mexican restaurant chains 1980s

Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. First founded in Ohio in 1980, the 1950s-style restaurant grew quickly, with about 100 locations at its peak. xhr.send(payload); 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! But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. Leo's Mexican Restaurant In 2001 Leo's Mexican Restaurant closed its doors, to the chagrin of Tex-Mex connoisseurs and ZZ Top fans. 72 of 92 73 of 92 Crazy Jose's Patio and Cafe Mexican restaurant Enterprise archive photo Ryan . Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. After it was acquired by the Marriott Hotel chain in 1971, it grew to 130 locations, but by the late 1980s, most of them had closed. See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. The extensive menu featured foods from around the world: potato skins and fried veggies, chicken . Marchetti returned to the restaurant business in 2010, opening up a new Gino's location. The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. 11. Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. 10. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. 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. One of the reasons Taco Cabana is so popular is that it offers 24-hour service, so when college starts in the fall, you can expect to see a lot of students here in the early hours of the morning! Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. . Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. The original Lum's storefront closed its doors in 1983. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. 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. 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. The menu at G.D. Ritzy's stood out for all the ways that you could customize your burgers, drinks, and ice cream. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants. It quickly expanded 225 points of sale by 1986. Boy, let's miss these clam tapes, Frankfurts and this Signature Hojo ice cream. Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more are available. Beyond Meat vegan options are available, and ground turkey tacos are also offered, as a lower-fat alternative to the ground beef versions., 4. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. 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. 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. The company filed for bankruptcy in 1992 and never quite recovered. Chi-Chi's took off, growing to 237 locations by 1986. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. every day. > U.S. sales: $232 million 25. La Petite Boulangerie wanted to be every neighborhood's neighborhood marketand in the '80s, they made a pretty good run at doing just that. Carrols Restaurant Group. Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. Support . 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 . This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. Howard Johnson could simply hold the title of the most failed failed restaurant chain, not only the 80s, but a time. In 2006, however, food blogger Christian Ziebarth posted about Naugles, and the response was through the roof. According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. 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 name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. These are fans who didn't think twice after . > U.S. sales: $739 million 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. 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! 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! And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. Miss these emblematic meals of children? Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. The Bannister Mall was the location I remember visiting. What sets Baja Fresh apart from the Mexican fast food chains dotted around the U,S. 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. 167). Many Naugles became Del Tacos, and eventually, Naugles disappeared. And for more than 1980 anti-stirlish, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants . 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. About 25 Chicken Delights are operating today, in central Canada and the New York City area. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. In 2003, after it had grown to 85 locations in 16 states, Qdoba was acquired by Jack in the Box, which ran it until it was sold to a private equity firm in 2018. 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. And for kids, in particular, Burger Chef was the top choice: It was the first fast-food chain to include toys with its kids' meals. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. Posted on March 19, 2016. 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. 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. This chain of Mexican restaurants got its start in Minneapolis in 1975, sharing space with a bar owned by an ex-NFL player. The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. Each television show based in the city, fromFriends ToSaturday Night Live, has blocked about it for a few decades. 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. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. And for more failed restaurants,Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants. 321. For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. The monster of the Mexican chain business (though how Mexican it is may be argued), with sales more than twice those of second-place Chipotle, Taco Bell has outposts in all 50 states (though not, for some reason, Washington, D.C.) an average of 141 per state. Star ratings are for the ones I visited. 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. Chipotle specializes in Mexican food favorites such as burritos, but it has an extensive menu ranging from burrito bowls to tacos and fajitas. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. Webb. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. Gino's Hamburgers. Sambo started in 1957 in Santa Barbara, California, reachingMaximum popularity In the late 1970s, more than 1,100 restaurants in 47 states. 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. Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. Doggie diner Was a basis in the Northern Bay region of California at its peak. Chi-Chi's. 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 Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. 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. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. The chain's name was a source of controversy: According to the company, the name was . Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. Menu items have fanciful names like Homewrecker (an overstuffed burrito ), John Coctostan (a Southwest-style quesadilla), and Alright Alright Alright (nachos with queso). It closed in . After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. Del Taco is headquartered in Lake Forest California, and is led by CEO John D. Cappasola Jr. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. During its first 20 years of activity, the chain plunged its claims on 19 states, serving its famous burgers and fries in about 400 restaurants. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! Every TV show based in the city, from Friends to Saturday Night Live, has joked about it for the last few decades. 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. The Earles were on the cusp of the growing appetite for Mexican food, and it was prepared with care and flavor in both locations. But increased competition and a slew of unfortunate events . Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. By the mid-'80s, all the Doggie Diners had shut down. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. El Pollo Loco is famous for its Mexican-style chicken dishes specifically, grilled chicken. In 1967, the chain was established in Abilene, Texas, by Bill R. Waugh, an art graduate from Abilene Christian University. Possibly - with a lot of enthusiasm and tons of help Ziebarth has been able to open aNew rental of Naugles In 2017. Jim's Tiffany Place. I wish it was still here. 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 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. At the turn of the century, there was less than a dozen the left position of Howard Johnson. > Number of U.S. units: 6,588. 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. Missing those iconic kids' meals? "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. After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. Simpson. Starting out as RoBee's House of Beef in Indiana, Roy Rogers became the more common name for this chain in 1968. Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish the Bennigan tastes of Chile and T.G.I. A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of the best Mexican restaurants in every state. A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. The timing was . 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.". 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)! Reduced-calorie dishes included hamburgers made with lean beef, high-fiber buns, and low-calorie cheese. 3. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. . But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. There were at least 140 locations at its height, with spots serving up bread in Denver, New Jersey, San Francisco, and more. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. Chuys may not have as many locations as other Mexican chain restaurants (there are fewer than 100 of these restaurants across 17 states) but when it comes to amazing Tex-Mex, its one of the top contenders in America. Uncle Julios Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. "Man, I miss him. Big Bite expanded to a chain of approximately 30 restaurants. Keep place clean!" In fact, Moes is actually an acronym that stands for Musicians, Outlaws, and Entertainers. 2. food and drink and health, as well as entertainment, beauty, and other lifestyle 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. Check out the top 10 Mexican chains in the United States according to Restaurant Business based on sales: 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. According to Eat This, Not That!, Pup "N' Taco was a popular southern California quick service restaurant.When it opened in 1956, the brand's founder, Russ Wendell, took an un-traditional approach to his menu. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Pup 'N' Taco locations across California and New Mexico. Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. In his younger years, founder Leo Reynosa, Sr. rode with . This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to the evolution of tastes have become ferocious competitors. But it was already too late. From authentic Mexican food to Mexican-American fusions like Tex-Mex and West-Mex, theres so much variety in these top 16 restaurants. Taco Bueno. 55 (tie) TEQUILA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT. Howard Johnson's might just hold the title for most sorely-missed failed restaurant chain of not just the '80s, but any era. But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. RIP VIP's. Full Member. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); In addition to fish and other tacos, the menu includes chicken tortilla soup and a Baja chopped bowl. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. > Number of U.S. units: 63. 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. There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. 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. After starting as a small operation in Colorado Springs, the chain eventually grew to over 200 restaurants in the U.S. and Canada. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. Sambo's shut down by the middle of the decade. TIO JUAN'S MARGARITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT. 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! The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. Bombay Bicycle Club. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. > U.S. sales: $398 million But its flame burned short and bright: By the late '80s, the owners filed for bankruptcy, and all of the locations had closed by the 2000s. 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. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. Jolly Tiger 2080 W. Stadium Blvd. Dam it was good Mexican food. Buffalo locations, 1979. Its chain, Wag's, had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours, serving your standard Denny's-esque fare. By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) Possibly theyrenamed several places At no place like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. 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. Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. Today, only a few restaurants remain. In 1982, a few years after being bought by a Swiss holding company, the chain overextended in its franchising efforts and filed for bankruptcy. Bennigan's 200 nationwide locations shuttered their doors a decade ago, but the new owners now run a much smaller-scale operation out of Dallas, Texas, and the menu does include the Irish pub-inspired items you loved in the 1980s. And if not, well, you were probably missing out. 2. 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. 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. But it was already too late. 5. And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. > U.S. sales: $868 million Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. Investing in real estate can diversify your portfolio. 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. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. > Number of U.S. units: 170. Taco Bell 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! Finally, if youre looking for really high-quality, rustic-inspired Tex-Mex, theres nowhere better than Uncle Julios. Minnie Pearl's Chicken. 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. And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. Brigham's - a Boston-area ice cream parlor and restaurant chain that closed in 2013 [2] Britling Cafeterias. If youre looking for something fresh and new, you can also choose to order the Taco of the Month, which never fails to impress. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. > U.S. sales: $348 million 60 (tie) BOBBY SALAZAR'S MEXICAN FOODS. But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. It was launched by Howard Johnson himself in the 1920s as a soda fountain and lunch counter, and by 1954 there were 400 outposts in 32 states. Really good, not expensive home cooked food. Family Style. But then, things took a turn. In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. From there, unfortunately, it was all downhill. "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. A financial advisor can help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of investment properties. Feb 9, 2022 - Explore ben mccullough's board "Denver Colo old restaurants no longer here" on Pinterest. In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. Best Mexican Restaurants in Los Angeles, California: Find Tripadvisor traveler reviews of Los Angeles Mexican restaurants and search by price, location, and more. 1982 Having introduced nouvelle cuisine at Ma Maison in Los Angeles, Chef Wolfgang Puck presents "California cuisine" to patrons of his new chic-casual Sunset Strip restaurant, Spago. When similar style pizza place Chuck E. Cheese went bankrupt in 1984, ShowBiz purchased it. The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. 4. 58 (tie) EL TACO TOTE. 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! Regardless, Mexican food and chains, in particular, have become increasingly popular in the United States over the years. Jim's Tiffany Place originally opened in Lansing in 1937 and served customers until 1993. Briazz. Don't Edit. One food that is better left in the past? Cafe Rio Mexican Grill 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. 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. 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.

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