Warning: this is a very harsh review. If I could have given them ZERO stars, I would have.
Why so harsh? Because PF Chang's set itself up for a HUGE letdown. The let down after such an immense build up means I will never set foot here again (and yes, I tried 3 times with 3 different dishes). It sets itself up to be an elite Chinese restaurant, meaning great food and great service. You have huge stone horses outside and (plastic) terra cotta warriors line the walls. They obviously spent a LOT of money on the physical restaurant and the clearly promote themselves as a CHINESE restaurant, and as a good Chinese restaurant. Unfortunately, it is most definitely NOT a good Chinese restaurant, it is not even acceptable!
PF Chang's is very very pretty and it looks like you should get some good food, ooops!, no, the food is not important here, only the decor.
PF Chang's is like a much blander version of Panda Express, only you get much less food and pay much more money! Seriously!
How can ANYONE in their right mind even think that this resembles Chinese food?
One reviewer had it right, it is for older, VERY PICKY and NOT ADVENTUROUS eaters, i.e., they don't actually WANT Chinese food in the first place!!!
It's like a bad Chinese Week in a retirement home cafeteria! Yuck!!
If you are 80 years old, only eat potatoes and casseroles your whole life and are afraid of even trying chop suey, then PF Chang's must be heaven! You can even tell your friends that you actually ATE Chinese food too! (although this would technically be a lie)
I have eaten Chinese food in Taipei, in Beijing and in the large chinatown in Bangkok as well as the Chinese community in Penang Malaysia. I have also eating Chinese food in Chinatown in Chicago, in local chop suey places and in some actually pretty good Chinese restaurants in the city and the burbs, but PF Chang's has NO relationship to Chinese food whatsoever! Well, ok, it's a bit like your local chop suey joint, only five times as pricey. It is equally as bland if not more so! Bland, boring, no flavor, dead on arrival. Even the best efforts at using their make-your-own sauce gimmick did nothing to save the dishes I have had here, NOTHING!
I love the suburbs and have found some great Asian restaurants out here (I know few and far between, but they are here!). PF Chang's makes me embarrassed to admit I live in the burbs. It embodies everything that is wrong and bland and mass produced and meaningless in the burbs. It is a blight on humanity!
Well, ok, that's a bit over the top, but really, I love the burbs and seriously want to defend it for all its saving graces and wonderful little places to shop and eat that the burb haters say don't exist. Then I go to this place it destroys all the good will of all those great suburban joints that shine as wonderful culinary gems.
I will NEVER go to PF Chang's again, not if you payed me, not if you dragged me with their plastic terra cotta warriors, not if it was the last restaurant on this wonderful planet of ours. PF Chang's is a crime against humanity. If there were a crime second only to genocide, it would be called PF Chang's. :) (was that a little over the top?)
A couple conclusions to leave you with:
1. Do NOT waste your money here when there is FAR BETTER Chinese fare in the western suburbs of Chicago for a lot less money.
2. Do NOT patronize such a horrible waste of space and resources and instead spend your money where people actually care about the food they serve and don't abuse the "Chinese" label as a cheap ploy to swindle those who may not know any better out of their hard earned money.
3. If you do not actually know of any good local Chinese restaurants, then message me or read my reviews, I will add more Chinese restaurants now that I have been to this gastronomic train wreck just to help suburbanites find REAL Chinese food! Please, at least TRY to find real Chinese food, it's there! read more