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Who’d You Rather: EL TORO or El RANCHO GRANDE ? **+Win Free Dinner **

June 29, 2014 By The Food Adventures Crew 26 Comments

Chicken Fajitas from El Toro

Chicken Fajitas from El Toro

Again, Food Adventures asks who’d you rather get it on with.  This time a plate from El Toro or a plate from El Rancho Grande?

In this battle for the border, we know Daytonians are picking sides and drawing their line in the margarita salt.  Comment below on which of these two Mexican Restaurants you like better and why !  One winner will be chosen at random and will win dinner with  The Food Adventures Crew at their favorite, either El Toro or El Rancho.  You will act as a referee for us as we also invite our biggest critic, the witty Michael R Hawk !  Let the insults fly !

Now, before you Dayton foodie purists jump all over our white cheese sauce…  We love Mexican Restaurants Taqueria Mixteca (feature article) and Taco Loco (feature article) as our personal faves.  Since we have featured those more obscure restaurants that most people have not been to, we decided for a more familiar fight…

Sound the bell, it’s time to rock the pinata !

First off, margaritas are chick drinks, so we will let the girls sound off and fight it out over who has the best margaritas of the two places.

Both places have fantastic service and tie in that category.  The tacos, and chimichangas are impossible to tell apart.  Also, the desserts like flan and fried ice cream are pretty much the same at both locations.

Del Mar Trio - Ragu's all time favorite

Del Mar Trio at El Rancho Grande features Lobster, Shrimp and Fish

As for everything else.. Here is how the Food Adventures judges saw it.

 

JAX’S VOTE:  EL TORO

— Jax says “The Salsa at El Toro is Better.”  The taste and chunkiness is second to none.  This gives El Toro an early knockout in my book.

— Hungry Jax says “El Toro’s Fajitas Reign Supreme.”  The fajitas at El Toro are the best.  I love fajitas.  Whether you get, steak, chicken or pollo (fish) fajitas, they are very filling and huge portions.

— Jax says “El Toro Gets the Slight Edge in Carnitas Tacos and Enchiladas.  To put it bluntly, these two restaurants have a bunch of dishes, that under the cheese sauce, none of us can tell apart from each other.  I like pork tacos and enchiladas, and El Toro is better by the slightest of margins, and the consistency is good across the 9 locations.  So, El Toro gets my vote by low blow.”

 

THE BIG RAGU’S VOTE: EL RANCHO GRANDE

El Toro beef tacos

Beef Tacos from El Toro (we added their terrific salsa)

—The Big Ragu says, “The Del Mar Trio dish at El Rancho Grande is the champ of both menus.  A must eat! Grilled lobster, tilapia and shrimp served on a fajita plate? FIGHT OVER !

— The Big Ragu says “El Rancho has Pacifico beer on tap.  I have never seen that beer anywhere in my life, other than in bottles.  Also, they feature Negra Modelo on tap.  The other place is too punch drunk to beat that!”  El Rancho Grande has similar draft beer choices at the 8 locations from North Dayton to Middletown.

— The Big Ragu says “El Rancho’s Chilles Rellenos are a deal maker.”  Stuffed with cheese, these huge poblano peppers are melt in your mouth delicious.  Stick a fork in them, they’re done!

 

Sound off and tell us which one you like, here is your chance for a free Food Adventure !

 ***** FREE DINNER WITH THE FOOD ADVENTURES CREW *****

LET’S HEAR FROM THE PEOPLE !  It is now your turn to comment on “Who’d you Rather : El Toro or El Rancho Grande?”

Pacifico Clara on Draft? YES ! YES ! YES !

Pacifico Clara on Draft at El Rancho Grande? YES! YES! YES!

Hold onto your sombrero, muchacho!  One person who comments on the story below will win dinner at their favorite, either El Rancho Grande or El Toro with Food Advntures!  They will be joined by Food Adventure’s biggest critic, Michael R. Hawk, for an interesting evening of fun and food.

 

Want to see our WHO’D YOU RATHER stories over the past 3 years?  Click on the individual links below !
Who’d You Rather?  FRICKERS or ROOSTERS? 

Who’d You Rather?  CHIPOTLE or QDOBA?

Who’d You Rather?  FIVE GUYS or SMASHBURGER?

 

Check out our photo gallery below for some great photos of El Toro and El Rancho Grande offerings.  Dont’ forget to join the thousands on Facebook who “like” Food Adventures by clicking HERE !

[flagallery gid=92]

Filed Under: Dayton Dining, Food Adventures, The Featured Articles Tagged With: #daytonfood, #daytonfoodies, beans, Beavercreek, Beer, Big Ragu, Centerville, chef house, chicken, Dayton, DaytonDining, El Rancho Grande, El Toro, enchiladas, fajitas, Food Adventure, Food Adventures, guacamole, hard taco, hungry jax, Kettering, margaritas, Mexican, Pacifico, restaurant, steak, tamales, Tequila, The Big Ragu, vegetables

About The Food Adventures Crew

We are 3 Dayton Foodies constantly seeking Food Adventures. We are Jackie Scanlan, Jessie Whitesell and The Big Ragu Steve Milano. Together, your humble crew will seek out locally owned restaurants, unique places off the beaten path, & even give our slant on some familiar favorites. Whenever we visit a place, we call it a “Food Adventure.” You can expect pictures of each Food Adventure we embark on. You can expect us hugging waiters, posting nostalgic blogs, giving healthy wholesome tips, and having a blast. We have a passion for life and no rules when it comes to tackling eats. We are not food critics, that is boring. We just love to eat!

Reader Interactions


Comments

Comments

Comments

  1. Talia Bartoe says

    June 29, 2014 at 3:10 pm

    Out of these two, I’m going to have to go for El Toro. The salsa seals the deal

  2. Adam Garza says

    June 29, 2014 at 4:17 pm

    El Toro most definitely

  3. Steve Milano says

    June 29, 2014 at 4:43 pm

    El Rancho Grande !!!

  4. Vanessa Pinto says

    June 29, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    El Toro

  5. Vanessa Pinto says

    June 29, 2014 at 5:04 pm

    El Toro

  6. Sarah Miller says

    June 29, 2014 at 5:34 pm

    El Toro

  7. Naomi Anderson Fogel says

    June 29, 2014 at 5:56 pm

    El Toro!

  8. Sarah Miller says

    June 29, 2014 at 6:25 pm

    El Toro

  9. Sarah Miller says

    June 29, 2014 at 6:46 pm

    El Toro

  10. Thomas Fischer says

    June 29, 2014 at 7:42 pm

    el toro

  11. Naomi Anderson Fogel says

    June 29, 2014 at 8:24 pm

    El Toro!

  12. Naomi Anderson Fogel says

    June 29, 2014 at 8:28 pm

    El Toro!

  13. Naomi Anderson Fogel says

    June 29, 2014 at 9:05 pm

    El Toro!

  14. Hayley Bricker says

    June 29, 2014 at 10:48 pm

    El toro!

  15. Hayley Bricker says

    June 29, 2014 at 11:06 pm

    El toro!

  16. Mike Mcmillon says

    June 30, 2014 at 11:12 am

    El Toro Mexican Bar and Grill is the Best!!!

  17. Mike Mcmillon says

    June 30, 2014 at 12:56 pm

    El Toro Mexican Bar and Grill is the Best!!!

  18. Renee Culbertson says

    June 30, 2014 at 2:44 pm

    El Rancho Grande. Arturo at the West Carrollton location is always so friendly and the food is always delicious!

  19. Renee Culbertson says

    June 30, 2014 at 3:09 pm

    El Rancho Grande. Arturo at the West Carrollton location is always so friendly and the food is always delicious!

  20. Jen Funk Segrest says

    June 30, 2014 at 4:03 pm

    Of the two, el toro. Casa randes sauces are colored gravies with no real difference in taste and food flys out so fast you know it’s premade.

  21. Laura Loges says

    June 30, 2014 at 8:16 pm

    El Toro is much better. Salsa and guacamole are outstanding. Chicken and steak dishes are flavorful and not nearly as salty as El Rancho Grande.

  22. Laura Loges says

    June 30, 2014 at 8:18 pm

    El Toro is much better. Salsa and guacamole are outstanding. Chicken and steak dishes are flavorful and not nearly as salty as El Rancho Grande.

  23. Laura Loges says

    June 30, 2014 at 8:22 pm

    El Toro is much better. Salsa and guacamole are outstanding. Chicken and steak dishes are flavorful and not nearly as salty as El Rancho Grande.

  24. Laura Loges says

    July 3, 2014 at 7:35 am

    El Toro is much better. Salsa and guacamole are outstanding. Chicken and steak dishes are flavorful and not nearly as salty as El Rancho Grande.

  25. Laura Loges says

    July 7, 2014 at 3:40 pm

    El Toro is much better. Salsa and guacamole are outstanding. Chicken and steak dishes are flavorful and not nearly as salty as El Rancho Grande.

  26. Caryn Snyder says

    March 17, 2015 at 6:09 am

    Well, since I only have two choices: El Toro. But if I really had a choice: TACO LOCO IS AAAAAAHHHHHHHMMMMMAAAAAAAAZZZIINNNNNNNGGG!!!!!

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