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Home > Blogs > Taste: Dayton food and restaurants > Archives > 2009 > March > 25 > Entry
Restaurant chain opens near UD, will open 3 more
The locally owned Hot Head Burritos chain opened its newest restaurant at 1113 Brown St. near the University of Dayton late this afternoon, March 25, and will open three additional restaurants in Kettering, Fairborn and West Carrollton in the next few months, Hot Head co-founder Ray Wiley said.
The Brown Street restaurant is the area’s fifth Hot Head Burritos location. The three that are coming soon, according to Wiley, include:
— in Kettering near Kettering Boulevard and West Dorothy Lane next to the newly opened Figaro’s Pizza in an outlot in front of Wal-Mart, scheduled to open around May 1;
— on Colonel Glenn Highway in Fairborn adjacent to Starbucks and near Wright State University, scheduled to open around June 1;
— on East Dixie Drive in West Carrollton in a building that formerly housed a McDonald’s, scheduled to open later this summer.
Wiley, who owns the burrito chain with his wife Cynthia and a third business partner, was unable to provide street addresses of the new restaurants. He said the public’s response to the Hot Head concept and menu “has been fantastic — we’re doing really well.”
Wiley also operates 10 Subway franchises in the Dayton area, including one in the same block as the new Hot Head Burritos restaurant. He said more burrito restaurants are planned, and said he’d like to see the Hot Head chain grow “as fast as humanly possible.”
Permalink | Comments (42) | Post your comment | Categories: Restaurant openings
Comments
By mcanadiens@yahoo.com
July 21, 2009 6:16 PM | Link to this
To tell you the truth, I think they are extremely similar. Chipotle, Qdoba, Hot Head and Moes are so close to the same, I doubt I could tell the difference if blind-folded. Since Hot Head is local, I’m pulling for them.By TNT
April 22, 2009 8:57 PM | Link to this
I have been going to Hot Head since last summer. I live in Springfield but travel to Centerville every Friday for work, I always stop before coming home to get us Hot Head Burritos. Bring on closer to home!!!!!By claybeagl
March 29, 2009 6:46 PM | Link to this
We love the hothead in Englewood. Nice to have healthy options in fast food. No Chipotle’s over our way so that is not a consideration. I disagree with the comments about lack of an original sauce(try the hothead sauce) and the lack of quality in ingredients. Our only experience is with the new Englewood store and every thing there seems top notch. Welcome addition to our corner of the county.By NonBriarLocal
March 27, 2009 12:02 AM | Link to this
My impression of the Centerville location is completely positive. The counter help is extremely friendly and seems competent. The ingredients seem to be on a par with Chipotle. By comparison I find the Chipotle on 725 to be a rushed, impersonal experience. I just like my business being appreciated. But I guess the brain dead zombie clientele of Dayton rejects anything that doesn’t have a huge business behind it. After all, Dayton is chain food hell. Your loss….By Dull & Noid
March 26, 2009 12:52 PM | Link to this
Okay, Sheryl, I’ll bite. Where in ho-hum Dayton do you get that real Mexican food you’re talking about?By Sheryl Cowers
March 26, 2009 12:14 PM | Link to this
Why can’t HotHead back up any claims at being better. They’re not new, and the world is bigger than just what is around U-D. Chipotle reminds me of Starbucks with its blind defenders who ignore better and cheaper alternatives and attitude like they are the pinnacle. It’s assembly-line burritos. How about real mexican instead of rice and rice and a little bit of meat.By Paul
March 26, 2009 11:53 AM | Link to this
Tacos!!! GARBAGE at best!!!By null & void
March 26, 2009 11:13 AM | Link to this
i heard that chipolte is owned by burger king and they use ground up red wigglers like wendy’s does in their meat. that’s why their meat is fatty and greasy and spicy. then i hear that hot head uses ground up crickets? is that true?By Cameron
March 26, 2009 9:53 AM | Link to this
Chipotle always has coupons (so does moe’s) Moe’s offers (offered) discounts just for having student ID’s and local business work ID’s. Chipotle distributes coupons throughout UD and WSU campus and some area High Schools. And everyone says Chipotle/Moes is overpriced but Hot Head is actually MORE expensive (they charge extra for things that the others add on free). AND they use cheaper / lower quality ingredients. I dont hate the place or want them to fail. But they are definitely over charging for the quality of food they give you. And they can’t back up any claims that they are any better than existing places. Not yet at least…By mtgolflady
March 26, 2009 9:44 AM | Link to this
Love Qdoba near the Dayton Mall.By null Tom
March 26, 2009 9:43 AM | Link to this
Late night places to eat are afraid to open on the west side because of all the crime that takes place at night. Look at the store fronts with bars in front of the windows and doors. Eliminate the crime and loitering and you will see grocery stores and new restaurants opening and doing well. It is not racism it is crime that keeps businesses from opening on the west side. It is time to stop blaming others and cleaning up our neighborhoods.By mike
March 26, 2009 9:05 AM | Link to this
cant wait to try hot heads.been wanting to try the centerville one(the former taco bell)sinse it opened.im glad they offering another place for the U.D.FLYERS to eat ,enjoy,work.its very cool that alot of places like that are close to UD so the kids can have part time workBy JKirkwood
March 26, 2009 8:57 AM | Link to this
To all of you nay-sayers about Hot Head, sorry that Hot Head doesn’t have the backing of a world wide fast food chain behind it. I like Hot Head, and I like seeing local business thrive, especially in these tough economic times. Chipotle is over priced. Before you say anything, yes Hot Head does have comparable prices, however, I find Hot Head coupons almost on a weekly basis; I have yet to see a Chipotle couponBy Cameron
March 26, 2009 8:42 AM | Link to this
Hot Head is decent. But after eating Moe’s and Chipotle frequently its VERY noticable that its a small operation. The meat is more fatty (thus cheaper), the ingredients are a little bit lower quality and you can tell its all mainly the cheapest of every ingredient available. Their sauce is decent, but if I’m getting charged more than Moe’s and Chioptle then I better be getting something other than cheap ingredients and fatty meat. Even the chips are GFS variety generic nacho chips AND you have to pay extra for them. VERY LAME. They need to fix a few things but they have potential.By Meg
March 26, 2009 7:52 AM | Link to this
Sal Monella, Hotheads is in the former Moe’s.By nobama
March 26, 2009 7:19 AM | Link to this
Hot Head Rules! I never cared for Chipotle because I don’t like spicy food. Even Chipotle’s mildest meat is too spicy for me. Hot Head has the perfect seasonings on its pulled pork. Their small burrito bowl is the perfect size for me. I don’t like Chipotle’s rice - too sticky and their burrito wraps always seem to fall apart. HOT HEAD FOREVER!!!By Sal Monella
March 26, 2009 1:52 AM | Link to this
Moe’s is closed? Why did Hot Head build a new store when there’s an empty burrito place just sitting there (Moe’s)? I thought Chipolte was going to expand and move into Moe’s after they forced them out of business. Just what we need, another empty burrito place in the UD ghetto. Why don’t they put it on a truck and move it over to West Third (Rodney VJ is right)? People in West Dayton like burritos, too! I guess the mayor doesn’t like Mexicans, though.By Sarah
March 26, 2009 1:35 AM | Link to this
We love Hot Heads here in Huber Heights. We like it better than Chipotle. It’s more comfortable for seating too. We hope they continue to do well.By DanS
March 26, 2009 12:18 AM | Link to this
Both Chipotle and Hot Head are over priced based on the amount of food served. Both serve a taco basket of 3 small tacos with 1 oz. of meat for about $6.00. Being from So.Cal, I know good mexican food. Out there for $4, you can get a combo. plate that includes 3 tacos with much more meat, a side of refried beans, rice, chips and a salsa bar. I agree that their burritos are big here, but their bulk comes from rice and whole beans, very little meat. For $3.50 you can get a 1/2 pound of carne asada burrito with no rice or bean filler in it, unless you want it. Time to fly to San Diego for some good mexican food. See ya!!By The Insider
March 25, 2009 11:05 PM | Link to this
Chipotle is the highest grossing restaurant chain per square foot in the US. They out position Hot Head on Brown Street and they have 50+ people in line every night. The landlord gave Hot Head a rent based on gross sales to take over the space which was already improved by Moe’s. Little risk, but little potential reward going against Chipotle.By B-rad
March 25, 2009 10:55 PM | Link to this
I’m not a fan of Hot Head’s burritos, but I wish them luck in their business. It’s great to see a local small business succeed in Dayton. I just hope they don’t expand too fast and over-extendthemselves. Good luck to the Wiley’s. I hope the government doesn’t tax and penalize you for your success.By hotheadhater
March 25, 2009 10:30 PM | Link to this
i hate their food, its gross, I love Chipotle, but hot head is just nasty…i hope they go awayBy Rod Rules
March 25, 2009 10:24 PM | Link to this
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THAT MY CAPS LOCK IS BROKEN SO IT ALWAYS COMES ACROSS AS IF I AM SHOUTING. THANKS!By jon
March 25, 2009 9:16 PM | Link to this
Rodney V J, The west side will not see a resurgence until there is a mayor that works with the business community. The current mayor is wonderful at balancing a budget and managing city services, but has no clue on how to attract new business and spur growth in a downtroddin community.By RODNEY V J
March 25, 2009 8:14 PM | Link to this
IM GLAD THAT HOT HEADS IS COMING TO DAYTON. I WILL BE GLAD WHEN THE WESTSIDE BECOMES PART OF DAYTON. IT REALLY HURTS ME EVERYTIME A NEW CHAIN COMES TO DAYTON, THE WESTSIDE GETS OVERLOOKED FOR ANY TYPE OF NEW GROWTH. I SEE NOTHING HAS REALLY CHANGED IN DAYTON SINCE THE 1950s AND 1960s. THANKS ANYWAY………….By jr
March 25, 2009 8:05 PM | Link to this
Hot Head in Centervile is horrible; I really enjoy Qdobas as you can get in and out quickly, and the food is always good!By dj
March 25, 2009 7:25 PM | Link to this
Chipotle is superior to Hot Head anyday and the Hot Head in Centerville has the rudest people working there.By nancy
March 25, 2009 7:15 PM | Link to this
HOt Head food tastes good, but they are only as good as the staff working. I find their service very inconsistent and under trained. I also am not enamored with what looks like prepackaged/precut vegetables. I think Chipotle has better quality ingredients. My son does love Hot Heads ground beef tacos and he can’t get those at Chipotle.By jon
March 25, 2009 6:24 PM | Link to this
From a business stand point it will be interesting to see how this location on brown will do since there is Chipolte very close. I personally thinks its ok, I would rather wait in line at Chipolte than eat at a empty Hothead.By brian
March 25, 2009 6:13 PM | Link to this
Hothead is not that good. It might be a little better if they had some kind of “original” medium or hot sauce. All they have are bottled sauces like RedHot.By CW
March 25, 2009 5:37 PM | Link to this
I like Hothead - they have a few more ingredients that Chipotle and the torilla wraps seem to be thicker and better quality. Every burrito I get at Chipotle, the insides all start busting out of the wrap.By Geena
March 25, 2009 5:34 PM | Link to this
To ms pickles, no their about the same prices, but u might find coupons for Hot Head. They are ok, but I’m sorry, Chipotle tastes a lot better.By Ms Pickles
March 25, 2009 5:11 PM | Link to this
Is it less expensive than Chipotle?By hot head lover
March 25, 2009 5:09 PM | Link to this
I love hot head. Since I’ve ate there I haven’t been back to chipotle…and, definitely don’t think I could! And, I love that you can collect stamps for a free burrito!!By Nick
March 25, 2009 4:41 PM | Link to this
This place is terrible!! I have no idea how they keep expanding. They’re a POOR version, at best, of Chipotle.By paublo
March 25, 2009 4:38 PM | Link to this
Hot Heads should have a disclaimer…..not as good as Chipotle. Very greasy!!!!!!!By Big Taco
March 25, 2009 4:31 PM | Link to this
I can not wait to try Hot Heads. Thanks! :)By Pharrell
March 25, 2009 4:29 PM | Link to this
Chipotle has a stuffy atmosphere? A fast food burrito place?By Burrito Baby
March 25, 2009 4:24 PM | Link to this
Hot Head is great and love the fact that you can find coupons everywhere. Just as good as Chipotle, but a much more relaxed (not stuffy) atmosphere.By hothead
March 25, 2009 4:21 PM | Link to this
Ray lives down the street from me. He’s an incredibly nice guy with about every “toy” imaginable. If I remember it correctly, his wife came up with the recipe. I’ve tried it a few times and enjoyed the burritos quite a bit. However, he does not have any where I work…although that will change in the coming months. I wish him luck!By Erik
March 25, 2009 4:20 PM | Link to this
Hothead Burritos is great. I hope the franchise goes nationwide.By Margo
March 25, 2009 4:15 PM | Link to this
I tried the Hot Head that opened in Englewood a few months ago and wasn’t very impressed. I think Chipotle is better.