Papa’s Fish & Soul Food

Owner was nosey
No ac
No selection of drinks
Greens, catfish n snapper were oversalted.
For being a black owned business, i expect better. Broken down soda machine collecting dust in dining area.
How about the owner talkin about watchin bootleg movies in wed nights?

gravy dipped porkchops… fall off the bone goodness. came here during the first few weeks had a few of the items off the menu and just… MMMMM, describes the experience.
the owners are very casual and so nice to talk to, also… don’t say the soul sauce isn’t hot… tried a spoonful and said i liked it… he came out with some «modified» soul sauce… i’m the type of person who can handle heat… but yea… ive never had a sauce that cramped my jaw muscles, or had sauce that i could feel slowly go down my esophagus and make my stomach scream… this place is perfect for heat seekers
all i need now is to try some of their jumbo, but ill know itll be fantastic

Decided to checkout the OC version of Soul Food and it was great !!! I ordered the 6pc fish and Mac n cheese and collard greens and it was more than enough to satisfy my craving… The service was the best that I have experienced thus far
Eat Here !!! It’s yummy !!!

Had potential but chicken was old like it had been sitting there all day. If so they could have recommended something better. That was my only complaint. But being black, complaining about the chicken is as bad as complaining about the whole meal. Some people like bitter greens some people don’t, I don’t so the greens weren’t my style. Not to say they was bad just not for me. THE MACARONI & CHEESE tho! Top shelf authentic soul food style mac n cheese. Very pleased with that as well as the rice. I grew up on soul food so I know wussup. Like I stated before, food has POTENTIAL, I think i just came at a bad time. Season that chicken a little more Papa and keep a fresh batch!

Okay let me first say that this place has been on my radar for the past couple of weeks and I didn’t have too much expectations coming in and I always wanna support black businesses.
I really wanted to give this place more stars but the service that both me and my friend received was horrible. So me and my friend went after lunch time today because we thought it would be busy with it being good Friday and obviously the lunch time rush. We get there and there is only a few people in the restaurant so we expected it to not take long. The nice woman behind the counter took our orders and we paid separately. My friend receives his change and then they didn’t have enough change to give me and pretty much kept my $ 1.50 in change.
We ordered take out and after maybe 13 minutes the food was done. We go to the counter to get our food and ask if we can get some hot sauce and the nice woman went to get us some. She came back with 2 plastic bags and a bottle of hot sauce. At this same time the cook/​owner «Papa» im guessing walks from the kitchen to get 2 gentlemen their pieces of pie to go. Papa then goes to assist us while the nice woman rings the gentlemen up. Papa say’s to our face «Ya’ll are lucky we normally don’t give away no hot sauce». At this point we start feeling awkward and look at each other and just want to get our food and go. Papa gives us our hot sauce and says «Ya’ll need anything else, I just walked into something and dont know whats going on» and just looks at us like we were crazy. Our food is still on the counter and he doesn’t offer us a bag to carry our food and we just grab the food and then he offers us a bag but makes no attempt to actually get 1. We just took the food and were on our way and I still never got my $ 1.50 change. It honestly wasn’t a pleasant experience but the food was good and I would definitely call the order in if I do consider it again.

I’m from Houston Texas n their soul food is actually legit! Fried cat fish was seasoned well n not over fried. Oyster Po Boy was delicious! Fried chicken was a bit dry but still deserves 4 stars. Owner n staff are very friendly, will definitely come back for more!

This is what you call a hole in the wall. But a Gem nonetheless.
The gentlemen that greeted me was Papa. An out going guy that seems to put a lot into his food. On weekends, he has his Gumbo on the menu so highly recommended it. I am glad I went with his suggestion. His Gumbo was very unique. Not your typical gumbo that you find in our area that’s thick and gooey. His Gumbo was soupy and filled with everything from crab legs to chicken. He said, if you’ve been to New Orleans, that’s how they make Gumbo. I couldn’t compare since I haven’t been to New Orleans, but it already stood out from all the Gumbos I have tried. There has to be some truth into what he said.
As for the famous Hush Puppies… AMAZE! You HAVE to try them!!! Enough said.
Don’t expect first class décor or service. This is Soul Food and this place is every bit of that. You can taste the love they put in making their food.
I will be back to try out their fried catfish!

I really wanted to give this place more stars — if not for their friendly service alone!
HOWEVER:
— Nothing we really wanted that was on the menu was available that day (how you gonna run out of chicken — fried, smother or otherwise — at the soul food joint??);
— The TV was BLARING some evening game show so it was hard to talk to each other, let alone order;
— The mac-​n-​cheese was meh (not out of the box, but lacking character, big time);
— Eveything fried was waaaaaay salty — the fish, the hush puppies, the potato salad… gah; salt is a FLAVOR ENHANCER — NOT A SEASONING!!!
— Corn bread was an a la cart item (huh?)
— The potato salad was… well, I was not crazy about it — too much mustard, all creamy and shit, like eating cold mashed potatoes.
— NO black eyed peas? NO fried okra? NO oxtails? What kinda joint is this?
There were SOME pluses:
+ The proprietors were nice to a fault;
+ The greens were pretty damn good — about the only thing good;
+ They were open rather late for a mom-​n-​pop joint;
+ The food came out hot; the drinks came out cold and the place was clean.
We didn’t try the desserts — and maybe those were the saving grace? I will probably never know though!
The proprietors mentioned they’d been in business for a year — which just goes to show how starved for soul food the OC — a mediocre-​at-​best soul food place is open for a year and getting rave reviews. Go figure.

Second time here everything was great. Food, service; all FANTASTIC.
Definitely worth coming in when the smoker’s going.
I though the Soulrito was good before… man! It’s even better in it’s natural state (w/​pork).
The fish and collards were great, again.
Wow.

Roasted Pork, Red Beans and Rice, Smothered Pork Chops, Mac and Cheese.
I primarily came here to try the fried chicken, but they were out. The folks running this place are super nice and very friendly. The restaurant itself is open and airy and very homey. I kind of felt like I was eating at someone’s house.
I didn’t care very much for the smothered chops but the Roasted Pork was deliciously tender and made out to be a very hearty and filling dish. I would suggest this option.
I have only eaten here once and will update the review after I have a chance to try the fried chicken and some of their BBQ. I can’t wait for that!
Very reasonably priced and friendly folks. See you soon and I look forward to posting an update!

It’s so hard to find good soul food in the OC. Finally we found a spot we’ll be coming back to. This place was simply amazing from the food to the service.
I got the jambalaya with sides of Mac, mashed potatoes and corn bread. The boyfriend got a breakfast Soulrito. (Soul burrito). Right when he ordered it the girl at the counter asked him what he knew about the Soulrito and right after asked if he wanted a drink. When it came out we knew what she meant. It was hoooooot. My jambalaya was perfect, perfectly spicy with hot link, chicken, shrimp and rice. The sides were bomb but I would say the Soulrito was the highlight of the meal.
We said it was our first time when we ordered and almost the whole staff came around to ask us how we liked our food including who I believe to be Papa. He said he threw some love into that Soulrito and trust me we tasted it! Everyone here is so sweet and makes you feel so at home, just like family. The vibe is just real chill too, like I said this place is a gem. You can’t get any better when it comes to soul, ESPECIALLY in Orange County. It definitely reminded me of the South. I love this place with my whole heart and it was only my first time.

Our church service (Exodus 3 NorthOC) meets on Wednesday Nights at the Brookhurst Community Center. After service we’re usually all hungry & fixing to devour some eats. We hunt for places that open reasonably late, not too far away, semi-​affordable, & definitely delicious.
Our group wasn’t content with the usual suspects (i.e., Keno’s, Portillos, Norms) for this particular week. One of our Unilocal Elites, Marc L, found us a new place. Papa’s Fish & Soul Food
I lived right next to this joint 5 years ago. We found out they opened 8 months ago. We rolled with about 20+ heads. We almost packed the joint. The owner is a reverend as well: Reverend Jonathan. Totally cool cat from New Orleans. His family (wife, daughter, & son) operate the restaurant. Super friendly peoples. There’s something to say about Southern Hospitality.
But, there’s something more to say about Southern Soul Food. Honestly, this is a novelty for this area. There are no Soul Food restaurants nearby. And if there are, they’re not good enough to be recognized.
I ordered the 2 piece smothered chicken, potatoes, & collared greens. I was half expecting Roscoe’s, but it was totally different. Chicken was super tender. Gravy smothering was lighter than I’d expected. Didn’t overpower the flavor of the chicken. Of course I destroyed that balance with the Red Rooster sauce. Haha! The potatoes were definitely above average, but the collared greens were the best I’ve ever had.
Props to Papa… Great family owned restaurant. All the best combination: great food, great service, great hospitality, great variety, great price… We’ll be coming back…
And last of all… As they were closing… Reverend Jonathan (a black man) told me this joke… I’ll leave you with this.
Rev. Jonathan: D’you know why black people are taller than any other race?
Arnold: ??? I don’t know. Why?
Rev. Jonathan: Cause their KNEE GROWS!!!
Arnold: Hahaha!

As a preface, this is more a 4.5 stars but because I really want this place to succeed I am rounding up so as to help boost their star count a bit.
I came here late Thursday night to find it empty and was greeted by the cook (who didn’t look like the cook). He handed me the bell when I was reviewing the menu and told to ring it when I was ready. After studying it for a few seconds I looked up and where the big cook (papa?) was standing stood a woman. Caught me off guard.
I ended up being torn between the chicken and fish dinners. When I asked which they preffered the answer was a resounding «fish». Done deal. Sides were mac & cheese + beans. I also added a piece of the cornbread. (funny side story, the lady couldn’t figure out how to give me change so she resorted to using a calculator and then asked the cook how much change to give me. A+ for effort and friendliness though!)
The food came out to be $ 11.75 for a mountain of food. The 6 strips of fish is no joke and they really don’t skimp on the sides! I asked if they had a sauce for the fish (don’t ask them, the look I got seemed like not only offended them but that I was crazy) and was told «some people like hot sauce but we don’t have them in packets»
To start, fish was great! I’m glad I didn’t get any sauce. At the tail end of my meal I tried using a bit of siracha and was not impressed. It was better left alone. It was seasoned, breaded and cooked just right. The oil must have been changed recently as it has a very clean taste to it as well.
Hush puppies were seasoned VERY well. Was a tad bit dry but not enough to be considered a blunder. Make sure you get an order of this.
Red beans were amazballs. Why? Mostly because they’re vegetarian friendly. I don’t eat pork so ordering beans at a restaurant is quite the feat. If you’re here, order them. It’s worth it (unless you know of a great spot, please do tell!)
Mac and cheese was a bit cold and tasted a tad bit stale. I’m guessing my serving was the last bit of the tray as it wasn’t 100% good. Didn’t live up to the rest of the meal.
Cornbread was also dry (but I’m not a fan of cornbread so I’m really not one to ask about this one).
All in all, definitely swing by this place. Well worth it just for the experience. It really felt like i had walked into a friend’s house who had a wife/​sister/​mom who was trying to serve me food. I can’t wait for my next cheat day so I can indulge in some of this local goodness!

I’ve been twice with plans to go back and try more things on the menu. Fortunately it is affordable.
I’ve had the jambalaya, catfish and fried pork chops as well as several sides (hush puppies, mac n cheese, potato salad and greens). The sides were good (esp. the hush puppies, which I love) and the main dishes were great. The food is spicy without the heat overwhelming the flavor. My dad is a phenomenal BBQ-​er and so doesn’t usually like restaurant BBQ. He had the beef ribs and said they were really good.

I decided to go to Papa’s twice before writing a review because I wanted to make sure it was good.
Both times they were out of some stuff, but I wasn’t disappointed in the food I got. My first visit, I got the catfish with hush puppies and sides of mac and greens. My boyfriend got the ribs with greens and mashed potatoes.
The catfish is perfect and the hush puppies are the best I’ve ever had. If I could change anything about the catfish, I would add a little more flavor to the breading, but the fish is moist. The greens were a little saltier than I would have preferred. The mac and cheese was good and so were the mashed potatoes. My boyfriend said the ribs were ok, that Bludso’s is better.
My second visit, I went with my friend. She got the catfish lunch and echoed my opinion on the moistness. I ordered the Soulrito, which is a burrito with pork, greens, rice, and beans. They didn’t have the pork, so he asked if I would like some other kind of meat. I opted for the hot links and I did not regret it. That hot link Soulrito was delicious and big.
Most dishes are between $ 6 – 10.
Orange County has a major deficit in the soul food department and Papa’s Fish & Soul Food fills that void pretty nicely.

You could go to Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen and waste money on food that’s sub par or you can go to where the food is made fresh by only two chef’s (Papa and/​or his wife) and enjoy a real home cooked meal! I can vouch for the jambalaya (it’s perfectly spicy and they’re generous with the amount of meat with the rice) and their gumbo (they’re generous with their seafood portions in this too) and know you can’t find this anywhere else. I’ve tried A LOT of restaurants here in Anaheim and this is in a class of its own. If you’re bored of burgers, Mexican food, Asian food, Italian food, etc. then you should definitely try Papa’s.

Was craving something different for dinner tonight, and remembered my first experience with Papa’s Fish & Sould Food, so dropped in.
Ordered the Soul Rice (egg, hot links, green onion) and a side of Mac & Cheese. The Mac & Cheese was good, but the Soul Rice was phenomenal!
Good food and you won’t meet friendlier people at any other restaurant. Definitely will be coming back more often.

I was craving some good SOUTHERN FOOD today & I was soooo GLAD that I found Papa’s Fish & Soul Food on Unilocal… What made me even more happier was that they were around the corner from my place… So like any good wife I sent my husband for some takeout… Couple minutes later he came back with some mouth watering comfort food… All I can say is hands down the best SOUL FOOD in ANAHEIM or it’s surrounding areas… We shared all the food in the pics I put on here… The Jambalaya, catfish, hush puppies and the Mac & Cheese… All were soooo good!.. We definitely will be going back soon to try more of their plates!
P. S. Don’t miss out on this place… it’s a lil hole in the wall… easy to just drive by it without paying it no mind… You won’t be disappointed!

Since there are no soul food kitchens in West Ananeim, Papa’s Fish & Soul Food is a much welcome addition to the culinary landscape of the area. It also means I don’t have to drive to Compton when I get soul food cravings.
It’s in an older modest strip mall, but the place is clean and simple as is the menu. I had the smothered pork chop and the Mrs had the fried chicken. The pork chop was firm, but tender and the gravy had a good consistency. The dirty rice was nice and creamy. The fried chicken had a nice thick crust and was tender inside. I can’t say the food stands above some of the other soul food places I prefer in LA, but everything was done right. I would only recommend a little more seasoning in the rice and potatos. I will definetely be back to try more things. Given the fast service and friendly hospitality, 4 stars for Papas.

Ok when they say dont judge a book by its cover, they must have been talking about this place. While sitting there the first impression i got is this place is soo ghetto. Having said that let me tell u a little about myself and it will all come together. I grew up in the ghetto in chicago and every summer my mom would send me off to visit family in mississippi. So having said that, there a few things i know. one being what a real ghetto looks and functions like and two, what good cat fish taste like. This place took me wayyyyyyyyy back. The potato salad was just like my mom use to make it, needless to say i alwayssssss loved my moms potato salad. I ordered the lunch meal, three pieces of cat fish, fries two hush puppies and a side of potato salad. and damn if all of it wasnt amazing.
The cat fish was cooked to perfection. Not heavy not to light. nice flavor even though u have to put some red rooster hot sauce to bring it all home. Customer service was simple but nice and pleasant. I wish this place all the luck in world and hope they can move to a bigger location in a little better area to attract people of all color. If your in the area hold your head up, look like you fit in and go in and order some food, you wont be disappointed. pleaseeeee keep up the good cooking, pleaseee.