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Elsa’s Enters 74th Summer

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Centerville Far Hills

Locally owned restaurant now serving out of 5 locations.

Most Daytonians know Elsa’s Mexican Cantina for eats and drinks.  Most do not know they have been around for nearly 3 quarters of a century.  That’s a lot of taco shells.

Miami Valley Residents love Elsa’s. What’s not to love?  Each location has a sports bar feel, typically a great patio, and the fun atmosphere make it seem like cinco de mayo every day.  It is also a GREAT place to catch baseball and football games.  It gets noisy sometimes, but hey it is part of he fun and alcohol..

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY on ELSA’s:

Frozen Blue Juan and Frozen Bad Juan Margarita

—In 1945, Elsa Bonner opened her restaurant.

—In 1979,  Elsa’s daughter sold it to 4 business men, 1 whom still owns it.  The menu is Americanized Mexican food, and sports bar favorites.  Full bar menu highlights include margaritas and Mexican Beers.

— In 2019, they are operating 5 strong locations, and is the consummate place for a happy hour gathering with friends.

Here are the locations:
Elsa’s East Restaurant & Cantina , Linden Ave., Dayton, Ohio
Elsa’s Kettering Sports Grill, E. Stroop, Dayton, Ohio
Elsa’s On The Border, Wilmington Ave., Dayton, Ohio
Elsa’s South Restaurant & Cantina, Far Hills Ave., Dayton, Ohio
Elsa’s Corner Cantina,  Wilmington Pike, Dayton, OH

 

Now- you’re at Elsa’s, what are you gonna order?

MUST EATS at ELSA’S MEXICAN CANTINA:

—THE BAD JUAN MARGARITA:
The first must eat is a “must drink.”  This is Dayton’s submission to the Margarita world.  Known for its potency the choice is frozen, or on the rocks.  You can also choose Strawberry among other flavors.  We remain purists here and say “Order a Regular Bad Juan, Frozen.”  Warning may cause blurred speech and bad decisions after two of them.

 

— QUESO BLANCO DIP:

You get free popcorn and chips and salsa, so just take a little more and go first class.  This white cheese dip is the sinful deliciousness you are used to.  It is the cheese hat remains hot and liquid and after a few minutes it takes a second to become solid.

—THE MINI-SUPER BURRITO:
 A flour tortilla filled with refried beans, and your choice of ground beef, shredded beef, chicken, chorizo, or pork carnitas.  We always go for the ground beef.  The burrito is topped with a mild sauce, lettuce, pico de gallo, and aged cheddar cheese.  It is the perfect size for a happy hour bite.

 

— CRUNCHY BEEF TACOS:
That greasy beef, with that crispy, crunchy shell.  The lettuce and cheese make it a deal.  Use the Big Ragu’s “fat kid trick,” and drizzle salsa over the top of the taco,before you take a bite.

— JAMAICA JERK CHICKEN WINGS:
These are some of the most outstanding wings in Dayton.  Same with the sweet BBQ sauce.  The only problem is you can no longer order them “well done.”  What the hell ?  Yes it is true, and that is a travesty and affects the wings.  Maybe if a glut of us order “well done” wings and complain, they will change the policy.  But for now, Elsa’s wont cook their wings well done.  But boy are those wings and especially those 2 sauces amazing.

 

— NACHOS
3 awesome must eat nachos:
1) GROUND BEEF AND CHEESE NACHOS
For the simple, pure nacho lover, ask for sour cream on the side.

2) NACHOS GRANDE DELUXE:
Shredded beef, chicken, refried beans and Monterrey jack cheese.  Lettuce , tomatoes, onions, black olives and jalapenos are added.  Ask for Sour Cream and Guacamole on the side.

3) FAJITA NACHOS:
Ground beef, bean and/or chicken nachos, topped with cheese, grilled onions and grilled peppers.

There you have it.  Our patented must eats.  This will get you where you wanna go fast on the large menu.

As we enter the 74th summer of Elsa’s in the Dayton area, we have 5 locations we can ponder visiting.  Now you may have discovered a couple of new “must eats.”  Good Luck at happy hour !

For more MUST EATS around Dayton – check out Food Adventures on Facebook by clicking HERE

Kettering Location

Centerville Location

Kettering

Beer

Tacos

BAD JUAN on the rocks

inside a mini super burrito

wings – jamaica jerk

Bad Juans

Nachos

Nachos

Beef and cheeses nachos

Tacos

Tacos

BBQ wings

Jamaica Jerk Wings

Feel free to browse the gallery below

 

 

 

 

 

 

THE BAD JUAN: A Dayton Legend

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Outside of the Kettering Elsa’s

Hey Gringo, looking to tie one on during Cinco De Mayo? Then take a sip of a true Food Adventure in a glass. Oh yes, the legendary Bad Juan margarita served exclusively at Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantinas around town.

Whether on the rocks or frozen, salt or no-salt, every Daytonian has a “Bad Juan” story about themselves or a friend. Hungry Jax, Chef House and The Big Ragu are no different. We have had to push stumbling pals into backseats of cars, or help lift some drunky pants ladies into the back of an SUV after a couple of these drinks. We have felt the wrath of Juan ourselves, having numb lips and the buzz that suddenly creeps up on you with this devilish drink.

Let’s be candid, Bad Juans are a Dayton icon. This badass drink even has its own website, badjuan.com. Here is some more on the man, the myth, the legend.. BAD JUAN !

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Since 1981, Bad Juans have been served frozen or on the rocks. They also come in a few flavor variations, but the original Bad Juan remains the most popular.

—Elsa’s has various locations in Centerville, Kettering and Dayton

A Bad Juan on the Rocks: The Legend

— Rumors have swirled about the ingredients. People have been trying to figure out the recipe for years. Food Adventures  may have some inside scoop on the recipe, and although we can’t post it here, we can give you some info. Our inside source tells us that the Bad Juan is made up of only 3 secret ingredients: Triple Sec, Tequila and Lime Juice. We cannot tell you the brands used or the amounts. We can, however, confirm that Mountain Dew is NOT an ingredient, so lets finally put that rumor to bed.

— We believe the secret to the great taste is not only in the ingredients, but in the preparation. The Bad Juan’s are constantly mixed in those plastic, see-through drink machines you are used to seeing at convenient stores or food counters. The thorough mixing of ingredients in these machines blend the drink into that perfect drunken mixture.

— Elsa’s does limit the amount of Bad Juans that a customer can consume (usually 2 or 3 depending on your server). However, urban legends and tall tales have surfaced about people drinking a couple mini pitchers of Bad Juans, or somehow downing a half dozen of them unbeknownst to their waiter or waitress.

— You can even buy Bad Juans in the store, bottled.  Yes, by the bottle in liquor  and grocery stores from as far away as Covington, Kentucky’s famous Party Source. The bottled drink is 21 percent alcohol, or 42 proof.  We believe that the in-house version mixed at the restaurants is a little higher than that. Heidelberg Distributors stats confirm that Bad Juans hold the all-time distributor record for the fastest selling new product.

Time for a breakdown of the baddest drink to grace the Gem City… here is our patented.. “Must Drinks”

 

MUST DRINKS:

— BAD JUAN on THE ROCKS: Simple, pure and lethal. This is for the heavy hitters who like to get down to business and gulp ’em down. They are however served with a tiny straw and a lime wedge for those who like to sip these slowly and savor the experience.

— FROZEN BAD JUAN: The chilled, traditional version of the legend are just as strong as the ones on the rocks. Served with a lime, it is curiously tasty when the mixture begins to melt. If you drink these too fast, beware of ‘brain freeze’ or a condition known as drunky pants.

— STRAWBERRY FROZEN BAD JUAN: Not big on tequila or margaritas? This flavored Bad Juan masks the alcohol taste, and is probably our favorite version of the iconic drink. Give it a try, we bet you like it! It is also available on the rocks for you purists.

— BLUE JUAN: This holiday season is a good time to give one of these a try. You may have a blue Christmas without it. It has a great taste and is available on the rocks only.

Honorable Mention: The Raspberry Bad Juan, the Watermelon Bad Juan and the calorie conscious “Skinny Juan”

 

THE BIG JUAN DEBATE: FROZEN OR ON THE ROCKS???

Miami Valley residents have long debated whether Bad Juans are better frozen or on the rocks. For the most part, guys tend to have them on the rocks, while girls seem to prefer the frozen margaritas. But we say…. hell, try them all and get a designated driver.

 

DO YOU HAVE A GOOD BAD JUAN STORY?? PLEASE COMMENT BELOW!

Have an opinion on Bad Juan? Be heard and post it below !

After more than 30 years Elsa’s is still having fun, and this drink is “Still the Juan.”

ARE YOU A DAYTON FOODIE ?? Then “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook by clicking HERE !! 6500 fans can’t be wrong !

Blue Juan and a Frozen Bad Juan

The Myth, the Legend – want Juan ?

Watermelon Margarita with all the trimmings

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This will spin your mind – Tequila, Lime Juice and Triple Sec

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The usual suspects

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Blue Juan – hello, lover

Bad Juans make people crazy !

Frozen Strawberry Bad Juan – it is the only way the come…

Saleted or unsalted rim ?

 

The Bad Juan: A Dayton Legend

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The man, the myth the legend ...

Click to enlarge: Mr. Bad Juan

Hey Gringo, looking to tie one on during the holidays?  Then take a sip of a true Food Adventure in a glass.  Oh yes, the legendary Bad Juan margarita served exclusively at Elsa’s Mexican Restaurant and Cantinas around town.  Whether on the rocks or frozen, salt or no-salt, every Daytonian has a “Bad Juan” story about themselves or a friend.  The Food Adventures Crew are no different.  We have had to push stumbling pals into backseats of cars, or help lift some hotties into the back of an SUV after a couple of these drinks.  We have felt the wrath of Juan ourselves, having numb lips and the buzz that suddenly creeps up on you with this devilish drink.

Let’s be candid, Bad Juans are a Dayton icon.  This badass drink even has its own website, badjuan.com.   Here is some more on the man, the myth, the legend.. BAD JUAN !

 

HERE’S THE SKINNY:

— Since 1981, Bad Juans have been served frozen or on the rocks.  They also come in a few flavor variations, but the original Bad Juan remains the most popular.

Outside the Kettering location

Elsa’s has various locations in Centerville, Kettering and Dayton

— Rumors have swirled about the ingredients.  People have been trying to figure out the recipe for years.  Food Adventures believes they have some inside scoop on the recipe, and although we can’t post it here, we can give you some info.   Our inside source tells us that the Bad Juan is made up of only 3 secret ingredients: Triple Sec, Tequila and Lime Juice.  We cannot tell you the brands used or the amounts.  We can, however, confirm that Mountain Dew is NOT an ingredient, so lets finally put that rumor to bed.

— We believe the secret to the great taste is not only in the ingredients, but in the preparation.  The Bad Juan’s are constantly mixed in those plastic, see-through drink machines you are used to seeing at convenient stores or food counters.  The thorough mixing of ingredients in these machines blend the drink into that perfect drunken mixture.

— Elsa’s does limit the amount of Bad Juans that a customer can consume (usually 2 or 3 depending on your server).  However, urban legends and tall tales have surfaced about people drinking a couple mini pitchers of Bad Juans, or somehow downing a half dozen of them unbeknownst to their waiter or waitress.

— You can even buy them by the bottle in liquor stores from as far away as Covington, Kentucky’s famous Party Source store.  The bottled drink is 21 percent alcohol, or 42 proof.  We believe that the in-house version mixed at the restaurants is a little higher than that.  Heidelberg Distributors stats confirm that Bad Juans hold the all-time distributor record for the fastest selling new product.

Blue Juan !

Blue Juan – Tasty Twist on an Iconic Drink

 

MUST DRINKS:

— BAD JUAN on THE ROCKS:  Simple, pure and lethal.  This is for the heavy hitters who like to get down to business and gulp ’em down.  They are however served with a tiny straw and a lime wedge for those who like to sip these slowly and savor the experience.

— FROZEN BAD JUAN: The chilled, traditional version of the legend are just as strong as the ones on the rocks.  Served with a lime, it is curiously tasty when the mixture begins to melt.  If you drink these too fast, beware of  ‘brain freeze’  or a condition known as drunky pants.

— STRAWBERRY FROZEN BAD JUAN:  Not big on tequila or margaritas?  This flavored Bad Juan masks the alcohol taste, and is probably our favorite version of the iconic drink.  Give it a try, we bet you like it!  It is also available on the rocks for you purists.

Strawberry margarita

Strawberry Frozen Bad Juan – Delicious !

— BLUE JUAN: This holiday season is a good time to give one of these a try.  You may have a blue Christmas without it.  It has a great taste and is available on the rocks only.

 Honorable Mention: The Raspberry Bad Juan, the Watermelon Bad Juan and the calorie conscious “Skinny Juan”

Miami Valley residents have long debated whether Bad Juans are better frozen or on the rocks.  For the most part, guys tend to have them on the rocks, while girls seem to prefer the frozen margaritas.  But we say…. hell, try them all and get a designated driver.

DO YOU HAVE A GOD BAD JUAN STORY??  PLEASE COMMENT BELOW!  Have an opinion on Bad Juan?  Be heard and post it below !

After more than 30 years Elsa’s is still having fun, and this drink is “Still the Juan.”

ARE YOU A DAYTON FOODIE ??  Then “like” FOOD ADVENTURES on Facebook by clicking HERE !!  Over 2200 fans can’t be wrong !

Don’t forget to browse our photo album below for some incredible pics of Dayton’s legendary drink !

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