Of course the sections most of us will head to immediately are . From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. . At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. Webb. 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. The monster of the Mexican chain business (though how Mexican it is may be argued), with sales more than twice those of second-place Chipotle, Taco Bell has outposts in all 50 states (though not, for some reason, Washington, D.C.) an average of 141 per state. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. 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. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Arro - closed February . This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. 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. 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. In 1982, they sold the majority of their restaurants in Marriott. Just some of the delicious Tex-Mex options on the menu at this restaurant include slow-smoked ribs, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos. But there is a sliver of good news: Today, two rebranded Gino's Burgers and Chicken remain in Marylandand yes, they do serve the Gino Giant. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. Torchys Tacos isnt as widespread as some of the other Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., with less than 100 locations spread across just 13 states. Besides chicken, the chain served gumbo, fish and chips, greens, biscuits and other soul foods. Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. 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. 167). var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); With the rise of fast-food chains though, . Founders John Zapp and Mike Young opened the first Chuys restaurant because they wanted to create a relaxed, casual dining restaurant specializing in food from the American Southwest and thats exactly what they did! "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. 55 (tie) EL RODEO. The final spot (in Nevada) closed in 1995. With the exception of six locations in Florida, Rubios remains a western chain, with shops in Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as California. The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. 4. Translating to the crazy chicken in Spanish, El Pollo Loco is one of the most famous Mexican-style chain restaurants in the United States, and definitely the winner of the funniest name contest! There are five shrimp or fish tacos on the menu as well as meat versions and a grilled vegetable version. The timing was . Wish it were still there The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. Fast Casual. Del Taco restaurant, Inc. is an American fast food chain that specializes Mexican and American cuisine. 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. But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. Jessica McGowan. Sadly, to the dismay of fans across the country, Burger Chef failed to keep up and was ultimately sold to the owner of Hardee's in the early '80s. 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. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. Impossible brand plant-based protein is an option. Damon . Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! These are fans who didn't think twice after . > Number of U.S. units: 392. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. . 1. 6. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. In the late 1990s and . The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. Casa Gallardo went up against two other chains, Southern California-based El Torito and Minnesota's Chi-Chi's, during the late 1970s and early 1980s in the fight for America's Mexican-food obsession. Big Bite expanded to a chain of approximately 30 restaurants. 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. 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. Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. Taco Bell just getting started in Arizona (1966) Bell started his specialized Mexican food drive-in at Barstow [California] in 1962. 9. Scott Mercer (left) was helped by Bob Scura and Kurt Cameron of Grand American Fare chain in assembling dcor for P.O. 12. Bombay Bicycle Club. Next time you have a craving for Mexican food or Tex-Mex, we challenge you to try out a new Mexican chain restaurant with friends or family (see also 17 American BBQ Chain Restaurants You Need To Visit). It was such a success for founders Max . Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! 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. Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. 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. "Man, I miss him. 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. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 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! According to Eater, during the height of its popularity in the 1960s, Howard Johnson's served "more meals outside of the home than any entity in America, except for the U.S. 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. 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%. Chipotle Mexican Grill 4. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. Next week, the 10th of 20 stands in the Valley will be opened. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. The timing was perfect, with Mexican food a trendy choice for diners at that time. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. 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. And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. 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 This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . Originally Sambo's Restaurant (chain) in the 1960's, then rebranded as Jolly Tiger in the early 1970's. Oddly, it was changed back to Sambo's in the early 1980's rebranded (again!) Interestingly, the chain was founded by a Greek family. More than half of the locations were eventually converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest were closed. 26. But not all of them have survived over the years. Brought to life by husband-wife team of Juan and Melanie Martinez, the first Don Juan Mexican Grill opened in 2011, and the made-to-order burritos, bowls, and fresh-fruit smoothies were an instant hit on the East Coast. Fuzzys Taco Shop But all hope wasn't lost. 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! A Mexican fast-food establishment with locations all over the United States, its charming motto was, "Prepare food fresh. There were at least 140 locations at its height, with spots serving up bread in Denver, New Jersey, San Francisco, and more. But, much like Mall Madness and acid-washed jeans, not all of the chains from your youth have survived, and there are plenty of failed fast-food restaurants that have come and gone. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. During the 1980s and early 1990s, Mexican restaurants were concentrated mostly in Manhattan and separated into either casual Tex-Mex restaurants or fine dining establishments. 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. The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. 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). The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. 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. So, if you want a spoon of this Dory Chunky fudge, head toOhio WhereKentucky. Toledo was bestowed with Hardee's, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. 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 (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. Friday's and Applebee's, serving up similar menus of standard bar fare and ambiance. > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. Taco Cabana That's what you call to live your childhood dream. Get the best food tips and diet advice Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more are available. 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. Lucia's Restaurant. Don Pablo's is another Mexican-inspired chain . In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. Many locations were converted to Hardee's in the '90s after the burger chain bought Rax. All Rights Reserved. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. Chipotle. Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. 55 (tie) TEQUILA'S MEXICAN 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. "Go to Chick 'N' Taco and give your belly a treatment" -We want us to be able! "Bennigan was the lowest of the main stakeholders," said an analyst at theAssociated pressat the time. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. 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. This restaurant chain has been in existence since 1982, and the first location was based in Austin, Texas. > Number of U.S. units: 143. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. > U.S. sales: $371 million All Rights Reserved. } else { "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! Cobb Lane Restaurant. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. 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Many Tex-Mex lovers will tell you that Taco Bueno is the best place to go for American-style Mexican food. And although there was a unique showcase holding a dear life life in Nebraska, toofirm In 2017. RELATED: Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! 10. The extensive menu featured foods from around the world: potato skins and fried veggies, chicken . We finally started swishing and sipping when La Cave popped open "with a refr eshing idea whose arrival . Hi, my name is Jenna and I have been a professional chef for almost the entirety of my adult life. November 15, 2005. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. 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 ); Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. Fast-food chains continued to grow, with the number of companies increasing by about two-thirds. Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. > U.S. sales: $348 million But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold in Bombay Palace Restaurants and came out of business soon. 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)! } ); In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's locations. Uncle Julios 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. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the . Miss these emblematic meals of children? But '80s kids rejoice: A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, since 2015. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonald's, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. > Number of U.S. units: 580. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. 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. An animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids as they watched a show, played arcade games, and ate not-super-outstanding pizza. Don't Edit. 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. 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). 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. > U.S. sales: $4.805 billion 4. And by the early '90s, Chuck E. Cheese became the name of all locations. Branded Burgers, chain restaurant, open 1960s-1980s in Athens, Hartselle and Cullman. Chi-Chi's. So, if youre in the mood for some Mexican flavors with an American twist at a reasonable price and an accessible location, Taco Bell is an excellent choice! Gino's Hamburgers. In 1982, they sold the bulk of their restaurants to Marriott. Sambo started in 1957 in Santa Barbara, California, reachingMaximum popularity In the late 1970s, more than 1,100 restaurants in 47 states. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. Chi-Chi's. Wikimedia Commons/Nostaljack/Public Domain. After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. Cafe Rio Mexican Grill 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. Whether your usual order consists of nachos, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, or even a Mexican-style salad you name it, its on the menu. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. This meticulously-researched gem recalls dozens of shuttered restaurants going all the way back to Denver's earliest days. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast. 20+ New & Recently-Opened Restaurants in Columbus in 2023. By 1984, there were 60 locations. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. Cote D'Oro: In 1980, Holiday Magazine named this distinctive, turreted Yosemite Boulevard restaurant one of the Top 100 in the United States. The chain Antone's pale in comparison to the original locations. 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! But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. More than half of the locations were finally converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest was closed. 167). The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. 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 . 11. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. Still, if you were lucky enough to experience Pup 'N' Taco, then you probably can't get the jingle out of your head. 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. 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.
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