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Jose Ceja, the "Pepe" in Pepe's Tacos, launched his first 24-hour, casual restaurant in 1999 at Decatur Boulevard and Vegas Drive. Sixteen years later, they are still serving around the clock and will soon have a fourth, local sibling located farther north.
Pepe's will take over a corner slot next to the AMC Rainbow Promenade 10 movie theater at the Rainbow Promenade retail center, between Lake Mead and Smoke Ranch. The center is already home to China A Go Go and a Macaroni Grill.
The 2,767-sqaure-foot space will also never close for business. Pepe's are independently owned and include the distinctive A-frame roofed former International House of Pancakes site at 2490 Fremont St. Ceja painted the exterior mustard to attract attention and became an early pioneer in attempting to encourage new businesses to head downtown.
On the Pepe's menu, quesadillas, enchiladas, lunch and dinner plates and a full roster of tacos with fillings like deep fried pork, lengua (tongue), chicharrón (pork skin) and the less common taqueria favorite, birria, better known as marinated goat meat.
