A solid 3 star place, with the potential of being 5 star. what works- 1) the food is really good. very different from a lot of typical mexican joints. loved the chips and salsa, and everything else we ordered 2) great selection of tacos, mix and match options, as well as vegetarian options what needs improvement 1) the service was really bad. Wasnt too crowded, so really no excuse. The server took a long time to come, messed up orders, including drinks. Asked for margarita with salt rim, forgot the salt rim. no biggie, could have just poured the margarita in a new glass. but no, got a new glass with salt rim on the side... a first for sure 2) the diet coke comes in plastic cups, not sure why. place is fancy, has staff, should serve regular glasses read more

Management reached out via text and email to understand my experience and offered a sincere apology, which I truly appreciated. My friend and I decided to give the restaurant another try - and WOW, what a difference! From the moment we walked in to the moment we left, everything was excellent. The atmosphere was welcoming, the service was on point, and Christian, our server, was AMAZING - so kind, attentive, and genuinely pleasant. Big shoutout to the manager, Trey, who came by our table to make sure our experience was up to par. We ordered combo fajitas, Tres Amigos, Birria tacos, corn salad, and waffle fries - and everything came out hot, fresh, and perfect. Nothing was missing, and every bite was delicious! This visit was a complete turnaround and such a great experience. I'm so glad we came back and will absolutely be returning! read more

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Literally worse than Carnival cruise ship food. We got the birria Eggrolls, crunch wrap, two tacos with a side of rice and street corn and literally we just ate it because we were paying for it. We used to go to Banditos ALL the time in fed hill when we lived downtown in Baltimore and it never failed. The ground beef in the cheeseburger tacos and crunch wrap was seriously gross. Almost like a sloppy Joe or "Taco Bell" quality. The birria meat in the egg roll was also pretty foul. Do yourself and favor and skip this Banditos location. Low, low quality. read more

The drinks were good! The service and food not so much. The tacos were just ok. It does have a nice vibe in there.. maybe go for a social hour. Not a full on dinner! read more

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Service was good. The food was not bad not good. It was basically tacos. My fiance said the best one he got was the blackened shrimp. I got the carnitas and 2 other ones that I forgot but they had avocado. They were all ok, nothing to write home about. The fries were also pretty under seasoned and not crunchy at all. read more

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Banditos was an okay experience for me. We went here for dinner since it was right next door to GameOn Arcade and decided tacos would be the move. I think with a big party comes with a big wait time but for our visit it didn't take too long for us to get seated right away which is a plus. After we sat down and placed our orders, we waited for a bit but it was a bit chilly inside. Our server kept checking on our order ensuring we would get them out on time. Once our food came out, I was hungry and I quickly ate my three tacos that I ordered. I got the Birria, Al Pastor, Carne Asada. It was delicious but it wasn't filling. I do think maybe I should have ordered more, but it did come with two sides. I got Cilantro Rice and the Rio Grande Salad. They were good but not much portion wise. Overall my experience was alright, I think it could just be a location issue but I found the food to be okay. read more

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I ended up here to celebrate a friend's birthday. This was my first time at any Banditos and I've heard from others that the experience was pretty mediocre. I was hoping that it wouldn't be but I found it to be true. While we had great service from our waitress, the drinks from the bar came out slow and the drinks weren't very strong. My Dito rita didn't even come with a salt rim and I barely tasted tequila. The grapefruit Mexi Crush was a little better. The food was just ok. The guacamole was good and the street corn salad was ok but I think it would have tasted better warm. The Brussel sprouts were bland and the birria tacos were slightly too salty. The churro cinnamon cheesecake delight aimed to mix the taste of churros and cheesecake together but it tasted more like a dry cheesecake. I wasn't a fan. Overall, it wasn't horrible but I wasn't thrilled either. read more

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This was my first time visiting banditos. I keep hearing about them and decided to give them a try while my boss was in town. We went during lunch and in a Tuesday so parking wasn't super crazy. Our waitress was friendly and patient with us while we looked over the menus. We started off with the chips and salsa which we pretty much demolished and both got the 2 taco combo. She said she really enjoyed her food. I did too. I remember one of the tacos I got was the Nashville hot one and it was good. The only small feedback I have is one of the tacos had alot of juices at the bottom which could call for soggy tacos. But because I started with that one format I didn't have that experience but I did drain the juices off. Other than that the food was tasty and affordable and a perfect size for lunch. read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I came here for lunch. This is my second time visiting Banditos, this is my first time at this location. They didn't look crowded, the Hostess told us it would be a ten minute wait. The Waitress greeted us but she didn't give us her name, she told us they were understaffed then took our orders. We put our drink and Appetizer orders in, they came in a timely fashion. Now our main courses which were different Tacos came in an untimely fashion, Lol. But our Waitress did warn us that they were understaffed. So no one check on us, we had to wave the Waitress down to get refills and the check. But the food came out hot and it was good. So I'll probably be back to try other items. read more

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My first time at Banditos. Went here for Happy Hour and liked that it wasn't crowded at all. I sat in the bar and Josh was the bartender. I ordered a margarita and al pastor taco. The margarita was strong which was good. The al pastor taco was okay. Its a spacious restaurant and plenty of bar seating. read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Margarita - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

I come here on a hit or miss basis. Sometimes its a hit...good tacos and drinks Miss sometimes the food is off Service was Great!!! CAUTION !!!where you sit...AC was leaking we had to move seats read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Steak And Elote Bowl - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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This is our second visit to this location (4th visit over all to the Bandito's brand). The first time we went we commented on the loud music, but wanted to return for a Taco Tuesday because of the great specials they posted shortly after opening this new location...turns out they must have been too good because now there is absolutely no reason to visit them on a Tuesday. I am really not sure how an establishment can have a Taco Tuesday with all taco's $5 as the special when 90% of the tacos on the menu are already $5... The service was subpar, (took a while to be seated although there were many open seats and drink service at our table was slow); however, the majority of our tacos came out hot and fresh. We had an issue with the Midnight in Havana taco being extremely dry but the server was quick to replace it with another Birria taco. The music seemed to still be louder than it should for playing songs with such a heavy baseline which really take away from the dining experience and feels like we are mere minutes away from flipping on black lights, strobe lights, a smoke machine and turning into a night club. Overall, we will likely return, but definitely not for a Taco Tuesday with sub-par customer service. read more

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Actually everything was ok. Food was good, service was ok. Ambience was ok. I was expecting something special or different... May be next time, on the next orders I can find something different. read more

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Pretty bummed out about our food here. We could wait to try Banditos out. We were all really disappointed by our food. We got tacos and quesadillas and it was all not great. The service was fine. The atmosphere seemed like a great place for happy hour and getting drinks. Maybe that is what they are going for. The price of the food was a bit expensive especially for the quality. I would only come back to hang out with friends. read more

Food was great. a little pricey but not crazy for the area. Service was great, very attentive and everyone was nice. Vibe was cool but there was a tv that was super loud every once in a while. read more

Unimpressed. We've visited the Fulton location several times with friends and family and always loved the vibe, so we decided to try this location since it's closer to home. Unfortunately, we quickly regretted not making the drive to Fulton. Despite several open tables, we waited 15-20 minutes to be seated--likely due to being understaffed. The food was lackluster and lacked authenticity. Throwing guacamole and pico de gallo on Americanized dishes doesn't make them Tex-Mex. It felt inauthentic, and frankly, we could tell. The prices were also hard to justify--$8 for a tiny side of guac and $12 for the Tres Amigos (just chips with dipping sauces)? That's a stretch. And the music? Completely off-brand. It felt more like a country bar than a Mexican restaurant. Where was the energy--clean Bad Bunny tracks, C. Tangana, or anything remotely tied to the theme? Overall, the experience didn't match the price tag. Great location, but it missed the mark. We won't be back unless meaningful changes are made. read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Entryway - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Food: We got the dip trio, which was pretty decent and chips were good. We got extra chips as well. Everything was good, except the tacos were cold when they arrived. Chicken fajitas a little overcooked, but we liked the poblano peppers in there. They gave enough tortillas with it. Service: Really disappointed and significantly dampened the experience. The restaurant wasn't super busy, but it was very slow and they were inattentive. It seemed like everyone from the hostess to our waiters did not want to be there. Took a while for them to take orders. Didn't refill water until explicitly asked at the end of the meal. Ambiance: chill sports bar, would be good for happy hour Overall we came to celebrate a birthday but it was not as celebratory as expected due to the service. The food isn't authentic Mexican food, which was fine. Not sure when/if I will return. read more

Had great tacos and margaritas here! Stopped here before a show at merriweather with friends! Great atmosphere! Bar was fun! read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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I've been here a handful of times- usually just grab a seat at the bar. Can't go wrong for a go-to Tex mex comfort food. The chips and queso and pineapple marg is what keeps me coming back. Service just depends on when you come. I've done some times and be very well served by the bartender. Other times, the bar is packed and it takes a while - not the bartender's fault. Just a nature of being a food establishment near a concert venue. But it is something to keep in mind. When it's packed, it feels more like a weekend night out where you squeeze your way to the bar. When it's a non-concert time, it's a little more chill! read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Bang Bang Taco 2.0 Al Pastor Taco Carnitas Taco - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Recently visited Bandito's with a friend on a Sunday evening and ordered the Birria Tacos combo, which came with black beans and rice. I also added a side of street corn salad. The food was tasty overall, though I felt the salad was missing a little something. Hummm maybe a particular cheese to give it that extra authentic flavor. The atmosphere at Bandito's was cool with the artwork like Lil Wayne. That was neat. Loved it! We stayed for a bit after dinner to try their Spicy Margaritas, and they did not disappoint! The spice level was just right, adding a nice kick without overpowering the drink. Perfect way to end the evening. And of course I'll be back!! The margaritas have me in a chokehold! read more

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We tried carne asada tacos, mahi mahi fish taco, short rib taco, bang bang shrimp taco, Nashville hot taco, and Mexican street corn--all absolutely delicious. The service was excellent, and the spot has a great vibe with stylish decor and cool wall art. Plus, the drinks were amazing! They also have two happy hours--check it out for the exact times, but I think it's a great idea! I'm already planning my next visit because I'm craving that Mexican street corn again, and I definitely want to try more items on the menu read more

Not my first or second choice. Banditos has one of the best margaritas around and I am definitely giving them credit for that. However, that's where it stops. There is so much room for improvement when it comes to the food, you wonder why can't they take that extra step to get it right. Like all of us Yelpers, I looked over the menu before I arrived to decide on what I wanted to eat but I couldn't find anything that I liked besides nachos. I ended up boxing those up and taking them with me convincing myself I would eat them later but did not. I don't know why but the queso on the nachos actually wasn't horrible and maybe because my standards are already so low. Since they're labeled as a tequila bar they do have multiple tequila and mezcals to offer that I will be back to try. read more

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Definitely a nice casual bar setting for drinks and snacks. We came here late night and the vibes were nice. People sitting at the bar mostly (we sat at a table) service was good; our waiter was friendly. We got the cheeseburger nachos which were pretty good. If I'm being honest, it tastes like a Big Mac (even with chicken replacing the beef on ours). The portion was good, the toppings and sauce were mostly on the top layer so the inside was just chips. The tinga fries were also good; on the creamier side with the cheese sauce. The meat was a bit on the sweeter side. For my entree, I got 3 tacos. It was 5 dollar taco Tuesday which is pretty nice. I got the biria, the tinga, and the blackened shrimp. The shrimp was definitely my favorite, cooked well and pretty drenched in sauce. The biria and the tinga were okay too, I think the consome wasn't has meaty/ flavorful as other places. Overall, I would come back for drinks and snacks. I probably personally would stick to the appetizers as they are more bang for your buck. Tacos are a little pricy for what I got (also didn't have all the condiments and pickled veggies which I usually love about other taco places) . read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Cheeseburger Nachos - subbed chicken for the beef - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

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Welcome to Banditos Tacos & Tequila in Columbia MD. Today's visit was at lunchtime shortly after opening with very minimal crowding and zero wait. This restaurant greets you with a warm & modern ambiance displaying great artwork for photographs. Our server Jordan was professional greeting us with a basket of warm nachos and water before taking our drink order. The first appetizer was the Birria Egg Rolls that presented very well. I would recommend you to use to consume to bring in the bold flavors consistent with Birria; however, I would not eat them without sauce. The tortilla chips were seasoned and had a robust corn flavor not requiring dipping salsa. The medium salsa is very flavorful and compliments the chips. The ELOTE was acidic, creamy, savory, sweet, with a hint of salt. Grilled just right and was an immediate hit. It compared the street corn in Playa Del Carmen. The main course with the Chimichanga and street tacos were a hit. The chimichanga did have a slight wet sear taste which probably came from how the chicken was prepared. I think that cooking technique enhanced the taste experience making it more authentic on the palate. The Al Pastor taco stood out the most of the three tacos with immense flavor. The Mezcalita & Mezcal Mule were well crafted, kudos to the bartender. Overall, there is more to be said for this restaurant as it's closer to Tex-Mex than Mexican. The food and drinks were good and I personally think they are 4.3 of 5 star rating. The tequila selection was more commercial than crafted. Tequila Ocho was easily the best selection to be made. Would love to see brands like G4, El Tesoro, Cascahuin, Don Fulano, Tapitio, Mijenta, etc... I left off some other really good tequila options but, I hope you get the idea. I do feel offering more Mexican style cocktails and beer/mixes such as Michelada would be a good touch. Overall, a good job! read more

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Way too cold! No heat! Good food and great servers but they were freezing too! Will not come back until it warms up.

Banditos is a great spot to stop by at either alone, or with friends and loved ones to enjoy some Mexican drinks and bites. The ambiance is great and the walls are covered with some cool paintings. Although there's a lot of alcohol we were also able to walk in with a couple of infants as long as we weren't seated at the bar. The service was also great, our waitress was super nice and attentive. read more

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Good drinks. Mediocre food. Too expensive. Banditos Tacos & Tequila is a flashy Tex-Mex restaurant located in a hub of fantastic bars and restaurants. It's flashy decor and loud music bring it a lot of attention, but the lack of quality food stuffs and high prices makes it lacking in what I sought after, a place to get drunk and eat some tasty food. Banditos serves up a variety of mix drinks and is the only reason I'd recommend going. The drinks are creative and many incorporate tequila but you'll find other liquors available as well. I thought it was very strange that my $12 drinks were served in clear plastic cups. It took away from the anything fun or special from what should have been an enjoyable overpriced cocktail. The appetizers were the only food highlight for me. The complimentary chips and salsa were nice. The chips were still warm from being freshly fried and seasoned with a bit of chili powder. The salsa tasted house-made with a good amount of heat. We also ordered the Quesabirria Dip which was another plate of nachos and a beefy, umami cheese dipping sauce. It was very tasty, but extremely heavy and I couldn't eat more than a few chips worth. The tacos were the biggest disappointment of the meal. They were small, more vegetable than meat, and while the menu boasts a large variety of unique taco types, everything "creative" tasted terrible. The Korean taco which was described as Kalbi Short Ribs, Kimchi, and Pickled Cucumbers. Well, with two pickled vegetables and very little meat, all I tasted was vinegar and crunch. Same goes for their Nashville Hot Taco which didn't have enough meat or heat, making a mess of two great cultural dishes. The more traditional tacos such as the Carne Asada and Carnitas tacos were fine, but they were still lacking in the filling. The prices are STEEP, but hidden. Alcohol prices don't even appear on their online menu and you're paying $6 or more for a one-bite taco. Everything portion feels smaller than what it should be for the price and the pictures online use very small plates to make the food seem larger. Even the decor is misleading. From afar, you see artwork of celebrities and Mexican icons but in skull makeup. But up close, everything is AI generated with extra fingers and unnerving facial expressions. The music is fine, but at too high of a volume and half their TVs were playing the same ads on loop. Everything about Banditos from a glance appealed to me, but lacking in quality in their food, drinks, and atmosphere makes me only recommend this place if you're in the area and desperate for tequila. read more

I called a head of time and made a reservation for 7 people. The staff were wonderful. Our waiter was knowledgeable, courteous and timely. The food was delicious. I recommend the Chimichanga. read more

I am from Texas so I am very particular about Tex-Mex food. This place was not that. I didn't feel like I wasted my money, but I wouldn't't return. read more

i had a good experience here!! so amazing food and service. Ambiance was good it was also very hygenic!

As a person who loves tacos, I was excited to try this place. I arrived on a Saturday afternoon for a late lunch. I sat at the bar so I could take in some college football while I ate. I ended up ordering a Pineapple Coconut Paloma. For food, I got a taco combo, which consists of two tacos with a side of rice and beans. I went with the chicken tinga and shrimp tacos. I'm not sure if it was my hunger or what, but I felt like it was taking a while to get my food. Out of everything I tried, the shrimp taco was the star. The chicken tinga taco was just okay to me. I don't understand the point of the beans in the taco. I wasn't a fan of the rice and beans at all. If I come back, I would probably just stick to tacos. Service was decent. I did feel like it was slow at times. I'm not sure if that was due to a shortage of staff or just an oversight. I sat at the bar for a while before anyone came to take my order. Overall, Banditos was okay. It's not a favorite, but it's a decent place to grab some drinks and a bite. read more

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My very first experience at Banditos Columbia was not so great. Started off with fully loaded nachos, which was not bad, also ordered beef empanadas which was empty inside, other than some cheese and countable pieces of ground beef, the inside of the empanadas was basically empty. Service: horrible. There were about 4 tables at the time when we were seated. Our waiter was a tall young male. He walked past us couple of times before came over to acknowledge us. When he was taking our orders, he was only looking at my husband, like I was invisible. After he took my husband's order, he walked right off, before I was even able to order anything. Ugh.... We had to wait till he came back around after 5-10 min to place my order. With service like this, there's no way I will stay nor to order anything else. Atmosphere of the restaurant of quiet during our visit, they were not busy at all, with several servers just hanging around the bar. Don't think I will return to this location, my time is too valuable to gamble for another horrible service experience with mediocre food. Do not recommend. read more

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It was just ok. Tried to come a few months ago on opening day, which was also Cinco de Mayo. There was a 2+ hour wait so we didn't stay! Decided to try it again today for Taco Tuesday. To be honest, I can't say I'm impressed with this spot. I don't care much for the Maple Lawn location either. There's plenty of seating available - indo or and outdoor! Parking isn't an issue. The service was good. The bartenders were friendly and attentive. The tacos were basic, and the drinks just ok. The happy hour specials don't feel that special. Margaritas are $3 off. Meh! I would come back again but only to drink! read more

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Tiwi, our waitress, was goated. Always reloading chips & water without us having to ask. They were kind enough to let me charge my laptop at the table. And not the mention the burritos were bangin. read more

So I'm totally loving taco Tuesday at Banditos. It's good and convenient. I can always count on a great taco and a tasty margarita. What more can a guy ask for ? read more

Banditos Bar & Kitchen - Bars Near Me - Columbia, Maryland

Food is ok. Prices are high. Service is and has been horrible. Was there last night and total time was 1hr 45 min. No apology, no nothing. Had to beg them for water refills. Attitudes of apathy abound here. No one knew what the other was doing and it was maddening. I predict they will be out of business within the year. DONT go here! It is an overpriced turkey. read more

I was very excited to try this new taco spot in Columbia; however, my experience was disappointing. Our server was very nice & helpful, but it did take a while to get our food. Nice staff & hostesses, which is why I'm giving this place at least 3 stars. I ordered the birria tacos (probably the only thing that I liked - the consommé dipping sauce was flavorful enough). The chips & salsa, and dito margarita I got were all fine. The bad: I also ordered their pork belly tacos and al pastor tacos, and unfortunately both the corn & flour tortillas were very dry/flavorless - you can see in my photos just how dry they were. The meats weren't properly seasoned (at least the pork). The pork belly tacos left a bad after taste in my mouth after the smallest bite, so I didn't eat the rest. The al pastor was also a little dry and bland, but I managed to eat the meat (really couldn't eat the corn tortilla). TLDR: was excited about this place, but after trying it once, I don't think I'll be coming back again unless I hear they've improved the food significantly. read more

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Love love love the espresso martini and boom boom shrimp!!!!! It was amazing it was karaoke on a Wednesday and all employees showed OUT!!!

One of my favorite things about Banditos is their queso!!! Always delicious and the best texture with the chips. Drinks are delicious and strong. I also love this location - this is a perfect stop before an event at the Merriweather Pavilion, and there is plenty of parking. Service was average - our waitress was friendly, but I think sometimes not in tune with where we were at with the mail (e.g., waiting a while to order food, having empty drinks for a while). read more

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April 2023 Upon arrival shortly before 7pm on a Saturday evening, we were informed by the hostess that only the bar had available seating. So my husband, his buddy, and I decided to sit at the bar. Tasha was our server and told us the restaurant just opened last Thursday. She said this evening was quieter than it had been all week, which surprised me because the restaurant was packed. My husband started off by placing an order of the Chips and Queso and ordered an Orange Crush for himself and a fireball for him and and his buddy each. His buddy ordered a Diet Coke too. The chips were sprinkled with tajin (chile and lime) seasoning. The flavor was on point and the chips were crispy. My husband and I shared tacos which included Dynamite Fish (fried), Carnitas, Street Steak, Peruvian Gold (chicken), and Birria. My favorite was the Birria with consommé and his was the Peruvian Gold. His buddy ordered the Nashville Hot and Chorizo taco. He said both were good and that the Nashville Hot was hot! The restaurant has a cozy interior and decorative murals. They have retractable garage glass doors by the bar that can open when the weather is nice. Patio seating is also available. The bar conveniently has hooks for handbags and power outlets. Also my hubby's friend said it's genius to have black toilets in case patrons who may be lactose intolerant blow up the bathroom. Lol. They are open until 2am, which is great for concertgoers at Merriweather who want to have drinks after a show. read more

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