3201 E Coast Hwy
Corona Del Mar, CA
949-673-3524
I recently visited Bandera for the first time after it came highly recommended by some friends. While I still value their opinions, I did not necessarily agree with them on this one. Bandera is a restaurant owned and operated by the Houston’s chain. The interior of the restaurant actually looks just like a Houston’s. Also in keeping with the Houston’s similarities, Bandera also has a very limited menu. Not only is the food menu limited, but they also have a very limited bar selection as well. They didn’t seem to have any of the spirits I requested, including some very popular brands, such as, Grey Goose Citron, Absolut Citron and Johnny Walker Black. I ended up ordering a margarita, supposedly their house specialty. It was ok, but a little pricey ($6.00) for what it was. We decided to order a skillet cornbread ($3.00) for an appetizer. The cornbread was very good. It was baked in a cast iron skillet with Ortega chilies mixed in to give it a little spice. It also had a very crispy top that was delicious. The “signature” dish here is the rotisserie chicken that they proudly display in their window that faces the street. This is what I chose to order ($13.00). The chicken had a mild Mexican flavor and came with “green rice,” which was rice with cilantro, parsley and other herbs mixed in. I didn’t really care for it. My wife ordered a vegetable platter ($12.00). Her platter included half of a grilled artichoke, a cold salad of marinated vegetables such as cauliflower and squash, roasted red peppers and green rice. She enjoyed most of her food except for the cold marinated cauliflower. Overall the food was average. The service however was quite good. Because of the limited menu and bar selection, I don’t think I would return to Bandera again. If I was in the mood to eat from a limited menu like this, I would go to the Houston’s that’s closer to my house.
Veronica’s Coffee Comment: It had a mild and smooth flavor, but it was a bit on the weak side. **** (out of 5)
Last Visit 09/27/03
Would I visit again? Probably Not
