Arro - closed February . It might not be as wildly popular as restaurants like Chipotle and Taco Bell (see below), but it still has a reputation for excellent Tex-Mex fast food. Credit: Visit Houston Texas. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. > U.S. sales: $817 million These 1980s restaurants aren't still standing todayand if they are, it's in reduced form. Get the best food tips and diet advice every single day, Now, you'll have the best and latest food and healthy eating news right in your inboxevery Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. topics. In addition, DoorDash, the nations number-one food delivery service, revealed recently that five of 2019s 15 most popular food orders in America were Mexican in style. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. Torchys grew out of a food truck in Austin. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the . El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. If you come from this wooden neck, you probably remember that the rotating dachshunds of the seven feet chain and turn in chef's hats and chef's ardes coffers that stood outside each of the restaurants. Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. Cobb Lane Restaurant. Gino's Hamburgers. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. So, if youre in the mood for some Mexican flavors with an American twist at a reasonable price and an accessible location, Taco Bell is an excellent choice! Taco Bueno has been established since 1967, and like all good Tex-Mex restaurants, it originated in the state of Texas itself in Abilene, to be exact. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. 167). } else { A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. Qdoba comes out of Denver, where its ancestor, called Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, opened in 1995. > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. Cheeseburger in Paradise. Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . Chuys may not have as many locations as other Mexican chain restaurants (there are fewer than 100 of these restaurants across 17 states) but when it comes to amazing Tex-Mex, its one of the top contenders in America. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. 8. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. Growth was especially strong in the Midwest which was targeted as a region susceptible to their appeal. Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. (Well,not quite the same fries.) Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. In 1982, they sold the bulk of their restaurants to Marriott. Chuys Tex-Mex Chuys sets itself apart from much of the competition in the Mexican restaurant industry by rolling their tortillas by hand and serving only fresh ingredients. Carrols Restaurant Group. Today, one of the dachshunds always turns near the San Francisco Zoo. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. In many cases, these restaurants serve a variation of Tex-Mex (Americanized Mexican cuisine) but its also possible to find authentic Mexican food at several of these chains. Bresler's Ice Cream. That's what you call to live your childhood dream. Leo's Mexican Restaurant In 2001 Leo's Mexican Restaurant closed its doors, to the chagrin of Tex-Mex connoisseurs and ZZ Top fans. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. with a character named "Family Sam," a friendly senior citizen chef. > U.S. sales: $324 million Bankrupcty. In 1982,Denny's offered the company About $ 12 million to buy 35 VIP locations. 15. Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Pappasito's Cantina. In addition, DoorDash, the nations number-one food delivery service, revealed recently that five of, 2019s 15 most popular food orders in America, Of course, the fare offered by Mexican chains, whether fast-food places or sit-down restaurants, is designed for a wide American audience, and rarely reflects the way people eat in Mexico. One food that is better left in the past? During the 1990s and 2000s, a wider availability of Mexican food at different price points--low, medium, and high--spread beyond Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. Inc. (Big Bite). Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. "Howard Johnson was the king of the road," said a former franchise led by eater. In the mid-1980s, the company was sold to Marriott, which sold off the hotel chain and began converting non-franchise HoJos into Big Boy restaurants (which Marriott also owned). If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! New French Cafe. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. With that being said, Taco Bells menu has expanded and evolved a lot in recent years, including some exciting and creative options such as the Mexican Pizza and the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. Bombay Bicycle Club. But then, things took a turn. It was launched by Howard Johnson himself in the 1920s as a soda fountain and lunch counter, and by 1954 there were 400 outposts in 32 states. By the end of this article, you should know of a few new Mexican chain restaurants to try (see also 23 Most Popular Chain Restaurants In The United States)! And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion 1 of 3. From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. Get the best food tips and diet advice What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. Does this list bring back any memories? The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut,Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. After it was acquired by the Marriott Hotel chain in 1971, it grew to 130 locations, but by the late 1980s, most of them had closed. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. AlthoughCharlie Beefsteak slogan Was: "I will feed you as there is no tomorrow," sadly, tomorrow came for this chain restaurant by the end of the 1980s. Toledo was bestowed with Hardee's, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. Get the best food tips and diet advice If you like to be sure that the ingredients in your food are all-natural and that any meat is raised responsibly in accordance with animal welfare standards, Chipotle is one of the best fast food restaurants you can go to. And for more failed restaurants,Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants. Torchys Tacos isnt as widespread as some of the other Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., with less than 100 locations spread across just 13 states. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. And for kids, in particular, Burger Chef was the top choice: It was the first fast-food chain to include toys with its kids' meals. Boy, do we miss those fried clam strips, frankfurts, and that signature HoJo ice cream. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. } Bennigan's 200 nationwide locations shuttered their doors a decade ago, but the new owners now run a much smaller-scale operation out of Dallas, Texas, and the menu does include the Irish pub-inspired items you loved in the 1980s. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. It took 10 years for the chain to die a slow death, which meant that the children of the 80s have had to experience the great barn and the Barnbuster Burgers . But there is a sliver of good news: Today, two rebranded Gino's Burgers and Chicken remain in Marylandand yes, they do serve the Gino Giant. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. Each television show based in the city, fromFriends ToSaturday Night Live, has blocked about it for a few decades. There were serious noise complaints from neighbors at the Huntington Harbour location in 1981, and, in the mid-1980s, claims that the chain excluded minorities on a regular basis from several of its Orange County . To this day . I wish it was always there.". Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. The menu at Del Taco goes to show that Mexican chain restaurants in the U.S. are capable of delivering both authentic Mexican food as well as American variations. every day. If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance you went to at least one of these restaurants. More than half of the locations were finally converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest was closed. Today onlySome restaurants remain. El Pollo Loco All Rights Reserved. I only ate there once but I really liked it. According to Eater, during the height of its popularity in the 1960s, Howard Johnson's served "more meals outside of the home than any entity in America, except for the U.S. The first Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant opened in downtown Minneapolis in 1975 and was one of the breakout restaurants of the year; by 1986 a whopping 237 locations had been opened, with 42 opening in 1985 alone. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. Jim's Tiffany Place originally opened in Lansing in 1937 and served customers until 1993. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of the best Mexican restaurants in every state. Cote D'Oro: In 1980, Holiday Magazine named this distinctive, turreted Yosemite Boulevard restaurant one of the Top 100 in the United States. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); single Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. The Fun Meal, as they called it, launched in the early '70s and also included stories about Burger Chef lore, including the chain's mascot Jeff, the Burgerini (a magician), Count Fangburger (a vampire), Burgerilla (a gorilla), and Cackleburger (a witch). Keep place clean!" D'Lites (1978-1987) Norcross, GA. More than 100. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. } else { The trade publication Restaurant Business releases, an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. Here, we've ranked some of the very worst and very best Mexican, Mexican-inspired, Mexican-ish, and Tex-Mex fast-food chains in the U.S. 10. Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. To his pinnacle in the 1970s,Burger chef EU 1,200 locations and was a flourishing competitor of McDonald's. Friday's and Applebee's, serving up similar menus of standard bar fare and ambiance. 13. Without further ado, were going to be listing the 16 best Mexican chain restaurants in America, describing the style of the menu for each one (see also Americas Best Buffet Restaurants). Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. Taco Bueno. "You could make money anywhere." 15 classical American desserts that deserve a return, The Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007, 19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. 321. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. Annie's Santa Fe was a popular Mexican restaurant during the 1980s and 1990s which had locations at several local malls, including Oak Park Mall and Bannister Mall. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. The full list includes restaurants I copied from the telephone directory (and which were listed as "Mexican restaurants" in the yellow pages). Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); > U.S. sales: $232 million It was the kind of offer they couldn't refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP's. Briazz. Torchys Tacos In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. There will be 31 in Arizona by the end of the year, Campbell said. While Qdoba mainly sticks to traditional Mexican menu items and flavor combinations for the sake of authenticity, you can still pick from a variety of customizable menu options that allow you to exercise creative freedom and bring your own preferences to the table. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Serve customer fast. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. In the late 1990s and . 20+ New & Recently-Opened Restaurants in Columbus in 2023. But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. And although there was a unique showcase holding a dear life life in Nebraska, toofirm In 2017. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). Though Restaurant Business lists this chain in the chicken category, not the Mexican, and although chicken is the only protein on the menu, El Pollo Loco calls its food L.A. Between 2001 and 2011, Country Kitchen closed almost 200 locations, with the total number of restaurants falling from 249 to 52, as sales declined by more than 80% during the same period. Damon . It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. This restaurant Burger California has become a rage, thanks to an appearance in the film of 1982Quick weather at Ridgemont High. With the exception of six locations in Florida, Rubios remains a western chain, with shops in Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as California. > U.S. sales: $348 million Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . November 15, 2005. Chipotle Mexican Grill Sadly, to the dismay of fans across the country, Burger Chef failed to keep up and was ultimately sold to the owner of Hardee's in the early '80s. In 1988, they sold all but a few of their locations to Marriott. The chain has locations in 15 states today, focusing on California, Oregon, and Washington (though Las Vegas has more Del Tacos than any other city). He continued to grow in the 60s and 70s. If youre looking for something fresh and new, you can also choose to order the Taco of the Month, which never fails to impress. In 1981. Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. The channel started in the mid-1950s in Miami but became a phenomenon at the national level, with more than 400 restaurants in the 1970s at theHeight of his success. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Chain restaurants are big business. 9. Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. Its one of the biggest Mexican food chains worldwide, but its especially well-loved in the U.S., where more than 3,000 Chipotle restaurants have opened in total since 1993. Howard Johnson's is synonymous with 1950s and '60s dining. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish the Bennigan tastes of Chile and T.G.I. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. Founders John Zapp and Mike Young opened the first Chuys restaurant because they wanted to create a relaxed, casual dining restaurant specializing in food from the American Southwest and thats exactly what they did! The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. Although it didn't hold up against Chili's, TGI Fridays, and Applebee's, there was a time when it was fairly ubiquitous throughout the states. 12. You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. West-Mex is Midwest-based Mexican cuisine, and thats exactly what you can find on the menu at Taco Johns. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. The final spot (in Nevada) closed in 1995. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. Brands, owners of KFC, Pizza Hut, and other chains, it also operates around the world.) Though Beefsteak Charlie's slogan was, "I'll feed you like there's no tomorrow," sadly, tomorrow came for this chain restaurant by the end of the 1980s. In 1984, G.D. Ritzy's was taking in about $5.2 million just from ice cream sales. And for children, in particular, Burger Chef was the best choice: it was the first fast food chain to include toys with the meals of his children. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. Get the best food tips and diet You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. At one point, the Burger King-esque chain had as many as 27 restaurants around Illinois, but by the early 1980s, the chain was finished. But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold to Bombay Palace Restaurants and went out of business soon thereafter. Feb 9, 2022 - Explore ben mccullough's board "Denver Colo old restaurants no longer here" on Pinterest. However, if youre lucky enough to live in one of the states that has Torchys Tacos, or if you happen to be passing through, you should make a point to order from this incredible menu. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. Although it was a regional chain (it was mostly centralized to California), All-American Burger was made famous with anyone who came of age in the '80s, thanks to Fast Times at Ridgemont High. 3. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). At its peak popularity, Doggie Diner had 30 locations in the Golden State, but unfortunately, competing with larger chains like McDonald's lead to this chain's unraveling. But it was already too late. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. El Torito. Fast . According to Yelp reviewers, it was going downhill. By 1984, there were 60 locations. 1982 Having introduced nouvelle cuisine at Ma Maison in Los Angeles, Chef Wolfgang Puck presents "California cuisine" to patrons of his new chic-casual Sunset Strip restaurant, Spago. Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. > Number of U.S. units: 204. This trap unfortunately brought Chicken George in 1986, when Holmes tabled for liquidation after declining more than $ 1.4 million in debt to private creditors and IRS. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. Taco Bell was established in 1962, and since then the restaurant has become famous for its incredible Crunchy Taco recipe, which continues to be one of the most popular items on the menu. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. 167). } ); A couple of years later, things came full-circle when Butler sold to Collins Food International, who decided to merge Naugles with none other than Del Taco in 1988. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. Of all the fast-food chains out there, only one could be the first to ever use . The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. Many Naugles became Del Tacos, and eventually, Naugles disappeared. But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. Scott Mercer (left) was helped by Bob Scura and Kurt Cameron of Grand American Fare chain in assembling dcor for P.O. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. But in 1970, he left this company to build his own Mexican style chain: Naugles in the south of California. The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. Missing those iconic kids' meals? The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. Personally, we cant get enough of the incredible Tex-Mex menu items at On the Border, and we think you should visit one of the 120 On the Border restaurants in the U.S. if you havent already.

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