14. 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. Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. 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 . 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. > U.S. sales: $868 million California has the most with 822. 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. 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. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the ritz for so long. The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. There were at least 300 Rax locations by the mid-'80s; there were even locations in Guatemala and Canada. Many Naugles became Del Tacos, and eventually, Naugles disappeared. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. 15 BEST Mexican Restaurants Chains in the US (There's One Near You!) The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. 26 Bloomington-Normal restaurants from years past - The Pantagraph Rip Vip's. 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). By 1984, there were 60 locations. Quesadillas, burritos and burrito bowls, and nachos are among the other offerings. At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. 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. 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). } 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. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnet opened the first Sambo's restaurant in 1957. The original light showcase closed in 1983. Doggie Diner was a staple in Northern California's Bay Area in its heyday. > U.S. sales: $371 million The original Lum's storefront closed its doors in 1983. 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. > U.S. sales: $4.805 billion Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. to promote fast food franchises serving pita sandwiches. Family Style. Pappasito's Cantina. Arro - closed February . 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. } else { 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. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. Missing those iconic kids' meals? Brands, owners of KFC, Pizza Hut, and other chains, it also operates around the world.) Chain restaurants are big business. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. } else { 20 American Fast Food Chains We Grew Up With (That Are No - TheTravel The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. 3. 2. Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . 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 } 30 Defunct Fast Food Chains and What Happened to Them First called JAX Roast Beef, then RIX Roast Beef, Rax Roast Beef was popular for its roast beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, and salad bars. Dick Naugle had a history of helping build successful restaurant chains. Posted September 13, 2004. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. Mexico's Alsea profit slides as rising costs, exchange rate, taxes bite "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Uncle Julios The chain's name was a source of controversy: According to the company, the name was . 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). Bombay Bicycle Club. But the children of the 80s probably do not experience experience. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. There are a few states where people should leave quickly. New Balance (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart 5. 17 restaurants in the 1980s chain - Good Lifestyle Walgreen's has a penchant to bring back beyond your traditional pharmacy products - some even sell beer and wine these days. Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. Inc. (Big Bite). > U.S. sales: $348 million 22. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group, Published on September 18, 2019 | 1:49 PM. To this day . And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. In 1984, G.D. Ritzy's was taking in about $5.2 million just from ice cream sales. Next week, the 10th of 20 stands in the Valley will be opened. We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesperson, O.J. By the turn of the century, there were fewer than a dozen Howard Johnson's left standing. Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) 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). This family includes Pappas Burger, Pappas Bar-B-Q and Pappas Bros Steakhouse to name just a few (see also The Best Menu Items At LongHorn Steakhouse). Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. Classic Restaurant Chains: Where Are They Now? | Kiplinger 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! Established: 1976 What happened: The Irish-themed bar and grill was a popular spot for both happy hours and family gatherings in the 1980s and '90s.But it failed to distinguish itself from a growing field of casual-dining chains that included T.G.I. 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. At one point, the Burger King-esque chain had as many as 27 restaurants around Illinois, but by the early 1980s, the chain was finished. Del Taco In 1982,Denny's offered the company About $ 12 million to buy 35 VIP locations. Cheeseburger in Paradise. 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. Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. I only ate there once but I really liked it. 10 most popular Mexican chain restaurants in the United States 40 Closed Restaurant Chains We Wish Were Still Open The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. Bankrupcty. 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. Taco Cabana 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. Foodio / Shutterstock. Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. } Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. 2. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. 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. 20+ New & Recently-Opened Restaurants in Columbus in 2023. 18 Blockbuster Restaurant Chains From the '90s That Are Gone or Hard to Not only is El Toritos extensive menu filled with Mexican favorites like beef enchiladas, flame-grilled fajitas and traditional burritos, but you also get the option of building your own plate made up of the restaurants most popular menu items. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. I wish it was still here. Created by former Green Bay Packers star Max McGee and restaurateur Marno McDermit, it launched in 1975 in the unlikeliest of places for a Mexican food chain: downtown Minneapolis. 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. 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. 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. xhr.send(payload); You could eat as many shrimp, salad, beer and rib as you could never want - all for less than $ 20, according toBklyner. 6. If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. 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. March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. 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 serious noise complaints from neighbors at the Huntington Harbour location in 1981, and, in the mid-1980s, claims that the chain excluded minorities on a regular basis from several of its Orange County . food and drink and health, as well as entertainment, beauty, and other lifestyle But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to the evolution of tastes have become ferocious competitors. Football Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti opened the first Gino's Hamburgers in 1957, and by the 70s, he was able to boast over 300 locations. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. "Howard Johnson was the king of the road," said a former franchise led by eater. Many Tex-Mex lovers will tell you that Taco Bueno is the best place to go for American-style Mexican food. Mex which it defines as SoCal lifestyle meets Mexican heritage. Fire-grilled chicken is the thing here, by itself (or with beans and rice, fries, etc. In 1982, they sold the majority of their restaurants in Marriott. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. Chi-Chi's. Wikimedia Commons/Nostaljack/Public Domain. It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. The chain was sold 630 million dollars in 1979 and heading towards the 80s, Hojo became avictim of his own success. And for more failed restaurants,Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants. 16 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants In America - Whimsy & Spice 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. 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. 23. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. Who knows, maybe youll find a new favorite! The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. When similar style pizza place Chuck E. Cheese went bankrupt in 1984, ShowBiz purchased it. 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. RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. More than half of the locations were eventually converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest were closed. But all hope wasn't lost. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . Taco Johns 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. In the mid-1980's. 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. 11. } ); Torchys grew out of a food truck in Austin. The original Pioneer Chicken opened in 1961 next to a Pioneer Market, a grocery store chain in Los Angeles. 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. And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. Mexican food. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. Historic Houston Restaurants - Historic Houston - Houston Architecture Info And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983 | Steve's Food Blog Mexican Restaurant Chains | List of Best Mexican Food in US - Ranker New French Cafe. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. 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. The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. Vintage Taco Bell restaurants & see what the Mexican fast-food chain Sadly, the opposite of the Wag's jingle is true today: It's no longer "a great day for Wag's," which is nowhere to be found in the world. That's what you call to live your childhood dream. Here are 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. advice every day. 58 (tie) EL TACO TOTE. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. 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 ); Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Miss these emblematic meals of children? 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. Perkins logo, 1960. By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast. Buffalo locations, 1979. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. But not all of them have survived over the years. Fast Casual. Each television show based in the city, fromFriends ToSaturday Night Live, has blocked about it for a few decades. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. 8 Classic Restaurant Chains That Went Out of Business - Spoon University Refuge. > Number of U.S. units: 727. 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. It quickly expanded 225 points of sale by 1986. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. 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. The US Mexican restaurant industry has seen good growth over most of the past decade, reaching a market size of around $79.4 billion in 2023. And controversy makes for good business! Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. Boy, do we miss those fried clam strips, frankfurts, and that signature HoJo ice cream. Great Moments in Mexican-American Restaurant History: Casa Gallardo Support . Chuys Tex-Mex Not only do Baja Freshs dishes taste well, fresh theyre also packed with all the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Though Beefsteak Charlie's slogan was, "I'll feed you like there's no tomorrow," sadly, tomorrow came for this chain restaurant by the end of the 1980s. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); 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. 18 Best Mexican Restaurant Franchises of 2023 (UPDATED RANKINGS) In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. > Number of U.S. units: 35. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. 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. > U.S. sales: $236 million (est.) Fast food history: Southern California is at the center - Los Angeles Times But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. 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. The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. single RIP: 50 Restaurants That Closed Over The Past Decade - Columbus Underground What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. ), Once the film came out, All American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, has seen a brief boom. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. 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. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. Lots of Transients ate there. During its first 20 years of activity, the chain plunged its claims on 19 states, serving its famous burgers and fries in about 400 restaurants. Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. 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. 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. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. Get the best food tips and diet The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. Lucia's Restaurant. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. List of Mexican restaurants - Wikipedia They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. Chi-Chi's Inc. -- Company History 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. But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. One of the reasons Taco Cabana is so popular is that it offers 24-hour service, so when college starts in the fall, you can expect to see a lot of students here in the early hours of the morning! Mr. Paul is a restaurateur who had owned other popular Los Angeles-area restaurants: The Old Virginia and Chez Paul, both in South Pasadena. The original Pollo Loco was in Sinaloa, Mexico, and there is a Mexican chain today, unrelated to the U.S. one. 31 once-beloved chains that no longer exist in the Lehigh Valley and