Pei Wei has Mojo

If was I Panera, Chipotle, Moe's or any other fast casual restaurant, I would be scared of Pei Wei.

They have mojo.

If you have never been to Pei Wei before, it's a hip Asian diner owned by P.F. Chang's. (Basically it's the cheap version of P.F. Changs. Same quality food for about half the price).

I haven't been in a while but last night we were craving teriyaki so we decided to hit them up. When you first walk in you would be surprised to find out it's a fast casual restaurant. The decor is upscale and sophisticated...high booths, cool lighting and a really unique ceiling. To top it off they have an open kitchen right by the register where you can see, hear and smell the food being prepared.

We spent awhile looking at the menu and as we were debating an employee came out from behind the counter and asked us if we were ready to order. Whoa. This is a huge change from what I'm used to.

You know the crowd at Panera that stands awkwardly right at the front entrance and they think they're all in line but they actually aren't? Then you know the Panera employee who starts shouting from behind the register "NEXT IN LINE PLEASE!" (They don't have those kind of employees at Pei Wei.)

After we ordered we took a seat at a booth with our order number standing up on our table. We ordered Spring Rolls as an appetizer (yes Pei Wei has appetizers). The food runner brought them over to our table with plates before our entrees came out. Hot and delicious I could have had about 6 more. Not to mention they serve you like it's a real restautant....appetizers first then entrees.... you get the idea.

Then a few minutes later our entrees came out. I got Orange Peel Chicken and my wife got ateriyaki vegetable bowl. Served up on real plate ware you have the option of fighting to eat with chop sticks or using real silverware. In an attempt to be much more sophisticated then I actually am I tried with chop sticks until I decided I actually wanted to eat my food not just play with it.

The Orange Chicken was very spicy and served with the soft brown rice it was truly awesome. Both of our portions were huge in fact my wife ended up taking some of hers home in a to-go box (yes they have to-go boxes).

When we were finishing up a food runner came by and took our dishes away for us. Wait, you mean I don't have to take them over to a trash can and put them in myself? Hmm....revolutionary.

The only thing I didn't really like was the hard plastic cups. Instead of just giving you a to-go cup they offer a dine in plastic cup. Unless I'm drinking from a to-go cup I prefer to drink from real glass. However, the orange flavored tea with orange slices to squeeze in made up for it.

Remember that food runner who took our dishes? After I asked how to get a to-go drink he came back with two cups, lids and straws for us.

As we sat and finished our last drink I watched the other food runners: wiping down tables, sweeping the floor and waiting on customers. None of which I have ever seen at any other fast casual restaurant. Can you imagine if every place you ate at was like this?

The whole experience cost me $22 with tax. Initially, I thought that was little much. Most entrees are priced $7-$9 and appetizers are $3 - $6. But then I remembered what I have spent at Panera and Chipotle recently....about $20. At these other places though there is no food service, no rich atmosphere and they don't come pick up your dishes from your table. Pei Wei has created a whole new category of fast casual and taken it to the next level.

So Panera, Chipotle, Moe's and everyone else out there: jump on it. Pei Wei has mojo and the'yre not afraid to use it.

Find your Pei Wei location here.