I love PF CHANG and I prefer it for the occasional dining (because of the high end prices) but today I discovered PEI WEI by chance and when I read 'by pf Chang,' I was like BINGO! I found a fast food mode of PF Chang. The girl on the register gave me a warm welcome, the place was clean, the ambience was welcoming and yes the music was loud and I was cool with it because it is a 'FAST FOOD' place. I ordered Pad Thai and Dynamite Thai and paid $17 for both entrees. Pad Thai was yummilicious but D.T had a sodium overload. So it was a 50/50 experience, but still I have their caramel chicken on my 'DISH TO EAT' wish list before I increase or decrease the number of stars.
(3)
Emma B.
Paid $9 for Thai curry shrimp- huge dish, loaded with shrimp, curry exact right flavor and spiciness. Yum.
(5)
Clifford B.
This is an update to my review posted 2star. I received a letter from the I guess Lead Manager M. Acosta, in the letter she does express caring to hear about my experience in "their" restaurant, also enclosed a very thoughtful gift cards to try "their" restaurant again, the only problem is can I trust that there are no ill feelings from "their" staff?? I will give it thought..How can I turst a restaurant who doesn't take responsibility for THEIR ERROR?? I say PASS on this Place, their are many OTHER Oriental Restaurants in this area GO to them!!
(2)
Marty G.
Not so great - too bad because we had high hopes. This review is based off of 3 visits so I know this is not just a fluke. The concept is great - service is pretty good, the menu is not the great and the food is less than desired. I wish I can write better things because I was really looking forward to an Express version of Chang. But this is not it.
(3)
Elizabeth A.
It's ok. Average at best. Too bad because I like P.F. Changs.
(2)
Ekta S.
Horrible - not worth the trip at all - what was I thinking!!! Food seemed sub par overall cleanliness not to standard. There were left over utensils on tables and place seemed under staffed. Wouldn't go again.
(1)
Matt W.
Owned by PF Changs. You get PF Chang's quality food for half the price. Great for casual atmosphere and great tasting food. Kung Pao Shrimp is breaded and to die for.
(5)
Meghan W.
We ate here recently. It was lunch time on a weekday, so it was incredibly crowded. Which made it loud and finding a table impossible. We ended up snatching a table right before our food came out. The food was alright but I don't think I would willing choose to come back. There are other great places to eat around there (portillo's, meatheads, etc.) and I would rather go to one of those than go back to Pei Wei Asian Diner. I had the Thai chicken lettuce wrap and while it was okay, I wasn't loving it. The hot and sour soup sucked. The crab wontons were good. Try at your own risk.
(3)
Katie J.
Yum. They do their cooking in an open kitchen. Its to die for. So good. A little overpriced in this economy. Needs to be competitive cuz theres another place down the street just as good with lower prices. Staff is very friendly here too though. If you have cash to blow, i highly recommend. So good.
(4)
A B.
My husband and I ordered the veggie spring rolls and the Thai Dynamite. While the Thai Dynamite was really nice (the tofu was really crisp and tasty), the spring rolls left much too desire. And they were very oily. The decor was comfortably contemporary and the service cordial. I have been there just once, so will hopefully edit my review later.
(3)
Kristin S.
Was kinda excited to eat here, knowing that it is owned by PF Chang, and I do like PF Chang. But I was disappointed. Food tasted very bland, similiar to any express Chinese takeout that I've had, I do like the menu options, in theory they all sound good. I also like that you can get calorie counts on their website. But this could have been Big Bowl or Golden Wok or what ever.... Prices a little to high for this type of food. Maybe if it were less expensive I would have given it 3 stars. Sorry, this one is a One and done.
(2)
Yvonne O.
Delicious and super fast and fed three people for only $27!!! What more could you ask for? Although the whole menu is a bit confusing when you enter, once I come here a few times, it will be a breeze. I got the crab wontons and the chicken lettuce wraps. Husband got the sweet and sour chicken (surprise) and his mom got the teriyaki chicken. By the time we found a table and got our drinks from the futuristic Coke digital machines, my crab won tons were ready. Everything else came within 5 minutes and the portions were perfect. I would totally come back here any time! Plus, they have wine - which is odd, but intriguing.
(5)
Eric S.
Panda Express' classy older sibling. This "Americanized" Chinese pseudo-chain provides more than a touch of flair to a variety of appealing menu items. GET THE LETTUCE WRAPS! The traditional wraps are an absolute must-order on any visit here. Low in carbs, high in protein, and tremendous flavor makes it one of the best shared appetizers you can get in any restaurant around. Entrees are equally good, I've yet to be disappointed by a teriyaki beef or pineapple chicken. Portions are on the larger side, although they've begun offering smaller sizes which is nice. That being said, their sushi game was decidedly weak. $3.50 for 4 'rolls', several of which were on the anemic side. I could make better sushi than what I was given here. 'Course, goes to show me for ordering Japenese at an American Chinese restaurant.....#myownfault But! They offer a decent selection of bottled beers, domestic and imported, as well as wine by the glass and bottle! A large Sapporo ran me $7, but it was a 600mL bottle so I didn't feel entirely ripped-off. Plus points for having a Coke Freestyle machine and several tea dispensers. Food comes out quickly and the interior has been relatively clean on most occasions. I'm not entirely surprised that Pei Wei's are a subsidiary of P.F. Chang's, given the quality (and similarity) of items. My family loves coming here when we tire of our tried-and-true neighborhood Golden Bowl. 4.5/5, and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because past visits have been generally consistent and splendid overall. Highly recommended for those in the mood for orange chicken but don't want to roll the dice on some sub-par chunks of mystery meat at the local Panda.
(5)
Bobby O.
This was my first time here having never heard of this place before. With that said I gave it a shot. The menu had a basic outlay that you pick a protein, pick a rice or vegetable stir fry and then a sauce. You get the idea. My son got really wild and went with the chicken fried rice. And the crowd ROARS! I tried the crunchy wasabi rolls (sushi). After ordering you sit down with a number and the staff delivers your food. It took a bit (so impatient) and when the food items arrived they came one at a time. Me no like...I want everyone to get their food together. That was my only gripe. After eating you leave your plates on the table...painless.
Pei Wei, what the hell happened? I get that it's been a while since I was here, but wow, what a comedown. First, service needs some help. I specified twice to the girl taking my order that I just wanted water when she asked if I wanted a drink. The line was piling up so of course they shove you along. I got go the table thinking the bill seemed high...sure enough, charged two bucks for a drink! But since I would have had to get back in that line it wasn't worth the argument. Pay attention (twice!)... Also, apparently they don't do the "stock velveting" anymore (cooking in stock vs oil, which made a dish lighter), because when I asked they acted like I was requesting something totally bizarre. Never mind, sorry I broke your brain. If you order appetizers be aware that they may come at the end of your meal (or almost not at all: when one of the dishes was delivered the server said, "So that's everything?" Um, no, we still were waiting for spring rolls, please don't take our number yet...) I just wasn't super impressed with the food this time either (though maybe it is partly because it came with a hint of annoyance). The spring rolls and crab wontons were good and I like that you can choose the number you get (2, 4 or 6). We also got the limited time kung pao shrimp sushi roll but honestly it was forgettable (and I am a big fan of kung pao). I got the caramel chicken again but wasn't as good as I recall (again, maybe due to different cooking method). It is nice to have the choice of small or large size (but a big portion of the small consists of a huge heap of rice). Overall, this trip made it obvious that it isn't worth the trek across town for me to come back. You can get most of the same meals in a more polished setting at PF Chang's (their parent company), and probably skip the hassle and confusion of the ordering and serving process here.
(2)
Chris F.
Overly salty Chinese food. Panda Express is probably the way to go for Chinese fast food but if there is no other options. I guess Pei Wei isn't that bad.
(2)
Joseph P.
Now it may seems like I would be just like any other Asian American guy that would judge a Chinese restaurant base on authenticity. Well, I am here to tell you that is not the case. In fact, i do indulge myself in some delicious orange sesame chicken. Therefore, the ratings I have his place is not because I don't deem their products authentic Chinese food, but on the actual food quality. For what it's worth, it is ok for the occasional dining. The price is reasonable, but it's performances is not consistent. Sometimes my lettuce wraps can be too salty, but sometimes it's lacking in flavor, making it hard to judge. However, the restaurant itself is very clean, and it's staff are friendly. It is also very opened minded when your friends want to bring food from the other restaurants in to sit in with you. Overall, if you are willing to see how lucky you are on the day of, why not give this restaurant a try? You may just be happy that you did
(2)
Marie G.
Just brought take out home from here. Ordered shrimp lo mein with extra shrimp and vegetables. The noodles were dry and Luke warm, the veggies were not cooked at all. The shrimp were small, overcooked and rubbery. It's like they cooked the shrimp, and dumped it in the take out container with raw veggies, precooked noodles and raw veggies WITHOUT ANY SAUCE AT ALL. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT MY MEAL EVER WAS IN A WOK! This used to be a good place, not any more.
(1)
Chris L.
I like Pei Wei, its essentially the "quick" version of PF Changs. The food is top quality in my opinion, a step above what you would find at a similar place like Panda Express. Along with that quality comes a little bit higher prices, but its a worthy concession. The staff is friendly, the location is clean, and the food is good.
(4)
Morris N.
Online ordering is fast and convenient. Prices are decent. I've only ordered carry-out but the dining room looks inviting and casual. Being part of P.F. Chang's which I like their food, I thought the food would be better here but it's just OK. I've ordered here a few times and one thing that is consistent is their food is too salty. It's worth a try if you are thinking about it, but not worth going out of your way for.
(3)
Edward L.
Another surprisingly good (if not authentic) Pan-Asian place. No, the name doesn't mean anything in Chinese. (Pee Wee?) Parking is available in the nice huge lot out front. The interior is a trendy in a Western kind of way. Looks like some interior decorator went to town here, and it shows. Only half the chefs were Asian, but this isn't always the best indicator. I had the Pad Thai. As weird as it sounds, it actually tasted pretty authentic in terms of sauce. I was quite shocked. Nice crunchy peanuts, and lots of green onions (more than what you'd find in Thailand though). I noticed they also tuned down the spiciness, but hey, this is USA, not Thailand. The portion was huge. $9 and I could barely finish my bowl. Lastly, there's free Wi-Fi.. if you use the one from Meatheads next door. Muwahaha. Strange as it sounds, I'll gladly give this chain (and P.F.Chang's) another try. Pretty good stuff if you don't mind the Americanization of the food.
(4)
Tom K.
Came in here wanting a quick, healthy meal with my 4 year old but was disappointed. Kids honey wei and adult pei wei spicy way too sweet. Took any health benefit and negated it.
(2)
Al M.
Rude and clueless (and maybe a liar, too). Ordered take out online on a Saturday night. Picked it up took it home. When I got home realized they had forgotten my daughter's dish. I called to let them know. No apology. They seemed to blame it on me for somehow not packing my own order. They said they would credit me the cost of the dish. I asked them to send me an email to confirm. They had my email from the online order and I gave it to them again. I had not received the email, so I called back on Sunday and asked for a manager. There were not any so I left a message and my phone number. I also filled out the online survey that they list on their receipt. On Tuesday I get a from Sal. He let me know that he got the survey and that he had already sent an email to me and credited me for the dish. No we're sorry for the inconvenience ... Nothing. When Sal confirmed my email ... He repeated one with a Z where a 2 should have been ...must have been my fault. Even though they had all my info from the online order. I kept waiting on the phone ... No sorry. Hung up. I got ticked off and called Sal back. Told him all I was looking for was a an apology for the goof in the food and the goof email. Nope ... Just an ok. After that, I received the "original email" that got kicked back to him with a new email thanking me for letting them know of their mistakes and offer to give me $20 be our guest card if I give him my home address. No sorry. The strange thing us that in the original email my email was correct. No Transposed Z. Did he forget to send it ... Recreate it to cover his Butt? Who knows. I checked my Spam filter and email again ... Nothing. Already wasted enough time ... They can keep their $20 card ... Not going back. Just ticked that they have my email and phone number. I noticed another review here criticizing the manager ... Thought it was harsh ... It was not ... Clueless management .
(1)
Chris H.
Food quality has dropped ever since they changed their menu a few months ago. Our most recent visit had taste quality more like Panda Express with too much corn starch in the sauces and bland taste.
(2)
Bill G.
Good food and great place but my visit to this location was a disappointment. The tables were not cleared and I had to search for a clean table for my party to eat at. I'll come back again but I hope they get it together next time.
(3)
Jeff N.
They changed the menu but didn't change the website. Now you basically create your own by choosing the protein then the sauce then the ... You get the idea. Confusing and time consuming. The guy at the counter made me feel stupid for trying to order the item I usually ordered. Apparently they don't have the sauce anymore.
(2)
RJ C.
I ordered the chicken Pad Thai, spring rolls and a side salad. Before ordering I asked the cashier what his favorite dish was on the menu... He hesitated and ultimately answered my question with a question. And so we are off to a bad start. Ok, how about your favorite appetizer? The spring rolls he recommended, so I ordered them as well as a safe standby with the pad Thai. The spring rolls were deep fried, and tasted like they just came out of a frozen box. The salad had great dressing and fresh cucumbers but the lettuce hadn't been washed, was bone dry, and wilting. Disgusting, and a waste of $4. My entree was ok a best. It tasted decent enough, and was a large portion, but was drenched in sauce. The noodles were so wet you couldn't even grab them with dry chopsticks. Even though I spent close to $19 for lunch and didn't leave very satisfied, the worst part was how filthy the restaurant was. There were food particles under every single table available and some even on the tables nearby. While noticing this, I looked around and realized the cashier was running the food and also bussing if and when he had time, which was never. When the cashier / runner / busser did get around to "cleaning" up, all that consisted of was wiping the food scraps onto the ground where they remained as no one had swept up all day. Dear owner, This place is in Hinsdale right? Well you won't be much longer if you don't step up to the plate big time. People in Hinsdale have money, and rich people don't go to filthy restaurants that serve middle of the road food. This place is understaffed and needs another person to help clean up and keep your in-house customers happy and feeling looked after. Crack the whip and make sure the manager is more visible. Make sure the cashier knows what your signature dishes are and be able to rattle 2-3 off in a knee jerk reaction when asked. And finally, get some real napkins, because yours are the worst. I think this is my first negative review. But, damn you guys deserve it. You dropped the ball all over the place. Worst part is, there are even pictures up that someone else took about how filthy your floors are. Least your consistent with that.
(1)
Stills J.
The food here are just ok but the Asian chopped chicken salads is good here and the place need some cleaning to do. It's kind dirty.
(3)
Dustan D.
My friends and I used to go to PF Changs, wait an hour to be seated, and then share apps. Then along came Pei Wei, a faster, more casual version of Changs. Their vegetarian offerings are great, tofu is an option with almost any dish, spring rolls are sprays crisp and tasty, and the coke machine of many flavors is a never ending source if experimentation. After the meal you can grab a fortune cookie or 10 from the open serving bowl on the counter and pack up any leftovers in takeout boxes. Their available sauces help bring a little extra flavor to the meal. Don't skip the edemame. It's a great experience at a reasonable price, a touch of Asian at a lunchtime speed.
(4)
Allison A.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. They have a small gluten free menu. This was the first time in years I have had Chinese food that tasted like what I remember from my gluten days. I wish there was one closer to where I live. Although, I would probably be 400lbs because I would be eating here all the time. I had the gf spicy chicken. It was crispy and delicious. It seriously made my life. (Oka, the day, but still)
(5)
Jo R.
Pei Wei: the name always makes me laugh. I wonder what on earth it means? Anyway, my parents visit whenever they receive buy one get one free coupons from here. They always deliver the free entree to my place, so I benefit. Our usual order consists of vegetable spring rolls, honey seared chicken with fried rice (extra charge), and a fortune cookie. Here in the western suburbs, I can't think of any really fantastic Chinese restaurants. Pei Wei is pretty good, but there is no gold standard around here to measure it against. The vegetable spring rolls were light and crispy. Not nearly as substantial as egg rolls, but that's fine. The honey seared chicken was mild, I thought. The chicken was advertised as "crispy", but I can tell you it wasn't. It was, however, tender and coated in the honey-like sauce. We chose the fried rice in place of white rice, thus adding an extra charge. I do think the fried rice was a better option and worth it. Overall, I think Pei Wei is a decent Chinese fast food place. The food is average and fairly mild; not much different from other Chinese places here. But for a penny pincher like me, you can't beat a free meal.
(3)
Leo S.
This place has been chronically understaffed for months now. Having Coke Freestyle machines is not a plus if a substantial numbers of flavors are out including basic Coke. Spouse and I liked this as a local dining option but it's getting brutal primarily due to staffing levels but they may reflect underperforming sales.
(2)
Peter S.
I normally don't go to Asian chain restaurants. But it was recommended by my haberdasher. We had the chicken lettuce wrap, the pork egg roll and pad Thai with shrimp. The egg roll was very good but small and I did not like the mustard dipping sauce. The lettuce wrap was very good and tasty and not as messy as I thought it might be. The pad Thai, which was supposed to be spicy, was just right and also very good. The staff was friendly and efficient. But I really don't like restaurants where you stand in line to order and they bring it out to you. And it's a little pricey. Not really a good value. Probably won't go back. And I'll update my haberdasher (just a guy at Jos A Banks) when I go for my Easter outfit next week.
(3)
Liz C.
We ate here last night. And the entree was pretty good, I had a caramel wok with chicken. It was tasty, but nothing too outstanding. so why 4 stars? The crunchy mango California roll! Delicious! This lady had a craving for sushi, but being pregnant, options are limited. Well, California rolls are safe, so I figured why not? California rolls are about as adventurous as I get when it comes to sushi anyway. It was delicious. I almost didn't share with hubby! I'd definitely come back just for that roll! Yummy!
(4)
Dan R.
A step up from Panda Express and a step down from any of the many Chinese dining alternatives. The food was good, but not great. It's what I would expect for the price and the category. This location has outdoor seating which I like a lot. I can't really judge the service as I was there on a Saturday in August when the summer staff were probably returning to school and they seemed short staffed. Overall, it was clean (besides some un-bused tables) and the food arrvied quickly.
(3)
Judy L.
Pei Wei, not to be confused with Pee Wee.... ;) Owned by PF Changs and WAY better than the alternative to fast Asian cuisine...Panda Express. Blech. I had Japanese style Tofu Teriyaki with veggies over brown rice with a spring roll and fortune cookie for $7! It was delicious! Fine, maybe the tofu was slightly overcooked, but the food was at our table in literally 2 minutes. My friend had the Kung Pao chicken and edamame. Salt comes on the side. Hate heavily salted edamame that burns your tongue. More restaurants should do this! Super cool soda fountain with lots of buttons to press on a digital screen. Order at the counter, grab your drink and silverware, find a booth or table and food comes out. Simple. Delicious. They do have 4 wines by the glass and 2 beers ($4 to $5 price range).
(5)
Suzanne Z.
This place is fast and convenient, but still delicious. I like that you can order ahead, in increments of 15 minutes, so that you can go in, pick up, and leave, and the food will be piping hot. I get the chicken pad thai. Large portion, not the best I've ever had, but I still like it. Large pieces of tofu and chicken, peanuts, green onions... mmmm, mouth is watering!
(4)
David C.
I'm an unabashed fan of made to order chinese-american takeout. That said, my lunch today was not awesome but certainly decent. The honey glazed chicken would have been better if not fried and a little less sweet. But, I absolutely ate it all in addition to a four piece spicy tuna. Good, but short of fantastic
(3)
Ethan G.
Food was hidden under a thick layer of wallmart sauce. Underneath was basically a premade freezer meal cooked in a wok. Also the waiter appeared to be acting strange (as in under the influence and underage to do so). Finally the bathroom seemed as if it hadebt been cleaned in a week. My shoes stuck to the floor and the value was terrible compared to the excellent Meatheads, or Panera next door.
(1)
Liz L.
I think this place is just average 1. Does the food taste a little lower than average-yes-so basically not so good. - don't order the Pad Thai -if you have actually had good and real Pad Thai you will just be disappointed...it taste like sweet and sour Pad Thai- I left 75%of it in the container and threw the rest away -I did like the veggie spring rolls I ate both of them 2.the food takes forever! How can my local Chinese place only take 10 minutes and this place takes an eternity...for take out? I wasn't impressed. I would rather go to a hole in the wall Chinese place.
(2)
Turbo T.
Me, my wife and my kid love this place. The best part is You can modify the entrees to suit your taste. Another reason to frequent this place is they don't use MSG. Taste is very consistent. Fried rice for a dollar more is a good deal. You can get to eat a tasty restaurant quality asian meal for a reasonable price.
(4)
Mark R.
Let's sum up today's experience. If you take the following elements... - Dirt and garbage on the floor (a bit worse then a Denny's on a Saturday night, plus dust on the blinds and dust on the chair leg supports) - Turning to look out the window and seeing a 3-4 foot diameter spider web, suspended from the ceiling over my head and about six inches from my left shoulder... with a lovely little spider sitting in the middle of it looking quite proud of his/her creation. (tried to get a good picture of it, mostly got a spider like blob hanging in front of the blinds) Now, make it a Tuesday night around 7 pm, pay near $30 for your food and drink for two. Lastly, add in a spineless manager that didn't bother coming out to apologize. They opted to send the cashier to do it after they walked out to knock down the web and turned around to disappear out of sight. Personally, while they did give a gift certificate to each of us for our next visit, it didn't cover the cost of our meal. Plus, you take a place like this and the lack of pride the public can see and you have to wonder what it's like in the food prep areas you can't see. I don't see us ever redeeming these gift cards.
(1)
Carol K.
After several people told me about this place, AND being a big fan of PF Chang's, I decided it give it a try. This is basically a fast food Asian place. There is Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Thai dishes. I have to say I wasn't crazy about anything that we ordered. The Pad Thai was really greasy and a bit salty. Maybe I was expecting more given the connection to Chang's, but I was surprised by this. My friend had the Thai coconut curry beef and I thought it was pretty good. It was definitely the best choice of what we had. On my last visit- I ordered take out and they gave me someone else's food by mistake. I called and they happily re did our order while being very apologetic. ( I wonder about the people who got our order?) The best thing about the place is the Coke machine and the large range of options that you have. Oh- and that it is relatively cheap and given it is in the "burbs" there is plenty of free parking in the lot. It's not my favorite choice for Asian out in the "burbs" but it will do in a pinch.
(3)
Zach T.
Yelp is really a great game of averages. Once you get enough reviews on a place to push past the handful of family and friends who will 5-star a place and the handful of people who hate a place because of how a cashier made eye contact with them, it's truly a useful tool. As of this writing, Yelp gives Pei Wei a 3.5 star review. That's right on t he money. If you like PF Chang's food, but don't like the waits, this is the place to go. The menu has very few direct matches, but the dishes are all similar and all taste like they came out of a PF Chang's kitchen.Entrees are like 7-10 each and kids meals are like $4. They have the coke machine of the future as well which is a plus for me.
(4)
Lisa L.
Great place so much more affordable than PF Chang's, it's sister company. The lettuce wraps are excellent. They even have a beef one that's quite good too. The lemon grass salad is super. I have not had anything bad at this restaurant. It's a no frill place, you order then sit down and they bring you your food. But all the money you will save, is worth it. Wish there was one in Orland Park.
(5)
Robyn C.
This place is great for fast food Asian. It's not just Chinese, there is Vietnamese dishes and Thai dishes. It's a PF Chang restaurant, so I am scared about unhealthy the food is. I love their oh so modern drink dispenser. I have never seen anything like it. You press buttons and there are so many choices of what you can drink, including club soda .. very rare to offer that from a drink dispensing machine. You have to see it to really know what I am talking about. I have ordered the Kung Pao chicken ... twice. It's great, a bit salty, but overall pleasing to the palate. They offer brown rice which they cook really well. I am not a fan of cooking brown rice at home since it takes so long. I have come after the lunch rush, which I heard is pretty packed here. The atmosphere is open and clean and fresh. Not dingy and musty and basically scary like some Asian places can be like. I would definitely come again. If you come with someone else and you both want the same soup, I recommend ordering the bowl than the cup. For two dollars more, it serves 4 cups.
(3)
Jack G.
I love this place for lunch. Good food fast, and cool coke dispensing machines. I meet with colleagues and customers here often.
(4)
Paul Z.
So I had the very tasty Kung Pao Chicken thinking I ate something on the healthy side, by having chicken, pea pods and a little rice, then I looked up their nutritional values on line and was I shocked to find that meal was 1420 calories with 3020 mg of salt! they should put warning labels on their food!
(1)
Logan S.
You would be better off getting a frozen Asian entree from the super market. Over priced fast food with enough sodium to make your blood pressure reach all time highs. My veggie-tofu Korean dish has 5700 mg of sodium. On-line, the nutrition facts states 2 servings for a large dish, but anyone with a decent appetite could eat one entree very easily. Watch the nutritional facts. You need to double all the numbers. Like all fast food, the place caters to folks with kids. The place is loud and plays contemporary music - go figure. Upon our visit, kids were running around playing with the soda machine, some state-of- the art self serve vending contraption. But it is still fast food and tastes like it. I have been here 2 times, my first and last time.
(1)
Brandy W.
I'm a longtime fan of Pei Wei. My husband and I used to visit the Pei Wei in Torrance, California for cheap Friday date nights. For just about $16, we could manage 2 meals and waters. For about $20, two meals and two drinks. We moved to the Chicago 'burbs and no Pei Wei. Boo. Well, we only had to wait about 6 months. When Pei Wei opened in Chicago, we drove through 1.5 hours of traffic to eat there. I also learned through an email to Pei Wei that they would be opening one in Willowbrook-- oh sweet Jesus! That's just about 10 miles away from my house and not in city traffic! This Pei Wei was great. Despite the chain taking Blazing Noodles off their menu (argh), I have managed to find a substitution with their Pad Thai, no egg, 2 scoops spicy sauce. It works out pretty well. My husband finds their orange chicken to be the best since they don't bread/fry it. It's real chicken cooked in their awesome orange chicken sauce. He gets it with brown rice every time and loves it. Their portions are large and we both leave very full-- can't bear to bring leftovers because we love the food soooo much we can't stop eating! A little hint: You can use PF Changs gift cards there because they're the same chain. We often get $50 PFC gift cards as gifts and can go a total of THREE times for three different meal occasions (if we have waters) on that one card. Awesome, huh? It's considerably cheaper than PFC and I think it's actually better. It's a new place so expect there to possibly be a wait when you walk in. Let the food speak for itself and don't consider having to wait a measly few minutes to be a deal breaker. It's worth it.
(5)
Erica Z.
Great food but take out is NEVER ready on time.
(3)
Kate W.
Opening night at the long-anticipated Willowbrook location of Pei Wei! The line was almost out the door, but we were able to squeeze inside so we weren't waiting in the cold. And despite the the length, it moved really quickly. They had someone explaining the menu (on fancy screens) to everyone in line and getting tables ready for each party. You're given your table number while you're waiting in line and once you get to the counter to order, you have to give the order-taker your number. Order your food, pay, sit at your table, and the food is brought out to you. Our food was paced really well - apps (which they call "small plates") first, then salad, then entrees. I was surprised by this since it's basically an Asian Panera, but happy! The drink machine is RAD! Technically-challenged adults might be confused at first, but it's pretty easy once you take a moment to figure it out - hold the cup against the lever for the ice to come out (per the usual way), then on the screen in front you choose your drink and press the big button for it to fill your cup - watch your placement to make sure the liquid gets IN your cup, instead of everywhere but :) Also near the drink machines: straws, silverware, take-out containers for your leftovers, and free fortune cookies!! The place holds about 60 people. It was packed and lively, but my mom and I still had no trouble holding a conversation and hearing each other. Families, couples, groups of friends - every kind of diner was there. I've always thought Pei Wei has stellar food, and it's not any more expensive than similar restaurants (eg. Panera). My mom & I ordered a lot because she wanted to try lots of things (this was her first Pei Wei!) - we each had a pot sticker, then we shared an order of Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls, Spicy Tea-Smoked Chicken, and Thai River Noodles with shrimp. Plus two drinks, our total was $32. (And we had leftovers, so lunch tomorrow is going to rock!)
(5)
Nicole L.
My SIL treated me and my husband to dinner here today as neither of us have ever been. The lettuce wraps are delicious and all the food we ordered (sesame, caramel, and Mongolian chicken) came out fresh and delicious. This is definitely a step up from Panda Express in terms of decor and presentation and I like it better than P.F. Changs. I'd come back for the lettuce wraps alone.
(4)
Laura K.
It was an amazing deal that lured me to Pei Wei...but the food will bring me back! I saw that Pei Wei was offering a BOGO deal on their entrees. Since the portions are huge and relatively cheap (around $7), I figured I was basically getting four meals for $7. Not bad at all, right? I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu and the Coconut Curry with tofu. The Pad Thai was great. I asked for it extra-spicy and they spiced it just right. I didn't even have to add extra hot chili sauce like I normally do! The sauce isn't cloyingly sweet like so many pad thai sauces I've had and I appreciated that they threw in a lot of vegetables along with the tofu - though it's the first time I've ever seen broccoli added to pad thai! I wasn't nuts about the tofu - silken sliced in long strips - but that's a personal preference. I prefer firm, crispy tofu. I'm having the curry dish for lunch today, so I can't review that one, but I tried my friend's Thai Spicy dish with crispy chicken and enjoyed that one as well. And yes, the futuristic Coke machine is a lot of fun to play around with. I had Diet Barq's with vanilla flavoring added - delish! For the price, you get a lot of food and what I've had is yummy. Like I said, I'll definitely be back.
(4)
Kristina B.
Ohhhh, hey there, my new favorite place. How are you? In one word, AWESOME. I was super excited to try Pei Wei- I saw that it had recently opened and couldn't wait to go. I finally had my chance this weekend, and HALLELUJAH!!! I'm in love. I like the clean, modern feel of the restaurant. The giant menu screens are pretty cool, I liked seeing pictures of the food before I ordered it. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food arrives quickly, which is perfect for when you've just gotten done at the gym and are absolutely starving - like me ;) We had food on the table in less than 5 minutes. We tried the crab rangoons, I liked that you could order them in plates of 2, 4, or 6. They weren't the best I've ever had, but they were decent. I liked the sauce they were plated with. The mongolian beef came out next. I'm pretty sure that a choir of angels brought it out. It was absolutely delicious. Very similar to PF Changs version, which is my favorite. I liked having the option of having it served over brown rice. The beef tasted great and the sauce was nice and sweet - for sure my favorite item of the meal. We also tried the lettuce wraps. I've never had lettuce wraps before, but suddenly had the urge to try them. I liked them a lot! The chicken had a lot of flavor and went great with the cool, crisp lettuce. The sauce on the side was a bit too salty for me though. Next was the chicken teriyaki with brown rice. So so so good, but a little skimpy on the chicken. I liked that the dish had a lot of texture - the chicken, the rice, spinach, carrots, lettuce... very good. The coolest thing by far was the coke machines. Touch screen, so many flavors... I just stood there in awe for a few moments before making my selection - half cherry coke, half vanilla coke. Yum!! To go boxes are readily available by the drink area, in case you ordered too much food like we did. And the fortune cookies are GOOD fortune cookies! Always a plus. If you like PF Changs, you'll love Pei Wei - a faster, less expensive version of the popular chain. This will be my new go-to place for a quick meal. Can't wait to go back and try out some more menu items!
(5)
V R.
Husband and I decided to try somewhere we hadn't been for dinner tonight. Got excited when I realized Pei Wei is part of P.F. Chang's! We order our meals which are about average price. We go to out table and... Disgusting! We sit down and I notice a GIANT spider web within inches of my husband. As we are discussing it I notice the layer of dust on the blinds. I get pissy and as I glare at the staff notice the ridiculous out of food on the floor of tables that are and have been empty. And then the coating of dust on the lower rungs of the chairs... I go to the hostess stand to talk to the manager. Hostess asks me why I need to talk to a manager. I tell her I have a complaint about the cleanliness of the dining room. At best the staff is dismissive, at worst they are downright dude. The guy I assume is the manager asks the hostess to go "take care it that". After she sees the spider she goes back to make him capture it. Which he does. With my dinner directly below it! He never said a word to us. The hostess brought $20 in gift cards. Do you think I would go back there?
(1)
Angela F.
Being the busy family we are, we're always on the lookout for a family-friendly, semi-healthy (Mom says 'no french fries'?! Gasp!) option to add to our rotation. Enter Pei Wei! We stopped in for a late dinner after swim lessons (translation: tired, crabtastic hungry boys) on a Tuesday night. I'm glad we'd scoped out the menu online in advance because there are a lot of tasty-sounding dishes to choose from - not all of Chinese influence; there's some Thai, Korean and Vietnamese thrown in, as well. Everyone was really pleased with their selections. The food was hot, fresh and delish; veggies were crispy, rice steamed perfectly, and chicken was juicy. Two thumbs up from this Momma for an MSG-free dining experience. The sleek, contemporary design of the space is comforting and appealing and gives the impression of a higher-end, more expensive restaurant. If there were dessert on the menu (hint, hint Pei Wei) I'd order it to spend a little more time here, rather than walking across the parking lot to Starbucks after dinner for a little somethin' sweet. Not all was sunshine and fortune cookies, however. Maybe our experience was an anomaly but the service was seriously disappointing. I wish I were joking when I say that every employee we encountered (4 to be exact) acted as if that restaurant were the last place on Earth they wanted to be. I'm hoping this won't be the case next time, because we will definitely be back!
(4)
Jenn C.
If you like asian fusion or if you don't know what authentic Asian cuisine tastes like, then I'm sure you will enjoy this place. I came here with my girls just to try it out since it recently opened up near my favorite Target, so we came here to eat and eck.... that's all I can say. Service was fine, ambiance/decor was very nice, but food... blah... the only good thing here is the fancy schmancy soda machine that kids seem to love.
(1)
Nick S.
It's great to have a new place to eat lunch around the office, but it is kind of pricey and the seating setup they have is really messed up. They didn't have a table for four when we arrived so everyone that had less than four people in their party go to order and eat before us. Meanwhile we got to stand next to the registers and watch this occur while we were asked no less than 10 times if we were ready to order. Despite the low review and service/pricing issues, I will say that the food was pretty tasty. I might go back but only if someone at the office is really interested.
(2)
Bella J.
Awesome place to have dinner. Tastes very much like P.F. Chang's which I love. Interior is really nice too, reminds more of a restaurant than a fast food place. The food is delivered really quickly. The only con is that they don't bring all the food at the same time, so you can be left behind for a couple of minutes waiting while your friends are already served.
(5)
Shawn C.
Food is always good. Issue is over salting the food. Really like the lettuce wraps and dishes with shrimp. Other wise decent Chinese food.
(3)
Jay n.
Nice fast, fresh asian fusion type food. Good menu, lots of choices, nice decor - and FAST. Our food was being served by the time we filled our drinks at the self-service drink station. Two types of iced tea - on green team with orange flavor, the other black tea - both very good. I just wish they had 'to-go' cups so you could fill up on the way out the door. Entrees are good sized. Choice of brown rice, white rice or noodles. The brown rice was very good, best I've had. Pork Egg rolls were also just about the best I've had. Only gripe is that because the food is served so quickly, the broccoli was a bit undercooked, next time I'll ask them to cook it a little longer. Overall very good. Hope they open one out in the Naperville/Bolingbrook area soon.
(4)
Ron J.
I have been to dozens of Chinese restaurants and my favorite dish is Kung Pao Chicken. This was the BEST Kung Pao I have ever had in my life. I can;t wait to go back and have it again. Fried rice was outstanding.
(5)
Sinan A.
This place deserves way better review. Its essentially a cheaper PF changs. You will loose no quality by coming here. You will actually save money and get just as flavorful and fresh quality chinese food. Also you must come checkout their coke machines. State of the art machines with like 1000 different flavor options.
(5)
Chris W.
This has quickly become one of my favorite places to eat. The best way to describe this restaurant is a Noodles & Co. with Asian food. The menu is full of choices in many different Asian styles. I have tried many of the items and they are all pretty good. When you walk in, you are greeted by an employee who provides you with a table number. They then go over to the table and reserve it for you. You step up to the counter and place your order and pay. You go to your table and the food is brought out to you when it is ready. The food is good for what this place is. You are probably going to be able to find better Pad Thai at a great Thai restaurant, but this is a fast food type place and for the time and price, it is excellent. The prices are pretty reasonable - nothing over $10. One of the coolest aspects of this place is the soda machines. They have fountain machines with touch screens that allow you to mix dozens of flavors of Coke products. It is fun to experiment with new flavors and I look forward to trying new ones each visit. The staff is really helpful and attentive. They bring out the food quickly and get you a table in an efficient matter. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)
Matt B.
Interesting place, to be sure. Upon entering, you'll notice that you can't exit the same door you came in, which is a little odd. There seems to be a "takeout exit" and a "dining room exit" from the restaurant. I found that a little claustrophobic. Aside from that, interior decor is nice. Darker tones, open kitchen with unnecessarily large woks hanging from the ceiling, that sort of thing. Dining area is moderately sized. The area where people wait for takeout orders could stand to be a little larger; there is one (1) stool, and the rest of the people pretty much sit on the oversized window ledges. I ordered at a counter for takeout; the coutner ordering is benefited by a series of video menus that appear in screens on the counter. As other reviewers mentioned, the soda machines are nuts. They look like something from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. So it seems like Pei Wei is taking advantage of modern technology. My wife and I got the Kung Pao Beef, Sweet & Sour Chicken, and a selection of egg rolls and crab wontons. The beef was good, had a significant bit of heat to it, unlike most kung paos you get at Chinese take-out restaurants. Had a heavy soy sauce flavor to it, which gave more acidity to the flavor than I am used to. Not bad, just different. My wife said the sweet & sour was also quite good. I didn't try it, but I can tell you just by looking at it that it wasn't drowning in sauce like most s&s dishes. However, I found the egg roll and wontons disappointing. They weren't crispy, but had that softer texture and lighter color that I've had at other restaurants. Not much flavor to either, although the sweet chili sauce they gave us helped a bit in that regard. I'm not sure if this comes from the frying temperature (or maybe they were baked?), or the type of wrapping they use for them, or what. But the appetizers could use some work. Overall, it was a good first experience, but I'm not blown away quite yet. But I would give them another try. It seems to be a step up from true "fast food" Chinese, and the ingredients seem fresh and well-prepared. Total cost for the entrees and appetizers was $28 for take out, no drinks.
(3)
Eric Y.
It's a step above Panda Express, for sure. The ambience is more upscale and the food is made to order. Nice. Food quality seems ok. I had the Thai River noodles which was a competent rendition of a dish that I've had many times, Pad See Ew, which is itself a variation of Chinese beef chow fun. My son had the Korean sweet and sour chicken. The chicken was tasty and tender - a very good version of the ubiquitous orange chicken which can also be called chicken "crack." The whole dish itself was otherwise very pedestrian. I like to check out the nutrition information of the chain restaurants. When I looked at Pei Wei's nutritional information online, I saw that every dish they serve is actually 2 servings ... yup, it's really supposed to feed two people. So I felt bad that the plate of noodles that I consumed all by myself had over 1200 calories! I wonder if there is any plate that has less than 500 calories here? They do have a cool soda machine though!
(3)
Kelly C.
New food options near the office are so very, very exciting! After a marathon meeting, some coworkers and I went to Pei Wei to decompress and eat delicious Pan-Asian cuisine. Because we arrived at noon and there were five of us, we were asked to wait by the ordering station until a table that could contain us became available. They estimated a 10 minute wait, and it was probably three. Win. They tell you your table number and you proceed to the ordering stations. I was between two options and the friendly man at the register gave me his preference (dan dan noodles). After quick trip to the much-discussed coke machine (magically high tech!), I easily found the table because of their helpful numbering cards. It took approximately two minutes for the first food dish to pop up (Vietnamese-style spring rolls that looked amazing. Alas, they were not mine). The remaining dishes appeared quickly and beautifully-presented at our table. The Dan Dan Noodles I ordered did not disappoint -- they were both wonderful and plentiful. I didn't even get through half my order. I tested the orange-peel beef my neighbor ordered and it was pretty incredible. Nobody else at my table was willing to share, which I believe speaks to the high quality of their foodstuffs. All in all, this is a great place that I would love to put into the regular lunchtime rotation.
(4)
Mr. Black S.
From an Asian person perspective, environment of the restaurant is great, pop machine is fantastic, the food is way below par. This place is on its way to destroy the Asian Cuisine. Example: Thai dish called Pad See Eiw, Pei Wei called its Thai River. If they are going to recreate the Thai dish, they should at least get the name right. The fried rice has the same taste as fried rice you get at the grocery store in frozen food section. For all Asian people and people whom really loves Asian Cuisine out there, take extra time and drive to China Town or real Thai Restaurant for the real taste for Asian Food.
(1)
Josh M.
I will be giving this place another shot, because so many people seem to like it. Maybe I got a lemon of a meal, I don't know. I had high hopes for Pei Wei, as I love good Asian food, but other than Thai, it is not too easy to find. Often you just get fried meat with caramel coating and salt. I had heard it was from the same company that does P.F. Chang's which gave me more hope, because other than being overpriced, I really dig P.F. Chang's food (not too greasy, flavorful sauces, etc.). My wife's family and I got a variety of dishes, and they all were too salty. The noodles were over cooked and other than the orange chicken, everything tasted very similar. The sauces were muddy and indistinct. Also, the fried rice was too greasy. I do not enjoy that at all. We got takeout this first time, but I want to go in for an in person experience, then I'll be updating my review. Until then, remain cautious.
(2)
Robin P.
You have to go here just to check out the soda machine, very cool! Who knew Diet Raspberry Coke existed? This place is fairly small and has a selection of tables and a few booths. You walk up to the register and place your order, they give you a number and then bring the food to the table. I had the kung pao chicken and tried the sweet and sour chicken, both were not bad. Large portions and everything tasted fresh. The customer service here was really great. We forgot to pick up forks and knives, one of the busboys noticed and ran and got us some. They were starting to get really crowded around 12:30 so workers did a good job of scouting out tables for everyone. I will definitely go back and look forward to trying some new dishes.
(4)
Fred M.
What can I say? This is panda-express with a Thai twist. Don't get your hopes high because of the decor, it is still a fast food place. Food is decent and price is right.
(3)
Bryan B.
My expectations were not high as this was described as a "fast Asian food place" to me by two sources. I was definitely impressed by a number of different things: 1. The food was very good tasting. 2. Their operations. You get assigned a table BEFORE you order your food. The reason is that their army of cooks prepare the food so quickly they do not want the food arriving to the table before you do 3. The Coke machine. A self-service digital machine with about 16 choices. They even has Diet Barq's root beer! 4. The menus-Very cool flat panels hung vertically in an in-your-face fashion so the people in front of you in line read the menu instead of lolly gagging 5. Everyone from "the neighborhood" was there. It definitely felt like a neighborhood place. Bottom line: try it.
(4)
Maria S.
Fresh food, a wee bit pricey and dark. I do like the food though, better to eat in than carry out. Appears to me that you get more dinning in than carrying out.
(3)
Karen C.
I like this place. I give it 5 stars out of 5 just cause the food was fantastic. I will be returning soon.
(5)
Nick L.
I was kind of doubtful at first, but the different types of food and the setting was pretty nice. I'm personally a fan of spicy food and they did have a nice selection of spicy stuff. Yes! It kind of reminded me of an Asian version of portillos/barnellies, albeit slightly different. The food was pretty tasty, though the servings were a little small for the price that we paid. All in all it's pretty good, but if you're looking for authentic Chinese then I recommend looking somewhere else.
(4)
Jacqueline S.
I had the Dan Dan Noodles and the noodles were overcooked and there was way too much sauce. It was terrible - and it was expensive. I am not a big fan of soda and the only things on the soda machine that looked good to me they were out of. Everyone else was so excited about the soda machine though.
(1)
Jen M.
This place was disappointing. The food is overpriced and plain. The menu doesn't have anything special (think your typical Americanized Chinese restaurant). The servings are small. Probably will not be returning.
(2)
Bill D.
When was the last time anyone here has been there? Since it opened, my office -mates and I had lunch there at least once a week. Then I took my wife and daughter there for dinner. 1. The menu had changed. Smaller portions at higher prices, and a couple of favorite dishes no longer available. 2. Even tho there were literally NO other diners at the time, it took 20 minutes for the 1st of 3 plates to appear... wrong. When I complained to the hostess she responded "... it's been like this all day." So I launched a boycott, and held to it until today when the office crew wanted to go there. #1 above still applies: less food/more cash. When someone asked why it changed, the response was a smile and a 'yeah.' (???!!!). But the kicker was the unidentifiable black crunchy thing in a friend's Broccoli chicken. Pei Wei -ve this place goodbye.
(1)
Joe S.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5 Stars. I guess I cannot be too hard on the place since it is opening week, but I cannot be too easy either. FOOD: Considering that it was opening week, I decided to stick with something very basic. I had the sweet and sour chicken and she had the chicken lo mein, we also split an order of potstickers. Rice and sauce were very tasty. Chicken tasted like it was freezer burned. She was happy with her noodles - but its hard to screw those up. Yes Kate W, the 1st yelper for this location of Pei Wei, the soda machine is "RAD". Only thing that could have been better with the soda machine is if there was an iphone app for it to help me sort out all of the possible soda flavor combinations. OR, maybe Kate W. would like to show me personally! That would be RAD too. Anyway, the staff was really nice and they seemed organized for it only being the first week; actually 3rd day! Kudos!
(4)
Jamie N.
The food is pretty good and service is quick, but the portions are awfully small. I read some of the other reviews and it looks like I'm not the only one that thinks the portions have gotten smaller. It is definetly not worth the money that you pay. The only way I'd go back is with a buy one get one free coupon...at least you feel like it's an appropriate price for the food you get. Cool soda machine, though.
(2)
P G.
I went to Pei Wei with my 2 daughters. We all are big fans of P.F. Changs and this is as good as that. The price was very reasonable and the food was great, but the best thing about this place was the soda machine. We have never seen anything like it. SO MANY FLAVORS. Cant wait to go back.
(5)
Ben M.
We have always enjoyed the food here at Pei Wei Hinsdale, but the last 2 times we were here all the plates were still dirty, some of the forks still had food residue on them and the manager got irritated that we didn't want to use dirty dining ware. Oh well, time to find a new favorite Asian restaurant ! B. Marlin
(1)
Eric R.
I wouldn't eat here again. The food tastes like glorified frozen food from the grocery store.
(2)
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Address :7135 Kingery Highway South
Willowbrook, IL, 60527
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Average Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : Yes Wi-Fi : No 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.
Maryam G.
I love PF CHANG and I prefer it for the occasional dining (because of the high end prices) but today I discovered PEI WEI by chance and when I read 'by pf Chang,' I was like BINGO! I found a fast food mode of PF Chang. The girl on the register gave me a warm welcome, the place was clean, the ambience was welcoming and yes the music was loud and I was cool with it because it is a 'FAST FOOD' place. I ordered Pad Thai and Dynamite Thai and paid $17 for both entrees. Pad Thai was yummilicious but D.T had a sodium overload. So it was a 50/50 experience, but still I have their caramel chicken on my 'DISH TO EAT' wish list before I increase or decrease the number of stars.
(3)Emma B.
Paid $9 for Thai curry shrimp- huge dish, loaded with shrimp, curry exact right flavor and spiciness. Yum.
(5)Clifford B.
This is an update to my review posted 2star. I received a letter from the I guess Lead Manager M. Acosta, in the letter she does express caring to hear about my experience in "their" restaurant, also enclosed a very thoughtful gift cards to try "their" restaurant again, the only problem is can I trust that there are no ill feelings from "their" staff?? I will give it thought..How can I turst a restaurant who doesn't take responsibility for THEIR ERROR?? I say PASS on this Place, their are many OTHER Oriental Restaurants in this area GO to them!!
(2)Marty G.
Not so great - too bad because we had high hopes. This review is based off of 3 visits so I know this is not just a fluke. The concept is great - service is pretty good, the menu is not the great and the food is less than desired. I wish I can write better things because I was really looking forward to an Express version of Chang. But this is not it.
(3)Elizabeth A.
It's ok. Average at best. Too bad because I like P.F. Changs.
(2)Ekta S.
Horrible - not worth the trip at all - what was I thinking!!! Food seemed sub par overall cleanliness not to standard. There were left over utensils on tables and place seemed under staffed. Wouldn't go again.
(1)Matt W.
Owned by PF Changs. You get PF Chang's quality food for half the price. Great for casual atmosphere and great tasting food. Kung Pao Shrimp is breaded and to die for.
(5)Meghan W.
We ate here recently. It was lunch time on a weekday, so it was incredibly crowded. Which made it loud and finding a table impossible. We ended up snatching a table right before our food came out. The food was alright but I don't think I would willing choose to come back. There are other great places to eat around there (portillo's, meatheads, etc.) and I would rather go to one of those than go back to Pei Wei Asian Diner. I had the Thai chicken lettuce wrap and while it was okay, I wasn't loving it. The hot and sour soup sucked. The crab wontons were good. Try at your own risk.
(3)Katie J.
Yum. They do their cooking in an open kitchen. Its to die for. So good. A little overpriced in this economy. Needs to be competitive cuz theres another place down the street just as good with lower prices. Staff is very friendly here too though. If you have cash to blow, i highly recommend. So good.
(4)A B.
My husband and I ordered the veggie spring rolls and the Thai Dynamite. While the Thai Dynamite was really nice (the tofu was really crisp and tasty), the spring rolls left much too desire. And they were very oily. The decor was comfortably contemporary and the service cordial. I have been there just once, so will hopefully edit my review later.
(3)Kristin S.
Was kinda excited to eat here, knowing that it is owned by PF Chang, and I do like PF Chang. But I was disappointed. Food tasted very bland, similiar to any express Chinese takeout that I've had, I do like the menu options, in theory they all sound good. I also like that you can get calorie counts on their website. But this could have been Big Bowl or Golden Wok or what ever.... Prices a little to high for this type of food. Maybe if it were less expensive I would have given it 3 stars. Sorry, this one is a One and done.
(2)Yvonne O.
Delicious and super fast and fed three people for only $27!!! What more could you ask for? Although the whole menu is a bit confusing when you enter, once I come here a few times, it will be a breeze. I got the crab wontons and the chicken lettuce wraps. Husband got the sweet and sour chicken (surprise) and his mom got the teriyaki chicken. By the time we found a table and got our drinks from the futuristic Coke digital machines, my crab won tons were ready. Everything else came within 5 minutes and the portions were perfect. I would totally come back here any time! Plus, they have wine - which is odd, but intriguing.
(5)Eric S.
Panda Express' classy older sibling. This "Americanized" Chinese pseudo-chain provides more than a touch of flair to a variety of appealing menu items. GET THE LETTUCE WRAPS! The traditional wraps are an absolute must-order on any visit here. Low in carbs, high in protein, and tremendous flavor makes it one of the best shared appetizers you can get in any restaurant around. Entrees are equally good, I've yet to be disappointed by a teriyaki beef or pineapple chicken. Portions are on the larger side, although they've begun offering smaller sizes which is nice. That being said, their sushi game was decidedly weak. $3.50 for 4 'rolls', several of which were on the anemic side. I could make better sushi than what I was given here. 'Course, goes to show me for ordering Japenese at an American Chinese restaurant.....#myownfault But! They offer a decent selection of bottled beers, domestic and imported, as well as wine by the glass and bottle! A large Sapporo ran me $7, but it was a 600mL bottle so I didn't feel entirely ripped-off. Plus points for having a Coke Freestyle machine and several tea dispensers. Food comes out quickly and the interior has been relatively clean on most occasions. I'm not entirely surprised that Pei Wei's are a subsidiary of P.F. Chang's, given the quality (and similarity) of items. My family loves coming here when we tire of our tried-and-true neighborhood Golden Bowl. 4.5/5, and I'll give them the benefit of the doubt because past visits have been generally consistent and splendid overall. Highly recommended for those in the mood for orange chicken but don't want to roll the dice on some sub-par chunks of mystery meat at the local Panda.
(5)Bobby O.
This was my first time here having never heard of this place before. With that said I gave it a shot. The menu had a basic outlay that you pick a protein, pick a rice or vegetable stir fry and then a sauce. You get the idea. My son got really wild and went with the chicken fried rice. And the crowd ROARS! I tried the crunchy wasabi rolls (sushi). After ordering you sit down with a number and the staff delivers your food. It took a bit (so impatient) and when the food items arrived they came one at a time. Me no like...I want everyone to get their food together. That was my only gripe. After eating you leave your plates on the table...painless.
(4)Kate L.
My husband and I visited Pei Wei, Kingery Highway, Willowbrook for the first time back on August 30, 2015 -- really disappointed in the quality of the food and lack-of-cleanliness in the dining room. Been there, done that, not going back. The restaurant is set up like Panera Bread... stand in line, place your order at the counter, receive a number, and then sit down at a table and wait 20 minutes or so for your food. I ordered the Orange Peel entrée, which is marked 'spicy.' It was neither orange-y nor spicy. My husband ordered the Pei Wei Spicy with chile vinegar, which is marked 'spicy.' It was vinegar-y but not spicy. I had the white rice, which was disappointingly American-style light fluffy jasmine rice, not the sticky rice I would expect in an Asian restaurant. Tough to eat American-style fluffy rice with chopsticks. Both entrees were drowning in gravy. Although, I was happy that they include some vegetables--carrots and pea pods--in the entrees. Spring Rolls were crispy and minimally greasy. Overall, the food at Pei Wei is the same you get at any other run-of-the-mill Chinese take-out restaurant. It could be nice for workday lunchtime if you just want a bit of Chinese food without leftovers. My other disappointment at Pei Wei was how dirty the dining room tables and chairs were, considering the restaurant wasn't even busy. But who cares about cleanliness when you can just stand around the kitchen socializing with coworkers, right?!
(2)Shannon M.
Pei Wei, what the hell happened? I get that it's been a while since I was here, but wow, what a comedown. First, service needs some help. I specified twice to the girl taking my order that I just wanted water when she asked if I wanted a drink. The line was piling up so of course they shove you along. I got go the table thinking the bill seemed high...sure enough, charged two bucks for a drink! But since I would have had to get back in that line it wasn't worth the argument. Pay attention (twice!)... Also, apparently they don't do the "stock velveting" anymore (cooking in stock vs oil, which made a dish lighter), because when I asked they acted like I was requesting something totally bizarre. Never mind, sorry I broke your brain. If you order appetizers be aware that they may come at the end of your meal (or almost not at all: when one of the dishes was delivered the server said, "So that's everything?" Um, no, we still were waiting for spring rolls, please don't take our number yet...) I just wasn't super impressed with the food this time either (though maybe it is partly because it came with a hint of annoyance). The spring rolls and crab wontons were good and I like that you can choose the number you get (2, 4 or 6). We also got the limited time kung pao shrimp sushi roll but honestly it was forgettable (and I am a big fan of kung pao). I got the caramel chicken again but wasn't as good as I recall (again, maybe due to different cooking method). It is nice to have the choice of small or large size (but a big portion of the small consists of a huge heap of rice). Overall, this trip made it obvious that it isn't worth the trek across town for me to come back. You can get most of the same meals in a more polished setting at PF Chang's (their parent company), and probably skip the hassle and confusion of the ordering and serving process here.
(2)Chris F.
Overly salty Chinese food. Panda Express is probably the way to go for Chinese fast food but if there is no other options. I guess Pei Wei isn't that bad.
(2)Joseph P.
Now it may seems like I would be just like any other Asian American guy that would judge a Chinese restaurant base on authenticity. Well, I am here to tell you that is not the case. In fact, i do indulge myself in some delicious orange sesame chicken. Therefore, the ratings I have his place is not because I don't deem their products authentic Chinese food, but on the actual food quality. For what it's worth, it is ok for the occasional dining. The price is reasonable, but it's performances is not consistent. Sometimes my lettuce wraps can be too salty, but sometimes it's lacking in flavor, making it hard to judge. However, the restaurant itself is very clean, and it's staff are friendly. It is also very opened minded when your friends want to bring food from the other restaurants in to sit in with you. Overall, if you are willing to see how lucky you are on the day of, why not give this restaurant a try? You may just be happy that you did
(2)Marie G.
Just brought take out home from here. Ordered shrimp lo mein with extra shrimp and vegetables. The noodles were dry and Luke warm, the veggies were not cooked at all. The shrimp were small, overcooked and rubbery. It's like they cooked the shrimp, and dumped it in the take out container with raw veggies, precooked noodles and raw veggies WITHOUT ANY SAUCE AT ALL. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT MY MEAL EVER WAS IN A WOK! This used to be a good place, not any more.
(1)Chris L.
I like Pei Wei, its essentially the "quick" version of PF Changs. The food is top quality in my opinion, a step above what you would find at a similar place like Panda Express. Along with that quality comes a little bit higher prices, but its a worthy concession. The staff is friendly, the location is clean, and the food is good.
(4)Morris N.
Online ordering is fast and convenient. Prices are decent. I've only ordered carry-out but the dining room looks inviting and casual. Being part of P.F. Chang's which I like their food, I thought the food would be better here but it's just OK. I've ordered here a few times and one thing that is consistent is their food is too salty. It's worth a try if you are thinking about it, but not worth going out of your way for.
(3)Edward L.
Another surprisingly good (if not authentic) Pan-Asian place. No, the name doesn't mean anything in Chinese. (Pee Wee?) Parking is available in the nice huge lot out front. The interior is a trendy in a Western kind of way. Looks like some interior decorator went to town here, and it shows. Only half the chefs were Asian, but this isn't always the best indicator. I had the Pad Thai. As weird as it sounds, it actually tasted pretty authentic in terms of sauce. I was quite shocked. Nice crunchy peanuts, and lots of green onions (more than what you'd find in Thailand though). I noticed they also tuned down the spiciness, but hey, this is USA, not Thailand. The portion was huge. $9 and I could barely finish my bowl. Lastly, there's free Wi-Fi.. if you use the one from Meatheads next door. Muwahaha. Strange as it sounds, I'll gladly give this chain (and P.F.Chang's) another try. Pretty good stuff if you don't mind the Americanization of the food.
(4)Tom K.
Came in here wanting a quick, healthy meal with my 4 year old but was disappointed. Kids honey wei and adult pei wei spicy way too sweet. Took any health benefit and negated it.
(2)Al M.
Rude and clueless (and maybe a liar, too). Ordered take out online on a Saturday night. Picked it up took it home. When I got home realized they had forgotten my daughter's dish. I called to let them know. No apology. They seemed to blame it on me for somehow not packing my own order. They said they would credit me the cost of the dish. I asked them to send me an email to confirm. They had my email from the online order and I gave it to them again. I had not received the email, so I called back on Sunday and asked for a manager. There were not any so I left a message and my phone number. I also filled out the online survey that they list on their receipt. On Tuesday I get a from Sal. He let me know that he got the survey and that he had already sent an email to me and credited me for the dish. No we're sorry for the inconvenience ... Nothing. When Sal confirmed my email ... He repeated one with a Z where a 2 should have been ...must have been my fault. Even though they had all my info from the online order. I kept waiting on the phone ... No sorry. Hung up. I got ticked off and called Sal back. Told him all I was looking for was a an apology for the goof in the food and the goof email. Nope ... Just an ok. After that, I received the "original email" that got kicked back to him with a new email thanking me for letting them know of their mistakes and offer to give me $20 be our guest card if I give him my home address. No sorry. The strange thing us that in the original email my email was correct. No Transposed Z. Did he forget to send it ... Recreate it to cover his Butt? Who knows. I checked my Spam filter and email again ... Nothing. Already wasted enough time ... They can keep their $20 card ... Not going back. Just ticked that they have my email and phone number. I noticed another review here criticizing the manager ... Thought it was harsh ... It was not ... Clueless management .
(1)Chris H.
Food quality has dropped ever since they changed their menu a few months ago. Our most recent visit had taste quality more like Panda Express with too much corn starch in the sauces and bland taste.
(2)Bill G.
Good food and great place but my visit to this location was a disappointment. The tables were not cleared and I had to search for a clean table for my party to eat at. I'll come back again but I hope they get it together next time.
(3)Jeff N.
They changed the menu but didn't change the website. Now you basically create your own by choosing the protein then the sauce then the ... You get the idea. Confusing and time consuming. The guy at the counter made me feel stupid for trying to order the item I usually ordered. Apparently they don't have the sauce anymore.
(2)RJ C.
I ordered the chicken Pad Thai, spring rolls and a side salad. Before ordering I asked the cashier what his favorite dish was on the menu... He hesitated and ultimately answered my question with a question. And so we are off to a bad start. Ok, how about your favorite appetizer? The spring rolls he recommended, so I ordered them as well as a safe standby with the pad Thai. The spring rolls were deep fried, and tasted like they just came out of a frozen box. The salad had great dressing and fresh cucumbers but the lettuce hadn't been washed, was bone dry, and wilting. Disgusting, and a waste of $4. My entree was ok a best. It tasted decent enough, and was a large portion, but was drenched in sauce. The noodles were so wet you couldn't even grab them with dry chopsticks. Even though I spent close to $19 for lunch and didn't leave very satisfied, the worst part was how filthy the restaurant was. There were food particles under every single table available and some even on the tables nearby. While noticing this, I looked around and realized the cashier was running the food and also bussing if and when he had time, which was never. When the cashier / runner / busser did get around to "cleaning" up, all that consisted of was wiping the food scraps onto the ground where they remained as no one had swept up all day. Dear owner, This place is in Hinsdale right? Well you won't be much longer if you don't step up to the plate big time. People in Hinsdale have money, and rich people don't go to filthy restaurants that serve middle of the road food. This place is understaffed and needs another person to help clean up and keep your in-house customers happy and feeling looked after. Crack the whip and make sure the manager is more visible. Make sure the cashier knows what your signature dishes are and be able to rattle 2-3 off in a knee jerk reaction when asked. And finally, get some real napkins, because yours are the worst. I think this is my first negative review. But, damn you guys deserve it. You dropped the ball all over the place. Worst part is, there are even pictures up that someone else took about how filthy your floors are. Least your consistent with that.
(1)Stills J.
The food here are just ok but the Asian chopped chicken salads is good here and the place need some cleaning to do. It's kind dirty.
(3)Dustan D.
My friends and I used to go to PF Changs, wait an hour to be seated, and then share apps. Then along came Pei Wei, a faster, more casual version of Changs. Their vegetarian offerings are great, tofu is an option with almost any dish, spring rolls are sprays crisp and tasty, and the coke machine of many flavors is a never ending source if experimentation. After the meal you can grab a fortune cookie or 10 from the open serving bowl on the counter and pack up any leftovers in takeout boxes. Their available sauces help bring a little extra flavor to the meal. Don't skip the edemame. It's a great experience at a reasonable price, a touch of Asian at a lunchtime speed.
(4)Allison A.
Thank you, thank you, thank you. They have a small gluten free menu. This was the first time in years I have had Chinese food that tasted like what I remember from my gluten days. I wish there was one closer to where I live. Although, I would probably be 400lbs because I would be eating here all the time. I had the gf spicy chicken. It was crispy and delicious. It seriously made my life. (Oka, the day, but still)
(5)Jo R.
Pei Wei: the name always makes me laugh. I wonder what on earth it means? Anyway, my parents visit whenever they receive buy one get one free coupons from here. They always deliver the free entree to my place, so I benefit. Our usual order consists of vegetable spring rolls, honey seared chicken with fried rice (extra charge), and a fortune cookie. Here in the western suburbs, I can't think of any really fantastic Chinese restaurants. Pei Wei is pretty good, but there is no gold standard around here to measure it against. The vegetable spring rolls were light and crispy. Not nearly as substantial as egg rolls, but that's fine. The honey seared chicken was mild, I thought. The chicken was advertised as "crispy", but I can tell you it wasn't. It was, however, tender and coated in the honey-like sauce. We chose the fried rice in place of white rice, thus adding an extra charge. I do think the fried rice was a better option and worth it. Overall, I think Pei Wei is a decent Chinese fast food place. The food is average and fairly mild; not much different from other Chinese places here. But for a penny pincher like me, you can't beat a free meal.
(3)Leo S.
This place has been chronically understaffed for months now. Having Coke Freestyle machines is not a plus if a substantial numbers of flavors are out including basic Coke. Spouse and I liked this as a local dining option but it's getting brutal primarily due to staffing levels but they may reflect underperforming sales.
(2)Peter S.
I normally don't go to Asian chain restaurants. But it was recommended by my haberdasher. We had the chicken lettuce wrap, the pork egg roll and pad Thai with shrimp. The egg roll was very good but small and I did not like the mustard dipping sauce. The lettuce wrap was very good and tasty and not as messy as I thought it might be. The pad Thai, which was supposed to be spicy, was just right and also very good. The staff was friendly and efficient. But I really don't like restaurants where you stand in line to order and they bring it out to you. And it's a little pricey. Not really a good value. Probably won't go back. And I'll update my haberdasher (just a guy at Jos A Banks) when I go for my Easter outfit next week.
(3)Liz C.
We ate here last night. And the entree was pretty good, I had a caramel wok with chicken. It was tasty, but nothing too outstanding. so why 4 stars? The crunchy mango California roll! Delicious! This lady had a craving for sushi, but being pregnant, options are limited. Well, California rolls are safe, so I figured why not? California rolls are about as adventurous as I get when it comes to sushi anyway. It was delicious. I almost didn't share with hubby! I'd definitely come back just for that roll! Yummy!
(4)Dan R.
A step up from Panda Express and a step down from any of the many Chinese dining alternatives. The food was good, but not great. It's what I would expect for the price and the category. This location has outdoor seating which I like a lot. I can't really judge the service as I was there on a Saturday in August when the summer staff were probably returning to school and they seemed short staffed. Overall, it was clean (besides some un-bused tables) and the food arrvied quickly.
(3)Judy L.
Pei Wei, not to be confused with Pee Wee.... ;) Owned by PF Changs and WAY better than the alternative to fast Asian cuisine...Panda Express. Blech. I had Japanese style Tofu Teriyaki with veggies over brown rice with a spring roll and fortune cookie for $7! It was delicious! Fine, maybe the tofu was slightly overcooked, but the food was at our table in literally 2 minutes. My friend had the Kung Pao chicken and edamame. Salt comes on the side. Hate heavily salted edamame that burns your tongue. More restaurants should do this! Super cool soda fountain with lots of buttons to press on a digital screen. Order at the counter, grab your drink and silverware, find a booth or table and food comes out. Simple. Delicious. They do have 4 wines by the glass and 2 beers ($4 to $5 price range).
(5)Suzanne Z.
This place is fast and convenient, but still delicious. I like that you can order ahead, in increments of 15 minutes, so that you can go in, pick up, and leave, and the food will be piping hot. I get the chicken pad thai. Large portion, not the best I've ever had, but I still like it. Large pieces of tofu and chicken, peanuts, green onions... mmmm, mouth is watering!
(4)David C.
I'm an unabashed fan of made to order chinese-american takeout. That said, my lunch today was not awesome but certainly decent. The honey glazed chicken would have been better if not fried and a little less sweet. But, I absolutely ate it all in addition to a four piece spicy tuna. Good, but short of fantastic
(3)Ethan G.
Food was hidden under a thick layer of wallmart sauce. Underneath was basically a premade freezer meal cooked in a wok. Also the waiter appeared to be acting strange (as in under the influence and underage to do so). Finally the bathroom seemed as if it hadebt been cleaned in a week. My shoes stuck to the floor and the value was terrible compared to the excellent Meatheads, or Panera next door.
(1)Liz L.
I think this place is just average 1. Does the food taste a little lower than average-yes-so basically not so good. - don't order the Pad Thai -if you have actually had good and real Pad Thai you will just be disappointed...it taste like sweet and sour Pad Thai- I left 75%of it in the container and threw the rest away -I did like the veggie spring rolls I ate both of them 2.the food takes forever! How can my local Chinese place only take 10 minutes and this place takes an eternity...for take out? I wasn't impressed. I would rather go to a hole in the wall Chinese place.
(2)Turbo T.
Me, my wife and my kid love this place. The best part is You can modify the entrees to suit your taste. Another reason to frequent this place is they don't use MSG. Taste is very consistent. Fried rice for a dollar more is a good deal. You can get to eat a tasty restaurant quality asian meal for a reasonable price.
(4)Mark R.
Let's sum up today's experience. If you take the following elements... - Dirt and garbage on the floor (a bit worse then a Denny's on a Saturday night, plus dust on the blinds and dust on the chair leg supports) - Turning to look out the window and seeing a 3-4 foot diameter spider web, suspended from the ceiling over my head and about six inches from my left shoulder... with a lovely little spider sitting in the middle of it looking quite proud of his/her creation. (tried to get a good picture of it, mostly got a spider like blob hanging in front of the blinds) Now, make it a Tuesday night around 7 pm, pay near $30 for your food and drink for two. Lastly, add in a spineless manager that didn't bother coming out to apologize. They opted to send the cashier to do it after they walked out to knock down the web and turned around to disappear out of sight. Personally, while they did give a gift certificate to each of us for our next visit, it didn't cover the cost of our meal. Plus, you take a place like this and the lack of pride the public can see and you have to wonder what it's like in the food prep areas you can't see. I don't see us ever redeeming these gift cards.
(1)Carol K.
After several people told me about this place, AND being a big fan of PF Chang's, I decided it give it a try. This is basically a fast food Asian place. There is Chinese, Korean, Japanese and Thai dishes. I have to say I wasn't crazy about anything that we ordered. The Pad Thai was really greasy and a bit salty. Maybe I was expecting more given the connection to Chang's, but I was surprised by this. My friend had the Thai coconut curry beef and I thought it was pretty good. It was definitely the best choice of what we had. On my last visit- I ordered take out and they gave me someone else's food by mistake. I called and they happily re did our order while being very apologetic. ( I wonder about the people who got our order?) The best thing about the place is the Coke machine and the large range of options that you have. Oh- and that it is relatively cheap and given it is in the "burbs" there is plenty of free parking in the lot. It's not my favorite choice for Asian out in the "burbs" but it will do in a pinch.
(3)Zach T.
Yelp is really a great game of averages. Once you get enough reviews on a place to push past the handful of family and friends who will 5-star a place and the handful of people who hate a place because of how a cashier made eye contact with them, it's truly a useful tool. As of this writing, Yelp gives Pei Wei a 3.5 star review. That's right on t he money. If you like PF Chang's food, but don't like the waits, this is the place to go. The menu has very few direct matches, but the dishes are all similar and all taste like they came out of a PF Chang's kitchen.Entrees are like 7-10 each and kids meals are like $4. They have the coke machine of the future as well which is a plus for me.
(4)Lisa L.
Great place so much more affordable than PF Chang's, it's sister company. The lettuce wraps are excellent. They even have a beef one that's quite good too. The lemon grass salad is super. I have not had anything bad at this restaurant. It's a no frill place, you order then sit down and they bring you your food. But all the money you will save, is worth it. Wish there was one in Orland Park.
(5)Robyn C.
This place is great for fast food Asian. It's not just Chinese, there is Vietnamese dishes and Thai dishes. It's a PF Chang restaurant, so I am scared about unhealthy the food is. I love their oh so modern drink dispenser. I have never seen anything like it. You press buttons and there are so many choices of what you can drink, including club soda .. very rare to offer that from a drink dispensing machine. You have to see it to really know what I am talking about. I have ordered the Kung Pao chicken ... twice. It's great, a bit salty, but overall pleasing to the palate. They offer brown rice which they cook really well. I am not a fan of cooking brown rice at home since it takes so long. I have come after the lunch rush, which I heard is pretty packed here. The atmosphere is open and clean and fresh. Not dingy and musty and basically scary like some Asian places can be like. I would definitely come again. If you come with someone else and you both want the same soup, I recommend ordering the bowl than the cup. For two dollars more, it serves 4 cups.
(3)Jack G.
I love this place for lunch. Good food fast, and cool coke dispensing machines. I meet with colleagues and customers here often.
(4)Paul Z.
So I had the very tasty Kung Pao Chicken thinking I ate something on the healthy side, by having chicken, pea pods and a little rice, then I looked up their nutritional values on line and was I shocked to find that meal was 1420 calories with 3020 mg of salt! they should put warning labels on their food!
(1)Logan S.
You would be better off getting a frozen Asian entree from the super market. Over priced fast food with enough sodium to make your blood pressure reach all time highs. My veggie-tofu Korean dish has 5700 mg of sodium. On-line, the nutrition facts states 2 servings for a large dish, but anyone with a decent appetite could eat one entree very easily. Watch the nutritional facts. You need to double all the numbers. Like all fast food, the place caters to folks with kids. The place is loud and plays contemporary music - go figure. Upon our visit, kids were running around playing with the soda machine, some state-of- the art self serve vending contraption. But it is still fast food and tastes like it. I have been here 2 times, my first and last time.
(1)Brandy W.
I'm a longtime fan of Pei Wei. My husband and I used to visit the Pei Wei in Torrance, California for cheap Friday date nights. For just about $16, we could manage 2 meals and waters. For about $20, two meals and two drinks. We moved to the Chicago 'burbs and no Pei Wei. Boo. Well, we only had to wait about 6 months. When Pei Wei opened in Chicago, we drove through 1.5 hours of traffic to eat there. I also learned through an email to Pei Wei that they would be opening one in Willowbrook-- oh sweet Jesus! That's just about 10 miles away from my house and not in city traffic! This Pei Wei was great. Despite the chain taking Blazing Noodles off their menu (argh), I have managed to find a substitution with their Pad Thai, no egg, 2 scoops spicy sauce. It works out pretty well. My husband finds their orange chicken to be the best since they don't bread/fry it. It's real chicken cooked in their awesome orange chicken sauce. He gets it with brown rice every time and loves it. Their portions are large and we both leave very full-- can't bear to bring leftovers because we love the food soooo much we can't stop eating! A little hint: You can use PF Changs gift cards there because they're the same chain. We often get $50 PFC gift cards as gifts and can go a total of THREE times for three different meal occasions (if we have waters) on that one card. Awesome, huh? It's considerably cheaper than PFC and I think it's actually better. It's a new place so expect there to possibly be a wait when you walk in. Let the food speak for itself and don't consider having to wait a measly few minutes to be a deal breaker. It's worth it.
(5)Erica Z.
Great food but take out is NEVER ready on time.
(3)Kate W.
Opening night at the long-anticipated Willowbrook location of Pei Wei! The line was almost out the door, but we were able to squeeze inside so we weren't waiting in the cold. And despite the the length, it moved really quickly. They had someone explaining the menu (on fancy screens) to everyone in line and getting tables ready for each party. You're given your table number while you're waiting in line and once you get to the counter to order, you have to give the order-taker your number. Order your food, pay, sit at your table, and the food is brought out to you. Our food was paced really well - apps (which they call "small plates") first, then salad, then entrees. I was surprised by this since it's basically an Asian Panera, but happy! The drink machine is RAD! Technically-challenged adults might be confused at first, but it's pretty easy once you take a moment to figure it out - hold the cup against the lever for the ice to come out (per the usual way), then on the screen in front you choose your drink and press the big button for it to fill your cup - watch your placement to make sure the liquid gets IN your cup, instead of everywhere but :) Also near the drink machines: straws, silverware, take-out containers for your leftovers, and free fortune cookies!! The place holds about 60 people. It was packed and lively, but my mom and I still had no trouble holding a conversation and hearing each other. Families, couples, groups of friends - every kind of diner was there. I've always thought Pei Wei has stellar food, and it's not any more expensive than similar restaurants (eg. Panera). My mom & I ordered a lot because she wanted to try lots of things (this was her first Pei Wei!) - we each had a pot sticker, then we shared an order of Vietnamese Chicken Salad Rolls, Spicy Tea-Smoked Chicken, and Thai River Noodles with shrimp. Plus two drinks, our total was $32. (And we had leftovers, so lunch tomorrow is going to rock!)
(5)Nicole L.
My SIL treated me and my husband to dinner here today as neither of us have ever been. The lettuce wraps are delicious and all the food we ordered (sesame, caramel, and Mongolian chicken) came out fresh and delicious. This is definitely a step up from Panda Express in terms of decor and presentation and I like it better than P.F. Changs. I'd come back for the lettuce wraps alone.
(4)Laura K.
It was an amazing deal that lured me to Pei Wei...but the food will bring me back! I saw that Pei Wei was offering a BOGO deal on their entrees. Since the portions are huge and relatively cheap (around $7), I figured I was basically getting four meals for $7. Not bad at all, right? I ordered the Pad Thai with tofu and the Coconut Curry with tofu. The Pad Thai was great. I asked for it extra-spicy and they spiced it just right. I didn't even have to add extra hot chili sauce like I normally do! The sauce isn't cloyingly sweet like so many pad thai sauces I've had and I appreciated that they threw in a lot of vegetables along with the tofu - though it's the first time I've ever seen broccoli added to pad thai! I wasn't nuts about the tofu - silken sliced in long strips - but that's a personal preference. I prefer firm, crispy tofu. I'm having the curry dish for lunch today, so I can't review that one, but I tried my friend's Thai Spicy dish with crispy chicken and enjoyed that one as well. And yes, the futuristic Coke machine is a lot of fun to play around with. I had Diet Barq's with vanilla flavoring added - delish! For the price, you get a lot of food and what I've had is yummy. Like I said, I'll definitely be back.
(4)Kristina B.
Ohhhh, hey there, my new favorite place. How are you? In one word, AWESOME. I was super excited to try Pei Wei- I saw that it had recently opened and couldn't wait to go. I finally had my chance this weekend, and HALLELUJAH!!! I'm in love. I like the clean, modern feel of the restaurant. The giant menu screens are pretty cool, I liked seeing pictures of the food before I ordered it. The staff was very friendly and helpful. The food arrives quickly, which is perfect for when you've just gotten done at the gym and are absolutely starving - like me ;) We had food on the table in less than 5 minutes. We tried the crab rangoons, I liked that you could order them in plates of 2, 4, or 6. They weren't the best I've ever had, but they were decent. I liked the sauce they were plated with. The mongolian beef came out next. I'm pretty sure that a choir of angels brought it out. It was absolutely delicious. Very similar to PF Changs version, which is my favorite. I liked having the option of having it served over brown rice. The beef tasted great and the sauce was nice and sweet - for sure my favorite item of the meal. We also tried the lettuce wraps. I've never had lettuce wraps before, but suddenly had the urge to try them. I liked them a lot! The chicken had a lot of flavor and went great with the cool, crisp lettuce. The sauce on the side was a bit too salty for me though. Next was the chicken teriyaki with brown rice. So so so good, but a little skimpy on the chicken. I liked that the dish had a lot of texture - the chicken, the rice, spinach, carrots, lettuce... very good. The coolest thing by far was the coke machines. Touch screen, so many flavors... I just stood there in awe for a few moments before making my selection - half cherry coke, half vanilla coke. Yum!! To go boxes are readily available by the drink area, in case you ordered too much food like we did. And the fortune cookies are GOOD fortune cookies! Always a plus. If you like PF Changs, you'll love Pei Wei - a faster, less expensive version of the popular chain. This will be my new go-to place for a quick meal. Can't wait to go back and try out some more menu items!
(5)V R.
Husband and I decided to try somewhere we hadn't been for dinner tonight. Got excited when I realized Pei Wei is part of P.F. Chang's! We order our meals which are about average price. We go to out table and... Disgusting! We sit down and I notice a GIANT spider web within inches of my husband. As we are discussing it I notice the layer of dust on the blinds. I get pissy and as I glare at the staff notice the ridiculous out of food on the floor of tables that are and have been empty. And then the coating of dust on the lower rungs of the chairs... I go to the hostess stand to talk to the manager. Hostess asks me why I need to talk to a manager. I tell her I have a complaint about the cleanliness of the dining room. At best the staff is dismissive, at worst they are downright dude. The guy I assume is the manager asks the hostess to go "take care it that". After she sees the spider she goes back to make him capture it. Which he does. With my dinner directly below it! He never said a word to us. The hostess brought $20 in gift cards. Do you think I would go back there?
(1)Angela F.
Being the busy family we are, we're always on the lookout for a family-friendly, semi-healthy (Mom says 'no french fries'?! Gasp!) option to add to our rotation. Enter Pei Wei! We stopped in for a late dinner after swim lessons (translation: tired, crabtastic hungry boys) on a Tuesday night. I'm glad we'd scoped out the menu online in advance because there are a lot of tasty-sounding dishes to choose from - not all of Chinese influence; there's some Thai, Korean and Vietnamese thrown in, as well. Everyone was really pleased with their selections. The food was hot, fresh and delish; veggies were crispy, rice steamed perfectly, and chicken was juicy. Two thumbs up from this Momma for an MSG-free dining experience. The sleek, contemporary design of the space is comforting and appealing and gives the impression of a higher-end, more expensive restaurant. If there were dessert on the menu (hint, hint Pei Wei) I'd order it to spend a little more time here, rather than walking across the parking lot to Starbucks after dinner for a little somethin' sweet. Not all was sunshine and fortune cookies, however. Maybe our experience was an anomaly but the service was seriously disappointing. I wish I were joking when I say that every employee we encountered (4 to be exact) acted as if that restaurant were the last place on Earth they wanted to be. I'm hoping this won't be the case next time, because we will definitely be back!
(4)Jenn C.
If you like asian fusion or if you don't know what authentic Asian cuisine tastes like, then I'm sure you will enjoy this place. I came here with my girls just to try it out since it recently opened up near my favorite Target, so we came here to eat and eck.... that's all I can say. Service was fine, ambiance/decor was very nice, but food... blah... the only good thing here is the fancy schmancy soda machine that kids seem to love.
(1)Nick S.
It's great to have a new place to eat lunch around the office, but it is kind of pricey and the seating setup they have is really messed up. They didn't have a table for four when we arrived so everyone that had less than four people in their party go to order and eat before us. Meanwhile we got to stand next to the registers and watch this occur while we were asked no less than 10 times if we were ready to order. Despite the low review and service/pricing issues, I will say that the food was pretty tasty. I might go back but only if someone at the office is really interested.
(2)Bella J.
Awesome place to have dinner. Tastes very much like P.F. Chang's which I love. Interior is really nice too, reminds more of a restaurant than a fast food place. The food is delivered really quickly. The only con is that they don't bring all the food at the same time, so you can be left behind for a couple of minutes waiting while your friends are already served.
(5)Shawn C.
Food is always good. Issue is over salting the food. Really like the lettuce wraps and dishes with shrimp. Other wise decent Chinese food.
(3)Jay n.
Nice fast, fresh asian fusion type food. Good menu, lots of choices, nice decor - and FAST. Our food was being served by the time we filled our drinks at the self-service drink station. Two types of iced tea - on green team with orange flavor, the other black tea - both very good. I just wish they had 'to-go' cups so you could fill up on the way out the door. Entrees are good sized. Choice of brown rice, white rice or noodles. The brown rice was very good, best I've had. Pork Egg rolls were also just about the best I've had. Only gripe is that because the food is served so quickly, the broccoli was a bit undercooked, next time I'll ask them to cook it a little longer. Overall very good. Hope they open one out in the Naperville/Bolingbrook area soon.
(4)Ron J.
I have been to dozens of Chinese restaurants and my favorite dish is Kung Pao Chicken. This was the BEST Kung Pao I have ever had in my life. I can;t wait to go back and have it again. Fried rice was outstanding.
(5)Sinan A.
This place deserves way better review. Its essentially a cheaper PF changs. You will loose no quality by coming here. You will actually save money and get just as flavorful and fresh quality chinese food. Also you must come checkout their coke machines. State of the art machines with like 1000 different flavor options.
(5)Chris W.
This has quickly become one of my favorite places to eat. The best way to describe this restaurant is a Noodles & Co. with Asian food. The menu is full of choices in many different Asian styles. I have tried many of the items and they are all pretty good. When you walk in, you are greeted by an employee who provides you with a table number. They then go over to the table and reserve it for you. You step up to the counter and place your order and pay. You go to your table and the food is brought out to you when it is ready. The food is good for what this place is. You are probably going to be able to find better Pad Thai at a great Thai restaurant, but this is a fast food type place and for the time and price, it is excellent. The prices are pretty reasonable - nothing over $10. One of the coolest aspects of this place is the soda machines. They have fountain machines with touch screens that allow you to mix dozens of flavors of Coke products. It is fun to experiment with new flavors and I look forward to trying new ones each visit. The staff is really helpful and attentive. They bring out the food quickly and get you a table in an efficient matter. I would definitely recommend this place.
(5)Matt B.
Interesting place, to be sure. Upon entering, you'll notice that you can't exit the same door you came in, which is a little odd. There seems to be a "takeout exit" and a "dining room exit" from the restaurant. I found that a little claustrophobic. Aside from that, interior decor is nice. Darker tones, open kitchen with unnecessarily large woks hanging from the ceiling, that sort of thing. Dining area is moderately sized. The area where people wait for takeout orders could stand to be a little larger; there is one (1) stool, and the rest of the people pretty much sit on the oversized window ledges. I ordered at a counter for takeout; the coutner ordering is benefited by a series of video menus that appear in screens on the counter. As other reviewers mentioned, the soda machines are nuts. They look like something from Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy. So it seems like Pei Wei is taking advantage of modern technology. My wife and I got the Kung Pao Beef, Sweet & Sour Chicken, and a selection of egg rolls and crab wontons. The beef was good, had a significant bit of heat to it, unlike most kung paos you get at Chinese take-out restaurants. Had a heavy soy sauce flavor to it, which gave more acidity to the flavor than I am used to. Not bad, just different. My wife said the sweet & sour was also quite good. I didn't try it, but I can tell you just by looking at it that it wasn't drowning in sauce like most s&s dishes. However, I found the egg roll and wontons disappointing. They weren't crispy, but had that softer texture and lighter color that I've had at other restaurants. Not much flavor to either, although the sweet chili sauce they gave us helped a bit in that regard. I'm not sure if this comes from the frying temperature (or maybe they were baked?), or the type of wrapping they use for them, or what. But the appetizers could use some work. Overall, it was a good first experience, but I'm not blown away quite yet. But I would give them another try. It seems to be a step up from true "fast food" Chinese, and the ingredients seem fresh and well-prepared. Total cost for the entrees and appetizers was $28 for take out, no drinks.
(3)Eric Y.
It's a step above Panda Express, for sure. The ambience is more upscale and the food is made to order. Nice. Food quality seems ok. I had the Thai River noodles which was a competent rendition of a dish that I've had many times, Pad See Ew, which is itself a variation of Chinese beef chow fun. My son had the Korean sweet and sour chicken. The chicken was tasty and tender - a very good version of the ubiquitous orange chicken which can also be called chicken "crack." The whole dish itself was otherwise very pedestrian. I like to check out the nutrition information of the chain restaurants. When I looked at Pei Wei's nutritional information online, I saw that every dish they serve is actually 2 servings ... yup, it's really supposed to feed two people. So I felt bad that the plate of noodles that I consumed all by myself had over 1200 calories! I wonder if there is any plate that has less than 500 calories here? They do have a cool soda machine though!
(3)Kelly C.
New food options near the office are so very, very exciting! After a marathon meeting, some coworkers and I went to Pei Wei to decompress and eat delicious Pan-Asian cuisine. Because we arrived at noon and there were five of us, we were asked to wait by the ordering station until a table that could contain us became available. They estimated a 10 minute wait, and it was probably three. Win. They tell you your table number and you proceed to the ordering stations. I was between two options and the friendly man at the register gave me his preference (dan dan noodles). After quick trip to the much-discussed coke machine (magically high tech!), I easily found the table because of their helpful numbering cards. It took approximately two minutes for the first food dish to pop up (Vietnamese-style spring rolls that looked amazing. Alas, they were not mine). The remaining dishes appeared quickly and beautifully-presented at our table. The Dan Dan Noodles I ordered did not disappoint -- they were both wonderful and plentiful. I didn't even get through half my order. I tested the orange-peel beef my neighbor ordered and it was pretty incredible. Nobody else at my table was willing to share, which I believe speaks to the high quality of their foodstuffs. All in all, this is a great place that I would love to put into the regular lunchtime rotation.
(4)Mr. Black S.
From an Asian person perspective, environment of the restaurant is great, pop machine is fantastic, the food is way below par. This place is on its way to destroy the Asian Cuisine. Example: Thai dish called Pad See Eiw, Pei Wei called its Thai River. If they are going to recreate the Thai dish, they should at least get the name right. The fried rice has the same taste as fried rice you get at the grocery store in frozen food section. For all Asian people and people whom really loves Asian Cuisine out there, take extra time and drive to China Town or real Thai Restaurant for the real taste for Asian Food.
(1)Josh M.
I will be giving this place another shot, because so many people seem to like it. Maybe I got a lemon of a meal, I don't know. I had high hopes for Pei Wei, as I love good Asian food, but other than Thai, it is not too easy to find. Often you just get fried meat with caramel coating and salt. I had heard it was from the same company that does P.F. Chang's which gave me more hope, because other than being overpriced, I really dig P.F. Chang's food (not too greasy, flavorful sauces, etc.). My wife's family and I got a variety of dishes, and they all were too salty. The noodles were over cooked and other than the orange chicken, everything tasted very similar. The sauces were muddy and indistinct. Also, the fried rice was too greasy. I do not enjoy that at all. We got takeout this first time, but I want to go in for an in person experience, then I'll be updating my review. Until then, remain cautious.
(2)Robin P.
You have to go here just to check out the soda machine, very cool! Who knew Diet Raspberry Coke existed? This place is fairly small and has a selection of tables and a few booths. You walk up to the register and place your order, they give you a number and then bring the food to the table. I had the kung pao chicken and tried the sweet and sour chicken, both were not bad. Large portions and everything tasted fresh. The customer service here was really great. We forgot to pick up forks and knives, one of the busboys noticed and ran and got us some. They were starting to get really crowded around 12:30 so workers did a good job of scouting out tables for everyone. I will definitely go back and look forward to trying some new dishes.
(4)Fred M.
What can I say? This is panda-express with a Thai twist. Don't get your hopes high because of the decor, it is still a fast food place. Food is decent and price is right.
(3)Bryan B.
My expectations were not high as this was described as a "fast Asian food place" to me by two sources. I was definitely impressed by a number of different things: 1. The food was very good tasting. 2. Their operations. You get assigned a table BEFORE you order your food. The reason is that their army of cooks prepare the food so quickly they do not want the food arriving to the table before you do 3. The Coke machine. A self-service digital machine with about 16 choices. They even has Diet Barq's root beer! 4. The menus-Very cool flat panels hung vertically in an in-your-face fashion so the people in front of you in line read the menu instead of lolly gagging 5. Everyone from "the neighborhood" was there. It definitely felt like a neighborhood place. Bottom line: try it.
(4)Maria S.
Fresh food, a wee bit pricey and dark. I do like the food though, better to eat in than carry out. Appears to me that you get more dinning in than carrying out.
(3)Karen C.
I like this place. I give it 5 stars out of 5 just cause the food was fantastic. I will be returning soon.
(5)Nick L.
I was kind of doubtful at first, but the different types of food and the setting was pretty nice. I'm personally a fan of spicy food and they did have a nice selection of spicy stuff. Yes! It kind of reminded me of an Asian version of portillos/barnellies, albeit slightly different. The food was pretty tasty, though the servings were a little small for the price that we paid. All in all it's pretty good, but if you're looking for authentic Chinese then I recommend looking somewhere else.
(4)Jacqueline S.
I had the Dan Dan Noodles and the noodles were overcooked and there was way too much sauce. It was terrible - and it was expensive. I am not a big fan of soda and the only things on the soda machine that looked good to me they were out of. Everyone else was so excited about the soda machine though.
(1)Jen M.
This place was disappointing. The food is overpriced and plain. The menu doesn't have anything special (think your typical Americanized Chinese restaurant). The servings are small. Probably will not be returning.
(2)Bill D.
When was the last time anyone here has been there? Since it opened, my office -mates and I had lunch there at least once a week. Then I took my wife and daughter there for dinner. 1. The menu had changed. Smaller portions at higher prices, and a couple of favorite dishes no longer available. 2. Even tho there were literally NO other diners at the time, it took 20 minutes for the 1st of 3 plates to appear... wrong. When I complained to the hostess she responded "... it's been like this all day." So I launched a boycott, and held to it until today when the office crew wanted to go there. #1 above still applies: less food/more cash. When someone asked why it changed, the response was a smile and a 'yeah.' (???!!!). But the kicker was the unidentifiable black crunchy thing in a friend's Broccoli chicken. Pei Wei -ve this place goodbye.
(1)Joe S.
ACTUAL RATING: 3.5 Stars. I guess I cannot be too hard on the place since it is opening week, but I cannot be too easy either. FOOD: Considering that it was opening week, I decided to stick with something very basic. I had the sweet and sour chicken and she had the chicken lo mein, we also split an order of potstickers. Rice and sauce were very tasty. Chicken tasted like it was freezer burned. She was happy with her noodles - but its hard to screw those up. Yes Kate W, the 1st yelper for this location of Pei Wei, the soda machine is "RAD". Only thing that could have been better with the soda machine is if there was an iphone app for it to help me sort out all of the possible soda flavor combinations. OR, maybe Kate W. would like to show me personally! That would be RAD too. Anyway, the staff was really nice and they seemed organized for it only being the first week; actually 3rd day! Kudos!
(4)Jamie N.
The food is pretty good and service is quick, but the portions are awfully small. I read some of the other reviews and it looks like I'm not the only one that thinks the portions have gotten smaller. It is definetly not worth the money that you pay. The only way I'd go back is with a buy one get one free coupon...at least you feel like it's an appropriate price for the food you get. Cool soda machine, though.
(2)P G.
I went to Pei Wei with my 2 daughters. We all are big fans of P.F. Changs and this is as good as that. The price was very reasonable and the food was great, but the best thing about this place was the soda machine. We have never seen anything like it. SO MANY FLAVORS. Cant wait to go back.
(5)Ben M.
We have always enjoyed the food here at Pei Wei Hinsdale, but the last 2 times we were here all the plates were still dirty, some of the forks still had food residue on them and the manager got irritated that we didn't want to use dirty dining ware. Oh well, time to find a new favorite Asian restaurant ! B. Marlin
(1)Eric R.
I wouldn't eat here again. The food tastes like glorified frozen food from the grocery store.
(2)