Who Owns Pei Wei Asian Kitchen?
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen is an American fast-casual restaurant chain founded in 2000 in Scottsdale, Arizona, as a quicker offshoot of P.F. Chang's. It has been owned since June 2019 by PWD Acquisition LLC, an investment vehicle of restaurateur Lorne Goldberg's West Coast Capital. The chain is headquartered in Irving, Texas, and operates roughly 150 restaurants, making it the second-largest Chinese fast-casual brand in the United States.
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen Timeline
United StatesOfficial Website
Who Owns Pei Wei Asian Kitchen?
- Parent Company: Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC
- Ownership Type: Subsidiary
- Acquisition Year: 2019
- Company Type: Privately Held
| Brand | Parent Company | Ownership Type |
|---|---|---|
| Pei Wei Asian Kitchen | Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC | Subsidiary |
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History of Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
- Founded: 2000
- Founders: P.F. Chang's China Bistro
- Acquired by Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC: 2019
P.F. Chang's China Bistro created Pei Wei Asian Diner in 2000 in Scottsdale, Arizona. The concept was designed as a faster, cheaper sibling to the full-service bistro, trading table service for counter ordering while keeping made-to-order wok cooking. The name "Pei Wei" came from "Pei," a reference to P.F. Chang's co-founder Philip Chiang's family roots.
The chain expanded quickly through the 2000s as fast-casual dining grew into one of the strongest restaurant segments. Pei Wei reached more than 200 locations at its peak, including international franchised units.
When private equity firm Centerbridge Partners acquired P.F. Chang's in 2012, Pei Wei went with the transaction. In 2017, Pei Wei formally separated from P.F. Chang's, moved its headquarters to Irving, Texas, and rebranded from Pei Wei Asian Diner to Pei Wei Asian Kitchen with updated signage and trade dress.
Centerbridge sold the chain to Lorne Goldberg's PWD Acquisition in June 2019. At the time, the deal combined Pei Wei's roughly 190 units with Goldberg's existing Asian restaurant holdings, creating the largest independent Chinese food platform after Panda Express.
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Under Goldberg, Pei Wei consolidated its footprint around profitable Sun Belt markets and licensed nontraditional locations in airports and college campuses. The company also refreshed its menu with chef Jet Tila. In September 2026, Pei Wei was named Best Fast-Casual Chain in the Reviewed 2026 Readers' Choice Awards.
About Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC
Who owns Pei Wei Asian Kitchen?
Pei Wei is owned by PWD Acquisition LLC, controlled by restaurateur Lorne Goldberg through West Coast Capital. Chef Jet Tila holds a minority stake as culinary partner.
Is Pei Wei a public company?
No. It is a private LLC and publishes no public financials.
How is Pei Wei related to P.F. Chang's?
P.F. Chang's created Pei Wei in 2000, but the companies separated in 2017 and now have entirely different owners.
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Where is Pei Wei headquartered?
Irving, Texas, in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex, since relocating from Scottsdale, Arizona, in 2017.
How many Pei Wei restaurants are there?
Approximately 150 restaurants plus licensed airport and campus units as of late 2026.
What other restaurant brands does Pei Wei's owner control?
West Coast Capital also operates Pick Up Stix, Leeann Chin, and Mandarin Express.
- Founded: 2000
- Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
- Company Type: Privately Held
- Revenue: Approximately $200 million (estimated system sales, 2026)
- Employees: Approximately 1,200 (corporate and field leadership)
Where Is Pei Wei Asian Kitchen Made / Based?
- Headquarters: Irving, Texas, USA
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen Categories & Tags
Awards & Recognition
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen was named Best Fast-Casual Chain in the Reviewed 2026 Readers' Choice Awards, announced in September 2026. The recognition was tied to the chain's bestselling Firecracker Chicken and Orange Chicken dishes.
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The brand has also placed in the top tier of Chinese restaurant chain rankings compiled by food media outlets, typically ranking second behind Panda Express among national Asian fast-casual concepts.
Pei Wei Asian Kitchen Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Ownership group is the second-largest Chinese restaurant operator in North America
- +Shared purchasing and operations expertise across four sibling Asian brands
- +Chef Jet Tila partnership supports menu credibility and marketing
- +Licensed nontraditional units extend reach without heavy capital spending
Considerations
- -Private ownership means limited financial disclosure to franchisees and suppliers
- -Smaller scale than Panda Express limits national brand recognition
- -Concentrated Sun Belt footprint leaves much of the US unserved
- -Restaurant portfolio shared with sibling brands competing for the same customers
Frequently Asked Questions About Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
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Sources & Further Reading
Competitors to Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
These competing brands operate in the same categories and provide similar products or services. Compare key attributes to understand market positioning and competitive landscape.
| Brand | Parent Company | Country | Founded | Market Position | Primary Market | Gender Target |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Panda Restaurant Group | USA | 1983 | Market leader | United states | All-ages | |
| Pick Up Stix | USA | 1989 | Mass market | United states | All Genders | |
| Din Tai Fung | Taiwan | 1958 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Mty Food Group | Canada | 1980 | Mass market | North america | All Genders | |
| Pf Changs | USA | 1993 | Mass market | Global | All Genders | |
| Nandos Group Holdings | South Africa | 1987 | Fast casual | Global | All-consumers |
Learn More About Competitors
Food Service RestaurantsPanda Express
Owned by Panda Restaurant Group
American fast-casual Chinese-American restaurant chain offering wok-prepared dishes and Asian-inspired cuisine.
chinese-foodfast-casualasian-cuisine
Food Service RestaurantsPick Up Stix
Owned by Pick Up Stix, Inc.
Southern California fast-casual Chinese chain founded in 1989 by Charlie Zhang, operating 70-plus wok-fired restaurants under Lorne Goldberg's Mandarin Holdings.
chinese-foodfast-casualasian-cuisine
Food Service RestaurantsDin Tai Fung
Owned by Din Tai Fung
Taiwanese family-owned dumpling restaurant founded in 1958, operating 165-plus locations across 13 countries and posting the highest per-restaurant sales of any US chain.
chinese-fooddumplingscasual-dining
Food Service RestaurantsManchu Wok
Owned by MTY Food Group Inc.
Canadian quick-service Chinese food chain founded in 1980, operating more than 80 food court and airport locations as a subsidiary of MTY Food Group.
chinese-foodquick-serviceasian-cuisine
Food Service RestaurantsP.F. Chang's
Owned by P.F. Chang's Inc.
American casual dining Asian bistro founded in 1993 in Scottsdale, operating 300-plus locations worldwide under private equity owners TriArtisan Capital and Paulson & Co.
chinese-foodcasual-diningasian-cuisine
Food Service RestaurantsNando's
Owned by Nando's Group Holdings Limited
South African-founded international peri-peri chicken restaurant and grocery brand operated by privately held Nando's Group Holdings Limited.
restaurantchickenperi-peri
Competitive Analysis
Market Positioning: Pei Wei Asian Kitchen competes with 6 brands in the same categories, ranging from mass market to luxury positioning.
Geographic Distribution: Competitors are headquartered across multiple regions, indicating global competition in this market segment.
Brand Heritage: Competitor brands range from established heritage brands to newer market entrants, with founding years spanning several decades.
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Independent Alternatives to Pei Wei Asian Kitchen
Looking for brands with different ownership structures? These similar brands are not owned by Pei Wei Asian Diner, LLC, giving you alternative choices that support different corporate structures.
Food Service RestaurantsPick Up Stix
Owned by Pick Up Stix, Inc.
Southern California fast-casual Chinese chain founded in 1989 by Charlie Zhang, operating 70-plus wok-fired restaurants under Lorne Goldberg's Mandarin Holdings.
chinese-foodfast-casualasian-cuisine
Privately Owned
Pick Up Stix operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food Service RestaurantsDin Tai Fung
Owned by Din Tai Fung
Taiwanese family-owned dumpling restaurant founded in 1958, operating 165-plus locations across 13 countries and posting the highest per-restaurant sales of any US chain.
chinese-fooddumplingscasual-dining
Privately Owned
Din Tai Fung operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food Service RestaurantsP.F. Chang's
Owned by P.F. Chang's Inc.
American casual dining Asian bistro founded in 1993 in Scottsdale, operating 300-plus locations worldwide under private equity owners TriArtisan Capital and Paulson & Co.
chinese-foodcasual-diningasian-cuisine
Privately Owned
P.F. Chang's operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food Service RestaurantsManchu Wok
Owned by MTY Food Group Inc.
Canadian quick-service Chinese food chain founded in 1980, operating more than 80 food court and airport locations as a subsidiary of MTY Food Group.
chinese-foodquick-serviceasian-cuisine
Publicly Traded
Manchu Wok is owned by MTY Food Group Inc., a public company, a different structure than Pei Wei Asian Kitchen's parent.
Food Service RestaurantsStarbucks
Owned by Starbucks Corporation
Global coffeehouse and packaged coffee brand owned by Nasdaq-listed Starbucks Corporation.
coffeecoffeehouserestaurant
Publicly Traded
Starbucks operates independently without a large parent corporation.
Food Service RestaurantsSupermacs
Owned by Unknown Company
Irish fast food restaurant chain specializing in burgers, chicken, and fish, independently owned and operating over 100 locations across Ireland.
burgersfast-foodirish
Independent
Supermacs operates independently without a large parent corporation.
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