Papi’s Grill, is a quaint and homey restaurant located on 1090 Price St., Pismo Beach. Papi’s Grill is a family owned and founded business that serves Mexican food with a Japanese influence mixed into some of the recipes.
Melissa and Rosendo Perez founded their restaurant in 2015. They originally wanted to open a restaurant in Camarillo, but that plan fell
through; they found an available location in Pismo Beach, where Melissa Perez was born and raised, that led to an unexpected but happy outcome.
Although they faced struggles such as the COVID-19 pandemic and minimum wage increasing— which has affected almost every business, though especially smaller businesses— the Perezes continue to serve their community with delicious tacos and deals.
“We would like to add a food truck [to the business],” owner Melissa Perez said. “I would also like to do Loteria Nights [and] fun events like that; just [to] have more fun with [the restaurant].”
The restaurant’s decor is limited at Papi’s Grill, but what they do have is meaningful and family-esque: photos of family, a newspaper article from Rosendo Perez’s time as a hibachi chef, an AGHS Eagle Football memento, and various photos of Pismo Beach.
The inside of the restaurant is small, but they have seating available outside which allows the aromas leaving the kitchen to mix with the ocean breeze a few blocks down.
The bustle of the kitchen in the back of the restaurant is comforting and offers background sounds of pots and pans– not to mention the delicious aroma of food– while guests wait for their dine-in or to-go order.
Papi’s Grill is a pleasant local spot– perfect for a nice lunch with friends or family. The service is quick and the food is delicious. In my opinion, you can never go wrong with a good taco.
