If you're looking for bomb Mexican food with a creative Asian fusion twist, handcrafted cocktails, and a whole vibe, then this is your spot. The aesthetics are vibrant, colorful, and so picture-worthy. Every corner gives main character energy. They've got brunch, DJs setting the mood, hookah, and an atmosphere that feels like dinner turned into a party. It's truly a foodie's dream ,amazing flavors, beautiful presentation, and nonstop energy. Trust me... you're going to want to add this one to your Charlotte list. Staff was so awesome!! Hands down and amazing experience while visiting Charlotte, one thing I will say thats negative is the parking, but honestly anywhere in Charlotte to park is a nightmare lol read more

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Natalia did an amazing job! Phenomenal food, and service! I will be back again. I'm coming back today. Again. read more

Papi Ricko was excellent! The drinks were amazing with so many fun options to choose from. We absolutely loved the birria tacos, and everything was so good we even got churros to take home. Natalia was a fantastic server and made the whole experience even better. Can't wait to come back read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

First time dining here. They had valentine decorations up with techno lights. It was so cute!!! The food was good! I had the empanada app. The chicken didn't have that much flavor as I'd like but the sauce made up for it. I also had the birria tacos and that was delicious. I ordered a margarita mocktail, it was super sweet. Not my favorite. Service was really slow but the waiter was nice. read more

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What a charming spot! I'm so happy they finally opened a permanent location. I used to love the food truck and was pretty bummed when they temporarily closed to open this place. When I arrived, I chose to sit at the bar, and the service was quick and friendly. The decor inside is adorable, especially during Halloween--it's really festive! They also have a lovely covered patio area if you prefer outdoors. Plus, they offer some great daily specials. I saw a few people enjoying hookah, and I even got to witness the staff celebrating a birthday--which was really fun to see. I had the enchiladas, and they were absolutely delicious. The guacamole was super fresh and tasty too! They also had themed Halloween cocktails that were really yummy. I'm already looking forward to coming back soon! read more

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This was our first time dining at their brick and mortar restaurant, and I'm very happy that we did! I've loved the food here for a very long time since they were located at Hop'n in their food truck! Well, nothing has changed the food here is superb! Literally everything is good, and the service was great too! Can't wait to come back soon! read more

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Food was great and service was great. When I tell you the food was great I mean it. I had the salmon and it was so good make you want to smack yo mama. read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - Pineapple Salmon - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This place is fire! I've been dying to try Papi Ricko since it opened and I finally got to meet a friend for brunch. Our waitress, Natalia, was amazing and made our time there even more enjoyable. We were the first people in the restaurant for a short time around 11:30 am. Needless to say, our food came out quickly. I got the steak and eggs and my friend got the breakfast tacos. Everything had good flavor. I do love spice, so I did ask for salsa to eat with my steak. We wanted to stay longer, so we ended up ordering a hookah. Natalia was more than happy to allow us to move to the outside area to enjoy our hookah once the restaurant started to fill up. She even continued to check on us after we had already checked out. We kept saying how we could not wait to come and try the dinner menu. I can't wait to come back! read more

I got a parking ticket after visiting this place, even though I entered my vehicle information on their tablet as required. I've called multiple times every single day trying to get proof of my parking so I can dispute the ticket--no one answers. When I finally reached a "manager," I was told they would help and escalate it to the owner. That was clearly just to get me off the phone, because as of 4/17 nothing has been done and I still haven't received anything. This is completely unacceptable. Poor management, zero accountability, and no follow-through. On top of that, the food wasn't even worth the trouble. Save yourself the headache and go somewhere else. Ridiculous! read more

Food was really fresh! Their bar is so cute oh the inside plenty of photo opportunities! I recommend coming here for a cute drink or good eats! Their birria tacos are delicious! The service was good our food came out quick! Presentation was really good! read more

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Ok we had to go two days in a row because we didn't know it turned to more of a club vibe at night. Consider that when going. The second day we enjoyed it ALOT. The food was so good the birria tacos were a personal favorite. Walk around the whole restaurant it's so nice and the bathroom makes for a good photo area. I also got a cute drink that came in a Jeep! read more

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Food was amazing! A little slow but honestly didn't matter because we were there with family we hadn't seen in a long time. Fernando was accommodating and very attentive! Will be back! read more

I recently visited this restaurant and had high hopes. Firstly, there was a language barrier between us and our waiter that led to many issues. I asked our waitress about the sweetness level on the drinks and conveyed I didn't want a drink that was too sweet. I also asked about dishes on the menu. She had a hard time speaking to the menu. She couldn't explain dishes or make recommendations. My drink came out and tasted like straight syrup and was overly sweet. I think the waitress misunderstood what I wanted due to the language barrier. I asked if there was someone else we could speak to? She said yes and no one ever came and I had to ask again to get someone. Turns out she had done the wrong drink and misunderstood, so I just told them I didn't want the drink. We had these mishaps over the course of our entire dining experience. My friend ask for certain things to be excluded from her entree and they were included. We got the bill and they had charged me for the drink and she didn't want to take it off. I want to note that the drink was not consumed, was the wrong drink and had been taken away completely full. After a lot of back and forth they removed the drink. Despite the poor service we tipped the waitress and that's when everything went downhill. She gave me the machine to tap to pay and close out my tab. When I went to send the receipt to myself she snatched the machine away. I told her I wanted to speak to a manager. She got very argumentative, stood above me and put her hands in my face. I had to ask 3 times to speak to a manager before someone else finally came to out table. I relayed the situation, told him this was disgusting behavior and no way to treat a customer who had been nothing but nice until the card reader was snatched away and she put her hands in my face. I asked for my full tip to be refunded which they did do. The waitress didn't want to provide her name. The man who came to our table said it was Sofia. The man was apologetic but ultimately this experience was terrible and will lead to me not returning to this business. On another note, the food was decent. read more

Papi Rico is located in the vibrant Plaza Midwood area, which tends to be quite busy, especially around lunchtime between 12 PM and 1 PM. The parking situation can be a bit tricky, so it's something to keep in mind when visiting. I visited not long after the restaurant opened, and the accessibility seemed to be in place by the second week. The staff were incredibly friendly, with both the waitress and waiter providing good service although they aren't as attentive especially when they aren't that busy they do tempt to take a while to come back and check on you. I would recommend they be more attentive in regard to that . I tried the birria tacos, and while they were good, the food didn't completely stand out for me. On the other hand, the drinks were fantastic, definitely one of the highlights of the experience. The ambiance gives off a Miami vibe, which I enjoyed, and the music and decorations really added to the overall atmosphere. It's a great spot for hanging out with friends, having drinks, and even enjoying some hookah. While I'm not a huge fan of the food, the overall experience was positive, and I'd certainly return for everything else--drinks, music, and the vibe--just not necessarily for the food. read more

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I had such a great experience at this restaurant. From the moment I walked in, the atmosphere was warm and inviting. The staff were attentive without being overbearing, and everything came out quickly and fresh. The food itself was outstanding--full of flavor, clearly made with care, and beautifully presented. Each dish felt well-balanced, and the portions were just right. You can tell they use high-quality ingredients. What really stood out was the consistency--every plate at our table was just as good as the next, which says a lot. The space was clean, the music was at a perfect level, and the overall vibe made it easy to relax and enjoy. And Natalie the bartender easy amazing !! Súper sweet and explains everything in detail. Definitely recommend read more

Natalia was the nicest server ever!! The food was good too (flautas in particular) but we will definitely be coming back because Natalia made it such a great experience. The vibe is definitely fun and club-y but the service was perfect, like fine dining! read more

I have to admit, I wasn't too sure about this place based on some of their previous reviews but I'm so glad I gave them a try! Met up with a friend for lunch around noon on a Friday and was able to walk in and sit with no wait time. They do state it gets busy starting around 7 pm. The ambiance and vibes are GIVING! Dark Garden Club vibes! Floral and greenery all around the restaurant with music lights all around to give it that club vibe. Ordered their 3 Campechano tacos which came with rice and refried beans. They were AMAZING! The corn tortillas were not hard at all and the meat was very well marinated and cooked perfectly so that it didn't taste old or rubbery. The rice and beans also were very well seasoned and it paired with my tacos perfectly. Our server Fernando was nothing short of amazing, efficient, and very friendly! My friend and I also shared a hookah. They do have plenty of bar seating with patio seating as well. Parking does look small and cramped which I can see it being a problem during peak hours but there is side street parking as well. No issues during lunchtime though. I will be returning to try other things on their menu. read more

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Food was excellent and our server was very nice. It's low light and has a great vibe so I hope to come back to enjoy a drink or three. read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - Tinga Chicken - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

I absolutely loved the food truck but I was not impressed by this place. They are definitely going for a club vibe because you can barely hear anything here and hookah everywhere. We went for food and I guess that was our mistake because it wasn't the right vibe and that food was mediocre. Service was absolutely terrible and the were not attentive at all. read more

Awesome place, a little expensive but worth it. Guacamole only came with like 6 big chips lol smh

Everything can improve the staff did not speak English or good English at all. It was definitely a major language barrier. The food was cold and bland. I like the food truck better. The ambience is nice. No drinks were OK. Not really tasty. They're just displayed very well. read more

Very nice atmosphere and service 10/10 and the food also 10/10, worth every penny. Came with a large birthday party and orders were taken and executed flawlessly. Music was also nice. Will definitely come again. We had calamari and triple bacon, burger queso and chips, all was very nicely cooked to perfection. Lucero was our waiter. She was awesome! read more

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I was excited to try this place since I was a fan of the food truck. The service wasn't that great (visited on a Tuesday evening) - drinks and food took a long time to come out. One of the drinks for a friend was completely wrong even though the staff repeated it back and when the corrected drink made it to the table the glass was filthy. The space inside was super cool but the music was so loud that we couldn't hear each other (jokes aside about age, we all agreed it was very loud for a Tuesday night) Not sure I'll be back, at least not for food. Potentially for a canned beer if I'm in the area but that's about it. read more

I went on Cinco De Mayo around 1pm. It wasn't that much energy or music in there like i expected and service was very slow. I got 3 tacos, queso, 2 house margaritas and a hookah. The hookah was so weak. I really wanted to like this place but i can't say i did. Ima have to go back another day maybe at night time and see if it's better. read more

I went for my birthday and I would definitely suggest going. I was nervous about previous reviews but I think most of the negative ones were when they first opened. I had the Barria tacos and they were delicious! The street tacos were amazing too! The drinks were so fun and delicious. Our service was great and there wasn't a wait. The ambiance is the best part of this place! It's like a fun Miami club. We had the churro cart and they brought a sign out and lights to sing. So much fun! Would suggest giving this place a chance! read more

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Excelente comida, tragus. Natalia nos atendio hoy, y se aseguro de darnos muy buena experencia y sugerencia de platos. La atmosfera muy agradable. Definitivamente vuelvo. read more

Angel is AMAZING!!! We love him so much. His service was fast and on point all night. If you come here hope that he is your bartender

Angel is awesome, food is bangin ! Love love loveee papa rickoooooo. Very professional polite and all around great experience

Natalie was great and so was the food. The drinks were unique and presentation was amazing.

The food is good. The service is terrible. I made a deposit for my partner's birthday. They gave us the runaround multiple times, which was unprofessional. " Sounds like they may have overbooked." There was a party that was seated after us that received unequivocally better service! The manager gave us a hookah. The hookah came before the waitress and the water. We waited 45 minutes for service. The drinks were okay. On a scale of 1-10. 4-4.5 Would not recommend it. First and last time. read more

This is literally my new favorite place In Charlotte. I'm selfishly hesitant to write a review because I dont want it to become super populated and I want to keep this hidden gem a secret for myself and friends. If you're looking for a spot for good vibes and good drinks / food (and instagrammable corners everywhere you turn), then this is the spot to go. I came here for lunch and it's probably the best lunch spot in Charlotte - $12 for good sized and delicious portions. The mango marg is probably the best mango marg I've ever tasted. And the service was top notch - Fernando was amazing. I will definitely be back. read more

Good folks, let me learn you something. This is most excellent, authentic food that you can rarely find east of Nevada or major metro areas. The cuisine and the atmosphere remind me of good times on the West Coast. Birria tacos are absolutely delicious. Fernando M. was our server and the service was excellent. Now, if you think that Chipotle is Mexican food, you will be very disappointed and should go elsewhere lest you start leaving odd reviews on this fair site and act like a spoiled gringa. "Oh lawd, these people speak with accents and do not offer burritos in XXL." Don't do that. Enjoy good food at Papi Ricko. read more

(3/5) Came in for dinner and was immediately impressed by the incredible vibe and fantastic service--attentive staff and great atmosphere made it feel like a hotspot. Unfortunately, the food didn't match up to the hype. It wasn't bad, just nowhere near as good as the ambiance suggested. Tried my friend's birria tacos, and honestly, they were the only standout dish--really tasty. Cocktails were pricey, especially given the minimal liquor in them. Overall, come for the vibe, service, and birria tacos, but don't set expectations too high for the rest of the food and drinks. read more

Went here a few weeks ago with a group of friends for dinner & drinks. I gotta say, I was so disappointed by the end of the night. The service was very slow & the waitress wasn't attentive. The drinks took a long time to arrive at the table, I ordered mahi tacos but I'm pretty sure the fish was salmon, and one of my guests had a dirty cup(there was a hair). Tip is auto added in the bill, so make sure you review. read more

Service and wait times are TERRIBLE y'all Food is not bad. Waiting an hour plus for food when there's only one other table in the building is outrageous. read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - French Toast - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

The food, drinks, and service were good! The only complaint is that it was really hot inside the building. I'm not sure if the AC was on. read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

This was a cool lil spot. The drinks are fun and has a lot of options. I got the birria tacos and they were good. I would visit again maybe in the evening. Overall good experience read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - Birria tacos. Water. Henny-Rita - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina

Such a fun hidden gem in Plaza! The food, ambiance, music, and friendly staff make for such a fun place for food and drinks with friends

Amazing service from Fernando C. The vibes were immaculate. The music was great my homegirl and I had a great time. Definitely recommend 10 out of 10! read more

pretty good for my first latin food experience! the ambiance was very sophisticated & low lighting. read more

Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge - meat over rice & carrrots - Latin American Near Me - Charlotte, North Carolina