At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. Moes Southwest Grill 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). Starting in the 1980s, Mighty Casey's began popping up in Atlanta, Georgia, serving your . > U.S. sales: $236 million (est.) 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. 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. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. 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. The full list includes restaurants I copied from the telephone directory (and which were listed as "Mexican restaurants" in the yellow pages). 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). By 1982 or 1983. 13. 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. Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. 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. 14. Taco Bueno has been established since 1967, and like all good Tex-Mex restaurants, it originated in the state of Texas itself in Abilene, to be exact. 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. 55 (tie) EL RODEO. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. In 1967, the chain was established in Abilene, Texas, by Bill R. Waugh, an art graduate from Abilene Christian University. LIME FRESH MEXICAN GRILL. 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! And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. The most talked-about item on the menu is the fire-grilled chicken, which you can get incorporated into various dishes at the restaurant, from tacos to burritos. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) 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. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. > U.S. sales: $348 million Ever wonder if your favorite is actually the most popular? Friday, the chain fell behind. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { And controversy makes for good business! 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. Forsaken Fotos / Flickr. 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. 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. Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. But the children of the 80s probably do not experience experience. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. . Who knows, maybe youll find a new favorite! there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. California has the most with 822. 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. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to the evolution of tastes have become ferocious competitors. 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 Today onlySome restaurants remain. What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. 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? 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. Keep place clean!" 57. That's what you call to live your childhood dream. 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. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. Taco Bell But then, things took a ride. Bresler's Ice Cream. Impossible brand plant-based protein is an option. But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. 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. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. 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. 13. 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. 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! 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. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. 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. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) > Number of U.S. units: 484. topics. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. 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.". JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . About 25 Chicken Delights are operating today, in central Canada and the New York City area. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. There will be 31 in Arizona by the end of the year, Campbell said. 9. xhr.send(payload); } else { 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. 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. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. Chuys sets itself apart from much of the competition in the Mexican restaurant industry by rolling their tortillas by hand and serving only fresh ingredients. Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. 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. But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. . In 2003, after it had grown to 85 locations in 16 states, Qdoba was acquired by Jack in the Box, which ran it until it was sold to a private equity firm in 2018. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Simpson. In 1988, they sold all but a few of their locations to Marriott. > Number of U.S. units: 580. Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! To this day . Posted on March 19, 2016. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. Scott Mercer (left) was helped by Bob Scura and Kurt Cameron of Grand American Fare chain in assembling dcor for P.O. 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. . if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. 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. Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. 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. The chain was sold 630 million dollars in 1979 and heading towards the 80s, Hojo became avictim of his own success. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Doggie Diner was a staple in Northern California's Bay Area in its heyday. "The love affair with Burger Chef remains strong," a Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007when Hardee's brought back Burger Chef's iconic Big Shef. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. 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. 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. Pappasito's Cantina. In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. 33 Must-Try Gnocchi Recipes For The Ultimate Taste Of Italy, 36 Must-Try Steak Recipes For The Whole Family, 14 Best Southern American Fast-Food Chains, 50 Fun And Fulfilling 4th Of July Desserts, 75 Insanely Delicious And Fun New Years Eve Desserts, The 33 Best Simple And Easy Mexican Chicken Recipes, 55 Of The Best Tantalizing Tailgating Recipes, 23 Most Popular Chain Restaurants In The United States, Mexican Eats is a solid example of a great Mexican chain restaurant, The Best Menu Items At LongHorn Steakhouse, Ranking The Top 18 Pizza Chains In America, 17 American BBQ Chain Restaurants You Need To Visit, 28 Harry Potter-Themed Cocktails To Inject Some Magic Into Your Drinks, 25 Easy Pizza-Based Appetizers You HAVE To Try, 20 Easy Pitcher Cocktails That Are Perfect for Summer, 20 Tasty And Traditional Italian Christmas Desserts, 28 Delicious Summer Pie Recipes You HAVE To Try, 18 Desserts With Dulce De Leche You Will Love, 13 Starfruit Recipes You Will Love Making, 24 Tasty Asian Breakfast Dishes To Start The Day Right, What To Serve With Empanadas (15 Easy Ideas), 13 Delicious Recipes That Call For Powdered Sugar. > U.S. sales: $817 million 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). "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. In 1982, they sold the majority of their restaurants in Marriott. However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. } else { But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. 4. Chipotle Mexican Grill Unlike many of the Mexican fast food chains in America, this one actually originated from Mexico, in Sinaloa. It might not be as wildly popular as restaurants like Chipotle and Taco Bell (see below), but it still has a reputation for excellent Tex-Mex fast food. Many locations were converted to Hardee's in the '90s after the burger chain bought Rax. / 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. Torchys Tacos El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! Nine years in, Naugle sold his modest three-location chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with it. New French Cafe. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . Taco Johns Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. Bennigan's. This fast food chain was one of America's first casual dining and sports bar chain. 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. By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. And though there was a sole storefront holding on for dear life in Nebraska, it too closed in 2017. 20+ New & Recently-Opened Restaurants in Columbus in 2023. Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more are available. He worked management jobs at Del Taco, and in the 1980s, struck by the quality and efficiency of El Pollo Loco, he started his own chain of Mexican-style broiled chicken, Juan Pollo, which still . ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. 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. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. The Tex-Mex Invasion. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. Minnie Pearl's Chicken. (Well,not quite the same fries.) The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. If youve ever heard the phrase Taco Tuesday, this was actually coined by Taco Johns, and what many people dont know is that the phrase has actually been trademarked by the restaurant! In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . 11. Rip Vip's. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. Possibly - with a lot of enthusiasm and tons of help Ziebarth has been able to open aNew rental of Naugles In 2017. "They just leave that Ritzy is a little atrophy of Ritzy over the next eight or ten years, and he decreased at seven locations"Webb saidThe observer of Dallas in 2004. Chi-Chi's. > U.S. sales: $232 million 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. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. > Number of U.S. units: 170. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. A few years later, things came to the complete circle when Butler sold in Collins Food International, who decided to merge Naugles without other than Del Taco in 1988. Heartland. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. "Man, I miss him. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. Damon . But according to The Washington Post, Holmes "knew little about cash flow," despite the restaurant's great marketing. In 1979, new owners bought the company for real estate purposes. In 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. xhr.send(payload); They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit. Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. We promise this Tex-Mex chain restaurant will quickly become a family favorite! In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with . > Number of U.S. units: 743. Qdoba comes out of Denver, where its ancestor, called Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, opened in 1995. 11. Jessica McGowan. 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!

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