26. Support . But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. Nopales, eggs and beans and hand made tortillas with really good salsas. What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. But the children of the 80s probably do not experience experience. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. 13. Whether your usual order consists of nachos, burritos, tacos, quesadillas, or even a Mexican-style salad you name it, its on the menu. Growth was especially strong in the Midwest which was targeted as a region susceptible to their appeal. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. 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. By 1984, there were 60 locations. Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. 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. Taco Bell just getting started in Arizona (1966) Bell started his specialized Mexican food drive-in at Barstow [California] in 1962. Founded in Denver in 1993 and now based in Newport Beach, California, it helped popularize the build-your-own trend with its sort-of-Mexican burritos, tacos, bowls, and salads. Fast . In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. 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! The Mexican seafood restaurant closed because of high rent costs. Marchetti returned to the restaurant business in 2010, opening up a new Gino's location. 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. In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. The original Lum's storefront closed its doors in 1983. 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. And controversy makes for good business! > U.S. sales: $835 million After a booming start in the late 1970s and a growth spurt in the early 1980s, Chi-Chi's sales and store count declined. A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. You could eat as many shrimp, salad, beer and rib as you could never want - all for less than $ 20, according toBklyner. > U.S. sales: $348 million It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how good the chicken tastedthe business met its untimely end to the dismay of fans everywhere. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. > Number of U.S. units: 63. 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. } else { "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. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. Dam it was good Mexican food. After her family migrated from Mexico to Texas in the 1890s, Adelaida Cuellar began selling her handmade tamales at her county fair. Moes Southwest Grill About 25 Chicken Delights are operating today, in central Canada and the New York City area. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. That was the motto of Mexican fast-food chain Naugles. 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! > Number of U.S. units: 484. > U.S. sales: $4.805 billion 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. ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. Fast-food chains aren't necessarily known for their healthy options (especially in 1980s America), but that's what D'Lites sought to do with its menu. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. La Petite Boulangerie wanted to be every neighborhood's neighborhood marketand in the '80s, they made a pretty good run at doing just that. "Bennigan was the lowest of the main stakeholders," said an analyst at theAssociated pressat the time. Jim's Tiffany Place. Without that bright orange chicken, Monday Night Football was never the same. RELATED: Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! 1983 The Food Marketing Institute reports that 2/3 of all fish consumed in the U.S. is eaten in restaurants. 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! The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. ), Once the film came out, All American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, has seen a brief boom. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit. Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. This restaurant chain has been in existence since 1982, and the first location was based in Austin, Texas. 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. At the time, the addition of tacos was a game changer, as opposed to the integral part of the fast food lexicon it is today. Its chain, Wag's, had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours, serving your standard Denny's-esque fare. Carrols Restaurant Group. There's no denying that warm, fuzzy feeling that comes from biting into the burger you've been enjoying since you were a kid. You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. Menu items have fanciful names like Homewrecker (an overstuffed burrito ), John Coctostan (a Southwest-style quesadilla), and Alright Alright Alright (nachos with queso). 2. 55 (tie) EL RODEO. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. 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 A New York-based freelance journalist, Dalene Rovenstine often writes about
The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. In 1956, the Taco puppy started engraving roads in southern California. It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the ritz for so long. "I used to eat here as a kid at lunchtime with my father," one Yelper wrote. 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. Theres a huge range of flavors, ranging from the cooling cilantro cucumber and watermelon options to the fiery jalapeno cucumber margarita. 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). "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! Just some of the delicious Tex-Mex options on the menu at this restaurant include slow-smoked ribs, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos. 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. 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. California has the most with 822. Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! 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. 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. 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. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. . Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. 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. Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. Boy, do we miss those fried clam strips, frankfurts, and that signature HoJo ice cream. Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with . And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Many Tex-Mex lovers will tell you that Taco Bueno is the best place to go for American-style Mexican food. > Number of U.S. units: 118. But it was true only for so long. "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. But then, things took a ride. Mr. Paul is a restaurateur who had owned other popular Los Angeles-area restaurants: The Old Virginia and Chez Paul, both in South Pasadena. The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. Every TV show based in the city, from Friends to Saturday Night Live, has joked about it for the last few decades. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. Inc. (Big Bite). With the exception of six locations in Florida, Rubios remains a western chain, with shops in Arizona, Nevada, and Colorado, as well as California. This health-conscious fast-food chain offered healthier options than their competitors, but when chains like McDonald's, Burger King, and Wendy's began to do the same in the form of salads, baked potatoes, and other items, it spelled the end for D'Lites. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. Miss these emblematic meals of children? The chain has locations in 15 states today, focusing on California, Oregon, and Washington (though Las Vegas has more Del Tacos than any other city). Gino's Hamburgers. Don't Edit. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. 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. 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. The original Pollo Loco was in Sinaloa, Mexico, and there is a Mexican chain today, unrelated to the U.S. one. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! Besides chicken, the chain served gumbo, fish and chips, greens, biscuits and other soul foods. 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! > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. 15. 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! Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. Taco Cabana Although it didn't hold up against Chili's, TGI Fridays, and Applebee's, there was a time when it was fairly ubiquitous throughout the states. Chi-Chi's. In the late 1990s and . While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. But that was only true for so long. We finally started swishing and sipping when La Cave popped open "with a refr eshing idea whose arrival . Get the best food tips and diet Of all the fast-food chains out there, only one could be the first to ever use . 167). 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. 321. Whether youre looking for great-value Tex-Mex (see also 17 Most Popular Chilis Menu Items) or your standard burger and fries, you wont be disappointed by a trip to this restaurant. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. Uncle Julios > Number of U.S. units: 143. Today, only a few restaurants remain. Chipotle. El Pollo Loco Cafe Rio Mexican Grill 58 (tie) SANTIAGO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT. Among these are the Democrat (barbacoa, avocado, and cotija cheese on corn tortillas) and the Republican (grilled jalapeo sausage, pico de gallo, and cheddar jack on a flour tortilla). 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! Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. 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 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. An animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids as they watched a show, played arcade games, and ate not-super-outstanding pizza. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. Jessica McGowan. While Qdoba mainly sticks to traditional Mexican menu items and flavor combinations for the sake of authenticity, you can still pick from a variety of customizable menu options that allow you to exercise creative freedom and bring your own preferences to the table. The chain's name was a source of controversy: According to the company, the name was . Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. If you were around the early 80's, you may remember Lum for his hot dogs with signature beer steam, and if you were not a hot-dog person, there was always the beloved Ollieburger. } Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. Bennigan's. This fast food chain was one of America's first casual dining and sports bar chain. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. Forsaken Fotos / Flickr. In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. 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. 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. "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesman,O.J. Sites dwindled in the '90s and '00s, and Pancho's was bought out in 2001. By the 1980s, there were more than 350Gino places throughout the east coast.