These fast food chains have gone the way of the dodo. Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the best fast food restaurants that unfortunately no longer exist.
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00:00Open wide America, Burger Chef's got big, juicy, terrific burgers for you!
00:05Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're counting down our picks for the best fast food restaurants
00:10that unfortunately no longer exist.
00:13We have fresh ideas at Red Bob's.
00:15Why does Red Bob's sound like it broke the record?
00:16You go back and go back and go back.
00:18And I'm all back.
00:20Number 30.
00:21Yankee Doodle Dandy.
00:22Guess what's cooking now at Yankee Doodle Dandy?
00:25Chicken.
00:25Crispy fried chicken.
00:27Although it may have been short-lived, it still captured the essence of the United States.
00:32With a focus on patriotic branding and plenty of menu options, Yankee Doodle Dandy quickly
00:37expanded from one location in 1966 to over two dozen in less than a decade.
00:43Their willingness to branch out made them a versatile option compared to their competitors.
00:47Unfortunately, its success was short-lived.
00:50By the early 1980s, the owners had grown weary of the fast food industry and were ready to
00:55branch out.
00:56How about a birthday party at Yankee Doodle Dandy?
00:59It's a lot of fun.
01:00After converting two locations into classic sit-down restaurants, they shut the rest of
01:04their original eateries down, quickly bringing an end to what could have been a serious contender
01:10in the modern dining game.
01:12Number 29.
01:13The Training Table.
01:15With just six locations, Utah's The Training Table was able to make a huge impression.
01:2053 of these babies.
01:21That's how many I can put in my mouth at one time.
01:24They were unique in concept, with customers being able to call the kitchen from their
01:29tables.
01:30First opening their doors in 1977, a financial scare in 2012 nearly caused them to close,
01:36but a last-minute buyer kept their heads above water.
01:39However, their second chance, unfortunately, wasn't enough to keep them afloat.
01:43In 2015, misconduct allegations began to circulate, resulting in a lawsuit the following year.
01:50That ended up being the final nail in the coffin, and the franchise's leases were terminated,
01:54shutting them down just shy of their 40-year anniversary.
01:58Recent rumblings have indicated a possible return of the chain in the future.
02:02Is the nostalgic restaurant still making a comeback?
02:05Well, The Training Table tells me the return is still in progress and to keep an eye out
02:11for future endeavors, but they couldn't tell me exactly what this would look like or when
02:16it would happen.
02:17Number 28.
02:18La Petite Boulangerie.
02:20Traditional restaurants aren't the only victims of being permanently shut down.
02:24La Petite Boulangerie was a West Coast-based bakery that prided themselves on the freshness
02:29of their products.
02:30Are you torn between apple and chocolate?
02:34Or wavering between a cheese or berry croissant?
02:40After being bought by PepsiCo in the early 1980s, the patisserie exploded in popularity,
02:45with over 100 locations being opened across the nation.
02:48Although it appeared to be highly profitable, drama behind the scenes suggested that their
02:53ability to turn a profit had been inflated.
02:56Things began to go downhill as the brand continued to be acquired by various companies, all while
03:01the number of locations dwindled.
03:11By the start of the new millennium, the once booming franchise was defunct, a sad, swift
03:17end for what had once been an industry giant.
03:20Number 27.
03:21Two Pesos.
03:23In hindsight, a business born out of spite probably isn't the best idea.
03:34Marno McDermott opened Two Pesos after his proposal to expand the already established
03:39Taco Cabana was rejected.
03:41This restaurant quickly became a community favorite in Houston, Texas.
03:46Things became messy when Taco Cabana attempted to expand into the metro area and found physical
03:51similarities between the two.
03:53The Taquerias ended up going head-to-head in court, with Two Pesos being accused of
03:58trade dress and stealing the other eatery's ideas.
04:09It soon escalated to the Supreme Court, who ultimately ruled in favor of Taco Cabana.
04:15In the ultimate petty move, McDermott opted to sell the chain to the victors rather than
04:20comply with the branding changes he would have had to implement.
04:25Number 26.
04:26Showbiz Pizza Place.
04:28This is proof that winning the battle doesn't mean you've won the war.
04:32Following a split between the owners of Chuck E. Cheese, a new pizzeria-arcade hybrid was
04:38born.
04:39Showbiz Pizza Place.
04:47Complete with games and an animatronic band, they found success and became their old partner's
04:52biggest competitor.
04:53In 1984, their rival ended up filing for bankruptcy, resulting in their parent company buying the
05:00assets and merging the two together again into Showbiz Pizza Time.
05:04Although it seemed they would become a household name, the business model was revamped, which
05:08included replacing the current animatronic shows with characters from Chuck E. Cheese.
05:14Afterwards, it didn't take long for the Showbiz name to be dropped entirely and the
05:18restaurants becoming part of Chuck E. Cheese.
05:30Number 25.
05:31Dee's Drive-In.
05:33As soon as customers saw the signature clown outside each establishment, they knew they
05:37were in for a good time.
05:44Founded in the 1930s as Dee's Restaurant, the first Dee's Drive-In appeared in the
05:491950s.
05:50By the 1960s, they had become a local icon.
05:54At their peak, they served thousands of people a day and amassed over 20 different locations.
05:58Despite their success, the family began to focus more on other business ventures in the
06:031970s, which culminated in their properties being sold to Hardee's.
06:21The name continued to live on until the early 2000s.
06:24Although the drive-in locations were shuttered, a handful of Dee's family restaurants are
06:29still in Utah today.
06:31Number 24.
06:33Burger Queen.
06:34Despite the name, there's no relation between this defunct eatery and the still-standing
06:38Burger King.
06:39First popping onto the scene in 1956, Burger Queen quickly became a Florida staple.
06:49It didn't take long for dozens more to be opened across several states.
06:53Although they were known for their burgers, they also became known for more unique features,
06:57such as the self-serve salad bar.
07:00They were so popular that even a name change in the 1980s didn't have a negative impact
07:04on their popularity.
07:08However, in 1990, they began to shift their focus to desserts instead, resulting in them
07:18becoming operators for Dairy Queen.
07:21By the following year, most of the Burger Queen locations had been revamped, bringing
07:25about an end to an American classic.
07:28Number 23.
07:29Chicken George.
07:31Although it may not have been the first chicken-based restaurant, it made quite an impact during
07:35its tenure.
07:36Formed in 1979, Chicken George quickly grew in the 1980s.
07:40The founder was extremely dedicated to his product, dedicating hundreds of thousands
07:45of dollars to the development of his menu alone.
07:48That passion came through in the food, and soon, they became the largest black-owned
07:53fast-food company in the entire country.
07:55After being bought twice in a two-year period, they eventually filed for Chapter 7 bankruptcy
08:01in 1991 and dissolved.
08:03It was a sudden and underwhelming end to what had once been a cultural icon.
08:08Number 22.
08:09Pumpernick.
08:11One look at this Burger King-like logo is all you need to understand their fate.
08:16In 1974, Pumpernick was founded in Argentina, and just a year later became the country's
08:22first franchise.
08:23They thrived for years before Burger King arrived in the country.
08:27A lawsuit ruled in favor of the American company, forcing Pumpernick to change their branding
08:33and name.
08:34Despite the legal setbacks, the chain still stood until the owner handed the reins over
08:39to his sons in 1990.
08:42They had no interest in continuing the legacy, leading them to sell the eatery in 1995.
08:47Things continued to spiral until they officially went bankrupt in 1999.
08:52A sad end for what had once been Argentina's pride and joy.
08:56Number 21.
08:57Horn and Hardart.
08:59An establishment can be so iconic that it's referenced in pop culture for decades.
09:04But even that doesn't ensure its longevity.
09:06The rise of fast food was coming at us, and there were no dollar bill receivers.
09:10There were no credit card processors.
09:12So the consumer fell out of favor with the automat.
09:15So the point is, technology killed the automat in the 70s.
09:18Horn and Hardart were synonymous with early automation, with their vending machine style
09:23of operation becoming the go-to method for countless people.
09:26They became a reliable staple during the Great Depression, providing affordable and varied
09:31options for those struggling.
09:32Its prominence led to it being mentioned in movies and television.
09:36However, what had once benefited from industrialization soon became a victim of it.
09:41They were quickly outpaced as the era of fast food began.
09:45Their attempts to modernize fell short, and by 1991, the last Horn and Hardart had closed,
09:51and in turn ended an era of casual dining that has yet to make a broad return.
09:56Number 20.
09:57Winkies.
09:58If you're going to sell and distribute meat to the masses, why not grind them into burgers
10:02and sell those too?
10:03Winkies makes you happy to be hungry lots of ways.
10:06Can you name 10 of them?
10:07Ready?
10:08Go!
10:09Chicken, great ones, cheeseburgers, fish and chips, big winks, milkshakes, french fries,
10:16great recipes, turnovers.
10:18That might be what the Ehrenstein brothers were thinking back in 1962 when they founded
10:22Winkies restaurant chain that served the surrounding Pittsburgh area.
10:26Burgers with names like the Big Wink and the Ground Rounder were the orders of the day,
10:30while Winkies also had a fun sense of humor when it came to their television advertising.
10:34Mmm, terrific!
10:36Yep, free turnovers with dinner is just another way Winkies makes you happy to be hungry.
10:41You said it, Frank!
10:42The fact that the Ehrensteins essentially had access to their own supply chain definitely
10:47helped sell the freshness of their product.
10:49Unfortunately, that didn't assist Winkies in surviving a poor regional economy, and
10:53the chain officially closed for good in 1982.
10:57Number 19.
10:58Mighty Casey's.
10:59Mighty Casey's was something of a regional staple in the Atlanta, Georgia area, until
11:04it was bought out and converted to another southeastern franchise by the name of Crystal.
11:08Well, I like them.
11:09I've always, well, I've had them since I was a little girl.
11:11We've always ate Crystal's.
11:13That said, non-Georgians could be forgiven for not hearing of either of these chains,
11:17but as the saying goes, if you know, you know.
11:20That's because Mighty Casey's served up delicious dogs, yummy shakes, wings, and more to a hungry
11:25populace, all the while touting their premium ingredients and service.
11:29Mighty Casey's knew that consumers could get their burgers and dogs anywhere, and did their
11:34best to keep their clientele coming back, right to the end.
11:38Hot out the grill, steam it, steam it.
11:41Hot out the grill, steam it, steam it.
11:43Number 18.
11:45Sandy's.
11:46It was a bygone age, an age prior to the establishment of Hardee's within the fast food landscape.
11:52Here, it was Sandy's that fed hungry consumers their servings of burgers and fries in the
11:56American Midwest.
11:57I'm this big Scott.
11:58When you're hungry for something giant-sized, Sandy's Big Scott takes the prize.
12:05Sandy's actually started out as a failed attempt to open up a set of McDonald's franchises
12:09in central Illinois, and ended up opening as competition to Mickey D's burgeoning success
12:14back in the late 50s.
12:16Sandy's held a Scottish theme, but their franchises, which were operator-owned, were encouraged
12:21to tailor their service to their local communities.
12:24Here's where they make the hamburgers, and here's the thick shake machine.
12:30Wow, look at those crispy fries.
12:33As a result, Sandy's stood out from the uniform nature of their competitors, although
12:38this didn't stop the chain from being bought out by Hardee's in the early 70s.
12:43Number 17.
12:44Pupp & Taco.
12:46Who said anyone had to choose between ordering hot dogs or tacos during a stop at the local
12:50drive-in?
12:51Not the founders of Pupp & Taco, who proudly fed both to hungry Californians throughout
12:56the 50s, 60s, and 70s.
13:13These weren't the only items on the menu, either, as Pupp & Taco also served up hot
13:17pastrami sandwiches, tostadas, and slushies for both dine-in and take-out service.
13:22The chain also made a name for itself in the pop culture world, thanks to being mentioned
13:26in movies like the comedy classic, Fletch.
13:31Celebrity buzz aside, Pupp & Taco did just fine for itself until the mid-80s, when all
13:36of its franchises were sold off to Taco Bell.
13:40Number 16.
13:41Wetsons.
13:43The fast-food chain known as Wetsons seemed to have, well, let's say, difficulty in standing
13:48out from the pack.
13:49This might explain why the greater New York chain felt the need to mimic McDonald's and
13:53White Castle's slogans in their own marketing, while also naming their signature sandwich
13:57the Big W in reference to that other famous burger.
14:01Regardless, Wetsons plugged along, but struggled to keep up with the progress Mickey D's and
14:06Burger King were having on the East Coast.
14:08The chain barely lasted 15 years from its founding in 1959, merging with Nathan's Famous
14:14in 1975.
14:15Although, the trademark to the Wetsons' name is still technically held in New York to this
14:20day.
14:21One thing is clear, after more than a century, it's still an American classic.
14:30Number 15.
14:31Jerry's Hamburgers.
14:32Jerry's Hamburgers was a Midwestern U.S. chain that was once owned and operated by a former
14:38McDonald's VP who was actively working to carve out some competition in and around the
14:43Illinois and Wisconsin area.
14:45What helped set Jerry's apart at first was their dedication to a takeout model, as opposed
14:49to the comparatively more popular practice of indoor seating.
14:53The chain actually didn't have much room at all inside for customers to eat, although
14:57this was tempered later on down the road in an attempt to remain competitively viable
15:02with other growing chains.
15:04Jerry's lasted until about 1981, with occasional resurrections of the brand happening until
15:09the early 2000s, shortly after the last physical location closed in 1999.
15:16Number 14.
15:17Minnie Pearl's Fried Chicken.
15:19Believe it or not, there was a big time trend, particular in the 60s and 70s, for celebrities
15:24to lend their names to various fast food restaurants.
15:27One such celebrity was famous country music personality and comedian Minnie Pearl and
15:31the chain of fried chicken joints that bore her name.
15:40A number of factors led to the decline of Minnie Pearl's Fried Chicken, not the least
15:44of which was that each franchise was apparently allowed to tinker with their own recipes without
15:48any brand consistency.
15:50This actually didn't stop customers from digging pretty hard into Minnie Pearl's vittles, but
15:54accusations of fraud with regards to their business practices and stock prices led to
15:58this chicken chain going foul.
16:01Number 13.
16:03Little Chef.
16:04We're heading to the UK for our next entry, Little Chef, a once popular chain that did
16:08its best to replicate the sort of diner experience that's seen today as traditional Americana.
16:29This meant capitalizing on roadside service for traveling customers and offering hearty
16:33breakfast fare for an affordable price.
16:45Competition ultimately put Little Chef out of business by 2018, although the chain's
16:50website is surprisingly still active.
16:52This may be due to Little Chef's trademark also being active via a Kuwaiti investment.
16:57Although all of the chain's locations listed on the website have since shut their doors
17:02or have been converted into other chains like Greg's, Starbucks, or McDonald's.
17:14Number 12.
17:15Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor.
17:17We gotta give props to Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor for making it nearly 60 years in the
17:21business, opening back in 1963 and enduring straight on to 2019.
17:27Piano music and free birthday sundaes were a big part of the Farrell appeal back in the
17:31day, as well as a fun sense of humor.
17:42Their menus were printed to look like a not-so-serious newspaper, with tons of tabloid jokes alongside
17:47Farrell's array of sandwiches, sodas, and sweets.
17:51A low-calorie menu even featured fake foods that were designed to laugh away any feelings
17:56of guilt associated with any culinary overindulgence.
18:03Ultimately, a buyout from Marriott and a heavy debt signaled the end for this once-proud
18:12and beloved eatery.
18:14Number 11.
18:15Sambo's.
18:16We ask you, what's in a name?
18:19Well, a lot if you're the controversially titled Sambo's, where the original portmanteau
18:23of founders' names Sam Battistone Sr. and Newell Bonette ended up leaning into some
18:29racially-charged territory.
18:40The chain's visual aesthetic was inspired by the book The Story of Little Black Sambo,
18:45which was one of the first to positively portray an African-American hero within children's
18:49literature.
18:51The 70s saw many franchises battling the public perception of the name and the decor, with
18:59many deciding to change their name.
19:01This trend lasted straight into the modern day as well, with the last operating Sambo's,
19:07run by Battistone's grandson, changing its name to Chad's in 2020.
19:11Number 10.
19:13Little Tavern.
19:14If you can't beat them, join them.
19:17This was the idea behind the structural design of Little Tavern, a hamburger chain that flourished
19:21in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area for decades.
19:33Their franchises were initially designed to closely resemble the popular White Castle
19:38and White Tower buildings that were in the area.
19:40However, eventually, Little Tavern would develop a Tudor cottage-style design of their own
19:44that served to differentiate the restaurant from the other options.
19:47Although, Little Tavern would struggle after the original owner, Harry F. Duncan, sold
19:52the company in 1981.
19:54Little Tavern would limp on through the 90s, officially close up shop in 2008, and sell
19:59their recipes to the Laurel, Maryland location, which now operates as Laurel Tavern Donuts.
20:05There was a time in Baltimore where just about everywhere you went, you could always find
20:10a Little Tavern shop, but the last one has closed.
20:15Number 9.
20:16Doggy Diner.
20:17Never underestimate the power of a good mascot.
20:20This might be why the otherwise obscure hot dog and burger chain known as Doggy Diner
20:25continues to live on in the memory of Californians today.
20:37Doggy Diner had an adorable dachshund head that greeted guests to their chains, and it
20:41still exists today as a San Francisco national landmark.
20:45The San Francisco Giants even adopted the Doggy Diner name to the hot dogs that they
20:49served in their park, offering further credence to the idea that if you faithfully serve your
20:53public with good food and great service, they'll remember and come back.
20:57By serving high-quality food, it quickly became a favorite.
21:02Everyone craved the tasty Doggy Diner hot dogs, hamburgers, pastrami sandwiches, and
21:08extra creamy milkshakes.
21:10Number 8.
21:11Gino's Hamburgers.
21:13We've got to give it up to the late former Baltimore Colts football star, Gino Marchetti,
21:18because he took his restaurant dream and ran with it, which lives on in one form to this
21:23day.
21:24Take a look at this!
21:25Right now, participating Gino's, you can get the famous Gino's Giant, along with regular
21:28fries for just 99 cents!
21:30That's because a new venture, Gino's Burgers and Chicken, is still operating at the time
21:34of this writing, although the original Gino's Hamburgers has sadly become a thing of the
21:39past.
21:40This was Gino's first attempt at selling food to the public, and actually did quite well
21:44on their home turf, merging with another local spot, Top's Drive-In.
21:58It was when Northeastern Expansion happened that Gino's Hamburgers began to struggle,
22:02eventually selling to the Marriott Corporation, which discontinued the brand in the mid-80s.
22:08Number 7.
22:09Lion's.
22:10So you've probably heard the brand phrase,
22:12Nobody doesn't like Sara Lee!
22:15But how about, Nobody doesn't like Lion's?
22:17Well, it turns out that quite a few customers did like Lion's, a chain of 24-hour diners
22:22that was the Sara Lee Company's attempt at competing with Denny's.
22:26Hurry into Lion's and eat like a king!
22:31The earliest origins of Lion's actually date back to the early 50s, and many of the locations
22:36were centered around the California area.
22:38Just breakfast bargain every weekday morning.
22:41Hurry into Lion's and eat like a king!
22:46But nothing lasts forever, with Lion's limping along to about 2012, then reopening three
22:52locations in 2015, before finally saying farewell two years later.
22:57Number 6.
22:58D-Lites.
22:59Let's face it, no one really goes to fast food restaurants for healthy eats.
23:04Still, that didn't stop D-Lites from trying to provide a healthier alternative at a point
23:08in history prior to the bigger chains even giving a passing thought to lighter fare.
23:13The chain was founded in Georgia back in the late 70s, offering up healthier substitutions
23:18and ingredients in the land of delicious drive-ins and badass barbecue.
23:22In a way, D-Lites were pioneers, but they couldn't compete when the McDonald's and
23:26Burger Kings of the world also began serving up healthy alternatives.
23:31In an ironic twist, many of the remaining D-Lites locations were converted into Hardee's,
23:36which are probably one of the least healthy fast food options out there.
23:46Number 5.
23:47Wags.
23:48What do you think of when the Walgreens brand of pharmacy and convenience chains comes to
23:52mind?
23:53How about sit-down dining?
23:55Well that was the idea behind Wags, a franchise of 24-hour diner-type establishments owned
24:00and operated by the Walgreens folks.
24:06They were around primarily during the 1970s and 80s, and tried like hell to compete with
24:10other big names in that market such as Denny's.
24:13Unfortunately for Walgreens, the idea of eating in a place that shares similar iconography
24:18as the place where you grab cold medicine didn't take, and Wags was sold to the Marriott
24:22Hotel Corporation in 1988.
24:25Any remaining Wags locations were eventually shuttered and turned into places like Shoney's
24:29or IHOP.
24:30Number 4.
24:31Red Barn.
24:33There were few fast food chains that welcomed as many competitors as Kentucky Fried Chicken.
24:38One strong contender to the Colonel's throne was Red Barn, which at one point saw franchises
24:42in America, Canada, and even Australia.
24:48The folks at Red Barn liked to lay claim to being the first to pioneer a salad bar, and
24:53their fried chicken was deep fried and prepared in pressure cookers designed exclusively for
24:57the Red Barn chain.
25:04The chain was eventually laid low by real estate interests, when its parent company
25:08allowed their leases to expire and ceased promotion and advertising for the brand.
25:14Red Barn's closed one by one, with the remaining locations being turned into McDonald's restaurants.
25:20Number 3.
25:21Lum's.
25:22Sure, you've all heard of a Big Mac or a Whopper, but what about an Ollie Burger?
25:35Many customers flocked to the Lum's chains for this after it obtained the recipe in 1971.
25:43Many other family style treats attracted patrons throughout the 60s, 70s, and into the 80s.
25:49The brand actually did pretty good for itself after humble beginnings as a simple hot dog
25:53cart, even managing to snag Hollywood icon Milton Berle as a spokesperson for a time.
26:04The bankruptcy of its parent company sadly led to Lum's limping off into the sunset,
26:12but fear not, for a spiritual successor named Ollie's Trolley does exist in Washington,
26:18D.C.
26:19So head on there if you're searching for a little slice of restaurant nostalgia.
26:23Number 2.
26:24Burger Chef.
26:29You may be very familiar with all the main names in the fast food burger wars out there,
26:34from McDonald's and Wendy's to Burger Chef.
26:37Wait, you've never heard of Burger Chef?
26:51Well at one time, this fast food brand was so popular that it had its sights set firmly
26:56on those golden arches.
26:58One of the reasons for its success?
27:00It was the first chain to offer a kids meal.
27:09The company even tried suing McDonald's when the Happy Meal was introduced back in
27:1279, claiming the idea was too close to its own.
27:16The Burger Chef branding also included plenty of commercials, as well as a cast of cartoon
27:20mascots including, ahem, Count Fangburger.
27:35The chain was sold by its parent company, with many remaining restaurants converting
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27:56Number 1.
27:57Howard Johnson's.
28:07We've covered a lot of bygone restaurants during this list, but Howard Johnson's might
28:11be one of the most missed.
28:14That's largely due to its status as an icon of America, of the open road, of stopping
28:18for a quick bite to eat off the highway in the family car.
28:31It's the sort of roadside attraction that, well, attracted so many diners to the chain,
28:36thanks to the restaurant's family atmosphere and warm, retro decor.
28:40Oh, and the clam strips.
28:42Definitely the clam strips.
28:46One Howard Johnson's, in name only, did hang on for years in Lake George, New York.
28:54However, many questioned its legitimacy, due to its different menu, limited hours, and
29:00the arrest of its manager for sexual harassment.
29:02It closed in 2022.
29:05What defunct fast food brand defined your childhood?
29:09Let us know in the comments below.
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