ANN ARBOR – Ken Singh had been running a downtown Ann Arbor staple of Mexican cuisine for more than 25 years when construction forced his closure in 2017.
Now he’s back in a new spot with Bandito’s Fresh Mex on Plymouth Road and happier than ever.
Singh said he doesn’t miss his downtown days and has no plans to return. The new space is three times larger than his Fourth Ave. restaurant and has ample parking, better curbside access and none of the constraints of operating a restaurant on the street he calls “Ann Arbor’s forgotten child.”
Singh’s family emigrated to the United States in the 1980′s, founding Raja Rani - an Ann Arbor staple of Indian cuisine - before taking over Bandito’s Fourth Avenue location in 1991. HIs father Jay Singh brought his culinary expertise to the Tex-Mex concept, broadening the menu and quickly growing the business.
When the younger Singh took over, he’d already had years of restaurant experience from growing up in the industry. That dedication and a determination to stay in business has carried him through two recent challenges - the Montgomery Houze development, which forced his closure for several months and ultimately led to him seeking a new space, and the COVID-19 pandemic, which he’s spun into a burgeoning carryout business.
In summer 2017, the Mongtomery Houze development forced Singh to close for what was meant to be a temporary closure while a crane worked on the 41-unit housing development above his restaurant. Delays and setbacks caused the project and its associated street closures to take longer than expected.
Banditos Restaurant temporarily closing due to Ann Arbor construction
“They gutted my restaurant,” he said. “My restaurant was gutted to the floor - three months passed of construction delays and then another month, more delays.”
After nearly a year spent struggling to make ends meet, Singh said he stumbled upon his new space by chance while grabbing lunch at Plymouth Crossing and noticed a “For Lease” sign at the former site of Olga’s Kitchen.
He reopened Bandito’s in that space on April 1, 2019, assuring his customers that it was no April Fool’s joke.
“I had a line out the door for about two or three weeks.’ he said. “I made new customers and I had all my old following.”
Even in the face of the pandemic, Singh said the restaurant is doing as well as he could expect, with a healthy curbside business and a stream of customers traveling on nearby U.S. 23.
“I’m the happiest person in the world. It’s like winning the lotto,” he said.
Singh has rebuilt Bandito’s menu, as well, with a focus on fresh ingredients, in-house tortillas, sauces and guacamole and organic, halal meats.
He brought back the restaurant’s famous Nachos Banditos - a heaping tray of chips topped with beans, black olives, onions, tomatoes, sliced jalapenos, a blend of cheeses and a whole seared jalapeno pepper. The restaurant is also known for its quesadillas, which are baked rather than pan-fried for a flaky, pastry-like crust. The carne asada is served sizzling in a skillet with organic halal beef and a blend of fresh peppers, onions and corn.
Bandito’s Fresh Mex, 3395 Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor, is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday to Saturday. Customers can order online at www.banditosmi.com for contactless carryout, and the restaurant also offers in-person dining at 50% capacity.
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The Link LonkMay 15, 2021 at 09:31PM
https://www.mlive.com/news/ann-arbor/2021/05/local-eats-banditos-fresh-mex-has-new-home-on-plymouth-road-in-ann-arbor.html
Local Eats: Bandito’s Fresh Mex loves new home on Plymouth Road in Ann Arbor - MLive.com
https://news.google.com/search?q=fresh&hl=en-US&gl=US&ceid=US:en
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