There are 34 locations in total. First started in 1968 in Los Angeles, the chain's last location closed in 2010. Who doesn't love a restaurant with good food and a great happy hour? Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. 11. And for more 1980s trivia, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants, Long Island and NYC Places that are no more/Facebook, The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. 20+ New & Recently-Opened Restaurants in Columbus in 2023. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. 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 ); The sale has put the "completely out of food activity" of WalgreenThe New York Times reported. Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. Posted September 13, 2004. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. This is a list of notable Mexican restaurants. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. Next week, the 10th of 20 stands in the Valley will be opened. Ralph Rubio can make a fair claim to having introduced Baja-style fish tacos to America and his fresh Mex chain, based in San Diego, certainly popularized them. It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. Don't Edit. In 1984, G.D. Ritzy's was taking in about $5.2 million just from ice cream sales. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! The timing was perfect, with Mexican food a trendy choice for diners at that time. (Now owned by Yum! It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the . Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. Chipotle Mexican Grill Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). Cheeseburger in Paradise. 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. there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. 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. 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. 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 ); A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Minnie Pearl's Chicken. 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). At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. Webb. The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut,Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. > U.S. sales: $817 million Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. 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. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. But all hope wasn't lost. In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with . Friday, the chain fell behind. Bresler's Ice Cream. In addition to fish and other tacos, the menu includes chicken tortilla soup and a Baja chopped bowl. . The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. But its flame burned short and bright: By the late '80s, the owners filed for bankruptcy, and all of the locations had closed by the 2000s. 1 of 3. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. . In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. That's what you call to live your childhood dream. Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. Scott Mercer (left) was helped by Bob Scura and Kurt Cameron of Grand American Fare chain in assembling dcor for P.O. More than half of the locations were finally converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest was closed. It was the kind of offer they couldn't refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP's. 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. 2. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. We promise this Tex-Mex chain restaurant will quickly become a family favorite! The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. The original Pollo Loco was in Sinaloa, Mexico, and there is a Mexican chain today, unrelated to the U.S. one. 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. The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. 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. The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. > Number of U.S. units: 35. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. Get the best food tips and diet advice At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. Hard-shell tacos (including those with Doritos shells), quesadillas, burritos, chalupas, and made-up hybrids like Quesaritos, Crunchwrap Supremes, and Cheesy Roll Ups are among the specialties. There will be 31 in Arizona by the end of the year, Campbell said. Uncle Julios Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. The original Pioneer Chicken opened in 1961 next to a Pioneer Market, a grocery store chain in Los Angeles. 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. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. The final restaurant closed in 1989. "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. Of all the fast-food chains out there, only one could be the first to ever use . They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. 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%. You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. I only ate there once but I really liked it. 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! 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. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. Serve customer fast. Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. 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. Don Pablo's is another Mexican-inspired chain . 6. 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. 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. Starting out as RoBee's House of Beef in Indiana, Roy Rogers became the more common name for this chain in 1968. 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 . } ); Many Tex-Mex lovers will tell you that Taco Bueno is the best place to go for American-style Mexican food. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. These 1980s restaurants aren't still standing todayand if they are, it's in reduced form. } Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. California has the most with 822. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. 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. Who knows, maybe youll find a new favorite! He rapidly expanded to 225 outlets by 1986. Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. What sets Baja Fresh apart from the Mexican fast food chains dotted around the U,S. 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. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. 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. The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. Brands, owners of KFC, Pizza Hut, and other chains, it also operates around the world.) Of course the sections most of us will head to immediately are . El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. But it was already too late. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! Not only does On The Border deliver excellent value for money due to its impressive portion sizes, but many of the signature dishes on the menu at this restaurant are cooked on mesquite wooden grills, which enhances the flavor and makes the Mexican food at On The Border some of the best in America. 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. But all hope was not lost. We hope that this guide to the best Mexican restaurant chains in America (see also Ranking The Top 18 Pizza Chains In America) has shown you that there are plenty more Mexican food options than Chipotle and Taco Bell although these two have more than earned their popularity! > U.S. sales: $324 million The chain Antone's pale in comparison to the original locations. Unlike some other fast food restaurants, where you get served your chosen condiments along with your order, at Taco Cabana, you get to go and take your pick from the condiment bar and help yourself to whatever you like! 167). El Torito. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. But '80s kids rejoice: A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, since 2015. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. (Well, not quite the same fries.) However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. Moes Southwest Grill isnt just famous for its classic Mexican food (which is incredible) but also for the carefully-chosen music thats always playing at this chain restaurant. Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. 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. 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.". Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. But then, things took a ride. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. > Number of U.S. units: 143. "I used to eat here as a child at lunch time with my father," wrote a Yelper. 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. In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. This meticulously-researched gem recalls dozens of shuttered restaurants going all the way back to Denver's earliest days. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Tortillas at Chuys are handmade daily, all the ingredients are fresh (not frozen), and there are 10 homemade salsas. Chi-Chi's. But that was only true for so long. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . By 1982 or 1983. The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Howard Johnson could simply hold the title of the most failed failed restaurant chain, not only the 80s, but a time. 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. Though there's an unrelated restaurant of the same name in New York, the last real All-American Burger on Sunset Boulevard has since closed. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. But eventually, they fail to keep in pace with restaurants like Applebee's and Friday's. Bennigan's was sold several times through the years before filing for bankruptcy in 2008. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. There are a few states where people should leave quickly. New Balance (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart 5. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. > U.S. sales: $232 million Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. 11. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); 10. Mr. Robert Davis (and others) founded Big Bite. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. 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. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) "Go to Chick 'N' Taco and give your belly a treatment" -We want us to be able! Nine years in, Naugle sold his modest three-location chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with it. If youre looking for something fresh and new, you can also choose to order the Taco of the Month, which never fails to impress. 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! > Number of U.S. units: 727. The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. 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). In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's locations. is the restaurants focus on fresh, non-processed ingredients. El Pollo Loco first opened in 1975. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about 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.
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