When a craving for Asian noodlesor crispy Mongolian Beef strikes, there's only one place to go. Yes,P.F. Chang's is a mainstay at malls across the country, but it beats out the likes of Panda Express by leaps and bounds with its authentic recipes and balanced flavors. Discover the chain's Chinese roots to find outwhy customers return time and time again for theChicken Lettuce Wraps and more favorite dishes to spice things up.
1. It all began with anartist
When Philip Chiang finished art school in Los Angeles, he had a hard time finding job prospects. When his mother, restauranteur Cecilia Chiang, took a long-termtrip to China, he happily took over operationsof her restaurant Beverly Hills Mandarin. The experience quickly drew himinto the life of arestaurateur.
2. The recipes come from an award-winning chef
Cecilia Chiang is thought of as the Julia Child of Chinese cooking. So, it's only natural that Philip was inspired by the menus she created.After stepping in to run the restaurant, Philip opened his ownspot,Mandarette, combiningcasual and fine-dining aspects and servingstreet-influenced Chinese dishes that would later make their way onto the P.F. Chang's menu.
3. The guy behind Ruth's Chris Steak House sparked the idea
Paul Fleming, a businessman from Louisiana,opened the New Orleans–based chainRuth's Chris Steak House in the 1980s. During his travels, hefrequented Mandarette in Los Angeles, and eventuallyconvinced Philip Chiang to collaborate with him on a Chinese restaurant concept.The first location of P.F. Chang's opened at a mall in Scottsdale, Arizona in 1993. The name is a combination of Fleming's initials (P.F.) and Philip's last name, with a slight change in spelling.
4. It launched two other restaurantchains
Two more Asian-inspired restaurants launched following the initial success of P.F. Chang's—Pei Wei Asian Diner, a fast-casual spot specializing in takeout, opened in 2000, andTaneko Japanese Tavern, an upscale, Japanese pub serving sushi, noodles and robatayaki dishes, opened in 2006.
5. There are over 250 locations worldwide
Thoughthechain began on the west coast, the demand for P.F. Chang's flavor-packed farehas since spread like wildfire. There are now more than 200locations in the United States alone, plus 56 internationally, including several countries in South America, Europe, and the Middle East.
6. Every dish is made completely from scratch
For such a large chain, it's impressive that all P.F. Chang's kitchens make their menu items from scratch. Produceis local whenever possible, and vegetables and meat are prepped fresh each day. Chefs do everything from julienning carrots to folding dim sum by hand, and ensure that ingredients are chopped in a particular way for each recipe."We simplified Chinese food, took out the filler, made it cleaner and fresher,"Chiang told Honolulu Magazine.
7. P.F. Chang's put chicken lettuce wraps on the map
Anyone who's been to the chain has undoubtedly tried the top-selling Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps. Thesignature Chiang familyrecipe is a secret—the ingredients on the menu are purposely vague—though many restaurants have attempted to copy it.
8. The chefs are masters of the wok
The traditional cooking vessels, which originated in China over 2,000 years ago, are an integral part of P.F. Chang's kitchen operations. Cooks on the wok line get the pans screaming hot in order to release all the flavors of the ingredientsand cook them quickly so they retain their nutrients.
9. It was the first national restaurant to use Sriracha
According to The New York Times, P.F. Chang's was a pioneer inusingthe spicy, red rooster sauce. Starting in 2000, the chain used Sriracha to give their Singapore Street Noodles a kick. Nowthey use nearly 100,000 bottles of it per year!
10. You can find your favoritemenu items in the frozen aisle
If you're craving Shanghai Style Beef but can't make it to one of the restaurant's locations, look no further than your grocery store. Yep, the chain now makes frozen meals so you can get your Asian-food fix with just a few minutes in the microwave.Or, you could always whip up some sticky-sweet goodness yourself with thiscopycatrecipe forMongolian Beef.
11. Expect the menu to change regularly
Though you can always rely on your favorite menu items like Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps, Singapore Street Noodles and Kung Pao Chicken to stick around, P.F. Chang's regularly switches up its offerings. With the Local Favorites menu, area chefs can highlight new dishes, plusgluten-free optionsand holiday menus for celebrations like Chinese New Year keep your tastebuds on their toes. Limited-time co*cktails are in the mix as well.
12. There's an awesome rewards program
If you're constantly craving Chang's, join the chain's reward program to take full advantage of your spending. It's free to becomeaP.F. Chang's Preferred member, and for every dollar you spend, you'll get 10 points on your account—once you reach 2,000, there's a free entrée with your name on it. Membersalso get a deal on theirbirthdays, plusplenty of perks, includingexclusive invites to events like tastings.
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