P.F. Chang’s At Pike Reliably Veggie-Friendly

The Pike at Rainbow Harbor is a popular destination for mingling in the buzz of city life. In addition to a bowling alley, a movie theater, nightclubs and more, vegetarians will find that the Pike is home to one of the area’s most reliably veggie-friendly restaurants, P.F. Chang’s China Bistro.

For appetizers, Chang’s Vegetarian Lettuce Wraps are sure to please. A hearty mound of finely diced, wok-seared tofu; red onions; water chestnuts and mint is served with leaves of iceberg lettuce in which to create your own wraps. Waitress Trisha gave our table a winning tip on the lettuce wraps: order extra lime wedges and douse each serving with the juice (as well as the table-mixed chili sauce). The wraps are very good as served, and irresistible with the extra lime juice.

Another yummy vegetarian starter is the Vegetable Dumplings. Pan-fried or steamed, depending on how healthful you feel, they will provide a creamy, satisfying start to your meal. Like any good dumpling, this is a wonderful comfort food.

If you like Thai flavors, then you must try the Coconut Curry Vegetables. Of P.F. Chang’s several vegetarian entrées, this is the standout. Silky tofu cooked until crispy outside is served with sweet peas, broccoli, mushrooms, thinly sliced carrots and peanuts, all in a fantastic coconut curry sauce accented with diced red pepper, scallions and ginger. Even my non-vegetarian friend regularly orders this dish for himself; it’s just that delicious.

Eggplant enthusiasts will love P.F. Chang’s preparation. While this is a simple dish, just eggplant and scallions in sauce, the vegetable is expertly stir-fried to a soft but not mushy consistency. Moreover, the eggplant chunks are bathed in a scrumptious savory chili pepper sauce you’ll be scraping off the plate.

There are several tasty and nicely prepared vegetarian side dishes to fill out your meal. On a hot day, cool down with the delicious Shanghai Cucumbers; if it’s chilly outside, warm up with Sichuan-Style Asparagus or Spicy Green Beans. For simpler tastes, order snap peas or spinach, simply stir-fried with garlic.

P.F. Chang’s makes it easy to put together a vegetarian meal, as its menu marks the veggie items with a special Chinese character. Do look through the menu, though, as some meat-free items (such as Garlic Noodles or Asian Slaw) are missing this designation. Brown rice is available, and the restaurant is happy to adjust spiciness to meet your tolerance level.

Unless you’re really in the mood for the hustle-bustle of the festive dining room, try sitting on the patio. It offers the rare treat of a sidewalk table essentially free of traffic — the only street in sight is a relatively sleepy cul-de-sac. The patio faces walkways, trees, and the other harbor businesses, creating a most pleasant ambiance.

P.F. Chang’s is at the south end of the Pike at 340 South Pine, at the entrance to Pine Avenue Pier. If you are comfortable climbing stairs and would like to expand your visit to include a short scenic tour, park on Ocean Boulevard and walk south beside (or through) the Convention Center toward the ocean. P.F. Chang’s will be easy to spot on your right — its entrance flanked by two oversized horses, replicas of ancient Chinese statues. P.F. Chang’s Long Beach can be reached at 308-1025.