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. Lots of Transients ate there. Chipotle. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. 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. G.D. Ritzy's first opened in 1980, but when you walked into one, you were instantly transported back to the classic diner vibe of the 1950s. "Kiki's How a little neighborhood restaurant grew to be a community tradition", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Mexican_restaurants&oldid=1135522955, Belgium-based restaurant chain that was originally the European branch of the now defunct American company, Based in Mexico, not related to U.S. company, Based in the United States, not related to Mexican company. 4. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Impossible brand plant-based protein is an option. Among these are the Democrat (barbacoa, avocado, and cotija cheese on corn tortillas) and the Republican (grilled jalapeo sausage, pico de gallo, and cheddar jack on a flour tortilla). According to Eat This, Not That!, Pup "N' Taco was a popular southern California quick service restaurant.When it opened in 1956, the brand's founder, Russ Wendell, took an un-traditional approach to his menu. Toledo was bestowed with Hardee's, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. Not only does Chuys serve some examples of classic Mexican food, but youll also find menu items inspired by Southern Texan cuisine and the Rio Grande Valley. Over the course of its first 20 years of business, the chain staked its claim on 19 states, serving its famous burgers and fried chicken in roughly 400 restaurants. Today, one of the dachshunds always turns near the San Francisco Zoo. A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, Long Island and NYC Places that are no more/Facebook, still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids. Simpson. "Man, I miss this place. 58 (tie) EL TACO TOTE. Minnie Pearl's Chicken. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. Founder Russ Wendell's Vision was, at the time, quite unique: hot dogs served next to a less common fast service option for Era-Tacos. to promote fast food franchises serving pita sandwiches. If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance you went to at least one of these restaurants. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. There are also salads on Moes menu if youre in the mood for something light and healthy which, in addition to the customizability of the menu, means that Moes is the perfect Mexican restaurant for everyone regardless of tastes or preferences. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. advice every day. It might not be very widespread, but this family-owned restaurants 25 locations across Texas and Georgia never fail to keep customers coming back for more. } else { Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. > Number of U.S. units: 170. > Number of U.S. units: 484. 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. If you were wondering where this restaurant gets its name from, its called On The Border because its named after the border between Mexico and Texas. There were 225 locations by the mid-'80s, but Naugles merged with Del Taco, and locations slowly converted. Leo's Mexican Restaurant In 2001 Leo's Mexican Restaurant closed its doors, to the chagrin of Tex-Mex connoisseurs and ZZ Top fans. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. D'Lites (1978-1987) Norcross, GA. More than 100. 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. But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. 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. Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more are available. It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. Get the best food tips and diet > U.S. sales: $348 million But all hope was not lost. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group, Published on September 18, 2019 | 1:49 PM. There are close to 800 Qdoba locations in the U.S., and 44 out of 50 U.S. states have at least one Qdoba restaurant. (Now owned by Yum! NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. > Number of U.S. units: 727. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. 1977: Fine Wine and Italian Style. Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. Winsight is a leading B2B information services company focused on the food and beverage industry, providing insight and market intelligence to business leaders in every channel consumers buy food and beverage - convenience stores, grocery retailing, restaurants and noncommercial foodservice - through media, events, data products, advisory . var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=f144672c-2951-48cc-b4dc-791ab362ad06&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=1634620965478683196'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); But all hope wasn't lost. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { The French and Italian eatery was a favorite of E.&J . However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. Serve customer fast. Brought to life by husband-wife team of Juan and Melanie Martinez, the first Don Juan Mexican Grill opened in 2011, and the made-to-order burritos, bowls, and fresh-fruit smoothies were an instant hit on the East Coast. 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 that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. About 25 Chicken Delights are operating today, in central Canada and the New York City area. 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 . Pizza Haven - Australian pizza chain; Pumper Nic - chain in Argentina; founded in 1974 and closed in 1999; Pup 'N' Taco; Red Barn; Royal Castle - one franchise location survived after chain was liquidated in 1975; Sandy's; ShowBiz Pizza Place - Merged into Chuck E. Cheese single "The love affair with Burger Chef remains strong," a Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007when Hardee's brought back Burger Chef's iconic Big Shef. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Translating to the crazy chicken in Spanish, El Pollo Loco is one of the most famous Mexican-style chain restaurants in the United States, and definitely the winner of the funniest name contest! The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. VIP was a casual catering chain on the 24-hour west coast that started from Oregon in 1968. It took 10 years for the chain to die a slow death, which meant children of the '80s did get to experience the Big Barn and the Barnbuster burgers. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. Mr. Robert Davis (and others) founded Big Bite. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. 3. 13. There were at least 140 locations at its height, with spots serving up bread in Denver, New Jersey, San Francisco, and more. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. 9. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. 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). JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . By 1984, there were 60 locations. 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. In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! Marchetti returned to the restaurant business in 2010, opening up a new Gino's location. topics. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. > Number of U.S. units: 580. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. In 1982, they sold the bulk of their restaurants to Marriott. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold in Bombay Palace Restaurants and came out of business soon. At the over 500 Del Taco restaurants across 16 U.S. states, you can order more adventurous Tex-Mex food like fish and cheese tacos, or stick to the classics with a meat-based tortilla. If youre looking for Mexican food that tastes fresh and that you can tell has been homemade from scratch, you need to check out Baja Fresh. And any New York child in the 1980s grew up love this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. And for more failed eateries, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. The timing was . In 1979, new owners bought the company for real estate purposes. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. Not only can you order classic Mexican food items like quesadillas, burritos, nachos, and tacos from Moes Southwest Grill, but you get the opportunity to customize your own dishes, adding your choice of ingredients to your burrito, burrito bowl, taco, quesadillas, or nachos. And by the early '90s, Chuck E. Cheese became the name of all locations. So, not only do we owe Taco Johns our gratitude for one of the best cuisine combinations ever, but also for contributing to our vocabulary! This restaurant is part of a larger family of restaurants known as the Pappas family-owned restaurants. First of all, the tortillas at Pappasitos Cantina are made fresh, from scratch, every hour, and you get the satisfaction of watching your guacamole be prepared in front of you at the table, so you never have to worry about stale ingredients spoiling your meal. El Pollo Loco first opened in 1975. 10. But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. If you were around the early 80's, you may remember Lum for his hot dogs with signature beer steam, and if you were not a hot-dog person, there was always the beloved Ollieburger. 19. Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. 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. > U.S. sales: $835 million Keep place clean!" At its height in 1984, there were 102 Pup 'N' Taco locations across California and New Mexico. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. 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. > Number of U.S. units: 100. See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) 22. It was such a success for founders Max . Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. Mexican cuisine is primarily a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, especially Spanish, elements added after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. So, if you want a spoon of this Dory Chunky fudge, head toOhio WhereKentucky. To this day . Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of the best Mexican restaurants in every state. xhr.send(payload); Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. It closed in . Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. In 1982, they sold the majority of their restaurants in Marriott. Wish it were still there document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Mexican restaurants were concentrated mostly in Manhattan and separated into either casual Tex-Mex restaurants or fine dining establishments. 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 Qdoba Mexican Eats > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. . However, it is also a pejorative term used to designate black Americans, which was part of the reason for which this chain restaurant finally failed. Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. 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. Keep the place clean!" . Today onlySome restaurants remain. Jolly Tiger 2080 W. Stadium Blvd. Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. To determine the famous restaurant chains that are now hard to find, 24/7 Wall St. identified brands that, according to Technomic, had hundreds of U.S. locations at their peak between the 1980s . 24/7 Tempo delved further into the list to come up with the top 15 Mexican chains in America (the farthest down came in at No. And for more nostalgia, do not miss these17 chain restaurants in the 90s. At the end of the 1980s, the restaurant was bought out by Foodmaker Inc., but ultimately they continued to experience store closures in the U.S. . Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. advice every day. 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! But '80s kids rejoice: A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, since 2015. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. Family Style. The graveyard of Denver eateries is the subject of a wonderful new book by Colorado authors Robert and Kristen Autobee titled, Lost Restaurants of Denver . But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. Unlike a regular buffet, you could raise your flag and a server would bring more of whatever you'd like, whether it be tacos, flautas, tamales, guacamole, or sopapillas. Many locations were converted to Hardee's in the '90s after the burger chain bought Rax. Bankrupcty. In the mid-1980's. What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. He rapidly expanded to 225 outlets by 1986. 4. "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. 24/7 Tempo delved further into the list to come up with the top 15 Mexican chains in America (the farthest down came in at No. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . Torchys grew out of a food truck in Austin. Inc. (Big Bite). Get the best food tips and diet advice And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. If you were a kid in the '80s, there's a good chance you had a birthday party or two at Showbiz Pizza Place. 14. Chipotle Mexican Grill But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesperson, O.J. The restaurants your family ate at when you were growing up might not have been the finest dining establishments, but they probably hold a special place in your heart. Burger Chef. Chain restaurants are big business. Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). Chuys Tex-Mex The menu includes queso, guacamole, both soft and crispy tacos, Big As Yo Face burritos, and Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken (breaded with crushed potato chips). Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? To his pinnacle in the 1970s,Burger chef EU 1,200 locations and was a flourishing competitor of McDonald's. The menu at G.D. Ritzy's stood out for all the ways that you could customize your burgers, drinks, and ice cream. The most talked-about item on the menu is the fire-grilled chicken, which you can get incorporated into various dishes at the restaurant, from tacos to burritos. And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . Dick Naugle had a history of helping build successful restaurant chains. > Number of U.S. units: 63. The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. We love that Moes Southwest Grill strives to provide an entertaining and unique Mexican dining experience by combining traditional Mexican fast food with a playlist of game-changing musical artists. 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 Fuzzys Taco Shop } 6. Missing those iconic kids' meals? And controversy makes for good business! And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. ), but also offers flautas the rolled, fried tacos sometimes called taquitos. Created by former Green Bay Packers star Max McGee and restaurateur Marno McDermit, it launched in 1975 in the unlikeliest of places for a Mexican food chain: downtown Minneapolis. Today, only a few restaurants remain. 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. 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. A 1980 sales department accounted for many happy customers who say that Chicken George was better than the chicken of their wife or mother. In the late 1980s, if you lived . 24. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. Webb. ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. Besides chicken, the chain served gumbo, fish and chips, greens, biscuits and other soul foods. A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. (Well, not quite the same fries.) 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. The best Mexican restaurant chains list includes fast food Mexican restaurants like La Salsa, Rubio's Coastal Grill, and Chipotle as well as sit down Mexican chains like Acapulco and Chevy's. Mexican chain restaurants include any taco restaurant where you can order Mexican cuisine. And for more than 1980 anti-stirlish, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants . Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. Rubios Coastal Grill 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 But many people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. In particular, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. 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. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. Family Style. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. A 1980 commercial famously featured many happy customers saying Chicken George was better than their wife's or mom's chicken. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. 1 of 3. And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. But the food these places offer can evoke the forms and flavors of the Mexican kitchen, and bring their spice and color to almost every corner of the country at a bargain price. But then, things took a ride. 167). Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. Simpson. 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)! Growth was especially strong in the Midwest which was targeted as a region susceptible to their appeal. LIME FRESH MEXICAN GRILL. This chain of Mexican restaurants got its start in Minneapolis in 1975, sharing space with a bar owned by an ex-NFL player. A Mexican fast-food establishment with locations all over the United States, its charming motto was, "Prepare food fresh. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. 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. The chain began in the mid-1950s in Miami but grew to be a nationwide phenomenon, with more than 400 restaurants in the 1970s at the height of its success. Chain restaurants are big business. But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. Ever wonder if your favorite is actually the most popular? > U.S. sales: $232 million Unfortunately, it didn't matter how good the chicken tastedthe business met its untimely end to the dismay of fans everywhere. Another famous item on the Taco Cabana menu is the queso, which many lovers of Tex-Mex have labeled the best queso at any of Americas Mexican fast food restaurants. Nopales, eggs and beans and hand made tortillas with really good salsas. Whether your usual order consists of nachos, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, or even a Mexican-style salad you name it, its on the menu. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. > Number of U.S. units: 35. "Prepare food fresh. Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. From there, unfortunately, it was all downhill. > Number of U.S. units: 143. It's risky ranking Chipotle at the bottom of a Mexican-American food roundup, considering the sheer size and ferocity of Chipotle's die-hard fan club. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. Friday's and Applebee's, serving up similar menus of standard bar fare and ambiance. This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. In 1988, they sold all but a few of their locations to Marriott. In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. 167). However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's.
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