By Kerr

May 10, 2010 1:24 PM | Link to this

you asked if hot head was fresh . i have the answer for you . the meat is fresh and the peppers and onions they sautee are fresh . now all the salsas are made from canned products. i used to work for the company and prepared many of the ingredients. all canned corn . canned green tomatoes make the salsa. as well as the hot salsa is made from a canned salsa already prepared. even the beans are canned . so i guess if you like canned foods ur good. me personally i prefer everything to be fresh .

By Wiley

May 11, 2010 5:52 PM | Link to this

hot head Burrito really ?????? is not a Mexican Restaurant

By Jorge

May 12, 2010 7:22 AM | Link to this

Taqueria Mixteca on 3rd. Hands down.

By Sarah

May 12, 2010 8:56 AM | Link to this

I can’t believe Tumbleweed is not on this list. What’s with that???

By tallsandi

May 12, 2010 9:35 AM | Link to this

Duh pinhead, Tumbleweeds is not a Mexican restaurant. El Toro rules.

By Christine

May 12, 2010 9:36 AM | Link to this

I agree with Jorge. There is no contest here. Taqueira Mixteca would take it every time!

By duffman

May 12, 2010 12:07 PM | Link to this

The crazy Taco is amazing!

By El guapo

May 12, 2010 1:17 PM | Link to this

Ah yes - run to Taqueira Mixteca for their La Cucaracha specials! Actually run FROM not to that nasty, nasty place. Blech!

By me gusto El Toro!

May 12, 2010 1:21 PM | Link to this

I love Chipotle, but it’s not a mexican restaurant, it’s just a burrito joint. Got to be El Toro.

By Nick

May 12, 2010 1:22 PM | Link to this

pepitos.us great fun

By LOLITA

May 12, 2010 1:24 PM | Link to this

I like el toro but chile colorado at pepitos mmmm

By Steve

May 12, 2010 1:31 PM | Link to this

All mexican food in the area is rather terrible. Take a nice long drive up to Detroit for some GOOD mexican food. Only place I’ll eat it here is at Acapulco’s which has a spot in Xenia and Lebanon. El Toro is the worst food I’ve ever had and couldn’t even finish it.

By Marie

May 12, 2010 1:39 PM | Link to this

My favorite Mexican restaurant is El Riacho on Dayton-Yellow Springs in Fairborn. Antonio and his staff are great, never a long wait for your meal and the food is amazing.

By mojo

May 12, 2010 1:49 PM | Link to this

Cazadores has by far the best Mexican food in the area that I’ve eaten. Consistently delicious, clean place and very courteous staff. I live in Kettering but I’d make the drive to Franklin any day for that place. Do yourself a favor and go!

By Stacy

May 12, 2010 2:51 PM | Link to this

El Toro is crap.

By freedomlover

May 12, 2010 3:17 PM | Link to this

el meson is the best in dayton. cant believe it’s not on the list.

By Charles Zirkle

May 12, 2010 4:48 PM | Link to this

El Meson is the only true and by far the best Mexican Restaurant in Dayton and they aren’t on the list!!!!!!!!

By DanT

May 12, 2010 6:43 PM | Link to this

Acapulco in Xenia gets my vote if it was on the list.

By J.Lopez

May 12, 2010 8:14 PM | Link to this

This category should be “best attempt to make mexican food”… true mexican is nothing that ANY of these restaurants make. El Meson is true to upscale authentic but if you want true Mexican… go to Mexico!! El Rancho has good rice (good margaritas), Abuelos has good chips but is a chain restaurant. Qdoba/Moe’s/Chipotle is expensive and is not mexican to me (however taste good). Cazadores has good soup. Las Piramidas is ok. Taco Bell is NOT mexican but rather a gateway to mexican food. The others I have not been too. I am on a search to find the best chile relleno!

By Jenni O

May 12, 2010 8:23 PM | Link to this

Pepito’s all the way. If you like good and homemade chiles rellenos go to Pepito’s. They are the only ones to have Nopalitos…Pepitos is the best and authentic mexican food.! Great margaritas, food and the staff is so friendly. Keep it up George and Janet!

By JJ

May 12, 2010 8:42 PM | Link to this

Pepitos is okay. El Cazador in Englewood is much better. Nothing around here is great.

By B-dub

May 12, 2010 9:34 PM | Link to this

El Meson is awesome… But it is Latin food. Sr. Castro and crew are the best! There is a difference between Latin and Tex-Mex food. Most of the Mexican restaurants are Tex-Mex. I travel to Mexico often. The Mexican places in Dayton are good but not great.

By floater74

May 12, 2010 9:54 PM | Link to this

TUMBLEWEED IS HORRIBLE !!!

By chuck

May 12, 2010 11:53 PM | Link to this

Cazadores in Sidney is the best I have ever had. I have been to about a dozen other restuarants and nothing beats them. Never been to the one in Franklin, but assume it is as good as the one in Sidney, they also own el tapatio in Piqua

By Joe

May 13, 2010 6:53 AM | Link to this

El Toro? Really?Did you eat paint chips when you were a kid? Disgusting!!!

By Momcat

May 13, 2010 7:10 AM | Link to this

El Rancho Grande!!! Great food, friendly staff. Their Hot Salsa is the reason we go there weekly. You have to ask for it….Best we’ve had in Dayton.

By Joe

May 13, 2010 8:45 AM | Link to this

If you blindfolded me and dropped me into one of the 400 “Mexican” restaurants in town, I probably couldn’t tell the difference. Maybe next time we can vote on the best “Texas Roadhouse” style restaurant. :-)

By Radman

May 13, 2010 9:28 AM | Link to this

Actually, the Las Piramedes in Huber Heights is better than the one in Centerville, but you didn’t give us that option. In my opinion, it’s the best in town.

By Ricky Bobby

May 13, 2010 12:11 PM | Link to this

Elsa’s is gross!

By LOLITA

May 13, 2010 12:29 PM | Link to this

Pepito’s Golden Margaritas very strong good for the money, food pretty much the same is all the rest of the Mexican Restaurant around

By John McAfee

May 13, 2010 2:30 PM | Link to this

Where’s Don Pablo’s? Best Tex-Mex in Dayton, far and away. And that’s a shame, that a chain beats the rest.

By George lopez

May 13, 2010 8:34 PM | Link to this

Salsas is the best Mexican food ever!!!! The food is awesome and their dancing on Saturday is bumpin…anyone who hasn’t been should go!!

By Katie

May 13, 2010 10:59 PM | Link to this

Apparently there are A LOT of people in the Dayton area who have not tried SALSAS (in Airway Shopping Center) because if you had—there would be no reason to ask this question. SALSAS has the best food by far of any restaurant that serves Mexican food. Their selection of salsas is impressive- the steaks are delicious— the margaritas can’t compare to anywhere else. Definitely the best food and the best atmosphere! Anyone who hasn’t given it a try, needs to go NOW!

By Allison

May 13, 2010 11:11 PM | Link to this

You need to try SALSA’S in the Airway Shopping Center. GREAT place to hang out and eat excellent, authentic Mexican food.

By Maria

May 13, 2010 11:47 PM | Link to this

SALSA’S in dayton (airway shopping center) not only has the best food but all around best atmosphere BY FAR!!! Love it!! You have to try it!!!!

By Ballgame

May 14, 2010 8:22 AM | Link to this

Salsa’s must have had there workers get on here and post that because they would be the only people to think that food was good. Pepito’s? Come on that food was good when there wern’t any other mexican food palces in the dayton area. El Rancho blows them all away. The one on Miller Lane not only has the best food, the best jumbo margaritas, the best big beer mugs, they also have the best service.

By manny

May 14, 2010 8:53 AM | Link to this

Its funny you hear people say the word authentic and they think they know what true mexican food is the truth is no american could probably eat true authentic mexican food or know what is every time you order a side of sour cream with your meal guess what that’s not authentic mexicans don’t use an american food as a topping on their dishes. Truth is all mexican rest. Cater to the americans so they make their food that way. My favorite is SALSAS they offer something that only a very very small amount can offer and that’s the mexican family run resturaunt. That’s true mexican. A family buisness that has the best Saturday dance night and great food. You have to try the Pollo Loco

By Jimmy

May 14, 2010 9:15 AM | Link to this

What a joke, Taco Bell and Elsa’s on the list for best mexican? lol. even worse is how many votes Elsa’s gets, shows the complete lack of taste around here. The “mexican” food in this town is dumbed down for the gringos, the only thing close to the food I grew up with in Los Angeles and what my family cooks in Dayton is Taqueria Mixteca

By manny

May 14, 2010 9:30 AM | Link to this

Obiviously ball game who commented above me either works for el rancho or knows someone personaly there. Tonto

By El Toro

May 14, 2010 9:39 AM | Link to this

I ABSOLUTELY LOVE EL TORO! Ok I understand that they have altered the food so it is more “americanized” but so do most other “authentic” restaurants. I think their food is great, just an opinion. :)

By Paula Ewers

May 14, 2010 11:48 AM | Link to this

If you have been to Mexico, esp. Mexico City, you will know that “TACO LOCO” has the most authentic Mexican food in the area. Their tacos are not like any other tacos around - they are true Mexican tacos. Their pozole is excellent. If you are really hungry get the large bowl. They don’t have a liquor license, so you can’t get Margaritas or Mexican beer, but they do have the wonderful Mexican sodas and other drinks that are served in Mexico. Try it and know that this is really authentic.

By Northern M. Valley

May 14, 2010 2:09 PM | Link to this

It would be a tie in my book…between La Fiesta and El Sombrero in Troy, the atmosphere and food is great at both!

By Dayton Citizen

May 14, 2010 2:31 PM | Link to this

El Rancho Grande is our favorite….the one south of town is the best. The one in Germantown is okay, but their chef is a little heavy with the spices…

By John

May 14, 2010 10:43 PM | Link to this

I remember the Black bull…most people here don’t know Mexican from Taco Bell

By cazadores

May 14, 2010 11:10 PM | Link to this

Cazadores - have been to many mexican restaurants in Texas and Arizona (and Dayton) and with the exception of those which specialize in Mole sauces, Cazadores is comparable to any in the more mexican portions of the USA. Plus, it has the best salsa in the Dayton area. Combine all that with nice people and I would urge those who have not tried Cazadores in Franklin to do so. You will not be disappointed.

By cazadores

May 14, 2010 11:11 PM | Link to this

Forgot to mention that I like El Meson but it is not truly “mexican” food. It is more Spanish.

By Elvis

May 15, 2010 7:24 PM | Link to this

If you didn’t vote for Los 3 Amigos (Dixie & Dorothy) it’s because you haven’t eaten there. Ask for the Pollo Poblano — not on the menu, but a fantastic dish. Service is also fantastic.

By b.white

May 16, 2010 1:48 PM | Link to this

Hands down Abuelo’s has all the others beat. If you haven’t been you are missing out on the best authentic mexican food around. All the others are just low cost fast food.

By cazadores

May 16, 2010 2:41 PM | Link to this

Forgot to mention that I like Pepito’s but it is not truly “mexican” some dishes are other not. It is more thex mex

By hacking up a fur ball

August 10, 2010 5:32 PM | Link to this

Hot head burritos? OMG, my cat won’t eat that….

By Surs

August 11, 2010 1:29 AM | Link to this

WOW. Pepito’s is really bad. They can’t even make salsa right. It’s just a bowl of semi-crushed tomatoes in tomato soup. It’s awful. And I agree, all the restaurants listed are not authentic mexican. But hey, it’s crappy Dayton, so what should I expect? El Mason, is great, and truly authentic Latin America/ South American cuisine. The closest thing Dayton has to “real” mexican. Everywhere else in Dayton is weak sauce.