I love this place. Chicken Lettuce Wraps! Whaaaattt! Yeah so I have been coming to Pei Weis for a long time now, and really have never been disappointed. I love the food and the quick service. Ok so for this particular location, it is pretty much run of the mill typical Pei Wei, but that is not a bad thing, the model works well for them, and me. So anyway, I went to this location several times, sit in as well as take out. The customer service is excellent and they are really fast in getting your food out. The food itself is always fresh adn delicious. When you get a take out order, they give you all the utensils and what not to make sure your meal is complete. The prices are fair for a meal, under 10 bucks, and you get a really good portion. They also have "lunch" portions that a little smaller and cost a few dollars less, if you want that option. Dont forget to get the lettuce wraps, they will change your life!
(5)
Simone S.
Loved it and so fresh!
(4)
Sarah L.
This is like the poor man's version of P.F. Chang's but better. My siblings and I had our first visit here tonight. Service was good, the food was freshly prepared and came out in a timely manner, and there was nothing on the menu that was over $9. The method of ordering is set up like any la Madeleine, or Nordstrom Cafe: you order your food, pay, receive a number, then they bring the food over to you. For their signature dishes, you pick your protein (chicken, beef, shrimp, or vegetables/tofu). You can also pick brown or white rice, or fried rice for an additional $1. There is also a limited gluten-free menu. I had the Honey Seared Shrimp ($9), my sister had the Thai Coconut Curry with chicken ($7.95), and my brother had the Dan Dan Noodles ($7.95). Refillable fountain drinks are $1.85/each. Altogether with tax was $31.21. The portions were adequate. If you are watching your food intake, you can definitely take leftovers home. We shared our food family-style and thought the Dan Dan Noodles were the winner. They were nice and spicy but with the right amount of sauce. I liked my Honey Shrimp but the sauce was kind of sweet. I was also expecting it to be crispy shrimp but it wasn't. It did come with these crunchy noodles that stuck to the shrimp, so that made it "crispy", I guess. My sister's Thai curry was good, too. Their spicy items on the menu were actually spicy but not to the point where you're sweating bullets. The ambiance was ruined by a screaming banshee of a child next to us, but that can't be helped. I thought their black chai iced tea is weaksauce, but they do have Fanta ginger ale, which I haven't seen before. Also, I guess if you want to save a few bucks, you could just buy one drink and share since they have unlimited refills. We'll definitely be back, as there aren't too many dining options in Columbia and of all the chains, this seems to be one of the better ones.
(4)
Mary M.
For those of you who don't know, Pei Wei is owned by the same company as PF Changs, and many of the dishes are identical. For example: the famous chocked lettuce wraps often ordered at PF Changs are served at Pei Wei for half the price! I worked a long time at PF Changs while in college so I know the menu pretty well. When I am craving a dish from PF Changs, I will go to Pei Wei instead in order to save money! This Pei Wei is excellent and up to par to others I have eaten at. The lunch line can be insanely long though, so I would recommend it outside of lunchtime.
(4)
Linn G.
I absolutely love this chain! I am a fan of Pf Changs but this chain is an excellent sister chain that provides just about the same offerings as Pf Changs with a smaller menu. This wonderful chain provides simplicity and fast service and excellent food!! Unlike Pf Changs there is no long wait, pricey menu items and having to leave a tip. My staple dish is Mongolian beef with brown rice which is always hot, fresh and tasty at this location as well as the York Rd location. You simply place your order and your food comes out with lightning speed!! The portion size is pretty hefty, I usually box up extra to go and are full and satisfied after dinner. My boyfriend usually gets the honey chicken and recently tried the caramel chicken, which he said was pretty decent but prefers the honey chicken a lot more Overall I LOVE this place!!!!!!!!!!
(5)
Mary Alice A.
This review is based on my gluten free experience at Pei Wei. I have previously eaten at Pei Wei numerous times and always thought it was okay, not great, but okay. The gluten free menu is not posted at this location, however it is online. The person who took my order seemed to know exactly what I was talking about when I placed the GF order, verbatim from the website GF menu. Seemed okay at the time but was quickly regrettable hours later. I was glutenized! It has been 6 days since eating there and I still feel terrible. I wouldn't trust it again. Their menu states the chicken is dusted with potato starch to give it a crispy texture, which is great, however you can't tell if it's the potato starch or real deal gluten-laden breading. I asked the server to confirm "Is this gluten free?", received a "Yes", was skeptical, but proceeded to eat it. Big mistake. If I want a gluten free Asian fix, I'm headed to Noodles and Co. I think the issue is that Pei Wei is modifying current menu options to make them gluten free, instead of making gluten free dishes from the start. I'm not sure the kitchen is tracking what's what. It would be easier if they just offered grilled chicken instead of modified breading chicken. If you're going to order from their GF menu, maybe try the shrimp.
(1)
Samuel C.
The was food really really good. A fast food Asian Place... I had the Teriyaki Chicken.. Yummy! Yummy! The price are reasonable..!
(5)
Kelli A.
If I could I would live at Pei Wei. This is like the money friendly quicker dining option version of P.F. Changs which I believe they are owned by. I love this place. I have done takeout and dined there as well and food is always hot and delicious and never had a problem with them. The staff are professional and friendly and I would definitely recommend this place for anyone and have. It depends on certain times they you go it can be a little crowded and noisy but that typically on late weekends otherwise its pretty chill place.
(5)
Sara D.
This was my first time at a Pei Wei. I had wanting to try it for years but it was never convenient before. Husband & I went and it's a nice location tucked in the back of a shopping center. The guy at the counter was very friendly and helpful. He had suggestions and even saved me some money by letting me know you can get half white, half brown rice with orders. The foods was good but the potion size was a little smaller than I had hoped. We tried the new Korean steak lettuce wraps and they were really good! I'm sure I'll be back.
(3)
Tim H.
My wife and I have been here a few times now. Most recently we were there for dinner this evening. The dinning room is open and spacious so there is enough room for those with large parties. This place is fast Asian Fusion food. When entering the location you will see two monitors with their menu. From there you will go to the cash register and make your order. After the order is completed, you take your assigned number with you and sit down. The food is brought to your table in less than 10 minutes. It is restaurant quality food served in a fast food setting. I have been getting the Mongolian beef here. It is really good. It has scallions and mushrooms mixed in and I get it with white rice. The sauce is flavorful and not too salty. It is just the right size to fill a person. I have had the pork egg rolls here and they are good too. The only complaint I have is that I wish they would cook them a little longer so the shell is a little crisper. But other than that, they are pretty good. If you are in the mood for Asian Fusion and would like something new to try, give Pei Wei a chance. It's good, affordable and fast.
(4)
Lora H.
Love coming here for Pei Wei's chicken fried rice!
(4)
Mara C.
I've only had the tofu dishes and the tofu they use is disgusting. Not going back!
(1)
Greg S.
Mediocre at best. The food was over seasoned and packed with sodium. I really wanted to enjoy this place but it lacked in quality. The best item consumed was the future cookie.
(2)
M W.
Food and service are always great. It's a good place to stop for a quick meal. The only down fall is the lack of parking and it can get crowded in the evening.
(4)
Danny C.
The first time I went here was about 3 years ago. I got a spicy Korean dish with beef and white rice. When I got it, the flavors werent all that great. Bland, the rice was tough, the beef too chewy. Service wasnt too bad. I would of gave this place a 1 star. But I just came back here earlier today with my sister, and decided to get the kung pao veggies and tofu dish. The meal came out in less than 5 minutes. The veggies were nice and crisp, flavorful, the tofu was great, and I had brown rice with it. I had a much better experience this time around. I give this place 4 stars.
(4)
Shruti M.
Great for a quick meal. The quality of the meal wasn't as great as PF Changs, but it was ok for what we paid. The staff was friendly and the place was clean and nicely designed. I think it would be great if some of the tables in the middle weren't placed so close to each other, but their area inside isn't huge.
(4)
Peter H.
Good service, clean and tasty food. Not bad. If your looking for something spicy, it is nice. Spring rolls a bit soggy.
(3)
Antonia B.
One word to describe this place. Salt!!!! I ordered the Dan Dan bowl and it had so much sodium in it that I had to toss it. Dont know if all their dishes are all this salty. Its not what I expected based on the high reviews.
(2)
Christie V.
Given a choice, I generally pick Pei Wei over PF Changs. Why? There service is faster and better, and the prices are much more reasonable. Sure it may be the same parent corporation, but the Pei Wei model just works better. This location has it together better than some of the ones I've been to in NoVa. The food is good, portions are plentiful (usually I can get ~2 meals out of an order) and the quality is good. Busy location = faster turnover of ingredients = fresher! The Thai Coconut Curry is fantastic... I always get it with tofu. The Ramen noodle bowl was good when it first came out but can be a little greasy in the current iteration. The iced teas there are always refreshing! Given a choice between this place and that panda place? Pei Wei, hands down.
(4)
Tina S.
The three stars is for the management which routinely understaffs this location. I ate there this evening with my family, and while the food was good, the poor staff was working their butts off to keep up with the workload. One to two more people would have been ideal. And to the jerks at the next table that left a dime tip: Sorry, not the servers fault you were unhappy with your serving size. Grow up.
(3)
Frank G.
Did I hit this place on an off day? My lunch yesterday was dreadful. The pork egg roll was dripping with oil and the filling was flavorless; I wish they had added MSG to it. The spicy chicken salad was some greens with a mound of chicken swimming in generic "spicy," syrupy sauce. The sauce coated not only the chicken, but every piece of lettuce as well, making for one of the worst salads I've every had the displeasure of eating. The only good part of my lunch was the big bottle of Sapporo beer (and the company). Based on all the other good reviews, I might give this place another shot if dragged there for a weekday lunch, but yesterday's meal was simply terrible.
Pei Wei apparently translates into salt. Because everything you order is oversalted. Oversauced and over salted.
(1)
Nancy K.
Excellent customer service.extremely friendly crew.delicious food.reasonable price.can't ask for more. Highly recommended.
(5)
Ashley H.
Not your typical Asian restaurant, but a nice place to go every once in a while for a quick bite. The prices are decent and the variety of flavors is good. You get plenty of food (I always find myself bringing half home with me). It's usually quite busy and loud, but I've only been here during lunch. They also have several flavors of hot and iced tea in addition to your typical fountain drinks.
(3)
Andrew K.
My non Asian friends seem to love this place so I decided to at least give it a try. When I first entered, I realized it was part of PF Changs but it's a less formal atmosphere. You pick the food, take a number and sit and the server brings you the food. I got the Mongolian beef and it was pretty good except it was a little salty. I also tried the asian chicken salad and that was pretty good too. The best part was it tasted pretty much like PF Chang at half the price. While I'm not in love with this place, I would rather come here than PF Chang.
(3)
Allison L.
I looove Pei Wei. Even though I like PF Changs, I can't stand the excruciatingly long wait so Pei Wei is a good substitute. Their chicken lettuce wraps and honey crispy chicken taste almost identical to the dishes at PF Changs, and for a couple dollars cheaper. It is just cafeteria style, so if you're looking for a quick dinner, and you like PF Changs, this would be a good choice for you.
(4)
Romin A.
Big fan of this place. Fairly inexpensive. Clean place, staff is great, and service is great.
(4)
Kate K.
Prices aside, I will always prefer PF Changs (seems like they only use 1/2 container of salt per entree versus a full one at PW), however due to location (ie not being in stupid Ohio) they serve Yuengling beer. I'm sold!
(4)
sherri s.
I have eaten at Pei Wei at several different locations. It is like a "Panera" gone Asian! You order at the counter...but better than Panera, they bring you your food! The food is always fresh, nice portions, in-expensive and consistantly warm and delicious! I have ordered the tofu on my Pad Thai and other meals quite a few times and I think I am going back to chicken or shrimp...the tofu is just okay here. I thought I would get use to it but... naaah. They are owned by PF Chang and the tofu at Changs is much, much better. I had to deduct a star for that. However for a fast food style restaurant it is really a 5 star. The dining area is always clean and very comfy.
(4)
Nicole H.
Good food, good prices, simple/casual place for tasty quick eats. Thumbs up. :)
(4)
Matt M.
delicious food, cheap, decent portion sizes, I absolutely love this place. the crab rangoon and edamame apps are great. the chicken pad thai is my favorite entree.
(5)
Julia F.
Gluten Free menu selections are ok. It would be great to see a few more items added, like the Lettuce Chicken Wraps. I'd also love to see the GF beer around town more often. I do love the spicy foods and the waitstaff is pleasant. Good for a quick, GF, Asian meal.
(3)
Jim H.
Good stuff! A bit crowded for lunch, but service is quite fast - at least it was the first time I went. Second time, not so quick. Side note: the 'spicy' meals won't kill you (although I have a fairly high tolerance for spice).
(4)
Johnny C.
Pei Wei (and PF Changs) is hit or miss for me. It can be better than Chinese take-out, but also worse. In general, the brown rice is dry and unappetizing. The Spicy Korean dish had some decent flavor, but the amount of salt they put on it was ridiculous: and I'm a salt fiend. The Thai Cocounut Curry dish was much better in that regard, but still not great. The Honey Seared Crispy Chicken was pretty appetizing.
(2)
Jennifer H.
This is PF Chang's, but in a fast food format. The food is ok, acceptable, but not great so I don't understand all the fuss about this place. The sesame chicken was ok too, but again, nothing to rave about. It's also overpriced for what you get. I paid $7 for two summer rolls where the oversoaked rice paper had split and made a mess in the little takeout box. Still, it tasted okay. If you want good Chinese food in the Columbia area, I highly recommend Hunan Manor. Prices are fair, service is quick and food is much better. It's fine if you have a craving and there's no other place around, but it's not fast food. You come in, order and wait about 15 - 20 minutes for them to make your food if you're doing carry-out. Calling ahead might help. Not the greatest, but it satisfies a craving if you're willing to wait and pay more $ than you need to.
(3)
Suzcelle S.
I love this place! It's P. F. Chang's on a budget but the food taste as great. I called in for carry out and our food was ready before pick-up time. We always order the Mongolian beef, which is amazing, the beef is very tender and lots of mushrooms and also Dan Dan noodles, which is our favorite, just the right spice and amount of yummy veggies. The lettuce wraps are also a must! Come here if your want great food for affordable price!
(5)
Kim T.
This is definitely not authentic Asian food, but it sure tastes good when you want the Asian flavors to satisfy your palate. This place used to be my go-to place for take out when I attended Johns Hopkins (Columbia campus). I like their drunken noodle (they stopped having it on the menu, don't know why). The pad thai and udon something could use a little more seasoning but it passes in my book. Caveat: It can be a bit tricky to drive to the restaurant the first time, easily seen on the highway, but takes a while longer to actually get there.
(3)
Jay B.
RAW CHICKEN Some of the chicken in my Coconut Curry Chicken was raw. The server went to reorder my dish and said he was getting the manager. I got my fully cooked dinner and ate, expecting the manager to visit me at some point, but it didn't happen. She did come out of the back to do some work at the registers and address a table behind me who had their order mixed up. She was very nice to them, noting that she'd seen them in there before and gave them some gift cards. I (the guy who was served raw chicken) got no attention from the manager, even though I was the last sit-down customer in the store and walked right past her at the register on the way out. You may ask why I didn't say something to her. I got what I needed - a cooked version of my meal. The course of action taken after that was up to them. I'm not going to tell them what I think they should have done. I can however comment on that course of action, or in this case lack thereof.
(1)
Traci P.
Pei Wei is my FAVORITE place to eat! I just moved here frm California and I am SO happy I found my local Pei Wei. The food is great and the new dinner select menu is great. This Pei Wei, though, does not have the most friendliset of staff. I've encountered two managers there, bith of which had no personality and were not friendly. I was on a first name basis with many Pei Wei staff in multiple locations in California, and that is because their staff cared about how their guest's experience is and show their loyal customers how much they care about their patronage. I gave 4 stars only because the food is so great. If I was rating service alone, I would rate them a 1.
(4)
Travis F.
I Give this company 5 Stars All the way. Food is Always Perfect and the service is Great. I started going here only because I had a coupon for BOGO but after that I was Hooked. Still going thru the menu trying everything. Be sure to try the Lettuce Wrap. Great Job Pei Wei.
(5)
Arthur K.
Pei Wei is the lightweight branch (in terms of cost and services) of the chain restaurant PF Chang's. PF by the way stands for the founder of the restaurant - Paul Fleming. So, let's get the obvious out of the way - you're probably not getting "authentic Asian" food from Pei Wei. That's ok with me, I have an open mind. If it tastes good - I'll like it. The restaurant is arranged in a fairly dark-colored "Asian" theme. The colors of the restaurant seemed a little off for me. The restaurant works like Noodles and Company: you order at the cashier, get a number, and the food is taken to your table when ready. We got there shortly before closing and the staff was actually not too irked about it. The cashier was not that friendly, but the other staff seemed to be almost enjoying their time. Our food was served quickly. I got chicken teriyaki bowl and my companion got the blazing bowl with chicken. The blazing bowl was spicier than expected. The chicken was a little overcooked. But overall, the dish was ok. The teriyaki bowl was ok. I had mine with brown rice. I notice the chicken was a bit greasier than expected. As I get to the bottom of the bowl I notice a huge pool of sauce at the bottom. It's soaked the bottom centimeter or two of the rice in the bowl. And the sauce is extremely greasy; think canola oil straight from the bottle type of greasy. I would possibly suggest this place to someone as an alternative to Noodles & Company or Panda Express. I would not recommend the teriyaki bowl.
(2)
Leeann D.
Little to my knowledge going here, this is actually "PF Changs"...however a cheaper menu but still quality food. The staff is nice, they have alcohol. There is no waiter service, you get your own drinks and they bring their dishes to your table. The Kung Pao chicken was delicious. I would go here again.
(4)
Jerrod W.
Serious bistro on a budget. Took my wife out for a date that would be romantic to our pocketbook. We ordered and were seated promptly. Kicked off with crab wontons, fab! I was afraid my wife was going to miscount how many she ate which would lead to an unromantic dispute...er, discussion. Mongolian beef was off the chart good. My wife and I waited approx. five min for her food to arrive and the manager promptly apologized for the inconvenience and gave us $10 off our next meal. It was great to see Pei Wei's commitment to great service and quality food. We both left stuffed. Not necessarily the most romantic ambiance, but for the $ you can't go wrong and food is great. $27 for two!
(5)
Lauren B.
The food has great flavor, its fast, hot, fresh and relatively healthy. They also have a decent vegetarian menu (add tofu and veg to almost anything!). The place is clean and parking has never been a problem for me. my only complain is that lately, the portions seem to have gotten A LOT SMALLER. I think they are a bit over priced for the portion size now.
(3)
Adam T.
I like P.F. Chang's, and this is just a way to get those tastes a little quicker and cheaper. It isn't super authentic Asian food, but it does hit the spot for those who like American Chinese food.
(4)
Rebecca B.
Love this place...great food...good price and portion size. Service is great..during peak hours, staff reserves a table ahead for your party while you wait in line to order...nice touch. Also....fortune cookies are self-serve....nice.
(5)
Scott R.
We stopped here for a business lunch, totally out of convenience. Really pretty good. Clean. Efficient. Reasonably priced. To confirm an earlier review, it now says right on the door that it's brought to you by PF Changs. I personally think it's at least 3 notches above Panda Express. This tastes "cooked" rather than "reheated" or "unfrozen". My veggie kung pao had lots of fresh, tender-crisp vegetables and was quite tasty. The others' dishes were also good. Order at the counter, then go pick up accessories - like a lemon or orange slice for your drink, a takeout box, fortune cookies, hot mustard, etc. Literally, we sat down at the table, were still sorting out silverware ... and our meals arrived. Even though the place was full. Recommended for a good, quick lunch.
(4)
Daniel S.
Awesome Asian yumminess...
(5)
Ronnie R.
The food here is great; however, it is filthy. There aren't a lot of people in the resturantSo i am having a hard time understanding why the staff are unable to clean the floors and tables.
(3)
Emily R.
For fast food Asian, I was impressed. When you walk in, the menus stand floor-to-ceiling on the right. Stop here and decide what you want before walking up to the cash register. I ordered the Pad Thai which tasted very fresh and came out piping hot! Yes, you must remember that this is Americanized Asian food (relative of PF Changs). The portions were HUGE and I definitely could have shared my noodle bowl with 1 other person. Most dishes/bowls tend to cost in the $7-10 range. Even though they became extremely busy during the lunch hour, the cashier quickly took orders from the long line of people and the food came out promptly. When a large group entered, an employee approached them to ask how many were dining there. I was surprised to see that he put together tables for the group and placed out a number for their table, as well as separately for our smaller group of 4. This is a seat yourself establishment so I wouldn't have expected that type of service here. I especially like their Chinese carry-out boxes and no restriction on fortune cookies?!? We probably had a few too many of those... :) But they were more tasty than the average fortune cookie!
(3)
Carina d.
Pei Wei's is one of the nicest "fast food" joints that I've visited. Download the menu off the Pei We website, and you can see the range of entrees available. Prices are between $7-9 without a drink, and portions are sizeable. Service is quick and friendly, and the place is very clean. I love the boxes that they put out for leftovers, which look like the foldable containers you get from a local chinese food joint. I've tried the Udon Noodle Bowl, which I thought was too salty. And I was disappointed by the 4 bite-sized pieces of chicken in my bowl. However, the Pei Wei Spicy chicken was great with the brown rice. If you're hesitant about trying brown rice, ask for the 50/50 mix. They'll give you half white rice and half brown so you can test it out. Updated: 3/18/09 - I am smitten with the Thai Dynamite chicken! A lightly fried coating gives the chicken a little crunch and the sauce is the perfect mix of spicy and sweet.
(4)
Vipool R.
This is PF Chang's owned place and they serve similar fair. We ordered carry-out and it was great. The person getting our order together even added an extra dish (maybe a cancelled order?). It was a little while ago, but I believe we had the pad thai with tofu and the chicken japanese teryaki (the extra dish seemed like honey-seared shrimp). Everything was delicious... even the kids loved it. However, the pad thai is a little spicy so the kids didn't eat much of it. My wife and I loved it.
(4)
Jenny L.
For a "fast food" place the food here is pretty good. I ordered the Pad Thai and it tasted alright. Great portion for the price though. Could be a good place to add to your list for fast asian food that's a better environment than your usual chinese take-out place.
(3)
David C.
I found this place at the recommendation of a recruiter I was meeting. He says he drives to this Pei Wei from Baltimore for lunch couple times a week. I like Noodles and Co. food so I figured I would give Pei Wei a try. I have eaten take out from here maybe about 5 times in the last 3 months. I like their Pad Thai and the fried rice. These dishes are veggie packed and you can get extra carrots etc if you ask. Their portions are definitely bigger than Noodles and Co and the price is not bad. I know Aisan food and this is fairly decent. I would definitely go back more often if I did not cook at home.
(4)
SL F.
I've only had two of the dishes at Pei Wei; I must say that their Pad Thai is excellent. I haven't found any that I like better. And it doesn't take long at all for the food to come out. The lettuce wraps are delicious too. I just wish I lived closer, so that I could go more often.
(4)
Molly T.
Came at dinner hour, some-what busy. We got ours togo. The cashier was running back and forth from the kitchen and cash register, very polite and very hardworking. Food came out quickly and very tasty. The korean chicken was my favorite, my boyfriend got the mongolian shrimp and japanese tofu- he ate most of it so quickly I didn't get to try it! Good for when your in a hurry and don't want to go to a chinese takeout place that may have health dept issues..... like I found out my old favorite place was. Pei Wei all the way! :)
(4)
Josiah L.
Pretty good for a American Asian chain restaurant. If you prefer american asian food, this is definitely a place for you. Reasonably priced, they offer some pretty interesting dish, and compare to most asian takeouts, you can taste the difference between each dish. Having said that, this is still an american thing, so don't expect to find authentic asian food there.
(4)
Reed D.
Great food and fast service, very good prices, nice atmosphere. This place has really good managers. I usually order the Honey Seared (Chicken) or Thai Dynamite (Chicken) with brown rice and added spinach. I request the chicken be stock velvet which make the dishes very low in fat. I wish they would bring back a couple of my favorite dishes like Thai River Noodle and that is was not so busy on weekends.
(5)
Blazej B.
One of my favorite locations in Columbia for almost-everyday-dining. The food is really good (not authentic -- but still tasty) and fresh. You also get generously-sized meals; I always take the leftovers back home, and I have another good meal. If you are vegeterian, you also have a plenty of options there (and they are cheap too). My only price complaint is the price of soft-drinks, slightly higher than I would like it to be. Well, the chain is owned by PF Chang, so it can be thought of as a cheaper version of PF Chang -- same quality, just less choice, and no full-waiter service (only delivery to the table). The service is quick; you order at the counter, they give you a number, which you attach to a clip at your table, and they bring the food in almost no-time. Sometimes, I saw manager walking and chatting with customers making sure that everything is OK. My only (personal) problem at Pei Wei is the fact that they discontinued all dishes with scallops some time ago (my favorites!), and as far as I know, they don't plan to reintroduce them in the near future. The place may get a little bit busy at times (lunch and dinner) but it is definitely worth visiting.
(4)
Bryan T.
Not authentic. Not very good either. The decor is a lot like a cafeteria, and it's probably best to eat and run.
(2)
Lori D.
Would be 5 stars, but this Pei Wei suffers from inconsistency. For the most part, the food is delicious, fresh and fast. I have on occasion hit them on a bad day and the food was "off". I adore their spring rolls and the fried rice. Portions are plentiful (I usually get enough for two meals). My kids get super excited about going to Pei Wei. For some reason, I hate PF Changs but love Pei Wei!
(4)
dave h.
This place is run by PF Changs company, that being said; it is really good for a chain place. As some of you are aware, i am not a huge fan of chain places, but the pad thai here is really good. Big chunks of meat and tofu, excellent noodles. I recommend this to all you Columbia folks looking for a quick lunch.
(4)
steve h.
I believe that Pei Wei is owned by PF Changs. As a result, it's pretty good. For american-chinese food a step above Panda express and a step below PF Changs, it's a pretty good place to go. Cheap, reasonably fast and fills the tummy. I like the qoute from Gunnar "It's chipotle with noodles"
(3)
Gunnar V.
It's Chipotle with Noodles. Now, there's something okay about having an Asian restaurant that will be the exact same as the last one you went to no matter where you find it. I mean, at least you won't get burned like you can in half of Maryland's Chinese restaurants with their gloppy chicken thighs (if they also sell subs, run away). But you also won't find your new favorite restaurant, and you won't get a bargain. Dishes are $6-9 a piece and they shake you down for about $2 for a drink as is customary at these chains. I got Dan Dan Noodles when I went. They were okay. Way too much sauce. I wouldn't get those again, I think.
(3)
Jayne M.
Good: Fast, clean, consistent. Many items on the menu very similar to the 'more expensive and always have to wait forever' daddy, P.F. Changs (e.g. lettuce wraps, many of the chicken dishes). Less so: Trying to read the menu off huge boards while you're in line. If the line is short, and they serve quickly (as is usually the case), you sometimes have to decide in a hurry so as not to make the people behind you wait. If you can, printout the menu from their website, and decide while you drive there. After about five visits, we figured out what we liked, and almost always order the same thing. The children's meals are a bit plain and boring. Nevertheless, four stars because I like my food to come out hot and to come out quickly, and to taste the same as the last time I ordered it, and this place always delivers! Also, their spicy salads really are quite spicy. Would like to see an MSG-free line on the menu.
(4)
Megan M.
I love Pei Wei! Yes, it serves Americanized Chinese food, similar to PF Chang's (same company), but it is quick, freshly made, and quite tasty! This is a fast casual restaurant (think Panera, Chipotle, etc . . .), and I was delighted to find one close to home.
(5)
Marlee G.
If you need your edamame deep fried, then this is the place for you. I think everything was at least flash fried, if not deep fried. I couldn't believe that the edamame was oily! It tastes just fine steamed and sprinkled with salt. We weren't impressed.
(2)
Nicola M.
Food consistently excellent. Definitely get the chicken lettuce wraps! I have tried the pei wei spicy, sweet and sour, Ginger broccoli and honey seared with chicken and shrimp. Enjoyed them all.
(5)
Larry S.
Eaten here before but this time it was not good. Don't know what the cooks were thinking flaring up three of the Wok's to the height of the fire suppression system. It was not called for and also dangerous in my opinion. They were playing with three Wok's and firing them up with so much flame I and my party could feel the heat across the room and we were on the far side against the wall. Also the girl in the yellow shirt and another crew member were throwing food at each other behind the counter. All this was funny to them! With all this happening the food was being burned as it's not hard to smell sugar burning or meat being over cooked.
(2)
Brian F.
Food is hit or miss. Routinely understaffed. They've messed up my order a couple times of late. Fairly average.
(3)
H C.
Ordered two kids meals, one arrived, other they forgot. The one that arrived was raw chicken. When manager was told - wasn't even worth their time to stop by the table. Never eating here again.
(1)
Kim J.
The food is good but the wait for take out is horrible and the manager is very rude. She was cursing saying she couldn't wait to close.
(1)
Johanna F.
Oh mine. I don't want to go to their kitchen because I suspect heavy handed soy sauce and sugar in play for every dishes. Dishes are overly sweet or salty. This is not Chinese food yall! I will not go there if you pay me.
(1)
Karen H.
I love PF Changs and Pei Wei is owned by PF Changs and is the less expensive version. There are no waiters bringing you water and taking your order. Instead you place your order and you are given a number to place at your table. You then walk to the beverage /condiments /silverware / take out container section and get what you want. I'm in love with the beverage dispenser which has a wide variety of choices. My personal favorite is the Dasani water that comes in a variety of flavors. Before I could get my beverage, my meal was already on the table. Now that's fast food! My meal was just as tasty as it would have be at PF Changs. Whose winning now? This girl is! Did I mention, this Pei Wei is also clean (to include the bathroom ) which is huge in my book! I'm happy and satisfied and I can't ask for much more.
(5)
Sandy H.
First time eating here today...stop by to grab a quick bite to eat before starting my Saturday shopping and the food was fresh, hot and delicious. I will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes. Today I had sweet and sour chicken and some mango California rolls and every bite was pleasant! I highly recommend.
(4)
Amy P.
We ordered ton of stuff. Thai chicken lettuce wrap, traditional chicken lettuce wrap, hot and sour soup, teriyaki beef, beef thai dynamite, steak lo mein and mango california roll. I didn't try the teriyaki beef, but other than that the only 2 items I really enjoyed was the lettuce wraps. Thai chicken lettuce wrap has sweet and tangy taste to it, it's very refreshing and little spicy. The traditional lettuce wrap is very similar to the ones you would get at PF Chang, very delicious. As for thai dynamite, it wasn't bad, but the meat seemed breaded and fried, not what I was craving for or expecting. The steak lo mein was the worst because there was no flavor to it. I think they might have forgotten to add the seasoning because it was just lo mein noodles and steak. The other items were ok, nothing out of the ordinary.
If you enjoy PF Chang's cuisine, you'll love Pei Wei. Owned by PF, the approach is smaller portions and price with a cozier atmosphere. Everything from soups, wraps, to you favorite dishes can be enjoyed...and quickly! It's a nice casual feel which is sure to bring you back!
(5)
Liz M.
I generally steer clear of chain restaraunts. While it's parent, PF Chang's does a convincing job of making tolerable Asian food for people who don't like Asian food, this place is truly all kinds of sub par. With a borderline offensive name, the food is bland, and the sauces incredibly sweet and salty. I was duped into trying it out of desperation of finding a healthier Asian food place. It touts healthier options, but the food definitely takes like its both sky high in sodium and sugars. Pre-made processed sauces undoes the veggie and Brown rice healthier options. That brown rice is also the driest brown rice I've ever experienced. Like eating pebbles. I suppose if one eats Subway, then you'll like this place.
(1)
MIchaei G.
This place use to be much cleaner and the best Chinese food In town but unfortunately quality has gone down and quite dirty....not impressed at all :(
(2)
Katherine B.
I give three stars bc I like the idea of picking your own meat for the dishes they offer. Also, they have a chai iced tea thAy was a pleasant surprise! I had the crab wontons and they were meh. They are actually crab and I like the imitation in the wontons. I know, crazy right. The wonton soup was pretty good, pretty basic. I had the lettuce wraps, Korean steAk which was listed as a lighter option... But was swimming in oil. It was tasty, though. Kids had lo mein which was also very flavorful. Service was fast and friendly. Reasonable prices, and they sell wine and beer ;) good choice for some different fast Chinese!
(3)
Raj S.
Good enough for the price range. It's not typically Chinese but I love the fusion and you will get your food real quick also!
(4)
Mimi L.
Overpriced for small portions. Food is good but nothing special. My meal was close to $7 for 6 small pieces of deep fried chicken in sauce and a bit a rice. Could have gotten a lot more somewhere else.
(3)
Brooke W.
Service was fast doesn't get crowded in here much
(4)
Mark E.
Third time at this location and haven't been disappointed. Food was excellent. Mongolian beef was spot on again and the lettuce wraps were a refreshing side item. Everything was fresh and delivered to the table hot. Great place to grab a quick lunch when it's not crowded.
(4)
G T.
Cool. Modern/Shrek. Fast. Good enough for the money. Meat is fried, rice is bland. The mediocre spicy sauce doesn't compensate for the ho-hum flavor. I'll go back if a friend insists on trying it.
(3)
Busa B.
I've been here more times than I'd care to say, lol. I LOVE Pei Wei. This place hits the spot. The price is right (so much cheaper than it's big brother )and the food is decent. I usually don't do crab won ton's but a friend ordered them so I had to try one and I was pleased with the taste. I gave up crab won ton's years a go since most places they taste like garbage but Pei Wei does a decent job. Decent food, decent area and decent price what more can you say.
(4)
R A.
My feedback from two recent take-out experiences I had at the Columbia Pei Wei, some of it good, some of it disappointing. The good: I had had Pei Wei before, long ago, and could recall nothing special about it; I even seemed to have the lingering impression that I hadn't liked it very much. Well, that impression changed! I was with others who wanted to order from there, and I was quite impressed with the menu and all the delicious-sounding options. I have a somewhat restricted diet, yet it was easy to find many, many dishes and options I wanted to try. I also appreciated the opportunity to 'personalize' each order through your online ordering system -- above and beyond good service!, the kind of thing that makes a restaurant surpass 'good' or 'satisfactory' into a memorable, preferred favorite. The food was delicious, and the staff I interacted with when picking up the food was great. The disappointing: The first time we ordered, all of our containers were only about half-filled. I assumed this was because we ordered the smaller size; I speculated that perhaps the same-sized container was used for all entrees, and the containers were only partially filled for the smaller-sized orders, and fully filled for the larger-sized orders. Some of our confirmed ordered items were also not included in the order, which we didn't realize until we got home. The second time we ordered, a couple of the orders were the larger size -- in larger containers -- which made me realize that the first order was either intentionally made smaller, or was haphazardly, hastily, or sloppily filled, leaving me with the impression that I paid for an amount of food that we did not get. This second order also included rice and entrees in the same container -- so, in addition to the containers STILL being filled only halfway (both the smaller and the larger containers were filled only partially), we had even less of the already-smaller amount of our entrees, because the rice took up about half of the container space. I was initially excited to have good-quality food and delicious, unique options at a very decent price, and had made Pei Wei my new favorite restaurant, my preferred go-to when ordering casual take-out, especially 'Asian' / Chinese / Japanese. However, if every time I order, we're getting only half a container's worth or less of our entrees, I'd rather give my business to another restaurant that gives full portions for the prices paid. I'm disappointed enough to not bother to order from or eat at Pei Wei from here on out. I hope Pei Wei will adjust this, and give the full portions customers are paying for and counting on -- or, if you will continue to dish out the same portions, at least get smaller containers, to at least give the impression that we're receiving our full portions! I hope Pei Wei figures this out; the restaurant, as a whole, has a lot of good going for it otherwise.
(3)
Lucy E.
I like P.F. Changs every once and awhile, and thought that this would be just as good, but easier and quicker for lunch. Boy was I wrong. The food is not nearly as good in quality, the flavors are barely there, and it doesn't even look very good. It seems to me to just be fake thai food. I'll pass.
(2)
Carolyn J.
First time here & it was pretty good. I like PF Changs & this is the cheaper, faster version. Ordered the honey chicken combo with brown rice & veggie spring roll. I will return to try the other dishes & hopefully can get them non-spicy since I'm unable to eat spicy food.
(4)
Anna B.
Came across this place on a whim based on location. For what it is, a fast Asian inspired food restaurant.. It gives me my fix for Asian food cravings. My 2 yr old was please with her kids menu noodles and chicken, although plain.. Was interesting in flavoring that Daddy and Mommy kept digging into them ourselves. :) My husbands dynamite shrimp dish was flavorful and very colorful which makes you want to dive into. The dish was a bit lacking in the "dynamite" area as far as spice but you have the option of making it hotter with their condiments of Siracha and other sauce goodies. My dish of spicy tofu and veggies over noodles was nice but nothing to write home about. I would've loved if the tofu had a bit more of a crunchier exterior. My noodles were a bit overcooked. My veggies were perfectly al dente so I was content. What really shines are their Korean beef lettuce wraps! Oh-my.. The texture and flavor of the meet is out-of-bounds awesome. I have to take a point off for using iceberg lettuce but because the beef is so properly flavorful that it almost makes up for their lettuce choosing downfalls. If you want something quick, tasty, and Asian ( not to mention reasonably priced).. Then take a chance and drop in.
(3)
JaCara S.
I really enjoy this place. Only been twice but so good. I had the dynamite shrimp with brown rice and their ginger edmame (which they do not have anymore). The second time I had the veggie with noodles. It was good and I definitely recommend this place. I'm a budgeter and I really like places that serve great food at good prices. Nice atmosphere for jus friends or a date.
(4)
Leeann N.
Pei Wei is a great place to take a family or run in by yourself. It is quick service. You order and pay at a counter, and then sit down after you get your drink. Your food is then brought to you table piping hot. If you like PF Changs but are willing to skip the atmosphere and the wide menu, then you will like Pei Wei.. and your wallet will like it too! ps- my favorite is the Mongolian Beef- YUM!
(4)
Hoyt H.
Went here for the first time around New Years day. I'm trying to avoid gluten, and saw online that they had some stuff I could eat. They don't have the GF items noted on the posted menu, but if you ask, they will give you a card with the GF items. Tried the sweet and sour chicken, while wifey had the thai curry, both with brown rice. Both were OK, but a bit bland. They needed more seasoning or something. Service was friendly, and the place was clean. Supposedly a new menu is coming out, so we might come back to try it out.
(3)
Spicy Z.
The food is good and fulling, price is just right, and they are willing to take out food ingredients that I don't want. I only had take out, therefore i cant say what the table service is like. The take-out staff is always friendly, and patience.
(4)
Ma-e M.
I rather get my fast food asian from Pei Wei rather than get it from the corner neighborhood. Pei Wei cooks for you a variety of Asian food (some Japanese, Thai, and Viet). Their Pad Thai is not as good as Noodles & Company though.
(3)
Jody Z.
Pei Wei is one of my go to spots for take out. You can order online and it's typically ready in about 15 minutes. I like PF Changs, but I don't like mall parking, hour long waits, and dealing with crowds so I go to Pei Wei to get my fix. Our favorites are the chicken lettuce wraps (amazing!), Mongolian Beef, and Sesame Chicken. The only things that haven't impressed me are the cream cheese wontons, fried rice, and shrimp dishes. I prefer to order those at my more traditional Chinese places vs. Pei Wei. The prices are lower here than PF Changs and I've always had good service. I also appreciate that they have some small plate options. For instance you can order just 1 or 2 egg rolls or spring rolls instead of a whole order, which is nice if you're dining solo or with a smaller group.
(4)
Tom C.
Let's be honest...Pei Wei is to Asian food as Mcdonald's is to American food. In this respect Pei Wei fills the bill if you're not too particular and in a hurry. It's Asian fast food and nothing more. Not a destination eatery, for sure. So if it's lunch time and you have a craving for a spring roll and some noodles and aren't too picky, Pei Wei will serve. Otherwise, there are way too many good Asian restaurants around to chose from. Go to one of those.
(2)
William M.
Why so harsh folks? This place is great, and exactly what it seeks to be. Yes, it's a chain, but that does not mean it isn't excellent! First, this place is so CHEAP, particularly for the insane amount of food you get. My friend and I split the Japanese Teriyaki with vegetables and tofu, as well as a side of edamame, and it came to around 10 bucks. It was EASILY enough food for both of us. Those are unbeatable prices in my opinion! ALSO, you get sparkling water for free at the awesome new age machine.
(4)
Puneet M.
A fast food Asian place... If you like P.F.Changs, then you will like this place. Just as P.F.Changs doesn't try to be 100% traditionally Asian food, Pei Wei does try to do that either. When you walk in you are greeted by same smell, atmosphere and look of a PF Changs. The food to is basically the same, its flavorful, tastey and over all above average for a fast food place. The prices are ok, wish they were lower,but heck I wish i got it for free! lol If you have an American/Asian craving and dont feel like waiting 30 mins or so for take out or PF Changs, then Pei Wei is the place. The do offer a good array of sauces, interestingly they are the SAME sauces that you get at PF Changs! I perfer this Pei Wei over Noodle and Co... mainly cuz of the food taste and variety. I would recommend checking it out, its def. worth a shot if you are in a little bit of a hurry but dont want a burger and fries. Enjoy.... Chopsticks anyone!
(4)
Sarah C.
Pei Wei? Someday - this day?? K.... Far away. It's her birthday. Eat here first and then we'll play. Simple diner-wok-gourmet. Order, pay - stay? What the hey.... Seats are numbered, wait not - yay! Spicy Korean. Hrmm, sway? Rice is brown - Meat's white prey. Heat hot? Way. Taste hot? Nay. Heavy sauce, thick display. Good for two. Full. Must lay. Stretchy denim, don't betray! Food? Fast cheap fresh fine, are they See Pei Wei again, I may.
(3)
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Address :6478 Dobbin Center Way
Columbia, MD, 21045
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good For : Lunch Parking : Private Lot Bike Parking : No Wheelchair Accessible : Yes Good for Kids : Yes Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Ambience : Casual Noise Level : Loud Alcohol : Beer & Wine Only Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : Paid Has TV : No Waiter Service : No Drive-Thru : No Caters : Yes
The popularity of Chinese food in America can be adjudicated by the appearance of China Town in many major cities in the United State of America. The popular trend of ordering or opting for Chinese take away food isn't unknown in America. Chinese take away food comes to rescue when you're too tired from work or too exhausted to cook. No one can resist the temptation of eating spicy noodles, shrimp, chicken, beef or pork cooked in the sweet and spicy sauce. The cooking method of authentic Chinese food is a lot different compared to what is served in America.
Generally, Chinese use dark meat small bones and organs to cook dishes but this changes when you are eating American-Chinese fusion food prepared using white boneless meat cooked with broccoli, carrots and onions. Back in China, the food is less spicy and oily as they favor steaming and braising method for cooking the most popular dishes. So, if you have a taste for authentic Chinese food, then try finding a real Chinese restaurant in the city. You can also try the most popular fusion Chinese food like Pecking Duck, Chicken Feet, Hot Pot, Shrimp Dumpling Soup, Mapo Tofu, Wontons, Chop Suey, Egg Rolls and not to forget Fortune Cookies.
There are not many restaurants in America serving authentic Chinese food. A little research on Restaurant Listings directory can help you locate the best Chinese restaurants in the city. Chinese cuisine is continuously evolving, and you can find a variety of dishes categorized as the food for lactose intolerant, gluten intolerant, vegan, vegetarian, and diabetic friendly. So, if you have a group of friends with different taste patterns, save the hassle and visit the nearest Chinese restaurant in your city.
Rudy C.
I love this place. Chicken Lettuce Wraps! Whaaaattt! Yeah so I have been coming to Pei Weis for a long time now, and really have never been disappointed. I love the food and the quick service. Ok so for this particular location, it is pretty much run of the mill typical Pei Wei, but that is not a bad thing, the model works well for them, and me. So anyway, I went to this location several times, sit in as well as take out. The customer service is excellent and they are really fast in getting your food out. The food itself is always fresh adn delicious. When you get a take out order, they give you all the utensils and what not to make sure your meal is complete. The prices are fair for a meal, under 10 bucks, and you get a really good portion. They also have "lunch" portions that a little smaller and cost a few dollars less, if you want that option. Dont forget to get the lettuce wraps, they will change your life!
(5)Simone S.
Loved it and so fresh!
(4)Sarah L.
This is like the poor man's version of P.F. Chang's but better. My siblings and I had our first visit here tonight. Service was good, the food was freshly prepared and came out in a timely manner, and there was nothing on the menu that was over $9. The method of ordering is set up like any la Madeleine, or Nordstrom Cafe: you order your food, pay, receive a number, then they bring the food over to you. For their signature dishes, you pick your protein (chicken, beef, shrimp, or vegetables/tofu). You can also pick brown or white rice, or fried rice for an additional $1. There is also a limited gluten-free menu. I had the Honey Seared Shrimp ($9), my sister had the Thai Coconut Curry with chicken ($7.95), and my brother had the Dan Dan Noodles ($7.95). Refillable fountain drinks are $1.85/each. Altogether with tax was $31.21. The portions were adequate. If you are watching your food intake, you can definitely take leftovers home. We shared our food family-style and thought the Dan Dan Noodles were the winner. They were nice and spicy but with the right amount of sauce. I liked my Honey Shrimp but the sauce was kind of sweet. I was also expecting it to be crispy shrimp but it wasn't. It did come with these crunchy noodles that stuck to the shrimp, so that made it "crispy", I guess. My sister's Thai curry was good, too. Their spicy items on the menu were actually spicy but not to the point where you're sweating bullets. The ambiance was ruined by a screaming banshee of a child next to us, but that can't be helped. I thought their black chai iced tea is weaksauce, but they do have Fanta ginger ale, which I haven't seen before. Also, I guess if you want to save a few bucks, you could just buy one drink and share since they have unlimited refills. We'll definitely be back, as there aren't too many dining options in Columbia and of all the chains, this seems to be one of the better ones.
(4)Mary M.
For those of you who don't know, Pei Wei is owned by the same company as PF Changs, and many of the dishes are identical. For example: the famous chocked lettuce wraps often ordered at PF Changs are served at Pei Wei for half the price! I worked a long time at PF Changs while in college so I know the menu pretty well. When I am craving a dish from PF Changs, I will go to Pei Wei instead in order to save money! This Pei Wei is excellent and up to par to others I have eaten at. The lunch line can be insanely long though, so I would recommend it outside of lunchtime.
(4)Linn G.
I absolutely love this chain! I am a fan of Pf Changs but this chain is an excellent sister chain that provides just about the same offerings as Pf Changs with a smaller menu. This wonderful chain provides simplicity and fast service and excellent food!! Unlike Pf Changs there is no long wait, pricey menu items and having to leave a tip. My staple dish is Mongolian beef with brown rice which is always hot, fresh and tasty at this location as well as the York Rd location. You simply place your order and your food comes out with lightning speed!! The portion size is pretty hefty, I usually box up extra to go and are full and satisfied after dinner. My boyfriend usually gets the honey chicken and recently tried the caramel chicken, which he said was pretty decent but prefers the honey chicken a lot more Overall I LOVE this place!!!!!!!!!!
(5)Mary Alice A.
This review is based on my gluten free experience at Pei Wei. I have previously eaten at Pei Wei numerous times and always thought it was okay, not great, but okay. The gluten free menu is not posted at this location, however it is online. The person who took my order seemed to know exactly what I was talking about when I placed the GF order, verbatim from the website GF menu. Seemed okay at the time but was quickly regrettable hours later. I was glutenized! It has been 6 days since eating there and I still feel terrible. I wouldn't trust it again. Their menu states the chicken is dusted with potato starch to give it a crispy texture, which is great, however you can't tell if it's the potato starch or real deal gluten-laden breading. I asked the server to confirm "Is this gluten free?", received a "Yes", was skeptical, but proceeded to eat it. Big mistake. If I want a gluten free Asian fix, I'm headed to Noodles and Co. I think the issue is that Pei Wei is modifying current menu options to make them gluten free, instead of making gluten free dishes from the start. I'm not sure the kitchen is tracking what's what. It would be easier if they just offered grilled chicken instead of modified breading chicken. If you're going to order from their GF menu, maybe try the shrimp.
(1)Samuel C.
The was food really really good. A fast food Asian Place... I had the Teriyaki Chicken.. Yummy! Yummy! The price are reasonable..!
(5)Kelli A.
If I could I would live at Pei Wei. This is like the money friendly quicker dining option version of P.F. Changs which I believe they are owned by. I love this place. I have done takeout and dined there as well and food is always hot and delicious and never had a problem with them. The staff are professional and friendly and I would definitely recommend this place for anyone and have. It depends on certain times they you go it can be a little crowded and noisy but that typically on late weekends otherwise its pretty chill place.
(5)Sara D.
This was my first time at a Pei Wei. I had wanting to try it for years but it was never convenient before. Husband & I went and it's a nice location tucked in the back of a shopping center. The guy at the counter was very friendly and helpful. He had suggestions and even saved me some money by letting me know you can get half white, half brown rice with orders. The foods was good but the potion size was a little smaller than I had hoped. We tried the new Korean steak lettuce wraps and they were really good! I'm sure I'll be back.
(3)Tim H.
My wife and I have been here a few times now. Most recently we were there for dinner this evening. The dinning room is open and spacious so there is enough room for those with large parties. This place is fast Asian Fusion food. When entering the location you will see two monitors with their menu. From there you will go to the cash register and make your order. After the order is completed, you take your assigned number with you and sit down. The food is brought to your table in less than 10 minutes. It is restaurant quality food served in a fast food setting. I have been getting the Mongolian beef here. It is really good. It has scallions and mushrooms mixed in and I get it with white rice. The sauce is flavorful and not too salty. It is just the right size to fill a person. I have had the pork egg rolls here and they are good too. The only complaint I have is that I wish they would cook them a little longer so the shell is a little crisper. But other than that, they are pretty good. If you are in the mood for Asian Fusion and would like something new to try, give Pei Wei a chance. It's good, affordable and fast.
(4)Lora H.
Love coming here for Pei Wei's chicken fried rice!
(4)Mara C.
I've only had the tofu dishes and the tofu they use is disgusting. Not going back!
(1)Greg S.
Mediocre at best. The food was over seasoned and packed with sodium. I really wanted to enjoy this place but it lacked in quality. The best item consumed was the future cookie.
(2)M W.
Food and service are always great. It's a good place to stop for a quick meal. The only down fall is the lack of parking and it can get crowded in the evening.
(4)Danny C.
The first time I went here was about 3 years ago. I got a spicy Korean dish with beef and white rice. When I got it, the flavors werent all that great. Bland, the rice was tough, the beef too chewy. Service wasnt too bad. I would of gave this place a 1 star. But I just came back here earlier today with my sister, and decided to get the kung pao veggies and tofu dish. The meal came out in less than 5 minutes. The veggies were nice and crisp, flavorful, the tofu was great, and I had brown rice with it. I had a much better experience this time around. I give this place 4 stars.
(4)Shruti M.
Great for a quick meal. The quality of the meal wasn't as great as PF Changs, but it was ok for what we paid. The staff was friendly and the place was clean and nicely designed. I think it would be great if some of the tables in the middle weren't placed so close to each other, but their area inside isn't huge.
(4)Peter H.
Good service, clean and tasty food. Not bad. If your looking for something spicy, it is nice. Spring rolls a bit soggy.
(3)Antonia B.
One word to describe this place. Salt!!!! I ordered the Dan Dan bowl and it had so much sodium in it that I had to toss it. Dont know if all their dishes are all this salty. Its not what I expected based on the high reviews.
(2)Christie V.
Given a choice, I generally pick Pei Wei over PF Changs. Why? There service is faster and better, and the prices are much more reasonable. Sure it may be the same parent corporation, but the Pei Wei model just works better. This location has it together better than some of the ones I've been to in NoVa. The food is good, portions are plentiful (usually I can get ~2 meals out of an order) and the quality is good. Busy location = faster turnover of ingredients = fresher! The Thai Coconut Curry is fantastic... I always get it with tofu. The Ramen noodle bowl was good when it first came out but can be a little greasy in the current iteration. The iced teas there are always refreshing! Given a choice between this place and that panda place? Pei Wei, hands down.
(4)Tina S.
The three stars is for the management which routinely understaffs this location. I ate there this evening with my family, and while the food was good, the poor staff was working their butts off to keep up with the workload. One to two more people would have been ideal. And to the jerks at the next table that left a dime tip: Sorry, not the servers fault you were unhappy with your serving size. Grow up.
(3)Frank G.
Did I hit this place on an off day? My lunch yesterday was dreadful. The pork egg roll was dripping with oil and the filling was flavorless; I wish they had added MSG to it. The spicy chicken salad was some greens with a mound of chicken swimming in generic "spicy," syrupy sauce. The sauce coated not only the chicken, but every piece of lettuce as well, making for one of the worst salads I've every had the displeasure of eating. The only good part of my lunch was the big bottle of Sapporo beer (and the company). Based on all the other good reviews, I might give this place another shot if dragged there for a weekday lunch, but yesterday's meal was simply terrible.
(1)Ryan O.
If you "LIKE" PF Chang's, you will "LOVE" Pei Wei! As you may or may not know, this chain is owned by the much larger and more popular Asian restaurant chain PF Chang's. The main differences are; No long waits for a table, More casual attire is the norm, Prices reflect the more casual ambiance. In my opinion the food is just as good as PFC, and is served way faster, which I love! In most cases by the time I sit down w/ my drink, my appetizer is arriving at the same time, followed shortly there after by our main course. (My wife and I each order an entrée and share it family style. Usually one rice dish and one pasta dish.) They have a great selection of pasta and rice dishes. About 50% of the dishes are rather spicy, which I really enjoy. - I find this is a great place to go with kids. Children don't typically enjoy sitting for long periods waiting patiently for a meal to arrive. You can be in and out of here within 45 minutes and still get a fantastic meal. I don't know too many other places that can hold a candle to this one. On average I go there about 4-8 times a month. The food is consistently outstanding, and the service is fast and efficient. But don't take my word for it, treat yourself to some Pei Wei tonight and thank me later! ~The Guru
(5)Ned F.
Pei Wei apparently translates into salt. Because everything you order is oversalted. Oversauced and over salted.
(1)Nancy K.
Excellent customer service.extremely friendly crew.delicious food.reasonable price.can't ask for more. Highly recommended.
(5)Ashley H.
Not your typical Asian restaurant, but a nice place to go every once in a while for a quick bite. The prices are decent and the variety of flavors is good. You get plenty of food (I always find myself bringing half home with me). It's usually quite busy and loud, but I've only been here during lunch. They also have several flavors of hot and iced tea in addition to your typical fountain drinks.
(3)Andrew K.
My non Asian friends seem to love this place so I decided to at least give it a try. When I first entered, I realized it was part of PF Changs but it's a less formal atmosphere. You pick the food, take a number and sit and the server brings you the food. I got the Mongolian beef and it was pretty good except it was a little salty. I also tried the asian chicken salad and that was pretty good too. The best part was it tasted pretty much like PF Chang at half the price. While I'm not in love with this place, I would rather come here than PF Chang.
(3)Allison L.
I looove Pei Wei. Even though I like PF Changs, I can't stand the excruciatingly long wait so Pei Wei is a good substitute. Their chicken lettuce wraps and honey crispy chicken taste almost identical to the dishes at PF Changs, and for a couple dollars cheaper. It is just cafeteria style, so if you're looking for a quick dinner, and you like PF Changs, this would be a good choice for you.
(4)Romin A.
Big fan of this place. Fairly inexpensive. Clean place, staff is great, and service is great.
(4)Kate K.
Prices aside, I will always prefer PF Changs (seems like they only use 1/2 container of salt per entree versus a full one at PW), however due to location (ie not being in stupid Ohio) they serve Yuengling beer. I'm sold!
(4)sherri s.
I have eaten at Pei Wei at several different locations. It is like a "Panera" gone Asian! You order at the counter...but better than Panera, they bring you your food! The food is always fresh, nice portions, in-expensive and consistantly warm and delicious! I have ordered the tofu on my Pad Thai and other meals quite a few times and I think I am going back to chicken or shrimp...the tofu is just okay here. I thought I would get use to it but... naaah. They are owned by PF Chang and the tofu at Changs is much, much better. I had to deduct a star for that. However for a fast food style restaurant it is really a 5 star. The dining area is always clean and very comfy.
(4)Nicole H.
Good food, good prices, simple/casual place for tasty quick eats. Thumbs up. :)
(4)Matt M.
delicious food, cheap, decent portion sizes, I absolutely love this place. the crab rangoon and edamame apps are great. the chicken pad thai is my favorite entree.
(5)Julia F.
Gluten Free menu selections are ok. It would be great to see a few more items added, like the Lettuce Chicken Wraps. I'd also love to see the GF beer around town more often. I do love the spicy foods and the waitstaff is pleasant. Good for a quick, GF, Asian meal.
(3)Jim H.
Good stuff! A bit crowded for lunch, but service is quite fast - at least it was the first time I went. Second time, not so quick. Side note: the 'spicy' meals won't kill you (although I have a fairly high tolerance for spice).
(4)Johnny C.
Pei Wei (and PF Changs) is hit or miss for me. It can be better than Chinese take-out, but also worse. In general, the brown rice is dry and unappetizing. The Spicy Korean dish had some decent flavor, but the amount of salt they put on it was ridiculous: and I'm a salt fiend. The Thai Cocounut Curry dish was much better in that regard, but still not great. The Honey Seared Crispy Chicken was pretty appetizing.
(2)Jennifer H.
This is PF Chang's, but in a fast food format. The food is ok, acceptable, but not great so I don't understand all the fuss about this place. The sesame chicken was ok too, but again, nothing to rave about. It's also overpriced for what you get. I paid $7 for two summer rolls where the oversoaked rice paper had split and made a mess in the little takeout box. Still, it tasted okay. If you want good Chinese food in the Columbia area, I highly recommend Hunan Manor. Prices are fair, service is quick and food is much better. It's fine if you have a craving and there's no other place around, but it's not fast food. You come in, order and wait about 15 - 20 minutes for them to make your food if you're doing carry-out. Calling ahead might help. Not the greatest, but it satisfies a craving if you're willing to wait and pay more $ than you need to.
(3)Suzcelle S.
I love this place! It's P. F. Chang's on a budget but the food taste as great. I called in for carry out and our food was ready before pick-up time. We always order the Mongolian beef, which is amazing, the beef is very tender and lots of mushrooms and also Dan Dan noodles, which is our favorite, just the right spice and amount of yummy veggies. The lettuce wraps are also a must! Come here if your want great food for affordable price!
(5)Kim T.
This is definitely not authentic Asian food, but it sure tastes good when you want the Asian flavors to satisfy your palate. This place used to be my go-to place for take out when I attended Johns Hopkins (Columbia campus). I like their drunken noodle (they stopped having it on the menu, don't know why). The pad thai and udon something could use a little more seasoning but it passes in my book. Caveat: It can be a bit tricky to drive to the restaurant the first time, easily seen on the highway, but takes a while longer to actually get there.
(3)Jay B.
RAW CHICKEN Some of the chicken in my Coconut Curry Chicken was raw. The server went to reorder my dish and said he was getting the manager. I got my fully cooked dinner and ate, expecting the manager to visit me at some point, but it didn't happen. She did come out of the back to do some work at the registers and address a table behind me who had their order mixed up. She was very nice to them, noting that she'd seen them in there before and gave them some gift cards. I (the guy who was served raw chicken) got no attention from the manager, even though I was the last sit-down customer in the store and walked right past her at the register on the way out. You may ask why I didn't say something to her. I got what I needed - a cooked version of my meal. The course of action taken after that was up to them. I'm not going to tell them what I think they should have done. I can however comment on that course of action, or in this case lack thereof.
(1)Traci P.
Pei Wei is my FAVORITE place to eat! I just moved here frm California and I am SO happy I found my local Pei Wei. The food is great and the new dinner select menu is great. This Pei Wei, though, does not have the most friendliset of staff. I've encountered two managers there, bith of which had no personality and were not friendly. I was on a first name basis with many Pei Wei staff in multiple locations in California, and that is because their staff cared about how their guest's experience is and show their loyal customers how much they care about their patronage. I gave 4 stars only because the food is so great. If I was rating service alone, I would rate them a 1.
(4)Travis F.
I Give this company 5 Stars All the way. Food is Always Perfect and the service is Great. I started going here only because I had a coupon for BOGO but after that I was Hooked. Still going thru the menu trying everything. Be sure to try the Lettuce Wrap. Great Job Pei Wei.
(5)Arthur K.
Pei Wei is the lightweight branch (in terms of cost and services) of the chain restaurant PF Chang's. PF by the way stands for the founder of the restaurant - Paul Fleming. So, let's get the obvious out of the way - you're probably not getting "authentic Asian" food from Pei Wei. That's ok with me, I have an open mind. If it tastes good - I'll like it. The restaurant is arranged in a fairly dark-colored "Asian" theme. The colors of the restaurant seemed a little off for me. The restaurant works like Noodles and Company: you order at the cashier, get a number, and the food is taken to your table when ready. We got there shortly before closing and the staff was actually not too irked about it. The cashier was not that friendly, but the other staff seemed to be almost enjoying their time. Our food was served quickly. I got chicken teriyaki bowl and my companion got the blazing bowl with chicken. The blazing bowl was spicier than expected. The chicken was a little overcooked. But overall, the dish was ok. The teriyaki bowl was ok. I had mine with brown rice. I notice the chicken was a bit greasier than expected. As I get to the bottom of the bowl I notice a huge pool of sauce at the bottom. It's soaked the bottom centimeter or two of the rice in the bowl. And the sauce is extremely greasy; think canola oil straight from the bottle type of greasy. I would possibly suggest this place to someone as an alternative to Noodles & Company or Panda Express. I would not recommend the teriyaki bowl.
(2)Leeann D.
Little to my knowledge going here, this is actually "PF Changs"...however a cheaper menu but still quality food. The staff is nice, they have alcohol. There is no waiter service, you get your own drinks and they bring their dishes to your table. The Kung Pao chicken was delicious. I would go here again.
(4)Jerrod W.
Serious bistro on a budget. Took my wife out for a date that would be romantic to our pocketbook. We ordered and were seated promptly. Kicked off with crab wontons, fab! I was afraid my wife was going to miscount how many she ate which would lead to an unromantic dispute...er, discussion. Mongolian beef was off the chart good. My wife and I waited approx. five min for her food to arrive and the manager promptly apologized for the inconvenience and gave us $10 off our next meal. It was great to see Pei Wei's commitment to great service and quality food. We both left stuffed. Not necessarily the most romantic ambiance, but for the $ you can't go wrong and food is great. $27 for two!
(5)Lauren B.
The food has great flavor, its fast, hot, fresh and relatively healthy. They also have a decent vegetarian menu (add tofu and veg to almost anything!). The place is clean and parking has never been a problem for me. my only complain is that lately, the portions seem to have gotten A LOT SMALLER. I think they are a bit over priced for the portion size now.
(3)Adam T.
I like P.F. Chang's, and this is just a way to get those tastes a little quicker and cheaper. It isn't super authentic Asian food, but it does hit the spot for those who like American Chinese food.
(4)Rebecca B.
Love this place...great food...good price and portion size. Service is great..during peak hours, staff reserves a table ahead for your party while you wait in line to order...nice touch. Also....fortune cookies are self-serve....nice.
(5)Scott R.
We stopped here for a business lunch, totally out of convenience. Really pretty good. Clean. Efficient. Reasonably priced. To confirm an earlier review, it now says right on the door that it's brought to you by PF Changs. I personally think it's at least 3 notches above Panda Express. This tastes "cooked" rather than "reheated" or "unfrozen". My veggie kung pao had lots of fresh, tender-crisp vegetables and was quite tasty. The others' dishes were also good. Order at the counter, then go pick up accessories - like a lemon or orange slice for your drink, a takeout box, fortune cookies, hot mustard, etc. Literally, we sat down at the table, were still sorting out silverware ... and our meals arrived. Even though the place was full. Recommended for a good, quick lunch.
(4)Daniel S.
Awesome Asian yumminess...
(5)Ronnie R.
The food here is great; however, it is filthy. There aren't a lot of people in the resturantSo i am having a hard time understanding why the staff are unable to clean the floors and tables.
(3)Emily R.
For fast food Asian, I was impressed. When you walk in, the menus stand floor-to-ceiling on the right. Stop here and decide what you want before walking up to the cash register. I ordered the Pad Thai which tasted very fresh and came out piping hot! Yes, you must remember that this is Americanized Asian food (relative of PF Changs). The portions were HUGE and I definitely could have shared my noodle bowl with 1 other person. Most dishes/bowls tend to cost in the $7-10 range. Even though they became extremely busy during the lunch hour, the cashier quickly took orders from the long line of people and the food came out promptly. When a large group entered, an employee approached them to ask how many were dining there. I was surprised to see that he put together tables for the group and placed out a number for their table, as well as separately for our smaller group of 4. This is a seat yourself establishment so I wouldn't have expected that type of service here. I especially like their Chinese carry-out boxes and no restriction on fortune cookies?!? We probably had a few too many of those... :) But they were more tasty than the average fortune cookie!
(3)Carina d.
Pei Wei's is one of the nicest "fast food" joints that I've visited. Download the menu off the Pei We website, and you can see the range of entrees available. Prices are between $7-9 without a drink, and portions are sizeable. Service is quick and friendly, and the place is very clean. I love the boxes that they put out for leftovers, which look like the foldable containers you get from a local chinese food joint. I've tried the Udon Noodle Bowl, which I thought was too salty. And I was disappointed by the 4 bite-sized pieces of chicken in my bowl. However, the Pei Wei Spicy chicken was great with the brown rice. If you're hesitant about trying brown rice, ask for the 50/50 mix. They'll give you half white rice and half brown so you can test it out. Updated: 3/18/09 - I am smitten with the Thai Dynamite chicken! A lightly fried coating gives the chicken a little crunch and the sauce is the perfect mix of spicy and sweet.
(4)Vipool R.
This is PF Chang's owned place and they serve similar fair. We ordered carry-out and it was great. The person getting our order together even added an extra dish (maybe a cancelled order?). It was a little while ago, but I believe we had the pad thai with tofu and the chicken japanese teryaki (the extra dish seemed like honey-seared shrimp). Everything was delicious... even the kids loved it. However, the pad thai is a little spicy so the kids didn't eat much of it. My wife and I loved it.
(4)Jenny L.
For a "fast food" place the food here is pretty good. I ordered the Pad Thai and it tasted alright. Great portion for the price though. Could be a good place to add to your list for fast asian food that's a better environment than your usual chinese take-out place.
(3)David C.
I found this place at the recommendation of a recruiter I was meeting. He says he drives to this Pei Wei from Baltimore for lunch couple times a week. I like Noodles and Co. food so I figured I would give Pei Wei a try. I have eaten take out from here maybe about 5 times in the last 3 months. I like their Pad Thai and the fried rice. These dishes are veggie packed and you can get extra carrots etc if you ask. Their portions are definitely bigger than Noodles and Co and the price is not bad. I know Aisan food and this is fairly decent. I would definitely go back more often if I did not cook at home.
(4)SL F.
I've only had two of the dishes at Pei Wei; I must say that their Pad Thai is excellent. I haven't found any that I like better. And it doesn't take long at all for the food to come out. The lettuce wraps are delicious too. I just wish I lived closer, so that I could go more often.
(4)Molly T.
Came at dinner hour, some-what busy. We got ours togo. The cashier was running back and forth from the kitchen and cash register, very polite and very hardworking. Food came out quickly and very tasty. The korean chicken was my favorite, my boyfriend got the mongolian shrimp and japanese tofu- he ate most of it so quickly I didn't get to try it! Good for when your in a hurry and don't want to go to a chinese takeout place that may have health dept issues..... like I found out my old favorite place was. Pei Wei all the way! :)
(4)Josiah L.
Pretty good for a American Asian chain restaurant. If you prefer american asian food, this is definitely a place for you. Reasonably priced, they offer some pretty interesting dish, and compare to most asian takeouts, you can taste the difference between each dish. Having said that, this is still an american thing, so don't expect to find authentic asian food there.
(4)Reed D.
Great food and fast service, very good prices, nice atmosphere. This place has really good managers. I usually order the Honey Seared (Chicken) or Thai Dynamite (Chicken) with brown rice and added spinach. I request the chicken be stock velvet which make the dishes very low in fat. I wish they would bring back a couple of my favorite dishes like Thai River Noodle and that is was not so busy on weekends.
(5)Blazej B.
One of my favorite locations in Columbia for almost-everyday-dining. The food is really good (not authentic -- but still tasty) and fresh. You also get generously-sized meals; I always take the leftovers back home, and I have another good meal. If you are vegeterian, you also have a plenty of options there (and they are cheap too). My only price complaint is the price of soft-drinks, slightly higher than I would like it to be. Well, the chain is owned by PF Chang, so it can be thought of as a cheaper version of PF Chang -- same quality, just less choice, and no full-waiter service (only delivery to the table). The service is quick; you order at the counter, they give you a number, which you attach to a clip at your table, and they bring the food in almost no-time. Sometimes, I saw manager walking and chatting with customers making sure that everything is OK. My only (personal) problem at Pei Wei is the fact that they discontinued all dishes with scallops some time ago (my favorites!), and as far as I know, they don't plan to reintroduce them in the near future. The place may get a little bit busy at times (lunch and dinner) but it is definitely worth visiting.
(4)Bryan T.
Not authentic. Not very good either. The decor is a lot like a cafeteria, and it's probably best to eat and run.
(2)Lori D.
Would be 5 stars, but this Pei Wei suffers from inconsistency. For the most part, the food is delicious, fresh and fast. I have on occasion hit them on a bad day and the food was "off". I adore their spring rolls and the fried rice. Portions are plentiful (I usually get enough for two meals). My kids get super excited about going to Pei Wei. For some reason, I hate PF Changs but love Pei Wei!
(4)dave h.
This place is run by PF Changs company, that being said; it is really good for a chain place. As some of you are aware, i am not a huge fan of chain places, but the pad thai here is really good. Big chunks of meat and tofu, excellent noodles. I recommend this to all you Columbia folks looking for a quick lunch.
(4)steve h.
I believe that Pei Wei is owned by PF Changs. As a result, it's pretty good. For american-chinese food a step above Panda express and a step below PF Changs, it's a pretty good place to go. Cheap, reasonably fast and fills the tummy. I like the qoute from Gunnar "It's chipotle with noodles"
(3)Gunnar V.
It's Chipotle with Noodles. Now, there's something okay about having an Asian restaurant that will be the exact same as the last one you went to no matter where you find it. I mean, at least you won't get burned like you can in half of Maryland's Chinese restaurants with their gloppy chicken thighs (if they also sell subs, run away). But you also won't find your new favorite restaurant, and you won't get a bargain. Dishes are $6-9 a piece and they shake you down for about $2 for a drink as is customary at these chains. I got Dan Dan Noodles when I went. They were okay. Way too much sauce. I wouldn't get those again, I think.
(3)Jayne M.
Good: Fast, clean, consistent. Many items on the menu very similar to the 'more expensive and always have to wait forever' daddy, P.F. Changs (e.g. lettuce wraps, many of the chicken dishes). Less so: Trying to read the menu off huge boards while you're in line. If the line is short, and they serve quickly (as is usually the case), you sometimes have to decide in a hurry so as not to make the people behind you wait. If you can, printout the menu from their website, and decide while you drive there. After about five visits, we figured out what we liked, and almost always order the same thing. The children's meals are a bit plain and boring. Nevertheless, four stars because I like my food to come out hot and to come out quickly, and to taste the same as the last time I ordered it, and this place always delivers! Also, their spicy salads really are quite spicy. Would like to see an MSG-free line on the menu.
(4)Megan M.
I love Pei Wei! Yes, it serves Americanized Chinese food, similar to PF Chang's (same company), but it is quick, freshly made, and quite tasty! This is a fast casual restaurant (think Panera, Chipotle, etc . . .), and I was delighted to find one close to home.
(5)Marlee G.
If you need your edamame deep fried, then this is the place for you. I think everything was at least flash fried, if not deep fried. I couldn't believe that the edamame was oily! It tastes just fine steamed and sprinkled with salt. We weren't impressed.
(2)Nicola M.
Food consistently excellent. Definitely get the chicken lettuce wraps! I have tried the pei wei spicy, sweet and sour, Ginger broccoli and honey seared with chicken and shrimp. Enjoyed them all.
(5)Larry S.
Eaten here before but this time it was not good. Don't know what the cooks were thinking flaring up three of the Wok's to the height of the fire suppression system. It was not called for and also dangerous in my opinion. They were playing with three Wok's and firing them up with so much flame I and my party could feel the heat across the room and we were on the far side against the wall. Also the girl in the yellow shirt and another crew member were throwing food at each other behind the counter. All this was funny to them! With all this happening the food was being burned as it's not hard to smell sugar burning or meat being over cooked.
(2)Brian F.
Food is hit or miss. Routinely understaffed. They've messed up my order a couple times of late. Fairly average.
(3)H C.
Ordered two kids meals, one arrived, other they forgot. The one that arrived was raw chicken. When manager was told - wasn't even worth their time to stop by the table. Never eating here again.
(1)Kim J.
The food is good but the wait for take out is horrible and the manager is very rude. She was cursing saying she couldn't wait to close.
(1)Johanna F.
Oh mine. I don't want to go to their kitchen because I suspect heavy handed soy sauce and sugar in play for every dishes. Dishes are overly sweet or salty. This is not Chinese food yall! I will not go there if you pay me.
(1)Karen H.
I love PF Changs and Pei Wei is owned by PF Changs and is the less expensive version. There are no waiters bringing you water and taking your order. Instead you place your order and you are given a number to place at your table. You then walk to the beverage /condiments /silverware / take out container section and get what you want. I'm in love with the beverage dispenser which has a wide variety of choices. My personal favorite is the Dasani water that comes in a variety of flavors. Before I could get my beverage, my meal was already on the table. Now that's fast food! My meal was just as tasty as it would have be at PF Changs. Whose winning now? This girl is! Did I mention, this Pei Wei is also clean (to include the bathroom ) which is huge in my book! I'm happy and satisfied and I can't ask for much more.
(5)Sandy H.
First time eating here today...stop by to grab a quick bite to eat before starting my Saturday shopping and the food was fresh, hot and delicious. I will definitely be back to try some of the other dishes. Today I had sweet and sour chicken and some mango California rolls and every bite was pleasant! I highly recommend.
(4)Amy P.
We ordered ton of stuff. Thai chicken lettuce wrap, traditional chicken lettuce wrap, hot and sour soup, teriyaki beef, beef thai dynamite, steak lo mein and mango california roll. I didn't try the teriyaki beef, but other than that the only 2 items I really enjoyed was the lettuce wraps. Thai chicken lettuce wrap has sweet and tangy taste to it, it's very refreshing and little spicy. The traditional lettuce wrap is very similar to the ones you would get at PF Chang, very delicious. As for thai dynamite, it wasn't bad, but the meat seemed breaded and fried, not what I was craving for or expecting. The steak lo mein was the worst because there was no flavor to it. I think they might have forgotten to add the seasoning because it was just lo mein noodles and steak. The other items were ok, nothing out of the ordinary.
(3)Carolyn C.
I have been to Pei Wei twice. Each time the service was super-fast and the employees helpful and cheery (both times were takeout and I never waited longer than 20 minutes for my order). At this location I have had the Traditional Chicken Lettuce Wraps which contains shiitake mushrooms, water chestnuts, scallions, garlic, soy sauce, rice sticks and iceberg lettuce. To me these lettuce wraps taste just like the ones at P.F. Changs and they are half the price ($6.99)! The Ginger Broccoli is always a great go-to savory dish consisting of sweet soy sauce, scallions, ginger, garlic and broccoli. To me this dish always does the trick, also cheaper than P.F. Changs ($8.99). The last item is the remarkable super delicious Kung Pao Chicken entrée. This entrée has brown rice, chicken, chile seared soy sauce, scallions, garlic, snap peas, carrots and peanuts. It is a peppery one so watch out! This Pei Wei has a cute little patio outside too! Also, I saw recently online that this location now serves sushi?! I must try it! Open Monday through Thursday from 11:00am - 9:30pm, Friday through Saturday from 11:00am - 10:00pm and Sunday 11:00am - 9:30pm.
(5)Rick G.
If you enjoy PF Chang's cuisine, you'll love Pei Wei. Owned by PF, the approach is smaller portions and price with a cozier atmosphere. Everything from soups, wraps, to you favorite dishes can be enjoyed...and quickly! It's a nice casual feel which is sure to bring you back!
(5)Liz M.
I generally steer clear of chain restaraunts. While it's parent, PF Chang's does a convincing job of making tolerable Asian food for people who don't like Asian food, this place is truly all kinds of sub par. With a borderline offensive name, the food is bland, and the sauces incredibly sweet and salty. I was duped into trying it out of desperation of finding a healthier Asian food place. It touts healthier options, but the food definitely takes like its both sky high in sodium and sugars. Pre-made processed sauces undoes the veggie and Brown rice healthier options. That brown rice is also the driest brown rice I've ever experienced. Like eating pebbles. I suppose if one eats Subway, then you'll like this place.
(1)MIchaei G.
This place use to be much cleaner and the best Chinese food In town but unfortunately quality has gone down and quite dirty....not impressed at all :(
(2)Katherine B.
I give three stars bc I like the idea of picking your own meat for the dishes they offer. Also, they have a chai iced tea thAy was a pleasant surprise! I had the crab wontons and they were meh. They are actually crab and I like the imitation in the wontons. I know, crazy right. The wonton soup was pretty good, pretty basic. I had the lettuce wraps, Korean steAk which was listed as a lighter option... But was swimming in oil. It was tasty, though. Kids had lo mein which was also very flavorful. Service was fast and friendly. Reasonable prices, and they sell wine and beer ;) good choice for some different fast Chinese!
(3)Raj S.
Good enough for the price range. It's not typically Chinese but I love the fusion and you will get your food real quick also!
(4)Mimi L.
Overpriced for small portions. Food is good but nothing special. My meal was close to $7 for 6 small pieces of deep fried chicken in sauce and a bit a rice. Could have gotten a lot more somewhere else.
(3)Brooke W.
Service was fast doesn't get crowded in here much
(4)Mark E.
Third time at this location and haven't been disappointed. Food was excellent. Mongolian beef was spot on again and the lettuce wraps were a refreshing side item. Everything was fresh and delivered to the table hot. Great place to grab a quick lunch when it's not crowded.
(4)G T.
Cool. Modern/Shrek. Fast. Good enough for the money. Meat is fried, rice is bland. The mediocre spicy sauce doesn't compensate for the ho-hum flavor. I'll go back if a friend insists on trying it.
(3)Busa B.
I've been here more times than I'd care to say, lol. I LOVE Pei Wei. This place hits the spot. The price is right (so much cheaper than it's big brother )and the food is decent. I usually don't do crab won ton's but a friend ordered them so I had to try one and I was pleased with the taste. I gave up crab won ton's years a go since most places they taste like garbage but Pei Wei does a decent job. Decent food, decent area and decent price what more can you say.
(4)R A.
My feedback from two recent take-out experiences I had at the Columbia Pei Wei, some of it good, some of it disappointing. The good: I had had Pei Wei before, long ago, and could recall nothing special about it; I even seemed to have the lingering impression that I hadn't liked it very much. Well, that impression changed! I was with others who wanted to order from there, and I was quite impressed with the menu and all the delicious-sounding options. I have a somewhat restricted diet, yet it was easy to find many, many dishes and options I wanted to try. I also appreciated the opportunity to 'personalize' each order through your online ordering system -- above and beyond good service!, the kind of thing that makes a restaurant surpass 'good' or 'satisfactory' into a memorable, preferred favorite. The food was delicious, and the staff I interacted with when picking up the food was great. The disappointing: The first time we ordered, all of our containers were only about half-filled. I assumed this was because we ordered the smaller size; I speculated that perhaps the same-sized container was used for all entrees, and the containers were only partially filled for the smaller-sized orders, and fully filled for the larger-sized orders. Some of our confirmed ordered items were also not included in the order, which we didn't realize until we got home. The second time we ordered, a couple of the orders were the larger size -- in larger containers -- which made me realize that the first order was either intentionally made smaller, or was haphazardly, hastily, or sloppily filled, leaving me with the impression that I paid for an amount of food that we did not get. This second order also included rice and entrees in the same container -- so, in addition to the containers STILL being filled only halfway (both the smaller and the larger containers were filled only partially), we had even less of the already-smaller amount of our entrees, because the rice took up about half of the container space. I was initially excited to have good-quality food and delicious, unique options at a very decent price, and had made Pei Wei my new favorite restaurant, my preferred go-to when ordering casual take-out, especially 'Asian' / Chinese / Japanese. However, if every time I order, we're getting only half a container's worth or less of our entrees, I'd rather give my business to another restaurant that gives full portions for the prices paid. I'm disappointed enough to not bother to order from or eat at Pei Wei from here on out. I hope Pei Wei will adjust this, and give the full portions customers are paying for and counting on -- or, if you will continue to dish out the same portions, at least get smaller containers, to at least give the impression that we're receiving our full portions! I hope Pei Wei figures this out; the restaurant, as a whole, has a lot of good going for it otherwise.
(3)Lucy E.
I like P.F. Changs every once and awhile, and thought that this would be just as good, but easier and quicker for lunch. Boy was I wrong. The food is not nearly as good in quality, the flavors are barely there, and it doesn't even look very good. It seems to me to just be fake thai food. I'll pass.
(2)Carolyn J.
First time here & it was pretty good. I like PF Changs & this is the cheaper, faster version. Ordered the honey chicken combo with brown rice & veggie spring roll. I will return to try the other dishes & hopefully can get them non-spicy since I'm unable to eat spicy food.
(4)Anna B.
Came across this place on a whim based on location. For what it is, a fast Asian inspired food restaurant.. It gives me my fix for Asian food cravings. My 2 yr old was please with her kids menu noodles and chicken, although plain.. Was interesting in flavoring that Daddy and Mommy kept digging into them ourselves. :) My husbands dynamite shrimp dish was flavorful and very colorful which makes you want to dive into. The dish was a bit lacking in the "dynamite" area as far as spice but you have the option of making it hotter with their condiments of Siracha and other sauce goodies. My dish of spicy tofu and veggies over noodles was nice but nothing to write home about. I would've loved if the tofu had a bit more of a crunchier exterior. My noodles were a bit overcooked. My veggies were perfectly al dente so I was content. What really shines are their Korean beef lettuce wraps! Oh-my.. The texture and flavor of the meet is out-of-bounds awesome. I have to take a point off for using iceberg lettuce but because the beef is so properly flavorful that it almost makes up for their lettuce choosing downfalls. If you want something quick, tasty, and Asian ( not to mention reasonably priced).. Then take a chance and drop in.
(3)JaCara S.
I really enjoy this place. Only been twice but so good. I had the dynamite shrimp with brown rice and their ginger edmame (which they do not have anymore). The second time I had the veggie with noodles. It was good and I definitely recommend this place. I'm a budgeter and I really like places that serve great food at good prices. Nice atmosphere for jus friends or a date.
(4)Leeann N.
Pei Wei is a great place to take a family or run in by yourself. It is quick service. You order and pay at a counter, and then sit down after you get your drink. Your food is then brought to you table piping hot. If you like PF Changs but are willing to skip the atmosphere and the wide menu, then you will like Pei Wei.. and your wallet will like it too! ps- my favorite is the Mongolian Beef- YUM!
(4)Hoyt H.
Went here for the first time around New Years day. I'm trying to avoid gluten, and saw online that they had some stuff I could eat. They don't have the GF items noted on the posted menu, but if you ask, they will give you a card with the GF items. Tried the sweet and sour chicken, while wifey had the thai curry, both with brown rice. Both were OK, but a bit bland. They needed more seasoning or something. Service was friendly, and the place was clean. Supposedly a new menu is coming out, so we might come back to try it out.
(3)Spicy Z.
The food is good and fulling, price is just right, and they are willing to take out food ingredients that I don't want. I only had take out, therefore i cant say what the table service is like. The take-out staff is always friendly, and patience.
(4)Ma-e M.
I rather get my fast food asian from Pei Wei rather than get it from the corner neighborhood. Pei Wei cooks for you a variety of Asian food (some Japanese, Thai, and Viet). Their Pad Thai is not as good as Noodles & Company though.
(3)Jody Z.
Pei Wei is one of my go to spots for take out. You can order online and it's typically ready in about 15 minutes. I like PF Changs, but I don't like mall parking, hour long waits, and dealing with crowds so I go to Pei Wei to get my fix. Our favorites are the chicken lettuce wraps (amazing!), Mongolian Beef, and Sesame Chicken. The only things that haven't impressed me are the cream cheese wontons, fried rice, and shrimp dishes. I prefer to order those at my more traditional Chinese places vs. Pei Wei. The prices are lower here than PF Changs and I've always had good service. I also appreciate that they have some small plate options. For instance you can order just 1 or 2 egg rolls or spring rolls instead of a whole order, which is nice if you're dining solo or with a smaller group.
(4)Tom C.
Let's be honest...Pei Wei is to Asian food as Mcdonald's is to American food. In this respect Pei Wei fills the bill if you're not too particular and in a hurry. It's Asian fast food and nothing more. Not a destination eatery, for sure. So if it's lunch time and you have a craving for a spring roll and some noodles and aren't too picky, Pei Wei will serve. Otherwise, there are way too many good Asian restaurants around to chose from. Go to one of those.
(2)William M.
Why so harsh folks? This place is great, and exactly what it seeks to be. Yes, it's a chain, but that does not mean it isn't excellent! First, this place is so CHEAP, particularly for the insane amount of food you get. My friend and I split the Japanese Teriyaki with vegetables and tofu, as well as a side of edamame, and it came to around 10 bucks. It was EASILY enough food for both of us. Those are unbeatable prices in my opinion! ALSO, you get sparkling water for free at the awesome new age machine.
(4)Puneet M.
A fast food Asian place... If you like P.F.Changs, then you will like this place. Just as P.F.Changs doesn't try to be 100% traditionally Asian food, Pei Wei does try to do that either. When you walk in you are greeted by same smell, atmosphere and look of a PF Changs. The food to is basically the same, its flavorful, tastey and over all above average for a fast food place. The prices are ok, wish they were lower,but heck I wish i got it for free! lol If you have an American/Asian craving and dont feel like waiting 30 mins or so for take out or PF Changs, then Pei Wei is the place. The do offer a good array of sauces, interestingly they are the SAME sauces that you get at PF Changs! I perfer this Pei Wei over Noodle and Co... mainly cuz of the food taste and variety. I would recommend checking it out, its def. worth a shot if you are in a little bit of a hurry but dont want a burger and fries. Enjoy.... Chopsticks anyone!
(4)Sarah C.
Pei Wei? Someday - this day?? K.... Far away. It's her birthday. Eat here first and then we'll play. Simple diner-wok-gourmet. Order, pay - stay? What the hey.... Seats are numbered, wait not - yay! Spicy Korean. Hrmm, sway? Rice is brown - Meat's white prey. Heat hot? Way. Taste hot? Nay. Heavy sauce, thick display. Good for two. Full. Must lay. Stretchy denim, don't betray! Food? Fast cheap fresh fine, are they See Pei Wei again, I may.
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