Today we’d like to introduce you to Lewis Lawson.
Hi Lewis, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My name is Lewis & im the owner of Papi’s Teppanyaki Express.
I started Papi’s back in 2020, making plates out of my 2nd story apartment. I realized there was a void in the market, whether it was the lack of fresh food for sale late at night or a restaurant where all of my friends could eat, that fit everyone’s preferences. Nobody was selling hibachi on the street at the time in San Diego. So I thought “why not me?” .
I would invite everyone over on my one day off, to come eat hibachi and watch the paper-per-view fight that day. It was always a fun time! Egg fried rice, vegetables, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, steak,!
I had thrown a party one weekend for all of my friends to come try the food. My goal was to let them know Papi’s Hibachi, as it was formally known, was a business I was going to pursue full time and I needed them to let their friends know what they thought of the food. I grew up in National City, I was not familar with Benihana’s until I was about 24 because it was out of my price range. So I knew with their help and social media we could get the word out in a completely organic route.
I also went to a paintball tournament in LA right after trying hibachi for the first time and realized these athletes only had tacos as an option. I spoke with a few friends who told me they would encourage their whole squad buy food. I was already locking in sales before I even had the name.
A few months later, I get my first catering with Rejects Society Tattoo Shop and the artist really opened my eyes. If I could do this every day, I could sustain myself and survive from being a full time business owner.
I saved up $20,000 and put in my two weeks at work. I knew I could survive with this for 6 months, and I had a guaranteed job if I ever wanted to jump back on board. The moment I clocked out I got right to work and haven’t stopped since.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
I wouldn’t say smooth road but we try our best everyday! I’ve had my fair share of high and lows. I just like to look back at the times and laugh because of how hard it was to persevere! I wasn’t taught anything about credit, funding, or taxes until I did my own research as an adult with the help of my peers and my own due diligence.
There were times where I would bring in $10,000 with my team and two vehicles I owned. One van and one pick up truck. On the way home from the final day both of my transmissions blew and one motor blew, then had to tow them from LA to SD. Equipment is always going to break, I now know that is part of the game.
One big struggle is finding balance with time when trying to grow your business in the beginning. So much time was spent out side of my home, that it started to take a toll on my family. Eventually, I lost the family, my apartment, my pets temporarily, I only had my commercial kitchen and a work van that I slept in.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
We have the best hibachi in San Diego! We use fresh high quality ingredients that we hand trim and prep on a daily, by some of the nicest and professional staff you’ll ever meet! Everybody who works with as part of the team loves the food and they love what they do.
Our plates come with egg fried rice & veggies and we cook everything in garlic butter! With your choice of protein we have wagyu, lobster, filet mignon, chicken, shrimp, new york steak, salmon! Noodles & now salads!
We offer many different types of caterings; party trays or bowls for pick up/drop off, buffet style caterings, and our signature VIP Dinner Show where we come and put on a Teppanyaki dinner show at the comfort of the guest home. We provide the entire set up with tables, chairs, decor, along with the dinner, the show and the clean-up!
Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
Be patient and make a plan first before anything.
I wish I knew I was ready the whole time, there were times where I let other peoples doubts get in my way of thinking. Had I known what I know now, I would have got into a food truck years ago and saved myself thousands of dollars.
Pricing:
- $45 Papis Trio Plate (5 Course; Chicken, Shrimp, NY Steak, Egg Fried Rice & Hibachi Vegetables
- $15 Hibachi Chicken Bowls
- Caterings starting at $16 Per Person
Contact Info:
- Website: https://papisteppanyaki.com
- Instagram: @papis.teppanyaki
