> U.S. sales: $739 million Fast Casual. Because Mexican food is so beloved throughout the United States, there are many chain restaurants that either specialize in or exclusively serve Mexican food. 58 (tie) EL TACO TOTE. 23. Fast Casual. Chi-Chi's Inc., owned by Prandium Inc., is a chain of 130 Mexican full-service restaurants that can be found in Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and Wisconsin. Vegan-friendly Beyond Meat tacos, nachos, and bowls are available, too. The chain closed down around 1983, after a decade of dealing with growing national fast food chains. with a character named "Family Sam," a friendly senior citizen chef. xhr.open('POST', 'https://www.google-analytics.com/collect', true); And any New York child in the 1980s grew up love this chain, thanks to its unlimited portions. If you love tacos as much as we do, this is one Mexican restaurant experience you wont want to miss out on! 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. 15. document.addEventListener( 'DOMContentLoaded', function() { Unfortunately, Webb could only put on the Ritz for so long. But if you killed for an ollieburger, check thisCopycat Recipe satisfy your desire. Chains dont figure, for instance, in our list of the best Mexican restaurants in every state. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. Posted on March 19, 2016. It might not be very widespread, but this family-owned restaurants 25 locations across Texas and Georgia never fail to keep customers coming back for more. Minnie Pearl's Chicken. advice every day. > U.S. sales: $213 million (est.) They sold roast beef sandwiches, fried chicken, and milkshakes throughout America. Moes Southwest Grill However, if youre lucky enough to live in one of the states that has Torchys Tacos, or if you happen to be passing through, you should make a point to order from this incredible menu. Today onlySome restaurants remain. That is, until 2008 when Bennigan's went bankrupt. La Belle Vie. He rapidly expanded to 225 outlets by 1986. In 2010, it became recognized as an official city landmark. 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. Chain founder Glen Bell ran two other small taco chains before opening the first Taco Bell in 1962 in Downey, California, near Los Angeles. Founder Russ Wendell's vision was, at the time, fairly unique: hot dogs served alongside a less common quick-service option for the eratacos. 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. Founded in Denver in 1993 and now based in Newport Beach, California, it helped popularize the build-your-own trend with its sort-of-Mexican burritos, tacos, bowls, and salads. 10. Red Barn had small-town beginnings in 1960s Ohio, but it was destined for greater things. > Number of U.S. units: 100. Taco Bell, as noted, is in the top five, and there are four other Mexican-inspired chains in the top 100. (Now owned by Yum! 26. Two professional football players from Baltimore Colts helped create Gino burgers in 1957. Finally, if youre looking for really high-quality, rustic-inspired Tex-Mex, theres nowhere better than Uncle Julios. What the Torchys menu styles as Damn Good Tacos are the specialty, with more than a dozen varieties available. Dick Nager has had a story to help create successful catering chains. 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. The International House of Pancakes is one of those chain restaurants that has come and gone a handful of times in Western New York. Foodio / Shutterstock. The Earles were on the cusp of the growing appetite for Mexican food, and it was prepared with care and flavor in both locations. 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 name Sambo's comes from a combination of the founders' names: Sam Battistone and Newell F. Bohnett. Chain restaurants are reliable, no matter where you are in the country (or the world). Briazz. It was the kind of offer they could not refuse, but it was also the beginning of the end for VIP. Heartland. Taco Bell was established in 1962, and since then the restaurant has become famous for its incredible Crunchy Taco recipe, which continues to be one of the most popular items on the menu. 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! Now Holidays Restaurant. The timing was perfect, with Mexican food a trendy choice for diners at that time. And the controversy is for good business! There are even vegan options like the Beyond Beef taco! 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. The menu at G.D. Ritzy's stood out for all the ways that you could customize your burgers, drinks, and ice cream. Howard Johnson could simply hold the title of the most failed failed restaurant chain, not only the 80s, but a time. And for more nostalgia, don't miss these 17 Failed Chain Restaurants From the 1990s. In 1956, Pup 'N' Taco began gracing roadsides in Southern California. (Like any expert from the pop culture of the 80s knows, that's where Brad, played by Judge Reinhold, works in the movie. > U.S. sales: $214 million (est.) While the chain had a rocky financial status through the '70s, there were over 300 chains in operation by the '80s. There were dozens of Pancho's locations by the '80s in the Texas area and surrounding states. topics. What sets Baja Fresh apart from the Mexican fast food chains dotted around the U,S. But plenty of people are still nostalgic for this restaurant chain. The sale put Walgreen's "completely out of the food business," The New York Times reported. Pizza with Duck Sausage wins quick stardom. Each television show based in the city, fromFriends ToSaturday Night Live, has blocked about it for a few decades. Alberto Lombardi was the king of Dallas Italian food. Bennigan's was fast becoming one of the most successful mid-range casual dining chains in America. But the chain got an extra boost in the 1980s, thanks to its spokesperson, O.J. By the mid-'80s, there were nearly 100 D'Lites locations across the country. First opened a half-century ago in Cheyenne, Wyoming, and still based there, Taco Johns calls its fare West-Mex. Now operating in 22 states, the chain offers some unusual additions to the usual Mexican chain menu for instance, a meat and potato burrito, stuffed grilled tacos, and flauta-like Mexi Rolls, served with a choice of dipping sauces. Bombay Bicycle Club was a hugely popular restaurant and bar in the 1980s. First called JAX Roast Beef, then RIX Roast Beef, Rax Roast Beef was popular for its roast beef sandwiches, baked potatoes, and salad bars. 6. In 2006, however, food blogger Christian Ziebarth posted about Naugles, and the response was through the roof. 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. And for more 1980s trivia, Only 1980s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. The G.D. Ritzy's menu stood out for all the ways you could customize your hamburgers, drinks and ice cream. Mr. Davis was a primary investor in Big Bite. "Prepare food fresh. This California burger restaurant became all the rage, thanks to an appearance in the 1982 film Fast Times at Ridgemont High. This trap unfortunately brought Chicken George in 1986, when Holmes tabled for liquidation after declining more than $ 1.4 million in debt to private creditors and IRS. Seven locations were revived a few years later, but they were all closed by 2016. . 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. There are still a couple of Rax locations in Ohio today, but the chain has diminished significantly since its heyday. But in 1989, Red Barn went out not with a bang, but a whimper. Former regulars might remember the antique decor of the restaurant or the Greek . 13. And though there was a sole storefront holding on for dear life in Nebraska, it too closed in 2017. Still another Texan, founded in Dallas in 1986, Uncle Julios features mesquite-grilled fajitas, guacamole made tableside, and chocolate piatas for dessert. Serving both Mexican and classic American fast-food, Del Taco offers something for everyone. In 1988, theySold anything but some of their locations in Marriott. Today, it has 60-plus locations in Arkansas, Colorado, Louisiana, and Oklahoma, as well as its native state of Texas. Friday's and Applebee's, serving up similar menus of standard bar fare and ambiance. By the 1980s, there were more than 350 Gino's locations throughout the East Coast. 2. 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. But '80s kids probably didn't get to experience much of it. 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.". A handful of non-corporate locations still exist in Texas, Louisiana, and Oklahoma. March 2, 2023 11:00 am. Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! Whether you are in their delicious skins of red potatoes or the iconic Irish tower O'Rings, Bennigan was a success in the 1980s. RELATED: Your ultimate survival guide and supermarket is here! xhr.send(payload); But this same year, 99 of them wereSold in Taco Bell, all but erase the brand. 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. California has the most with 822. "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. "They just let Ritzy's somewhat atrophy over the next eight or 10 years, and it dwindled down to seven locations," Webb said to The Dallas Observer in 2004. > Number of U.S. units: 118. "Come on into Pup 'n' Taco and give your tummy a treat"we wish we could! If you grew up eating at these 1980s restaurants, seeing this list might take you back to your childhood. So, if youre an ethically-conscious fan of Mexican cuisine, you should definitely check out Chipotle if you havent already! 72 of 92 73 of 92 Crazy Jose's Patio and Cafe Mexican restaurant Enterprise archive photo Ryan . Howard Johnson's. There is one Howard Johnson's restaurant left in the country, in New York's Lake George. Taco Johns And for more failed eateries, Only 1970s Kids Will Remember These Restaurants. Originally part of the Pillsbury Corp., the restaurant was founded in 1976. You could eat as much shrimp, salad, beer, and ribs as you ever could have wantedall for under $20, according to Bklyner. However, it's also a derogatory term used to refer to Black Americans, which was part of the reason this chain restaurant eventually failed. Beefsteak Charlie's is part of New York's pop culture because it has become a chain in the mid-1970s. Dont forget to try one of El Toritos frozen margaritas while you have the chance! I wish it was still here. Chuys sets itself apart from much of the competition in the Mexican restaurant industry by rolling their tortillas by hand and serving only fresh ingredients. Unfortunately, it was the beginning of the end for Gino. Qdoba Mexican Eats is a solid example of a great Mexican chain restaurant, and we highly recommend it next time youre in the mood for Mexican food!
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