The Red Pepper is the "ultimate dive" food stop in Grand Forks. It is an institution for UND students and alums (myself included), so when my fiance and I made a weekend trip to "The Forks" for a weekend of hockey and college reminiscing, this was a necessary stop. We went around lunchtime on Saturday, when the majority of customers are stumbling here for hangover sustenance. I ordered my usual from the college days - a whole size ham grinder with taco meat. My fiance opted for the beef tostadas. Positives: -If you want a college dive atmosphere, this is it. From the food to the paper plates to the lack of forks, it is a dive, through and through. -I love my ham grinder with taco meat...it is by no means gourmet, but there's something perfect about it's simplicity. -Cheap...cheap...cheap! Negatives: -I don't recommend going here if you are not familiar with the food, or haven't lived in Grand Forks/attended UND. Go with a local or UND student/alum. Have them show you the ropes. My fiance had never been to the Red Pepper and enjoyed it for what it was - divey college food. If you go, make sure to go to the original on University Ave, not the new one on 42nd or the one in Engelstad Arena...the atmosphere makes the food that much better. read more

Goddamn, I miss this place! I've never lived in Grand Forks, but when I used to live in Fargo, the Pepper was always our first stop if we went up to GF. I guess I can understand why some people don't see the appeal, but for me, this place is KILLER. I dream about it, I crave it, I LOVE it. I won't force it down anyone's throat though, if you don't like it or understand it (although I'm not sure I quite understand it), there's more left for me. ;) Much love, Pepper. You are dearly missed. read more

They don't have the most friendly staff but the food is always super good and cheap, also open late.

Yes, the best in Midwest "Mexican" food is still there, waiting for you to stumble in and gorge yourself on mediocre but tasty grinders smothered in white sauce (whatever the hell that is). It's comforting how little some things change, isn't it? read more

The Red Pepper - Mexican Near Me - Grand Forks, North Dakota

I been going to the Red for many years this place is just tacos mainly but they are killer good I always order the turkey grinder add taco meat you have to add taco meat kick a** sandwich. throw in some chips salsa its the perfect late night snack for me.(munchies) read more

Have you ever been to Taco Bell and thought to yourself: I wish this had less flavor. Well the masochists up in Grand Forks have fulfilled your fantasy. Need a sobering snack that you find dusty in the back of your cupboard? Done! Craving a microwaved hotdog? Check. Have a hankering for a sandwich layered with last weeks lunch meat from a schools cafeteria? Red Pep has got ya covered. You know the old phrase: "just put some hot sauce on it and it'll taste better". This establishment needs to drown in hot sauce. This place is less of a restaurant and more of a spectacle in order to see what the human body can manage to digest. read more

DELICIOUS as always! I am actually from Minot and my family and I always stop in for some grub on our way through! It never disappoints and is always just as delicious as the last time. Consistency is key!!! Turkey Grinder Colby added is absolute heaven. You can't beat the price either! Good priced amazing food - absolutely zero complaining here. We have another trip to Grand Forks in two weeks and this will be my first stop as always! read more

Dirty Money. The cashier should not make the taco's bare handed.

I always make sure to stop there when I am in town. Turkey grinder with taco meat and cheese tostadas are my go to. Don't skimp on the white sauce. Some people go in with too high of expectations but to many it's definitely comfort food. Friendly workers behind the till and a great college atmosphere. Gotta get me some Red Pepper! read more

The Red Pepper - Mexican Near Me - Grand Forks, North Dakota

I'd like to start off by saying this is more of a place for friends to hang out and eat mediocre food at a cheap price. So to expect 5-stars out of anything in this place means you're heading in the wrong direction. But that doesn't mean it's a bad place to get a bite to eat. Living in the area my friends and I constantly go here and have a good time doing so. Overall I find this place cheap without cheap food and is a good place to sit down and chat with people you know. P.S. - I would recommend a warmed up ham and turkey grinder with taco meat. It's easily my favorite thing they make. read more

You know when your child/nephew/niece makes you something to eat & it looks nothing special? Like it's not terrible looking. Yet, pretty close to it. But for some odd reason it tastes amazing just because of the fact that your child made it special just for you... To you it is amazing, to everyone else it's mediocre/not ideal. As odd as this comparison is.... it is the same way with Red Pepper. You are not going to appreciate the food from here unless you are a local/UND alumni. Just like how some random person would not appreciate a simple cheese & ham sandwich on wonder bread that your 7 year old child made for them. It's not their child, so it's not special. It's just weird. To us locals this place rocks. To outsiders it is a shit hole. You could basically make everything this place serves in your college dorm room. Haha. Keeping it classy with the paper plates & sporks thooooooo..... read more

The bread on the grinders will bankrupt you. You need to change the bread back . I will not order a grinder again.

Come on people, its the Red Pepper!!! This place is awesome and nostalgic, its not meant to be gourmet! Great ambiance, good food, always a great time, I love the Red Pepper! read more

This place is an institution, so you've gotta give it a try, but don't expect anything too amazing. It's basically good drunk food, but might not be as good if you eat it while being anything but inebriated. The best thing about their subs is the taco meat, although it's cold which becomes really weird. It has a little spice to it, and it's really the only thing on it with good flavor. So maybe try the Mexican food instead. In any case, it's still a fun little place that has lasted that long for a reason. read more

I agree with most others here. This place is disgusting. If it weren't for the drunk college students, I don't think this place would be open. The food is overpriced, the service is slower than crap and completely unorganized, and the food is GROSS. It just tastes awful. To make matters worse, after you eat the stuff, you'll taste it for a good 5 hours after you've ingested it. The location I've been to on University Ave is an old house half-ass converted into a restaurant. It's always sticky (EVERYTHING is sticky!) and if there's more than 3 people in there, it's crowded. The staff is slow and never seem to wash their hands.. take my money, turn around and make my food... awesome. The only GOOD thing I can say about this place is their 'white sauce' is pretty good. read more

The red pepper is the best late night food in the Midwest it even got an award for it. If you've never been to the red pepper before I would definitely suggest getting an everything grinder and putting white sauce on it until it oozes out. Also the garbage plate is good too and their quesadilla soup makes a spicy side! read more

Like something straight out of a cliche-filled movie, The Red Pepper is your local college restaurant. Frequented by college kids during the day it is a happening place that is only outdone by the stoner-kids that come in after dark to converse with the stoner employees. Offering cheap tacos, cheese tostada's, and their famous grinders, The Red Pepper is a local institution that has remained small while expanding its influence throughout the mid-west. It is true the food is the bastardized Mid-Western version of real Mexican food, but to North Dakotans it is the closest they want to be to ANYTHING Mexican. The food is good, it is worth checking out the different crowds that eat here. Definitely an institution that visitors to ND should check out. read more

First off, they get one star because this site would not let me post zero stars! For those of you asking if you can order grinder kits, yes you can. HOWEVER, DON'T DO IT!!!! I went to UND and fondly remembered the grinders here, so I was pretty happy to order a kit from the RP this week. The man on the phone asked if I wanted overnight shipping, I said yes and requested the total that would be charged to my Visa. He said he couldn't say and he'd call me back with a total. The call never happened, kit showed up the next afternoon, no receipt in the box, but $100 was charged to my card!!!! I know overnight shipping is expensive, but I doubt I was their first customer and suspect they must have had SOME idea how much shipping was. I know, my mistake for not pushing more for my total, but I never dreamed of such a rip off. These sandwiches are certainly NOT worth $25 a piece!!! I guess if the sandwiches tasted good that might take some of the sting out of the purchase, guess I played them up in my memory! So, if you feel you are willing to shell out that kind of money to have these sandwiches shipped to you, eat them the way you probably did if you went to UND......after bar closing and pretty drunk, trust me, it helps. read more

Personally, I'm not a huge fan. But I also am pretty sure that I am the only hometowner that doesn't LOVE this place. Saying that, I still enjoy going to the place with the right group of people after a night out. The atmosphere is really something else, and the 42nd street restaurant really just isn't the same. Remember that it won't help to ask for a fork, they can't help you! read more

I understand this place isn't meant to have a gourmet menu, and when I stopped in for lunch while visiting the area on business on a local's recommendation, I didn't expect anything extraordinary. But I truthfully found the tex-mex to be on par with a Taco Bell preparation and the service was dreadfully slow and uninspired. I couldn't even find a fork in the place--only plastic spoons availed themselves with which to consume my enchilada. The ambiance had a nice flair to it, but beyond that I can't say that I'd go out of my way to return. read more

Nobody from out of town eats here twice. Food is horrid. How can such an iconic college town restaurant serve such terrible good?

I moved far from Grand Forks, 3 years ago, and I honestly miss it and there's truly nothing that compares to it. SO CHEAP. I'm in Grand Forks for a week and have already been to red pepper 5 times. And never turn down the white sauce. read more

Anyone who's expecting this place to be nice or classy just doesn't get it. The food is served on paper plates, there's no silverware, and the service can be questionable at times. But none of that matters. This is where you come when you're craving some great fast food style tacos or grinders. I really don't even like Mexican food that much, but I still find myself here quite often. It's the first place you come when its late and you just want to stuff your face with delicious unhealthy food. As a UND student, this is one of the first places I take friends that are visiting GF, its just really good, cravable food. The tacos and cheese tostadas here are one of my favorite things about living in GF. read more

The Red Pepper is local. It's got a unique atmosphere, it's quirky, and is exactly what it sets itself out to be, a taco truck in a brick and mortar building. It doesn't want to be chic, it wants to stay true to who it is. And for that, you have to stand up and applaud them!! The Grinders are their specialties, as is their sauces. Try the garbage plate and ask them to make anything from off the menu. If they have the ingredients, they'll put it together. And don't forget to leave a tip for the college students that work there. Pop in and enjoy. At least you've experienced a Grand Forks tradition. read more

They put oats in their beef, makes it taste way too grainy. Taco Bell has far better taco meat

This is the best place in North Dakota to go for a sandwich......if you're drunk. The Red Pepper is a Grand Forks institution and I had went there sober and I have to say it lost the luster. If you need a late night, post whiskey with a beer chaser, food option this is the place for you. read more

I have been back to Grand Forks twice since the flood chased me out, I have been back twice ..... both were stops off the freeway for the Red Pepper. I want to swim in a giant garbage plate. read more

Visited from out of town at my dad's suggestion (he went to school at UND), more for its historic significance than actual quality of food. It's a pretty sketchy place, and the ingredients used aren't exactly gourmet quality, but I can see why this place is successful: the food tastes good. Had the turkey grinder with taco meat and enjoyed it, despite the mildly unpleasant way it sat in my stomach. read more

Food - Cold tacos. Gross.. Service, horrible, music overbearing and loud. Awful. Why does everyone rave about this?

The Red Pepper is a normal taco shop made great by a two sauces. The white sauce is really what makes this place shine and for people who like some spice the red sauce has a good favor with real kick... This place is great for a quick trip place to eat and it does not have cold taco meat... That's just someone whining about it being a old building. It might look a little run down but it has good food with great sauces read more

These sandwiches shouldn't be as good as they are, but they are greater than the sum of their parts. Hot, greasy, spicy, messy, and satisfying. I like turkey with cheese and taco meat. read more

Great place to come in for super cheap food that is very good for the price. I recommend extremely cold days and late nights.

I've never really understood the popularity if the Red Pepper, because when I moved to grand forks I often heard that it was good, but when I ate there, it seemed like very amateur. They warm up burger patties in a microwave, and serve food on paper plates. It seems like I'm eating left over food when I go there. The pricing isn't good for the quality of food. A hot dog, and a couple of grinders (small sandwiches) and a soda is easily 10 dollars. The bottom line: The Red Pepper is a low quality (but fast) restaurant that seems to be liked for no apparent reason other than nostalgia. read more

I'm up in grand forks for work from Oklahoma. I seen the reviews and thought I would give the world famous GRINDER a try so I did. It was great also had a crunchy taco it was also great. The only downfall about the place was the other rude customers that just walked in and cut in front of me even tho the employees seen me in line first. But other than the rude people the food was great. Would definitely come back again. read more

The place is unkept and slightly trashy, but it isn't trying to be anything more. This is for late nights, hangovers, and/or a pilgrimage for UND alumni/ex-Grand Forks residents. I would have to say that the unique atmosphere of the place is what makes those who love it come back. I personally enjoy it a couple times a year and always order the turkey grinder with extra white sauce. The best choices are the grinder, tostada, and the mexi burger. Make sure to put enough white sauce on whatever you order, that is where the flavor is. read more

Ok. Really? Just a step below taco bell. I am not sure how they keep the lines coming in.....but....a fun vibe.

I have been here a few times and never had anything except the grinder. I don't know how the rest of the menu is but the grinder is quite good. It isn't anything fancy, but the sub roll is good, the taco meat on top of a turkey sub is great and brings some nice spice to it. I didn't bother to get it heated and I didn't bother with the white sauce though I would like to add it next time I go. Simple, straightforward and tasty. The place does a good business and if you are in Grand Forks, stop by. read more

Love it all. The white sauce is a must on the tacos, tostadas, and grinder. And of course the chips and sauce are the bomb! I literally like everything on the menu. read more

I've been here a few times. The food really isn't that good. But when I feel like eating something different I'll stop in.

This is some weird stuff. But I crave it! You gotta try it to understand This ain't diet food! read more