A busy, centrally located Pan-Asian chain with genuinely popular signature dishes and strong family-friendly menu options, but service timing, noise, and consistency can swing hard depending on the night.
P. F. Chang's delivers reliable Pan-Asian comfort food with strong signature dishes like dynamite shrimp and Mongolian beef that drive repeat visits.
P.F. Chang’s in Leicester Square feels like a big, central London crowd-pleaser: lively, buzzy, and often packed, with plenty of diners using it for birthdays, anniversaries, family dinners, and “we’re in town anyway” nights. The best visits sound genuinely fun — “the room was buzzing” is the vibe — but the downside is that the place can run hot, loud, and a little chaotic when it’s full. Culinarily, this is Pan-Asian comfort food with a chain-branded swagger rather than a purity test. The menu leans into signature starters, familiar mains, and a few modern twists — think dynamite shrimp, Mongolian beef, lo mein, Thai curries, bao buns, and a surprisingly approachable kids’ menu. If you want inventive fusion theatrics, this isn’t that; if you want polished, crowd-friendly dishes that hit the spot when they’re fresh, it can absolutely deliver. The main caveat is consistency: the best dishes are clearly loved, but noodles, timing, and saucing can wobble on busy nights. For families, it’s actually one of the stronger parts of the restaurant. The menu has real kid-friendly choices like chicken fried rice, lo mein, honey chicken, and even plain steamed veggies, so this is not one of those places where “family-friendly” just means the chairs are small. That said, adventurous dishes like dynamite shrimp, spicy chicken, and curry-heavy mains may be a bit much for picky eaters, so it works best when you order around the kids’ menu or the simpler chicken/rice options.
Area vibe: Theatrical, tourist-heavy area known for shopping, restaurants, and West End theatres.
Safety: Busy and well-lit with heavy foot traffic at night from theatre crowds and tourists.
What's nearby: Near Covent Garden Piazza, West End theatres, Leicester Square, Seven Dials, and Leicester Square/Charing Cross Tube stations.