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. A few of Buffalo's favorite (chain) restaurants of the past Local Chains - Columbus Restaurant History Simpson. 26. And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. 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. For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! Perkins logo, 1960. El Pollo Loco 25. 12. Cheeseburger in Paradise. Dam it was good Mexican food. "Man, I miss this place. You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. 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. Burger Chef. But in 1970, he left this company to build his own Mexican style chain: Naugles in the south of California. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. 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. Gino's Hamburgers. Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. 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. xhr.send(payload); 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! 2. The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. Beyond Meat vegan options are available, and ground turkey tacos are also offered, as a lower-fat alternative to the ground beef versions., 4. 9. Torchys Tacos El Torito. Vintage Restaurants/ Fast Food Chains of the 1980s 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. Damon . The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. You could get the famous "Gino Giant," a massively stacked hamburger aptly nicknamed "a banquet on a bun," all over the place. 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). 4. El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! 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. By the 1990s, the Cuellars owned more than 100 El Chico . 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. Chipotle specializes in Mexican food favorites such as burritos, but it has an extensive menu ranging from burrito bowls to tacos and fajitas. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. 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. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. There's no denying that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from biting into the burger you've been enjoying since you were a kid. It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. Of all the fast-food chains out there, only one could be the first to ever use . Jim's Tiffany Place originally opened in Lansing in 1937 and served customers until 1993. Brigham's - a Boston-area ice cream parlor and restaurant chain that closed in 2013 [2] Britling Cafeterias. This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. 167). Without further ado, were going to be listing the 16 best Mexican chain restaurants in America, describing the style of the menu for each one (see also Americas Best Buffet Restaurants). Moes Southwest Grill This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). 55 (tie) TEQUILA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT. Fast-food chains continued to grow, with the number of companies increasing by about two-thirds. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); 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. Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. Missing those iconic kids' meals? > Number of U.S. units: 580. Jeff Korbelik: 25 years of good food and making good friends comes to Fast food history: Southern California is at the center - Los Angeles Times Remembering restaurants that are no longer | Phoenix - Yelp Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of, the best Mexican restaurants in every state, Source: Keithready / Public Domain / Wikimedia Commons, Source: Photo taken by Bobak Ha'Eri. every day. In the late 1990s and . Mexico's Alsea profit slides as rising costs, exchange rate, taxes bite 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. All the Roy Rogers locations were sold off in the '90s. The channel started in the mid-1950s in Miami but became a phenomenon at the national level, with more than 400 restaurants in the 1970s at theHeight of his success. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. 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. Taste of a decade: 1970s restaurants - Restaurant-ing through history Taco Bell This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . } But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. 17 restaurants in the 1980s chain - Good Lifestyle And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Still, if you were lucky enough to experience Pup 'N' Taco, then you probably can't get the jingle out of your head. 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 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. But if you'd kill for an Ollieburger, check out this copycat recipe to satisfy your craving. This restaurant Burger California has become a rage, thanks to an appearance in the film of 1982Quick weather at Ridgemont High. 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. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. Interestingly, the chain was founded by a Greek family. Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. To this day . 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. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. Billing itself as a Mexican restaurant with a Southwest twist, though it comes from Atlanta originally, Moes pretty much covers the country, with locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); 17 Failed Fast Food Restaurants From the 1980s - Eat This Not That The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . Today onlySome restaurants remain. 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. Mr. Robert Davis (and others) founded Big Bite. The final spot (in Nevada) closed in 1995. Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. 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. 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. Hi, my name is Jenna and I have been a professional chef for almost the entirety of my adult life. Taco Bell is probably one of the first Mexican chain restaurants that come to mind when you think about Mexican fast food, which is hardly surprising since there are more than 7,000 Taco Bell Restaurants across the United States. In addition, DoorDash, the nations number-one food delivery service, revealed recently that five of, 2019s 15 most popular food orders in America, 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. Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. And for kids, in particular, Burger Chef was the top choice: It was the first fast-food chain to include toys with its kids' meals. First opened a half-century ago in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and still based there, Taco Johns calls its fare West-Mex. Now operating in 22 states, the chain offers some unusual additions to the usual Mexican chain menu for instance, a meat and potato burrito, stuffed grilled tacos, and flauta-like Mexi Rolls, served with a choice of dipping sauces. 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. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. 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. > Number of U.S. units: 170. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. Del Taco restaurant, Inc. is an American fast food chain that specializes Mexican and American cuisine. The 20 Restaurant Chains That No Longer Exist - Trending (As any '80s pop culture expert knows, it's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. In particular, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about
It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. 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. Vintage Taco Bell restaurants & see what the Mexican fast-food chain 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. Top Mexican Restaurant Chains in The United States of America (USA) } else { Chain restaurants are big business. The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. Taste of a decade: 1980s restaurants - Restaurant-ing through history Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. Mexican Restaurant Chains | List of Best Mexican Food in US - Ranker It took 10 years for the chain to die a slow death, which meant that the children of the 80s have had to experience the great barn and the Barnbuster Burgers . But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. In 1981, more than 50 VIP sites had taken along the highways of Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada, In addition to the locations of Oregon. List of Mexican restaurants - Wikipedia RIP: 50 Restaurants That Closed Over The Past Decade - Columbus Underground The original Lum's storefront closed its doors in 1983. 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. single 4. "Howard Johnson was the king of the road," said a former franchise led by eater. / 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. 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. The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. 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. A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Buffalo locations, 1979. La Petite Boulangerie wanted to be every neighborhood's neighborhood marketand in the '80s, they made a pretty good run at doing just that. So, if you want a spoon of this Dory Chunky fudge, head toOhio WhereKentucky. 10. Boy, do we miss those fried clam strips, frankfurts, and that signature HoJo ice cream. 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. 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. Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. Another Dallas-born chain, on the border launched in 1982, featuring mesquite-grilled meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and small-batch salsas.