When I was little, I was sick, a lot. And my momma and I had a rule; I got to pick whatever I wanted to eat after a doctor's appointment. One of my favorite choices was Pepe’s Mexican Cafe. I’d always called it Pepe Tacos, and I never even realized that wasn’t it’s name until I did this article.
I would get the same order every time. A taco salad, chips and queso.
Then in highschool, when I could drive, my friends and I would go after school and I would get - a taco salad, chips and queso.
It’s been a few years since I’ve been, so when I was invited to come in to do an article, by owner Kip Martin, it was a blast from the past.
Pepe’s Mexican Cafe was opened by Ken Martin in Bryan, Texas and has been an Aggie tradition since 1969 . It was Ken’s first restaurant in BCS, but most certainly was not his last to open. He had a whole slew of restaurants in the area, including Ken Martin’s Steakhouse. Pepe’s is the last of Ken’s restaurants still operating, and is still in his family.
Ken opened Pepe’s when he was just 26 years old, it was 433 steps from the backdoor of his home to the back door of the restaurant, and at the time he had a wife and three sons all under the age of 7. Kip Martin was the oldest of the boys. One of his earliest memories is of him and his brothers playing with hot wheels cars in the kitchen at Pepe’s, and their parents stepping over and walking around them to work.
Kip attended Bryan High then Texas A&M, and went on to become a computer programmer for nearly 30 years. He got tired of being stuck behind a desk and decided to give real estate a go for a few years. Then in 2012, his parents asked him to come run Pepe’s, and in 2014 they sold him the business. About a year ago now, Kip lost Marilyn, his significant other of 11 years, and now he is the sole provider for her 28 year old autistic son. From that experience, he’s gained a new found respect for his parents and how hard they had to work, “just to keep the doors open.”
Kip is a giving and welcoming soul. Walking in you’re met with a smile and a big hello, and the old familiar smells of recipes that remain unchanged since 1969.
Starting off with my favorite, the queso and the maroon and white chips took me back, wayyyyy back. Pepe’s queso is unlike any I’ve ever had, a recipe developed by Ken and his original business partner during his first restaurant venture in Austin, Amigo Joe’s.
There were so many goodies to try, a crispy taco, super taco, and a golden taco. The golden taco is a stepped up version, with a crispy 50/50 flour and corn tortilla, beef taco meat, lettuce, cheese, pico, and a chipotle ranch sauce.
The Pepe’s Deluxe Dinner had a couple cheese enchiladas, smothered in their chili and shredded cheese, a side of Pepe’s pintos, rice, guac and queso. This is a heck of a meal that’s sure to fill any hungry belly.
The queso burrito is one of their top sellers, it’s a ground beef and bean burrito smothered in queso and topped with black olives and onions. It comes with a bag of chips, so it’s the best of both worlds - a burrito and chips and queso.
Like I said I used to always get the taco salad. I love the big, puffy fried shell that it’s in; it’s crispy, golden, and delicious. Filled with taco meat, beans, shredded cheese, sour cream, and some lettuce at the bottom to make it an official salad.
I really enjoyed the nachos grande though, because it was a combo of my favorites. That crispy flour tortilla shell, then the bottom was filled with queso, topped with beef, beans, sour cream, tomatoes, onions, black olives, and jalapenos. Then you get a bag of chips on the side for dipping. Duh, now that’s the way nachos should be done!
Oh lord, now they have dessert too. Dessert burritos to be more accurate. Thinking those two words don’t belong together? Think again. A crispy fried flour tortilla, filled with lava level hot filling (LET IT COOL DOWN - believe me), and then rolled in powdered sugar. I tried the cherry, and apple. The apple is rolled in cinnamon and powdered sugar to kick it up a level.
Y’all if you’re looking for health food - this ain’t it! BUT, if you're looking for fast, affordable, and an aggie tradition take some backroads on over to Pepe’s Mexican Cafe, tell Kip I said hi, and don’t forget to let me know in the comments what you got!
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3312 S. College Ave. Bryan, TX 77801
