BY STACEY WALLACE
OPINION —
As I’ve mentioned before in this column, I am a proud Southern woman. I was born in Alexander City (“Eleck” City to the locals), attended Auburn University for my junior and senior years and lived in LaGrange, Georgia, for 26 years
Then Mike and I moved to Auburn in 2015. Therefore, I have lived in the South all my life, and the final place I want to move to is Heaven, when my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ calls me home.
Tom and Barbara Patton, my outstanding Christian parents, raised me correctly. I say, “Yes, Ma,am,” or “No, Ma’am,” “Yes, Sir,” or “No, Sir,” “Please” and “Thank you.”
Also, I say “Excuse me,” or “I’m sorry,” if I accidentally bump into someone. In addition, I hold open doors for other people, especially if they are older than I am. If someone holds the door open for me, I say, “Thank you. Your parents raised you right.”
As much as I love living in Sweet Home Alabama, there is just one thing that I can’t tolerate: our oppressive heat May through October. Temperatures in the 90s can kill you, and just walking to the mailbox can make you sweat. Therefore, I long for November, when it at least begins to get cooler. But I digress.
Recently, Mike and I noticed a new restaurant in Opelika. When we drove by, there was a very long line of people standing in the merciless Alabama sun waiting to get in the restaurant. That long line intrigued us, so Mike and I decided to give it a try.
Banditos, which advertises that it’s “Alabama’s Best-Mex,” is located at 404 S. 10th St. in Opelika. The restaurant is locally owned by Jacob and Gabi Vanhorn; it opened on May 5, 2026, on Cinco de Mayo.
Jonathan and Caitlyn, the front of house staff, were so kind, helpful and patient, answering all of my questions. According to Jonathan, the Vanhorns lived in Nashville where they raised, processed and sold chickens. The couple moved to Waverly in 2021 with plans to do the same thing, but after finding the market was different, they began serving chicken dishes during pop-up events at Standard Deluxe.
They connected with the owner of the Plaza Hotel in Midtown Auburn and did a once-a-week takeover of the Plaza. Next, the Vanhorns ran the Banditos food truck, and now they have the restaurant.
Banditos is a cheerful, upbeat restaurant. According to the menu, “all meat is slowly smoked on-site with pecan and oak.”
Although Banditos has a dining area, Mike and I decided to get our orders to go. For our starter, we chose the queso with chips. Mike selected a smoked brisket quesadilla, while I ordered the smoked chicken quesadilla. According to the menu, our quesadillas “had smoked meat, cheese and Banditos sauce; they were folded and grilled on a flat top until it had that signature Banditos cow print.”
Man, it smelled good in our car when we drove home. The queso was delicious, and since I was home, I could use a hand towel as a bib so I wouldn’t drip on my clothes. That’s embarrassing for a grown woman to admit, but I’m a big dripper.
Our quesadillas were really tasty as well. Besides our queso and chips, Banditos offers diners salsa roja, guacamole and street corn queso.
Banditos also serves pulled pork nachos, smoked wings, crunch wraps and tacos.
Let me make a suggestion — get to Banditos at about 4:30 or 5 p.m. if you’re getting supper, as Mike and I did. Even though our food order was ready fast, people had started lining up and going out the door as we had noticed a week or two earlier.
Banditos is closed Sunday through Tuesday. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Banditos makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people never lie about food. Enjoy!
Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts after 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” will appear every other week in The Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@gmail.com.
