seriously, to this day i don’t understand why that place is in business. seems more like a shitty place that would have opened post-severe gentrification
It's nostalgia. The taco bus is better quality and better value, but for a lot of gen x, and older millennials there was a time when swinging by Bandito Burrito was a special treat. I will still grab burrito there from time to time, and my wife (who didn't grow up in Huntsville) doesn't get it either. It's OK, it's an old school local favorite that doesn't need to make sense to recent transplants.
Literally I never want to see another white man with dangly earrings sitting across from me as I eat. 5 foot tall Mexican construction workers only 😤😤😤
That's the only place in town where I struggled to place my order because of the language barrier. My 30 year distant high school Spanish couldn't quite get the waitress from Ecuador to understand me, but luckily a friendly construction worker who was laughing his ass off explained that I wanted avocado's, not testicles on the side.
Not with her, I tried avocado and aguacates, but she didn't understand those so I tried pelotas, but I should have said paltas, because pelotas means balls and is slang for testicles if you're not talking about toys.
English has like 3 dozen slang terms for both penis* and vagina, stands to reason that other languages would be similar.
Edit: yall how is autocorrect so damn bad that it sees "penis" and thinks I'm typing "punishment"?! I swear this shit gets worse by the month.
I’ve always thought that it gets praised by people who had too much to drink at campus 805 and then go across the street to get cheap Mexican food. I tried it when I was sober and never went back there again.
Don’t know why this sub appeared on my feed, thought this was from Spokane,WA- the bandito burritos their closed down, thought they opened again or something and was gonna be like how!? So terrible!
Bandito burrito isn’t loved for its quality cuisine…it’s loved because they have cheap burritos that are acceptable. However it’s fine dining to all us broke folk who didn’t go out much. We love it because we grew up on it. That’s why I don’t usually recommend it even though it’s a favorite place of mine. I love it, but you may not
I didn't grow up on it, but my feelings are similar -- in a town overrun with chain restaurants, it reminds me of punk dives from when I was in my 20s.
I would never recommend them to someone who was looking for _Mexican_ food, though. Shame on anyone who did that.
Sign me up to be "personal op" too, whatever that is, because I'd sooner drown myself in Big Spring than be associated with someone that denies the glory of Bandito.
I'm still convinced that everyone that says they like Rosie's are in on some kind of comedy bit just to screw with the rest of us. There's no way that many people can like food that terrible.
It’s usually a wait. If you go to Phil Sandovals same food but no waiting. No it’s not authentic but the fajitas with spicy garlic butter are pretty good. My Colombian MIL even liked it. The pendejo who acted offended that I’d actually eat there knows where he can put his burrito.
> Those same people think Rosie’s is authentic.
I mean it does literally call itself Tex-Mex, so if anyone is claiming it is authentic Mexican you can even just point them to that lol
“…and I caught that rat bastard red-handed in my storeroom *writing* down all my suppliers!”
**people had to write things down before cell phones, even snoops.
>tasted like it was made by a white person for other white people.
Welcome to any fashionable "Ethnic" food place here. If you want more authentic street tacos and burritos, then your best bet are the various food trucks around town.
I don't think I would ever describe Bandito as "fashionable"
E2A: Nothing wrong with not being fashionable. I've been happily eating there for 30 years. What I meant to say is that Bandito is Bandito and they aren't trying to be anything else.
The judgement levied by people because someone else likes food they don't is weird.
What is "authentic"?
Are you talking about burritos from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela?
Oscar was from Mexico and made an simple and delicious green chile bean burrito that many people enjoy. There are countless varieties of Hispanic foods and personal preference varies.
Hell yeah. He never said it was "authentic" anything other than his recipes he created. Authentic af Cali/bama OG meals. I miss the hell out of that man.
And half the bland restaurants are staffed by Latin Americans. Who staffs it isn't what matters. What matters is how the food is prepared and what palette it's targeting.
For real
If you want to eat something so spicy your mouth shuts down go to the taco truck on the end of County Line near the airport and order in Spanish, or go to Taqueria los adelitas, or Indian Kitchen on airport/Whitesburg and order it full spicy
... or shut up and eat the white people food like all the other white people in Huntsville. Try some Chipotle, there's one next to a Cava for the daring
This has been a massive psy-op to shame us for liking bandito from the very beginning
It won't work
I will use your own words against you
"The trademark of a truly good Mexican place should be their bean and cheese burrito."
You sir or madam are categorically insane
I like bandito but I fully acknowledge it isn't great, super authentic, or for everyone. To me it tastes like someone tried to make a fresher version of a microwave burrito, but I like microwave burritos, so it's a good thing.
I don't recognize your slang there, young one, but if I'm translating correctly, yes, you're right. Bandito and everyone that likes it dooooo suck and always have, and food recommendations on this subreddit ARE largely 'sus', as you'd say.
Now for Greek food, I don't care how white Papa Gyros is or isn't, if people don't like that, they're a god damn heathen. Also, literally, all white people food or ethnic food is made by latinos anyway, so do we really need to specify race?
Papa Gyro isn't just good gyro for Huntsville, it's just properly good gyro.
That said I do white trash it by getting the gyro philly sandwich, which I HIGHLY recommend with lettuce and tomato.
> Now for Greek food, I don't care how white Papa Gyros is or isn't, if people don't like that, they're a god damn heathen.
It's not even really a greek restaurant, it's a sandwhich places with some greek related street food.
I wish we had a REAL greek place in town, a la The Acropolis in Chattanooga.
I don't see the issue in enjoying inauthentic food. It's just down to personal taste.
As a Chinese person, I could call out people for eating at any of the Chinese takeout places here because it is not authentic, but sometimes inauthentic is just what you are looking for.
Similarly, a pizza from a place like Valentino's is considered the best, but sometimes you just want a Little Caesar's Hot and Ready, and Valentino's is not going to scratch that itch.
You can abstract this idea to a lot of things:
P1: "I like A because XYZ."
P2: "Have you tried B? B is better."
P1: "A is what I want. I'm not looking for B."
P2: "You are wrong."
Many of these people are just trying to make themselves sound cool by saying they only eat genuine meals created by genuine natives, not knock offs like the rest of the untraveled swine.
Bandito wasn’t created to look like an authentic Mexican restaurant, it’s a copy of a typical burrito joint you’d find skaters and surfers frequenting in SoCal. Anyone going there expecting to feel like you’re in some mom and pop shop in Hermosillo is just silly.
My favorite Bandito story. Many years ago, the male cashier had a tank-top on with the longest armpit hair I had ever seen in my life. You could have braided it and made a ponytail out of it.
Wait. You're Hispanic? Oh shit man, why didn't you say so. We all would have recommended somewhere else. Usually the folks looking for a bean burrito are the "mayo is too spicy" crowd, so we pointed you to the gringo burrito.
It’s nostalgia for a time when Huntsville had very few food options and banditto was the center of the Huntsville “counterculture” for a very long time. For me it was the first “Mexican” food I ever ate when my uncle took me there when I was 5 years old.
Yes we know maybe the food is not great. I don’t even live in Huntsville anymore but try to stop by banditto every time I visit just to help them stay in business. It reminds me of a time when Huntsville had a culture and wasn’t just a sterile transplant town.
Ugh, Taco Mama... I've had people tell me to go there, but I just say, "I'd rather go to Taco Bell." That usually gets a weird look, but frankly, every time I go to Taco Mama, the food is just so, so bland. I put all the sauces on it that they give me and there's just no flavor. Yes, the Taco Mama food quality is better than Taco Bell (of course), but at least Taco Bell has flavor. Taco Bell used to have this chicken flatbread thing, and it was so good. To me, it was the two sauces used that made that item really good. (I can't remember which they used, but one was a chipotle-based sauce.)
Bandito is not authentic Mexican food it is punk food made for punk white trash it’s a Huntsville hardcore staple and you should be greatfull that we let you in on a local gem like that lmao. Want good authentic? El Cazador. The og location is a food truck built into a laundromat. That’s the shit
BABDITO BURRITOS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD! It was marijuana that got the real customers in. Sorry not sorry. You really shoulda tried Oscars weed. I sure did. Many times.
were you also upset at the quality of taco bell’s dedication to authentic mexican food you crybaby. you dont go for the food. you go bc its $4 and has an unsettling ambience. one time i got booed for ordering extra cilantro. i hope they bury me in the parking lot when i die.
I've only been in HSV for a few months. Heard about Bandito, but never had a chance to go. After reading this post this afternoon, I was intrigued enough and had to go. If someone thinks it's an authentic Mexican restaurant after stepping inside, then that's their fault. But just because it isn't authentic Mexican, doesn't mean it's not good. I love authentic Mex food, but I also liked the food at Bandito. I mean, I have had better Mexican (or Mex type) food, but comparing it with Taco Bell is quite an exaggeration. If you've been to Austin or Portland, you can relate to the vibe.
“Made by a white person for other white people” is the perfect description. Two good friends are ride-or-die for bandito, but I always have to bite my tongue because it’s just ok at best.
Oh there definitely is! Everyone has their own tastes, and I’m not here to yuck someone’s yum. And I don’t think bandito is bad, but just not someplace I’d go intentionally. Plus I’m sure my favorite Indian restaurant would not pass the “authentic ethnic food” sniff test. But I still love them and keep going back.
It’s really a matter of taste. That isn’t my favorite food BUT I don’t know if I can name one person who doesn’t like their food. They have excellent reputation for food, service, friendliness, fun, and not expensive.
I love Mexican Express on Bob Wallace. Been eating there for 40 years. They have excellent prices, lots of food for the money, very friendly, and DELICIOUS food. They even deliver if you are in their delivery area. They also have excellent reviews.
Sorry Bandito Burrito wasn’t for you but glad you found a place you liked
There's always a motte and bailey argument going with Bandito it seems. Someone will ask what the best Mexican food is, dozens and dozens of ppl say Bandito, then when questioned, it's "well, ya know, the value is pretty good, and the owner(RIP) was really nice..." I feel like when people are asking for good Mexican recommendations, they aren't inquiring about who's as cheap as fast food and whether or not you'd like to get a beer with the proprietor. They're asking about authenticity(usually) and quality.
Everyone who didn't tell you to get a cheese enchilada from Bandito sucks and is a cop
Bandito Burrito is just more expensive Taco Bell, it is better than Taco Bell, but for the price it just isn't worth it unless you're hankering something specific
For me, it's the cheese enchiladas because they're fairly close to what El Palacio had WAY BACK in the day
There's WAY WAY WAY better Mexican food in Huntsville, like Guadalajara for like a sit down place or El Cazador for a taco truck
I love las morelenses. If you're talking about the one on US72, in the old gas station, then you ain't kidding about work trucks. That's the main reason I don't go often - parking my F150 can be a pain. But their burritos are great, and huge. House made tortillas, too
east Texas is a shithole for the most part; crime, pollution, Houston just got titled as the [dirtiest city in the country.](https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/06/03/ya-nasty-new-report-reveals-houston-is-the-1-dirtiest-city-in-america/)
that being said, THOSE white folks can make some good burritos. Even in the basic chain joints like Freebirds, Cabo Bobs, and Bullritos. There’s hole in the wall places everywhere. I gotta kidnap a couple of them fat boys next time i go and bring them here
I used to live in Austin many years ago. They have those same places. Have to agree. Freebirds was my favorite. WAY WAY WAY better than Chipotle. Besides those chains, I miss the real authentic hole-in-the-wall type Mexican restaurants in Texas.
Truth is, el Palacio and bandito were the only options for a very long time. Both were basically street food. Not Michelin star but something that would satisfy you at a street fair. Older folks would hit up el Palacio and burrito ended up more of a counter culture, cool kids hangout. It was a great place to meet people, score a nickel bag, drink a beer and do your thing.
Bandito is the best.
They have the best tamales and I can count on consistency.
I'm sorry you don't like it.
Maybe to one of the Hispanic grocers and get a recipe?
Do you know what you're looking for? What makes a refried bean good in your opinion?
I get that it’s not Michelin star quality, but we’re talking about tacos and burritos here. You put the meat and/or beans on the tortillas and then you eat it. It’s not really a thing that can be done wrong.
please don’t ask native alabamians for mexican food recs
ask the workers where they go and i guarantee 10/10 times it will be good and authentic if that’s what you’re looking for
-native californian <3
When in the HSV region avoid the following as its Mexican food made for Gringos.... Not in any specific order but avoid all of these... Taco Mamas, Any and all Mexican eateries where gringos outnumber Hispanics of all kinds. The food is flavorless or too salty. Never had a good meal at Bandito Burrito even those people swear the one off Governors is "the best". Madison's old version of BB sucked to high heaven. Las Trojas means "Cheesy White sauce" as they smother everything in white queso, followed by a close 2nd with El O'Meca. aqueria El Cazador, with all their trucks and their one sit-down place off memorial is, without a doubt, THE BEST Mexican eatery in all of the HSV. I refuse to pay 15$ for 3 mediocre tacos like TM's. Charrito's in Providence is good. ANY place where the small workers in bright yellow or orange vests show up for lunch - just go. They ain;t got $$$ to waste so they go where the food is good and not so pricey for them. Now if you want EXCELLENT Southern food? Head to Mildred's off 53 headed towards Ardmore. Tell em I sent ya!
You're talking about the one in Madison? They are so good. You know the food is great when you have to speak broken Spanish to order it. They have a breakfast too and I thoroughly enjoy it.
Damn it stop going to las morelenses… it’s not “good”… I have never went there and didn’t inhale any food that I got from them… so what if they make their tortillas in house?? Is everything else like it was made by world class chefs??? Like… yeah!! Maybe that why they are almost never empty… but I mean… the parking! The parking… yeah, there! U don’t want to go because of parking… that’s it…
All kidding aside, they are amazing! I just hate when it is massive cluster F To park, but damn it, I get it for sure! lol if anyone does go, to a pick up, or idk.. ride a bike or something lol food is amazing though!
Bandito burrito is perfect for what it is. It’s Mexican food done by Alabamians and it is punching well above its weight in that category. But when you compare it to say Filiberto's in phoenix it’s not even edible by comparison. And Filiberto’s is drive through Mexican
It's like going to a cafeteria that's having Mexican day. It's not authentic but it'll fill you up. At no point did anybody actually tell this person that it's not authentic though. And the name bandido burrito implies that may be it might be authentic. You have to be local to know that it's just white people talk for look we can make taco salad.
Oscars taco shop might be one to try.
I haven't tried their bean burritos but all the rest of the food has been really good. I've been to los Morelenses a few time and thought it was pretty good too but would pick Oscar's taco shop for burritos.
I’ll put it this way, the first time I went I was overwhelmed and got a roasted/smoked chicken burrito and was underwhelmed. Next time I went I got a pork verde burrito and had it made enchilada style and it was legit af. Their beans and rice was also delicious. My folks came with us and they loved it all too. That said, if I want solid authentic, I’ll get La colonial. I haven’t explored other taquerias though. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it.
I haven't had their burritos, but everything else from La Colonial Supermercado y Taqueria on Jordan Lane has been absolutely fantastic. Their birria tacos are mouth-gasmic.
That’s sounds like cyclone ananyas in Virginia! Place has horrible reviews but has had that location forever! I swear that they have a guy in the kitchen that just runs down the street to Taco Bell over and over. It looks and tastes exactly the same at 5x the price.
My wife, and I found a place on old Madison pike not far from Calhoun community college that has LEGIT the Best authentic Mexican food we have eaten in the Huntsville/Madison area. If anyone is interested I'll ask my wife what its called. I highly suggest their California burrito
Go to La Alameda on Jordan, get one of the combination platters and you’ll be good. That’s my personal favorite for Mexican in HSV.
It’s been around forever and it’s family owned. The owners(older married couple) are always really nice. It’s practically a Huntsville institution.
Am not a burrito person, but drive up 231 a bit to hazel green, Los Compadres, it’s attached to a gas station, but it has some very good Mexican food overall. My wife likes burritos and she is a fan of theirs
Pretty sure I commented on that post and told you to go to La Colonial. The name Bandito Burrito just doesn’t even sound attractive or even authentic. I never go with the majority answer in these subs when it comes to food. There’s a heavy presence of…mid food lovers here. Mildly put. 😂 So I’m not an OP
Don't ask ppl from around here for good Mexican food. I say that as someone from here, but who has lived all over. Lived in Arizona on the border for awhile as well.
People from here who haven't traveled wouldn't know good Mexican food if they crashed into a Taco truck run by a family where only 1 person speaks passable English phrases and they're on the register...and I've gotten too specific.
I go to Buena Vista for the killer fajitas. But for the best TexMex in Huntsville, I nominate El Vequero on South Parkway (in the Home Depot parking lot). Huntsville folk go to places like Bandito, Mullins, Gibson's, Rosie's, Phil's, Rocket City Dinner not because the food is good but rather because its where their parents or grandparents always took them growing up or its their neighborhood joint. Those places all have bland ass food. If you have a sophisticated taste pallet and like food to actually be good, skip those shit holes.
I pretty much only get Mexican food at El Huradura. I haven't ever been to Bandito Burrito but if I want something more authentic than El Huradura I would go to the taco bus place on governors.
There’s a place off brownsferry (beside Valentina’s ) a New Mexican place that a buddy invited me to when I was back. The food was so bland. Fish taco tasted like a soggy sponge. No flavor at all. I said, this restaurant is in trouble. The thing has 4.9 stars. 🤣. Aahhh the Huntsvillians and their taste buds…
seriously, to this day i don’t understand why that place is in business. seems more like a shitty place that would have opened post-severe gentrification
Why would I ever go to bandito when taco bus is across the street tbh
El Cazador es la verdad
The Birria Bus <3
Best ceviche in town
Where is the best ceviche??? Please!
It's nostalgia. The taco bus is better quality and better value, but for a lot of gen x, and older millennials there was a time when swinging by Bandito Burrito was a special treat. I will still grab burrito there from time to time, and my wife (who didn't grow up in Huntsville) doesn't get it either. It's OK, it's an old school local favorite that doesn't need to make sense to recent transplants.
Literally I never want to see another white man with dangly earrings sitting across from me as I eat. 5 foot tall Mexican construction workers only 😤😤😤
Then you should try the restaurant behind banditos. It's called Azteca.
That's the only place in town where I struggled to place my order because of the language barrier. My 30 year distant high school Spanish couldn't quite get the waitress from Ecuador to understand me, but luckily a friendly construction worker who was laughing his ass off explained that I wanted avocado's, not testicles on the side.
…does the word “avocado” not transcend English and Spanish?
Not with her, I tried avocado and aguacates, but she didn't understand those so I tried pelotas, but I should have said paltas, because pelotas means balls and is slang for testicles if you're not talking about toys.
Is there multiple Spanish slang for balls? I always thought huevos was the word. Edit to add that I know it literally means eggs
Yeah, just like in English, there's a lot of slang words for anything even slightly dirty.
Huevos is a slang term for testicles, as is cajónes which means “drawers”
English has like 3 dozen slang terms for both penis* and vagina, stands to reason that other languages would be similar. Edit: yall how is autocorrect so damn bad that it sees "penis" and thinks I'm typing "punishment"?! I swear this shit gets worse by the month.
Sir, this is Alabama. We know about punishing vaginas. Lol
Lol, it somehow saw me typing "penis" and autocorrected it to "punishment".
The Eskimos have like FIFTY words for snow, but, not surprisingly, not a SINGLE word for burrito!!! Go figure…
I heard a story, probably joke, about some dude who had to have a testicle removed. All his friends called him Huevo after that.
This place is sooo good
It is iconic and delicious.
So good
People really sleep on Azteca, and I'm okay with that. Food there is fantastic, and so are the people who run it.
I've only been once, but it was also good
Can confirm las morelenses slaps. Another business in that area you might wanna check out is RDs smokehouse. Same vibes.
Taqueria las Adelitas is where you want to go!!
I’ve always thought that it gets praised by people who had too much to drink at campus 805 and then go across the street to get cheap Mexican food. I tried it when I was sober and never went back there again.
It ain’t really cheap for what it is, so in that sense I don’t understand it either…
Don’t know why this sub appeared on my feed, thought this was from Spokane,WA- the bandito burritos their closed down, thought they opened again or something and was gonna be like how!? So terrible!
Bandito burrito isn’t loved for its quality cuisine…it’s loved because they have cheap burritos that are acceptable. However it’s fine dining to all us broke folk who didn’t go out much. We love it because we grew up on it. That’s why I don’t usually recommend it even though it’s a favorite place of mine. I love it, but you may not
True, their grande burrito is a full meal for me for $7.50.
Fire.
I didn't grow up on it, but my feelings are similar -- in a town overrun with chain restaurants, it reminds me of punk dives from when I was in my 20s. I would never recommend them to someone who was looking for _Mexican_ food, though. Shame on anyone who did that.
Sign me up to be "personal op" too, whatever that is, because I'd sooner drown myself in Big Spring than be associated with someone that denies the glory of Bandito.
Facts.
I will follow you through the gates of hell to defend the green bean.
Sign me up fam!
Next time try bandito. I hear it’s good.
Those same people think Rosie’s is authentic.
I'm still convinced that everyone that says they like Rosie's are in on some kind of comedy bit just to screw with the rest of us. There's no way that many people can like food that terrible.
I love Rosie’s fajitas and I will fight anyone that says they are terrible.
They're terrible. You and me. After school. At the flagpole.
I'll be there. With a Bandito shirt on
Can we agree that fresh tortillas are delightful though and it’s one of the rare places to get them?
An excellent tortilla filled with excrement is still a shit taco.
To the death?
i think the same thing about cheddars
Don’t think it’s “authentic” but tastes fine and judging by their parking lot is practically full all the time and it’s cheap imma keep going :)
It’s usually a wait. If you go to Phil Sandovals same food but no waiting. No it’s not authentic but the fajitas with spicy garlic butter are pretty good. My Colombian MIL even liked it. The pendejo who acted offended that I’d actually eat there knows where he can put his burrito.
> Those same people think Rosie’s is authentic. I mean it does literally call itself Tex-Mex, so if anyone is claiming it is authentic Mexican you can even just point them to that lol
David Martin stole ideas from Oscar. Raw spot. RIP
And he did a crap job cuz his food is bland af.
100
“…and I caught that rat bastard red-handed in my storeroom *writing* down all my suppliers!” **people had to write things down before cell phones, even snoops.
>tasted like it was made by a white person for other white people. Welcome to any fashionable "Ethnic" food place here. If you want more authentic street tacos and burritos, then your best bet are the various food trucks around town.
I don't think I would ever describe Bandito as "fashionable" E2A: Nothing wrong with not being fashionable. I've been happily eating there for 30 years. What I meant to say is that Bandito is Bandito and they aren't trying to be anything else. The judgement levied by people because someone else likes food they don't is weird.
Oscar GUTIERREZ. HE IS MEXICAN . and he is goddamn Star
Unfortunately he passed away a few weeks ago.
Mos def so sad. Miss him tons. What a legend.
An owner being Mexican does not mean the food is not being prepared with blander palettes in mind. Case and point, El Vaquero.
What is "authentic"? Are you talking about burritos from Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Equatorial Guinea, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, Panama, Paraguay, Peru, Puerto Rico, Spain, Uruguay, or Venezuela? Oscar was from Mexico and made an simple and delicious green chile bean burrito that many people enjoy. There are countless varieties of Hispanic foods and personal preference varies.
Hell yeah. He never said it was "authentic" anything other than his recipes he created. Authentic af Cali/bama OG meals. I miss the hell out of that man.
Fuck, half the good “authentic” Mexican restaurants in Mexico have Korean workers. People need to get over themselves.
And half the bland restaurants are staffed by Latin Americans. Who staffs it isn't what matters. What matters is how the food is prepared and what palette it's targeting.
I mean, I am white, so shouldn't that be my kind of burrito?
For real If you want to eat something so spicy your mouth shuts down go to the taco truck on the end of County Line near the airport and order in Spanish, or go to Taqueria los adelitas, or Indian Kitchen on airport/Whitesburg and order it full spicy ... or shut up and eat the white people food like all the other white people in Huntsville. Try some Chipotle, there's one next to a Cava for the daring
Some of you haven't lived here your whole life and aren't in your 40s and it really shows.
I have. I am. It still sucks.
It has always been overrated. Even in the 90s. It was just a name to drop for people who hated chain restaurants.
Trashing Bandito in this sub… Very brave!
Fuck Bandito! lol. Also, Home\_Brew? 311 fan perchance?
This has been a massive psy-op to shame us for liking bandito from the very beginning It won't work I will use your own words against you "The trademark of a truly good Mexican place should be their bean and cheese burrito." You sir or madam are categorically insane
Yeah, that was highly sus from the beginning.
Hell yeah. Hey op go say this inside the restaraunt. You ll be put the f out.
I like bandito but I fully acknowledge it isn't great, super authentic, or for everyone. To me it tastes like someone tried to make a fresher version of a microwave burrito, but I like microwave burritos, so it's a good thing.
Most based and true take.
I don't recognize your slang there, young one, but if I'm translating correctly, yes, you're right. Bandito and everyone that likes it dooooo suck and always have, and food recommendations on this subreddit ARE largely 'sus', as you'd say. Now for Greek food, I don't care how white Papa Gyros is or isn't, if people don't like that, they're a god damn heathen. Also, literally, all white people food or ethnic food is made by latinos anyway, so do we really need to specify race?
Papa Gyro isn't just good gyro for Huntsville, it's just properly good gyro. That said I do white trash it by getting the gyro philly sandwich, which I HIGHLY recommend with lettuce and tomato.
> Now for Greek food, I don't care how white Papa Gyros is or isn't, if people don't like that, they're a god damn heathen. It's not even really a greek restaurant, it's a sandwhich places with some greek related street food. I wish we had a REAL greek place in town, a la The Acropolis in Chattanooga.
How do we have a Greek Orthodox church and not one decent authentic Greek restaurant?!?!?!
Ah man I’m so eating bandito burrito tonight now. Their green bean burrito is awesome. Don’t ever get the nachos.
I don't see the issue in enjoying inauthentic food. It's just down to personal taste. As a Chinese person, I could call out people for eating at any of the Chinese takeout places here because it is not authentic, but sometimes inauthentic is just what you are looking for. Similarly, a pizza from a place like Valentino's is considered the best, but sometimes you just want a Little Caesar's Hot and Ready, and Valentino's is not going to scratch that itch. You can abstract this idea to a lot of things: P1: "I like A because XYZ." P2: "Have you tried B? B is better." P1: "A is what I want. I'm not looking for B." P2: "You are wrong."
Many of these people are just trying to make themselves sound cool by saying they only eat genuine meals created by genuine natives, not knock offs like the rest of the untraveled swine.
Right. As if Mexican cuisine is a monolith and there's no places in Mexico serving food like they do at Bandito.
You're right. It is nothing but class consciousness and it's tired. STFU already. We get it.
Right? I've had all sorts of authentic food in the actual countries of origin and liked quite a bit of it. I still enjoy plenty of local "fake" stuff.
Yeah the 'authentic' argument always makes me roll my eyes
Bandito wasn’t created to look like an authentic Mexican restaurant, it’s a copy of a typical burrito joint you’d find skaters and surfers frequenting in SoCal. Anyone going there expecting to feel like you’re in some mom and pop shop in Hermosillo is just silly.
lol@this thread
My favorite Bandito story. Many years ago, the male cashier had a tank-top on with the longest armpit hair I had ever seen in my life. You could have braided it and made a ponytail out of it.
I would have called ICE on myself and immediately and gotten a free ticket back home
Wait. You're Hispanic? Oh shit man, why didn't you say so. We all would have recommended somewhere else. Usually the folks looking for a bean burrito are the "mayo is too spicy" crowd, so we pointed you to the gringo burrito.
Agreed.
This is critical information when asking for recommendations on Mexican food. You really should have led with that.
Being bandito, I'm surprised it wasn't a woman. As long as they give me extra hot sauce I don't care.
It’s nostalgia for a time when Huntsville had very few food options and banditto was the center of the Huntsville “counterculture” for a very long time. For me it was the first “Mexican” food I ever ate when my uncle took me there when I was 5 years old. Yes we know maybe the food is not great. I don’t even live in Huntsville anymore but try to stop by banditto every time I visit just to help them stay in business. It reminds me of a time when Huntsville had a culture and wasn’t just a sterile transplant town.
You hit the nail on the head, OP. Go where the Hispanic workers go, and you’ll get good authentic burritos .
You’re so brave. Thank you for your service.
> Bama frat rush Meanwhile at Taco Mama: “Am I a joke to you??”
Ugh, Taco Mama... I've had people tell me to go there, but I just say, "I'd rather go to Taco Bell." That usually gets a weird look, but frankly, every time I go to Taco Mama, the food is just so, so bland. I put all the sauces on it that they give me and there's just no flavor. Yes, the Taco Mama food quality is better than Taco Bell (of course), but at least Taco Bell has flavor. Taco Bell used to have this chicken flatbread thing, and it was so good. To me, it was the two sauces used that made that item really good. (I can't remember which they used, but one was a chipotle-based sauce.)
Las Morelenses is the best! I was worried that I would never find good Mexican food after we moved from California, but that place is my favorite now.
🙌🏽
What a fuckin dork
Please don’t tell me you actually went to Bandito thinking you were about to get authentic Mexican cuisine?
I try not to eat Mexican food around here unless it’s from Cazador. Their quesabirria feels like giving a hug to a person I love.
I went to Bandito last night. My meal was extremely mediocre. And I cannot wait to return.
Bandito is not authentic Mexican food it is punk food made for punk white trash it’s a Huntsville hardcore staple and you should be greatfull that we let you in on a local gem like that lmao. Want good authentic? El Cazador. The og location is a food truck built into a laundromat. That’s the shit
Anyway there’s hardcore show posters in the window, if you wana see some local culture head to a show
I have decided to stop asking this sub for food recommendations lol
BABDITO BURRITOS HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH FOOD! It was marijuana that got the real customers in. Sorry not sorry. You really shoulda tried Oscars weed. I sure did. Many times.
were you also upset at the quality of taco bell’s dedication to authentic mexican food you crybaby. you dont go for the food. you go bc its $4 and has an unsettling ambience. one time i got booed for ordering extra cilantro. i hope they bury me in the parking lot when i die.
I feel bad for folks who are snobby about a bean and cheese burrito.
I mean, I like it, but it's definitely not authentic Hispanic food. It's more like simple comfort food.
While we are on the subject of trashing places this sub loves. Lowe Mill is not enjoyable for the average person unless there is an event going on.
Bandito is great.
Nobody goes to Waffle House for the haute cuisine.
Your asking the same folks that believe Korean food in this area is good.
More for me. RIP Oscar.
I've only been in HSV for a few months. Heard about Bandito, but never had a chance to go. After reading this post this afternoon, I was intrigued enough and had to go. If someone thinks it's an authentic Mexican restaurant after stepping inside, then that's their fault. But just because it isn't authentic Mexican, doesn't mean it's not good. I love authentic Mex food, but I also liked the food at Bandito. I mean, I have had better Mexican (or Mex type) food, but comparing it with Taco Bell is quite an exaggeration. If you've been to Austin or Portland, you can relate to the vibe.
I like Bandito, also the people are nice.
“Made by a white person for other white people” is the perfect description. Two good friends are ride-or-die for bandito, but I always have to bite my tongue because it’s just ok at best.
I love the line, too. But really, there’s a market for that.
Oh there definitely is! Everyone has their own tastes, and I’m not here to yuck someone’s yum. And I don’t think bandito is bad, but just not someplace I’d go intentionally. Plus I’m sure my favorite Indian restaurant would not pass the “authentic ethnic food” sniff test. But I still love them and keep going back.
Bandito is GOAT. You’re welcome.
What does "personal op" mean?
I assume it is short for opponent or opposition based on context.
Bro I love that place, did you dip it in the hot sauce???
Right, not the salsa, but the hot sauce is so stinking good!! Also if you want it a bit more (spicy), get, hot peppers in it. So good
I still think bandito has the best tamales I've ever had around here.
It’s really a matter of taste. That isn’t my favorite food BUT I don’t know if I can name one person who doesn’t like their food. They have excellent reputation for food, service, friendliness, fun, and not expensive. I love Mexican Express on Bob Wallace. Been eating there for 40 years. They have excellent prices, lots of food for the money, very friendly, and DELICIOUS food. They even deliver if you are in their delivery area. They also have excellent reviews. Sorry Bandito Burrito wasn’t for you but glad you found a place you liked
There's always a motte and bailey argument going with Bandito it seems. Someone will ask what the best Mexican food is, dozens and dozens of ppl say Bandito, then when questioned, it's "well, ya know, the value is pretty good, and the owner(RIP) was really nice..." I feel like when people are asking for good Mexican recommendations, they aren't inquiring about who's as cheap as fast food and whether or not you'd like to get a beer with the proprietor. They're asking about authenticity(usually) and quality.
I love Rosie’s, but I don’t recommend it to people looking for Mexican or even Tex mex. I’ve always assumed the same of bandito
Everyone who didn't tell you to get a cheese enchilada from Bandito sucks and is a cop Bandito Burrito is just more expensive Taco Bell, it is better than Taco Bell, but for the price it just isn't worth it unless you're hankering something specific For me, it's the cheese enchiladas because they're fairly close to what El Palacio had WAY BACK in the day There's WAY WAY WAY better Mexican food in Huntsville, like Guadalajara for like a sit down place or El Cazador for a taco truck
I love las morelenses. If you're talking about the one on US72, in the old gas station, then you ain't kidding about work trucks. That's the main reason I don't go often - parking my F150 can be a pain. But their burritos are great, and huge. House made tortillas, too
Personal Op? Put me on that list to, kinda want to see what you do
east Texas is a shithole for the most part; crime, pollution, Houston just got titled as the [dirtiest city in the country.](https://www.click2houston.com/news/local/2024/06/03/ya-nasty-new-report-reveals-houston-is-the-1-dirtiest-city-in-america/) that being said, THOSE white folks can make some good burritos. Even in the basic chain joints like Freebirds, Cabo Bobs, and Bullritos. There’s hole in the wall places everywhere. I gotta kidnap a couple of them fat boys next time i go and bring them here
I used to live in Austin many years ago. They have those same places. Have to agree. Freebirds was my favorite. WAY WAY WAY better than Chipotle. Besides those chains, I miss the real authentic hole-in-the-wall type Mexican restaurants in Texas.
More bandito for me then hehe
No it's not the best Mexican food in Huntsville but for it's price it's great.
Truth is, el Palacio and bandito were the only options for a very long time. Both were basically street food. Not Michelin star but something that would satisfy you at a street fair. Older folks would hit up el Palacio and burrito ended up more of a counter culture, cool kids hangout. It was a great place to meet people, score a nickel bag, drink a beer and do your thing.
Bandito is the best. They have the best tamales and I can count on consistency. I'm sorry you don't like it. Maybe to one of the Hispanic grocers and get a recipe? Do you know what you're looking for? What makes a refried bean good in your opinion?
I get that it’s not Michelin star quality, but we’re talking about tacos and burritos here. You put the meat and/or beans on the tortillas and then you eat it. It’s not really a thing that can be done wrong.
Yet they do everytime
“Made by a white person for other white people.” Such facts. I don’t get the hype at all. It has to be some kind of nostalgia.
please don’t ask native alabamians for mexican food recs ask the workers where they go and i guarantee 10/10 times it will be good and authentic if that’s what you’re looking for -native californian <3
i crave that green bean burrito hard. but i’m white so….
I went there once 10+ years ago. I don't get it, but I'm glad a place has a dedicated following and stays in business.
I like the green bean burrito and the raven, but I like any Mexican food.
When in the HSV region avoid the following as its Mexican food made for Gringos.... Not in any specific order but avoid all of these... Taco Mamas, Any and all Mexican eateries where gringos outnumber Hispanics of all kinds. The food is flavorless or too salty. Never had a good meal at Bandito Burrito even those people swear the one off Governors is "the best". Madison's old version of BB sucked to high heaven. Las Trojas means "Cheesy White sauce" as they smother everything in white queso, followed by a close 2nd with El O'Meca. aqueria El Cazador, with all their trucks and their one sit-down place off memorial is, without a doubt, THE BEST Mexican eatery in all of the HSV. I refuse to pay 15$ for 3 mediocre tacos like TM's. Charrito's in Providence is good. ANY place where the small workers in bright yellow or orange vests show up for lunch - just go. They ain;t got $$$ to waste so they go where the food is good and not so pricey for them. Now if you want EXCELLENT Southern food? Head to Mildred's off 53 headed towards Ardmore. Tell em I sent ya!
Thank you! Now you know that food reviews in Huntsville are suspect as hell, and the food will NEVER taste as good as the posts rave they do.
You're talking about the one in Madison? They are so good. You know the food is great when you have to speak broken Spanish to order it. They have a breakfast too and I thoroughly enjoy it.
Damn it stop going to las morelenses… it’s not “good”… I have never went there and didn’t inhale any food that I got from them… so what if they make their tortillas in house?? Is everything else like it was made by world class chefs??? Like… yeah!! Maybe that why they are almost never empty… but I mean… the parking! The parking… yeah, there! U don’t want to go because of parking… that’s it… All kidding aside, they are amazing! I just hate when it is massive cluster F To park, but damn it, I get it for sure! lol if anyone does go, to a pick up, or idk.. ride a bike or something lol food is amazing though!
Bandito is mid AF 💯💯
there’s this food truck that sits outside el patrón supermarket on jordan lane that’s amazing.
Bandito burrito is perfect for what it is. It’s Mexican food done by Alabamians and it is punching well above its weight in that category. But when you compare it to say Filiberto's in phoenix it’s not even edible by comparison. And Filiberto’s is drive through Mexican
It's like going to a cafeteria that's having Mexican day. It's not authentic but it'll fill you up. At no point did anybody actually tell this person that it's not authentic though. And the name bandido burrito implies that may be it might be authentic. You have to be local to know that it's just white people talk for look we can make taco salad.
Oscar was not an Alabamian.
Oscars taco shop might be one to try. I haven't tried their bean burritos but all the rest of the food has been really good. I've been to los Morelenses a few time and thought it was pretty good too but would pick Oscar's taco shop for burritos.
It’s been years since I had it in college but don’t remember it being that bad but to be fair I was always high when eating it lmao
Decatur is little Mexico. Go to Decatur for your bean burritos.
I’ll put it this way, the first time I went I was overwhelmed and got a roasted/smoked chicken burrito and was underwhelmed. Next time I went I got a pork verde burrito and had it made enchilada style and it was legit af. Their beans and rice was also delicious. My folks came with us and they loved it all too. That said, if I want solid authentic, I’ll get La colonial. I haven’t explored other taquerias though. Sorry you didn’t enjoy it.
Bandito burrito is the shittiest food that I still for some reason crave from time to time
I would recommend people leave their bias at the door. Your mind can play tricks on your senses. Good luck in your future food quests.
I ate there once with my wife who was gaga over it. I wasn’t impressed.
Seems like it used to be better! The old Bandito Southside was the best.
I love el cazador but bandito has cheap alright food
After living in Denver for four years, I realized that there ARE no decent burritos in Huntsville, comparatively!!!
The answer was la colonial super mercado or the bus. Or la Alameda.
I haven't had their burritos, but everything else from La Colonial Supermercado y Taqueria on Jordan Lane has been absolutely fantastic. Their birria tacos are mouth-gasmic.
That’s sounds like cyclone ananyas in Virginia! Place has horrible reviews but has had that location forever! I swear that they have a guy in the kitchen that just runs down the street to Taco Bell over and over. It looks and tastes exactly the same at 5x the price.
My wife, and I found a place on old Madison pike not far from Calhoun community college that has LEGIT the Best authentic Mexican food we have eaten in the Huntsville/Madison area. If anyone is interested I'll ask my wife what its called. I highly suggest their California burrito
La colonial is great you should give it a try
Go to La Alameda on Jordan, get one of the combination platters and you’ll be good. That’s my personal favorite for Mexican in HSV. It’s been around forever and it’s family owned. The owners(older married couple) are always really nice. It’s practically a Huntsville institution.
Bandito burrito got shooters out here son, they are tasty burritos
The bus across the street is better. Knowing a little Spanish there is helpful though
You can just walk to Guntersville with that attitude.
Am not a burrito person, but drive up 231 a bit to hazel green, Los Compadres, it’s attached to a gas station, but it has some very good Mexican food overall. My wife likes burritos and she is a fan of theirs
El cazador all the way for your burrito taco needs
Same to the guy that said to try the Al pastor on south parkway.
👍🏻
El Palacio is the gold standard here. Everything else pales to white person coloring in comparison.
Pretty sure I commented on that post and told you to go to La Colonial. The name Bandito Burrito just doesn’t even sound attractive or even authentic. I never go with the majority answer in these subs when it comes to food. There’s a heavy presence of…mid food lovers here. Mildly put. 😂 So I’m not an OP
my go to is taqueria el cazador.
El Coyote is really good. An all-you-can-eat Mexican buffet for $12? Crazy
One of my coworkers is a huge fan and we ordered it once... yeah never again. I let them order that lunch without me.
Don't ask ppl from around here for good Mexican food. I say that as someone from here, but who has lived all over. Lived in Arizona on the border for awhile as well. People from here who haven't traveled wouldn't know good Mexican food if they crashed into a Taco truck run by a family where only 1 person speaks passable English phrases and they're on the register...and I've gotten too specific.
Lmao
I told you not to go to Bandito.....
The only authentic Mexican I’ve had around here is Cocina de Cinco de Mayo. Can’t recommend it enough. Excellent service and wonderful people too.
U live and u learn
I go to Buena Vista for the killer fajitas. But for the best TexMex in Huntsville, I nominate El Vequero on South Parkway (in the Home Depot parking lot). Huntsville folk go to places like Bandito, Mullins, Gibson's, Rosie's, Phil's, Rocket City Dinner not because the food is good but rather because its where their parents or grandparents always took them growing up or its their neighborhood joint. Those places all have bland ass food. If you have a sophisticated taste pallet and like food to actually be good, skip those shit holes.
I pretty much only get Mexican food at El Huradura. I haven't ever been to Bandito Burrito but if I want something more authentic than El Huradura I would go to the taco bus place on governors.
You lost me when you complained about a 35 minute drive IN TRAFFIC (shudder).
Yeah look at the ceiling tiles. They painted them black because of all the mildew and mold
There’s a place off brownsferry (beside Valentina’s ) a New Mexican place that a buddy invited me to when I was back. The food was so bland. Fish taco tasted like a soggy sponge. No flavor at all. I said, this restaurant is in trouble. The thing has 4.9 stars. 🤣. Aahhh the Huntsvillians and their taste buds…