Howard Johnson’s
At its peak during the 1960s and 1970s, Howard Johnson’s boasted around 1,000 locations from the Atlantic to the Pacific oceans, making it a trusted roadside dining staple. The orange roof became an icon that families could spot from miles away. In its heyday, the chain had more than 1,000 locations, which served fried clams and a whopping 28 ice cream flavors. This wasn’t just a restaurant, honestly – it felt like a promise.
A&W Restaurants
A&W was popular during the ’70s with thousands of locations, peaking earlier in the decade. Think about that for a second. During this time, there was a drive-in, making the burger-and-float experience all the better, according to Cheapism. The root beer floats alone made it worth the visit, creating memories that lasted decades.
Red Lobster
The first Red Lobster restaurant was opened on April 23, 1968, in Lakeland, Florida, by entrepreneurs Bill Darden and Charley Woodsby. By the early 1970s, with General Mills’ advertising muscle behind it, Red Lobster opened restaurants across the South and Red Lobster was the poster child for American seafood. Seafood wasn’t something most middle-class families ate regularly back then. By 1978, Red Lobster had 236 restaurants and $291 million in sales, proving families craved that coastal dining experience even hundreds of miles from any ocean.
Pizza Hut
A family dinner was easy, even fun, at the Hut in the 1970s. Many people have fond memories of the chain’s 1970s rustic interior, the focus on dining in, and strong family-friendly vibe, as well as the salad buffets and even live music performances inside the restaurants, Tasting Table reports. It wasn’t just about pizza – it became a celebration spot where Little League victories tasted better with a large pepperoni pie on the table.
Ponderosa Steakhouse
Let’s be real – the 1970s were Ponderosa’s glory days. Ponderosa (where “Bonanza” took place), another steakhouse under the same umbrella, was just as easy on the wallet for a family going out to eat. Ponderosa’s best year of the decade came in 1978, when the company chalked up $13.8 million in profits on an estimated $272 million in sales. The salad bar felt like an adventure, especially for kids piling their plates with endless options while parents enjoyed affordable charbroiled steaks.
White Castle
You might think of White Castle as a late-night stop today, but families relied on it back then too. Even in the ’70s, White Castle was 50 years old. The beloved east coast slider chain was an easy one to keep on standby if you wanted to feed the entire family for cheap, Cheapism notes. The beauty was simple: more mouths to feed meant ordering more sliders without breaking the budget.
Burger Chef
There was a time when Burger Chef was the second most popular fast-food chain in America, with only McDonald’s boasting more locations throughout the United States. Despite the competition, Burger Chef had a loyal following back in the 1970s, and many Americans feel nostalgic about visiting their local restaurant on the way home after a family day out. The Fun Meals actually predated McDonald’s Happy Meals, which is hard to believe now.
Lum’s
Lum’s got famous for steaming hot dogs in beer and was well-loved with about 400 locations before it finally died in the early ’80s. It was different enough to stand out from typical burger joints, offering something quirky yet affordable. The Ollieburger, a thick patty seasoned with 32 spices, that Lums served in the 1970s, turned out to be its greatest hit, according to Yahoo. Families appreciated the casual vibe mixed with just enough novelty to make dinner feel special.
Shakey’s Pizza
In the decades that followed, Shakey’s Pizza grew into the first franchise pizza chain, with nearly 300 locations across the U.S. by the late ’60s, and it became the ultimate hangout destination, mainly for teens, but also families, too. Many Americans look back on Shakey’s Pizza in the 1970s with a feeling of nostalgia, remembering happy evenings eating pizza with family and friends, attending children’s birthday parties. The live Dixieland jazz performances made it more than just a meal – it was entertainment you could actually afford.
Golden Skillet
In the ’70s, you were feeding your family fried chicken from Golden Skillet if you wanted to lay off the KFC for a bit, and the pressure-cooked chicken was a big hit, peaking at under 100 locations. Though it never reached the massive scale of KFC, Golden Skillet held its own in regional markets where families wanted quality fried chicken without the predictability of the biggest chains. The crispy coating and juicy meat kept people coming back, even if the name didn’t have quite the same ring as the Colonel’s place down the street.
Remember fighting with your siblings over the last slice of pizza at Pizza Hut or convincing your parents to stop at Howard Johnson’s for those famous 28 ice cream flavors? These restaurants gave middle-class families something precious: the chance to celebrate ordinary moments without draining the wallet. They understood that dining out wasn’t about luxury back then – it was about connection, routine celebrations, and creating memories around a shared table. What’s your favorite memory from these iconic spots?