PAPA LLAMA

5 stars for a Peruvian Michelin star spot that lived up to the hype.I have to admit that I was a little skeptical about Papa Llama due to its location on Curry Ford Road. There are some really great hole-in-the-wall spots in the area, but I wasn't really sure if a Michelin-star restaurant could work. However, we had some friends who raved about the restaurant, so my wife and I decided to give it a try to go along with our golf and movie day.We arrived at the venue a little before 6pm (it offers 6pm and 8:30 sittings that are pre-paid online) and walked in to see a relatively compact venue with the kitchen on the right and about 4-5 tables on the left. While the tables were a little close, there were some strategically placed planters to help provide some separation.We took a seat at our table and our hostess/waitress provided us with the menu and took our initial drink order (I ordered a beer, while my wife ordered the wine pairing, which we shared and generally liked). She provided excellent service throughout the night with a combination of good insight on the food and good conversation generally without going overboard (a line that can be tough to toe for a small venue). She also helped explain how the menu works (aka everything is large family-style servings) right at the beginning, which was good because one of hangups was how small the menu looked for a $125 meal. The first items that came out were the ensalada and the shrimp anticuchero. The ensalada included the fun traditional Peruvian corn and was pretty solid. The shrimp anticuchero were pretty massive and quite tasty. Both were great starters. We then moved on to the main dishes, which included lomo saltado (aka steak with some cherry tomatoes and onions) and arroz chaufa (aka stir fry rice). Both dishes had some really exquisite flavors, with the steak tasting amazing and the stir fry rice being like a tasty comfort food. Both dishes were also quite sizeable, which led to us getting a couple boxes to take the rest home.Our final dish of the night (which I forgot to photograph) was picarones (aka sweet potato donuts with honey and a strawberry compote). These really reminded me of the type of treats you get off the street in other countries and were quite delicious. Overall, Papa Llama provided us with a great Peruvian experience. The solid service and flavorful food make this a spot definitely worthy of a Michelin star and worth checking out.

Let me start by saying, this was one of the best meals Ive had in Orlando in a VERY long time. I cannot believe it's taken me so long to come here. Operated by a husband wife duo, this quaint pre set menu is available on select Friday and Saturday nights at either 6 or 8:30. We had the earlier seating and never felt rushed or not attended to even with a small space and one waitress. The portions are so big and came out family style. The flavors were DELICIOUS seriously so different than dishes I've had elsewhere. Even with the set menu we are already thinking of other friends to bring back and enjoy it together. The meal was absolutely lovely and cannot say enough about this place!!!

We had heard of the food Papa Llama was churning out before they got their brick and mortar, so when we also heard they got recognition from Michelin, we decided to hightail it over there and finally give it a try.The ambiance, food, and service were all definitely above average. We did, however, find that the price point for our experience did not quite jibe with the meal we had. At the price we paid, we did expect something a bit more varied or unique. That being said, there is not a lot of Peruvian cuisine highlighted in Central Florida, so this is still a worthy dining experience for anyone looking to eat something they haven't tried before.I'm confident that Papa Llama is going to continue to grow and shine and come into their own. This is a restaurant to watch! And if you're tired of the same old so-and-so, Papa Llama needs to be your next dinner reservation, for sure.

My wife and I recently celebrated our wedding anniversary with a dinner at Papa Llama. This Michelin star restaurant in Orlando lives up to its accolades. Reservations are required as there is a set menu for all guests and each course is served at the same time. The menu included five courses of Peruvian staples served family style to share. The meal started with the Ensalada and the Shrimp Anticuchero courses. The ensalada was full of refreshing crisp juicy cucumber topped with a creamy lightly peppery polleria dressing and crunchy corn. The shrimp were soooo delicious: meaty, tender, briny, and smokey with a flavorful seasoning. Basically, tasted like they were fresh off the grill. Next came the main courses of Arroz Chaufa and Lomo Saltado. Both are dishes that I have tried in Peru and that I love. These versions were phenomenal! The Arroz Chaufa was full of exquisite flavors and textures. Savory rice had a very light crunch and light sweetness and was mixed with fluffy egg and crisp bok choy. The Lomo Saltado was definitely the star of the show and the best I have ever tried. First, the steak was high end steakhouse quality: super juicy and tender with a nice pepperiness. The meat was paired with juicy seared tomatoes that exploded with rich flavor when bitten into, super juicy and tender oyster mushrooms, and crisp onions. I now dream about this Lomo Saltado. The final course was a dessert of Picarones. This doughnut like sweet potato dessert was crisp on the outside and nicely doughy on the inside which was perfect for dipping in the strawberry compote. Overall, Papa Llama is a must visit, perfect for a date night and a culinary highlight in Orlando.

I love Peruvian food and Papa Llama is definitely something different. One of the best tasting chaufa I've ever had - it was the only dish that was served family style and I wish didn't have to share it with my partner! You'll have to make reservations in advance as they don't take walk-ins. The dinning area was neat, clean, and they have an open kitchen where you can watch the chef prepare the dishes.

It's no wonder the Michelin Guide awarded this hidden gem with a Bib Gourmand in 2022, a first for the Orlando, Tampa and Miami areas. We've been to Papa Llama twice now, and cannot wait to go back again. Papa Llama is a quaint but vibrant restaurant, specializing in modern Peruvian cuisine. It's located on Curry Ford Road, which has seen a handful of really great restaurants come to fruition for the Orlando Foodie Scene. This restaurant was born out of East End Market, and we are so happy to see them growing each year. The first time we went, we only tried the olives, ensalada and lomo. But the second time we went, I brought my parents and we ordered one of everything to share between the four of us. It was perfectly portioned for four people! The presentation of the food is reminiscent of a private chef's tasting menu, with rich textures, colors and flavors facilitating a culinary journey that you can currently only find in a handful of Asian tasting menus in Orlando. Also, the wine menu is not only extensive, but DESCRIPTIVE. How many nice restaurant have you been to that don't describe their wines' profiles and character? That was a win for me.I wish I could describe each of the plates here in detail, but I promise everything is worth it. If you are very limited on budget for two, I would recommend sharing the ensalada, chaufa rice, and the lomo. You can't go wrong with these classics, but just know there's lots more to offer. The service has been phenomenal, special and personal. Papa Llama is a true gem. We cannot wait to go back.

Let me tell you, when I heard Papa Llama was awarded a Bib Gourmand, I a-peru-ved. Set in an un-assuming strip mall, I was llamazed at the decor inside. Setup like a small, trendy, low lit living room, it is a great place for an intimate dinner.I don't know how we landed on a slow Friday night, but it was just my wife and I with the place to ourselves.We got the Olives ($8), Ensalada ($12) and Huanc noods ($18) to share between us. The ensalada was the surprise favorite, the English cucumber with polleria dressing was.. chefs kiss. The huanc noods, egg noodles in a spicy aji sauce, was perfect for sharing and all over the texture map. The olives were the only meh, being pitted felt like a lot of work to get around.

We finally got around to trying this place and ended up visiting on National Llama day! The restaurant is decorated so nicely and the tables even have the perfect lighting for your food photos!I'm a little obsessed with olives and we decide to start with the olive app to start, $8. I didn't expect them to have pits inside, they were good but I wish it came with a side of bread to dip the oil in. Next, we tried the Ensalada, $12. The sauce on these cucumbers was so amazing, like a spicy creamy sauce. It was topped with cilantro and inca corn. Finally, we went with the Hunac Noodles, $18, which were very unique. The egg noodles had a creamy mushroom sauce with crispy onions. I would skip the olives next time, but the other two dishes were great. We enjoyed our first visit and liked tasting some unique dishes!

It was my husbands turn for our surprise date night and I was pleasantly surprised! We don't frequent this area and this place is very unassuming, but we had a phenomenal experience! Our server (Amanda) was attentive, entertained my husbands silly jokes, and very informative on the background of the restaurant as well as each dish, which we love. It was fun going to a place with no options to order, they just serve what they serve. I was slightly worried with only 5 courses still being hungry when we left, but we were both happily stuffed. They serve natural wines, which was interesting to try. Highly recommend checking this place out!

Great, relaxed ambiance, flavorful food, unique natural wine pairing, nice service. .