Chino Bandido: an Asian-Mexican flavor fusion
Published: May 4, 2009
Chino Bandido is mixing things up with its distinctive blend of Asian and Mexican cuisine to create a flavorful menu that will satisfy your multi-ethnic craving at affordable prices. Menu prices range from $3-$8, so a satisfying meal won't break the bank.
Chino Bandito serves 14 main entrees based on traditional Asian and Mexican dishes, which include carnitas, chili rellenos, Chinese barbecued pork and egg foo young. The egg foo young is made with an egg, onion, barbecue pork and bean sprout patty smothered in mushroom-chicken gravy.
The restaurant also offers a variety of chicken entrees, including "gringo," hengrenade, jade red, jerk, emerald and teriyaki. Gringo grilled chicken is made with diced tomato, green onion and a butter garlic sauce. The emerald grilled chicken is served with a ginger and green onion sauce.
They also serve jen red pork — a dish made with deep fried pork and glazed with spicy sweet and sour sauce. There's a veggie salad with lettuce, onions, tomatoes, broccoli, Serrano peppers and cheese.
Chino Bandido's machaca is made with shredded beef with garlic, onions, tomato and cilantro. And there's pollo diablo — deep fried chicken with onions, garlic and red hot peppers.
All of 14 main entree items come standard with white rice for $6 but you can substitute fried rice for only .75 more. Chino Bandido offers several different types of fried rice including plain, jerk, chicken or pork fried rice.
You can also add beans (black or refried) to your combo for only $1 more. If only one main entree item isn't enough to fill you up, they offer two item combos that come with rice and beans for only $8.
But the ordering options don't stop there! You can get any of the entree options in a burrito or quesadilla as well ($4-$5). Yes, that's right — you can get an egg foo young burrito or even a carnitas quesadilla. Chino Bandido's can also make a cheese or veggie quesadilla, or a bean and cheese burrito. To satisfy your after meal sweet tooth; each combo comes with a big, moist snickerdoodle cookie. You can also order snickerdoodles on the side individually and by the dozen.
You can check out the Chino Bandido website and try their virtual menu, showing what each meal combination will look like.
The concept for Chino Bandido was born when Frank and Eve Collins decided to open a restaurant and wanted to incorporate the influences of Eve's Chinese heritage along with the cultural influences of their home, Arizona.
Their restaurant opened in 1990 as a take out-spot and quickly expanded to include a dining area. In 2005, a second location opened in Chandler at 1825 W. Chandler Blvd in San Marcos Square.
- by Jennifer Pruett, Phoenix Reporter for HelloMetro
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