Starting out as RoBee's House of Beef in Indiana, Roy Rogers became the more common name for this chain in 1968. You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. Its chain, Wag's, had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours, serving your standard Denny's-esque fare. The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. In fact, Moes is actually an acronym that stands for Musicians, Outlaws, and Entertainers. There are 34 locations in total. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about 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!) The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. LIME FRESH MEXICAN GRILL. The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. 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 this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. topics. Foodio / Shutterstock. RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Gino's Hamburgers. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. 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). From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. Posted September 13, 2004. But it was already too late. / 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. It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. 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. There were at least 140 locations at its height, with spots serving up bread in Denver, New Jersey, San Francisco, and more. Inc. (Big Bite). Posted on March 19, 2016. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. 55 (tie) EL RODEO. Interestingly, the chain was founded by a Greek family. 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. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. Another Dallas-born chain, on the border launched in 1982, featuring mesquite-grilled meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and small-batch salsas. If you grew up in the '80s, there's a good chance you went to at least one of these restaurants. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. 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. Taco Bueno combines Mexican cuisine with American fast food culture with its meal combos. Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. 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. 24. 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! With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. 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 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. 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.". 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. You could eat as many shrimp, salad, beer and rib as you could never want - all for less than $ 20, according toBklyner. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. 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! Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. Today, one of the dachshunds always turns near the San Francisco Zoo. Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. TIO JUAN'S MARGARITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT. If youre ready to find an advisor who can help you achieve your financial goals, get started now. November 15, 2005. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. 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. 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. 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. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. to promote fast food franchises serving pita sandwiches. 321. While not for everyone, Mexican chain restaurant dining is a popular dining destinations for families all across . "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); 11. Missing those iconic kids' meals? 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. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. Friday, the chain fell behind. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's. (Well, not quite the same fries.) 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. And for more 1980s trivia, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. Carrols Restaurant Group. 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. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. Fast Casual. 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. Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. Possibly theyrenamed several places At no place like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. > Number of U.S. units: 63. In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. 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. 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. 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 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. > Number of U.S. units: 727. Billing itself as a Mexican restaurant with a Southwest twist, though it comes from Atlanta originally, Moes pretty much covers the country, with locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { There are a few states where people should leave quickly. New Balance (CC BY 2.0) by Mike Mozart 5. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina The Tex-Mex Invasion. He continued to grow in the 60s and 70s. The original Pollo Loco was in Sinaloa, Mexico, and there is a Mexican chain today, unrelated to the U.S. one. 23. quick serve. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. > Number of U.S. units: 580. Star ratings are for the ones I visited. Del Taco And the controversy is for good business! The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. 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. Lucia's Restaurant. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. 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! And by the early '90s, Chuck E. Cheese became the name of all locations. Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. "Prepare food fresh. 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. . 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. Taco Viva started in 1968, but it was at its peak in the '80s, when it had around 80 locations across the country. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. 8. every day. According to Yelp reviewers, it was going downhill. Chain restaurants are big business. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. 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. 2. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. 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. March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Del Taco restaurant, Inc. is an American fast food chain that specializes Mexican and American cuisine. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. But if you'd kill for an Ollieburger, check out this copycat recipe to satisfy your craving. Cobb Lane Restaurant. > Number of U.S. units: 35. 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. And controversy makes for good business! 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 "Man, I miss this place. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. But '80s kids probably didn't get to experience much of it. The British-based market research and data analytics company YouGov determined recently that some 86% of Americans who had tried Mexican food liked it; the only cuisine scoring higher was Italian, at 88%. > U.S. sales: $324 million Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); But many people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. 60 (tie) BOBBY SALAZAR'S MEXICAN FOODS. This restaurant is part of a larger family of restaurants known as the Pappas family-owned restaurants. New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. 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. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. 26. > Number of U.S. units: 484. What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. Lots of Transients ate there. Chi-Chi's. There were at least 300 Rax locations by the mid-'80s; there were even locations in Guatemala and Canada. 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. Impossible brand plant-based protein is an option. Simpson. 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. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. advice every day. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Customers find the chain's classic fried chicken, and now the menu also includes buffalo wings, chicken fingers and family combos with cheesecake for dessert. 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). In 1988, theySold anything but some of their locations in Marriott. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. But all hope was not lost. Jessica McGowan. Chuys Tex-Mex
