Taqueria Don Chepe — Restaurant in Niles Charter Township

We’ve been meaning to try this place since we discovered it 2 years ago, but never managed to go. Lately we’ve been on a kick of finding all the Mexican restaurants and trying them out. Don Chepe moved locations before we got to try them out but it’s still a local location in Niles. So glad we don’t have to go far for good quality food and service.

Hubby had the wet burrito and tried one of my chicken tacos Mexican style. He loved the wet burrito so much he ate the whole thing with no leftovers. He didn’t have heartburn from it but he was definitely over full, he just didn’t want to put it down. It was so good we ordered again for carry out the next night and he got the same thing. Again devoured in one sitting and ready for a good happy belly sleep after. :)

I first got the chicken tacos from their food truck when they were out in Niles on a Sunday. That’s what got us to finally go try their restaurant. I had the street corn that day too and it was so delicious! I’m sensitive to corn 🌽 sometimes but this didn’t seem to cause issues because each time I had the Elotes I shared it with my friend or my hubby so I didn’t eat too much. It has a little kick to it but not too much. It has chili powder in it which I wouldn’t have guessed I would like but I do, apparently.

The ambiance and everything is about the restaurant is great. You order at the counter and they bring you your food at your table when it’s done. So it’s a little different but there are signs telling you what to do and I think it helps them manage how busy they get with such a small space. Mind you it’s not too small they are just popular and busy at the times that I can go after work.

The chicken tacos with the lime so good and flavorful. Ask for extra limes because it’s delicious with one lime wedge squeezed on each taco.

I got chicken fajitas for carry out the second night and actually got three separate meals out of it! The third meal was a little skimpy but still, it’s a decent amount of food.

My favorite Spanish rice 🍚 still is awarded to another restaurant but Don Chepe had the best chicken fajitas so far! There were lots of onions and the way it was seasoned it could satisfy a bloomin onion craving without all the breading and feeling icky after.

Great atmosphere and extra service wasn’t even needed. We spent less than a lot of places we have been recently but we didn’t order any dessert or big appetizer, so it’s technically not a fair comparison. Still delicious food including tacos I never thought I’d enjoy so much. The flavor and how good it made me feel despite the corn tortillas is quite an accomplishment. We will definitely be back. Can’t believe I ate Don Chepe most of this week!

It was definitely worth the 2 year wait it took us to try this… but we shouldn’t...

Their food has always been great. Service has always been terrible. This last visit was the worst though. Got there at 7:10. Stood in line and ordered. My husband got a burrito, I got a veggie taco. I told them no onion, no cilantro, add avocado. When I got my taco it was covered in onions. I stopped a guy and told him. He took it back. As he was walking away, I reminded him it's no onion, no cilantro, add avocado. I watched my husband eat for 10 minutes. I went up and asked for it. She said they were busy in the kitchen. I said it's just one taco, no meat even. She said that if I wanted avocado, I needed to tell them when I order because I have to pay for it. I said I know, I did pay for it. She said I told the boy i wanted extra avocado. I said no, I told him how my taco was ordered, and I did pay for the avocado. Here I am waiting 10 minutes for a veg taco and she's quibbling over avocado. I sat down and waited about 7 minutes before I went back up for that taco. She said they've been very busy all day. I said this is a remake of a taco that was messed up, it should have been pushed ahead of all other orders. She said they're just busy. A guy turned and handed me my taco. My husband was done eating. While I ate mine, the staff all came out from the back and started putting chairs on tables all around us. They swept the floors loudly, kicking up dust. They were loud. And the whole while they had turned up the radio and was playing the song Closing Time. The song that says you don't have to go home but you can't stay here. Like telling us to get out. I was surprised by that level of rudeness. I'm not going back there. The food is good, but...

Our favorite restaurant in the entire Niles area (Rancho Viejo) has burnt down in the largest tragedy to hit the greater Niles region in quite some time. In a desperate attempt to find some semblance of an approachable Mexican dish, my workmate and I visited Don Chepe. The environment is acceptable, maybe a touch warm inside, nothing exciting or groundbreaking to report on that front. The counter staff was friendly- I ordered a chicken quesadilla with no lettuce or tomato and a side of Spanish rice. Upon delivery to the table, a quesadilla inspection was initiated. The first crack of this item was met with a strong smell of wet cat food and onion. Onion that is unlisted on the menu for this item, and unfortunately renders this dish inedible for me. This chicken is questionable, but perhaps someone likes it. The inspection was then moved to the rice, yielding a small plate of plain browned rice, cooked to exhaustion. This rice perhaps spent thirty years on the roadside begging for change, with a color reminiscent of RFK Jr's fake tan. Overall this was thirteen dollars that will never return to my pocket. I can't say I haven't spent worse for less, but I can't say I'd do it again, even...