Came here recently while stopping through Denver, and boy oh boy we loved it! The flavors are authentic and I like that you have so many different options. In comparison to chipotle you definitely stand your ground and you do it with a lil more attitude! Love the involvement in the community, recycling, and charity donations. Keep it up, only wish there were more locations but maybe someday we will meet again read more

Great prices, fun atmosphere, but the food lacked a bit of flavor (to my taste). We ordered the chicken salad & chicken burrito - if I were to go again I would make sure to try the Beer-battered fish burrito (supposedly one of their best dishes). read more

Illegal Pete's Lodo - Bars Near Me - Denver, Colorado

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AUSSIES AND BRITS BEWARE these muppets won't serve a beer or alcohol to foreigners, even with appropriate drivers licence or ID. It's a shame because it's a decent place, but it was the only venue in Denver where we were confronted with an arrogant power tripping douche. We are all over 40, and doesn't look remotely underage, AND we had valid ID! Was a killjoy to our evening having to deal with the arrogant manager on duty. State alcohol laws here.. https://goo.gl/d7oxLn worth reading, as the state of Colorado says foreign Drivers Licences can be accepted as valid ID. read more

Good good good atmosphere. I'd like to see a larger variety of sauces but no complaints.

It looked really cool looking at the menu and the venue but the flavors of the food was so-so. We got 3 variety tacos, 3 fish tacos, and guacamole and chips. Everything tasted just ok. The meat seemed old and over cooked. There are a lot of options to design your own tacos but it's almost kind of overwhelming. I prefer less options and streamlined but delicious flavors so that was probably not the best place for that. Overall I felt like I spent too much for Mexican food. read more

Mexican-style food bar with pretty good salsa. Choose the bowls or burritos with a good verity of toppings and protein, or get a plate. They make your burritos PHAT. Prices are average for this type of restaurant. Good thing is that you won't wait long, however I wasn't really blown away by anything in terms of taste. Cool atmosphere and good music, place gets poppin in the evening and a good spot for groups and cerveza. TLDR: Decent food, average price with fat burritos and packed bowls. Good music and a great spot for night life. read more

Very very mediocre service on cinco de mayo. Staff was moving super lethargically. Tables weren't cleared - I sat in line for 24 minutes before being taken care of. The were only 8 people in front of me. Chipotle down the street is a much better bet. Those guys move fast & care about getting their food to their customers. Gave 3 Stars because the food is definitely good. Service, not so much. read more

I liked the ambiance in here; it was midday on a sunny day in Denver and the staff were really pleasant to talk to. I had the burrito and layered on most of the ingredients (pico, cheese, lettuce, steak, black beans, etc.) Gotta say that I was really pleased! Paired with a corona, I thought it was really good. read more

Illegal Pete's Lodo - steak burrito - Bars Near Me - Denver, Colorado

I've been going to Illegal Pete's, either the Boulder, CO locations or downtown Denver, for 7 years now, and let that be more of a testament to how good it is, rather than my bias. IP's is basically the same thing as Chipotle for those who are familiar, only a more fun atmosphere with the sporting events on the tvs, a full bar, late night service, and a more authentic environment. For me Chipotle feels very corporate, automated, and steril. IP's also uses local meats and tastes better too. There are infinitely more options, has queso, several salsas, and is very fast at serving. And here's the kicker, something that may seem like not a huge deal but makes all the difference, once your burrito is done they MIX all the ingredients before wrapping it up so you don't get a mouthful of sour cream, and then a mouthful of lettuce like at Chipotle. A small but significant difference, proving once again it really is in the details. read more

Another five-star review for IP, at this point, may be nothing more than gilding the lily, but I have a couple of observations I hadn't found, so here it be: Is Illegal Pete's authentic Mexican food. No. Just flat "No". It's part of the new wave of MexAmerican cuisine that's popping up under names like Taco del Mar in Seattle, Sombreros in San Diego, and Por Que No in Portland. Judging from the success of all three, people aren't really all that bothered by the lack of authenticity and, for me, I never cared in the first place. Someone made a curious comment about some supposed racism inherent in the name. This is obviously someone with no sense of humor, VERY touchy sensibilities, and little regard for knowing things before you pop off; the sort of little mind that sees racism EVERYWHERE. If the place was named Illegal Pedro's, I could see it. Illegal Pete, it turns out, is a reference to a Colorado outlaw, not someone with no Social Security Number. I always thought Yelp was about rating food, service, ambience, and price. Apparently, I was wrong. My bad. Minor details aside, what Illegal Pete's is doing, especially here in LoDo,is almost fiendishly clever: staffers with lotsa tattoos and piercings, a distinct whiff of "only for the very cool" in the air, and flat-out, knock-down KILLER food. We came in at noon on a Saturday and had a round of burritos, all different, each excellent. I had the pork with green chile sauce and was floored at the explosive flavors, the chewy textures, and the freshness of all the ingredients. Their bar serves a very well-chosen - albeit tiny - selection of great COLORADO ales (support your local businesses; a thing we in Washington DON'T know how to do!) and we settled in with two Boulder Brewing "Hazed & Infused" pints, outside in the grey and morning heat. Someone else here mentioned the douche factor in areas in which IP operates. At my ripe old age, I can offer this one thought: those who see themselves surrounded by douches everywhere they turn are frequently (and accurately) seen as huge, gaping douches by most of the people who know them. Remarks like that one are a by-product of that incestuous isolationism that comes of seeing yourself and your little circle of six or seven malcontents as the Last Bastion of Hipness. It's never true and totally subjective but, don't worry...you'll grow out of it fairly soon. Bottom Line: Illegal Pete's is one of those well-conceived, beautifully-executed, non-exploitational Bright Ideas that works because those running it perfectly understand their market and their patrons and are astute enough to offer up EXACTLY what that customer mix wants. A little down home, a little Insider Cool, a lot of Thought, and chefs with the Chops to make the food work. Brilliant. It now becomes one of my Must Dos whenever I'm in Denver. read more

I'm a fan. They essentially serve a Chipotle-style burrito with a few added perks. I really like the queso you can order and the fact that there are a wide variety of tortillas to wrap your mexican masterpiece in. I can never finish a burrito all by myself-- so that's something to keep in mind unless you have a monstrous appetite. They have a bar with very reasonably priced drink specials (especially for this area of downtown) with a TV to watch a game on. I like that they serve an impressive spread of breakfast options for a great price. I ordered the bacon, egg, and cheese burrito with extra green chile sauce and I was very pleased with the final product! Next time I'm downtown in the morning and not in the mood for a sit-down meal, I'll be stopping here! read more

Illegal Pete's, how I miss your superior burrito making ways! There may be better tasting burritos out there, but Illegal Pete's takes everything you ask for and mixes it up with a spoon before wrapping the tortilla around the innards. This way you get perfect bites every time. No giant clump of rice followed by one piece of meat. Whoever, this Pete is, he is a genius. Brilliant I tell you! And you can get everything smothered in green chile, the good old Denver way. Keep on keeping on Pete and I'll be back to order from you again and again, whenever I'm in town. read more

Pete, you're a cool dude in a loose mood and I like it. I like it a lot. My husband wearing our baby, a few rad buds and myself popped in for some fast eats and brews and had a delicious time. Getting a burrito perfectly to order made in front of you without hitting one of the chain gang is super rare. I love it. I love pointing to shit and having them mix it up all perfect and then getting to drink alcohol with it. It's awesome. The ambience here is super casual, but nice and lived in and drawn on, so it's not stuffy or sterile. No matter who you are or who your crew is, I think you will feel comfortable here and you will certainly enjoy the treats smothered in green goodness. read more

IMO best breakfast burrito in Denver. The pork chili is my favorite. I work near the LoDo location and frequent all too often. The last 2 weeks I've received the smallest breakfast burrito ever. The first one I wrote off as a fluke, the one from today that I just walked around the office to full on laughter for the sad size, that one warrants saying something. Please fix this. There is a new employee at this location (she made mine last week too) and she's friendly but she is making sad sad sad bacon burritos and I will not walk back inside if I see her making breakfast. read more

Visiting Denver and stopped in here to grab lunch. Reminded me much like chipotle, however this tasted so much different in a good way. Would return read more

Loud, delicious, full of life. Definitely come here if you need a boost of energy, hype music, and much fresher and tastier version of chipotle. With a fun bar vibe to match. Open super late. The bowls are solid. Quesadilla very good. Will come back next time we're in Denver. read more

Delicious Mexican food! Kinda like a chipotle style set up, you wait in line and tell them what you want as you go. Don't be intimidated by the long line, it moves quick. Very generous portions, I got a chicken bowl and there was tons of chicken in it! Would definitely recommend to friends and family in the area. read more

What's cool about this place is that you almost feel like you are walking into a Chipotle but then you walk in and vibe is different and THEN you see the bar to the right packed with patrons. Very cool atmosphere... combine a good burrito with cheap craft beer (excellent happy hours) and what else could you want? Always a vibrant, fun place to come into! read more

I've lived in Denver for almost a decade... and I went to Illegal Pete's for the first time yesterday. (pun warning) Criminal. A co-worker said that if you were a crack addict and someone offered you simple speed, that was the equivalent of going from Illegal Pete's to Chipotle. I don't really get how it could be that much different. Look, its meat in a pan, and beans in a pan... they put those in a tortilla and give it to you. Then I ordered. Ok, somehow it actually is different. Part of it is that they actually mix your ingredients together so its not one bite rice, one bite sour cream. Maybe they use better ingredients? Or maybe they put literal crack in the pan... whatever the reason, Illegal Pete's is going to quickly become a lunch destination for me. read more

My favorite place in Denver! Been in town a month and this is the place I'm sure to stop every weekend. Service is awesome, drinks are awesome, everyone is awesome! Awesome all around. My friend and I hit up quite a few bars the first week we were here and while this place has the expected lively bar atmosphere, it also has quiet corners where I can sit and enjoy my drink. The usual problem I have with bars is that they are too loud or too crowded (probably the usual reasons to GO TO a bar) but I especially liked this place cos it's chill. If I wanna talk and socialize, I can. If I want to sit on the patio and quietly write yelp reviews, I can do that too. They don't card at the door since it's also a food place but no problem there. The bar tenders are nice and when we had a problem with some drunk beggars outside, they were quick to take care of it. Nice clean bathrooms with working locks (shouldn't have to mention that...) Tried the food the other day and I would compare it to Chipotle. "Mexican" food, tasty, great with some beer. It's just outside the main hustle and bustle of tourists on the mall so that makes it nice. No screaming kids. Awesome menu, full bar, great happy hour selection and prices. Love this place. read more

"WHAT'S THAT?? I'M SORRY, YOU'LL HAVE TO SPEAK INTO THE MICROPHONE!" Okay, so this place is loud. And usually crowded. And sometimes you want to enjoy your burrito without Motorhead's No Sleep Til Hammersmith bursting your ear drums (why, I'll never know). But the bottom line is, it's fuckin' worth it. The cooler, hipper Denver-born burrito joint, Illegal Pete's has been keeping hipsters and business people alike well fed since the dawn of 'New LoDo'. The burritos here resemble their clientele: diverse, interesting, and largely appetizing. Seriously, not to sound shallow or over-generalize, but is it a rule that only attractive people are allowed to eat here? Somehow, they let the likes of me slip past the security, and deliciousness everlasting is my reward... The fare here is varied, but always high quality. I usually go for one of their potato burritos (a trademark at Pete's), but the last time I stopped in, I decided to try out their daily special, The Gambler, instead. Kenny Rogers himself could not have concocted a dish finer than this one. "You picked a fine time to feed me, Lucille..." The burrito combined spicy chicken chunks with a zesty, chipotle sauce, to produce a rich, flavorful burrito. It definitely turned me on to trying more of their 'specials', since these items are normally not found on the menu. Besides Pete's fantastic eats, my favorite part about the joint is the people watching. Let the Yelp record show that I very rarely mention this as a key aspect of the businesses I elect to review (at least, not in a positive light). But at Pete's, the crowd is as multifarious as the Mos Eisely cantina. From gutter punks to D&G dbags, the human spectacle on display at Illegal Pete's is nothing short of mesmerizing. I also love the friendly, wisecracking staff manning the burrito assembly line, and the Imperial insignia tattoos that adorn them. Perhaps I've given the impression that Illegal Pete's is big on appearances, but not on substance. Fortunately, that ain't the case. The food is rich, tasty, and certainly filling. Their selection of beers and well drinks (and the inclusion of a 4-10pm happy hour) is hard to beat for a homegrown burrito joint. The staff, patrons, and hard rocking soundtrack just adds to the unique 'ambiance' of the place. The restaurant really lives up to its name. Cause for a meal to be this good...something must be Illegal. read more

How much do I love Illegal Pete's? I can't think of a single bad thing to say about it. Not only is the food here absolutely amazing, but it's a great place to hang out. It's like having Chipotle (except with far superior food) and a full bar. What more could you want? Plus they have live music sometimes. Local bands and amazing queso at the same time? I'm in. Let's talk about that queso. It's hands-down the yummiest queso in the world. I just asked my brother to help me describe why Illegal Pete's queso is the best, and he couldn't put it into words--neither can I. We both just think you need to experience it to understand the amazement. I suggest you try it on the nachos. I am partial to carnitas nachos, but my friends tend to get chicken. Regardless, they are super delicious. Think the nachos at Q'Doba but yummier due to the quality of the queso. Like I said, I'm a fan of Pete's carnitas. My God they are good. They are great in the tacos, but my favorite thing on the entire menu is the pork carnitas quesadilla. I order it with corn salsa cooked inside, and it makes me entire world happier. The drinks here are pretty standard. I haven't had a margarita here, but my friend says they are pretty sweet. But, when I come here I usually have a beer, it just goes better with the food in my opinion. The only qualm I have about Pete's is that there isn't one closer to where I live. When I worked downtown I went here at least once a week and now that it isn't convenient I literally find myself going through withdrawals. read more

For anyone who thinks this place is even comparable to Chipotle I ask that you have your head examined. It's all in the burrito rolling technique. That, and they have a full service bar. The menu has many more chooses than most quick service burrito joints, sure, it's still just variations on the same ingredients but they've got gems like fish tacos and the addictive queso. That rolling technique I mentioned? It's so simple you have to wonder why the other guys haven't caught-on yet. After putting in all the fillings you request, they take a big spoon and mix it all around. Yup, this means you don't have to take one bite of meat followed by a gross bite of sour cream, you get a little of everything in each bite. Perfect! OPEN LATE! Did I mention the bar? Plus, many nights you can enjoy some-sort of event, wether it's live music or a drunken spelling bee. read more

It was a fun environment. The food and seasoning was on point. I like the fact you can sun guava for free if you don't get dairy! Major plus. Great location to grab a bite before a nuggets game! read more

Ssssshhhh. I'll let you in on a little secret: Illegal Pete's isn't really illegal. In fact, it's operating right out in the open in downtown Denver. It's a bustling joint, not unlike some of the popular burrito joints I've come to love back home in Austin, and I'm beginning to believe that the formula for most of these is somewhat similar: take one part lots of fresh fixings, one part quirky service, one part festive attitude, rinse, repeat. For my part I was after a steak burrito, and Illegal Pete's set me up just fine, as it turns out, against a backdrop of impending snow and the sideways wind that blew through the city. In this case new (to me) and familiar at once, it's easy to see why Illegal Pete's has made a few friends along the way. Hey Pete: thanks for the memories. read more

Illegal Petes is a Denver chain. They have decent Mexican food and a full bar. I am partial toward Chipotle but this place has a more chill, IDGAF (I don't give a f***) type of vibe. The outdoor seating is also nice on a warm day! read more

HAHAHA SUCKERS!! I'm giving this place 3 stars (even though it deserves 4) since you are all way too infatuated with this joint. This place has some good burritos with interesting selections, and yes you can get more than just beer for booze. That's a plus. Nonetheless, every time I get a burrito from this place, it lacks that certain something: love. Well...maybe not. But damn, the guacamole is not exactly up to par, nor is the fact that the Burritos always seem to be sort of greasy. Chipotle? Less selection, but always kick-ass and fresh salsa and guacamole. And well, you get your burrito right then...packed with the good stuff. Illegal Pete's you have to wait a bit usually, and pay extra for those special amenities. Free student drinks really tips it over the edge for me personally to Chiptole's side. But don't get me wrong! I like this place, I do...as a second string player. However, all of you have stepped over the threshold from love affair to zealotry. It isn't healthy I tell you! (Says the man who wrote 3 different reviews about 3 different Chipotles...) read more

I have written Dear John Letters to Qdoba and Chipotle after experiencing Illegal Pete's. I see there are some negative reviews. So I'll be very clear on what has lead me to a 4 star review. This is the location in Downtown Denver and I always get the chicken burrito. Apparently some of the other items, like taquitos, are frozen/not fresh/not amazing. Well, what can I say, why would you get such items at a burrito place. I mean, I wouldn't get a taquito at Chipotle, so why stray away from the fresh ingredients right in front of you at the assembly bar? First, I was not looking forward to trying this place, especially after my long term relationships with Chipotle and Qdoba. My first chomp and it was love at first bite. The chicken is marinated in some delicious concoction that only hippies can dream up. It kicks the butt right off of the stuff offered at my 2 ex's. I like it hot, so I go for the spicy salsa, and sometimes add Tapatio to it. The best thing you can add to your burrito is cilantro. The guac is so expensive, but this is true no matter which place you go. By the way, the people mix up all the ingredients in the burrito before wrapping it up. I don't why my ex's don't' do this. It is so smart and obvious, and yet not done elsewhere. As an added bonus the place as a bar and jukebox. So in addition to a much denser burrito then the other guys offer, you can get great cheap drinks, hello! P.S. I would give this place 3.5 stars, but no half stars, so I went with 4. read more

I wish there were more places like Illegal Pete's in LA, where I live, Sure, we have tons of taquerias here, but not too many that have Illegal Pete's combination of delicious, really authentic tasting food and cool branding, like witty stickers, fun logo cups, etc. All we have in LA is Wahoo's, and trust me, it's not the same. I had the fish burrito and the fish was freshly fried and amazing. It's a little smaller than the other burritos I saw but perfect for my appetite that night. I also tried the queso for the first time(another thing that's not so easy to find in LA), and it reminded me of a spicier, much more delicious version of movie theater nachos. In other words, my idea of heaven. The service was awesome also, quick but friendly. They took my party's huge order in stride and didn't mess a single thing up. I hope the owners read this and consider maybe moving out to sunny California to open up a few branches! read more

This place rocks! I love the food and I am a big fan of the beer. I wish there were more spots like this in denver. read more

I will never forget the first time I bit into an Illegal Pete's burrito. It was the breakfast burrito - vegetarian, with vegetarian green chile *does the Homer Simpson donut gargle* "OHMYGOD!" I yelled to my friend, with no regards to public conduct. "I CAN'T BELIEVE YOU GOT THE FISH TACO THIS BURRITO IS MY HUSBAND!" Then she let me try her fish taco. Holy crap. It was just as good as the breakfast burrito, except with different, taco-like textures. Then I came back. This time for the potato burrito that was suggested to me by Travis, the editor of indierockreviews.com. Stfu. I'm divorcing the breakfast burrito and marrying this potato burrito. Unless I switch teams like Henry VIII and go burrito Church-of-England. They're big, tasty, fists-full of flavor and made-just-for-you-right-in-front-of-you melt in your mouth goodness. You know how good Taco Bell tastes at 2 a.m.? Illegal Pete's tastes that good from open to close. Man I want an Illegal Pete's burrito right now. I'm so hungry. I wish they delivered. read more

I'll start out by saying that IP's isn't my favorite place for a giant lunch burrito, but the breakfast can't be beat. For $4 and some change I can get a breakfast burrito (in lunchtime size) and it spans the length of two meals. That's $2/meal. What? Especially for the downtown/Union Station area where a coffee and a pastry'll run you $8, or a yogurt parfait will set you back $6, it really can't be beat. Breakfast is served till 10:30 but I'd recommend getting there a bit earlier so they aren't scraping the bottom of the barrel for eggs/potatoes. Meat or veggies are extra but green chile (your choice of pork or veggie), cheese, sour cream, and salsa are all included. If you need coffee, they have a carafe of Pablos. Hits the spot and you won't need to leave your desk for hours (except to go to the bathroom, of course) read more

So since I'm a honest person I must say it depends on the time of day you actually come here. But the food remains good and the service is friendly and real..always meet new people whenever you got there. read more

It seems silly to review illegal pete's since is such a Denver Boulder staple, but it's my favorite burrito joint. WHY DOESN'T ANYONE ELSE MIX THE BURRITO INGREDIENTS?! It's quite possibly the most brilliant thing ever and the reason that I continue to come back instead of visiting Chipotle or Qdoba. Plus everyone behind the counter is painfully hip and interesting and good looking. And there is beer. And there are cleverly "styled" burritos with fun names and ingredients beyond your typical beans rice and meat. I heart you Illegal Pete's and your ridiculously awesome name. Thank you for mixing my burrito ingredients so I can avoid mouths full of sour cream sans bean and rice. read more

I used to frequent the Illegal Petes in the DU neighborhood- but now I frequent the one downtown. The staff at the downtown location is far less friendly, rude and to be honest violate a ton of health codes. The food is always great- if I was rating just based on the food it would be four stars. When ordering my burrito another guest came to the counter to ask for hotter salsa, the cashier began to talk over the guy making my burrito and myself to talk with this gal about salsa in an INCREDIBLY loud voice to the point that I had to repeat everything I was requesting. The fella making my burrito proceeded to tell him he was way too loud and I say yeah that was loud. He went on to talk about himself and his loud tendencies. Dude, if someone says you're loud maybe you should quiet down a bit. Then I asked for limes with my burrito...when asked how many I responded with "like four." In my mind this meant if they are less juicy limes how bout six, if they're on the juicier side how bout three...the cashier decided to mock me and say "here's your like four limes, if you need like six let me like know." Can you say condescending? His attitude ruined my entire experience. While eating my burrito I look to my right and see the cashier pulling the trash can out of the receptacle. I will say he does have gloves on. He starts pulling the "slop" out of said receptacle with his hands and throwing it into the bin. No broom? No dust bin? Hands?! What I see next made me want to purge my entire lunch...he wiped his wet trash covered hands up and down his apron multiple times. What's worse is he didn't take this apron off when he jumped back behind the counter. I will not be back. read more

Illegal Pete's Lodo - The cashier taking trash out- wipes filthy hands all over apron. - Bars Near Me - Denver, Colorado

The food tastes good but familiar (don't shoot me) but it tastes eerily similar to chipotle right down to the type of cheese and chicken. The leg up on this place being that it's a small local chain so of course I would rather check out the local guys. PLUS the name alone begs for a bit of attention. No real customer service to speak of, get in line, place your order, get your food, have a seat. Much like any other fast casual dining establishment. The place looks and sounds like a college hangout so those of you in town for conventions and looking for quiet, stay away. Those of you looking to stay away from bubba gumps with the rest of your gang then head over here. Fast, easy, cheap (see how similar this is to college). enjoy! read more

Burritos, burritos, burritos - that's all everyone ever talks about at this place. Sure, the burritos are really good in that Chipotle kinda way (and I like both of those), but the holy grail of IP's is their queso. My dirty little secret: I stop by here at least once per week and get a chips and small queso for $2 and it makes me happy... every time. read more

8 years ago I wandered into an Illegal Pete's and was really excited to return. But like many local locations that expand into a chain, I think the quality has been effected. Honestly, it was overwhelming and underwhelming at the same time. It does have a much more fun atmosphere than Chipotle but I'm more considered with the food I'm about to eat. After getting through the line, I was asked about the food I wanted... Going through the line didn't really flow. I wouldn't have layered my food that way. I got a burrito but the guy putting together kind of slapped it together. I wasn't impressed by their green salsa either. Maybe it's because I am from Texas and know tex-mex. I hope it was a one off experience but I think I need to find another place in Denver to be excited about. read more

As far as finding a pretty decent, inexpensive, non-pretentious, anti-douchey dining option in LoDo, this place absolutely deserves 5 stars. Granted, I know I've consumed an Illegal Pete's taco or two in my day, I can't tell you it was out of this world, knock my socks off. I know it was satisfying... But the real reason I come to Pete's is for happy hour. Daily happy hour makes this place the cheapest place in downtown for beers. They have some fantastic local brews on tap, and some outdoor seating provides good people watching. I will happily judge the clipboard people from behind the safety of my IPA. read more

I was so psyched about Illegal Pete's. I read most of the reviews and seriously trekked through snow to walk into a weird hybrid between a divey hipster bar and a fast-food Mexican joint. I eyeballed cute boys with tattoos and noticed the excellent indie jukebox. Then I proceeded to order me a green chili sauce smothered chicken burrito. Before I continue, I have to establish my Mexican creds. I'm a former Angeleno raised on Mexican food from people's grandmas; I've subsisted through my student years on SF burritos; I've traveled many times through Mexico. I think I can speak with some authority in saying that my burrito was a pansy ass gringo burrito. Ok, you're reading this and you're saying, but I love my grilled tiger shrimp black bean burrito with mango salsa! And honestly, SF serves some good gringo Mexican fare, but Illegal Pete's was really that either. The menu ran traditional but the food was like a pale shadow of what Mexican food should be. At this point, you are thinking, are you complaining that there was no fat? Maybe... this place tasted very very healthy. But there's something else too. All the flavors were dialed down. The pork green chili was a watered down version of the real thing and even if you paid me $20, there was no way I could pinpoint where the pork was. It was like when you really love, no lurve, you some potato chips and after craving them all day, you happen upon Baked Lays. They look like potato chips, they crunch like potato chips, but you bite into it and it's potato and it's chip, but the thing that makes it an object of your obsession has evaporated. Sadness. I trudged back through the snow a bit dejected, still longing for the Platonic burrito of my dreams, plotting to visit California very soon. read more