Ate here with my family on a Sunday around 1/1:30. The ambience in the room to the right is amazing. It feels like a place you would go be with your family or have a date.... Reminds me of the Mexican restaurant in the pyramid at Epcot. Felipe was our waiter, and he was awesome! Our food and drinks all came out super fast and everything was delicious. -Margaritas were strong but I liked them -Salsa was delicious -Kids menu had a good amount of options and our son actually seemed to like the chicken tenders/fries/watermelon slice -Total bill for 2 margaritas, 1 kids meal, enchiladas, 3 steak tacos, a chocolate milk was about $74ish and that was with the included 18% gratuity We would 100% come back again. read more

I've been going here for years, it remains a very viable option. We recently went here, it has been a longtime childhood favorite and remains a good place to grab food if you're in the area read more

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NOT FEELING THE LOVE There is a sense of a lack of care all around. When you drive into the parking lot, you kind of have to guess where the front door is. It could be more welcoming. As you walk into the restaurant through big wood plank doors that you're not sure if they're open or not, you see the bar on the left and the dining room room on the right. It's a little dark, but in a cozy way. I was seated immediately. Unfortunately, it took a few minutes for my waitress to take my order. She had just enough of a smile where she didn't come across as aloof. I would not, however, say that she was overly friendly. I ordered the lunch enchiladas. I added chicken as the protein. It did not take very long for the food, which was nice. It did not look too appetizing when delivered to my table, however. The cheese and red sauce, and the fact that there was very little chicken made the entire entrée a sloppy mess.. The flavors weren't bad, but the proportions of everything were off. The rice was fine. Nothing remarkable there. The beans however were dry and unappealing. One little pet peeve to add is that when I ordered a bottle of beer, I was not offered a glass to pour it in. This wasn't spectacularly bad it just wasn't all that great. It was a big meh burger. The place needs new energy. It needs new life. I think if they can manage to get out of their malaise, this restaurant has potential. Based on today's visit, I cannot recommend this place. If they tighten up the menu and pour a little bit of life into it then I could see this place being something good. read more

Jalapenos - Enchiladas, lunch - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

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My experience at jalapeños was not a great experience. The food was not great. I ordered a chicken nacho shredded chicken. I was not aware that the chicken was cooked with some kind of sauce leaving the nachos very soggy and dripping with the chicken juice that it was cooked in. The nachos did not have a taste to it. I just did like my food. I told my server they did nothing about it. My friend ordered fajita nachos. She expressed that the rice and beans are not good, but the steak was good and the chicken did not have a taste to it. This is my first time trying the restaurant and I would give the restaurant two stars. My girlfriend said the margarita and the drinks are good there so you could never go wrong with the drinks. The bathrooms can use a bit of a cleaning. The doors are hard to lock when you go and use the restroom so be careful when locking the doors in the restroom. I would recommend that we are told about the juices that would drip from the nachos prior to ordering them. This was also mentioned to my server as well. read more

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Love the interior here. Makes you feel like you're on the set of a western scene at Universal Studios. The service here is pretty good but overall wouldn't say our waitress was friendly or helpful at all truthfully. Luckily though, the food was really good in our opinion. We have the nachos to start and each chip is individually cared for which is nice. We both do the lunch specials which are a bit smaller but cheaper. I had the citrus steak tacos (2) for $9.99 with rice and beans - everything was great just wanted more steak in the shells! We also ordered the lunch fajitas - it's a lot still! The steak was juicy, cooked well and seasoned wonderfully- the veggies were cooked to perfection with just enough crispness to them - yum! Rice and beans were top of my list in rankings - very good! read more

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Jalapeños, "the hottest Mexican restaurant" is actually my favorite Mexican restaurant. I come here every time I pass through NW Indiana. I give it 5 stars for two reasons: the building is amazing and the food is fantastic and quite affordable. First, the building. Somebody spent an awful lot of money creating this restaurant. An old barn from Mexico was moved to Indiana and this barn is the foundation of this spectacular place. In the main dining room you will see a lot of reclaimed wood with beautiful big barn doors and high ceilings. This place is a showpiece! The light fixtures are works of art. The rugged wood booths are beautiful. The art and decor are incredible. Second, I have never had a less than spectacular meal here. My favorites include the absolutely delicious pozole stew which has a rich tomato sauce, nice chunks of pork tenderloin and ancho chillies. It comes with a side garnish of cabbage, onions, Mexican oregano and red pepper flakes. It is a meal alone! Next, I highly recommend the shredded chicken mole. Their mole sauce is amazing. So rich. So good. Making mole is an art form. Of course, the margaritas are strong and tasty and quite large. Be careful driving home. My server this time was Juan, pronounced Kwon. He had great recommendations about the mole, and creating an enchilada dish not on the menu. He is a pozole fan too. Please visit this great place. It raises the bar of what gets 5 stars . Not just amazing food but also an incredible environment or building as well. read more

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I visited Jalapeno's Mexican Restaurant for an early Mother's Day lunch, and it was a delightful experience! As someone who appreciates authentic Mexican cuisine, I can confidently say that the quality here is impressive--while it may not fully compare to the real deal, it's definitely very close. The ambiance was lively, enhanced by great music that set a festive tone for our celebration. Our waiter was exceptional--attentive and prompt without being intrusive. We never had to ask for drinks or chips; he anticipated our needs perfectly, which made our meal even more enjoyable. I've been here before with colleagues, sitting closer to the bar, and have loved the experience of their live music. The outdoor seating is an added bonus, offering a great option for dining al fresco. Overall, I genuinely enjoy this location and look forward to returning. If you're in the mood for some quality Mexican food and a welcoming atmosphere, Jalapeno's is a fantastic choice! read more

The place is in dire need of a facelift. The restaurant is worn and tired and the staff seemed a little less than motivated. The food wasn't bad, it it's hard to look away from chipped tables, broken doors, and very rough walls and floor. read more

One of my favorite local spots. The bartender was really attentive and the margaritas were tasty. We got enchiladas and a chimichanga (our usual, but we've had other things on the menu and you really can't go wrong!). The food was delicious and we had enough to bring home for a second meal. read more

Loved this place. I had a mango margarita, which had way too much alcohol. Loved it. lol I also ordered the quesabirria tacos. The meat was tender and moist. I think they should give more consommé. They only gave a little cup for 3 big tacos. I ended up taking my leftovers and forgot to ask for more. Hubby got the burrito Jalisco which was huge. The restaurant was very good about adding or omitting things from our order. This is great with picky eaters. The chips and salsa were great. Our waitress, Pera, was pretty attentive too. They had the temperature in the restaurant a little high. I'm never hot, but it was uncomfortable there. That was the only drawback. read more

Ambiance was very nice, sat outside in the back at the fire pit table. Our server was very attentive and the food was pretty good. Ordered the guac for the table which was good but nothing crazy kind of bland. The house salsa was also fine. The taco's were good, steak was a little bit dry. Been going here since I was a little kid and it hasn't changed a bit and we will continue to return read more

Jalapenos - Citrus Steak Taco Trio - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

Dined in at the restaurant once before and had a great meal. Decided to order delivery tonight after a hectic day and was quite disappointed. Ordered enchiladas verde and shrimp taco dinner with all the toppings added to both, so tomato, lettuce, onions (extra charge), and cilantro (extra charge). Neither meal had any additional toppings added including those we were charged extra for. Also, the enchiladas verde were very disappointing. They were mushy and the chicken was cubed rather than shredded. The third party delivery was fast so don't feel they should have gotten so mushy so fast. Lastly, I ordered grilled vegetables AND charro beans as my sides, but only received grilled vegetables. Disappointed for sure and won't be ordering delivery again. read more

Food was good, generous portions and friendly service. Ambiance was nice...especially the area to the right of the entrance. We ordered the guacamole and requested it be a little chunky and spicy...it was definitely spicy!! I had a chimichanga which was big enough for three meals. Also liked the refried beans. The only thing I didn't care for were their chips. They were thicker and a little stale. The salsa was good though. read more

Tasty, great service, ok prices but everywhere is expensive nowadays. Why I have to post 85 characters is annoying, @yelp read more

Service was quick and they were very friendly. Food came fast and was very tasty! The atmosphere was good, they had good music playing. Would definitely visit again! read more

Jalapenos - Mole Entree - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

Came here tonight for dinner. It was my first time here. The hostess stand was pretty busy trying to seat everyone. Once I was seated, I was brought chips and salsa, A few moments later, my waitress came to take my order. Starter: Chips and Salsa. The chips were nice and crispy. The salsa was good and not very spicey. Drink: Margarita. Delicious! Entree: Carne Asada with grilled veggies, refried beans, rice, and grilled shrimp with melted butter. The carne asada was so good! It was seasoned very well and was easy to cut. The veggies was cooked nicely and was still crispy. The refried beans were good and had lots of cheese on it. The rice was decent. The shrimp was so good and seasoned nicely! It had a cup that was full of melted butter that you could drip them in. Overall, I really enjoyed everything and had a great time. read more

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Second time eating here. Food is really good. The wait was estimated at 45 mins on a Saturday night at 630pm. We probably got in within 30. This location has plenty of TVs in the bar section. No mask policy at this restaurant, so be aware of that if you are concerned. For food we ordered tacos and flautas. All very good. The beans were flavorful. For drinks we got margaritas and shots (tequila). Price on special margaritas was $6 and tequila shots were $4 (jimadaor). My sister-in-law ordered Hennessy that was pricey for a shot $9. All in all very good times. Gratituity was included on all dine in orders at 18%. read more

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Quesobirria good drink on point. Waiter out standing!!!! Was hungry I was close to this restaurant. read more

Jalapenos - Goood food great waiter! - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

We sat outside on the patio area which was very nice. We love the drinks and the chips/salsa!!!! It wasn't crowded so we felt well tended to. read more

Five stars for the service. We had Alexis as our server on margarita Wednesday. We already ate dinner and just wanted to have a couple of drinks. We did eat our salsa a couple of times. Our server replaced the salsa without being asked, checked up on drinks and was overall attentive and pleasant. We will be back! read more

Wife and I met friends here for drinks. The bar has a good selection of liquor and beer. The restaurant is good size with plenty tables in the main dinning room. The food here is just ok and it's overpriced. Our steak nachos were above average but nothing to brag about. I didn't like when my bill showed up with mandatory tip already included. I do tip and often above what they automatically added but I don't like not being given a choice to tip on my own for service received. Not planning on coming back. read more

Jalapenos - Nachos - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

Stopped in on Sunday for dinner. Grabbed a table in the bar section since it wasn't that crowded. That had some nice drink specials which we both sampled. The drinks were good but don't you think all margaritas are good. We both had the tacos which were tasty and not small. The chips and salsa were nice but I wish the salsa was just a little bit spicier. They may have another option that you can ask for but overall not a bad place to grab a meal. They had plenty of tvs to watch any games you may want to see. read more

The name might be cheesy but this place has been around for quite some time. In fact, I'm not sure I have been here since the late 1990s until recently. The food has always been good but I believe it's gotten even better. Everything we ordered was really good. The jalapeno poppers were among the best in recent memory. My wife's fish tacos were super. My caldo de res was massive but super tasty. The girls had the flautas, which isn't usually one of my go-to's but also very good. My wife, who has never been, commented on the character. She thought from the outside it would be bland or generic but it's really inviting and tries to make it feel authentic in ways. The place really filled up after we were seated, which really added to our experience. The wait staff was excellent and deserving of the mandatory 18% tip. read more

It's been a hot minute since I've been here. It was a good time cuz I went with with a couple girlies whom I happen to love. The food was okay. The service was fine. I'd give them three stars except they add an additional 18% to every check. Regardless of our party size. Just 18% across the board. This irritates me only because I'm a generous tipper to begin with. If they would just allow me to determine how much to tip, they would get much more than 18%. And I took an additional star away because their bathrooms needed some serious attention. There is a lot for parking. read more

Sorry for the late update I went last year. The food was good. I tried something different the service as well. She was very nice to informative. She didn't make you feel like you were buying something you didn't like or want. The atmosphere was nice very inviting the outside was nice and the inside was nice but we were on the outside by the sun had a couple drinks I enjoyed it. read more

I am came on taco tuesday and the tacos were so good. 10/10. Unfortunately, I do not have pictures, sorry.

One of my least favorite things to do is give a low review of a restaurant I visit; as they are often few and far in-between. I think that there is not enough wiggle room for restaurants, and so much as forgetting a fork can dock you 2/3 stars here on Yelp. I really wanted to write a great review highlighting the food we received; but the service was so poor that it overshadows all else. I don't think I've ever been treated this coldly at a restaurant in my life, and I keep wondering if I did something terribly wrong to illicit such a response. Myself and my party of 6 arrived around 8, and were sat promptly. We then ordered, got some water and eventually the chips/salsa followed. What I was unaware of was that the glass of water I had in front of me was all I was going to get the whole dinner, as our waitress did not permit us to order any drink; alcoholic or non alcoholic and closed out our bills as quickly as she could. I do not believe we were loitering; we were only in the restaurant for about an hour and seven minutes. But apparently the business model here is selling one round of margaritas and then denying any other drink orders to be placed. It could be that she cut us off, which is the server's/bartender's own call, and I would understand if she told us so, but she did not. We asked if we could have another margarita, and she appeared to write it down but came back with only our checks. I hated sitting here because I felt like I was some type of criminal that was assumed I wasn't going to pay my bill, or cause trouble. I kept apologizing to the waitress for asking if I could look over the menu more, and even over-thanked her for bringing us chips. When my order came to me, I found it given in a takeaway container inside a tied plastic bag. I gave her the benefit of the doubt, "maybe she asked me if I wanted it here or to go, and I just said yes because I didn't hear correctly", but my friends sitting on the outside of our table both said that she asked nothing about getting the order to go. The enchiladas all slid to one side of the polypropylene container, creating a sad sight for me to eat while the rest of the party had actual plates. I can understand not refilling our chips and salsa, as it can be expensive to have multiple baskets brought out that could potentially go to waste. What I do not understand was why we weren't brought any water, or even a water pitcher, despite two members of my party asking if they could get a refill. Being busy, I would have loved getting a pitcher or two of water so the waitress could continue with her business, and I also don't expect to be waited on hand-and-foot; as I have worked in food service and know how it feels to have to attend to every need of a customer. It felt that the entire meal was something we were doing wrong and the waitress wanted us out of the building as soon as possible. We were asked "are you done or are you going to get more" in an aggressive tone. I really didn't think we were being too demanding, so that is when we asked just for one more round of drinks (which was never given to us). Before we left, we requested if we could sit on the side where the DJ was to be performing, so we could order drinks at the bar on the other side of the establishment, as well as free up the table for other customers, but we were told since two members of our party weren't 21 we couldn't sit on the left side. I don't know if this was the truth or our waitress wanted us to leave, so we exited without another word. The food was pretty standard, but the portions were very nice and it was all flavorful. If you wanted, I'd say order takeout as to avoid the service of dining in. I may go pick up food from there down the road, but I don't ever think I'll be back inside because the experience was one of the most dehumanizing experiences while eating out I've ever dealt with. It truly is a shame, because it's definitely worth a shot to try; better than El Salto or Casa Del Mar in the Munster/Dyer/Schererville area. I don't know if the 18% mandatory gratuity is advertised to potential hires as an incentive to apply/work there and that's why the waitress was so unwelcoming, or if she had a bad day, but either way, there were too many strikes so therefore I'm out of that place. I have no problem with tipping, and think even poor service deserves some tip as it is essential to making a living wage in such industry, but a serious assessment of the business model and staff may help fix things. read more

Jalapenos - My food brought out in a takeaway box - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

Rustic decor. The food was good, flavors and portion were as expected. We ordered two burrito dinners with rice and beans. The bill came to $50 and change.We thought something was wrong until we were told there's an 18% AUTOMATIC SURCHARGE ADDED TO EVERY BILL. No Mas. Greedy owners are losing local customers. There are many options just as good if not better for less. read more

Had a nasty encounter with the manager and wait staff about a discount that they denied. The menu clearly states that domestic beer is $3 on Friday but they wouldn't honor it after we ordered a couple of beers on the domestic list. The manager and waitress were very nasty about it. Keep in mind this restaurant charges 18% gratuities on all checks so waitresses are not motivated to take care of the customers. We actually had the local police come to settle the dispute. It was obvious to the officers that the restaurant was negligent and we got the check reduced! It was only a few dollars but the waitress and manager were very rude and belligerent so we stood our ground. Thanks to the local police for making them do the right thing. read more

Jalapenos - Domestic beer list and supposedly discount - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

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The food and staff were great... Only bad thing I have to say is the place could use a veeeery good cleaning. Dust is packed all over and inside the hanging lights over the tables. Cobwebs everywhere. Stains on the walls from food. Could probably use a nice updating. And I'd appreciate it if when my drink comes out, I could put my own straw in it instead of the waiter or waitress doing it. read more

The staff here is very friendly and the food comes out quickly. I really enjoyed the shrimp tacos and sauce that comes with it. I am not the biggest fan of the steak tacos. The margaritas are strong and will leave you with a buzz so drink responsibly! I believe they come in three different sizes. They charge a little extra for flavored margaritas. The restaurant has lots of seating space so I've never had to wait to be seated. read more

Jalapenos - Shrimp tacos, mango margarita - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

Let me start by saying I never leave bad reviews for businesses. However, I felt I must say something. The food and service is always very good at Jalapenos. The problem is the dining areas. The walls and floors are filthy. The tables and chairs backs are sticky. The owners need to clean, update and remodel the interior dining areas ASAP. Cob webs, walls with stains all over the paint. Window and door trim in bad shape, etc. The entrance needs some updating and cleaning as well. It's seems like this place has been neglected for way too long. We were there yesterday and almost walked out after looking around. In fact, a group of ladies were seated in the dining room and promptly left within 5 min. I hope they read this and listen. read more

Terrible customer service, rude front desk girls, incompetent waiters. Not a place you want to be.

We live here and never go here. It is "small-town-rural-Indiana" Mexican food. Very Americanized. Nothing to see here. Keep moving. read more

Came here for a family get together and it was rather busy but we got a large table for 10 in the dining room! We sat down and all ordered margaritas that were super yummy!! I don't usually drink margarita because I don't like Tequila (LOL) but these were good!! You could barely taste the tequila in the blended berry one that I had! Our waitresses could've been a little more attentive and I got the wrong margarita once but she was quick to fix it. We had the steak quesadilla as an appetizer and the carne Asada. Both were good!! All the staff was super friendly and approachable though which is always a plus! Would definitely come back if I came back to town! read more

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Food as always was very good and service also. Disappointed in the garbage around the front entrance and in the landscaping. read more

Jalapenos - Current menu - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

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I fundamentally do not understand some of the heavy, negative reviews about this place. This is a FUN and casual Mexican restaurant. The food and drinks are good (love the seafood taco options!), and the vibe is laid back. This is the first "sit down" restaurant I brought my toddler to, and the staff was so kind to her (and me) when she acted like a maniac; their hospitality allowed me to happily enjoy a delicious, and well-deserved, meal. A note about the complaints I saw in other reviews: This is not a fine dining establishment, nor is it probably the most "authentic" Mexican food on the planet, but I don't think that's what it claims to be. This restaurant is also an obviously high volume place, so it's unrealistic to expect the highly individualized service and attention of a more intimate restaurant. Yes, the cost of a meal here is now more than what all of us expected pre-pandemic, but I feel like that is the same at all restaurants these days. And, I totally get that an automatic, across-the-board, 18% added gratuity takes people by surprise and is different than most restaurants, BUT I also fundamentally don't understand how anyone is tipping less than 20% post-pandemic! As a former restaurant and hospitality professional, I have a lot of respect for a business that is trying to protect their servers from being "punished" for food-related inflation by costumers who counterbalance increased food costs with decreased tips. Servers in a place like this work their asses off and deserve to be compensated by customers accordingly. I HIGHLY RECOMMEND this restaurant to people who don't have insane expectations, and just want a nice, nostalgic, classic Americanized Mexican restaurant meal with a sweet, stiff margarita and a fun atmosphere. I was born and raised in The Region and have been eating at Jalapeños since it first opened. I have eaten at fine dining restaurants all over the world, and I used to work in a James Beard nominated restaurant. I understand what this restaurant is...and what it isn't, and I would hate to see such a great local institution be negatively impacted by expectations that simply seem totally out of touch with reality... read more

Honestly I wouldn't recommend this place for more then chips and salsa and drinks. The service is very friendly which is nice but all the food is very bland and dry. My tortillas for my tacos went stiff as a board within seconds of being on the table and the rice and beans were so dry I needed a sip of something after every bite. In short fun atmosphere and decent drink menu but not really a good dinner option. read more

Jalapenos - Taco trio: flour tortilla with steak, cilantro, onion, and cheese. Rice and beans on the side. - Mexican Near Me - Schereville, Indiana

Was pretty grossed out tonight. The bartender was great as usual, the food was good and came out fast. We sat up at the bar because the tables were filled and got to watch one of the waiters that would make many trips in there. He would come behind the bar to make drinks, grab glasses with his fingers inside them and not by the stem, and he "fingered" all the limes and orange slices, eating them while he was picking some out for drinks and tossing some back. We watched him grab a pitcher and pour the contents in the garbage can while he banged the pitcher inside the garbage can to get everything out of it. He then turned around and poured alcohol in that dirty "garbage" pitcher and made more drinks in the blender and served them. I don't think we will be back. read more

This place has gone downhill!! I'm a server myself, and was actually pleased with the added 18% gratuity. What I wasn't pleased with, was the service! Our server didn't greet us, gave us water and chips and salsa. Asked if we were ready, we placed our order....didn't come back once!! Didn't say thank you, or have a nice day putting down that check either. She did NOT deserve that 18%, that added gratuity makes the servers NOT want to work for it! read more