> Number of U.S. units: 484. 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. Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! Classic Restaurants Chains That No Longer Exist or Are Barely Surviving So, if you want a spoon of this Dory Chunky fudge, head toOhio WhereKentucky. Whether youre looking for great-value Tex-Mex (see also 17 Most Popular Chilis Menu Items) or your standard burger and fries, you wont be disappointed by a trip to this restaurant. 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. We finally started swishing and sipping when La Cave popped open "with a refr eshing idea whose arrival . A 1980 sales department accounted for many happy customers who say that Chicken George was better than the chicken of their wife or mother. The latest restaurant closed in 1989. But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. 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 any New York child in the 1980s grew up love this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. ), but also offers flautas the rolled, fried tacos sometimes called taquitos. But all hope was not lost. 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. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Jolly Tiger 2080 W. Stadium Blvd. 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. 1 of 3. The lamentations on those departed culinary landmarks have been thorough and frequent . 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. 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. Star ratings are for the ones I visited. > U.S. sales: $835 million Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. Starting out as RoBee's House of Beef in Indiana, Roy Rogers became the more common name for this chain in 1968. In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. And for more failed restaurants,Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants. These are fans who didn't think twice after . In addition to its tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and the like, On the Border offers such specialties as grilled queso chicken, Caribbean mango grilled fish, and carne asada at its locations in 17 states. 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. Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. Taco Bueno. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. Baja Fresh has been around since 1990, and its yet another Mexican restaurant chain to emerge from California. 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. All the Roy Rogers locations were sold off in the '90s. At the beginning of the decade, you could get the "chicken in the cart" special for only 59 cents. 167). xhr.send(payload); Originally Sambo's Restaurant (chain) in the 1960's, then rebranded as Jolly Tiger in the early 1970's. Oddly, it was changed back to Sambo's in the early 1980's rebranded (again!) It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. 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. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Taco Johns 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. Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. 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. 57. You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. Leo's Mexican Restaurant In 2001 Leo's Mexican Restaurant closed its doors, to the chagrin of Tex-Mex connoisseurs and ZZ Top fans. In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. 15 Defunct Restaurant Chains Sure To Bring Back Memories - DoYouRemember? And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. 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. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! 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. . Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. Restaurant Chains We Miss | Cheapism.com Get the best food tips and diet advice At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. VIP was a casual catering chain on the 24-hour west coast that started from Oregon in 1968. 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. 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. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. Classic Restaurant Chains: Where Are They Now? | Kiplinger The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. > U.S. sales: $868 million > Number of U.S. units: 170. 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. 6. More than half of the locations were eventually converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest were closed. The 80's Fast Food Taco Chain You Probably Forgot About - Mashed.com Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. THE 10 BEST Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles (Updated 2023) - Tripadvisor "You could make money anywhere." 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. 11. The American company has units all over California (and especially in the southern portions of the state), as well as in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. 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. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. But in 1970, he left this company to build his own Mexican style chain: Naugles in the south of California. "Howard Johnson was the king of the road," said a former franchise led by eater. 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. 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. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! By the mid-'80s, all the Doggie Diners had shut down. In addition to fish and other tacos, the menu includes chicken tortilla soup and a Baja chopped bowl. 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. Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. > Number of U.S. units: 100. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. Torchys grew out of a food truck in Austin. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. 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. See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. 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 . 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. 321. Get the best food tips and diet 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. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. Del Taco navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. The timing was . Burger Chef. Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how good the chicken tastedthe business met its untimely end to the dismay of fans everywhere. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. Every TV show based in the city, from Friends to Saturday Night Live, has joked about it for the last few decades. In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 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. Founded in 1974, Chi-Chi's was a Mexican-restaurant chain operating in the United States and Canada up until it filed for bankruptcy in 2004, according to a Journal Times report. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. List of defunct restaurants of the United States - Wikipedia There arent as many Baja Fresh locations as there are for other Mexican fast food chains, so be sure to look up the nearest Baja Fresh and try it out when you can! That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Chi-Chi's took off, growing to 237 locations by 1986. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesman,O.J. Taco Bueno combines Mexican cuisine with American fast food culture with its meal combos. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. In 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. Damon . What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. 167). But according to The Washington Post, Holmes "knew little about cash flow," despite the restaurant's great marketing. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. At its footwear popularity, Doggie Dinner had 30 places in the golden state, but unfortunately competing with larger chains such as McDonald's in this chain unfolds. here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. November 15, 2005. Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. 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 . To his pinnacle in the 1970s,Burger chef EU 1,200 locations and was a flourishing competitor of McDonald's. If you were around in the early '80s, you might remember Lum's for its signature beer-steamed hot dogs, and if you weren't a hot dog person, there was always the beloved Ollieburger. 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. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. Fast Casual. Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! Credit: Visit Houston Texas. Rubios Coastal Grill ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. 1. I only ate there once but I really liked it. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. A look back at favorite Southeast Texas restaurants of the past I wish it was always there.". Now Holidays Restaurant. 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. Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. 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. In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . "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. } > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) "They just let Ritzy's somewhat atrophy over the next eight or 10 years, and it dwindled down to seven locations," Webb said to The Dallas Observer in 2004. Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. Impossible brand plant-based protein is an option. Ann Arbor's lost eateries - Ann Arbor - LocalWiki Chain restaurants are big business. single The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. Jim's Tiffany Place originally opened in Lansing in 1937 and served customers until 1993. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. el Restaurante Top 100 Mexican Chains - elrestaurante.com A 1980 commercial famously featured many happy customers saying Chicken George was better than their wife's or mom's chicken. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. 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. 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. This meticulously-researched gem recalls dozens of shuttered restaurants going all the way back to Denver's earliest days. This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. 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. > U.S. sales: $232 million You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. 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. Top Mexican Restaurant Chains in The United States of America (USA) 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. (Well,not quite the same fries.) Mexican Fast Food Chains, Ranked From Worst To Best - Mashed.com Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more are available. As you might expect from the name, Torchys Tacos specializes in tacos and offers exciting and adventurous taco fillings such as fried avocado or blackened salmon. There were at least 300 Rax locations by the mid-'80s; there were even locations in Guatemala and Canada. Of all the fast-food chains out there, only one could be the first to ever use . } ); At the turn of the century, there was less than a dozen the left position of Howard Johnson. "Go to Chick 'N' Taco and give your belly a treatment" -We want us to be able! All Rights Reserved. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. MEXICO CITY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Mexican restaurant chain operator Alsea (ALSEA.MX) reported on Monday a 31% drop in its fourth-quarter net profit from a year earlier, hit by higher energy and raw . Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. This chain of Mexican restaurants got its start in Minneapolis in 1975, sharing space with a bar owned by an ex-NFL player. 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). Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. Fast-food chains continued to grow, with the number of companies increasing by about two-thirds. 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. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Keep place clean!" day, 2022 Galvanized Media. 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. 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. It was such a success for founders Max . There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); In 1982,Denny's offered the company About $ 12 million to buy 35 VIP locations. New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. RIP VIP's. 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. List of Mexican restaurants - Wikipedia An animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids as they watched a show, played arcade games, and ate not-super-outstanding pizza. Full Member. Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. 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. 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. Hi, my name is Jenna and I have been a professional chef for almost the entirety of my adult life. Buffalo locations, 1979. single . Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. 33 more restaurants we still miss in Michigan - mlive.com 2. 40 Iconic Restaurants That Are No Longer Around - Delish Another Texas-born chain, this one from Fort Worth, Fuzzys has units around the country, all over Texas and also in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. Although the company liquidated in 1991, there are a handful of independently owned stores left around the United States. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. There are five shrimp or fish tacos on the menu as well as meat versions and a grilled vegetable version. Not only do Baja Freshs dishes taste well, fresh theyre also packed with all the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. Howard Johnson could simply hold the title of the most failed failed restaurant chain, not only the 80s, but a time. In 1967, the chain was established in Abilene, Texas, by Bill R. Waugh, an art graduate from Abilene Christian University. If youre looking for something fresh and new, you can also choose to order the Taco of the Month, which never fails to impress. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. Doggie Diner was a staple in Northern California's Bay Area in its heyday. The original light showcase closed in 1983. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance you went to at least one of these restaurants. topics. The Mexican Restaurants of New York City - ArcGIS StoryMaps In the late 1980s, if you lived . 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). 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.