Pei Wei – Acceptable Fast Food
As a person who enjoys good food, I usually prefer smaller eateries or at least individual establishments rather than large national ‘chain’ stores. Most national ‘chain’ stores gain popularity because we all like comfort and familiarity; and they are reliable — we know that what we are getting is what we like (at least most of the time). And I rarely eat ‘fast food’ because of my desire for really Great Food experiences. If I am going to eat, I want the food and the experience to be worthwhile and super satisfying.‘Fast food’ is popular because it is just that: ‘fast’ and convenient.
As my husband and I arrived in town on Friday, looking forward to an exciting weekend participating in a LoBella “Reclaim Your Life” event at Lake Las Vegas, we stopped, before checking into the hotel, for a quick lunch at Pei Wei. Now this is a an exception to my resistance to ‘fast food’ establishments.
Pei Wei has similar food as their parent company, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro, but in a quick and easy version, serving “wok-seared contemporary pan-Asian cuisine” and claiming to be “a faster, more casual take” of their parent company, while “maintaining the same dedication to quality and attention to detail”.
Ordering is easy: choose the type of dish, the flavoring, the type of additions and brown or white rice (if it isn’t a noodle dish). My choice either is the Lemon Pepper Shrimp or the spicier Orange Peel Shrimp, but the Lettuce Wraps and Crab Wontons are delicious and often tempting.
The entire menu is priced under $10 and they serve beer and wine, however, the Mandarin Orange or my favorite: Chai, iced teas are refreshing.
Well, the name itself is too darned cute! I’d try the place just because of that kind of creativity. It sounds like the menu offering is just as good!