Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! here is19 old joyful toys that will bring you back to your childhood. Simpson. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { D'Lites (1978-1987) Norcross, GA. More than 100. 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! 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. It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. Location:Southern North America, United States, Texas, H-Town, Montrose, Lower Westheimer. Sadly, that was the beginning of the end for Gino's. Anyone who lived in middle America and grew up in the '80s likely knows the odd name G.D. Ritzy's. Mexican food. 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. The Blue Horse, the Nankin, the Lincoln Del. Chicken George was a character in the 1977 ABC miniseries "Roots," which was based on a novel about slavery by Alex Haley. } It was the kind of offer they couldn't refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP's. 10. And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . Burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, tacos, nachos, salads, and more are available. 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. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. Billing itself as a Mexican restaurant with a Southwest twist, though it comes from Atlanta originally, Moes pretty much covers the country, with locations in 39 states and the District of Columbia. One food that is better left in the past? But it was already too late. 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. There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. Chipotle specializes in Mexican food favorites such as burritos, but it has an extensive menu ranging from burrito bowls to tacos and fajitas. xhr.setRequestHeader('Content-Type', 'text/plain;charset=UTF-8'); By the 1990s, the Cuellars owned more than 100 El Chico . Reduced-calorie dishes included hamburgers made with lean beef, high-fiber buns, and low-calorie cheese. 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. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. "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. Menu items have fanciful names like Homewrecker (an overstuffed burrito ), John Coctostan (a Southwest-style quesadilla), and Alright Alright Alright (nachos with queso). It's risky ranking Chipotle at the bottom of a Mexican-American food roundup, considering the sheer size and ferocity of Chipotle's die-hard fan club. Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. The Tex-Mex Invasion. Moes Southwest Grill 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. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! Another famous item on the Taco Cabana menu is the queso, which many lovers of Tex-Mex have labeled the best queso at any of Americas Mexican fast food restaurants. And thanks to the boom of fast-food chains in the 1970s and 1980s, we've been able to sip the same shakes and munch on the same fries for decades. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. } else { > Number of U.S. units: 392. Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. Walgreen's has a penchant to bring back beyond your traditional pharmacy products - some even sell beer and wine these days. Army.". La Petite Boulangerie wanted to be every neighborhood's neighborhood marketand in the '80s, they made a pretty good run at doing just that. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. > Number of U.S. units: 143. Taco Johns 2. The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. > U.S. sales: $236 million (est.) 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). Impossible brand plant-based protein is an option. In addition to fish and other tacos, the menu includes chicken tortilla soup and a Baja chopped bowl. In the early 1990s, Bennigan was sold to Metomedia's restaurant group. Walgreen's has a penchant for branching out beyond your traditional pharmacy goodssome even sell beer and wine these days. There were serious noise complaints from neighbors at the Huntington Harbour location in 1981, and, in the mid-1980s, claims that the chain excluded minorities on a regular basis from several of its Orange County . Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. Pappasito's Cantina. 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 In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. Cheeseburger in Paradise. Bankrupcty. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. Credit: Visit Houston Texas. If youre an investor looking to minimize expenses, consider checking out online brokerages. . Support . 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. If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. Customers find the chain's classic fried chicken, and now the menu also includes buffalo wings, chicken fingers and family combos with cheesecake for dessert. Missing those iconic kids' meals? Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. Possibly - with a lot of enthusiasm and tons of help Ziebarth has been able to open aNew rental of Naugles In 2017. > Number of U.S. units: 148. While not for everyone, Mexican chain restaurant dining is a popular dining destinations for families all across . Taco Bell just getting started in Arizona (1966) Bell started his specialized Mexican food drive-in at Barstow [California] in 1962. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. In the late 1980s, if you lived . According to Eater, during the height of its popularity in the 1960s, Howard Johnson's served "more meals outside of the home than any entity in America, except for the U.S. A 1980 commercial famously featured many happy customers saying Chicken George was better than their wife's or mom's chicken. Chuys may not have as many locations as other Mexican chain restaurants (there are fewer than 100 of these restaurants across 17 states) but when it comes to amazing Tex-Mex, its one of the top contenders in America. Oklahoma City Mexican Restaurants 1983. Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . 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. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. The original pioneering chicken opened in 1961 next to a pioneering market, a grocery chain in Los Angeles. 25. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. This restaurant is part of a larger family of restaurants known as the Pappas family-owned restaurants. > Number of U.S. units: 743. At one point, the Burger King-esque chain had as many as 27 restaurants around Illinois, but by the early 1980s, the chain was finished. Launched by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles featured simple Cal-Mex food like basic cheese burritos or ground beef crispy tacos. Friday, the chain fell behind. Another Dallas-born chain, on the border launched in 1982, featuring mesquite-grilled meats, hand-pressed tortillas, and small-batch salsas. 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. Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the ritz for so long. The restaurants your family ate at when you were growing up might not have been the finest dining establishments, but they probably hold a special place in your heart. In 1979, new owners bought the company for real estate purposes. . See more ideas about denver history, denver, childhood memories. Bennigan's 200 nationwide locations shuttered their doors a decade ago, but the new owners now run a much smaller-scale operation out of Dallas, Texas, and the menu does include the Irish pub-inspired items you loved in the 1980s. According toYelp Examiners, it was going down. 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. This restaurant Burger California has become a rage, thanks to an appearance in the film of 1982Quick weather at Ridgemont High. Check out the top 10 Mexican chains in the United States according to Restaurant Business based on sales: 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. Get the best food tips and diet advice day, 2022 Galvanized Media. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. Mexican food is one of the most popular global cuisines in America, and theres no mystery as to why. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. In addition to hot dogs, the menu included tacos. Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. 12. Finally, if youre looking for really high-quality, rustic-inspired Tex-Mex, theres nowhere better than Uncle Julios. Briazz. Unlike some other Mexican restaurant chains, Taco Bell restaurants are not confined to a small selection of states, and most states in the U.S. have at least one if not many more Taco Bell restaurants. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. Webb. "Man, I miss this place. But in 1970, he left that company to build his own Mexican-style chain: Naugles in Southern California. Similar restaurants that were more adaptable to the evolution of tastes have become ferocious competitors. > U.S. sales: $348 million 22. Taco Viva started in 1968, but it was at its peak in the '80s, when it had around 80 locations across the country. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . Taco Bell He rapidly expanded to 225 outlets by 1986. Mexican food may seem like a Southwestern specialty, but that hasn't stopped this Pennsylvania chain from becoming a local institution. But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. } ); If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! 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. The company sold most of its locations in the '90s, though, before they all fizzled out. The last original location shut down in 2006. 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. The French and Italian eatery was a favorite of E.&J . 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.