Pepe's Mexican Grill — Restaurant in Panguitch

We could tell right away that Pepe’s is a brand new addition to Panguitch, and we genuinely wanted to give them a try and show our support. It’s clear that they are still getting their feet under them — the staff was actively training during our visit, which we completely understand. Our server was kind and attentive, checking on us often, and we even had a visit from the owner, which was a great personal touch. That said, our server struggled to answer even a simple question: “Which of these sauces is the spiciest?” I felt for him — it's tough being new — but it’s an area that needs tightening up.

The location is excellent, and I sincerely hope Pepe’s succeeds. Panguitch doesn’t currently have another Mexican restaurant, and there’s a real opportunity here to bring much-needed food variety to the area.

As for the food, it was a bit of a mixed bag. Let me start with the disappointing: the rice and beans were, frankly, of the cheapest quality. I could only take a bite of each. Others have posted pictures — and they tell the story. I don’t want to sound harsh, but anyone raving about the sides either hasn’t had good Mexican food or is just really eager for this restaurant to thrive. And I get that — I want it to succeed too — but the food must speak for itself.

Now for the good: When I asked for a spicier sauce, they brought out an off-menu five pepper sauce that was absolutely fantastic — flavorful, spicy, and unique. Pepe’s, please put this sauce (and others like it) on your menu! This could be a major draw for those who love trying new and bold flavors. The standard red and green sauces just don’t stand out.

I ordered something I don’t usually go for — a steak nachos of sorts. The flavor was decent, though the chips became soggy from being covered in red sauce. I think this was probably the right direction for the dish, even if the texture suffered a bit. If I had to do it over, I’d order a burrito to better compare it with my go-to Mexican fare.

The decor: the space feels plain and lacks personality. I chalk that up to them being so new — there’s a lot of room to grow. The only Mexican element was the music, which was playing just a bit too loud from a TV. The TV honestly took away from the atmosphere more than it added to it.

Recommendations: Please improve the quality of your rice and beans. These are staples and should reflect the pride of your kitchen. People will pay a tad more for better quality rice and beans. Or put them both on your menu somehow.

Advertise your off-menu sauces. The five pepper sauce was a standout — your hidden gems should be featured proudly.

Ditch the TV and play soft, inviting Mexican music through speakers to create a more authentic and welcoming ambiance that allows for conversation.

Decorate the space. Add some Mexican or local art to bring life and identity to the restaurant.

Keep tablecloths clean. Ours was noticeably dirty and a bit off-putting right when we were seated.

All in all, I truly want to see Pepe’s succeed. The staff was kind and clearly working hard. There’s potential here — real potential — and with a few thoughtful changes, this place could become a beloved fixture in Panguitch. I’ll be rooting for them and checking back in to see how...

When we arrived, there was only one other couple there. We were sat directly behind them despite all the other open tables. There was very little space behind my chair. So my husband and I sat next to each other on the other side. The next couple that came in was sat directly behind us. We were not offered water until we ordered. Then we watched the waitress causally wipe a table and didn’t receive any water for 5-10 minutes until we asked for it. I eat gluten free, so I was happy to see several menu items with “GF” next to them. I ordered one of those GF items and asked the waitress just to confirm this menu item was gluten free. She said yes corn tortillas. Food came fast and presentation was nice. But I was served flour tortillas. I didn’t realize it until I had eaten half my meal! Luckily I am not allergic. When I pointed it out to the server, she assured me it was corn. I knew it was not, so asked her if she could confirm that with the cook. When she returned she casually said sorry confirmed they were indeed flour and that they didn’t have any corn left. She did offer to comp my meal. When we were done eating she didn’t seem to notice, and was standing around drying dishes. The bathroom was pretty run down, the dining area was a little better condition. The meat quantity in the meals was scant, but the food and flavors were pretty good! I liked their salsa. It was a mild smokey flavored...

Stopped in and tried the Pastor chimichanga and DID NOT DISAPPOINT! Best one I've ever had, and I've been to at least a hundred places serving Mexican cuisine! Super crispy and as big as my forearm! Super cheesy and stuffed to the max! One star lost since they asked me if I wanted salsa and said they would give me 2 types but I only got a tiny thing of pico and sour cream. I got one radish but would've loved to have more as this is a rich entree. For such a big burrito I think maybe double the pico and luckily I had Sriracha but I did do take away and like 5 other purple showed up right after I ordered so maybe being take out they forgot my salsa but not that big a deal for how good the food was. Def recommend and will prob eat one more time before I go back to Nevada. Just ask for salsa and extra radish,...