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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 OLgLpTKKMbmZ+pDJuA82FWgrfMptaKbAbAz6BIGHYjngeW+XPR1sKX34fQmMmU4a
 3iDg/2bn5KQ7Vd4bjXsPNw==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-09-010174.txt : 20090430
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-09-010174.hdr.sgml : 20090430
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20090430201856
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-09-010174
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20090428
FILED AS OF DATE:		20090430
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20090430

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			May Kenneth A
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001350292

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25123
		FILM NUMBER:		09786252

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		13155 NOEL ROAD, SUITE 1600
		STREET 2:		THREE GALLERIA TOWER
		CITY:			DALLAS
		STATE:			TX
		ZIP:			75240

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			P F CHANGS CHINA BISTRO INC
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001039889
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-EATING PLACES [5812]
		IRS NUMBER:				860815086
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0101

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7676 E. PINNACLE PEAK RD.
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85255
		BUSINESS PHONE:		480-888-3000

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		7676 E. PINNACLE PEAK RD.
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85255
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>form4.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>

    <schemaVersion>X0303</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType>

    <periodOfReport>2009-04-28</periodOfReport>

    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0001039889</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>P F CHANGS CHINA BISTRO INC</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>PFCB</issuerTradingSymbol>
    </issuer>

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001350292</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>May Kenneth A</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>C/O FEDEX KINKO'S, GALLERIA III</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>DALLAS</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>TX</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>75240</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <derivativeTable>
        <derivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Cash-Settled Stock-Based Awards</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <conversionOrExercisePrice>
                <value>0</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </conversionOrExercisePrice>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2009-04-28</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>3299</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <exerciseDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </exerciseDate>
            <expirationDate>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
            </expirationDate>
            <underlyingSecurity>
                <underlyingSecurityTitle>
                    <value>Common Stock</value>
                </underlyingSecurityTitle>
                <underlyingSecurityShares>
                    <value>3299</value>
                </underlyingSecurityShares>
            </underlyingSecurity>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>3299</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </derivativeTransaction>
    </derivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reportable securities are cash-settled stock-based awards each representing the economic equivalent of one share of P.F. Chang's China Bistro Inc.'s common stock. The cash-settled stock-based awards will be settled on the earlier of (1) the date the board member ceases to be a member of the board or (2) a change in control of the company.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert T. Vivian, attorney-in-fact for Kenneth A. May</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2009-04-30</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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