Since its founding in 1993, P.F. Chang’s has been home to classics like lettuce wraps and Mongolian Beef. And clearly, these classics have been a majorly successful hit. Currently, the chain is located in more than 20 countries and has over 300 restaurants internationally.
While the popular name may conjure up images of its trademark horses and go-to dishes, have you ever wondered what the “P.F.” in P.F. Chang’s stands for? Well, we happened to be wondering that, too.
What Does the P.F. Stand for in P.F. Chang’s?
The P.F. in P.F. Chang’s actually stands for a mash-up of the co-founder’s names! In their official blog, P.F. Chang’s writes that P.F. stands for Paul Fleming while Chang’s stands for Philip Chiang.
According to P.F. Chang’s, in the early 1960s Chiang’s mother—Cecilia Chiang—was an incredibly successful restaurant owner of a Chinese eatery called “The Mandarin.” She even had a second restaurant in the 1970s and served celebrities like John Lennon and Yoko Ono! Then, in 1974, Cecilia had to return to China for a trip. This led to her son Philip, a recent art school graduate, deciding to run the restaurant in the meantime.
Flash forward to the 1990s, Philip Chiang owned restaurateur Paul Fleming’s favorite Chinese restaurant. “How does restaurant owner Philip Chiang make only three ingredients taste so tantalizingly delicious?” Fleming wondered. This eventually led to Fleming and Chiang teaming up to create the delight that is P.F. Chang’s, with its first restaurant opening in Scottsdale, Arizona. Hence, the name—P.F. Chang’s!
Other Fun Facts About P.F. Chang’s
Beyond what P.F. Chang’s stands for and the restaurant’s fascinating history, there are tons of other intriguing tidbits about the chain. These are some of our favorites:
- Everything, from P.F. Chang’s dishes to their signature beverages, is made from scratch.
- Many of the dishes on the menu today are even inspired by Cecilia Chiang, such as Chang’s Spicy Chicken.
- P.F. Chang’s most popular menu item is its lettuce wraps—and with good reason. The restaurant chain is credited with putting the delicacy on the map, which has been widely adopted throughout the restaurant industry.
- The chain is also credited as the first to use and popularize Sriracha in 2000. Now, P.F. Chang’s uses more than 100,000 bottles of it every year.
- Fortune cookie fans will be happy to learn that the chain gives out 52 million fortune cookies every year.
- P.F. Chang’s credits the wok—”a 2,000-year-old tradition known to be one of the purest forms of cooking”— for giving their dishes their distinctive taste.
- P.F. Chang’s was also a pioneer in introducing gluten-free menu items and is credited as one of the first restaurants to have gluten-free menu offerings in 2003.
- In each of its locations, P.F. Chang’s has one-of-a-kind murals.
OK, these facts are seriously making us want to visit our nearest P.F. Chang’s ASAP! However, if you can’t make it to one, try out any of these copycat P.F. Chang’s recipes at home.
