They still exist in some small Ontario towns, along with Dixie Lee chicken and seafood. I do not know if it is related to the American chain.
I never ate at Kenny Rodgers Roasters or Chi-Chi’s, so have no memories of those.
The Canadian Godfathers chain appears to be a different company from the American Godfather’s chain.
I miss Tonto’s, the chain where I first learned to love burritos.
(A few places have similar names but I don’t think they’re the same chain).
Chi-Chi’s was in Toronto maybe thirty-plus years ago. It was quite popular; my then-girlfriend and I often went, and we’d be told it would be a hour wait, but we put our name on the list anyway, and had a couple of drinks in the bar while we waited.
The food was good. It may not have been authentic Mexican (really, outside of Mom and Pop places, is any chain restaurant’s food actually Mexican, Italian, Greek, or Chinese?), but it was tasty and filling. I liked it, and it was always worth the wait.
I just remember they were known for their fried ice cream, not commonly seen on Canadian menus. Not enough of a draw to convince my parents to splurge.
Given that Chi-Chi’s was founded in Minnesota by two guys named Marno McDermott and Max McGee (who had been a receiver for the Green Bay Packers in the 1960s), it’s not surprising that it wasn’t particularly authentic Mexican food. But, I do think that it was one of the first big successful sit-down restaurant chains in the U.S. which served Mexican food.
(McDermott also started a Mexican chain called Zapata, which later became Zantigo, and which I think was mentioned by someone upthread.)
You didn’t miss a thing. I had the fried ice cream at Chi-Chi’s once; it was just half-way melted ice cream. Not worth ordering every time we went.
One place I do miss, and I guess it’s regional, is the Lone Star Texas Grill, which has a number of locations in Ontario. But none here in western Canada. It was started by a couple of Texans who came north to play in the CFL. They liked Canada so much, they stayed, but they missed the taste of home, so they started the Lone Star. Great food!
When I lived in Indianapolis, we were very close to an Einstein Bros. Bagels restaurant, which we absolutely loved going into. The nearest one to me now is about 35 miles away and across a river. And it’s usually closed by the time we get there.
Steak 'n Shakes were ubiquitous in Indianapolis, but are very scarce in Hampton Roads, too.
And a phosphate soda. They were the last place around to get them.
Cicis pizza.
The food wasn’t great, but it was cheap and good.
Quiznos was also a good restaurant.
Others have mentioned Lum’s, hot dogs steamed in beer. Those were some huge dogs, at least to 4th grade me.
In central Indiana, there was a chain called Taco Tico which was similar to Taco Bell and existed a few years before Taco Bell made it to Indiana. I think there may still be one in Kentucky somewhere. Taco Tico had one thing that made it better than Taco Bell- TAMALES!
I guess it wasn’t a chain, but Wendy’s Super Bar was the best fast food deal ever back when I was in my twenties!
Yes, Woolworths had a certain charm.
Those fries were great. The new KFC fries are a bit like them.
They invented what McD stole and calls the Big Mac. There are two left in SoCal.
They are still around.
I have one within a short drive.
Two places in Disneyland make fabulous ones.
Lived here 'pert near all my life, never heard of them.
Oh My God! 
My sister gave me the Heimlich in our local one. I guess we are, oh, I dunno? Evil Opposites or something? Kindered spirits? You figure it out. I’m drinkin’.
They’re opening a Big Boy in Germantown this month. First time in 26 years a BB has been in Wisconsin. Hope it is as good as they used to be. Their burgers were decent.
When I read this ^ I though immediately of this:
The only pizza I’ve ever had that made me consider just forgoing dinner.
mmm
Cicis pizza is the pits. But have you ever been to Chuck E Cheese’s? As if being surrounded by a bunch of screaming brats and loud stupid games wasn’t bad enough, they serve pizza who’s crust was made out of cork drink coasters. And in most locations NO BEER! I used to just dread when we’d get an invitation to that asylum for a niece/nephew/grandchild birthday party. Glad most of them are grown past the Chuck E Cheese’s age. If I never go in there again it will be too soon.
There are no Ponderosas left in NB to my knowledge. The one in Moncton closed years ago. I think the one in Fredericton closed around the same time.
That said, my contribution to the thread is Chi-Chi’s. We used to live in Colorado Springs and it was my favorite restaurant. I still remember the chicken soft taco diablo fondly.
My favorite:The Trough.
We had an H Salt Fish and Chips which was outstanding.
Swesen’s was great. I miss that.
Not sure if it was regional or national but the Sveden House smorgasbord.
Don’t know if the chain went down or just around here but Rax.