Mahalia C.
Yelp
Ambiance: 10
Service: 10
Food: 10
I love Chinese food, but sometimes it can be quite oily or too saucy. Recently, I discovered Peter Chang in McLean, and it has quickly become one of my favorite places to eat.
From the outside, the restaurant appears modest, but inside, it's much larger than expected with a bright and modern motif--a refreshing change from the typical dark hues of many Chinese restaurants. I consider this style of food as elevated Chinese cuisine, perfect for those who appreciate high-quality, delicious dishes. It's great for a date night or for taking out your entire family or a group of friends.
If it's your first time, like it was for us, the extensive menu can be a bit overwhelming. Fortunately, the friendly staff are more than happy to make recommendations. After a long day of travel, I was craving something savory but not too oily or spicy, so I started with a cup of pork wonton soup. The broth was soothing to my upset stomach, and the pork wontons were delicious. I could have been happy just with my soup.
However, since my husband was with me, we also ordered the sizzling prawns and scallops with chives. Although the dish didn't come out sizzling as its name suggests, it did not disappoint. The scallops and prawns were cooked to perfection, and the chives (or leeks) were a perfect combination with the seafood.
We paired this dish with stir-fried baby bok choy, enhanced with garlic flavors and cooked just right. Many restaurants tend to overcook their veggies, but Peter Chang gets it just right.
The food was so great that I decided to take a chance with my upset stomach and order something with a bit more spice: the (not so) sizzling chicken with mixed peppers and basil. Oh boy, was it spicy! The dish featured jalapeño and Thai red peppers, and I highly recommend eating it with rice. If you like spicy food, this dish is simply heavenly, offering a great mix of heat, savory, salty, and a splash of acid.
We will definitely be coming back. I'm surprised this restaurant isn't ranked higher because if you enjoy good food and excellent service, you can't go wrong with Peter Chang.