Illegal Pete's Soft Shell Tacos
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Illegal Pete's - Pearl St.

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A quirky counter-service spot known for its customizable burritos and bowls, affordable happy hour, and community involvement.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

Social content

Social

From TikTok & Reddit

Best Time

Wed/Fri 18-21h

Blue hour photography, calmer galleries

CrowdLow
Illegal Pete's Soft Shell Tacos

Illegal Pete's - Pearl St.

Highlights

Highlights

Must-see attractions

A quirky counter-service spot known for its customizable burritos and bowls, affordable happy hour, and community involvement.

"Great food, and the vibes were great - perfect for a casual meal!"

TIP

Happy Hour Deal

Score affordable margaritas at $4.50 each during happy hour; they pack a punch!

Community Involvement

Dine with a good conscience; the restaurant supports local community projects.

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Quick Facts

Closed·Opens 9AM

Cuisine

Mexican

Price

Mid-range

Phone

(303) 440-3955

Address

1447 Pearl St, Boulder, CO 80302, USA

Insta-Factor

Medium

Highlights

Discover the most iconic attractions and experiences

Hearty Burritos & Bowls

Hearty Burritos & Bowls

Build your own customizable burritos, bowls, and salads with a wide array of fresh ingredients and flavorful proteins.

Budget-Friendly Happy Hour

Budget-Friendly Happy Hour

Enjoy potent $4.50 margaritas during daily happy hour, making it a great spot for affordable drinks.

Happy Hour Done Right in BoulderBest Cheap Drinks in Boulder | About Boulder County ColoradoGoogle Review
Unique Protein-Only Option

Unique Protein-Only Option

For carb-conscious diners, opt for protein-only ordering without tortillas or grains.

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Insider Tips

from TikTok, Instagram & Reddit

Happy Hour Deal

Score affordable margaritas at $4.50 each during happy hour; they pack a punch!

Community Involvement

Dine with a good conscience; the restaurant supports local community projects.

Order Accuracy Check

If ordering delivery, double-check your items as occasional errors have been reported.

Steak vs. Chicken Pricing

Steak is pricier, but it allows for more ingredient combinations in your order.

Tips

from all over the internet

Happy Hour Deal

Score affordable margaritas at $4.50 each during happy hour; they pack a punch!

Community Involvement

Dine with a good conscience; the restaurant supports local community projects.

Order Accuracy Check

If ordering delivery, double-check your items as occasional errors have been reported.

Steak vs. Chicken Pricing

Steak is pricier, but it allows for more ingredient combinations in your order.

What Travellers Say

4.6
(491k reviews)

Reviews Summary

Customers praise Illegal Pete's for its quality Mexican food, customizable bowls and burritos, and overall good vibes. The happy hour deals are a significant draw for affordable drinks. However, some diners have experienced issues with rude staff and inconsistent portion sizes, leading to disappointment despite the otherwise good food.

"First time eating here, awesome food!"

Steven Steele

"I just paid for a burrito the size of a soda can, what a joke. It looked like someone rolled up a child’s portion and called it a meal. If I wanted to be hungry again in 10 minutes, I’d have just eaten a granola bar. Save your money and go somewhere that doesn’t skimp on portions like they’re rationing supplies.

I expected it to taste mediocre, as it typically does here, but this was a robbery."

Ryan ORourke

"Maybe it was the time of day or..? The food as always=excellent. Although it's been almost 10 yrs since I last ate here as I'd moved away. The staff was less than attentive and maybe it's just the "new level expected of customer service" which is just above automaton automated robot service...but still, the credit card prompts you to tip regardless of the actual "SERVICE" you receive. The atmosphere was quiet and only 2-4 other guests were present. The place was very clean and well organized and a i said, food was excellent, that's what really matters."

Stephanie Smith

What People Like

Freshly made burritos and bowls
Affordable and potent happy hour margaritas
Customizable ingredients and proteins

What People Dislike

Inconsistent portion sizes
Rude or inattentive staff

Frequently Asked Questions

Signature dishes include their customizable burritos, bowls, nachos, and quesadillas. The Baja fish tacos are also a popular choice.

Yes, they have a daily happy hour featuring affordable margaritas that are known to pack a punch.

Happy Hour Done Right in BoulderBest Cheap Drinks in Boulder | About Boulder County ColoradoGoogle Review

Absolutely! You can build your own bowls and burritos with a wide variety of ingredients and proteins.

Google Review

Yes, Illegal Pete's offers decent vegetarian options including vegetarian tacos and bowls.

Colorado | Restaurant Guide | Vegetarian Resource GroupGoogle Review

For those avoiding carbs, you can order your meal with just proteins, without tortillas or grains.

Yes, the restaurant actively participates in community projects that benefit locals.

Boulder Restaurants | Top 33 in 2025

Most entrees are around $10-$13, with some premium options like steak being slightly more expensive.

Getting the best out of Boulder on a budgetGoogle Review

Mentioned in

Featured in these publications

Lonely Planet

Getting the best out of Boulder on a budget

Downtown, Village Coffee Shop has a full grilled cheese sandwich meal for just $3.95, and both Illegal Pete’s Mexican restaurant and Zoe Ma Ma Chinese restaurant have budget menus where everything is under $10. There are many other places to find a cheap, filling meal in town – just do some menu browsing in advance, and try to get into some of these places earlier in the day to avoid long wait times.

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Travel Boulder

Happy Hour Done Right in Boulder

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Boulder Weekly

Best of Boulder 2019 — Food

For Illegal Pete’s, it all started right here in Boulder with a dream of a restaurant that was fun for both employees and customers, with a little counter-cultural flare. More than two decades later, and Pete’s is still Boulder’s favorite burrito stop. With a variety of options from rice and beans to potatoes with green chili or queso, along with any choice of meat and other toppings, these burritos are stuffed to the brim, full of flavor, and the perfect antidote to society’s decay.

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USA TODAY 10Best

Grab and Go: Boulder's Best and Most Wallet-Friendly Take Out Options

Drop by this popular restaurant for the best burritos in town with two convenient locations, Pearl Street and Boulder's college district "The Hill". You can't go wrong with the fajita burrito filled with chicken, cilantro-lime rice, salsa, sauteed onions and peppers. Taco options include fish, primavera, chicken, steak and vegetarian.

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boulderdowntown.com

Boulder Beer Trail - Downtown Boulder

From loaded, Mission-style burritos to bowls, salads, nachos, quesadillas and—of course—their signature queso, Illegal Pete’s is all about handmade food crafted with responsibly-sourced, high-quality ingredients. They also keep a full bar and a wide selection of local craft beer to keep the good times rolling.

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aboutboulder.com

Best Cheap Drinks in Boulder | About Boulder County Colorado

Illegal Pete’s is low-key the king of good, cheap drinks in Boulder!. They have two locations in Boulder—one on the hill and one on Pearl Street Mall—the two most poppin’ areas. They have some great margs at a price of only $4.50 at happy hour, and they pack quite a punch as a single marg!.

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vrg.org

Colorado | Restaurant Guide | Vegetarian Resource Group

Illegal Pete's offers decent vegetarian options at a cheap price. Try the vegetarian tacos, primavera veggie salad, veggie green chile, or "The Big Potato.". Open daily for lunch and dinner Full service take-out, delivery, beer/alcohol VISA/MC/AMEX/DISC, $

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Cozymeal

Boulder Restaurants | Top 33 in 2025

Step into Illegal Pete's and experience a quirky counter service joint serving up burritos made with the freshest ingredients. This Boulder restaurant also makes an effort to give back and is involved in multiple projects benefiting the local community.

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Denver Insider

Discover the Best Happy Hour in Boulder (2025)

I have to say, I was blown away by the incredible happy hour at Illegal Pete's - Boulder. From the moment I walked in, I could feel the energetic and playful atmosphere that sets this place apart. Let's talk about the food first.

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CU Boulder Today

Good eats on University Hill

1124 13th St. Illegal Pete’s is a lively Mexican restaurant and a great place to hang with friends!. They often host watch parties, fantasy football drafts and more.

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Stacker

Highest-rated Mexican Restaurants in the Boulder Area by Diners

- Rating: 3.6/5 (326 reviews)- Price level: $$- Address: 1447 Pearl St. Boulder, Colorado - Categories: Mexican, Bars, Breakfast & Brunch- Read more on Yelp

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Colorado Daily

Where to find food after dark in Boulder

Down the street, you can find Illegal Pete’s, a good spot for a bit of light beer and tacos in the witching hour.

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GetBoulder.com

Dining Guide and Restaurants in Boulder

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The NoCo Voice

The 10 Best Places to Get a Margarita in Fort Collins

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Illegal Pete's - Pearl St. (2026) – Best of TikTok, Instagram & Reddit Food Guide