Pei Wei Restaurants Begin Accepting Apple Pay

Wednesday August 5, 2015 6:38 AM PDT by Mitchel Broussard
Asian-inspired fast-casual restaurant Pei Wei today announced that it has begun offering its customers access to Apple Pay at all of its nearly 200 locations across the United States. Pei Wei CEO Ralph Bower notes an ease-of-use and convenience in using Apple's contactless payments system that ties in nicely with the restaurant's fast-casual atmosphere.

pei wei apple pay
“Accepting Apple Pay is a win for Pei Wei because it’s convenient and gives our guests the flexibility to use their preferred method of payment,” said Pei Wei CEO Ralph Bower. “It allows us to safely and quickly process transactions, increasing both customer service and restaurant efficiency. This is just one way we’re implementing the latest technology to improve the dining experience.”
The company began testing Apple Pay in sixteen of its locations around the Phoenix area in July, and proceeded to launch full Apple Pay support in all of its restaurants nationwide yesterday on August 4. Pei Wei prepared for the partnership with Apple by investing in a company-wide implementation of "new payment terminals, pin pad devices and point-to-point encryption." Apple Pay continues to expand not only in the United States but in the United Kingdom as well, launching full support for a handful of UK-based banks and more than 250,000 merchant locations over the summer.

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34 comments


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gusapple
51 months ago
A haiku:

Apple Pay; Pei Wei
Secure payments for your food
Touch and go Chinese
Rating: 7 Votes
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keysofanxiety
51 months ago
Sweet! Looks like I have another option to Pei my Wai towards food. :cool:
Rating: 6 Votes
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Karma*Police
51 months ago
Never heard of them but this is what Apple needs for Apple Pay to take off; more retailer adoption. I think iOS 9 with its support for rewards programs will help.

To speed adoption further, Apple should also use some of its massive cash hoard to incentivize retailers to adopt and promote Apple Pay, similar to how the computer division at my company is practically owned by Intel and Microsoft because of all the money they throw at us to promote their respective brands.

Lastly, Apple needs to create guidelines to streamline the experience. For example, some retailers (I'm looking at you Macy's) make you sign after payment which kind of defeats the purpose.
Rating: 4 Votes
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Xenomorph
51 months ago
Pei Wei's Playhouse

Pei Wei's Big Adventure

Big Top Pei Wei
Rating: 2 Votes
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yg17
51 months ago

How does the food compare to other low-cost Chinese restaurants, e.g. Panda Express? There is a PF Chang's in my city, but I tend to go elsewhere for Chinese fare; I find PF Chang's dishes overwhelmingly salty, even for Chinese.


I'd say Pei Wei is a step above Panda Express, but still miles below all the locally owned Chinese places near me.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Dekema2
51 months ago
MacRumors introduced me to this chain; before, I never heard of it.
Rating: 2 Votes
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Shinigami301
51 months ago
Pei Wei cooks orders fresh to order, is clean, efficient and comfortable. Comparing it to Panda Express is like comparing a Ruth's Chris' steak to a McDonald's big mac..
Rating: 1 Votes
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dwaltwhit
51 months ago
Pei wei is a division of PF Changs, a traditional sit down restaurant. Certainly they can't be too far behind. Im excited to see apple pay at restaurants, along with gas stations and grocery stores.
Rating: 1 Votes
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parseckadet
51 months ago

I'd say Pei Wei is a step above Panda Express, but still miles below all the locally owned Chinese places near me.

I think Pei Wei is more than a step above Panda Express. That's like saying a Holiday Inn Express is a step above sleeping in the gutter. As for locally owned Chinese places, I've seen some pretty terrible ones that are worse than Panda Express.

To answer the original question, the closest comparison I can think of is that Pei Wei is similar to Chipotle where Panda Express is similar to Taco Bell. But I like the atmosphere in Pei Wei over Chipotle.

As for Apple Pay, it's weird how all of this is shaking out. All of the places near me that take it, Petco, Trader Joes, and now Pei Wei are all in the same shopping center. That place is like an island of Apple Pay goodness stuck in the middle of a sea of outdated holdouts. Guess I'm getting some Kung Pao Chicken the next time I need to pick up dog food and cheap wine.
Rating: 1 Votes
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ghostface147
51 months ago
Quality food. It's excellent that they have setup Apple Pay acceptance. I see more and more places I visit that offer it. Krogers needs to step up and get with the program. We just need more mom and pop shops accepting it before it really takes off.
Rating: 1 Votes
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