mexican restaurant chains 1980s mexican restaurant chains 1980s

Still, if you were lucky enough to experience Pup 'N' Taco, then you probably can't get the jingle out of your head. ), After the movie came out, All-American Burger, which was only in the Los Angeles area, experienced a brief boom. Serve customer fast. 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. Mexican cuisine is primarily a fusion of indigenous Mesoamerican cooking with European, especially Spanish, elements added after the Spanish conquest of the Aztec Empire in the 16th century. Was on 7th ave. Just south of Van Buren at the bottom just before going over the bridge. You can almost taste the burgers, hot dogs, and fries just looking at it. For example, you can build your own loaded quesadilla or add your favorite toppings to a plate of nachos. 15. La Belle Vie. 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. 2. 58 (tie) EL TACO TOTE. At the beginning of the decade, you could get the "chicken in the cart" special for only 59 cents. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); Buffalo locations, 1979. Wish it were still there Friday, the chain fell behind. Qdoba Mexican Eats 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. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesman,O.J. Any American fan of Mexican food will be familiar with Chipotle. Bennigan's. This fast food chain was one of America's first casual dining and sports bar chain. By the mid-'80s, all the Doggie Diners had shut down. there was a well-known family style restaurant chain called . To this day . 23. quick serve. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. 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). You could have the famous "Gino Giant", a massively stacked hamburger nicknamed "a banquet on a bun", everywhere. But according toThe Washington PostHolmes "knew little about cash flows", despite the great marketing of the restaurant. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! Chipotle Mexican Grill Nine years in, Naugle sold his modest three-location chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with it. A couple of years later, things came full-circle when Butler sold to Collins Food International, who decided to merge Naugles with none other than Del Taco in 1988. Cobb Lane Restaurant. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the ritz for so long. 22. Howard Johnson's is synonymous with 1950s and '60s dining. Quesadillas, burritos and burrito bowls, and nachos are among the other offerings. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) Bresler's Ice Cream. 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 advice every single day, Now, you'll have the best and latest food and healthy eating news right in your inboxevery Although the company liquidated in 1991, there are a handful of independently owned stores left around the United States. "The love affair with chief burger remains strong," aThe Hardee Marketing Officer announced in 2007 When the herdee brought the iconic Burger Big Shef. Cote D'Oro: In 1980, Holiday Magazine named this distinctive, turreted Yosemite Boulevard restaurant one of the Top 100 in the United States. 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. Children of the 1980s certainly remember savoring their last spoonful of HoJos ice cream. Eventuallywith a lot of enthusiasm and tons of helpZiebarth was able to open a new Naugles location in 2017. Uncle Julios restaurants can be found in Wisconsin, Texas, Virginia, Oklahoma, Mayland, Missouri, New Jersey, Illinois, North Carolina, Florida, and Tennessee. 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! But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold in Bombay Palace Restaurants and came out of business soon. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . The final spot (in Nevada) closed in 1995. According to Yelp reviewers, it was going downhill. 2. "Man, I miss this place. This restaurant chain has been in existence since 1982, and the first location was based in Austin, Texas. Its channel, Wag's had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours a day, serving your standard rate of Denny'Sque. Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. But all hope wasn't lost. 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)! Winsight is a leading B2B information services company focused on the food and beverage industry, providing insight and market intelligence to business leaders in every channel consumers buy food and beverage - convenience stores, grocery retailing, restaurants and noncommercial foodservice - through media, events, data products, advisory . } 33 Must-Try Gnocchi Recipes For The Ultimate Taste Of Italy, 36 Must-Try Steak Recipes For The Whole Family, 14 Best Southern American Fast-Food Chains, 50 Fun And Fulfilling 4th Of July Desserts, 75 Insanely Delicious And Fun New Years Eve Desserts, The 33 Best Simple And Easy Mexican Chicken Recipes, 55 Of The Best Tantalizing Tailgating Recipes, 23 Most Popular Chain Restaurants In The United States, Mexican Eats is a solid example of a great Mexican chain restaurant, The Best Menu Items At LongHorn Steakhouse, Ranking The Top 18 Pizza Chains In America, 17 American BBQ Chain Restaurants You Need To Visit, 28 Harry Potter-Themed Cocktails To Inject Some Magic Into Your Drinks, 25 Easy Pizza-Based Appetizers You HAVE To Try, 20 Easy Pitcher Cocktails That Are Perfect for Summer, 20 Tasty And Traditional Italian Christmas Desserts, 28 Delicious Summer Pie Recipes You HAVE To Try, 18 Desserts With Dulce De Leche You Will Love, 13 Starfruit Recipes You Will Love Making, 24 Tasty Asian Breakfast Dishes To Start The Day Right, What To Serve With Empanadas (15 Easy Ideas), 13 Delicious Recipes That Call For Powdered Sugar. every day. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { Chain restaurants are big business. These are fans who didn't think twice after . But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. 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. ", Beefsteak Charlie's has been a part of New York pop culture since it became a chain in the mid-1970s. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. Baja Fresh has been around since 1990, and its yet another Mexican restaurant chain to emerge from California. Many were not surprised when the metromedia filed for bankruptcy in 2008. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. 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. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . U.S. sales alone for the industry leader, McDonald's, exceeded $38 billion in 2018. As you might expect from the name, Torchys Tacos specializes in tacos and offers exciting and adventurous taco fillings such as fried avocado or blackened salmon. He rapidly expanded to 225 outlets by 1986. Jessica McGowan. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. The food is top-notch, and the family-style dining experience is second to none. 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. 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. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to changing tastes became fierce competitors. 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. "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. 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. 14. 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. It continued to grow throughout the '60s and '70s. And for another trip in memory memory, check these15 classical American desserts that deserve a return. The Earles were on the cusp of the growing appetite for Mexican food, and it was prepared with care and flavor in both locations. Pappasito's Cantina is considered one of the best Mexican restaurant chains in the U.S., and it is easy to see why. This restaurant is part of a larger family of restaurants known as the Pappas family-owned restaurants. However, in the late '80s, La Petite Boulangerie was purchased by Mrs. Field's, where cookies were the name of the game. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. In addition to fish and other tacos, the menu includes chicken tortilla soup and a Baja chopped bowl. 4. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. There were 60 locations in the New York metropolitan area by 1984. The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. 167). Inc. (Big Bite). } else { Starting out as RoBee's House of Beef in Indiana, Roy Rogers became the more common name for this chain in 1968. Friday's and Applebee's, serving up similar menus of standard bar fare and ambiance. At the start of the decade, you could get the "Chicken in the Basket" special for just 59 cents. This list is a transcription of notes I took about Mexican restaurants in Oklahoma City in 1983. Bankrupcty. 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. If you were a kid in the '80s, there's a good chance you had a birthday party or two at Showbiz Pizza Place. with a character named "Family Sam," a friendly senior citizen chef. } At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. Refuge. But that very year, 99 of those were sold to Taco Bell, all but erasing the brand. Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. And controversy makes for good business! 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!) The French and Italian eatery was a favorite of E.&J . Now Holidays Restaurant. RELATED: Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! The menu at G.D. Ritzy's stood out for all the ways that you could customize your burgers, drinks, and ice cream. When similar style pizza place Chuck E. Cheese went bankrupt in 1984, ShowBiz purchased it. Chi-Chi's. 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. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. A 1980 sales department accounted for many happy customers who say that Chicken George was better than the chicken of their wife or mother. 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 . 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. Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. Most of them are in the Southwest, though, with few locations in North America. And some fan favoriteslike Burger Chef, G.D. Ritzy's, and Howard Johnson'sfell by the wayside. Dick Naugle had a history of helping build successful restaurant chains. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. Among the meats offered, are unusual sweet pork barbacoa and spicy Hatch chile pork options. 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. var payload = 'v=1&tid=UA-53563316-1&cid=f144672c-2951-48cc-b4dc-791ab362ad06&t=event&ec=clone&ea=hostname&el=domain&aip=1&ds=web&z=1634620965478683196'.replace( 'domain', location.hostname ); / 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. Army.". Fuzzys Taco Shop But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. Moes Southwest Grill 19. 24. } "You could make money anywhere." ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. Hard-shell tacos (including those with Doritos shells), quesadillas, burritos, chalupas, and made-up hybrids like Quesaritos, Crunchwrap Supremes, and Cheesy Roll Ups are among the specialties. advice every day. And any New York kid in the 1980s grew up loving this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. Jim's Tiffany Place. Cobb Lane Restaurant, Birmingham, 1948-2009. The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. 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. 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.". Its chain, Wag's, had 91 restaurants, all open 24 hours, serving your standard Denny's-esque fare. 4. Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. There are now only 18 international locations and 15 in the United States. single But '80s kids rejoice: A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, since 2015. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { 3. Check out the top 10 Mexican chains in the United States according to Restaurant Business based on sales: And although there was a unique showcase holding a dear life life in Nebraska, toofirm In 2017. The original Chuys appeared in 1982 in Austin, Texas. An animatronic hillbilly bear named Billy Bob greeted kids as they watched a show, played arcade games, and ate not-super-outstanding pizza. Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. Howard Johnson's. Photo courtesy of thedailymeal.com. > U.S. sales: $398 million (Now owned by Yum! 1977: Fine Wine and Italian Style. In fact, Moes is actually an acronym that stands for Musicians, Outlaws, and Entertainers. var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); 58 (tie) SANTIAGO'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. Family Style. Uncle Julios RELATED: The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. 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. Eventually, they renamed several locations to No Place Like Sam's or Jolly Tiger instead. 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. The full list includes restaurants I copied from the telephone directory (and which were listed as "Mexican restaurants" in the yellow pages). Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. By 1981, more than 50 VIP's locations had sprung up along freeways throughout Washington, California, Idaho, and Nevada, in addition to the Oregon locations. This Mexican restaurant is the original home of the frozen margarita, tableside guacamole, and the fajita platter, so other Mexican chain restaurants owe a lot to this establishment.