Peter Chang Herndon — Restaurant in McNair

This was our second time dining in at Peter Changs, the first being shortly after their opening. Our first experience wasn't great, but I refrained from writing a review at that time as the restaurant was brand new. We gave them a second chance shortly after for takeout which was fine. Unfortunately, months later, we had a similar sub-par dine-in experience (if not worse).

First, the atmosphere. The space is really quite beautiful, airy and open. They could some sound-dampening panels or other soft fabrics to cut down the volume a little - it can get very loud. In addition, the room is divided into a few different sections, and while sitting towards the back of the room gives "cool" vibes, sitting in the front is a bit like being at a quick-serve diner and is not very appealing.

Second, the food. I'd call it hit or miss - we loved the soup dumplings and honey pork ribs, but our beef dish was jello-like and the salmon spring rolls were grossly fishy. The rice (which we were served and charged for 2 bowls of, when we only ordered 1) was just... fine. Seemed silly to charge for it. The lo mein was not nearly as good as our previous take-out order, lacking in flavor and overcooked.

Third, the drinks. It's great that they have the bar open, and they had some interesting cocktails on the menu, in addition to wines, beers, teas, and soft drinks. The pricing seemed a little all over the place, but the true "bad" of the drinks was that after placing our order, it took 25 minutes to receive a glass of wine and one of their iced teas! We found this unacceptable; we had to flag servers down two separate times to ask where our drinks were. The iced tea was delicious, but not worth the wait.

Finally, the service. This is where Peter Changs was really disappointing. Our first visit, shortly after opening, we felt like we were barely acknowledged - we weren't even offered drink options (there was no drink menu/bar at that time, but we saw other tables with sodas and iced teas, and would have ordered something had we seen our server a 2nd time)! We thought that was simply part of their opening pains... but it appears not. This visit, upon being sat, we waited for nearly 15 minutes for our server. When she finally arrived, we quickly put in a few items (including our drinks). Our drinks arrived well after our food items, so on their arrival we put in some additional food orders... and that was the last we saw of our server. We had to flag her down for our bill once we finished. No one came to check on us, ask how the food was, etc.- just not a good service experience. The one positive is that they have a few people filling up waters frequently, so at least those glasses weren't empty.

Despite being an extremely convenient location for us, I don't think...

3.5 stars!

With Peter Chang's newest outpost in Herndon, I was eager to revisit the flavors that had impressed me at their McLean location. My expectations were set high, considering the consistent reputation of the franchise. Unfortunately, while the location and service were as expected, the dishes themselves fell short of the vibrant Sichuan flavors I was hoping for.

We sampled a variety of dishes, including Beef Tendon & Shank in Chilly Oil, Lion’s Head Pork Meatball, Stir-Fried Three Pepper Chicken, Numbing Green Peppercorn Flounder, and Stir-Fried Hand-Ripped Cabbage. The spread was extensive, with two appetizers, one vegetable dish, one fish dish, and one chicken dish—all meant to highlight the bold, hot-spicy essence of Sichuan cuisine.

Surprisingly, only the Beef Tendon & Shank and the Numbing Green Peppercorn Flounder truly delivered on the punchy, numbing, and complex spice profile that defines authentic Sichuan fare. The rest of the dishes, while not unpleasant, felt disappointingly ordinary. Lacking the depth and intensity I had come to expect, they didn’t stand out as signature Sichuan dishes.

At 3.5 stars, I can't call it a failure, but the experience left me wanting more of that fiery, numbing thrill Sichuan cuisine is famous for. I may revisit to give it another chance, hoping this was just an off night for the kitchen. (12/7/24)

Following a lukewarm first visit, I reluctantly decided to give this restaurant another chance, only to find the experience just as underwhelming—if not worse. Regrettably, it reaffirmed my decision to avoid returning anytime soon.

This time, the Sour Cabbage Flounder Soup barely met the threshold of mediocrity, delivering a passable, if uninspired, flavor. The Spicy Beef & Tripe appetizer was an even bigger letdown—dominated by an unbalanced saltiness, utterly devoid of spice or any nuance of flavor. Meanwhile, the Peter’s Special Beef in Clay Pot and the Mongolian Beef with Scallion fell flat, offering nothing memorable or remotely distinctive.

Overall, the experience was disappointingly lackluster, with little to recommend. For those seeking exceptional Chinese cuisine, this is not the...

Peter Chang understood the assignment. This is the Szechuan flavor and spiciness that I've missed from my old neighborhood in Atlanta.

There's a difference with the palate. Szechuan peppercorns are known for their exotic flavor and numbing sensation. However, water will taste funny after eating. I suggest a tea when eating this.

We had the Dry-Fried Eggplant, the Dry-Fried Fish, Chili Oil Mapo Tofu, and Crispy Duck Spring Rolls. This was filling for two persons. The flavor was spicy, but not burning.

Our server, Sally, was perfect. She checked on us several times. The entire staff is helpful and friendly. Our waters were refilled regularly. We were often asked if we needed anything else or how the food tasted. I appreciate that.

Lastly, the pricing for the Tapas/Small Plates are affordable.

PROS: Affordable (unless you order a lot or the entrees) Serving is plentiful Flavor (Szechuan is different from that heat-mentality of "Spicy") Service was amazing.

CONS: Parking is tight in this shopping center. Can be annoying when raining, but there is plenty of parking across from it (on the right) when you enter that parking lot.

OVERALL: Highly recommend if you think you "know" Chinese food, but only been eating Americanized takeout versions of it. Peter Chang hit the nail on the head with this for my taste buds. I'm a huge lover of Szechuan flavor and this...