Papi’s Cocina & Cantina

Food and service were excellent!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

I love the food, although I wish it were a little more affordable. If it were, I'd have the ability to eat there more often.
Our food is always fantastic, and the service is generally pretty good, too, but the prices are, unfortunately, a bit higher than what I can handle on a regular basis.
When I get the chance to go, though, I certainly do, and I recommend it to anyone looking for great Mexican food!

Atmosphere: 3

Food: 5

Service: 4

Great lunch prices. Extensive menu
Great place to sit and visit.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

On July 10th, 2025 I placed an order to go and when I got to the restaurant I received my order. My order was the Papis burrito with beef. On the online menu it indicated it was $10. I was charged $14.58 for said burrito and when I opened the bag, there was no silverware.
I went inside to ask for silverware and was told by the little waitress that they did not have plastic wear. I asked how I was supposed to eat a burritos without silverware. To which she shrugged her shoulders. I said well just give me one of your forks from the restaurant, then. She told me she could not give me restaurant silverware.
I asked for the manager who I told about the price and no silverware and she said there was silverware but the waitress didn't know where it was. Nothing was ever said about being overcharged and I would have argued it out that I had no time. It took me 15 minutes to do all of this.
The burrito was just okay, certainly not a $14.58 burrito!
Needless to say, I will not be back

Food: 1

Service: 1

My husband decided to venture here from Nixa for an adventure. Upon walking in, I wasn’t a quite sure what to think. But it ended up being really good. The homemade salsa was tasty. Our waiter Noah was very kind and helpful. I tried a combo plate with a tamale, cheese enchilada and a chile relleno. We come from a city that has the best green chile all over, so it’s been an adjustment not having this option here for our Mexican food. That being said, the food was actually quite tasty. There is a stage for live music, and we look forward to coming back when we can hear some live music. Overall good dinner. Apparently they are remodeling the flooring and that will make a huge difference in the atmosphere.

Atmosphere: 4

Food: 5

Service: 5

Not great....

There was plastic peices in my drink. I thought it was salt at first but they were not chewable. My husband checked and the waitress. They were in fact peices of plastic from the blender. No apology or offer to take off our bill. I'm disgusted.

Place is super solid, been wanting to try it for awhile and definitely work it. I’m sure it’s even better with the live entertainment on the weekends.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

AMAZING food and service!!!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Great food, good price, amazing service. Super margaritas!!!! Great event's.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

Very good! I enjoy eating from this place!

Food: 5

Service: 5

Overall, not a great experience. Spent $20 on a barbacoa burrito a a la carte Taco and was also charged for chips and salsa on a to-go order. As I was being handed my food. I asked for extra spicy salsa which I know that they had because they put it on my food but they could not give me any on the extra and apparently chips and salsa is free with to-go orders but I was charged $4 for it and I got a tiny single cup of salsa that would have not been near enough to use my chips with. I will drive into Springfield over going to this Mexican spot. Actual horrible customer service and a scam

I am genuinely shocked this place is able to stay open… I recently dined at Papi’s Cantina in Republic, MO, and to say I was disappointed would be an understatement. This was hands down the worst Mexican restaurant I’ve experienced in the southwest Missouri region.

First, the atmosphere is downright grim. The restaurant used to be a Burger King, and it still has that repurposed fast-food vibe, making for an uninviting dining experience. The place was practically empty, which should have been my first red flag. To make things even stranger, there were slot machines inside, which gave it a bizarre and unappealing feel not what you’d expect from a supposed cantina.

As for the food, it was beyond disappointing. I ordered a cup of elote, expecting the rich, flavorful Mexican street corn I’ve had at other places. Instead, I was served what was essentially a bowl of canned corn mixed with mayo, hot sauce, and Takis. No real seasoning, no grilled flavor, just a sloppy, thrown-together mess that tasted as cheap as it looked.

Then came the birria tacos, which were a disaster. Rather than the tender, juicy, slow-cooked beef you’d expect, the meat was dry and flavorless. The tortillas were stiff and tasted like cardboard, making each bite a chore to chew through. The consommé lacked depth, tasting more like watered-down broth than the rich, spiced dipping sauce it should be.

The whole experience from the food to the atmosphere felt lazy and uninspired. I wouldn’t recommend this place to anyone looking for authentic or even decent Mexican food. There are far better options in the area that actually care about quality. And the audacity to give us a $60 check… Safe to say, I won’t be returning.

Atmosphere: 1

Food: 1

Service: 2

Always fresh and fast! We love Papi's!

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 5

Service: 5

My husband really liked what he ordered (the tacos you dip in the oil). Mine was okay (tamale and enchiladas), but it had more cumin in it than I like. The elote was good. And the service was phenomenal! The atmosphere was also fun with a live band.

I would try again but I would order something different off the menu.

Atmosphere: 5

Food: 4

Service: 5