P F Chang’s China Bistro — Happy hour

P F Chang’s China Bistro

10300 Little Patuxent Parkway, Suite 302

Columbia, MD 21044

Click here for a Google map

Strong branding, fresh tasty Asian-influenced food, moderate prices, and a stylish look combine to make sure that these “Chinese” restaurants are always full.  They are found all over the United States usually in upscale malls like the one in Columbia, Maryland, where we went.  P F Chang’s also has an imaginatively compiled wine list with interesting wine that you would not expect to find in a chain.  Offerings include Cloudy Bay Sauvignon Blanc (2008), Cakebread Chardonnay (2007), Seghesio “Old Vine” Zinfandel (2007), and Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon (2005).

More recently they have gone international with branches in Kuwait and Mexico City.

We decided to go today to check out their happy hour, which is from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm every day.  They offer a short menu with some of their favorite dishes at the bar with reduced prices for both drinks and food.

We had crispy green beans ($4.00), Sichuan Chicken Flatbread, a quesadilla with an Asian accent ($4.00), Shrimp Dumplings ($5.00), and Seared Ahi Tuna ($6.00).  For drinks, I had a soda water ($2.25), and my wife had a Stella Artois draft beer ($3.00).

We didn’t have their chicken lettuce wraps ($4.00), which I always enjoy, but they are on the “happy hour” menu too.  If you have not tried these before, make sure you do!

The food was delicious except that the beans were really greasy.  I especially liked the dumplings, which were stuffed with good fat succulent shrimps.  The Ahi Tuna was tasty, juicy, and nicely seasoned.  We were both completely full after the meal.

The service was excellent, and my soda water was refilled all the time.  The total including tax was $25.71.  A real bargain for good food in a stylish place.  Highly recommended.

My only complaint about P F Chang’s is that there always seems to be a long wait if you want to eat at a table.  The happy hour at the bar where we were seated immediately is a great solution.