The original Quesa-D-Ya's in Dallas (on Greenville Avenue) has been around for almost three years. Recently, a second restaurant opened in Coppell, and more are on the way in Lake Highlands and Denton.
And you don't have to be a quesadilla fanatic to enjoy at least one dish from the menu.
The concept was born from the frustration that is pizza delivery, and Quesa-D-Ya's is on a mission to improve takeout with something allegedly healthier.
There are 10 quesadillas to choose from (small, half of a 10-inch, $7.25; medium, whole 12-inch, $12.50; large, whole 14-inch, $15.50) but you can also build your own with chicken, pork, steak and fillers like black beans, corn salsa, mushrooms, sauteed onions and rice.
A small quesadilla feeds one person. A large? Five.
You can choose as many fillers as you want. I requested a bacon, corn salsa, mozzarella and rice quesadilla. And then I found out I shouldn't go into the quesadilla-making business. But the ingredients were fresh, and the dish was prepared as I requested.
If you're not feeling creative, choose from the menu, influenced by a variety of cuisines, like Cuban, Italian and Hawaiian.
The Havana D-Ya is a Cuban sandwich-turned-quesadilla, with shredded pork, diced ham, pickles, black beans, rice, dark mustard and cheese. It's a decent homage to the legendary sandwich, but leaves you wanting more.
The Smokey Mountain D-Ya, on the other hand, is far more appetizing. Tender pulled pork, chicken, bacon and smoked ham covered in sweet barbecue sauce combine to create Quesa-D-Ya's bestseller.
The bruschetta D-Ya with sun-dried tomatoes, basil, balsamic glaze and grilled chicken is a tangy take on a few favorite Italian ingredients.
There's even a veggie quesadilla, and it was actually the cheesiest I tried. It includes beans, fajita onions, mushrooms, peppers, pico de gallo, rice, zucchini and a three-cheese blend (hence the cheese factor). It works well without meat, but go ahead and pile on some life-improving bacon.
Another favorite is the Philly cheesesteak D-Ya, with juicy steak, mushrooms, onions and peppers. It's a nod to the legendary sandwich, and it succeeds where the Havana doesn't. It's almost as tasty as the Smokey Mountain quesadilla, too.
Overall, ingredients at Quesa-D-Ya's are fresh, but the quesadillas aren't as cheesy as I'd expect. There's an easy remedy, though: Ask for more cheese.
Quesa-D-Ya's runs a special every day, like $10 Tuesday, when any large quesadilla is only 10 bucks. The restaurant offers unlimited chips and salsa, and its guacamole is almost as good as mom's recipe.
The franchise has potential, and Quesa-D-Ya's offers plenty of alternatives to traditional delivery. But it'll take more than some tortillas to beat my beloved, waist-busting, pepperoni pizza.
