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Pf Changs


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loraleena Contributor

From one redsox fan to another! Are you in Boston? I have eaten at the theatre district location three times with no problems. The lettuce wraps are to die for. Also, there is a gluten free chocolate torte. It is not on the menu. Ask your server. It was heaven!!


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Anya78 Explorer

I've had a couple of bad experiences and several good experiences at PF Changs with the menu items that require the gluten-free sauce instead of regular sauce, so I've decided to stick with items that are gluten-free pretty much as prepared. If you compare the gluten-free menu and the regular menu you can see which items are naturally gluten free. I usually get the Oriental Chicken Salad (without wontons), which is excellent.

elonwy Enthusiast

I second the tip on the color of the lettuce wraps. If you see a regular lettuce wraps, the color difference is very noticable, the gluten-free is much lighter in color. This was a fav before gluten-free, and I think the gluten-free ones are better, personally.

The singapore noodles and the lemon chicken are the best.

They have the menu's at the front with the rest of them.

A note : even if everyone at your table orders gluten-free, they will still bring the regular sauce tray, which is not gluten-free, you have to specifically ask for a side dish of gluten-free soy sauce. That fancy rack with the spices and such? Beware!

I have friends that go to PF Changs with me and order off the gluten-free menu so we can share, even though they aren't on the diet, and it never fails, here, in Las Vegas, wherever. Do not assume that the soy sauce put on your table is gluten-free unless you asked for it specifially, and if it comes in a jar or bottle, its not the right one. The gluten-free soy sauce has a very different color and smell as well, I can now spot the diff a mile away.

Elonwy

chgomom Enthusiast

Hi all...just chiming in here as someone particularly sensitive

when they say cooked with wheat free....it does nto mean safe for celiac...because those sauces are still processed with barley. I had an incident where I ordered and they gave me regular and I got rellay sick.

So my GI doc said when I order to say cooked with no sauce...on the lettuce wraps.

amber-rose Contributor

I ordered 'Soothing Lettuce Chicken Wraps', 'Lemon Chicken', 'Singapore Street Noodles', and 'Flourless cake with mixed berries and rasberry sauce.'

I highly recommend all of them! They were all delicious...espicially since I hadn't had chinese food in ages.

-amber

olalisa Contributor

OMG! I had the spicy chicken last night and asked if they'd throw some veggies in there with it, and it was sooooo good. I honestly almost cried! It was hot and sweet and sour all at the same time and so full of flavor...AND our waiter was very knowledgeable about the whole gluten free thing and really seemed to care and to GET IT. He also told me that the spicy chicken is one dish that is naturally gluten free and they don't have to do any modifications, aside from making sure there are no CC issues. (I did, of course, ask for the gluten-free soy sauce for my rice...)

I waited to post to make sure I didn't get sick....didn't want to tell about my fabulous experience and then have to retract it :)

This was the Raleigh, NC location if anyone is interested.

Cheers!

  • 2 years later...
hippiegirl2001 Newbie
So im planning on trying pf changs for the first time since my DX. Im a little nervous cause of all the other gluten food there. But Im willing to try at least.

Just curious what everyone else got when they ordered there....and any advice or anything I should remember when eating there.

Hello, I love to eat at PFChangs but I recently became aware that I need to find out if flavored teas are gluten free. PF Changs has maybe 6 hot teas listed on their regular menu, but actually No drinks are listed on the gluten-free menu so the omission didn't necessarily mean that the teas were not gluten-free. Anyway, here is the reply I received from Revolution tea, via PF Changs:

On 2008-08-19 P.F. Chang's China Bistro wrote:

Hi Patty,

I contact Revolution and here is what they said...

"Additionally, Accuracy of "gluten-free" labels

The "Codex Alimentarius" set of international standards for food labeling has a standard relating to the labeling of products as "gluten free", however this standard does not apply to "foods which in their normal form do not contain gluten".[7]

In the United States, gluten may not be listed on the labels of certain foods because the U.S. Food and Drug Administration has classified gluten as GRAS (Generally recognized as safe).[8] Requirements for proper labeling are being formulated by the USDA. It is currently up to the manufacturers of "gluten free" food items to guarantee such a claim. "A final rule that defines the term gluten-free and identifies the criteria that would enable the food industry to use that term" is scheduled to be released by the FDA on August 2nd, 2008 [9]. Many so-called gluten free products have been found to have been contaminated with gluten (such as Pamela's cookies [10], etc.).

The actual statement,


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Nancym Enthusiast

I didn't like the Singapore noodles they were very bland tasting, disappointing! Everything else I have liked though.

GFqueen17 Contributor

I eat there alllllll the time and have never gotten sick...knock on wood. The best things are, like others have said, the lettuce wraps and chang's spicy chicken. If you like seafood the lemon scallops are very good too

fedora Enthusiast

I finally got to go to a pf changs in July. There is not one anywhere near me, but I was on vacation.

I ate at the one in san jose, CA. It was fabulous. My waiter was gluten free knowledgeable and very helpful. I had the lettuce wraps for appetizers. They made it vegetarian for us as a special request. (my hubby is a strict vegetartian). They were so yummy. I had the Buddha's feast for dinner and my daughter got the singapore noodles. I liked the Buddha's feast(all vegetables) but I loved the singapore noodles. so did my daughter.

Then we ate at the one in Monterey, CA. The waitress there was knowledgeable but not as friendly. They would not make the lettuce wraps gluten free and vegetarian. My family got the vegetarian ones and I could not eat them. oh well. My daughter and I split the singapore noodles again and I got garlic snappeas. It was yummy too.

I really wish there was one near us. oh well. I will definately go there again when on vacation. Even my older son who does not like chinese food loved it.

aorona Rookie

I got the lettuce wraps. They were great. I did have to ask for the gluten free menu, as they said nothing about it, and it wasn't mentioned in the regular menu, nor was it posted anywhere in the resturant.

dksart Apprentice

When visiting the Raleigh, NC location, we had the lettuce wraps, garlic spinach and salt and pepper fried calamari. It was all so delicious, but I really had missed calamari since going Gluten-free.

Back home, the calamari was not on the Gluten-free menu! My server saw my distress and asked what was wrong. He asked the chef and voila! They used a clean wok with fresh oil to fry up some potato-starch crusted calamari. Yum.

Oh, we also had the lemon scallops, which were divine, and the Singapore street noodles that tasted bland, but much better after I added some of their Gluten-free sauce.

P.F.Changs seems like one of those few chains that will truly try to do whatever it takes to please their customer.

tiffanyo Newbie

I live near Monterey and we ate there the Lettuce wraps are on the gluten free menu We had it all with lemon chicken, shrimp with lobster sauce. :)

  • 2 weeks later...
givenupgluten Explorer

I went to PF changs not long ago and ordered off their gluten free menu. The singapore street noodles are GREAT! Plus, I'm a vegetarian, and when i asked if they would be able to leave off the meat, the waitress suggested a five spice tofu to put on it instead. It was incredible. I went back the next day just to have it all over again!

And to the poster who asked if there was a PF changs in NYC...Unfortunately, no..but there is one in Long Island if you ever get out that way!

ilikepie Apprentice

I recently went to the P. F. Changs in Eugene, OR. It was my first time there. I was kind of scared, but I thought, if I don't try it now, I will never know if it is a place I can eat.

I cannot tell you how positive an experience I had there. Firstly, our waiter was fantastic. Very accommodating and didn't make me feel bad for being different and asking lots of questions about ingredients and such.

I also cannot have soy, and they told me that all of their marinade are done in soybean oil...So they cut me fresh chicken, and made me a dish that was special just for me! The manager also came to our table and wanted to tell us how important it is for them to take allergies seriously in their restaurant, and they wanted to let me know that if I ever do want my meat marinated, I should just call a few hours ahead so they can make me up a marinade. I had the moo goo gai pan, made especially for me :) It was REALLY fantastic. I also had the flourless chocolate dome, which was to die for! I cannot tell you how good it was to have a fudgey-chocolate-cakey type dessert. It was by far the most positive gluten free experience I have EVER had.

amberleigh Contributor

I'm so glad to hear of other people having good experiences there. I nearly always get sick after eating here and at Outback, even when ordering and eating gluten free. I'm chalking it up to the fact that we don't eat "rich" restaurant foods much anymore so that is probably the reason my tummy gets upset vs cc or gluten.

I'm giving PFChangs another try next week. Fingers crossed!!!

  • 2 weeks later...
HeyItsA Apprentice

My husband and I went to PF Changs in Knoxville for lunch today and it was so good and I feel great! We shared the lettuce wraps - very delicious and I had the shrimp and lobster sauce. I think I could just have the lettuce wraps as a meal.

Thanks to whoever first suggested Changs!

digmom1014 Enthusiast

Hi-

Just an FYI, when your nervous at P.F. Changs. A nice waiter told me that all the gluten-free food is served on round plates and the non-gluten-free is served on square plates. That is how the wait staff tells what is what. I am located in Charlote, NC but, I would think this is the standard operating procedure for this company.

Sarah

(same digmom but, they cleared all my post somehow so, I'm back to the beginning)

  • 1 month later...
Hummingbird4 Explorer

We went to PF Chang's last night for the first time since going gluten-free. My husband and daughter also ordered off the gluten-free menu, even though they don't have Celiac, so that we could share (awww!). We had: the lettuce wraps, the Dahli chicken (spicy), Chang's spicy chicken, lemon chicken, and a side of cucumbers. It was delicious and we have plenty of leftovers for lunch today. For dessert I had the flourless chocolate dome. My husband and daughter split a piece of 6-layer chocolate cake (non gluten-free). I also had the ginger-peach decaf tea. It was such a treat to eat out, and I feel fine!

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    • trents
      So, essentially all of the nutrition in the food we eat is absorbed through the villous lining of the small bowel. This is the section of the intestinal track that is damaged by celiac disease. This villous lining is composed of billions of finger-like projections that create a huge amount of surface area for absorbing nutrients. For the celiac person, when gluten is consumed, it triggers an autoimmune reaction in this area which, of course, generates inflammation. The antibodies connected with this inflammation is what the celiac blood tests are designed to detect but this inflammation, over time, wears down the finger-like projections of the villous lining. Of course, when this proceeds for an extended period of time, greatly reduces the absorption efficiency of the villous lining and often results in many and various nutrient deficiency-related health issues. Classic examples would be osteoporosis and iron deficiency. But there are many more. Low D3 levels is a well-known celiac-caused nutritional deficiency. So is low B12. All the B vitamins in fact. Magnesium, zinc, etc.  Celiac disease can also cause liver inflammation. You mention elevated ALP levels. Elevated liver enzymes over a period of 13 years was what led to my celiac diagnosis. Within three months of going gluten free my liver enzymes normalized. I had elevated AST and ALT. The development of sensitivities to other food proteins is very common in the celiac population. Most common cross reactive foods are dairy and oats but eggs, soy and corn are also relatively common offenders. Lactose intolerance is also common in the celiac population because of damage to the SB lining.  Eggs when they are scrambled or fried give me a gut ache. But when I poach them, they do not. The steam and heat of poaching causes a hydrolysis process that alters the protein in the egg. They don't bother me in baked goods either so I assume the same process is at work. I bought a plastic poacher on Amazon to make poaching very easy. All this to say that many of the issues you describe could be caused by celiac disease. 
    • catnapt
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    • trents
      Welcome, @catnapt! The most recent guidelines are the daily consumption of a minimum of 10g of gluten (about the amount found in 4-6 slices of wheat bread) for a minimum of two weeks. But if possible stretching that out even more would enhance the chances of getting valid test results. These guidelines are for those who have been eating gluten free for a significant amount of time. It's called the "gluten challenge".  Yes, you can develop celiac disease at any stage of life. There is a genetic component but also a stress trigger that is needed to activate the celiac genes. About 30-40% of the general population possesses the genetic potential to develop celiac disease but only about 1% of the general population actually develop celiac disease. For most with the potential, the triggering stress event doesn't happen. It can be many things but often it is a viral infection. Having said that, it is also the case that many, many people who eventually are diagnosed with celiac disease probably experienced the actual onset years before. Many celiacs are of the "silent" type, meaning that symptoms are largely missing or very minor and get overlooked until damage to the small bowel lining becomes advanced or they develop iron deficiency anemia or some other medical problem associated with celiac disease. Many, many are never diagnosed or are diagnosed later in life because they did not experience classic symptoms. And many physicians are only looking for classic symptoms. We now know that there are over 200 symptoms/medical problems associated with celiac disease but many docs are only looking for things like boating, gas, diarrhea. I certainly understand your concerns about not wanting to damage your body by taking on a gluten challenge. Your other option is to totally commit to gluten free eating and see if your symptoms improve. It can take two years or more for complete healing of the small bowel lining once going gluten free but usually people experience significant improvement well before then. If their is significant improvement in your symptoms when going seriously gluten free, then you likely have your answer. You would either have celiac disease or NCGS (Non Celiac Gluten Sensitivity).
    • catnapt
      after several years of issues with a para-gland issue, my endo has decided it's a good idea for me to be tested for celiac disease. I am 70 yrs old and stunned to learn that you can get celiac this late in life. I have just gradually stopped eating most foods that contain gluten over the past several years- they just make me feel ill- although I attributed it to other things like bread spiking blood sugar- or to the things I ate *with* the bread or crackers etc   I went to a party in Nov and ate a LOT of a vegan roast made with vital wheat gluten- as well as stuffing, rolls and pie crust... and OMG I was so sick! the pain, the bloating, the gas, the nausea... I didn't think it would ever end (but it did) and I was ready to go the ER but it finally subsided.   I mentioned this to my endo and now she wants me to be tested for celiac after 2 weeks of being on gluten foods. She has kind of flip flopped on how much gluten I should eat, telling me that if the symptoms are severe I can stop. I am eating 2-3 thin slices of bread per day (or english muffins) and wow- it does make me feel awful. But not as bad as when I ate that massive amnt of vital wheat gluten. so I will continue on if I have to... but what bothers me is - if it IS celiac, it seems stupid for lack of a better word, to intentionally cause more damage to my body... but I am also worried, on the other hand, that this is not a long enough challenge to make the blood work results valid.   can you give me any insight into this please?   thank you
    • trents
      The biopsy looks for damage to the mucosal lining of the small bowel from the inflammation caused by celiac disease when gluten is ingested. Once you remove gluten from the diet, inflammation subsides and the mucosal lining begins to heal. 
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