Avoid this restaurant. I went there today to get something for dinner. There were a group of employees just sitting around doing nothing. The only one working was the 1 cook in the kitchen. I placed a to-go order with a lady who wouldn't know "friendly" if it jumped up and bit her on the lip. While I was waiting for my order several customers came in. All of the servers and the lady that took my order went in the back of the restaurant except for 1 server who sat down and started talking on her cell phone. At this point only the cook was working. The customers stood there for a while waiting for someone to take their order. Finally I had seen enough. I spoke up and asked why no one was there to take their orders and after the server finished with her phone call conversation she went to the back to get someone. This was a TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE CUSTOMER AND TERRIBLE SERVICE. This is not how to run a restaurant. Finally I paid for my food and left. I got home and the shrimp fried rice was so dry and tasteless that I just tossed it. Someone needs to take a drive to the Pei Wei in Fairfax VA. They know how to run a restaurant. I wouldn't advise you dine at this Pei Wei location. I won't be back and I bet within a year this place will be closed. Horrible!!!!!
(1)
Sara E.
I can't believe it's taken me so long to try this place since I am a hot n sour soup whore. Theirs is sooo good. Rather than the fatty pork gristle that sometimes flavors hot n sour, they have tender, delicious chicken. The cup is ridiculously small, though, fair warning. I had the veggie lomein. The sauce was great, not overpowering or heavy. The veggies are pea pods (way too many), broccoli (delish), mushrooms, and bean sprouts. They were all crisp and fresh. And, as mentioned, there is a coke freestyle. My only issue with this place is that I think the food takes a little too long to prepare. I do like the fact that you can grab orange slices from the soda bar while you wait, though. Also, it doesn't seem to get as crowded as, say, chipotle, so that's a huge bonus.
(4)
Sarah G.
Pei-Wei is pretty solid for Americanized Chinese food! It feels like the food served here is a lot healthier than traditional options; I never feel gross after eating their food. I've also never been blown away by anything I've tried so it's a trade-off! Honey Chicken is a great choice, similar to sweet and sour. Terriyaki is pretty good, especially over fried rice ($1 extra). I'm not a fan of their white rice. I mean, it's just white rice but it's just not right. It's like plastic here, not good. Usually, we order online and go to pick it up which is really convenient. I've only dined in a couple times and the speed in which food comes out varies from super fast to super slow.
(3)
Anne-Margaret O.
This place was a really fun find! There was something for everyone! I was very pleased that I could order brown rice with my meal, add extra veggies as well as select the main course option/sauce for my dish! The vegetables were perfectly fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved, loved, loved the soda maching - I could get half ginger-ale and half seltzer water and go back for seconds! This is a simple restaurant - does not appear to be fancy, but the food definitely takes it up a notch! I can see us coming back here for dinner again!
(4)
Nicole W.
Nothing spectacular. This isn't a high end Asian fusion spot- however, it is a restaurant that puts out a decent product, with a reasonably varied menu selection, and sensible prices. It's fast '30 mins from order to table' too. After sampling most of the menu (it's all pretty good, and you can make several modifications- spice, meat product, noodles/rice- to suit you)- I get my classic Pad Thai, and an appetizer of Crab Wontons. The wontons are fantastic- ironically MUCH better than any Chinese restaurant I've been too (flavorful, and well seasoned with actual crab- not just a load of salty cream cheese in friedness). The Pad Thai is somewhat spicy (in a good way), with a nice sweet sauce, and a variety of veggies- including tofu. Rice noodles have always been cooked nicely- not too soft. Overall not a bad place for lunch- but if you have a true 'hankerin' for high quality Asian fusion- head downtown to Minato (on N Charles)- and stick to Pei Wei for cheapy lunches!
(3)
Amy P.
I'm not a fan of PF Change's but this diner was right up my alley. It is a mix of Asian cuisines, and all the portions were huge but tasty. The casual atmosphere inspired my kids to try something new, and I always like that. Even though it was seat yourself (as you waited for your food with 'number') there was someone walking around to make sure you had everything you needed. My kids are at the age where they don't want fast food, but aren't old enough for 'real sit-down' food, this certainly was the in between that works for us. Food was flavorful and hot, and spicy! (if it indicated it was going to be spicy, it wasn't like, randomly spicy). Anyway, great place, on our 'return' list.
(3)
Matt H.
I was hoping to put a picture in here of my "extra" shrimp next to my wife's regular but I can't input pics. She had one or 2 more shrimp then me. The food is good. The service is normal for this resturant, they cook to order so don't expect to be handed your food after you pay. Extra shrimp would have been a 5 star.
(3)
Sue H.
My Thai Dynamite veggie meal was OK - too sweet; would have preferred a more Asian, less American sauce. My companion's Kung Po Chicken was quite good. I'll be back rfp give it another try. If nothing else, it is better than most Chjnese takeout.
(3)
Athena A.
Don't even bother to try to get carry out from these people. The last time we ordered carry out we got home and we're completely missing half our order, so my husband had dinner and I had nothing even though we were billed for both. We called and they reimbursed us for the missing meal. Then today we got carried out and got home to find out they had completely neglected to give me the dressing that went with my salad so I have a dry salad that's basically just lettuce, bland chicken, carrots and tomatoes. We are don't ordering from here. They seriously need to get their staff together.
(1)
Michael G.
Pei Wei is the fast food version of P.F. Changs, with a stripped down menu that still manages to offer a creative blend of traditional Asian plates. The cost is low, the service is simple, and the experience is "bing, bang, boom." I come to this location all of the time and they have always gotten my order right. What I Like: - The menu changes every couple of months, but only 10% of it. Your favorites typically remain, and new options surprise. - The vegetables and fruits used in the dishes are always incredibly crisp and fresh. - They have this new Transformer-like soda machine that allows you to make, like, a billion different soda flavor combinations. I call it Optimus-Sodium, and I love it. - They started a "Rewards Club" type of program offering coupons and free entrees for those who sign up. If you go often, give it a whack. What I Don't Like: - The service is weak in terms of cleaning dirty tables, and setting them up for the next customer(s). I'm often choosing a table with no napkins and sticky-elbow-syndrome. - I don't know if I should tip. This is so weird. Pei Wei is in the middle of fast food and the traditional "server" model. This confuses me. I order the food, make my own drink, seat myself. They deliver my food, and anything else I ask for. But I never see guests leaving tips, and I do so inconsistently. I'm not sure if I'm screwing someone or not. In the meantime I'll find a way to live with the ambiguity, but I've caught a few semi-servers (that's my new name for this role) rolling their eyes once they see a cashless mess awaiting their cleaning. - Fortune cookie limitations? They used to have buckets of fortunes awaiting my desperate and hungry hands. The last time I went, these buckets were MIA. Throughout the years I've seen people dig into these baskets as if fortune cookies were their primary life source (#Hedonism). It seems customer greed has led to the restriction of liberal fortune cookie consumption. It's a dark day in Towson, Maryland. In order to improve their rating, they would need to clamp down on preparing the table for proper turnover, restore the public supply of fortune cookies, and somehow communicate the preference in gratuity (not sure how you do this, but I wonder if others suffer from the same confusion). In conclusion, it's fast food. While good service and fast food are tough to pull off, the most important benefit of visiting Pei Wei is that the food is fresh and good. Enjoy!
(4)
Adam M.
Isn't the whole draw of this place supposed to be that it is faster than PF Chang's? Well guess what, it never ever has been....foods just ok...I want s fast meal....what is the holdup?
(2)
Jen W.
I really like the consistency and flavor profile at PF Changs, so it was great to try PF Chang's baby brother. The interior matches that of PF Chang's, dark wood, red accents and modern. You order your food at the register, then take your "number" to a table. The waitstaff then brings you the food. The kitchen is fast and turns out the dishes quickly. I really liked the egg roll. The crispy exterior hides the flavorful filling dotted with mushmooms and other veggies. We moved on to eating the Mandarin Kung Pao. It was cooked well and had the punch of spice come through the vegetables. The sugar snap peas were fresh and delicious. The chicken Thai Dynamite was good but not impressive. I was hoping for a slightly different flavor profile but the chicken was cooked perfectly. You have a choice between white or brown rice. The brown rice is excellent and perfectly cooked. It's fast Asian cuisine!
(4)
Carter N.
Should be called Pay Way too much, wait way too long (I'm probably not the first to think of it). I'll go to a corner Chinese take-out joint with bullet proof glass before going back to Pei Wei. To me, Pei Wei food is the dumb and empty version of Asian food. I went, they forgot to make my order (I actually doubt it happens that often), so after a while I asked and they ran it through. The noodles are gluey, the sauces either too sweet or too salty, and nothing tastes fresh. I tried it again and got lettuce wraps with ground pork. It was all salt. The egg rolls are greasy. No reason for me to go back. But I like that there's a bin of free fortune cookies. And one great thing that stands out, the guys that clean the tables are really nice and have fun.
(1)
Mindy M.
I usually don't review chain restaurants as I view it as a waste of time, but.... Pei Wei really impressed me with their offerings, flavor, and great price. This location got a few bonus points in my book: + We were able to order online (which is so much better than trying to give a complicated order over the phone). So many ways to customize your meal (including brown rice) - definitely a bonus + I was able to get my dish SUPER spicy + after ordering online, our meal was hot and ready to pick up in less than 15min + dinner was @ $20 - amazing. We had the: ~ edemame - cooked really well and I especially loved that the sea salt came on the side for us to add (or not add) ourselves ~ orange peel chicken - I was able to get my dish super duper spicy and the chicken was oh so lightly fried and was nice white, whole chicken (unlike so many Asian food places out there). The flavor was great too. ~ Spicy Korean dish - I'm not sure how this 'qualifies' as a Korean dish but it is amazingly flavorful and loaded with vegetables.
(4)
Cynthia G.
Love this place for lunch. Always a variety, menu stays interesting. I have enjoyed everything from the lettuce wraps to the caramel chicken to my FAAAAAAV spicy chicken salad. You never wait long to be serviced or fed. Only thing is the young lady counting the money, was also running cash register, signing for fed ex packages and pouring the salad dressing. Too many cross contamination possibilities
(4)
Nancy C.
I love this place,I could eat here almost every day! Its consistent and always good! I almost like it better than chinese take out!
(4)
Liam S.
Hell yeah! Chipotle style Asian food! Only problem with this place is their price but aside from that you get quaity Pan-Asian food in a college town, which is not coming from a sketchy looking rndown itchen in the back of a shopping center...
(3)
robert c.
Very good food. They serve brown rice. The ice tea is unsweetened with fresh lemons and oranges. So you can get some pretty healthy options. I had the tofu with brown rice it was good I should of ordered a large. The. Thai soup was good too. I can't wait to go back to try other things on the menu.
(5)
Maria M.
I was not impressed, even though I wasn't expecting much considering this is a chain and pretty much fast food. I ordered the Japanese chilli noodles, something like that. The egg noodles were completely over cooked, hard to enjoy almost. The shrimp was flavored well but mushy. This dish made me wonder if it was basically reheated. After all, the highlight of a noodle dish should not be crunchy carrots and bean sprouts, as it was for me. I managed to eat most of my order as I had paid for it and was already home, but never again.
(2)
Paul S.
Pei-Wei is good solid food. Definitely not as great as REAL chinese food, but for asian inspired its very tasty. I LOVE the Honey seared shrimp. Very light and flavorful as well as filling. I also love the fact that now you can have noodles with your choice of sauce as a side item. For a side it's big! Which means its worth the extra buck or two. Take-out is a snap, order online its ready when you get there, or order while there, it will take 10-15 mins on an average day. I think the apps could be better and there could be a bit more diversity in the dishes but as long as I like at least one thing im ok. I just wish they had pot stickers, what Asian inspired place doesn't have pot stickers or shu mai? The egg/spring rolls are tiny and a bit overpriced, So although some improvements could be made their main dishes are solid. It's a college crowd here too so if you don't enjoy the hustle and bustle of a fast casual restaurant it's not for you.
(4)
Niran A.
PF Changs is one of the only mainstream corporate food chains I still respect. That said, I think Pei Wei is awesome. A lot, not all, of the dishes are identical to their pf chang big brother, except for much less money. For example if you order the Mongolian beef or chicken lettuce wraps at Pei Wei, it will look, smell and taste exactly like the PF Changs version - definitely a good thing. Other items at Pei Wei may contain "filler vegetables" which are usually out of place in a given dish. Regardless, their noodle dishes are usually very spot-on. The Dan-Dan Noodles, lo mein style noodles with ground chicken and cucumber in a spicy sauce, is always delicious, especially for $7.25. All in all, for a corporate fast food Chinese restaurant Pei Wei excels. The portions are large, the menu is good, the food is delicious, and the prices could not be more affordable.
(4)
Brian D.
Waited an unusually long time for our carry out order tonight and when we got home it was incomplete. The Pei Wei spicy chicken salad, which is a green salad with a lime dressing and an order of spicy chicken, was bagged with no chicken and no salad dressing.
(3)
Kari E.
I love "fast casual" restaurants like this one. I come here pretty regularly, so I've had varying experiences, but my food is always great. I have noticed in the past few months a shift in personnel (for the better) as well as the music (also for the better). I still wish they would play it at a more reasonable level, as sometimes it overpowers a conversation, especially with all the kitchen noise too. I also wish they would get wifi. Overall, though, I love it.
(4)
Leah F.
So, I get that Chinese food is already fast, but when you want to eat in, then this is perfect. I ordered the dynamite thai chicken, which was satisfying. Went in around 6pm on a Monday night. Not too many tables. It took about 10 minutes to get my food, which was served hot and yummy! I took off one star only because even though the guy who took my order was friendly, he seemed pretty distracted with some side conversation. Bottom line, want something that tastes similar to PF changs for cheap, then this is the spot!
(4)
Kevin M.
Very enjoyable! I tried the sushi rolls and I was impressed. I ordered all four for lunch one day! They were made fresh to order took them less then ten minutes with other people waiting as well. I would like to come back and try the dinners and maybe sit down and eat this time.
(4)
Paul M.
Great food. Amazingly poor service. Ordered online. Went to the store and paid for my meal. Waited 20 minutes and finally decided to ask about my meal. It was sitting on the counter. I said thank you for my cold meal. Employee response" they must have called your name". Not sorry or we can re do it. Can not recommend.
(2)
Mike H.
Put in an order online at 12.15 with a pick up time of 12.40, arrived promptly at 12.40 and paid. Then waited 15 minutes for my food to be given to me. As far as I can tell, my food was cooked and waiting under the heat lamp, but they didn't have enough people working so it took 15 minutes for them to put 2 boxes in a bag and say my name. Oh, and my lettuce has no lettuce! This is not a quick place to go for lunch. Or to get a complete meal.
(2)
Chad B.
The food has been decent every time I stop here. You order at the counter, and the food is brought to your table. The food comes out fairly quickly. There's fountain drinks, or you can ask for a cup for water. I ordered the "original size" orange peel chicken. It comes with your choice of rice and a small assortment of vegetables mixed into it (scallions, snap peas, carrots). The original portion (aka large) is very filling, especially for lunch. The meal had a wok-cooked taste and seemed just a tad overdone. To sum it up, you can get decent American Chinese food for a reasonable price.
(4)
Gaz H.
The Asian Chipotle (although the restaurant itself is organized more along the lines of a Noodles & Company). Fresh ingredients, prepared to order. The sauces are a bit cloying and not at all subtle, but the food is really not bad at all. The only real shortcoming here is the drink selection. No normal hot tea and no juices for the kids. Just crap fountain soda and really icky hot and cold teas. Oh, and beer, but I never get that.
(3)
Knieci M.
Great for fast authentic Asian food. Very high is sodium though. The crab wontons are amazing!
(4)
Tricia P.
PF Changs little annoying cousin. Cute, the food is good, but its just a cheap fast alternative to a decent larger chain restaurant.
(3)
Elliott P.
My how this place has gone down hill! Pei Wei used to be a dependable, quick Asian food experience. After two recent visits, it is no longer that great. Note that my previous review was a 5. The other night I came by before class. There was no line and the place wasn't busy. 40% full maybe. The girl behind the counter had that "I don't really want to be working" attitude where I couldn't even get her to make small talk or smile. She just wanted to take my order and jump back on Facebook. I sat down and looked at my receipt. 6:03pm. I read a few blogs while I waited for the food. 6:10pm. Nothing. 6:23pm. Nothing. The people around me were looking pissed, as was I. Finally at 6:26pm I got my simple Thai Dynamite. If you ever sit at the bar there, each dish takes about 3 minutes to throw together on the wok, so that wait was really inexcusable considering how empty it was. For a $10 quick casual meal, you expect that it would be quick. I don't think I'll be coming back to Pei Wei. Noodles & Co will have to do when I'm looking for some fast casual.
(2)
Jock M.
We go here when we want takeout Chinese food since it is near our house and the food is consistently good and reasonably priced. It is not a gourmet restaurant but for the price it is pretty good. We have eaten at the restaurant a couple of times. Decor is simple and clean. It is fairly noisy in the restaurant and the service is good not great. They have standard entrees which you then pick what meat to add to it and if you want white or brown rice. There are several noodle dishes like Dan Dan and Pad Thai. The Pad Thai is quite good for the price and being a chain restaurant. My daughter likes the Honey Seared entree and I have had and liked the Sesame, Caramel, Orange Peel and Kung Pao. There is now an option of a smaller size entree as well as their original size. It is not a Michelin star type restaurant but for consistent, good inexpensive Chinese and Thai food it is good.
(4)
Angelina G.
I love this place I think is fresh and they serve you lots and lots of food. But why does it have to be so sticky!! The tables are sticky even the floor is sticky dirty. I would give this place 5 stars but the cleanliness part makes a big difference.
(4)
Kim J.
Had lunch, crab wontons and spicy Thai lettuce wraps are good. They even adjusted the kids meal for my picky 9 year old!
(4)
Natasha W.
Pei Wei is owned by P.F Changs, which is why the food is so similar. I always stick with the same thing when I order here, Ginger broccoli with beef, because it's soo good. But I do branch out with the apps. The Vietnamese Spring Rolls aren't anything to write home about, not much flavor going on there, just kind of spicy and greasy. Although the lettuce wraps are popular, I think they have an odd flavor. Not very enjoyable. I do, however, like the crab wontons. The prices are very reasonable, good portions,and the restaurant itself is very clean and has a nice atmosphere.
(4)
Jen L.
It's Americanized Asian food. It tastes good, but not a good choice if you are looking for authentic Asian food. Reasonable prices and fast service makes this a good workday lunch.
(3)
tania t.
Ugh. Overstuffed and oversalted. and that's just the food. The open kitchen atmosphere is translated to a loud dining room where you will constantly hear the clanging of metal on the grill and smoke billowing out. Add that to the family friendly atmosphere and you get an otherwise acceptable eating area with screaming babies to add to your headache. I hate how whenever I walk into any 'asian' restaurant in this area, all heads turn as if I've somehow authenticated the experience with my presence (being Chinese and all), since there are actually no other asians in the restaurant, and I just want to scream, No, I'm just here for the Americanized Chinese food!! I know what I'm getting into!!! Sigh...my personal annoyances aside, Pei Wei was a huge disappointment on a rainy night. I just wanted some warm clear broth with noodles and maybe some meat and veggies floating in it, but all Pei Wei could muster was a thick Hot and Sour Soup that was both bland and salty (sounds like an oxymoron, but it actually describes the soup to a T) , and Dan Dan Noodles, whose purported minced chicken was difficult to identify. It was inexpensive and quick, and basically I would describe it as Chinese take out, but dining in. For that, I would rather order in and enjoy the comforts of my noise-controlled home.
(1)
Glenn M.
Perfect Pitstop for a Fast/Casual, Inexpensive Asian Meal Friend suggested this place after a we did some walking around te Guilford/Loyala area. Pretty good for what it is - inexpensive Asian meals delivered fast & casual with few frills. I tried the spicy chicken salad which I liked enough to order another for lunch the next day. Lettuce wraps also not bad, although I have to admit I like the lettuce wraps at CPK better. Wife works right in the neighborhood so will likely be "ordering" take-out in the future. :-)
(4)
Winona M.
Pei Wei is down the street from us and we hadn't heard of it before until we moved here. We enjoy the food. It's tasty and fresh and reasonable priced. Portions are large so we always have left overs. The new basil dish is nice and spicy- I hate when chains dumb down the food. Another fave is the Vietnamese chicken spring rolls (?) with the peanut sauce. Pad thai is so-so- I think it depends on who's making it that night. If you're going to do a chain restaurant, you might as well choose this one. The price is right and the food's pretty good.
(4)
Arthur R.
Knock off of PG Changs. Overall the better of the Chinese food in the area. Its fast, they server beer and wine and its a big place. Easy for take out. If you like PF Changs you will like this.
(4)
Blair D.
Can't figure out what to do for dinner on a Sunday night and not in the mood to get going to eat out? Two words...Pei Wei. It's a delicious solution for eating in on a Sunday night and with their online ordering process your dinner is literally at your finger tips! The chicken lettuce wraps are my favorite go-to option and they also have a number of other Thai/Chinese/Japanese inspired dishes. Only comment to Pei Wei: can you get some deals started for your newly appointed foursquare Mayor?! Thanks for making a scrumptious meal at home on Sunday possible:)
(4)
Jennifer C.
Food good... fresh and seems healthier than other traditional chinese carryouts!
(4)
Kara M.
this place is PF Changs little cousin. I like the food and they can do amazing things with Tofu. I like my sauce a little thicker and they always made sure to get my order just right. this became one of my fav spots!
(4)
Sabree S.
Quite frankly, I do like this a lot more than PF Chang's because its quicker, cheaper and faster. The food is also delicious and it's great for when I need a nice Asian flair.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free 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.
Kathy M.
Avoid this restaurant. I went there today to get something for dinner. There were a group of employees just sitting around doing nothing. The only one working was the 1 cook in the kitchen. I placed a to-go order with a lady who wouldn't know "friendly" if it jumped up and bit her on the lip. While I was waiting for my order several customers came in. All of the servers and the lady that took my order went in the back of the restaurant except for 1 server who sat down and started talking on her cell phone. At this point only the cook was working. The customers stood there for a while waiting for someone to take their order. Finally I had seen enough. I spoke up and asked why no one was there to take their orders and after the server finished with her phone call conversation she went to the back to get someone. This was a TOTAL DISREGARD FOR THE CUSTOMER AND TERRIBLE SERVICE. This is not how to run a restaurant. Finally I paid for my food and left. I got home and the shrimp fried rice was so dry and tasteless that I just tossed it. Someone needs to take a drive to the Pei Wei in Fairfax VA. They know how to run a restaurant. I wouldn't advise you dine at this Pei Wei location. I won't be back and I bet within a year this place will be closed. Horrible!!!!!
(1)Sara E.
I can't believe it's taken me so long to try this place since I am a hot n sour soup whore. Theirs is sooo good. Rather than the fatty pork gristle that sometimes flavors hot n sour, they have tender, delicious chicken. The cup is ridiculously small, though, fair warning. I had the veggie lomein. The sauce was great, not overpowering or heavy. The veggies are pea pods (way too many), broccoli (delish), mushrooms, and bean sprouts. They were all crisp and fresh. And, as mentioned, there is a coke freestyle. My only issue with this place is that I think the food takes a little too long to prepare. I do like the fact that you can grab orange slices from the soda bar while you wait, though. Also, it doesn't seem to get as crowded as, say, chipotle, so that's a huge bonus.
(4)Sarah G.
Pei-Wei is pretty solid for Americanized Chinese food! It feels like the food served here is a lot healthier than traditional options; I never feel gross after eating their food. I've also never been blown away by anything I've tried so it's a trade-off! Honey Chicken is a great choice, similar to sweet and sour. Terriyaki is pretty good, especially over fried rice ($1 extra). I'm not a fan of their white rice. I mean, it's just white rice but it's just not right. It's like plastic here, not good. Usually, we order online and go to pick it up which is really convenient. I've only dined in a couple times and the speed in which food comes out varies from super fast to super slow.
(3)Anne-Margaret O.
This place was a really fun find! There was something for everyone! I was very pleased that I could order brown rice with my meal, add extra veggies as well as select the main course option/sauce for my dish! The vegetables were perfectly fresh and cooked to perfection. I loved, loved, loved the soda maching - I could get half ginger-ale and half seltzer water and go back for seconds! This is a simple restaurant - does not appear to be fancy, but the food definitely takes it up a notch! I can see us coming back here for dinner again!
(4)Nicole W.
Nothing spectacular. This isn't a high end Asian fusion spot- however, it is a restaurant that puts out a decent product, with a reasonably varied menu selection, and sensible prices. It's fast '30 mins from order to table' too. After sampling most of the menu (it's all pretty good, and you can make several modifications- spice, meat product, noodles/rice- to suit you)- I get my classic Pad Thai, and an appetizer of Crab Wontons. The wontons are fantastic- ironically MUCH better than any Chinese restaurant I've been too (flavorful, and well seasoned with actual crab- not just a load of salty cream cheese in friedness). The Pad Thai is somewhat spicy (in a good way), with a nice sweet sauce, and a variety of veggies- including tofu. Rice noodles have always been cooked nicely- not too soft. Overall not a bad place for lunch- but if you have a true 'hankerin' for high quality Asian fusion- head downtown to Minato (on N Charles)- and stick to Pei Wei for cheapy lunches!
(3)Amy P.
I'm not a fan of PF Change's but this diner was right up my alley. It is a mix of Asian cuisines, and all the portions were huge but tasty. The casual atmosphere inspired my kids to try something new, and I always like that. Even though it was seat yourself (as you waited for your food with 'number') there was someone walking around to make sure you had everything you needed. My kids are at the age where they don't want fast food, but aren't old enough for 'real sit-down' food, this certainly was the in between that works for us. Food was flavorful and hot, and spicy! (if it indicated it was going to be spicy, it wasn't like, randomly spicy). Anyway, great place, on our 'return' list.
(3)Matt H.
I was hoping to put a picture in here of my "extra" shrimp next to my wife's regular but I can't input pics. She had one or 2 more shrimp then me. The food is good. The service is normal for this resturant, they cook to order so don't expect to be handed your food after you pay. Extra shrimp would have been a 5 star.
(3)Sue H.
My Thai Dynamite veggie meal was OK - too sweet; would have preferred a more Asian, less American sauce. My companion's Kung Po Chicken was quite good. I'll be back rfp give it another try. If nothing else, it is better than most Chjnese takeout.
(3)Athena A.
Don't even bother to try to get carry out from these people. The last time we ordered carry out we got home and we're completely missing half our order, so my husband had dinner and I had nothing even though we were billed for both. We called and they reimbursed us for the missing meal. Then today we got carried out and got home to find out they had completely neglected to give me the dressing that went with my salad so I have a dry salad that's basically just lettuce, bland chicken, carrots and tomatoes. We are don't ordering from here. They seriously need to get their staff together.
(1)Michael G.
Pei Wei is the fast food version of P.F. Changs, with a stripped down menu that still manages to offer a creative blend of traditional Asian plates. The cost is low, the service is simple, and the experience is "bing, bang, boom." I come to this location all of the time and they have always gotten my order right. What I Like: - The menu changes every couple of months, but only 10% of it. Your favorites typically remain, and new options surprise. - The vegetables and fruits used in the dishes are always incredibly crisp and fresh. - They have this new Transformer-like soda machine that allows you to make, like, a billion different soda flavor combinations. I call it Optimus-Sodium, and I love it. - They started a "Rewards Club" type of program offering coupons and free entrees for those who sign up. If you go often, give it a whack. What I Don't Like: - The service is weak in terms of cleaning dirty tables, and setting them up for the next customer(s). I'm often choosing a table with no napkins and sticky-elbow-syndrome. - I don't know if I should tip. This is so weird. Pei Wei is in the middle of fast food and the traditional "server" model. This confuses me. I order the food, make my own drink, seat myself. They deliver my food, and anything else I ask for. But I never see guests leaving tips, and I do so inconsistently. I'm not sure if I'm screwing someone or not. In the meantime I'll find a way to live with the ambiguity, but I've caught a few semi-servers (that's my new name for this role) rolling their eyes once they see a cashless mess awaiting their cleaning. - Fortune cookie limitations? They used to have buckets of fortunes awaiting my desperate and hungry hands. The last time I went, these buckets were MIA. Throughout the years I've seen people dig into these baskets as if fortune cookies were their primary life source (#Hedonism). It seems customer greed has led to the restriction of liberal fortune cookie consumption. It's a dark day in Towson, Maryland. In order to improve their rating, they would need to clamp down on preparing the table for proper turnover, restore the public supply of fortune cookies, and somehow communicate the preference in gratuity (not sure how you do this, but I wonder if others suffer from the same confusion). In conclusion, it's fast food. While good service and fast food are tough to pull off, the most important benefit of visiting Pei Wei is that the food is fresh and good. Enjoy!
(4)Adam M.
Isn't the whole draw of this place supposed to be that it is faster than PF Chang's? Well guess what, it never ever has been....foods just ok...I want s fast meal....what is the holdup?
(2)Jen W.
I really like the consistency and flavor profile at PF Changs, so it was great to try PF Chang's baby brother. The interior matches that of PF Chang's, dark wood, red accents and modern. You order your food at the register, then take your "number" to a table. The waitstaff then brings you the food. The kitchen is fast and turns out the dishes quickly. I really liked the egg roll. The crispy exterior hides the flavorful filling dotted with mushmooms and other veggies. We moved on to eating the Mandarin Kung Pao. It was cooked well and had the punch of spice come through the vegetables. The sugar snap peas were fresh and delicious. The chicken Thai Dynamite was good but not impressive. I was hoping for a slightly different flavor profile but the chicken was cooked perfectly. You have a choice between white or brown rice. The brown rice is excellent and perfectly cooked. It's fast Asian cuisine!
(4)Carter N.
Should be called Pay Way too much, wait way too long (I'm probably not the first to think of it). I'll go to a corner Chinese take-out joint with bullet proof glass before going back to Pei Wei. To me, Pei Wei food is the dumb and empty version of Asian food. I went, they forgot to make my order (I actually doubt it happens that often), so after a while I asked and they ran it through. The noodles are gluey, the sauces either too sweet or too salty, and nothing tastes fresh. I tried it again and got lettuce wraps with ground pork. It was all salt. The egg rolls are greasy. No reason for me to go back. But I like that there's a bin of free fortune cookies. And one great thing that stands out, the guys that clean the tables are really nice and have fun.
(1)Mindy M.
I usually don't review chain restaurants as I view it as a waste of time, but.... Pei Wei really impressed me with their offerings, flavor, and great price. This location got a few bonus points in my book: + We were able to order online (which is so much better than trying to give a complicated order over the phone). So many ways to customize your meal (including brown rice) - definitely a bonus + I was able to get my dish SUPER spicy + after ordering online, our meal was hot and ready to pick up in less than 15min + dinner was @ $20 - amazing. We had the: ~ edemame - cooked really well and I especially loved that the sea salt came on the side for us to add (or not add) ourselves ~ orange peel chicken - I was able to get my dish super duper spicy and the chicken was oh so lightly fried and was nice white, whole chicken (unlike so many Asian food places out there). The flavor was great too. ~ Spicy Korean dish - I'm not sure how this 'qualifies' as a Korean dish but it is amazingly flavorful and loaded with vegetables.
(4)Cynthia G.
Love this place for lunch. Always a variety, menu stays interesting. I have enjoyed everything from the lettuce wraps to the caramel chicken to my FAAAAAAV spicy chicken salad. You never wait long to be serviced or fed. Only thing is the young lady counting the money, was also running cash register, signing for fed ex packages and pouring the salad dressing. Too many cross contamination possibilities
(4)Nancy C.
I love this place,I could eat here almost every day! Its consistent and always good! I almost like it better than chinese take out!
(4)Liam S.
Hell yeah! Chipotle style Asian food! Only problem with this place is their price but aside from that you get quaity Pan-Asian food in a college town, which is not coming from a sketchy looking rndown itchen in the back of a shopping center...
(3)robert c.
Very good food. They serve brown rice. The ice tea is unsweetened with fresh lemons and oranges. So you can get some pretty healthy options. I had the tofu with brown rice it was good I should of ordered a large. The. Thai soup was good too. I can't wait to go back to try other things on the menu.
(5)Maria M.
I was not impressed, even though I wasn't expecting much considering this is a chain and pretty much fast food. I ordered the Japanese chilli noodles, something like that. The egg noodles were completely over cooked, hard to enjoy almost. The shrimp was flavored well but mushy. This dish made me wonder if it was basically reheated. After all, the highlight of a noodle dish should not be crunchy carrots and bean sprouts, as it was for me. I managed to eat most of my order as I had paid for it and was already home, but never again.
(2)Paul S.
Pei-Wei is good solid food. Definitely not as great as REAL chinese food, but for asian inspired its very tasty. I LOVE the Honey seared shrimp. Very light and flavorful as well as filling. I also love the fact that now you can have noodles with your choice of sauce as a side item. For a side it's big! Which means its worth the extra buck or two. Take-out is a snap, order online its ready when you get there, or order while there, it will take 10-15 mins on an average day. I think the apps could be better and there could be a bit more diversity in the dishes but as long as I like at least one thing im ok. I just wish they had pot stickers, what Asian inspired place doesn't have pot stickers or shu mai? The egg/spring rolls are tiny and a bit overpriced, So although some improvements could be made their main dishes are solid. It's a college crowd here too so if you don't enjoy the hustle and bustle of a fast casual restaurant it's not for you.
(4)Niran A.
PF Changs is one of the only mainstream corporate food chains I still respect. That said, I think Pei Wei is awesome. A lot, not all, of the dishes are identical to their pf chang big brother, except for much less money. For example if you order the Mongolian beef or chicken lettuce wraps at Pei Wei, it will look, smell and taste exactly like the PF Changs version - definitely a good thing. Other items at Pei Wei may contain "filler vegetables" which are usually out of place in a given dish. Regardless, their noodle dishes are usually very spot-on. The Dan-Dan Noodles, lo mein style noodles with ground chicken and cucumber in a spicy sauce, is always delicious, especially for $7.25. All in all, for a corporate fast food Chinese restaurant Pei Wei excels. The portions are large, the menu is good, the food is delicious, and the prices could not be more affordable.
(4)Brian D.
Waited an unusually long time for our carry out order tonight and when we got home it was incomplete. The Pei Wei spicy chicken salad, which is a green salad with a lime dressing and an order of spicy chicken, was bagged with no chicken and no salad dressing.
(3)Kari E.
I love "fast casual" restaurants like this one. I come here pretty regularly, so I've had varying experiences, but my food is always great. I have noticed in the past few months a shift in personnel (for the better) as well as the music (also for the better). I still wish they would play it at a more reasonable level, as sometimes it overpowers a conversation, especially with all the kitchen noise too. I also wish they would get wifi. Overall, though, I love it.
(4)Leah F.
So, I get that Chinese food is already fast, but when you want to eat in, then this is perfect. I ordered the dynamite thai chicken, which was satisfying. Went in around 6pm on a Monday night. Not too many tables. It took about 10 minutes to get my food, which was served hot and yummy! I took off one star only because even though the guy who took my order was friendly, he seemed pretty distracted with some side conversation. Bottom line, want something that tastes similar to PF changs for cheap, then this is the spot!
(4)Kevin M.
Very enjoyable! I tried the sushi rolls and I was impressed. I ordered all four for lunch one day! They were made fresh to order took them less then ten minutes with other people waiting as well. I would like to come back and try the dinners and maybe sit down and eat this time.
(4)Paul M.
Great food. Amazingly poor service. Ordered online. Went to the store and paid for my meal. Waited 20 minutes and finally decided to ask about my meal. It was sitting on the counter. I said thank you for my cold meal. Employee response" they must have called your name". Not sorry or we can re do it. Can not recommend.
(2)Mike H.
Put in an order online at 12.15 with a pick up time of 12.40, arrived promptly at 12.40 and paid. Then waited 15 minutes for my food to be given to me. As far as I can tell, my food was cooked and waiting under the heat lamp, but they didn't have enough people working so it took 15 minutes for them to put 2 boxes in a bag and say my name. Oh, and my lettuce has no lettuce! This is not a quick place to go for lunch. Or to get a complete meal.
(2)Chad B.
The food has been decent every time I stop here. You order at the counter, and the food is brought to your table. The food comes out fairly quickly. There's fountain drinks, or you can ask for a cup for water. I ordered the "original size" orange peel chicken. It comes with your choice of rice and a small assortment of vegetables mixed into it (scallions, snap peas, carrots). The original portion (aka large) is very filling, especially for lunch. The meal had a wok-cooked taste and seemed just a tad overdone. To sum it up, you can get decent American Chinese food for a reasonable price.
(4)Gaz H.
The Asian Chipotle (although the restaurant itself is organized more along the lines of a Noodles & Company). Fresh ingredients, prepared to order. The sauces are a bit cloying and not at all subtle, but the food is really not bad at all. The only real shortcoming here is the drink selection. No normal hot tea and no juices for the kids. Just crap fountain soda and really icky hot and cold teas. Oh, and beer, but I never get that.
(3)Knieci M.
Great for fast authentic Asian food. Very high is sodium though. The crab wontons are amazing!
(4)Tricia P.
PF Changs little annoying cousin. Cute, the food is good, but its just a cheap fast alternative to a decent larger chain restaurant.
(3)Elliott P.
My how this place has gone down hill! Pei Wei used to be a dependable, quick Asian food experience. After two recent visits, it is no longer that great. Note that my previous review was a 5. The other night I came by before class. There was no line and the place wasn't busy. 40% full maybe. The girl behind the counter had that "I don't really want to be working" attitude where I couldn't even get her to make small talk or smile. She just wanted to take my order and jump back on Facebook. I sat down and looked at my receipt. 6:03pm. I read a few blogs while I waited for the food. 6:10pm. Nothing. 6:23pm. Nothing. The people around me were looking pissed, as was I. Finally at 6:26pm I got my simple Thai Dynamite. If you ever sit at the bar there, each dish takes about 3 minutes to throw together on the wok, so that wait was really inexcusable considering how empty it was. For a $10 quick casual meal, you expect that it would be quick. I don't think I'll be coming back to Pei Wei. Noodles & Co will have to do when I'm looking for some fast casual.
(2)Jock M.
We go here when we want takeout Chinese food since it is near our house and the food is consistently good and reasonably priced. It is not a gourmet restaurant but for the price it is pretty good. We have eaten at the restaurant a couple of times. Decor is simple and clean. It is fairly noisy in the restaurant and the service is good not great. They have standard entrees which you then pick what meat to add to it and if you want white or brown rice. There are several noodle dishes like Dan Dan and Pad Thai. The Pad Thai is quite good for the price and being a chain restaurant. My daughter likes the Honey Seared entree and I have had and liked the Sesame, Caramel, Orange Peel and Kung Pao. There is now an option of a smaller size entree as well as their original size. It is not a Michelin star type restaurant but for consistent, good inexpensive Chinese and Thai food it is good.
(4)Angelina G.
I love this place I think is fresh and they serve you lots and lots of food. But why does it have to be so sticky!! The tables are sticky even the floor is sticky dirty. I would give this place 5 stars but the cleanliness part makes a big difference.
(4)Kim J.
Had lunch, crab wontons and spicy Thai lettuce wraps are good. They even adjusted the kids meal for my picky 9 year old!
(4)Natasha W.
Pei Wei is owned by P.F Changs, which is why the food is so similar. I always stick with the same thing when I order here, Ginger broccoli with beef, because it's soo good. But I do branch out with the apps. The Vietnamese Spring Rolls aren't anything to write home about, not much flavor going on there, just kind of spicy and greasy. Although the lettuce wraps are popular, I think they have an odd flavor. Not very enjoyable. I do, however, like the crab wontons. The prices are very reasonable, good portions,and the restaurant itself is very clean and has a nice atmosphere.
(4)Jen L.
It's Americanized Asian food. It tastes good, but not a good choice if you are looking for authentic Asian food. Reasonable prices and fast service makes this a good workday lunch.
(3)tania t.
Ugh. Overstuffed and oversalted. and that's just the food. The open kitchen atmosphere is translated to a loud dining room where you will constantly hear the clanging of metal on the grill and smoke billowing out. Add that to the family friendly atmosphere and you get an otherwise acceptable eating area with screaming babies to add to your headache. I hate how whenever I walk into any 'asian' restaurant in this area, all heads turn as if I've somehow authenticated the experience with my presence (being Chinese and all), since there are actually no other asians in the restaurant, and I just want to scream, No, I'm just here for the Americanized Chinese food!! I know what I'm getting into!!! Sigh...my personal annoyances aside, Pei Wei was a huge disappointment on a rainy night. I just wanted some warm clear broth with noodles and maybe some meat and veggies floating in it, but all Pei Wei could muster was a thick Hot and Sour Soup that was both bland and salty (sounds like an oxymoron, but it actually describes the soup to a T) , and Dan Dan Noodles, whose purported minced chicken was difficult to identify. It was inexpensive and quick, and basically I would describe it as Chinese take out, but dining in. For that, I would rather order in and enjoy the comforts of my noise-controlled home.
(1)Glenn M.
Perfect Pitstop for a Fast/Casual, Inexpensive Asian Meal Friend suggested this place after a we did some walking around te Guilford/Loyala area. Pretty good for what it is - inexpensive Asian meals delivered fast & casual with few frills. I tried the spicy chicken salad which I liked enough to order another for lunch the next day. Lettuce wraps also not bad, although I have to admit I like the lettuce wraps at CPK better. Wife works right in the neighborhood so will likely be "ordering" take-out in the future. :-)
(4)Winona M.
Pei Wei is down the street from us and we hadn't heard of it before until we moved here. We enjoy the food. It's tasty and fresh and reasonable priced. Portions are large so we always have left overs. The new basil dish is nice and spicy- I hate when chains dumb down the food. Another fave is the Vietnamese chicken spring rolls (?) with the peanut sauce. Pad thai is so-so- I think it depends on who's making it that night. If you're going to do a chain restaurant, you might as well choose this one. The price is right and the food's pretty good.
(4)Arthur R.
Knock off of PG Changs. Overall the better of the Chinese food in the area. Its fast, they server beer and wine and its a big place. Easy for take out. If you like PF Changs you will like this.
(4)Blair D.
Can't figure out what to do for dinner on a Sunday night and not in the mood to get going to eat out? Two words...Pei Wei. It's a delicious solution for eating in on a Sunday night and with their online ordering process your dinner is literally at your finger tips! The chicken lettuce wraps are my favorite go-to option and they also have a number of other Thai/Chinese/Japanese inspired dishes. Only comment to Pei Wei: can you get some deals started for your newly appointed foursquare Mayor?! Thanks for making a scrumptious meal at home on Sunday possible:)
(4)Jennifer C.
Food good... fresh and seems healthier than other traditional chinese carryouts!
(4)Kara M.
this place is PF Changs little cousin. I like the food and they can do amazing things with Tofu. I like my sauce a little thicker and they always made sure to get my order just right. this became one of my fav spots!
(4)Sabree S.
Quite frankly, I do like this a lot more than PF Chang's because its quicker, cheaper and faster. The food is also delicious and it's great for when I need a nice Asian flair.
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