Loved the tacos, some better than other, service was good, only 4 stars for atmosphere because the ceiling was staring back at us but other than that I liked the seating and layout, also saw they have events some nights and definitely will be going back to try more food and the events. A great place next to GMU campus in university mall, and the best part is that they have Jarritos. Chips were solid too, salsa is spicy, if you are white or just have no spice tolerance at all beware.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips
Lauren Wallace
They recently did a pretty big overhaul on the menu and removed the taco salad and other vegetarian options as well as the symbols to tell what is vegetarian and what isn't. I used to love the fried taco bowl from the salad and the ditos ranch, but even the ditos ranch is gone. It is good that the chips and salsa are free now, but the salsa is really bland and overall just bad. I really hope they improve the menu and food quality since the servers are very nice and generally attentive, the decor is beautiful, and the location is right across from the university.Vegetarian options: The menu no longer marks what is vegetarian, and there are few vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
Roger Wilco
The food is disgusting. I got chicken wings, barbacoa and birria. I couldn’t finish any of it. I ate one bite of the birria and felt like I was going to get sick. Even the chips and salsa were off.On the plus side the server was really nice. Sadly I will never see them again unless it’s at the 7 11 or something.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Vicky Marketti
Disappointed! After reading all the reviews, we decided to give this restaurant another try. We love food, don’t mind paying for good food, but the food here was a disappointment. My husband’s bowl left a lot to be desired. My taco was no better than the taco next door. Had a beer and a margarita. Sad, we will not be going back, and we had high hopes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
Shai Snipes
I am very confused as I’ve eaten here multiple times and this time I decided to order for delivery the prices do not reflect the same or even close as in restaurant through Uber or Door Dash. They are severely gouged by more than $3 per item. The times inside were great but this has completely thrown me off.
Service: 1
D Kona
Not a place for Vegans!! We were told on the phone that we could get vegan options. After going to the restaurant and being seated, the server tells us they can't do anything vegan. And also there can be cross contamination. So we had to leave after wasting time going all the way.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Kat Hinkofer
Bummed to write this review but they took off the tofu sriracha taco off the menu and replaced it with the cauliflower taco. The cauliflower taco is beyond disappointing and very bland and it is no Taco Bamba (if you ever had the guru taco there it's amazing). The food and drinks are costly too, I only came for the tofu sriracha taco and the awesome staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Phillip T.
Went here this past Saturday and arrived at 11:05am but the doors were locked. Online said they opened at 11 so we went to get coffee and came back around 11:30 and the doors were open. Not sure if the time on google was wrong or if they just had a late morning.Besides that, the food was great. The birria tacos were DELICIOUS and I loved the chorizo and jalapeno empanadas. My friend ordered the buffalo chicken quesadilla which she didn’t care for, but all in all it was a good visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Empanadas
J Goo
First time. Great selection of food choices. I tried the Seoul Man yacos and they did not disappoint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Mario Gonzalez
Got to Banditos at 10 pm after driving an hour, from Maryland, only to find the restaurant was already closed. According to Google, they don't close until 12am. I'm not sure what happened, but what a waste of a drive. Please update the hours if they aren't accurate.
I love the atmosphere here! There are so many colorful murals, even on the ceiling! The guacamole appetizer was good although on the small side. The bowl that my friend got looked delicious. She said it was good. Always fun to be able to eat your bowl! HahaMy bang bang shrimp tacos were yummy.Our server was efficient and helpful with suggestions. Prices are reasonable.Parking is easy as there is a parking lot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tacos
Lindsey Bowman
Chips an queso are delish
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chips
Marcus Gaffen
Stepping into Banditos was a delightful experience from the start. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and lively, and the aroma of sizzling meat and fresh ingredients instantly had my stomach grumbling. I opted for the tacos, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint! The al pastor were bursting with flavor. The meat was perfectly cooked, and the combination of toppings created an explosion of taste in every bite.My only regret? Devouring them so quickly that I neglected to snap a picture for proof! ?. Thankfully, the amazing service provided a delightful distraction. Here's where Andrew and Matthew truly shine. They weren't just your average bartenders; they were like dining companions with a genuine interest in making my experience unforgettable. Andrew, with his infectious enthusiasm, helped me navigate the menu, offering insightful recommendations that perfectly aligned with my taste buds. Matthew, on the other hand, possessed an uncanny ability to anticipate my needs – refilling my water glass before it ran dry and bringing extra napkins just as the first taco met its demise.Their attentiveness went beyond mere mechanics, though. They struck up friendly conversation without being intrusive, inquiring about my day and sharing lighthearted anecdotes about the restaurant's most popular dishes. Their genuine warmth and positive energy truly elevated the entire dining experience. They're a testament to the kind of exceptional service that keeps customers coming back for more.Speaking of coming back, their margaritas are legendary! They struck the perfect balance between sweet, tart, and potent. I highly recommend trying one (or maybe two!) – they're the perfect complement to any dish on the menu.Overall, Banditos is a hidden gem. From the mouthwatering food to the fantastic service, especially the incredible duo of Andrew and Matthew, it's a place I'll definitely be returning to soon. If you're looking for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience, look no further!
Banditos Tacos and Tequila was definitely a pleasant surprise. Despite it being a busy Friday night and not having a reservation, there was no wait for great booth seating - and the music was great.The Hamburger Nachos were scrumptious and were definitely shareable — the portion size was huge!! I went with the Quesadilla Marina for my main course & devoured it!! The Old Bay seasoned shrimp and cilantro claw were THE perfect combo with the Chihuahua cheese ?Our server was super duper attentive and checked in often to make sure we had enough water and also weren’t waiting to order anything else.
Loved the tacos, some better than other, service was good, only 4 stars for atmosphere because the ceiling was staring back at us but other than that I liked the seating and layout, also saw they have events some nights and definitely will be going back to try more food and the events. A great place next to GMU campus in university mall, and the best part is that they have Jarritos. Chips were solid too, salsa is spicy, if you are white or just have no spice tolerance at all beware.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chips
They recently did a pretty big overhaul on the menu and removed the taco salad and other vegetarian options as well as the symbols to tell what is vegetarian and what isn't. I used to love the fried taco bowl from the salad and the ditos ranch, but even the ditos ranch is gone. It is good that the chips and salsa are free now, but the salsa is really bland and overall just bad. I really hope they improve the menu and food quality since the servers are very nice and generally attentive, the decor is beautiful, and the location is right across from the university.Vegetarian options: The menu no longer marks what is vegetarian, and there are few vegetarian options.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 1
Service: 4
The food is disgusting. I got chicken wings, barbacoa and birria. I couldn’t finish any of it. I ate one bite of the birria and felt like I was going to get sick. Even the chips and salsa were off.On the plus side the server was really nice. Sadly I will never see them again unless it’s at the 7 11 or something.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 5
Disappointed! After reading all the reviews, we decided to give this restaurant another try. We love food, don’t mind paying for good food, but the food here was a disappointment. My husband’s bowl left a lot to be desired. My taco was no better than the taco next door. Had a beer and a margarita. Sad, we will not be going back, and we had high hopes.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 1
Service: 4
I am very confused as I’ve eaten here multiple times and this time I decided to order for delivery the prices do not reflect the same or even close as in restaurant through Uber or Door Dash. They are severely gouged by more than $3 per item. The times inside were great but this has completely thrown me off.
Service: 1
Not a place for Vegans!! We were told on the phone that we could get vegan options. After going to the restaurant and being seated, the server tells us they can't do anything vegan. And also there can be cross contamination. So we had to leave after wasting time going all the way.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 1
Service: 1
Bummed to write this review but they took off the tofu sriracha taco off the menu and replaced it with the cauliflower taco. The cauliflower taco is beyond disappointing and very bland and it is no Taco Bamba (if you ever had the guru taco there it's amazing). The food and drinks are costly too, I only came for the tofu sriracha taco and the awesome staff.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 1
Service: 5
Went here this past Saturday and arrived at 11:05am but the doors were locked. Online said they opened at 11 so we went to get coffee and came back around 11:30 and the doors were open. Not sure if the time on google was wrong or if they just had a late morning.Besides that, the food was great. The birria tacos were DELICIOUS and I loved the chorizo and jalapeno empanadas. My friend ordered the buffalo chicken quesadilla which she didn’t care for, but all in all it was a good visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Empanadas
First time. Great selection of food choices. I tried the Seoul Man yacos and they did not disappoint.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Got to Banditos at 10 pm after driving an hour, from Maryland, only to find the restaurant was already closed. According to Google, they don't close until 12am. I'm not sure what happened, but what a waste of a drive. Please update the hours if they aren't accurate.
Service: 1
Restaurantji Recommends
I love the atmosphere here! There are so many colorful murals, even on the ceiling! The guacamole appetizer was good although on the small side. The bowl that my friend got looked delicious. She said it was good. Always fun to be able to eat your bowl! HahaMy bang bang shrimp tacos were yummy.Our server was efficient and helpful with suggestions. Prices are reasonable.Parking is easy as there is a parking lot.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Shrimp Tacos
Chips an queso are delish
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Chips
Stepping into Banditos was a delightful experience from the start. The atmosphere was warm, inviting, and lively, and the aroma of sizzling meat and fresh ingredients instantly had my stomach grumbling. I opted for the tacos, and let me tell you, they did not disappoint! The al pastor were bursting with flavor. The meat was perfectly cooked, and the combination of toppings created an explosion of taste in every bite.My only regret? Devouring them so quickly that I neglected to snap a picture for proof! ?. Thankfully, the amazing service provided a delightful distraction. Here's where Andrew and Matthew truly shine. They weren't just your average bartenders; they were like dining companions with a genuine interest in making my experience unforgettable. Andrew, with his infectious enthusiasm, helped me navigate the menu, offering insightful recommendations that perfectly aligned with my taste buds. Matthew, on the other hand, possessed an uncanny ability to anticipate my needs – refilling my water glass before it ran dry and bringing extra napkins just as the first taco met its demise.Their attentiveness went beyond mere mechanics, though. They struck up friendly conversation without being intrusive, inquiring about my day and sharing lighthearted anecdotes about the restaurant's most popular dishes. Their genuine warmth and positive energy truly elevated the entire dining experience. They're a testament to the kind of exceptional service that keeps customers coming back for more.Speaking of coming back, their margaritas are legendary! They struck the perfect balance between sweet, tart, and potent. I highly recommend trying one (or maybe two!) – they're the perfect complement to any dish on the menu.Overall, Banditos is a hidden gem. From the mouthwatering food to the fantastic service, especially the incredible duo of Andrew and Matthew, it's a place I'll definitely be returning to soon. If you're looking for a delicious and enjoyable dining experience, look no further!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 4
Service: 5
Service was a bit slower, but overall good
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Salsa, Chips, Empanadas, Shrimp Tacos
Banditos Tacos and Tequila was definitely a pleasant surprise. Despite it being a busy Friday night and not having a reservation, there was no wait for great booth seating - and the music was great.The Hamburger Nachos were scrumptious and were definitely shareable — the portion size was huge!! I went with the Quesadilla Marina for my main course & devoured it!! The Old Bay seasoned shrimp and cilantro claw were THE perfect combo with the Chihuahua cheese ?Our server was super duper attentive and checked in often to make sure we had enough water and also weren’t waiting to order anything else.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Orange Crush