High quality fresh tasting asian cuisine including: Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Thai choices. A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it if you consider the portion size. Great tasting brewed Green Tea with a hint of Mandarin Orange. Open kitchen layout, so it's a bit noisy during the lunch rush. Small dining area is also a bit cramped if too many people have the same idea when they're hungry. Blazing Noodles and Pad Thai are my favorite dishes. You can alway add more red chili sauce if you need more heat from the food. Highly recommended!
(4)
Erica B.
I fell in love with Pei Wei when we first met it in Phoenix, Arizona. He offered me some of the best chain restaurant beef pad thai I have ever tasted. The tofu hunks were huge and meaty. The beef was tender and juicy, sticky with tasty pad thai seasonings and the noodles were wide, flat and perfect for sucking through your closed, hungry lips. The best part were the toasty peanut nuggets that my beloved Pei Wei would crumble on top, complete with a couple of warm lime wedges to squeeze over top. My mouth is watering. Even better is the overflowing, bottomless bowl of fortune cookies that Pei Wei would allow me to help myself to. He was such a kind restaurant! When I left AZ, I never thought I would see my beloved Pei Wei again- *single tear*- I would miss him so! But wait! Is that a Pei Wei I spy over on Union Ave in my new home town of Memphis?! Why YES! Yes it is! Oh Pei Wei! I missed you so. Bring on the beef pad thai! I love this new location of my old Pei Wei. They are super speedy, super friendly and very clean! My pad thai comes out to me piping hot, and that bottomless bowl of fortune cookies is always stocked. Yay Pei Wei!
(4)
Andy M.
The only thing good was the diet coke. Buying our food in the frozen section of the supermarket would have been better. It was just a hodge podge of flavors. Asian food should have a bouquet of layered flavors that release themselves to your senses. This place was an assault at the calibre of fast food, but without the fast food prices. BTW, I should mention that I felt like the Michelin Man the next morning from so much sodium in the food. Yuck. We're not going back! Memphis sucks.
(1)
J B.
Nice looking place, but did someone Asian taste the food? The lettuce wraps were good but the hot and sour was a dark brown cauldron of flavorless sludge. The pad Thai was bland without the zeal of peanut flavor. A good concept with nice modern decorum but needs someone actually Asian to taste the food and provide insight.
(1)
Allyn B.
Great food and less expensive than PF Changs. Great lunch spot
(4)
N. P.
I want to like Pei Wei more than I do. There's something about it being over-hyped for what it is. I ordered Pei Wei spicy once with chicken and once with shrimp. It's pretty basic food and I expect a little more flavor/flair to the meal for the cost. The meat/fish was slightly lacking in quality. I can find more authentic Asian flavor at my local take-out place. I will write that the interior and the marketing strategy for Pei Wei is good. It's a very nice environment with great colors, great smells, and printed material. However, the end result is pretty basic Chinese food. Bonus points for having gluten-free options readily available. I will go back to try those.
(3)
Gary J.
Pretty much same as the one on North Germantown Parkway: Inexpensive Asian cuisine. The food is good, the atmosphere is comfortable. Great for a quick lunch of dinner meal that is inexpensive. Pei Wei Spicy, Thai Dynamite, and Spicey Korean are my favorites so far.
(4)
Sheila C.
My husband and I just moved from New York City about 3 months ago and pretty much can say, have good palette (havind dined at Le Bernardin, SHO, Boulud's restaurants and so on) but at the same time, have a very diverse and adventurous taste with food. Anyways, everytime we pass this place at Union Avenue, I always wondered if how the food would be like, since it's design is kinda inviting. So today, we finally decided to give it a shot. As soon as we entered the place, nobody really greeted us eventhough servers were like 5 feet away from us. So we finally figured out that we got to order (like in fast food places) which was not really a big deal. Just looking at the menu, we knew we are in for a bad start. Menu is mixed of vietnamese, japanese, korean, thai and i forgot what was the last one. Usually, restaurants with a fusion of so many cuisines are in for a big disaster. Being a great fan of pad thai, i decided to order one with shrimp and my husband ordered some spicy korean with chicken. After ordering, we went to our sits and waited for our order. After few minutes, my husband's spicy chicken came. Well, serving was pretty big (i think this is the norm here in Memphis) and been showered with tons of sesame seeds. When i tasted it, i knew that this is just another mediocre food. But i didn't pay too much attention since I was waiting for my pad thai. So my waitress came with a bowl of pad thai. with steak. and i ordered shrimp. Anyways, just by the look of it, this bowl of noodles is almost swimiming with grease but with a lots of meat. and so i thought. i had some steak and also some fried tofu, that it was burned to perfection, that it finally looked like steak and even harder than steak. Anyways, over all, our experience with this restaurant is another disappointment. Maybe other people like this kind of food, but definitely not for us. Price is really cheap but not worth the calories.
(1)
A L.
@Elio R. - too funny. We do exactly the same thing!!! Apparently when the restaurant first opened they cleaned the tables with cleaning solution that stripped the varnish and made it all sticky. You would have thought they would have fixed it in over 7 mo
(3)
Jacqui G.
Always good food here I love all the yummy bowls and especially the edamame Really Awesome service too !! can't go wrong with chicken teriyaki bowls-- I frequently visit Pei Wei
(5)
Justin S.
This place is a hit or miss kinda place. Sometimes it's good but sometimes it's not. Like today, the food was crap. I should learn to avoid this place but I won't.
(3)
Ramona P.
I was leaving from Massage Envy, and decided to try Pei Wei. I have had it before, but from a different location. It wasn't too clean....the floors and tables were nasty. There wasn't too many people there, therefore you would think the page would be clean. I decided to go with the teriyaki chicken with lettuce wraps. It was good, but I was starving as well. The food is made when ordered, so that's one thing that I really like about this place. If you are in a hurry I wouldn't recommend, because they are pretty slow. The staff was very nice.
(3)
Elio R.
New Tables....CONGRATULATIONS!!! Now i'll be back more often. Food as good as allways!!!
(5)
Elle S.
This place is ok and over priced. It's basically P.F Chang's, but cheaper. Whenever I eat here, I think "I could have gone to a "usual" Chinese restaurant and payed less for more food, and sometimes better. I think people come here, cause it's not a typical Chinese place so maybe they don't feel as guilty about the calories? hahaha I dunno, but I don't love this place, but still end up here.
(3)
Dave L.
Go Local With so many great locally owned, authentic Asian restaurants within a few blocks, why settle for flavor-challenged noodle and rice dishes that could have been made in a factory?
(2)
Misty R.
If you want quality Asian food fast without a buffet atmosphere, this is the place to go. If you like PF Changs, you will be a fan of Pei Wei- same food, smaller amounts at a lower price point. My favorite is the Shrimp Kung Pao and Spicy Chicken Salad. I have never had a bad experience here and like the atmosphere.
(4)
Gen M.
Years ago one of the first Pei Wei opened in south Florida (PF Chang's is its parent company, and Pei Wei was opened as a quicker and more casual alternative to PF Chang's), and my then brother's girlfriend wouldn't shut up about it. One day I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about, ordered my standard chicken and broccoli in a brown sauce to compare to other places, and the first thing out of my mouth was "Well, I know for fact that I'm eating chicken!!" So, even though it was nothing spectacular, it turned into my go-to for Americanized-Chinese fare. Decided I wanted some Chinese last night but wasn't in the mood to try out a new place (just not feeling adventuresome in my new city yet) so opted for something that I thought I knew. The menu was completely different... more Thai style, where you pick your protein, then your sauce/veggie combination, which I like. Went for the shrimp and ginger broccoli, since ginger sauce is typically my fave, and some spring rolls, to go. Made it home, munched on the spring rolls, which weren't that bad since they had a bunch of ginger in them. Then made the mistake of opening my main... My first issue was that I ordered an original size hoping to have some left-overs, but the portion was ridiculously small (literally half of the container, with the rice included). There were a bunch of tiny little one-bite shrimp and maybe five teeny tiny pieces of broccoli swimming in what was the second issue... The sauce. The sauce, which on the menu is described as a sweet soy base with ginger, was not at all the sweet soy that I use quite often nor even close to slightly resembling the ginger sauces I've had so many times at various other restaurants. It was chemically and artificial and candy-like. Not what I was expecting, definitely not what I wanted, and the only proper descriptive was "gross". This was made even worse by the fact that I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth for nearly two hours, even after brushing my teeth a few times. The only thing that was palatable was the fried rice... at least the part that managed to not get this sauce on it. The customer service at the take-out stand wasn't bad. Guy was friendly enough, maybe said his version of my name a few too many times.
(1)
Don B.
Not bad at all. The portions are typically pretty big and the prices on the new menu are very reasonable. The chicken fried rice is delicious. My friends and I enjoy going there for lunch from time to time to get out of downtown. I recommend.
(3)
Shu J.
Went here with my SO a few months back; just got reminded to review this one! We dined in. The sauces used were oh-so-sweet that it was almost like having dessert. I was digging around in my veggies with a fork, and then I noticed the stickers on the vegetables had been left on! I asked the staff about this, and his reaction was "oops, sorry about that". There was no offer to remake my food or to give a refund. If there are stickers left on the veggies, how does one know if they are washing their produce at all? I've avoided the place ever since.
(1)
Phoebe D.
Had a fortune cookie here was v disappointed with my lucky numbers. The lucky numbers assigned to me were 4, 9, 25, 26, 32 and 41 and let me tell you I could use some luck around here and these numbers will NOT help out. Also confused by a symbol on the back for the word "eye" because how does that help me at all. 2/10 would not fortune cookie again
(1)
Michelle M.
I've been to Pei Wei several times and absolutely love the fold. I've been to several different locations, but a lot of this review is specific to the Union Avenue location. Its considered Asian Fusion and I've tried several menu items but always gravitate to the Honey Seared Chicken with brown rice. LOVE it! They do serve a generous portion, so I was always able to take leftovers home. However, when they introduced their Create Your Own Combo, with several meat choices (honey seared being one), rice AND your choice of side I was overjoyed. It was slightly cheaper, a smaller portion of meat, and an additional side. Its great! Now, onto why they lost two stars. One is because they took so long with my order. Now, first off I'd like to state that I understand that it's not a fast food restuarant and it takes time to get an order. But I visited there at 8:30 on a weeknight and had to wait like it was high noon. Not cool. Another reason they lose a star is because everytime I go in there, the tables are sticky. Really sticky. Almost so much that I hate to touch them. Like I said, these two problems are specific to the Union location. But it Is the location I frequent most.
(3)
Karen L.
Pei Wei just doesn't do it for me. Generally speaking, I like Americanized ethnic food (apparently I just have no sense of adventure), but this takes it too far. The food just isn't that great, the service is mediocre (gee, we must be in Midtown), and it's overpriced for what it is. The atmosphere is also a little weird -- I could live with overdone, stylized Asian crap, but the place is just so dark! I feel like I'm in some kind of pseudo "romantic" place, not a fast casual joint. If I practically need a flashlight to find the ladies room, that's too dark. I can't remember the last time I ate here, and I definitely won't ever come back.
(2)
Kat K.
Never have had bad food from here. I love eating here. You can order the regular size and it is enough for 2.
(5)
Shuman M.
This is one of those places you just love to go but cannot explain why, almost like a guilty pleasure...I was very sad when they moved from the Mendenhall location...love the DanDan noodles...if you like spicy food but you are not too adventurous then this is a good place for you...considering the fact that it is pretty inexpensive....can have a good dinner/lunch for two without drinks for less than 25 USD.
(4)
Scott L.
We ordered in for lunch for our staff at the office. My first experience, but it came highly recommended by the group. I am doing the gluten free thing and they had LOTS of GF options! YAY! I ordered the Veggie Spring Rolls and the Wonton Soup. HUGE portions of both came with my order. However, the Spring Rolls needed a "sauce" of some kind and all they sent were the take-out packets of Soy Sauce. Wanton Soup was still very hot and had a great "homemade taste" to the broth, and filled with plenty of the flavor packed dumplings. I did not taste any of the other lunches, but everyone seemed happy. Some comments about fried rice being a little dry and some of the dishes were "over sauced" with sweet. We will try it again soon.
(3)
Olivia F.
I needed to eat before an evening appointment, saw PW and thought "what-the-h...". As I was turning to park in a side slot this SUV comes whooshing by, crossing past my front fender and rocks to halt. The entire time this female is yapping on the phone. Yikes. Somewhat jarred by the action I walk into this place. Imagine my surprise when the person at the counter is yappy-cell-phone-girl. That set the mood for the rest of my meal. I've never been here, I don't know what to order so give me a bloody minute to look at the menu. Better yet, ask me if I'd like some recommendations. Nope. Get impatient waiting for me to scan the menu & move to someone else - then get impatient with her, too as she is also a new customer. Next person at the counter asked me what I liked & how I liked it. Discussed spice vs flavor and all that. Pleasant. To the food: I agree w/ Nancy K all the way. If I could have deleted my experiences from the car park up to the second counter person the review would have been 4 stars. In conclusion I have 1 thing to add: Stress is contagious. Get a Blue-tooth and get to yourself together so you don't have to rush,rush,rush to work.
(2)
Nancy K.
I am strangely attached to what I call "fake asian" food places (think of places like Panda express or your typical asian delivery place around the corner). I don't mean fake in a derogatory manner - it's just that most of these restaurant serve dishes in a way you would never typically see in an Asian household. Pei Wei is my favorite "fake asian" food place in Memphis and I live way too close to this place for my own good. My favorite dish is the caramel chicken and I always ask for it stock velveted (which means it's not fried and, in my opinion, is tastier). Other faves include pad thai, honey seared chicken. Yum.
(4)
Jason W.
The service is average when they take your order. The meal service (when they serve your dish to you in the dining area) is better than average and they usually get your order right when you dine in. The food is good and is the only reason I go there and suffer through the service. The take out service is HORRIBLE and so unorganized they need to scratch it and start over. I have waited an hour and twenty minutes for food that was said to be ready in thirty minutes. I have had wrong orders sent home with me time after time and they check it in front of me calling out my order. They don't know what they are doing and the kitchen is overworked. Be prepared for a long wait for your food if the kitchen looks packed.
(2)
Chris G.
I like the food at Pei Wei and the clean, modern, and trendy atmosphere. When the Union Avenue location opened, I went there often. Service was good and fast. However, recently the service has declined. I'm not sure if there was a management change or what. The other day my friend and I waited 20 minutes for our food when the place was mostly empty. My friend's food was served to him first. Then I had to sit there and watch him eat for 10 mintues before mine was served. Then a lazy-acting guy with dreadlocks finally brought my food. I asked nicely about the slow service and he didn't even acknowledge me. He just looked at me and walked away.
(2)
Dan S.
My wife and I use to like Pei Wei. Our last visit was not very good. The tables were dirty, the soup was cold and the entrees were not very good. We will not be going back.
(1)
Joe C.
I liked pei Wei in the past but after last night, I'm not sure I will go back. When we first arrived we just ordered spring rolls and drinks. They were good. We were waiting on another person. After that, downhill. First, the place was freezing. We asked if they could turn it down. A friendly manager type came to table and said it was not working properly. Ok now the food. Sweet tea was not sweet, place was a little dirty. I think they had been busy. Out of brown rice and both kinds of soup. 3 in our party ordered chicken teriyaki diner meals which were cheaper than my Mongolian chicken entree and they got more food and mine was not prepared properly. Chicken way overlooked and fried which is wrong and did not add onions which I ordered. The staff was friendly but not happy with food.
(2)
Natalie A.
First of all, yes I'm aware that this is a chain. However, I believe there is enough cooking involved to merit a review. We went here on New Year's Eve while in town for a show. Like other reviews have stated, it's a more casual, cheaper, quicker model of Asian Cuisine than it's sister company, P.F. Chang's. It's a walk up & order & wait with your table number kind of place. However, the decor is much more upscale than most places and they serve a limited amount of beer & wine in addition to non-alcoholic beverages. I had the honey seared chicken, with steamed rice, and it was very good. It's served with crispy rice straws, which aren't flavorful of course, but provide a nice balance and texture to the meal. It's also reasonably priced. Nice, simple, good.
(4)
Heidi P.
I have usually chosen other places over Pei Wei, but I was hungry and wanted something quick. Among Asian restaurants, I think of the Pei Wei chain as being an upscale Wendy's. Young people of college or high school age were running the take-away station tonight. They weren't very friendly, and they gave me the wrong order. Someone else is probably eating my chicken lo mein tonight, because my receipt is definitely right. Even though I ordered it purposely because I wanted something less spicy, I can roll with the spicy sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. But next time, I will probably opt for a proper sit-down Asian restaurant or McDonald's.
(2)
JT D.
The Union Pei Wei was one of my favorite places for consistently good takeout. Now it has become consistently bad. My review is not based on a single bad experience but multiple ones. We all have off days. Last night was the last time I will do business with them. We took advantage of the 20% off Internet orders deal. Should have been 90% off or free. Vegetables were grossly overcooked, rice was undercooked and the so called orange peel sauce was non-existent....unless you consider a few pieces of orange peel adequate Both meals ordered fit this description. Very disappointing.
(1)
Daryle J.
Great food. The food is always fresh. Love to go there for lunch and dinner
(4)
cin f.
In a new strip mall on Union Ave is Pei Wei Asian Diner. Pei Wei is a less expensive casual dining place brought to you courtesy of the company who owns P.F. Changs. It has more of a McAlister's Deli way of dining. They have a big menu. You select what you want and pay the cashier. You get a number on stand. You get your own silverware, napkins, drinks, etc. A food runner from kitchen looks for your number and brings you your order. The mostly self service aspect means they can wait on alot of people faster. They also have a separate register and door for take out orders. The food was surprisingly decent and not unreasonable for the price. They offer appetizers, salads, noodle and rice bowls, and signature dishes. They allow you to choose the protein (chicken, pork,beef,shrimp, scallops, for veggie and tofu) for the noodle and rice bowls and signature dishes. When i went, i had mostly appetizers--lettuce wraps, spring rolls (it's the fried kind, which i don't enjoy as much at the plain unfried kind), and crab wontons (fried with mostly cream cheese and less crab than i like). All entrees looked good. You have a choice of mild to hot in flavor. It's a fair mix of asian flavors. they have a kids menu and there were several families there when i went. The service is quick which helps if you have hungry kids. Also, there is a baskin robbins in the same strip mall that you can walk to for dessert. Pei Wei doesn't offer any desserts besides the standard fortune cookie. If i could create a fortune cookie for Pei Wei, the slip of paper would probably read, "Business will good as long as lettuce is green and wontons are crispy."
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : Yes Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Free Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : No Caters : No
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Steve O.
High quality fresh tasting asian cuisine including: Japanese, Chinese, Korean and Thai choices. A bit on the pricey side, but well worth it if you consider the portion size. Great tasting brewed Green Tea with a hint of Mandarin Orange. Open kitchen layout, so it's a bit noisy during the lunch rush. Small dining area is also a bit cramped if too many people have the same idea when they're hungry. Blazing Noodles and Pad Thai are my favorite dishes. You can alway add more red chili sauce if you need more heat from the food. Highly recommended!
(4)Erica B.
I fell in love with Pei Wei when we first met it in Phoenix, Arizona. He offered me some of the best chain restaurant beef pad thai I have ever tasted. The tofu hunks were huge and meaty. The beef was tender and juicy, sticky with tasty pad thai seasonings and the noodles were wide, flat and perfect for sucking through your closed, hungry lips. The best part were the toasty peanut nuggets that my beloved Pei Wei would crumble on top, complete with a couple of warm lime wedges to squeeze over top. My mouth is watering. Even better is the overflowing, bottomless bowl of fortune cookies that Pei Wei would allow me to help myself to. He was such a kind restaurant! When I left AZ, I never thought I would see my beloved Pei Wei again- *single tear*- I would miss him so! But wait! Is that a Pei Wei I spy over on Union Ave in my new home town of Memphis?! Why YES! Yes it is! Oh Pei Wei! I missed you so. Bring on the beef pad thai! I love this new location of my old Pei Wei. They are super speedy, super friendly and very clean! My pad thai comes out to me piping hot, and that bottomless bowl of fortune cookies is always stocked. Yay Pei Wei!
(4)Andy M.
The only thing good was the diet coke. Buying our food in the frozen section of the supermarket would have been better. It was just a hodge podge of flavors. Asian food should have a bouquet of layered flavors that release themselves to your senses. This place was an assault at the calibre of fast food, but without the fast food prices. BTW, I should mention that I felt like the Michelin Man the next morning from so much sodium in the food. Yuck. We're not going back! Memphis sucks.
(1)J B.
Nice looking place, but did someone Asian taste the food? The lettuce wraps were good but the hot and sour was a dark brown cauldron of flavorless sludge. The pad Thai was bland without the zeal of peanut flavor. A good concept with nice modern decorum but needs someone actually Asian to taste the food and provide insight.
(1)Allyn B.
Great food and less expensive than PF Changs. Great lunch spot
(4)N. P.
I want to like Pei Wei more than I do. There's something about it being over-hyped for what it is. I ordered Pei Wei spicy once with chicken and once with shrimp. It's pretty basic food and I expect a little more flavor/flair to the meal for the cost. The meat/fish was slightly lacking in quality. I can find more authentic Asian flavor at my local take-out place. I will write that the interior and the marketing strategy for Pei Wei is good. It's a very nice environment with great colors, great smells, and printed material. However, the end result is pretty basic Chinese food. Bonus points for having gluten-free options readily available. I will go back to try those.
(3)Gary J.
Pretty much same as the one on North Germantown Parkway: Inexpensive Asian cuisine. The food is good, the atmosphere is comfortable. Great for a quick lunch of dinner meal that is inexpensive. Pei Wei Spicy, Thai Dynamite, and Spicey Korean are my favorites so far.
(4)Sheila C.
My husband and I just moved from New York City about 3 months ago and pretty much can say, have good palette (havind dined at Le Bernardin, SHO, Boulud's restaurants and so on) but at the same time, have a very diverse and adventurous taste with food. Anyways, everytime we pass this place at Union Avenue, I always wondered if how the food would be like, since it's design is kinda inviting. So today, we finally decided to give it a shot. As soon as we entered the place, nobody really greeted us eventhough servers were like 5 feet away from us. So we finally figured out that we got to order (like in fast food places) which was not really a big deal. Just looking at the menu, we knew we are in for a bad start. Menu is mixed of vietnamese, japanese, korean, thai and i forgot what was the last one. Usually, restaurants with a fusion of so many cuisines are in for a big disaster. Being a great fan of pad thai, i decided to order one with shrimp and my husband ordered some spicy korean with chicken. After ordering, we went to our sits and waited for our order. After few minutes, my husband's spicy chicken came. Well, serving was pretty big (i think this is the norm here in Memphis) and been showered with tons of sesame seeds. When i tasted it, i knew that this is just another mediocre food. But i didn't pay too much attention since I was waiting for my pad thai. So my waitress came with a bowl of pad thai. with steak. and i ordered shrimp. Anyways, just by the look of it, this bowl of noodles is almost swimiming with grease but with a lots of meat. and so i thought. i had some steak and also some fried tofu, that it was burned to perfection, that it finally looked like steak and even harder than steak. Anyways, over all, our experience with this restaurant is another disappointment. Maybe other people like this kind of food, but definitely not for us. Price is really cheap but not worth the calories.
(1)A L.
@Elio R. - too funny. We do exactly the same thing!!! Apparently when the restaurant first opened they cleaned the tables with cleaning solution that stripped the varnish and made it all sticky. You would have thought they would have fixed it in over 7 mo
(3)Jacqui G.
Always good food here I love all the yummy bowls and especially the edamame Really Awesome service too !! can't go wrong with chicken teriyaki bowls-- I frequently visit Pei Wei
(5)Justin S.
This place is a hit or miss kinda place. Sometimes it's good but sometimes it's not. Like today, the food was crap. I should learn to avoid this place but I won't.
(3)Ramona P.
I was leaving from Massage Envy, and decided to try Pei Wei. I have had it before, but from a different location. It wasn't too clean....the floors and tables were nasty. There wasn't too many people there, therefore you would think the page would be clean. I decided to go with the teriyaki chicken with lettuce wraps. It was good, but I was starving as well. The food is made when ordered, so that's one thing that I really like about this place. If you are in a hurry I wouldn't recommend, because they are pretty slow. The staff was very nice.
(3)Elio R.
New Tables....CONGRATULATIONS!!! Now i'll be back more often. Food as good as allways!!!
(5)Elle S.
This place is ok and over priced. It's basically P.F Chang's, but cheaper. Whenever I eat here, I think "I could have gone to a "usual" Chinese restaurant and payed less for more food, and sometimes better. I think people come here, cause it's not a typical Chinese place so maybe they don't feel as guilty about the calories? hahaha I dunno, but I don't love this place, but still end up here.
(3)Dave L.
Go Local With so many great locally owned, authentic Asian restaurants within a few blocks, why settle for flavor-challenged noodle and rice dishes that could have been made in a factory?
(2)Misty R.
If you want quality Asian food fast without a buffet atmosphere, this is the place to go. If you like PF Changs, you will be a fan of Pei Wei- same food, smaller amounts at a lower price point. My favorite is the Shrimp Kung Pao and Spicy Chicken Salad. I have never had a bad experience here and like the atmosphere.
(4)Gen M.
Years ago one of the first Pei Wei opened in south Florida (PF Chang's is its parent company, and Pei Wei was opened as a quicker and more casual alternative to PF Chang's), and my then brother's girlfriend wouldn't shut up about it. One day I finally decided to see what all the fuss was about, ordered my standard chicken and broccoli in a brown sauce to compare to other places, and the first thing out of my mouth was "Well, I know for fact that I'm eating chicken!!" So, even though it was nothing spectacular, it turned into my go-to for Americanized-Chinese fare. Decided I wanted some Chinese last night but wasn't in the mood to try out a new place (just not feeling adventuresome in my new city yet) so opted for something that I thought I knew. The menu was completely different... more Thai style, where you pick your protein, then your sauce/veggie combination, which I like. Went for the shrimp and ginger broccoli, since ginger sauce is typically my fave, and some spring rolls, to go. Made it home, munched on the spring rolls, which weren't that bad since they had a bunch of ginger in them. Then made the mistake of opening my main... My first issue was that I ordered an original size hoping to have some left-overs, but the portion was ridiculously small (literally half of the container, with the rice included). There were a bunch of tiny little one-bite shrimp and maybe five teeny tiny pieces of broccoli swimming in what was the second issue... The sauce. The sauce, which on the menu is described as a sweet soy base with ginger, was not at all the sweet soy that I use quite often nor even close to slightly resembling the ginger sauces I've had so many times at various other restaurants. It was chemically and artificial and candy-like. Not what I was expecting, definitely not what I wanted, and the only proper descriptive was "gross". This was made even worse by the fact that I couldn't get the taste out of my mouth for nearly two hours, even after brushing my teeth a few times. The only thing that was palatable was the fried rice... at least the part that managed to not get this sauce on it. The customer service at the take-out stand wasn't bad. Guy was friendly enough, maybe said his version of my name a few too many times.
(1)Don B.
Not bad at all. The portions are typically pretty big and the prices on the new menu are very reasonable. The chicken fried rice is delicious. My friends and I enjoy going there for lunch from time to time to get out of downtown. I recommend.
(3)Shu J.
Went here with my SO a few months back; just got reminded to review this one! We dined in. The sauces used were oh-so-sweet that it was almost like having dessert. I was digging around in my veggies with a fork, and then I noticed the stickers on the vegetables had been left on! I asked the staff about this, and his reaction was "oops, sorry about that". There was no offer to remake my food or to give a refund. If there are stickers left on the veggies, how does one know if they are washing their produce at all? I've avoided the place ever since.
(1)Phoebe D.
Had a fortune cookie here was v disappointed with my lucky numbers. The lucky numbers assigned to me were 4, 9, 25, 26, 32 and 41 and let me tell you I could use some luck around here and these numbers will NOT help out. Also confused by a symbol on the back for the word "eye" because how does that help me at all. 2/10 would not fortune cookie again
(1)Michelle M.
I've been to Pei Wei several times and absolutely love the fold. I've been to several different locations, but a lot of this review is specific to the Union Avenue location. Its considered Asian Fusion and I've tried several menu items but always gravitate to the Honey Seared Chicken with brown rice. LOVE it! They do serve a generous portion, so I was always able to take leftovers home. However, when they introduced their Create Your Own Combo, with several meat choices (honey seared being one), rice AND your choice of side I was overjoyed. It was slightly cheaper, a smaller portion of meat, and an additional side. Its great! Now, onto why they lost two stars. One is because they took so long with my order. Now, first off I'd like to state that I understand that it's not a fast food restuarant and it takes time to get an order. But I visited there at 8:30 on a weeknight and had to wait like it was high noon. Not cool. Another reason they lose a star is because everytime I go in there, the tables are sticky. Really sticky. Almost so much that I hate to touch them. Like I said, these two problems are specific to the Union location. But it Is the location I frequent most.
(3)Karen L.
Pei Wei just doesn't do it for me. Generally speaking, I like Americanized ethnic food (apparently I just have no sense of adventure), but this takes it too far. The food just isn't that great, the service is mediocre (gee, we must be in Midtown), and it's overpriced for what it is. The atmosphere is also a little weird -- I could live with overdone, stylized Asian crap, but the place is just so dark! I feel like I'm in some kind of pseudo "romantic" place, not a fast casual joint. If I practically need a flashlight to find the ladies room, that's too dark. I can't remember the last time I ate here, and I definitely won't ever come back.
(2)Kat K.
Never have had bad food from here. I love eating here. You can order the regular size and it is enough for 2.
(5)Shuman M.
This is one of those places you just love to go but cannot explain why, almost like a guilty pleasure...I was very sad when they moved from the Mendenhall location...love the DanDan noodles...if you like spicy food but you are not too adventurous then this is a good place for you...considering the fact that it is pretty inexpensive....can have a good dinner/lunch for two without drinks for less than 25 USD.
(4)Scott L.
We ordered in for lunch for our staff at the office. My first experience, but it came highly recommended by the group. I am doing the gluten free thing and they had LOTS of GF options! YAY! I ordered the Veggie Spring Rolls and the Wonton Soup. HUGE portions of both came with my order. However, the Spring Rolls needed a "sauce" of some kind and all they sent were the take-out packets of Soy Sauce. Wanton Soup was still very hot and had a great "homemade taste" to the broth, and filled with plenty of the flavor packed dumplings. I did not taste any of the other lunches, but everyone seemed happy. Some comments about fried rice being a little dry and some of the dishes were "over sauced" with sweet. We will try it again soon.
(3)Olivia F.
I needed to eat before an evening appointment, saw PW and thought "what-the-h...". As I was turning to park in a side slot this SUV comes whooshing by, crossing past my front fender and rocks to halt. The entire time this female is yapping on the phone. Yikes. Somewhat jarred by the action I walk into this place. Imagine my surprise when the person at the counter is yappy-cell-phone-girl. That set the mood for the rest of my meal. I've never been here, I don't know what to order so give me a bloody minute to look at the menu. Better yet, ask me if I'd like some recommendations. Nope. Get impatient waiting for me to scan the menu & move to someone else - then get impatient with her, too as she is also a new customer. Next person at the counter asked me what I liked & how I liked it. Discussed spice vs flavor and all that. Pleasant. To the food: I agree w/ Nancy K all the way. If I could have deleted my experiences from the car park up to the second counter person the review would have been 4 stars. In conclusion I have 1 thing to add: Stress is contagious. Get a Blue-tooth and get to yourself together so you don't have to rush,rush,rush to work.
(2)Nancy K.
I am strangely attached to what I call "fake asian" food places (think of places like Panda express or your typical asian delivery place around the corner). I don't mean fake in a derogatory manner - it's just that most of these restaurant serve dishes in a way you would never typically see in an Asian household. Pei Wei is my favorite "fake asian" food place in Memphis and I live way too close to this place for my own good. My favorite dish is the caramel chicken and I always ask for it stock velveted (which means it's not fried and, in my opinion, is tastier). Other faves include pad thai, honey seared chicken. Yum.
(4)Jason W.
The service is average when they take your order. The meal service (when they serve your dish to you in the dining area) is better than average and they usually get your order right when you dine in. The food is good and is the only reason I go there and suffer through the service. The take out service is HORRIBLE and so unorganized they need to scratch it and start over. I have waited an hour and twenty minutes for food that was said to be ready in thirty minutes. I have had wrong orders sent home with me time after time and they check it in front of me calling out my order. They don't know what they are doing and the kitchen is overworked. Be prepared for a long wait for your food if the kitchen looks packed.
(2)Chris G.
I like the food at Pei Wei and the clean, modern, and trendy atmosphere. When the Union Avenue location opened, I went there often. Service was good and fast. However, recently the service has declined. I'm not sure if there was a management change or what. The other day my friend and I waited 20 minutes for our food when the place was mostly empty. My friend's food was served to him first. Then I had to sit there and watch him eat for 10 mintues before mine was served. Then a lazy-acting guy with dreadlocks finally brought my food. I asked nicely about the slow service and he didn't even acknowledge me. He just looked at me and walked away.
(2)Dan S.
My wife and I use to like Pei Wei. Our last visit was not very good. The tables were dirty, the soup was cold and the entrees were not very good. We will not be going back.
(1)Joe C.
I liked pei Wei in the past but after last night, I'm not sure I will go back. When we first arrived we just ordered spring rolls and drinks. They were good. We were waiting on another person. After that, downhill. First, the place was freezing. We asked if they could turn it down. A friendly manager type came to table and said it was not working properly. Ok now the food. Sweet tea was not sweet, place was a little dirty. I think they had been busy. Out of brown rice and both kinds of soup. 3 in our party ordered chicken teriyaki diner meals which were cheaper than my Mongolian chicken entree and they got more food and mine was not prepared properly. Chicken way overlooked and fried which is wrong and did not add onions which I ordered. The staff was friendly but not happy with food.
(2)Natalie A.
First of all, yes I'm aware that this is a chain. However, I believe there is enough cooking involved to merit a review. We went here on New Year's Eve while in town for a show. Like other reviews have stated, it's a more casual, cheaper, quicker model of Asian Cuisine than it's sister company, P.F. Chang's. It's a walk up & order & wait with your table number kind of place. However, the decor is much more upscale than most places and they serve a limited amount of beer & wine in addition to non-alcoholic beverages. I had the honey seared chicken, with steamed rice, and it was very good. It's served with crispy rice straws, which aren't flavorful of course, but provide a nice balance and texture to the meal. It's also reasonably priced. Nice, simple, good.
(4)Heidi P.
I have usually chosen other places over Pei Wei, but I was hungry and wanted something quick. Among Asian restaurants, I think of the Pei Wei chain as being an upscale Wendy's. Young people of college or high school age were running the take-away station tonight. They weren't very friendly, and they gave me the wrong order. Someone else is probably eating my chicken lo mein tonight, because my receipt is definitely right. Even though I ordered it purposely because I wanted something less spicy, I can roll with the spicy sweet and sour chicken and fried rice. But next time, I will probably opt for a proper sit-down Asian restaurant or McDonald's.
(2)JT D.
The Union Pei Wei was one of my favorite places for consistently good takeout. Now it has become consistently bad. My review is not based on a single bad experience but multiple ones. We all have off days. Last night was the last time I will do business with them. We took advantage of the 20% off Internet orders deal. Should have been 90% off or free. Vegetables were grossly overcooked, rice was undercooked and the so called orange peel sauce was non-existent....unless you consider a few pieces of orange peel adequate Both meals ordered fit this description. Very disappointing.
(1)Daryle J.
Great food. The food is always fresh. Love to go there for lunch and dinner
(4)cin f.
In a new strip mall on Union Ave is Pei Wei Asian Diner. Pei Wei is a less expensive casual dining place brought to you courtesy of the company who owns P.F. Changs. It has more of a McAlister's Deli way of dining. They have a big menu. You select what you want and pay the cashier. You get a number on stand. You get your own silverware, napkins, drinks, etc. A food runner from kitchen looks for your number and brings you your order. The mostly self service aspect means they can wait on alot of people faster. They also have a separate register and door for take out orders. The food was surprisingly decent and not unreasonable for the price. They offer appetizers, salads, noodle and rice bowls, and signature dishes. They allow you to choose the protein (chicken, pork,beef,shrimp, scallops, for veggie and tofu) for the noodle and rice bowls and signature dishes. When i went, i had mostly appetizers--lettuce wraps, spring rolls (it's the fried kind, which i don't enjoy as much at the plain unfried kind), and crab wontons (fried with mostly cream cheese and less crab than i like). All entrees looked good. You have a choice of mild to hot in flavor. It's a fair mix of asian flavors. they have a kids menu and there were several families there when i went. The service is quick which helps if you have hungry kids. Also, there is a baskin robbins in the same strip mall that you can walk to for dessert. Pei Wei doesn't offer any desserts besides the standard fortune cookie. If i could create a fortune cookie for Pei Wei, the slip of paper would probably read, "Business will good as long as lettuce is green and wontons are crispy."
(3)