But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. I only ate there once but I really liked it. Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. advice every day. 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. 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)! 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. 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. Pears, popular with college students in the 1980s and '90s. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. 1. Bresler's Ice Cream. Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. 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. The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. 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). 2. The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. A Mexican fast-food establishment with locations all over the United States, its charming motto was, "Prepare food fresh. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases, an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. 24. ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. This meticulously-researched gem recalls dozens of shuttered restaurants going all the way back to Denver's earliest days. > U.S. sales: $232 million Bankrupcty. Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. Fast Casual. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish the Bennigan tastes of Chile and T.G.I. Founded in 1974, Chi-Chi's was a Mexican-restaurant chain operating in the United States and Canada up until it filed for bankruptcy in 2004, according to a Journal Times report. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Possibly theyrenamed several places At no place like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. And the controversy is for good business! Posted September 13, 2004. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. Get the best food tips and diet But increased competition and a slew of unfortunate events . The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? "Man, I miss this place. } Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. 13. 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. Another extremely popular Mexican restaurant chain in America is Del Taco. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. Keep the place clean!" . G.D. Ritzy's first opened in 1980, but when you walked into one, you were instantly transported back to the classic diner vibe of the 1950s. 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. ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. Just some of the delicious Tex-Mex options on the menu at this restaurant include slow-smoked ribs, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos. But then, things took a ride. But all hope was not lost. In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold to Bombay Palace Restaurants and went out of business soon thereafter. The latest restaurant closed in 1989. "Kiki's How a little neighborhood restaurant grew to be a community tradition", https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=List_of_Mexican_restaurants&oldid=1135522955, Belgium-based restaurant chain that was originally the European branch of the now defunct American company, Based in Mexico, not related to U.S. company, Based in the United States, not related to Mexican company. And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Chain restaurants are big business. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. 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. The Earles were on the cusp of the growing appetite for Mexican food, and it was prepared with care and flavor in both locations. In 1979, new owners bought the company for real estate purposes. But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. 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 . So, if you want a spoon of this Dory Chunky fudge, head toOhio WhereKentucky. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. But that was only true for so long. 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. 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 did not come out of bang, but a groan. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. 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. From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. 7. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . That was the motto of Mexican fast-food chain Naugles. It closed in . But it was already too late. In 1988, they sold all but a few of their locations to Marriott. 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 . Forsaken Fotos / Flickr. Really good, not expensive home cooked food. Big Bite expanded to a chain of approximately 30 restaurants. From there, unfortunately, it was all downhill. If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! 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. It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. Ever wonder if your favorite is actually the most popular? 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. 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! 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%. All Rights Reserved. 4. There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. 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. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. The original Pioneer Chicken opened in 1961 next to a Pioneer Market, a grocery store chain in Los Angeles. Army.". What started as a hobby in college quickly turned into a passion with which I surrounded my life. 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. 17 Failed Fast-Food Chains From the '80s You Have to See, 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback, Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007, 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. 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 . If youre looking for Mexican food that tastes fresh and that you can tell has been homemade from scratch, you need to check out Baja Fresh. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. Qdoba Mexican Eats 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. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. There are close to 800 Qdoba locations in the U.S., and 44 out of 50 U.S. states have at least one Qdoba restaurant. The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. Toledo was bestowed with Hardee's, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. First started in 1968 in Los Angeles, the chain's last location closed in 2010. Who doesn't love a restaurant with good food and a great happy hour? 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. Cafe Rio Mexican Grill You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. Chipotle Mexican Grill RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. The American company has units all over California (and especially in the southern portions of the state), as well as in Arizona, Nevada, Utah, Texas, and Louisiana. Credit: Visit Houston Texas. 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 . > Number of U.S. units: 743. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. There's no denying that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from biting into the burger you've been enjoying since you were a kid. 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 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. And some fan of Fan Favorites - like Burger Chef, G.D.'S Ritzy and Howard Johnson have not fallen by the road. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. Family Style. There were at least 300 Rax locations by the mid-'80s; there were even locations in Guatemala and Canada. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. Brigham's - a Boston-area ice cream parlor and restaurant chain that closed in 2013 [2] Britling Cafeterias. "You could make money anywhere." Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. 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 menu includes queso, guacamole, both soft and crispy tacos, Big As Yo Face burritos, and Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken (breaded with crushed potato chips). The Tex-Mex Invasion. It was the kind of offer they couldn't refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP'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 company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. 72 of 92 73 of 92 Crazy Jose's Patio and Cafe Mexican restaurant Enterprise archive photo Ryan . } ); But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . After starting as a small operation in Colorado Springs, the chain eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Chain restaurants are big business. Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. Serve customer fast. At the over 500 Del Taco restaurants across 16 U.S. states, you can order more adventurous Tex-Mex food like fish and cheese tacos, or stick to the classics with a meat-based tortilla. food and drink and health, as well as entertainment, beauty, and other lifestyle
6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. . El Pollo Loco It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. Fuzzys Taco Shop The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion Howard Johnson's is synonymous with 1950s and '60s dining. After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. Chi-Chi's. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. 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. There were 225 locations by the mid-'80s, but Naugles merged with Del Taco, and locations slowly converted. 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. It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. The original light showcase closed in 1983. In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. Regardless, Mexican food and chains, in particular, have become increasingly popular in the United States over the years. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. > Number of U.S. units: 170. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Lucia's Restaurant. With that being said, Taco Bells menu has expanded and evolved a lot in recent years, including some exciting and creative options such as the Mexican Pizza and the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. At the turn of the century, there was less than a dozen the left position of Howard Johnson. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. In the late 1990s and . And for more nostalgia, do not miss these17 chain restaurants in the 90s. 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. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. 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. The Bannister Mall was the location I remember visiting. In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. 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. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. 15. 19. } else { Name Head office location Original location Year started Number of locations Notes Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina: Cypress, California 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. Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . 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). Taco Bell just getting started in Arizona (1966) Bell started his specialized Mexican food drive-in at Barstow [California] in 1962. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. > Number of U.S. units: 118. Del Taco restaurant, Inc. is an American fast food chain that specializes Mexican and American cuisine. 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. By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. 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. At one point, the Burger King-esque chain had as many as 27 restaurants around Illinois, but by the early 1980s, the chain was finished. In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with .