Pepe Taco is closed forever
I haven’t eaten there in almost a year, but my brother is heartbroken after hearing that the locally owned Mexican restaurant closed. He heard that the owner had tried to find a local buyer, but couldn’t. So he sold the land and building to someone who plans to pu some other kind of business at the site, located at 7723 N. University.
My Mexican food needs are met entirely by El Mexicana, a small eatery located at the corner of Jefferson and Mary in the Old Town North neighborhood in Peoria.
Eric, on the other hand, is taking it really hard. He has a card in his pocket for a free bowl of chili.
Billy Dennis is a former reporter and editor at small daily and weekly newspapers in Illinois and Missouri. He comments on media, news and politics. He also owns and operates 
You gotta be kidding! CRAP!!!
They’ve had that building for sale for quite a while.
As far as the food goes, it was never great, but I did find myself eating there every once in a while. I don’t think they’ve changed their menu in 20 years, and that’s no joke!
With all the good mexican restaurants now open in Peoria, you’d think it won’t be missed, but they weren’t quite Mexican. AmeriMexican. No Guacamole here! Good greasy grub.
I’ll miss it.
That’s a shame. I like the simplicity of the place. My dad found a little white pebble in amongst the beans once, so I had to go there later in life, when I could drive my own self. They used to have a jukebox, too. Didn’t they?
CRAP!!
Jukebox is still (I should say ‘was’) there. It was fun to browse the hit titles of the 80’s while you were waiting for your food.
Yes. I remember the jukebox. I also liked the Pepe Taco on Western as well.
Ahh… to think, I’ll never get to eat another Sancho Pie… and no more Taco Tuesday’s.
I keep thinking about it, and it’s starting to make me sad.
Three words: Drop the chalupa!
We went for years without a good quality Mexican restaurant here in Springfield. (Unless you count Chi Chi’s, all of which are now long gone.)
Then, about ten years or so ago we got an authentic (as in owned and operated and serviced by real Mexicans) local Mexican restaurant. That lasted a couple years until the INS deported them for being here illegally. Can you imagine?!
Then it was years without, until recently we seem to be getting an abundance of Mexican restaurants. Well three or four or five. That’s good for Springfield.
More and more, though, I find that I’m just a Taco Bell girl at heart.
We’re talking about Mexican restraurants, here. Taco Bell is off topic.
I just ate at Pepe Taco last week. Best dirty pit of a restaurant ever. Food rocked. He should have hired more (one?) hot chick to work there. All the successful eateries have hot chicks working in them.
Call the Pope. Rob and I agree. They always said it was Mexican food for American tastes. Damn good.
C R A P ! !
At least we both like greasy sort-of mexican food and hot chicks.
I didn’t think it was particularly greasy…
C R A P !!
C R A P !!
C R A P !!
BOOO!!! I want Taco Tuesday! I will now step on a rusty nail
[Ed note] You’re not fooling anyone, Neil.
I wasn’t trying to fool anyone, I just didn’t realize my computer was signed in under you. Maybe I will make a post renouncing your allegiances to Star Trek, Heinlein, Drew AND Scarlett. Then I will post movie posters from Brokeback Mountain and NSFW pictures of Jake Gylenhall(sp?). Would that get anyone’s attention?
PEPETACO@INSIGHTBB.COM
Send ‘em an e-mail. We want our enchiladas!
¡CHA HA HA HA! ¡CUSTED BURROS ESTÚPIDOS!!! ¡CUSTED PUEBLA ES SENTIMENTAL SOBRE LOS TACOS!!! ¡cSoy El DUEÑO Del ALMACÉN, Y RIÉNDOSE De USTED Los IDIOTAS! !HAHAHAHAHA!
My brother worked at Pepe’s in the 70’s. their secret ingredient…oatmeal in the meat as an extender. I willl mis their taco’s chilli and enchiladas! the food was so filling and I gre up on it. Remember the old green and gold floor ?????
[...] Brent see’s the old yummy grease pit called Pepe Taco in that painted over red sign. Angie gets an honorable mention for Taco Tuesday! Just for fun, here’s how the building looks without the signs… [...]
i grew up on pepes and my children came to love it as much as i did.. we drove there for a convention in peoria in april to find it closed.. i am truly sad.
we would make the journey once or twice a year for pepes as we are now 3 hours away.
Does anyone know how to find the recipe for Pepe Taco’s Chilli without Beans?
Booo! It's gone forever huh!? I wish I just had a Sancho Pie and 3 Hard Shell Tacos. I was the Taco kid in the 80's If I could eat 5 I got one for free!! Great Memories.