Bandito Taqueria -- A Taste of Tijuana in the Heart of Santa Ana…read more If you're looking for Tijuana-style Mexican food with serious flavor, Bandito Taqueria is a spot worth checking out. From the moment you walk in, you get that authentic TJ-style taqueria feel, with the aromas of mesquite, fresh tortillas, and classic Mexican ingredients filling the room. The mesquite flavor really stands out--it gives the meats that smoky, grilled taste that makes every bite memorable. And the handmade tortillas are a game changer: warm, fresh, and the perfect foundation for the tacos and other dishes. The guacamole is fresh, creamy, and full of flavor, while the crispy seasoned chips bring a satisfying crunch and just the right amount of seasoning. Pair those with the salsa and you've got the perfect start to the meal. What also makes the experience special is the hospitality. The atmosphere feels welcoming and relaxed, making it a great place to enjoy a meal with family or friends. Located in the heart of Santa Ana, Bandito Taqueria brings a taste of Tijuana to Orange County with smoky mesquite flavors, handmade tortillas, fresh guacamole, and seriously satisfying Mexican food. 5/5 TJ-style flavor Mesquite-grilled goodness Handmade tortillas Fresh guacamole Crispy seasoned chips Great hospitality Bandito Taqueria delivers the kind of food that makes you want to come back hungry. Definitely a spot to put on your Santa Ana food list! #BanditoTaqueria #SantaAnaEats #SantaAnaFood #TijuanaStyle #TJStyle #MexicanFood #Tacos #Taqueria #TacoLovers #Mesquite #HandmadeTortillas #Guacamole #Foodie #FoodReview #EatswithEddie #OCFoodie #OrangeCountyEats #MoreReviews

ordered these for takeout. unfortunately they forgot to give us any pineapple (which we asked for)…read morebut it is what it is. this is my parents favorite place to order tacos, but my heart is with angel's tijuana tacos in anaheim. to me this place was just okay, but to be fair i didn't have much of an appetite in the first place. i ordered the asada and al pastor queso tacos and the meat was very tender and good, but they were just missing a wow factor for me. same with the chips and guac, i found it just okay. my parents rated this place 9.5/10 and 10/10. i'll give it a 7/10. i think this place is just slightly above average for a taco spot.

Great tacos and quick service! The pollo and asada were both juicy and well-seasoned, with fresh…read moretoppings and salsa that had real kick. The owner was very friendly so will be back for sure.

I came here on a Friday to pick up two burritos. I ordered a Carne Asada and a chicken burrito and…read morethe total came to under $20. The burritos are packed next to grilled vegetables which made the tortilla soggy (recommendation: separate the grilled vegetables from the burrito). The burritos was packed with ingredients but very bland. My husband said his chicken burrito was fine and would give it 3 out of 5 stars, too. They also offer 3 different sauces, too. Glad we tried it.

AMAZING quick-bite place…read more I had the cheese quesadilla with a side of rice and beans. All were amazing and worth coming for in the future. Their churros were super tasty too!

I came by to get gas and next-door to the Chevron was this taco spot and I ordered the mulita which…read moreconsisted of two handmade fresh tortillas, cheese, cilantro, onion, and your choice of hot or mild sauce The service and cleanliness is exceptional. I recommend a better view of a gas station, but the energy ambience has felt here.

Great food, great music, great people and service Would…read morerecommend this spot to anyone looking for solid tacos

Haylee the goat best service at a Mexican place started making me speak espanol made the vibe feel…read morereally nice especially at a late night grub

Fantastic service they cater for the company that I work for the tacos are sensational. The staff…read moreis great. Look forward to every safety meeting that they will be there for our lunch.

This Mexican spot has been on my radar for months, and since we were in the area, we finally…read moredecided to check it out! So glad we did! The inside is on the smaller side, but it's cozy, welcoming, and full of festive vibes, with beautiful murals and fun decor that give it so much character. There is also outdoor seating as well. But let's talk about the service! TOP NOTCH! The lovely lady at the register made us feel right at home, like we were part of the family. That kind of warmth and hospitality makes all the difference! We ordered the chicken taquitos combo plate with rice and beans, chips and salsa, and a GIANT bowl of menudo. Everything was delicious! My husband is SUPER picky when it comes to menudo, so when he said it was great, you know it had to be good! And the homemade corn tortillas? OHHH MY GOODNESS! That recommendation absolutely knocked it out of the park! Fresh, homemade tortillas are always a win! Overall, great food, amazing hospitality, and that comforting, homemade Mexican food vibe we love. We're so happy we finally stopped by, and we'll definitely be back for more!

Pastor tacos are deliciousoooo! Great service and clean restaurant! Highly recommendedread more

Came by for taco Tuesday, hadn't been in well over 6 months. I can't be absolute in saying the…read morequality of ALL meat has declined, but for the carne asada, it appeared to be the case when I went. Meat was extremely greasy, to the point I got nauseous. And the actual pieces were extremely chewy - hardly edible. I ended up throwing my tacos away. I hope this was just a one off incident.

Really enjoyed my experience here! The fries topped with flavorful al pastor pork, melted cheese,…read moreand fresh guacamole were delicious. The service was friendly and attentive, and everything came out quickly. I loved the variety of salsas and especially the grilled onions. The jamaica was fabulous, and the horchata was also really good just a touch sweet for my personal taste. The staff was very helpful with recommendations for first-time visitors, and I love that they offer more than tacos, including pizza, wings, desserts, and halal options. The arroz con leche was one of my favorites. I could have it every day! The restaurant is also kid-friendly and wheelchair accessible. Overall, a welcoming atmosphere, great food, and excellent service. I'll definitely be back!

We usually order food from this spot whenever we go to Twisted Tiki which is in the same…read moremarketplace. Tacompadre has tacos, burritos, quesotacos, alambre, loaded fries or nachos, and a few other miscellaneous items. They also have a good selection of proteins including asada, pastor, birria, chicken, chorizo, suadero, and conchinita, as well as a veggie option. The same space is shared with Mongiello's Pizza and Wings, and we ordered items from both menus at once at the register. We ordered our food to go to take to TT, but there is also a common dining area in the center of the market. My girlfriend had three tacos plate ($11.99), two pastor and one veggie. It comes with rice and beans, and we ordered a side of chips ($1.99). They have a self-serve station with utensils and several large covered steel containers of different salsas with small cups to fill. Each of the tacos have two tortillas, and she thought they were good, but she didn't care for the rice or beans. The chips were fine, and the two salsas we tried were good. Our food from both menus was ready pretty quickly, and the staff member was friendly.

Amazing the food tasted great and i love the atmosphere and i want to come again. Recommended for…read moreeveryone

Was looking for a late night taco place and stumbled upon here. Had my first bite and the food was…read moreamazing along with the drinks! coming from out of town i felt lucky to find this place and will definitely be returning here when i visit again!

I've driven by this little spot quite a few times but never had the chance to stop. I finally did…read moretoday, and I'm glad I checked it out! I ordered everything to go and went with their Tijuana-style tacos--dos tacos de lengua con todo and dos tacos de carne asada con todo--along with green and red salsa and some limes. If you know lengua, you know it needs to be cleaned and cooked a very specific way, and they definitely got that part right. The lengua was cooked well and had a good texture. For my personal taste, though, it was just missing a little salt. Other than that, the food was good. It's a cute, small spot with some outdoor seating. They also have aguas frescas like horchata, pan dulce, and coffee, so there's a little bit of everything. Overall, a nice little neighborhood taqueria to pull up to when you're craving some Tijuana-style tacos.

I was in the area and decided to grab some lunch. Someone mentioned that the Horchata water was…read moregood, first of all it was from the machine so that was already a bad sign. The tacos had plenty of meat tho. I had 2 adabada and 2 cabesa tacos. Adobada Tacos - the tortillas could use a little more oil when you say TJ style. The meat was more in the sweet side 1-5 (1) Cabesa Tacos- The meat was nice and fresh and had good flavor 1-5 (4) the yellow corn tortilla is always a nice touch. The salsas 1-5 (1) are not spicy and lack flavor It's not sitting outside but I'd rather eat inside. The Horchata Water can also use some work. 1-5 (2) This is just my taste buds talking we all have different taste buds, but this would not be my first choice for tacos.

Been coming for a few times a year forever…read more Cash only. Thats the only con really. So just remember to bring cash. Though there is an atm machine in case. Bathrooms are available, clean. Usually they have a security . Food is consistent good. Always busy. Though it's not super long to wait .

I really enjoy the pastor, asada, and carnitas tacos. I recently tried the cabeza tacos and it was…read moretasty. The lengua is good and the buche is ok. Tacos come out steaming hot and meat is tender and flavorful! Horchata is always good. The tortas and burritos are great but I think they need to work on wrapping it better. The torta often falls apart and burritos aren't wrapped well enough. Enchiladas are good and the nachos are good. Fish tacos were not good because the sauce was just sour cream and the fish was crispy but not seasoned so the whole taco tasted bland. However, everything else tasted great and is decently priced! There's a self serve salsa bar with green and red sauce, onions and cilantro, and pickled carrots. Service is good they're friendly and food comes out quick. There is plenty of parking and seating inside and outside. The tacos are the stars here.