Botanas Appetizers in Carlsbad | Casa de Bandini Menu

Casa de Bandini’s botanas are the shareable start of our homemade Mexican menu in Carlsbad — house guacamole made daily, queso fundido with chorizo, nachos, taquitos, ceviche, and taco samplers built for the table. Every plate leans on the same kitchen standards as the rest of the menu: ripe avocados mashed to order, salsa quemada, and tortillas pressed and cooked on the griddle. Order them in the dining room at The Forum Carlsbad, or take them to-go.

Concha de Guacamole

Concha de guacamole appetizer—housemade guacamole in a crisp flour shell on a plate with tortilla chips

A crisp flour shell filled with housemade guacamole sprinkled with cheese and served with Casa tortilla chips.

Crafted daily in our kitchen, our homemade guacamole starts with selecting the freshest, ripest avocados. These green gems are hand-picked for their creamy texture and rich flavor, serving as the heart of our guacamole.

The avocados are gently mashed, preserving some chunks for a satisfying bite. To these, we add a squeeze of fresh lime juice.

But what truly sets Casa de Bandini's guacamole apart is the love and care with which it's made. Each batch is prepared with a deep respect for the traditional recipe, ensuring you get a taste of authentic Mexican cuisine with every scoop.

Queso

Fundido

Rich, gooey goodness of melted Jack cheese, topped with a layer of beef chorizo that's bursting with flavor. Served alongside our homemade flour tortillas.

Queso fundido—gooey melted Jack cheese with chorizo, served with warm tortillas in a cantina

Taquitos

Rancheros

Savor our Taquitos Rancheros, featuring four crunchy corn tortillas filled with seasoned beef. Topped with fresh lettuce, diced tomato, shredded cheese, and creamy Mexican crema. Complemented by a side of our spicy avocado salsa for an added kick.

Taquitos Rancheros—crispy corn taquitos with beef, lettuce, tomato, cheese, and Mexican crema

Mexican

Trio

Our dipping trio consists of fresh guacamole, jalapeño cheese sauce, and a Mexican bean dip made with salsa Quemada and melted cheese.

Mexican Trio appetizer—guacamole, jalapeño cheese sauce, and bean dip with salsa quemada

Taco

Sampler

Four soft corn tacos, two carne asada and two carnitas, topped with fresh onion, cilantro, queso cotija, guacamole and salsa quemada.

Taco Sampler—soft corn tacos with carne asada and carnitas, onion, cilantro, cotija, guacamole

Quesadilla de Bandini

Warm flour tortilla filled with creamy melted Monterey Jack and Cheddar cheeses, paired with mild California green chile strips for a subtle spicy kick.

Quesadilla de Bandini—flour tortilla with melted Jack and cheddar, mild green chiles

Ceviche

Citrus-marinated wild-caught shrimp served with fresh tomatoes, cilantro, onions, crisp cucumbers, and creamy avocado, with a hint of serranos for a fiery bite. Served with crunchy corn tostadas.

Shrimp ceviche—citrus-marinated shrimp with tomato, cucumber, cilantro, avocado, and tostadas
Casa de Bandini cantina specials preview image

Muchísimos Taquitos

Traditional shredded beef or chicken rolled tacos topped with melted cheese. These taquitos are served with a side of zesty salsa, making them an irresistible favorite for everyone at the table.

Muchísimos Taquitos—rolled tacos topped with melted cheese, served with zesty salsa

Nachos Supremos

A towering feast of crisp, golden tortilla chips generously smothered with perfectly melted cheese. We layer on spicy chorizo, a dollop of cool sour cream, and fiery jalapeños to bring the heat. Our homemade guacamole for a smooth counterpoint to the crunch of the chips and then topped with homemade salsa.

Nachos Supremos appetizer—chips with melted cheese, chorizo, jalapeños, guacamole, and salsa
Casa de Bandini Cinco de Mayo celebration graphic: Mexican ballet folklórico dancers, live music and the famous Cinco Rita Margarita.

Flautas Rancheras

Savor our Taquitos Rancheros, featuring four crunchy corn tortillas filled with seasoned beef. Topped with fresh lettuce, diced tomato, shredded cheese, and creamy Mexican crema. Complemented by a side of our spicy avocado salsa for an added kick.

Flautas Rancheras—crispy rolled tacos with lettuce, tomato, cheese, and Mexican crema

Taquitos Rancheros

Savor our Taquitos Rancheros, featuring four crunchy corn tortillas filled with seasoned beef. Topped with fresh lettuce, diced tomato, shredded cheese, and creamy Mexican crema. Complemented by a side of our spicy avocado salsa for an added kick.

Taquitos Rancheros appetizer—crispy corn taquitos with beef, crema, and avocado salsa

Start with the Concha de Guacamole in a crisp flour shell, the Mexican Trio of guacamole, jalapeño cheese sauce, and bean dip, or Nachos Supremos stacked with chorizo, melted cheese, and house salsa. Ceviche and the taco sampler give you a lighter or street-style option before the platillos. Don’t forget the homemade tortillas, served fresh off the griddle.

Don't forget the homemade tortillas

We serve your homemade tortillas fresh off the griddle for the best flavor.

Homemade flour tortillas fresh off the griddle at Casa de Bandini

What appetizers does Casa de Bandini serve?

Casa de Bandini's botanas (appetizers) menu has something for everyone — from our housemade Concha de Guacamole and Ceviche to Nachos Supremos, Queso Fundido with beef chorizo, Taquitos Rancheros, and the Taco Sampler (carne asada and carnitas soft corn tacos). Perfect for sharing at the table.

Does Casa de Bandini make their guacamole fresh?

Yes — our guacamole is made fresh daily in-house. We hand-pick ripe avocados and prepare each batch from scratch with lime juice and traditional seasonings. Try it in our Concha de Guacamole, served in a crisp flour shell with tortilla chips.

Does Casa de Bandini have nachos?

Yes! Our Nachos Supremos are a crowd-pleaser — golden tortilla chips loaded with melted cheese, spicy chorizo, jalapeños, sour cream, housemade guacamole, and homemade salsa. Great for a group starter.

What is the Mexican Trio at Casa de Bandini?

The Mexican Trio is our dipping appetizer platter — fresh guacamole, jalapeño cheese sauce, and a Mexican bean dip made with salsa quemada and melted cheese. Served with chips and perfect for sharing.

Does Casa de Bandini have ceviche?

Yes! Our Ceviche features citrus-marinated wild-caught shrimp with fresh tomatoes, cilantro, onions, cucumber, creamy avocado, and a hint of serrano heat. Served with crispy corn tostadas. A refreshing starter, especially popular in Carlsbad's warm weather.