This place is Americanized Chinese food, so don't walk in here expecting a gourmet authentic Chinese dinner. Pei Wei is owned by P.F. Changs, and I basically think of it as the Panera version of P.F. Changs. The food, its pretty decent and not bad for the price (ranging from 6-10 dollars). I have been a fan of their Thai Won Ton soup, which is basically wonton soup but with thai basil in it. But, when you're sick? It works well. It's actually the one thing on the menu that I get consistently, and is consistently good with some chili sauce. The spice level here- well I have to admit, I'm Indian and I don't find the spice level to be that spicy. Tonight I ordered the Sriracha chicken (I'm a huge fan of sriracha) and was warned by the staff that it was really spicy. It...was not. It had a nice mild burn to it, but not what I expect when I think Sriracha. The Pei Wei Spicy- which is good with chicken is NOT spicy. But its tasty and makes for a quick meal. I would come in here for a quick bite or an easy meal if I'm in Novi doing some shopping. But, I wouldn't make a special trip out to Novi just to have Pei Wei.
(3)
Jack M.
Catching up on my Yelping! Went to Pei Wei over the holidays coming back form 12 Oaks Mall. To me Pei Wei is what is is...good flavorful Asian themed food that covers all bases. I had had 3-4 different items there in the past year and liked them all. Right now the Caramel Chicken is my favorite. Do not be scared away..there is no caramel on the chicken..it is caramelized chicken and veggies in a wok. Very good. Their soup is good and the best egg rolls I ever had. Is is authentic? Not sure about that but it tasted good, had a fair price and we only waited a couple of minutes for our food. I compare to it Panera style of serving..walk in and order..pick it up and sit. No tipping is required here. Went to Pei Wei again last week and again came away enjoying my meal! Wanted to try a new dish buy again ordered the Caramel Chicken, and again loved it!
(4)
Marie B.
Update: things have gotten better overall. I haven't had any issues with my food in a while, and, when I did, they did remake it and fix the problem. It's good food and ok staff. Some staff is wonderful, and some are lazy AF.
(4)
Mike D.
We love the food at the Novi Pei Wei - but the service has really deteriorated. One of the entrees was cooked wrong and had to go back - one was correct - and the other took 45 minutes from order. And we weren't the only ones. Lots of upset looking people. It's too bad. It used to be so good.
(2)
Jeanette D.
I've heard from multiple people that this place is good, so my mom and I decided to check it out. It's owned by PF chang's. It's almost much cheaper than PF chang's. It reminds me of a Chinese noodles and company. It has a similar setup and dinning experience. My mom and I each got a wok, we both got an appetizer, and then an appetizer to share and the total was only 20 dollars! I thought it was a great deal. I tried the sesame flavoring in my wok and thought it was really good. They give you a lot of rice, so if you're not a big rice fan then I would ask for a substitute. Also, I would recommend adding vegetables to your dish. It's a dollar extra, but worth it in my opinion. It adds more variety of flavor and crunch to your wok. I also ordered the vegetable spring rolls. They were decent, not great, but not bad. My mom ordered the crab wontons and really liked them. I would definitely come back. The prices were great for good food with a nice, friendly environment.
(4)
Mark Z.
Great food as always. Ordered the Caramel Chicken and it was very good.
(4)
Scott J.
You enter and see digital menus on large lcd screens. They are easy to read but you are frequently distracted by bright flashes from intense fireballs coming from the open bar-style kitchen. After ordering food, you select a drink from the most technologically advanced machine I have ever touched. Their digital pop machine has many different flavors of chemically modified soda. The steak lo mein was very tasty but needed more steak... or less lo mein. The fortune cookies did not deliver. The soup was good but the spoon was most awesome.
(5)
Angela W.
good service, but the food is a little salty.
(3)
Amanda M.
My sister and I went here Sunday at 11:30 am. They had just opened at 11. We walk in, order and get drinks and silverware. I noticed the entire station was filthy! When I went to get water I could not push the water button on the screen because something was smeared all over it, so I whipped it off and sat down. I said to my sister this places seems really dirty for just opening. My sister gets her soup and mentions that it was cold. We didn't think too much about it then I said to her look at my fork it has food on it. THEN I look at my lettuce wraps after eating one and notice there are tiny green bugs all over them! I take it up to the counter and tell the waitress and she proceeds to get the manager. He kindly gave us our money back and asked if we wanted something different... I said no and we won't be back. The floor was dirty, all the screens for the menu were dirty and the doors had finger prints all over them...I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like! This place needs to be inspected.
(1)
Jon G.
Occasionally, I get the urge to dine like an Asian. When I do, I order chicken pad thai. The serving size is huge and disproportional to most people's bodies. Still, I enjoy eating my 2-3 meals per day at once, in the presence of chopsticks and fortune cookies. My meals have never been bad at Pei Wei but the fortune cookie fortunes have never been good. I don't even think they are fortunes half the time. Mostly just declarative sentences like. You possibly drove a black car here. or You may have just eaten cat pad thai. Anyway, if you go to Pei Wei, I suggest stopping at a real Chinese restaurant first to get a real fortune cookie. Then you can go to the restaurant and eat like a champion.
(4)
Tracey H.
Upmarket fast food at it's best!
(4)
Robyn T.
I gotta say that I've come around with Pei Wei. I didn't like it at first because of the name - Pei Wei. I don't know what it means but it doesn't roll off the tongue well. Then there's the whole 'little cousin to be PF Changs' thing. However, it only took eating there a couple of times for me to change. I usually go there for lunch since it's close to the office. I've tried the honey crusted chicken, some of their noodles choices, and the ginger chicken. All of which are extremely good. However, the big winners of the day are the hot and sour soup, the crab wontons, and the Japanese Teriyaki Rice bowl (w/ chicken, no onions, and extra sauce). Holy crap that's good! I don't like my hot and sour soup with a lot of stuff in it and they have a great tasting broth with just the egg. Their crab wontons are perfectly fried and crispy and the crab mix is a nice blend - not too crabby or creamy either way. The teriyaki bowl has the best sweet soy sauce mixed in with their steamed white rice, carrots, cabbage, scallions and sesame seeds. You can choose your meat but I've always stuck with the chicken. Being someone who is known for overkill, I'm now ordering this at least once a week. Am I getting asian food that makes me feel like I'm in the far east? Absolutely not. But it definitely makes my taste buds do the happy dance.
(4)
Jill Z.
This was my first visit to a Pei Wei and I was very pleased. I have given up on the sister company, PF Chang's, so I was a little hesitant to try this chain. I'm so glad I did! I arrived at 3:45 pm on a Tuesday and was greeted by several smiling employees. The music was a little loud but tolerable for 45 minutes (some hip hop, some rock, some pop songs). There were about 5 other customers present and already eating. Nobody looked unhappy with their food. The tables, soda/silverware area and floors were all very clean. I ordered off of the gluten free menu where there were several selections. I opted for the edamame and spicy chicken. Wow!! So good and so fresh! There was a good amount if carrots and sugar snap peas in the dish. The salt came on the side with the edamame which I liked. The meal only took about 10 minutes to arrive to the table. Fast when you are starving! Plus, the food quality, taste and portion size blew PF Chang's away... And for a fraction of the cost! I paid only $11.32! Great deal! I travel a lot for work so I will be back soon!
(5)
Alicia S.
Pei Wei, the millennial baby of Mr. & Mrs.P.F Chang's. You can definitely see traits of Pei Wei's parent restaurant, but like all children, Pei Wei has it's own character. Perhaps as a result of being a millennium child, this restaurant's style is "fast casual" experience. It is meant to deliver you satisfaction easier, faster, and in my opinion, with less human interaction... Order at the counter, sit where you'd like, your meal will be dropped off momentarily. Wham. Bam. Thank you ma'am. The menu displays an array of zingy options that all sound pretty darn good. Sticking to the term "fast casual", the actual taste and quality of the food is quite fitting, it's right in between fast food and upper scale restaurant. One of my go-to tests is "Can I actually chew the meat that's in this dish?". They passed. You're not going to find real quality raw sushi, traditional Chinese food, or hand and foot waiting service here, but for what it is, it holds the bar high. The staff has always been good to me. The cashier usually knows what's up, the food runners are fast and friendly, and they're on top of bussing the tables. Well played.
(4)
Jim G.
This is a fast food version of Asian cuisine. I wasn't particularly impressed. I had a 10% off discount for using my credit card, and that's why I decided to give them a try. I got the Pad Thai with shrimp, extra spicy. The portions were decent sized, but the food itself was rather forgettable. They did put fresh cilantro on it which was a nice touch. I paid $13 for my meal plus a drink. This place is not that close to my house, and I can get better food at a real Asian restaurant for about the same price. According to the sign on their door, they are associated somehow with PF Chang's. PF Chang's is a lot better, but also more expensive. I'm not likely to go back.
(2)
Billy J.
This would be 4 stars, but the wait time was a little long. It is busy during lunch, but there was a line to the door to order the food, and then it was a 10 mintue wait for the food. Of course the food was delicious, so they know what they are doing there. Next time I will order online so I can skip the line.
(3)
Stephen Y.
I used to like eating here before the menu change. Their Thai coconut curry was great. Now it is like a terrible version of Panda Express. Their Thai dynamite isn't spicy. It's sour.
(1)
Maya C.
Pleasantly surprised! I can certainly see the PF Changs connection and influence. Some very similar dishes with a quick food concept. I liked it. We had the Pei Wei spicy chicken, the Kung pao chicken, the Dan-dan noodles and the pad Thai. I also tried the mango crunch sushi. The sushi I would pass on next time, nothing special and it tastes like mediocre grocery store sushi. The noodle dishes are winners though! Lots of flavor and piping hot! The chicken dishes were also good, but had an exorbitant amount of sliced carrots. I would suggest a few different veggies to give the dish more depth. I really liked the green tea with citrus flavor and the sliced oranges to add to the beverages. Overall, a pleasant experience!! The service was efficient and the food was good.
I had dinner this night. I always prefer Thai and chinese but avoid sometimes if I am not familiar with that place. I wanted to try pei Wei. Ordering system reminded of another noodles based chain restaurant. I ordered spring rolls, hot & sour soup, pad Thai, Kung pao and pei Wei spicy, drinks and cookie. I was there with my family so only many items not for me alone. Everyone liked the rolls. Soup my wife or me both didn't liked it. Kung pao chicken was good. Pei wei spicy was with hot indicator but it wasn't really hot. Pad Thai- this is one of the items we order if we go to any Asian diners but I can say here it was a little above average. Soft baked cookie was good.
(3)
Karen W.
we ate here on Wednesday night, although the food was fantastic i was very aggravated with an incident that happened to my 16 month old grandson. The server brought our food to the table and placed a small dish of very hot teriyaki sauce right in front of the baby, before i could move it he had already dipped his fingers into it and started screaming. first of all who puts steaming hot sauce in front of a baby? i right away did the first thing that came to mind and put the baby's hand in my glass of cold soda then i went and brought it to the managers attention, he said yes he will talk to her and the staff so this doesn't happen again and he did say sorry however not once did he ask or come check the whole time we were there if the baby was ok. it was as if my talking to him was in vain. later i see the server and another server looking at us and pointing with smiles on their faces. the server never came over to apologize or ask if he was ok either. how rotten. poor in my book and you can bet i left her no tip. the baby burned 2 fingers and you can damn well bet if he has issues with those burns that pei wei will be getting the medical bills.
(2)
Eric R.
I ordered the Spicy chicken salad online at 1:20pm, promise time: 1:50. Waited until 1:55 for my order. Portion was very large so that's why I'm rating it 3 stars. No apology for waiting so long. Lots of choices here in Novi.
(3)
Brenna D.
Really, really good. I'd give it five stars but the Spicy Korean made both my boyfriend and I blow up our toilet! Not sure what it was, but damn. That and our food came out like, 10 minutes apart. The food is really good and pretty easy to order, and they have the Coca Cola Expressions machine! (Yay.) I also appreciate that they make quite the effort to offer gluten free menu items as most of my family members are gluten intolerant. It's a really great thing for them to do.
(4)
Todd T.
Complete sensory overload.The place is noisy, food is too sweet, sour, or salty. Food was edible but I brook my main rule about eating ethnic. If there are no people of that nationality there don't eat there. There were only a bunch of high school and college kids running the place. And there is something about a red floor that makes a restaurant look dirty. We will not be going back.
(2)
Megan K.
I went yesterday for lunch. I wasn't really impressed. It was busy as it was lunchtime but the staff was not friendly in the least. I ordered the spicy Korean chicken and a drink. Well, they didn't tell me the soda machine was out of order so I paid over $2 for a soda that I couldn't have. Kind of annoying. So I sit down and wait for my food. It arrived rather quickly and it looked good. The flavor was good but some of the vegetables were really undercooked. I mean, it was like biting into raw onions and mushrooms. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)
Chanelle K.
This place is cool to go for faster food. The food is good but sometimes hit or miss. The crab wontons are great!! They offer sushi which my husband and I ordered carry out online, when we got there they said most of the sushi we got was sold out but manager did a great job with other offerings. We got home and lettuce wraps came without lettuce and sushi looked old. This is usually not my experience which is why I say hit or miss.
(3)
Kelly B.
I too love P.F. Chang's. And the opportunity to grab and go basically the same food - fantastic! I placed and online order while running some errands, hot and sour soup and the Kung Pao chicken. It was ready when promised, and I appreciated the separate carry-out waiting area and register. It can be awkward waiting randomly by a bar for a carry-out. The soup was on par for P.F. Chang's, which made me very happy. The chicken was similar, but had additional veggies - not that it's bad - just different. I look forward to coming back for a sit-down experience!
(3)
Ryan B.
Tasty food. It just seems to weigh me down with all the sodium and oil. I like that you can add vegetable. I like that it is quicker than PF Chang's.
(4)
Kris C.
I had a 50 dollar PF Chang's gift card I decided to try out Pei Wei with. I ordered 4 entrees, pork egg rolls and hot and sour soup for take out. I had Steak Teriyaki with noodles , Mongolian beef with fried rice , chicken Thai Dynamite with fried rice and chicken Pad Thai. I arrived on time to pick up my order which took an additional 5 minutes on top of the half hour the online order told me it would be ready in, no biggie. I got home and realized they forgot my nine dollar order of Pad Thai. I called and the girl said oh yeah it's here, slightly annoyed. So I went back to up there to get my forgotten dish the girl hands it to me and doesn't say a word, no I'm sorry for the mistake, no nothing, now fully annoyed. Also she hands me the dish and then says do you want a bag for this, fully annoyed I say no and go on my way. Well finally home and ready to enjoy my dinner of 4 sampler entrees. I will start with the hot and sour soup, it was pretty good nothing to write home about but pretty good. Next was the Mongolian Beef, it looked excellent but tasted as if the chef didn't incorporate the thickening agent properly into the sauce. It had a corn starch grit to it on my tongue. The Steak Teriyaki was as good looking as the previous dish but again, it to left a grit on my tongue. The Dynamite Chicken was just so-so, again nothing to write to home about. All three of the sauces were similar in taste but different in description, strange! Last was the Pad Thai, sorry to say just average run of the mill. We have some pretty stiff competition for Thai food in Novi, I enjoyed the noodles with the Teriyaki but the fried rice was not very good. It was just rice in a brown kind of sauce, not really the type of fried rice I am used to. I liked the pork egg rolls as well, but my wife who is a self appointed egg roll connoisseur didn't like them one bit. I try to find something to salvage my experience but I don't think I can find one at this time from Pei Wei. I most likely wont be returning here for awhile, sorry. I really wanted to like this place!
(2)
Tom C.
Food is good but service is going down hill. 45 min+ to get your food, very sad. Seems to be an issue with managing the place since there are 5 people cooking and 4 people out front, pathetic. Don't come here if you are in a hurry for dinner. 2 stars because the food tastes good for a fast food Chinese joint.
(2)
Liz P.
Pretty good, I come here when they give BOGO coupons through their Facebook or emails. Went here today and got Mongolian beef and also tried their new Thai lettuce wraps ... The regular ones are better though, IMO - these are more spicy which I'm not a huge fan of. Love that there's unlimited fortune cookies too!
(4)
Misty W.
We had friends strongly encourage us to try Pei Wei. Since we have become disenchanted with PF Changs, we were skeptical but gave it a shot. My husband and daughter each had different styles of fried Rice and I had the Pad Thai. My one complaint was that we couldn't adjust the spice level on out dishes, it just was what it was...
(4)
Jeff L.
Not too much has changed.... The Staff just can't deal with the volume of customers...
(3)
Andy S.
You can't go wrong with Pei Wei. It has a nice range of Asian styles at a good price. The portions are plenty big and the ingredients are very fresh. Now you're not going to impress your foodie friends by taking them here, but if you need an Asian food fix Pei Wei is a great bet. The service at this location is consistently great. I always get a down-to-the-minute ETA on my carry out orders which I appreciate. Even when the place is packed the wait times are not that bad.
(4)
Katie Y.
We love coming here, but as of lately this place hasn't had that same feeling. Like all good things, there usually comes an end and this may be the beginning of it. The tables are no longer are set with plates and napkins and you have to get it yourself now. Napkins are no longer high quality, but feel like the cheap napkins they usefor ice cream cones. The floors used to be constantly swept but now their dirty. I'm sure these small changes are to save a dollar, but these small changes are effecting my decision to come back or try another place. The cuts are always small, but eventually show up in the food as well.
(2)
Andrew B.
We used to be regulars here. This place is different now. Service is slow for fast food Chinese. Food quality doesn't seem as fresh. Often times our food sits up on the counter for a while. One night we waited for over an hour for a kids meal. They actually argued with us about getting the order right and we had to pull out the receipt to get them to make the food right. We still enjoy the food, just not nearly as high on our list anymore. The anticipation of coming here usually results In a let down lately. Is it under new management??
(3)
Andrea J.
I am a fan of P.F. Changs, although I think they are overpriced. Pei Wei is a great place to grab some lunch or dinner at a reasonable cost. I particularly like the Schezuan Green Beans, and the Mongolian Beef. The portions are just right, whether you get the full or half portion. My only complaint, is sometimes the service can be slow, and NOT because the staff isn't working hard or as fast as they can. They need to adjust how many people take orders vs. how many people are doing the cooking. The staff is always very friendly and helpful and the quality of the food has been very consistent.
(4)
Shannon A.
Met a girlfriend for lunch here on Monday around 11:30. We seemed to be one of the first few customers of the day. I ordered Spring Rolls and Lettuce Wraps and she got Spring Rolls and Sushi. She ran to restroom while I found table and got supplies... I had been to a Pei Wei before so I knew to get my own condiments, napkins, fill my drink etc. this entire condiment station was dirty and sticky... The soy sauce and spicy sauce containers were sticky and unappealing. There were no napkins. My friend came to table complaining of no paper towel in restroom. Food arrived quickly and was hot and correct. Sushi didn't look great however i probably wouldn't order that here... Lettuce wraps were probably the best thing we had but they were very average. The overall lack of cleanliness and obvious neglect of stocking the necessities downgraded an average rating to a sub par one... Especially since we were among the first customers there... No cleanup the night before? Most likely my last visit.
(2)
Joseph C.
I love Pei Wei, and this is just as good as all the other Pei Weis.
(4)
Jinx N.
We went in tonite at 7 pm during busy time, the food came out in 5 minutes. Food was good and staff was friendly enough. My biggest complaint is the stupid touch screen soda machine like you see at noodles and five guys; makes getting a soft drink a slow process
(3)
R. L.
I went around 2pm and no one was there. Got a vegetarian wok and spring roll- loved it! I thought everything was crisp, fresh, and cooked with the right amount of sauce. I wish there was one of these in Lansing. I can see how it would be cramped during a busy rush time, but I don't have anything to complain about. Service was good/friendly. Flavor was yummy, definitely not bland. Great lunch option!
(4)
Angela S.
Carry out is always fast enough for me to get back to work in time! I have not had an opportunity to dine in, but I am a fan.
(4)
Krystal R.
My friend brought over carryout (4 different meals) and I thought it was pretty good. That being said, I don't know what the prices are and if it's posing as "authentic" (which personally is not very important to me---if food is good, that's all that matters.) The korean bbq chicken was particularly good. I will definitely go back and dine in next time. I heard it's basically the same as P.F. Chang's menu, but cheaper. Which is good, because really I feel like P.F. Chang's can only charge what they do b/c of their ambiance.
(4)
Barry B.
I have been frequenting Pei Wei in Novi since its opening. However, hadn't had a chance to visit for a while and just returned tonight. WOW, and not in a good way. The moment I entered it was glaringly obvious (by the new oversized fast food menu that I got to stand next to) that there had been some big changes. Gone are the attractive old menu's that enhanced rather than detracted from the decor. The staff that greeted you with pleasant, professional, and efficient service were replaced with a person interested in doing the minimum and didn;t know the menu; didn't want to help you, just wanted to put their time in and get out! The prices have increased significantly. For what we paid we could have visted a full service restaurant comparable to an Olive Garden. The Food is now served in cheap plastic bowls/plates, and you have to retrieve your own plates from a stack by the pop machine. Every one of our dinners came out at a different time. My wife received her meal as my daughter finished hers. And the service staff continually looked confused. The old Pei Wei has been replaced by an over priced cafeteria style restaurant. I won't be revisiting.
(2)
Joe M.
Quick, Fast very good food. This is a nice spot if you need to eat gluten free. I had the spicy chicken. Really nice. The others with me loved their meal. Love this place
(3)
Elaine B.
The food was good but the wait time was horrible! While waiting for my takeout two people wanted their money back and I saw a few people walk out due to wait times. Took one hour to get my food....not good.
(1)
Kendra L.
They automatically get 5 stars because their vegetarian options are clearly listed and the food is darn good! My three girls (8,7,4...I know, we didn't waste any time!) LOVE eating here. They always want the same thing: edamame, spring rolls, teriyaki tofu with white rice, and honey noodles. They totally pig out when we go here, I love it! They gladly try new things, like my Thai Dynamite, but like the regular things. I have had many items here and have not been disappointed by one. The cook time is really quick, the restaurant is always clean, and I can help myself to more pop...without having to track someone down. It's not fancy eatin', but reliable good food that is relatively healthy. Sold.
(5)
Jill H.
This a an okay place. It's always Super busy at lunch time and the staff does a good job of getting people in and out. They could be a little more friendly. The food is good but I have had better at other locations.
(3)
J H.
Not really happy with Pei Wei. I have regularly come to PeiWei but think I will find another alternative. Service is poor. Location is too small. Staff is not super nice. Came here 2 weeks ago with family and waited so long to get food at our table, we had to ask them to bag it up as we were going to miss my sons hockey game it took so long. Today same thing, long lines, general chaos, people looking at you to finish your meal so they can take one of the few spots. Service people not real nice. Stupid Coke Freestyle machine not working (again) for Caffeine Free Diet. They never informed me of this prior to my order and after staff tried in vain to fix it (going so far as to stick unwashed hands into the unit and come away covered in syrup where the cafe free diet supposed to go) I finally asked for a refund on the $2 drink when they walked away and were not going to offer me a refund. They said they would get the manager to fix it. Manager never showed - never was fixed. I chose this restaurant based partially on the fact I knew they should have caffeine free diet here (no such luck) this has happened to me before here. So I then waited in line for 10 minutes in a crowd and mass of confusion as the people at the register had to jump from register to register to give me a refund and made me wait (while my food got cold) because they had to kick someone off a register to find the right register. By this time I just wanted to leave. At least they replaced the terrible sticky dirty tables they had forever. Still a crazy mess for the price paid. I will not return.
(1)
eddie P.
some people like it, some don't. Lets put it in a way authenticity food bloggers don't get offended- it is.....what it is....... =) Sure, it isn't the by the book authentic, but it is alot better then small mom and pop wannabe chinese that is close to your plaza around your subdivision. Sometimes, I get off grid and eat here because, you just want that off taste. Even though is an illusion of what asian food suppose to taste like, but they do create some good food. Not everything needs to be uber authentic.. Think of it as asian food married a strong pallet western food, and they had kids.. but has more asian in them. hope that make sense. hehe
(3)
Richard K.
This place is a solid choice for asian cuisine in the area. Let me give u the scoop right quick...its owned by P.F. Changs. You either place your order and sit down and the food is brought to you. The other option is take-out, thats it. They have servers who serve your food, you get your drink re-fills on your own, hence there's really no need for a waitress or waiter. We ordered the honey chicken, beef lo-mein, something I cant spell or even remember the name and 4 crab wontons. Lets say this, the honey chicken was whats up, best dish of all of the above. What I enjoyed about this dish was there wasant alot of "gravy". Most cuisine like this is smothered in "gravy" and this was not at all, it was well done and tasted fresh. The beef lo-mein was good, to be honest everything was cooked really good and tasted outstanding, except.....the crab wontons were small, over cooked and I definately wont order those ever again, but they werent terrible, which is the only reason why this place only gets 4 stars. The staff here was very friendly and treated us like royalty, kudos and thanks! :) The portions were good and left us with left overs. Why isn't one of these in the Algonquin area yet...??? Pei Wei - Come to Algonquin, you are whats up!
(4)
Randy T.
My Pei Wei (Farmington Hills) closed a while ago, so it's been a while since I've been in one. Today was a great treat. The service was fast and friendly, the food was of good quality, and this location has an AMAZING SODA MACHINE!! Almost every flavor of soda that Coca-Cola makes, punch up your flavor and then add some flavoring to it if you want... fantastic! I'd like to go back just to buy a soda!
(4)
Richard W.
Very nice food and fast service. Only wish is that menu was bigger. Otherwise I have no complaints. I would highly recommend their shrimp and chicken especially sesame.
(4)
Bethany S.
I don't care that it's a chain... it's damn good. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles and added a little extra of the chili sauce and it hit the spot. The meal was well prepared, fresh and healthy. When I am looking for Panera Priced-Food, this is where I would go for healthy. It sat well in the stomach, does not have MSG and nothing was frozen or precooked. My new favorite in the Novi area.
(5)
Karen S.
We occasionally eat here if it's not too crowded. We like the vegetarian options, although I've had better tofu elsewhere. The prices are okay. The woman who manages the place is usually very friendly. I wish she could teach her staff, especially when ordering. If you don't know exactly what you want or have any questions, tough! With one or two exceptions, most of them are very rude.
(3)
Thomas B.
Fake Chinese food overpriced and overrated very salty food. My second time I thought the first time I was wrong but now I know this food is really bad.
(1)
Liz W.
I have to confess that I have long loved the uber overpriced PF Chang's. It is not authentic but it is tasty Americanized Chinese, sorry for offending the foodie snobs. I will go there but after feel quite nauseous at what I have spent. The story of my life, I love food but loathe paying too much for it. Happiness has arrived in Novi with Pei Wei. Owned by PF Chang's, it is a casual version a'la Qdoba or Noodles and Company. You place your order at the cash register and they bring it to your self selected table after you get your own drink, napkins and utensils. If you are me you also grab all the condiments to experiment with. The menu is not as extensive as Chang's but offers many of the favorites. The Minced Chicken in Cool Lettuce Wraps are identical to Chang's as is the Kung Pao Shrimp which is my husband's favorite Asian-ish dish of all time. You can get the excellent brown rice with it too as well as having a white rice option. The Crab Wontons are swimming in a tasty sauce yet stay crispy on the outside with a delicious creamy middle. I loved the giant bowl of moist Fried Rice with big slices of tender chicken and plenty of veggies, at only 6.75 it could easily feed two people if you got an appetizer too. I am normally not a fried rice fan either. The Thai Dynamite is an awesome choice with chicken (I opt for the non breaded stuff with all my dishes BTW, just ask them). The Pei Wei Spicy chicken was okay but did not live up to the spicy at all. The snap peas and carrot made me quite happy though, still crunchy and made just the way I like it. The Spring Rolls were fine but I would not get them again. They have two teas, a chai and a green tea with mandarin. I like a very icy green tea decorated with the available lemon and orange wedges. Refreshing and summery. A great stop if you are off in the Twelve Oaks mall area.
(3)
Lynne M.
Had the egg rolls and lettuce wraps. Both were served in a bed of oil. The tables also were tacky so probably hadn't had a good scrub in awhile. Really too bad because most restaurants on this chain are pretty good. Probably won't try again.
(2)
Jennifer B.
I agree with other most recent reviews. We used to come all the time. Hadn't come for about a month. The menu/price changes don't bother me near as much as how slow they've gotten! You used to get your food quickly. Mere minutes after you sat down. The last two times it's been a half an hour! What gives? Will keep trying for now, but I'm definitely disappointed.
(3)
Sartaj J.
I always go here after a massage at Massage Luxe. Food is always good. I've tried the Kung Pao Chicken/Steak, Coconut Chicken, Thai Basil Chicken, and Mongolian Beef and 95% of the time it was a great experience! Price is also reasonable- for less than $10 you are guaranteed to leave full.
(5)
Glen R.
Quick service at all times, even when busy. Low frills, no nonsense decent fresh tasting ameri-chinese food. Not very child friendly, with the limited menu choices, we end up feeding the kid orange slices from the drink station (for the tea). One big plus is the box of fortune cookies out to take as many as you please.
(4)
Shannon K.
I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. Much better than Chang's since they decided to change how they prepare half of their menu. I love the Chicken Teriaki bowl with brown rice. Very flavorful and what a great price! $7 and some change...you can't beat it!
(5)
sarah j.
If it's anywhere close to a meal time, this place seems to always be packed. We arrived at 5:45 last night, and the dining room was half full. Then by the time we sat down and got our first course (spring rolls), there was a line to the outside door. Five minutes later and all seats were full. Pretty much the same story when I've been for lunch. I've eaten at several Pei Wei's, but this location is the one I land at most often now. And quite honestly, I'm not sure why I keep going back. It's nothing about the particular location, it's the food. It's just ok. It's not great. It's not authentic. I don't find the flavors to be particularly interesting. I think every time the possibility to go there comes up, I have high hopes in my mind that this time I'll choose something that's better. Unfortunately that hasn't happened yet. Everything I try is just ok. One thing I do really like is the hot and sour soup. (Maybe I should just get one of those giant bowls as my meal!) I also really appreciate the veggies and tofu option, and that several of the dishes have vegetarian sauces. While I am by no means a strict vegetarian, I don't each much meat and mostly order veg entrees. Brown rice as a standard option is also a plus. I also like the iced tea options, and the take-as-many-as-you-want fortune cookies. That is why they have them open in a big basket, right? The recent "diner select" combo meals are nice too. You get a smaller portion of an entree and a choice of a side dish for $7-8. Last night we got the combos with soup, then the extra side of spring rolls, and that made a pretty filling meal. I have noticed a slight change in the process lately, where someone gives you a table number before you even order, and they go find a spot for you. I understand why this helps during busy times, but it does make you feel kind of rushed.
(3)
Luke R.
I have only visited Pei Wei twice so I don't know if I can consider my review very useful. Normally I like to visit a restaurant 3-4 times before I make up my mind about it. I was not impressed when I found out Pei Wei was owned by P.F.Changs. Yes Pei Wei is Fast Food. It reminds me of one of those joints you find at the local Mall. You will be hard pressed to find anyone Asian ethnicity who works there or eats there. The one near me, on Grand River Ave in Novi always seems busy when I drive by. The first time I ate there I was stuck waiting for my car to be serviced across the street so I had plenty of time to kill. I ordered some Japanese Noodle Bowl which seemed to be a decent price at the time. I was a little miffed at the way I was Rushed through the line like this was some Cafeteria line. The food however was pretty good. It was very busy. I started to chat with a lady who sat next to me and I asked her what she was eating and she told it me it was some Asian salad. I decided next time I would get that. The next visit, I tried one of their Asian Salads. It looked good but it wasn't all that wonderful. It did not have much oomph to it. I hate being forced to pile on soy sauce or salt/pepper to make food palatable. If the food doesnt taste good in the first place no amount of sauce will make it better. I don't have any plans to revisit on purpose. Only if I am stuck in the area again and have $10 to waste.
(2)
Robert G.
Prices go up while portions go down. It's the same thing that PfChangs did. I haven't been back to a PfChangs since they stopped the warrior card discount. I do however go to the Pei Wei in Novi, MI 1-2 per week and one of those times is meeting the wife. I know that you changed your menu. While I don't like it, it isn't a big deal. The issue that I now have is service and taste. I am truly hoping that this is just a localized thing at the Novi location because if it is a change in recipe and service, I will guarantee you that I will NEVER return. Yesterday (2/6/14), I went to order my usual. Pei Wei Spicy Chicken, Brown Rice, No Scallions and extra sauce on the side. This time I ordered one for dine in and one for togo. I was there at about 11:10 and besides 1 person waiting for takeout and 2 women who were already eating, I was the only other customer. The take out order arrived first after a reasonable 10 minutes. 5 minutes later, the dine in order arrived. It was Kung Pao chicken!! I looked inside the bag it too was Kung Pao chicken. I immediately walked up to the cashier station and spoke with the same woman that took the order and told her that I didn't order this. She looked me dead in the eye and said "what do you want me to do about it?" I was very surprised with the rude response and told her I wanted what I ordered. She looked at me cross-eyed and said for both? I said yes. I returned to my seat. 20 minutes later she came by and without saying anything took the 2 Kung Pao orders and walked away. Shortly after that my meals arrived. Both of them arrived without the side sauce that I ordered twice. This occasionally happens and arrives shortly after but this time it didn't. After it did not arrive, I walked up to the cashier and asked her for them. She told me to go ask the runner. I walked over there and stood there for several minutes before she had a chance to acknowledge my presence. I asked for the sauce and a few minutes later it arrived. All in all, it was 45-50 minutes from the time I arrived until the time my ordered meal was at my table. Finally, I was time to eat. The taste............HORRIBLE. I know and have experienced variations in levels of spice, but the taste has always been rather consistent until this time. It had a normal level of spice, but it tasted completely different. It wasn't anything like normal and I was very disappointed. I later had an upset stomach and besides the toast and banana I had in the morning, that was all that I had that day. Today I ate the togo meal for lunch and it too was awful and accompanied by the same upset stomach.
(1)
Rob F.
The previous review called this the Chipotle of Asian Food. Perfect description. However, unlike them, I guess, I see that as a good thing if you're looking for something more like fast food than "sit down" food. Pei Wei was everything my wife and I have wanted for years. Fast-Fresh Asian food made with high quality ingredients in a clean atmosphere. Sure, "high quality" is relative, but compared to most Asian food at this price, the quality shines. Great menu, great atmosphere. Don't think of it as "Restaurant" food or you'll be disappointed...think of it as Fast Food and you'll be ecstatic.
(4)
Peggy F.
FYI, they do now sell the frozen dishes! That, you can make at home. Advise on those is, DON'T DO IT!! Not yummy! Not even good!! Nasty and filled with, who has any idea what!! If you don't even have the time to get carry out, don't even bother with the frozen dinner's! You will not be happy with the end results!
(3)
Albert E.
Pros: nice decor mostly friendly staff. Cons: horrible food!!!! i am an asian food fanatic, often travel to major cities to eat good food. ordered a bunch of dishes: pad thai, friend rice, and 3 other entrees. all dishes were extremely salty!!! all you can taste is soy sauce. the concept here is a good one, fresh asian food made to order but you at least have to have competent cooks who knows what real pad thai or orange chicken should taste like or at least follow the recipes. the guy cooking was some young white guy who probably has no experience before this job cooking asian food. when you don't see an asian person cooking or there are no asians eating at this place, then the food is not good, nor authentic. food is crap here!!!!!!!
(1)
Russell A.
Awesome Asian Food. High Quality Ingrediants, Great Atmosphere. Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Pei Wei Spicy Chicken, Mongolian Beef. Those are my staples. But everything is high quality so you cant go wrong. Also this place is very clean and great service.
(5)
Robb T.
No one should go in expecting "authentic" anything. Talk to anyone who grew up in China or frequents Chinatown in New York, and you'll learn pretty quickly that dog tastes like beef, and eel tastes like... actually, I usually stop listening once I hear that my dog could double for steak. So, sure, you can say Pei Wei isn't authentic Chinese, and I don't believe they are trying to be anything more than a quality, Americanized version of a white Guy's take on "Asian fusion." Thank GOD. I'll take some spicy chicken and brown rice any day, authentic or not. The prices are fair and the service and food are usually pretty good. For $7, what more can you ask for?
(3)
Chelsea M.
Stopped in here by chance with my parents while we were checking out Novi. My parents are both HUGE fans of Noodles and Co and this place is vaguely similar. You wait in line to order, grab a number, take a table, enjoy your food, leave your dishes, and peace out. I think it's pretty cool that I could order the lettuce wraps they serve at P.F. Chang's and the various stir fries we order were really good. Overall we enjoyed our meal- tasty!
(4)
Greg M.
Best place for cheaper Chinese take out in Novi. If you want a better quality and are willing to pay an extra 10-20 dollars take the mile drive south on Novi road and go to China Cafe, it's a much better and more authentic Chinese cuisine.
(3)
Dae Y.
it was explained to me that it was a watered down, cheaper p.f. chang's. and it is. the pad thai was okay. the lettuce wraps were pretty much the same as i remember from a p.f. chang's. and the honey seared chicken was okay too. all self serve. great for families. no real complaints at all. it's a solid place to go to every once in a while.
(3)
Andrew C.
Great for vegetarians. Great tasting and not pricey. I am actually vegan and it's great to have a "fast food" place to go
(5)
Berl C.
I have one local to me and love it and so when I came across this one while traveling on business it seemed like a good choice. While not as good as the one back home it was OK.
(2)
Transvision Zack X.
Oh Lordy, I'm gonna lose so much indie cred with this review, ha ha. Alright, let's do this. Now I know that PF Chang's is the devil incarnate - I can't find a thing to like about the place, from the overpriced food to the Yuppie Scum crowd, besides the fact that I just intrinsically don't trust a Chinese restaurant run by gweilos. And yeah, I know that Pei Wei is just another chain - brought to us by the lovely folks behind PF Chang's... ...but let me tell you. When I go to Pei Wei and order the vegetable lo mein with tofu (don't add meat or you'll lose the flavor of the noodles) and a fountain drink cup that I fill to the brim with Mr. Pibb (Dr. Pepper's Evil Twin or friskier young brother, take your pick), oh man...I am in heaven. I love lo mein. Whether or not a Chinese place has good lo mein is a test of whether or not it's a good restaurant, in my book. I'm looking for something with the right mix of veggies and not too much sauce. Nothing's worse than lo mein that looks glazed in some indeterminate brown sauce. Now I'm not saying Pei Wei has the best but it definitely treats my tastes buds right. I'll admit that the rest of Pei Wei's menu looks like a cheaper version of PF Chang's menu. I notice a lot of breaded chicken chunks with various sauces. That's not my kind of thing. But if you're like me - and by that I mean trapped in the suburbs of Detroit and with no reliable noodle places in sight - Pei Wei definitely has a lo mein dish worth sampling. The atmosphere is sort of like an Asian take on Chipotle or Panera Bread, with minimal lighting. The place can get packed in the evening seeing as how it's Novi and all but the servers who work the floor have always been very friendly and quick to clear your table if necessary. Although the last time I was there I do remember that many of the carbonated beverages were out of syrup in both the soda fountains, which is a major buzzkill when you're looking for a caffeine fix. So yes, 4 stars to Pei Wei. I can't help myself. Then again, I'm a newb to Yelp. I look forward to diving in to other reviewers' recommendations and perhaps finding a new destination to lo mein. If that happens, I'm sure my visits to Pei Wei will diminish. Until that day, though, I must say that - chain or no chain - Pei Wei has served me well. And, hey, like I said, they carry Mr. Pibb in their soda fountain. That counts for something.
(4)
Chiwei L.
Arrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhh!!! Asian Diner??? Really? Sigh...... This is not asian. This is not Chinese, or Thai, or Japanese, or anything remotely close. This is water downed, commercial, charactures, that taste nothing like the dishes that their supposed to be.
(2)
Katie D.
Now let's be real ... there's nothing Chinese about crab rangoon or lettuce wraps. But this is not China. This is America and Michigan! Whenever I'm in the area (usually shopping at Nordy's), I make sure to stop by Pei Wei. One whiff of the restaurant and I'm immediately transcended back to warm and sunny California where Pei Weis are aplenty. Sigh! Ah, but seriously though, Pei Wei is quality American Chinese. I recommend the lettuce wraps and mongolian beef with your choice of rice. I've never been disappointed. Yes, Pei Wei is PF Chang's little sister aka Banana Republic :: Gap or Gap :: Old Navy. You'll see a lot of the same dishes i.e. lettuce wraps without Chang's ridiculous prices!
(4)
Allen P.
Chipotle of Asian food.
(3)
Sarah M. B.
Ok, this place is good, not great...it's a 'fast version' of PF Changs and owned by the same people....BUT PLEASE FELLOW YELPERS-TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO GET DECENT CHINESE IN THE METRO DETROIT AREA!!!! PF Changs is 100% overrated. Anyway, the menu is half the price and well, half the menu of PF Changs, but the food is just as good is at the real thing...seriously. It's usually super crowded when I go at lunch, but they get your food to you quick with no screw ups... First off cilantro does NOT belong in any Chinese dish, nor does a lot of it belong in ANY DISH....for sure NOT in a spicy chicken salad...I would LOVE to make it an FDA regulation to tell people if there is cilantro in a dish...it was not listed in this one and that totally blew. Veggie Lo Mein-my fav. Chinese dish is excellent here, you get that 'less greasy' feel to it as well... One thing that certainly IS NOT cool...I was looking up the nutrition facts online today before lunch...they give you all that, but it says next to the dish 'per serving' so...the million dollar questions How many effing servings are in a portion they give you??? Because there is NO way it's one with what it says on the nutritional list....I went with ginger broccoli with shrimp and no rice for 9.54-it was good but for almost 10 bucks I would have liked to see some bigger shrimp, ya know??? Good for a quick Chinese fix, but not for your "OMG this place has the best Chinese ever" place...
(3)
Kelley W.
As many of the other reviewers mention this is like the fast version of PF Chang's, they are owned by the same people and have a similar approach to recipes. The menu and price are much smaller than that of PF Chang's but offers a decent variety and tasty food. We went here on a Sunday for dinner on our way home from a road trip. It seems like it would be fairly busy around both lunch and dinner. The concept is you check out a menu where you first enter, you order at the register and are given a number that you stick in the chopstick holder stand thing so your food can be brought out to you. At the drink station there is also hot mustard and chili sauce. Part of what drew us to try this place was their gluten-free menu. It's not a large menu but has some nice offerings. I tried the the Pei Wei Spicy with chicken - which is very similar to Chang's Spicy Chicken at PF Chang's. It is a nice option for a breaded, Chinese-like food with carrots, scallions, and snap peas. I like to mix in some hot mustard (also gluten-free) and be sure to ask for the gluten-free soy sauce which is actually Sanj-J Tamari (very good). My husband had the Mandarin Kung Pao and also enjoyed it very much. This isn't my favorite Chinese place (neither is PF Chang's) but very few can do gluten-free so I'm grateful for their efforts. A great place to get a quick bite with a nice atmosphere! Although there is a "server" all he/she really does is bring you your food and cleans up your table. It's kind of a nice change from typical fast food.
(4)
Traci H.
I have been to Pei Wei several times, I really enjoy it. The place is always packed and often we have to wait for a seat. I love the spicy chicken and my boyfriend loves the sweet n' sour. We have also tried the chicken lettuce wraps for an appetizer and those are super delicious as well. My only complaint is that the food is overpriced for what you actually get.
(4)
Jenny J.
This is PF Changs at half the price. The food is just as good too. When you enter you go up to the hostess stand/register to place your order. They give you a number on a plastic disc and you grab a seat. The food is brought out to you and you leave your dishes when you're done. They have carryout boxes next to the soda fountain/pop dispenser for leftovers. We went at night and the lighting was dim, I guess they were trying to provide a romantic vibe? It was a good experience and we will go again. The food was served within 5 minutes. It seems like the place to go to if you want a quick bite to eat but still want to dine in. Something to remember: if a dish is spicy, you can ask for the mild version of it but not all can be made mild because of pre-made sauces they use. This is the only setback I can think of to the place.
(4)
Anurag B.
This is what I recommend to all those people wanna have some real good and cheap Thai, Chinese and Other Asian foods. Quick service, delicious food, cheapest price for this kind of restaurant. Recently I even did a Birthday party there. It was fun.
(4)
D J.
What do you get when you combine the efficiency of a Chipotle, a Corner Bakery"ish" tableside service and a healthier PF Chang"esque" menu, at the price of say a Panera...in Novi, that would be Pei Wei. The menu here is healthy- both the range and content. Your decision-making process starts from the time you scan the menu on the walls as you wait in line to the time you get to the counter and take one last look behind the cash register and commit! Three words caught my attention - Thai Blazing Noodles..they had me at Blazing and I was not disappointed. It was better than most gourmet Asian fare I've had recently. Pei Wei is a prime pick for some quick,reasonable, delicious Asian fare and I would love to go back and try more options here
(4)
Brooke B.
Worst Chinese food I have ever had! I love Crab Ragoons, but not from here! They were awful! Usually Ragoons are creamy and flavorful, all that was in these were dry tasting crab meat and I didn't even get the hint of cream cheese. Who knows if it was even in there. The taste was so bad. The Lettuce wraps were barely OK. Some of the lettuce had been frozen so it was wilted and slimy. I had to tip the box of chicken to drain a large amount of oil off. The Lo Mein was bad too. I could not believe the amount of oil that was used to cook the dish. There is no need to use that much. And bland, the dish had absolutely no flavor to it. It was like eating oily, wet noodles with bland, flavorless chicken. There is a reason the food is cheap. You get what you pay for. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
(1)
Danielle L.
my blood sugar was low and i'm trying to avoid wheat, so i stopped at pei wei for a rice bowl. the service was fine, nice girls working carry out. but the food, blech!!! i didn't know i had ordered charred tofu drenched in tongue stinging sauce. it was so intense and overwhelmed by sugary flavor - i took a couple bites, searching for pieces of broccoli or grains of rice left untouched by the brown ooze, but ultimately tossed it. i'm out $7 and i had to eat two oranges to get rid of that awful taste. i shoulda known better...
(2)
Stefan S.
When pei wei came to town I was quite excited to try a new asian restaurant near my home. First the parking. It was great mostly due to the fact that the other half of the building was an ice cream place and went out of buisness. That made parking a charm as there is now double the parking for pei wei. The food is good I personally like the honey seared chicken. A good tip thats not written on the menu is to ask for fried rice with your entree instead of ordering it as a dish. The atmosphere is a nice blend between a chinese restaurant (waving cat. Brick wall. Neon dragon.) and a diner (open kitchen. Some bar seats. Large overhanging clock.). The service is quick most times but be weary that if there are alot of people it may take a while to get your food (maybe 20 minutes tops) but this only happens a fraction of the time, the rest of the time its service is quick. The food is not expencive either. Take a friend out and the two of you can have dinner with leftovers for a little over $20! A great place to go for good priced, good tasting, and fast, asian inspired food. A+
(5)
Deep A.
Good food and doesn't hurt your pocket. The appetizers are average but their Spicy Korean and thai Dynamite are the best.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Quiet Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : 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.
Meeta B.
This place is Americanized Chinese food, so don't walk in here expecting a gourmet authentic Chinese dinner. Pei Wei is owned by P.F. Changs, and I basically think of it as the Panera version of P.F. Changs. The food, its pretty decent and not bad for the price (ranging from 6-10 dollars). I have been a fan of their Thai Won Ton soup, which is basically wonton soup but with thai basil in it. But, when you're sick? It works well. It's actually the one thing on the menu that I get consistently, and is consistently good with some chili sauce. The spice level here- well I have to admit, I'm Indian and I don't find the spice level to be that spicy. Tonight I ordered the Sriracha chicken (I'm a huge fan of sriracha) and was warned by the staff that it was really spicy. It...was not. It had a nice mild burn to it, but not what I expect when I think Sriracha. The Pei Wei Spicy- which is good with chicken is NOT spicy. But its tasty and makes for a quick meal. I would come in here for a quick bite or an easy meal if I'm in Novi doing some shopping. But, I wouldn't make a special trip out to Novi just to have Pei Wei.
(3)Jack M.
Catching up on my Yelping! Went to Pei Wei over the holidays coming back form 12 Oaks Mall. To me Pei Wei is what is is...good flavorful Asian themed food that covers all bases. I had had 3-4 different items there in the past year and liked them all. Right now the Caramel Chicken is my favorite. Do not be scared away..there is no caramel on the chicken..it is caramelized chicken and veggies in a wok. Very good. Their soup is good and the best egg rolls I ever had. Is is authentic? Not sure about that but it tasted good, had a fair price and we only waited a couple of minutes for our food. I compare to it Panera style of serving..walk in and order..pick it up and sit. No tipping is required here. Went to Pei Wei again last week and again came away enjoying my meal! Wanted to try a new dish buy again ordered the Caramel Chicken, and again loved it!
(4)Marie B.
Update: things have gotten better overall. I haven't had any issues with my food in a while, and, when I did, they did remake it and fix the problem. It's good food and ok staff. Some staff is wonderful, and some are lazy AF.
(4)Mike D.
We love the food at the Novi Pei Wei - but the service has really deteriorated. One of the entrees was cooked wrong and had to go back - one was correct - and the other took 45 minutes from order. And we weren't the only ones. Lots of upset looking people. It's too bad. It used to be so good.
(2)Jeanette D.
I've heard from multiple people that this place is good, so my mom and I decided to check it out. It's owned by PF chang's. It's almost much cheaper than PF chang's. It reminds me of a Chinese noodles and company. It has a similar setup and dinning experience. My mom and I each got a wok, we both got an appetizer, and then an appetizer to share and the total was only 20 dollars! I thought it was a great deal. I tried the sesame flavoring in my wok and thought it was really good. They give you a lot of rice, so if you're not a big rice fan then I would ask for a substitute. Also, I would recommend adding vegetables to your dish. It's a dollar extra, but worth it in my opinion. It adds more variety of flavor and crunch to your wok. I also ordered the vegetable spring rolls. They were decent, not great, but not bad. My mom ordered the crab wontons and really liked them. I would definitely come back. The prices were great for good food with a nice, friendly environment.
(4)Mark Z.
Great food as always. Ordered the Caramel Chicken and it was very good.
(4)Scott J.
You enter and see digital menus on large lcd screens. They are easy to read but you are frequently distracted by bright flashes from intense fireballs coming from the open bar-style kitchen. After ordering food, you select a drink from the most technologically advanced machine I have ever touched. Their digital pop machine has many different flavors of chemically modified soda. The steak lo mein was very tasty but needed more steak... or less lo mein. The fortune cookies did not deliver. The soup was good but the spoon was most awesome.
(5)Angela W.
good service, but the food is a little salty.
(3)Amanda M.
My sister and I went here Sunday at 11:30 am. They had just opened at 11. We walk in, order and get drinks and silverware. I noticed the entire station was filthy! When I went to get water I could not push the water button on the screen because something was smeared all over it, so I whipped it off and sat down. I said to my sister this places seems really dirty for just opening. My sister gets her soup and mentions that it was cold. We didn't think too much about it then I said to her look at my fork it has food on it. THEN I look at my lettuce wraps after eating one and notice there are tiny green bugs all over them! I take it up to the counter and tell the waitress and she proceeds to get the manager. He kindly gave us our money back and asked if we wanted something different... I said no and we won't be back. The floor was dirty, all the screens for the menu were dirty and the doors had finger prints all over them...I can only imagine what the kitchen looks like! This place needs to be inspected.
(1)Jon G.
Occasionally, I get the urge to dine like an Asian. When I do, I order chicken pad thai. The serving size is huge and disproportional to most people's bodies. Still, I enjoy eating my 2-3 meals per day at once, in the presence of chopsticks and fortune cookies. My meals have never been bad at Pei Wei but the fortune cookie fortunes have never been good. I don't even think they are fortunes half the time. Mostly just declarative sentences like. You possibly drove a black car here. or You may have just eaten cat pad thai. Anyway, if you go to Pei Wei, I suggest stopping at a real Chinese restaurant first to get a real fortune cookie. Then you can go to the restaurant and eat like a champion.
(4)Tracey H.
Upmarket fast food at it's best!
(4)Robyn T.
I gotta say that I've come around with Pei Wei. I didn't like it at first because of the name - Pei Wei. I don't know what it means but it doesn't roll off the tongue well. Then there's the whole 'little cousin to be PF Changs' thing. However, it only took eating there a couple of times for me to change. I usually go there for lunch since it's close to the office. I've tried the honey crusted chicken, some of their noodles choices, and the ginger chicken. All of which are extremely good. However, the big winners of the day are the hot and sour soup, the crab wontons, and the Japanese Teriyaki Rice bowl (w/ chicken, no onions, and extra sauce). Holy crap that's good! I don't like my hot and sour soup with a lot of stuff in it and they have a great tasting broth with just the egg. Their crab wontons are perfectly fried and crispy and the crab mix is a nice blend - not too crabby or creamy either way. The teriyaki bowl has the best sweet soy sauce mixed in with their steamed white rice, carrots, cabbage, scallions and sesame seeds. You can choose your meat but I've always stuck with the chicken. Being someone who is known for overkill, I'm now ordering this at least once a week. Am I getting asian food that makes me feel like I'm in the far east? Absolutely not. But it definitely makes my taste buds do the happy dance.
(4)Jill Z.
This was my first visit to a Pei Wei and I was very pleased. I have given up on the sister company, PF Chang's, so I was a little hesitant to try this chain. I'm so glad I did! I arrived at 3:45 pm on a Tuesday and was greeted by several smiling employees. The music was a little loud but tolerable for 45 minutes (some hip hop, some rock, some pop songs). There were about 5 other customers present and already eating. Nobody looked unhappy with their food. The tables, soda/silverware area and floors were all very clean. I ordered off of the gluten free menu where there were several selections. I opted for the edamame and spicy chicken. Wow!! So good and so fresh! There was a good amount if carrots and sugar snap peas in the dish. The salt came on the side with the edamame which I liked. The meal only took about 10 minutes to arrive to the table. Fast when you are starving! Plus, the food quality, taste and portion size blew PF Chang's away... And for a fraction of the cost! I paid only $11.32! Great deal! I travel a lot for work so I will be back soon!
(5)Alicia S.
Pei Wei, the millennial baby of Mr. & Mrs.P.F Chang's. You can definitely see traits of Pei Wei's parent restaurant, but like all children, Pei Wei has it's own character. Perhaps as a result of being a millennium child, this restaurant's style is "fast casual" experience. It is meant to deliver you satisfaction easier, faster, and in my opinion, with less human interaction... Order at the counter, sit where you'd like, your meal will be dropped off momentarily. Wham. Bam. Thank you ma'am. The menu displays an array of zingy options that all sound pretty darn good. Sticking to the term "fast casual", the actual taste and quality of the food is quite fitting, it's right in between fast food and upper scale restaurant. One of my go-to tests is "Can I actually chew the meat that's in this dish?". They passed. You're not going to find real quality raw sushi, traditional Chinese food, or hand and foot waiting service here, but for what it is, it holds the bar high. The staff has always been good to me. The cashier usually knows what's up, the food runners are fast and friendly, and they're on top of bussing the tables. Well played.
(4)Jim G.
This is a fast food version of Asian cuisine. I wasn't particularly impressed. I had a 10% off discount for using my credit card, and that's why I decided to give them a try. I got the Pad Thai with shrimp, extra spicy. The portions were decent sized, but the food itself was rather forgettable. They did put fresh cilantro on it which was a nice touch. I paid $13 for my meal plus a drink. This place is not that close to my house, and I can get better food at a real Asian restaurant for about the same price. According to the sign on their door, they are associated somehow with PF Chang's. PF Chang's is a lot better, but also more expensive. I'm not likely to go back.
(2)Billy J.
This would be 4 stars, but the wait time was a little long. It is busy during lunch, but there was a line to the door to order the food, and then it was a 10 mintue wait for the food. Of course the food was delicious, so they know what they are doing there. Next time I will order online so I can skip the line.
(3)Stephen Y.
I used to like eating here before the menu change. Their Thai coconut curry was great. Now it is like a terrible version of Panda Express. Their Thai dynamite isn't spicy. It's sour.
(1)Maya C.
Pleasantly surprised! I can certainly see the PF Changs connection and influence. Some very similar dishes with a quick food concept. I liked it. We had the Pei Wei spicy chicken, the Kung pao chicken, the Dan-dan noodles and the pad Thai. I also tried the mango crunch sushi. The sushi I would pass on next time, nothing special and it tastes like mediocre grocery store sushi. The noodle dishes are winners though! Lots of flavor and piping hot! The chicken dishes were also good, but had an exorbitant amount of sliced carrots. I would suggest a few different veggies to give the dish more depth. I really liked the green tea with citrus flavor and the sliced oranges to add to the beverages. Overall, a pleasant experience!! The service was efficient and the food was good.
(4)Alyson H.
I guess 11:30am on a Wednesday is a great time to come because there was no line to order and only a few people at booth eating. They changed their menu about 2 weeks ago apparently, so have fun trying to find what you "usually" order. I ordered chicken pad Thai and a drink, paid, walked over the drink station and they were out of cherry flavoring for my coke. Oh well, I'll just drink regular coke today. Sat down, and patiently waited for my meal. The music is REALLY LOUD! Am I at a club? A blues bar? No, wait, I'm at Pei Wei waiting for my lunch. My lunch arrived steaming hot. Ahh just what I remember. Downfall- round chopsticks. Ok, I'll eat with the gigantic spoon you gave me. And be taking some leftovers home to my fiancé.
(3)Vinoth K.
I had dinner this night. I always prefer Thai and chinese but avoid sometimes if I am not familiar with that place. I wanted to try pei Wei. Ordering system reminded of another noodles based chain restaurant. I ordered spring rolls, hot & sour soup, pad Thai, Kung pao and pei Wei spicy, drinks and cookie. I was there with my family so only many items not for me alone. Everyone liked the rolls. Soup my wife or me both didn't liked it. Kung pao chicken was good. Pei wei spicy was with hot indicator but it wasn't really hot. Pad Thai- this is one of the items we order if we go to any Asian diners but I can say here it was a little above average. Soft baked cookie was good.
(3)Karen W.
we ate here on Wednesday night, although the food was fantastic i was very aggravated with an incident that happened to my 16 month old grandson. The server brought our food to the table and placed a small dish of very hot teriyaki sauce right in front of the baby, before i could move it he had already dipped his fingers into it and started screaming. first of all who puts steaming hot sauce in front of a baby? i right away did the first thing that came to mind and put the baby's hand in my glass of cold soda then i went and brought it to the managers attention, he said yes he will talk to her and the staff so this doesn't happen again and he did say sorry however not once did he ask or come check the whole time we were there if the baby was ok. it was as if my talking to him was in vain. later i see the server and another server looking at us and pointing with smiles on their faces. the server never came over to apologize or ask if he was ok either. how rotten. poor in my book and you can bet i left her no tip. the baby burned 2 fingers and you can damn well bet if he has issues with those burns that pei wei will be getting the medical bills.
(2)Eric R.
I ordered the Spicy chicken salad online at 1:20pm, promise time: 1:50. Waited until 1:55 for my order. Portion was very large so that's why I'm rating it 3 stars. No apology for waiting so long. Lots of choices here in Novi.
(3)Brenna D.
Really, really good. I'd give it five stars but the Spicy Korean made both my boyfriend and I blow up our toilet! Not sure what it was, but damn. That and our food came out like, 10 minutes apart. The food is really good and pretty easy to order, and they have the Coca Cola Expressions machine! (Yay.) I also appreciate that they make quite the effort to offer gluten free menu items as most of my family members are gluten intolerant. It's a really great thing for them to do.
(4)Todd T.
Complete sensory overload.The place is noisy, food is too sweet, sour, or salty. Food was edible but I brook my main rule about eating ethnic. If there are no people of that nationality there don't eat there. There were only a bunch of high school and college kids running the place. And there is something about a red floor that makes a restaurant look dirty. We will not be going back.
(2)Megan K.
I went yesterday for lunch. I wasn't really impressed. It was busy as it was lunchtime but the staff was not friendly in the least. I ordered the spicy Korean chicken and a drink. Well, they didn't tell me the soda machine was out of order so I paid over $2 for a soda that I couldn't have. Kind of annoying. So I sit down and wait for my food. It arrived rather quickly and it looked good. The flavor was good but some of the vegetables were really undercooked. I mean, it was like biting into raw onions and mushrooms. I don't think I'll be back.
(2)Chanelle K.
This place is cool to go for faster food. The food is good but sometimes hit or miss. The crab wontons are great!! They offer sushi which my husband and I ordered carry out online, when we got there they said most of the sushi we got was sold out but manager did a great job with other offerings. We got home and lettuce wraps came without lettuce and sushi looked old. This is usually not my experience which is why I say hit or miss.
(3)Kelly B.
I too love P.F. Chang's. And the opportunity to grab and go basically the same food - fantastic! I placed and online order while running some errands, hot and sour soup and the Kung Pao chicken. It was ready when promised, and I appreciated the separate carry-out waiting area and register. It can be awkward waiting randomly by a bar for a carry-out. The soup was on par for P.F. Chang's, which made me very happy. The chicken was similar, but had additional veggies - not that it's bad - just different. I look forward to coming back for a sit-down experience!
(3)Ryan B.
Tasty food. It just seems to weigh me down with all the sodium and oil. I like that you can add vegetable. I like that it is quicker than PF Chang's.
(4)Kris C.
I had a 50 dollar PF Chang's gift card I decided to try out Pei Wei with. I ordered 4 entrees, pork egg rolls and hot and sour soup for take out. I had Steak Teriyaki with noodles , Mongolian beef with fried rice , chicken Thai Dynamite with fried rice and chicken Pad Thai. I arrived on time to pick up my order which took an additional 5 minutes on top of the half hour the online order told me it would be ready in, no biggie. I got home and realized they forgot my nine dollar order of Pad Thai. I called and the girl said oh yeah it's here, slightly annoyed. So I went back to up there to get my forgotten dish the girl hands it to me and doesn't say a word, no I'm sorry for the mistake, no nothing, now fully annoyed. Also she hands me the dish and then says do you want a bag for this, fully annoyed I say no and go on my way. Well finally home and ready to enjoy my dinner of 4 sampler entrees. I will start with the hot and sour soup, it was pretty good nothing to write home about but pretty good. Next was the Mongolian Beef, it looked excellent but tasted as if the chef didn't incorporate the thickening agent properly into the sauce. It had a corn starch grit to it on my tongue. The Steak Teriyaki was as good looking as the previous dish but again, it to left a grit on my tongue. The Dynamite Chicken was just so-so, again nothing to write to home about. All three of the sauces were similar in taste but different in description, strange! Last was the Pad Thai, sorry to say just average run of the mill. We have some pretty stiff competition for Thai food in Novi, I enjoyed the noodles with the Teriyaki but the fried rice was not very good. It was just rice in a brown kind of sauce, not really the type of fried rice I am used to. I liked the pork egg rolls as well, but my wife who is a self appointed egg roll connoisseur didn't like them one bit. I try to find something to salvage my experience but I don't think I can find one at this time from Pei Wei. I most likely wont be returning here for awhile, sorry. I really wanted to like this place!
(2)Tom C.
Food is good but service is going down hill. 45 min+ to get your food, very sad. Seems to be an issue with managing the place since there are 5 people cooking and 4 people out front, pathetic. Don't come here if you are in a hurry for dinner. 2 stars because the food tastes good for a fast food Chinese joint.
(2)Liz P.
Pretty good, I come here when they give BOGO coupons through their Facebook or emails. Went here today and got Mongolian beef and also tried their new Thai lettuce wraps ... The regular ones are better though, IMO - these are more spicy which I'm not a huge fan of. Love that there's unlimited fortune cookies too!
(4)Misty W.
We had friends strongly encourage us to try Pei Wei. Since we have become disenchanted with PF Changs, we were skeptical but gave it a shot. My husband and daughter each had different styles of fried Rice and I had the Pad Thai. My one complaint was that we couldn't adjust the spice level on out dishes, it just was what it was...
(4)Jeff L.
Not too much has changed.... The Staff just can't deal with the volume of customers...
(3)Andy S.
You can't go wrong with Pei Wei. It has a nice range of Asian styles at a good price. The portions are plenty big and the ingredients are very fresh. Now you're not going to impress your foodie friends by taking them here, but if you need an Asian food fix Pei Wei is a great bet. The service at this location is consistently great. I always get a down-to-the-minute ETA on my carry out orders which I appreciate. Even when the place is packed the wait times are not that bad.
(4)Katie Y.
We love coming here, but as of lately this place hasn't had that same feeling. Like all good things, there usually comes an end and this may be the beginning of it. The tables are no longer are set with plates and napkins and you have to get it yourself now. Napkins are no longer high quality, but feel like the cheap napkins they usefor ice cream cones. The floors used to be constantly swept but now their dirty. I'm sure these small changes are to save a dollar, but these small changes are effecting my decision to come back or try another place. The cuts are always small, but eventually show up in the food as well.
(2)Andrew B.
We used to be regulars here. This place is different now. Service is slow for fast food Chinese. Food quality doesn't seem as fresh. Often times our food sits up on the counter for a while. One night we waited for over an hour for a kids meal. They actually argued with us about getting the order right and we had to pull out the receipt to get them to make the food right. We still enjoy the food, just not nearly as high on our list anymore. The anticipation of coming here usually results In a let down lately. Is it under new management??
(3)Andrea J.
I am a fan of P.F. Changs, although I think they are overpriced. Pei Wei is a great place to grab some lunch or dinner at a reasonable cost. I particularly like the Schezuan Green Beans, and the Mongolian Beef. The portions are just right, whether you get the full or half portion. My only complaint, is sometimes the service can be slow, and NOT because the staff isn't working hard or as fast as they can. They need to adjust how many people take orders vs. how many people are doing the cooking. The staff is always very friendly and helpful and the quality of the food has been very consistent.
(4)Shannon A.
Met a girlfriend for lunch here on Monday around 11:30. We seemed to be one of the first few customers of the day. I ordered Spring Rolls and Lettuce Wraps and she got Spring Rolls and Sushi. She ran to restroom while I found table and got supplies... I had been to a Pei Wei before so I knew to get my own condiments, napkins, fill my drink etc. this entire condiment station was dirty and sticky... The soy sauce and spicy sauce containers were sticky and unappealing. There were no napkins. My friend came to table complaining of no paper towel in restroom. Food arrived quickly and was hot and correct. Sushi didn't look great however i probably wouldn't order that here... Lettuce wraps were probably the best thing we had but they were very average. The overall lack of cleanliness and obvious neglect of stocking the necessities downgraded an average rating to a sub par one... Especially since we were among the first customers there... No cleanup the night before? Most likely my last visit.
(2)Joseph C.
I love Pei Wei, and this is just as good as all the other Pei Weis.
(4)Jinx N.
We went in tonite at 7 pm during busy time, the food came out in 5 minutes. Food was good and staff was friendly enough. My biggest complaint is the stupid touch screen soda machine like you see at noodles and five guys; makes getting a soft drink a slow process
(3)R. L.
I went around 2pm and no one was there. Got a vegetarian wok and spring roll- loved it! I thought everything was crisp, fresh, and cooked with the right amount of sauce. I wish there was one of these in Lansing. I can see how it would be cramped during a busy rush time, but I don't have anything to complain about. Service was good/friendly. Flavor was yummy, definitely not bland. Great lunch option!
(4)Angela S.
Carry out is always fast enough for me to get back to work in time! I have not had an opportunity to dine in, but I am a fan.
(4)Krystal R.
My friend brought over carryout (4 different meals) and I thought it was pretty good. That being said, I don't know what the prices are and if it's posing as "authentic" (which personally is not very important to me---if food is good, that's all that matters.) The korean bbq chicken was particularly good. I will definitely go back and dine in next time. I heard it's basically the same as P.F. Chang's menu, but cheaper. Which is good, because really I feel like P.F. Chang's can only charge what they do b/c of their ambiance.
(4)Barry B.
I have been frequenting Pei Wei in Novi since its opening. However, hadn't had a chance to visit for a while and just returned tonight. WOW, and not in a good way. The moment I entered it was glaringly obvious (by the new oversized fast food menu that I got to stand next to) that there had been some big changes. Gone are the attractive old menu's that enhanced rather than detracted from the decor. The staff that greeted you with pleasant, professional, and efficient service were replaced with a person interested in doing the minimum and didn;t know the menu; didn't want to help you, just wanted to put their time in and get out! The prices have increased significantly. For what we paid we could have visted a full service restaurant comparable to an Olive Garden. The Food is now served in cheap plastic bowls/plates, and you have to retrieve your own plates from a stack by the pop machine. Every one of our dinners came out at a different time. My wife received her meal as my daughter finished hers. And the service staff continually looked confused. The old Pei Wei has been replaced by an over priced cafeteria style restaurant. I won't be revisiting.
(2)Joe M.
Quick, Fast very good food. This is a nice spot if you need to eat gluten free. I had the spicy chicken. Really nice. The others with me loved their meal. Love this place
(3)Elaine B.
The food was good but the wait time was horrible! While waiting for my takeout two people wanted their money back and I saw a few people walk out due to wait times. Took one hour to get my food....not good.
(1)Kendra L.
They automatically get 5 stars because their vegetarian options are clearly listed and the food is darn good! My three girls (8,7,4...I know, we didn't waste any time!) LOVE eating here. They always want the same thing: edamame, spring rolls, teriyaki tofu with white rice, and honey noodles. They totally pig out when we go here, I love it! They gladly try new things, like my Thai Dynamite, but like the regular things. I have had many items here and have not been disappointed by one. The cook time is really quick, the restaurant is always clean, and I can help myself to more pop...without having to track someone down. It's not fancy eatin', but reliable good food that is relatively healthy. Sold.
(5)Jill H.
This a an okay place. It's always Super busy at lunch time and the staff does a good job of getting people in and out. They could be a little more friendly. The food is good but I have had better at other locations.
(3)J H.
Not really happy with Pei Wei. I have regularly come to PeiWei but think I will find another alternative. Service is poor. Location is too small. Staff is not super nice. Came here 2 weeks ago with family and waited so long to get food at our table, we had to ask them to bag it up as we were going to miss my sons hockey game it took so long. Today same thing, long lines, general chaos, people looking at you to finish your meal so they can take one of the few spots. Service people not real nice. Stupid Coke Freestyle machine not working (again) for Caffeine Free Diet. They never informed me of this prior to my order and after staff tried in vain to fix it (going so far as to stick unwashed hands into the unit and come away covered in syrup where the cafe free diet supposed to go) I finally asked for a refund on the $2 drink when they walked away and were not going to offer me a refund. They said they would get the manager to fix it. Manager never showed - never was fixed. I chose this restaurant based partially on the fact I knew they should have caffeine free diet here (no such luck) this has happened to me before here. So I then waited in line for 10 minutes in a crowd and mass of confusion as the people at the register had to jump from register to register to give me a refund and made me wait (while my food got cold) because they had to kick someone off a register to find the right register. By this time I just wanted to leave. At least they replaced the terrible sticky dirty tables they had forever. Still a crazy mess for the price paid. I will not return.
(1)eddie P.
some people like it, some don't. Lets put it in a way authenticity food bloggers don't get offended- it is.....what it is....... =) Sure, it isn't the by the book authentic, but it is alot better then small mom and pop wannabe chinese that is close to your plaza around your subdivision. Sometimes, I get off grid and eat here because, you just want that off taste. Even though is an illusion of what asian food suppose to taste like, but they do create some good food. Not everything needs to be uber authentic.. Think of it as asian food married a strong pallet western food, and they had kids.. but has more asian in them. hope that make sense. hehe
(3)Richard K.
This place is a solid choice for asian cuisine in the area. Let me give u the scoop right quick...its owned by P.F. Changs. You either place your order and sit down and the food is brought to you. The other option is take-out, thats it. They have servers who serve your food, you get your drink re-fills on your own, hence there's really no need for a waitress or waiter. We ordered the honey chicken, beef lo-mein, something I cant spell or even remember the name and 4 crab wontons. Lets say this, the honey chicken was whats up, best dish of all of the above. What I enjoyed about this dish was there wasant alot of "gravy". Most cuisine like this is smothered in "gravy" and this was not at all, it was well done and tasted fresh. The beef lo-mein was good, to be honest everything was cooked really good and tasted outstanding, except.....the crab wontons were small, over cooked and I definately wont order those ever again, but they werent terrible, which is the only reason why this place only gets 4 stars. The staff here was very friendly and treated us like royalty, kudos and thanks! :) The portions were good and left us with left overs. Why isn't one of these in the Algonquin area yet...??? Pei Wei - Come to Algonquin, you are whats up!
(4)Randy T.
My Pei Wei (Farmington Hills) closed a while ago, so it's been a while since I've been in one. Today was a great treat. The service was fast and friendly, the food was of good quality, and this location has an AMAZING SODA MACHINE!! Almost every flavor of soda that Coca-Cola makes, punch up your flavor and then add some flavoring to it if you want... fantastic! I'd like to go back just to buy a soda!
(4)Richard W.
Very nice food and fast service. Only wish is that menu was bigger. Otherwise I have no complaints. I would highly recommend their shrimp and chicken especially sesame.
(4)Bethany S.
I don't care that it's a chain... it's damn good. I ordered the Dan Dan Noodles and added a little extra of the chili sauce and it hit the spot. The meal was well prepared, fresh and healthy. When I am looking for Panera Priced-Food, this is where I would go for healthy. It sat well in the stomach, does not have MSG and nothing was frozen or precooked. My new favorite in the Novi area.
(5)Karen S.
We occasionally eat here if it's not too crowded. We like the vegetarian options, although I've had better tofu elsewhere. The prices are okay. The woman who manages the place is usually very friendly. I wish she could teach her staff, especially when ordering. If you don't know exactly what you want or have any questions, tough! With one or two exceptions, most of them are very rude.
(3)Thomas B.
Fake Chinese food overpriced and overrated very salty food. My second time I thought the first time I was wrong but now I know this food is really bad.
(1)Liz W.
I have to confess that I have long loved the uber overpriced PF Chang's. It is not authentic but it is tasty Americanized Chinese, sorry for offending the foodie snobs. I will go there but after feel quite nauseous at what I have spent. The story of my life, I love food but loathe paying too much for it. Happiness has arrived in Novi with Pei Wei. Owned by PF Chang's, it is a casual version a'la Qdoba or Noodles and Company. You place your order at the cash register and they bring it to your self selected table after you get your own drink, napkins and utensils. If you are me you also grab all the condiments to experiment with. The menu is not as extensive as Chang's but offers many of the favorites. The Minced Chicken in Cool Lettuce Wraps are identical to Chang's as is the Kung Pao Shrimp which is my husband's favorite Asian-ish dish of all time. You can get the excellent brown rice with it too as well as having a white rice option. The Crab Wontons are swimming in a tasty sauce yet stay crispy on the outside with a delicious creamy middle. I loved the giant bowl of moist Fried Rice with big slices of tender chicken and plenty of veggies, at only 6.75 it could easily feed two people if you got an appetizer too. I am normally not a fried rice fan either. The Thai Dynamite is an awesome choice with chicken (I opt for the non breaded stuff with all my dishes BTW, just ask them). The Pei Wei Spicy chicken was okay but did not live up to the spicy at all. The snap peas and carrot made me quite happy though, still crunchy and made just the way I like it. The Spring Rolls were fine but I would not get them again. They have two teas, a chai and a green tea with mandarin. I like a very icy green tea decorated with the available lemon and orange wedges. Refreshing and summery. A great stop if you are off in the Twelve Oaks mall area.
(3)Lynne M.
Had the egg rolls and lettuce wraps. Both were served in a bed of oil. The tables also were tacky so probably hadn't had a good scrub in awhile. Really too bad because most restaurants on this chain are pretty good. Probably won't try again.
(2)Jennifer B.
I agree with other most recent reviews. We used to come all the time. Hadn't come for about a month. The menu/price changes don't bother me near as much as how slow they've gotten! You used to get your food quickly. Mere minutes after you sat down. The last two times it's been a half an hour! What gives? Will keep trying for now, but I'm definitely disappointed.
(3)Sartaj J.
I always go here after a massage at Massage Luxe. Food is always good. I've tried the Kung Pao Chicken/Steak, Coconut Chicken, Thai Basil Chicken, and Mongolian Beef and 95% of the time it was a great experience! Price is also reasonable- for less than $10 you are guaranteed to leave full.
(5)Glen R.
Quick service at all times, even when busy. Low frills, no nonsense decent fresh tasting ameri-chinese food. Not very child friendly, with the limited menu choices, we end up feeding the kid orange slices from the drink station (for the tea). One big plus is the box of fortune cookies out to take as many as you please.
(4)Shannon K.
I absolutely LOVE this restaurant. Much better than Chang's since they decided to change how they prepare half of their menu. I love the Chicken Teriaki bowl with brown rice. Very flavorful and what a great price! $7 and some change...you can't beat it!
(5)sarah j.
If it's anywhere close to a meal time, this place seems to always be packed. We arrived at 5:45 last night, and the dining room was half full. Then by the time we sat down and got our first course (spring rolls), there was a line to the outside door. Five minutes later and all seats were full. Pretty much the same story when I've been for lunch. I've eaten at several Pei Wei's, but this location is the one I land at most often now. And quite honestly, I'm not sure why I keep going back. It's nothing about the particular location, it's the food. It's just ok. It's not great. It's not authentic. I don't find the flavors to be particularly interesting. I think every time the possibility to go there comes up, I have high hopes in my mind that this time I'll choose something that's better. Unfortunately that hasn't happened yet. Everything I try is just ok. One thing I do really like is the hot and sour soup. (Maybe I should just get one of those giant bowls as my meal!) I also really appreciate the veggies and tofu option, and that several of the dishes have vegetarian sauces. While I am by no means a strict vegetarian, I don't each much meat and mostly order veg entrees. Brown rice as a standard option is also a plus. I also like the iced tea options, and the take-as-many-as-you-want fortune cookies. That is why they have them open in a big basket, right? The recent "diner select" combo meals are nice too. You get a smaller portion of an entree and a choice of a side dish for $7-8. Last night we got the combos with soup, then the extra side of spring rolls, and that made a pretty filling meal. I have noticed a slight change in the process lately, where someone gives you a table number before you even order, and they go find a spot for you. I understand why this helps during busy times, but it does make you feel kind of rushed.
(3)Luke R.
I have only visited Pei Wei twice so I don't know if I can consider my review very useful. Normally I like to visit a restaurant 3-4 times before I make up my mind about it. I was not impressed when I found out Pei Wei was owned by P.F.Changs. Yes Pei Wei is Fast Food. It reminds me of one of those joints you find at the local Mall. You will be hard pressed to find anyone Asian ethnicity who works there or eats there. The one near me, on Grand River Ave in Novi always seems busy when I drive by. The first time I ate there I was stuck waiting for my car to be serviced across the street so I had plenty of time to kill. I ordered some Japanese Noodle Bowl which seemed to be a decent price at the time. I was a little miffed at the way I was Rushed through the line like this was some Cafeteria line. The food however was pretty good. It was very busy. I started to chat with a lady who sat next to me and I asked her what she was eating and she told it me it was some Asian salad. I decided next time I would get that. The next visit, I tried one of their Asian Salads. It looked good but it wasn't all that wonderful. It did not have much oomph to it. I hate being forced to pile on soy sauce or salt/pepper to make food palatable. If the food doesnt taste good in the first place no amount of sauce will make it better. I don't have any plans to revisit on purpose. Only if I am stuck in the area again and have $10 to waste.
(2)Robert G.
Prices go up while portions go down. It's the same thing that PfChangs did. I haven't been back to a PfChangs since they stopped the warrior card discount. I do however go to the Pei Wei in Novi, MI 1-2 per week and one of those times is meeting the wife. I know that you changed your menu. While I don't like it, it isn't a big deal. The issue that I now have is service and taste. I am truly hoping that this is just a localized thing at the Novi location because if it is a change in recipe and service, I will guarantee you that I will NEVER return. Yesterday (2/6/14), I went to order my usual. Pei Wei Spicy Chicken, Brown Rice, No Scallions and extra sauce on the side. This time I ordered one for dine in and one for togo. I was there at about 11:10 and besides 1 person waiting for takeout and 2 women who were already eating, I was the only other customer. The take out order arrived first after a reasonable 10 minutes. 5 minutes later, the dine in order arrived. It was Kung Pao chicken!! I looked inside the bag it too was Kung Pao chicken. I immediately walked up to the cashier station and spoke with the same woman that took the order and told her that I didn't order this. She looked me dead in the eye and said "what do you want me to do about it?" I was very surprised with the rude response and told her I wanted what I ordered. She looked at me cross-eyed and said for both? I said yes. I returned to my seat. 20 minutes later she came by and without saying anything took the 2 Kung Pao orders and walked away. Shortly after that my meals arrived. Both of them arrived without the side sauce that I ordered twice. This occasionally happens and arrives shortly after but this time it didn't. After it did not arrive, I walked up to the cashier and asked her for them. She told me to go ask the runner. I walked over there and stood there for several minutes before she had a chance to acknowledge my presence. I asked for the sauce and a few minutes later it arrived. All in all, it was 45-50 minutes from the time I arrived until the time my ordered meal was at my table. Finally, I was time to eat. The taste............HORRIBLE. I know and have experienced variations in levels of spice, but the taste has always been rather consistent until this time. It had a normal level of spice, but it tasted completely different. It wasn't anything like normal and I was very disappointed. I later had an upset stomach and besides the toast and banana I had in the morning, that was all that I had that day. Today I ate the togo meal for lunch and it too was awful and accompanied by the same upset stomach.
(1)Rob F.
The previous review called this the Chipotle of Asian Food. Perfect description. However, unlike them, I guess, I see that as a good thing if you're looking for something more like fast food than "sit down" food. Pei Wei was everything my wife and I have wanted for years. Fast-Fresh Asian food made with high quality ingredients in a clean atmosphere. Sure, "high quality" is relative, but compared to most Asian food at this price, the quality shines. Great menu, great atmosphere. Don't think of it as "Restaurant" food or you'll be disappointed...think of it as Fast Food and you'll be ecstatic.
(4)Peggy F.
FYI, they do now sell the frozen dishes! That, you can make at home. Advise on those is, DON'T DO IT!! Not yummy! Not even good!! Nasty and filled with, who has any idea what!! If you don't even have the time to get carry out, don't even bother with the frozen dinner's! You will not be happy with the end results!
(3)Albert E.
Pros: nice decor mostly friendly staff. Cons: horrible food!!!! i am an asian food fanatic, often travel to major cities to eat good food. ordered a bunch of dishes: pad thai, friend rice, and 3 other entrees. all dishes were extremely salty!!! all you can taste is soy sauce. the concept here is a good one, fresh asian food made to order but you at least have to have competent cooks who knows what real pad thai or orange chicken should taste like or at least follow the recipes. the guy cooking was some young white guy who probably has no experience before this job cooking asian food. when you don't see an asian person cooking or there are no asians eating at this place, then the food is not good, nor authentic. food is crap here!!!!!!!
(1)Russell A.
Awesome Asian Food. High Quality Ingrediants, Great Atmosphere. Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Pei Wei Spicy Chicken, Mongolian Beef. Those are my staples. But everything is high quality so you cant go wrong. Also this place is very clean and great service.
(5)Robb T.
No one should go in expecting "authentic" anything. Talk to anyone who grew up in China or frequents Chinatown in New York, and you'll learn pretty quickly that dog tastes like beef, and eel tastes like... actually, I usually stop listening once I hear that my dog could double for steak. So, sure, you can say Pei Wei isn't authentic Chinese, and I don't believe they are trying to be anything more than a quality, Americanized version of a white Guy's take on "Asian fusion." Thank GOD. I'll take some spicy chicken and brown rice any day, authentic or not. The prices are fair and the service and food are usually pretty good. For $7, what more can you ask for?
(3)Chelsea M.
Stopped in here by chance with my parents while we were checking out Novi. My parents are both HUGE fans of Noodles and Co and this place is vaguely similar. You wait in line to order, grab a number, take a table, enjoy your food, leave your dishes, and peace out. I think it's pretty cool that I could order the lettuce wraps they serve at P.F. Chang's and the various stir fries we order were really good. Overall we enjoyed our meal- tasty!
(4)Greg M.
Best place for cheaper Chinese take out in Novi. If you want a better quality and are willing to pay an extra 10-20 dollars take the mile drive south on Novi road and go to China Cafe, it's a much better and more authentic Chinese cuisine.
(3)Dae Y.
it was explained to me that it was a watered down, cheaper p.f. chang's. and it is. the pad thai was okay. the lettuce wraps were pretty much the same as i remember from a p.f. chang's. and the honey seared chicken was okay too. all self serve. great for families. no real complaints at all. it's a solid place to go to every once in a while.
(3)Andrew C.
Great for vegetarians. Great tasting and not pricey. I am actually vegan and it's great to have a "fast food" place to go
(5)Berl C.
I have one local to me and love it and so when I came across this one while traveling on business it seemed like a good choice. While not as good as the one back home it was OK.
(2)Transvision Zack X.
Oh Lordy, I'm gonna lose so much indie cred with this review, ha ha. Alright, let's do this. Now I know that PF Chang's is the devil incarnate - I can't find a thing to like about the place, from the overpriced food to the Yuppie Scum crowd, besides the fact that I just intrinsically don't trust a Chinese restaurant run by gweilos. And yeah, I know that Pei Wei is just another chain - brought to us by the lovely folks behind PF Chang's... ...but let me tell you. When I go to Pei Wei and order the vegetable lo mein with tofu (don't add meat or you'll lose the flavor of the noodles) and a fountain drink cup that I fill to the brim with Mr. Pibb (Dr. Pepper's Evil Twin or friskier young brother, take your pick), oh man...I am in heaven. I love lo mein. Whether or not a Chinese place has good lo mein is a test of whether or not it's a good restaurant, in my book. I'm looking for something with the right mix of veggies and not too much sauce. Nothing's worse than lo mein that looks glazed in some indeterminate brown sauce. Now I'm not saying Pei Wei has the best but it definitely treats my tastes buds right. I'll admit that the rest of Pei Wei's menu looks like a cheaper version of PF Chang's menu. I notice a lot of breaded chicken chunks with various sauces. That's not my kind of thing. But if you're like me - and by that I mean trapped in the suburbs of Detroit and with no reliable noodle places in sight - Pei Wei definitely has a lo mein dish worth sampling. The atmosphere is sort of like an Asian take on Chipotle or Panera Bread, with minimal lighting. The place can get packed in the evening seeing as how it's Novi and all but the servers who work the floor have always been very friendly and quick to clear your table if necessary. Although the last time I was there I do remember that many of the carbonated beverages were out of syrup in both the soda fountains, which is a major buzzkill when you're looking for a caffeine fix. So yes, 4 stars to Pei Wei. I can't help myself. Then again, I'm a newb to Yelp. I look forward to diving in to other reviewers' recommendations and perhaps finding a new destination to lo mein. If that happens, I'm sure my visits to Pei Wei will diminish. Until that day, though, I must say that - chain or no chain - Pei Wei has served me well. And, hey, like I said, they carry Mr. Pibb in their soda fountain. That counts for something.
(4)Chiwei L.
Arrrrrrrrgggghhhhhhh!!! Asian Diner??? Really? Sigh...... This is not asian. This is not Chinese, or Thai, or Japanese, or anything remotely close. This is water downed, commercial, charactures, that taste nothing like the dishes that their supposed to be.
(2)Katie D.
Now let's be real ... there's nothing Chinese about crab rangoon or lettuce wraps. But this is not China. This is America and Michigan! Whenever I'm in the area (usually shopping at Nordy's), I make sure to stop by Pei Wei. One whiff of the restaurant and I'm immediately transcended back to warm and sunny California where Pei Weis are aplenty. Sigh! Ah, but seriously though, Pei Wei is quality American Chinese. I recommend the lettuce wraps and mongolian beef with your choice of rice. I've never been disappointed. Yes, Pei Wei is PF Chang's little sister aka Banana Republic :: Gap or Gap :: Old Navy. You'll see a lot of the same dishes i.e. lettuce wraps without Chang's ridiculous prices!
(4)Allen P.
Chipotle of Asian food.
(3)Sarah M. B.
Ok, this place is good, not great...it's a 'fast version' of PF Changs and owned by the same people....BUT PLEASE FELLOW YELPERS-TELL ME WHERE TO GO TO GET DECENT CHINESE IN THE METRO DETROIT AREA!!!! PF Changs is 100% overrated. Anyway, the menu is half the price and well, half the menu of PF Changs, but the food is just as good is at the real thing...seriously. It's usually super crowded when I go at lunch, but they get your food to you quick with no screw ups... First off cilantro does NOT belong in any Chinese dish, nor does a lot of it belong in ANY DISH....for sure NOT in a spicy chicken salad...I would LOVE to make it an FDA regulation to tell people if there is cilantro in a dish...it was not listed in this one and that totally blew. Veggie Lo Mein-my fav. Chinese dish is excellent here, you get that 'less greasy' feel to it as well... One thing that certainly IS NOT cool...I was looking up the nutrition facts online today before lunch...they give you all that, but it says next to the dish 'per serving' so...the million dollar questions How many effing servings are in a portion they give you??? Because there is NO way it's one with what it says on the nutritional list....I went with ginger broccoli with shrimp and no rice for 9.54-it was good but for almost 10 bucks I would have liked to see some bigger shrimp, ya know??? Good for a quick Chinese fix, but not for your "OMG this place has the best Chinese ever" place...
(3)Kelley W.
As many of the other reviewers mention this is like the fast version of PF Chang's, they are owned by the same people and have a similar approach to recipes. The menu and price are much smaller than that of PF Chang's but offers a decent variety and tasty food. We went here on a Sunday for dinner on our way home from a road trip. It seems like it would be fairly busy around both lunch and dinner. The concept is you check out a menu where you first enter, you order at the register and are given a number that you stick in the chopstick holder stand thing so your food can be brought out to you. At the drink station there is also hot mustard and chili sauce. Part of what drew us to try this place was their gluten-free menu. It's not a large menu but has some nice offerings. I tried the the Pei Wei Spicy with chicken - which is very similar to Chang's Spicy Chicken at PF Chang's. It is a nice option for a breaded, Chinese-like food with carrots, scallions, and snap peas. I like to mix in some hot mustard (also gluten-free) and be sure to ask for the gluten-free soy sauce which is actually Sanj-J Tamari (very good). My husband had the Mandarin Kung Pao and also enjoyed it very much. This isn't my favorite Chinese place (neither is PF Chang's) but very few can do gluten-free so I'm grateful for their efforts. A great place to get a quick bite with a nice atmosphere! Although there is a "server" all he/she really does is bring you your food and cleans up your table. It's kind of a nice change from typical fast food.
(4)Traci H.
I have been to Pei Wei several times, I really enjoy it. The place is always packed and often we have to wait for a seat. I love the spicy chicken and my boyfriend loves the sweet n' sour. We have also tried the chicken lettuce wraps for an appetizer and those are super delicious as well. My only complaint is that the food is overpriced for what you actually get.
(4)Jenny J.
This is PF Changs at half the price. The food is just as good too. When you enter you go up to the hostess stand/register to place your order. They give you a number on a plastic disc and you grab a seat. The food is brought out to you and you leave your dishes when you're done. They have carryout boxes next to the soda fountain/pop dispenser for leftovers. We went at night and the lighting was dim, I guess they were trying to provide a romantic vibe? It was a good experience and we will go again. The food was served within 5 minutes. It seems like the place to go to if you want a quick bite to eat but still want to dine in. Something to remember: if a dish is spicy, you can ask for the mild version of it but not all can be made mild because of pre-made sauces they use. This is the only setback I can think of to the place.
(4)Anurag B.
This is what I recommend to all those people wanna have some real good and cheap Thai, Chinese and Other Asian foods. Quick service, delicious food, cheapest price for this kind of restaurant. Recently I even did a Birthday party there. It was fun.
(4)D J.
What do you get when you combine the efficiency of a Chipotle, a Corner Bakery"ish" tableside service and a healthier PF Chang"esque" menu, at the price of say a Panera...in Novi, that would be Pei Wei. The menu here is healthy- both the range and content. Your decision-making process starts from the time you scan the menu on the walls as you wait in line to the time you get to the counter and take one last look behind the cash register and commit! Three words caught my attention - Thai Blazing Noodles..they had me at Blazing and I was not disappointed. It was better than most gourmet Asian fare I've had recently. Pei Wei is a prime pick for some quick,reasonable, delicious Asian fare and I would love to go back and try more options here
(4)Brooke B.
Worst Chinese food I have ever had! I love Crab Ragoons, but not from here! They were awful! Usually Ragoons are creamy and flavorful, all that was in these were dry tasting crab meat and I didn't even get the hint of cream cheese. Who knows if it was even in there. The taste was so bad. The Lettuce wraps were barely OK. Some of the lettuce had been frozen so it was wilted and slimy. I had to tip the box of chicken to drain a large amount of oil off. The Lo Mein was bad too. I could not believe the amount of oil that was used to cook the dish. There is no need to use that much. And bland, the dish had absolutely no flavor to it. It was like eating oily, wet noodles with bland, flavorless chicken. There is a reason the food is cheap. You get what you pay for. Horrible, horrible, horrible.
(1)Danielle L.
my blood sugar was low and i'm trying to avoid wheat, so i stopped at pei wei for a rice bowl. the service was fine, nice girls working carry out. but the food, blech!!! i didn't know i had ordered charred tofu drenched in tongue stinging sauce. it was so intense and overwhelmed by sugary flavor - i took a couple bites, searching for pieces of broccoli or grains of rice left untouched by the brown ooze, but ultimately tossed it. i'm out $7 and i had to eat two oranges to get rid of that awful taste. i shoulda known better...
(2)Stefan S.
When pei wei came to town I was quite excited to try a new asian restaurant near my home. First the parking. It was great mostly due to the fact that the other half of the building was an ice cream place and went out of buisness. That made parking a charm as there is now double the parking for pei wei. The food is good I personally like the honey seared chicken. A good tip thats not written on the menu is to ask for fried rice with your entree instead of ordering it as a dish. The atmosphere is a nice blend between a chinese restaurant (waving cat. Brick wall. Neon dragon.) and a diner (open kitchen. Some bar seats. Large overhanging clock.). The service is quick most times but be weary that if there are alot of people it may take a while to get your food (maybe 20 minutes tops) but this only happens a fraction of the time, the rest of the time its service is quick. The food is not expencive either. Take a friend out and the two of you can have dinner with leftovers for a little over $20! A great place to go for good priced, good tasting, and fast, asian inspired food. A+
(5)Deep A.
Good food and doesn't hurt your pocket. The appetizers are average but their Spicy Korean and thai Dynamite are the best.
(5)