Our visit to Papa Llama was a memorable experience worthy of the Michelin star accolade. Located in an unassuming strip mall, the space is intimate with only 8–10 tables and two seatings per night. The atmosphere is warm and personal, with Maria Ruiz leading the front of house and her husband, Chef Kevin Ruiz, running the open kitchen. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine hospitality and my wife was wished a cheerful happy birthday.
The tasting menu highlights Peruvian cuisine presented with modern elegance. Our meal began with Castelvetrano olives in ají panca sauce, paired with a crisp Crémant de Loire. One standout course was the cucumber salad with polleria dressing, pickled ají limo peppers, and cancha corn, served alongside charcoal-grilled Cape Canaveral shrimp. The shrimp were smoky, tender, and perfectly seasoned—my wife said they were the best she’s ever had.
The wine program is focused on natural wines, which can be adventurous and unpredictable. While some pours were bright and well-balanced, others leaned funky or oxidized, with cider-like or bretty notes. It was certainly educational and sparked plenty of conversation, even if not every wine was to our taste. A Primitivo served with skirt steak was intriguing, with fig and green stem aromas, showing both the challenges and charm of minimal-intervention winemaking.
Service throughout the evening was superb. Glasses were never empty, sometimes two wines arrived at once, and every detail felt considered.
Dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant should be memorable, and Papa Llama delivered—from the hospitality to the bold flavors and adventurous wines. It’s an experience we’ll be talking about for years to come.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
SARA MEJIA
subpar. at best. coro is way better. prob the most undeserving of michelin star. went to lima recently. this place is considered “Peruvian” but it’s so average and over priced. not worth it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Marty Lewis
Absolutely worth a very special treat! A fantastic experience from the time we parked in the parking lot until we return to our car...... I'm not enough of a foodie to really give a description justice but it was worth every cent!
Andrea A
Second time restaurant has cancelled our reservations. We will not try again!
Andjela Avram
Papa Llama was absolutely delicious! Every dish was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The service was wonderful—attentive, warm, and knowledgeable. The atmosphere felt intimate and thoughtfully curated, making the whole dining experience feel special from start to finish. Highly recommend!
D Jean
Totally get the Michelin star, food was outstanding. The flavors were amazing and the food was perfectly cooked. I’m just sad this place isn’t in my hometown !
AC Slater
Very good meal with the highlight being the plump shrimp anticuchero. Everything was good to great. Natural wine wasn't a huge hit for me but my partner loved the pairing. What's most impressive is the entire restaurant is run only by the husband and wife team. I can't think of any starred restaurants anywhere around the world that can share that achievement.
jimmy flores
This restaurant really deserves this michelin star food was incredible, the host was amazing
Sonia Flores
Excellent experience in this Michellin Star Restaurant! Food is incredible, and service from Maria was impeccable! What a delight to your taste buds, will be back!
Carlo
The restaurant is in a place that is definitely not Michelin-worthy - at least, from the outside. Inside it is simple but cheerful and well looked after.
Good food - three courses and five dishes. Unfortunately the service is lacking, absolutely not from Michelin. I have no problem with long dinners but waiting fifty minutes between one course and another is absolutely unacceptable. Let's get an extra chef.
We had a wonderful anniversary dinner at Papa Llama. The food was delicious, with unique and flavorful combinations, and the service was top-notch. It was great to learn that the restaurant is owned and managed by a husband-and-wife duo, whose passion is evident in every detail. We'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Sean M
Out of the 10 1-star Michelin places we’ve dined in across the globe, this place lands at #3! The decor and atmosphere were pleasant with the small footprint of only 7 tables accompanied by soothing Latin music. The one server took care of all tables with ease and a smile as she explained the menu and answered any questions.
Of note- not only is there only 1 server, there is only 1 chef. What a delight and treat to see something this sophisticated in motion. *hat tip*
We opted for the wine pairing which paired nicely with the flavorful dishes. While the presentation of some dishes may not have been to the level of the more renowned 2 and 3-star Michelin restaurants, they were still plated quite beautifully and more importantly the flavor was outstanding!
This establishment may be another favorite of ours in Orlando and we are already making plans to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lomo Saltado
Juli Milan
10/10! Highly recommend! Maria & her husband work together to provide an intimate & delicious experience! My boyfriend and I were very impressed & were very happy with the experience. Make sure you make a reservation because walk-ins are not accepted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Landon Countryman
Amazing dinner and wine pairing. As a fan of Peruvian food, I was interested in seeing it elevated to a Michelin star level and was not disappointed!
Tiffany Packard
Everything was amazing! The ambiance, flavor selections, even the music was on point. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable evening with greats food and service.!
Our visit to Papa Llama was a memorable experience worthy of the Michelin star accolade. Located in an unassuming strip mall, the space is intimate with only 8–10 tables and two seatings per night. The atmosphere is warm and personal, with Maria Ruiz leading the front of house and her husband, Chef Kevin Ruiz, running the open kitchen. From the moment we arrived, we were greeted with genuine hospitality and my wife was wished a cheerful happy birthday.
The tasting menu highlights Peruvian cuisine presented with modern elegance. Our meal began with Castelvetrano olives in ají panca sauce, paired with a crisp Crémant de Loire. One standout course was the cucumber salad with polleria dressing, pickled ají limo peppers, and cancha corn, served alongside charcoal-grilled Cape Canaveral shrimp. The shrimp were smoky, tender, and perfectly seasoned—my wife said they were the best she’s ever had.
The wine program is focused on natural wines, which can be adventurous and unpredictable. While some pours were bright and well-balanced, others leaned funky or oxidized, with cider-like or bretty notes. It was certainly educational and sparked plenty of conversation, even if not every wine was to our taste. A Primitivo served with skirt steak was intriguing, with fig and green stem aromas, showing both the challenges and charm of minimal-intervention winemaking.
Service throughout the evening was superb. Glasses were never empty, sometimes two wines arrived at once, and every detail felt considered.
Dining at a Michelin-starred restaurant should be memorable, and Papa Llama delivered—from the hospitality to the bold flavors and adventurous wines. It’s an experience we’ll be talking about for years to come.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
subpar. at best. coro is way better. prob the most undeserving of michelin star. went to lima recently. this place is considered “Peruvian” but it’s so average and over priced. not worth it.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Absolutely worth a very special treat! A fantastic experience from the time we parked in the parking lot until we return to our car...... I'm not enough of a foodie to really give a description justice but it was worth every cent!
Second time restaurant has cancelled our reservations. We will not try again!
Papa Llama was absolutely delicious! Every dish was packed with flavor and beautifully presented. The service was wonderful—attentive, warm, and knowledgeable. The atmosphere felt intimate and thoughtfully curated, making the whole dining experience feel special from start to finish. Highly recommend!
Totally get the Michelin star, food was outstanding. The flavors were amazing and the food was perfectly cooked. I’m just sad this place isn’t in my hometown !
Very good meal with the highlight being the plump shrimp anticuchero. Everything was good to great. Natural wine wasn't a huge hit for me but my partner loved the pairing. What's most impressive is the entire restaurant is run only by the husband and wife team. I can't think of any starred restaurants anywhere around the world that can share that achievement.
This restaurant really deserves this michelin star food was incredible, the host was amazing
Excellent experience in this Michellin Star Restaurant! Food is incredible, and service from Maria was impeccable! What a delight to your taste buds, will be back!
The restaurant is in a place that is definitely not Michelin-worthy - at least, from the outside. Inside it is simple but cheerful and well looked after.
Good food - three courses and five dishes. Unfortunately the service is lacking, absolutely not from Michelin. I have no problem with long dinners but waiting fifty minutes between one course and another is absolutely unacceptable. Let's get an extra chef.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 2
Restaurantji Recommends
We had a wonderful anniversary dinner at Papa Llama. The food was delicious, with unique and flavorful combinations, and the service was top-notch. It was great to learn that the restaurant is owned and managed by a husband-and-wife duo, whose passion is evident in every detail. We'll definitely be back!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Out of the 10 1-star Michelin places we’ve dined in across the globe, this place lands at #3! The decor and atmosphere were pleasant with the small footprint of only 7 tables accompanied by soothing Latin music. The one server took care of all tables with ease and a smile as she explained the menu and answered any questions.
Of note- not only is there only 1 server, there is only 1 chef. What a delight and treat to see something this sophisticated in motion. *hat tip*
We opted for the wine pairing which paired nicely with the flavorful dishes. While the presentation of some dishes may not have been to the level of the more renowned 2 and 3-star Michelin restaurants, they were still plated quite beautifully and more importantly the flavor was outstanding!
This establishment may be another favorite of ours in Orlando and we are already making plans to return!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Lomo Saltado
10/10! Highly recommend! Maria & her husband work together to provide an intimate & delicious experience! My boyfriend and I were very impressed & were very happy with the experience. Make sure you make a reservation because walk-ins are not accepted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Amazing dinner and wine pairing. As a fan of Peruvian food, I was interested in seeing it elevated to a Michelin star level and was not disappointed!
Everything was amazing! The ambiance, flavor selections, even the music was on point. Highly recommend to anyone looking for an enjoyable evening with greats food and service.!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
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