The service was excellent. The food was not what I was expecting. Bland. I knew it would be TexMex, but this was so, so bland, and oddly presented. The salsa seemed sweet, like canned spaghetti sauce mixed with onion. The jalepeno poppers had zero heat and they were clearly from a frozen bag. Uniform in shape and size ...industrial. The center cheese was cold. I ordered the chicken fajitas and was presented with 3 whole chicken tenderloins on a grill plate with a tiny amount of green peppers and onions. Very little spice, no salt, bland, bland, bland. The cheese was not Cotija, it was shredded Monterey Jack I think. I tasted no chili, no cumin, no herbs. The rice resembled Southern dirty rice...not Mexican rice. I had to ask for cilantro amd lime. I was given about 1 teaspoon full of cilantro in a plastic cup, and 3 thin slices of lime from the bar. The service was great: my server was kind, attentive, and on point. 5 stars for service. 2 stars for food. It wasn't "bad," it just wasn't great or even close to TexMex or Mexican. Very bland, not freshly made on site...just meh. Reminded me of what one might serve in a school cafeteria or nursing home on "International Day." read more

Dry, flavorless, and overpriced, this place is a hard no. No sauce, lunchroom sides, and no flavor or seasoning

Our server was attentive and friendly. I had the chimichangas and they were good, but not necessarily good enough to rush back. I know a lot of people say this is one of their favorite local businesses to eat at in the Bangor area, I don't agree. I really want to like it, and I can't put a finger on exactly why I'm not in a hurry to return read more

The fish tacos were amazing! Josie (our server) was great! Even though it was super packed, everyone looked happy!

The food was not favorable enough. The salsa was so sweet. The guacamole tasted like puree. The bean burrito tasted like it came out of a can. read more

I'll go ahead and give them a four out of five. I almost left before ordering because the server never returned to take my drink order and my friend waited about 20 minutes for her beer. That being said, we were there for a going away party; it was a Thursday night and they probably just weren't expecting such a large crowd! I don't know our servers name - she did do a nice job with us, after all. The champagne margarita was so good!! I could have had more than one, definitely!!! I ordered the fish tacos - Grilled. Love fish tacos. The salsa though?? I heard that it was balsamic vinegar that was used (accidentally) and it was just not tasty. At all. I usually love all salsas. I suggest they just dump it? Maybe with more champagne margaritas, even the salsa would have tasted good. read more

Pepino's Mexican Restaurant - Grilled Fish Tacos - Mexican Near Me - Bangor, Maine

Idk why ppl are complaining the food was phenomenal the staff was so kind and responsive !! I will definitely come back everytime I am in Bangor not to mention it is soooo cute in here the decor and everything was so nice. 5/5 ignore the haters !!!! I would add a photo but I ate everything in about .2 seconds read more

***DO NOT WASTE YOUR TIME HERE!*** My sister and I ate here a month ago on a Thursday. The service was AWFUL. Multiple items of our silverware were hardly clean. We found dried crusty old food from past meals on our dishes. How could someone even pass those dishes off as "clean"? Whoever washes the dishes must be extremely delusional and is obviously horrible at their job. They're probably on drugs, so maybe they're a good human. Who knows? Probably not. I personally have heard things about how the employees hate their jobs and how poorly managed this establishment is. Why would one want to eat at a restaurant where the employees are either miserable or under the influence? Las Palapas and Miguel's does Mexican cuisine so much better. Your time and money will be much better appreciated and worth it at those establishments (and at pretty much any other establishment as well). read more

I remember Pepino's from when I was a kid. Simple, tasty, Mexican food. I was excited to try it again today, fondly remembering the raisins in their cheese enchiladas; which used to be a perfect mix of salty and sweet flavors on your tongue. Today, however, I was sorely disappointed. The cheese inside of the enchiladas wasn't even melted. It was more like a soft corn tortilla filled with cold, shredded cheese and a couple of raisins. Lettuce and tomato laid on top would've been fine if the dish itself had been hot, but it wasn't, at all. Beef tacos also used to be a favorite, but the beef is very bland. I got an order of beans and rice as a side dish and there was literally only about a quarter of a cup of rice inside of the to-go container. Absolutely disappointing. The refried beans were a half a bean thicker than bean soup and tasteless. Extremely disappointed about my experience. Terrific location, and ambience, in the front room. Never made it into the dining room, as I got takeout. I was really hoping it would be a fun new, old find, but it would take a lot of convincing for me to try their food again. Service was nice and the two women who greeted me and took my order were very kind and helpful; no complaints there. My food was ready much quicker than they said it would be. Seems like a nice park until you realize that the cheese isn't even melted on the enchilada. I wouldn't have minded waiting 10 extra minutes to have the dishes properly cooked. I know they've been in business for years, and again I used to love them, but they didn't live up to the memory. They have all the makings for a fun and tasty, Mexican meal and experience, but the seasoning, portions and proportions definitely need to be tweaked. So sorry, I really wanted to love them again. read more

This is absolutely my favorite Mexican restaurant in Bangor. I love their new location as it is walking distance to my house and conveniently located a minute walk to downtown Bangor. The front door opens to a long wooden bar with plenty of seating, but if you're with a group, there are two rooms with a dozen tables capable of seating large and small groups. The food is amazing, but their waitstaff seals the deal. They all appear to be funny, as though it's a part of the job description, are extremely attentive and are super helpful when your eyes are too big for your stomach and you need suggestions. On to the food... I always trust a Mexican joint that serves free chips and salsa, but I trust with all my heart that restaurant that makes their salsa fresh (which Pepino's does). It ranges in spiciness from visit to visit, but I find I can generally tolerate it with my sensitive taste buds. While I used to be a fan of the enchiladas combo with the rice, beans and cheese crisp on the side for $11, my dear friend recently introduced me to the A La Carte menu that allows me to get my chicken enchilada, beef taco and cheese crisp for $9. Game changer. I don't branch out much, but I've seen the chimichangas and tostadas ordered and both looked amazing (no one would share with me, sad face). If you're like me, you probably judge a Mexican restaurant by its drink selection. Well, I think Pepino's excels in this category with a long list of Margarita, Mexican beer and tequila options. I'm a big fan of the Ultimate Margarita in the jumbo size! Love, love, love Pepino's and you will too! read more

Pepino's Mexican Restaurant - a plate of food - Mexican Near Me - Bangor, Maine

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Authentic Mexican? Absolutely not. Regardless, still one of my favorite places to dine in the Bangor area. Hands down they have the BEST house margaritas. They are a little pricey, but have plenty of tequila in them which is a win considering most restaurants play off a sugary concoction as a margarita. Complementary chips and salsa are very good-- highly recommend asking for the two hot sauces if you can handle a little heat! Also, I had their guacamole for the First time on my last visit and was blown away! It's definitely going to be a regular thing for me to order there now! You can't go wrong with their quesadillas, they are consistently wonderful! I highly recommend asking for a side of chipotle ranch for dipping, you won't be disappointed. My other go to meals here is the taco salad with house dressing (a well seasoned oil/vinegar mixture) and chicken tortilla soup. Service is consistently wonderful as is the atmosphere. I always look forward to Pepino's. read more

​If I could give this place a -3 I would they are overpriced for crap food definitely not authentic Mexican they don't even have green chile sauce. Other than that the food is super bland they put a buttload of alcohol in your drink so you're so drunk you don't notice how bad it tastes. Worst restaurant ever and I'm not saying this cuz I have beef with them personally I'm just saying this as a fact. Also the people who leave good reviews on here are on crack or their friends with the people who work here or something because it is awful. read more

This is the most flavorless Mexican place I've ever dined at. The queso was hot yellow oil. The guacamole was so blended that I'm pretty sure it came from a bag at Costco. However, Costco holy guacamole has much more taste than what is served at Pepino's. I'm pretty sure the salsa was Pace. The fish tacos were forgettable. I even tried some of their fancy margarita combinations, hoping a tequila elixir would put me in a better mood, but alas. To top it off, the service was extremely slow and uninformed of what true Mexican food could be. I asked if they served echaladas rancheras and was provided a blank stare. For the speed, I instructed my tablemates to order two drinks at a time and to not hesitate with food orders. Our order of queso came after all the entrées had been delivered. So not only was the food underwhelming, but we had to sit it out for an extremely long time. The amount of spice in the food would be perfect for a Midwestern old-folks home. I bet the Sysco truck is embarrassed about what is being done with their food at this place. read more

Solid "Americanized" Mexican menu. If you're looking for authentic Mexican food, this isn't the place. But if you're looking for good food, a fun atmosphere, and some of the best and VERY strong margaritas around, this is the place. read more

Hello all out there. So my family and I decided to give Pepino's a go after 30 years since my wife has been here as a child. Wow. What an absolute joke this place is!! Attached is a photo of the $16.25 seafood chimichanga which is not a meal portion, $9.00 nachos again tiny, $15.50 16 oz margarita in a wine glass, and $11.00 for a shot of tequila. Really??!? Who does the owner and manager think they are going to pull off these prices on? The food is meh, the salsa is disgusting, I mean absolutely disgusting!! Canned salsa would have been better than this disgusting tomato paste they put in front of us. The service is sub-par, the prices...really??? And the portions, I mean, come on, this is supposed to be a Mexican restaurant. After my food was placed in front of my family we looked at each other and said, "Really??!!" This is no place I would recommend to anyone, nor will we ever come back to again. The waitress has come twice and told us not to feel rushed to get out of here and dropped off the check and picked up the credit card real fast. Terrible service. Terrible portions. Terrible prices. Shame on you Pepinos. My wife was so excited to share this childhood memory with us and what a terrible disappointment. Absolute disappointment!! We are in Bangor not some ritzy ditzy tourist destination. Time to look for a Taco Bell because I still need to feed my family since we left here hungry and spent more money than it's worth! Thumbs way down. Zero stars! read more

Great place! Good food and drinks. There were a few things I didn't like. The grapefruit margarita for one I told the waitress and she gladly took away and I got a strawberry margarita. Then the avocado Fresca was not very good either but I picked at it. Nacho great, chips and salsa and chimichangas and fish tacos really good. Waitress was very nice but she was super busy. The only reason for the 4 stars was she wouldn't pick up the dirty dishes. That's a real pet peeve of mine. We'll be back as the food and atmosphere was great. read more

I've never before had Mexican food that used completely unseasoned meat. I had a combo platter including an enchilada, tostada and taco with combinations of beef and chicken. None of the meat was seasoned and the various dishes were topped with a plain combo with shredded mozzarella, lettuce and tomato. There wasn't even hot sauce on the table: just salt and pepper. Service was also exceedingly slow with our waitress complaining that she had to keep going "downstairs" to do stuff. The only plus is that the portion sizes were adequate and we got free chips and salsa to start. I would get Chipotle way before coming back here. read more

Massively disappointed. We ordered curb side pick up from the menu listed online which is apparently not up to date and lists incorrect prices and dishes that they do not serve anymore. I ended up getting an order of three beef tacos. My boyfriend ordered the two shrimp tacos with rice and beans. The beef tacos were genuinely worse than a Taco Bell taco. Less flavor same toppings. My boyfriend said the shrimp tacos were meh but not bad. These dishes were incredibly overpriced and the cherry on top of this debacle of a meal was one mid length dark hair topping one of my tacos when I opened the box. Just don't order from here. read more

I was heartbroken when the Stillwater Ave. location closed down years ago. I didn't know they re-opened on Park St! Luckily I searched on Yelp and discovered the new location! Same ol' Pepino's! Probably my family's favorite restaurant in Bangor. I ordered a bowl of chili- always my go to. Their chili is delicious and I always eat it with a bowl of chips and sour cream. I also ordered an al a cart chimichanga. Yum! My parents ordered combination meals of burritos and cheese crisps like they always used to and were very happy. The combination meals are great if you want a selection of items and some rice and beans. Not feeling the rice and beans? Check out the al a cart menu. Very affordable and you can make a meal out of 2-3 items. The drink menu was extensive and everything on it looked amazing. On my next visit I will definitely be ordering a drink, or six. The location doesn't have it's own parking lot but there was PLENTY of street parking right out front at lunch time on a weekday. The inside was sparking clean and very well put together. Very reminiscent of the old location and decorated very well. read more

Amazing atmosphere and Great food. Service was quick. Had the Haddock Fish Taco which was pretty awesome. Parking is tricky but worth a visit. read more

I must confess my love affair: I've loved pepino's in every form it's taken over the years (whatever happened to the Hammond St location?!) my mom used to bring us after special events when we were babies and it's always been a favorite BUT the new location is EVEN BETTER! The atmosphere is much cooler than the Stillwater location, it's super bright and comfortable. The staff (I'm biased some of my friends work here) are really great! And the prices are reasonable. It feels like my spot has grown up and into its own (I see our lives running parallel, haha). The menu is pretty standard to what it has always been, but if you're looking for authenticity you can't Rrreeeeeeaaaallyyyyy play with a menu too much. Last bit pick: This place is CLEAN. Super clean. Shiny glasses, nice bathrooms, floors, all of it. Me likely. Recently, I took my mom and sister on a "snack-date" last week for fried ice cream and guac. (Not together! Don't be gross!) and it was just as good as we remembered. I'm really excited about the new location as downtown Bangor is growing rapidly. Way to be, Pepino's! Killin if! read more

Stay away unless you want to laugh at the ridiculousness they call Mexican food. Rice and beans and guacamole to a combo plate are staples, no a choice of a side or extra charge. Enchiladas are not meant to be the size of an egg roll. And no cheese? read more

Nice atmosphere. Clean, trendy, comfortable place. Staff was cordial. Food was meh. The nachos with beef looked more like a pizza and were sloppy. The rub on the wings was good, but chicken was dry. Instead of fajita chicken, they serve chicken tenders and the cold plate for fajitas was mostly cheese and lettuce. Presentation is not great. But everything was pretty bland, so ästhetische neither helped nor hindered the food and experience. Nothing was bad, it just wasn't good either. read more

Stopped in on a whim while exploring Bangor and was very happy we did. Sever and bartender were very nice and informative. House margaritas were great! The spinach dip our sever recommended was delicious. If we ever happen to be in the area again, this will be a stop for sure read more

Excellent margaritas, salsa, guacamole, atmosphere and service... this place has it all!

Had the chicken nachos and chimichanga. Both were superb. Service was fast and friendly. Table salsa was hot and delicious. Loved the decor and staff. Looking forward to coming back! read more

Pepino's Mexican Restaurant - two bowls of chili and chips - Mexican Near Me - Bangor, Maine

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I've been going to Pepino's for over 30 years and while the food remains pretty consistent and decent, the service and experience has gone way down hill. The last four out of five takeout orders have had some issue such as a a busy phone signal for an hour to order, wrong food given at pick up or waiting an extra thirty minutes twice (over and hour total). There's no sincere apology or sometimes even a recognition that there was a problem. It feels like they are only concerned with churning out the food not appreciating customers. They're one of the only games in town which keeps them busy but it's by default not by passion which is too bad. read more

Cute little restaurant!! They give you chips and salsa when you sit and the salsa.... definitely homemade and superrrr good! The rest of the food I got was just as delicious. Perfect spice level, melted cheese, margaritas!! Glad I tried this place out and will be back! read more

Hello, I wanted to reach out to share my disappointing experience on 4/5. I had messaged the following to their Facebook page and initially they responded apologizing and offering a gift card and asking which location, I wrote back that it was bangor. Several days passed and I still hadn't gotten a response so I messaged again with a screen shot of the charge on my credit card statement. Still no response but they had read it. I'm not looking for a gift card, I wanted to provide helpful feedback. Here is the message I sent : We ordered food and after an hour had passed with no food, we needed to leave to get my 2 year old home- who was hungry and done sitting. I asked the waitress if we could have our food to go and my husband brought our daughter out to the car to wait... i still had to wait a bit for the food, and no apology. I still paid full price for the meals that we were supposed to dine in to eat, but had to get to go.... Then, got home to see that my order was wrong and ended up having to make something to eat for dinner. We eat frequently at the taco stand and the bangor location and this was a very poor experience read more

Nice cozy atmosphere, parking can be a little bit rough especially this time of year when the sidewalks are slippery. I had dinner with three girlfriends and our meals were okay and a little on the small side. Our server was very pleasant and fun, but she was gone for long periods of time. We went over a half hour with all of our drinks being empty. read more

My family and I went to Pepinos tonight for New Year's Eve dinner I ordered the steak Fajitas the food was cold. The steak was not cut up it was just 2 pieces of small steak very bland no seasoning at all my plate was not Sizzling when it was brought to me the vegetables were mostly raw and very crunchy the tortillas were cold and wet they stuck together when I tried to eat them I let the server know and she said there served cold she offered to take my food and reheat it on the stove but I didn't think that with covid and all that would be a good idea to take food back to the kitchen after I had already touched it. She offered me a takeout box at that point. She brought us out checks about 10 min. After our food was brought to us we weren't even done eating. She came back a few minutes later my mom said she would like to order dessert the server said NOPE! In a very rude manner then stated we had to leave because they were busy We were absolutely flabbergasted as to why she said that. She seemed to be very angry when speaking at us. My sister asked for the Manager my sister explain to the Manager what happened she was absolutely Appalled and apologized. She said she didn't know why the server would of said that. She brought us dessert comped my meal. She was very kind and Professional. Still I will not be going back there. read more

Great food, great atmosphere, and great service! Loved my visit to Pepinos and will definitely be back. The Margaritas alone would get me back in there, but make sure to try the chicken chimichangas or the fiesta salad! read more

Went to the restaurant last night, a Saturday, on the early side. Had been to the new location once before. Love the ambiance of this new location. The food is excellent!! I had the El Pepino, the house special, and it was awesome. Nice and moist and the refried beans were some of the best I've ever had. My husband had the Burrito Grande with ground beef and really enjoyed it. I'm not a real frufru drink person so had a beer, love Geaghans, a nice Oatmeal Stout, that went surprisingly well with my meal. Nice drink selection over all. I would have given the restaurant 5 stars but as I've said I was here once before and the service was extremely slow. Last night though I was pleasantly surprised to have wonderful service from a cheerful and very competent waitress. We will definitely go back!!!!! read more

Waiter amber good suggestions. #5-- 2 enchiladas great dinner. Drink the sangeritas cross between the sangria & margaritas guys had El grande burritos excellent. Good place to go downtown. read more

Friendly staff, comfortable atmosphere, and great food make every dining experience here amazing. Nacho plate, fish tacos, and a full a la carte menu...options for any level of hunger. read more

Despite 3 1/2 stars we took a chance. It's an old brick building, old hardwood floors, great color orange paint, old style tables. Pretty typical menu but execution was fantastic. Wait staff was wonderful. We had Sherrie and even the staff busing the other tables shared pleasantries. Next time we're in the area we will make a point of coming back. read more

This has been my favorite restaurant for almost 40 years! I've read some of the not so favorable reviews. I completely disagree but to each his own. I consider it "modern" Mexican food. I've been to the other Mexican restaurants in Bangor and I will choose Pepinos every time! The Jalapeno margarita is to die for! I have never been disappointed. So try it before you judge it because it's my "go to" restaurant!! read more

Poor Mexican food, very bland and basic, the chicken on the tostada salad had no flavor and was watery. Lacks authentic Mexican flavors and style. The location is cool and would probably be a cool place to drink before a show or something, but I don't recommend spending money on the food. read more

Came in for dinner with a girlfriend. We were famished. The hostess (Kaylie) was great. She sat us down at a little table near the bar while we had to wait to be seated and grabbed some chips and salsa as we waited for our table. Amber our server was attentive and friendly. Fish tacos were perfect. read more

This place was awesome, we took a chance for a place that only had 3.5 stars and are thrilled. Our waitress, Sherrie, was excellent! Great sense of humor and personality. The girl bussing tables was fun and knew how to treat a guest. The food was good especially the Southwest Chimi's. Next time I am in the Bangor area I will stop in. Thank you for a great night!! read more