Fantastic food and service as always. Would have been nice to receive more chips but delicious enough! read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Black Bean & Rice Burrito - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Pretty solid choice in Chapel Hill. There is a parking structure behind the place. Ordering was fairly straight forward and food was good. The seating is slightly less and bathroom seemed less than satisfactory. But the food and service was fine. So overall good place to have mexican food near Franklin. read more

Great food! Great Prices! Great service! Would recommend to anyone in the area. I liked the place so much I bought a t-shirt

Every year on this day my husband and I go somewhere that offers a food challenge. We came here because we are passing through the area. It was go for the pho food challenge or the burrito challenge. We went for the burrito challenge Customer service: 4 stars: overall friendly Price point: 4 stars: your typical Mexican restaurant pricing. I didn't think it was expensive and I didn't think it was under priced. Food quality: 3.5 stars: its decent... it was neither bad nor exceptionally good. I will say their chips and salsa was good af tho. Cleanliness: 2.5 stars: its a hole in the wall. But nicely painted hole in the wall. Like literally. My husband gets onto me about not giving a place a chance based upon appearance and I wanted to to turn around lol the area is im assuming downtown and you literally have the homeless lurking about and sleeping about everywhere. Overall: it was decent, it was an experience, but I wouldn't come back if I was in the area. It's not that restaurant is bad or I didn't like the food but it had NO wow factor besides the 4.5 lb burrito challenge i came here to do and to celebrate 7/22. If I lived in the area perhaps I would come back. Idk I'm indifferent. My husband said it was just "ok" neither bad or remarkable, he said if you want gringo Mexican food that's exactly what you are about to get. It's worth checking out, you be the judge. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - 4.5 lb burrito! Happy birthday Gabriel 7/22 - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Service is awful. The set up is even worse. The payment system is SO bad, all workers had attitude. Queso came after our meal, salsa never came. One singular quesadilla was $18. No sides nothing. Absolutely ridiculous. Also accused us of not paying because one person paid in cash. Do not recommend. read more

Friendly, warm service but mediocre food. Plates were warm but food was lukewarm, tortilla chips stale. The restaurant is in the basement and smells of disinfectant, placard at table was legitimately filthy. read more

I come to this place often. This is my first time back since the covid pandemic. No more salsa bar :(, which was something I was looking forward. Did increase the price a little bit but still consider it relatively cheap! Service still has been great! Food is still delicious but miss my salsa bar :( read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - a plate of food - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Incredibly rude hostess..... would not let us join a table with our friends despite the fact that the restaurant was empty - now making sense why it was empty. wouldn't recommend read more

A friend and I were on Franklin Street and were craving Mexican so we swung by, but sadly the service and food here were pretty lackluster. We swung by on a Tuesday night and it was pretty empty, and were seated immediately. There's a pretty cool decor and vibe going on and the salsa bar was pretty neat. Unfortunately, the food and service were lacking. Our server took a while to greet us and bring us our chips, and we really only saw him about two times the entire night: to place our order and to get the check. I had the steak fajitas - the cuts of the steak to make the fajitas were sadly pretty poor. I had a lot of chewy and inedible bits, which really sucked. The beans/rice/tortillas were good, but ultimately, a good portion of the meat was inedible or unpleasant to eat. After my friend and I finished eating, we had to wait a while to get our check even though the restaurant was at least half empty. Overall, a pretty disappointing experience. I would like to be able to come back and try again, but given the many restaurants nearby, it's hard to justify. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Steak fajitas - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I work at UNC and we come to Bandido's for lunch pretty often. Their chips have this super good seasoning on them and the salsa is made fresh. Sometimes the salsa can be quite spicy but it's always delicious. Pre-Covid they had a salsa bar-I'm not sure if they plan to bring that back. I recommend the chimichanga and the margarita chicken bowl. I have never gotten a bad meal here and the staff our wonderful. read more

Walking into Bandido's feels a little bit like walking into a nuclear bunker, especially when it's empty. But the food is insanely good; the lunch specials are especially fairly priced, and I always finish my meals satisfied. My only nitpicky criticism is that sometimes the chips aren't spiced as flavorfully as I would like, but the rest of the food makes up for it by far. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - lunch special 6 with a bean filling - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Ordered this place on Uber eats- simple order, one bowl of tortilla soup with a quesadilla and one burrito. Guac and chips. They don't carry tortilla soup, though it was offered to order it, and instead of calling to ask for a replacement- as I requested in the app, they just made only one meal. So only one of us got dinner tonight courtesy this restaurant. There is no excuse for that kind of customer service. The burrito was also below average, the chips are thick and greasy. The portion sizes are ridiculously small. Don't bother. read more

The host was one of the rudest and impatient people I've ever encountered in the restaurant industry. Yelled at a friend of mine for trying to add 1 more person to our table. If your whole party does not arrive at the same time he will refuse to let you sit at the table. Additionally, if your friends are at another table he will not let you back to join them. He accused another friend of mine of lying about where he was sitting, as if he thinks he's a police officer. Leaving out his name for privacy but the host made a horrible initial dining experience. The redeeming savior of our night was our waiter, Artullo. He is patient, kind, accommodating, and always friendly. Supporting him is the sole reason we stayed and ate here. The host could definitely learn a thing or two from him, if he wants to keep us as customers. Artullo this star is for you. read more

Arguably, Bandido's produces the best "Mexican" (obviously Americanized to a certain extent) cuisine in the Chapel Hill-Carrboro area. That said, the food is a little on the pricier side but I personally would not recommend the investment. Bandido's is located in an alleyway on Franklin St. and offers a low-roof low-light setting that may seem a little dingy at first, but the food definitely makes up for it. One of the more obnoxious things about the Bandido's setting is that it is a popular place for large hoards of Greek Life snobs to hang around. This fact, however, doesn't change the taste of the food. The Food: The chips are not as flavorful as what you might expect - they are a little greasy, and the taste of oil is the dominant flavor. The salsa lacks a little freshness, but the two pair decently. My go-to is the stuffed quesadillas and the rice and refried beans sides. The flour tortillas lack freshness, and are a bit sad in terms of texture and fragrance. The pork and chicken stuffing is generally charred and is overwhelmed by melted cheese. The refried beans are pretty good, having a bit of texture and flavor to them. Again, the addition of cheese is pretty unwelcome here. The rice is mushy, has no flavor profile, and the salsa lacks any robust notes. All in all, there is no great "Mexican" restaurant in the Chapel Hill Area. Bandido's provides the best options, albeit underwhelming and for a price. My fellow foodies, heed my suggestions and search elsewhere. read more

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Service was great, ambience was also fairly pleasant. Food is okay too - just nothing spectacular. I'd probably go again if I was in the area and hungry but not going out of my way for it either. read more

The best Mexican food in Chapel Hill (arguably the Triangle). Service is hit or miss BUT the food and the margaritas are always great! The margs are well made and they are not stingy with their alc. Today me and my dinner date got: Arroz con pollo: my favorite version of ACP where the rice is covered with cheese but not smothered. The chicken is flavorful and crispy. Small portion was enough for dinner and to take home! Veggie enchiladas: "AMAZINGGGG. The best enchilada sauce I've ever had. The veggies are fajita vegetables and are cooked perfectly. Truly my favorite. Also plenty of cheese, not the cheap type either. And quality corn tortillas! So delish" - April, who has been a faithful customer since 2012 and gets this dish every time TLDR: great food, service varies. Get the pitcher marg! read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Arroz con pollo - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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I love this restaurant! I've been a regular at Bandido's throughout my college years and it never disappoints. The food is always good, reasonably priced and they have a great salsa bar! Their salsa is award-winning for a reason, it's just so delicious! I always recommend the Margarita Chicken Rice bowl, it's my usual! Their drinks are good, I won't say their margaritas are the best ever but they're good. Just an FYI, they don't have frozen margaritas, only on the rocks but I prefer those. They have drink specials as well and I definitely recommend Bandido's on a Monday night for their $1.99 margarita mugs! The location is underground on Franklin Street and gives off a quaint almost divey atmosphere which is nice. There isn't a ton of space so it can get crowded pretty quickly at night especially on the weekends. The service is good, or at least in my experience, and the servers and staff are always nice and friendly. I will say, when it gets busy they tend to be overwhelmed since it seems like they're always a bit understaffed. Overall, if you're looking for cheap and delicious mexican food, good salsa and margaritas on Franklin St, check out Bandido's! read more

"Traditional Tex-Mex" (if there is really such a thing!) at its best. Down the alley off of Franklin Street it isn't the easiest to find and the place is a bit small and with covid-seating, not a 'spacious' place - A lot like someone's basement but.. The people there are great - the food is great and dependable and I am never disappointed ... and haven't been for years. Expect the burritos, tacos etc to be exactly what you expect. All the components are good (salsa, meats, etc) the portions are goodly sized, everything is always put together well and the beer is cold. I know this small, family owned and run cafe is struggling to make it through to the other side of our shared covid adventure and I truly hope they make it! If you're in the mood for 'Traditional Tex-Mex' and you're in downtown Chapel Hill, do yourself (and the rest of us) a favor and stop in for a 'feel-good' meal of real-good food. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - You'll feel right at home. Relax and enjoy - you'll leave full and happy. - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I know great Mexican food. This was fair. Chips and salsa game needs work. The fajita sides tasted from a can/bag. Not very fresh. Now, service was pretty good. Very friendly staff. read more

We are self-proclaimed Chapel Hill townies and have loved going to Bandido's for many years because of their amazing salsa bar and delicious food. Now during the pandemic it's definitely way overdue for us to write a review letting everyone know how amazing they are! We love their classic delicious Mexican eats and the portion sizes are more than ample - you definitely won't go hungry if you order delivery or takeout. We've loved everything we've ever gotten from Bandido's but want to give a special shout out to their amazing molasses salsa - omg SO good!! If you're craving Mexican in Chapel Hill or Carrboro, look no further than Bandido's! read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - a table full of food - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

the only 2 reasons this gets 4 instead of 5 stars is bc the mojito is SO strong. i'm dr*nk typing this and my buddys carnitas in the chimichanga are on the dryer side. if you like a strong drink, heck ya order this strawberry mojito. also, these spicy frijoles charros are 10/10. they're not too spicy but PACKED with flavor. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Melon or Strawberry Mojito - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Ever since I realized they had lunch specials at the beginning of the school year, I've been to Bandido's at least once a month since then -- twice during the finals period. The workers are still nice and friendly, and the food is still piping hot, delicious, and filling. But I wanted to write this update because since then, I've discovered their 3 Pepper Molasses at the salsa bar. It was a tangy, very sweet salsa with a NICE spicy kick. I couldn't recommend it more. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - SUPER HOT 2 Enchilada plate for $6.50. Comes with chips and salsa. - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

There are two things that stand out for me at Bandidos: Oreo Fried ice cream, and the anthropomorphic pepper with a mustache. That guy freaks me out though, so this is the last time you'll see a mention of him in this review. Bandidos, to their detriment, have one of the weirder placings on Franklin Street. However, despite the lower-level restaurant area, they do have a decent amount of space in their little hidden area in the alley that one would take to get to Joe's Joint. They do have a diverse menu, with a variety of Mexican options. We had the Groupon, so we were able to get lunch for 4 people plus a dessert for around $6+tip after the Groupon. So it's relatively cheap if you're doing lunch, even before Groupon (about $6-7 for large burritos, etc) The burritos are okay: it was basically nondescript, and the shredded chicken didn't do much for me, but it filled me up, so I appreciate that. The free chips were good, and the salsas that they offer with those were actually really good: the medium salsa was particularly good. Really, the greatest thing here is a little thing called the Oreo Fried ice cream. I've put a picture in the profile. Go up and look at it. Don't worry, I'll wait for you. I'll even fill in this section with random facts about things I just learned on my Twitter feed: - Pacman Jones apparently got a tryout with the Bengals. - Common squirrel has gone to sleep. You back? Good. Did you see it? You want it? You do, don't you. Yes, yes you do. It's a thing of decadence: vanilla ice cream, covered in Oreo crumbs and deep fried. It's quite good. Is it good for you? No. But you don't order Oreo Fried Ice Cream for the nutritional value. So, in summary: Relatively decently priced at lunch. Burrito, okay. Salsa, good. Oreo Fried Ice Cream: OM NOM NOM NOM. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - FRIED OREO ICE CREAM! NOM! - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

I can't say enough great things about Bandido's and their staff. We hosted a buffet dinner for 150 people and thought a mexican taco bar would be popular and inexpensive. Bandido's did everything!! They showed up on time, the food was amazing, they kept the buffet looking good and hot for two hours, AND they cleaned up everything at the end of the night. Their service was top notch and what I would have expected from a much more expensive caterer. Everyone was commenting on how good the food was and what a lovely event. So thankful to have found Bandidos. I live in Texas (and trust me, I know mexican food) and really used Bandidos on blind faith. Their owner, Antoni, was great to work with. I highly recommend these guys. Thanks Antoni for a great event!! read more

Awesome food, awesome atmosphere, awesome prices. Super charming divey basement restaurant with more seating than we expected going in. The food is really, really good cheap Mexican that's definitely a step up from the other places in the area. Can't wait to go back again. read more

I'm no expert on Mexican food, but Bandido's is delicious. Dinner is quite pricey, but that's somewhat balanced by the huge portion size. Most of the time, I come here for lunch. The portion size is smaller, albeit still filling, and the price is very reasonable. Additionally, there's no tip required during lunch time; you seat yourself and order at the counter. For dinner, though, there's service. Bandido's is located inconspicuously in an alleyway between two other businesses, and it's really easy to miss if you're not looking hard enough. The interior has a nice ambience and a pretty coherent overall theme. Service is pretty standard, sometimes friendlier. A plus to Bandido's is the complimentary serving of chips that comes with most meals, along with the salsa bar. The salsa bar has a great variety of spiciness levels and flavors to try, and it's all unlimited. I've only ordered burritos at Bandido's, but from what I've experienced so far, the food is really tasty and filling. The burritos are the authentic type that you have to eat with a fork and a knife, unless you want to make a giant mess with your hands. Overall, Bandido's is a great deal for lunch, and has a slight edge over other Mexican restaurants on Franklin Street due to its authenticity. If I'm looking for a nice, sit-down Mexican food experience with another person or with a group, Bandido's is the place I would go. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Lunch-sized burrito plate. Also comes with a serving of chips. Sour cream costs extra. - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Great little hidden gem in Chapel Hill! We went in very soon after reopening after the COVID shutdown. They were extremely clean, sanitized our hands the minute we went in. Tables were well spaced apart. On top of that the food was excellent! The service was great. Good food and friendly people made for a great night out. read more

Finding this place from the street is very hard to do. You will not see the sign that leads you downstairs into this knitchy little restuarant. I was a little taken aback by how bright and vibrant this restuarant is on the inside after walking down a metal staircase into an allyway. The waiter that we had was very happy to be there. He claimed to have been working there for 9 years. He knew everything on the menu and recommended some choices from the menu. I had the Chicken Mole and it was great. It wasn't too spicy or bland. That was a good thing because I also had the spicy pinto beans with chorizo as my side dish and I was floored by how spicy and flavorful they were. I am a bit of a chilihead so that is a good thing in my book. Speaking of spicy, this place also had a make your own salsa bar. It was a real winner. The pico look really fresh and the habanero salsa isn't for the tame of heart. Don't say I didn't warn you. All in all a really nice place to get a good meal at a good price. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - The specialty of the host "El Gigante" - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

We had dinner here on 1/20/24 as our first choice was closed and it was bitter cold so ducked into the next available open place. What a mistake, we should have kept on walking. The chips and salsa were fine, but that is hard to mess up. It took half an hour to get our food, not terrible, but also not impressive as the place was almost empty when we arrived. Every other Mexican restaurant we've been to does it in half the time, even when busy. It was full, with a line, when we left some time later but it is on Franklin Street which is the favorite hangout for all visiting UNC-Chapel Hill. We ordered bean dip for our chips and what we were given was closer to bean broth. How the waiter could even put that in front of us is amazing. We tried it and told our water to take it away as it was the worst bean dip I had ever seen. He did, and the manager soon came by to apologize and told us he'd remove from our bill which he did. There were four of us so two ordered The Works, which allegedly feeds two. We were expecting a lot more for the money and the taste was ok at best. The other two ordered individual meals and one came out overcooked and warm, not hot as every other Mexican restaurant we have been to. Frankly, the service, quality and quantity of food would have been superior had we stopped into a Taco Bell. read more

Take out order was wrong. Ordered the works got hambre grande. Tamale wasn't good and I didn't want it any ways. Green burrito was blah. The chile relleno was good and the taquito was decent. Beans and rice were just ok. The fried ice cream was just ok too. Overall the food was a bit spicy hot for my taste and the food was decent. Probably some better dishes there. It's restaurant Mexican food, enough said. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Bar area - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

Such a great location--almost like an old-fashioned speakeasy. Would definitely return! My husband and I enjoyed two plates of delicious and reasonably priced Mexican entrees. read more

Bandido's Mexican Cafe - Mexican Near Me - Chapel Hill, North Carolina

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Starting with the food: Bandidos has some of the best Mexican food within walking distance of the university. Free chips and salsa while you're waiting on your food. It's all pretty standard (enchiladas, burritos, etc), but after 4 or so times eating here, I have yet to be disappointed. The restaurant's ambiance is fun and colorful. You have to walk down into an alley to find the door, which makes coming here for the first time an experience. Whereas Cosmic Cantina (right across the street) offers a quick, cheap burrito, Bandidos chooses to paint themselves as more upscale, without giving off a vibe that requires nice clothes. There are TVs playing in different corners of the restaurant, but I wouldn't count on being able to watch a game here. As far as pricing goes, lunch prices are much better than dinner prices. For dinner, including a drink, meal, and tip for one, expect to spend something around $20 per person (depending on what you get it can be more or less). Overall a great place for a social dinner every now and then. read more

This restaurant is quite likely my favorite restaurant of all time. I've been to many Mexican restaurants and this absolutely tops them all. As for the dishes to try, the queso is a must every time, no matter how hungry we are we always make room for the large. Enchiladas here are my go-to, and the best way to do it if you aren't absolutely tied to sides is to go a la carte. It makes the food go from a bit pricey to incredibly reasonable. Three is enough to fill me up on my hungriest days (after queso of course) The arroz con pollo (ACP) is AWESOME as well. The large gives you more food than I can finish, but I'm not kidding when I say that this dish tastes phenomenal reheated. So, 2 meals can be gotten out of the dish, which again makes its price way justifiable. Overall, this place is a triangle staple. Every time I'm back it's the first place on my list of must-go's!!! read more

Bad food, worse service. Took us an hour to get seated and they served two tables before us even though they came after. Terrible system the waiters are running. read more

came to Bandidos on a weeknight. I arrived with a friend at 8:30 and ordered a margarita that was decent as well as an entree each. we were still there at 9:00 which is apparently when they close and our waiter started taking our food that we were still eating. Needless to say we were disappointed read more

Food and service were great. The Chicken Tortilla Soup is a meal in itself. Some of the best soup I have ever eaten. I will definitely return if in the area. I liked the Chicken Tortilla Soup so much that I came back again. read more

I'll start off by saying this isn't a spot you go for ambiance, at least not for the full package. You stroll down a dark staircase, see the remnants of the Rathskeller to your left, and enter a basement restaurant known as Bandidos. However, once inside, you realize that yes, you are in a kitschy Mexican joint and, after spotting the epic salsa bar in the back and seeing steaming plates of fajitas and enchiladas cross your field of vision, you know you're in for a treat. Affordability is key here and, with their new menu offerings (i.e. giant quesadillas with no sides of rice/beans because, let's be honest, sometimes you just want tortillas, cheese, and fillings) there's something for everyone. The lunch deals are great, and you get a LOT of bang for your buck. I tend to come when I'm ravenous, so I rarely have leftovers, but on a normal day, a serving is at least 1.5 meals right there. They have the BEST black beans I've found at any Mexican restaurant in the Triangle and that is one big part of what keeps me coming back. Another thing is their endless baskets of chips and extensive salsa bar. The chicken filling is great, the fajitas are fairly greasy but equally delicious, and as far as the rice.... I could do without it. LUCKILY, that's an option! You can always replace a side of rice with more beans, or something else more your liking. The 'ritas are tasty and they normally have some weekly deals which are worth checking out. The waitstaff is attentive, and my cup's rarely empty. They will always refill your chips (though sometimes begrudgingly) and most of the time we leave with full bellies and semi-full boxes to take home! A Franklin Street staple, in my opinion, there's a reason that this place has stuck around as long as it has. read more

When I first saw Bandido's this summer, my mind instantly thought this place is pretty sketch (Its located within an alleyway in a building where there is a club located at the very top) and despite that it is one of my favorite restaurants on Franklin Street. In a society of Taco Bells and fake Mexican inspired restaurants my idea of Mexican food is pretty much non-authentic and Bandito's gave me that real authentic Mexican food experience. The food is pretty amazing, they provide really big portions that you really can not help but try to finish because they make it delicious. The pricing is pretty good, considering your portions and your access to the salsa bar so you can get your moneys worth. Service is also pretty good, the waitresses are really nice and don't mind going the extra mile. One of the things I love the most is the decor and design of the place where you get that authentic Mexican food experience in the bottom level of building. I definitely recommend this restaurant to Tar Heels and other people in the area. read more

It's decent mexican for a decent price. I like their enchiladas- lots of queso! The margaritas are also hit the spot. My husband usually gets the 3 options, with chicken and beef tacos. The chips and salsa is unlimited and fresh. Take advantage! I'd come here again for lunch or when I'm looking to dine out on a budget. Not many other options in town for quality dine in mexican. read more

I am VERY disappointed. I've eaten at this place since the beginning of my freshman year and loved it. However, the prices on the menu have noticeably increased. Bandido's was the only affordable Mexican restaurant within walking distance to campus I liked. I went for lunch today. I ordered To-Go for my partner and I. My interaction with the, I guess, owner rubbed me the wrong way and definitely helped me decide that I will never patronize this business again. Oh yeah, my huge family won't either once I tell them how the owner treated me. I got some salsas from the salsa bar to-go with my food (I can't eat it unless I add pico and onions to it). I got enough for me and my partner since I ordered for 2 people. I asked the owner where the salsa tops were and he asked how many I needed. I said 7 (which is on the low side, I usually get many more at dinner). He visibly grimaced and said "you can't get that many. You can get 2 or 3 but no more." He went and got the salsa tops and came up to me and said "next time you pay for it".The worst part was that there was no limit posted on the salsa bar for to-go orders and he didn't tell me BEFORE I got the salsas. He talked down to me like I was some kid who barely had enough money to pay for the food. That was so insulting to me, after I have eaten here regularly for over 4 years. Bottom line: The food is okay, definitely not good enough to justify increasing prices or the stinginess/rudeness of the owner. Sorry, Bandido's, I am going to have to GLADLY let you go...which is unfortunate because I really liked the wait staff there. Bummer. read more