Chino Bandino

While in Phoenix on a Saturday evening, Judy and I stopped to eat at Chino Bandino, a restaurant featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives, located at 15414 North 19th Ave, Suite K (602-375-3639). .

It is a fusion of Mexican and Chinese food.

It qualifies as a dive, as it was initially designed as take-out, but they've become so popular that they have added a dining hall that would work as a school lunch room. We got there early and it was packed. There were about 10 people ahead of us in line and double that behind us as we got to the window. Judy got a rice bowl with emerald chicken.

I got a rice bowl with a combination of jade red chicken, jerk chicken, refried beans and jerk fried rice.

We both got their volcano (chocolate) cookie.

Judy really liked the emerald chicken, but would have liked more sauce. I thought the jade red chicken and jerk chicken were pretty ordinary. The jade red chicken, in particular, their most popular item, would fit into a typical Chinese fast food buffet. The refried beans were good and the jerk fried rice was unusual and pretty good. Overall, if given the opportunity, neither of us would have any desire to go back. I'm finding the Triple D highlighted restaurants to be hit and miss, but it does give us an excuse to try new foods and new restaurants and I think we will continue to seek out Triple D recommended restuarants in the future for that reason.