Pei Wei adds Apple Pay

Pei Wei Asian Diner has expanded its payment options to include the Apple Pay mobile system, accessible at all 200 branches of the fast-casual chain as of Tuesday.

The rollout follows a test last month at 16 units in the brand’s home market of Phoenix. The chain had already invested in new payment terminals, pin-pad devices and encryption technology.

Security was emphasized as a reason for the choice of Apple Pay, an option that enables iPhone users with a downloaded app to pay for their meals by holding their phones near a reader. Payments can also be made with an Apple Watch.

“It allows us to safely and quickly process transactions, increasing both customer service and restaurant efficiency,” Pei Wei CEO Ralph Bowers said in a statement. “This is just one way we’re implementing the latest technology to improve the dining experience.”

Pei Wei is the fast-casual sister of the P.F. Chang’s casual-dining chain.

Both brands are owned by the private-equity firm Centerbridge Partners.

Members help make our journalism possible. Become a Restaurant Business member today and unlock exclusive benefits, including unlimited access to all of our content. Sign up here.

Multimedia

Exclusive Content

Financing

Restaurant franchisors should put the brakes on share buybacks

The Bottom Line: Publicly traded companies often spend their extra cash to buy back shares. But franchisors of struggling chains might be better off investing that cash in the restaurants.

Financing

Key takeaways from the recent round of restaurant company earnings

The Bottom Line: Full-service restaurant chains are winning, slightly, in a weak overall market. Brands are rethinking unit count, focusing on service and pushing a lot of value.

Emerging Brands

Gavin Kaysen's restaurant group is preparing to double in size in four weeks

A godfather of the Minneapolis dining scene, Kaysen says his restaurants are busier than ever. Consumers may be pulling back, but they're still looking for an experience.

Trending

More from our partners