xhr.send(payload); In the early 1980s he sold the chain to the Marriott hotel chain, which quickly converted all the Gino's into Roy Rogers. 13. He continued to grow in the 60s and 70s. 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. Unlike some other fast food restaurants, where you get served your chosen condiments along with your order, at Taco Cabana, you get to go and take your pick from the condiment bar and help yourself to whatever you like! 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. Get the best food tips and diet Bennigan was becoming one of the most efficient mid-range casual catering chains in America. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); What sets Baja Fresh apart from the Mexican fast food chains dotted around the U,S. The full list includes restaurants I copied from the telephone directory (and which were listed as "Mexican restaurants" in the yellow pages). At its height in 1984, there were 102 Taco Pupping Places across California and New Mexico. At its pinnacle in the 1970s, Burger Chef had 1,200 locations and was a thriving competitor of McDonald's. Bresler's Ice Cream. The easy way to make healthier comfort foods. In 1983. he was elected to Big Bite's board of directors. Without that bright orange chicken, Monday Night Football was never the same. Personally, we cant get enough of the incredible Tex-Mex menu items at On the Border, and we think you should visit one of the 120 On the Border restaurants in the U.S. if you havent already. Fast Casual. At the beginning of the decade, Gino's discontinued that trademark burger and other fan favorites in an effort to revamp the restaurant. They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. 24. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); The Tex-Mex Invasion. Fast-food tacos, burritos, tostadas, and quesadillas make up much of the menu, though there are also American-style burgers. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. "Howard Johnson's was the king of the road," one former franchise owner told Eater. 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)! The chain Antone's pale in comparison to the original locations. El Torito is one of the longest-standing Mexican chain restaurants in America, dating all the way back to 1954! In 1982, a few years after being purchased by a Swiss holding company, the chain overflowed in its franchise efforts and filed for bankruptcy. Besides Texas, the chain can be found in Oklahoma, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, Wisconsin, Illinois, and Maryland. > Number of U.S. units: 63. Click here for the top 15 Mexican chains in America. And for more restaurants that didn't stand the test of time, Only 1990s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. The monster of the Mexican chain business (though how Mexican it is may be argued), with sales more than twice those of second-place Chipotle, Taco Bell has outposts in all 50 states (though not, for some reason, Washington, D.C.) an average of 141 per state. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Does this list bring back any memories? var xhr = new XMLHttpRequest(); Though Beefsteak Charlie's slogan was, "I'll feed you like there's no tomorrow," sadly, tomorrow came for this chain restaurant by the end of the 1980s. Tortillas at Chuys are handmade daily, all the ingredients are fresh (not frozen), and there are 10 homemade salsas. There are 34 locations in total. This Mexican restaurant chain first opened in Minnesota in the 1970s, but at its peak in the mid-1990s, . } Cafe Rio Mexican Grill The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. We won't fault you for getting misty-eyed over these failed fast-food chain restaurants from the 1980s. But '80s kids rejoice: A revived Naugles has been in Fountain Valley, California, since 2015. if( 'moc.sihttae.www' !== location.hostname.split('').reverse().join('') ) { 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. Eventuallywith a lot of enthusiasm and tons of helpZiebarth was able to open a new Naugles location in 2017. 14. > Number of U.S. units: 2,452. 167). Mexican cuisine is the full package: flavorsome, filling and exciting without being overly complicated. This meticulously-researched gem recalls dozens of shuttered restaurants going all the way back to Denver's earliest days. navigator.sendBeacon('https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', payload); The original Cafe Rio was a stand-alone restaurant in St. George, Utah, opened in 1997. Many Tex-Mex lovers will tell you that Taco Bueno is the best place to go for American-style Mexican food. By 1984, there were 60 locations. March 1, 2023 1:10 pm. The last original location shut down in 2006. La Belle Vie. 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. 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. The name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Wish it were still there Keep the place clean!" . First called JAX Roast Beef, then RIX Roast Beef, Rax Roast Beef was popular for its roast beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, and salad bars. The fun meal, as they called it, launched in the early 1970s and included stories about Burger Chef Lore, including the mascot of Jeff chain, La Burgerini (a magician), Count Fangburger (a vampire), Burgerilla (a gorilla), and Cackleburger (a witch). 11. We promise this Tex-Mex chain restaurant will quickly become a family favorite! Without this bright orange chicken, Monday night football has never been the same. . Really good, not expensive home cooked food. In the mid-1980s, all Diners doggie had closed. But with more customers came more control and it has not been long before the anti-discrimination protests against Sambo started. 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. New French Cafe. But with more customers came more scrutiny, and it wasn't long before anti-discrimination protests against Sambo's began. 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. . 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. The five top chains, in fact, all exceeded the $10 billion-dollar mark (the others were Subway, Taco Bell, and Chick-fil-A). > U.S. sales: $348 million By the time the chain filed for bankruptcy in 1988, there were 300 Pioneer Chickens all over the country. 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. Taco Bueno has been established since 1967, and like all good Tex-Mex restaurants, it originated in the state of Texas itself in Abilene, to be exact. But as any child of the '70s or '80s knows, Walgreen's once had full-on restaurants, too. Chuys Tex-Mex In the 1980s, the restaurant began to decline, as it switched up . Del Taco Get the best food tips and diet advice } Headquartered in San Antonio, Texas, the chains locations are focused in Texas, Oklahoma, and New Mexico. With increased competition and not enough to distinguish the Bennigan tastes of Chile and T.G.I. Beyond Meat vegan options are available, and ground turkey tacos are also offered, as a lower-fat alternative to the ground beef versions., 4. Bombay Bicycle Club. Serve customer fast. In 1985, Beefsteak Charlies, Inc, changed its name to Lifestyle Restaurants and then merged with . "I used to eat here as a child at lunch time with my father," wrote a Yelper. Toledo was bestowed with Hardee's, Perkins Pancakes, a Mexican chain, and, in 1972, the arrival of two Bob Evans eateries. > U.S. sales: $817 million 1977: Fine Wine and Italian Style. That pitfall sadly brought Chicken George down in 1986, when Holmes filed for liquidation after falling into over $1.4 million in debt to private creditors and the IRS. 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. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. In 1928, she opened a neighborhood restaurant, which her family expanded in the 1950s into the El Chico Tex-Mex restaurant chain. If you like to be sure that the ingredients in your food are all-natural and that any meat is raised responsibly in accordance with animal welfare standards, Chipotle is one of the best fast food restaurants you can go to. The first one was opened by Campbell in Arizona last February. 23. 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. Whether you were into their delicious cheesy potato skins or the iconic Irish Tower O'Rings, Bennigan's was a hit in the 1980s. His fried chicken joint quickly became one of the country's largest minority-owned chains. Now that's what you call living out your childhood dream. It served as competition to other taco fast-food chains like Taco Bell, with its burritos, nachos, enchiladas, and six sauces. But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. 6254a4d1642c605c54bf1cab17d50f1e. Jolly Tiger 2080 W. Stadium Blvd. 60 (tie) BOBBY SALAZAR'S MEXICAN FOODS. Second-place Starbucks managed a mere $19.66 billion, just over half the McDonalds number, but still not bad. Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. Qdoba first opened under the name Zuma Fresh Mexican Grill in 1995, which then changed to Z-Teca and became Qdoba in 1999. 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 latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. Most notably, he was a founding partner of Del Taco. Not only do Baja Freshs dishes taste well, fresh theyre also packed with all the authentic flavors of Mexican cuisine. This fast food chain was founded by Ed Hackbarth and David Jameson in Barstow, California on September 16, 1964. Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! "Bennigan's was the weakest of the major players," one analyst told the Associated Press at the time. Simpson. 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. And thanks to the boom offast food Chains In the 1970s and 1980s, we could sip the same shakes and nibble the same fries for decades. But the name was re-franchised in 2003, and there are still some Roy Rogers in Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Virginia. 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! 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. The name Sambo comes from a combination of the names of the founders: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) Bennigan's got its start in Atlanta in 1976, but by the early '80s, they were everywhere. TIO JUAN'S MARGARITAS MEXICAN RESTAURANT. That was the motto of Mexican fast-food chain Naugles. Torchys grew out of a food truck in Austin. And for more, check out these 108 most popular sodas ranked . 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. In 1979, new owners purchased the business for real estate purposes. But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. In 1984, G.D.'S Ritzy took about $ 5.2 million only fromIce cream sales. NumerousNaugles became del TacosAnd finally, Naugles has disappeared. The fortress ofMcDonalds,Pizza hut,Burger KingAnd other giants from the 80s made the competition steep. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. ), in Pollo Fit Bowls, or in the form of burritos, tostadas, or overstuffed quesadillas. . It was known for its burgers, hot dogs, and milkshakes. 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). 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. Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. Nevertheless, if you had the chance to experiment with the puppy 'N' Taco, you probably can not get thetinkle out of your head. Here are 19 Old Happy Meal Toys That'll Bring You Back to Your Childhood. According to Eat This, Not That!, Pup "N' Taco was a popular southern California quick service restaurant.When it opened in 1956, the brand's founder, Russ Wendell, took an un-traditional approach to his menu. > U.S. sales: $398 million VIP's was a 24-hour West Coast casual dining chain that got its start in Oregon in 1968. First founded in Ohio in 1980, the 1950s-style restaurant grew quickly, with about 100 locations at its peak. Translating to the crazy chicken in Spanish, El Pollo Loco is one of the most famous Mexican-style chain restaurants in the United States, and definitely the winner of the funniest name contest! In 1982, Denny's offered the company about $12 million to buy out 35 VIP's 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. 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. 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). } else { Gino's Hamburgers. Family Style. 321. In 1967, the chain was established in Abilene, Texas, by Bill R. Waugh, an art graduate from Abilene Christian University. > U.S. sales: $10.410 billion The menu includes queso, guacamole, both soft and crispy tacos, Big As Yo Face burritos, and Elvis Green Chile Fried Chicken (breaded with crushed potato chips). They often offer low investment fees, helping you maximize your profit. You can almost taste burgers, hot dogs and fries that look at him. But in 1989, Red Barn did not come out of bang, but a groan. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesperson, O.J. Sambo is closed in the middle of the decade. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. But in 1987, Beefsteak Charlie's was sold in Bombay Palace Restaurants and came out of business soon. Today, one of the dachshunds still rotates near the San Francisco Zoo. Ted N. Holmes founded Chicken George in 1979. 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. Get the best food tips and diet The chain marketed an all-you-can-eat salad bar plus unlimited beer, wine, and sangria. Bennigan had its start in Atlanta in 1976, but in the early 1980s they were everywhere. The final restaurant closed in 1989. 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. Its fried chicken articulation quickly became one of the largest chains belonging to the country. But expanding your horizons may add additional costs. At its height, there were nearly 100 restaurants nationally, which was quite the coup for founder Graydon D. Webb. So if you want a scoop of that Chunky Dory Fudge, head to Ohio or Kentucky. Heartland. Baja Fresh has been around since 1990, and its yet another Mexican restaurant chain to emerge from California. When the chainfiled for bankruptcy in 1988 There were 300 pioneering chickens throughout the country. single With the rise of fast-food chains though, . every day. Carrols Restaurant Group. Nine years in, Naugle sold his modest three-location chain to a businessman named Harold Butler, who took the concept and ran with it. Del Taco was founded in 1964, in California. Buffalo locations, 1979. In 1981. The Lone Star State is now one of the 19 in which there are Chuys units. Chi-Chi's was a Mexican restaurant that first opened back in 1975 and expanded to 237 chains by 1986. . Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the ritz for so long. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! The Bannister Mall was the location I remember visiting. This restaurant is part of a larger family of restaurants known as the Pappas family-owned restaurants. Based today in Salt Lake City, the chain currently has locations in 11 states. Hi, my name is Jenna and I have been a professional chef for almost the entirety of my adult life. There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! Taco Bell is probably one of the first Mexican chain restaurants that come to mind when you think about Mexican fast food, which is hardly surprising since there are more than 7,000 Taco Bell Restaurants across the United States. The latest edition uses the most recent U.S. sales figures, from 2018, to rank the chains. 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. The first Taco Johns was in Wyoming, and it opened way back in 1968. In 2006, however, food bloggerChristian Ziebarth Posted About NautglesAnd the answer was across the roof. It took on the rest of the East Coast in the '70s, too. And for more restaurants that have not resisted the test of time,Only the children of the 1990s will remember these restaurants.
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