Love this place and everyone who works there! Been going since I was 7
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Cody Kenney
There's a lot of good Mexican food in Auburn. Tio pepe is definitely top 5
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
marti r
Family owned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chimichanga, Refried Beans, Extra Chips and Salsa
Eric R.
For nearly 30 years, Tio Pepe's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina has been dishing out Mexican favorites, to Auburn, CA locals, visitors to "Old Town" Auburn, and travelers on nearby Interstate 80. It's become a "go-to" restaurant for delicious Mexican cuisine, to locals, visitors and travelers on nearby Interstate 80. Tio Pepe's has been dishing out fresh, family recipe Mexican cuisine for nearly 30 years, and the restaurant has become a favorite of Auburn locals, visitors to historic "Old Town," and travelers on nearby busy I-80 freeway. The restaurant is just a short couple blocks off the freeway, and has become a favorite of travelers heading east to Reno and beyond. As you enter the restaurant, you'll see the bar, and you'll be seated by your server. The floor seems to be a tad on the irregular side, so as the sign advises, please watch your step as you enter. Did you miss the colorful, delightful Mexican patio, complete with fountain before you entered the restaurant? During warm weather, the patio offers an amazing outdoor dining experience. "Lunch" menu, which is offered weekdays, excluding holidays, from 11:00 to mid afternoon. Just for the record, the "portion size" is just about right for lunch. If you are adventurous, or if your appetite is "larger than lunch," you can order from the "Dinner" side of the menu, which offers a wide array of choices, and bigger portions. From the weekday "Lunch" menu, I went with "Chilie Relleno," along with rice and beans, which are included with every lunch. The "Lunch" menu is offered Monday through Friday, from 11:00 until three in the afternoon, excluding holidays. Like most selections on the "Lunch" menu, it was priced at a reasonable $9.95. The menu describes this delicious entree as, "Chilie filled with cheese, deep fried and covered in Ranchera sauce. Served with rice and choice of refried or black beans." Like the trooper I am, I went with refried beans as my choice of beans. My "Chilie Relleno" began as a medium size chili pepper, most likely a "Hatch," which was stuffed with Mexican cheese, and deep fried to absolute perfection. The "Ranchera" sauce reminded me of chili/tomato based sauce that I've enjoyed to trips in Mexico, as it was definitely tomato based, but enjoyed lots of chili, and seasoning... you guessed it... cumin and garlic. The sauce was on the thick side, which covered the relleno perfectly, with just a hint of "heat," but the flavor was simply delicious! A small side of shredded cabbage and carrot was on the side, which made for a nice touch to my lunch, and it mixed well with the "Ranchera" sauce. Cabbage is very popular in Mexico, as you'll rarely find lettuce as a side, unless you're in a border or tourist town. The Mexican rice was solid, delicious, and included a tidbit of peas and carrots, which is rarely found in northern Mexico. I was surprised... Did I accidentally make my way to Mexico City instead of Auburn? Tio Pepe's website advertises their refried beans are vegetarian, which means the beans are free of lard and other animal products. I'm used to enjoying refried beans cooked in lard, but one taste of Pepe's refried beans made a believer in the "healthier side" of me, as delicious refried beans CAN be made without using lard! The refried beans were creamy, flavorful, and garnished with just a bit of melted, shredded Mexican cheese to enhance the taste of this amazing side. OK... I'm a believer in the refried beans served at Tio Pepe's Mexican Restaurant! I hear the recipe is a long-time family favorite, and it's served at the restaurant. Now the secret is posted on the web! You can't beat the price of the lunch, as it was $9.95, which included a basket of freshly-fried tortilla chips, along with the bowl of salsa cruda. The $5.00 price of a bottle of imported Pacifico beer is in line with
Jamie Reynolds
Some of the best food I've ever had. They even managed to turn refried beans into something to look forward to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Refried Beans, Enchilada
Ulysses Marshall
Always stopped here as a kid with my family on the way back to Reno, still the same service as I remembered a the d food was great. They also allowed our pups to sit on the patio with us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
Tiffany Flanagan
I was really hoping to fall in love with this little restaurant on our drive-thru anniversary trip. It was very cute and nestled in a little spot and we happened to be there on an evening where they had live singers. The music was pretty good and the service was great. The food did leave quite a bit to be desired. I had the camarones cocktail and my husband had the chorizo plate. Honestly, it lacked any flavor. Whatever the refried beans were done with was super salty. The shrimp were very dry and tasted fake. The cocktail itself tasted like watered down tomato juice. Unfortunately, we won't make this stop again.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Wendy L.
Only giving them two stars because the food was edible and it didn't make me sick. That's the best I can say. The food was bland, uninspired, and tasted like it came from the Sysco truck. The carnitas was like boiled pork. The shredded beef in my taco was totally tasteless. Wierd enchilada, tiny bits of cheese in a gooey sauce that had nothing recognizable in taste or texture. Just another mediocre Mexican food restaurant in Auburn. Disappointed. The server was very nice though.
Alex M.
I used to love it here when I was younger and I finally went back after so long and unfortunately got food poisoning and also the food was honestly pretty bad :( I am super disappointed
Good food. Parking sucks but it's not a bad walk. Prices are fair for what is around and they have a clean establishment.
Claudia Casillas
The taste of this food is bad. I had enchiladas de mole. The mole sauce tasted nothing, it was just the color of mole, the fried beans had SOUR taste, that means they was rotten! The albondigas soup was terrible: no salt, no taste... Definitly this is not a mexican food! (And was expensive)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Sandy
Absolutely love Tio pepe,the Staff are very friendly and outgoing,they serve people with big smiles on their faces, and they are very helpful and professional.The food is absolutely amazing and the atmosphere is laid back,and very inviting.When I went there,I felt relaxed and almost like home. Can't wait to go back there again!!!:)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Christine McCoy Corthell
Love the tacos margaritas and live music on Friday nights!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco
Melody Fulweiler
Always great food. Live music outside was Greg King and friendsWas great..
Love this place and everyone who works there! Been going since I was 7
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
There's a lot of good Mexican food in Auburn. Tio pepe is definitely top 5
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Family owned.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chimichanga, Refried Beans, Extra Chips and Salsa
For nearly 30 years, Tio Pepe's Mexican Restaurant and Cantina has been dishing out Mexican favorites, to Auburn, CA locals, visitors to "Old Town" Auburn, and travelers on nearby Interstate 80. It's become a "go-to" restaurant for delicious Mexican cuisine, to locals, visitors and travelers on nearby Interstate 80. Tio Pepe's has been dishing out fresh, family recipe Mexican cuisine for nearly 30 years, and the restaurant has become a favorite of Auburn locals, visitors to historic "Old Town," and travelers on nearby busy I-80 freeway. The restaurant is just a short couple blocks off the freeway, and has become a favorite of travelers heading east to Reno and beyond. As you enter the restaurant, you'll see the bar, and you'll be seated by your server. The floor seems to be a tad on the irregular side, so as the sign advises, please watch your step as you enter. Did you miss the colorful, delightful Mexican patio, complete with fountain before you entered the restaurant? During warm weather, the patio offers an amazing outdoor dining experience. "Lunch" menu, which is offered weekdays, excluding holidays, from 11:00 to mid afternoon. Just for the record, the "portion size" is just about right for lunch. If you are adventurous, or if your appetite is "larger than lunch," you can order from the "Dinner" side of the menu, which offers a wide array of choices, and bigger portions. From the weekday "Lunch" menu, I went with "Chilie Relleno," along with rice and beans, which are included with every lunch. The "Lunch" menu is offered Monday through Friday, from 11:00 until three in the afternoon, excluding holidays. Like most selections on the "Lunch" menu, it was priced at a reasonable $9.95. The menu describes this delicious entree as, "Chilie filled with cheese, deep fried and covered in Ranchera sauce. Served with rice and choice of refried or black beans." Like the trooper I am, I went with refried beans as my choice of beans. My "Chilie Relleno" began as a medium size chili pepper, most likely a "Hatch," which was stuffed with Mexican cheese, and deep fried to absolute perfection. The "Ranchera" sauce reminded me of chili/tomato based sauce that I've enjoyed to trips in Mexico, as it was definitely tomato based, but enjoyed lots of chili, and seasoning... you guessed it... cumin and garlic. The sauce was on the thick side, which covered the relleno perfectly, with just a hint of "heat," but the flavor was simply delicious! A small side of shredded cabbage and carrot was on the side, which made for a nice touch to my lunch, and it mixed well with the "Ranchera" sauce. Cabbage is very popular in Mexico, as you'll rarely find lettuce as a side, unless you're in a border or tourist town. The Mexican rice was solid, delicious, and included a tidbit of peas and carrots, which is rarely found in northern Mexico. I was surprised... Did I accidentally make my way to Mexico City instead of Auburn? Tio Pepe's website advertises their refried beans are vegetarian, which means the beans are free of lard and other animal products. I'm used to enjoying refried beans cooked in lard, but one taste of Pepe's refried beans made a believer in the "healthier side" of me, as delicious refried beans CAN be made without using lard! The refried beans were creamy, flavorful, and garnished with just a bit of melted, shredded Mexican cheese to enhance the taste of this amazing side. OK... I'm a believer in the refried beans served at Tio Pepe's Mexican Restaurant! I hear the recipe is a long-time family favorite, and it's served at the restaurant. Now the secret is posted on the web! You can't beat the price of the lunch, as it was $9.95, which included a basket of freshly-fried tortilla chips, along with the bowl of salsa cruda. The $5.00 price of a bottle of imported Pacifico beer is in line with
Some of the best food I've ever had. They even managed to turn refried beans into something to look forward to.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Refried Beans, Enchilada
Always stopped here as a kid with my family on the way back to Reno, still the same service as I remembered a the d food was great. They also allowed our pups to sit on the patio with us.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 5
I was really hoping to fall in love with this little restaurant on our drive-thru anniversary trip. It was very cute and nestled in a little spot and we happened to be there on an evening where they had live singers. The music was pretty good and the service was great. The food did leave quite a bit to be desired. I had the camarones cocktail and my husband had the chorizo plate. Honestly, it lacked any flavor. Whatever the refried beans were done with was super salty. The shrimp were very dry and tasted fake. The cocktail itself tasted like watered down tomato juice. Unfortunately, we won't make this stop again.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 4
Only giving them two stars because the food was edible and it didn't make me sick. That's the best I can say. The food was bland, uninspired, and tasted like it came from the Sysco truck. The carnitas was like boiled pork. The shredded beef in my taco was totally tasteless. Wierd enchilada, tiny bits of cheese in a gooey sauce that had nothing recognizable in taste or texture. Just another mediocre Mexican food restaurant in Auburn. Disappointed. The server was very nice though.
I used to love it here when I was younger and I finally went back after so long and unfortunately got food poisoning and also the food was honestly pretty bad :( I am super disappointed
Nice weather, clean outdoor area & tasty food!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Good food. Parking sucks but it's not a bad walk. Prices are fair for what is around and they have a clean establishment.
The taste of this food is bad. I had enchiladas de mole. The mole sauce tasted nothing, it was just the color of mole, the fried beans had SOUR taste, that means they was rotten! The albondigas soup was terrible: no salt, no taste... Definitly this is not a mexican food! (And was expensive)
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 3
Absolutely love Tio pepe,the Staff are very friendly and outgoing,they serve people with big smiles on their faces, and they are very helpful and professional.The food is absolutely amazing and the atmosphere is laid back,and very inviting.When I went there,I felt relaxed and almost like home. Can't wait to go back there again!!!:)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Love the tacos margaritas and live music on Friday nights!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Taco
Always great food. Live music outside was Greg King and friendsWas great..
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5