Papi Queso

So to be fair I have only had it once but I think that was enough… for me. After a friend kept raving and raving about the pig Mac sandwich I decided to try it. What I didn’t realize was that it had Mac and cheese on it which was just a little bit of over kill… for me, add the pork butt and buttery fried bread. It was all too much. It was tasty but just a little too much. The wait can be extremely long too which kinda took away from the whole experience and I wasn’t impressed by the basil lemonade. It was good but not great. The food truck bar is high these days so forgive me if I’m being super critical but standing in line for upward of 30 mins for a grilled cheese sandwich with Mac and cheese and some tasty porkbutt (see I’m fair!) and tepid lemonade is just not my idea of a good time.

Got the big cheesy with tomatoes and bacon. It was good but was hoping for something more for $ 8 for a grilled cheese! Not something I could’ve replicated at home.
I have definitely spent a pretty penny on gourmet sandwiches before but this wasn’t worth the hype.

Seriously what could be tastier than pulled pork BBQ, sautéed bourbon onions, creamy Mac n’ Cheese all melted together in a golden brown Grilled Cheese sandwich! It truly is heaven in my mouth!
I ate what is famously known in the Charlotte area as the Pig Mac from Papi Queso at tonight’s Food Truck Friday — South End. It definitely did not disappoint as it was as yummy as always! Seriously folks I go out of my way to stalk wherever they are serving whenever I get a craving and have to hold myself back from having a huge hissy fit when they are closed. It’s just that good!
Anyway, the Pig Mac is definitely their signature item but they have many other types of gourmet grilled cheeses as well. My wife got the Little Green Muenster tonight which was avocado relish, a wasabi sauce with Muenster Cheese; this one wasn’t her favorite as she felt that the Wasabi sauce didn’t really go with the flow of the whole sandwich. However she has had their Mushroom one which she loved!
The only downfall is that they can run out of food very quickly if you don’t get their early enough. Tonight they ran out of their Smoky Tomato Bisque and their Pickles. It was sad times not to worry I am still a loyal fan of Papi Quesos!

I just experienced Papi Queso for the first time… all I can say is Delish! I tried the Mushroom Fondue and added smoked tomatoes. The fontina cheese was a wonderful marriage with the baby arugula and mushrooms and the tomatoes just added that special kick to the sandwich! I will definitely return to this food truck!

This is one of Charlotte’s many popular food trucks. They specialize in variations of grilled cheese, and they are all incredible! The tomato soup pairs well with any sandwich and has a nice spice to it! Your cup of soup is literally a togo coffee cup full of soup. You could actually just drink it if you wanted to, but I suggest you exercise a bit more class. Track them down and get your cheese on!

Grilled Cheese Foodtruck!!! 3 words, enough said.
There is a reason for the long lines and hypes for this foodtruck. The food is delish and the staff amazing!
My husband and I went to Triple C last night to grab a beer and something to eat at whatever food truck was present. Our excitement raised when we saw Papi Queso out back! Aren’t we the lucky ones.
We put in an order for the Pig Mac (duh…mac and cheese with pulled pork grilled cheese) and the Mushroom one. Also, ordered a cup of the tomato soup cause it was freaking iceberg like temperature outside. The Pig Mac was heavenly. I mean, this thing is amazing. The mushroom one was good too and a nice balance with the heartiness of the Pig Mac. Though, if I had to just choose one, it is the Pig Mac all the way! The soup was super flavorful and more importantly, very hot!
Awesome job guys. Looking forward to seeing all the new grilled cheeses that you concoct in the future!

Hands down the best grilled cheese and best food truck in town. Every time I’m in Charlotte I have check their page to track them down because it’s that good. Also very friendly people!

Must love grilled cheese! I ordered the signature Pig Mac on a cold, rainy Tuesday along with the Smoky Tomato Soup. Wow, the sandwich and soup hit the spot and was excellent. The Pig Mac is a combination of pulled pork and Mac n cheese in a grilled cheese sandwich. Here’s my only suggestion: I think pimento cheese would have been better than mac n cheese due to the spice factor. The pulled pork is sweet whereas I prefer an Eastern style. Don’t get me wrong, the sandwich was excellent and I will go back for the other flavor combinations but the sandwich could’ve packed more flavor. The soup was perfect.

We tried Papi Queso for the first time a few years ago about a month after they first hit the streets… And it has been an obsession ever since then!
It’s by far our favorite food truck in Charlotte (and the favorite truck we’ve eaten at anywhere, really!), and you honestly can’t go wrong with anything on the menu. The quality of the ingredients that they use, combined with creative combinations, and the buttery crisp perfection of the bread makes their grilled cheese the best EVER! I know, I know; pretty big statement, right? Well, if you’re questioning my authenticity, just try it for yourself and you’ll be saying the same thing.
They have a general rotation of gourmet favorites including the Pig Mac and the go-​to Four Cheese, but I highly recommend branching out and sampling the Green Meunster (spinach + wasabi + avocado + Meunster) or the Leek & Mushroom (this is waaaay better than the way the ingredients sound, trust me). If you ever see the Lobstah Mac on the menu, you MUST order it! You can thank me later.
Don’t forget to get yourself a nice cold Pellegrino and an order of truffle kettle chips while you wait, it rounds out the meal. Also, don’t delude yourself into thinking that you’ll only eat ONE grilled cheese — save time and go ahead and order two. That way you won’t have to get back in line later (or share with anyone else).
The staff and chef of this truck are so charming and talented, and you can tell that they are genuinely passionate about their customers and their food. I can’t sing their praises enough, but the best compliment in the food industry is a referral and recommendation, so go check them out!
**Tip: If you aren’t into long lines, check them out at Sleepy Poet on Saturday afternoons and avoid the chaos of food truck Fridays.

I’ve been wanting to go to this place for a couple years now. That moment when I saw a picture of Mac and cheese in their sandwiches I knew I wanted to try this place. So I will let you know this place is kind of pricy for the amount of food you get but it tastes amazing. I’ve haven’t had a local sandwich in this area that tastes so good. I highly recommend this place for people who love a good sandwich.

Ay Papi! Ay Mami! Gimmee sum o dat grilled cheese!
I probably like grilled cheese way more than the person next to me, or the person standing next to you. My favorite is Muenster, so it was a no brainer to try the Little Green Muenster. A combo of baby spinach, Muenster cheese, avocado and Wasabi Horseradish sauce. The flavors were made for each other but I could barely taste the sauce and the bread was a bit oily/​greasy. For a $ 7 sandwich I was hoping for a more voluminous treat (aka «make that thing bigger guys»). All in all, I would go back and maybe try something different, like the infamous Pig Mac or the Green Chile Cheeseburger. Their drink selections are crazy good — they even make homemade basil lemonade. The house made pickles are killer — I am a sucker for anything pickled! Okay, I’ll call you Papi, but just this once!

On a rainy morning we were driving around looking for something to eat with nothing particular in mind. Then it happened… we passed the Papi Queso truck while it was heading down Central. It didn’t even take a second for Ella and I to look at each other and know a gourmet grilled cheese was just what we needed. We looked up their facebook, followed them on twitter while we were slowly stalking them on the way towards Uptown.
Once they stopped we looked over the extensive grilled cheese menu and ordered the «Pig Mac», the «French Onion» and some Tomato & Tarragon Soup. Given the miserable weather we opted for taking our grub back home and enjoying it while watching Dexter. With sandwich bliss in hand we turned on Dexter and sank our teeth into our grilled cheese’s. Both sandwiches were delicious but one sandwich stood above the other… the PIG MAC!
Its a grilled cheese sandwich with Mac & Cheese, Carolina Pulled Pork, and Bourbon Onions. Charlotte has many amazing food trucks and across the nation some of the best food is popping up everywhere except in a restaurant. If you haven’t hit up a local truck lately you should give them a shot :)

This food truck was the only one I tried at the Raleigh Food Truck Rodeo and boy did I make the right decision. Split the pig mac sandwich and it was glorious. As we were ordering, the gal asked if we wanted pickles, and it was such a delicious addition to the mac and cheese and pork. I hope they come back next year!

I freaking love this food truck. I got to try it Food Truck Friday and might possibly be the best grilled cheese I have ever eaten.
I had the Pig Mac: Mac and cheese pork shoulder bourbon onions add smoked tomatoes and bacon. Three of my all time favorite foods: pork shoulder, bacon, and mac and cheese. Amazing.

Food Truck Friday has a ridiculous amount of people and my wait time in line at Papi Queso plus the time I had to wait for my Pig Mac to be made came to at least 35 minutes. It’s not worth waiting this long for a Pig Mac but it was ok for me since I was visiting from California and I’m not downgrading them based on the long wait. The sandwich was great and first time I’ve had this kind of clever combination of mac & cheese, pulled pork, smoked tomatoes, and grilled buttery bread. I’d expect a creation like this in a SF Bay Area food truck scene but kudos to Papi Queso for putting this out there and representing the Charlotte food truck scene.

I was able to try Papi Queso for the first time at Food Truck Friday, and the Charlotte food truck scene seems to be really starting to take off.
I ordered the Pig Mac which is pulled pork and Mac & cheese between two slices of grilled bread. The sandwich was really good. Both the Mac & Cheese and pulled pork would’ve been great on their own, and when compressed into a sandwich they were very good. The truck just uses plain white bread, but it gets perfectly toasted and ends up working very well because it doesn’t overpower the other flavors.
While the Pig Mac was awesome, it wasn’t very large for over $ 8, and it took almost 10 minutes to make which seemed like awhile (maybe because I was starving). The food was definitely top quality though!

Food truck staple for a vegetarian. Grilled cheese with tomato soup is awesome! 5 star taste with food truck pricing. The guy who runs the joint is genuinely nice and took some time just to chat with me. It’s usually the same staff, and they get to know regulars’ faces.
The tomato soup will surprise you! In the best way. It’s creamy and a little spicy. I think they might throw some curry powder in there, and it’s genius. Love it!

How do you spell perfection? P I G M A C! Love this sandwich. Although I guess it is really an entire meal! Two slices of bread, Mac&Cheese, BBQ, and herbs and salt.
I found Papi Queso about a year ago at Triple C brewery on Wednesday nights. I have to confess I now follow them and sometimes hit them up twice a week (once at Triple C on Wednesdays and Saturdays at the Sleepy Poet).
My «go to» is the Pig Mac but I have ventured out and tried the specials. I haven’t ever been disappointed. I also like the chips!
Ask for a sandwich punch card! And get ready for the yum!!!

I always look forward to Thursday’s since the Papi Queso truck came to Gateway Village. I love the Pig Mac, no onions. Even the Big Cheesy & a cup of the amazing tomato soup does the trick! Always grilled to perfection & the soup is piping hot! They also accept cards which is very convenient. One my favorite food trucks for sure!

I have no problem with the concept of food trucks. In fact, I quite like it. What I don’t like are food trucks that want to charge you a high price for a sandwich — admittedly a relatively tasty sandwich — served in a horribly slow manner, especially in such a casual manner.
Let me explain a bit better.
Food trucks themselves are casual. I get that. I like that. I love that, in fact. It’s part of their appeal. Walk up, get something, walk away. There isn’t much service, because you aren’t typically there long — but there is certainly a bit of friendly banter while you’re there.
Hopefully you aren’t there long. Think of the prototypical lunch wagon that isn’t much more than a vending machine on wheels. These no longer exist in most parts of the country because of the upscale food trucks. That’s fine — but the one thing they had in common is that you could eat quickly and get back to work. Not really the case with Papi Queso (and others, but definitely Papi Queso), even though most food trucks don’t happen at work, they happen at food truck rodeos and whatnot.
It’s also true with other trucks, but definitely here. You will often see a line of people waiting. Yes, waiting for their grilled cheese.
Now I get that it’s not a pre-​wrapped, processed sliced of American on Wonder bread, and for that I am thankful. But still, we’re talking grilled cheese here. Works of art in comparison to those reminders of childhood, sure, but it should not take as long as it does, and it certainly should not take longer than it does to be served in many restaurants.
It defeats the purpose of eating from a food truck, you know?

The name should tell you everything you need to know about this food truck… allow me to introduce you to Papi Queso aka «Daddy Cheese!»
This place puts a spin on mom’s classic: grilled cheese sandwiches! No matter what you get you CANNOT go wrong! The cheesy goodness that oozes out of every bite will literally make you melt!
I have had the Lobster Mac, the Pig Mac and the Little Green Muenster! All were amazing, just pick your pleasure!
*dances away singing* «I luh ya PAPI, I luh ya luh ya luh ya PAPI» — JLo
You’re welcome. («De nada» also seems fitting here.)

BEST GRILLED CHEESE EVER!
It’s rare that I give out a 5-​star review, but Papi Queso cooking is just that rare! It’s worth the 45min-​hour wait at food truck friday for the best grilled cheese sandwich you have ever tasted. Not sure how they cook it up but AMAZING is what is served up.
I had the Big Cheesy with Roasted Tomatoes and Bacon, yummy!

I love grilled cheese. But I do not think Papi Queso is worth the hype. I definitely make better grilled cheese sandwiches at home.
Pros: the truck is legit. All stainless steel and chef’s coats and proper restaurant line cooking. Also, they accept credit cards.
Cons: the flavor of the sandwiches is lacking. I wish they used some sharper or stronger cheeses. Here’s what I’ve tried:
LITTLE GREEN MUENSTER: having learned from a previous experience that the sandwiches were a bit thin and needed more filling, I added jalapeños and mac and cheese to the muenster, spinach and avocado. What made this sandwich better than the others I’ve tried was the horseradish. It was creamy and flavorful. Had I not gotten the extra fillings, I feel like this would have been an extremely thin showing.
JALAPEÑO CHEDDAR: jalapeños, cheddar, bacon and jalapeño jelly. Too sweet, not enough spice or melty-​ness. See photo for how minimal the fillings are.
FRENCH ONION: Swiss cheese, caramelized onions. No balance. All sweetness. Needed some sharp cheese or sauce to balance the flavors.

I have only one problem with this place: I want to order the ENTIRE menu every time. This is one of my favorite Charlotte food trucks.
Whenever I tell a friend about how amazing Papi Queso is… I usually get a really strange look. Maybe it does sound a little odd to rave so much over a grilled cheese truck. However, it’s only odd to those who have not yet enjoyed the PQ experience.
I can’t even pick an undisputed menu item winner. It is all so delicious. I mean come on… a sandwich with mac n cheese and pulled pork?! Ridiculous. (And I mean that in the best possible way) I have been missing the French Onion one… but I hear it will be making a comeback. Truffle kettle chips = must have side item.
There’s a reason the lines are always so long for Papi Queso… and why people will sometimes wait for an hour without even giving it a second thought. Keep up the good work guys and keep cranking out the cheesy, melty goodness.

This ain’t your mama’s grilled cheese sandwich… And I’m sure your mom’s an awesome lady that makes stellar edible delights, but look… These sandwiches here? They’re on another level of life…
(I have to announce that they have a grilled cheese sandwich with pulled pork and macaroni and cheese… That’s clearly my dinner the next time I run into this truck…)
I was initially a little wary after checking out the price board since we all know how much I love a deal… Yep, the sandwiches themselves start at $ 6 and go up from there… And no. They do not come with chips… Those are an extra $ 3… And since I ordered the Big Cheesy with smoked tomatoes and bacon ($ 1 and $ 2 extra, respectively), that put my order up to $ 12… It kinda made me cringe a little, but I sucked it up… lol
Truly, they had me at smoked tomatoes… I wasn’t really sure what that meant, but the flavor of them is unlike anything I’ve ever had before… It’s hard to explain other than just super tasty… I promise if you try them, you will not be disappointed… The bacon was perfect and stood up to the cheesiness without being over or undercooked…
When I tell you they butter the HECK out of that bread, please believe me… When I tell you that they pile that cheese and those toppings on before they grill it into golden brown deliciousness, understand that I mean what I say… And when I tell you that those rosemary truffle crisps are sprinkled with some incredible grade of parmesan, take that and run with it…
Yeah, with the tip, a sandwich and some truffle crisps cost me about $ 15… I’m fine with that… And as frugal as I am? That’s saying something… lol