One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . Moes Southwest Grill Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. Eventuallywith a lot of enthusiasm and tons of helpZiebarth was able to open a new Naugles location in 2017. And the controversy is for good business! 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 . It closed in . There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. Check out the top 10 Mexican chains in the United States according to Restaurant Business based on sales: 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. 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 finally started swishing and sipping when La Cave popped open "with a refr eshing idea whose arrival . 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. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. But then, things took a ride. > U.S. sales: $348 million Damon . 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! Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. 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. And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. 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. 4. Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. topics. 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! The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. Keep the place clean!" . So, not only do we owe Taco Johns our gratitude for one of the best cuisine combinations ever, but also for contributing to our vocabulary! 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 that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. California has the most with 822. . But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesperson, O.J. A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The lamentations on those departed culinary landmarks have been thorough and frequent . But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. Dam it was good Mexican food. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. Simpson. Nine years in, Naugle sold his modest three-location chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with it. 15. Many Naugles became Del Tacos, and eventually, Naugles disappeared. 13. Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. 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). With the exception of six locations in Florida, Rubios remains a western chain, with shops in Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as California. 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. > U.S. sales: $324 million A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about Taco Bell In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. The timing was perfect, with Mexican food a trendy choice for diners at that time. 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. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion According to Yelp reviewers, it was going downhill. But its flame burned short and bright: By the late '80s, the owners filed for bankruptcy, and all of the locations had closed by the 2000s. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. 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. By the turn of the century, there were fewer than a dozen Howard Johnson's left standing. 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. After starting as a small operation in Colorado Springs, the chain eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. > Number of U.S. units: 148. We love that Moes Southwest Grill strives to provide an entertaining and unique Mexican dining experience by combining traditional Mexican fast food with a playlist of game-changing musical artists. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. New French Cafe. The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. And for more 1980s trivia, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. At the turn of the century, there was less than a dozen the left position of Howard Johnson. Friday, the chain fell behind. Unlike some other fast food restaurants, where you get served your chosen condiments along with your order, at Taco Cabana, you get to go and take your pick from the condiment bar and help yourself to whatever you like! At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. Founded in Denver in 1993 and now based in Newport Beach, California, it helped popularize the build-your-own trend with its sort-of-Mexican burritos, tacos, bowls, and salads. 12. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. 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 Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. 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). Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to the evolution of tastes have become ferocious competitors. } else { This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . Posted September 13, 2004. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. Cafe Rio Mexican Grill Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Buffalo locations, 1979. 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. So if you want a scoop of that Chunky Dory Fudge, head to Ohio or Kentucky. 23. quick serve. Now Holidays Restaurant. What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. Fast Casual. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. To his pinnacle in the 1970s,Burger chef EU 1,200 locations and was a flourishing competitor of McDonald's. xhr.send(payload); Lots of Transients ate there. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1992 and never quite recovered. But it was already too late. Get the best food tips and diet advice navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. Friday's, the chain fell behind. In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's locations. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. "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. And some fan of Fan Favorites - like Burger Chef, G.D.'S Ritzy and Howard Johnson have not fallen by the road. 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. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. Not only do Baja Freshs dishes taste well, fresh theyre also packed with all the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. In many cases, these restaurants serve a variation of Tex-Mex (Americanized Mexican cuisine) but its also possible to find authentic Mexican food at several of these chains. 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. Another famous item on the Taco Cabana menu is the queso, which many lovers of Tex-Mex have labeled the best queso at any of Americas Mexican fast food restaurants. Today, only a few restaurants remain. 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. Really good, not expensive home cooked food. The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. Leo's Mexican Restaurant In 2001 Leo's Mexican Restaurant closed its doors, to the chagrin of Tex-Mex connoisseurs and ZZ Top fans. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . Doggie Diner was a staple in Northern California's Bay Area in its heyday. The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. single } ); The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. 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. Gd the first open Ritzy opened in 1980, but when you entered one, you were instantly transported to the classic ambience of the 1950s dinner. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. He rapidly expanded to 225 outlets by 1986. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. In 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. And for more failed eateries, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. > Number of U.S. units: 204. Torchys Tacos advice every day. Qdoba Mexican Eats Taco Johns Chuys Tex-Mex What sets Baja Fresh apart from the Mexican fast food chains dotted around the U,S. We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. 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. > U.S. sales: $868 million The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. There are a few states where people should leave quickly. New Balance (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart 5. For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. These 1980s restaurants aren't still standing todayand if they are, it's in reduced form. If youre looking for something fresh and new, you can also choose to order the Taco of the Month, which never fails to impress. Although the company liquidated in 1991, there are a handful of independently owned stores left around the United States. > U.S. sales: $4.805 billion Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. 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. This trap unfortunately brought Chicken George in 1986, when Holmes tabled for liquidation after declining more than $ 1.4 million in debt to private creditors and IRS. Keep place clean!" Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. But all hope was not lost. 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. every day. Name Head office location Original location Year started Number of locations Notes Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina: Cypress, California 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. "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. This California burger restaurant became all the rage, thanks to an appearance in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. 25. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. The British-based market research and data analytics company, determined recently that some 86% of Americans who had tried Mexican food liked it; the only cuisine scoring higher was Italian, at 88%. Ralph Rubio can make a fair claim to having introduced Baja-style fish tacos to America and his fresh Mex chain, based in San Diego, certainly popularized them. Army.". single The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. This restaurant chain has been in existence since 1982, and the first location was based in Austin, Texas. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. In 1988, theySold anything but some of their locations in Marriott. Miss these emblematic meals of children? 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. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. The basic staples remain native foods such as corn, beans and chili peppers, but the Europeans introduced many other foods, the most important of which were meat from domesticated animals (beef, pork, chicken, goat and sheep), dairy products (especially cheese) and various herbs and many spices. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. By 1982 or 1983. In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. Cobb Lane Restaurant. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. Minnie Pearl's Chicken. In 1981. Arro - closed February . Get the best food tips and diet advice > Number of U.S. units: 484. 55 (tie) EL RODEO. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. 4. 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). 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. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. Nopales, eggs and beans and hand made tortillas with really good salsas. Dick Naugle had a history of helping build successful restaurant chains. 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. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. 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. El Torito. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). > Number of U.S. units: 35. But then, things took a turn. 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. D'Lites (1978-1987) Norcross, GA. More than 100. Today, one of the dachshunds always turns near the San Francisco Zoo. 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. But increased competition and a slew of unfortunate events . Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. 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 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! Unfortunately, to the consternation of fans across the country, Burger Chef has not continued to follow and finally sold to the owner of Hardee's in the early 1980s. 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. } ); 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. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. In the mid-1980's. 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! After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. 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 . The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. Walgreen's has a penchant to bring back beyond your traditional pharmacy products - some even sell beer and wine these days. This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. 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 . But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. There were 225 locations by the mid-'80s, but Naugles merged with Del Taco, and locations slowly converted.
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