. MEXICO CITY, Feb 27 (Reuters) - Mexican restaurant chain operator Alsea (ALSEA.MX) reported on Monday a 31% drop in its fourth-quarter net profit from a year earlier, hit by higher energy and raw . About 25 Chicken Delights are operating today, in central Canada and the New York City area. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) Dam it was good Mexican food. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. 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. In 1988, they sold all but a few of their locations to Marriott. 3. A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, Long Island and NYC Places that are no more/Facebook, still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids. 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). But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. Mex which it defines as SoCal lifestyle meets Mexican heritage. Fire-grilled chicken is the thing here, by itself (or with beans and rice, fries, etc. After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. > U.S. sales: $4.805 billion There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. 22. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. 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 . If youre looking for something fresh and new, you can also choose to order the Taco of the Month, which never fails to impress. West-Mex is Midwest-based Mexican cuisine, and thats exactly what you can find on the menu at Taco Johns. "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. 19. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. 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. Perkins logo, 1960. 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. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. 23. RIP VIP's. 72 of 92 73 of 92 Crazy Jose's Patio and Cafe Mexican restaurant Enterprise archive photo Ryan . 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. SmartAssets free tool matches you with up to three financial advisors who serve your area, and you can interview your advisor matches at no cost to decide which one is right for you. 7. We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. El Pollo Loco first opened in 1975. 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. Don't Edit. Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. But if you'd kill for an Ollieburger, check out this copycat recipe to satisfy your craving. Simpson. The Tex-Mex Invasion. 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 . This restaurant is part of a larger family of restaurants known as the Pappas family-owned restaurants. Bankrupcty. "Go to Chick 'N' Taco and give your belly a treatment" -We want us to be able! In 1982, they sold the majority of their restaurants in Marriott. But it was true only for so long. And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. He continued to grow in the 60s and 70s. > Number of U.S. units: 204. While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. And though there was a sole storefront holding on for dear life in Nebraska, it too closed in 2017. I wish it was still here. The stronghold of McDonald's, Pizza Hut,Burger King, and other giants of the '80s made the competition stiff. 2. 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. 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. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). 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. Family Style. The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. Sold anything but some of their locations, Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants, Long Island and News sites that are no longer / Facebook, The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science, Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants, 40 habits to reduce your risk of dementia after 40, The FDA says "Do not get" COVID vaccine if you have this condition. 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. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. > U.S. sales: $868 million It was such a success for founders Max . But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. Regardless, Mexican food and chains, in particular, have become increasingly popular in the United States over the years. VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. 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. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Who knows, maybe youll find a new favorite! A 1980 commercial famously featured many happy customers saying Chicken George was better than their wife's or mom's chicken. Fast-food chains continued to grow, with the number of companies increasing by about two-thirds. Over the course of its first 20 years of business, the chain staked its claim on 19 states, serving its famous burgers and fried chicken in roughly 400 restaurants. there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . The lamentations on those departed culinary landmarks have been thorough and frequent . var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); In 2006, however, food blogger Christian Ziebarth posted about Naugles, and the response was through the roof. } March 2, 2023 11:00 am. But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. 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. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. ), but also offers flautas the rolled, fried tacos sometimes called taquitos. 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. Here are 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. Marchetti returned to the restaurant business in 2010, opening up a new Gino's location. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! Now Holidays Restaurant. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! And for more 1980s trivia, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. (Well, not quite the same fries.) 11. 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. In 1981. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { In 1979, new owners bought the company for real estate purposes. The One '80s Snack You Should Never Eat Again, Says Science. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. Serve customer fast. Although the company liquidated in 1991, there are a handful of independently owned stores left around the United States. The British-based market research and data analytics company, determined recently that some 86% of Americans who had tried Mexican food liked it; the only cuisine scoring higher was Italian, at 88%. 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. Baja Fresh has been around since 1990, and its yet another Mexican restaurant chain to emerge from California. xhr.send(payload); Chi-Chi's. Simpson. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) 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. There will be 31 in Arizona by the end of the year, Campbell said. Just some of the delicious Tex-Mex options on the menu at this restaurant include slow-smoked ribs, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos. In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. Leo's Mexican Restaurant In 2001 Leo's Mexican Restaurant closed its doors, to the chagrin of Tex-Mex connoisseurs and ZZ Top fans. > Number of U.S. units: 727. 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). The company filed for bankruptcy in 1992 and never quite recovered. Annie's Santa Fe was a popular Mexican restaurant during the 1980s and 1990s which had locations at several local malls, including Oak Park Mall and Bannister Mall. Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. > U.S. sales: $232 million In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. > Number of U.S. units: 484. 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. November 15, 2005. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. Fast . Today onlySome restaurants remain. New French Cafe. 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. 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. 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. In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. We love that Moes Southwest Grill strives to provide an entertaining and unique Mexican dining experience by combining traditional Mexican fast food with a playlist of game-changing musical artists. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. California has the most with 822. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. Pears, popular with college students in the 1980s and '90s. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. To this day . 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). Brigham's - a Boston-area ice cream parlor and restaurant chain that closed in 2013 [2] Britling Cafeterias. Buffalo locations, 1979. Name Head office location Original location Year started Number of locations Notes Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina: Cypress, California Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. Get the best food tips and diet advice Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. 9. 15. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { RELATED: Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! 12. In 1981, more than 50 VIP sites had taken along the highways of Washington, California, Idaho and Nevada, In addition to the locations of Oregon. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. 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. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. I only ate there once but I really liked it. A Mexican fast-food establishment with locations all over the United States, its charming motto was, "Prepare food fresh. 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. But according to The Washington Post, Holmes "knew little about cash flow," despite the restaurant's great marketing. In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. 4. Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. Briazz. Starting in the 1980s, Mighty Casey's began popping up in Atlanta, Georgia, serving your . Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. According to Yelp reviewers, it was going downhill. The final restaurant closed in 1989. El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. 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 . Friday, the chain fell behind. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. 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). All Rights Reserved. "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. If you were a kid in the '80s, there's a good chance you had a birthday party or two at Showbiz Pizza Place. See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. 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. Wish it were still there Of course the sections most of us will head to immediately are . If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. 13. Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. / 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. 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. You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. 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. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. single The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. 57. 15 classical American desserts that deserve a return, The Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007, 19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Franchises dominate in this market, with Taco Bell having more than twice as many restaurants as its nearest non-franchised competitor, and Qdoba and Moe's taking third and fourth place in the list of . El Torito. 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. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . 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. 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. Every TV show based in the city, from Friends to Saturday Night Live, has joked about it for the last few decades. 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. Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. Gino's Hamburgers. Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. 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. Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. It serves traditional Tex-Mex-style tacos, nachos, and burritos, and other Mexican style meals. In 1984, G.D. Ritzy's was taking in about $5.2 million just from ice cream sales. And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . Cafe Rio Mexican Grill The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! with a character named "Family Sam," a friendly senior citizen chef. 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! } Nopales, eggs and beans and hand made tortillas with really good salsas. "They just let Ritzy's somewhat atrophy over the next eight or 10 years, and it dwindled down to seven locations," Webb said to The Dallas Observer in 2004. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); > U.S. sales: $236 million (est.) 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. But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. 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!) Beyond Meat vegan options are available, and ground turkey tacos are also offered, as a lower-fat alternative to the ground beef versions., 4. And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. 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. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. 11. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit. Torchys Tacos 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! That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. 321. 167). Keep the place clean!" . It quickly expanded 225 points of sale by 1986. The sale has put the "completely out of food activity" of WalgreenThe New York Times reported. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. In particular, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. Originating in El Paso, Texas, Pancho's Mexican Buffet grew in popularity, thanks to its all-you-can-eat "buffet"-style service. Many weren't surprised when Metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. Another Dallas-born chain, on the border launched in 1982, featuring mesquite-grilled meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and small-batch salsas. 24/7 Tempo delved further into the list to come up with the top 15 Mexican chains in America (the farthest down came in at No.