We came to Pepe's for the first time. It is an inviting restaurant and the interior is clean and festive. The back also has a bar near the restroom. The menu has a lot of offerings but isn't too overwhelming. We got the crispy pork belly, which came with some pork rind chips and guacamole. This was probably the best thing we had at the restaurant. The pork was thick and crispy. The guacamole was delicious. Our kid loved the pork rinds. I got the regular tostada w pork. It was a good size and tasted like a salad w beans. But I typically love tostadas so this was fine! My husband got the burger which was literally just a burger. No frills. lol! We liked the fries. We got a taco plate for our kid. We didn't get the milk that I think was supposed to accompany it but we got the churro dessert which came w two churros, a side of ice cream, and some cream. Overall, a good experience. Plentiful parking around the area at designated free lots. Outdoor seating available. We saw a lot of people w their dogs sitting outside. read more

See all

We have come here many times and always enjoy it. Good food, good vibe, good people as always. Our issue last night was with our server, Daniel. We thought he was a new employee because he had no clue what he was doing. He had NO personality no interest in general. When he first came to our table he didn't say hello or offer us appetizers or a cocktail. He asked for our dinner order. We ordered the fajita quesadilla and a combo plate. Daniel brought me the wrong taco; the taco was mostly lettuce and cheese very little meat ~ I was surprised because when I ordered this in the past it was excellent and done right (Not his fault tho he did write down my taco order incorrectly). He never came back to our table to check on us. When we were done we asked for a box because we had a lot of food left. He looked at it and brought us a tiny box. What was he thinking?? We asked the bus boy for another and he brought us the correct size. It was hard to get Daniels attention; we tried a few times to flag him down but he wasn't looking at us. We watched him a few different times throughout our time there, to see how he was with the other tables. We came to the conclusion that he looked like a fish out of water. Maybe he was overwhelmed even though the restaurant was a little more than half full last night at 5:30. Then he brought us our check while we were still eating! I told him I wanted to order dessert. Again, he had no clue what he was doing. I suggest the management take a look at this review and address this issue with him. Our experiences here have always been great, been coming for years. We love this place but we would never have Daniel as our server again. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Fried ice cream dessert. Delicious! - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

Pepe's is such a great go-to spot for a relaxed, enjoyable night out. Ray and I went on Sunday night, and it couldn't have been a better way to wrap up the weekend. We didn't have to wait, got a nice booth, and were able to watch the football game, which made the whole experience feel easy and comfortable -- perfect for a Sunday night. The atmosphere was lively but not crowded, and our waitress was really friendly and attentive. I ordered my favorite, the Chile Relleno à la carte, which was delicious as always. I especially love their chips and salsa, and the homemade guacamole is really, really good -- fresh, flavorful, and perfect with a margarita. Since it was later in the evening, à la carte was exactly what I wanted. Ray ordered the Chicken Piccata, and he loved it -- cleaned his plate and said it was very filling. For dessert, I went with the fried ice cream, and it was absolutely delicious -- the perfect sweet ending. What made the night even nicer was the setting. The Montrose area is decorated beautifully, with the trees lit and everything feeling festive and charming. It's also a great location -- not too far from home, which made it an easy decision. Five stars. We'll definitely be back, especially over the holiday season, and we're looking forward to visiting other restaurants in the area too. read more

See all

Jaime was amazing and entire team is fantastic. Tons of seating Food is great but I wouldn't say authentic Mexican like Mexico but Hello? You're in Montrose Yo. Not Puerto Vallarta. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - I love how every holiday they put something outside for the kids to take pictures with and enjoy!!!! - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

First time and definitely coming back! Sally was the sweetest attentive server, very knowledgeable about the food. Best salsa I've ever had. We ordered chicken enchiladas and seafood quesadillas. Best we've had! Very clean and festive restaurant. We're so excited to have found this gem. read more

My wife and I had a nice lunch here a couple of weeks ago. We sat outside since we had our dog with us and the weather was good. I had a burrito stuffed with carrots, spinach, zucchini, mushrooms and beans. It was really good and a nice change of pace. To drink I had an Agua Fresca (Sandia) that that was nicely presented. Service was good and friendly. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Agua Fresca - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

See all

We decided to dine at Pepe's during the Montrose Arts and Crafts Festival. We were greeted by Cruz and promptly seated after her heart warming hugs and embrace. My wife ordered her favorite....shrimp with garlic. I ordered a new appetizer....crispy pork belly with guacamole. Both items were equally satisfying. What makes Pepe's special, besides the food, are the servers. Many know the regular customers and treat them like family. That's what Cruz does every time we dine there. She's genuinely happy to see us and is not content until asking and caring about our wellbeing. We aren't exactly regulars at Pepe's but being treated so kindly by Cruz makes us feel as such. She's more than a great waitress; she's a wonderful friend. read more

See all

Couldn't decide on what to get for dinner but ended up here since there was no wait and had more options. Got the fish taco plate and a mango margarita. Chips and salsa were served first and constantly getting refilled. The fish taco was great! I got it fried since I love a good crunch. Only got 1 since I knew it was coming with rice and beans. Servers were really nice and checked up on us quite often read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Fish taco - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

I always amazed with everything but this past two visits I will have to say that food quality isn't same and customer service is horrible. They have only 2 servers and we have to wait so long for our orders. Because there are no enough staff. read more

Edit! I got a small albondigas soup and there was PLASTIC IN THE SOUP!!!!! totally unacceptable I could have choked. I'm going to call and ask about this. Check the picture! I have only ordered from this location twice The first time was several months ago and I got hard tacos They were good Today everything I ordered tacos beans and rice all taste bland and the preparation and way they looked was just not that good: the taste is bland and oily. I ordered to go. When people order to go they usually need utensils and napkins. For the price I paid for the meal, to not get utensils or napkins is a shame. And I tipped too. But honestly not a good experience. The salsa is watery and bland. Maybe a new staff/cook? Or just a bad day. I'll go to better places that charge less in my local hood next time. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Plastic in my soup! Wtf - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

The food at PEPE's is maybe one of the best I've had in a long time, delicious , fresh , made with love ! ! I always come here with my family or my kids after school for lunch and it never disappoints! The service is great everyone is quick to help and kind!!! Our server today was JORGE and everything was amazing ! The place is very clean and welcoming ! read more

See all

Used to frequent this restaurant several times a year. Last time we went, our party of six waited nearly an hour and a half (after being told, the wait would be 30 minutes) because the hostess couldn't figure out how to place two side by side tables together! Wait staff and food were good but the ineptitude of the hostess was unbelievable. read more

This place has a bar towards the back of the restaurant. This place you may either enter from the street or through the alley and go up some stairs and through a door. This place may look like it's small, but don't let that fool you. This place has really great tasting food. I highly recommend coming here. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

Taco Tuesday is the best! Must buy a drink but all good! Food is delicious and I love their hard shell beef tacos. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Taco Tuesday! - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

Food and service have declined through the years. Last time I was there I ordered a potato taco. The taco came with maybe three small cubed potatoes, with the rest of the taco and the plate full of plain shredded cabbage. No salsa, or anything flavorful whatsoever. The last straw was when we booked Mothers' Day reservations only to receive a call hours later that they don't take reservations for Mothers' Day. It was too late to find another restaurant for our party size. Will not be returning. read more

This was our "go to" Mexican restaurant. Been going regularly for years. However, since the beginning of the year, I think service and food have declined. Not sure why. On my last visit, my group of 4 waited 45 minutes for our meals. 3 plates finally showed up and the food wasn't hot. We found out my plate was delivered to the table next to us. After 10 minutes, they figured out what happened and I finally got my plate. The food just wasn't good. Very disappointing! read more

Bad service! If you're not white or a regular at this place you get bad service. I got seated and had to ask for a menu. The female waitress attended to her regular customers, giggling & laughing while ignoring her other tables. I had to get up and walk to the bar to order a drink. The manager, Rolando, noticed I had to get up to order my drink myself, just sat there at the bar scrolling through his phone with no worries. read more

Horrible I will never order food from there again! The worst taquitos I've ever had . Not even rolled right. Not crispy ! Nasty

Food was good and would consider it again... said "Consider", not for sure. Food was worth eating, taste was good, prices were OK, refills on drinks and chips good...getting our actual meal, was too long. Then when most of us finally got our food others were delayed, and one, it was like they had to go fishing to catch the tilapia/ swai (whatever it was), and when they brought that after the 45 minute and chip stuffing delay...they didn't even say sorry, offer a discount or free. I asked the guy to comp it for the customer and he said I can't my boss is not here. So boss, hope you see this... and fix that. This isn't/ wasn't the first time the people experienced this type of poor service either... There is a local soccer field that hosts tournaments and the families had been here before and had a very similar, bad experience in times. We decided to gamble it again this time because we had a long break in between games and the were showing Champions League Finals here. Good news, we weren't rushed and survived the delay. Bad news, doubt we would try this again unless there was no choice. Lucky news for the restaurant, we considered just walking out and leaving our meals behind, but we didn't. Again, boss, time for you to step up...too many employees walking around to not have more efficient service and figure out which is the leader when you aren't there read more

Service is awful here. It literally takes 30 mins to get a drink. Food took almost an hour to come out. Foods ok, drinks are really good but service is terrible. Takes way too long.... read more

Love to go to PePe's for the convenient driving distance, friendly/helpful staff, the crunchy tacos, and my friend raves of their margaritas! read more

I haven't posted since 2020, and I'm due for an update about Pepe's. It's still one of my favorite restaurants. How is it possible that this little place in Montrose has the most delicious Mexican rice to be found anywhere? I love it! I like to get a cheese enchilada with rice and salad. Or the avocado tostada (which comes with almost a whole avocado on top) and rice. I also like the sauteed fish tacos with rice and salad. I'm gluten free, and their menu is easy for me. Plenty of choices. And they are great about fixing your meal the way you like it. Pepe's isn't expensive or fancy. They decorate for all the holidays, and it is so charming. Lots of free parking in back. And the staff is so friendly and attentive, you feel like a welcome guest. Try it! read more

I didn't visit but my daughter went for lunch one day n got me atacó n it was delicious.I told her do they have menudo she said yes so she picked some for me OMG tasty a lot of tripe flavor so good. I am not Mexican but love their food in fact any food that's delicious I love no matter where it comes from. I don't know if they deliver to Glendale I'm going to find out n for sure try their stuff. Am sure just as tasty wow ! read more

I've been coming to Pepe's for many years. It is consistently good food and the people are friendly. Prices are reasonable. I think they make the best Mexican rice I've ever had. Delicious! I like the tostadas and enchiladas, too. There's a huge free parking lot in the back, and another across the street. Montrose is really cool, so walk around and look at the shops. read more

My friends and I usually go to Pepe's once a week for their fantastic A La Carte lunch menu. It's so hard to find affordable prices nowadays, and Pepe's never disappointed. Unfortunately, we learned this week that new management has decided to stop offering a lunch menu. Our waiter, I believe his name is Adolfo, was as pleasant as always. All the waiters working here are very friendly and so helpful, Pepe's used to be packed for lunch and that's not the case anymore. I believe a lot of regulars will stop coming for this reason. It's a shame. read more

I went into Pepes restaurant with my teenage son and young 10 year old daughter. We entered from the back entrance. Restaurant was empty (maybe 5 tables) we passed about 8 employees total. They ignored us we went to the front and waited to be seated/acknowledged. They looked at us, made eye contact and still chose to ignore us. We eventually sat down on our our own at the first booth. Another man entered shortly after. He was immediately attended to and sat at the booth right next to us. I asked the young man if we could have menus . He apologized and said he didn't see us, evidently. Our waitress (Do not know her name, but a young girl with blue hair) came and took the other mans order first, despite us arriving significantly earlier. After she finished and approached us, I calmly mentioned to her our experience up until that point. She instantly became defensive and aggressive. She told me she was the only server (I've been coming to this place for years and could clearly see the gentleman that has been a waiter for years actively putting in orders... Which perhaps he WAS at the end of his shift, but there were barely any people in the restaurant and the ratio to FOH employees vs customers was about even). She proceeded to take our order with an aggressive tone. I asked her if her manager was in. She said yes and walked away. I saw the manager (I recognized him because my family has been coming here for YEARS) and i calmly addressed the treatment my kids and I had up to that point. He said he had just come in and apologized. I decided to let it go. I came out to eat to relax and have a good time with my kids, not to be upset. A few minutes later the waitress dropped off our drinks. I sincerely thanked her for each drink. She blatantly ignored me. And ran off. I turned and asked for straws and she tossed them on the table. I kindly told her " Hey, I thanked you for the drinks and you can at least acknowledge or say you're welcome." She rolled her eyes and said,"Yea, I heard you" That is when I had enough. We just left and went to great restaurant with amazing customer service (Sakana in La Crescenta) I was a waitress for 15 years. I once worked for the founders of BJ's and was taught the mindset that people go out to eat to "be happy" and that simple goal should always be our mission. I don't expect that level of service from everyone, but if this restaurant cares about it's community and clientele, they'll start to train their employees and incorporate some accountability. I live and work in this town and the service i received today is not what Montrose represents. They have 1 item at this restaurant that I love, however I will not return nor will I recommend. We do have other Mexican food place near by with much better service. Joselito's. La Cabanita, El Charro. Save yourself the upset stomach and poor treatment and avoid Pepe's. read more

I love this place. Great food , great staff, especially Ericka the bartender. I love her attitude, her sarcasm. I would recommend this place to anyone that's in town. read more

Absolutely great spot to watch a Sunday night game. The bartender Erica could not possibly be better. Thanks for the great service!! Will definitely be back soon. read more

I hate to do this but maybe this can cause improvements in food prep/sanitation. My husband and I went here for dinner a few weeks ago and ordered beef fajitas. We both agreed the meat tasted gamey, like not actual beef? My mom and I went again 3 days ago. She wanted to share fajitas so I convinced her to get the chicken fajitas. It tastes good. However, 2 days later we both got very sick, with diarrhea, nausea, abdominal pain, and fever. I'm giving 2 stars because the service was very good. read more

We absolutely loved this place. The food was flavorful and well priced. Complimentary chips and salsa, fairly easy weekday parking in the back, and good service. Honestly a nice vibe! My boyfriend & I both liked our burritos quite a lot, and want to go back at some point to try more items. The burritos were also so massive that we definitely could have split one! ;) read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Super Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

See all

The place was buzzing on Friday evening. We were seated quickly, and their margaritas were outstanding. Their salsa, which was more like pico de gallo, was fresh, and their spicy salsa was balanced and flavorful. The chipotle chicken had a good amount of sauce and was tasty. Good portions, great taste, excellent service, and good quality food. read more

We almost passed this by but glad we didn't. First tell; salsa had good, balanced flavor. Marg was solid, the three dishes we got were better than average Mex fare and actually had some vegetables incorporated!? The ceviche was fresh though a touch bland (least well executed). Service was great and outside dining spot was perfect (helped we coul all fit on the bench. In the Crescenta Valley, this definitely ranks in the upper end for me when looking for Mexican. read more

Am feeling generous, so rounding up 3.5 stars to 4, mainly because of good service. I ordered "Seafood Taco Salad - Shrimp, crab and fish with tomatoes, onions, bell peppers, avocado and seasoned sour cream, served in a crisp tortilla shell - 16.99." The overall amount was very generous - I'll be having the leftovers for lunch. I liked the taste and texture of the seafood items, especially the fish, surprisingly. The shrimp was well prepared. I don't recall specifically tasting the crab. There was a lot of lettuce, and some pieces were very large, making it awkward to eat. The "crisp tortilla shell" hid under the massive bed of lettuce, and it became hard to find it to get a bite of the contrasting taste and texture. It wasn't a jumbo shell like you'd see in a tostada grande, for example. Our Adored Granddaughter was with us and appreciated the crayons and drawing paper. The kids meal is supposed to come with milk and Jell-O, plus whichever entrée is chosen. We had already ordered her an apple juice, and ended up paying for it separately. No milk or Jell-O were ever offered or provided. She did have half the quesadilla and some of the rice and beans, which is pretty good for her as a picky eater. She had leftovers, too. Dear Hubby polished off his Chicken Mole meal in one sitting. He was hungry, and it wasn't as large as my salad. We actually could have shared the seafood taco salad, as it was that large. Our server checked in with us multiple times in case we needed anything; always appreciated. My understanding is that this is an independent, family-owned restaurant. Judging by the guests, I think they get a mix of locals and out of town visitors. The bar was filling up as we finished to head out. They seem to run as a well-oiled machine as far as getting guests seated, orders taken, and food to come out of the kitchen. Is it gourmet Mexican? Not so much, but it's a comfortable eating experience. read more

See all

So delicious, great service, affordable prices , great music , conveniently located. I can't say enough good things about this place. I have Been coming here for brunch before the Montrose farmers market for years!!!! It's the best! read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Chilaquiles and chile relleno plate with mimosas for breakfast - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

I've been a fan of this place for a while--location's great, service is always friendly (shoutout to the consistently stellar staff!), and if you read my past reviews, you'll know that hasn't changed. But this most recent visit? Kind of a culinary rollercoaster... and not the fun kind. Dined in with three friends, and the meal was, well... a mixed bag. The classics--burritos, quesadillas, beans, red rice, salsa--they nailed. As they should! But everything else... oof. Let's talk guacamole. This wasn't so much guacamole as it was a lonely avocado smashed under peer pressure. No seasoning, no tang, no soul. The chips? Stale. As in "left out at a Super Bowl party three weeks ago" stale. Now for the seafood fajitas--easily the most tragic part. Instead of that sizzling, smoky, cast-iron charm, I got what looked and tasted like a seafood stew on a plate. The veggies were chopped tiny and practically melting, with no char, no texture. The shrimp, scallops, and tilapia were technically cooked but sadly flavorless. I kept waiting for the sizzle. It never came. Redemption came in a pitcher: the mango margarita. It was cold, it was boozy, and it did not let us down. Detailed Ratings: Location: A Venue/Decor: B Service: A Food Served Hot: A Dish Variety: A- Food Taste: C- Overall: C+ (3 Stars) Still rooting for this place--but next time, I'll stick to the burritos, quesadillas, beans, red rice, salsa and margaritas, and maybe skip the seafood "fajita stew." read more

Growing up in Texas, I always have had a taste for Tex-Mex, and I enjoy Pepe's version of it a lot! I ordered the two item combo with shredded beef taco, ranchera chicken enchilada, Mexican rice and frijoles de la olla, and everything was tasty! They are often busy and the restaurant can get a bit noisy and lively but it's a fun atmosphere and the staff is always nice and attentive. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Two item combo with shredded beef taco, ranchera chicken enchilada, Mexican rice and frijoles de la olla - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

The hostess does not understand how to do seating for larger parties. For our party of 6, she was determined to only seat us at the 2 larger booths at the window. When adjacent smaller tables open up, she keeps seating groups of 2,3 or 4 even when we told her we could sit at adjacent tables. Her estimate of a 30 minute wait is now over an hour. Several other groups have left rather than wait. There are also 2 outside tables that seat 6 and she seated groups of 2 at those and did not offer those to us. read more

Visited old town Montrose and went here to try out their margarita. Pretty good strawberry margarita and decent prices as well. The Big pitcher of fruits margaritas is only $34, about 5 big margarita glasses. Rarely we see Chimichanga on the menu so we ordered the mini chimichanga with chorizo, beans and cheese filling. It doesn't taste the same as I had it before but it was nice. Came with sour cream and guacamole. Bottomless chips and salsa. The z happy hour menu looks decent for food and drinks. The services are excellent. Nice decor in the restaurant as well. read more

Pepe's Mexican Restaurant - Strawberry margarita. Chips & salsa - Mexican Near Me - Montrose, California

See all

I ended up here because I got turned away from another restaurant in the area for having my service dog with me. They didn't say a thing to me about my dog so, points for them!! I ordered tacos off the taco Tuesday menu. The ground beef hard shell tacos-what was that meat??? It was unseasoned & tasted old. Not recommended at all. I ended up taking the meat out & just eating the crunchy part of the shell with the lettuce & cheese & Tapatio. (I think it was ground turkey--I hope, anyway, I don't like mystery meat & it wasn't beef). The carne asada street taco didn't have much flavor either but a little more than the ground mystery meat. The pastor taco had cilantro on it ( I have the gene & requested no cilantro) so I tried scraping it off but was largely unsuccessful, so that taco was mostly inedible for me. It just wasn't good food. But the service was great! Roberto did a great job checking on me & getting my check to me quickly. I regret trying to have taco Tuesday and the $20-something $$ I spent & went home with a stomach ache. Maybe the regular menu items are better but I do not recommend the taco Tuesday items! read more

Guacamole is so bad we didn't even eat it. It stunk! Even our 3y old said yuck. Margaritas qualify as the worst I ever tried. We left them, and are heading elsewhere. read more