In my dreams.

I won't believe that Naugles is coming back until I see one that I can walk into and order their food.

Del Taco started in Yermo/Barstow, and their first restaurant with a drive through window was in Corona, CA.

It's been pretty amazing watching them grow like they have, as there were not too many around in the early/mid 70's. Now they are everywhere.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Taco

I worked there when it looked like that. Back in the day when they served real food.

Ground beef cooked on site, no fillers, just seasoning added
Beans pressure cooked for hours with real lard and whipped with a power drill
Shells and nachos fried on site, crispas cut from burrito flours and fried
Lettuce cored, washed and shredded
30 lb. cheese blocks sliced with piano wire and shredded
Onions and tomatoes cored and diced by hand
Green onions and black olives sliced by hand

Oh...and the bell was stolen a couple of times while I worked there

There was a Chicken Delight across the street from the Holiday Inn in Winnipeg (on Pembina Road) that I stayed at two weeks ago, I was going to take a picture of it as I didn't realize they were still around. I saw a 2nd location in town when I was driving around.

I heard they still exist....They left NY, when KFC came in....early 70's?

Anyone eat their Chicken!

I loved Tastee Freez as a kid. I had a buddy whose parents owned the one in Downey, CA. He would always get us free food when he and I hung out there and we were allowed behind the counter to make whatever ice cream we wanted!

tastee.jpg

They also used to have events there with the custom car built by George Barris. I wonder where it is now...

barris.jpg

Edit: It looks like there are still a few dedicated ones left in IL and VA and some others scattered about. The one in Downey is long gone though.

When Taco Bell stopped putting olives on my enchirito is when I stopped going.

Free Big Tee burgers? Mmmm.......

There is still a Tastee Freez a mile from my house.

Whenever I'm in Orlando I try and hit up the Del Taco. Like you said for fast food it is good and in my opinion blows away other places.

I remember going to Friendlys as a kid in Cleveland. There are still a few of them around Florida, one of them on I-drive in Orlando.

Almost every place that used to do it 'real' gets it on a truck now, what I don't understand is why. Self-answer: The incompetent workers and management have less room to screw up and its cheaper on paper.

What they don't realize is that many people do not go to these places anymore after the food quality dropped off a cliff.

I would gladly pay double, triple, or even more to get the original Pizza Hut when everything was made on site, or Arby's when it came medium rare, and as real meat. I need a time machine to bring some 70s food to me.

We still have a Sambo's here in Oregon.
800px-Lil_Sambo's-1 (1).jpg
Complete with gift shop
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They changed the name from "Lil Black Sambo's" (Based on the story) sometime back I think.
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Jealous. Is that the one on Boone Hill Rd?

Yep!

The KFC in Banning Ca. had buffet when I went there in January for Arcade Expo.

Willard Scott

That is Darrell Hammond.

You have to move to Orlando, Rob!

Without a doubt there are a lot more games to play in Orlando. I do like being by the gulf though and decent traffic even in season. Seems like someone I know bought a place here too for those reasons....... If you ever retire one day.

You can probably expect longer lines than that In N Out burger in Placentia that has no drive thru. I would gladly trade that place for a Naugles which is coincidentally across from where one used to be.

I am so glad they are still around somewhere but I really miss our Tastee Freez drive in as well as Mr Mikes steak house. Makes my mouth water just thinking about them. Such good eats and memories.....

I was there.....

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I like the thread and it got me thinking of a few for sure. But most restaurants mentioned on the thread were national or large regional chains. Chains blow. Good riddance. Seek out and enjoy great Mom and Pop restaurants before they all give way to Yum brands and Darden group garbage.

That's great stuff. Well done!

Chains used to be good. There are still some good sit-down chains but most fast food has fallen hard. McDonalds and Burger King actually served burgers years ago. As one person already stated even Taco Bell used all real ingredients years ago.

This may be why Del Taco is thriving. As I stated earlier they have changed nothing beyond adding some new items. Plus buying out the competition like Naugles didn't hurt. But really, when I go there and get a beef burrito ( I prefer green sauce) fries, or even a burger, it is the same as it was when I first peddled my bike down there long ago.

Naugles secret or not so secret ingredient was ortega diced chiles that could be had on anything. Their macho nachos were the bomb. They even used real cheese. Sorry..no pump.

Naugles may have very well invented macho nachos. I had never heard that term before..

Or found a plate so much to my liking.

Talk to my wife! Ive been ready for years!

How is it that skippers went away but long John silvers is still around?
I loved skippers as a kid.
I have not eaten at a long John silvers in 15 years or more and they are all over near me.

I've got a porterhouse fresh off the grill and I am still thinking of Senor Naugle. Come on man!

Interesting story about Naugles. There is a place where I live called BT's Buns & Torts that is essentially Naugles under another name.

http://ocmexfood.blogspot.com/2009/08/buns-torts.html has a story about it. "...It's run by Jeff Naugle, who I believe is a nephew to Dick Naugle, the founder of the much loved Naugles chain."

Uses the same recipes too. Yum, yum! A couple years ago they changed their pricing to include the sales tax in the menu price and all items end with 0 or 5 so they never deal with pennies, mostly only quarters or even money. Nice touch.

Some pics...
BTs Buns and Torts Visalia Calif.jpg
BTs Buns and Torts Sign Visalia Calif.jpg

Shoney's had a great breakfast buffet! Shakey's Pizza had great food and an awesome arcade and Showbiz Pizza Place was "The Bomb".
Now as an adult I remember The Ground Round and Bonanza. Around here we also had this place called Nino's Steak House. I miss it.

Mr Mikes 15 mins from my house, in Airdrie... If its the same one...

You're lucky!!

I just hope the Cactus Club Cafe doesn't shut down ... the one south of the Airport is my go to when I'm in Calgary

Thanks! It was Farrell's!

My favorite place in Minnesota, now gone. What an awesome spot.

image.jpgimage.jpgimage.jpg

And these two places from the Dallas area.
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There's 3 within 15 miles of me. They are all over in SC.

Roy Rogers used to be all but extinct, but it's making a comeback in Virginia. There are two near me now in Manassas, and there are a bunch along I-95 at least as far as Maryland and off of I-81. great fried chicken, great roast beef sandwich, pretty decent (for fast food) burgers and fries and chicken sandwiches.

Really miss the ODI in Silverthorne. Great ambiance and really good food. ODI.jpg

There are 25 Mr. Mikes in Western Canada. The closest 1 to you would be in Langley, maybe Coquitlam?

Good news indeed! Too many fun taco chains that never made it to the northeast... Taco John's would be another one I'd love to see out here.

I'm with you on that thought - I try to save chain food for short runways and dollar menus. Unfortunately, it'd be pretty tough for us to commiserate and bond on local spots... for instance, my fav Italian restaurant ever was Portofino's in Lancaster, PA. It's a lame sports bar now, but I'd be shocked if anyone on here had ever been there or remembered it.

And while I feel you, Darden put a lot of money in my pocket over the years installing and servicing area OG/RL/LH phone systems. Mom and Pop shops actually cost me quite a bit by going bankrupt after my company had installed or repaired their gear. Over my 8 years in business, I'd be surprised if I broke even on the gross from work I did for independent restaurants but ALWAYS made money off the chains. Don't even get me started on hotels.

You can't really say that *all* chains blow because it isn't true. At a minimum that is a bit of hyperbole. The one advantage to a chain, at least in theory, is that you can go to one in some other city and know what kind of food they have and what it will taste like if you had eaten at one of their restaurants previously.

I love "discovering" hole in the wall / Mom and Pop type restaurants too, as they definitely have the potential to be better than chains. But believe me, there are plenty of Mom and Pop restaurants that "blow."

Okay. You make a reasonable point. You do know exactly what kind of mediocrity you can expect from one chain location to another.

Mountain jacks for prime rib and mr. hot dog for double doubles

Not sure if these were any good but I remember going to these as a kid.

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When I lived in Sydney, there was a Pizza Hut literally right across the street from me. I ate there several times a week.

Arby's when they had *real* roast beef sandwiches.
When Arby's changed to their processed junk - a few local restaurants didn't go with the flow... changed their names to Barnard's and continued to serve real roast beef sandwiches. Unfortunately, none of them survived.

How about Chubbyville - the next McD and Burger King competitor. Fizzled without a trace.