Nostalgic Restaurant Chain Big in the ’80s Is Plotting a Comeback

Men's Journal ^ | November 16, 2025 | Jessica McBride

[fidelis]

There’s still a Sizzler in Blythe, California, off Interstate 10 about halfway between Phoenix and LA. We had one here in Mesa until recently when it burned down. That location was once a closed Mexican restaurant and the Sizzler was open probably around two years before the fire. When I was growing up in SoCal, they were all over the place. I think there is still one in Irvine/Mission Viejo near the I-5. I always liked them, especially the salad bar and baked potato bar.

I remember back in the late 1970's when I was in the Air Force stationed in Guam and they had what they advertised as the largest Sizzler steak house in the world (they also had the largest McDonalds and the largest KFC--mostly for the benefit of Japanese tourists and honeymooners who were flocking there at that time). Anyway, the Sizzler there had one of their "All You Can Eat Ribs" weekends. The thing is, Guamanians LOVE spareribs and they ran out of them on the first day. When the latecomers went there and found out there were no more ribs, there were almost riots. I don't think they ever had that particular promotion there again.

[Opinionated Blowhard]

Affordable steak is a tricky concept. No one wants to eat the type of steak that is affordable. It tends to not be that good.

[Right Brigade]

“Golden Corral. Yuk. It’s the Mecca for the obese”

Well then,they most certainly will not run out of customers.

[HKMk23]

FWIW I get 10oz boneless ribyeyes for $8, so... maybe they can manage to plate one with a big baked potato for $15-$16?

Their “Malibu Chicken” was a big seller, and their “open” style salad bar was one of the only reasons I ever went; that and the dessert bar — that was a huge hit with my kids.

[Red Badger]

Never have a ‘All-You-Can-Eat’ anything special. Just ask Red Lobster.....................

[Rural_Michigan]

Another chain that has recently come back from the dead is Hot N Now. They just built two new ones.

[atc23]

Bring back red and white checked tablecloths and build yer own burger and sundaes

[bk1000]

“Where’s the beef?”

I don’t want to pay the premium for a NY strip sirloin if it is just round steak cut to look like a NY strip. That seems deceptive.

[Red Badger]

Never heard of it.................

[Dr. Franklin]

Did you have Rustler, Great American Steakhouse and Ponderosa?

Back in the day before the Tex-Mex invasion, we had good 'ol American steakhouses. I miss them.

[PAR35]

Darden also owns Capitol Grille and Seasons 52.

[MayflowerMadam]

“I can afford it......but it’s the principle”

Ditto.

[rhinohunter]

74 Sizzler restaurants

Well that’s 74 more than I thought they still had…

[Red Badger]

Never heard of those.................

[Theodore R.]

Yes, don’t go to Golden Corral if you are wanting steak. But most of the GC selections are very good.

[cymbeline]

“Sizzler’s Chief Growth Officer”

Never heard of that title. Regardless, a SIZZLING stake sounds mighty good.

[1066AD]

We didn’t have a Sizzler close by but instead a Western Sizzlin’ which had the biggest baked spuds you’ve ever seen- and they were baked all the way unlike so often these days !

[Red Badger]

Go to GC if you need new shoe leather soles.................

[HartleyMBaldwin]

The Golden Corral near here isn’t bad, but these days I just don’t care to stuff myself to bursting, and that’s always the temptation at all-you-can-eat places. Got to get your money’s worth, you know.

Many years ago in college, I had a friend who was about 6’6” and close to 300 lb. For a while he would eat only one meal a day, at a Furr’s cafeteria. I think they finally 86ed him.

[know.your.why]

Ditto