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Fast food chains we wish hadn't closed

Gone but not forgotten
28. Sandy’s, USA
27. Benjys, UK
26. Valle’s Steak House, USA
25. Pizzaland, UK
24. Pup ‘N’ Taco, USA
23. Arthur Treacher’s, USA
22. Clock, various locations
21. VIP’s, USA
20. Pumper Nic, Argentina
19. Henry’s Hamburgers, USA
18. Little Tavern, USA
17. G.D. Ritzy’s, USA
16. The All-American Burger, USA
15. Doggie Diner, USA
14. All Star Cafe, USA
13. Carrols, USA
12. Farrell’s Ice Cream Parlour, USA
11. Lum’s, USA
10. Red Barn, various locations
9. Chicken George, USA
8. Happy Eater, UK
7. Chi-Chi’s, various locations
6. Horn & Hardart Automat, USA
5. White Tower, USA
4. Mother's Pizza, Canada
3. Little Chef, UK
2. Howard Johnson’s, USA
1. Burger Chef, USA and Canada
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Gone but not forgotten

Fast food joints come and go, but there are some truly iconic restaurants that live on in the hearts (and bellies) of the fans that remember them – even when they’ve long since shuttered. From the nostalgic roadside stops that kept hungry families fed in the 1980s to old-school burger chains that once rivalled McDonald's, we’ve rounded up the most-loved fast food spots from around the world that have gone for good. How many do you remember?

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the fast food chains we wish hadn't closed, counting down to the most missed of all.

We've based our ranking on the enduring popularity of each restaurant in its place of origin and beyond, and on the opinions of our well-travelled (and well-fed) team. The list is unavoidably subjective.​

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Miriam Carey

06 February 2025

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