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7 more fast food chains we wish we could eat at again
Arthur Treacher's and Hamburger Hamlet will forever have a place in our hearts... and stomachs.
Image: (clockwise from top right) Pinterest, Hamburger Hamlet, Pinterest
Don't you wish you could go back in time and have one last meal at your favorite fast food joint of yore? Let's look at some more defunct restaurants from back in the day that we can no longer visit.
1. Arthur Treacher's Fish and Chips
Don't tell the Brits, but this fast food joint had the best fish and chips on the planet! In the late 1970s, there were about 800 locations across the country. Today, there are only eight remaining in New York, Ohio and Pennsylvania. If you live near one, we seriously envy you.
Image: Pinterest
2. Mister Donut
Before there was Dunkin' Donuts, there was Mister Donut. The fast food chain opened its doors in 1956 and opened hundreds of locations across the country, but most converted to Dunkin' Donuts in the 1980s after the parent company bought them out. Today there are still 1,300 Mister Donut locations — but you'll have to travel to East Asia to visit.
Image: New Bedford Guide
3. Royal Castle
Not to be confused with White Castle — or even White Tower for that matter — the Miami-based Royal Castle was also famous for serving some delicious sliders. Once Burger King and McDonald's arrived, Royal Castle began to lose ground, and the chain's 175 quickly began to disappear.
Image: Pinterest
4. Naugles
Before people were obsessed with Chipotle, there was Naugles. Founded by a former Del Taco partner in 1970, Naugles had about 200 locations before it actually merged with Del Taco in 1988.
Image: delish
5. All-American Burgers
Speaking of Chipotle, that's exactly what replaced the last location for All-American Burgers in 2010. The regional chain, opened in 1968, was made famous for being featured in the '80s classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Image: RecipesHubs
6. Big Boy
In the 1970s, Big Boy has just over 1,000 restaurants that were franchised across the United States. Of course, the chain was distinguishable by its jovial mascot. However, Big Boy eventually went into decline, and if you live outside Michigan, you might have a hard time finding a location near you. Just 10 remain outside the Great Lakes State.
Image: Flickr
7. Hamburger Hamlet
The legendary hamburger chain once hosted the country's biggest stars, and Oprah and Roger Ebert even went on a date at one of their locations in the 1980s. The West Hollywood based chain went nationwide, but closed a bunch of locations in the 1990s. Today, only one remains in Sherman Oaks, Los Angeles.
Image: LA Weekly
See more: 8 fast food chains you wish you could eat at again
We're not quite done revisiting fast food joints from the past. See more
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16 Comments
We still crave their beans and cheese and their nachos late at night.
I called Del Taco in California and they had no clue about the Naugles restaurants.
Don't you hate it when one of your favorite places to eat disappears!
Just like Sweet Tomatoes! I loved their salad bars and soups.
Remember Fuddruckers? They got bought out and the food quality dropped, no wonder.
Here in the South, we still have some SHONEYS.
If my memory is correct, some had that BIG BOY sign and a Big Boy sandwich.
There's still a Bob's Big Boy in Burbank. It's a traditional drive in restaurant.
