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The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. But many people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. Rip Vip's. 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. Jessica McGowan. But as a child of the 70s or 80s knows, Walgreen has also had full restaurants. Boy, let's miss these clam tapes, Frankfurts and this Signature Hojo ice cream. "Man, I miss this place. 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). In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. 3. 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. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. 17 Failed Fast-Food Chains From the '80s You Have to See, 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback, Hardee's marketing executive said in 2007, 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. 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. But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. } At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants in The national level, which was quite the Founder Graydon D. Webb. "You could make money anywhere." 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. The menu at G.D. Ritzy's stood out for all the ways that you could customize your burgers, drinks, and ice cream. } else { Taco Cabana 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. You could get the famous "Gino Giant," a massively stacked hamburger aptly nicknamed "a banquet on a bun," all over the place. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); The final spot (in Nevada) closed in 1995. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! > Number of U.S. units: 100. 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. This page was last edited on 25 January 2023, at 04:55. Posted September 13, 2004. 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. there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. A 1980 sales department accounted for many happy customers who say that Chicken George was better than the chicken of their wife or mother. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. I only ate there once but I really liked it. Theres no doubt that we love our Mexican food. 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! The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. Big Bite expanded to a chain of approximately 30 restaurants. Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit. 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. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. I wish it was always there.". But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesperson, O.J. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. 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. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. 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. Chain restaurants are big business. ), but also offers flautas the rolled, fried tacos sometimes called taquitos. 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 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. And the controversy is for good business! Arro - closed February . Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. The channel started in the mid-1950s in Miami but became a phenomenon at the national level, with more than 400 restaurants in the 1970s at theHeight of his success. Originating in El Paso, Texas, Pancho's Mexican Buffet grew in popularity, thanks to its all-you-can-eat "buffet"-style service. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. However, Pappasitos Cantina really stands out for a few reasons. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. Gino's Hamburgers. There are five shrimp or fish tacos on the menu as well as meat versions and a grilled vegetable version. Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of the best Mexican restaurants in every state. Its channel, Wag's had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours a day, serving your standard rate of Denny'Sque. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. 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. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. In 1988, theySold anything but some of their locations in Marriott. And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. While not for everyone, Mexican chain restaurant dining is a popular dining destinations for families all across . El Pollo Loco Simpson. The full list includes restaurants I copied from the telephone directory (and which were listed as "Mexican restaurants" in the yellow pages). Posted on March 19, 2016. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. 6. Toledo was bestowed with Hardee's, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. Possibly theyrenamed several places At no place like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. An animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids as they watched a show, played arcade games, and ate not-super-outstanding pizza. 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. But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. When similar style pizza place Chuck E. Cheese went bankrupt in 1984, ShowBiz purchased it. In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. But it was already too late. 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. 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). 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. > U.S. sales: $236 million (est.) Friday's, the chain fell behind. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. 23. "I used to eat here as a child at lunch time with my father," wrote a Yelper. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! Founded in 1976 and has remained in same location. Foodio / Shutterstock. 167). Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. But then, things took a turn. "You could make money anywhere." 1977: Fine Wine and Italian Style. 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. The chain's name was a source of controversy: According to the company, the name was . And for more than 1980 anti-stirlish, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants . But all hope wasn't lost. This chain of Mexican restaurants got its start in Minneapolis in 1975, sharing space with a bar owned by an ex-NFL player. Pappasitos Cantina is undoubtedly one of the best Tex-Mex chain restaurants in America. The chain was sold for $630 million in 1979, and heading into the '80s, HoJo's became a victim of its own success. Fast-food chains continued to grow, with the number of companies increasing by about two-thirds. Qdoba comes out of Denver, where its ancestor, called Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill, opened in 1995. The first On the Border location was in Dallas, so the choice of name goes beyond the style of cuisine served at this restaurant. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos.