Japu Restaurant — Restaurant in Lawrence

I’ve followed Japú on Instagram for a while, the food always looks great, and to be fair, most of it delivered. The Chicken Yakisoba was very flavorful and well-portioned. Two other people at the table shrimp and salmon dishes were tasty too, but a bit light for the price ($22–$23) with just a small bowl of fried rice.

The drinks were good, but not good enough to justify the price, $14 to $16.50 for 8–9 oz cocktails without premium spirits mentioned or presented. Just didn’t feel like a good value.

Service was slightly mixed. Our server was incredibly polite, and mostly on point but I had to ask three times for a Coke before it finally came, and only after the others at the table also asked. He wasn’t busy at the time (just one other table), so it stood out. Again, the rest of the service was on point.

My biggest issue: there’s an automatic 18% service charge, but it’s not clearly disclosed on the menu, just in fine print "Tip Automatically Applied". And to make it worse, the receipt suggests another tip on top, calculated after tax and the service fee. Idid ask the server, who said that goes to the kitchen. If that's the case, that's not a tip, and on top of the high prices, we're also paying separately for the kitchen staff, not just the server. That’s confusing at best, and deceptive at worst. In Massachusetts, that kind of charge needs to be disclosed clearly and honestly.

Solid flavors, great presentation, but transparency and...

We were invited over a ceremony in the proximity and as usual starving! I suggested this place to my wife because the reviews were highly positive. The staff were friendly and the ambiance was welcoming. The food on the other hand was blah. We were excited about having authentic Peruvian food but it turned out that the restaurant is a Japanese-Peruvian fusion, which was odd (why do you need to fuse them when they barely overlap). I love both cuisines but the fusion was unsuccessful. The simplest item was fried yuka which was hard and kinda stale. Fried yuka should be super airy and crunchy. Even normal fries coming with the steak was below average. I’m giving one star for staff and one star for the ambiance. The food...

A perfect spot for an exciting and flavorful lunch. The fusion of Japanese, Peruvian, and Dominican cuisine makes for a unique dining experience that is both creative and satisfying.

One dish that truly stood out was the Eby Maduro Tempura—an absolute must-try. The crispy tempura shrimp paired with sweet plantains created a perfect contrast of textures and flavors, making each bite a delightful surprise.

The lunch experience was elevated by Japu’s outstanding customer service. The staff was friendly and welcoming.

If you’re looking for a lunch spot that offers bold flavors, creative fusion dishes, and top-notch service, Japu is the place to go. A true treat for...