Editorial Team
Photo by Flickr user Nick Gray
Prepare your stomachs for a gastronomic journey through the dark annals of America’s dining disasters. These are not tales of misunderstood gastronomy or of restaurants that simply failed to find their crowd. Oh no, these tales tell of culinary nightmares that have left their ill-fated patrons with more than just a bad taste in their mouths. From bland and overpriced menus to stomach-turning health violations, these dining establishments have truly earned their place in the Hall of Shame. Welcome to the tour of America’s ten worst restaurant chains in history.
10. Chi-Chi’s
A Mexican restaurant that sadly turned out to be more ‘Montezuma’s Revenge’ than mariachi. With its descent into poor management and unappetizing fare, Chi-Chi’s demise was swift, but it was the horrifying hepatitis A outbreak in 2003, traced back to green onions, that spelled the end for this erstwhile popular chain.
9. Howard Johnson’s
This longtime gem of the American road trip began to lose its shine as it failed to keep pace with evolving consumer tastes and increasing competition. Despite the lure of the signature fried clams, a litany of issues from mismanagement to quality concerns led to this once-beloved chain’s downfall.
8. Kenny Rogers Roasters
Despite a promising start with the legendary country singer’s name attached and a Seinfeld episode as a feather in its cap, this chicken chain couldn’t escape its destiny. Stiff competition and changing consumer preferences saw the chain file for bankruptcy in 1998 and the U.S. operations were sold off a year later.
7. Sambo’s
Born in 1957 from a blend of its founders’ names, Sambo’s initially flourished, with over 1,100 locations in the late ’70s. However, accusations of racism and cultural appropriation regarding the use of ‘Little Black Sambo’, a controversial children’s book character, led to its rapid downfall, proving that no amount of pancakes can cover up a bitter taste.
6. Steak and Ale
This steakhouse chain seemed to have it all – affordable steaks, salad bars, unlimited bread, and a cozy Tudor-style ambiance. But stiff competition, mismanagement, and a side order of quality issues led to Steak and Ale filing for bankruptcy in 2008, leaving a void in the heart of steak lovers.
5. Arthur Treacher’s Fish & Chips
This British-style fish and chips joint found favor among Americans in the late ’70s, but skyrocketing fish prices, evolving consumer preferences, and stiff competition from other fast-food chains led to a decline in fortunes and eventual bankruptcy in 1982. The last U.S. location closed its doors in 2018.
4. Lum’s
From a hot dog stand in Miami Beach to over 400 locations, Lum’s made a name for itself with its beer-steamed hot dogs. However, over expansion, financial mismanagement, and ill-advised diversification attempts led to a collapse, with the last location closing in 2009.
3. Rax Roast Beef
While intended to rival Arby’s, this roast beef sandwich chain fell well short of its aspirations. Deteriorating competition, poor branding decisions, and rapidly changing consumer preferences led Rax to file for bankruptcy twice, with only a handful of remaining locations.
2. Planet Hollywood
Despite a star-studded list of founders, this themed restaurant chain crashed faster than a box office bomb. Overpriced food, poor service, and dwindling popularity coupled with investor lawsuits led Planet Hollywood to file for bankruptcy twice. Today, only a few locations remain to remind us of the restaurant chain that once was.
1. Golden Corral
The epitome of American culinary catastrophe. If the smorgasbord of lukewarm dishes and excessive portion sizes aren’t enough to give you indigestion, then the wave of buyer’s remorse that hits post-consumption surely will. Often considered the flag-bearer of the declining buffet chain trend, Golden Corral’s reputation tends to flip-flop between the “beloved budget steakhouse” and “symbol of wretched excess.”
Sure, they’ve tried to evolve, adding fancy-sounding items like house-smoked brisket and ribs to their lineup, but the core problem remains: quantity over quality. A former employee account adds some disconcerting fuel to the fire, shedding light on questionable food handling practices that can turn even the most hardened stomachs.
As for their so-called reinvention during the pandemic, it involves serving alcohol at select locations. If you ask me, the only purpose of that move seems to be to dull your senses enough so you don’t notice the gastronomic monstrosities you’re shoveling down. All in all, with their plethora of subpar food, questionable food safety practices, and the epitome of wasteful buffets, Golden Corral earns its title as the worst restaurant chain in American history.
So there you have it, a testament to the turbulent world of food service, where fortunes can turn faster than a pancake, and one bad meal can lead to the demise of an empire. Bon appétit!
