Illegal Pete's on The Hill

Illegal Pete's is such an amazing place to eat! Their food is delicious and the atmosphere is great at every location. The location on The Hill in Boulder was especially wonderful. The people working there were so friendly and easy to talk to, they made me and my husband's visit very memorable. I hadn't been in many years since graduating school and I was so pleased it was just, if not better, than I remembered. I highly recommend making this a stop the next time you're in Boulder.

Basically the same as Chipotle. Possibly worse. All rice, no meat, soggy vegetables, indifferent service. I get the impression that there was no thought put into any of the individual ingredients, or into the menu as a whole. It's kinda like a high school kid's idea of cooking.... "let's just throw stuff into a tortilla... it'll be awesome!" (spoiler alert: It's not.) Pickled Jalapenos instead of fresh. Stiff/dry chicken. Peppers were not roasted; seems like if anything they were boiled (?).... some very bad decisions being made in this kitchen. I'd bet good money that every single ingredient is from Sysco. Nothing tastes freshly cooked. Not a good value for the money.

For context, I’m a 24 year old dude. Went there for a drink just by myself after dinner, and having not drank anything that night, got one, around 45 minutes later asked for another before I was about to leave, but the bar tender, who was also the manager, said I seemed too drunk, despite the fact I had only had one drank, and had done nothing those 45 minutes but sit at the bar, look at my phone, and look at the TV. At this point, I was just sort of dumb-founded and decided to stay out of spite. Eventually some girls, obviously tipsy walk in, they ask for shots, same bar tender gives them both the shots, and while it’s possible I missed it, I am fairly confident he didn’t check their ID’s either. Basically what I’m saying is this is a great place to go if you’re an underaged college student, and a hot girl, but if you’re a guy, just wanting a place to relax and chill, try somewhere else, or least while they have their desperate performative male manager working there….

I’m honestly shocked at how bad my experience was at Illegal Pete’s. I’m a regular on Mondays, so I know the prices for Margarita Monday versus regular happy hour. This time, I was overcharged twice, and when I pointed it out, Alfred gave me a half-hearted apology and did absolutely nothing to fix the mistake. It felt lazy, careless, and unprofessional. If I’m there every Monday and know your prices better than your staff, that’s a problem. Getting overcharged and then ignored is unacceptable. This place has gone downhill fast. If they can’t get basic customer service or correct pricing right, I don’t see myself coming back anytime soon.

I’ve been a longtime fan of Illegal Pete’s, but recent experiences with the manager, Alfred, have made visits increasingly uncomfortable. On multiple occasions, both I and others in my group have felt uneasy due to his demeanor and interactions. It’s disappointing, as the staff and food are usually great, but this recurring issue has led us to take our business elsewhere. I hope the broader management team is able to address this so the environment can return to the welcoming standard we’ve always appreciated.

Incredible food, quick and professional service and great vibes. I wish I got the girls name that was working the entire place by herself because she absolutely crushed it! Gave every person the best service possible while maintaining quick service, highly recommend this place and will absolutely be back!

Best Baja fish tacos and vegan green chile! So delicious! Plenty of seats indoors and outdoors. The service is super quick too.

The vibe inside was nice---seemed like a college hangout for a quick meal. Service was nice and quick. Food was so-so. It didn't stand out compared to what you'd expect at Chipotle but was tasty. A chicken burrito bowl was ~$10 and not a huge portion---just the right size to be full but not stuffed for a simple lunch.

My favorite place to eat lunch! Most of the employees here are so kind and welcoming. Almost every Tuesday and Thursday since early 2023 I've come here for lunch! I always order the same thing, a kids chicken quesadilla with a side of guac and hot salsa. It's my fav! I had gastric surgery that only allows me to eat small amounts of food so I always order small portions every where I go. That being said, I KNOW what I'm ordering because I always order the same thing. Today, I ordered that same exact thing. I noticed at the counter I was being charged for a regular quesadilla so I thought maybe they just accidentally rang it up incorrectly so I said, "I actually ordered a kids quesadilla!". No biggie, right? Just... ring the kids quesadilla up. Well they had already started making it (fast service, it's great!), and they had already layered the cheese on the tortilla and were opening the oven door. I'm sorry, I guess? But it was exceptionally annoying to hear the pink haired one (cute hair btw) go, "well next time let us know ahead of time because you're wasting our food". First of all, you're rude. Second of all, the person taking my order wasted your precious 1 tortilla and handful of cheese because I always order the same thing and nobody else heard me wrong. Anyways it's not that big of a deal, a nerve was just struck and you made your bad day reflect onto mine. The comment was unnecessary, thank you for making my lunch experience uncomfortable. The quesadilla was bomb doe

My friend and I lucked into this place. Looked fun and the staff were amazing - being our first time - they were all so enthusiastic about what they were making and presenting and they were so helpful. The food was fantastic. I had 3 taco's - chicken had the best flavor for me - I loved that I could do 3 different meats and get a little more exposure to what they had. My friend had a burrito and was very happy with it as well. Wish there was one of these in Omaha - because I would be there constantly.

This joint is a must. Very laid back. Burritos and tacos are good. You can choose from chicken steak or barbacoa. You choose you fixings and salsas. Service is quick.

I have always loved burritos. There is nothing that compares with a GIANT DANK STUFFED BURRITO, particularly when experiencing one of the following physical states: post-workout hanger, hungover, sad, just very very hungry, confused... and sure, Chipotle is great, but Illegal Pete's is extra cool in my book for a few reasons. FIRST AND FOREMOST: POTATOES!!!! I know this is a common Cali thing, but for some reason nowhere outside of Cali (that I've been to, at least) has granted me the sweet opportunity of stuffing mi burrito with TATERS!!! SECOND: BEER-BATTERED FISH!!!! Fish tacos and fish burritos are DELICIOUS, and Illegal Pete's excels in their provisions. The steak is yummy too. Actually haven't tried the chicken, because I'm not a BASIC B!!!! JUST KIDDING!!!! Chicken doesn't make you basic. Get the chicken, I'm sure it's great. anyways... since moving to Colorado, Illegal Pete's has quickly grown to become one of my favorite comfort spots. I've never been unhappy eating their wonderful noms. Their burritos, nachos, and quesadillas are all very dank, but so are their bowls and tacos. And their cookies. Love you Pete.

I stopped by here today and ordered a chicken burrito. I have eaten the same burrito at other IP locations ans enjoyed it. This was not the case today. The person serving me seemed to be unable to listen and put the ingredients on as I specified. The brown rice was crunchy, the lettuce tasted old and the burrito had no flavor (forgot to season the chicken?). I did not even finish my burrito and will not be back. I would steer clear of this location.

I was tasked with bringing 10 breakfast burritos to a tailgate (Go Buffs!). I called Illegal Pete's the day in advance and asked if I could order 10 kid's breakfast burritos for the next morning and was told it would be easier to come in in the morning. I arrived at 7:00 (they opened early for the game) and ordered 10 kids' breakfast burritos. I was asked if I was sure I wanted kids' burritos and I confirmed "yes". At checkout, the total was almost $90. I was surprised and asked, "for the kids' breakfast burritos?" The server (with the waxed, curled up mustache) told me they don't offer kids' breakfast burritos. I pointed out that they are on the menu. He said, "Do you want us to make them all over for you again?" I said, "I want to pay for what I ordered." He said, "That's not an option." I paid my almost $90 and won't ever go back.

Like Chipotle, only cooler, better and more delicious. We had lunch here with burritos and bowls, and both were outstanding. We will be back.

We went by at 10:20pm and they weren't open. Yelp said they closed later. Oh well! No tacos for us

This is the dumpiest Illegal Pete's I've personally visited. And the 40 year old guy with the bird tattoo has an attitude problem. He really wasn't interested in taking our orders while making no effort at eye contact or friendliness. The girl that wrung us up was the complete opposite and was amazing! She was warm and super nice. Food was good, but I'll never go back to this location.

Good food but poorly executed. Eat in so you can correct them when they forget something or mess up an order. I'm thru trying to order curbside. The staff doesn't care. Dropped almost $40 to have a burrito that looked like it was wrapped by someone without thumbs. (If he really didn't have thumbs, then he did a pretty good job otherwise, but still, get someone to wrap it maybe?) Forgot to add the cheese and sour cream to my tacos. Like, it should feel weird NOT to add cheese and sc, but I even REQUESTED it. Still, no. Ordered large queso because it's BOMB. They filled it about half way. My son's quesadilla was okay. He's not picky. Honestly Pete's is a Boulder staple, so we don't want to make a stink, and you should totally try them. But like I said, eat in, and they'll try harder. Bummer. Still edible and pretty good, but it's nice to have full portions, fully completed menu items, and no missing ingredients if possible. Love from South Boulder!!

Is this college level "Mexican" good- yes. Does it hit the spot- also yes. We've ordered multiple times and gotten the chicken tacos, fish burritos, taquitos and recommend trying it out. The "hot" sauce is not too hot for my very sensitive taste buds and just enough to add some flavor!

i've had illegal pete's twice now and i tell them that i have a gluten allergy but for some reason i think something i get there is not gluten free because every time after i eat here i get horrible symptoms. last time i went i asked if something was gluten free and the guy serving me had no idea and didn't even think to ask anyone else i had to nudge it out of him being like "ok can you find out please?" and he's like "i guess". it really shows that the workers, or at least this specific ones, doesn't care about dietary restrictions and allergies which is a severe issue in my book. wish i had better experiences here since it's so close to me :(

Illegal Pete's seems to be a favorite lunch spot among locals and for good reason. The service is quick, the food is affordable, and it's appetizing! I wouldn't say that it's Mexican food. I would say it's Americanized "Mexican" much like Chipotle. (Before you ask- No chipotle isn't authentic Mexican food either.) Illegal Pete's offers a fast casual build-your-own dish style service where you hop in line and select what you want much like chipotle. You can choose your base; tacos, burrito, bowl, etc. followed by protein; chicken, steak, veggies, etc. and then any salsas and additional toppings your heart desires. What's nice about Illegal Pete's is that they have items on their menu that accommodate for most if not all dietary restrictions while being yummy! Did I forget to mention that the employees are also extremely friendly? Before, during, and even after I ordered the employees seemed genuinely interested in how I liked my food and experience there. If you're looking for a place to grab a quick lunch then look no more.

I swear to Jesus McChrist, what would i do?? I mean what in the actual fuck would i do without it? This is where moses saw that bush on fire, he didn't understand it but he loved the sweet nectar of the bush.

This is one of my favorite spots on the hill, I personally love the burritos and the environment at Pete's. The service is always great and the employees are cool. It's a much better alternative to chipotle as the ingredients are better quality therefore the food is better.

I've been loyal customer at illegal pete's for over two years now. My experience has always been, and continues to be a positive one thanks to the amazing customer service. I am always greeting warmly and openly by all the employees who ask me about my day and frequently give out compliments. The warm atmosphere is always pleasant but what keeps me coming back is the quality of the food. The meat is fresh and juicy, the vegetables are well seasoned and cooked, the chips are crunchy without being too oily, the salsas are actually spicy and my burritos are always wrapped tightly and uniformly. My favorite part about the illegal pete's process is that they always mix up your burrito contents for you, so that all the flavors get combined together evenly and you're never stuck with a mouthful of rice like at some other burrito places. Illegal pete's is such an essential part of the boulder community, and I don't know what I would do without it!

Illegal Pete's, or what we just call "Pete's", is the only place in Boulder where I can say the food experience and the drinking experience both deserve five stars. I have yet to figure out which is better - their staff, or their queso. Both make me feel warm inside. There has never been a moment of doubt for me here - I know I can get well-priced food between classes or get absolutely blitzed on national margarita day. Always with a smile on my face.

Came to Boulder Co to visit my old friends and get a tour at the University of Boulder . This place is their favorite for fast food Mexican and I am clueless why :) Upon entering the place you can smell old burnt oil and that smell gets worse inside . The tables and chairs/boot seats were dirty and sticky . Why cant you clean it once in a while ? The food was mediocre and expensive considering the portion size. Cute thing was a separate bar area that gave this hole in a wall a little face lift. Maybe its a late night spot when you are not so sensitive about smells and table cleanliness :))

Boulder born and raised I've been going to illegal Pete's my entire life, pearl st and denver locations are AMAZING. But please, whatever you do, stay away from the location on the hill, after years of half assed and lazy service at this location I have finally reached my limit, while I was in tonight I witnessed 3 health code violations and the manager working the register dropped my quesadilla on the counter (that I bet hadn't been cleaned all day) then proceeded to scoop it back into it's boat and sell it to me... fucking disgusting. Get a grip guys, if you weren't drinking on the job maybe it would be easier to have decent service. I can't believe I waste my time here.

The food was good, the service was fast, and the restaurant was clean and compliant with current COVID regulations in Colorado.

I reached out to Illegal Pete's a few months ago seeking a donation to help feed the High School cheer team I coach and they were happy to help. I've always been a loyal customer of Illegal Pete's and their generosity solidified this for me. The kids loved the food and I know many of them with remember Illegal Pete's when they go off to college. Thank you for your support and continued dedication to helping the community!

Yummy!!!! Had the chicken burrito with Mexican rice. The chicken was cooked perfectly, was very fresh & flavorful. The thing that stole my heart though we're the ginormous chocolate chip cookies! A cookie is a must, and you can't miss them when you check out!

I regularly come to this establishment and I'm always satisfied with my experience. Today my food was very fresh and tasted wonderful. The staff also was very helpful with my order and happily did everything to my needs. The line was long but they were very organized and it moved very fast. I would recommend this to anyone who needs their food to be ready in a short amount of time and also tastes fresh.

I love Illegal Pete's! They're a great lunch spot, they are so quick, so definitely a good choice for the lunch hour if you're leaving work to get food. They have a great quality food too, I've never been disappointed. The staff is always friendly and kind, even when I can be indecisive.

Who doesn't love late night Mexican food? Located a cross from the fox, this joint is a must have before the show. We stopped in for drinks and food. First of all, their drinks start at $3.50. That's unheard of for me so that's just a no Brainer. As for the food. Holy wow I wasn't expecting that flavor from this spot but they made a bangin quesadilla. Bring your friends, save some money, leave happy and leave full.

I am a huge fan of Illegal Pete's. I have visited all locations in the Denver area. Great margaritas! Great food! Great happy hour!

It was actually surprisingly amazing food. It felt fresh, moist, and new. When I finished the burrito, I felt full and happy. Nice crew, and excellent lighting for eating.

Ever since I first discovered illegal Pete's it's always been my favorite Mexican restaurant food chain, even above chipotle and qdoba. They're food is especially authentic and better tasting. My personal favorite is their green chili and their chips!! All the protein taste less processed and overall better than any other place I've tried. The vibes inside of the restaurant are also very nice. Immediately as you walk in the door, there's music playing, people at the bar, friends laughing and eating, and the slideshows on the tv make the line go by so much faster. I've never had any complaints with them, great customer service and some bomb food. 10/10 would recommend. Please do yourself a favor and eat at Illegal Pete's.

Love going here for some food or a night out. Dan is an amazing bartender. Check them out!!!

Dana is the best! Outstanding service. You will never find a better bar. This is the place!

I love Illegal Pete's and this one is well run for being in a college town right by where all the student's live. Way better than chipotle or Qdoba!

Great place to grab a filling meal without it breaking the bank. The strawberry margs are also my favorite drink in town. So cheap for happy hour!

First day in Colorado off on the right foot. Ate dinner at Illegal Pete's with a chicken burrito bowl. They didn't have lettuce in stock (like seriously?!?), but the bangin' bowl filled with brown rice, black beans, cheese, pico de gallo, and tons of hot sauce. Would come back for more!

Illegal Pete's is the perfect place for a quick bite to eat with a wide range of toppings! I love their burritos and bowls! It has an upbeat and fun vibe and a short walk from campus! Illegal Pete's is a great place to hangout and grab a quality meal at a reasonable price!

Pete's is on some fire flame ridiculously sick nasty tight stuff. Great management, dope staff, Adam is always dropping the sickest wubs when we're all vibin. Food is stupid tight, dumb fresh, and a massive explosion in your mouth.. ever bite. Shout out to Shannon for holding down the establishment like the boss she is!

Got to Chilpolte!!! I orderered meat*2 + guac + hot sauce. Mind you that's three things in the bowl and they were adamant about charging me $9+ I couldn't believe it. More often than not I'm charged around $6 for the same thing. Stafff were unfriendly (aka: not commensurate with 'THE' Illegal Petes mission statement). I pivoted to Illegal Petes being that its a superior experience to Chipotle, however tonight ruinded it!!! WTF Illegal Petes??? How can you provide me an epic experience in nights past, yet tell me to go screw myself tonight?? Get your shit together! Treating your regulars like garbage isn't acceptable!

The food is ok and the beer is cold. The people who work here always seem to be pissed off. Not very friendly and they nickel and dime you for everything!

I am a very regular customer at this illegal Pete's location. It is definitely my favorite place to grab a drink on the hill. Specifically, I look forward to seeing certain bartenders who have befriended me and treat all of the customers as though they are they're close friends. This past Tuesday night (1/16) I went Illegal Pete's, as usual, excited to hangout at my favorite place. This time I was very disappointed in the service that was provided by the bartender. I have been served by him once before and both times he has provided below average service in regard to both drink quality and just customer service. He has a habit of being rude and rolling his eyes when he sees people walk through the door. This past Tuesday, specifically, I witnessed him rolling his eyes at customers, showing an immense level of impatience, and being rude to middle aged men that then led to him using foul language as the men left the bar extremely upset. I will always return to Illegal Pete's because besides this one bartender I do love the atmosphere and the overall service. The management should definitely take some action regarding this employee's overall attitude.

My SO and I frequent Pete's on the hill. I love the entire staff, and love their food. Even though I hate going to the hill these days, I'll make the trip to visit Pete's. Their steak is awesome and I always end up getting their steak nachos. I also love their margaritas- try their margs made with the jalapeño infused tequila! My dad insists on eating at Pete's on the Hill at least once every time he visits here in Colorado.

This place is AWESOME. The choice of food is immaculate, and you get huge portions. I got a smothered burrito and was so full after finishing 3/4 of it. The prices are good for the portions. They don't overcharge for all the annoying things, although some more expensive sauces are about 1.40 more. Overall, this is great for late night runs or lunches in between class.

It's like chipotle but with actually good quality meat. Def recommend the steak. Its A1, add cilantro which's is something I f**k with and the boom your set

A delicious casual Mexican joint. Stopped in after a morning of hiking with family. We ordered burrito bowls and a quesadilla and were very pleased. The ingredients were fresh and filling. The wheat tortilla was surprisingly good as well. Be sure to stop in for a quick, delicious lunch!

Definately my go-to for quick, yummy food! the meat tastes much fresher than a lot of other places I've tried without a rediculous price! everytime I've gone theres a guy named Michael who is super friendly, just like the rest of the staff. I don't usually write yelp reviews, but this one was a must! definately recommend!

Great price drinks and delicious food. Open late and always a college scene. Extremely social place.

really good mexican food with a bar. very popular spot. if you're visiting boulder, don't avoid this place.

The management of this location or illegal Pete's is shameful. Lacking people skills, basic accommodations as a restaurant and bar. The manager or co manager Andrew I'm not sure which to call him, can't be much older than the general population of this college town. Anywho, their protocol is taking people's bags and jackets and going through them at their own will. I used to love going to this place and was a regular but after being so poorly treated by an inept managerial staff, I'm very upset. I wouldn't recommend anyone else going here. Many very potentially problematic things go on in this establishment. I sincerely hope they realize to focus their efforts on more meaningful things.

If Qdoba and Your Local Sport's bar had a baby, that child would be Illegal Pete's. Who doesn't love Qdoba and Sports? It's a good combo to me. I enjoyed the upbeat vibe. The food was tasty, I ordered a Taco Salad with the works (guac, rice, beans, pico & corn salsa mix, topped with a light sprinkle of cheese). You really can't go wrong with Illegal Pete's for a quick bite to eat or a place to catch a game with your friends.

This place was absolutely delicious, a better version of qdoba and chipotle! Huge fan!!

Very good food, with lots of options to customize your order (such as a burrito bowl with tortilla chips on the side). Friendly staff, generous portions. Excellent value for your dollars!

HARD SKIMP on the meat and fillings! Poor showing from a local favorite. I have a Chipotle, Qdoba and many others that give a helluva lot more food for the $$. Sorry illegal skimps, not coming back