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Johnston, IA

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Bandit Burrito

4.0 (142 reviews)
InexpensiveMexican
Open • 7:00 am - 8:00 pm

Order Bandit Burrito Takeout or Delivery

Bandit Burrito Photos

Business Info

BANDIT BURRITO ATMOSPHERE

What's the vibe?
Casual
Moderate noise
Good for groups
Outdoor seating

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Recommended Reviews - Bandit Burrito

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Burrito, quesadilla, chips and queso
Stephany M.

Peach ginger salsa, lime cilantro sour cream, pinto bean quesadilla and shredded beef burrito with queso and chips Party in my mouth! Best burrito in the metro. Yes, better than all the rest.

Chicken burrito bowl
Viv P.

I love to support local businesses with s. But though the joint was a solid 3, it didn't wow me. It's not a mom and pop local joint. The sign says it's local, and it feels like it's a local chain? We walked in at 8:30 pm on a Tuesday evening while passing through town. It was empty and kinda looked like the guys working were slowly getting ready to close. The sign said it was open till 10. So unfortunately, all the food was food that had been sitting in the warmer since the afternoon. I asked what time was the last meat cooked, and which one was the freshest, and was told they were all cooked around 2. This is probably the number one reason I can't bump up the stars. I have a feeling the place would've definitely earned another star had the food been more fresh. The beef was not ground beed or steak, but pulled. So if you like pulled, go for it. Personally, not a fan. And the seasoning wasn't that great either. Thankfully I had ordered chicken. The young gents working were nice though not friendly. Typical highschoolish guys. Wish I could've gotten a smile. Overall, would I come back? Yes, on a busier time with more turn around when the food is more fresh. Just not sure how likely that'll be since we only stopped here on our way home.

My favorite place to grab a delicious, filling salad!

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15 years ago

What a cool Chipotle-type place with even more choices and great deals!

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13 years ago

I love BB! I eat there at least once a week. Yhe breakfast burritos are excellent and the staff are great.

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11 years ago

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12 years ago

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9 years ago

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16 years ago

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15 years ago

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16 years ago

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

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12 years ago

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12 years ago

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9 years ago

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

Definitely best place for burritos in Des monies forget Chipotle Bandit is thee tasty BOMB!!

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9 years ago

Precisely what I want from an "assembly" burrito place. I get the veggie chorizo and lots of veggies beans rice. Good service.

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15 years ago

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10 years ago

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16 years ago

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11 years ago

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7 years ago

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16 years ago

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13 years ago

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13 years ago

Best Burritos in Des Moines. Love the selection of everything from meat to veggies. Their guac is sooooooooooooooooo tasty!

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13 years ago

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12 years ago

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11 years ago

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10 years ago

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13 years ago

Outstanding. Independent burrito place. The guys working there were excited and fun. The food was great.

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10 years ago

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17 years ago

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17 years ago

Panchero's knock-off. Strange after-taste. Drive a few blocks north and get more for your money at El Mariachi...and no after taste

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15 years ago

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14 years ago

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14 years ago

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13 years ago

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12 years ago

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11 years ago

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9 years ago

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8 years ago

Great food. I will return when in IOWA! Burritos awesome. A little pricey but for a fresh mex meal, RECOMMEND!!!

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El Mariachi - Camaron Fajitas

El Mariachi

3.7(113 reviews)
0.6 mi
•$

We stopped at El Mariachi in Johnston around 6:30 and sat out on the patio, where a house swallow…read moreloudly judged us the entire time. Honestly, the patio ambiance is always pretty good here, bird commentary included. Service was a little slow, and we had to work harder than we should have just to get water, but our waiter was fine overall. Nothing bad, just nothing exceptional either. The complimentary chips and salsa were very good, and I love that they have El Yucateco sauces on the table if you want to spice things up a bit. I had the Chipotle Tacos with chicken for $13, which came with rice and beans. Kim had the #7 combo for $11, with one burrito, one enchilada, and one taco. Both meals were good, but the chicken in my tacos and Kim's burrito was seriously excellent. Tender, flavorful, and probably the best part of the meal. Kim had a small frozen raspberry house margarita for $6.25, and I had a jumbo house margarita on the rocks for $8. The house margaritas were the one thing I would probably upgrade next time. They were very sweet and not quite the stronger margarita flavor I usually prefer. They do offer several premium margarita options, so I suspect that is probably the better route if the drink is a big part of the visit. But they definitely ask premium prices! Our total bill with tip was about $54, which felt fair for two meals, chips and salsa, and two margaritas. Overall, good food, great chicken, nice patio vibe, and a solid casual stop -- just maybe spring for the upgraded margaritas if you have the cash.

4.6* (out of 5) Food: 5* Atmosphere: 4* Value: 4*…read more Service: 5* Would I go back / Recommend?: 5* (Definitely) Total check/person: $31 04/18/2026 This place has been on my Want to Go list for a while after seeing a recommendation in a publication. The first time we stopped by a number of years ago, we decided against going in due to there not being many cars in the parking lot. That was definitely not the case last night - the parking lot was nearly full and we had to wait about 15 minutes for a table, as they were quite busy. Needless to say, we left quite happy to have stopped - as we really enjoyed the experience. Our initial indicators of a good Mexican restaurant starts with their margaritas and then their chips and salsa. They passed it both areas - as both were above average. We started with a Spicy Jalapeno Margarita (see picture) from the bar while we waited for our table. It was good, but wasn't very spicy. The chips and salsa (see picture) were very good - tasty, fresh salsa that was thick enough to stay on your chips and crispy tortilla chips with enough oil to indicate they were fried fresh. For our meals, my wife ordered the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture), while I opted for the Tacos Carne Asada (see picture) - both based on our waiter Omar's recommendation. Omar was great - loved his recommendations, had a great sense of humor and was quite attentive to our needs! As stated, both my wife and I loved our plates - and yes, we shared with each other as always to both confirm. The only change I made to my plate was requesting corn tortillas - as I much prefer them to flour. I just can't say enough about both plates - not only did we REALLY like them, but there was plenty to bring home for another meal. If you found this review helpful, please show your appreciation with a Like or a Follow. Photos copyright: happyhourdesmoines.com & thefoodanddrinkguy.com

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El Mariachi
El Mariachi - Tacos Carne Asada

Tacos Carne Asada

El Mariachi

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Sol Agave - Chicken Chimichanga

Sol Agave

4.3(34 reviews)
5.0 mi

First time here, outdoor setting was very nice! Great place to sit outside and get a margarita. I…read moregot the mole enchilada and it was very good! Only negative I had was service was a bit slow. We had people get seated 20 min after us also get their ticket and leave before us while we sat and waited for someone to come close us out. Otherwise a great experience and servers were very nice.

This place totally looks like it used to be someone's house…read more The street corn used mayonesa--which added a healthy (and welcome) burst of lime flavor. Don't add any additional--otherwise the lime flavor will be overpowering. This was an exceptional dish--very generous amounts of cheese and Tajin seasoning as well. The chips were served very warm and they don't skimp on them. I thought the salsa was a tad thick, but that's probably just my preference for thinner salsa... Service was very good--staff checked in regularly--and they took the step of bringing my extra spoon out on a plate. I thought that was interesting as well. I don't know if it was a Monday special, but my tallboy of Pacifico was only $3. I didn't even know they had Pacifico tallboys--I thought this was an exceptional value. Some minor quibbles with my barria tacos--the verde salsa was heavy on the jalapeno--overpowering in fact. The shells themselves were griddled to perfection and there was a healthy amount of cheese in them. The broth was pretty greasy--not something I had experienced previously. The meat was tender, but not very flavorful. On an individual basis, if only one of these issues was present, this would have been a five. The cumulative (minor) issues knocks the overall review down to about a 4.25. The booths are very large and tall, but there's not much room for fat boys like myself to squeeze in.

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Sol Agave - The back bar

The back bar

Sol Agave - Fish Tacos

Fish Tacos

Sol Agave - Margaritas - mmm

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Margaritas - mmm

Nuevo México - The finish to an awesome meal.  Good Hib Jose!!!!

Nuevo México

3.9(28 reviews)
2.3 mi
•$$

What a great find here in Johnston! We were looking for some mexican food and didn't feel like…read moredriving to Ankeny for our usual spot. On a whim we tried Nuevo, and were really happy we did. Don't let the modest facade or the location (a strip mall behind a gas station) fool you, this place is the real deal. We were greeted at the door and were seated in a booth right away, but there's also a patio with some nice shade if you want to eat outside. The service was prompt, and the meal was about the right pace. Our food was awesome, especially the Tacos al Carbon. I would definitely order this again. Our son really enjoyed the chicken quesadillas, but not as much as the free ice cream dessert that everyone received at the end of the meal - it was great surprise. Overall, this family run restaurant really exceed my expectations, we can't wait to eat here again.

If you live in Johnston and don't love Plaza Mexico (now Nuevo Mexico), you're missing out!…read moreHonestly, I've tried a lot of Mexican places in both Iowa and Minnesota and this place is still my favorite. They changed management a few years ago but kept a lot of the same staff and same favorites that make this place amazing. The menu is extensive but not overwhelming, and avoids the common problem of everything seeming the same. Their specials are unique and they offer everything from tacos to seafood entrees. I've never had anything I didn't love here. The chips and salsa are ACTUALLY free unlimited refills (with no judgments passed), and I always get their cheese dip--it's delish! Their servings are MASSIVE. Served with great presentation on a large round white plate, it's chow time. You can get a great meal (and take half home for leftovers) for lunch special prices of $6-$9 and dinner entrees from $9-$12! I personally love the street tacos, tacos al carbon, and chicken enchiladas. Their ingredients are fresh and steak is amazing! Finally, they end your meal with free sopas (ice cream on a crispy dessert chip drizzled with chocolate sauce, honey, and cinnamon)! This place never disappoints and is a staple in the neighborhood.

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Nuevo México - Part of the menu not in including the specialties.

Part of the menu not in including the specialties.

Nuevo México
Nuevo México - Chicken fajita burrito comes with pico & guacamole & salsa :) filled with everything else

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Chicken fajita burrito comes with pico & guacamole & salsa :) filled with everything else

Cancun Grill and Cantina - Chips and salsa

Cancun Grill and Cantina

4.2(111 reviews)
4.7 mi
•$

Neat little place to grab a quick bite to eat for lunch. Advertising is poor and quite hard to even…read moreknow this place exist without looking for something to eat on a smartphone navigational app. Needs better advertising considering the truck stop across the street would definitely bring in more business. Other than that food is good and service and atmosphere is good!!

Excellent food, fantastic service, and lively music make the Cancun Grill and Cantina a great place…read moreto eat. It's right next to the truck stop, which is great for weary travelers who are yearning for some quality food in a nice atmosphere. The place is clean and the staff is friendly and accommodating. I really enjoyed the two meals that I had here. I had the Fish Taco plate my first visit and they were awesome. I especially liked the sauce that was provided on the side and the availability of flour or corn tortillas. Today, I had the Juevos Rancheros plate with black beans replacing the usual offering of refrigerator beans. The eggs, themselves, were smothered in a tasty red sauce. Flour tortillas were served on the side. This meal is so good that I had to force myself to not eat the last several bites of the meal as I was already more than full. Of course, there are the usual drink offerings here both with and without alcohol. I had iced tea both visits, so I cannot really comment to much more about it except to say that the tea is refreshing! In closing, I'm sure you'll enjoy your visit to this nice restaurant. Great for families, couples, and singles alike.

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Cancun Grill and Cantina
Cancun Grill and Cantina - Ceviche Mixto (with Octopus)

Ceviche Mixto (with Octopus)

Cancun Grill and Cantina

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El Barco - Chiro pollo- chorizo w chicken and cheese. Rice, fresh guacamole, served with tortillas.

El Barco

4.3(157 reviews)
3.6 mi
•$$

Very authentic but some ambiance and VERY clean restaurant. Many dishes look great. The menu is…read moreextensive. So I asked the waiter for a recommendation and the picture attached is a special they run or it is off menu but can be ordered on request. It's street taco perfection The cheese is like a Muenster or Creamy Havarti and the perfect amount in the vase of the taco shell. The beef is marinated and tender- a succulent sweet and spice-savory. Then they fry/crisp the shell and the cheese melts into the beef and the shell takes on a golden crispy outside. The broth served on the side for dipping as well as the additional sauces to pour on the tacos make the meal mind blowing. DO NOT ORDER ANYTHING ELSE! Guacamole also fresh and huge portions. Chips and salsa also on point. I will be back!

My trip this go around was not as pleasant and the food not as flavorful. In building your own my…read moretamale was okay, the rice was not edible because of the smell as it had gasoline or too close to the grill fumes, the red sauce was splattered over both entrees as if the chef was in a hurry with only a few customers in the restaurant-- yet the saving grace was the guacamole it was good even though the chips were hard. The server seemed to be in a haste which made for an uncomfortable environment. Perhaps quality control needs to do a reboot of their products to return back to the good quality food they are noted for serving.

Photos
El Barco - Order Up!

Order Up!

El Barco - Enchiladas with White Cheese Sauce

Enchiladas with White Cheese Sauce

El Barco - Weekday specials

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Weekday specials

Bandit Burrito - mexican - Updated October 2026

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