Ever since Don Pepe moved to Stella Link Rd, It feels like a completely different experience than its former digs. (#1) The good news is that the venue is updated, it's far more spacious with outdoor seating, service is prompt and courteous, and more importantly, the food is still excellent. In the space that was the ultra divey, former burger spot (Lee's Burger & Mo), they've transformed the space brilliantly. There was a pathway at one point for a drive-thru, but I don't think this was retained. Instead there's more parking space, which in a place like Houston is already a luxury in itself. In the past they were known primarily for their tamales, breakfast tacos, and enchiladas, but the menu has since expanded to include more platter-based items such as carne asada and grilled fish. Naturally the prices have also increased, but has remained fairly affordable and the accept credit cards. Ordering in Spanish is always preferred, but much of the staff also speaks English. I still dream of their breakfast plates and despite the change I've still never seen it so busy that I couldn't find a place to sit. This still remains one of the most slept on places in this part of town. __________ (#1) Should probably be under a different Yelp listing as well. read more

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I have been going to Don Pepe for several years and have always loved the food, the quaintness of the establishment as well as the quality of the food. I am so fortunate to live near Don Pepe. I just returned from Mexico City and having withdrawal from the lack of Mexican food in my kitchen. Don Pepe to the rescue!!! In their new location just around the corner, the menu is much more expansive and I'm on a journey to work my way through that menu. This is not TexMex if that's what you're looking for. This is authentic Mexican food like I enjoyed in Mexico City. The owner who is always present and most often working the counter for orders, is so nice and accommodating. I am a vegetarian and he, without fail, accommodates my request for no meat in any dish. I am addicted to Don Pepe breakfast tacos. Little did I know, there is so much more. I arrived home from Mexico City Tuesday evening. Wednesday I needed my Mexican food fix, so I went straight to Don Pepe for lunch. I had the avocado enchiladas. Outstanding! After eating healthily between Wednesday and today, I needed yet another Don Pepe meal. This time I had the papas con rajas with fresh corn tortillas. AMAZING! I'm not sure I can ever order anything else here. I was a little worried the charm of the previous location would be lost when they relocated. Nope! Charming as ever and stylishly decorated with much of the artwork from the previous location. Wish me luck staying away from Don Pepe! Oh and most importantly, they have quite an array of Mexican candy at the counter where you order! That was a very pleasant surprise and yeah, I bought a piece of candy to take home for dessert. read more

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The person that owns this business used to have two restaurants. one was Tamales Don Pepe at another location. He opened a second place at this location called Pepe's Burgs & Margs. The signs out front have changed and now say Don Pepe's. We ate here today and my wife and I agreed that her red sauce enchiladas plate was 3 stars and my beef fajita plate was about 4 stars. The refried beans on both plates were very tasty. My plate came with some guacamole, pico de gallo, my choice of flour tortillas and a cup of spicy salsa. The counter service was good. read more

Hole in the wall restaurant on Stella Link but a hidden gem for sure. Their breakfast tacos are amazing and come with a flavorful salsa. Would definitely come back again when I have a craving for good Mexican breakfast. read more

Looking for a menudo place and we found this place on yelp! Good reviews and good pics that made us wanna try it out! The outside area is a little shady but that didn't stop us from going in and trying the food!! The breakfast, brunch and variety of good dishes on the menu are great! As soon as you come in you have to order before you sit down which I don't like because that stops me from ordering a desert or something else because you have to pay right away. And you have to top in advance which I don't do until I see how the service was. The customer service lacks some smiles and welcoming ambiance, work in that because Mexico does have a welcoming vibe in their restaurants, I know you are in Texas but you are selling Mexican food so smile and welcome your clients! Let's see how the food is now! I ordered a menudo (large) which had too much liquid and not enough meat and grain. The taste was good but the portion in reality is not large with all the liquid. Also ordered chilaquiles half red and half green, not spicy but flavor was good. A little kick would be good, make it great! The portion is huge and with the perfectly made sunny side up eggs!!! I was amazed not anyone can make eggs this way!! Yolky and not burned corners!! Let me tell you about the cafe de olla!!! Bomb!!! Perfect!!! Hot and cold both are tasty!! Takes me back to Mexico. The ambiance is calm and relaxed, it gets busy but enough parking and space inside. I would come here again if I couldn't find another menudo spot, but does need more grano and less liquid read more

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I think I found a local Gem! This food was simply amazing! We had tamales and the papas vegetarian plate! It was Mexican soul food! The corn tortillas were fluffy and food was savory and seasoned to perfection. Can't wait to come back! The service was top notch as well! read more

Great real Mexican food with amazing prices! Owner is there and takes care of everything!

This small spot caught my eye on my way to a soccer game, and since I had a little extra time, I decided to stop by -- and it did not disappoint! As soon as you walk in, the place feels cozy and welcoming. While ordering, I mentioned it was my first time there, and the staff took the time to explain the menu and share their recommendations -- all of which sounded amazing. I ended up trying the green chilaquiles, and they were fantastic! The salsa had just the right amount, making every bite full of flavor. The staff was incredibly friendly and attentive, and I really appreciated how quickly they cleaned up after guests -- the whole place stayed spotless. I also tried the bacon taco and the croissant sandwich, and both were delicious. This spot has officially become one of my new breakfast favorites. I can't wait to be back on this side of town for another soccer game just so I can stop by again! read more

Don Pepe - Outside Sign - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I haven't had Cafe de Olla since I was a kid and they make it PERFECT. Breakfast tacos were good size and well balanced as far as the ratio of ingredients. I went last week and as I'm writing this review I'm on the way back to get a full run of the menu. Their drive-thru isn't operational yet but when it is there won't be a proper scale for how much I'll love this place. They have a cozy dining area, it's a slightly elevated hole in the wall and I say that as a huge compliment. read more

We were very pleased with the Carne Tampiquena and nachos. Will be going back to try the rest of the menu. Small space, but very clean, friendly service and fast. Prices are very reasonable for the quality of food. Great hidden gem in a neighborhood where I don't normally think about stopping to eat. read more

My new go to for breakfast tacos! While I've not tried much else on their menu, I've tried all flavors of their breakfast tacos and they are fantastic. Ham and cheese is not usually a combo you usually see, but I'm a believer now! Everything served seems very authentic, and the interior feels like your reliable neighborhood Mexican restaurant. read more

One of the best pork tamales I have ever had. The restaurant is clean and simple. My order came out quick. Thanks looking forward to coming back! read more

Homey ambiance inside belies the exterior -- it's lovely inside and the staff are welcoming. My husband devoured his breakfast sandwich and I loved the tacos and tamales. Don't miss the rice and beans, either, or the delicious sauces. read more

The food and service are excellent! I go here for breakfast tacos which are delicious!

The food here is so good! I almost do not want to leave the review in fear of it becoming so busy and then not being able to enjoy it here! But seriously y'all the food is authentic Mexican sopes, huaraches, caldos. OMG! Their coffee is great! It's truly a hidden gem. The service is great! The food comes out fast. My hubby had the huevos albañil and they were so good! The place is in a little shopping strip. I don't like to judge but...its not very attractive. I let other reviews lead me here. It was delicious! The inside is modern Mexicano style. Mosaic tile tables like my grandma's old table in Mexico. Love it! The menu is on the wall like a modern day restaurant. Enjoy! read more

Don Pepe - Sope - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

This place is adorable! Food isn't bad at all, but nothing to rave home about. Tamales were the star of the show, but the huevos rancheros left us feeling a bit disappointed. Runny soupy sauce on scrambled eggs that were overcooked. read more

I called @7am for 20 breakfast tacos for work and I picked up at 7:45. Amazing taco and salsa! 5 stars for this gem! I'll do that again!

We ordered to go some tamales and wipe. By the time we got back to the office and realized the sope which was described on their website as blue corn tortilla was not as it got described. And it's quite small for $5.50 The tamales now are 1/2 of the size which was used to be and prices got increase. The food was not as good as it used to be. I don't think I would be back anymore read more

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Great homemade tortillas for the two breakfast tacos I ordered. The man behind the counter was so kind and attentive, not only to me, but to all the customers in the restaurant. I can only highly recommend this place for your reasonably-priced and delicious breakfast tacos! read more

This place is a great little spot that can easily be passed up off of Stellalink next to a laundry mat. The food was good but was a little pricey, $10.50 for juevos rancheros. But if you're in the area and are hungry for some good mexican food def. gotta make a stop. Next time I'll have to try the tamales. read more

Don Pepe - This. Is the scrambled breakfast plate. You have a few choices of what you want mixed. Always fresh and hot. This breakfast plate is $8.50. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

In that area of Houston early in the morning is hard to find anything for breakfast. This place is great place for some good breakfast tacos on the go. Also, they are changing locations soon to accommodate the rush I'm sure. I had 2 ham and egg and 1 sausage and egg taco. Sizes are good but wish they had that traditional green hot sauce. Order than that it's a solid place read more

This is authentic Mexican food, not Tex-Mex. Unlike Tex-Mex, a lot of the various regional foods in Mexico are mild by comparison. The seasonings are subtle, but there. They don't jump out at you, you have to savor each bite for what it is. I must admit I miss a good hot salsa or pico, so I scrounged around the fridge and found some asian chile paste and made do. I had the Red enchiladas plate for take out, as it was the only beef enchilada offered on the menu, and it was good, not greasy at all, and that goes for the two sides of rice and beans. This is a walk up to the counter and order your meal type place, and the service was efficient, although a friendly smile would have been nice, but that's just me. This is a Mom & Pop place, very clean and utilitarian. Don't get turned off by the run down looking small strip center its located in, just walk in the door and enjoy some great, fairly priced Mexican food, with obvious family pride presiding over the whole operation. I'll be back! I want to try their tamales and the Huevos Divorciados. Wish they offered Caldo de Res . . . my favorite!! I've included a couple of photos, including an up to date (May 2024) Menu with prices! read more

Don Pepe - Red enchiladas plate & I added the avocado myself. - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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A warm, welcoming little hole in the wall restaurant. Very unassuming from the outside. We were walking home and decided on a whim to pop in. The owner was there to greet us with a smile. We had beef tostadas, a variety of breakfast tacos, and tortilla soup. For dessert - sweet churros! They had lots of fresh juices, including cantaloupe, hibiscus, and orange juice. The food was decent, maybe 3-4 out of 5. But it felt warm and homemade. With the friendly atmosphere, super quick service, and amazing service - definitely makes this little shop 5 stars to me. I'll be returning! read more

Don Pepe - Beef tostada, fresh hibiscus juice - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

This gem of a Mexican restaurant is tucked away right off of 610 on the first block of south post oak. Inside is small but still has plenty of seating. There are TVs for entertainment while you eat. All the food ordered looked and tasted delicious. Hands down Huevos Divorciados are my favorite. I would add a strip of bacon or fajita if possible next time. The tamales are definitely delicious but the masa broke up easily. They could use some crema and extra salsa. The agua frescas were very delicious and refreshing. I didn't get to try a dessert but will definitely get some next time. Everyone inside is very friendly and the food came about almost as quick as we sat down! Y'all should check this place out soon or there Burgs & Margs down the street. read more

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The food at Don Pepe is fresh and made to your order. It is authentic, delicious food. The food comes to your table right from the kitchen, fast friendly service. The restaurant is bright, clean, neat with seating always available. read more

Delicious food and the workers are so nice. I would 100% come back again. Such a great Houston Gem!

Great breakfast & lunch food at a great price. Always friendly. No frills. Total hidden gem

Tamales Don Pepe in the Willowbend area is one of those hidden jewels that makes exploring the Houston food scene so rewarding. Tucked in a modest strip center on a street whose rough reputation has thankfully passed, Tamales Don Pepe serves up some of the finest tamales I've ever tasted. They're moist, full, and delicate, and delivered to you steaming hot. So delicious! We've also been bowled-over by the breakfast tacos, empanadas, and huaraches. The only dish that didn't win us over was the mole enchiladas, but that's on us... we're not big mole fans to begin with, so we were a tough sell. Bonus points to Tamales Don Pepe for such kind and friendly service. They are truly welcoming. So now you're in on the secret - check this place out for breakfast, brunch, or lunch! read more

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This place has the best made to order hot corn tortillas. Their pico and salsas are delish and super fresh. My fav breakfast taco in Houston - I ask for Migas tacos add avocado. read more

So if you want the long and the short of this review. It's 5 stars. Carry on for more reviewage. René will hopefully start a little empire with this place. Unassuming, local, fresh made, and delicious should be all you need to know. Usually we call in an order but I am so happy we cannot do that anymore because this place is so busy. I still can't get the exact masa recipe for the corn tortillas, but if your wife is anti-glutenated like mine, the corn tortillas are an amazing sub for the flour. In fact, I would dare say I love them so much more than the flour. The flavor is truly amazing. René does not stop there. Every time we order he makes sure there is not a granule of wheat in sight. Truly amazing personalized service. So whilst last ordering I noticed a little chalk sign "Try the ceviche!!" Passing this up would be like stopping at the Louvre and not seeing the Mona Lisa. Of course I ordered it. Fresh white fish, tangy, bright, avocado, shrimp, tomato, and a flavor bomb to the mouth is all I can say. So refreshing to eat after a morning working outside. Also, the fresh cooked corn tortilla chips were an amazing compliment. Thank you sir. Passing this place up for breakfast or lunch is like passing up an oil change despite the fact your car is smoking and the temp is through the roof. You'd be simply mad to do so. Oh. Try the ceviche. 7 stars. read more

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Excellent chorizó and egg taco green salsa it's on point spicy but not overwhelming hot ,tamales the masa crumbles n your mouth it's good , waffles and sopes really tasty read more

Don Pepe - Chorizó and egg taco - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

We just discovered this really nice place. Super clean. Kitchen very clean. The food nice and hot. Super plus are the handmade tortillas!!! Delicious we are definitely coming back and trying out the rest of the menu. Good prices too. Don't be fooled by the outside def come inside and give it a try!! Came back and this time I tried the green enchiladas for lunch. Wow!! Tastes soo good and fresh. You will not be disappointed. Please come out and try!!! read more

Don Pepe - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I paid almost $13 for 2 small corn tacos and a small drink....way over priced !!! Taste was okay and tortillas were fresh but not a good place if you are on a budget. read more

A great mom&pop restaurant that is popular for breakfast. They offer three vegetarian types of tamales which works on their favour. At two dollars for a tamale though it can add up on you. but I didn't ask if they do specials for buying batches to go. The different vegetarians tamales are not greasy, dry even but that shouldn't be surprising given the lack of lard. The queso y rajas tamale had quite a kick out of what looks like just slice of red pepper. The spice is thankfully balanced out by the bits of white cheese. As for breakfast, I had the huevos divorciados. Both sauces were delicious and the aftermath of runny eggs made a great coating for whatever tamale you order. The refried beans taste like it had bacon grease though so vegetarians beware. read more

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Muy Buena!! Ay Delicioso!! This place can Deceive the human eye from the outside but its Muy Banita! on the inside. Customer service was great over the phone and in person. The food waa good. Fresh squeezed Orange Juice and Fresh made Tamales! Try it out do not be bougie..lol! I had the Waffle with Nutella Spread which did not load and the The Chicken Tamales with Green Sauce. read more

Don Pepe - Chicken tamales with tamatillo sauce - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

Service, food, price all great. Like going to eat there. Been there many times andwill go back many more times

Went there around 1:30 pm looking for a good tamale and ended up with an egg, bacon, and cheese taco on a flour tortilla for a total of $4.18 which included tax and 12 cents for a card charge. I didn't realize the tamales would be wrapped in banana leaves and mostly without meat, so I didn't buy any. The taco was not very big for the price, in my opinion. Service and ambiance were good. read more

"I did good." I said to my boyfriend as we were driving away from this place. Because it's true. I did good finding this better-than-good place thanks to Yelp! The owner/cashier/cook/busboy all in one is fantastic. Such a sweetheart! You can truly tell he cares about his customers and cares about delivering amazing food. We tried the chicken tamales with green sauce and the rajas con queso tamales. Both were so good. So light and fluffy. And BIG! The flavors were incredible. But watch out, the rajas is spicy. I didn't believe his warning... We also tried one of their quesadillas. The shredded beef was delicious and the tortilla definitely tasted homemade. It came with a red hot sauce which we also enjoyed. All around amazing! Come to this place! Get in your car now, and don't be fooled by the outside when you arrive. read more

Don Pepe - Quesadilla - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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I'm so glad we came here! It's a little tucked back on a side street in a small shopping center. There were so many things we wanted to try, but they were out of a few items we wanted to order. No worries because we will be back! We tried the chicken tamale with salsa verde, tamal oaxaqueño, rajas con papa quesadillas, huitlacoche quesadilla, a huarache with beef fajita meat, and the churros con chocolate. Everything was bomb and the beef fajita meat had a really nice flavor. Also, the prices are hard to beat! I don't think anything on the menu was more than $10, most items were under $5. We left fat and happy with great anticipation of our next trip here. read more

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I was hesitant to write this review because I don't want secret spot being discovered by the masses... but it needs to be said these are the best breakfast tacos I have found in Houston. I don't know if it's the tortillas, the salsa or the way they mix the eggs, potatoes and cheese, but they really are unbelievable. The menudo is also very good. I haven't had anything else from the menu, so I can only attest to those items, but I am sure everything else is just as good. The restaurant itself is very clean and the owner is almost always there in the mornings working the cash register. He runs a tight ship, and it shows. Parking isn't vast, but there is street parking if the lot spaces are full. I would definitely recommend! read more

Don Pepe - Menu - Mexican Near Me - Houston, Texas

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