Pei Wei

Pei Wei is a fast casual restaurant in the US that focuses on Pan Asian fare. It was formed some 19 years ago by P. F. Chang’s China Bistro in Scottsdale, Arizona. Its trading name was Pei Wei Asian Diner between 2000 and 2018. This name changed to Pei Wei Asian Kitchen when the restaurant separated from its parent company, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.

Brief history

Pei Wei hit the ground running immediately after it was founded. It was as if people had been waiting for it to be opened. As happy customers flocked in and out of the restaurant in large numbers, it was clear that good times were on the way. And they did come. The restaurant began franchising in order to accommodate the growing demand and by 2010, it had 168 locations. It also had its own fair share of ups and downs, closing several locations in 2016. The closed locations were replaced by more vibrant and promising locations as the upward trend in growth continued.

Growth and development

As of 2015, Pei Wei’s locations were in excess of 200 in the US alone. It also had 6 international locations, mainly in Kuwait, UAE and South Korea. One of the 200 locations in the US is a campus location on the Arizona State University campus. The future can only be brighter after the restaurant hired John “J.” Hedrick as the restaurant’s CEO. John “J.” Hedrick is a restaurant industry veteran. Therefore, everything from Pei Wei menu prices to its hospitality is likely to improve as the new CEO rolls out his plan to take the restaurant to greater heights.

Since it was founded, Pei Wei concentrated on the Asian American cuisine and the quick, made-to-order model. Its menu has evolved considerably over time to feature the needs of the customer of the day. For instance, vegetarian and gluten-free meals are offered these days. Quinoa, salad and other lighter meals were also introduced later in life. As new menu items were being added, it became necessary to test them and to know what customers thought about them. This gave birth to the Pei Wei Test Kitchen restaurant.

Why is Pei Wei so popular?

There are several reasons why Pei Wei is popular. One of them is that it has something for everyone. Its loyalty program allows customers to accumulate points whenever they dine at the restaurant. These points can be redeemed for free meals once they reach a certain threshold. The reasonable Pei Wei menu prices add color to the already good package. You can also place orders online via the Pei Wei app and pay using Apple Pay. Indeed, Pei Wei is one of the few fast-casual restaurants that is technologically compliant in all aspects.

Overall verdict

If you are a fan of the Asian American cuisine, Pei Wei is the restaurant for you. Its meals are delicious is an understatement. Pei Wei menu prices will not break your wallet as well and the hospitability of the staff will always remind you to go back for more.