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TASTE TEAM
Dayton restaurants — Best burritos
The taste team, on a mission to find the best burrito in Dayton, sampled eight different tortilla wrapped delicacies so you don't have to. And believe us, you don't want to! We unfortunately had to eat some of ours less than piping hot because we transported them from all over town. Other than that, we got em loaded with everything and medium salsa. We tried chicken, beef and vegetarian options from each location.
Here are excerpts from our tasting notes.
Comment on our findings »
Restaurants |
Taco Bell |
Chipotle |
Qdoba |
Moe's Southwest Grill |
El Rancho Grande |
Taqueria Mixteca |
Carmel's |
Pepito's |
Taste: This one's pretty basic. We judged on taste, flavor and seasoning. The best burrito ever would get a 10. |
Overall rating: 6.3 Pluses: "This is classic, nostalgic, comforting, delicious!" —Gerry Minuses: "Too many beans!" —Nicole |
Overall rating: 7.0 Pluses: "I love how fresh this burrito is." —Nicole Minuses: "Unexpectedly spicy, rice is almost bitter in some bites." —Hillary |
Overall rating: 4.6 Pluses: "The guacamole was good." —Gerry Minuses: "Ick. Tongue- scraping disgusting." —Zack |
Overall rating: 5.6 Pluses: "This was a great burrito! Even the guacomole wasn't too bad." —Hillary Minuses: "Possibly the worst combination of flavors ever." —Zack |
Overall rating: 8.4 Pluses: "I definitely loved the red sauce on this one!" —Nicole Minuses: "Only the meat lacks flavor." —Zack |
Overall rating: 7.6 Pluses: "Delicious! Possibly the best ground beef, best mixture of ingredients." —Zack Minuses: "I'm not a supporter of beans in burritos unless it's just beans and cheese." —Nicole |
Overall rating: 6.4 Pluses: "Great taste and very decent beef." —Zack Minuses: "First bite was unexpectedly repulsive. Maybe it was the strange purple relish." —Gerry |
Overall rating: 2.0 Minuses: "The beans taste like grape jelly." —Mark |
Freshness: No one wants the rice that's been sitting out all day. We checked out how fresh, juicy, and well-prepared the ingredients were. |
Overall rating: 4.6 Pluses: "Not stale, but no Fresh Prince of Bel-Air." —Gerry Minuses: "The tomatoes taste off." —Nicole |
Overall rating: 6.3 Pluses: "Well-prepared and ingredients were fresh." —Tiffany Minuses: "Tortilla was a little dry." —Mark |
Overall rating: 5.3 Pluses: "Nice and warm, but not 'burn-the-roof- of-your-mouth' hot." —Tiffany Minuses: "Even if it was fresh, it would still be gross!" —Hillary |
Overall rating: 6.0 Pluses: "Everything was fresh and tasty!" —Hillary Minuses: "It seemed poorly mixed." —Zack |
Overall rating: 8.6 Pluses: "Excellent! Even for carryout it was still fresh and perfectly ready to eat." —Hillary Minuses: "The lettuce was poor quality" —Nicole |
Overall rating: 8.0 Pluses: "The heavy duty foil helped with the freshness." —Mark Minuses: "Tolerable. It was a little mushy." —Hillary |
Overall rating: 6.8 Pluses: "The chicken had the best taste. It looked like it was cut right off a fresh chicken breast." —Mark Minuses: "Rice was dry, sticky and dirty tasting." —Gerry |
Overall rating: 3.2
Minuses: "It may have been fresh, but if so there's something seriously wrong with those cows." —Zack |
Presentation and texture: Your eyes see it before your mouth does! Too wet and messy? Too dry? How's the ratio of tortilla to filling? |
Overall rating: 6.6 Pluses: "Here it excels. Plenty of burrito goodness!" —Zack Minuses: "Ingredients were put together very sloppily." —Mark |
Overall rating: 7.0 Pluses: "Good presentation and ingredient ratio. Love the tortilla!" —Nicole Minuses: "The tortilla falls apart too easily." —Mark |
Overall rating: 6.3 Pluses: "It looked WAY better than it tasted!" —Zack Minuses: "Why does the sour cream look like cottage cheese?" —Nicole |
Overall rating: 7.3 Pluses: "This burrito had the best presentation with a great colorful display." —Mark Minuses: "Too moist and mushy! Not well mixed and it had way too much sour cream." —Tiffany |
Overall rating: 9.6 Pluses: "This burrito came with rice and beans. Always great to have a side." —Mark Also Pluses: "Great! However, you must use a fork!" —Gerry |
Overall rating: 8.4 Pluses: "Great ratio and a great tortilla." —Nicole Minuses: "It was huge, but that's its only good attribute." —Hillary |
Overall rating: 5.6 Pluses: "My portion was beef-heavy, however, it was very full of indgredients." —Zack Minuses: "Too dry! The chicken tasted like that particular fowl had a tanning bed problem." —Nicole |
Overall rating: 2.4 Minuses: "Not enough filler, too flat." —Gerry |
Worth the dough? A great burrito for $12 better be one helluva burrito! How much do you get for the money? |
Overall rating: 7.3 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $2.75 Comments: "If I needed, I could buy two for the price of the leading competitor." —Gerry "A ton of food for cheap." —Mark |
Overall rating: 7.0 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $5.50 Comments: "Definitely worth it, except the heartburn." —Nicole "Best burrito for the price." —Mark |
Overall rating: 4.3 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $5.75 "You get a fair amount. It's filling." —Gerry |
Overall rating: 5.0 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $6.15 with tortilla chips included Comments: "Not worth the money." —Tiffany "Great taste and chips included! Can't beat that!" —Hillary |
Overall rating: 8.4 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): A two burrito meal for about $9. One burrito for $7. Comments: "I'm not sure if it's worth $7, but with rice and beans it may be worth it." —Nicole "The value of buying two for $9 is a great deal." —Gerry |
Overall rating: 8.4 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $5 Comments: "This is the biggest burrito I've ever seen!" —Mark "Big! What a value!" —Zack |
Overall rating: 6.0 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $7.25 Comments: "You get a fair amount for the price, but it would rate higher if it was yummy." —Gerry "A little overpriced for what it is." —Hillary |
Overall rating: 2.4 Average cost (depends on filling, i.e. chicken, steak, vegetarian): $5 Comments: "You don't get any burrito for your money; you get Mexican- flavored food paste." —Gerry |
And the winner is…
- El Rancho Grande followed by Taqueria Mixteca.
The resounding loser…
- Pepito's
The taste team:
- Gerry, 23, the non-picky eater.
- Hillary, 23, the moderately picker eater who hates beans.
- Zack, 23, not at all picky.
- Nicole, 21, an adventuresome food connoisseur.
- Tiffany, 18, admittedly very picky.
- Mark, 22, the adventurous eater.
Comments
By Stella
October 29, 2011 11:49 AM | Link to this
I have some serious concerns on Hot Head Burrito’s claims for being “gluten free bowls.” During my employment, we were trained to practice wrapping burritos (wheat) with rice. Once we completed wrapping the burritos, the rice we used to wrap was placed back into the clean serving rice pan. Therefore, the rice was no long gluten free. I am aware of this allergy because I also have intolerance, and people who have celiac disease, will get very sick from Hot Head’s practice. Please be aware of cross contamination with gluten and other ingredients, especially if you are allergic or eat gluten free. Corporate was the one who showed me how to wrap multiple burritos to practice, and then instructed me to dump the contaminated rice back into the clean rice. He asked the manager if she wanted to re-use the rice, and she said “yes, put it back in the pan with the rest of the rice.”
By Mar
November 14, 2009 2:40 PM | Link to this
Taqueria Mixteca is the best mexican food-period. The restaurant is shabby authentic-feels like you’re really in Mexico. Prices are good too.
By skittlez
October 16, 2009 3:25 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 Mike
June 6, 2009 11:08 PM | Link to this
The best food ever. I go there like 3 or 4 times a week. Chipolte is great too but I live closer to a hot head.
By Denise
February 25, 2009 9:09 AM | Link to this
How did you miss Burrito King on Valley St? My favorites are the Machaca and Chorizo.
By bill
February 21, 2009 4:26 PM | Link to this
Chipotle is the best followed by Qdoba, Moes is gross wanted to throw it away. Tried hot head today it was good. does any body know about there food? is it from a bag of fresh?
By Ray
August 11, 2008 9:59 PM | Link to this
I THINK YOU WILL BE AMAZED HOW GOOD OF A PRODUCT HOT HEAD IS. NOT TO MENTION THE PLACE IS REALLY COOL INSIDE. PLEASE PUT THEM IN THE NEXT “DAYTON BURRITO’ TASTING.
By Sandy
July 31, 2008 11:41 AM | Link to this
The “Monster” burrito at El Toro (Vandalia/NorthWoods exit near Kroger’s) is a killer burrito. Not only is it a monster in size, it’s also very tasty. My husband and I have found that we can split one and it’s a complete meal. Salsa also very good.
By Arlene
May 22, 2008 10:53 PM | Link to this
I think you should visit the Skyline Chili on Miller Lane, they by far have the best burrito. They have (3) to choose from and they are delicious. The chilitos are a fantastic bite too!!!!
By marilyn
May 4, 2008 5:29 PM | Link to this
the mixteca on 3rd street is the best. hotheads is a dump. chipotle chips are awesome. hillary is a crybaby who i imagine has a snotty wrinkle nosed face when she looks at things to pretend shes important. thanks!
By austin white
April 7, 2008 11:17 AM | Link to this
i agree that hot heads is the best i love the steak and all the options that you have to pick from and the taste team is realy stupid they dont know what they are talking about.
By luis
April 4, 2008 9:27 AM | Link to this
just a reminder for the taste team pepitos is been close for 3 months there are only two locations ,maybe you went to a different restaurant how reliable is your info ? you need to be carefull you can damaged the reputation of a restaurant when you get this kind of ………more serious thanks
By Foreverglow
April 3, 2008 5:01 PM | Link to this
Elsa’s! Where the crap are they?
By Diane
March 21, 2008 3:01 PM | Link to this
I agree with the Hothead burrito comment! I LOVE HOT HEAD! When you put that buffulo sauce on that burrito you will agree too that it is one of the best ones in town!
By Scot
March 19, 2008 5:12 PM | Link to this
Where is Hot Head Burrito’s on this list? This is a totally local company that plays with the big boys and the family run joints. Any fans or detractors pleases pipe in.
By Julie
January 30, 2008 7:40 AM | Link to this
Nobody went to LasPiramides ???? You gotta go try their BURRITO ENAMORADO - Steak or Chicken. I always get the steak - this burrito is HUGE with Steak, Green Peppers and Onions and covered in that wonder white creamy melted cheese. Comes with shredded lettuce and pico de gallo on the side. Not filled with Rice and beans like most places do.