I hadn’t been to PF Chang’s for a really long time because I thought their selection was pretty weak, but I saw online that they have recently expanded their menu. It now includes more Asian dishes instead of just Chinese, now offered are dishes like Thai curries and hearty Indian stews. For example, I don’t think you would have seen Chengdu spiced lamb as one of their offerings two years ago.
I visited on an unseasonably warm Winter day a few weekends ago and maybe all the sunshine fired up my tastebuds. I was looking for something spicy and I certainly found it in the Dhali Chicken ($12.50), a spicy Indian dish with Yukon gold potatoes, chicken and leek greens. Just in case I wasn’t prepared for the heat I also ordered the Shanghai Cucumbers ($5.00) as an insurance plan. The cucumber dish consisted of thinly sliced cucumbers splashed with soy sauce and sesame oil and sprinkled with some multi-cultural sesame seeds.
While we were waiting for our food something odd happened. A group of Asian teenagers came in, sat down at a table and began to eat food from bags they had brought into the restaurant. I honestly don’t know if they ordered anything other than drinks and rice. Maybe I missing part of their culture, but it seemed rather rude to me that someone would bring their own food into a restaurant. Obviously special diets are another issue all together.
When my Dhali chicken was placed in front of me I knew I was in trouble as the dark red sauce was attempting to signal "Danger!" as the smell alone seared my sinuses. Another tip-off was the 25 chili peppers easily visible on the plate.
Boy, it was spicy too, even though I managed to steer clear of every one of those peppers. After only a few bites I had tears dripping down my face and I was searching my pockets for something to dry my newly runny nose. The potatoes were by far the hottest part of the dish, probably from soaking up all of that fire sauce.
Thank God I ordered the cucumbers! Their coolness provided a much needed reprieve from the searing heat, not to mentioned they tasted great in their simplicity. I would definitely order them again and I’m going to consider making them at home.
Although my Dhali chicken was very spicy it had been some time since I was completely destroyed by heat like that. It may sound crazy, but it was actually kind of fun to eat that dish. Maybe it’s like when I was a kid and I’d suck down that slushee as fast as I could waiting for the pain it would bring. I must be masochistic. Or just an idiot.
Photo: gsloan
PF Chang’s China Bistro
26001 Chagrin Blvd.
Beachwood, Ohio 44122
216-292-1411
Tagged with: Chinese Restaurant • Chinese Sculpture • PF Chang's
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