El Bandito’s
327 E Market St, Iowa City, IA, 52240
El Bandito’s Menu
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Address :
327 E Market St
Iowa City, IA, 52240 - Phone (319) 358-2836
- Website https://elbanditosiowacity.com/
- Click To Get Directions
Opening Hours
- Mon :11:00 am - 10
Specialities
- Takes Reservations : Yes
Delivery : No
Take-out : Yes
Accepts Credit Cards : Yes
Good For : Lunch
Parking : Street
Bike Parking : Yes
Wheelchair Accessible : Yes
Good for Kids : Yes
Good for Groups : Yes
Attire : Casual
Ambience : Casual
Noise Level : Average
Alcohol : Full Bar
Outdoor Seating : No
Wi-Fi : Free
Has TV : No
Waiter Service : Yes
Caters : Yes
Categories
Mexican Cuisine
If you enjoy Taco Tuesday, then you have officially fallen in love with the Mexican Food. The main grain of Mexican cuisine is maize. Also known as corn, maize is grown for the past 9000 years after the crop was discovered by the people in Mayan civilization. Mexican empire flourished when they started growing beans, tomatoes, chili pepper, sweet potato and cactus. Till this date these ingredients are used in cooking authentic Mexican dishes and drinks.
Great use of spices, fresh chili pepper dishes like fajitas, tortilla chips, corn chips, salsa, chimichangas, burritos, nachos and quesadillas are invented in America. But when you are looking for authentic Mexican food then you must find a restaurant in the city that serves Rajas con Queso, Garbanzo in a Guajillo Chile Sauce, Pork Filled Chiles Rellenos, Chiles en Nogada, Molcajete Salsa, Pico de Gallo and Frijoles de la Olla. An eye-opening fact – Mexican don't like their food hot. They use fresh chili and other spices to create a flavor that lingers in your mouth.
Mexican food is great for those who are Gluten Intolerant as they use Corn instead of wheat in most of their dishes. Also, you can easily find many beans based Mexican dishes. Another dish which didn't get similar glory as tacos or nachos is the Mexican hot chocolate. If you love something hot on a chilly day, then go for Mexican Hot Chocolate. On merry days, you can enjoy the authentic Mexican Drinks like Tequila, Mezcal, Tecuí, Sotol, Bacanora, Charanda, Posh O Pox, Puebla and Pulque. Mexican Cuisine is for people who enjoy strong drinks and hearty meals.
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Jillian S.
Awesome food and a cute location! Take advantage of their happy hour specials! I recommend just about anything on their menu. The fajita salad is not your average salad!
(4)Greg H.
Even the rice was good! I miss my days in the southwest when any Mexican restaurant that could stay open was pretty good. All the bad ones would close before you could ever go there. Bandito's has the feel of a family run place where the food is the center of the attention, and the decor is not only sombreros and margarita glasses. The chips and salsa were pleasant and flavorful with a hint of heat and complexity that you don't find in a jar. We also ordered the beef nachos which were also several steps above most others I have tried. We had a group of 6 and we tried several different meals. I found my favorite was the beef and chicken enchiladas. The sauce was amazing, and they possessed the ideal balance of texture between soggy and bone dry. As side items I sampled all of the available options, and they all were outstanding. The only ding I could assess was the service. It was a very busy day, and we had a group that was meeting there. We arrived a few minutes behind the others, and had children with us. I felt a like we were treated as a bit of an annoyance by the server. The food and drink portion did not suffer at all, but I thought we were rushed a bit. The joint was packed and we were a bit difficult, so I would only take off 1/4 of a star if I could. Next time I am here, it will be on my list of favorite places.
(4)T B.
Rating it a one star is saying it was better then it actually was. I don't know what was worse, the food or service. The margarita I had tasted like a lemonade that came straight from a carnival, overloaded with sugar. Food was not good. It was tasteless. It upsets me because I have given this restaurant more then 3x to prove themselves and every time I have been disappointed.
(1)Alexandra F.
In town for business - the bartender and servers were rude and acted like I was not cool enough to be in their hipster Mexican joint. $4 marg Mondays on menu has been off the menu for a long time... They acted like I was an idiot for asking. .. Service was so bad I left before ordering :(
(1)Karyn M.
Yummy! I loved their veggie quesadilla (and the fact that they had so many vegetarian options). My boyfriend had the street tacos (el pastor) which he said were delicious but expensive -- $4 per taco...yikes. Still, the wait staff was super-friendly and the atmosphere very nice. We will definitely go again!
(5)M K.
In short, the service is awful! I've given this place numerous chances but it's never improved. Won't be returning.
(1)Lynn J.
Good food. They get some (not all) meat locally. Great chips and salsa. Have eaten here many times, wait staff is not always on the ball, have to go ask for refills of drinks, chips and salsa, etc. But they are busy a lot too. I do not recommend sitting outside if you like service, I think they forget about you out there. I think they may just be understaffed on waitresses. Otherwise no complaints really, other than menu could use some updates and explanations, not very well written.
(4)Marc R.
This place was ok. I was happy that I was able to get a Mexican brunch, but other than this, I think the place is run with a sort of hippie gestalt and they could use a Mexican cook to teach them how to make salsas and cook. This hippie groove means that things will come out slowly, you have almost no choice for hot sauces (nothing really authentic). It seemed like the sort of food your aunt who "doesn't like hot food" might call Mexican. I was happy with my meal, but it was not "Mexican" or "Tejano" in my book, but rather seemed to have been watered down versions of classics. Everyone was nice. And it was nearly empty on a Saturday brunch rush so I went here rather than the diner across the street.
(3)Derek J.
This is now (in my opinion), the best mexican in iowa city. we went here on a sunday night, and the food was really something to talk about. I got the pork enchiladas, and it was very tasty. Our party of 4 ate very well, and this was more authentic mexican than you'd usually get in iowa city. Not overly cheesy, just really tasty. I wish they had more seating, so more people could experience this place.
(5)Maria E.
Where to begin.....Oh my goodness. The first time I had ever gone here, the drinks had taken around 10 minutes, and she forgot our round of waters on top of that. Again, had to remind her. Constantly had to be asking for refills on our water. The waitress Took our order, finally AFTER 35 minutes of waiting....with barley any tables in the restaurant, we got our food. I was with 3 other people. 2 out of our 4 orders were completely wrong- wrong meat, wrong sides, wrong everything! I couldn't believe it. So the server takes it back, and we have to wait AGAIN. Finally get our food back, it's right this time thankfully, we eat. This was the blandest mexican food I had ever had. I ordered the shredded chicken burrito bowl. The only good thing about it was the side dish, seasoned squash, which barley had any flavor. I wasn't very happy with this place, considering the ridiculous wait, the bland food, and the price. But decided I would come back again one more time to try it. So I come back again another time with my boyfriend and a friend. Took forever for us to even get greeted for the first time. I realize this is a small restaurant with 2 servers. I also work at a small restaurant with two servers on at one time. So I can understand, but for how slow it was, this was just not okay. First, we ordered water and margaritas, that again took another 10 minutes, took even longer to get our chips and salsa. She took our order: I ordered the same thing this time, the shredded chicken burrito bowl. I asked the waitress how many shells came with it, 3 or 4, because I couldn't remember from the last time. She responded with "2". I know for a fact that isn't true, because I had gotten the same exact thing the last time I was there. I told her no, that isn't right, it comes with at least 3, she then argues with me telling me I will be charged an extra $2 for a tortilla shell. I told her never mind then. Secondly, we ordered the queso appetizer. Holy smokes, I am not exaggerating- took 30 minutes for us to get it. The only reason we got it after that long, was because we mentioned it to our waitress two times that we were still waiting for it. Finally the second time we said something, she tried arguing with us about it!!!! We told her, "it's melted cheese, there is no way it can take this long no matter how fresh the ingredients are!" and she proceeded to go and check on it after arguing with us. We asked to speak with a manager. Of course, there isn't one there. So the hostess comes over, asking what's wrong. We explain to her what happened w/ the time and the server arguing w/ us. She says "I will take it off your bill, sorry about that." I was furious at this point. We finally get the queso. Go figure, it costs money to get another order or chips....which is silly, since it's a mexican restaurant. The queso is bland, no surprise there since I had experienced the same problem with the food quality last time I had went. We get our food, again waiting another 25 minutes for that to show up. At that point, we had been in the restaurant for 55 minutes, finally just now getting our food. I was done with this place at that point. The food came in a completely different manner this time, and what do you know, with 3 tortilla shells. I told the server, I didn't ask for an extra one, because I wasn't going to pay an extra $2. She says "yeah I know, it must come with 3." I knew I was right! The food is completely bland. I am left disappointed with that place again. When we finally get the waitress to get us our bill, after waiting another 10 minutes after just sitting there, clearly done eating, we see that the queso was not taken off the bill, nor did we get any sort of discount or compensation for the rude waiter or the ridiculous wait for a simple queso dish or food. *** mind you, this was a Tuesday night, and the restaurant wasn't that busy, nor filled to max capacity.*** We decided not to say anything, since there was no manager there to talk to, and decided to just never come back again.
(1)Karrey S.
I had such high hopes for this place! And honestly, the first few times I came here, I was charmed by the varied menu, their efforts to use locally-sourced ingredients, and their down-home attitude. I doubt I'll ever go back after my last few experiences there, unfortunately. The good: the hibiscus margaritas, omg. So good! And a good sized drink to match the price. I'm not sure if they still serve them, though, since the last time I was there they seemed to have been phasing them out of the menus. The bad: Ants on the tables, especially the window bar seating. Ugh. Terrible, aloof service. Inconsistent food quality. All of these things could be excused, except for the worst of all: lying on the menu about vegetarian dishes. The flour tortillas are made with lard, and the rice and beans are made with chicken stock. This is NOT vegetarian (to most vegetarians), and to label items on the menu as vegetarian and then only disclose these things after being pressed by customers (and then to still make them pay for their food once it's determined that there are meaty elements to their dishes)? That's unforgivable to me, especially in a town like Iowa City, where a higher-than-normal proportion of your business is going to be made up of vegetarian customers. No thanks.
(1)Matt U.
When you're looking for some seriously delicious Mexican cuisine that includes both standard fare as well as a little flare on the originals, this is your place! We've had nothing but pleasant experiences thus far. Service can be a little slow if they're busy, but it's truly worth waiting for. The specials here are consistently top notch and we've found that anything with chorizo in it, is pure food gold! Their specials recently included a shrimp and rice dish w/ fried plantains which was excellent, and something deemed "Tacos Hawaiianos" - great name for an even better taco laced w/ pineapple and reminiscent of a something from Cuba! Friends had the carnitas burrito, which was delicious, and the lamb taco - a true winner! Wife had some killer sangria and incredible pork soft tacos. This was not to be outdone however by the tres leches cake and a delightful twist on Banana's Foster for desert. This has become our default spot to hit up if we're A) In the mood to eat out, B) Want Mexican or C) Interested in some delicious take on a traditional Mexican dish. If I ever design a video game, the carnitas burrito will take the place of a princess or treasure to be saved on one of the levels!
(5)C L.
Disappointment. Tried this out yesterday. Decor looked nice, art on the walls, bright yellow walls. Service was sub par - server seemed less than enthusiastic. The cleanliness of the place was a big turn off. There were flies flying around which made us question the cleanliness of the kitchen. Floor was dirty, there was a big ball of used tissue under our table. Only half of the tables had cutleries (ours did not). Chips and salsa were okay, salsa was pretty spicy. Ordered the Perez family taco, Street taco and Mango vinaigrette salad. Perez taco was not bad, I could not care for the Street taco, salad was a big portion and looked nice but did not meet our expectations. The worse part is that both my boyfriend and I felt sick after eating here.
(1)TJ L.
Amazing food!!! We love this place. The Perez Family Tacos, made with fried flour tortillas, are outstanding. We also love the guacomole!! The staff is very friendly, and we always receive great service. It's our favorite mexican food in the area.
(5)Erini S.
Debating between a 3 or 4 star... But you know, going to give the extra one to them. I joined some friends here for a brunch on Sunday while we were in town. Bluebird across the street had a crazy wait, so my friends chose to come over to El Banditos. I was totally ok with this. (Mainly because I was also really hungry.) The place was decently busy, and apparently our waitress was new. (Hence why I'm giving them the extra star... she'll be great with a little more practice.) I went simple and just got the 3 eggs and bacon. Hit the spot. Friends enjoyed their meals too -- benedict with spinach, breakfast burrito, and I can't remember what our 4th got, but she liked it! Overall, not a bad place! I'd be up for trying them for lunch or dinner too if I'm ever back in town.
(4)Dan K.
Can't say I'd every go back. Service was bad and the margarita's were over priced. The fish taco had very little fish in it and the black beans were very spicy.
(1)Alison S.
GREAT food! I LOVE their nachos and get them almost every time I go there for lunch. It's a HUGE amount (I split the dish with my boyfriend as a meal) and the ingredients always seem very fresh. Their tacos are good too! A great, sit-down Mexican restaurant. BEST PLACE FOR BRUNCH! Go here for brunch it will not disappoint you. There are only a few brunch places in Iowa City and places like Bluebird and Hamburg are always so crowded. I think El Banditos has a better brunch but for some reason this seems to remain a secret because while everyone flocks to the aforementioned and wait in line for 30 minutes to eat --- there's NEVER a wait at El Banditos. I guess that's good for me. :)
(5)Chris M.
Perez Family Tacos = Amazing. There are no other tacos even close to this in the area. Slow Food, you order taco, they make the tortilla, fry it, and fill it, so so good. Free chips and salsa like all my favorite mexican joints do. Hell, if it weren't for the nice TV and decent sound I'd think I was in a mexican joint in mexico. It just has that feel to it, drink some beer, eat real good authentic tacos and talk, don't forget the "tequila poppers." They are the specialty of Jesse, that bar keep and food orderer that makes it all happen. You simply can't ask for more This place has made my top ten Iowa City places.
(4)John P.
go to their stand at the Saturday farmer's market....it is 10x the taste and the service. for some reason, this bricks & mortar is slow in getting you water and chips. our chips didn't come until after the meals arrived. while one of 2 of our meals was good, the other had cooled and wasn't really tasty....and what mexican restaurant has plates that don't come with some sort of hot sauce? some of the tables are so wobbly that you can see the screws get undone. i'd go back to their stand at the Farmers Market many times over, but i'm not a fan of the actual restaurant.
(2)Chelsea D.
First, let me say something about the food. It's overpriced, plated sloppily, and tastes pretty average given the local ingredients. On more than one occasion, I've actually gotten sick after eating here. At first I attributed it to drinking one too many margaritas, but to test this, I went back to just eat the food, and what do you know, I got sick again! The overall cleanliness of the place leaves much to be desired, so I should have known better. I used to be a regular here for their Monday and Tuesday drink specials, but as of late, it looks like they've cancelled this due to the high price of limes. Really? For what they charge for food AND drinks, they should be able to afford more expensive limes. One of the biggest complaints I see on here is the service. Let me tell you a little story. They used to have a few really great people working here. In fact, I used to come here to grab a drink or two, sit at the bar, and grade papers (I'm an English teacher). Everybody seemed super friendly, and I hit it off especially with the bartender at the time. I kept up my usual routine on Mondays and Tuesdays and kept coming back to grab a cheaper drink and do my work. When the place wasn't too busy, I'd chat with the servers and the bartender. Nobody seemed to have any issues with my regular patronage....UNTIL.... I started dating the bartender. In no way did I come there to interrupt anybody's ability to do their job. I came, sat, drank, and occasionally ate a few of the "safe" items on the menu while continuing to grade (if you are or have ever known an English teacher, you'll know that grading is a constant endeavor). Sure, I talked to the bartender and the servers, but only when I knew I wouldn't be bothering anybody. As soon as the owner found out I was dating the bartender, he would cut his hours and send him home every time I showed up, even though I was there to do what I'd always done: drink and grade my papers. I didn't know that my routine would have to change just because I knew someone personally. The real kicker was that after the bartender asked the owner why he didn't send him home when his dad came in once a week to get food and drinks, the owner said, "Because he knows you're at work" implying that I, a young woman, apparently didn't. Sexist, much? This hurt me. I'd been a loyal patron for going on a few years (before my bf even worked there). I hadn't changed. He was still doing his job, and very well, at that. Nobody was able to make a better drink than he could. Suddenly my being a regular was a problem, even though nothing was different. Since I was no longer a welcome customer, and my bf was actually suffering from my mere presence, I stopped coming in and he quit working there. The truth is, everyone there that I knew and liked left that place, probably because of the terrible ownership and working conditions. So for those of you that aren't happy with the service, I'd say that's because they aren't happy either. I won't ever be back, and I tell everyone I know to avoid this place. In a way, I'm relieved, because I won't be getting sick because of their mediocre food ever again.
(1)Mark J.
Unique, well done food and probably the best margarita I've had in town. Stands out in the sea of Mexican restaurants in this town. They (at one time) had puerco pibil (for you "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" fans) - on the menu but I believe it's been taken off. I understand it's all organic and what-not, but in my opinion too pricey for the value. Certainly worth a trip, but maybe once, twice a year for me. Bonus Tip! An authentic IC experience is doing brunch here to people gaze. Although I'd stay away from the bathrooms during the rush of hungover stubble-faced manchildren trying to nurse themselves back to health with chorizo n cheez n eggs. Update: +1 star since last time. While I haven't tried dinner/lunch here in several years, this has become our go-to breakfast place. Huevos divorciados salsas are excellent and bright and pair excellently with their rice/beans (which are top notch). Although, I will admit that the eggs and sauces (hollandaise, etc.) are not always made consistently.
(4)John K.
I ate here once in 2010 and the food was good, but there were ANTS ON THE TABLE. Some ants made it onto my plate. The ants turned me off for a while (my friends and I would joke while walking by, "Want to get some ants for lunch?"), but out of desperation I had brunch here today. Today, once again, there were ANTS ON THE TABLE. I was literally defending my plate of food from ants throughout my meal. This place needs a visit from a health inspector. Also, $10 for a two-egg benedict with polenta and potatoes is too much. Way too much. Several vegetarian options, though.
(1)Walker D.
One of my wife's favorite places in town. Not sure as to the authenticity of the place, but it sure is good, and one of the few places we made multiple visits to in our year of Iowa residence. Salsa sampler is great. Lamb tacos are off the charts.
(4)Sean W.
I was excited to see this go in (the former Motley Cow location) to be able to get some 'real mex' for lunch on the North side of IC. They recently took over the pizza place next door and doubled their dining space. They have really expanded their menu with unique authentic offerings. All of their taco variations from lamb, shrimp, red snapper, ribeye, portabella, and many others are awesome. Along with all the traditional real tacos in beef, chicken, pork as well as street tacos and Perez Family Tacos. I havent had the opportunity to try many of the entrees yet. But from what I've seen look tasty. Decent Chips & Salsa (which is one of my vices). They now also have a Fast Lunch menu ranging from $5-7 as well as soups and add-ons. Love the option of having the "Two Star" special of 2 Al Pastor Tacos and a handful of chips&salsa for $5 boxed and out the door. Perfect for a lunch on the run or a grab&go back to the office and still get my fix. They also run good Happy Hour specials on tacos and margs and items. They even carried some of my football(soccer) matches on early with Banditos Breakfast and Huevos Rancheros. (Bonus Points for soccer enthusiasts.) The owners and staff are personable and staff has been great. I wish them all the best in the recently expanded location. I'll be frequenting El Banditos for lunch often. It should also be noted they Also have vegetarian and gluten free options. I'll update my review again once I can dig more into the entrees and other menu items. I Have to try the Scorpions yet (jalapeno poppers) and the Mexican Wings.
(4)Larisa B.
Good. Needs minor adjustments. I've had the tacos de carnitas twice... they might want to consider a soft corn tortilla version for those of us not that enamored of all that grease. I had their Banditos Benedictos for brunch and was really impressed. The chorizo was delicious; the poached eggs were perfection; the polenta was yummy; and the chipotle Hollandaise was amazing! A very worthy dish! I would definitely order that again. My step-dad had the chilaquiles... we weren't that impressed. My chilaquiles (prepared in a completely different manner) are infinitely better. Their chilaquiles were too spicy, too soggy, too greasy, and lacking flavor. The spice factor overwhelmed the palate. The first time I ate there in August I had a hibiscus margarita and was completely blown away by the flavor. I shared it around the table and we all agreed that it was pure magnificence. Last time I ate there I had another one and was extremely disappointed. No taste of the hibiscus in the margarita... the main flavor was of the sweet and sour mix. Hibiscus a.k.a. jamaica is one of my favorite flavors on the planet. If they can get this drink right it will be a huge selling point for them. Service, while friendly, is *extremely* slow. Much seems to hinge on their ability to iron out the kinks. Though, I can't wait to return to try some different items on the menu. And dessert! They'll be seeing my step-dad and me again.
(3)Jason W.
A closed restaurant has better service. I have dined here a few times and while the food is a pretty good twist of Mexican-fusion, the time it takes to get the food bring this place down a few notches. Our most recent visit took almost 2 hours for lunch. Once we were seated, it took the server 5-10 minutes for us to even be acknowledged and for the previous dishes to be cleared. After that another 10 minutes for our drinks orders to be taken, 10 more minutes for them to arrive....some of which never did even after multiple requests for a pepsi. Another 30-40 minutes for our lunch to finally arrive and after that it was pretty good. Nothing too exceptional, certainly not great enough to justify the wait. I'm sure I will be back, but I will make sure I have the rest of my day free before I do.
(2)Mendel K.
Farm-to-table mexican restaurant with a midwest flair. This restaurant uses fresh local ingredients, has great tasting food, and exceptional sides. Service can be slow when busy and food inconsistent from visit to visit (but still great) which is why only 4/5. Make sure and try the salsa sampler while you're here.
(4)Alejandro S.
Unique atmosphere, tasty, nice service, and I loved the salsa sampler. But it's just an average Mexican restaurant. I will definitely come back here, the portions are large, and you get what you paid for. But again, nothing was out of the ordinary. Definitely a place to try, but don't expect to be amazed.
(3)Santhosh N.
Fantastic ambience, amazing food, good for vegetarians and non-veggies alike! Can't go wrong with the breakfast menu!
(5)Helen M.
I've dined at El Banditos several times and on each occasion been delighted and impressed by the food. This is not one of those "Mexican" restaurants where every dish is smothered in an often nontraditional cheese. Ingredients are fresh and of high quality--the horchata and fish tacos are especially good here, though diners should be aware that entrees are relatively large and can easily be shared between two people. I'm surprised to see this establishment with an average (currently) of only three stars, though I also note most of the more condemning reviews discuss the service--an aspect with which I've never encountered a problem. All in all it's a pleasant and usually rewarding eating experience, offerings are quite reasonably priced. I'm looking forward to checking out their happy hour one of these nights. They also have a great food truck at the Saturday farmer's market which turns out wonderful breakfast tacos.
(4)Sarah B.
As far as Iowa is concerned, this place has pretty decent Mexican food. The tacos are unique and filling....check them out during their happy hour for about a $1.50 each (with purchase of two drinks). I like the shrimp tacos and enchiladas best. I was not a big fan of the tamales (dry as sand) or the chiles rellenos (soggy). Fresh salsas - you can get their daily selection, usually 5 different types, for about $5. Usually at least a couple of these carry some serious heat. Can get busy and service ranges from so-so to pretty good. Expect a casual meal.
(3)Heather B.
Pretty good it you have to go when the food is fresh. After having dry meat a few times we starting asking when the meat was cooked- answers have ranged from this am (yay!) to three days ago (ick!)
(3)Jeff B.
Used to like this place; however, I am not planning on going back. From previous experiences I know the service can be hit or miss, probably about 80% good. I've been there before without our table being assigned to anyone, minor disorganization I suppose. But today was it. Don't expect a "Fast Lunch", even if you order from the fast lunch menu. After 30 minutes I had to walk out. In that time I barely received a water refill. I had to get back to my own job, thus I had to leave. It's a nice place with a happening atmosphere, just make sure you give yourself ample time just in case the staff is on an off day.
(2)T K.
Banditos was great. The food was delicious! Great home cooked tacos and had ice cold beer. Good value for our money.
(4)Troy S.
Very thankful they started their business. It is much better than the cheap mexican everywhere. Tacos really shine in their freshly fried shells. I've pretty much enjoyed all the food I've had. They are not know to be a fast paced place to eat, so plan accordingly. And the busier they get, the slower. Plan to relax and have a good time with friends. Don't be in a hurry and cranky.
(5)Austin B.
I have been having a hard time finding a good Mexican place in the IC area. Everything I'd had was pretty bland... Though the new place next to the Coralville Hy-vee has a kickass burrito. Anyways... Went to Banditos tonight with some friends from work for a birthday. Since it's near work I'd been meaning to stop in but hadn't got around to it. When I got there I saw our waiter was a white dude so I was immediately skeptical. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Banditos. My margarita was pretty good. Somebody ordered a salsa sampler, and though none of them were really hot, they had some good and different flavors. I got an enchilada plate and it was really good too - I always order enchiladas in Mexican places and I'm used to them being drowned in sauce. This one was drier but in a good way. Good flavorful food and it was fun to get side options besides the standard rice and beans. The icing on the cake was a fantastic piece of tres leches cake. My skepticism of Banditos was unfounded, and I think it'll be my go-to Mexican place in Iowa city now.
(5)Julia S.
I'm always wary about rating someplace I've only eaten once. Especially when that once was during a crazy heat wave that knocked all my senses awry and was compounded by a summer cold. Still, it's the only thing I have to go on. I was excited to try this place as the town where I live has no decent Mexican food to brag about -- and because the innkeeper at our B&B fairly raved about it. So maybe my expectations of it were unrealistic, but my husband and I both left feeling we'd just had a dining experience that was...fine. Guacamole was good, if a bit pricey, but a sign on the door kindly forewarned us about that, given the exorbitant price of avocados at present. I had the chicken enchiladas; Chris had the carne asada burrito. He wouldn't claim to be a connoisseur of this Mexican staple, but he is a bit of a pork pro and rarely passes up asada when he has a chance. He thought it was pretty good, but wasn't crazy about the tomatillo sauce on top. It's just not his preference. The chicken enchiladas also struck me as being "pretty good," although a lot less flavorful than I'd hoped for. I also made the mistake of ordering the vegetarian black beans as one of my sides. Now, I'm no stranger to Mexican food, so I understand taking the meat out of beans can leave you with a flavor deficit. I'm not exaggerating when I say these were the most bland beans I'd ever tasted. A little epazote and a dash of salt go a long way, peeps.
(3)Radha P.
I eat at Banditos atleast once a week because it is SO good! The food is always delicious and the quality never drops. They dont stinge on their salsa and chips. There are plenty of vegetarian options and they are happy to accommodate any other off-menu preferences.
(5)Jennifer W.
I really enjoyed the food at El Banditos. The Chile Verde (soup) is seriously amazing. I had fajitas (which were just okay) and my husband had enchiladas while my brother had a torta- those were great. The service was definitely slow and I think there is some tweaking that needs to happen with the menu yet, but I'm not ready to write this place off. The drinks were the best I've had in Iowa- real, not disgustingly or insultingly sweet. I say if you went when it first opened, give it a second chance. And, give the owner constructive feedback. It's hard to get decent food in Iowa City, I'd like to see this place succeed.
(4)Kelly K.
Chilaquiles were flavorful but dry and had almost no chicken, eggs, or queso. It was like eating some really overpriced nachos. The person with me ordered "Eggs in Hell," and those were better, but again, a bit short on the amount of eggs (menu advertises 3 eggs). Service was slow. Waitress only cleared plates for male customers at the table.
(3)Andrew L.
Great food. Not your typical 'mexican-american' fare. The prices are great and the portions are a good size without being out of control. This place would easily rate 5 stars if it wasn't for the slow service. We sat ourselves and watched as tables that came in after us were served first. Another plus. They have Johns Generations White Ale on tap.
(4)Sam G.
To qualify my review: I didn't go for brunch, and I don't like tex mex. That said, I think you're better off at any of the standard mexican places in town. Ambience was cool, but I'm rating the food. They use cheddar cheese on everything, below average salsa, and more expensive than the other places in town.
(1)Jennifer L.
The only authentic Mexican restaurant in Iowa City. I say this with some authority as I lived in Tijuana, Mexico for a summer. This place is so good! Service is great too. The real deal all around
(5)Jake V.
This is the real deal. Unlike any Mexican food in town and there are quite a few here. The Parez family recipes are delicious and unique. I can't recommend this food enough. If you like quality Mexican food, you must give them a try.
(5)Rachel L.
I'd heard the produce is all sourced locally but couldn't remember if I'd read that the beef, pork, and chicken are also local. The server didn't know either and he concluded with, "probably not." With that in mind, I ended up ordering the Green Gigantic Burrito which was lack-luster. It could have used a healthy addition of cheese and a spicy salsa or ancho cream sauce on the side. I felt really bummed about our experience when halfway through our meal, a second party joined us on the patio and they were greeted by a different server who introduced herself and announced that they had a Taco Tuesday special. Whaaa?! There's a taco party and we weren't invited?? I know the majority of my poor experience was due to the not-so-exciting-waiter we had, so I'll give this place another shot once I've made my rounds to the other Mexican restaurants in the area. Also, I've heard great things about their breakfast so that's still on my to-try list.
(2)Brandon L.
Pros: 1. Good location on North side of downtown. 2. Fair prices. 3. I enjoyed the potato side I had with the burrito. Cons: 1. The patio is not the best place to sit at 5pm in my opinion, way too much traffic. 2. The burrito I had (carnitas burrito) was okay but not great. Lacked any sort of taste explosion that I was expecting! 3. The server we had was terrible. Did not know what the Ancho cream sauce was and was overall not helpful for my first time there. Did not mention that there were deals for Taco Tuesday or anything for happy hour (which I believe is from 4 to 6). Seemed to forget about us at one point. Too bad, the server may have ruined the restaurant for me in an area of town I really enjoy.
(2)Ethan V.
El Banditos on Market St. in Iowa City offers some of the best tasting and authentic Mexican food you can find in the area. A great spot to catch up with a few friends before heading downtown or before a film, El Banditos has great options for those looking for an appetizer, entrée or entrée to share.
(4)M O.
First, the food was good. I might have given 4 stars for that. The portions are small, especially for the price. The "quick lunch" option, especially, is too small and is overpriced. The service was fucking terrible. Our waitresses seemed flustered at a lunch "rush" of three tables. She messed up our order, blamed us for it, and finished with the always infuriating "do you need change?"
(3)Brett J.
Absolutely horrific. Not sure if the service or the food was worse. Came in on Saturday before noon. Ordered green Chile soup and torpedos to start. Soup was bland and torpedos fried in oil not to temperature making them greesy and cold. Entrees were cheese enchiladas. These were burned to a crisp. Not that you could tell the nonexistent waiter. Wife had fish and steak tacos respectively. Fish taco smelled off and steak was pedestrian at best. Had a margarita without salt. Of course it came with salt. Terrible food and horrible service. Has to be a better place for anything in IC. Cannot express our disappoint enough.
(1)Jessica B.
I absolutely love the Perez Family Tacos and the enchiladas. The enchiladas have a nice heat to it, and it's the only enchiladas I prefer sour cream with. The Perez Family Tacos are the perfect size to fit your hand, and the flour shelol is fried to perfection. They charged me for chips and salsa for lunch, which was a bummer. In the past, the salsa was a bit hot, but today it was a bit bland. That being said, the tacos keep me coming back for more.
(5)Andrew G.
The food was pretty good, but it was gravely overshadowed by the appalling service. The layout is cramped and I immediately noticed two tables were stuffed so tightly into a corner that they were literally unusable. They should remove the useless tables to open up the claustrophobic interior. Despite the fact that only half of the tables had customers, we had to wait awkwardly for six minutes. Doesn't sound very long but it gave us plenty of time to see that every table that was empty was covered in food scraps and crumbs. Their wait staff was lethargic and very behind on managing a room of 10 customers between the three waiters. One waitress finally brushed a table off with her hand and seated us with no menus. We asked for menus and we got a "sure thing!" and we had another five minute wait before we could even LOOK at a menu. 11 minutes wasted in a half empty restaurant. 15 minutes later our waiter finally took our drink order. In total it took him 13 minutes to get three drinks, and get me a new beer because he brought me the wrong one. Our waiter was polite and friendly, but God help him I swear he never worked a day in his life as a waiter. The entire staff was totally inexperienced and neglected our table and the table next to ours. At this point it has been nearly 45 minutes until we placed our order (unacceptable, Perez's!) and we take a deep breath and wait for our food. Our food arrived about 10 minutes later and tasted very good. I highly recommend the Red Snapper Burrito. 60 minutes from when we entered the half empty restaurant my fist-sized burrito arrived. It was small but good. I was disappointed with the size but at that point I was ready to eat anything. The burrito was hot and delicious with plenty of fish but I wouldn't go back for a long time to have it again until amateur hour is over. Or I might just do carry out. "Too long, didn't read": the service was among the worst I've ever experienced. After 60 minutes of waiting in a half empty restaurant we finally got our food. It was delicious but the portions were a little small and inconsistent. If you're a glutton for punishment then I've found the place for you. Order carry out, though!
(2)Deva C.
I've been here for dinner and brunch. Their food is delicious but inconsistent. Service too. Mostly we have had great service, including our most recent visit. But one time we had this lady who was just rude. Their oatmeal pancakes are amazing. And I really like their breakfast burrito. Overall, I really like their food and will continue to go there for Mexican food.
(4)Suzanne H.
Been here twice now. Food is excellent. Saturday had their version of eggs Benedict and it was awesome. Eggs on polenta with a spicy hollandaise. It was very very good. Hubs liked his meal also. Before that, they had some of the best fish tacos I've had--and since San Diego lays claim to inventing/stealing them from Mexico, I know good fish tacos. Amazed to find them in the IC, but they were great too. Only nit--apparently Saturday morning is when you bring your 5 kids in, sit them at a table by themselves, while you and your buddies sit at a different table across the room. To me, this isn't a kid place--but apparently to these folks, it is. Nice.
(4)Daryl C.
The family and I are now going through and sampling the various Mexican food options around Iowa City. My first exposure to El Bandito's was at their food stand at the Saturday morning farmer's market. They have by far the best food there: the vegetarian breakfast tacos, with eggs, portabello, various salsa options, and added guacamole, are quite good and reasonably portioned for the price. For the breakfast stand at the farmer's market, I would give four stars. More recently, we tried the brick-and-mortar establishment in Northside (across from Bluebird Diner). We chose to sit outside, which allowed us to see people stumbling out of George's, always fun. The chips and salsa were average, and they actually charge for extra bowls of salsa... We tried the guacamole, and to be fair it was the best guacamole we've had so far in Iowa City. I tried the vegetarian bowl, which included black beans, a sprinkling of cheese, and sautéed peppers and onions. The tortillas had good flavor, but the beans were flavorless and the cheese was minimal. All in all, decent but not distinctly memorable flavor-wise. If we return, it will probably be to the farmer's market.
(3)Mark G.
The breakfast is really good, one of my favs of all time is their oatmeal pancakes served with mango syrup. This is something you wont find at some of the common breakfast joints around Iowa. The pancakes have an amazing flavor and the texture is a bit firmer which is a good thing in this case. The mango syrup is a really nice touch, wish I could take some of it home with me. Had some tacos awhile ago, they were okay. Will have to try the rest of the food soon then update my review. Breakfast is a safe bet here though.
(4)Denise D.
Here at around 6:30 on a Thursday evenings dinner. Seated right away, big plus and waitress was friendly. Ordered the guacamole and it came out blackish. Like it has been sitting for a day. I think it was spoiled. The dinner itself was solid. Ordered the beef enchiladas and the carnitas burrito with green sauce on top. The burrito was great, not too much meat inside and served with a mini salad and potatoes on the plate. It took me a few bites each time to grab some meat in the burrito. The enchiladas was great - saucy and filling with a good amount of meat. Served with zucchinis and potatoes. Might come back. Will try their brunch though.
(3)Tom G.
This place is really worth checking out! I always get the Perez family tacos and they are awesome. Have a puffy crunchy hard shell that's the best I've had anywhere. Also think they have the best margs in town.
(5)Basilman S.
Probably the best real Mexican food in Iowa City. Tucson is home so I know slop and gourmet. The Perez family had been in Iowa for 30+ years. If your looking for quantity and the standard 'Mexican food' you can get anywhere, this is not it. It is however quite tasty, foody quality Mexican faire. The environment is slightly funky and the benches are very uncomfortable, but sufferable as the food is excellent....
(4)Cheryl H.
Just discovered the chicken rice soup! Great for winter chill and with corn chips and guacamole, it's a meal. The place needs more heat in the dining area, however.
(4)Tessa H.
The service was 6 star quality and the food was not far behind. My boyfriend and I split the portobello fajitas and had the bean salad and skillet potatoes as sides. Everything was tasty and the service was the best-friendly and attentive. Also, the hibiscus margarita was superb! A great choice if you like high quality service and food in a laid back atmosphere.
(5)Beth O.
This place was awful. The rice wasn't even cooked, which seems pretty basic for a Mexican restaurant. The meat was also burnt. The tortillas were awful as well. All around, not a good experience.
(1)David G.
Let me start this review by saying I almost never take the time to review restaurants. But after our meal tonight at El Bandito's, I wish I could give this place 0 stars. The salsa was flavorless. We ordered the pico de gallo thinking it might be a bit more flavorful, but because of its sweetness and copious amount of garlic it tasted like a bruschetta mix. We ordered a couple house margaritas, which were so sweet my girlfriend kept adding water to tone it down. I took one sip and decided to ask for a beer instead. (More on that later). We both ordered enchiladas with rice and beans. Both dishes came out cold. The sauce on top was congealed and pungent. The rice was hard and the beans tasted like Teflon residue. The service was slow, and when we got the bill it was made apparent that we were charged for our margaritas even though we had asked for replacement beverages. $59 out the door for the meal. I wish I would have known beforehand so I could have saved my money for a few (gourmet in comparison) Chipotle meals. Save your money. Stay away! Go somewhere else.
(1)Hana S.
Food is good but service was not at all!! They do seem under staffed and I felt bad for the waiter who had to take care of many tables but still; our order was missing half of the stuff; she forgot the chips and salsa. We asked for water three times before they brought it at the end of the meal. Was kind of disappointing meal over all especially if you need to continue to ask for things that they forgot as you eat.
(3)Elana L.
What can I say, fried tacos? YES PLEASE! The ground beef are better than the chicken ones, but if you can get them to make you a carnitas one, (they used to be on the menu) they are the best! I really really dislike their chips and salsa. The chips are three times thicker than the average chip and their salsa has a big 'kick', which is not fun if you eat it before you get a glass of water!
(5)Chris V.
I have only been here once, but I will definitely be back- if for no other reason than the fresh-squeezed (no pre-made mix) margaritas- oh my! My carnitas were great and it's nice to see different sides beyond the usual refried beans and bland rice. I had squash and a really good black bean salad. The place was clean and relaxed. My only complaint is the salsa- VERY hot (and I don't mind hot) and not really flavorful- needed more salt, maybe lemon juice or cilantro.
(4)Kim G.
Great happy hour pricing....food not spicy enough for my taste
(3)Meshan W.
I love this place! The homemade hot sauce is very good, a little goes a long way!
(4)Chris C.
Just OK. Went for lunch the other day. Wait staff was a little annoying -- didn't know if they had diet soda or not, really lengthy odd explanations of their menu, and plenty of "just holler if you need me's." The food was decent, I had a sampling of their beef, chicken and carnita tacos. Shells were good and obviously home made. Sauces were nothing to write home about, and still required the requisite cholula coating to get up to par. My colleague had the mole which he said was decent. My biggest gripe was the actual cost of food here. Each of our lunch tickets were over $12 before tip. I'm OK with paying that at a place with great decor, food and waitstaff, but the offerings here didn't mesh with that price. Chips/salsa weren't offered here either (although a $5 salsa sampler was). Overall I felt confused as to whether El Banditos wants to be an upscale fresh-food restaurant (as the price would indicate) or a mom and pop taqueria (as the food and service would indicate).
(2)Ana N.
i like this place but only bc of the tacos they have i didn't like the rice at all it was stale but the carnitas tacos were the best with onion and cilantro. what was intersting was that they fried them and i had never had tacos like that,but they were good.
(3)Lindsay E.
I've only been here once so far, but was pleasantly surprised by the selection and the food quality. Service was appropriate for the crowd (one guy taking care of the 5-6 tables that were full) and leisurely but not slow. I definitely got the impression that if we'd said we were in a hurry, we could have gotten in and out in an hour (not always true for the Bluebird across the street). Food is great, in what I'd call a NorCal-Mexican style -- not 100% authentic, certainly, but not generic fresh-Mex either. Subtle tastes, balanced use of cheese and seasoning, not noticeably greasy. I was pleased with the snapper taco and a side of "potatoes with rajas", which are what home fries want to be when they grow up, and my friend's spinach-and-cheese enchilada and squash were great too. Complimentary chips and salsa were a nice starter, though not outstanding on their own. At this point, I'd try pretty much everything on the menu. The prices here are higher than I'd ideally like for lunch (I'm a $10-or-under kind of girl), which is why it's not getting a full 5 stars. They do have some lunch specials for under $10, and most entrees are under $10, but once you put together a taco with a side dish combo and a drink, $12-15 is more realistic. I tend to think that if the menu were centered a dollar or so lower per entree, you'd see a lot more crowds here -- which would be a good thing. Maybe spring/summer foot traffic will get things to pick up! Still, I'll be recommending it to friends looking for a nice, not-so-crowded lunch spot downtown.
(4)David G.
This was by far the worst experience I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant. To say that they failed in every facet of service would be putting it mildly. We arrived and were immediately seated. It took about 10 minutes for them to bring us our chips and water and to take our drink orders. It was another 20 for the drinks to arrive and for them to take our food orders. About 45 minutes later one of the waitresses came out and was like are any of you vegetarian (several people ordered from the vegetarian menu)? She commented that even though the items are marked vegetarian, the flour tortillas are prepared with lard even though they are labeled as vegetarian? Since when is pig vegetarian. So I had to change my order and it took a total of an hour to get the food out. When they brought my wife's food they brought out flour tortillas even though she has celiacs and we ordered hers gluten free saying multiple corn tortillas. Luckily there were plenty of chips and salsa because the food was awful. It was dry and gritty with very little flavor. It was all cold and tasteless. It is a shame they prey on college students who likely don't know better. They are either careless or negligent but either way I would not eat there ever again
(1)W Q.
i've heard good things about el banditos; finally gave it a try today. i was glad to see on their website they deliver. perfect for a rainy day like today. i called at noon and placed my order, two perez family tacos, a side of pico de gallo, and a pork burrito with side of potatoes. the delivery came exactly in one hour, and food is warm. i took my first bite out of the beef perez family tacos, the tortilla is lightly fried, excellent. love it. i devoured it in seconds. would highly recommend the family tacos. i took a few bites of the pork burrito and the potatoes, excellent flavor, but the burrito looks a bit small compared to what i get at pancheros and mondo's saloon. i opened up my side of pico de gallo, wow, probably the best pico de gallo i've had anywhere in iowa city. the flavor deserves 5 stars. the only reason i am giving this a 4 star is because of value. the total cost after the delivery tip is $23. i didn't see any lunch deals, and i certainly don't think the pork burrito with a side of potatoes should be $12. now i obviously can't compare the quality with pancheros, because el banditos is much better in quality, but a burrito of the same quality compared to mondo's saloon at $6.50 made me think twice about ordering a burrito at El Banditos. overall, i would definitely visit again and would recommend this mexican restaurant to anyone in the iowa city area, the perez family tacos hit the spot and the pico de gallo is my favorite in iowa city, while i am not the fan of the pork burrito (overpriced & very small), the flavor is excellent and i can't wait to try some of the other dishes here. and lunch delivery is a huge plus in my book!!
(4)Elizabeth S.
Excellent for breakfast! Great Mexican-inspired food....I had the huevos benedictos on spinach and yum, it was really good. This place is a bit noisy but a perfect place for a weekend brunch for the whole family. If you like Mexican food, this casual restaurant will be a treat .
(4)tembi b.
I like this place a lot. I've had a few good meals in house, but the takeout we had a few weeks ago was really stunning. I just walked in and ordered the food to go because I didn't want to deal with my kids in a restaurant. We got the quessadilla for the kids to spit. It was enormous and delicious. They loved it, and I loved that it had a few black beans it it. That counts as a vegetable! It grows in the ground! My buritto was good and my husbands chicken fajitas came with lots of veggies and were not too greasy (some places around town sort of drench the fajitas in oil and it's pretty disgusting).I had the leftovers the next day for lunch, which made me feel like I got a good deal on top of getting a really nice meal. Oh - and they serve XX beer! Service was friendly and not cheesy. This area is packed with restaurants, but we really needed 1)good Mexican and 2) a moderately priced option that isn't a diner. I'm so very happy! *** Came back and had lunch. Amazing chicken burrito and yummy squash (calabasitas?) on the side. I love that there is a veggie option for a side instead of just rice and beans. My husband really liked his chicken mango salad.
(5)lauren b.
The fish tacos here were to die for! Better than a lot of tacos I've had in San Francisco. The veggies were really fresh and everything was really tasty. The price is definitely right and you get a lot for what you pay. Definitely recommend.
(5)tembi b.
I like this place a lot. I've had a few good meals in house, but the takeout we had a few weeks ago was really stunning. I just walked in and ordered the food to go because I didn't want to deal with my kids in a restaurant. We got the quessadilla for the kids to spit. It was enormous and delicious. They loved it, and I loved that it had a few black beans it it. That counts as a vegetable! It grows in the ground! My buritto was good and my husbands chicken fajitas came with lots of veggies and were not too greasy (some places around town sort of drench the fajitas in oil and it's pretty disgusting).I had the leftovers the next day for lunch, which made me feel like I got a good deal on top of getting a really nice meal. Oh - and they serve XX beer! Service was friendly and not cheesy. This area is packed with restaurants, but we really needed 1)good Mexican and 2) a moderately priced option that isn't a diner. I'm so very happy! *** Came back and had lunch. Amazing chicken burrito and yummy squash (calabasitas?) on the side. I love that there is a veggie option for a side instead of just rice and beans. My husband really liked his chicken mango salad.
(5)lauren b.
The fish tacos here were to die for! Better than a lot of tacos I've had in San Francisco. The veggies were really fresh and everything was really tasty. The price is definitely right and you get a lot for what you pay. Definitely recommend.
(5)Ana N.
i like this place but only bc of the tacos they have i didn't like the rice at all it was stale but the carnitas tacos were the best with onion and cilantro. what was intersting was that they fried them and i had never had tacos like that,but they were good.
(3)Lindsay E.
I've only been here once so far, but was pleasantly surprised by the selection and the food quality. Service was appropriate for the crowd (one guy taking care of the 5-6 tables that were full) and leisurely but not slow. I definitely got the impression that if we'd said we were in a hurry, we could have gotten in and out in an hour (not always true for the Bluebird across the street). Food is great, in what I'd call a NorCal-Mexican style -- not 100% authentic, certainly, but not generic fresh-Mex either. Subtle tastes, balanced use of cheese and seasoning, not noticeably greasy. I was pleased with the snapper taco and a side of "potatoes with rajas", which are what home fries want to be when they grow up, and my friend's spinach-and-cheese enchilada and squash were great too. Complimentary chips and salsa were a nice starter, though not outstanding on their own. At this point, I'd try pretty much everything on the menu. The prices here are higher than I'd ideally like for lunch (I'm a $10-or-under kind of girl), which is why it's not getting a full 5 stars. They do have some lunch specials for under $10, and most entrees are under $10, but once you put together a taco with a side dish combo and a drink, $12-15 is more realistic. I tend to think that if the menu were centered a dollar or so lower per entree, you'd see a lot more crowds here -- which would be a good thing. Maybe spring/summer foot traffic will get things to pick up! Still, I'll be recommending it to friends looking for a nice, not-so-crowded lunch spot downtown.
(4)Elana L.
What can I say, fried tacos? YES PLEASE! The ground beef are better than the chicken ones, but if you can get them to make you a carnitas one, (they used to be on the menu) they are the best! I really really dislike their chips and salsa. The chips are three times thicker than the average chip and their salsa has a big 'kick', which is not fun if you eat it before you get a glass of water!
(5)Tessa H.
The service was 6 star quality and the food was not far behind. My boyfriend and I split the portobello fajitas and had the bean salad and skillet potatoes as sides. Everything was tasty and the service was the best-friendly and attentive. Also, the hibiscus margarita was superb! A great choice if you like high quality service and food in a laid back atmosphere.
(5)Beth O.
This place was awful. The rice wasn't even cooked, which seems pretty basic for a Mexican restaurant. The meat was also burnt. The tortillas were awful as well. All around, not a good experience.
(1)Sam G.
To qualify my review: I didn't go for brunch, and I don't like tex mex. That said, I think you're better off at any of the standard mexican places in town. Ambience was cool, but I'm rating the food. They use cheddar cheese on everything, below average salsa, and more expensive than the other places in town.
(1)Greg H.
Even the rice was good! I miss my days in the southwest when any Mexican restaurant that could stay open was pretty good. All the bad ones would close before you could ever go there. Bandito's has the feel of a family run place where the food is the center of the attention, and the decor is not only sombreros and margarita glasses. The chips and salsa were pleasant and flavorful with a hint of heat and complexity that you don't find in a jar. We also ordered the beef nachos which were also several steps above most others I have tried. We had a group of 6 and we tried several different meals. I found my favorite was the beef and chicken enchiladas. The sauce was amazing, and they possessed the ideal balance of texture between soggy and bone dry. As side items I sampled all of the available options, and they all were outstanding. The only ding I could assess was the service. It was a very busy day, and we had a group that was meeting there. We arrived a few minutes behind the others, and had children with us. I felt a like we were treated as a bit of an annoyance by the server. The food and drink portion did not suffer at all, but I thought we were rushed a bit. The joint was packed and we were a bit difficult, so I would only take off 1/4 of a star if I could. Next time I am here, it will be on my list of favorite places.
(4)T B.
Rating it a one star is saying it was better then it actually was. I don't know what was worse, the food or service. The margarita I had tasted like a lemonade that came straight from a carnival, overloaded with sugar. Food was not good. It was tasteless. It upsets me because I have given this restaurant more then 3x to prove themselves and every time I have been disappointed.
(1)Jessica B.
I absolutely love the Perez Family Tacos and the enchiladas. The enchiladas have a nice heat to it, and it's the only enchiladas I prefer sour cream with. The Perez Family Tacos are the perfect size to fit your hand, and the flour shelol is fried to perfection. They charged me for chips and salsa for lunch, which was a bummer. In the past, the salsa was a bit hot, but today it was a bit bland. That being said, the tacos keep me coming back for more.
(5)Rachel L.
I'd heard the produce is all sourced locally but couldn't remember if I'd read that the beef, pork, and chicken are also local. The server didn't know either and he concluded with, "probably not." With that in mind, I ended up ordering the Green Gigantic Burrito which was lack-luster. It could have used a healthy addition of cheese and a spicy salsa or ancho cream sauce on the side. I felt really bummed about our experience when halfway through our meal, a second party joined us on the patio and they were greeted by a different server who introduced herself and announced that they had a Taco Tuesday special. Whaaa?! There's a taco party and we weren't invited?? I know the majority of my poor experience was due to the not-so-exciting-waiter we had, so I'll give this place another shot once I've made my rounds to the other Mexican restaurants in the area. Also, I've heard great things about their breakfast so that's still on my to-try list.
(2)Brandon L.
Pros: 1. Good location on North side of downtown. 2. Fair prices. 3. I enjoyed the potato side I had with the burrito. Cons: 1. The patio is not the best place to sit at 5pm in my opinion, way too much traffic. 2. The burrito I had (carnitas burrito) was okay but not great. Lacked any sort of taste explosion that I was expecting! 3. The server we had was terrible. Did not know what the Ancho cream sauce was and was overall not helpful for my first time there. Did not mention that there were deals for Taco Tuesday or anything for happy hour (which I believe is from 4 to 6). Seemed to forget about us at one point. Too bad, the server may have ruined the restaurant for me in an area of town I really enjoy.
(2)Ethan V.
El Banditos on Market St. in Iowa City offers some of the best tasting and authentic Mexican food you can find in the area. A great spot to catch up with a few friends before heading downtown or before a film, El Banditos has great options for those looking for an appetizer, entrée or entrée to share.
(4)Andrew G.
The food was pretty good, but it was gravely overshadowed by the appalling service. The layout is cramped and I immediately noticed two tables were stuffed so tightly into a corner that they were literally unusable. They should remove the useless tables to open up the claustrophobic interior. Despite the fact that only half of the tables had customers, we had to wait awkwardly for six minutes. Doesn't sound very long but it gave us plenty of time to see that every table that was empty was covered in food scraps and crumbs. Their wait staff was lethargic and very behind on managing a room of 10 customers between the three waiters. One waitress finally brushed a table off with her hand and seated us with no menus. We asked for menus and we got a "sure thing!" and we had another five minute wait before we could even LOOK at a menu. 11 minutes wasted in a half empty restaurant. 15 minutes later our waiter finally took our drink order. In total it took him 13 minutes to get three drinks, and get me a new beer because he brought me the wrong one. Our waiter was polite and friendly, but God help him I swear he never worked a day in his life as a waiter. The entire staff was totally inexperienced and neglected our table and the table next to ours. At this point it has been nearly 45 minutes until we placed our order (unacceptable, Perez's!) and we take a deep breath and wait for our food. Our food arrived about 10 minutes later and tasted very good. I highly recommend the Red Snapper Burrito. 60 minutes from when we entered the half empty restaurant my fist-sized burrito arrived. It was small but good. I was disappointed with the size but at that point I was ready to eat anything. The burrito was hot and delicious with plenty of fish but I wouldn't go back for a long time to have it again until amateur hour is over. Or I might just do carry out. "Too long, didn't read": the service was among the worst I've ever experienced. After 60 minutes of waiting in a half empty restaurant we finally got our food. It was delicious but the portions were a little small and inconsistent. If you're a glutton for punishment then I've found the place for you. Order carry out, though!
(2)Deva C.
I've been here for dinner and brunch. Their food is delicious but inconsistent. Service too. Mostly we have had great service, including our most recent visit. But one time we had this lady who was just rude. Their oatmeal pancakes are amazing. And I really like their breakfast burrito. Overall, I really like their food and will continue to go there for Mexican food.
(4)Daryl C.
The family and I are now going through and sampling the various Mexican food options around Iowa City. My first exposure to El Bandito's was at their food stand at the Saturday morning farmer's market. They have by far the best food there: the vegetarian breakfast tacos, with eggs, portabello, various salsa options, and added guacamole, are quite good and reasonably portioned for the price. For the breakfast stand at the farmer's market, I would give four stars. More recently, we tried the brick-and-mortar establishment in Northside (across from Bluebird Diner). We chose to sit outside, which allowed us to see people stumbling out of George's, always fun. The chips and salsa were average, and they actually charge for extra bowls of salsa... We tried the guacamole, and to be fair it was the best guacamole we've had so far in Iowa City. I tried the vegetarian bowl, which included black beans, a sprinkling of cheese, and sautéed peppers and onions. The tortillas had good flavor, but the beans were flavorless and the cheese was minimal. All in all, decent but not distinctly memorable flavor-wise. If we return, it will probably be to the farmer's market.
(3)Mark G.
The breakfast is really good, one of my favs of all time is their oatmeal pancakes served with mango syrup. This is something you wont find at some of the common breakfast joints around Iowa. The pancakes have an amazing flavor and the texture is a bit firmer which is a good thing in this case. The mango syrup is a really nice touch, wish I could take some of it home with me. Had some tacos awhile ago, they were okay. Will have to try the rest of the food soon then update my review. Breakfast is a safe bet here though.
(4)Denise D.
Here at around 6:30 on a Thursday evenings dinner. Seated right away, big plus and waitress was friendly. Ordered the guacamole and it came out blackish. Like it has been sitting for a day. I think it was spoiled. The dinner itself was solid. Ordered the beef enchiladas and the carnitas burrito with green sauce on top. The burrito was great, not too much meat inside and served with a mini salad and potatoes on the plate. It took me a few bites each time to grab some meat in the burrito. The enchiladas was great - saucy and filling with a good amount of meat. Served with zucchinis and potatoes. Might come back. Will try their brunch though.
(3)Tom G.
This place is really worth checking out! I always get the Perez family tacos and they are awesome. Have a puffy crunchy hard shell that's the best I've had anywhere. Also think they have the best margs in town.
(5)Basilman S.
Probably the best real Mexican food in Iowa City. Tucson is home so I know slop and gourmet. The Perez family had been in Iowa for 30+ years. If your looking for quantity and the standard 'Mexican food' you can get anywhere, this is not it. It is however quite tasty, foody quality Mexican faire. The environment is slightly funky and the benches are very uncomfortable, but sufferable as the food is excellent....
(4)Cheryl H.
Just discovered the chicken rice soup! Great for winter chill and with corn chips and guacamole, it's a meal. The place needs more heat in the dining area, however.
(4)Suzanne H.
Been here twice now. Food is excellent. Saturday had their version of eggs Benedict and it was awesome. Eggs on polenta with a spicy hollandaise. It was very very good. Hubs liked his meal also. Before that, they had some of the best fish tacos I've had--and since San Diego lays claim to inventing/stealing them from Mexico, I know good fish tacos. Amazed to find them in the IC, but they were great too. Only nit--apparently Saturday morning is when you bring your 5 kids in, sit them at a table by themselves, while you and your buddies sit at a different table across the room. To me, this isn't a kid place--but apparently to these folks, it is. Nice.
(4)M O.
First, the food was good. I might have given 4 stars for that. The portions are small, especially for the price. The "quick lunch" option, especially, is too small and is overpriced. The service was fucking terrible. Our waitresses seemed flustered at a lunch "rush" of three tables. She messed up our order, blamed us for it, and finished with the always infuriating "do you need change?"
(3)Brett J.
Absolutely horrific. Not sure if the service or the food was worse. Came in on Saturday before noon. Ordered green Chile soup and torpedos to start. Soup was bland and torpedos fried in oil not to temperature making them greesy and cold. Entrees were cheese enchiladas. These were burned to a crisp. Not that you could tell the nonexistent waiter. Wife had fish and steak tacos respectively. Fish taco smelled off and steak was pedestrian at best. Had a margarita without salt. Of course it came with salt. Terrible food and horrible service. Has to be a better place for anything in IC. Cannot express our disappoint enough.
(1)David G.
Let me start this review by saying I almost never take the time to review restaurants. But after our meal tonight at El Bandito's, I wish I could give this place 0 stars. The salsa was flavorless. We ordered the pico de gallo thinking it might be a bit more flavorful, but because of its sweetness and copious amount of garlic it tasted like a bruschetta mix. We ordered a couple house margaritas, which were so sweet my girlfriend kept adding water to tone it down. I took one sip and decided to ask for a beer instead. (More on that later). We both ordered enchiladas with rice and beans. Both dishes came out cold. The sauce on top was congealed and pungent. The rice was hard and the beans tasted like Teflon residue. The service was slow, and when we got the bill it was made apparent that we were charged for our margaritas even though we had asked for replacement beverages. $59 out the door for the meal. I wish I would have known beforehand so I could have saved my money for a few (gourmet in comparison) Chipotle meals. Save your money. Stay away! Go somewhere else.
(1)Hana S.
Food is good but service was not at all!! They do seem under staffed and I felt bad for the waiter who had to take care of many tables but still; our order was missing half of the stuff; she forgot the chips and salsa. We asked for water three times before they brought it at the end of the meal. Was kind of disappointing meal over all especially if you need to continue to ask for things that they forgot as you eat.
(3)Alexandra F.
In town for business - the bartender and servers were rude and acted like I was not cool enough to be in their hipster Mexican joint. $4 marg Mondays on menu has been off the menu for a long time... They acted like I was an idiot for asking. .. Service was so bad I left before ordering :(
(1)Karyn M.
Yummy! I loved their veggie quesadilla (and the fact that they had so many vegetarian options). My boyfriend had the street tacos (el pastor) which he said were delicious but expensive -- $4 per taco...yikes. Still, the wait staff was super-friendly and the atmosphere very nice. We will definitely go again!
(5)M K.
In short, the service is awful! I've given this place numerous chances but it's never improved. Won't be returning.
(1)Lynn J.
Good food. They get some (not all) meat locally. Great chips and salsa. Have eaten here many times, wait staff is not always on the ball, have to go ask for refills of drinks, chips and salsa, etc. But they are busy a lot too. I do not recommend sitting outside if you like service, I think they forget about you out there. I think they may just be understaffed on waitresses. Otherwise no complaints really, other than menu could use some updates and explanations, not very well written.
(4)Marc R.
This place was ok. I was happy that I was able to get a Mexican brunch, but other than this, I think the place is run with a sort of hippie gestalt and they could use a Mexican cook to teach them how to make salsas and cook. This hippie groove means that things will come out slowly, you have almost no choice for hot sauces (nothing really authentic). It seemed like the sort of food your aunt who "doesn't like hot food" might call Mexican. I was happy with my meal, but it was not "Mexican" or "Tejano" in my book, but rather seemed to have been watered down versions of classics. Everyone was nice. And it was nearly empty on a Saturday brunch rush so I went here rather than the diner across the street.
(3)Karrey S.
I had such high hopes for this place! And honestly, the first few times I came here, I was charmed by the varied menu, their efforts to use locally-sourced ingredients, and their down-home attitude. I doubt I'll ever go back after my last few experiences there, unfortunately. The good: the hibiscus margaritas, omg. So good! And a good sized drink to match the price. I'm not sure if they still serve them, though, since the last time I was there they seemed to have been phasing them out of the menus. The bad: Ants on the tables, especially the window bar seating. Ugh. Terrible, aloof service. Inconsistent food quality. All of these things could be excused, except for the worst of all: lying on the menu about vegetarian dishes. The flour tortillas are made with lard, and the rice and beans are made with chicken stock. This is NOT vegetarian (to most vegetarians), and to label items on the menu as vegetarian and then only disclose these things after being pressed by customers (and then to still make them pay for their food once it's determined that there are meaty elements to their dishes)? That's unforgivable to me, especially in a town like Iowa City, where a higher-than-normal proportion of your business is going to be made up of vegetarian customers. No thanks.
(1)Matt U.
When you're looking for some seriously delicious Mexican cuisine that includes both standard fare as well as a little flare on the originals, this is your place! We've had nothing but pleasant experiences thus far. Service can be a little slow if they're busy, but it's truly worth waiting for. The specials here are consistently top notch and we've found that anything with chorizo in it, is pure food gold! Their specials recently included a shrimp and rice dish w/ fried plantains which was excellent, and something deemed "Tacos Hawaiianos" - great name for an even better taco laced w/ pineapple and reminiscent of a something from Cuba! Friends had the carnitas burrito, which was delicious, and the lamb taco - a true winner! Wife had some killer sangria and incredible pork soft tacos. This was not to be outdone however by the tres leches cake and a delightful twist on Banana's Foster for desert. This has become our default spot to hit up if we're A) In the mood to eat out, B) Want Mexican or C) Interested in some delicious take on a traditional Mexican dish. If I ever design a video game, the carnitas burrito will take the place of a princess or treasure to be saved on one of the levels!
(5)C L.
Disappointment. Tried this out yesterday. Decor looked nice, art on the walls, bright yellow walls. Service was sub par - server seemed less than enthusiastic. The cleanliness of the place was a big turn off. There were flies flying around which made us question the cleanliness of the kitchen. Floor was dirty, there was a big ball of used tissue under our table. Only half of the tables had cutleries (ours did not). Chips and salsa were okay, salsa was pretty spicy. Ordered the Perez family taco, Street taco and Mango vinaigrette salad. Perez taco was not bad, I could not care for the Street taco, salad was a big portion and looked nice but did not meet our expectations. The worse part is that both my boyfriend and I felt sick after eating here.
(1)Derek J.
This is now (in my opinion), the best mexican in iowa city. we went here on a sunday night, and the food was really something to talk about. I got the pork enchiladas, and it was very tasty. Our party of 4 ate very well, and this was more authentic mexican than you'd usually get in iowa city. Not overly cheesy, just really tasty. I wish they had more seating, so more people could experience this place.
(5)Maria E.
Where to begin.....Oh my goodness. The first time I had ever gone here, the drinks had taken around 10 minutes, and she forgot our round of waters on top of that. Again, had to remind her. Constantly had to be asking for refills on our water. The waitress Took our order, finally AFTER 35 minutes of waiting....with barley any tables in the restaurant, we got our food. I was with 3 other people. 2 out of our 4 orders were completely wrong- wrong meat, wrong sides, wrong everything! I couldn't believe it. So the server takes it back, and we have to wait AGAIN. Finally get our food back, it's right this time thankfully, we eat. This was the blandest mexican food I had ever had. I ordered the shredded chicken burrito bowl. The only good thing about it was the side dish, seasoned squash, which barley had any flavor. I wasn't very happy with this place, considering the ridiculous wait, the bland food, and the price. But decided I would come back again one more time to try it. So I come back again another time with my boyfriend and a friend. Took forever for us to even get greeted for the first time. I realize this is a small restaurant with 2 servers. I also work at a small restaurant with two servers on at one time. So I can understand, but for how slow it was, this was just not okay. First, we ordered water and margaritas, that again took another 10 minutes, took even longer to get our chips and salsa. She took our order: I ordered the same thing this time, the shredded chicken burrito bowl. I asked the waitress how many shells came with it, 3 or 4, because I couldn't remember from the last time. She responded with "2". I know for a fact that isn't true, because I had gotten the same exact thing the last time I was there. I told her no, that isn't right, it comes with at least 3, she then argues with me telling me I will be charged an extra $2 for a tortilla shell. I told her never mind then. Secondly, we ordered the queso appetizer. Holy smokes, I am not exaggerating- took 30 minutes for us to get it. The only reason we got it after that long, was because we mentioned it to our waitress two times that we were still waiting for it. Finally the second time we said something, she tried arguing with us about it!!!! We told her, "it's melted cheese, there is no way it can take this long no matter how fresh the ingredients are!" and she proceeded to go and check on it after arguing with us. We asked to speak with a manager. Of course, there isn't one there. So the hostess comes over, asking what's wrong. We explain to her what happened w/ the time and the server arguing w/ us. She says "I will take it off your bill, sorry about that." I was furious at this point. We finally get the queso. Go figure, it costs money to get another order or chips....which is silly, since it's a mexican restaurant. The queso is bland, no surprise there since I had experienced the same problem with the food quality last time I had went. We get our food, again waiting another 25 minutes for that to show up. At that point, we had been in the restaurant for 55 minutes, finally just now getting our food. I was done with this place at that point. The food came in a completely different manner this time, and what do you know, with 3 tortilla shells. I told the server, I didn't ask for an extra one, because I wasn't going to pay an extra $2. She says "yeah I know, it must come with 3." I knew I was right! The food is completely bland. I am left disappointed with that place again. When we finally get the waitress to get us our bill, after waiting another 10 minutes after just sitting there, clearly done eating, we see that the queso was not taken off the bill, nor did we get any sort of discount or compensation for the rude waiter or the ridiculous wait for a simple queso dish or food. *** mind you, this was a Tuesday night, and the restaurant wasn't that busy, nor filled to max capacity.*** We decided not to say anything, since there was no manager there to talk to, and decided to just never come back again.
(1)TJ L.
Amazing food!!! We love this place. The Perez Family Tacos, made with fried flour tortillas, are outstanding. We also love the guacomole!! The staff is very friendly, and we always receive great service. It's our favorite mexican food in the area.
(5)Erini S.
Debating between a 3 or 4 star... But you know, going to give the extra one to them. I joined some friends here for a brunch on Sunday while we were in town. Bluebird across the street had a crazy wait, so my friends chose to come over to El Banditos. I was totally ok with this. (Mainly because I was also really hungry.) The place was decently busy, and apparently our waitress was new. (Hence why I'm giving them the extra star... she'll be great with a little more practice.) I went simple and just got the 3 eggs and bacon. Hit the spot. Friends enjoyed their meals too -- benedict with spinach, breakfast burrito, and I can't remember what our 4th got, but she liked it! Overall, not a bad place! I'd be up for trying them for lunch or dinner too if I'm ever back in town.
(4)Dan K.
Can't say I'd every go back. Service was bad and the margarita's were over priced. The fish taco had very little fish in it and the black beans were very spicy.
(1)Alison S.
GREAT food! I LOVE their nachos and get them almost every time I go there for lunch. It's a HUGE amount (I split the dish with my boyfriend as a meal) and the ingredients always seem very fresh. Their tacos are good too! A great, sit-down Mexican restaurant. BEST PLACE FOR BRUNCH! Go here for brunch it will not disappoint you. There are only a few brunch places in Iowa City and places like Bluebird and Hamburg are always so crowded. I think El Banditos has a better brunch but for some reason this seems to remain a secret because while everyone flocks to the aforementioned and wait in line for 30 minutes to eat --- there's NEVER a wait at El Banditos. I guess that's good for me. :)
(5)Mark J.
Unique, well done food and probably the best margarita I've had in town. Stands out in the sea of Mexican restaurants in this town. They (at one time) had puerco pibil (for you "Once Upon a Time in Mexico" fans) - on the menu but I believe it's been taken off. I understand it's all organic and what-not, but in my opinion too pricey for the value. Certainly worth a trip, but maybe once, twice a year for me. Bonus Tip! An authentic IC experience is doing brunch here to people gaze. Although I'd stay away from the bathrooms during the rush of hungover stubble-faced manchildren trying to nurse themselves back to health with chorizo n cheez n eggs. Update: +1 star since last time. While I haven't tried dinner/lunch here in several years, this has become our go-to breakfast place. Huevos divorciados salsas are excellent and bright and pair excellently with their rice/beans (which are top notch). Although, I will admit that the eggs and sauces (hollandaise, etc.) are not always made consistently.
(4)John K.
I ate here once in 2010 and the food was good, but there were ANTS ON THE TABLE. Some ants made it onto my plate. The ants turned me off for a while (my friends and I would joke while walking by, "Want to get some ants for lunch?"), but out of desperation I had brunch here today. Today, once again, there were ANTS ON THE TABLE. I was literally defending my plate of food from ants throughout my meal. This place needs a visit from a health inspector. Also, $10 for a two-egg benedict with polenta and potatoes is too much. Way too much. Several vegetarian options, though.
(1)Chelsea D.
First, let me say something about the food. It's overpriced, plated sloppily, and tastes pretty average given the local ingredients. On more than one occasion, I've actually gotten sick after eating here. At first I attributed it to drinking one too many margaritas, but to test this, I went back to just eat the food, and what do you know, I got sick again! The overall cleanliness of the place leaves much to be desired, so I should have known better. I used to be a regular here for their Monday and Tuesday drink specials, but as of late, it looks like they've cancelled this due to the high price of limes. Really? For what they charge for food AND drinks, they should be able to afford more expensive limes. One of the biggest complaints I see on here is the service. Let me tell you a little story. They used to have a few really great people working here. In fact, I used to come here to grab a drink or two, sit at the bar, and grade papers (I'm an English teacher). Everybody seemed super friendly, and I hit it off especially with the bartender at the time. I kept up my usual routine on Mondays and Tuesdays and kept coming back to grab a cheaper drink and do my work. When the place wasn't too busy, I'd chat with the servers and the bartender. Nobody seemed to have any issues with my regular patronage....UNTIL.... I started dating the bartender. In no way did I come there to interrupt anybody's ability to do their job. I came, sat, drank, and occasionally ate a few of the "safe" items on the menu while continuing to grade (if you are or have ever known an English teacher, you'll know that grading is a constant endeavor). Sure, I talked to the bartender and the servers, but only when I knew I wouldn't be bothering anybody. As soon as the owner found out I was dating the bartender, he would cut his hours and send him home every time I showed up, even though I was there to do what I'd always done: drink and grade my papers. I didn't know that my routine would have to change just because I knew someone personally. The real kicker was that after the bartender asked the owner why he didn't send him home when his dad came in once a week to get food and drinks, the owner said, "Because he knows you're at work" implying that I, a young woman, apparently didn't. Sexist, much? This hurt me. I'd been a loyal patron for going on a few years (before my bf even worked there). I hadn't changed. He was still doing his job, and very well, at that. Nobody was able to make a better drink than he could. Suddenly my being a regular was a problem, even though nothing was different. Since I was no longer a welcome customer, and my bf was actually suffering from my mere presence, I stopped coming in and he quit working there. The truth is, everyone there that I knew and liked left that place, probably because of the terrible ownership and working conditions. So for those of you that aren't happy with the service, I'd say that's because they aren't happy either. I won't ever be back, and I tell everyone I know to avoid this place. In a way, I'm relieved, because I won't be getting sick because of their mediocre food ever again.
(1)Walker D.
One of my wife's favorite places in town. Not sure as to the authenticity of the place, but it sure is good, and one of the few places we made multiple visits to in our year of Iowa residence. Salsa sampler is great. Lamb tacos are off the charts.
(4)Sean W.
I was excited to see this go in (the former Motley Cow location) to be able to get some 'real mex' for lunch on the North side of IC. They recently took over the pizza place next door and doubled their dining space. They have really expanded their menu with unique authentic offerings. All of their taco variations from lamb, shrimp, red snapper, ribeye, portabella, and many others are awesome. Along with all the traditional real tacos in beef, chicken, pork as well as street tacos and Perez Family Tacos. I havent had the opportunity to try many of the entrees yet. But from what I've seen look tasty. Decent Chips & Salsa (which is one of my vices). They now also have a Fast Lunch menu ranging from $5-7 as well as soups and add-ons. Love the option of having the "Two Star" special of 2 Al Pastor Tacos and a handful of chips&salsa for $5 boxed and out the door. Perfect for a lunch on the run or a grab&go back to the office and still get my fix. They also run good Happy Hour specials on tacos and margs and items. They even carried some of my football(soccer) matches on early with Banditos Breakfast and Huevos Rancheros. (Bonus Points for soccer enthusiasts.) The owners and staff are personable and staff has been great. I wish them all the best in the recently expanded location. I'll be frequenting El Banditos for lunch often. It should also be noted they Also have vegetarian and gluten free options. I'll update my review again once I can dig more into the entrees and other menu items. I Have to try the Scorpions yet (jalapeno poppers) and the Mexican Wings.
(4)Larisa B.
Good. Needs minor adjustments. I've had the tacos de carnitas twice... they might want to consider a soft corn tortilla version for those of us not that enamored of all that grease. I had their Banditos Benedictos for brunch and was really impressed. The chorizo was delicious; the poached eggs were perfection; the polenta was yummy; and the chipotle Hollandaise was amazing! A very worthy dish! I would definitely order that again. My step-dad had the chilaquiles... we weren't that impressed. My chilaquiles (prepared in a completely different manner) are infinitely better. Their chilaquiles were too spicy, too soggy, too greasy, and lacking flavor. The spice factor overwhelmed the palate. The first time I ate there in August I had a hibiscus margarita and was completely blown away by the flavor. I shared it around the table and we all agreed that it was pure magnificence. Last time I ate there I had another one and was extremely disappointed. No taste of the hibiscus in the margarita... the main flavor was of the sweet and sour mix. Hibiscus a.k.a. jamaica is one of my favorite flavors on the planet. If they can get this drink right it will be a huge selling point for them. Service, while friendly, is *extremely* slow. Much seems to hinge on their ability to iron out the kinks. Though, I can't wait to return to try some different items on the menu. And dessert! They'll be seeing my step-dad and me again.
(3)Jason W.
A closed restaurant has better service. I have dined here a few times and while the food is a pretty good twist of Mexican-fusion, the time it takes to get the food bring this place down a few notches. Our most recent visit took almost 2 hours for lunch. Once we were seated, it took the server 5-10 minutes for us to even be acknowledged and for the previous dishes to be cleared. After that another 10 minutes for our drinks orders to be taken, 10 more minutes for them to arrive....some of which never did even after multiple requests for a pepsi. Another 30-40 minutes for our lunch to finally arrive and after that it was pretty good. Nothing too exceptional, certainly not great enough to justify the wait. I'm sure I will be back, but I will make sure I have the rest of my day free before I do.
(2)Mendel K.
Farm-to-table mexican restaurant with a midwest flair. This restaurant uses fresh local ingredients, has great tasting food, and exceptional sides. Service can be slow when busy and food inconsistent from visit to visit (but still great) which is why only 4/5. Make sure and try the salsa sampler while you're here.
(4)Alejandro S.
Unique atmosphere, tasty, nice service, and I loved the salsa sampler. But it's just an average Mexican restaurant. I will definitely come back here, the portions are large, and you get what you paid for. But again, nothing was out of the ordinary. Definitely a place to try, but don't expect to be amazed.
(3)Santhosh N.
Fantastic ambience, amazing food, good for vegetarians and non-veggies alike! Can't go wrong with the breakfast menu!
(5)Chris M.
Perez Family Tacos = Amazing. There are no other tacos even close to this in the area. Slow Food, you order taco, they make the tortilla, fry it, and fill it, so so good. Free chips and salsa like all my favorite mexican joints do. Hell, if it weren't for the nice TV and decent sound I'd think I was in a mexican joint in mexico. It just has that feel to it, drink some beer, eat real good authentic tacos and talk, don't forget the "tequila poppers." They are the specialty of Jesse, that bar keep and food orderer that makes it all happen. You simply can't ask for more This place has made my top ten Iowa City places.
(4)Helen M.
I've dined at El Banditos several times and on each occasion been delighted and impressed by the food. This is not one of those "Mexican" restaurants where every dish is smothered in an often nontraditional cheese. Ingredients are fresh and of high quality--the horchata and fish tacos are especially good here, though diners should be aware that entrees are relatively large and can easily be shared between two people. I'm surprised to see this establishment with an average (currently) of only three stars, though I also note most of the more condemning reviews discuss the service--an aspect with which I've never encountered a problem. All in all it's a pleasant and usually rewarding eating experience, offerings are quite reasonably priced. I'm looking forward to checking out their happy hour one of these nights. They also have a great food truck at the Saturday farmer's market which turns out wonderful breakfast tacos.
(4)Sarah B.
As far as Iowa is concerned, this place has pretty decent Mexican food. The tacos are unique and filling....check them out during their happy hour for about a $1.50 each (with purchase of two drinks). I like the shrimp tacos and enchiladas best. I was not a big fan of the tamales (dry as sand) or the chiles rellenos (soggy). Fresh salsas - you can get their daily selection, usually 5 different types, for about $5. Usually at least a couple of these carry some serious heat. Can get busy and service ranges from so-so to pretty good. Expect a casual meal.
(3)Heather B.
Pretty good it you have to go when the food is fresh. After having dry meat a few times we starting asking when the meat was cooked- answers have ranged from this am (yay!) to three days ago (ick!)
(3)Jeff B.
Used to like this place; however, I am not planning on going back. From previous experiences I know the service can be hit or miss, probably about 80% good. I've been there before without our table being assigned to anyone, minor disorganization I suppose. But today was it. Don't expect a "Fast Lunch", even if you order from the fast lunch menu. After 30 minutes I had to walk out. In that time I barely received a water refill. I had to get back to my own job, thus I had to leave. It's a nice place with a happening atmosphere, just make sure you give yourself ample time just in case the staff is on an off day.
(2)T K.
Banditos was great. The food was delicious! Great home cooked tacos and had ice cold beer. Good value for our money.
(4)Troy S.
Very thankful they started their business. It is much better than the cheap mexican everywhere. Tacos really shine in their freshly fried shells. I've pretty much enjoyed all the food I've had. They are not know to be a fast paced place to eat, so plan accordingly. And the busier they get, the slower. Plan to relax and have a good time with friends. Don't be in a hurry and cranky.
(5)John P.
go to their stand at the Saturday farmer's market....it is 10x the taste and the service. for some reason, this bricks & mortar is slow in getting you water and chips. our chips didn't come until after the meals arrived. while one of 2 of our meals was good, the other had cooled and wasn't really tasty....and what mexican restaurant has plates that don't come with some sort of hot sauce? some of the tables are so wobbly that you can see the screws get undone. i'd go back to their stand at the Farmers Market many times over, but i'm not a fan of the actual restaurant.
(2)Jennifer L.
The only authentic Mexican restaurant in Iowa City. I say this with some authority as I lived in Tijuana, Mexico for a summer. This place is so good! Service is great too. The real deal all around
(5)Jake V.
This is the real deal. Unlike any Mexican food in town and there are quite a few here. The Parez family recipes are delicious and unique. I can't recommend this food enough. If you like quality Mexican food, you must give them a try.
(5)Austin B.
I have been having a hard time finding a good Mexican place in the IC area. Everything I'd had was pretty bland... Though the new place next to the Coralville Hy-vee has a kickass burrito. Anyways... Went to Banditos tonight with some friends from work for a birthday. Since it's near work I'd been meaning to stop in but hadn't got around to it. When I got there I saw our waiter was a white dude so I was immediately skeptical. However, I was pleasantly surprised by Banditos. My margarita was pretty good. Somebody ordered a salsa sampler, and though none of them were really hot, they had some good and different flavors. I got an enchilada plate and it was really good too - I always order enchiladas in Mexican places and I'm used to them being drowned in sauce. This one was drier but in a good way. Good flavorful food and it was fun to get side options besides the standard rice and beans. The icing on the cake was a fantastic piece of tres leches cake. My skepticism of Banditos was unfounded, and I think it'll be my go-to Mexican place in Iowa city now.
(5)Julia S.
I'm always wary about rating someplace I've only eaten once. Especially when that once was during a crazy heat wave that knocked all my senses awry and was compounded by a summer cold. Still, it's the only thing I have to go on. I was excited to try this place as the town where I live has no decent Mexican food to brag about -- and because the innkeeper at our B&B fairly raved about it. So maybe my expectations of it were unrealistic, but my husband and I both left feeling we'd just had a dining experience that was...fine. Guacamole was good, if a bit pricey, but a sign on the door kindly forewarned us about that, given the exorbitant price of avocados at present. I had the chicken enchiladas; Chris had the carne asada burrito. He wouldn't claim to be a connoisseur of this Mexican staple, but he is a bit of a pork pro and rarely passes up asada when he has a chance. He thought it was pretty good, but wasn't crazy about the tomatillo sauce on top. It's just not his preference. The chicken enchiladas also struck me as being "pretty good," although a lot less flavorful than I'd hoped for. I also made the mistake of ordering the vegetarian black beans as one of my sides. Now, I'm no stranger to Mexican food, so I understand taking the meat out of beans can leave you with a flavor deficit. I'm not exaggerating when I say these were the most bland beans I'd ever tasted. A little epazote and a dash of salt go a long way, peeps.
(3)Radha P.
I eat at Banditos atleast once a week because it is SO good! The food is always delicious and the quality never drops. They dont stinge on their salsa and chips. There are plenty of vegetarian options and they are happy to accommodate any other off-menu preferences.
(5)Jennifer W.
I really enjoyed the food at El Banditos. The Chile Verde (soup) is seriously amazing. I had fajitas (which were just okay) and my husband had enchiladas while my brother had a torta- those were great. The service was definitely slow and I think there is some tweaking that needs to happen with the menu yet, but I'm not ready to write this place off. The drinks were the best I've had in Iowa- real, not disgustingly or insultingly sweet. I say if you went when it first opened, give it a second chance. And, give the owner constructive feedback. It's hard to get decent food in Iowa City, I'd like to see this place succeed.
(4)Kelly K.
Chilaquiles were flavorful but dry and had almost no chicken, eggs, or queso. It was like eating some really overpriced nachos. The person with me ordered "Eggs in Hell," and those were better, but again, a bit short on the amount of eggs (menu advertises 3 eggs). Service was slow. Waitress only cleared plates for male customers at the table.
(3)Jillian S.
Awesome food and a cute location! Take advantage of their happy hour specials! I recommend just about anything on their menu. The fajita salad is not your average salad!
(4)Andrew L.
Great food. Not your typical 'mexican-american' fare. The prices are great and the portions are a good size without being out of control. This place would easily rate 5 stars if it wasn't for the slow service. We sat ourselves and watched as tables that came in after us were served first. Another plus. They have Johns Generations White Ale on tap.
(4)Chris C.
Just OK. Went for lunch the other day. Wait staff was a little annoying -- didn't know if they had diet soda or not, really lengthy odd explanations of their menu, and plenty of "just holler if you need me's." The food was decent, I had a sampling of their beef, chicken and carnita tacos. Shells were good and obviously home made. Sauces were nothing to write home about, and still required the requisite cholula coating to get up to par. My colleague had the mole which he said was decent. My biggest gripe was the actual cost of food here. Each of our lunch tickets were over $12 before tip. I'm OK with paying that at a place with great decor, food and waitstaff, but the offerings here didn't mesh with that price. Chips/salsa weren't offered here either (although a $5 salsa sampler was). Overall I felt confused as to whether El Banditos wants to be an upscale fresh-food restaurant (as the price would indicate) or a mom and pop taqueria (as the food and service would indicate).
(2)Chris V.
I have only been here once, but I will definitely be back- if for no other reason than the fresh-squeezed (no pre-made mix) margaritas- oh my! My carnitas were great and it's nice to see different sides beyond the usual refried beans and bland rice. I had squash and a really good black bean salad. The place was clean and relaxed. My only complaint is the salsa- VERY hot (and I don't mind hot) and not really flavorful- needed more salt, maybe lemon juice or cilantro.
(4)Kim G.
Great happy hour pricing....food not spicy enough for my taste
(3)Meshan W.
I love this place! The homemade hot sauce is very good, a little goes a long way!
(4)David G.
This was by far the worst experience I have ever had at a Mexican restaurant. To say that they failed in every facet of service would be putting it mildly. We arrived and were immediately seated. It took about 10 minutes for them to bring us our chips and water and to take our drink orders. It was another 20 for the drinks to arrive and for them to take our food orders. About 45 minutes later one of the waitresses came out and was like are any of you vegetarian (several people ordered from the vegetarian menu)? She commented that even though the items are marked vegetarian, the flour tortillas are prepared with lard even though they are labeled as vegetarian? Since when is pig vegetarian. So I had to change my order and it took a total of an hour to get the food out. When they brought my wife's food they brought out flour tortillas even though she has celiacs and we ordered hers gluten free saying multiple corn tortillas. Luckily there were plenty of chips and salsa because the food was awful. It was dry and gritty with very little flavor. It was all cold and tasteless. It is a shame they prey on college students who likely don't know better. They are either careless or negligent but either way I would not eat there ever again
(1)W Q.
i've heard good things about el banditos; finally gave it a try today. i was glad to see on their website they deliver. perfect for a rainy day like today. i called at noon and placed my order, two perez family tacos, a side of pico de gallo, and a pork burrito with side of potatoes. the delivery came exactly in one hour, and food is warm. i took my first bite out of the beef perez family tacos, the tortilla is lightly fried, excellent. love it. i devoured it in seconds. would highly recommend the family tacos. i took a few bites of the pork burrito and the potatoes, excellent flavor, but the burrito looks a bit small compared to what i get at pancheros and mondo's saloon. i opened up my side of pico de gallo, wow, probably the best pico de gallo i've had anywhere in iowa city. the flavor deserves 5 stars. the only reason i am giving this a 4 star is because of value. the total cost after the delivery tip is $23. i didn't see any lunch deals, and i certainly don't think the pork burrito with a side of potatoes should be $12. now i obviously can't compare the quality with pancheros, because el banditos is much better in quality, but a burrito of the same quality compared to mondo's saloon at $6.50 made me think twice about ordering a burrito at El Banditos. overall, i would definitely visit again and would recommend this mexican restaurant to anyone in the iowa city area, the perez family tacos hit the spot and the pico de gallo is my favorite in iowa city, while i am not the fan of the pork burrito (overpriced & very small), the flavor is excellent and i can't wait to try some of the other dishes here. and lunch delivery is a huge plus in my book!!
(4)Elizabeth S.
Excellent for breakfast! Great Mexican-inspired food....I had the huevos benedictos on spinach and yum, it was really good. This place is a bit noisy but a perfect place for a weekend brunch for the whole family. If you like Mexican food, this casual restaurant will be a treat .
(4)