Papi Ricko Latin Kitchen & Lounge

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 and chimichurri steak, all was very nicely cooked to perfection. Lucero was our waiter. She was awesome!

I usually don’t give 5 star reviews on restaurants because most of the time they don’t live up to my expectations, but this was a great experience. Most of the time when you see neon signs and grass walls, I automatically think that the restaurant put more into aesthetics than into the food and service. This restaurant has the aesthetics, service, and great food. I’m not even a fan of Mexican food typically, but I was pleasantly surprised. Our waitress, Marien, was so sweet and attentive the whole time we were there. We had wings, surf and turf tacos, birria and shrimp tacos, as well as drinks, and elote corn. Everything was made fresh and flavorful. It was a lot of people in the restaurant when we came around 1:30, which was great for our small trio. The parking is also validated for 3 hrs. The presentation was fun and nice. The prices are affordable and they don’t skimp on the portions. Will definitely be back!!

5 STARS! They validate parking! The vibe was great. Menu was great. Pricing is reasonable. I had the shrimp tacos 🌮 - They were 10/10! DJ played a great set and the staff was very friendly and helpful! Thanks Fernando! We had a great time and will definitely be back. This is a small venue, you may want to call ahead.

We had such a great experience! Our server Fernando M., was amazing! Everyone was literally so nice, customer service was fantastic. Would highly recommend this spot, the atmosphere, the staff, the food, the drinks, it was all 10/10.

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.

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!

I have given this places 2 tries and I’m highly impressed. You have to try the Aguachiles- they are spicy. Also, try the chipotle shrimp pasta. The music is very good and I got a virgin peach mojito and it was amazing. Great work with the flavors. Marien was our server and she was super friendly and very very nice. I liked her.

Came out on a Friday night with my husband. The place has a great ambiance and the personnel is amicable and welcoming. Our waiter Natalia did an excellent job as our server, she is kind and had a great smile even when a drink I ordered wasn’t available, she came to our table and helped me pick another one. The food is really good and overall we had a good time.

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

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!

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!

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!

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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.

(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.

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!

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.

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.

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

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

Food was pretty good, i had the carne asada tacos which were good! The chipotle shrimp pasta looked really good but the spice there is strong! If you like spice, this definitely the spot. The waiters were cool, great ambiance especially for a date night or night out with friends! I do wish they had more food variety but i love the vibe in there.

Amazing drinks, vibes are amazing, music is great. Food is even better , 10/10 would be back again. Great place to bring friends and family , hooka brought to you're table and it's over all just a great place to lounge and drink/hooka with your friends/family . Recommend this to everyone in charlotte !

Food was just okay, drinks were overpriced and the service wasn't great, we waited 30 minutes just to get our check even though we requested it when we called for a box

I was in town for niece's birthday and ran into this gem. Our waitress, Sheila, was attentive and made my niece's birthday a little extra special. Food was great, portion was great recommend 10/10

Fabulous.... atmosphere, decor, food. I've been following beautiful Chef Ricky for years, believe in him very much, and what a joy it was to visit his first brick and mortar endeavor in the heart of Plaza-Midwood. This smart and talented entrepreneur has natural ability in the kitchen, and he also knows how to build a loyal following. Bravo Ricky. I'll be back a lot!