Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant
254 Orange Ave, Goleta, CA, 93117
Pepe’s Mexican Restaurant Menu
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Address :
254 Orange Ave
Goleta, CA, 93117 - Phone (805) 967-0313
- Website https://www.pepessb.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 9:00pm
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street, Private Lot
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : Yes
Wi-Fi : No
Has TV : Yes
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Sue C.
Good food, good prices, wide selection, and friendly staff. I looked around the place, and it was a good mix of families and young people or couples. Most things on the menu can be ordered in combination or a la carte. Fun decor. The salsa that comes automatically with chips is surprisingly delicious, if a little bit thin. This was a nice find using the Yelp app on my friend's iPhone!
(4)Alyssa B.
Pretty good mexican food. It's a sit down place so I like to come here when I'm looking for more then a quicky burrito from somewhere in iv. Not to expensive and I love the cheese enchiladas. Vegetarians beware though, their beans do have lard!
(4)Chuck B.
I've been going to Pepe's for 10 years and my wife for 40 plus. No matter what I order it is always excellent. Fresh & tasty. My wife almost always orders the same thing, bean tostada and cheese enchilada and says they taste just the same as 40 years ago. The buffet is also great, but I can never remember which nights they have it. I would recommend Pepe's to anyone who wants a good Mexican meal and a relaxed atmosphere.
(5)Kay K.
My old roomate, who is Mexican, took me there and it became one of my favorites. The setup is very friendly and layback where you seat yourself, and enjoy some family style Mexican food. The service is always great, and food comes out quick. Large portions with good prices, great deal to me overall.
(4)Sam K.
The food was ok....nothing to write home. But the service was horrible! And when we told our waitress that the Pineapple margarita was undrinkable she just stood there with a dumb look on her face and told us that we shouldn't have ordered it. We asked for the manager, who never came over. So one of us took it up to the bar, and that got the attention of the manager. She also told us we shouldn't have ordered it and after 2-3 minutes of argument finally said she'd take it off the bill. We would have been happy with a replacement drink, which was never offered. Needless to say, we will never be going there again. Be forewarned......and don't order the Pineapple margarita!!!!!!!!!!!!! P.S. If you order the buffet don't expect to receive attention form the wait staff!
(1)Amanda K.
I came for the lunch buffet and left with a full and happy belly. It's a simple buffet, but I enjoyed it. If I recall correctly, it offered: rice, pinto and refried beans, cheese enchiladas, chicken enchiladas (which were kinda dry), bean and cheese mini chimichangas, pork verde, taco meat, flour and corn tortillas. I'm pretty sure I'm forgetting something, though. It also had a salad bar. The staff was nice. You seat yourself and they will take your drink order and bring you chips and salsa. Plates were cleared quickly. I really liked the environment. It's an old building, but it's kept pretty clean. It was a relaxing atmosphere. Lunch for 2 was 23 bucks but I also had a soda.
(4)April R.
My husband and I ate here earlier this evening and we both have got to say that this place is AWESOME! Our hometown is San Antonio,Tx...so we are used to Tex Mex and eating at all kinds of different Mexican restaurants. This place is def up there on one of our fav places to eat! It reminds us of back home. Try the enchiladas suizas..you won't regret it..I fell in love! The chicken was moist and they add plenty of cheese. The rice was fluffy and and moist. The beans were delish and they weren't dried out. The magaritas were also tasty and potent :) My husband had the cheese enchiladas and he mentioned they they were really tasty and very cheesy. We'll def be going back while we are enjoying the rest of our stay here in SB!
(5)Chris M.
Quick and easy. A little greasy. I had the taco and cheese enchilada combo. The taco was great. The enchilada was ok but not cooked thoroughly. The chips and salsa were great. Service nothing special but nothing bad.
(3)Patrick M.
Went with a friend for drinks and dinner last night. The Pobrecito burrito was delicious, and the margarita pitchers were strong, tasty, and cheap. Bartender was friendly. They don't, however, have mojitos, contrary to what other reviews may say.
(4)Ella B.
We had heard that Pepe's is pretty good. So after a long day of cleaning and moving we headed over. The restaurant was pretty empty on a Sunday night. We sat in the bar area. The chips and salsa were good and yes, the salsa is pretty spicy! (although, a little sweet and a sauce-like consistency, sort of like runny ketchup) - but it was still good. We ordered a "burrito traditional" and fish tacos. The burrito was huge and very good. A bit on the heavy side, and with generous sides of guacamole and sour cream. The fish tacos, by contrast, were bare. Bare as in no cabbage, no lime, and no pico de gallo. It did come with a little cup of salsa (better than the chips & salsa) and a mixture of cilantro and red onions. Sides were a slice of honeydew and orange. I mean, yes, i get it, i ordered fish, so i wanna be healthy, but c'mon, how about a little ruffage to go with it? But to be fair, the fish came in big pieces, not little chucks and it was very fresh. Overall, the dinner was very good and we were satisfied. I would go back again for some margaritas. :)
(3)Gisell F.
The chips and salsa were great. The service and their food not so much. The waiter was pushing us to order despite being the only other people there. When we finally ordered and our food came I was completely disillusioned. PEOPLE PUTTING MEAT, BEANS AND RICE IN A FLOUR TORTILLA DOES NOT MAKE SOMETHING MEXICAN. The "pobresito" burrito I order lacked spices and overall taste. For $9 for a burrito I was expecting something better than shredded beef on a tortilla. And to top it all off I ran out of my drink and it took a good 15 minutes for the waiter to refill because he was too busy socializing with the rest of the employees. Bad Service and food is mediocre, take your money elsewhere.
(1)Cindy E.
Awesome,....... this place has. Been around forever, when I was in high school a date took me here, wow 32 years ago. there chilly verta mmmm
(5)Raf B.
Awesome margaritas from a beautiful vintage bar. Great service and good, traditional Mexican food. Love the Carnitas too. Every time I am in SB, Pepe's is on the list!
(4)VICKY K.
this place has awesome mexican food, but the service is questionable. depends on how they feel i guess. one time it took me 20 minutes to get a menu. then the waiter never came back so i walked out. there is this great waitress who can remember everyone's order without writing anything down, she should get a promotion if she doesn't own the joint already. their margaritas are awesome too!
(3)Erin J.
A family favorite Pepe's has been around forever. It never fails as a good place to go for low key, tastey mexican food. Seat yourself, order a margarita and enjoy! I recommend the enchiladas, suizas are my favorite but my dad personally liked the 3 Amigos. But you really can't go wrong with anything on the menu, I've never been disappointed.
(4)Eric W.
HORRIBLE customer service at this dump. I used to like this place back before management took it the wrong direction. After ordering a bean burrito, I was served a burrito with chicken in it, and ended up eating half of it before I realized what I had been eating. As a 15 year strict vegetarian, this has never happened to me in a restaurant before, and it was a significant mistake on their part. I politely explained the situation to the manager, but received only demeaning comments and sarcastic gestures in response. Not only did she refuse to compensate me for my meal, but she also disregarded everything I said, and did not apologize. I would hope that a decent local restaurant respects its customers more than this, but I was abhorrently appalled at her behavior - especially considering that I dealt with it very politely. Don't expect to be treated well here.
(1)Jennifer C.
yummmmmmmmmmmmm, their buffet is da bomb, it gets pretty crowded at lunch since its a work favorite lunch stop, so you should get there a little early, but their cheese enchiladas are sooo delish, their salad bar is amazing too with this cilantro dressing, and cheap, defineteley hidden secret of Goleta/Santa Barbara.
(5)Leah M.
I have been going here since I was a little girl and the service has always been great. A couple of their servers have been there over 20 years and are awesome. Their food is authentic, fresh and very tasty. I personally LOVE their Carne Asada and have had the buffet numerous times. They also have reasonable lunch specials that come with ALOT of food! LOVE their chips and salsa while you wait for your food! Their Margaritas are fresh, delicious and will leave you wanting more. I honestly don't think I've ever eaten anything that I didn't like. The parking can be a little bit of a challenge, but that's just because it's in old downtown Goleta. All in all, Definitely NEED to try it.
(5)Aline O.
SLOW service. Flavorless food. Rude waiter. Walked in around 2 pm sign said to seat yourself so we did. Restaurant was dead there was like 3 tables that had 2 ppl eating. Waiter didn't even bother greeting us instead walked right passed & didn't come back for like 5 minutes to give us a menu. I ordered the huevos rancheros plate. What I received wasn't quite what I was expecting. Soggy tortilla with a fried egg on top and seriously a shitload of some weird tomato sauce that had no flavor what so ever. Came with rice & beans. Rice- didn't taste like anything beans- were okay. Took two bites and it made my appetite go away :( My friend ordered the enchilada plate. Made her throw up. *TMI* but she said it tasted funky like the cheese on the enchilada was old... We sat there for 15 minutes just talking about how we should have just gone to Los agaves or el Torito. When we got up to pay my friend told him she would like to know if she could just not pay for the plate since she did not eat more than two bites of it & he said next time tell me before.. OH YEAH because she really knew it was going to be gross. Anyways never coming back here again.
(1)Kailey P.
Much better Mexican restaurants in the Goleta/SB area. Location: Old town Goleta. Small side lot but otherwise street parking. Inside it is very festive. Food: Decent. I ordered one pork and one chicken tamale. The corn masa was very dry which I was bummed about because that is my favorite part of tamales. The meat was very tender and moist which confused me. The chicken was topped with a verde sauce (really good and tangy) and the pork was an enchilada sauce. Maybe their other dishes are better. Service: Very, very friendly! I got my food to go and a few of the wait staff checked to make sure I was being helped. They also gave me lots of salsa, which I appreciated.
(3)M C.
several people in our group came here at separately for dinner and when discussed our dining experiences all agreed this place was really mediocre. Seems especially surprising in an area with many Mexican restaurants. Has an outside area, can accommodate larger groups, but the place seemed loveless (we would have left immediately had we not been so hungry) and the staff not particularly friendly. I'd say - try a different place. Does have dishes just under $10 up to under $20.
(2)Joe T.
Stopped in while visiting in the area. Service is decent and friendly. It is a sit down restaurant with an attached bar and the food comes out in a decent time nice and hot. I ordered the nachos with ground beef. It looks small but is very filling. I barely finished it and I usually finish an order of them. It has real shredded beef but it seem dry, like it was overcooked a bit. The cheese was cooked on a little to much as the it burnt around the edges. My dad's burrito was pretty good. He enjoyed his. Overall, it was not bad but was not great. Service gives 3.75 stars overall. They have lunch buffet but I think it is weekdays only like the lunch specials. The patio looked like a nice place to sit when it is warm. The bar area looks cool with all the wood.
(3)Cassandra O.
Its changed so much from when I was little. We were here last night and out of 3 waitresses that helped us, ALL failed to deliver a smile or serve us in a timely manner, although they were hardly a full house. They looked miserable and when we got our check for two children and two adults she had added $20 on the tab and didn't attempt to apologize but told me they were from the "last ticket". Terrible servers but the runners and im guessing a manager were nice. Overpriced 'meh' food, bad service, never returning to this establishment. Hope they enjoyed the inflated farewell tip they didn't deserve. $62 for a kids taco, order of nachos, Tres amigos enchiladas, two green enchiladas and 4 cokes. WTF
(1)Travis S.
Usually, this is a great place to go. Tonight for my dad's birthday, they were completely out of food. My mom mentioned that we weren't really able to get our money's worth and they only charged us for two of the four buffets. Nice gesture, but would have preferred the food :)
(4)Kathleen D.
Sitting inside the restaurant typing this. Wow tonight the service is pretty terrible. We walked in and got seated, waited quite a bit for a server. We ordered water and the buffet. We went and got food at the buffet and returned and saw there were no utensils. My bf asked a waitress for them and she never returned. So five minutes later I got up and had to practically walk into the kitchen to get someone's attention to ask for silverware. Got back and still had no chips and salsa, had to try to get someone's attention to ask for that. And then had to precariously put our glasses on the edge of the table to get someone's attention for water refills. I know they are busy but the service is terrible, and we have had several different servers, so we don't know who to ask for what. Food is good but please work on the service.
(2)Kira E.
Really good food, okay service. Was in Santa Barbara from out of town and my boyfriend craved Mexican. I had the beef tacos. It was a little expensive, but yummy.
(4)Chelsea B.
Pepe's is okay. I have gotten chicken legs with dark mole here before and it was passable mole, though i'm used to the kind that makes your eyes water. I have been here with a large group for a work event and the sampler appetizers are good and they keep the chips and salsa coming. For vegetarian options you can definitely do worse. The veggie burrito is pretty good and the avocado and queso fresco tacos with rice and beans are pretty good too. This is a good place to go with a group or for families, etc. since they have a large menu. They also do the lunch buffet which seems pretty popular.
(3)Lulu R.
I love this place! Food, staff and fun Friday atmosphere is great!
(5)Kim V.
2.5 stars... but I rounded up because the service is always good. The food is ok. The last time I went I found a few hairs floating around. Some in the chips, some after I got some rice from the buffet. Granted it's a very open dining area, and they have a decent selection of food in their ayce buffet: cheese enchiladas, baked rellenos, soup, chicken, broccoli, chimichangas, rice, beans, salad bar, taco meat for hard shell tacos or tostadas... I've had a few of their specials (Lunch special #4 and another one) and they weren't bad. But the hairs turned me off.
(3)Craig P.
Great straight up sloppy Mexican food. We tend to prefer the sloppy fare more than the overly price fancy Mexican. This place will meet or exceed your expectation if you are on the same page as us.
(4)Heather P.
Good Mexican food and excellent friendly service. They offer the typical Mexican food selections. I had the combination plate with cheese enchilada, beef taco and bean tostada. The salsa that they serve complimentary is particularly good.
(4)Alisia M.
Delicious Mexican restaurant for Goleta. The enchiladas are delicious and their Micheladas are so tasty!!! I always go back for the Enchiladas Suizas.
(3)Matthew S.
Carne asada tacos were decent, with well seasoned if fatty meat, and sopes were flavorful. The salsa that came with the tacos was tasty, and the salsa that came with the tortilla chips was spicy and flavorful, although the chips themselves were bland.
(3)Vickie B.
Found this restaurant by chance, best service & best food we've ever had! We'll be stopping here every time we pass through from now on! I had Arroz con Pollo, first time I've seen it on a menu and it didn't disappoint. The chicken was seasoned perfectly, the rice cooked just right, and enough sauce for flavor but not too much. He had the chingadera, yes that's really a menu item! Tasty and just the right amount of heat. But even more impressive than the food is the service. Plenty of staff and all very attentive, and each one treats you like family. Especially Maria, she's awesome! Looking forward to checking out their Carpenteria location, Delgado's!
(5)Sarah S.
Go here for their lunch buffet. Lots of options, and plenty of food for a good price. The single entrees are a little overpriced. It's clean and they are on top of refilling the popular items. They have a nice little outside courtyard to sit in too.
(4)Jon H.
Have not been here in many years. Really nice surprise, great chile verde And steak enchilada combo. Server Was attentive and friendly. 2 others Servers asked if we needed anything Looks like lots of regulars. I'm happy To have rediscovered another Old Town gem
(5)Greg W.
I came here for Sunday Brunch with family. This place gets popular but you don't get crowded out. The menu is large and they have lots of options. They will also do subs if you want. All the food I saw looked good. I did not try to the buffet but it looked good. However I did get the fajitas which were nice and large. The steak was about average quality as were the shrimp. Both were light on the seasoning. The prices are not bad. I would come here again.
(3)Marilynn L.
I have been coming to Pepe's since I was a little girl, so thats 270 dog years. The food is always the same and the wait staff is pleasant. Do not come here for fancy smancy stuff. It is down home cooking. My favorite are the simple cheese enchilada's, ground beef tacos and chili rellenos. The lunch buffet can be disappointing at times because the food is sometimes cold, but the chili verde is amazing and the flour tortillas are hot and in abundance. I am sure the chef comes in early to cook and anyone that wants to cook for me gets 4 stars.
(4)L M.
All you can eat (lunch) is fairly priced ($12.42, after tax). Variety of food is low; had pork and pork enchiladas. GREAT cheese enchiladas with lots of cheese not like other places where you can only taste the tortilla. Waiters are friendly but service (for drinks) was a tad slow. Quite atmosphere.
(3)AJ R.
Pepe's has been a Santa Barbara staple for a very long time and I have been here many, many times. This place always has great service and great food. Almost anything on the menu that you order is going to be awesome..... whether it be shrimp, chile rellenos, or just chicken. This place is the real deal - you will not be disappointed.
(4)Lindsay W.
Our work birthday lunches are often here because it is buffet and everyone should be able to find something. The last few times it was super packed and under staffed. We requested water, platings, salsa numerous times. The food is ok, not the best Mexican in town. They do accommodate bigger groups, but don't expect the best customer service.
(3)D F.
I've been coming here since I was a baby! It's a tradition in my family to come here on Sundays when they have their brunch buffet. Delicious Mexican food, a waffle bar, and an omelette station! It's a tad pricey but very much worth it! It's all you can eat. I would suggest brining your own family :)
(5)Angela R.
If you want authentic Mexican food then Pepe's is the place to check out! They offer great prices and the chips and salsa are free. I love the red salsa they serve with the chips. If you want a hotter one then you need to request it as they do not serve it with the chips but they will gladly bring it to you. My go to meal is usually the enchilada suizas. The chile verde bean dip is delicious! A must try. You really can't go wrong with anything you order here. They have a great happy hour and serve delicious appetizers. I've been bringing my son here since he was born and he always picks this place when he's craving Mexican food. The service can be hit or miss at times but for the most part it's been good to me. No complaints here! Check this place out if you're craving Mexican food.
(5)Kevin S.
So... I eat here a lot. It's kind of a local's spot. And dare I call myself a local?!? For me Pepe's is primarily a lunch spot: highly convenient (near work), highly comfortable, service is fast, and I leave sated, satisfied and more often than not, stuffed. Can't go wrong with the lunch buffet (currently only Wednesday-Friday), and my personal faves are pretty much any of their lunch specials (if I'm being frugal), their Pobrecito burrito, their Burrito Gonzalez, and anything else involving their pork chile verde (including their menu item the Chingadera!). Their enchiladas menu, albeit a bit pricey -- worth the financial investment :) And the complimentary chips & salsa -- yes. Yes. Pepe's is also great for hosting group lunches -- I've coordinated a few lunches for 10+ heads and they pull it off without a hitch. They have a separate indoor room for groups, and can also accommodate in their outdoor patio. They've done some remodeling in the past year/two years which has made Pepe's feel like even more of a gem of Old Town Goleta -- which it is!
(4)Nicole U.
MMMMM, this place is good! I think it's quite pricy... although, the BOMBness of the complimentary chips and salsa makes me forgive them a little. Weird out of place orange slice with the dishes.
(4)Mark F.
Spicy but thin salsa was the highlight of my visit. The restaurant was busy at lunch but oddly enough, most were ordering off the menu and passing on the buffet. I chose poorly and helped myself to the all you can eat fair with enchiladas, stewed pork and taco bar. One trip to the buffet is all I could stomach of the bland food. At least the salsa had some spice but the rest of Pepe's was a dud. For Mexican food in Goleta, you can do mucho mejor
(2)Lou P.
I had lunch here the other day. Note to self: Control is critical when it comes to the chips here. They are good, and it's easy to fill up on chips alone. The tri-tip burrito was great. While it wasn't huge, it was good...which is fine with me...I do not believe quantity is quality. The server was attentive and prompt. Was it the best Mexican meal on earth? No. Would I eat here again? Yes, and look forward to doing so.
(3)Duke W.
The Duke is out there searching for the best tacos in the land, and Santa Barbara is definitely a Mecca. There are many fine Mexican restaurants and taco stands in this town. The competition is steep. I've had some of the best taco experiences of my life in this town, and I haven't even started yet..... Pepe's serves a killer Carne Asada taco, friends. One of the best you'll ever find. I'm not gonna call it the best, because I'm still searching, but these guys have it down. Chips and salsa were both excellent. The tacos were presented in an artistic manner, with a slice of mellon, a slice of orange and fresh chopped red onion on the side. The perfectly cooked beef was served on two home made tortillas with some distinctive salsa. One of the best tacos in the land, for sure. Good enough to excuse them for the slow service and highly irritating Halloween gizmo that went off every time someone walked by.... It's the tacos, folks.
(4)CC P.
The rajas tacos are frequently a special and really tasty (and vegetarian). They have a good spicy salsa if you ask for it. Friendly, attentive staff. Nice patio area. Good for groups. Good happy hour, cheap food on the bar menu.
(4)Doug M.
This place is our favorite Mexican restaurant in the Santa Barbara area. It is consistently hot, fresh, and delicious. Every dish my wife and I have tried has been great. The atmosphere is quaint, and the waitstaff is friendly. We especially enjoy eating in the bar, where it is cozy and the staff is exceptionally attentive. Not a bad margarita either!
(4)Katie W.
Blegh... where to start. The food is just awful. I don't know what else to say. Everything I've tried is just so so terrible. The drinks are way too expensive for what you get and they aren't even good. They should try to step up their drink game since there is a very popular and busy bar across from them!
(1)Carl J.
Crappy service, saw our waiter once when we arrived and the cooks brought us the food.
(1)L R.
Really not great Mexican. Small Small Tri tip Burrito with exactly one teaspoon of Avocado. Rice tasteless and refried beans without cheeze???? No onions in anything. Looks like a good place to drink as most alcoholic drinks were in oversized glasses. Price really didn't match the quality of the food. Not sure what all the rage is about the chips also.
(2)Rachel M.
I'm a fan of the lunch buffet among other things, we live in the neighborhood and walk over here all the time. Service is fast and attentive, and you get chips and some amazing salsa on the table immediately. My only complaint is that some of the food is...dare I say it...kind of bland. Maybe I'm ordering the wrong things, but I'm not crazy about super-spicy food and yet I occasionally find myself pouring salsa, hot sauce, and salt all over everything.
(4)Gina A.
Local Goleta spot. I love it here, it's like a second home. I've been coming here since I was a kid with my parents and grandparents. The people that work here have been here for a long time. Nothing has changed. It's still just as good as when I was 10 years old.
(5)Sean C.
Was here with my team the other day. Got the lunch buffet and I absolutely loved the pork. However, that and the fruits were the only thing I loved. The rest were just mediocre. One of my coworker has a torta and it looks pretty good. I might try it again for some other food. For now, it is what it is for the buffet experience.
(2)Meha M.
Food was great, atmosphere was nice. Wish the waiters would have been slightly more attentive though. They never came to refill the waters, or ask if we needed anything, and getting the check took 30 minutes. I would highly recommend it though.
(4)Steven J.
Three Amigos Enchiladas was a good choice. Service in the late evening was slow but quick to respond when asked. Good atmosphere and okay drink selection.
(3)Kiyan R.
I came here with a couple friends, and this place certainly served itself as very average. We came inside and seated ourselves when we noticed there was no one to immediately seat us. We received the chips and salsa on the house (salsa was yummy) right away and proceeded with our drink orders. In terms of the food, I've had better Mexican food in Santa Barbara but it certainly wasn't bad-tasting food. You walk in the place feeling like its going to be quite authentic but the meals are just oversized. The atmosphere's fun but only thing that was offsetting was the service. It wasn't very crowded on the night I came so we expected to be served any time we needed it as well as receive our food in a timely fashion. Unfortunately, this was not the case - the food took a very long time to leave the kitchen and we had some minor issues with the service. I'd probably come here again if my friends asked but I wouldn't initially recommend it because of the dense saturation of great Mexican food in Santa Barbara.
(3)Mark G.
Chips and salsa were fair. Not bad, but certainly not great. I had the Tres Amigos enchiladas. They were tasty, and served promptly and hot. No service issues at all. A bit pricey, but good food. I'll probably be back again.
(4)Silvia Q.
The food was good. Service was poor... looked like there were only 2 waiters there... Parking is good.
(3)Lauren S.
Great place for large parties, can order from menu or buffet. Wonderful food and service at an excellent price!
(4)Cerin V.
Carne asada tacos a la carte -- at $8.95 for two tacos seemed a bit high. But they were L A R G E, the meat was very good quality and the salsa was excellent. They were served with an ample slice of melon, which complemented the dish well.
(4)Kelsey F.
Lunch buffet Wed-Fri is the BEST way to spend your lunch hour. It's $9.95 I believe, for all you can eat deliciousness!! And the salsa they give you? I dream about that salsa. It's so tasty. I usually have to get a second bowl of it. If you like cheese enchiladas, try Pepe's!!
(4)Shirly T.
Do not go to Pepe's between 3 and 5 pm! You have to wait for an arrogant waitress for 5 minutes at the entrance. Though the taste of the food was not so bad, we got sick after having lunch here. Even though the restaurant is huge and we were comfortable with the booth, we weren't happy with the late served drinks and the waitress's attitude. There are so many Mexican restaurants in SB. Who wants to come back to Pepe's?
(1)April P.
Pepe's is my favorite Mexican restaurant, and not just in Santa Barbara! Whenever I go to a different Mexican place I always compare their chips to Pepe's, and they never measure up. It gets pretty busy at lunch time, but I usually get the lunch buffet so it's not a problem. When I order from the menu, I get the enchilada suizas. So good! All around delicious food and nice servers.
(5)David J.
First off, the service is just plain lousy in this place. You can expect to sit and wait to give a drink order for several minutes and even longer to get your bill at the end of your meal. If you want something from the bar, you are better off to go get it yourself, and even then you can expect to be ignored for a substantial amount of time before the self-absorbed blond dye-job behind the bar decides it is finally your turn to order. All that being said, the big attraction in this place is the buffet. The food is good, and there is plenty of it. I really like the chili verde, cheese enchiladas, roasted chicken, and chili relleno. If you come in on a weekend morning, you can also get fresh-made belgian waffles and menudo. Ordinarily I wouldn't put up with such lousy service, but the quality and quantity of the food at the buffet more than makes up for it. If someone from the restaurant reads this review, please get on the ball with the drink orders and with bringing the bill at the end of the meal. For the life of me, I don't understand why it takes so long to bring the bill. Don't you want to get those tables cleared out? Also, quit trying to keep OTT people out of your parking lot. It is a symbiotic relationship, and most OTT regulars also eat regularly at your restaurant.
(3)Ed F.
Had their Friday night buffet, same as the Wed - Friday lunch buffet, but great stuff! Especially the pork chile verde! Also great chicken enchiladas. Could use a little more than mellon for desert but still great food at a good value.
(4)Eudaemonius ..
Pepe's is the locals place you want to slam and say something awkward about but just can't. There are no frills here but you get what is advertised. Decent Mexican 1960's style food, piled high with a basket of chips that never runs out, and big ol' Margaritas. People may complain that it is not as she-she as down today SB, but it is Goleta after all and they have been serving it up this way since god knows when. If you are hungry get the buffet! It is decently priced and you can stuff your gullet till you explode. Great place for students, being that UCSB is only 5 mins away. Here is the hush hush secret that we love about Pepe's...They can seat a huge party fairly easily. This keeps my family coming back! That's rare in SB/Goleta. The patio is quite nice and sunny and they have a full bar. There is nothing flashy here, but good honest food, prices and VERY friendly staff!
(4)Travis Q.
Eating chips and salsa as we speak. Avoid the red house salsa. It tastes as if it were conjured up using a can of Heinz tomato paste. I ordered a traditional burrito which consisted of chile verde smothered in cheese & sauce. The burrito ran me $9.50 & it was quite small. It was delicious. The menu said it was served w/ fruit. They gave me a slice of orange. I'd try it so say you did. Not my kind of place.
(2)Courtney H.
Great food and friendly service! Everything is fairly priced, and the portions are adequate, but not gut-busting. The bean and cheese burrito was a little bit oily, but hey, this is Mexican food. They forgot to charge us for the soda my Mom ordered, and when we told them they gave it to us for free! It pays to be honest and Pepe's, and the workers really care about their customers, even first-timers to make sure they come back. Their buffet looked pretty good too, and included a salad bar. Might like to try this next time as you get a little taste of all of their specialties. Don't worry, even the buffet looked good and hot and fresh.
(4)Dr. Brian J.
Yummy, but can get super crowded some nights. The lunch buffet is a great deal, but I don't get it anymore. I eat to much and feel cruddy all day afterwards. If you like good Mexican food, this place rocks!
(4)Melissa C.
Me and my friends come to Pepe's regularly, usually during the day when it's sunny to sit on the patio and drink their giant margaritas! The margaritas are big and good, and while nothing unique, they never fail to serve good tasting food and drinks in generous portions. The food is hot and fresh with quality ingredients. The staff is extremely nice and helpful and give you baskets of hot chips and great salsa to start. It's not the best Mexican food, especially not in Santa Barbara, but it's a place to go with a group for good service and a good time.
(4)steve g.
The dinner Buffett is a crowd please forum family
(4)Chris C.
My only experience with Pepe's has been their catering, but I was really impressed with their food nonetheless. My sister and her roommates decided to have Pepe's cater their graduation party this past weekend and the food was met with rave reviews by everyone at the party. There was a really nice variety of all of the restaurant's offerings including tamales, enchiladas, flautas, rice and beans. I sampled a little bit of everything and it was all delicious. Pepe's enchiladas stood out the most. The chicken enchiladas with red sauce were very tasty. The meat was extremely moist and flavorful. The tortillas were perfectly cooked and not at all soggy like you'd expect from take out. The sauce had a nice mild flavor of chilis and they were topped with plenty of Monterey Jack cheese. The flautas were also a big hit. They were perfecty crispy with a nice balance of shredded beef and spices inside. They went really well with the homemade salsa. The food is the only thing I can really review but it turned out to be some of the best Mexican I've had in a while. If you're around UCSB and looking to cater a party, Pepe's is a great choice!
(4)Lemonjelly L.
Perfectly acceptable Mexican food, with bargain prices on lunch specials, including a buffet for $9.99. You want to be full, you come here for lunch. Interior is dark and cozy, with soft lighting and a kitschy feeling that reminds me of childhood meals here with the family. Back in the days when I dressed my chips with salt and ordered the bean and tostada with only beans and cheese on it. There is a small menu of lunch combinations, ranging in price from $5.75 to $6.75. Usually two items like a taco and an enchilada, or an enchilada and a tostada, or burrito, or chile relleno. All plates include rice and beans. All tables come with baskets of warm crunchy chips and salsa. One lunch companion knew to order a special salsa verde that was great on our tacos and beans. I got the beef taco and chile verde&bean burrito for $5.75. After filling up on chips, and eating the beans and rice, I was too full to touch the burrito and took it home. The taco shell was charmingly lopsided, but my glance at the taco area of the buffet made those shells look factory-fried. So maybe it's better to order the smaller combos. But if you're really really ridiculously hungry, head towards the buffet, which also offers a salad bar and tortilla soup with lots of toppings. Seems to be a good place to bring your family for dinner, or hangout in the bar after work. Seems to also be a good place to run into Yardi people, since their office is just a couple hundred feet away. If you're trying to hide from Yardi people, you can still take your chances here, because the interior is so dark and mysterious and you can slouch really low in the booth cushions or the low-slung leather chairs.
(3)David B.
We went here for lunch, and it was worthwhile. The lunch specials are cheap-ish ($6-$8), but we all went for the lunch buffet, which was $10. The cheese enchiladas and the chimichangas were greasy, but a-ok, the chimichangas receiving especially good marks. The carnitas--my standard order--were solid. The best dish, by far, was the chicken enchiladas; there were legitimately good. I also liked that they had a soup and garnishes. It was just a flavorful broth with some vegetables, but it really added a lot to the meal. The food wasn't spicy, which was good for us, as my fiancee has trouble with heat. I simply added hot sauce as needed.
(3)Brady B.
I ordered A "Make your own combination" Diner. I chose a chili verde burrito and a chili relleno. Everything was hot, fresh, and good. I usually don't care much for the deep fried kind of relleno's I prefer them to be grilled and fire roasted. But these were fresh and the accompanying sauce was light and spicy. The chili verde was some of the best I've ever had from a restaurant. It was very very tender. I like it spicier, but very moist. The rice was mild and fluffy, the beans were great. Great old timey bar and restaurant full of locals. Good chips so-so salsa it's a little on the "Pace" side for me but it's still ok. Service is N/A as I had a seat in the bar. It's a bit loud in there especially with the marggie blender going almost all the time. It is however what you would expect and want from a local neighborhood bar. Eats for happy hour were a small nacho bar, with green enchilada, and chips and salsa. Not bad for serve yourself free be.
(4)Rick R.
Pepes food never disappoints! This place is an awesome mexi cantina dive. The only complaints I have are the margarita's need a little help. Other wise if our looking for some good comfort Mexican food and a mellow local vibe. This is the place. They have a separate bar with 2 TV's. Good chips and salsa too!
(4)Kathy B.
OK.. Yelpers, I'm a fair judge on food and service...this is not the place for either. I'm from OC and you can't fool me..try and serve poor mexican food and weak salsa and tell me it's good...Nah... I mean a taco with hamburger instead of string beef...really???? I guess they serve buffet' style during the week and people like to get something cheap...but no taste beans..sorry not for me! I won't be back....
(2)Dave K.
Free grinds during happy hour, large portions (which I usually split with my wife), and kicking Margs. I usually go with the Tres Amigos (a beef, a chicken, and a cheese enchilada) and leave stuffed and content. If you live around here and haven't been to Pepe's, you kind of suck. Auf.
(4)Barbara B.
Pepe's is an easy restaurant to go to with a big group. There isn't anything too extra ordinary about their food. Typical Mexican restaurant with great margaritas. We go there every time we visit our daughter at UCSB.
(3)Cory T.
Service is lousy and the food is definitely substandard (like taco bell only with waitresses). The waitress acted put-off by my request (on behalf of my 6 year old) to have the child's plate beef taco substituted with chicken... they refused to accommodate and I was forced to order the chicken taco ala carte! What a sorry-a&& policy! The atmosphere is the only thing this place has going for it.
(1)Courtney J.
Nothing special. I would keep on driving!
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