More Food & Dining

• Punk Rock Pizza and Wrap It Up offer fresh eats under one roof
• Review: AmerAsia
• Review: Gold Street Caffé's sister, the Cup is brimming with goodness

MOST RECENT TRIB STORIES

• ABQTrib.com to remain available
  08:48 a.m., February 25, 2008
• Congressman is indicted
  08:37 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Series of attacks target Green Zone
  08:36 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Iran is defying U.N., agency says
  08:35 a.m., February 23, 2008
• Waterboarding approval probed
  08:34 a.m., February 23, 2008

TRIB IN THE BLOGOSPHERE*

• Ty Murray Invitational thrills fans in Albuquerque
• Is Rome Burning?
• Ominous Skies
• The Road to Invalidation
• Albuquerque company participates in “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition”

*Note: The Tribune does not create and is not responsible for the blogosphere's headlines and stories. These links to blogs talking about ABQTrib.com are automatically generated. Use them at your own risk.

STORY TOOLS

• E-mail story
• Comments
• iPod friendly
• Printer friendly

SHARE THIS STORY [?]

Bandido Hideout is a University area favorite.

This tucked-away restaurant has authentic Mexican decor, good food, huge portions and, of course, a bandido vaquero standing on Central Avenue to help guide you inside.

The real attraction here, though, for those of us who are - ahem - currency deficient are Bandido's lunch specials.

The greatest thing about the lunch specials is they solve the problem of a lack of dining options for those of us who have plenty of hunger, but barely more than pocket lint with which to fund a meal.

For $5.25, you can choose from carne asada, pastor, adobada, chicken, carnitas, chicken mole, ham, roast beef, and chile relleno. We're talking meats that are succulently seasoned with spices like lime and oregano and served fresh and hot.

Then you choose whether you would like to stuff these tantalizing tastes into three tacos of the same kind, three gorditas of the same kind, one burrito or one torta. These are not fast-food-quality dishes either, although the fish tacos and gorditas are fried flaky and greasy.

This is authentic Mexican cuisine, and nearly every dish comes complete with rice and refried beans.

There is also an option for a Super Burrito, which Bandido's calls "A GIANT!" It's full of beef, chicken or pork with beans, rice, lettuce, tomatoes, cheese, sour cream and guacamole.

But the quintessential lunch special is, indeed, special: A half of a rotisserie chicken served with rice, beans and tortillas. Keep in mind, this half of a bird is the size of half a Thanksgiving turkey. Really.

But the best part about the dino-chicken is - guess how much it costs. Go on, just take a guess.

You'll never guess.

$3.99.