So I'm usually not someone who writes on yelp, but after seeing quite a few reviews that didn't line up with my experience at Peter Chang, I decided to share. Now I'm more food focused when it comes to my restaurant experiences, and I'll write in more detail on that in a second, but I want to say that in the times I've been there service was also pretty good. The waiters I've had were attentive, polite, and quick to help with meeting my dining needs. Given that this is a casual restaurant, I thought this was more than appropriate. Anyhow, let me get down to brass tacks and share my experience with the food!
Shrimp Dumplings: These were maybe the biggest surprise of the day for my girlfriend and I. She loves this dim sum classic, but our expectations were admittedly limited, since we were getting this dish at a non-dim sum focused restaurant. To our surprise, the dumplings weren't just good, they were excellent. They had a really lovely texture, plenty of filling, and were cooked spot on. Honestly, they were better than those at several dim sum places I've been to.
Peter's Big Bun: On the other side of the dumpling experience spectrum, the big bun was actually a bit of a let down, and probably the only thing from here I haven't really enjoyed. The wrapper is good, and it's nice to see a place try a different style of soup dumpling, but in this case under seasoning was an issue. Long story short, the meat and broth just didn't have enough flavor, which made the whole bun a forgettable part of an otherwise great meal.
Scallion Bubble Pancakes: Holy crap were these things good! The pancakes themselves were puffed up to almost ridiculous proportions, and had an amazing texture which balanced crispness with a bit of chew. Adding to that, the dipping sauce they were served with was seriously addictive. I still can't place what went into that sauce--maybe some mustard powder, maybe curry powder--but I seriously might have drunk it right out of the bowl if it weren't for fear of judgement by my fellow diners.
Grandma's Noodle: These were simple, tasty, and surprisingly refreshing given that they had a bit of a spicy kick. The noodles had a nice bit of bite, which made eating the dish a pleasure, and the sauce complimented them really well. As a noodle lover, this definitely made me happy, and they're a steal at $7 given how much you get.
Crispy Pork Belly: Yet again, I feel like Peter Chang hit this dish out of the park. The pork belly had a great crunch, but didn't feel all that fatty or oily, which can be hard to get right when working with this cut of meat. Adding to that, they managed to pack a surprisingly large amount of flavor into the pork, which is made all the more impressive by the fact that it doesn't look heavily seasoned at a glance. My only suggestion would be to make sure you eat this quickly if you order takeout, since it understandably loses a little bit of its crispiness if it sits too long in a container.
Sauteed Diced Chicken W. Szechuan Chili Pepper (Boneless): I can understand how getting a plate loaded with dried chilies might be off-putting for people unfamiliar with Szechuan food, but seriously try this dish. The flavor profile really nicely balances spiciness with that unique numbing tingle from the Szechuan peppercorns, and the chicken is cooked to crisp perfection. Adding to that, you could reasonably eat this dish as an entree if you wanted, which makes the $11 price tag a really nice deal.
Double Cooked Pork Belly: This is a beloved dish of mine, so I was really happy to find that Peter Chang's rendition more than met my expectations. The pork is nicely tender, and doesn't have the problem I've experienced in some other places where the fat is left tougher than the meat. Adding to this, Szechuan fermented black bean paste is given a starring role in the sauce, and it's freaking delicious. Other places tend to rely more on the classic chili/Szechuan peppercorn combo in my experience, but the heavier use of black beans in Peter Chang's take added a depth of flavor that really brought the dish to life.
House Special Flounder Fish Fillet: Off the bat, presentation was pretty on point when we ordered in the restaurant, as the dish came out simmering on a metal tray heated over a butane burner. The fish and vegetables were also cooked really nicely, but the sauce was the star of the show. The spicy, savory taste of the sauce was offset well by the sourness of the pickled peppers, which made it a pleasure to eat. However, the quantity of the sauce might have been a bit too much of a good thing, as the rest of the ingredients were almost swimming in it. If this dish was served just a bit drier it would be even better in my opinion.
I would definitely recommend Peter Chang! There aren't many Szechuan places in the DMV, and Peter Chang is the best of the bunch in my opinion. Go here looking to explore Szechuanese and Hunanese flavors, because you won't be disappointed. read more