Ping's Cafe

Ping’s Café is a quiet little place offering dozens of choices in the way of Chinese food.

Ping’s, which means peace, is located at 17115 E. Shea Blvd. It is an unassuming spot, but when you enter, you are warmly greeted and graciously served.

Restaurant owners Laura Ma and her husband Jim Liu, opened Ping’s in March 2005. They opened their original restaurant, Yummy China, at Thunderbird Road and Tatum Boulevard in 1995.

“When our lease was up on Yummy China, we decided we wanted to move a growing area,” Laura said. “That was Fountain Hills.”

She said many of their old customers come to the new restaurant, and their new customers are pleased with the offerings, Laura says.

“We keep cooking the good food,” she said. “We like being part of the community.”

Laura said Jim, who is the chef, understands how to cook food in a healthy way. He uses no MSG in any of their dishes, and also cooks in less oil than what is common in some Chinese food restaurants. Chicken dishes are made from white meat only, and the vegetables are crisp and fresh.

“Liu has 20 years experience cooking Chinese food in restaurants,” Laura says. “He cooks the way the customer wants their food.”

Ping’s has both lunch and dinner specials, and Laura recommends starting with hot and sour soup for either meal.

“We put many ingredients in the soup,” she says.

Some of the delectables in the hot and sour soup include shrimp, pork, chicken, bamboo shoots, vegetables and tofu. The rich broth has just the combination of tangy and spicy.

Laura said among the favorites at the restaurant are orange chicken and curry seafood. People also enjoy walnut shrimp.

She says she likes orange chicken “very much” and Liu enjoys garlic string beans.

“He really loves vegetables, so he eats a lot of them,” she said. “And he especially likes garlic string beans.

The restaurant features a wide variety of items for every taste. There are spicy dishes, which can be toned down for those who prefer less spice, or kicked up a notch for those who like to really taste the heat.

There are sweet and sour dishes, as well as some that are milder. The restaurant offers several types of soup including won-ton, egg drop and sizzling rice, along with a full array of appetizers, such as egg rolls, fried shrimp, crab puffs and chicken lettuce wraps.

Dinners range from $7.95 to $12.95. Luncheon specials are available from $5.50 to $6.50. Lunches are served with soup, egg roll, crab puff, rice and a fortune cookie.

Food is available for take-out, as well as for dine-in. The dining room seats 60. Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. seven days a week during the winter. The restaurant is closed Mondays in the summer.

Ping’s has a liquor license and offers mixed drinks, wine and beer, in addition to soft drinks, tea and water.

“We are very grateful for all our customers,” Laura said. “We want to thank them for all their support during these 2 ½ years. We always like to see our old customers, and we are happy to make new customers.”

For more information, call (480) 816-1827.