After missing the deadline for dinner last night, I knew what I was going to have for lunch as soon as I woke up today! I placed my order without even calling to see if Papi's was open today (Memorial Day). After confirming the place was open, I had to get my issue. I lived in Japan for 7 &1/2 years and I've been to the Hawaiian Islands about a dozen times. I can honestly say that Papi's is not far off from the originators. The food smelled and tasted terrific! I was impressed and drooling on my ride home lol! Even though the amount of shrimp I actually (6) got didn't match the photo from Door Dash page (12), it didn't matter because it was all worth it. The owner was nice and friendly and you can tell he cares about the quality of comida he puts out. 8/10 read more

Got you--just adding ambiance in a natural way without making it sound extra: Tried Papi's Teppanyaki food truck and it was actually really solid. I got the chicken and steak with fried rice and a side of egg rolls. The portions were good and definitely filling. The chicken was tender, steak was cooked well, and everything had good flavor without being too heavy. The fried rice had that classic buttery taste with egg and veggies, and the egg rolls were crispy and fresh. Service was quick and easy, and the staff was friendly. It's a food truck so nothing fancy, but the setup was clean and it had a chill, casual vibe. Overall just a good, reliable spot when you want something quick and satisfying. I'd go back. read more

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Papi's Teppanyaki's food truck came to our work campus and it did not disappoint. I think they were overwhelmed with the amount of orders they had and the wait was long but it was so worth it. I got the chicken bowl and the chicken and veggies were cooked to perfection. I hope they come to us again in the future I will for sure order from them every time they come. Spoken from a very picky eater:) read more

I know nothing about Hibachi - and nothing about food trucks - but this was pretty good. I got the chicken and shrimp,combo, and it comes with three very tasty sauces. One is a sweet sauce, you get a hot tangy sauce and a remoulade-type sauce. The garlic butter they use for cooking is an unexpected flavorful touch. My only complaint was that the chicken &shrimp was a little on the dry side. I came when there was a line and the guys inside that food truck were just hustling. Tiny space for them to work, but they are pretty quick with the orders! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Chicken & Shrimp combo - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

Decided to get food here after work one night, shrimp plate was super flavorful and delicious, loved the texture of the shrimp! Staff was also very friendly too, would like to come back to try other plates! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Shrimp plate - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

I've been coming to Papis Teppanyaki for about a year now and let me tell you ! It never disappoints! A1 The food is Amazing ! The flavors are 100 ! The chef doesn't skimp you and the vibes are great ! The Owner/Chef is a really cool guy always making sure our order is Fresh. The protein, fried rice and veggies are BOMB !!!!!! The sauces are read more

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Yummy well seasoned, tender fillet minion. The portion could be more generous but overall a good experience.

I've been ordering from these guys long before they had a food truck. Best I've ever had, no contest, even their vegetables are bomb. I recently started bringing my daughter along (three times & counting now), and she's a chef herself, so her seal of approval means something. The food speaks for itself, but what keeps us coming back is how they treat you like family every single time. read more

Teppanyaki is one of my favorite dishes, fast, so simple and easy to make, and absolutely amazing with loads of garlic butter! Papi's doesn't disappoint! They are a pop up cooking up around San Diego and Chula Vista. I tried them once, I can't remember from where (most likely a street fair), but liked them so much, I had to follow them on Instagram. The best way to find out where they will be cooking up for the night, is to check out their IG page and watch their stories. One of their usual spots is set up outside Thorn Brewing in North Park. During the week they set up at different apartment locations. They recently sent out notice they are struggling a bit and need the community's help to keep going! Last night we made the trek down south to Enclave apartments in Otay Ranch all the way from Mission Valley to give them some love! We always order the Papi's Trio ($40), you get chicken, shrimp and steak. They have 3 types of sauces, a spicy, tangy and a sweet teriyaki. You get one sauce per type of protein and if you want more sauces they are $0.50 extra and to get extra garlic butter is $2. We decided to get some extra garlic butter last night, but unfortunately it was forgotten by both the employee and my husband and it didn't make it home. It was super frigid last night so I'm sure it was just an oversight. Hopefully if I mention it on our next visit, we can get the extra garlic butter that was missed. IMO, Always extra garlic butter!!! Small businesses like this need all the support they can get! Give them a try and follow them on Instagram @papisteppanyaki. Enjoy! 2025: 3 read more

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I found this food truck randomly on yelp. All I can say is: 1. Amazing food 2. Amazing service 3. Amazing vibes I would definitely come back again! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Papi's Trio - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

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It's great SD has this Habachi Food Truck option. I see them in other major cities. Food was amazing and ingredients were quality. Service was good, the guys are friendly and can work some options out with you. Pricing was fair too. I will definitely be back. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Latest Menu - 10.24.25 - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

If your looking for the best food truck look no further!!! Papis Teppanyaki has the best bowls for you in San diego. Delicious in house sauces, combined with top tier quality meats. Give them a try and come through! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Hibachi Chicken Plate - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

I stopped by today to support a business that is supporting our community. I had never been here before and was unsure what to expect. Let me tell you, they far exceeded my expectations! I ordered the filet mignon with all the fixings. The meat was perfectly seasoned and so tender and juicy. The vegetables were also very good along with the "dirty rice". Everything came with three homemade sauces and all were delectable. The portion is large and could feed two! Louis the owner was there and we had a handshake after thanking him for helping those struggling with snap benefits by giving out chicken bowls to those with food insecurity. This is the type of business man we need in our community. The food was honestly incredible. Perfectly cooked and full of flavor. Kudos for this small truck helping out our community in need. I will definitely be back. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Filet mignon bowl - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

I tried out this food truck at the at the farmer's market by the harbor. I had trouble finding parking and they were closing in about 30 minutes, so they had run out of some items. I ended up getting a noodle bowl with chicken and beef and they gave me a lot of meat! I didn't mind that that there were no more veggies haha. Both proteins were full of flavor! Be sure to get there earlier if you want more options! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Chicken and beef noodle bowl - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

The food was DELICIOUS, and the customer service was excellent. We had the salmon, NY steak, and filet mignon between the four of us. Every meat was cooked to perfection, the rice was just the right texture, and all the sauces complemented the meal. Would definitely come here again! read more

Small portions for the price ..food quality was ok I guess but def not coming back ...

If you're looking for a top-tier teppanyaki experience, Papi's Teppanyaki is a must-try! They come to my apartment complex regularly, and I've had the pleasure of trying them more than a few times now. The vibes are always immaculate - tonight, they had some great house music playing, and honestly, as soon as I walked up, I was dancing and immediately in a better mood after a stressful day at work. The service is consistently amazing. The gentleman who took our order was friendly, knowledgeable about the special drinks of the day, and made sure we knew exactly what was available. He's always super chill, which makes the experience even better. Now, the food... It's always top-tier! I ordered the steak plate, and my husband went with the shrimp plate. The steak was cooked perfectly, tender, and flavorful, while the whole plate--steak, fried rice, and veggies--was seasoned just right. My husband's shrimp? HUGE, juicy, and perfectly seasoned. Honestly, 10/10 every time. As for the price, it's a little more than what we usually pay for takeout, but considering the generous portions and the fact that I can go downstairs to pick up a fully cooked, delicious meal (that usually feeds me for dinner and lunch the next day), it's totally worth it. Overall, I can't recommend Papi's Teppanyaki enough. If you get the chance, definitely check them out--truly the best! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Steak Plate - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

Food is really good when they are there at the spot that is posted from social media . I drove there friday 35 min out of my way and this food truck was not there . This was my second time doing that from 40 miles out and not there. Sent a message on IG but never got a response but still see them post stories . I will not be recommending anyone to this business anymore as they are not reliable and this part of their service needs to improve . read more

I'd opt in for this Hibachi spot anyday I have a little extra money to spend!! I attended the Foodie Feast at Casa Mira View and ordered Papis Trio which included steak, jumbo shrimp, chicken, veggies, and fried rice. They also gave me a sample of all of their sauces including a side of garlic butter. This food is ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS. Everything and I mean EVERYTHING was seasoned to perfection. There was so much food that I was able to enjoy it over the course of 2 days! S/O to Chris, Izzy and Lewis for the amazing experience! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Papis Trio - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

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Best hibachi in San Diego 10/10 service. Great people and everything on the menu is worth it! read more

Great food, service and atmosphere! First the food, because it's so much variety. Next is the service because it's friendly and quick, and the atmosphere is superior because it's a friendly spot and always accessible wherever they are. Find their schedule online at the official Papis Teppanyaki page on Instagram and follow the pop up schedule to find them around town. Highly recommended! Everything from steak, shrimp, lobster, salmon, filet mignon, white rice, fried rice, noodles, vegetables and more! And always, enjoy! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

Been coming to this place for a few years now. Hands down one of the best hibachi spots in San Diego. My favorite thing to order is the trio with chicken, shrimp, and steak. Food is always on point and the owner is awesome. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

My kids and I absolutely LOVE coming here! Food is always delicious, cooked to perfection, and awesome customer service!

The most tasty food I've ever had in all of San Diego. Customer service is always on point & prices are fair!

Better than BenniHanas and half the price. Yea this is my new spot habachi here in San Diego ! I got the papi trio which comes with shrimp, chicken, and shrimp over their egg buter fried rice. A generous amount also. I follow them on Instagram so I see their locations every night. Real simple menu easy to understand. The chef and cashier were very nice and had a good interaction with them. Can't wait to come back ! Follow me on tiktok, Instagram, and YouTube for more delicious eats @cerogrubs read more

Papis Teppanyaki is San Diego's HIDDEN GEM-- They put the NEXT in next-level-HIBACHI . They've been popping up all over SD-LA county and I finally got the chance to grab some food from here and it was DIVINE-- let me tell you all about it ! I visited their cute Pop-up at The Enclave apartments near Otay Ranch high school . The pop-up itself is located on the left when you drive into the apartment complex . I found parking to the right for "visitor parking" . This location is more of an order and take your food to-go type of spot . The atmosphere is so inviting and fun-- they blast all the great jams, so you won't miss them ! Make sure you follow them on Instagram (@papisteppanyaki) because their pop-up location changes weekly ! Here's what I ate-- *PAPIS TRIO comes with steak, chicken, and shrimp over egg fried rice and a medley of veggies such as zucchini, carrots, and caramelized onions . They season everything with their top secret homemade garlic butter and other sauces and spices right in front of you . Because they only use fresh and not frozen proteins, everything tasted AMAZING . The steak had a beautiful sear -- was tender and chewy . Chicken was juicy and cooked perfectly . Shrimp was large, plump, and had a great snap . Egg fried rice paired well and the veggies were SOOO TASTY and such a highlight in their dishes . My kids are sooo picky-- even they ate all their veggies lol . THIS BABY WAS MASSIVE . I loved the generous portion-- definitely can share this between two-three people for sure . Oh ! And this comes with three of their made from scratch sauces-- teriyaki glaze was thick, savory, and soy based . Spicy mayo was rich, had a hint of spice, and tangy . Sweet chili paired really well with the seafood-- sweet and spicy sticky goodness ! TRY THEM ALL ! *Lobster with Udon noodles also comes with veggies, but I decided to order this one without the veggies before I knew my kids would eat the veggies here lol . The noodles were stir fried with their signature garlic butter sauce, an array of seasonings and spices, and fresh lemon juice . It was savory and zesty . The lobster was charred and cooked perfectly . Lobster was plump and tasted exquisite with the noodles-- served right in the shell ! I'm going to name it lobster garlic noodles haha ! I loved this plate with the sweet chili sauce ! I had the honor of chatting with the owner, Lewis who told me a little about his story -- he started his hibachi pop-up business a couple years ago, but was creating these mouth-watering plates out of his kitchen for a long time . Then one day he decided to leave his day job to pursue his passion for cooking-- this is so inspiring . He also is seriously the nicest person alive !! Shout-out to Izzy, the flat-top master-- he was so fun and is an expert to his craft ! I almost forgot to mention, they also do catering for events and parties !! This would be such a delightful experience to have them cater your next function ! Overall, I'm going to have to add them to my weekly dinner rotation !! Whenever you don't feel like cooking, or want a delicious and HEALTHY meal-- you've got to check out PAPIS TEPPANYAKI yourself and support this local small business ! Tell them Angie sent youuuuu read more

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I don't know what kind of magic they put in that [dish name] but WOW. The flavor hits instantly and has you thinking about the next bite before you finish the first. Vibes are great, prices are fair, and service is A1. If you haven't been, you're missing out! read more

On the pricier side for the serving size, but good flavor. A lemon slice on the side would be perfect~ Kind folks running the booth, and didn't have to wait long. Would have it again. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - salmon plate with shrimp - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

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Like saying the address is a house. This is apparently a food truck, but Yelp has it listed as a restaurant. I hate to be critical of a small business but when this happens, it ruins evenings for somebody that's actually on a schedule.. read more

Food: The food is a must try! Normally after a long day at work if I don't feel like cooking then I'll just place my order and pick it up. I'm not a veggie eater, but I pretty much leave the bowl clean when I'm done. The veggie, rice and protein ratio is on point. Check out the menu before you order on IG because they tend to have daily specials. Service: The guys are quick and never disappoint. I like extra garlic butter on mine sometimes so I just let them know when I order. I don't think I've ever waited longer than 10-15 minutes for my food when I pop up vs no wait when I place my order ahead. They even do catering! All you need to do is pick the place and they'll show up with food and a great show. Almost like having Benihana come to you. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Chicken Bowl w/extra garlic butter - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

Everything! The food is one of a kind. The flavor and freshness....It's better than Benihana! If you haven't tried it you are missing out! The owner Lew and staff are super friendly and welcoming. Don't wait, JUST GO!!!!! read more

Papi's Teppanyaki is a true player in the in the scene. Their food is high quality and always consistent. The portions are huge and the service is always top notch. Don't pass up the opportunity to catch these fellas where they pop up. My only complain is that if you don't get there early enough they might sell out...don't wait! read more

Hands down best service ! The hibachi/teppanyaki is one of the best you can get your hands on in San Diego. Lou is the man! Go check them out, highly recommend! read more

Just my honest review- We saw that Papis Teppanyaki was running a great Thanksgiving deal(saw on IG). Communication to order was awesome. We agreed on half order and even got to pick up Thanksgiving morning, and gave a generous tip. Pick up was at a ghost kitchen which is understandable. The food however was a huge disappointment. Let me just say this- I am not sure if the person who cooked our food was the owner or a friend- he was nice though. While the chicken and steak were plentiful, they were both extremely dry and over cooked. The steak and chicken pieces were small and just tough to get through. For me personally, I didn't not enjoy any of the sauces, they tasted all like sauces that they put on sushi:-( I sent a very nice response through IG and also wished them continued success (I believe in supporting small businesses). The response was a eh... general thank you for your feedback and they will forward to the staff. I'm sure their smaller individual servings are better because the pieces look bigger and juicier(on IG) I would pass on the catering though, smaller pieces that sit wrapped in a foil tray = dry overcooked meat. The best part were the vegetables. read more

Tried out their trio (steak chicken shrimp) on a Wednesday night, absolutely delicious especially with the sauce! Very pricey ($40) but they have cheaper options too for $15-20. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Trio - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

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I normally don't leave reviews, but i definitely had to for this business. I got in contact with Lewis for last minute catering, he is very kind and friendly we coordinated everything quickly him and his team went above and beyond to surprise my husband for his bday. The food was amazing our guest enjoyed the show very much. Great job to his team definitely recommend it, its totally worth it!! Chef and assistant had great attitude it was nice having you guys here Thank you! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

I just want to say,you will not regret coming here . The customer service is great! Me & my bf were not sure what to get so he recommended us to get the XL combo & it was the perfect one for both of us . It was super tasty & enough for both of us . From the way you are greeted to their food & even given a rewards card. I am glad they are back at machete & I wish them much more success ! read more

Papis Teppanyaki - XL plate , shrimp,steak & chicken,the sauces are the best as well . I love putting all 3 sauces on & mixing it . - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

No cash for change, maybe they popup in places you don't want a dime on you but it is unfortunate. $26 (with tax) is hard to justify for this, fill up the container with rice and veg and I'd be happy. I thought the rice would be more savory from the look of it but it didn't quite hit like I expected. The guy in the booth recommended med rare for the steak which worked granted the smaller pieces were naturally going to go over. They also give you 3 sauces, but to be honest I'd rather one just be cooked or drizzled onto the meat rather than trying to dip each piece while trying to eat it with rice. You can tell they're a hardworking outfit and definitely earn their keep, there's just a little too much off-kilter for me. For a place that might show up at your apartment complex, I get the price, but I won't be traveling out of my way for this twice. A 3.5 but I'll lean on 4 cause the guy was respectful, wish I caught his name. read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Steak bowl - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California

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Quality Service Freshness Presentation Overall, 10 out of 10 You can order ahead read more

Hands down this the best hibachi in San Diego ! If you haven't tried them You are definitely missing out read more

Papis Teppanyaki - Teppanyaki Near Me - San Diego , California