Restaurant Review: P.F. Chang’s in Alabang Town Center, Muntinlupa City

Finally! A new and exciting place to dine in is now open in the South! This is definitely good news for us who live in the area :) I was invited to lunch at the world-renowned P.F. Chang’s two days before the store officially opened and the experience was amazing!

Not only was the food great, the overall ambiance of the place and the ultra-friendly staff made the afternoon a memorable one. There, we got to meet the famous establishment’s co-founder, Mr. Philip Chiang, who graciously welcomed us to their newest branch, the 217th, which is actually the first in Asia!

Mr. Chiang shared that since he hasn’t experienced the Philippines yet, he doesn’t know what might distinguish them in the country’s milieu but says he feels that, “So far, we’ve always raised the bar in terms of the Chinese dining experience in countries we’ve opened.”

Mr. Genaro Perez Diaz, Mr. Philip Chiang,
Mr. Michael Welborn (President of Global Brand Development - P.F. Chang's),
and Mr. Archie Rodriguez

He further described their menu as easy to digest. “It is not a challenging selection and includes many recognizable dishes. We also like to stretch our creativity a little and incorporate dishes that may be in keeping with ‘contemporary’ trends.”

Mr. Genaro Perez Diaz, P.F. Chang’s Director for International Marketing, also explained to us that everything they serve is prepared with the freshest ingredients, nothing frozen, and no garnishes and artificial flavors. He assured us that they ensure what we order here would taste exactly the same as those served in their other 200+ branches in the US and in other countries.

P.F. Chang's friendly staff

The cuisine at P.F. Chang’s is said to be inspired by the different regions of China, reflecting a range of new influences from across Asia. The impeccable service exhibited by their staff was a welcome treat to those of us who were not used to being cheerfully asked “How are you?” by waiters and waitresses. I also appreciate how they took time to explain to us what they were serving and how best to mix the sauces to make the flavors pop.

We first got to taste Chang’s Chicken Lettuce Wraps (PhP285), their signature appetizer made with wok-seared minced chicken, mushrooms, green onions, and water chestnuts served over crispy rice sticks and cool, crisp lettuce cups. I love the flavor of this one!

Chang's Chicken Lettuce Wraps

Next, we tried the Dynamite Shrimp (PhP295) which is composed of shrimp tossed in a zesty sauce and served over lettuce in a martini glass. This appetizer is a bit spicy, which I don’t usually like in food, but I ate a few pieces because they tasted really good.

Dynamite Shrimp

Guests have the option to order white or brown rice, which is very aromatic. I tried a bit of each as I sampled Chang’s Spicy Chicken (PhP320) made with tender, diced chicken breast lightly dusted and stir-fried with a tangy sauce of sweet and spice. Surprisingly, despite its name, this flavorful dish won’t leave your tongue smoking.

Chang's Spicy Chicken

The Mongolian Beef (PhP695) is another must-try dish at P.F. Chang’s. It has 12 oz. tender U.S. Angus beef that’s wok-cooked then quickly tossed with scallions and garlic.

Mongolian Beef

I am not much of a fan of lamb because of the aftertaste but the Chengdu Spiced Lamb (PhP900) convinced me that there are lamb dishes worth ordering! This one has richly spiced, marinated lamb, tossed with cumin, mint, tomatoes, and yellow onions. Despite the spiciness, I enjoyed every bite.

Chengdu Spiced Lamb

My top favorite of all the dishes served though would have to be the Shrimp with Candied Walnuts (PhP795 for two, PhP460 single serving). All its ingredients are some of my favorite foods: tender shrimp tossed in a creamy sauce with candied walnuts and honeydew melon. Yum!

Shrimp with Candied Walnuts

What’s a Chinese restaurant though without noodles? The Lo Mein (PhP225) served at our table has stir-fried egg noodles, mushrooms, bean sprouts, bok choy, carrots, celery and onions.

Lo Mein

If you are curious how P.F. Chang’s started, here’s the short story: Mr. Chiang was running two other Chinese restaurants in Beverly Hills and West Hollywood when fellow restaurateur, Philip Fleming, approached him with an idea. Together, they opened the first P.F. Chang’s in 1993 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The business has since grown exponentially over the years with its dine-in, take out, and party reservation services. Among the celebrities spotted at the restaurant’s different locations are John Travolta, Gwen Stefani, Justin Bieber, and Selena Gomez.

P.F. Chang’s partner in the Philippines is Global Restaurant Concepts, Inc. headed by president and CEO Mr. Archie Rodriguez. He revealed that when looking for restaurants to bring to the Philippines, they like to consider a few simple factors: Is their personal experience at the restaurant consistently memorable? Is the food good and fresh, using the best ingredients? Is the service and culture above par? Is the concept sound? Will the menu and atmosphere appeal to families?

with Mr. Archie Rodriguez

“We believe P.F. Chang’s scored high marks in all of these categories. And, we are excited to share our experience with the rest of the Philippines,” shared Rodriguez. He really made a good call bringing the restaurant here because our experience dining there was really great. I’m looking forward to bringing hubby and the kids there soon.

P.F. Chang’s is located at The Street in Alabang Town Center. It will formally be opened to the public today January 19, 2012. For more info, please log on to www.pfchangs.com

*Photos without watermark borrowed with permission from Orange Magazine TV's Facebook album