Illegal Pete’s Tuscon is located at 876 E University Blvd at the Main Gate of the Univsity of Arizona. Slinging loaded mission-style burritos, fish tacos and burritos, salads, nachos, quesadillas, and our signature queso. All handmade food made from responsibly-sourced, high-quality ingredients. Our restaurant has a full bar with a wide selection of local beer on tap.
Offbeat destination supplying burritos & other quick Mexican grub, plus a full bar.
Sarah Fries
First time at Illegal Pete’s for a Friday lunch and it did not disappoint! I had the tri-tip nachos—meat grilled perfectly, massive portions, and the hot salsa packed just the right amount of heat. Loved the variety of toppings (the calabacitas with fajita veggies was a delicious combo).
The staff was super friendly and welcoming, and since it was the off-season it wasn’t too busy—though I can see this place being lively on a Friday night with its two bars (upstairs and downstairs) plus patio seating. Great views of University from upstairs!
Parking can be a challenge (garage in back or limited street parking), but it’s easy to reach by streetcar or on foot from campus and nearby neighborhoods. Overall: flavorful food, generous portions, friendly vibes, and a fun setting. Can’t wait to come back and try the Coors-battered fish tacos!
… moreashley ringenbach
We had 3 large catering orders for 3 seperate hospitals. The food was delicious and on time! We wanted to try a new place for our staff appreciation and was not disappointed. The food portions were worth the money and everything was fresh and delicious. We found our new staff’s favorite place!
… moreSteve Kusik
Great local place to get food AND drinks. Similar to a Chipotle, but BETTER. Food is great, service from staff outstanding. Full service bar as well. Stop in for a to-go order, or stay to eat and drink.
… moreJay Dale Smith
My family wanted to check out the University of Arizona on the way to the airport. We needed a quick bite before our flight and landed here. The staff was super friendly. They were patient with us as we ordered. The food was fast and the portions were generous. This place is better than most of the walk up and order Mexican chain restaurants.
There was plenty of indoor seating. They had a nice bar and awesome outdoor seating. We sat outside and it was lovely.
You should definitely check out Illegal Pete’s!
… moreMishelle Shump
We visited on a Thursday night not realizing it turned into a crazy college bar at night. The two servers behind the downstairs bar were amazing! They warned us to stay downstairs. Lol they were both amazing and on top of everything. We never waited for a beer even though they were crazy busy. It was Jan 15, 26, give those two a raise
… moreRobert Brown
MY FIRST TIME VISITING, BUT DEFINITELY NOT MY LAST! I JUST FOUND MY NEW FAVORITE SPOT IN TUCSON, AZ! THE STAFF, THE FOOD, THE DRINKS, THE PARKING, EVERYTHING PERFECT
… moreMark N
I am from Denver so have been to the original Illegal Pete’s years ago and I was not impressed with this one. I went around 645pm on a Monday and most of the meats were at the bottom of the barrel, the veggies looked old, and it was incredibly slow.
The service was not much to speak of, there seemed to be a lack of interest from the employees. I originally ordered two items and noticed they had not even started on one of them when I was paying, so I just cancelled it off the order.
There are so many Taco Trucks in the area that serve freshsr Mexican food for less cost, I recommend going to any one of those before Illegal Pete’s.
Not recommended.
… moreTausif Chowdhury
Just stopped by to grab a quick drink and ended up having a great time! I’d never seen Jacob here before, but he was fantastic, super friendly, attentive, and really knew what he was doing behind the bar. He made sure our drinks were perfect and checked in just the right amount without being overbearing. The atmosphere was relaxed, the music was good, and the service made the whole experience even better. Definitely coming back soon — Jacob really elevated the night!
… moreDeianira Morris
Good food for good prices, good atmosphere, and the staff here are always friendly! This is a great place to swing by and grab something to eat if you’re on central campus. If you’re in a hurry, they’ve got online ordering!
… moreCarina Del Bosque
Illegal Pete’s shakes up the norm and provides much better, quality ingredients than Chipotle. I enjoy their variety and focus on authenticity. My only complaints are that the music can be too loud during the day, which makes it difficult for me to hear the staff and place my order. Furthermore, I have not been able to order items with Baja Fish at some times. I understand not being able to order it at busy moments, but it seems silly when it’s not busy at all. My second option is anything with Barbacoa, which is a good alternative for me. Other than that, service is good and the restaurant is clean. It fits the college vibe very well!
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