Restaurant Review : P.F. Chang's, Festival City, Dubai

Hey from EL The Cook!

We continue our journey through Dubai, this time, dining at one of its Chinese favorites, P.F. Chang's..

The USA based chain of restaurants founded by Paul Fleming and Philip Chiang has come a long way since its inception in 1993, taking fresh and quality- driven Chinese food to the masses.

Philip Chiang's, mother, Cecilia was the initial stimulus for this massive restaurant chain, with her first restaurant the Mandarin, Beverly Hills, USA attracting all kinds of celebrities like John Lennon & Yoko Ono, back in the 1960's. 

The ambiance inside P.F Chang's is inspired by the Terracotta Warriors unearthed in the city of Xi'an from 3 B.C. Hand painted murals reflect the culture of China.

A little known feature of every P.F. Chang's restaurant is their "Scratch Kitchen" where everything is made from scratch, and their veggies are hand-chopped from trained hands.

So here's what we ordered.. 

BLACKBERRY JASMINE ICED TEA

A beautiful blend of flavors from the East, the blackberry jasmine iced tea, is a delight! The sweet-sour blackberry and the aromatic jasmine make an iced tea experience that's hard to forget.

DYNAMITE SHRIMP

"One can't visit a P.F.Chang's without ordering a Dynamite Shrimp!" That's what we were told before coming.

This is P.F.Chang's signature dish with literally every second table sporting a shrimp martini glass! 

The dynamite shrimp look gorgeous when piled up in a martini glass, enveloped in a generous & flavorful crunchy batter. Accompanied with a robust spicy sauce, a bite into one of these uncovers layers of goodness.. The crunchy layer gives way to perfectly cooked shrimp, truly giving you a taste of the sea!

CHANG'S CHICKEN LETTUCE WRAPS 

Chang's chicken lettuce wraps set the bar for freshness of ingredients. The lettuce is ice-cold and the chicken is served with a bistroesque feel. The dish is meant to be assembled as per your lettuce to filling ratio!

Super crunchy, the leaves of iceberg lettuce, compliment the smoky texture of the chicken. Infused with garlic and several Chinese herbs, the taste of the wok is incorporated beautifully in the filling! An inspired dish!

   

CRISPY HONEY CHICKEN 

Our experiences with Honey Chicken usually end badly, the dish is either too sweet or has an imbalance of batter. 

P.F. Chang's does a reasonable job with this dish. The sweetness of the honey and consistency of the batter are balanced well. The tangy sauce compliments the rustic rice sticks which give its a nice crunch. 

CHANG'S ASIAN SHORT RIBS

What is more inviting than sticky short ribs? Well we can think of nothing that comes close.

P.F Chang's boasts of a Wok technique during which a 900 degree flame results in a wok hei or "breath of the wok" which imparts unique smoky flavors to the food.

Chang's Asian Short Ribs, demonstrate this technique all too well. The sticky glaze along the meat is super eye-catching! The smoky barbecue flavors imparted by that wok hei is unforgettable!

The giant ribs with a sweet-savory sauce is paired so well with the refreshing cucumber salad on the side! The meat melts in your mouth as you devour the sensational looking piece of food!

P.F. Chang's, a fine-dine Chinese cuisine restaurant serving upbeat, fresh dishes inspired from the major regions in China and her bordering countries. 

With a history steeped in the posh lives of celebrities, it has managed to keep its finesse through remnants of Chinese culture, but most importantly its food. 

With its "Scratch Kitchen" concept  and wondrous wok based cooking, P.F. Chang's has certainly managed to give the customer innovative dishes, at hands of talented chefs. 

A visit to P.F Chang's anywhere in the world is guaranteed to offer some brilliant food insights into Chinese cuisine!