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. single But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. So if you want a scoop of that Chunky Dory Fudge, head to Ohio or Kentucky. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the ritz for so long. Although there is an independent restaurant of the same name in New York, the latest All-American All-American Burger on Sunset Boulevard has since closed. 16 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants In America - Whimsy & Spice If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. single Fast Casual. Chuys Tex-Mex Uncle Julios The last original location shut down in 2006. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { 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.) Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. But, much like Mall Madness and acid-washed jeans, not all of the chains from your youth have survived, and there are plenty of failed fast-food restaurants that have come and gone. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. Bresler's Ice Cream. The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. Classic Restaurant Chains: Where Are They Now? | Kiplinger Next time you have a craving for Mexican food or Tex-Mex, we challenge you to try out a new Mexican chain restaurant with friends or family (see also 17 American BBQ Chain Restaurants You Need To Visit). Inc. (Big Bite). Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Mexican Restaurant Chains | List of Best Mexican Food in US - Ranker Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. The lamentations on those departed culinary landmarks have been thorough and frequent . Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. 7. Top Mexican Restaurant Chains in The United States of America (USA) Minnie Pearl's Chicken. Now Holidays Restaurant. 15. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Lucia's Restaurant. 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. 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). ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. The Mexican Restaurants of New York City - ArcGIS StoryMaps Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. "Bennigan was the lowest of the main stakeholders," said an analyst at theAssociated pressat the time. 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. 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. Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. 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. } else { "Howard Johnson was the king of the road," said a former franchise led by eater. Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. 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. (As any '80s pop culture expert knows, it's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. 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. Lots of Transients ate there. What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. Its channel, Wag's had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours a day, serving your standard rate of Denny'Sque. Taco Bell Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. But all hope wasn't lost. RIP VIP's. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! I wish it was still here. If you're from that neck of the woods, then you probably remember the chain's seven-foot-tall, rotating dachshunds in chef's hats and bowties that stood outside each of the restaurants. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. 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. There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. From there, unfortunately, it was all downhill. You could eat as many shrimp, salad, beer and rib as you could never want - all for less than $ 20, according toBklyner. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Keep the place clean!" . By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. In addition to fish and other tacos, the menu includes chicken tortilla soup and a Baja chopped bowl. } That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Pup 'N' Taco locations across California and New Mexico. But that was only true for so long. Taco Bueno. 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 Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the . Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. La Petite Boulangerie wanted to be every neighborhood's neighborhood marketand in the '80s, they made a pretty good run at doing just that. 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. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. By 1982 or 1983. 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 . } ); Whether your usual order consists of nachos, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, or even a Mexican-style salad you name it, its on the menu. Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. Chain restaurants are big business. 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. The original Lum's storefront closed its doors in 1983. For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. > Number of U.S. units: 580. Refuge. In the late 1980s, if you lived . 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. 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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. But, much like the madness of the mall and a washed jeans with acid, all the channels of your youth have not survived, and there are many fast food restaurants that came. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. 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. xhr.send(payload); But increased competition and a slew of unfortunate events . The original light showcase closed in 1983. In business in 47 states and the nations capital (as well as Canada, the U.K., France, and Germany), Chipotle has been one of the great fast-food success stories of the late 20th and early 21st century despite repeated problems, apparently now solved, with food safety, leading to hundreds of cases of food poisoning. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. The largest Mexican chains in the U.S. - Restaurant Business Finally, if youre looking for really high-quality, rustic-inspired Tex-Mex, theres nowhere better than Uncle Julios. 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. Another Dallas-born chain, on the border launched in 1982, featuring mesquite-grilled meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and small-batch salsas. The Tex-Mex Invasion | National Museum of American History With the rise of fast-food chains though, . Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. > U.S. sales: $868 million Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. That was the motto of Mexican fast-food chain Naugles. 13. THE 10 BEST Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. Ann Arbor's lost eateries - Ann Arbor - LocalWiki } > U.S. sales: $348 million March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. is the restaurants focus on fresh, non-processed ingredients. Army.". A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. Support . See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. 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. 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 . In 1981. 8. "Prepare food fresh. El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. 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. Qdoba Mexican Eats However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. Customers find the chain's classic fried chicken, and now the menu also includes buffalo wings, chicken fingers and family combos with cheesecake for dessert. You could get the famous "Gino Giant," a massively stacked hamburger aptly nicknamed "a banquet on a bun," all over the place. 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. . 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! List of defunct restaurants of the United States - Wikipedia The chain's name was a source of controversy: According to the company, the name was . > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. In 2010, he became recognized as aOfficial city. Boy, let's miss these clam tapes, Frankfurts and this Signature Hojo ice cream. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. Many locations were converted to Hardee's in the '90s after the burger chain bought Rax. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. 4. 167). The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. November 15, 2005. Cheeseburger in Paradise. 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. . 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 . 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. The original Pollo Loco was in Sinaloa, Mexico, and there is a Mexican chain today, unrelated to the U.S. one. Family Style. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. Each television show based in the city, fromFriends ToSaturday Night Live, has blocked about it for a few decades. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about } Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. 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.