Family owned and operated, Jalapenos has remained successful over the years with the hard work of its owner, Enrique, and the employees at the restaurant. Showing up every morning 2 hours before open, the employees chop all vegetables daily, and use the freshest ingredients available. Jalapenos is a fun, family friendly restaurant that provides great service and delicious meals.
Enrique moved his family from Peoria, Illinois, to Peru, Illinois and opened Jalapenos in 2003. He saw a need for a restaurant that would provide great service and authentic Mexican food to the people of this area. Enrique takes inspiration for his dishes from his parents that still live in Mexico, and works hard every day to ensure customers have the best experience possible.
Enrique moved his family from Peoria, Illinois, to Peru, Illinois and opened Jalapenos in 2003. He saw a need for a restaurant that would provide great service and authentic Mexican food to the people of this area. Enrique takes inspiration for his dishes from his parents that still live in Mexico, and works hard every day to ensure customers have the best experience possible.
Services
Chicken broth with chicken and rice topped with tortilla strips, pico de gallo and avocados. Served freshly made guacamole with avocado, jalapeo, tomato, onion, cilantro and a splash of lime juice. Prepared table side. Tender steak or chicken cooked with onions, tomatoes and bell peppers, fried beans and cheese, guacamole salad and sour cream.
Jalapenos Mexican Restaurant offers catering for any event around Peru, LaSalle, Utica, Mendota and all over the Illinois Valley! If you're looking for something different from traditional event meals and want something with a little spice, call us. Our authentic Mexican food is a great choice for your next catered event!
Gift Certificates are available in $10 denominations. They make the perfect idea for birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, baby showers - you name it! Who doesn't like to eat Mexican food? They are also great last minute gifts that will make you look like a shining star. Teachers, bosses, co-worker, friends.
Reviews (27)
John Thompson
Jan 09, 2022
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It's a weekly adventure to visit our friends at Jalapeno's! These folks are not only wonderful and caring for all of their customers, they also have the greatest menu selections! Dinner at Jalapeno's is a weekly date nite event that I look forward to every week. The owner is always welcoming and the wait staff will often remember my drink of choice. Thank you ladies and gentlemen. Don't change.
Lynnette H.
Jan 04, 2022
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Our hotel attendant recommended this local establishment and it did not disappoint! The cilantro in the salsa added to the deliciousness of this complimentary item with chips.
My chicken zucchini was scrumptious with tons of veggies. The spouse's taco salad was smaller than expected but an adequate amount for the super reasonable price.
Nice music, clean restaurant with friendly staff. Highly recommend!
My chicken zucchini was scrumptious with tons of veggies. The spouse's taco salad was smaller than expected but an adequate amount for the super reasonable price.
Nice music, clean restaurant with friendly staff. Highly recommend!
Marcus C.
Dec 31, 2021
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Possibly one of the overall worst dining experiences for a place I use to go quite regularly. Let's break it down:
Ordered a marg on the rocks no salt - came with salt so I started to wipe it away as I've done a thousand times when this has happened. He noticed me and asked if I wanted it without salt and said he'd remake it. It came back just in a different glass, wasn't remade. Tasted like warm bath water. Didn't have any ice in it. We were a party of 7 and they only brought one tray of chips and one thing of salsa. I asked for more and we got them quickly so that was
Ordered a marg on the rocks no salt - came with salt so I started to wipe it away as I've done a thousand times when this has happened. He noticed me and asked if I wanted it without salt and said he'd remake it. It came back just in a different glass, wasn't remade. Tasted like warm bath water. Didn't have any ice in it. We were a party of 7 and they only brought one tray of chips and one thing of salsa. I asked for more and we got them quickly so that was
Reen K.
Dec 20, 2021
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First time dining here and everything was lovely.
The young boy was assisting his family with seating guests to their tables. His family must own the restaurant. He was really pleasant and very attentive.
Franco was our server, and he was very pleasant and attentive.
My husband ordered a beer, steak, scallops, beans and rice. I ordered corn on the cob and steak and shrimp fajita. For my drink, I ordered pink lemonade.
The food was seasoned perfectly, and so delicious. They give you a lot of food, so I had plenty of leftovers and so did my husband.
The decorations for the restaurant was
The young boy was assisting his family with seating guests to their tables. His family must own the restaurant. He was really pleasant and very attentive.
Franco was our server, and he was very pleasant and attentive.
My husband ordered a beer, steak, scallops, beans and rice. I ordered corn on the cob and steak and shrimp fajita. For my drink, I ordered pink lemonade.
The food was seasoned perfectly, and so delicious. They give you a lot of food, so I had plenty of leftovers and so did my husband.
The decorations for the restaurant was
M. Lincoln
Dec 19, 2021
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Candace Reese
Dec 18, 2021
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We waited after ordering for OVER AN HOUR only to receive cold food on chipped plates and elote with tajin instead of chili powder. We asked if they had Birria tacos and the waiter said “drinks only for now”… and had zero idea what we were talking about. (we later found the tacos on the menu) when we said the food was cold (ACTUALLY cold, NOT room temp) they took it, microwaved it TWICE and brought it back rather than listening when we said we didn’t want it. We will NEVER go back here.
Brian Jones
Dec 14, 2021
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Nice place! We were seated quickly, but it was around 3pm. Service was quick and attentive. We ordered the jumbo and medium Margaritas, which were good! The table side guacamole was excellent, just wish we could have added jalapeños. I had the grilled chicken and shrimp plate while my wife had the seafood chimichanga. Both were quite tasty and not drowning in sauce, well done! Portions were generous but pricing may be on the high side for some, I think is was great value. If we are back in this area, we will return and try a new plate because everything coming out of the kitchen looked yummy!
Jed P.
Dec 13, 2021
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Wendy Hoffmann- McClanahan
Nov 24, 2021
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Cheryl P.
Nov 06, 2021
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I tried this for the first time and I'm sorry but I've never had food so disgusting. How can you mess up a cheese quesadilla? The cheese wasn't melted and the tortilla tasted like grease. I also had a beef enchilada and beef taco with rice and beans. The taco was soggy on one side and was nasty. The enchilada wasn't good either. The beef flavor isn't good by no means. The best part of my meal was the chips and salsa. To be fair these are the only items I've eaten, so I can't speak to other items on the menu. Use your own judgement.
Megan Downing
Nov 02, 2021
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Mike Dee
Oct 03, 2021
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The food and drinks were pretty good, but the service definitely leaves something to be desired. The chips and salsa were great and our drinks came fast but our food took about half an hour to get to our table after we ordered. So don’t go here if you are in a rush to eat and get out. The layout is also not the best. It’s a congested mess where you get seated, pay and exit. Also, the waiters are coming in and out of the kitchen in that same place.
Marie Simon
Aug 18, 2021
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Danielle Scordato
Aug 15, 2021
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Hammer R.
Jun 24, 2021
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Dale A.
Jun 07, 2021
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Ron B.
Jun 02, 2021
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Natalie L.
May 02, 2021
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J. P.
Feb 05, 2021
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Roxana Velasco
Jan 20, 2021
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Good service and delicious good! Took a bit to wait to be asked if we were being served but under Covid conditions it's understandable attention is divided in all directions. Inside dining tables are set for social distancing and outdoors dining is available as well. We had the carne asada, fajitas and Vallarta plate(?) And kiddo had cheeseburger (and said it was yummy). Plates we had along Margaritas and long Island are delicious. Overall happy with the experience.
Rich McGee
Dec 02, 2020
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The fish tacos were excellent. Chips and salsa were good as well. The beer is super cold. If you are a beer adventurist, the selection is limited. The portions are generous and the service was slow but friendly and professional. The staff takes COVID-19 precautions very seriously. We will go back for sure.
Meghan M.
Nov 16, 2020
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Stayed next door at the Fairfield Inn and wanted something near by! This was the best Mexican food I've had in a long time! I got the chicken mole enchiladas. Not too much spice but amazing flavor. My family members got the chicken quesadilla, very generous portion, and a burrito with chorizo, chicken, and grilled pineapple! Homemade salsa and chips was a nice addition to our meal. We also got the banana chimichanga which is a must have if you're going to Jalapeños!
Nathan N.
Jul 04, 2020
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Carlo F.
Nov 09, 2019
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I was staying at the Fairfield Inn & Suites and decided to try this restaurant as it was right beside the hotel.
I arrived about an hour before closing and decided to do take-out. The staff are very friendly. Because it wasn't busy the evening I went (Sunday), the food was prepared in good timing.
I ordered the Chilango Burrito and it was very delicious! I was also given a side of chips and salsa which was good to snack on.
Definitely would recommend this restaurant.
I arrived about an hour before closing and decided to do take-out. The staff are very friendly. Because it wasn't busy the evening I went (Sunday), the food was prepared in good timing.
I ordered the Chilango Burrito and it was very delicious! I was also given a side of chips and salsa which was good to snack on.
Definitely would recommend this restaurant.
Madonna Black
Jul 27, 2019
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Kevin B.
Oct 10, 2018
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Jalapenos is everything you'd expect from an above-average midwestern Tex Mex restaurant. The portion sizes are generous. The menu is enormous (and laminated), and the dishes range from authentic to highly Americanized. The restaurant has a bit of a cheap / faux feel, due to the plastic decorations and the cheap tables and chairs. They even spell Jalapeños with "n" instead of "ñ." But the service was friendly and the food was tasty.
I ordered the "Chori Pollo," which is chicken breast covered in chorizo and melted cheese. It was gooey, savory, and delicious
I ordered the "Chori Pollo," which is chicken breast covered in chorizo and melted cheese. It was gooey, savory, and delicious
Emily C.
Jul 31, 2018
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The food is delicious and the service is great! My friends and I were staying at the Holiday Inn for our trip to Starved Rock and chose this place for dinner.
Our server was attentive and kind. He has a great sense of humor and always noticed when we were running low on chips and salsa!
Jalapeños is also VERY generous when it comes to portions, so keep that in mind before you order multiple items. If I wasn't extremely hungry and active during the day, I wouldn't be able to finish the entire plate.
Our server was attentive and kind. He has a great sense of humor and always noticed when we were running low on chips and salsa!
Jalapeños is also VERY generous when it comes to portions, so keep that in mind before you order multiple items. If I wasn't extremely hungry and active during the day, I wouldn't be able to finish the entire plate.
