Fresh, contemporary, and inventive Chinese cuisine include chicken or vegetarian lettuce wraps, orange peel beef, Sichuan shrimp and many more. Vegetarians can savor tasty meat-free dishes like stir-fried eggplant, vegetable fried rice (eggs can be omitted for a vegan option), coconut curry, and tofu entrees.
This restaurant was reviewed in the December 2002 LVA; some of the information contained in the review may no longer be accurate. PF Chang's China Bistro has two other locations in Las Vegas (Paradise at Flamingo and Rampart at Charleston), it's a national chain with locations in at least 20 other states, and it's known for its Americanized Chinese cuisine. Because we tend to write about unique casino restaurants and look for non-casino Chinese eateries that serve food most non-Asians have never even heard of (see last month's review of Diamond China), we've given Chang's a miss since it opened a couple years ago at the Aladdin. But we've finally gotten around to it, and surprise, this restaurant has a few elements to recommend. First, though Mon Ami Gabi next door at Paris gets all the attention for Strip sidewalk dining, Chang's has outdoor seating as well, directly under the waterfall (so it's a bit noisy) and separated from the sidewalk by foliage, so it's more private than Gabi. Inside is a two-tiered dining room with a bar upstairs and down; it doesn't look as big as it is, but even when it's crowded, you're seated quickly. The food? Like we said, it can't be termed authentic Chinese, but it's the type of Oriental fare that's proven most popular with Americanized palates. Appetizers run in the $4-$8 range. Popular entrees run $9-$12. We had lemon scallops, lemon-peppered shrimp, good garlic snap peas, chicken lettuce wrap, a big bowl of won ton soup, and drinks, and the bill came to $50 with tip. Not bad.