-----BEGIN PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----
Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 Lyh8RV3IOQx38lMACThbw8LKc9Bi40lgc29ZyM+dwxA/yEXgIlsDqmLzI7yuK2er
 QhTA7MIZNP+RurzixJ1Phg==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0001127602-10-031422.txt : 20101222
<SEC-HEADER>0001127602-10-031422.hdr.sgml : 20101222
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20101222120648
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0001127602-10-031422
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20101214
FILED AS OF DATE:		20101222
DATE AS OF CHANGE:		20101222

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			CARDWELL F LANE JR
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0001217405

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	000-25123
		FILM NUMBER:		101267691

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		C/O P F CHANG'S CHINA BISTRO, INC.
		STREET 2:		15210 N. SCOTTSDALE RD, STE. 300
		CITY:			SCOTTSDALE
		STATE:			AZ
		ZIP:			85254

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:			0103

	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>2010-12-14</periodOfReport>

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

    <reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0001217405</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>CARDWELL F LANE JR</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1></rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>7676 E. PINNACLE PEAK ROAD</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>SCOTTSDALE</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>AZ</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>85255</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
        <reportingOwnerRelationship>
            <isDirector>1</isDirector>
        </reportingOwnerRelationship>
    </reportingOwner>

    <nonDerivativeTable>
        <nonDerivativeTransaction>
            <securityTitle>
                <value>Common Stock</value>
                <footnoteId id="F1"/>
                <footnoteId id="F2"/>
            </securityTitle>
            <transactionDate>
                <value>2010-12-14</value>
            </transactionDate>
            <transactionCoding>
                <transactionFormType>4</transactionFormType>
                <transactionCode>A</transactionCode>
                <equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved>
            </transactionCoding>
            <transactionTimeliness></transactionTimeliness>
            <transactionAmounts>
                <transactionShares>
                    <value>1216</value>
                </transactionShares>
                <transactionPricePerShare>
                    <value>0</value>
                </transactionPricePerShare>
                <transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
                    <value>A</value>
                </transactionAcquiredDisposedCode>
            </transactionAmounts>
            <postTransactionAmounts>
                <sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
                    <value>7021</value>
                </sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction>
            </postTransactionAmounts>
            <ownershipNature>
                <directOrIndirectOwnership>
                    <value>D</value>
                </directOrIndirectOwnership>
            </ownershipNature>
        </nonDerivativeTransaction>
    </nonDerivativeTable>

    <footnotes>
        <footnote id="F1">The reportable securities are restricted stock units (&quot;RSUs&quot;), each representing a contingent right to receive one share of P.F. Chang's China Bistro, Inc.'s common stock.  The RSUs will vest 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>
        <footnote id="F2">These RSUs are entitled to receive dividend equivalents with respect to the payment of cash dividends on Common Stock.  Dividend equivalents shall be paid by crediting the recipient with additional whole RSUs as of the cash dividend payment date.  The number of additional RSUs shall be determined based on the amount of cash dividends paid with respect to the number of shares of Common Stock represented by the RSUs divided by the Company's closing stock price on the cash dividend payment date.  Additional RSUs issued in conjunction with dividends shall be subject to the same terms and conditions and settled in the same manner and at the same time as the RSUs originally subject to the award.</footnote>
    </footnotes>

    <ownerSignature>
        <signatureName>/s/ Robert T. Vivian, attorney-in-fact for F. Lane Cardwell Jr.</signatureName>
        <signatureDate>2010-12-22</signatureDate>
    </ownerSignature>
</ownershipDocument>
</XML>
</TEXT>
</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
-----END PRIVACY-ENHANCED MESSAGE-----