Jeff Korbelik: 25 years of good food and making good friends comes to At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. In 1984, G.D. Ritzy's was taking in about $5.2 million just from ice cream sales. 60 (tie) BOBBY SALAZAR'S MEXICAN FOODS. } Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. 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 . JoJos in the ring around the mall 625 . "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. One of the first major restaurant chains, it went public in 1961 with 605 . 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). In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. 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 . For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. > Number of U.S. units: 580. 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? The timing was perfect, with Mexican food a trendy choice for diners at that time. The trade publication Restaurant Business releases, an annual ranking of the nations top 250 restaurant chains. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish Bennigan's from the likes of Chili's and T.G.I. Nine years, Naugle sold its modest three-locate chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with her. 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. 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. Gino's Hamburgers. Of course the sections most of us will head to immediately are . Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. 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. Name Head office location Original location Year started Number of locations Notes Acapulco Mexican Restaurant and Cantina: Cypress, California Restaurant Review: Southern Fried Goodness and More to Try at Tupelo Honey. There were 225 locations by the mid-'80s, but Naugles merged with Del Taco, and locations slowly converted. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. Chuys Tex-Mex Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. A Mexican fast-food establishment with locations all over the United States, its charming motto was, "Prepare food fresh. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. 4. 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. Even though it's only been gone a short time, I miss the original Antone's on Taft. day, 2022 Galvanized Media. You could eat as many shrimp, salad, beer and rib as you could never want - all for less than $ 20, according toBklyner. } ); ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. The children of the 1980s certainly remember to savor their last spoonful of Hojos ice cream. That's what Bennigan's, an Irish-themed bar and grill, offered in the 1980s. So, if you want a spoon of this Dory Chunky fudge, head toOhio WhereKentucky. Jim's Tiffany Place. Any classic Mexican fast food you can think of, you can order at Taco Bueno. There were at least 300 Rax locations by the mid-'80s; there were even locations in Guatemala and Canada. Army.". But it was already too late. And for another trip down memory lane, check out these 15 Classic American Desserts That Deserve a Comeback. A food that is better left in the past?The 80's snack that you should never eat again, says science. 57. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. 1. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. The final restaurant closed in 1989. In the early 1990s, Bennigan's was sold to Metromedia Restaurant Group. (The number of units for each chain was computed at the same time, and may have changed since then.) Many locations were converted to Hardee's in the '90s after the burger chain bought Rax. 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. Howard Johnson's is synonymous with 1950s and '60s dining. But by the late '80s, most locations had been sold. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. 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. VIP was a casual catering chain on the 24-hour west coast that started from Oregon in 1968. DEL TACO. Brought to life by husband-wife team of Juan and Melanie Martinez, the first Don Juan Mexican Grill opened in 2011, and the made-to-order burritos, bowls, and fresh-fruit smoothies were an instant hit on the East Coast. Keep place clean!" Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . / 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. And for more than 1980 anti-stirlish, Only the children of the 1980s will remember these restaurants . In 1982, they sold the bulk of their restaurants to Marriott. Burger Chef. Taco Bueno is a famous fast food restaurant chain situated in the southern United States. 11. Chipotle. But there is a glow of good news: today, two Gino Rochette burgers remain in the Maryland - and yes, they serve the ginois ginner. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. At the beginning of the decade, Gino stopped that the brand Burger trademarks and other favorite fans in order to reorganize the restaurant. 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. Uncle Julios Besides chicken, the chain served gumbo, fish and chips, greens, biscuits and other soul foods. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. Really good, not expensive home cooked food. Del Taco Miss these emblematic meals of children? The sale has put the "completely out of food activity" of WalgreenThe New York Times reported. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. Remembering restaurants that are no longer | Phoenix - Yelp The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. Restaurant Chains We Miss | Cheapism.com 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. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. > U.S. sales: $739 million Refuge. Beefsteak Charlie's was a Manhattan stalwart from the early 20th century to the late '80s. 17 restaurants in the 1980s chain - Good Lifestyle (Well,not quite the same fries.) Family Style. 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). 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! Friday's, the chain fell behind. 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. Its one of the biggest Mexican food chains worldwide, but its especially well-loved in the U.S., where more than 3,000 Chipotle restaurants have opened in total since 1993. 1977: Fine Wine and Italian Style. On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina There is no to deny this hot and blurred feeling that comes frombite into the hamburger You have enjoyed from your child. Sadly, there are no more D'Lites today. Taco Cabana Taco Cabana is known for its tortilla machine, which allows customers to enjoy steaming hot tacos just a couple of minutes after they place their order. A few years later, things came to the complete circle when Butler sold in Collins Food International, who decided to merge Naugles without other than Del Taco in 1988. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. advice every day. The latest restaurant closed in 1989. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. 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. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! The top 15 restaurants Modesto misses the most | Modesto Bee 22 20 Best Mexican Chain Restaurants in America - Shopfood.com; 23 8 of America's Most Beloved Mexican Chains | FSR magazine; 24 The 20 Restaurant Chains That No Longer Exist - PopCulture.com; 25 Top Mexican Restaurant Chains in The United States of America; 26 Mexican Restaurant Chains That Closed Recipes - TfRecipes Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. 4 Once-Favorite Tex-Mex Restaurant Chains That Went Out of Business If youve never been to Torchys Tacos, we suggest you do so as soon as possible, especially if you enjoy spicy tacos and margaritas. The Tex-Mex Invasion. The original Del Taco opened in the Mojave Desert town of Yermo, California, in 1964. 30 Defunct Fast Food Chains and What Happened to Them You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's locations. The original light showcase closed in 1983. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); The most talked-about item on the menu is the fire-grilled chicken, which you can get incorporated into various dishes at the restaurant, from tacos to burritos. In 1977, Mr. Paul purchased the steakhouse. if( navigator.sendBeacon ) { But according to The Washington Post, Holmes "knew little about cash flow," despite the restaurant's great marketing. Keep the place clean!" . If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood.