Papi grande is conveniently located near the university at buffalo! They have a pretty okay ambiance in the restaurant. The best thing above all is that they have plant based options. The service is consistently good. It reminds me of a casual fast dining style though. read more

Went for lunch yesterday May 5, 2026, restaurant was a mess, dishwasher was broken, no glasses, limited menu which was pricey and no free chips and salsa. Our beverages were served in a 6 oz. cup, no pina' colada mix, no specials for Cinco De Mayo, waitress was terrible, all she kept doing was apologizing that they were out of everything we asked for. How can you be out of everything? Seriously, you need to just close your doors. Unacceptable. Our bill for 3 people and tip was $113.00, 3 entrees and chips and queso. What a shame! No alcohol was purchased. How do you justify those prices? Oh and the booths were all ripped. read more

Went there yesterday. First I'll start with huge table left and while the top was cleaned nobody swept up under which was filthy. Charge for chips and salsa, the salsa had no heat to it. Next cook goes to "Price Rite" and comes back with two full bags of what my protein which was chewy? Next waitress was horrible, abandoned our table to go to other room where big party arrived. Two other waitresses came over to finally take care of us. Sometimes the jokes write themselves read more

They say they are open at 11:30 am Thursday. Arrived at 12:30 pm. Place is all locked up. Terrible Terrible way to treat customers. Won't bother to try that again. read more

My husband and I went to Amherst location for Cinco De Mayo. What a horrible experience. Waited in line outside for 15 minutes before getting to the host station to put our name on the list. Was told it would be about an hour. We said ok, we will get a drink at the bar, a very over priced drink at that. No Cinco de Mayo drink specials like other places were offering. We checked back in with the host after an hour and was told it would be another 40 minutes. When we were finally seated, it was at a high top table with hard metal stools. We were given no menus and noticed that the table was very sticky from the previous guests. We saw some paper menus on the window sill and had to get up and get them for ourselves. The limited menus had no prices on them as if it was a ritzy country club. It took the waitress about 20 minutes before she cam over. We had to ask her to clean the table. She took our drink orders and it took a while for her to bring them to us. She set them down and took off without taking our food order. It was another half hour before we were able to stop her on her way to another table and asked if we could put in our food order and we were told no, that they stopped taking food orders because the kitchen was backed up 45 minutes to an hour with orders that had already been taken. At this point we are starving. She finally came back 45 minutes later to take our food order and it was another half hour before our food was brought to us. When the food was set down, she said oh i will have to go get you some napkins and silverware. She was gone another 10 minutes getting them and we could only just look at our food waiting for her to come back with utensils. She brought us plastic silverware and food was served on paper plates and drinks were served in plastic cups. I has the sizzling fajitas, which were very good, but they were so hot that it melted the plastic fork I was given. Who knows how much toxic plastic I ate with my dinner. It was supposed to come with sour cream but that was not given to me. She did ask us if we wanted to order another drink and we told her that we would just like a glass of ice water each. She never brought them to us. We asked for to go boxes and the check and she took quite a lot of time before she came by and dropped off some boxes, but no check. Another 20 minutes go by and we see her just chit chatting with the bartender. So we got up and put our coats on. She saw us getting ready to leave so she then rushed over with her little machine. We never saw the check, was just given the total. What a waste of an entire evening. My legs are so sore from sitting on that metal stool for so long. It was cutting off my circulation. Never going back there. read more

Read that this restaurant served Tex-Mex cuisine so my wife and thought we'd give it a try. I had chicken enchiladas and my wife ordered a rice bowl with fajita chicken. Guac and chips for an appetizer. The guac and chips were the best part of the meal. Enchiladas had a "red" sauce that had anything but Mexican flavor. It was more like a marinara. Lots of chicken meat stuffed inside but the sauce ruined them. The fajita chicken in the rice bowl was way overcooked, very dry, and inedible. We didn't even think our dog would eat it if we brought leftovers home. First "Mexican" restaurant I've ever been to that didn't offer chips and salsa as a freebie. This was a terrible waste of $52 (plus tip). Never again. Wouldn't recommend. read more

Had the pleasure of wondering in on national margarita day. These Nachos were sooooo yummy. They had layers of flavor and perfect for sharing. Papi's have great daily special so it's something for everyone. The only thing I didn't like was the constant country music. Its kind of threw me off considering its a mexican style place but not 1 mexican song was played the entire visit. Was disappointed read more

Papi Grande's - Nios Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

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This is for the one in lancaster... its a great location spot right in the village, the service was very respectful and the food came out fast and amazing. Everything was warm as well as very good. I recommend this place highly if your stopping through for good eats read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

It's Tuesday!! What's better to do than eating tacos? Eat tacos and drinking maragiritas on a patio with live music!!! So Papi Grandes was the choice!! I've never been Papi Grande's, but I've driven past it numerous times. Things I loved right off the back is that they had a kids menu for my little person, Taco Tuesday special, and they have a large patio!! So obviously, we ate on the patio. It was such a vibe, especially with the live music performance!! The waitress recommended we get the lime maragiritas bc they are $6 on Tuesdays. Our cups were pretty full. However, I wouldn't say it was my favorite maragirita. I imagine they are probably pre-made due to the special. Another taco Tuesday deal we decided to partake in was 3 specialty tacos for $15. They had pretty cool taco flavors, I chose Nashville chicken w/o pickles, bang bang shrimp, and hibachi chicken and steak !!! The waitress said it would be a wait, so I ordered the elote corn dip. About 15 minutes later, all the food came out at the same time !! Unfortunately, all the food came out cold, including the corn dip. We kept the dip because we were starving and sent back the tacos. Within another 15 minutes, our re-made orders came out. I could definitely tell that these tacos were re-made because looked much better than the initial tacos and were warm. However, were they not hot. The tacos were ok, my favorite was the hibachi because the chicken and steak were flavored very well and sauce was perfect!! Overall, the waitress was very nice and apologetic given our food. The live music was amazing but I was not very impressed with the food. I will say that it was taco Tuesday, and there were numerous customers in and outside. I'd be curious how my experience would be on a regular day. Not sure if I'd give this a second chance immediately because there are so many great Mexican restaurants in the area, but I will definitely be back some day, and I hope I will be able to change my reviews!! read more

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Food was okay (3 stars) Service was fine although slow considering the restaurant was practically empty (3 stars) The extra star reduction is due to the payment process. Instead of receiving a paper receipt to review prior to payment, you're presented with an electronic device that only displays the final total. Unless you manually calculated your table's order during ordering, you have no idea if they overcharged you, already included gratuity, etc. You're just expected to hand over your card and trust that the order was calculated correctly. If you want to move towards tablets/electronics, fine, but you need to find a way to allow the customer to review the total ITEMIZED order prior to being asked for payment. read more

Food was ok , nothing special. I keep giving them another try ! The eggrolls were different so i enjoyed those , worst margarita i ever had ! Server was super nice , she said she was new . Didn't appreciate the smell of weed at the end of the meal , seeing i was my daughter. We were there for the live music so that was nice ! read more

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Service was slow, although the staff was friendly. I ordered the chicken fajitas on the menu and I was disappointed to see when they arrived they were covered in bbq sauce. Nowhere on the menu was bbq sauce listed as an ingredient for this dish. I don't like bbq sauce and didn't think it would be randomly added without any request to do so. Food took about an hour to arrive at the table and the waitress was so busy she never even had time to check on our table for me to say something about the food. Paid 10$ for a bowl of queso and chips and after running out of chips with a half a bowl left, no one ever came over to see if we needed more. read more

My husband and I went here for taco Tuesday and needless to say I was very disappointed at the lack of flavor and how horrible these tacos were. Although the service and the ambience was very nice, I just couldn't get over how bad these tacos were. read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

This review is for their new shop on West Main in Lancaster. We were greeted at door by very nice hostess. Ordered two drinks and looked over menu. Reduced menu but I knew that was probably because they were getting crew ready and making sure everything is running smooth before full menu. We had Birria and gringo tacos. Wow !! Best I've ever had. Prices are reasonable. Service is friendly, quick and very professional. Manager visited us while we were there to make sure we were satisfied with everything. We'll definitely be back. Very welcome addition to the restaurants in our area. Try this business , you won't be disappointed. Tell them the guy that was attacked by a fire extinguisher recommended them. That's another story. Haha read more

My friends and I come here for their fantastic nachos. Served with fresh homemade chip it is truly one of the best indulgences when you're craving something savory and light to accompany happy hour or as a treat before catching a movie next door tat the AMC. I treated myself to their mexican fried ice cream and it did not disappoint either. Watch out for their specials too! read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Fried Ice cream - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

Food quality has deteriorated to match the dingy interior. It's dark and dirty and the booths are literally falling apart, the servers are mediocre and not happy to be there (although I can't blame them), and the food that used to be good has been cheapened out and ingredients removed, and is cold and stale and way overpriced. We won't be going back, and we'll miss what the food used to be. read more

This is for the Lancaster location. The food and service were good. However, when we asked for more salsa for our chips we were told there would be a charge. We figured it would be around a dollar. When we got our bill we were charged $3.50 for a very small cup of salsa!!! Won't go there again. Every other Mexican restaurant in the area gives you refills for free. read more

Great food, painfully slow service! We had a table of 7, which is larger, but not huge and there were not many other people in the restaurant... one or two other smaller tables, max. It took about an hour for us to get our food. Thankfully, when we did get our food, it was all tasty! Our orders ranged from tacos and burrito bowls to quesadillas and mac & cheese. The waiter was nice and apologetic about the long waiting time for everything. I would consider giving them another try, but definitely would not risk it if I were in a hurry... from start to finish, we were at the restaurant for about two hours! Also, the bathroom was NOT clean. Not the worst I've seen; but I'd say, don't use it if you don't have to. read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

INSTANT REVIEW COMING YOUR WAY! FRESH OFF THE FIRST FEW BITES: If you see the BOGO Birria Rolls on Uber Eats, dont get dragged in, good deal, legit size, sounds great BUT "Could've been better" as my 2 Star rating says. For the good: price- BOGO: GREAT, Size of these puppies- Wonderful (Larger than the normal pizza log if you will), the side of queso was the saving grace here, that was delicious. The meat was plentiful and "alright". The roll was not crispy but I can chalk that up to ordering through Uber eats and delivery time, I even popped them in the airfryer for a little crisp, didnt really work- maybe it had to do with what tasted like/could of been brown sugar all on the roll? Is brown sugar normal for a dish like this? It def. caught me off guard! I did not like that, too sweet, thought I was a the Erie County Fair eating fried dough. Im a dipper now, so when I saw it came with a sauce-I was excited, I thought YES, great texture, thick, looked dark which I thought spicy- Nope, Neither, NO TASTE at all and I mean legit it did not have a taste. Kinda sad about these, I love apps, I love rolls, I love dips, I love tacos, I love meat and these just didnt do it for me. read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

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Tried Papi Grande's last night finally and it was a nice casual experience. We sat in the tent with live music, and while it was great and fun the noise level really bothered my ears. I'm sure I won't get tinnitus from one visit but my gosh!!! The tacos were so good and my husband and I both agreed they have the best Queso yet! And they give a great amount of it. Our server was great, thank you so much~ read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

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Great food and atmosphere, server was attentive and the meals came out quickly. Highly recommend the tacos!

Amazing service and atmosphere! We come here for date nights and it's always a treat to see miss carrie or Lila working! They always take the best care of us and it is so appreciated! Five stars! Much love, Ella and Erika read more

Over priced and not great food.... Will not return... Mighty Taco is much better... Food here is dry and bland and nothing like pictured online..This was at the new Lancaster location... read more

Came in a few weeks ago for DJ Trivia. It had been a while since I had been here and I noticed the menu has been altered somewhat. Main thing I noticed is a number of new taco options. I've tried a few and they were all great, and the ones I previously used to get are still there and still good. They've also added fried ice cream and it is delicious. read more

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The food was impeccable, and the service was practically instant! Great place to go before seeing a movie or after! The seating was very nice and open. the portions are HUGE! So there's plenty to eat after too! read more

Papi Grande's - Chimichanga and Papis Nachos and Papi's Famous Queso Dip - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

We went on cinco de mayo. They had NO vegetarianism food offered except regular food minus the meat. Basically lettuce and tomato. Their drinks were poor and overpriced read more

The highlight of our meal was the queso. That is some darn good queso. But why do I have to pay for chips and salsa? Most mexican restaurants offer it as a free appetizer. Maybe this is just a covid-time thing to make extra money? If so, it's understandable but I was disappointed with it. Their salsa also tastes like it's store bought and not authentic. They only have one size margarita available and they offer to "mix and match" flavors, but then charge you an extra dollar per flavor without any advanced notice until you see your bill. Food was mediocre. The chimichanga was huge! And smothered in that delicious queso but the ground beef was flavorless. The "award winning" taco mac and cheese tasted like hamburger helper with cumin. Our table laughed at the boldness of calling it "award winning". So many better Mexican restaurants in the area but they do have a great setup for covid with the huge heated tent setup around their outside bar. So if you are going stir-crazy not going out to eat like I was, I would give it a shot but don't expect authenticity. read more

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We stopped by because I had a local flavor deal from the beginning of the year that I had to use up. We purchased a beverage, 3 tacos and a chicken chimichunga. The tacos were lobster roll, bang bang shrimp and chorizo with potato. The chimichunga came with rice and refined beans. The chimi was huge, fried and doused with a creamy cheese sauce and was laid on top of lettuce and tomatoes. It was very good. I bet there was a full shredded chicken breast in there and it was flavorful, not bland. The beans were tasty and the rice was plain, which was fine because everything else had a lot of salt. The choizo taco was good, flavorful and had a nice paprika flavor. The shrimp taco was very good, with large shrimp and a sweet, tangy flavor. The lobster roll was my least favorite. It was the smallest, most expensive and it was mushy and I could barely taste anything but the sauce. I enjoyed the meal and the service was great for a busy Friday night. I've had better Mexican for sure but it was good and I'd go back if I'm in the area. read more

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Service is great. A little above average Mexican food but everything was kinda flavorless. But good drinks and fun ambiance.

This spot is underrated. The food is so good and worth every penny. The bartender was so cool and on point far as taking care of me. The ambiance was very smooth and subtle. read more

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I normally don't feel the need to leave a review after dining, but I had such an amazing time at papi grandes this evening I had to share. Our server Lyla was the HIGHLIGHT of the night she was so personable and sweet and very attentive to our table. She recommended the birria tacos and they were amazing! I haven't been able to find birria tacos in buffalo so I was very excited and they did not disappoint! We got the churros for dessert and they were nice and fresh. The music was fun and the vibes were good, perfect for taco Tuesday. I cannot thank Lyla enough for the fun and great recommendations. I will definitely be returning!! read more

Made the mistake of stopping in on a Friday afternoon. It took the bartender 10 minutes to even acknowledge me. I ordered a beer and nachos. When I hadn't received my food after 15 minutes, I asked, politely, again for the nachos. I was admonished that she was taking care of the restaurant and the bar, and that she was the only one there. I paid for the beer and walked out. I don't need lip, just service. They'll never see me again and I will spread the word! read more

Was a bit concerned at first with the rating, but was pleasantly surprised with how good the tacos were. Definitely a weekly stop now. read more

Papi Grande's - Mexican Near Me - Amherst, New York

The one saving grace here is that the waitress was very nice and attentive, even though she was very busy. The food is authentic in the way LaChoy is authentic Chinese food. Right down to the Old El Paso salsa and bag tortilla chips. I can see going for a fun fusion thing, but they really try to push the little menu of "Mexican" food that wasn't. "Enchiladas Green" (I'm assuming this came from Google Translate?) consisted of some overcooked, stringy chicken, a sprinkling of cheese and then very little (what I assume was) tomatillo salsa that was weirdly sweet. I had to order a side of it because there was a small amount on top and none inside. Upon first taste of the "enchiladas," I caught a strange undertone of fishiness, which prompted me to open it up to make sure I didn't order fish tacos. It wasn't prevalent, but the chicken had a bit of an odd smell. I ate approximately one (picked at a couple different ones), a couple bites of the "Spanish" Rice (reminiscent of Rice a Roni with a few pieces of corn and black beans tossed in), and I gave up and took most of it home to prevent having to explain how bad it was. This is "Mexican" my mom would make and eat. My advice would be to hit up Taco Bell in the same plaza. read more

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The food is by far the worst Mexican food I've ever had. This place gives Mexican food a bad name, and if you've been here and think it's good, then you obviously haven't had Mexican food. Nothing about it is authentic, the meat is under seasoned and everything seems to be prepackaged. Thought I'd go safe by ordering a quesadilla and event that was mediocre. Their menu has a confusing array of dishes and they serve your food with dry Puerto Rican rice. HOWEVERRR the strawberry margarita I ordered was good. Come for the drinks but eat something before. The service we got was good, Ambiance was weird they were playing Christina Perry radio. read more

Came here a little while back and was not impressed, we were seated right away as they weren't busy but we weren't drinking so they weren't attentive and forgot our order. The server was apologetic but they didn't offer anything other than the chips they usually charged for. Not in a hurry to try again. read more

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Go on a Tuesday! It's taco Tuesday, and you can catch a movie at the AMC next doorfor $6 with a STUBS card. Beef & chicken tacos are $2, steak tacos are $3. The queso is delish! Chips & salsa are free, but we usually get guacamole and queso to start. It adds $14 to the bill, but it's worth it. In general I love both, but I think their guacamole is a little salty. If you present two tickets stubs from AMC next door, the queso is free. Unfortunately we went Tuesday night, got the 'free' queso and they still charged us for it. I didn't realize it until we were on our way home and adding up our bill aloud in the car. In the moment I paid it and didn't think twice, but in hindsight it was too high. I should have checked the receipt. read more

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Meh. Not terrible but nothing to write home about. I'd go somewhere else before I came here. But if I was right there and hungry I'd stop in. read more

We went to dinner here on a Friday after work. We were seated right away but it became very busy. We ordered chips and salsa which were delicious. Then we both ordered the chicken quesadillas with shredded chicken which came out quickly and was also delicious. We ended with fried Mexican ice cream which was good too. Overall good experience with quick and efficient service. We didn't drink but the selections for alcohol looked amazing. I was hoping they had Mexican Coca Cola but they did not. They were setting up the band for that night. We will definitely be back. read more

If you're looking for American style tacos, you definitely need to try this. Tacos are 3 for $12 on Tuesdays and totally worth it. Stopped it and decided on the chicken bacon ranch, bison chip dip, and Birria taco. Birria was definitely spicy with no warming but delicious dipped in the birria sauce. Both other tacos were exactly as they read, sauces were bland but tacos were overall good. The queso is where it is at. With warm tortilla chips and plenty of spices in the queso, this was absolutely the highlight of the meal. Our server was awesome, she was very informative, and super friendly. I would definitely come back to try specials of the month! read more

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