quick Chinese take out from Panda Express or my neighborhood Chinese restaurants.
(1)
Wei-Li S.
Pei Wei too much is what i say. I believe this is an offshoot of PF changs which means like other reviews have said, it is Americanized. The entrees are overpriced and the quality is okay. So if you like PFs then you will probably like pei Wei. For me, not "real" enough.
(2)
Bianca S.
I cannot even begin to describe the delight that overcame me when I learned that Pei Wei had finally come to Indianapolis. I used to frequent the ones in So. Cal. and was pretty bummed out when I learned that the Midwest had not yet met Pei Wei. For those of you saying it's "kind of like PF Changs," just know that it is. PF Changs owns it and if you're looking for some Changs, but don't want to go to the actual restaurant, Pei Wei is, so to speak, the "fast food" version of it. Chill enviroment and speedy service. The menu is a "build you own" type where you pick the kind of meat you want and then what "style"--flavor--you desire. I highly recommend the Mongolian Beef (what I always get) and the lettuce wraps are also a must. I have sampled just about everything and have no complaints whatsoever. Happy eating!
(5)
Reggie L.
Holy Thai Dynamite! Gave this a shot over the weekend, didn't realize it was a PF Changs fast casual set up. I really enjoyed the Thai Dynamite with shrimp in a siracha chile sauce along with fried rice. Great flavors in this dish! Service was quick, although it was kind of odd the way some of the food came out. We ordered four spring rolls and they came out two at a time from two different servers. Also our entrees came out separately from different servers. It was quick and convenient and will also be a good take out option.
(3)
John W.
OK so after talking to the General Manager Chris, she went far above and beyond and offered us compensation far above and beyond anything we ever would have asked for or expected. We have been back 3 times now and everything came out perfect. I love Pei Wei so it was painful to post a bad experience. I really hope they will open more locations in our area as this is the only one in the state right now. My only beef is they make one heck of great fried rice, its not even remotely close the company specs. I just know one day i am going to go in there and it will be back to the normal just so so fried rice but for now its AWESOME!! I think they are putting everything but the kitchen sink in the rice, the only think i pick out is the broccoli and if it were more cooked id eat it but i dont like crunchy broccoli. This chain is by far the best Asian influenced place i have ever eaten and best of all NO mystery meat which is why i dont eat at other places that serve asian foods. Well i eat at PF Changs but thats the same company who owns this restaurant, make sure you try their version of the general TSO chicken, one of my favorites.
(5)
Melissa Y.
Underwhelming. I have been there three times now and I am not impressed. I feel like everyone is giving this place five stars just for the coke machine. My Koran spicy chicken had no chicken and was very al dente. The flavor was OK, just salt and soy sauce. The place was not busy but we waited at least 15 minutes for our food. I would only go back if I was desperate. I'll stick to the real Chinese food.
(2)
Brad W.
Solid food and great prices. Fill your cup up half way each time so you can try the maximum amount of flavors :) So many to choose from!
(4)
Jen F.
Oh dear pei Wei.... What is not to love! You get the same food at pf changs for a lot cheaper! It has great ambiance so it would be a perfect place for a date; just not the first one- dont be cheap! The waiters are really nice and quick when they bring your food or get you something. If there was one near me I would be in trouble. I love it that much!
(5)
Andra S.
LOVE!!! I wish they'd open more up in Indy. I sent them email and suggested Clay Terrace & Hamilton Square malls but they responded they had no plans at the moment to expand in Indiana. Too bad. Lots of potential money at both...
(4)
David D.
Disappointing. First timer, excited by reviews and by the great concept. Limited pan-Asian menu, quick counter ordering, fair prices. Clean and attractive dining room, enthusiastic staff. Fast service. Sadly, the kitchen lacked a deft touch. Our Padd Thai had overcooked, flavorless noodles. Hardly tasted Thai. Our Kung Pao chicken was seriously over seasoned. Not too hot: overwhelmed, rather, by spices. It was like the chicken was soaking in seasoning. Like eating brisket rub. Too bad. Given the investment in design, I hope they straighten out the food preparation.
(2)
Kevin J.
This place is pretty awesome, it's a spin off of PF Changs Bistro and just like PFs this place is delicious. Only reason I left 1 star off is the food still isn't as good still as what PF Changs is, and it's a little pricey. Other than that this place is pretty awesome, they have friendly staff too! Just a side note the coke machines are like nothing you've ever seen, they have big touch screens and like a bazillion drink combinations.
(4)
Kasey G.
I ordered the caramel chicken and won ton soup and my boyfriend got the sesame chicken. Both were excellent!!! Service was very fast and the atmosphere was great. Definitely recommend!!
(4)
Ashley J.
I think for fast food this place is great. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for my meal--even when the place is packed. They have some healthy options, but be careful! Some entrees are more than 700 calories. Overall, I think the place is great. They have an awesome coke machine that offers many different options including diet coke orange--my fav!
(4)
J W.
Our first experience with the brand. We were there for lunch on a Saturday and it was hopping - lots of customers and lots of staff. We had honey chicken and brown rice. It was good We were seated only a few minutes before our food came. The self serve multiple flavor Coke dispenser is way cool. A little pricey for lunch, fine for a fast dinner. A most welcome addition to Glendale!
(4)
Scott H.
Great addition to the area. The Korean Spicy Chicken was excellent. I like the format, it's sort of P.F. Chang's meets Noodles & Co. Look forward to another visit.
(4)
Kent S.
I've been there twice in one week because I enjoyed it so much. I like PF Changs but hate the crowd and the usual wait during dinner hours. The wait last Friday night at 6:45 was about 8 minutes for a table. The food starts arriving by the time you order and get to the table. The food is cooked fresh to order and is great!. I had the lettuce wraps, Thai wonton soup, and Japanese Teriyaki. Four others were with me and they all enjoyed their food....one used the word "awesome". As someone else mentioned in their review, the hi-tech Coke machine alone is worth the visit!
(5)
Richard H.
Attractive setting for what is essentially fast food. However, the food is prepared fresh to order, and it was quite good. But don't think that because it's a fast food-type setting that the food will be inexpensive -- expect to spend $12-16 per person depending on what you order. And yeah, the soft drink machine is pretty cool.
(3)
Jimmy W.
When I went, I didn't know that this Pei Wei had just opened a few days prior to going there to grab some take-out, and wasn't disappointed at all! Some places take a little while to get up to speed, but Pei Wei seemed to deliver on all fronts. The food is pretty darn tasty, the presentation at the front is pretty cool (giant flat screen monitors showing the menu... a little excessive, but hey - this is America after all,) the customer service is good, and my favorite part - they load you up with fortune cookies! I love those things! There were no less than six cooks in the kitchen making who knows what when we arrived and placed our order. Had it not been for what seemed like about 10 phone in or online orders, our dinner probably would have been done faster, but we had to wait quite a long time for the food. People kept coming in the front door, standing around for a minute, and collecting their food while we waited. Not a huge deal, but a lesson learned. If you are just going for take out - either phone it in or order online, or just show up at a time when there aren't a ton of people doing so and you'll be just fine!
(4)
John M.
This place is OK, but it's really no more than a fast food version of P F Chang's. You will probably be in and out in less than half an hour, and the food is OK but a bit like something that might be produced by chefs training to work at P F Chang's - it's similar but inferior (and P F Chang's itself, while good for what it is, is a long way from being authentic Chinese food). And if you order small dishes as appetizers they will come at exactly the same time as the "entrees", even if you specifically ask the staff to hold off on the latter. My kids love it (particularly the push-button soda dispenser) but that's because they love fast food. We've been twice, and I will only go again in future if the kids really press me. (Had to laugh at another reviewer who said the ambience was good enough to make it a good option for a date. True, if you like really short dates.....)
(2)
Chad M.
I live in the South Broad Ripple area and have driven by this restaurant many times with intrigue. It is nestled in a strip of stores by the Glendale Mall. Upon opening the door I was pleasantly surprised by the modern decor and not so much that it is owned by PG Chang's. I was hoping it was an independent up start. Basically it is a less formal version of PF's if that is possible and more modern with a smaller menu. The menu is not small by any means, but only in comparison to it's larger counterpart. I am not a fan of chain restaurants, but PF Chang's is probably my favorite and PEI WEI did not disappoint. The food was satisfying and provided in enough quantity for left overs. The only bad thing is that my meal order was lost, but the manager quickly fixed the problem and refunded my meal. The service was good otherwise. If you are looking for some relaxed Asian food in the Broad Ripple area and like PF's than give it a try.
(4)
Tim S.
We love Pei Wei and this trip was no exception. Used to live here in Indy and have frequented this location since it opened. We have since moved away, but flew in this evening. Still on California time, we didn't realize it was 5 minutes to closing, but the staff was more than happy to help us. Thank you again for the wonderful meal!
(5)
Januarie Y.
Meh. I've experienced better......FROM THEM. I don't know what happened here. Actually, I do. Can I say what really happened here? Will I get in trouble for it? I'll chance it with a bit of opinionated truth. Pei Wei started feeling themselves and their popularity too much. That's what I think happened. When I first started going to Pei Wei, I went all the time and told everyone I thought would enjoy it about it. Fast food PF Chang's seems like a can't fail option. And they did not disappoint. The seseme chicken, which is what I would always order, was always piping hot (they cook to order which is great), full of square cut veggies and the perfect amount of sauce. Seseme seeds were all over the chicken, which was usually cooked until it was lightly browned. I came back for this meal option PLENTY of times. And then something happened (again, my assumption being that they started Beyonce'ing themselves all over their ServSafe Certificate). Something changed. First it was the menu. I don't even know exactly what the menu changes are or how you can have a menu overall in less than five years (or has it been five or more?) but they started offering large and small portions. I won't pretend to know the motivation here or if this was suggestion from patrons. For me, having enough to eat and get full and then save more for later was perfect. That was the original way tho and believe me, it was not grandfathered in for those who don't like change. Learning the amount of the large vs the small isn't something I came ready to play into. I stopped going a lot when they started making changes and after a less than favorable experience that ultimately led to a free meal (in a voucher that never arrived). I went recently because I was in the area and it had been so long. I ordered the seseme chicken of course. I got the large just to be sure I'd have some for later since it was the weekend. There were about 5.7 seseme seeds on the lightly unbrowned chicken. The veggies are no longer square juicy cuts; now they are julliene strips that will slide between your teeth if you have any space open. Luckily I don't. I got a to go order. It was all thrown in there like PF Chang vomit and there was a little bit too much sauce. When I opened it, there were some chunky chicken pieces but overall, you could tell the amount of chicken had also been reduced. Also, the whole meal (large) didn't take up the entire container. It actually took the same amount of space it would have if I had dined in and was carrying out my leftovers. I was sad. I ate it. The flavor was still good besides the abundance of sauce. i considered splitting a few of the seseme seeds so that each piece of chicken could have its own seseme like it used to. But who has that type of knife or concentration? I probably won't go back any time soon. As a matter a fact, I might not ever go back, which is sad because I was a huge fan of them. But I was completely underwhelmed by this. I wish them the best. As far as ratings, I hated to give them such low stars but the truth is 'Meh. I've had better'.....from THEM!!!!
This was my 4th time to eat here and all 4 times it has been bad.. Today I got the sweet and sour shrimp and everything on the plate including the brown rice tasted like char grilled hamburger.. There was nothing sweet not sour about it just an over whelming smoke flavor.. My husband got the teriyaki chicken and it was just fried chicken in teriyaki sauce.. We told the manager and he said that that is how it is supposed to taste.. In other words he did not care.. While we were eating our not so good food the lady at the table next to us got up and got her own food because it had been sitting there for 15 minutes getting cold.. I like to give restaurants atleast 3 to 4 chances because everyone can have a bad day we'll this was it's 4th bad day so I will not be back..
(2)
Naser A.
This place is recommended to me by my sister. This place is "American-Asian", more towards the American side. Their menu is so simple to pick from. They even have gluten-free menu It does not take long for the food to be prepared. The food taste good, but from the two orders we ordered, the Pei Wei Shrimp and Kong Pao steak, they used a lot of sauce or starch in their sauce. The frien rice is super thick, they used a lot of oil. Overall, I like it but I wish if they cut down on the sauce they use or even thin it out.
(4)
Anastasia A.
Heard this is a test market spot for PF Changs, This is a bistro style place with great prices on PF Changs food! I had the chicken and lettuce wraps, as good as always. My guests had huge portions of food also and nothing was over $10.
(5)
Holly G.
We were running some errands in the area, and decided to stop in for dinner. They have sushi now, which I love, so I decided to try a Spicy Tuna Roll. It was okay, but not the freshest sushi I've ever had. I also had a Vietnamese Chicken Salad Roll - again, not the best one I've tasted. There were a lot of rice noodles used for the roll and not much chicken salad. Their Hot & Sour Soup was really good - it had a nice spicy kick to it.
(3)
David L.
It's somewhere between Panda Express and PF Changs. Really good food here, good prices, but it is definitely Americanized chinese food. Probably higher quality than your typical take out chinese, but the menus options are going to be more limited. With that in mind, they excel at what they are trying to be. A fast casual quality Chinese restaurant.
(4)
Rueben M.
The food is good but it doesn't justify the HUGE Wait. 45 minutes and still waiting for some take out. The good thing was that for those who waited too long they were giving $10 cards for the inconvenience. So I guess it's not to bad. The bad attitude of the chef on duty ruins the experience at this location.
(2)
Mike S.
My experience tonight was the worst that I have experienced at the Glendale Pei Wei. 1) the staff turnover seems to be among the worst in the greater Broad Ripple area 2) I watched one of the employees treat a customer rudely when she told the employee that the left soda machine was out of ice. 3) the same employee pushed/shoved me when I had troubles with the right soda machine 4) when I asked the manager for my money back for dinner she short changed me. I have reviewed this Pei Wei before...but my personal opinion has dropped dramatically!
(1)
Ashley S.
Food is delish, atmosphere is welcoming & pleasant.. however the teenagers working the desk/phones are not particularly friendly. Had to wait to place my order while she finished a call on her cell phone - cmon. Other than that minor distraction - love this place.
(5)
Rick G.
If I could sum this place up in one word, it would be "Americanized". (that's a word, right?) If I'm craving ethnic food, I want ethnic food. I want the real deal, or as real as it can get in Indianapolis. Pei Wei certainly doesn't fit the bill. That said, the food WAS tasty, the service was good, and the price was reasonable. If you like chain style Asian food, you'll likely like this place. If you're more the traditional Asian food type of person...you'll walk away disappointed.
(3)
Duane M.
First time visit was a pleasant surprise. Food quality was very good and more important, service was exceptional from check in to departure. Friendly and outgoing staff. Will definitely return. The pad Thai with chicken was very tasty. I had the smaller portion and had enough to take home for lunch the next day.
(4)
Zenobia W.
Pei Wei is fine. Not good, not bad. You can't complain about authenticity at a place affiliated with P.F. Changs, ya know? It gets the job done. It's definitely not a place you're going to want to go to if you're looking for legit Asian food or amazing sushi, for example. However, this place is very clean and the food is consistent for the most part. My only complaint with previous experiences, and it isn't really a big deal, is that the veggies are hardly cooked most of the time. Don't get me wrong, fresh green veggies are always appreciated over overcooked mush depleted of all nutritional value. Some people might prefer theirs less molto al dente, though. I usually get the Thai Dynamite with tofu and veggies with extra limes. The sauce is the best thing about this: very flavorful and tangy. Fried rice isn't too bad either and I actually really like their iced Chai tea. Good place to go over food-court Asian, if that says anything.
(3)
Susan S.
Pleasant surprise since my last post. Things have vastly improved. The overall condition of the restaurant is very clean. Tables are bussed and floors are clean. It's back to being the standard they had set when first open. What a great place it was disappointing to see them go down hill. Now they are back.
(3)
Holly H.
Great gluten-free menu, lots of options for my celiac friends. In general the food is good, if a bit uninspired. It will do in a pinch and will keep for allergy-having associates well fed.
(3)
Peres G.
I'll start by saying this place is pretty good for what it is; Americanized Asian food. It's a sister company to PF Chang's, so if you like it there then you'll like Pei Wei. Personally, I am not a lover of Asian cuisine, so I enjoy the American spin. Pei Wei offers a nice menu with a wide variety from rice to sushi, however the service can be a little slow if they are busy. Their set up is similar to noodles and company. I usually get the sesame chicken with Dan Dan noodles (it's the best!). I have to give it three stars because of the slow service,which happened on both of my visits. I ordered take out and ended up waiting 40 minutes for my food, only to find out it was sitting on the counter but the kitchen did not call our name, and the take out waitress failed to check. After seeing numerous people come and go with their food, I had to ask for my order, once she checked she found it waiting there getting cold. In addition, the food, although it was tasty, fell flat to my expectations and was not at all piping hot, (the way I like my food). Overall, it's a nice place to grab some fast Asian food, but not really worth the price.
(3)
Jeff B.
They are supposed to open at 11. Went there at 11:15 and they were closed. Have not eaten there so can't say what the food tasted like. I wanted to try it but unfortunately was unable to since they were not open when they were supposed to be.
(1)
Jay L.
Don't expect an "authentic" Asian meal. The food served are loosely based dishes originating from Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisine...but diluted to a more American palette. Nonetheless, I was not disappointed. If you can, I encourage you to sit at the bar. It is quite entertaining to watch the chefs and their cooks prepare each meal. It was a hot day, and on a hot day you should order something spicy to stay cool. Atleast that's how people of India where the ghost pepper chili is grown do it. I find it works. I ordered the pad thai noodles with chicken. Again, don't expect authentic thai taste. It is however, very similar. I am definitely going to come here again. The place isn't bad at all. They even serve beer and wine. Food: Asian fusion goodness! Price: Fair Ambiance: Bistro - mix between sit-down and fast food Attire: casual Return visit: Yup!
(4)
Ryan B.
My wife and I frequent Pei Wei a lot. Generally once a week or so and did so our entire time living in the Broad Ripple area. The food is very PF Changs-esque as it should be since it's owned by them. Service as of late seems to be so-so, but only if you're ordering via phone. The last few times we called ahead, they screwed up our order. Since we were so close we always go back but it's annoying. They did always make it right in the end though. It's one of the better places to eat in Glendale.
(3)
Mark H.
I eat a lot of asian fast food and this is my new favorite for franchise/corporate options. The decor was well done and vibrant with plenty of dark colors for depth. I love their vertical red lantern lights they added color but projected a standard yellow light from their base so we weren't bathed in red light. I ordered chicken with pei wei spicy sauce. The sauce was sort of a sweet and sour turned up with enough spice to make my nose run. The portion large- was as much or more than I would normally want to eat. I ordered a Vietnamese chicken salad roll for a side and enjoyed its flavor with carrots, rice noodles, chicken and peanuts. It came with two side sauces one was a red sauce which I wouldn't call a sweet and sour but was familiar, the other sauce was an interesting peanut sauce that had a spicey bite to it. Unfortunately the staff person I talked to did not know the ingredients in the peanut sauce. The staff delivered our food to our table quickly and individually as it was prepared and came back a number of times to pick up the dishes and offer us take home packaging. It was worth the extra price of about $2 per person to me. We will be back!
(5)
Sean P.
Food was good, the place was clean, but the service was terrible. It took 20 minutes to order our food and we waited an extra 20 to receive it for carry out. Should have just gone to panda express.
(2)
Ian Y.
Solid option for Asian food. It tastes, feels and looks like it was cooked for only you (as opposed to Asian food cooked for you and whoever else wants to dig their grubby hands into the silver metal tray that was placed on the buffet line). The lady working the phone, to go orders and regular customers was working her butt off and really nice. Food was great. I'm full off of veggie tofu lo mein.
(4)
Joel F.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Indianapolis! They are owned by P.F. Chang's and market themselves as a cheaper version. The place is always clean and the staff is always very friendly. When you walk in, you proceed to the counter where you place your order. If you are dining in, you're given a number and a cup for your drink. The Coke machine is one of those pick your flavor kind, which I love. There is no wait staff, and the food is brought to your table as it is completed in the open kitchen area. At times one person will get their food before the rest of the table. The food always comes out hot, and full of flavor. Because there is no wait staff, if you need a refill you have to get it yourself. They do swing by and remove empty plates as needed and of course are available if you should need something you can't get yourself. Typically for the two of us we spend around $25-$27 each visit, which is reasonable even though there is no wait staff. I would spend the same elsewhere in the area. A lot of the staff are regulars and have been there since I began coming here in 2010. If you don't mind getting your own drinks, and potentially getting your food before everyone else at your table (or being the last) then this place is a definite must!
(5)
Nancy O.
I ate there tonight. I ordered the dynamite shrimp with fried rice. The shrimp had so much breading on them I couldn't even taste the shrimp plus it had no sauce on it. It was very strange. Will not go back. Save you money and go to changs.
(1)
Krista R.
Pei Wei is the Chinese version of Noodles & Company, in both the 'fast-casual' design/aesthetic and in the authenticity of the food. It's fast, it's fresh, and it's certainly crafted for the American palate. Our party of four ordered and shared: Pork Spring Rolls (fabulous) Tofu Thai Dynamite (good) Chicken Orange Peel (average) Tofu Pei Wei Spicy (good) Chicken Pad Thai (tasteless, and almost exclusively made up of under-cooked noodles) Most everything we liked. The portions are HUGE. As everyone has mentioned the soda machine is pretty high-tech and cool. Issues: We payed separately but we obviously were going to be sitting together. Each of us received a number for our table...so our food came out at completely different times. It would have been more logical to give us all 1 number, and then cook and deliver our items all at once. SODIUM levels (and the corresponding salty taste) are out of this world. Chinese take out is notoriously salty, but I was hoping for this chain to prepare the food a bit more healthily. The Chicken Orange Peel is 1570 mg-- and the Chicken Pad Thai was 2570 mg!!! There were so many great flavors in our food but unfortunately salt overpowered everything. We found Pei Wei to certainly be better than we were expecting... but I doubt we'll drive over to Glendale to return. The menu is huge...so I guess it has that going for them, too.
(3)
Jon C.
When I'm in the mood for take out Chinese food, this is where I go. Make sure you call ahead though... sometimes the kitchen gets backed up and food is slow to leave. Always piping hot and fresh.. YUM!
(3)
Jessica S.
I ordered the thai chicken salad for lunch, and although the dressing on the greens was delicious, the chicken itself was completely bland, dry as leather and inedible.
(2)
Randy B.
Great food; very tasty! Small restaurant, so if you go during normal dinner hours good luck finding a table. They offer two different sizes of meals now and they have the new unlimited style Coke machines!
(4)
Lindsey S.
Service here is strange - kind of like people there don't know what to do and they aren't good at it. Just ordered carry out tonight but seemed like even tho I said light on the noodles - we got twice as much noodles and half as much meat and there was a ridic amount of soy sauce. It was just average both times we been lately.
(3)
Chinwe N.
This review is really to give a shout out and HUGE THANKS to Kim the store manager for going above and beyond on Saturday night. I came in at 9:58 p.m. (yeah I was cutting it close) to pick up my guy's order that was placed online. We order here all the time, but for some reason the order never came thru. The doors were already locked, but Kim let me in, cooked my order and didn't charge me for it when she could have easily turned me away. In an age where poor customer service experiences have literally reduced me to tears at times, I have to take a minute and give praise when it's earned. You have 2 loyal customers here :-)
(5)
Whitnie E.
Its like the fast food version of PF Chang's. If you enjoy eating at PF Chang's, you will enjoy eating at Pei Wei. It has a "Noodles & Co" style of ordering and then sitting down. It's a low key restaurant and I often see families with small children in there. I like that you can order beer or wine with your meal, or you can choose to customize a fountain drink at their awesome pop machines. Another plus is that the restaurant has always been clean on my trips, and the wait staff is usually very courteous and helpful. I really like that you can get your protein "stock velveted" which makes it a lot healthier. I also like that you can order brown, white, or fried rice as your side item. The Thai lettuce wraps are usually very good and I like to follow it up with ginger shrimp (stock velveted) and brown rice. If I am hungry for a noodle dish, the Dan Dan noodles (exactly the same as at PF Chang's) are my fall back. All in all, the food is about what you expect if you have visited a PF Chang's before, and the atmosphere is nice and worth a visit just to try the pop machine.
(3)
Brett W.
Not that bad of a place. Can be a tad on the pricy side for what they serve. they're a more fast food subsidiary of PF Chang's. they have an automatic touch screen pick your flavor sorta coke machine which is really nice. you can see the kitchen from where you're sitting so you can see how the chefs act while cooking your meal. a lot of the stuff is just packaged frozen stuff from the pf chang company until they cook it so it's not stellar like the actual pf chang restaurants. It's a nice small little place which is usually clean. My meal was a bit pooled in sauce and the eggrolls were a bit greasy but they tasted decent for what they were. The only major negative i heard when i was there was the man eating behind me complained of a cold meal and the manager Chris was happy to take it back and replace it with a less saucy but more fresh and hot meal in hardly any time at all. i recommend going when it's not busy so your food is given more attention. sushi is nice here but not perfect, not too bad for it's price because its really hard to find quality sushi that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
(3)
Natasha J.
I just had dinner here with my boo. It reminds me of Panda Express, but fresh. You walk in, order to-go or dine-in, then take your number to wherever you want to sit. I loved to coke machine, I got the peach flavored sprite (taste just like peach Faygo). The service was great! The not so great parts: the floor in the dining area was a wreck, not offered a utensil other than a spoon (some of the pieces of broccoli were big), and the spoons are way to big. I'll come back but I think I'll take it to go next time.
(3)
Kinsey C.
Pei Wei is by no means authentic, but if you dig Americanized Chinese food (and honestly, who doesn't?) give Pei Wei a try. I believe this place is owned by the same people who own P.F. Changs, so their menu is pretty similar. You order your food at the counter near the door, get a number and have a seat while you wait for someone to bring you your assorted MSG-laced goodies. I love me some steak and broccoli, so that is my usual go-to for Pei Wei. But let's get real. The food is okay, but if it was just for the food, I'd probably go somewhere else. BUT. But they have these awesome drink machines that I can't even begin to describe. To me, it's like drinking soda from the future. They have almost every soda you can think of (Diet grape Fanta? Yup!), and the machine is completely digitalized. Love love love the drink selection. That is the main reason I frequent this place. So, I give the fountain drink machine 5 stars and the food three stars, that is how I landed at 4.
(4)
Bob G.
Won't be going here again. They just drown their dishes in store bought sauces. I had the Mongolian chicken plate. The chicken wasn't cooked all the way through and there was way too much sauce that it pooled at the bottom of the plate. All the dish consisted of was chicken and green onions with fried rice, pretty bland. I got a sushi order as well, and that wasn't too bad. Some good flavors there, but any other sushi place could easily beat these rolls. My friend's meal was the same, too saucy, and only chicken, carrots, and white onions. His eggroll was the most disgusting thing I've seen. When he picked it up, grease poured out of the end and it filled up the plate. And the 'meat' inside was gray and looked awful. We only ate half of our dishes and left. For $14 per person I was expecting better. Will not be visiting again.
(2)
jordan r.
this is always a solid option for Chinese food. it is a nice healthier option . I can never turn down the lettuce wraps. however, my favorite Chinese dish is fried rice and I don't really like theirs, probably because they cook it healthier than other Chinese places.
(3)
Emilee B.
Oh my goodness, their caramel chicken is the BOMB! If you don't believe me, then ask the three other people who went with me - they ordered it too! The guys ate it all. For you ladies, there is definitely enough to take home for leftovers. And their crazy futuristic fountain drink dispenser is sa-weet! Sprite has about 8 different fruit flavors. Peach, strawberry, raspberry. There's vanilla root beer, cherry-vanilla Dr. Pepper... who knew?!! You can mix different flavors together. So awesome!
(5)
Sarah D.
Here's what I love about Pei Wei: - You can view their entire menu including nutritional info online! - You can order several of the items prepared "stock velveted" and save some serious fat and calories. And, it tastes delicious! - Sign up for their email list and about once every six weeks you'll get a coupon for a buy one get one free entree or other discounts. - The cool space-ship looking Coke machines. Fun for soda loving kids of all ages! - An endless supply of fortune cookies on the counter near the chopsticks. - You can order take-out online or pop in through the take-out door next to the main entrance. While you wait you can run to nearby Macys, Target, or other shops! Just please not the tanning salon, save your skin! ;) - They've got a nice clean bathroom. I love a clean bathroom! - They offer two types of iced tea. My favorite is the spiced tea! YUMMY. - They sell beer and wine. But honestly, best of luck managing chopsticks after a few glasses of chardonnay. Here's what I don't love about Pei Wei: -The staff are sometimes slow to clear tables and you're often stuck with slim pickings of clean spaces to sit and enjoy your meal. -It's an order-at-the-counter type of restaurant with a ton of options. It can be tricky to take your time looking at the menu when there are people lining up behind you. Do yourself a favor and take a peek online before you dine if you're a first timer.
(4)
Jordan C.
Fast and delicious! The kitchen is visible from the dining area: quality assurance. Never disappointed!
(5)
Jess B.
As other reviewers have said, the concept of Pei Wei is like that of Noodles & Co: pick your sauce, pick your protein, pick your grain. Even though it's a chain, I was pretty excited about this because I like options and variety. Although we ordered together (only 1 table number), my food came out about 5 minutes before my husband's. I ordered the Spicy Korean veggies and tofu; he ordered the Sesame Chicken. Why I gave them 2 stars: -Holy salt, Batman! I don't know about the man's dish since I don't eat meat, but the sauce on my veggies was liquid salt. I thought Spicy Korean meant there were would be lots of flavor, but the only flavor was salt. -Our plates were flooded. Speaking of liquid salt, our food was swimming in sauce. Next time we visit, we'll ask them to go light on the sauce, and I recommend others do the same. -If your order meat, be aware that regardless of the description, there will probably be next to no veggies on your plate. My husband's plate had 3 or so pieces of red pepper and onion. That's it. Now, we will visit again because almost everyone deserves a second chance, but I'm not sure I'm holding up high expectations for this place.
(2)
Peter P.
I was trepidatious at first when approaching Pei Wei. I know it is the lower-priced outlet of P.F. Chang's and did not have high expectations. However, once inside, all those preconceptions were washed away (in endless soda!). You order from the counter in front by the door off of an LCD menu. You take your drink cup and walk to the back and then experience the coolest Coca-Cola machine ever. It looks like an old refrigerator, except it has a big touchscreen in front. There you select what base pop you want (i.e. Sprite, Fanta, Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, etc.) and thne you select what flavor you want to add (i.e. grape, orange, raspberry, peach, etc.). Make REAL cherry coke! As for the food itself, it is by no means great (or even authentic), but it is definitely not bad and it's cheap as well ($7-9). There are plates on each of the tables so you can dine family-style as Asian food is meant to be served (a definite plus in my book). I would definitely return if even just to order a drink.
(3)
Monica F.
I get carry out from here all the time and this once the Pad Thai was too spicy to eat and the manager refunded without a problem and wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. I will continue to dine there
(4)
Kate B.
I went to Pei Wei today for the first time. I really liked it. The service was really fast and friendly. My food was really good. I got the Japanese Teriyaki Beef with brown rice. I also got crab wontons- they contained more crab than normal Chinese food crab rangoon, but they were great. My friends were fascinated by the soda machine. It had a computerized touch screen where you could get 5 or 6 different flavors of Coke. It is a fast service restaurant, so don't expect a fancy sit down place. Still a great place though.
(4)
B S.
Been here a few times, I have always gotten a good meal and have ordered something differant everytime. This restuarant is very confusing if its your first time. They have two entry doors and people will normally walk in the wrong door that is the exit from the seating area. The menu in my opinion is hard to figure out, i dont know what comes with what entrea. Some things come on a plate or in a bowl i dont know how to tell, mabey im just confused. But like i said food is great!
(3)
Mike D.
I always avoid local "hole-in-the-wall" Asian take-out restaurants for fear that they're hiding the results of their most recent health department inspection, or for fear that the chicken is really not chicken...if you catch my drift... (meow). So, when I'm craving Asian cuisine, and I'm looking for a quick take-out alternative, I always go to Pei Wei. The dishes are very similar to their sibling restaurant, P.F. Changs, but the portions and prices are more reasonable. If you're looking to reduce calories and fat, ask if your dish can be prepared "stock velveted". Be sure to order a soda (or pop, depending on where you're from), so that you can play with the fun digital Coke machine. I know that these are becoming more prevalent, but I still think they're cool!
(4)
erin a.
The food is usually pretty good, but the service, both at the restaurant and on the phone for take out is pretty terrible.
(2)
Shawn P.
I stopped by Pei Wei after hearing some buzz about this place. My wife and I were up shopping at target and needed some dinner after a long afternoon so we decided the try this out. I really was not sure what to expect, my initial forethought was that I knew it was associated with PF Changs and was a "fast food" product so I expected it would be at least a little better than mall food-court and wow was I surprised. Upon entering the decor was clearly upscale from the strip mall surroundings where the restaurant is situated. There was a nice separation of the ordering line to the front and a seating area that resembled a restaurant where you would have a hostess and table-side waitress. There are large video boards at the front which show the options (which basically are a trimmed down offering of certain PF Chang dishes as well as a few combo options). Everything seemed to be priced from about 6-9 depending on what you get (which kind of meat and if you got a smaller combo or a full dinner). The menu was kind of neat but perhaps not the most intuitive at first glance (mainly because they represent the menu one way on the video boards and then a different way at the check out - no big deal though). There are categories of dish styles, meat options, and then preparation. So you might first choose a rice/noodle bowl or a signature dish category, then decide on chicken/shrimp/beef, and finally options like Kunk Pao or Sesame for preparation. There are more options than just this and there also is an entire small plate/starter menu. You might do yourself a favor and read the menu before you arrive since the permutations of something like this can become daunting when you are shuffling up a busy line (not to mention the glare the television menu displays get in the front window can make it hard to read). Once you stand in line and order you are given a number. You fill your own drinks and get your own silverware/condiments and sit where you like. The food comes up in about 5-10 minutes. When you are done you just leave the items at your table and the staff cleans things up ...in-and-out, couldn't be simpler. I often order Kung Pao beef and Chicken at PF Changs so this is what I ordered on this occasion (my wife ordered Dan Dan noodles). Both dishes were excellent and I thought mine was of the same quality and taste that I get at the full blown PF Changs. The experience is a little streamlined but so is the price (my total bill was ~$17 out the door for two where at PF Changs I would probably have spent about $10 more between the higher price point and tip). Quantity was huge (we got full dishes, not the combo). The only difference I noticed was that the Kung Pao did not come with the dried Chili pepper shoots here and instead came with snap peas but the dish really tasted the same. I assume there are some small tweaks they make but overall the food quality is what you should expect at the regular PF Changs restaurant. I plan to hit this place up again in a few weeks whenever I find myself out christmas shopping.
(5)
Lisa L.
I'm NOT sad the I don't have these out East! Really hate the seating style of getting a table after ordering- if it is busy, good luck! We had a mishap with the table thing which is bound to happen, then the the guy behind the counter made things worse by being freaked out- and then food sorta sucked.
(2)
Alison M.
I tried Pei Wei for the first time after a quick run to the nearby Target. After ordering the cocnut curry with steak, I played with the Freestyle machine (the highlight of the trip), then sat at a table and waited. My meal came out within 5 minutes, and I was immediately disappointed. The only vegetables were skinny green beans, about 3 pieces of red pepper, and some tiny bits of onion. The pieces of steak were big, although tender, and the rice was really dry. The sauce had a good flavor, spicy, but I didn't taste any coconut milk. Maybe I ordered the wrong item? Even though I liked the simple decor and being able to watch the cooks, I think I'll take my chances with traditional Chinese.
(3)
Malavika R.
All I have to say is that I loved the crab wontons.. Crunchy warm with enough meat to make u savor it.. Rest of the food was neither spicy nor special as promised :( Thumbs up for the huge variety, great proportions for the price..and prompt online order for take away service! If u like ur food with a lil gravy.. Steer clear of dynamite chicken!
(2)
Nora S.
I've been to Pei Wei more times than I care to admit in the last three weeks. The food has mostly been great - the Dan Dan noodles have been the only disappointment so far. That said, the service at the counter has been crazy bad. Each time, whether dining in or carry out. I'm a waitress and I know that things can go awry quickly, but this is a little crazy. The first time I got carry out they gave my order to the wrong person. The second time it never came out at all and we had to start over. Ordering to eat in has been a challenge also - the cashiers are decidedly in over their heads. They need someone with a little maturity to multi-task - answer questions, man the phones, take orders and generally direct traffic.
(4)
Neesha M.
There's nothing to hate about Pei Wei. And, not really anything to LOVE, either. You enter, order up front, then get a number, pick up your drink/utensils, and find a table (like Noodles & Co.). You food will probably come out the second your butt hits your seat, so if you're hungry, you will really appreciate that. I went with my husband and we ordered the Chicken Lettuce wraps (almost like PF Changs, but not quite), the Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls (pretty good), and the Thai Dynamite Chicken (decent). Everything seemed fresh, and it was good, but nothing was fantastic. If you like condiments (like ME), you'll love the various sauces and pots of interesting concoctions (including a spicy, Asian mustard and a sriracha-like sauce). Our one major complaint (and which we left as feedback) was that there were too many people hovering around trying to take our plates before we were done. We literally had to guard them! Someone was by every 4 minutes trying to see if we were done...and there were at least 10 empty tables. WOAH. I was really excited to try it, and I'm glad I did, but I probably won't make it a regular. I'd rather drive a little more and hit up Siam Square or Shalimar for my spicy food fix.
(3)
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Address :6159 North Keystone Avenue
Indianapolis, IN, 46220
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch, Dinner 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 Wi-Fi : No 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.
Susie D.
After my disappointing food, I contacted Pei Wei by email. They responded back and were very thankful that I took the time to tell them I wasn't happy with my food. They were very concerned and said they wanted me to be happy and this wasn't their normal standard. They sent me 3 ten dollar be our guest cards to come back and try their food again. That was above what I spent on my order. Now that is a company I can recommend and I wanted to pass that on. I haven't yet used the cards, but plan on doing so in the near future.
(3)Brad P.
I've been to a few different Pei Wei restaurants and it's never anything spectacular, but decent enough. This location is rough. The place was just trashed. Every open table had trash and already-eaten food on and under it. Our food was taking forever so I asked if they could make our order to go. Apparently that is a big ordeal? At least the manager acted like it. We were there for a while longer... still no food - So I finally just asked for my money back and we left, still hungry. I think I'll pass on Pei Wei from here on out.
(2)Annette M.
Good (P.F. Chang's-style) food. Staff did a great job welcoming and explaining the order-before-you- sit-down menu, especially since it was their first day open and the height of dinner rush. We had the Thai Dynamite chicken and sweet and sour chicken. Fans of Chang's brown rice, rejoice - it's here, too! Pleasing decor, menus displayed on flat panel screens; a few parking spots for people carrying out.
(4)John A.
Food is great , service had been lousy 50% of the dozen times we gone. Somebody's meal gets forgotten or comes out late after the others ate served. They were out of control tonite AGAIN!
(3)Patty M.
This food is so, so marginal. I have tried multiple times because it's so close to work to find something good. The sauces can be cloyingly sweet. The curry tastes like melted peanut butter. Even lettuce wraps are just ok.
(1)Brenda T.
Fast, quality food! I love the Dan Dan Noodles:)
(4)Nancy K.
Stopped for lunch during the week. Good food, decent prices, fresh and flavorful. I'll definitely be back.
(4)Vivian D.
Pei Wei's has promise. The place is easy on the eyes and has a good variety of offerings that you can customize in terms of proteins. I would definitely suggest avoiding the noodles, or at least ordering only one dish of them per table. We have been there twice--once for take out and once to eat in--and we have ordered a total of three noodle dishes. One was incredibly yummy (kids lo mein) but the other two (Dan Dan noodles and kid's lo mein) were served with gummy, massively overcooked noodles. The problem is the kitchen, to be sure, but it is indicative of the chaos of the place at the moment, The greeter tonight was a hot mess of inefficiency. I have never seen someone mess up and fail to keep straight a party of four, a party of five, and two parties of three waiting to order and take seat. (you can't order unless you have a seat, and the is no place to way tigger than in the front entrance where everyone is trying to order take out---this was a nightmare tonight.) He was as affable as could be, but really was out of his depth trying to take names and get people seated. His bumbling backed the place up and wrecked chaos later as multiple parties had the same seating number. Customers and waitstaff alike grumbled, and the manager seemed nonplussed, no matter he was impervious to any slights of his abilities. We will try Pei Wei's again because once the front of the house was out of the way, the kitchen delivered solid rice dishes--- sesame chicken, honey seared chicken, thai dynamite chicken, and thai green curry with tofu (one of the ugliest dishes I have ever seen but pretty tasty) and nearby tables made me curious about other dishes. I should add that the soda/water dispensing device is pretty high tech, and they have coke with orange, coke with raspberry and some other variations that you don't normally see. Don't go expecting great service, don't order too many noodle dishes, and you may have a pretty solid dining experience.
(3)Swt P.
No, this place is not PF Chang's, though the menu and the aroma are alike. If you enjoy eating at PF Chang's, you will be disappointed with Pei Wei. Our last visit, we ordered Egg Rolls, Honey Seared with Crispy Chicken, Kid's Lo Mein and Spicy Korean Steak. We were disappointed with the taste and quality of the food. Kid's Lo Mein tasted just like a frozen food that was reheated and served in the microwaveable bowl. Spicy Korean Steak turned to be too salty to eat - this should be renamed Salty Korean Steak. I still don't know why it's called Korean, because this is no Korean food at all). Pork Egg Rolls tasted not delicious. Honey Chicken was a bit soggy and salty too. My advice: Stick to PF Chang's for a better taste. Or I will get my quick Chinese take out from Panda Express or my neighborhood Chinese restaurants.
(1)Wei-Li S.
Pei Wei too much is what i say. I believe this is an offshoot of PF changs which means like other reviews have said, it is Americanized. The entrees are overpriced and the quality is okay. So if you like PFs then you will probably like pei Wei. For me, not "real" enough.
(2)Bianca S.
I cannot even begin to describe the delight that overcame me when I learned that Pei Wei had finally come to Indianapolis. I used to frequent the ones in So. Cal. and was pretty bummed out when I learned that the Midwest had not yet met Pei Wei. For those of you saying it's "kind of like PF Changs," just know that it is. PF Changs owns it and if you're looking for some Changs, but don't want to go to the actual restaurant, Pei Wei is, so to speak, the "fast food" version of it. Chill enviroment and speedy service. The menu is a "build you own" type where you pick the kind of meat you want and then what "style"--flavor--you desire. I highly recommend the Mongolian Beef (what I always get) and the lettuce wraps are also a must. I have sampled just about everything and have no complaints whatsoever. Happy eating!
(5)Reggie L.
Holy Thai Dynamite! Gave this a shot over the weekend, didn't realize it was a PF Changs fast casual set up. I really enjoyed the Thai Dynamite with shrimp in a siracha chile sauce along with fried rice. Great flavors in this dish! Service was quick, although it was kind of odd the way some of the food came out. We ordered four spring rolls and they came out two at a time from two different servers. Also our entrees came out separately from different servers. It was quick and convenient and will also be a good take out option.
(3)John W.
OK so after talking to the General Manager Chris, she went far above and beyond and offered us compensation far above and beyond anything we ever would have asked for or expected. We have been back 3 times now and everything came out perfect. I love Pei Wei so it was painful to post a bad experience. I really hope they will open more locations in our area as this is the only one in the state right now. My only beef is they make one heck of great fried rice, its not even remotely close the company specs. I just know one day i am going to go in there and it will be back to the normal just so so fried rice but for now its AWESOME!! I think they are putting everything but the kitchen sink in the rice, the only think i pick out is the broccoli and if it were more cooked id eat it but i dont like crunchy broccoli. This chain is by far the best Asian influenced place i have ever eaten and best of all NO mystery meat which is why i dont eat at other places that serve asian foods. Well i eat at PF Changs but thats the same company who owns this restaurant, make sure you try their version of the general TSO chicken, one of my favorites.
(5)Melissa Y.
Underwhelming. I have been there three times now and I am not impressed. I feel like everyone is giving this place five stars just for the coke machine. My Koran spicy chicken had no chicken and was very al dente. The flavor was OK, just salt and soy sauce. The place was not busy but we waited at least 15 minutes for our food. I would only go back if I was desperate. I'll stick to the real Chinese food.
(2)Brad W.
Solid food and great prices. Fill your cup up half way each time so you can try the maximum amount of flavors :) So many to choose from!
(4)Jen F.
Oh dear pei Wei.... What is not to love! You get the same food at pf changs for a lot cheaper! It has great ambiance so it would be a perfect place for a date; just not the first one- dont be cheap! The waiters are really nice and quick when they bring your food or get you something. If there was one near me I would be in trouble. I love it that much!
(5)Andra S.
LOVE!!! I wish they'd open more up in Indy. I sent them email and suggested Clay Terrace & Hamilton Square malls but they responded they had no plans at the moment to expand in Indiana. Too bad. Lots of potential money at both...
(4)David D.
Disappointing. First timer, excited by reviews and by the great concept. Limited pan-Asian menu, quick counter ordering, fair prices. Clean and attractive dining room, enthusiastic staff. Fast service. Sadly, the kitchen lacked a deft touch. Our Padd Thai had overcooked, flavorless noodles. Hardly tasted Thai. Our Kung Pao chicken was seriously over seasoned. Not too hot: overwhelmed, rather, by spices. It was like the chicken was soaking in seasoning. Like eating brisket rub. Too bad. Given the investment in design, I hope they straighten out the food preparation.
(2)Kevin J.
This place is pretty awesome, it's a spin off of PF Changs Bistro and just like PFs this place is delicious. Only reason I left 1 star off is the food still isn't as good still as what PF Changs is, and it's a little pricey. Other than that this place is pretty awesome, they have friendly staff too! Just a side note the coke machines are like nothing you've ever seen, they have big touch screens and like a bazillion drink combinations.
(4)Kasey G.
I ordered the caramel chicken and won ton soup and my boyfriend got the sesame chicken. Both were excellent!!! Service was very fast and the atmosphere was great. Definitely recommend!!
(4)Ashley J.
I think for fast food this place is great. I have never waited more than 5 minutes for my meal--even when the place is packed. They have some healthy options, but be careful! Some entrees are more than 700 calories. Overall, I think the place is great. They have an awesome coke machine that offers many different options including diet coke orange--my fav!
(4)J W.
Our first experience with the brand. We were there for lunch on a Saturday and it was hopping - lots of customers and lots of staff. We had honey chicken and brown rice. It was good We were seated only a few minutes before our food came. The self serve multiple flavor Coke dispenser is way cool. A little pricey for lunch, fine for a fast dinner. A most welcome addition to Glendale!
(4)Scott H.
Great addition to the area. The Korean Spicy Chicken was excellent. I like the format, it's sort of P.F. Chang's meets Noodles & Co. Look forward to another visit.
(4)Kent S.
I've been there twice in one week because I enjoyed it so much. I like PF Changs but hate the crowd and the usual wait during dinner hours. The wait last Friday night at 6:45 was about 8 minutes for a table. The food starts arriving by the time you order and get to the table. The food is cooked fresh to order and is great!. I had the lettuce wraps, Thai wonton soup, and Japanese Teriyaki. Four others were with me and they all enjoyed their food....one used the word "awesome". As someone else mentioned in their review, the hi-tech Coke machine alone is worth the visit!
(5)Richard H.
Attractive setting for what is essentially fast food. However, the food is prepared fresh to order, and it was quite good. But don't think that because it's a fast food-type setting that the food will be inexpensive -- expect to spend $12-16 per person depending on what you order. And yeah, the soft drink machine is pretty cool.
(3)Jimmy W.
When I went, I didn't know that this Pei Wei had just opened a few days prior to going there to grab some take-out, and wasn't disappointed at all! Some places take a little while to get up to speed, but Pei Wei seemed to deliver on all fronts. The food is pretty darn tasty, the presentation at the front is pretty cool (giant flat screen monitors showing the menu... a little excessive, but hey - this is America after all,) the customer service is good, and my favorite part - they load you up with fortune cookies! I love those things! There were no less than six cooks in the kitchen making who knows what when we arrived and placed our order. Had it not been for what seemed like about 10 phone in or online orders, our dinner probably would have been done faster, but we had to wait quite a long time for the food. People kept coming in the front door, standing around for a minute, and collecting their food while we waited. Not a huge deal, but a lesson learned. If you are just going for take out - either phone it in or order online, or just show up at a time when there aren't a ton of people doing so and you'll be just fine!
(4)John M.
This place is OK, but it's really no more than a fast food version of P F Chang's. You will probably be in and out in less than half an hour, and the food is OK but a bit like something that might be produced by chefs training to work at P F Chang's - it's similar but inferior (and P F Chang's itself, while good for what it is, is a long way from being authentic Chinese food). And if you order small dishes as appetizers they will come at exactly the same time as the "entrees", even if you specifically ask the staff to hold off on the latter. My kids love it (particularly the push-button soda dispenser) but that's because they love fast food. We've been twice, and I will only go again in future if the kids really press me. (Had to laugh at another reviewer who said the ambience was good enough to make it a good option for a date. True, if you like really short dates.....)
(2)Chad M.
I live in the South Broad Ripple area and have driven by this restaurant many times with intrigue. It is nestled in a strip of stores by the Glendale Mall. Upon opening the door I was pleasantly surprised by the modern decor and not so much that it is owned by PG Chang's. I was hoping it was an independent up start. Basically it is a less formal version of PF's if that is possible and more modern with a smaller menu. The menu is not small by any means, but only in comparison to it's larger counterpart. I am not a fan of chain restaurants, but PF Chang's is probably my favorite and PEI WEI did not disappoint. The food was satisfying and provided in enough quantity for left overs. The only bad thing is that my meal order was lost, but the manager quickly fixed the problem and refunded my meal. The service was good otherwise. If you are looking for some relaxed Asian food in the Broad Ripple area and like PF's than give it a try.
(4)Tim S.
We love Pei Wei and this trip was no exception. Used to live here in Indy and have frequented this location since it opened. We have since moved away, but flew in this evening. Still on California time, we didn't realize it was 5 minutes to closing, but the staff was more than happy to help us. Thank you again for the wonderful meal!
(5)Januarie Y.
Meh. I've experienced better......FROM THEM. I don't know what happened here. Actually, I do. Can I say what really happened here? Will I get in trouble for it? I'll chance it with a bit of opinionated truth. Pei Wei started feeling themselves and their popularity too much. That's what I think happened. When I first started going to Pei Wei, I went all the time and told everyone I thought would enjoy it about it. Fast food PF Chang's seems like a can't fail option. And they did not disappoint. The seseme chicken, which is what I would always order, was always piping hot (they cook to order which is great), full of square cut veggies and the perfect amount of sauce. Seseme seeds were all over the chicken, which was usually cooked until it was lightly browned. I came back for this meal option PLENTY of times. And then something happened (again, my assumption being that they started Beyonce'ing themselves all over their ServSafe Certificate). Something changed. First it was the menu. I don't even know exactly what the menu changes are or how you can have a menu overall in less than five years (or has it been five or more?) but they started offering large and small portions. I won't pretend to know the motivation here or if this was suggestion from patrons. For me, having enough to eat and get full and then save more for later was perfect. That was the original way tho and believe me, it was not grandfathered in for those who don't like change. Learning the amount of the large vs the small isn't something I came ready to play into. I stopped going a lot when they started making changes and after a less than favorable experience that ultimately led to a free meal (in a voucher that never arrived). I went recently because I was in the area and it had been so long. I ordered the seseme chicken of course. I got the large just to be sure I'd have some for later since it was the weekend. There were about 5.7 seseme seeds on the lightly unbrowned chicken. The veggies are no longer square juicy cuts; now they are julliene strips that will slide between your teeth if you have any space open. Luckily I don't. I got a to go order. It was all thrown in there like PF Chang vomit and there was a little bit too much sauce. When I opened it, there were some chunky chicken pieces but overall, you could tell the amount of chicken had also been reduced. Also, the whole meal (large) didn't take up the entire container. It actually took the same amount of space it would have if I had dined in and was carrying out my leftovers. I was sad. I ate it. The flavor was still good besides the abundance of sauce. i considered splitting a few of the seseme seeds so that each piece of chicken could have its own seseme like it used to. But who has that type of knife or concentration? I probably won't go back any time soon. As a matter a fact, I might not ever go back, which is sad because I was a huge fan of them. But I was completely underwhelmed by this. I wish them the best. As far as ratings, I hated to give them such low stars but the truth is 'Meh. I've had better'.....from THEM!!!!
(2)April T.
Will we be back??? It was an hour and change before closing when we arrive. A carry-out order was being gathered for waiting guest. We stepped up to a register to view the menu on the screen. The carry-out order guests paid for their food and left. We waited several more minutes before we were greeted and could place our order. It has been years since I have been to a Pei Wei...and after my husband's bad experience at a family owned Chinese food restaurant I thought this corporate restaurant would be a safer. We placed our order and got our drinks and sat down. The food started coming out the open kitchen. My Hot & Sour Soup was a thick...way too thick. The Spring Roll and Egg Rolls were GREASY!!!!! They had already started to shut down for the night and people were still rolling in...their was no soy sauce on the tables. Before we could even bit into the rolls, the main entrées were on the table. These were better than what we had expected. But I don't think we will be back, it wasn't that good.
(2)Cathi L.
This was my 4th time to eat here and all 4 times it has been bad.. Today I got the sweet and sour shrimp and everything on the plate including the brown rice tasted like char grilled hamburger.. There was nothing sweet not sour about it just an over whelming smoke flavor.. My husband got the teriyaki chicken and it was just fried chicken in teriyaki sauce.. We told the manager and he said that that is how it is supposed to taste.. In other words he did not care.. While we were eating our not so good food the lady at the table next to us got up and got her own food because it had been sitting there for 15 minutes getting cold.. I like to give restaurants atleast 3 to 4 chances because everyone can have a bad day we'll this was it's 4th bad day so I will not be back..
(2)Naser A.
This place is recommended to me by my sister. This place is "American-Asian", more towards the American side. Their menu is so simple to pick from. They even have gluten-free menu It does not take long for the food to be prepared. The food taste good, but from the two orders we ordered, the Pei Wei Shrimp and Kong Pao steak, they used a lot of sauce or starch in their sauce. The frien rice is super thick, they used a lot of oil. Overall, I like it but I wish if they cut down on the sauce they use or even thin it out.
(4)Anastasia A.
Heard this is a test market spot for PF Changs, This is a bistro style place with great prices on PF Changs food! I had the chicken and lettuce wraps, as good as always. My guests had huge portions of food also and nothing was over $10.
(5)Holly G.
We were running some errands in the area, and decided to stop in for dinner. They have sushi now, which I love, so I decided to try a Spicy Tuna Roll. It was okay, but not the freshest sushi I've ever had. I also had a Vietnamese Chicken Salad Roll - again, not the best one I've tasted. There were a lot of rice noodles used for the roll and not much chicken salad. Their Hot & Sour Soup was really good - it had a nice spicy kick to it.
(3)David L.
It's somewhere between Panda Express and PF Changs. Really good food here, good prices, but it is definitely Americanized chinese food. Probably higher quality than your typical take out chinese, but the menus options are going to be more limited. With that in mind, they excel at what they are trying to be. A fast casual quality Chinese restaurant.
(4)Rueben M.
The food is good but it doesn't justify the HUGE Wait. 45 minutes and still waiting for some take out. The good thing was that for those who waited too long they were giving $10 cards for the inconvenience. So I guess it's not to bad. The bad attitude of the chef on duty ruins the experience at this location.
(2)Mike S.
My experience tonight was the worst that I have experienced at the Glendale Pei Wei. 1) the staff turnover seems to be among the worst in the greater Broad Ripple area 2) I watched one of the employees treat a customer rudely when she told the employee that the left soda machine was out of ice. 3) the same employee pushed/shoved me when I had troubles with the right soda machine 4) when I asked the manager for my money back for dinner she short changed me. I have reviewed this Pei Wei before...but my personal opinion has dropped dramatically!
(1)Ashley S.
Food is delish, atmosphere is welcoming & pleasant.. however the teenagers working the desk/phones are not particularly friendly. Had to wait to place my order while she finished a call on her cell phone - cmon. Other than that minor distraction - love this place.
(5)Rick G.
If I could sum this place up in one word, it would be "Americanized". (that's a word, right?) If I'm craving ethnic food, I want ethnic food. I want the real deal, or as real as it can get in Indianapolis. Pei Wei certainly doesn't fit the bill. That said, the food WAS tasty, the service was good, and the price was reasonable. If you like chain style Asian food, you'll likely like this place. If you're more the traditional Asian food type of person...you'll walk away disappointed.
(3)Duane M.
First time visit was a pleasant surprise. Food quality was very good and more important, service was exceptional from check in to departure. Friendly and outgoing staff. Will definitely return. The pad Thai with chicken was very tasty. I had the smaller portion and had enough to take home for lunch the next day.
(4)Zenobia W.
Pei Wei is fine. Not good, not bad. You can't complain about authenticity at a place affiliated with P.F. Changs, ya know? It gets the job done. It's definitely not a place you're going to want to go to if you're looking for legit Asian food or amazing sushi, for example. However, this place is very clean and the food is consistent for the most part. My only complaint with previous experiences, and it isn't really a big deal, is that the veggies are hardly cooked most of the time. Don't get me wrong, fresh green veggies are always appreciated over overcooked mush depleted of all nutritional value. Some people might prefer theirs less molto al dente, though. I usually get the Thai Dynamite with tofu and veggies with extra limes. The sauce is the best thing about this: very flavorful and tangy. Fried rice isn't too bad either and I actually really like their iced Chai tea. Good place to go over food-court Asian, if that says anything.
(3)Susan S.
Pleasant surprise since my last post. Things have vastly improved. The overall condition of the restaurant is very clean. Tables are bussed and floors are clean. It's back to being the standard they had set when first open. What a great place it was disappointing to see them go down hill. Now they are back.
(3)Holly H.
Great gluten-free menu, lots of options for my celiac friends. In general the food is good, if a bit uninspired. It will do in a pinch and will keep for allergy-having associates well fed.
(3)Peres G.
I'll start by saying this place is pretty good for what it is; Americanized Asian food. It's a sister company to PF Chang's, so if you like it there then you'll like Pei Wei. Personally, I am not a lover of Asian cuisine, so I enjoy the American spin. Pei Wei offers a nice menu with a wide variety from rice to sushi, however the service can be a little slow if they are busy. Their set up is similar to noodles and company. I usually get the sesame chicken with Dan Dan noodles (it's the best!). I have to give it three stars because of the slow service,which happened on both of my visits. I ordered take out and ended up waiting 40 minutes for my food, only to find out it was sitting on the counter but the kitchen did not call our name, and the take out waitress failed to check. After seeing numerous people come and go with their food, I had to ask for my order, once she checked she found it waiting there getting cold. In addition, the food, although it was tasty, fell flat to my expectations and was not at all piping hot, (the way I like my food). Overall, it's a nice place to grab some fast Asian food, but not really worth the price.
(3)Jeff B.
They are supposed to open at 11. Went there at 11:15 and they were closed. Have not eaten there so can't say what the food tasted like. I wanted to try it but unfortunately was unable to since they were not open when they were supposed to be.
(1)Jay L.
Don't expect an "authentic" Asian meal. The food served are loosely based dishes originating from Chinese, Thai, and Japanese cuisine...but diluted to a more American palette. Nonetheless, I was not disappointed. If you can, I encourage you to sit at the bar. It is quite entertaining to watch the chefs and their cooks prepare each meal. It was a hot day, and on a hot day you should order something spicy to stay cool. Atleast that's how people of India where the ghost pepper chili is grown do it. I find it works. I ordered the pad thai noodles with chicken. Again, don't expect authentic thai taste. It is however, very similar. I am definitely going to come here again. The place isn't bad at all. They even serve beer and wine. Food: Asian fusion goodness! Price: Fair Ambiance: Bistro - mix between sit-down and fast food Attire: casual Return visit: Yup!
(4)Ryan B.
My wife and I frequent Pei Wei a lot. Generally once a week or so and did so our entire time living in the Broad Ripple area. The food is very PF Changs-esque as it should be since it's owned by them. Service as of late seems to be so-so, but only if you're ordering via phone. The last few times we called ahead, they screwed up our order. Since we were so close we always go back but it's annoying. They did always make it right in the end though. It's one of the better places to eat in Glendale.
(3)Mark H.
I eat a lot of asian fast food and this is my new favorite for franchise/corporate options. The decor was well done and vibrant with plenty of dark colors for depth. I love their vertical red lantern lights they added color but projected a standard yellow light from their base so we weren't bathed in red light. I ordered chicken with pei wei spicy sauce. The sauce was sort of a sweet and sour turned up with enough spice to make my nose run. The portion large- was as much or more than I would normally want to eat. I ordered a Vietnamese chicken salad roll for a side and enjoyed its flavor with carrots, rice noodles, chicken and peanuts. It came with two side sauces one was a red sauce which I wouldn't call a sweet and sour but was familiar, the other sauce was an interesting peanut sauce that had a spicey bite to it. Unfortunately the staff person I talked to did not know the ingredients in the peanut sauce. The staff delivered our food to our table quickly and individually as it was prepared and came back a number of times to pick up the dishes and offer us take home packaging. It was worth the extra price of about $2 per person to me. We will be back!
(5)Sean P.
Food was good, the place was clean, but the service was terrible. It took 20 minutes to order our food and we waited an extra 20 to receive it for carry out. Should have just gone to panda express.
(2)Ian Y.
Solid option for Asian food. It tastes, feels and looks like it was cooked for only you (as opposed to Asian food cooked for you and whoever else wants to dig their grubby hands into the silver metal tray that was placed on the buffet line). The lady working the phone, to go orders and regular customers was working her butt off and really nice. Food was great. I'm full off of veggie tofu lo mein.
(4)Joel F.
This is one of my favorite places to eat in Indianapolis! They are owned by P.F. Chang's and market themselves as a cheaper version. The place is always clean and the staff is always very friendly. When you walk in, you proceed to the counter where you place your order. If you are dining in, you're given a number and a cup for your drink. The Coke machine is one of those pick your flavor kind, which I love. There is no wait staff, and the food is brought to your table as it is completed in the open kitchen area. At times one person will get their food before the rest of the table. The food always comes out hot, and full of flavor. Because there is no wait staff, if you need a refill you have to get it yourself. They do swing by and remove empty plates as needed and of course are available if you should need something you can't get yourself. Typically for the two of us we spend around $25-$27 each visit, which is reasonable even though there is no wait staff. I would spend the same elsewhere in the area. A lot of the staff are regulars and have been there since I began coming here in 2010. If you don't mind getting your own drinks, and potentially getting your food before everyone else at your table (or being the last) then this place is a definite must!
(5)Nancy O.
I ate there tonight. I ordered the dynamite shrimp with fried rice. The shrimp had so much breading on them I couldn't even taste the shrimp plus it had no sauce on it. It was very strange. Will not go back. Save you money and go to changs.
(1)Krista R.
Pei Wei is the Chinese version of Noodles & Company, in both the 'fast-casual' design/aesthetic and in the authenticity of the food. It's fast, it's fresh, and it's certainly crafted for the American palate. Our party of four ordered and shared: Pork Spring Rolls (fabulous) Tofu Thai Dynamite (good) Chicken Orange Peel (average) Tofu Pei Wei Spicy (good) Chicken Pad Thai (tasteless, and almost exclusively made up of under-cooked noodles) Most everything we liked. The portions are HUGE. As everyone has mentioned the soda machine is pretty high-tech and cool. Issues: We payed separately but we obviously were going to be sitting together. Each of us received a number for our table...so our food came out at completely different times. It would have been more logical to give us all 1 number, and then cook and deliver our items all at once. SODIUM levels (and the corresponding salty taste) are out of this world. Chinese take out is notoriously salty, but I was hoping for this chain to prepare the food a bit more healthily. The Chicken Orange Peel is 1570 mg-- and the Chicken Pad Thai was 2570 mg!!! There were so many great flavors in our food but unfortunately salt overpowered everything. We found Pei Wei to certainly be better than we were expecting... but I doubt we'll drive over to Glendale to return. The menu is huge...so I guess it has that going for them, too.
(3)Jon C.
When I'm in the mood for take out Chinese food, this is where I go. Make sure you call ahead though... sometimes the kitchen gets backed up and food is slow to leave. Always piping hot and fresh.. YUM!
(3)Jessica S.
I ordered the thai chicken salad for lunch, and although the dressing on the greens was delicious, the chicken itself was completely bland, dry as leather and inedible.
(2)Randy B.
Great food; very tasty! Small restaurant, so if you go during normal dinner hours good luck finding a table. They offer two different sizes of meals now and they have the new unlimited style Coke machines!
(4)Lindsey S.
Service here is strange - kind of like people there don't know what to do and they aren't good at it. Just ordered carry out tonight but seemed like even tho I said light on the noodles - we got twice as much noodles and half as much meat and there was a ridic amount of soy sauce. It was just average both times we been lately.
(3)Chinwe N.
This review is really to give a shout out and HUGE THANKS to Kim the store manager for going above and beyond on Saturday night. I came in at 9:58 p.m. (yeah I was cutting it close) to pick up my guy's order that was placed online. We order here all the time, but for some reason the order never came thru. The doors were already locked, but Kim let me in, cooked my order and didn't charge me for it when she could have easily turned me away. In an age where poor customer service experiences have literally reduced me to tears at times, I have to take a minute and give praise when it's earned. You have 2 loyal customers here :-)
(5)Whitnie E.
Its like the fast food version of PF Chang's. If you enjoy eating at PF Chang's, you will enjoy eating at Pei Wei. It has a "Noodles & Co" style of ordering and then sitting down. It's a low key restaurant and I often see families with small children in there. I like that you can order beer or wine with your meal, or you can choose to customize a fountain drink at their awesome pop machines. Another plus is that the restaurant has always been clean on my trips, and the wait staff is usually very courteous and helpful. I really like that you can get your protein "stock velveted" which makes it a lot healthier. I also like that you can order brown, white, or fried rice as your side item. The Thai lettuce wraps are usually very good and I like to follow it up with ginger shrimp (stock velveted) and brown rice. If I am hungry for a noodle dish, the Dan Dan noodles (exactly the same as at PF Chang's) are my fall back. All in all, the food is about what you expect if you have visited a PF Chang's before, and the atmosphere is nice and worth a visit just to try the pop machine.
(3)Brett W.
Not that bad of a place. Can be a tad on the pricy side for what they serve. they're a more fast food subsidiary of PF Chang's. they have an automatic touch screen pick your flavor sorta coke machine which is really nice. you can see the kitchen from where you're sitting so you can see how the chefs act while cooking your meal. a lot of the stuff is just packaged frozen stuff from the pf chang company until they cook it so it's not stellar like the actual pf chang restaurants. It's a nice small little place which is usually clean. My meal was a bit pooled in sauce and the eggrolls were a bit greasy but they tasted decent for what they were. The only major negative i heard when i was there was the man eating behind me complained of a cold meal and the manager Chris was happy to take it back and replace it with a less saucy but more fresh and hot meal in hardly any time at all. i recommend going when it's not busy so your food is given more attention. sushi is nice here but not perfect, not too bad for it's price because its really hard to find quality sushi that doesn't cost an arm and a leg.
(3)Natasha J.
I just had dinner here with my boo. It reminds me of Panda Express, but fresh. You walk in, order to-go or dine-in, then take your number to wherever you want to sit. I loved to coke machine, I got the peach flavored sprite (taste just like peach Faygo). The service was great! The not so great parts: the floor in the dining area was a wreck, not offered a utensil other than a spoon (some of the pieces of broccoli were big), and the spoons are way to big. I'll come back but I think I'll take it to go next time.
(3)Kinsey C.
Pei Wei is by no means authentic, but if you dig Americanized Chinese food (and honestly, who doesn't?) give Pei Wei a try. I believe this place is owned by the same people who own P.F. Changs, so their menu is pretty similar. You order your food at the counter near the door, get a number and have a seat while you wait for someone to bring you your assorted MSG-laced goodies. I love me some steak and broccoli, so that is my usual go-to for Pei Wei. But let's get real. The food is okay, but if it was just for the food, I'd probably go somewhere else. BUT. But they have these awesome drink machines that I can't even begin to describe. To me, it's like drinking soda from the future. They have almost every soda you can think of (Diet grape Fanta? Yup!), and the machine is completely digitalized. Love love love the drink selection. That is the main reason I frequent this place. So, I give the fountain drink machine 5 stars and the food three stars, that is how I landed at 4.
(4)Bob G.
Won't be going here again. They just drown their dishes in store bought sauces. I had the Mongolian chicken plate. The chicken wasn't cooked all the way through and there was way too much sauce that it pooled at the bottom of the plate. All the dish consisted of was chicken and green onions with fried rice, pretty bland. I got a sushi order as well, and that wasn't too bad. Some good flavors there, but any other sushi place could easily beat these rolls. My friend's meal was the same, too saucy, and only chicken, carrots, and white onions. His eggroll was the most disgusting thing I've seen. When he picked it up, grease poured out of the end and it filled up the plate. And the 'meat' inside was gray and looked awful. We only ate half of our dishes and left. For $14 per person I was expecting better. Will not be visiting again.
(2)jordan r.
this is always a solid option for Chinese food. it is a nice healthier option . I can never turn down the lettuce wraps. however, my favorite Chinese dish is fried rice and I don't really like theirs, probably because they cook it healthier than other Chinese places.
(3)Emilee B.
Oh my goodness, their caramel chicken is the BOMB! If you don't believe me, then ask the three other people who went with me - they ordered it too! The guys ate it all. For you ladies, there is definitely enough to take home for leftovers. And their crazy futuristic fountain drink dispenser is sa-weet! Sprite has about 8 different fruit flavors. Peach, strawberry, raspberry. There's vanilla root beer, cherry-vanilla Dr. Pepper... who knew?!! You can mix different flavors together. So awesome!
(5)Sarah D.
Here's what I love about Pei Wei: - You can view their entire menu including nutritional info online! - You can order several of the items prepared "stock velveted" and save some serious fat and calories. And, it tastes delicious! - Sign up for their email list and about once every six weeks you'll get a coupon for a buy one get one free entree or other discounts. - The cool space-ship looking Coke machines. Fun for soda loving kids of all ages! - An endless supply of fortune cookies on the counter near the chopsticks. - You can order take-out online or pop in through the take-out door next to the main entrance. While you wait you can run to nearby Macys, Target, or other shops! Just please not the tanning salon, save your skin! ;) - They've got a nice clean bathroom. I love a clean bathroom! - They offer two types of iced tea. My favorite is the spiced tea! YUMMY. - They sell beer and wine. But honestly, best of luck managing chopsticks after a few glasses of chardonnay. Here's what I don't love about Pei Wei: -The staff are sometimes slow to clear tables and you're often stuck with slim pickings of clean spaces to sit and enjoy your meal. -It's an order-at-the-counter type of restaurant with a ton of options. It can be tricky to take your time looking at the menu when there are people lining up behind you. Do yourself a favor and take a peek online before you dine if you're a first timer.
(4)Jordan C.
Fast and delicious! The kitchen is visible from the dining area: quality assurance. Never disappointed!
(5)Jess B.
As other reviewers have said, the concept of Pei Wei is like that of Noodles & Co: pick your sauce, pick your protein, pick your grain. Even though it's a chain, I was pretty excited about this because I like options and variety. Although we ordered together (only 1 table number), my food came out about 5 minutes before my husband's. I ordered the Spicy Korean veggies and tofu; he ordered the Sesame Chicken. Why I gave them 2 stars: -Holy salt, Batman! I don't know about the man's dish since I don't eat meat, but the sauce on my veggies was liquid salt. I thought Spicy Korean meant there were would be lots of flavor, but the only flavor was salt. -Our plates were flooded. Speaking of liquid salt, our food was swimming in sauce. Next time we visit, we'll ask them to go light on the sauce, and I recommend others do the same. -If your order meat, be aware that regardless of the description, there will probably be next to no veggies on your plate. My husband's plate had 3 or so pieces of red pepper and onion. That's it. Now, we will visit again because almost everyone deserves a second chance, but I'm not sure I'm holding up high expectations for this place.
(2)Peter P.
I was trepidatious at first when approaching Pei Wei. I know it is the lower-priced outlet of P.F. Chang's and did not have high expectations. However, once inside, all those preconceptions were washed away (in endless soda!). You order from the counter in front by the door off of an LCD menu. You take your drink cup and walk to the back and then experience the coolest Coca-Cola machine ever. It looks like an old refrigerator, except it has a big touchscreen in front. There you select what base pop you want (i.e. Sprite, Fanta, Coca-Cola, Coke Zero, etc.) and thne you select what flavor you want to add (i.e. grape, orange, raspberry, peach, etc.). Make REAL cherry coke! As for the food itself, it is by no means great (or even authentic), but it is definitely not bad and it's cheap as well ($7-9). There are plates on each of the tables so you can dine family-style as Asian food is meant to be served (a definite plus in my book). I would definitely return if even just to order a drink.
(3)Monica F.
I get carry out from here all the time and this once the Pad Thai was too spicy to eat and the manager refunded without a problem and wanted to make sure it didn't happen again. I will continue to dine there
(4)Kate B.
I went to Pei Wei today for the first time. I really liked it. The service was really fast and friendly. My food was really good. I got the Japanese Teriyaki Beef with brown rice. I also got crab wontons- they contained more crab than normal Chinese food crab rangoon, but they were great. My friends were fascinated by the soda machine. It had a computerized touch screen where you could get 5 or 6 different flavors of Coke. It is a fast service restaurant, so don't expect a fancy sit down place. Still a great place though.
(4)B S.
Been here a few times, I have always gotten a good meal and have ordered something differant everytime. This restuarant is very confusing if its your first time. They have two entry doors and people will normally walk in the wrong door that is the exit from the seating area. The menu in my opinion is hard to figure out, i dont know what comes with what entrea. Some things come on a plate or in a bowl i dont know how to tell, mabey im just confused. But like i said food is great!
(3)Mike D.
I always avoid local "hole-in-the-wall" Asian take-out restaurants for fear that they're hiding the results of their most recent health department inspection, or for fear that the chicken is really not chicken...if you catch my drift... (meow). So, when I'm craving Asian cuisine, and I'm looking for a quick take-out alternative, I always go to Pei Wei. The dishes are very similar to their sibling restaurant, P.F. Changs, but the portions and prices are more reasonable. If you're looking to reduce calories and fat, ask if your dish can be prepared "stock velveted". Be sure to order a soda (or pop, depending on where you're from), so that you can play with the fun digital Coke machine. I know that these are becoming more prevalent, but I still think they're cool!
(4)erin a.
The food is usually pretty good, but the service, both at the restaurant and on the phone for take out is pretty terrible.
(2)Shawn P.
I stopped by Pei Wei after hearing some buzz about this place. My wife and I were up shopping at target and needed some dinner after a long afternoon so we decided the try this out. I really was not sure what to expect, my initial forethought was that I knew it was associated with PF Changs and was a "fast food" product so I expected it would be at least a little better than mall food-court and wow was I surprised. Upon entering the decor was clearly upscale from the strip mall surroundings where the restaurant is situated. There was a nice separation of the ordering line to the front and a seating area that resembled a restaurant where you would have a hostess and table-side waitress. There are large video boards at the front which show the options (which basically are a trimmed down offering of certain PF Chang dishes as well as a few combo options). Everything seemed to be priced from about 6-9 depending on what you get (which kind of meat and if you got a smaller combo or a full dinner). The menu was kind of neat but perhaps not the most intuitive at first glance (mainly because they represent the menu one way on the video boards and then a different way at the check out - no big deal though). There are categories of dish styles, meat options, and then preparation. So you might first choose a rice/noodle bowl or a signature dish category, then decide on chicken/shrimp/beef, and finally options like Kunk Pao or Sesame for preparation. There are more options than just this and there also is an entire small plate/starter menu. You might do yourself a favor and read the menu before you arrive since the permutations of something like this can become daunting when you are shuffling up a busy line (not to mention the glare the television menu displays get in the front window can make it hard to read). Once you stand in line and order you are given a number. You fill your own drinks and get your own silverware/condiments and sit where you like. The food comes up in about 5-10 minutes. When you are done you just leave the items at your table and the staff cleans things up ...in-and-out, couldn't be simpler. I often order Kung Pao beef and Chicken at PF Changs so this is what I ordered on this occasion (my wife ordered Dan Dan noodles). Both dishes were excellent and I thought mine was of the same quality and taste that I get at the full blown PF Changs. The experience is a little streamlined but so is the price (my total bill was ~$17 out the door for two where at PF Changs I would probably have spent about $10 more between the higher price point and tip). Quantity was huge (we got full dishes, not the combo). The only difference I noticed was that the Kung Pao did not come with the dried Chili pepper shoots here and instead came with snap peas but the dish really tasted the same. I assume there are some small tweaks they make but overall the food quality is what you should expect at the regular PF Changs restaurant. I plan to hit this place up again in a few weeks whenever I find myself out christmas shopping.
(5)Lisa L.
I'm NOT sad the I don't have these out East! Really hate the seating style of getting a table after ordering- if it is busy, good luck! We had a mishap with the table thing which is bound to happen, then the the guy behind the counter made things worse by being freaked out- and then food sorta sucked.
(2)Alison M.
I tried Pei Wei for the first time after a quick run to the nearby Target. After ordering the cocnut curry with steak, I played with the Freestyle machine (the highlight of the trip), then sat at a table and waited. My meal came out within 5 minutes, and I was immediately disappointed. The only vegetables were skinny green beans, about 3 pieces of red pepper, and some tiny bits of onion. The pieces of steak were big, although tender, and the rice was really dry. The sauce had a good flavor, spicy, but I didn't taste any coconut milk. Maybe I ordered the wrong item? Even though I liked the simple decor and being able to watch the cooks, I think I'll take my chances with traditional Chinese.
(3)Malavika R.
All I have to say is that I loved the crab wontons.. Crunchy warm with enough meat to make u savor it.. Rest of the food was neither spicy nor special as promised :( Thumbs up for the huge variety, great proportions for the price..and prompt online order for take away service! If u like ur food with a lil gravy.. Steer clear of dynamite chicken!
(2)Nora S.
I've been to Pei Wei more times than I care to admit in the last three weeks. The food has mostly been great - the Dan Dan noodles have been the only disappointment so far. That said, the service at the counter has been crazy bad. Each time, whether dining in or carry out. I'm a waitress and I know that things can go awry quickly, but this is a little crazy. The first time I got carry out they gave my order to the wrong person. The second time it never came out at all and we had to start over. Ordering to eat in has been a challenge also - the cashiers are decidedly in over their heads. They need someone with a little maturity to multi-task - answer questions, man the phones, take orders and generally direct traffic.
(4)Neesha M.
There's nothing to hate about Pei Wei. And, not really anything to LOVE, either. You enter, order up front, then get a number, pick up your drink/utensils, and find a table (like Noodles & Co.). You food will probably come out the second your butt hits your seat, so if you're hungry, you will really appreciate that. I went with my husband and we ordered the Chicken Lettuce wraps (almost like PF Changs, but not quite), the Vietnamese Chicken Spring Rolls (pretty good), and the Thai Dynamite Chicken (decent). Everything seemed fresh, and it was good, but nothing was fantastic. If you like condiments (like ME), you'll love the various sauces and pots of interesting concoctions (including a spicy, Asian mustard and a sriracha-like sauce). Our one major complaint (and which we left as feedback) was that there were too many people hovering around trying to take our plates before we were done. We literally had to guard them! Someone was by every 4 minutes trying to see if we were done...and there were at least 10 empty tables. WOAH. I was really excited to try it, and I'm glad I did, but I probably won't make it a regular. I'd rather drive a little more and hit up Siam Square or Shalimar for my spicy food fix.
(3)