Papu's Cafe

Used to be great now I'm not so sure, ordered a gyro platter and a side order of hummus, got a gyro sandwich and my side but not the platter (missing salad, more hummus and a piece of pita bread). The mix up would have been ok but the meat was slimy and had no texture like it was old ended up just eating the hummus and throwing the sandwich away. Service was slow.

I love this place and can't recommend it enough! Every time I come I get the shawarma sandwich with a little extra mayo and it hits the spot every time. Prices are also very good. I had a great conversation last time I went in with the owners and they wanted to make sure everything was to my liking. He also let me know that everything is made from scratch and that the meat is never frozen. I'll definitely be returning as it has quickly become one of my go to spots.

This is a little hidden gem. The food is not bad, especially when considering it is inside a gas station. Now, the gyro flavor was amazing, but texturally it was moderately unpleasant. The size of the chunks were a bit large and made it a bit difficult to eat. In regards to the Curry Chicken, it was unfortunately changed from the original recipe. It is no longer yellow rice but now white rice which left plenty to be desired. I will try again to see if it is better next time

Gyro was decent good flavor but honestly wish it was cut in strips and not chopped the chunks took away from the sandwich. I got the falafel and Dolmas to go, I was not happy when I got home to find the falafel very burnt and dry, the dolmas had great flavor but very mushy inside. RAHILA was amazing and very sweet! Honestly I'd go back for the gyro and the amazing service.

Relatively quick service, and good food. For the price, the quality of food is well worth it. would recommend!

Papu’s is the best. Great Prices. Loaded and Delicious Gyros. Friendly Staff. Convenient location for extra snack or drinks. Fast Service. Overall a solid place for a tasty lunch.

I placed an order online & when I arrive to pick it up, I was surprised that the restaurant was in the gas station. Any who, the service was cool & the food was ok. The picture is gyro plate, veg, hummus with side of double meat. UPDATE: Make a long story short. I mistakenly chose pick up instead of delivery when I ordered thru Uber Eats so I called the restaurant to tell them that Uber can’t fix it & if there was any way that they could deliver & unfortunately they said no. I said well, just cancel the drink & I’ll ride my bike to pick it up & hung up the phone. Immediately I get a call back from them saying that they will deliver it to me with no (?)charge! I tried to tip the driver a generous tip but he would not accept it..That was GREAT service.

The pictures of this place do not do it justice. It's very clean and neatly organized. The staff is quick, friendly, and just plain sweet. And the food....omg. I've had many shawarmas...I made an audible noise of delight with nearly every bite. And the gyro meat! So tender and delicious. Many places over spice, this was perfect. Such a happy find.

I love this place and can't recommend it enough! Every time I come I get the shawarma sandwich with a little extra mayo and it hits the spot every time. Prices are also very good. I had a great conversation last time I went in with the owners and they wanted to make sure everything was to my liking. He also let me know that everything is made from scratch and that the meat is never frozen. I'll definitely be returning as it has quickly become one of my go to spots.

Wonderful prices (felt like it was 2010 when I saw them), but average (at best) falafel, and rather bland hummus.

I've ordered gyro sandwiches from Papu's for years, and did so again today. I've recently noticed that the quality of my food hadn't been consistent with my previous experiences and today's was absolutely the worst. Barely any meat and what was in there had the texture of beef jerky. Probably the time to find a new place to get my gyro fix.

This hole in the wall Mediterranean restaurant is a can't miss. It's clearly a beloved place in the Waldo neighborhood because people walk in going for an immediate hug with the owner or anyone behind the hot grill and counter. The restaurant is part of the gas station, which, they have dedicated tables for patrons to eat there. My friend who is vegan, said the falafel is incredible and was what every falafel should aspire to be. I had the gyro salad. It was flavorful, filling, yet not heavy for the amount of gyro you get with it. The owner greeted us, gave our table samples of the new grilled chicken they're offering as a special for, and gave us all free rounds of hot herbal tea. This place is AWESOME, and we can't wait to come back and try more of the menu!

Wow. This is my new favorite Middle Eastern restaurant. While some people may view its location as less than immediately appetizing, the food served inside is authentic and delicious. I arrived after what seems like the local official closing time for nearly all restaurants in this area, so the fact that Papu's was still open factored into my decision to try it. I'm glad on both counts (that they're open until 9:00, and that I made the move to try a place I'd previously overlooked). I consider myself somewhat fluent in Mediterranean cuisine, so seeing Baba Ganoush on the menu decided to try theirs. Again: wow. It's fantastic. Some folks may balk at a $7 appetizer that looks like fluffy peanut butter with splashes of olive oil and lemon juice. But if you know this dish, I can confidently say that it is simply excellent here. Such a dish requires real culinary skill in the eggplant roasting process, and they nailed it. So upon being given a peek at the already-cut (near the end of day) gyros meat (after I pointed out the clean gyros rotisserie) I opted for a Gyro ($10 and worth every cent) plus a serving of Baba Ganoush. So yes, my bill with tip approached the $20 limit I'd preset on this meal in my mind, however it was a feast that made two delicious meals: that night's dinner and a tasty filling lunch the next day. I must confess that I eagerly licked the styro tray of Baba Ganoush to eat all of it, too. Wow. Just wow. 5 enthusiastic stars!

Friendly counter staff. I ordered the appetizer sampler with baba ghanouj, dolmas and falafel, and then a separate order of hummus. The falafel was moist and good! The hummus and baba ghanouj were both ok- a bit on the runny side. The baba was quite tart with lemon juice I think? The creaminess was muted by that. The dolmas was bad... really mushy and wet. They use styrofoam containers too. :( If I go back, I will try the shawarma, but the appetizers were not my jam.

Despite all the bad jokes and movie one liners about "gas station food" Papou makes it work. This Mediterranean restaurant is located in the convenience store of a small gas station and the food is really good. The gyros are hot and tasty what do you have as a sandwich, or with a side of rice. I especially enjoyed their falafel sandwiches, because it's hard to find falafel in the Kansas City area. People are always friendly and there's a few tables to sit and eat quietly.

The JOE'S BBQ of Quick Mediterranean Cuisine I had NO idea this place was even here until I was visiting a business across the street and needed some quick cash; was SO surprised to make this find. Just a no nonsense quick grill with a fantastic menu (see the pix). We got Gyro's and they were stuffed with meat and some of the usual veggies and a wonderful tzatziki style sauce. One was all we needed! Be prepared to get a beverage from the service station fridges and eat there if you want or take it with you. LOOK - It's NOT Glamorous - It's In A Friggin Gas Station - But Joe's BBQ Started Out That Way !!! All I'm saying is give them a try on a drive by !!!

Papu's hits that unique niche of being gas-station restaurant that pulls it off pretty well. I love Mediterranean cuisine in general, so I've visited Papu's a handful of times over the years. For starters, you can order online and I really prefer that for takeout. It's a well oiled machine and makes for a quick pickup. The food can be pretty good for a fast option; the chicken shawarma flavor is pretty good. I have some constructive tweaks on some other items. The shawarma sandwich has good flavor but everything could stand to be cut up a bit more. Huge long strands of lettuce and red onion, and large chicken chunks make it hard to eat. The hummus is rough here. It has very little flavor, and it's gritty and watery. While it'll be hard for me to be a regular here, I'm always open to giving a few other menu items a try here and there.

Everyone raves about this place and we happened to be in the area so we finally grabbed lunch to go. This review is a tough one because I've been to Greece and had the real deal, so Greek food always has a high standard to live up to here in the states. The salad dressing was super bland and the falafel- I've definitely had better. The portions are great, definitely enough for another meal! They give you a great amount of meat! The meat was the best part for sure. The babaganoush has a smoky, rich flavor I would not make this my go to Greek restaurant unfortunately. But it's great for a quick meal with enough for a second later- so it's affordable for sure! I might stop in again when I'm the area to give it another shot because at least the meat is worth it!

OMG! A restaurant in a gas station! For real! It's in a gas station! How's that for irony! The food is great, but it's like, in a gas station! So cool. I can gas up, buy some cigs, and get a plate of falafel and shawarma all at the same time! Did I mention, it's a delicious restaurant IN A GAS STATION! What a perfectly quirky concept!

Absolute hidden gem. In a gas station, doesn't look special but I'm a big of Greek food and if you're in the mood for a good Gyro, look no more. They created a outside area to eat and if you want to, the inside is really a gas station with a few tables, but the food is phenomenal. Service is great. They have never messed an order up for me, it does not take long, and everyone is extremely nice. Highly recommend it all restaurants Ive rated

I'm sad this was so bad. We ordered salads, sandwiches, rice plate and apps. The Hummus was wet... why is it wet? There shouldn't be water but in the app dish we ordered as well as the side that came with the rice dish it was wet and very bland and tasteless. The salad dressing that came with the Greek salad tasted like store bought bad Italian dressing and the baba ganush was also bland and oddly wet. The gyro meat did have nice flavor so kudos for that, but come on, a Mediterranean place that can't make hummus is not a good sign. Lots of better places so I'm sad this one disappointed. I am a rare bad reviewer but this meal deserves it.

One of my "Top 10 Sandwiches in KC" for sure! If you're not alarmed by grabbing a quick lunch at the same stop that you fill up your car and buy your cigarettes then Papus is for you! It is the best gas station grub in Missouri (see what I did there, left the Kansas spot open) If lunch is the meal you seek then the gyro plate is the obvious way to go however, don't count out the sharma! The pita Papus uses is spongey and springy, a great utensil for picking up the mild, creamy hummus on the gyro platter. Also, they serve a sambol-like condiment on top (I always ask for extra to top off my sandwich) which is unique and different. The salad served with the gyro and hummus is tossed is a zingy vingrette and makes the meal well rounded. The meat options at Papus are always fresh and never dried out like the jerky sold in the aisle to your left. I recommend both the gyro with tender strips of spiced lamb and the sharma, especially if you're one of those chicken for lunch types.

Papu's in located inside a Shell gas station. That normally wouldn't turn me away because I firmly believe that you can't judge a restaurant by it's cover. Unfortunately, Papu's food did not live up to its hype, in fact it tasted like mediocre gas station food. I have heard so many good things about this place and there is always a line for take out orders as there are really no tables to sit. There are even framed newspaper articles about this restaurant hanging for décor. I wanted to like this place so much but I simply did not enjoy anything we ordered. It was all fine, it wasn't outright bad but it was just fine. Each thing we tried that was a sense of maybe this is what everyone loves about the menu, only to start chewing and realizing that nothing is better than mediocre. While I was eating, I thought of all the other restaurants in KC that serve similar dishes but better. It clearly has a following because they are always popping which is great but I rather go to a handful of other places in KC.

This is my favorite hole in the wall in KC. I grew up on their lamb gyros and Greek salads!! The staff are always nice and personable

Was expecting more from this place. When I first entered was expecting someone from the Middle East and not from India. The food was decent enough but when you have different ethnic backgrounds trying to make Greek or Middle Eastern food, there's always something missing. I asked for garlic white sauce and I received something totally different. I ordered a chicken shawarma. Greek salad was rather weak as well.

I'm very impressed by the Gyros and grape leaves at this hole in the wall place (inside an shell station). The Gyro was perfectly seasoned, very satisfying in every bite. The grape leaves were also perfectly balanced. It's very easy to overeat here. Since it's located inside the gas station, you order the food at the counter, but get your drink and pay at the front register. I can't believe I never knew about this place before! I highly recommend giving it a try!

The gyro meat was delish. The Greek salad was brown, tomatoes & cucumbers were soggy.

The location of this place is interesting as it's inside a gas station and when the hype goes major for food from a gas station and it being Mediterranean, I definitely had to check it out. We ordered the "Shawarma platter" that comes with chicken shawarma sandwich, pita bread, hummus and tabuleh salad. The food was extremely disappointing as the sandwich was loaded with big chunks of chicken (some of which hadn't cooked through) and the sauce dripping from all corners making it not just impossible to eat but not having the flavor even though each ingredient was loaded. The tabuleh salad didn't taste anything like one and the hummus was absolutely bland tasting like grinded chickpea slurry. I would like to think it might be the day that I went in where the food turned below average as I've seen raving reviews about this place and hate to give such a rating especially during this time but I have to be honest about my opinion. The portions are huge and pricing is unbelievably low.

Definitely lived up to hype. The atmosphere is as you'd expect when eating at a restaurant in a gas station- it looks like you're eating in a gas station!, so for that alone maybe I shouldn't give this place 4 stars (I do prefer some ambience with my food,) but the food was so dang good that I'm sticking with 4 stars. I ordered the gyro sandwich platter, and it was HUGE. Definitely enough for 2 meals. I wish they'd served more of the creamy, cucumber-y tzatiki (or however you spell it) sauce with it, but that's s a very small complaint. The hummus had a nice spicy kick to it, the gyro meat was fresh and savory, but the big star was the pita bread- fluffy and warm with the perfect soft/crispy ratio. The 3 people I was dining with all enjoyed their food too. I had a bite of the chicken shawarma and it was great- tender and infused with just the right amount of curry. I'll definitely hit this place up again, and recommend it to others. Come hungry!

Some of the best BBQ in KC comes from a gas station (Joe's), so why can't some of the best gyros in KC come from a gas station as well? How low to no expectations when ordering Papu's for the first time, but I was pleasantly surprised. The gyro meal was a great deal and came with sides and a drink for a very reasonable price. The gyro was fantastic! I've now started recommending Papu's to everyone I know.

I hadn't been to Papu's in several months, but thought the food and service would as it was... However, my experience on the evening of Jan. 31 was very disappointing. First of, last year they had a "Waldo Wednesday Special" of buy one gyro, get the second half-off. But let me start at the beginning. The man taking orders (older man, perhaps late 50s) was very unpleasant, not helpful, and looked liked he didn't want to be there. I asked politely if they had any specials (twice) and he just looked at me... I asked the man taking my order for hot sauce to be put on, and again, he looked at me with a "pissed off" look. Anyway, after asking several times about what I wanted on my order, I paid and waited... The gyros were extremely dry, no flavor, and the meat was extremely over cooked. They no longer use the nice, juicy meat that rotates over an open fire. The meat isn't even sliced into long pieces. The meat in smaller than bite size pieces, pre-cooked, and over seasoned. Since the meat is now precooked, the lady making the order warmed it up on an extremely hot grill and over cooked it. The meat didn't even look like gyro meat and it was overcooked. I was very disappointed and would not recommend this place anymore to anyone.

Very interesting. I'm usually pretty hesitant about gas station , but this one was pretty good. I should have tried the wrap instead, though.

Great food easy location to carry out prices good. Highly recommend gyro salad and falafel

Officially off of my 'go to list'. $8.00 for a single skimpy gyro that had old crusty, un-edible meat. (Used to be a full, fresh gyro & they were 2 for $10!) Done with this less than friendly, no equitable value food. My salary has not gone up as much as these have been up priced and pared down! Forget it. There are other better spots. Sorry to loose the Waldo spot.

Get food here!!!! It's unassuming inside of the gas station/convenience store, but there's a reason Papu's has such solid reviews. I ordered the chicken schwarma platter which came with hummus and pita and a tabouli salad. The salad was a little heavy on the parsley, but it blew me away. Not overly dressed, with the perfect amount of salty feta and fresh cucumbers to add texture and a balance of flavors. The chicken was insane. Not overpowering in spice but just the perfect amount of flavor. The sauce on the chicken schwarma was creamy and delish, and the pita was perfectly fluffy. Outstanding super friendly service. I can't wait to come back!

My shawarma platter (sandwich, salad, hummus and pita for $7.99) was delicious. The hummus was fabulous, with a nice, spicy red sauce, while the salad was fresh and tasty. The sandwich was nicely sized, with a generous amount of white chicken chunks, a tasty curry sauce, and fresh veggies. The pita bread was incredible. It was warm, fluffy, and delicious. The dining area was spartan (it's inside a gas station after all), but clean, while the service was friendly, but somewhat slow (13 minutes). BTW, order at the counter, enjoy your meal, and then take the bill to the convenience stork clerk to pay. Overall, very nice!

This place is inside of a gas station. The parking sucks. They don't have efficiency down -- you order where you pay for gas, then wait in line to hand in your ticket, then wait for your food. My former experience in every food service wanted to say "you're doing this wrong..." The people who are cooking/working work incredibly hard and are very sweet, apologizing for the wait and doing their best to work in an unorganized system. This ambiance here is, well, there isn't one. Fluorescent lighting. Backdrop is a fridge of soda and RedBull, or the empty boxes of stuff that were sitting on the floor next to a very full garbage can -- so, get it to go. Now to the more important stuff - I got a Schwarma ($7.50). It was delicious. Pita fresh, perfectly seasoned, tender meat, crispy veggies. I think the price was a tad much, but I'd get it again!! So, don't judge a book by its cover.

So I'm sad to write this review as I've eaten here for years. I have absolutely always loved their food. So we had food delivered this evening I ordered dolmas, baba ganoush (which is my fav) & a half a pound of gyro meat. The dolmas came in a red tomato sauce which I've never had it served that way before it was okay. The gyro meat was fantastic came nicely warm and delicious. Unfortunately the baba ganoush was absolutely flavorless I could tell it was eggplant but it tasted like nothing was very disappointed in that. Yelp which use GrubHub and they delivered 15 minutes early so kudos to them. I will order from them again or perhaps I need to go in but I was disappointed with the quality of the food delivered.

As another Yelper wrote in his review, "Don't judge a book by its cover." Zero charm. Zero ambience. But clean and well lighted? Absolutely. Perfectly prepared tabouli and hot, fresh shawarma? No doubt about it. Yes, it's inside a gas station. (Hardly what I'd call glam.) And yes, the prices are VERY reasonable. (Huge portions, too!) We love to drop by when we're in from OKC. (Both my brother-in-law and sister-in-law live in the KC metro -- one in Independence and one in Overland Park.) Never disappoints!

We have a friend who loves this place so I wanted to try it. Picked up carry out from here for dinner. I got the gyro sandwich platter, which came with a giant sandwich, side salad, hummus, and extra pita. I would say the value is good for the money because the portions were huge. The food itself was decent, but not the best in the area in my opinion. The sandwich was pretty greasy and I prefer the meat to be sliced a little thinner. The hummus and side salad were ok.

I haven't been here in a year or so. Falafel was old, tasteless without sauce. Shawarma sandwich was also cold. I ordered online and it said it would be ready in 20 min. I got there in 10 so I think this was made early today or even yesterday. This place used to be good.

Papu's has been on my list for years and I regret not trying it sooner. The restaurant is just a little walk up counter in the shell gas station. I ordered the Shawarma sandwich plate and a side of dolmas. The shawarma was incredible. It was saucy and flavorful, probably the best shawarma I've had. The plate came with hummus and tabouli. The tabouli was fine, but the hummus was really good! It came with harissa on it which gave it a good kick. The pita they served with it was delicious, soft and pillowy. My one qualm is with the dolmas. They are vegan dolmas which I usually love but they served them with a tomato sauce poured over them which I did not love. The sauce had an off putting flavor so I ended up not finishing them. However, I wouldn't let the dolmas stop anyone from supporting this awesome little restaurant. The shawarma might be on my top 5 list of best sandwiches in the city! I can't wait to try more items on the menu.

Stopped by for lunch yesterday it is still a great place to eat. The hummus platter with the chicken was delightful. Took most of it home for supper! It is consistent and a main stay on 75th Street!

Great food! Straight up go to for quick and yummy food option. Recommend highly. Enjoy!

The best most delicious food I've gotten from a gas station (next to Oklahoma Joe's). We love the chicken shawarma platter - it's our go to order. The hummus pita and salad are delicious too. Everything is fresh and made when you order... love papus!

If you can't make a decent hummus and you are a middle eastern restaurant then you ought not be in business. This hummus is some of the worse I have ever had. I didn't know food could be void of taste. The Falafal was average. Will not go back. Try Sahara or the Olive cafe if you are looking for good middle eastern food in the Kc area. We ate at the independence location. Will not go back. I give it 6 months tops

So often I don't review the really great places. I've been eating here for the last 8 or so years. It used to be a Friday night staple for us when we lived down the street. The pita bread is soooo soft and slightly crunchy. I think dinner time is the best time to go as there is a gentleman there that really piles it high. I always get a gyro and my wife gets the hummus sandwich and falafel. She says they have the best falafel in town and I think they have the best gyro. If you have a chance, go there. You won't regret it!

$13 for a Gyro sandwich? I used to pay $3 for a better one in Germany when I lived there. Plus the owner is a Pakistani...which is a long way from the Med. But Jhalid was always a good guy but a slick operator. Overpriced.

Great staff. Great prices. Delicious food. What's there not to love? It's not you're average restaurant, rather a hole in wall eatery- it is in a gas station for crying out loud. It can be confusing if you're looking for a nice place to go but if you're craving quick, yummy, and cheap falafels, this place will hook you up. I enjoy their hummus too!!! (They also have babaganoush ;)). I've eaten here twice now and have been more than happy with the items I've ordered. Definitely recommend.

The food is absolutely delicious Fresh Fresh Fresh husband got the chicken platter, I got the gyro platter hummus was oh so good the little salad very good,nothing to complain about,definitely on my top 5 in Independence

This is a hidden gem! Everything is amazing from the service to the food! Fast, tasty, affordable, awesome!!! You may be taken aback that it is in a gas station but don't let it fool You! Run don't walk to try this awesome place!!!! Get the Gyro, being big appetite! Hummus is a must. Tzatziki so fresh! Pitas soft, warm and wonderful, we had to get extra to take home.

Disappointed to the max. Asked for tabouleh and what I got was a Greek salad, asked for a half lb of gyro meat and got maybe a quarter. Apparently you have to ask and pay for pita when you get hummus? They might as well just sell the pita in the bag. I paid $20 for 2 pitas, a half lb of gyro meat, hummus and tabouleh. What I got was less than impressive and not even tabouleh. Not sure what went wrong. But not happy and won't be going back.

Surprisingly enough, there are quite a few choices when it comes to either Greek or Mediterranean food in Kansas City. Papu's Cafe is more on the Mediterranean side of things, rather than the Greek side. Papu's Cafe is located in the back of a Shell station on 75th street in KCMO. The service is overwhelmingly friendly, but I have found the food to not quite live up to either the service or the other mediterranean and Greek restaurants in the Kansas City area. I have eaten here two times I believe, once ordering a Gyro and the other time a Schwarma (sp?). Unfortunately neither sandwich struck a cord with my taste buds. I was not too fond of the quality and cut of the meat on both sandwiches. However, the accoutrements on both of the items I did find to be darn tasty! Furthermore, based on some of the previous reviews I would return to try some of their falafel, I hear that is one item they do very well! In my humble gustatory opinion, I would much rather go to get my Mediterranean food at the Jerusalem Café or my Greek food at Mr. Gyro's. I hope to return to Papu's one day soon and give their falafel and other items they have on the menu a try. However, if it is a gyro you are looking to really enjoy, I would recommend making the drive over to Mr. Gyro's.

Another restaurant in a gas station and the food from this is excellent. I've been here a few times over the years and each time, the service was fast, friendly, and delicious.

Love the food, wish I didn't see the kitchen. See picture. Barefoot, on a piece of trash, by the trash that hasn't been taken out, prepping food without gloves... while on the phone. Just finished up switching out the meat on the rotisserie. Come on. Your shoes and socks are right here, by my table as I'm eating, wear them.

Destination dining after reading the review in Feast magazine. We were so disappointed. Service was adequate, portions were large, but the food taste and quality was not what was expected after Feast article. Meal was pretty terrible. Hummus was bland, pita was not warm, falafels were over salted to the point that we could hardly get them down. This is not our idea of good Middle Eastern food. Won't go back. We can prepare better falafels, hummus and tabbouleh at home.

What a delicious surprise - this Mediterranean café is one of the best in KC and is tucked away in a totally unexpected place: the shell gas station on 75th! Nice variety on the menu, with seating both inside and outside. Order from the counter and pay at the register by the door. The flavor of their chicken shwarma was out of this world!! Extremely reasonable price, especially for the plates. Pita is fresh, as are the vegetables, which compliments the well-flavored meats as well. Don't miss this one!