Chef Papa Vietnamese Kitchen LIC

“The entrance makes the place feel smaller than it actually is. Everything is well laid out and the staff is very attentive. Since I came alone without a reservation, I sat at the bar. Service was quick and my signature pho arrived almost immediately. Water and green tea to drink, and mochi ice cream for dessert. Everything was well executed, though not particularly outstanding. I'd come back.”

“To start, I love the Chef Papa location in Flushing, it's my go-to spot for Vietnamese food. So when I saw the LIC location had opened with such positive reviews, I was excited to give it a try. As two people, we ordered truffle fries, the signature pho, pork chops over rice, and a daily special of pork belly bao buns. I'll start with the good: the ambiance is nice, the staff were friendly and attentive, the bathrooms were clean, and the fries were crispy and tasty. Now the bad. The pork belly bao buns would have been good, but the buns were so stale they broke apart while eating, ruining the entire plate. The pho was smaller than the Flushing location and nowhere near as flavorful. The pork chops were dry as well, saved only by the nuoc cham. And I'm not a fan of restaurants that make 20% the lowest default tip option. Overall, I was disappointed. The food is not up to par with the Flushing location and isn't worth the price point. You're better off going to Flushing, or skipping Chef Papa LIC entirely.”

“As a native Vietnamese and grown up in hospitality industry, I am always looking for the Vietnamese gem. It's still not the case here. The staff is really friendly, welcoming and caring. The atmosphere is nice and light. The music is not too loud which is great. For the dinner I tried the Nem nuong (grilled pork skewers), Banh khot (mini savory pancakes) and the Chao tom (sugar cane shrimp). I was a little bit disappointed by the cuisine. In general, I was expecting more fresh herbs and salad as in Vietnam we eat those dishes with a lot of herbs. Just few mint leaves ? The pork skewers were original with the shape but a little bit too dry. The shrimp skewers were surprising as they made them with dried shrimp. It was the first time I saw this recipe. They were somehow too skinny but as an appetizer it is fine. And the pancakes were ok for the taste but a little bit too greasy. Bathrooms were clean. Happy to have been here but will probably not come back. Especially I don't live in the area.”