Nikkei cuisine w/ inventive ceviches & creative cocktails. Fusion flavors that delight and surprise. Great for groups!
Willa Moore reviews Papa San, a Peruvian-Japanese spot in Hudson Yards, highlighting its pleasant ambiance for business lunches but mixed results with its fusion dishes.
Papa San offers a vibrant Japanese-Peruvian fusion experience, brought to you by the team behind Llama Inn. Known for its creative and visually stunning dishes, the restaurant shines with its innovative ceviches and unique cocktails. While many diners praise the bold flavors and artistic presentation, some find the fusion approach occasionally unbalanced. It's a place that encourages sharing, making it ideal for groups eager to explore a diverse and exciting menu.
Papa San specializes in Japanese-Peruvian fusion, or Nikkei cuisine. The menu features a variety of ceviches, creative sushi rolls, and grilled items. Standout dishes include the Cacio e Pepe udon, eel pizza, and various ceviches like the fluke and scallop varieties. While many find the food exciting and well-executed, a few reviewers note that some fusion combinations can be unbalanced or not to their taste.
"Highly recommended dishes include the Cacio e Pepe udon, the eel pizza with shiitake mushrooms and pecorino, and the various ceviches, particularly the fluke ceviche. The Bento boxes for lunch and the Wagyu dishes are also frequently mentioned as excellent choices."
Overall, customers have a positive sentiment towards Papa San, often highlighting its creative dishes and unique flavor combinations. However, some reviews suggest that certain fusion dishes may not always hit the mark, and the price point can be a consideration.
Important Note
The restaurant's location in Hudson Yards, primarily an office area, might contribute to it not being as busy during evenings or weekends. Some diners find the fusion cuisine a bit experimental and not always cohesive. It can also be on the pricier side.
"The author pointed out that Papa san has cute and unique chopstick holders for every seat."
Positive"The commenter's friend is a line cook at Papa San, and they report that the food is very good."
Positive"Papa San is a Japanese Peruvian restaurant from the same people who previously owned Llama San and Llama Inn. This type of fusion cuisine is common in upscale restaurants, even in Lima."
Neutral"This commenter praised the drinks at Papa San and found the udon and wagyu dishes to be great, but considered other food items to be just 'meh'."
Positive"This user believes that Hudson Yards is an uncool neighborhood and that Papa San is excellent with great food and service at a reasonable price, despite the neighborhood's reputation."
Positive"This commenter celebrated their 10th anniversary at Papa San, finding each dish better than the last with fantastic service and vibes. They noted the price was high but acceptable for a special occasion."
Positive"This commenter declared Papa San their 'freaking favorite place'."
Positive"The commenter believes restaurants like Papa San don't fit the Hudson Yards neighborhood, as locals don't prioritize high-cost dining there after corporate hours. They note that nearby mom-and-pop restaurants are usually crowded."
Negative"The commenter expressed surprise that the restaurant was empty despite the hyped-sounding dishes and is now curious to try the udon noodles."
Neutral"The commenter found Papa San to be very good, although a bit pricey, noting that this is typical for the Llama restaurants and the area."
Positive"A brief comment stating 'good eats' regarding Papa San."
Positive"The commenter agrees that Papa San is a cool spot and very good, despite acknowledging it might be a bit pricey."
Positive"The commenter stated that the restaurant is located in Hudson Yards and is geared more towards corporate clients."
Neutral"The commenter described the location as a 'horrible location' in the base of an office building."
Negative"The commenter questioned if the eel pizza was intended to be a pizza or okonomiyaki, implying it didn't fit either category well."
Neutral"This commenter had a very disappointing experience during a birthday dinner due to extremely slow service, incorrect dish delivery (serving meat to a vegetarian), and a lack of apologies or compensation. They found the food looked cooler than it tasted and have not returned."
Negative"The commenter felt the menu was mediocre, with a fusion approach that felt like Japanese ingredients were simply added to non-Japanese dishes. They also found the Hudson Yards location inconvenient, as it's primarily an office area."
Negative"The commenter attributed the restaurant's lack of crowds to its bad location."
Negative"The commenter tried the eel pizza and found it was not to their taste, despite liking both eel and pizza individually."
Negative"The author questioned why Papa San wasn't packed, considering it's from the respected Llama Group and the meal was strong, even better than a previous experience at Llama Inn. The restaurant is located in an odd corner near Hudson Yards, which might contribute to its low foot traffic."
Positive
