Welcome to your new favorite Chinese restaurant.
Alderwood’s new P.F. Chang’s China Bistro was hoppin’ Wednesday, Oct. 27, just two days after its soft opening.
It hadn’t even been advertised as open yet, but it didn’t take long for word to get out to loyal locals who usually travel to downtown Seattle or Bellevue for this tasty, trendy Chinese experience.
According to Matthew Stuckens, P.F. Chang’s general manager and operating partner for the Alderwood restaurant (the 110th store in the U.S.), this Chinese restaurant is able to identify all the flavors from neighborhood Chinese restaurants but magnify the flavors.
Stuckens said “our food is traditional Chinese with American sensibility,” adding that that means they respect and follow the authentic way Chinese prepare food, but do it with American regard. For example, if you order duck or fish they won’t come with the heads at P.F Chang’s.
For me and my family, P.F Chang’s has really taken average Chinese food up a notch.
Since there were six and a half of us (two and a half were 5 and under) and the servings are family style, we only ordered three meat entrees, fried rice and a veggie, and this was plenty. They were: almond cashew chicken ($9.95), Philip’s Better Lemon Chicken ($10.95), Mongolian beef $12.25), garlic snap peas ($4.95) and pork fried rice ($6.95).
We also tried the spring rolls (4 for $4.95) and a cup of the hot and sour soup (cup $2.95, bowl $5.50). We also had a choice of white or brown rice which was included with the meal at no extra cost.
The almond cashew chicken and Mongolian beef in particular were outstanding. I can’t say enough about the flavors—they were full bodied and distinct. The chicken was fresh and moist and the nuts perfectly cooked and coated. The beef melts in your mouth and was also one of our friendly and knowledgeable Australian waiter Ray’s favorites.
The snap peas and the veggies in the spring rolls were obviously very fresh and were very identifiable and also full of flavor.
It was hard to pick just a few items from the vast menu which also offers dim sum options (without the cart), other soups, salads seafood items, vegetarian plates, noodles and more.
The restaurant also offers a “training table menu” designed by real athletes and a gluten free menu as well.
“We only use the highest quality, fresh ingredients and everything is made in house,” Stuckens said, including all their sauces and condiments (which I love!).
Along with the food, the restaurant offers an extensive wine list (50 bottles all available by the glass). I ordered the sake and we ordered the citrus spice tea, one of the six tea options ($2.50 per pot).
Another comparison is that P.F Chang’s has a tempting dessert menu. Choose from banana spring rolls, New York Style cheesecake, or what we ordered — The Great Wall of Chocolate.
This dessert, no kidding, like the wall was HUGE — and for only $6.95 it feeds at least four people. It is six layers of rich chocolate cake frosted with semi sweet chocolate chips served with raspberry sauce. We took it to go.
The food isn’t the only difference between P.F. Chang’s and many neighborhood Chinese restaurants. The decor itself is more elaborate and the music, I think, was 80’s? I’m not sure because the restaurant was busy and it was hard to hear the people at the same table, let alone the music that was playing.
While the Chinese restaurant is very stylish and high energy it is still kid friendly. Because of the family style servings it is easy and fun for children to try or refuse the different dishes. Also they give them a unique buildable, stickable, playable toy, “Wikki Stix” that are sure to please and keep the attention of most youngsters at least until the food arrives. The bathroom decor is also impressive. My 3-year-old said it best as we entered the restroom for the first of three times, “nice potty Mom!”
According to Stuckens, P.F. Chang’s was founded in 1993 by Philip Chaing (spelled differently) and Paul Flemming and is known for its statue replicas, including the 11 foot tall guard horse at it’s entrance.
Stuckens said in 1974 an archeological dig in China unearthed about 1,000 terra cotta statues that had been buried to protect an emperor’s grave.
“We have reproductions of these statues in respect for the Chinese tradition,” he said.
With the rest of the Village and The Terraces at Alderwood opening yesterday, Nov. 4, folks will be hard pressed to get an open seat at P.F. Chang’s. So, your best bet is to make reservations. But if you don’t make those reservations or you have some time to kill, no worries mate (as Ray the waiter would say), it won’t be hard to sit in it’s elegant, fully stocked bar.
Shannon Sessions is the editor for the Lynnwood/Mountlake Terrace edition of the Enterprise Newspapers.
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