The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Wish it were still there Although it was a regional chain (it was mostly centralized to California), All-American Burger was made famous with anyone who came of age in the '80s, thanks to Fast Times at Ridgemont High. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. In the late 1990s and . Besides chicken, the chain served gumbo, fish and chips, greens, biscuits and other soul foods. And for more nostalgia, do not miss these17 chain restaurants in the 90s. The last original location shut down in 2006. Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . Interestingly, the chain was founded by a Greek family. 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. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. Walgreen's has a penchant to bring back beyond your traditional pharmacy products - some even sell beer and wine these days. 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! La Petite Boulangerie wanted to be every neighborhood's neighborhood marketand in the '80s, they made a pretty good run at doing just that. } Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. Jim's Tiffany Place originally opened in Lansing in 1937 and served customers until 1993. 2. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! 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. 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. Taco Bueno. 26. 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. There are five shrimp or fish tacos on the menu as well as meat versions and a grilled vegetable version. } At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. The final restaurant closed in 1989. U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. "They just leave that Ritzy is a little atrophy of Ritzy over the next eight or ten years, and he decreased at seven locations"Webb saidThe observer of Dallas in 2004. 11. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. Taco Bueno combines Mexican cuisine with American fast food culture with its meal combos. 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. 23. quick serve. In 1979, McDonald's launched its Happy Meal. 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. 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. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. Taco Bell El Pollo Loco first opened in 1975. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! 2. Inc. (Big Bite). 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. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. 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. single However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. Youve heard plenty about Tex-Mex throughout this article so far, but have you ever heard of West-Mex? 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. > Number of U.S. units: 743. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. But if you'd kill for an Ollieburger, check out this copycat recipe to satisfy your craving. The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. Eventuallywith a lot of enthusiasm and tons of helpZiebarth was able to open a new Naugles location in 2017. 11. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. Fuzzys Taco Shop Name Head office location Original location Year started Number of locations Notes Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina: Cypress, California } else { 10 most popular Mexican chain restaurants in the United States 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. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the . > Number of U.S. units: 392. 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. What sets Baja Fresh apart from the Mexican fast food chains dotted around the U,S. Chain restaurants are big business. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . 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. Boy, do we miss those fried clam strips, frankfurts, and that signature HoJo ice cream. The Tex-Mex Invasion | National Museum of American History There will be 31 in Arizona by the end of the year, Campbell said. 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. There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. The original Lum's storefront closed its doors in 1983. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. > U.S. sales: $232 million But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. Denver Colo old restaurants no longer here - Pinterest The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. The extensive menu featured foods from around the world: potato skins and fried veggies, chicken . 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. 8 Classic Restaurant Chains That Went Out of Business - Spoon University 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). Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). Del Taco And controversy makes for good business! . List of 20+ mexican restaurant chains 1980's - El Reno Ok A 1980 sales department accounted for many happy customers who say that Chicken George was better than the chicken of their wife or mother. > U.S. sales: $324 million Miss these emblematic meals of children? Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's. 321. The original light showcase closed in 1983. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. 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. . 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! "Man, I miss him. 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants, Long Island and NYC Places that are no more/Facebook, The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. > Number of U.S. units: 63. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about 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. } 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. Fast Casual. 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! Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. advice every day. The Earles were on the cusp of the growing appetite for Mexican food, and it was prepared with care and flavor in both locations. Many locations were converted to Hardee's in the '90s after the burger chain bought Rax. Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnet opened the first Sambo's restaurant in 1957. But the food these places offer can evoke the forms and flavors of the Mexican kitchen, and bring their spice and color to almost every corner of the country at a bargain price. Sadly, the opposite of the Wag's jingle is true today: It's no longer "a great day for Wag's," which is nowhere to be found in the world. The 80's Fast Food Taco Chain You Probably Forgot About - Mashed.com 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. Football Hall of Famer Gino Marchetti opened the first Gino's Hamburgers in 1957, and by the 70s, he was able to boast over 300 locations. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Lucia's Restaurant. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); 15 Defunct Restaurant Chains Sure To Bring Back Memories - DoYouRemember? Howard Johnson could simply hold the title of the most failed failed restaurant chain, not only the 80s, but a time. 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 . Cafe Rio Mexican Grill But it was already too late. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. 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! Growth was especially strong in the Midwest which was targeted as a region susceptible to their appeal. The latest restaurant closed in 1989. But it was true only for so long. 26 Bloomington-Normal restaurants from years past - The Pantagraph You could eat as many shrimp, salad, beer and rib as you could never want - all for less than $ 20, according toBklyner. Pappasito's Cantina. 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. Mexican food. 30 Defunct Fast Food Chains and What Happened to Them But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. 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. Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. 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. But '80s kids probably didn't get to experience much of it. el Restaurante Top 100 Mexican Chains - elrestaurante.com In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. 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. Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. Moes Southwest Grill isnt just famous for its classic Mexican food (which is incredible) but also for the carefully-chosen music thats always playing at this chain restaurant. The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) Refuge. TIO JUAN'S MARGARITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT. 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 expanding your horizons may add additional costs. These 1980s Restaurants Didn't Stand the Test of Time - Eat This Not That 14. That was the motto of Mexican fast-food chain Naugles. Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. This restaurant Burger California has become a rage, thanks to an appearance in the film of 1982Quick weather at Ridgemont High. Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. Mr. Robert Davis (and others) founded Big Bite. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut,Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. RIP: 50 Restaurants That Closed Over The Past Decade - Columbus Underground Unlike many of the Mexican fast food chains in America, this one actually originated from Mexico, in Sinaloa. Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. But it was already too late. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. 57. Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed.