Regardless, Mexican food and chains, in particular, have become increasingly popular in the United States over the years. 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. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Get the best food tips and diet (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) 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. Bennigan's. This fast food chain was one of America's first casual dining and sports bar chain. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. But it was already too late. But all hope was not lost. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. 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. To this day . 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 was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. (Well,not quite the same fries.) With the rise of fast-food chains though, . Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. But it was already too late. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. But then, things took a ride. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. 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. However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. 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. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Moes Southwest Grill That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. Chain restaurants are big business. If you come from this wooden neck, you probably remember that the rotating dachshunds of the seven feet chain and turn in chef's hats and chef's ardes coffers that stood outside each of the restaurants. I only ate there once but I really liked it. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. xhr.send(payload); I wish it was always there.". Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. Here are 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. > U.S. sales: $371 million Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. Howard Johnson could simply hold the title of the most failed failed restaurant chain, not only the 80s, but a time. This chain of Mexican restaurants got its start in Minneapolis in 1975, sharing space with a bar owned by an ex-NFL player. Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. Lots of Transients ate there. While not for everyone, Mexican chain restaurant dining is a popular dining destinations for families all across . 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. "You could make money anywhere." Keep the place clean!" . } ); Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. Beyond Meat vegan options are available, and ground turkey tacos are also offered, as a lower-fat alternative to the ground beef versions., 4. But if you'd kill for an Ollieburger, check out this copycat recipe to satisfy your craving. 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. 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. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold to Bombay Palace Restaurants and went out of business soon thereafter. There were at least 140 locations at its height, with spots serving up bread in Denver, New Jersey, San Francisco, and more. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. 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. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina Serve customer fast. Among these are the Democrat (barbacoa, avocado, and cotija cheese on corn tortillas) and the Republican (grilled jalapeo sausage, pico de gallo, and cheddar jack on a flour tortilla). 24. In 1981. In fact, Moes is actually an acronym that stands for Musicians, Outlaws, and Entertainers. ), Once the film came out, All American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, has seen a brief boom. Nine years in, Naugle sold his modest three-location chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with it. But all hope wasn't 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. RIP VIP's. Pizza Haven - Australian pizza chain; Pumper Nic - chain in Argentina; founded in 1974 and closed in 1999; Pup 'N' Taco; Red Barn; Royal Castle - one franchise location survived after chain was liquidated in 1975; Sandy's; ShowBiz Pizza Place - Merged into Chuck E. Cheese But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. 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. 4. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. 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. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. Possibly theyrenamed several places At no place like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. 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. By 1982 or 1983. 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. It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. Taco Bueno combines Mexican cuisine with American fast food culture with its meal combos. 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. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. 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. Taco Viva started in 1968, but it was at its peak in the '80s, when it had around 80 locations across the country. 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. In 1982,Denny's offered the company About $ 12 million to buy 35 VIP locations. 4. 12. 200 Bennigan National Locationsscreened their doors A decade ago, but the new owners now manage a much smaller operation of Dallas, Texas and the menu includes Irish items inspired by the pub that you liked in the 1980s. } else { If you were a kid in the '80s, there's a good chance you had a birthday party or two at Showbiz Pizza Place. Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's locations. (Well, not quite the same fries.) Del Taco 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 . "Prepare food fresh. Though there's an unrelated restaurant of the same name in New York, the last real All-American Burger on Sunset Boulevard has since closed. > Number of U.S. units: 484. And thanks to the boom offast food Chains In the 1970s and 1980s, we could sip the same shakes and nibble the same fries for decades. 10. 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. Support . However, if youre lucky enough to live in one of the states that has Torchys Tacos, or if you happen to be passing through, you should make a point to order from this incredible menu. There's no denying that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from biting into the burger you've been enjoying since you were a kid. 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. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. > U.S. sales: $868 million The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. Originating in El Paso, Texas, Pancho's Mexican Buffet grew in popularity, thanks to its all-you-can-eat "buffet"-style service. Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . 6. More than half of the locations were eventually converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest were closed. 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. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! 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. All Rights Reserved. Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. > Number of U.S. units: 143. 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. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. And although there was a unique showcase holding a dear life life in Nebraska, toofirm In 2017. But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. Credit: Visit Houston Texas. In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. New French Cafe. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. In 2010, he became recognized as aOfficial city. And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. 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. Mexican food. Jolly Tiger 2080 W. Stadium Blvd. Its channel, Wag's had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours a day, serving your standard rate of Denny'Sque. "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. 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. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. 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. Unlike many of the Mexican fast food chains in America, this one actually originated from Mexico, in Sinaloa. 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. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. All Rights Reserved. DEL TACO. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. 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! But in 1970, he left this company to build his own Mexican style chain: Naugles in the south of California. Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. Mr. Paul is a restaurateur who had owned other popular Los Angeles-area restaurants: The Old Virginia and Chez Paul, both in South Pasadena. JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . Perkins logo, 1960. Rubios Coastal Grill 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. In the late 1980s, if you lived . The French and Italian eatery was a favorite of E.&J . 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 ); 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! The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. 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. / 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. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. Finally, if youre looking for really high-quality, rustic-inspired Tex-Mex, theres nowhere better than Uncle Julios. VIP was a casual catering chain on the 24-hour west coast that started from Oregon in 1968. 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. Don't Edit. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. Not only do Baja Freshs dishes taste well, fresh theyre also packed with all the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. 13. In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . 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 . And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . By the end of this article, you should know of a few new Mexican chain restaurants to try (see also 23 Most Popular Chain Restaurants In The United States)! } Get the best food tips and diet (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. In addition, DoorDash, the nations number-one food delivery service, revealed recently that five of 2019s 15 most popular food orders in America were Mexican in style. Qdoba comes out of Denver, where its ancestor, called Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, opened in 1995.