Visiting DU and wanting to grab a bite to eat and with so much choice in the area, I decided to try my first Illegal Petes. Upon waking in, quite a trendy vibe to the place and it carries through to the ever occurring trend where it's cool to be impolite of which this is my only complaint of illegal Petes. Being my first time here, I was just expected to know exactly what was going on and the server was just not interested. The food was great, despite being a burrito place, I was really impressed with it. The usual toppings and extras as well as chips to go with it. Cool place to eat in the area and yes I'd go back. Maybe get another server next time. read more

Illegal Pete's DU - Grilled chicken burrito with all the goodness and an extra of guacamole! Side of chips - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Love me some Illegal Pete's! This location isn't the best. I've noticed sometimes their meats are cold and look like they have been sitting out for a little. This is every so often, but that's why I gave them 4 stars. Everything else is great! Drinks, service, environment= awesome! read more

I love illegal petes. Not only does it have a great selection of food, but is a fun place to meet up with friends. Highly recommend.

Best fish tacos this side of Ensenada, Mexico. Great staff and great prices. Highly recommend.

Blow-your-mind customer service! Our son was shipping off to boot camp so we had Illegal Pete's (his favorite) cater. They included a kind, personal note to our family with our order, which we will forever treasure. Then, as the party started, we noticed a discrepancy in the order. We contacted them, and they went way above and beyond to make things right. This is now my new favorite restaurant. read more

Not the first, but the second of my last two experiences at this joke of a place have been nothing short of a kindergarten play. I will start by saying that my loyalty has been with Illegal Pete's--for longer than I can remember; not sure I'll entertain returning after this last shit show. This all started with me simply and politely asking for a little more queso on my burrito. Heaven forbid! I'll keep this somewhat short, as much as I want to word vomit all over this joint. This isn't the first time that some of the staff members have been...well, just pricks. Some (definitely not all) particular employees are entitled, rude, and only seem to support the crowd that mimics theirs. Not to mention particular names, but RYAN is the worst of them all. Oops, my bad. All over a nickel's worth of queso. There are the few others who apologize for their coworkers behaviors, and treat people like PEOPLE. Not only that, but there were other staff members who were just plain nice. Hannah- that's you...and thank you. For the see you next tuesday that tried to interject and toss the queso across the floor for the staff to clean up- bravo retard, you just went against your own cause. Sorry I don't sport a tattoo, but you don't seem to get that your criticism of me not having one is equally as lame as your tattoo. read more

I absolute love Illegal Pete's! Went to this location all the way back when I was on high school, and a decade later, I'm still going to the same location. Their breakfast burritos, top class. Don't forget to add the pork green Chile to your entree! I miss y'all having the trivia question on the chalkboard by the register though read more

Last night was my first time trying this place and I can't say that I'm very satisfied. Granted it was 1am, and who really wants to be up that late working at night... no one probably. The service was quick, but the employees were extremely rude and verbal about their annoyance that they seemed to have felt. A lot of the tables were dirty from past guests that hadn't been cleaned up so it was hard to find a table too. This place is pretty much a replica of Chipotle, so it's nothing formal or upscale. But you would think because the employees seemed so pissed that maybe instead of standing around and complaining about it that they would be cleaning the place up a bit? Not to sure though. The food was okay, I feel like it lacked flavor some how and I probably won't be returning, especially to this location. read more

Illegal Pete's DU - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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After moving to the neighborhood in early April, this place has been my second home! I already loved IP's prior to moving to DU, but the staff at this location is TOP NOTCH! I purchased my home in Jan 2022 and have been going through an intensive remodel of the entire house. Needles to say I've eaten here almost everyday as my kitchen is almost done! Huge thank to Liz and the entire staff for making this location so special! read more

The food: pretty great! Awesome flavors and more variety than similar chains. Love the fish options. The service: consistently the slowest service in town. There will usually be 2 people working the line that move at a snails pace regardless of the length of the line. Usually 3 people just standing around in the kitchen doing nothing. Avoid at all costs between 5pm and 9pm if you are hoping to get a quick bite! read more

Loved it was happy to support it. Til today. Walked up to order was told i had to order online even for outdoor seating. Was told you cant even call it in has to be online.The online site is total crap. Not only did i not get half the ingredients i paid for that are on the ticket but i got a dry rice burrito. Mine as well close if u cant get a burrito right anymore. read more

Illegal Pete's DU - Rice n lettuce. I had ordered 6 other ingredients in it. paid for guac. Yuck - Mexican Near Me - Denver, Colorado

Stopped in yesterday and was shocked at how dirty the place was. The counter was covered with spilled food, an air vent over the counter was filthy. It didn't help that there were a bunch of flies all over the place and no air conditioning which didn't help the staffs appearance. I had always wanted to try Pete's and was very disappointed. Walked out couldn't believe we were the only ones that walked out. read more

Fantastic late night burritos after touring some craft breweries. It's like Chipotle on acid. Will definitely be back.

Honestly I hate doing this but I love this place but today they really dropped the ball. I ordered a Baja fish burrito and Baja fish tacos and the burrito I got was beyond small and missing the main ingredients. And when I said something I was ignored and told it is what it is. Really? Look at the size of this read more

I got one word for ya, and that is queso. Queso is a necessity when coming to Illegal Petes. It is perfectly flavored with a little bit of spice and perfect consistency every time. My go-to meal is a bowl or a salad, but if I'm feeling crazy nachos are always a good call. Since I do not eat meat, their veggies (always ask for the Christmas kind aka both of the different veggies) are so good. You can tell that they are fresh and cooked so well to make a great addition to a meal. I am also a believer that the extra cost for guac is definitely worth it. Then when it comes to the bar, definitely go during happy hour. 4 dollar (strong) margaritas and unlimited chips and salsa... Count me in! The pricing is not bad for the amount of food you receive. TO be honest, the amount of fights I have caused because I think Illegal Petes beats their competitors is absurd. I love their food, and every time I think their staff is so kind. Definitely my favorite fast casual Mexican place around. read more

Today was my first time here. There was a long wait time but that's expected at dinner hour. Everything was great until I went to pay for my order. The guy behind the counter had an attitude the entire time. I ordered the steak quesadilla. He charged me for a chicken quesadilla and a order of guacamole. I asked for a refund on the guac and he wouldn't give me one. Not really sure who turned him sour. Customer service needs improvement. read more

The people who work at this location are AWESOME. They are super friendly, don't rush you along, and make great concoctions. Like a dummy, I switched bags before going out today and forgot my wallet and didn't realize it until I got to the register. After much protest on my part, they kindly comped my meal. (I'm not posting this to give scheisters any ideas, I'm just thankful for their kindness and thought they deserved recognition!) read more

Oh man. Writing this because it's rightfully deserved. This spot is near my house - I became familiarized with Illegal Pete's with the location on Colfax - just as wonderful - the consistency of the concept is through and through - I'm in the industry and this is my forever favorite spot. Late night good food options with a full bar (why would you need it with these margs?!). I could eat Pete's everyday and I love stopping in after the best or the longest shift. Behind the line & bartenders alike are perfect at knowing how to approach! Burrito bowls are my go to but this review is really about everything else. Thanks dudes for always being there. Keep on keepin' on. read more

I do not know what they serve at that place when I got there. I asked them what they serve. They say it is a Mexican place. And it was very good to eat lunch and dinner here read more

A blessing to the DU community. People go for the food, but stay for the margaritas: they're strong (like, really strong), fair-priced, and refreshing. Happy hours are fun and festive and the staff is awesome. You don't realize how much you miss this place until you don't have it! This is the first thing I'm craving when I'm out of town and the first place I bring friends and family visiting Colorado. Nachos, taquitos, burritos -- doesn't matter what you order, it's all insanely good. The queso is extra, but worth every cent. It's quick, it's casual, and on Wednesdays during happy hour you get unlimited chips and salsa with a house marg... what more could a person ask for? read more

I went here to grab a quick beer before heading to a party on a Friday night. The service was incredible considering how crowded it was with college kids. I was very impressed with that aspect of it. They have plenty of tables that are first come, first serve. Since it's on a busier street, finding parking can be a bit tough. It's better than Chipotle! Come on by. read more

Illegal Pete's...your music selection should be illegal. But let's be honest, your food is pretty good...not gonna lie. And your queso is really good! So props to your awesome queso and burritos :) read more

Love this spot. This is one of the more busy Illegal Petes in the area due to the university being right down the street. I am however always greeted with a smile and asked how my day is going. I love the staff here which is why I keep coming back. There is almost always a line but it moves quickly and as long as you don't veer away from the made to order burritos you can hop in and out quickly. I usually get a quesadilla and it comes out quickly and guacamole is included. If you are looking for some good fast food try them out! read more

First time I had the fish tacos here they blew my away. Second time way to much cabbage, kinda drowned out the goodness of everything else. Also you can get a beer or a marg or whatever cuz they have a nice little bar. You really can't complain or maybe you just shouldn't cuz this place is cool. read more

Pretty good spot, had steak tacos with corn tortillas. The steak cuts were huge which was great! Wanted some spice so got the hot salsa, not very hot at all more sweet. read more

Liked this location previously but they failed tonight. Went around 12:30 AM, it was pretty quiet. Ordered 6 taquitos and one other dish. Waited for 30 minutes for the taquitos, checked with them, they forgot to put the order in. Another 10 minutes later, got taquitos, took it home, only to be hugely disappointed again to realize we received 4 taquitos instead of the six we paid for. Making two mistakes in a row on the same customer is really unprofessional and not acceptable. read more

Pete's never disappoints! Sometimes crowded with nearby college kids, but their burritos are worth it. Nachos are equally delicious and they're generous with the portions. read more

I came in here on the day after the STEM shooting in Highlands Ranch. The previous day, this place was offering a Teacher Appreciation margarita for teachers, but who wants to celebrate on a day where a kid was killed and more lives were threatened. When I returned the precious day, the bartender basically told me that the promotion had ended. He was very cold. I get it... was the day before but it was in that moment, I decided, you know what? I don't need to eat here. The promotion got me in the door, but the lack of sympathy from staff took me right out. read more

This place is amazing! But it's not close to where I live. Love chipotle so much. But illegal petes is so so good. Great customer service. Great food. Loved the smothered burritos. read more

Why have I not gone here before? Wow, how lame am I?! For some reason I had it in my head that this place was not good, poor quality, and too college for me. Boy, was I wrong! Illegal Pete's was everything but that. The quality of the food was fantastic. They use eco-friendly pork and beef, but I still went all veg. The college kids were defiantly out and about, but the crowd was quite varied, and we even sat in the bar area! We took advantage of the awesome, and extended happy hour. Everything was so affordable too. So I guess I'll admit, college joints aren't so bad after all! So, for our food. I had a veggie bowl. The corn salsa, guac, and house hot sauce took this bowl to another level. Everyone else enjoyed burritos-chicken, carnitas, and steak. The meat was seasoned well and very tender. There was no fatty gristle at all. Even though I had beans, I still sampled everyone else's. They even have whole wheat tortillas, now only if they had brown rice. We all shared chips and queso, and none of us could stop eating it. The line moved quickly, and staff was very friendly and chatty as you moved down. I'm totally going back here. I can't imagine ever going to Chipotle or Qdoba again now! read more

Swung by this place after a long travel day and late at night, glad it was still open. Easy menu to order off of, got greeted with a smile despite the late time and food was delicious. Great ambiance with music and ample seating. Place was so good, I grabbed a To-Go breakfast bowl on my way back to the airport a few days later! : ) read more

Let's get this straight - I WANT to love this Illegal Pete's it's so convenient for me. I've put up with crappy attitudes from the people on the line, at the register, and even at the bar. I've waited in long lines for a decent taco/burrito. But last night was the final straw. 1. The line was so confusing, lazy, and mumbly it took three times the amount of time it normally takes to make my order. I'll admit I was ordering a very 'complex' order with 3 different items... Nachos/Steak Tacos/Chicken Salad. I ignored the huff/puffs of having to make THREE items for one person - I ignored the dramatic walk over to the fridge with my pre-made salad in it. I repeated my order three times for each person and even tried to be polite when they mumbled and I had to ask 2-3 times what they had asked me. Believe me I was not being difficult - there was zero communication on the line and FINALLY when I got to the register the guy who had been there the entire time jumped ship and I had to wait yet again for another girl - who of course I had to repeat my order. This was a rare time that I ordered for myself and my spouse and took it home. Now this the kicker right here....took a bite of the tacos/nachos... COLD. I'm talking was just in the fridge and then on your taco COLD not to mention the beans were not cooked at ALL. It was so disgusting and disappointing to bite into something you think is warm and cooked, to find it is frigid. So already irritated we ended up microwaving the ice cold items (I'm seriously not kidding it was NOT room temp). Finally and this was the nail in the coffin - the warmed up food literally smelt like DOG FOOD. Sorry Illegal Pete's - We're done. We're not wasting $20+ at your DU location anymore and you know what? We're not going to any of the locations despite the fact they don't 'suck it hard' like your DU location does. read more

First of all, I know many of you Denverites are used to this place in LODO, but I think that the name smacks of socially acceptable racism. It makes me patently uncomfortable. Also, I guess I'm just getting tired of "Mexican" food that isn't really mexican. We already have a few of those in the DU area, like Chipotle, and that place next to Jason's Thai which doesn't even list itself as mexican anymore (probably an honest move). From my house near campus you have to drive pretty far out of the way to Colorado or Broadway to find any mexican food worth eating in my opinion. I have a few friends who swear by Pete's, but it's mostly because of the cheap pitchers of beer. I don't find it a fun place to sit and drink because of the hospitalesque environment...stainless steel tables with high chairs that don't allow my feet to reach the ground (making me feel like a kid), no comfy booths, over-bright flourescent lighting, concrete (?) floors, a loud and visible kitchen, and too few bar seats with big obstructions blocking conversations with friends, etc. Also, I wasn't impressed with the food. It's kitsch. Sriracha sauce is a bizarre offering when you consider that it's a Thai creation. Fusion cuisine has been butchered before by many excellent concept restaurants, so I think it should be taken fairly seriously if attempted at all. It shouldn't be just thrown together just for the howl of it. If I want to get a mediocre, over-stuffed burrito that I can't hope to finish, I'll go several storefronts down...to Chipotle. read more

Kudos to Illegal Pete's Du for staying closed longer and keeping their people safe! They are reopened now. Woot woot. And their curbside pickup system works flawlessly. Yesterday our order was ready in five minutes!! Park in back. Call them and they bring it right out. Food is A+ as always!! Cheers. read more

They have naturally raised meats so I'm in. Steak salad is delicious, patio is good for people watching, and they have Upslope Brown Ale on tap. This is my favorite place to go in the hood for a quick meal thats not, um, wings. read more

Listen Illegal Pete's, I like you. I really do. But I hate your customers and I blame you for choosing to open stores in the middle of known douche territory. Your LoDo store sucks to go to. Eating there at any time of night fucking sucks. I think the employees there kinda get that their clientele is composed of mostly self entitled dicks suffering from alcohol induced retardation, and compensate by making sure you get your food as fast as possible. Anyway, I was pretty stoked when I saw that there was a store opening near my alma mater, and decided to go there with my girlfriend . The food was good and the store is big enough that you can feel like you have a little privacy even when it's busy. DU is full of annoying pricks, but at least they're not sitting in your lap at this location. The service was pretty slow, but that's to be expected from a brand new store. Once they speed up the service this location will rule. read more

For whatever reason, I have scored more tail here than any gay bar I have been to in Denver. The hot DU guys that frequent this place make the delicious burritos all the better. Great burritos + hot guys = AWESOME!!! read more

I have been a regular at Pete's for the past 20 years and never get tired of their burritos! Unfortunately, I live in Littleton and do not have a location very close, or I would probably eat hear multiple times per week. Maybe it's good I don't live closer. Would highly recommend giving them a try if you are looking for a great laid back place with great food. read more

Let me start by saying BEST fast-ish Colorado-mexi food ever!! Love me the queso nachos all the time! But I have been dismayed several times when trying to order a damn drink from the bar! What should be a perk to going here is an absolute FAILURE! I am still always SHOCKED that the same bartender works there! Guys, if your with a girl SEND HER TO GET THE DRINKS! Otherwise this flannel wearing dimwit will IGNORE you completely. This has happened more then once to myself, a few friends and we saw it happen a few time to other guys at the place! Half the time the dude is outside smoking and not even watching the bar?! I literally had to be that annoying guest who had to flap money around just to get the guys attention and there was NOBODY but a few of his co-workers at the damn bar! I haven't been back since but I certainly hope someone who values their business has taken notice and fixed this ridiculous issue. read more

Order-at-the-counter place, similar to Chipotle with a few extra options. Positives: Employees are very hardworking and friendly Negatives Food was so-so. Beer battered fish in the tacos was so thick with batter that fish flavor did not come through, and seemed to be just a quickly fried angular fish stick thrown into a tortilla. read more