20 Worst Canadian Restaurants From The 1970's That Faded Into History

Nostalgia has its limits—and these 20 restaurants pushed them to the breaking point. 🍔🤢

We usually look back at the 1970s with fond memories of bell bottoms and disco, but the Canadian dining scene had a dark side. For every legendary local diner, there was an American import that failed to cross the border or a home-grown chain that the health inspector had on speed dial.

In this video, we’re counting down the 20 worst Canadian restaurant disasters of the '70s:

THE BURGER WARS: Why chains like Wetson’s, Carrols, and the early Burger King nearly failed to survive the Canadian market.

BREAKFAST BLUNDERS: The gummy pancakes and weak coffee of the early IHOP and Smitty’s years.

THE GIMMICK FAILURES: From Lums’ beer-steamed hot dogs (soggy buns, anyone?) to the baffling Scottish-themed Sandy’s.

DELIVERY DISASTERS: Why Chicken Delight was the reason your parents stopped ordering delivery for a decade.

THE BOTTOM OF THE BARREL: The legendary story of the #1 spot—a Southern Ontario drive-in so bad it was basically an endurance test.

Some of these became the giants they are today, but others vanished into the mists of history, leaving nothing behind but the smell of old grease and disappointment.

👉 Did you actually survive any of these?
Did you ever have a "gray burger" at Sandy's? Did you witness the $1.49 Day chaos at a Woodward's cafeteria? Share your restaurant horror stories in the comments!

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Next Week: The flip side! We’re counting down the Best Canadian Restaurants of the 70s that we actually miss.