mexican restaurant chains 1980s mexican restaurant chains 1980s

At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. 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 . A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Scott Mercer (left) was helped by Bob Scura and Kurt Cameron of Grand American Fare chain in assembling dcor for P.O. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold to Bombay Palace Restaurants and went out of business soon thereafter. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. So if you want a scoop of that Chunky Dory Fudge, head to Ohio or Kentucky. > U.S. sales: $324 million New French Cafe. 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. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. The last original location shut down in 2006. Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. It closed in . Credit: Visit Houston Texas. Lots of Transients ate there. > Number of U.S. units: 392. The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. Minnie Pearl's Chicken. During the 1990s and 2000s, a wider availability of Mexican food at different price points--low, medium, and high--spread beyond Manhattan to Brooklyn, Queens, and the Bronx. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. But then, things took a ride. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. Sambo's began in 1957 in Santa Barbara, California, reaching peak popularity in the late 1970s with more than 1,100 restaurants in 47 states. 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! Friday's and Applebee's, serving up similar menus of standard bar fare and ambiance. But not all of them have survived over the years. All Rights Reserved. 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. Chi-Chi's. Wikimedia Commons/Nostaljack/Public Domain. Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. In 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how good the chicken tastedthe business met its untimely end to the dismay of fans everywhere. However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. Unfortunately, to the consternation of fans across the country, Burger Chef has not continued to follow and finally sold to the owner of Hardee's in the early 1980s. Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. "The love affair with Burger Chef remains strong," a Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007when Hardee's brought back Burger Chef's iconic Big Shef. 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. Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. 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. The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. The sale has put the "completely out of food activity" of WalgreenThe New York Times reported. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. It might not be very widespread, but this family-owned restaurants 25 locations across Texas and Georgia never fail to keep customers coming back for more. 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 . Besides chicken, the chain served gumbo, fish and chips, greens, biscuits and other soul foods. A Mexican fast-food establishment with locations all over the United States, its charming motto was, "Prepare food fresh. / 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. Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. 14. November 15, 2005. 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. > Number of U.S. units: 727. 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. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion Serve customer fast. We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. 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. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=6027c9e2-a210-42ba-aaf9-2e2df23e78e4&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=73057989978068432'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. 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. } By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast. Get the best food tips and diet advice Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? There arent as many Baja Fresh locations as there are for other Mexican fast food chains, so be sure to look up the nearest Baja Fresh and try it out when you can! 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! But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesman,O.J. 5. But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. By the mid-'80s, all the Doggie Diners had shut down. In 2006, however, food blogger Christian Ziebarth posted about Naugles, and the response was through the roof. Chi-Chi's took off, growing to 237 locations by 1986. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. (Well, not quite the same fries.) 26. single "Bennigan was the lowest of the main stakeholders," said an analyst at theAssociated pressat the time. Missing those iconic kids' meals? Foodio / Shutterstock. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. 55 (tie) EL RODEO. In 1981. Army.". 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. RIP VIP's. 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. 13. 13. > Number of U.S. units: 204. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. Does this list bring back any memories? Get the best food tips and diet advice New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. 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 "I used to eat here as a child at lunch time with my father," wrote a Yelper. If you were around in the early '80s, you might remember Lum's for its signature beer-steamed hot dogs, and if you weren't a hot dog person, there was always the beloved Ollieburger. Uncle Julios Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. In the late 1990s and . In 1984, G.D. Ritzy's was taking in about $5.2 million just from ice cream sales. 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. 2. Taco Bell It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. Since then, nearly 400 other Taco Johns venues have opened in the Midwest as well as in some of the Mountain states, so its clear that the combination of Midwest and Mexican cuisine has been a hit. 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%. 7. 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. Buffalo locations, 1979. Regardless, Mexican food and chains, in particular, have become increasingly popular in the United States over the years. 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! Torchys Tacos We hope that this guide to the best Mexican restaurant chains in America (see also Ranking The Top 18 Pizza Chains In America) has shown you that there are plenty more Mexican food options than Chipotle and Taco Bell although these two have more than earned their popularity! 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). 24. Perkins logo, 1960. But it was already too late. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. Its channel, Wag's had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours a day, serving your standard rate of Denny'Sque. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Burger Chef. Not only is El Toritos extensive menu filled with Mexican favorites like beef enchiladas, flame-grilled fajitas and traditional burritos, but you also get the option of building your own plate made up of the restaurants most popular menu items. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. (Well,not quite the same fries.) Quesadillas, burritos and burrito bowls, and nachos are among the other offerings. Personally, we cant get enough of the incredible Tex-Mex menu items at On the Border, and we think you should visit one of the 120 On the Border restaurants in the U.S. if you havent already. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. One food that is better left in the past? Of course the sections most of us will head to immediately are . Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. > Number of U.S. units: 143. Mexican cuisine is primarily a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, especially Spanish, elements added after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. 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! Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. 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). 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). > U.S. sales: $232 million xhr.send(payload); ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. > U.S. sales: $348 million Brands, owners of KFC, Pizza Hut, and other chains, it also operates around the world.) > U.S. sales: $868 million See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. 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. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. Ralph Rubio can make a fair claim to having introduced Baja-style fish tacos to America and his fresh Mex chain, based in San Diego, certainly popularized them. DEL TACO. At the beginning of the decade, you could get the "chicken in the cart" special for only 59 cents. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. 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. "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { In 1979, McDonald's launched his good meal. 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. 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. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about 4. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. Growth was especially strong in the Midwest which was targeted as a region susceptible to their appeal. 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. Boy, do we miss those fried clam strips, frankfurts, and that signature HoJo ice cream. Cobb Lane Restaurant. 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. 2. Founder Russ Wendell's Vision was, at the time, quite unique: hot dogs served next to a less common fast service option for Era-Tacos. In fact, Moes is actually an acronym that stands for Musicians, Outlaws, and Entertainers. is the restaurants focus on fresh, non-processed ingredients. Today, only a few restaurants remain. Friday, the chain fell behind. } 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. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. Chi-Chi's Inc., owned by Prandium Inc., is a chain of 130 Mexican full-service restaurants that can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's. . 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. Get the best food tips and diet Support . The latest restaurant closed in 1989. > U.S. sales: $371 million With the exception of six locations in Florida, Rubios remains a western chain, with shops in Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as California. here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. 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. 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 . Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . It was such a success for founders Max . Forsaken Fotos / Flickr. 20+ New & Recently-Opened Restaurants in Columbus in 2023. 321. xhr.send(payload); But according to The Washington Post, Holmes "knew little about cash flow," despite the restaurant's great marketing. ), but also offers flautas the rolled, fried tacos sometimes called taquitos. 167). The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Not only does Chuys serve some examples of classic Mexican food, but youll also find menu items inspired by Southern Texan cuisine and the Rio Grande Valley. Lucia's Restaurant. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. To his pinnacle in the 1970s,Burger chef EU 1,200 locations and was a flourishing competitor of McDonald's. 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. The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. Family Style. But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. 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. 2. Still, if you were lucky enough to experience Pup 'N' Taco, then you probably can't get the jingle out of your head. In business in 47 states and the nations capital (as well as Canada, the U.K., France, and Germany), Chipotle has been one of the great fast-food success stories of the late 20th and early 21st century despite repeated problems, apparently now solved, with food safety, leading to hundreds of cases of food poisoning. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. California has the most with 822. Originating in El Paso, Texas, Pancho's Mexican Buffet grew in popularity, thanks to its all-you-can-eat "buffet"-style service. 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. > Number of U.S. units: 118. This is a list of notable Mexican restaurants. You could get the famous "Gino Giant," a massively stacked hamburger aptly nicknamed "a banquet on a bun," all over the place. Reduced-calorie dishes included hamburgers made with lean beef, high-fiber buns, and low-calorie cheese. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. 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. > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. Many Naugles became Del Tacos, and eventually, Naugles disappeared. "Howard Johnson was the king of the road," said a former franchise led by eater. ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. Chuys Tex-Mex In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. 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. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle.