Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. The first Chi-Chi's Mexican Restaurant opened in downtown Minneapolis in 1975 and was one of the breakout restaurants of the year; by 1986 a whopping 237 locations had been opened, with 42 opening in 1985 alone. Mexican food. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. But '80s kids probably didn't get to experience much of it. A 1980 commercial famously featured many happy customers saying Chicken George was better than their wife's or mom's chicken. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. 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. "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. 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 . Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. > Number of U.S. units: 143. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. (Well, not quite the same fries.) Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. (As any '80s pop culture expert knows, it's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. El Torito. Perkins logo, 1960. 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. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. 22 20 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants in America - Shopfood.com; 23 8 of America's Most Beloved Mexican Chains | FSR magazine; 24 The 20 Restaurant Chains That No Longer Exist - PopCulture.com; 25 Top Mexican Restaurant Chains in The United States of America; 26 Mexican Restaurant Chains That Closed Recipes - TfRecipes single In addition to its tacos, enchiladas, burritos, chimichangas, and the like, On the Border offers such specialties as grilled queso chicken, Caribbean mango grilled fish, and carne asada at its locations in 17 states. 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. 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. } But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. But all hope wasn't lost. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. 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. Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { 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 . 167). Chipotle Mexican Grill And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. Chuys may not have as many locations as other Mexican chain restaurants (there are fewer than 100 of these restaurants across 17 states) but when it comes to amazing Tex-Mex, its one of the top contenders in America. Friday's, the chain fell behind. Forsaken Fotos / Flickr. Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. Really good, not expensive home cooked food. In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. 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. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. Arro - closed February . In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with . xhr.send(payload); 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 . In 1967, the chain was established in Abilene, Texas, by Bill R. Waugh, an art graduate from Abilene Christian University. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . 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 was such a success for founders Max . 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. "Go to Chick 'N' Taco and give your belly a treatment" -We want us to be able! Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. That's what you call to live your childhood dream. Keep the place clean!" . The original light showcase closed in 1983. When similar style pizza place Chuck E. Cheese went bankrupt in 1984, ShowBiz purchased it. March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. . Minnie Pearl's Chicken. 8. 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. In 1979, new owners bought the company for real estate purposes. 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). There are a few states where people should leave quickly. New Balance (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart 5. 57. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . Today onlySome restaurants remain. 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. 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. But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. Torchys Tacos If you like to be sure that the ingredients in your food are all-natural and that any meat is raised responsibly in accordance with animal welfare standards, Chipotle is one of the best fast food restaurants you can go to. 60 (tie) BOBBY SALAZAR'S MEXICAN FOODS. Get the best food tips and diet We promise this Tex-Mex chain restaurant will quickly become a family favorite! 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. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. 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You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. with a character named "Family Sam," a friendly senior citizen chef. Mr. Robert Davis (and others) founded Big Bite. Marchetti returned to the restaurant business in 2010, opening up a new Gino's location. is the restaurants focus on fresh, non-processed ingredients. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonald's, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. } Get the best food tips and diet } else { 1. Taco Bell is probably one of the first Mexican chain restaurants that come to mind when you think about Mexican fast food, which is hardly surprising since there are more than 7,000 Taco Bell Restaurants across the United States. 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. 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! > Number of U.S. units: 35. There's no denying that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from biting into the burger you've been enjoying since you were a kid. 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. 19. But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. But all hope was not lost. Interestingly, the chain was founded by a Greek family. 2. Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Lots of Transients ate there. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. Credit: Visit Houston Texas. In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. West-Mex is Midwest-based Mexican cuisine, and thats exactly what you can find on the menu at Taco Johns. Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) Taco Bell was established in 1962, and since then the restaurant has become famous for its incredible Crunchy Taco recipe, which continues to be one of the most popular items on the menu. Cheeseburger in Paradise. "You could make money anywhere." Hi, my name is Jenna and I have been a professional chef for almost the entirety of my adult life. Pappasito's Cantina. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) 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). That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. The French and Italian eatery was a favorite of E.&J . The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . Every TV show based in the city, from Friends to Saturday Night Live, has joked about it for the last few decades. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish the Bennigan tastes of Chile and T.G.I. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. But in 1970, he left this company to build his own Mexican style chain: Naugles in the south of California. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. This chain of Mexican restaurants got its start in Minneapolis in 1975, sharing space with a bar owned by an ex-NFL player. From their salsas, which range from classic salsa verde to the sweet and delicious mango salsa, to their delicious tacos, quesadillas and fajitas, a lack of flavor is never a problem at Baja Fresh. The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. 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. "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. In 1982, they sold the bulk of their restaurants to Marriott. 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: $324 million And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about Jessica McGowan. In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . Taco Cabana However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. At the beginning of the decade, you could get the "chicken in the cart" special for only 59 cents. The final restaurant closed in 1989. Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. 12. El Pollo Loco Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. > U.S. sales: $835 million The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! I wish it was still here. 15. All Rights Reserved. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. 6. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. > Number of U.S. units: 100. Dick Naugle had a history of helping build successful restaurant chains. November 15, 2005. The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. Today, only a few restaurants remain. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. In 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. Cote D'Oro: In 1980, Holiday Magazine named this distinctive, turreted Yosemite Boulevard restaurant one of the Top 100 in the United States. At the end of the 1980s, the restaurant was bought out by Foodmaker Inc., but ultimately they continued to experience store closures in the U.S. . Posted on March 19, 2016. 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). Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. We highly recommend trying some of the signature items on Uncle Julios menu, like the chocolate pinata, alongside some of the classics such as enchiladas and quesadillas. Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. Tortillas at Chuys are handmade daily, all the ingredients are fresh (not frozen), and there are 10 homemade salsas. Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. Still, if you were lucky enough to experience Pup 'N' Taco, then you probably can't get the jingle out of your head.
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