mexican restaurant chains 1980s

The company filed for bankruptcy in 1992 and never quite recovered. 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. Chi-Chi's. Wikimedia Commons/Nostaljack/Public Domain. Credit: Visit Houston Texas. In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. Here's a list of iconic Austin restaurants who have closed in recent years: Alcomar - closed May 2018. Today, one of the dachshunds always turns near the San Francisco Zoo. 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 . 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 ); > Number of U.S. units: 743. All Rights Reserved. The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. The best Mexican restaurant chains list includes fast food Mexican restaurants like La Salsa, Rubio's Coastal Grill, and Chipotle as well as sit down Mexican chains like Acapulco and Chevy's. Mexican chain restaurants include any taco restaurant where you can order Mexican cuisine. But, much like Mall Madness and acid-washed jeans, not all of the chains from your youth have survived, and there are plenty of failed fast-food restaurants that have come and gone. Finding a qualified financial advisor doesnt have to be hard. But at its peak in the 1960s, there were hundreds of these orange-roofed restaurants . 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. And for more failed restaurants,Only the children of the 1970s will remember these restaurants. You could get the famous "Gino Giant," a massively stacked hamburger aptly nicknamed "a banquet on a bun," all over the place. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. single 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. ), Once the film came out, All American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, has seen a brief boom. Get the best food tips and diet It might not be as wildly popular as restaurants like Chipotle and Taco Bell (see below), but it still has a reputation for excellent Tex-Mex fast food. 1. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. topics. The Tex-Mex menu at Taco Cabana, which calls itself a Mexican patio cafe, lists all the usual items (tacos, burritos, quesadillas, etc. 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. But '80s kids probably didn't get to experience much of it. With that being said, Taco Bells menu has expanded and evolved a lot in recent years, including some exciting and creative options such as the Mexican Pizza and the Cheesy Gordita Crunch. 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!) EatThis.com is part of the AllRecipes Food Group. We finally started swishing and sipping when La Cave popped open "with a refr eshing idea whose arrival . Qdoba Mexican Eats Simpson. > U.S. sales: $232 million Beefsteak Charlie's was a big-time restaurant that had over 60 locations in the early 1980s. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. Family Style. 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! Serve customer fast. But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. food and drink and health, as well as entertainment, beauty, and other lifestyle 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. . > U.S. sales: $324 million Chipotle Mexican Grill Unlike many of the Mexican fast food chains in America, this one actually originated from Mexico, in Sinaloa. 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. Fast Casual. Chi-Chi's. 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. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. 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. The extensive menu featured foods from around the world: potato skins and fried veggies, chicken . First founded in Ohio in 1980, the 1950s-style restaurant grew quickly, with about 100 locations at its peak. Gino's Hamburgers. Many Tex-Mex lovers will tell you that Taco Bueno is the best place to go for American-style Mexican food. 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. > Number of U.S. units: 580. And although there was a unique showcase holding a dear life life in Nebraska, toofirm In 2017. Name Head office location Original location Year started Number of locations Notes Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina: Cypress, California At its footwear popularity, Doggie Dinner had 30 places in the golden state, but unfortunately competing with larger chains such as McDonald's in this chain unfolds. Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . Does this list bring back any memories? But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. Unfortunately, no matter the quality of the chicken-taste - the company has encountered its inexpensive end to the consternation of fans everywhere. At the turn of the century, there was less than a dozen the left position of Howard Johnson. 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! > Number of U.S. units: 148. Every TV show based in the city, from Friends to Saturday Night Live, has joked about it for the last few decades. Sambo started in 1957 in Santa Barbara, California, reachingMaximum popularity In the late 1970s, more than 1,100 restaurants in 47 states. There were at least 140 locations at its height, with spots serving up bread in Denver, New Jersey, San Francisco, and more. It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. New Balance > Decline alone for the industry leader, McDonalds, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. 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. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. 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. "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. In 1967, the chain was established in Abilene, Texas, by Bill R. Waugh, an art graduate from Abilene Christian University. It opened its first U.S. venue in Los Angeles in 1980, and since then, nearly 500 El Pollo Loco restaurants have been established. "Prepare food fresh. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. In 1981. Unfortunately, it didn't matter how good the chicken tastedthe business met its untimely end to the dismay of fans everywhere. 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. By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. Although there is an independent restaurant of the same name in New York, the latest All-American All-American Burger on Sunset Boulevard has since closed. Bennigan's. This fast food chain was one of America's first casual dining and sports bar chain. Rubios Coastal Grill The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. Starting out as RoBee's House of Beef in Indiana, Roy Rogers became the more common name for this chain in 1968. And if not, well, you were probably missing out. In the late 1990s and . Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. Without that bright orange chicken, Monday Night Football was never the same. 22. To his pinnacle in the 1970s,Burger chef EU 1,200 locations and was a flourishing competitor of McDonald's. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. Another Texas-born chain, this one from Fort Worth, Fuzzys has units around the country, all over Texas and also in Oklahoma, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, Iowa, Ohio, Louisiana, Georgia, Florida, Virginia, and North and South Carolina. 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. There were 225 locations by the mid-'80s, but Naugles merged with Del Taco, and locations slowly converted. But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. Its chain, Wag's, had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours, serving your standard Denny's-esque fare. We promise this Tex-Mex chain restaurant will quickly become a family favorite! here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) Pears, popular with college students in the 1980s and '90s. > Number of U.S. units: 63. The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. Del Taco restaurant, Inc. is an American fast food chain that specializes Mexican and American cuisine. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. But that was only true for so long. A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. 55 (tie) TEQUILA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT. The menu at Del Taco goes to show that Mexican chain restaurants in the U.S. are capable of delivering both authentic Mexican food as well as American variations. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. RELATED: Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! 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. Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. 25. More than half of the locations were finally converted to Roy Rogers, and the rest was closed. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) (Now owned by Yum! By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. Originating in El Paso, Texas, Pancho's Mexican Buffet grew in popularity, thanks to its all-you-can-eat "buffet"-style service. Del Taco Bugaboo Creek Steakhouse. Friday's, the chain fell behind. But then, things took a ride. Reduced-calorie dishes included hamburgers made with lean beef, high-fiber buns, and low-calorie cheese. 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). 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. "I used to eat here as a child at lunch time with my father," wrote a Yelper. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. The basic staples remain native foods such as corn, beans and chili peppers, but the Europeans introduced many other foods, the most important of which were meat from domesticated animals (beef, pork, chicken, goat and sheep), dairy products (especially cheese) and various herbs and many spices. > U.S. sales: $835 million 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. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Star ratings are for the ones I visited. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) 9. There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. 7. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. 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. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. Casa Gallardo went up against two other chains, Southern California-based El Torito and Minnesota's Chi-Chi's, during the late 1970s and early 1980s in the fight for America's Mexican-food obsession. Your ultimate restaurant and supermarket survival guide is here! 167). By 1984, there were 60 locations. 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. 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. 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. 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. 13. Menu items have fanciful names like Homewrecker (an overstuffed burrito ), John Coctostan (a Southwest-style quesadilla), and Alright Alright Alright (nachos with queso). 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. 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. This is a list of notable Mexican restaurants. 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. Nopales, eggs and beans and hand made tortillas with really good salsas. . That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. Another Dallas-born chain, on the border launched in 1982, featuring mesquite-grilled meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and small-batch salsas. First started in 1968 in Los Angeles, the chain's last location closed in 2010. Who doesn't love a restaurant with good food and a great happy hour? Red barn Had a small town debut in the Ohio of the 1960s, but it was destined for greater things. Cheeseburger in Paradise. 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. We will not challenge yourself to have elapsed youFairy Failed Restaurants Failed. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. Two Baltimore Colts professional football players helped to create Gino's Hamburgers back in 1957. However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. But then, things took a turn. Brands, owners of KFC, Pizza Hut, and other chains, it also operates around the world.) Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). And by the early '90s, Chuck E. Cheese became the name of all locations. Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. to promote fast food franchises serving pita sandwiches. With the rise of fast-food chains though, . You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. Just some of the delicious Tex-Mex options on the menu at this restaurant include slow-smoked ribs, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas, and tacos. This trap unfortunately brought Chicken George in 1986, when Holmes tabled for liquidation after declining more than $ 1.4 million in debt to private creditors and IRS. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! 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)! Lauren Gray is a New York-based writer, editor, and consultant. 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.