Pepe’s

Worked for this company for 6 years. New racist owner took over in January and got rid of everyone who wasnt hispanic then began lying to all the customers as to why they «left» Just know that when you dine in you are also tipping out the OWNER who also lies to the patrons about that as well.

Went expecting some good enchiladas but never got them. We were seated right away but waited for an extremely long time. It took the waitress a long time to return for our order. After we finally ordered, the waitress kept insisting our food was coming right up. We went through two baskets of the nacho chips and the RC soda was «flat». The waitress sat another couple down next to us and took their order really quick. The third time she said «I’m going to get your food right now». She then proceeded to refill drinks for other people. It was only about eight people in the place including us. At this point we got up and left without any explanation. We used to have a positive experience but we won’t be returning again. We end up going to chipotle instead. HORRIBLE EXPERIENCE!!!

I usually do not review chains like this but, they took over a place I liked, Cilantro. I liked Cilantro and felt they had pretty good food. When Pepe’s took over the spot I was pissed. I remember Pepe’s from my college days and from when I was a kid when my little brother vomited all over the place.
In college I remember Pepe’s was part of campus dining and it was terrible, but hey that was college kids making it, I figured I would try a regular location, and try the place that dethroned Cilantro’s. Well it was general crap of course, and only a half star better than at college. This place is worse than Taco Bell! But Taco Bell is good, this place tries to be a sit down! Perhaps I should have vomited all over the place like my little brother did when we were kids just to show how disgusting this food is! Please, there are two much better places in town, El Barrio and Ruby’s. This is not Mexican it’s Tex Mex and gross Tex Mex corporate bullshit. This is high school cafeteria quality food yuuucckkkk!

My husband and I visited this Pepe’s a few months ago and had a really good meal. We were on our way home from a trip and it was dinner time. This isn’t our usual Pepe’s but we didn’t want to wait until we were in our neighborhood to have dinner. We were pleasantly surprised. It is small inside the restaurant but it looks new and clean. We had a very pleasant waitress and the food was good.
We went back for a second visit on 4÷14÷13, a Sunday evening. The place was busy but our waitress was very attentive, our food came out quickly and it was hot when we received it. I mention that because so many places bring out food that isn’t piping hot.
Pepe’s is what it is and no, it isn’t «authentic» and if you are looking for that you should know that Pepe’s isn’t the place for you. That being said, my husband and I really like the food and this was the best Pepe’s meal we ever had.
So to sum it up:
Good «Americanized» Mexican Food
Friendly, fast service
Small but clean restaurant

I really like this Pepe’s. Now, I don’t consider it authentic Mexican food, but enjoy it. My husband and I usually have the same waiter, he has been there a long time, and is very attentive. Always fills our drinks, brings us chips, even gave us a free dessert to try once.

Umm. Yuk! The server had to come back twice to ask the same question to two different people. Corn or flour tortillas? The food took way to long for having only 3 people in the place. The nachos were so greasy, they tasted like Brylcreem. Why would you wrap all three of my tacos when I was eating in? Were they frozen and then nuked? This is a new place. They need grow into it. Or maybe I’ll just go to Chi-Chi’s

Some months after our original, aborted visit, my dad and I returned to Pepe’s to give it another shot (and to use the gift card they’d given us). We figured they’d had enough time to get their act together so hoped it would be better, as the place is near home and would be a convenient place to dine.
The food was mediocre at best. I got mixed beef and chicken fajitas; the meat was tasty enough, but it was dragged down by subpar fixings. Pepe’s does not use sour cream; they use «sour topping» (as it is noted on the menu in about a million places) — it looks fakey, like shaving cream or something, and it just doesn’t taste right either. The shredded cheese was plasticy and the guacamole was gloppy. I pretty much ate my fajitas plain, with the onions from the grill plate.
Dad got enchiladas, which came covered with a gluey melted Velveeta-​like cheese; it looked scary, and he said it did not taste particularly good.
We were dining later in the evening and the place was comparatively empty, yet our fellow diners still managed to annoy: there was a kid at the next table who was endlessly whining and her mom kept saying, «Do we have to go outside?» but they never did (the kid won’t respect you if you don’t follow through, lady); someone in the booth behind me (a kid, I think — the booths have high backs so you can’t see over them) kept kicking the back of the booth until I rammed them back out of exasperation; and a woman in the bar, who was apparently three sheets to the wind, kept screeching like a hyena (hey bartender: cut her off and pour her into a cab!)
Based on this experience, we won’t be back.
Our waiter was a nice young guy and did a good job, which was the only redeeming aspect of the meal.
In short: you can definitely do better than Pepe’s for a Mexican meal in the SW suburbs.