"Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. The Top 15 Mexican Chains in America - 24/7 Wall St. If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. 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. This Mexican restaurant is the original home of the frozen margarita, tableside guacamole, and the fajita platter, so other Mexican chain restaurants owe a lot to this establishment. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! 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. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. Taco Cabana is known for its tortilla machine, which allows customers to enjoy steaming hot tacos just a couple of minutes after they place their order. food and drink and health, as well as entertainment, beauty, and other lifestyle At the time, the addition of tacos was a game changer, as opposed to the integral part of the fast food lexicon it is today. And thanks to the boom of fast-food chains in the 1970s and 1980s, we've been able to sip the same shakes and munch on the same fries for decades. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Chi-Chi's. Wikimedia Commons/Nostaljack/Public Domain. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=6027c9e2-a210-42ba-aaf9-2e2df23e78e4&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=73057989978068432'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnet opened the first Sambo's restaurant in 1957. March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. I wish it was always there.". Interestingly, the chain was founded by a Greek family. 31 once-beloved chains that no longer exist in the Lehigh Valley and And for more failed eateries, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. D'Lites (1978-1987) Norcross, GA. More than 100. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. From there, unfortunately, it was all downhill. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Ever wonder if your favorite is actually the most popular? Unfortunately, the opposite of theWag's Jingle Is true today: it's no longer "a good day for Wag", which is nowhere where is in the world. 18 Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises of 2023 (UPDATED RANKINGS) The British-based market research and data analytics company, determined recently that some 86% of Americans who had tried Mexican food liked it; the only cuisine scoring higher was Italian, at 88%. Fast-food chains continued to grow, with the number of companies increasing by about two-thirds. Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. Jim's Tiffany Place. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. More than half of the locations were eventually converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest were closed. / Wikimedia Commons, ALSO READ: The 15 Most Popular Food Orders in America, ALSO READ: These Are the Top 15 Foods on the Rise for 2020. Qdoba comes out of Denver, where its ancestor, called Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, opened in 1995. Support . What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. Without that bright orange chicken, Monday Night Football was never the same. Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. Mr. Robert Davis (and others) founded Big Bite. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); In 2010, he became recognized as aOfficial city. 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. Its channel, Wag's had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours a day, serving your standard rate of Denny'Sque. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. According toEaterFor the height of his popularity in the 1960s, Howard Johnson served "more meals outside the home than any American entity, with the exception of the US military.". Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's. If youve ever heard the phrase Taco Tuesday, this was actually coined by Taco Johns, and what many people dont know is that the phrase has actually been trademarked by the restaurant! Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. "Bennigan was the lowest of the main stakeholders," said an analyst at theAssociated pressat the time. By 1981, more than 50 VIP's locations had sprung up along freeways throughout Washington, California, Idaho, and Nevada, in addition to the Oregon locations. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. 2. And though there was a sole storefront holding on for dear life in Nebraska, it too closed in 2017. Walgreen's has a penchant to bring back beyond your traditional pharmacy products - some even sell beer and wine these days. But many people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. Bombay Bicycle Club. A 1980 commercial famously featured many happy customers saying Chicken George was better than their wife's or mom's chicken. } The timing was . 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. We highly recommend trying some of the signature items on Uncle Julios menu, like the chocolate pinata, alongside some of the classics such as enchiladas and quesadillas. It quickly expanded 225 points of sale by 1986. 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. 58 (tie) EL TACO TOTE. 12. Historic Houston Restaurants - Historic Houston - Houston Architecture Info Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983 | Steve's Food Blog Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. Mexican Restaurant Chains | List of Best Mexican Food in US - Ranker Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. And if not, well, you were probably missing out. Taco Bueno combines Mexican cuisine with American fast food culture with its meal combos. Another Tex-Mex chain Taco Cabana has close to 200 locations throughout the United States, but most of them are in the restaurants town of origin, which is, of course, Texas! 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. 26 Bloomington-Normal restaurants from years past - The Pantagraph Taco Bell just getting started in Arizona (1966) Bell started his specialized Mexican food drive-in at Barstow [California] in 1962. 13. All Rights Reserved. 57. These are fans who didn't think twice after . Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. Dick Naugle had a history of helping build successful restaurant chains. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. 9. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. 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. every day. It now operates in almost every state, plus Washington, D.C. Customers build their own burritos, burrito bowls, taco salads, quesadillas, nachos, or tortilla soup variations. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. 30 Defunct Restaurant Chains From the Past - MoneyWise And for more 1980s trivia, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Finally, if youre looking for really high-quality, rustic-inspired Tex-Mex, theres nowhere better than Uncle Julios. And for more nostalgia, do not miss these17 chain restaurants in the 90s. . There are 6 types of combo meals at Taco Bueno that allow you to pair your favorite Tex-Mex foods with your choice of beverage. 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)! Family Style. Since then, nearly 400 other Taco Johns venues have opened in the Midwest as well as in some of the Mountain states, so its clear that the combination of Midwest and Mexican cuisine has been a hit. And thanks to the boom offast food Chains In the 1970s and 1980s, we could sip the same shakes and nibble the same fries for decades. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with . Don Pablo's is another Mexican-inspired chain . So if you want a scoop of that Chunky Dory Fudge, head to Ohio or Kentucky. But according to The Washington Post, Holmes "knew little about cash flow," despite the restaurant's great marketing. 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). The largest Mexican chains in the U.S. - Restaurant Business Casa Gallardo went up against two other chains, Southern California-based El Torito and Minnesota's Chi-Chi's, during the late 1970s and early 1980s in the fight for America's Mexican-food obsession. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. 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. Chuys Tex-Mex > Number of U.S. units: 35. Gino's Hamburgers. A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Starting in the 1980s, Mighty Casey's began popping up in Atlanta, Georgia, serving your . Of course the sections most of us will head to immediately are . Rubios Coastal Grill 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. Foodio / Shutterstock. These 1980s restaurants aren't still standing todayand if they are, it's in reduced form. Fast-food chains aren't necessarily known for their healthy options (especially in 1980s America), but that's what D'Lites sought to do with its menu. 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. 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. Unlike some other Mexican restaurant chains, Taco Bell restaurants are not confined to a small selection of states, and most states in the U.S. have at least one if not many more Taco Bell restaurants. "You could make money anywhere." But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesman,O.J. By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. By the mid-'80s, all the Doggie Diners had shut down. Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. Cote D'Oro: In 1980, Holiday Magazine named this distinctive, turreted Yosemite Boulevard restaurant one of the Top 100 in the United States. Brigham's - a Boston-area ice cream parlor and restaurant chain that closed in 2013 [2] Britling Cafeterias. 8. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. To this day . 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. 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 Del Taco Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. 33 more restaurants we still miss in Michigan - mlive.com Sold anything but some of their locations, Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants, Long Island and News sites that are no longer / Facebook, The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science, Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants, 40 habits to reduce your risk of dementia after 40, The FDA says "Do not get" COVID vaccine if you have this condition. 20 Alabama restaurants we wish we had back - al.com Founded in Denver in 1993 and now based in Newport Beach, California, it helped popularize the build-your-own trend with its sort-of-Mexican burritos, tacos, bowls, and salads. Chain restaurants are big business. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about 1977: Fine Wine and Italian Style. The 20 Restaurant Chains That No Longer Exist - Trending 1. This health-conscious fast-food chain offered healthier options than their competitors, but when chains like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's began to do the same in the form of salads, baked potatoes, and other items, it spelled the end for D'Lites. Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. Remembering restaurants that are no longer | Phoenix - Yelp A few years later, things came to the complete circle when Butler sold in Collins Food International, who decided to merge Naugles without other than Del Taco in 1988. The Tex-Mex Invasion. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. > U.S. sales: $868 million In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. > Number of U.S. units: 743. It was such a success for founders Max . Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. Pears, popular with college students in the 1980s and '90s. In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. But in 1970, he left this company to build his own Mexican style chain: Naugles in the south of California. Chi-Chi's Inc., owned by Prandium Inc., is a chain of 130 Mexican full-service restaurants that can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. 15 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants in 2023 - Asian Recipe 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. 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Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. But '80s kids rejoice: A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, since 2015. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Briazz. Franchises dominate in this market, with Taco Bell having more than twice as many restaurants as its nearest non-franchised competitor, and Qdoba and Moe's taking third and fourth place in the list of . In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . Today onlySome restaurants remain. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Burger Chef. This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Qdoba Mexican Eats is a solid example of a great Mexican chain restaurant, and we highly recommend it next time youre in the mood for Mexican food! Chain Restaurants We Bet You Forgot Existed - The Daily Meal Bresler's Ice Cream. On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. 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. xhr.send(payload); A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. 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. } The fun meal, as they called it, launched in the early 1970s and included stories about Burger Chef Lore, including the mascot of Jeff chain, La Burgerini (a magician), Count Fangburger (a vampire), Burgerilla (a gorilla), and Cackleburger (a witch). Friday, the chain fell behind. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold in Bombay Palace Restaurants and came out of business soon. Jim's Tiffany Place originally opened in Lansing in 1937 and served customers until 1993. Tortillas at Chuys are handmade daily, all the ingredients are fresh (not frozen), and there are 10 homemade salsas. The final spot (in Nevada) closed in 1995. Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. Mexican Fast Food Chains, Ranked From Worst To Best - Mashed.com Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. . to promote fast food franchises serving pita sandwiches. 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. 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 were wondering where this restaurant gets its name from, its called On The Border because its named after the border between Mexico and Texas. 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. And for more than 1980 anti-stirlish, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants . 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 Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. 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. > U.S. sales: $739 million This Mexican restaurant is the original home of the frozen margarita, tableside guacamole, and the fajita platter, so other Mexican chain restaurants owe a lot to this establishment. That pitfall sadly brought Chicken George down in 1986, when Holmes filed for liquidation after falling into over $1.4 million in debt to private creditors and the IRS.