Papi's Hampden — Restaurant in Baltimore

My partner and I came to Papi's Tacos on 07/09/2021 to try this restaurant out, given that there were good reviews about Papi's. I will admit, the food is as good as it looks, delicious. Papi's Tacos in Hampden is a neat-looking place and is clean. Wait time to get a table was fair, and we were seated outside on a roofed deck. Nevertheless, the host was very nice.

Unfortunately, there were downsides that have influenced me in deciding to give Papi's Tacos - Hampden 3 stars. I will also preface that 07/09 was busy for the employees that evening, but I would argue that some of the issues I will mention here are inexcusable. The wait time for our food was typical for a busy restaurant; however when I asked for a small container of salsa once my partner and I received our dishes I had to wait a solid 10 minutes for my small request to be fulfilled between two employees. Although nice the entire time, the waitress never offered once to refill drinks. Heavy rain was coming, and when it started there seemed to be no problems. The waitress asked if we were okay when it began, and it was the last time we saw her during the entire rain shower. My partner and I finished our food not long after and we're waiting for the waitress to return. As time went on, the roof started to leak in different areas. My partner and I decided to stand away from the table because the water was dripping on them and a bunch of water was splattering on the deck through a gap in the roof. Two other employees attended to their guests on the deck to make sure if they were okay, but they couldn't have been bothered to check on the two people standing away from their table to avoid dripping water in one spot and splattering water in another. I was quite upset and decided to speak with the manager. When I finally got to speak with the manager, the waitress saw us, interjected herself into the conversation that I was trying to have with the manager, and basically tried to convey that my partner and I said we wanted to continue sitting at the table we were at... which is true, but without the expectations of leakages in the roof and us being the only people on the deck who were experiencing this issue. All my partner and I wanted was a to-go box and our check, which is what I requested from the manager. When we were waiting indoors for the bill, the manager slipped me her business card so that I could explain what happened. There also was no discount, nor refund, for what my partner and I had to experience. I sent out my email to the manager that same night explaining the entire situation. That was on 07/09; today is 07/14.

I was hoping the manager would reach back to me and make things right, but it is clear that will not be happening. I was excited to eat here and the food was good, but it is unfortunate my partner and I had to leave in frustration and disappointment. I am still very disappointed with this place and wish things had transpired differently.

Despite all of this, I am still committed to giving three stars for the food quality and presentation of...

If Jackie is bartending RUN! SHE DECLINED MY SERVICE DUE TO NOT TIPPING GOOD ENOUGH FOR HER! I came into the bar to sit and order food and drinks 3/19/2025. I ordered 2 strawberry margaritas (SHE ONLY MADE ME TWO DRINKS), 2 street tacos and a to-go quesadilla which amounted to $50. I tipped her $3 due to being on a fixed income for a total of $53. Jackie decided to ask me if the service was okay and I responded it was okay. She LOUDLY REFUSED MY TIP!! She said “you only gave me a 2% tip, that’s insulting! I rather you give me nothing” I told her that because I am on a fixed income (grad student based stipend), I can only afford the tip given. She caught an attitude immediately and refused my tip again & began to talk about me to her co workers and friend (who was also sitting at the bar). Horrible attitude. I walked out to gather myself & I called my mother who also works as a bartender on the weekends to ask if I was being a rude costumer for only tipping $3, she gave me more money to order a drink and speak to the manager about the disrespect Jackie had toward me. When I walked back in to order another drink & ask to speak to a manger. This is the point in which she declined serving me …so once I finally had money to tip her …she declined serving me. Glad I gave her nothing. After about 3 minutes, I spoke to the location manger who listened to me and told me she would speak to the general manger however Jackie is bad for business. I sent two of my other fixed income student friends to papi tacos Hampden earlier today, both of whom live closer to the Fells Point location and only came because I asked them to meet me here. I just missed them due to a prior meeting. So even though I couldn’t afford to tip, you all gained THREE COSTUMERS FROM ME TODAY FOR ME TO BE DISRESPECTED! & they did tip! I wish I could take back recommending this to my peers because of Jackie’s horrible attitude and her horrible demeanor to a grad student just trying to get a drink and relax because she is a bartender that clearly doesn’t like to be in a service-...

Food: This place doesn't claim to be Authentic- however they have multiple options for their tacos corn, flour, crunchy- authentic or otherwise and they all of which looked delicious! Also, in 2025- it is so rare for places to greet you with chips and salsa any more. I had hardly settled in to my bar stool before we had delicious homemade salsa and warm chips. I didn't ask if it was made in house but you can tell that it was because it tasted fresh with subtle spice and cumin! I love Cumin! My wife and I shared the queso fundido during happy hour. The fundido wasn't exactly what I expected-it was more a liquid melty cheese than a stringy stretchy cheese but regardless, it was delicious. For dinner we had the Fajitas Mixto. Do not sleep on these. Sizzling and smoking hot when they arrived it was so much food that even sharing the dish we had to take enough for another meal home.

Service: The bartender was a shorter girl with dyed hair never that never stopped moving. She had nearly the entire bar section and was making the servers drinks as well. She never missed a beat. I was never empty on water or beer and she clearly knows her stuff. She even made time to chat with us and introduce herself. It turns out we are neighbors up the street and she invited us to come back on her shifts: Tuesday- Thursday, I wish I could remember her name but we will certainly be back so I will have to get it later; for now she will be the nice green haired neighbor lady.

Atmosphere: This place was cute with really interesting decorations. Kitschy but not tacky. I love the comic book and vintage magazine wallpaper in the restrooms. The happy hour into early dinner vibe was lively but not so loud that I couldn't have a conversation.

5 Stars all around and I am so happy that we have found this so...