Comments on Orange County Memories: Carl's Jr. Memories

- Fried zucchini

2010-01-10T06:46:21.762-08:00

- Fried zucchini

Carl's Jr. memories: - California Roast Beef sandw...

2010-01-10T06:20:52.933-08:00

Carl's Jr. memories:
- California Roast Beef sandwich
- Fantastic salad bar
- Real dinner selections with baked potato and real forks and knives
- Crispirito!

Does anyone remember the Mini Leaguer hamburger? ...

2010-01-02T12:51:04.861-08:00

Does anyone remember the Mini Leaguer hamburger? They had it in the 70's. It had this delicious thousand island type dressing on it. It was so good. I worked at the Carls Jr. unit# 1 on Harbor and East just down the street from the police dept. from 1973-1977. I had the pleasure of meeting Carl Karcher. He was such a wonderful kind man. They use to come to our location to take pictures. I worked with Dana, Donetta and Jeff Karcher. It was so much fun. I actually made the first Sunrise Sandwich. We also were the store that tested all the new products. Anyone remember the Spooner shake? It was chocolate and served in a clear plastic cup with whipped cream and a cherry on top. Very good. As for the person who mentioned the uniform with the hot pants under it, I have a picture of me in that uniform. It's hilarious. When I first started working there we wore a white kind of nurse like uniform with a green apron and a little white with green star on it hat. Thanks for the memories.

Although I haven't read this entire thread, I too ...

2009-12-16T12:50:08.405-08:00

Although I haven't read this entire thread, I too was a fan of both the California Roast Beef and the Crispirito. I recently tried the new Crisp Burritos and they don't come close. This new item seems to be about 90% tortilla...not a cheesy/chile feast like it's predecessor. Also noted today that they discontinued their green taco salad...too bad.

I worked for Uncle Carl twice - for a short stint ...

2009-12-06T19:45:18.441-08:00

I worked for Uncle Carl twice - for a short stint of a couple months in 1986, and then again for a few more months in late 1988-1989 (the Los Alamitos location, in the old Rossmoor shopping center on Los Al Blvd). I think the Frispo machine had gone the way of the wind by my second run through, but I can't be sure. I do know they were quite delish. I'd always heard the reason they got discontinued (gross-out warning... don't read ahead if you just had or are about to have a meal, especially one including potato products...
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...was because the bags of potatoes would sometimes get... well... contaminated. It didn't sit well with customers to get a french fry with a deep-fried tail end of a cockroach hanging out of it.

'course, this could all be just fast-food worker urban legend. I *do* miss those Frispo fries, though... bugs and all.

And nobody has mentioned their old commercial jing...

2009-11-20T08:08:07.898-08:00

And nobody has mentioned their old commercial jingle... it went:
"Everybody's goin' to Carls Jr... It's out of this world"

Somebody could re-create those old processed pellet potato fries and build a resturaunt empire.

I remember going to one on rio vista and lincoln i...

2009-10-12T18:40:29.248-07:00

I remember going to one on rio vista and lincoln in anaheim in 1970. where I grew up... it was an open air order window, (you would get rained on while ordering) or you could go into the dining room on the side and order from there and get a little table number. Old big star holding a drink and a hamburger. I thought the first taco de carlos was on lincoln near anaheim blvd? I remember snooping behind headquarters building and there was a tarp covering something behind it, I looked under the tarp and it was Carl's original hot dog cart! I noticed it sat there for a couple years unbothered. Why does corporatization always ruin companies? They need to get back the old fries, steak sandwich, cal roast beef, dogs, etc. Hardee's just doesn't do it for me. RIP Carl and thanks for the great eats through the years!

I worked in management for Carl Karcher Enterprise...

2009-07-26T23:18:19.195-07:00

I worked in management for Carl Karcher Enterprises in 3 counties from 1975 to 1997. I managed a total of 17 Carl's Jr. Restaurants, 1 Carl's Whistle Stop Restaurant on Chapman and even a Taco De Carlos on Harbor Blvd.

Yes, the restaurant was called Carl's Broiler originally and then became Carl's Sunshine Broiler in the 70's. There were a total of two of these full service restaurants and it was a little more FULL service than Bob's Big Boy with steak, seafood and alcohol served. Yes, to the other above writer they had spaghetti and spumoni! It was more of an upscale Coco's. THERE WERE EVEN A SMALL CHAIN OF RESTAURANTS CARL NAMED "SCOTTIES" with a Scottish theme! Does anyone remember that? Carl actually purchased and operated several other brands that were eliminated when he decided to concentrate on the "Juniors" in the late 70's.

I have great memories of working side-by-side with Carl and his brother Don in the restaurants at a time when we had only a little over 100 units. I also remember the Carl's Jr."dinner program" mentioned by the above writer. This program required a nicely dressed "hostess", candle light in some units, real forks, knives and stainless steel platters causing the installation of dishwashers for a short while! Also to answer another writer, the "Frispo" machines are still in use by the US military in a few locations. (This is were Carl got the idea) We had to go away from the Frispo machines because as business grew the machines were not fast enough between cycles. Also, when the machine broke or a part was missing from cleaning the night before, which happen frequently, we had no fries! You are right though, they were great fries!

I met with Carl at his home about a year before his passing and he was very disappointed with the company leadership and the direction they had taken his company. Carl's heart was broken by the degrading advertising campaign. Carl's Jr. restaurant that he founded was a family fast food restaurant where his customers were called guests as if they were being invited in to his home. He was disgusted with the sex and rudeness associated with the new TV commercials.

The Carl's Jr. Restaurant today is only a facade of a great hamburger chain that once existed headed by a true American pioneer, Carl N. Karcher along with his wife Margaret, Brother Don, his sons, daughters, grand children and many close friends,relatives and loyal employees. Those days are gone forever but we have great memories and lessons from our only true President and CEO, Carl.

Long live Happy Star!

Someone mentioned a Carl's sit-down restaurant, an...

2009-07-14T13:41:13.797-07:00

Someone mentioned a Carl's sit-down restaurant, and remember (if my memory is correct) one located on Katella in the 60's...I think between Harbor and West,or W of West St. on the south side of Katella. It wasn't that big, and similar to a Bob's Big Boy type style place. We ate there a couple times, and I don't think it stayed a Carl's for that long because of the popularity of Carl's Jr. Is my memory right, or is old age setting in for sure..lol

The California Roast Beef!!!! How in the world did...

2009-07-13T17:09:44.031-07:00

The California Roast Beef!!!! How in the world did they remove this from the menu!?? I thought I was the only one who loved that sandwich. I'm going to email them right now and ask them to bring it back! Darryl L.

What Happened To The Original Happy Star, Today T...

2009-06-12T18:30:50.845-07:00

What Happened To The Original Happy Star, Today

The Hamburger Patties Are Full Of Fillers Or Soy

Why Would They Mess With Such A Great Burger

I worked for Carl's Jr from 1976 - 1986, mostly in...

2009-04-20T00:29:36.835-07:00

I worked for Carl's Jr from 1976 - 1986, mostly in the Santa Maria, Ca area. It was a mall unit, was one of the first with a salad bar. It had a hot dog cart in the foyer. Started as counter person, wearing these lime green with dark brown going up the middle polyester shirts and paper hats. The girl's wore a very short dress (same colors), with hot pants underneath Boy, I'll bet you couldn't get today's kids to wear these. I became the manager of the unit a year later. At that time , if we needed any product, we would have to drive 90 miles south to Ventura, which was the next closest unit at the time. The "Frispo" french fries were the best!!! I wonder what ever happened to the company that manufactured those machines? As were the brought in fresh onion rings. I can remember on a busy saturday day during the christmas holiday, having to prep 15 - 20 dozen of the california roast beef sandwiches in the morning, and another 10 dozen in the afternoons. The crispritos were out of this world! The only problem with them were there cook times, which almost took 5 minutes, so you had to float quite a few ahead, then sometimes there were not soooo crisprito anymore. The chili for the hot dogs was very good , especially when you squeezed the juice out of the yellow paper onto it that came with each dog. Those flaked and formed steak sandwiches were another fine item, with the two onion rings on top and what seemed like a butter/worchestershire/garlic spread. The dinner program they rolled out in 1984, the food items were good (Trout, chicken filet, steak and ground beef steak). But the whole problem with that program was, we still sold all that through the drive-thru. The aveage time for a drive-thru order was 90 seconds, but it would take up to 6 minutes to cook the staeks. Made no sense at all. I think they were trying to get some of the coffee shop business. That program cost them alot of money. My all-time favorite, and still to this day is the western bacon cheeseburger. I remember having to go to a Carl's in Simi Valley to a training seminar , on how to make those. Throughout my time managing restaurants in Santa Maria and San Luis Obispo, I had the great pleasure to meet Car and his Brother Don on several occasion. Carl had children going to Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. They both were some of the friendliest and most humble and gracious people I have ever met. What fond memories I had all those years. I now live in North Carolina, and visit Hardees every so often. Right now they have the western bacon chesseburger for a limited time. Mmm Mmm

great article. i grew up i n north hollywood and s...

2009-03-28T16:35:49.908-07:00

great article. i grew up i n north hollywood and simi valley. i remmember carl's jr. my favorite was the roast beef also.that is how i found this artical. i was looking up if carl's jr still sold the roast beef. that is when i found your article. but it only came up when i ate dinner tonight. we had new york deli style philly cheesesteak sandwiches by a company called raybern.the taste was that of the roast beef from carl's jr.it was like the chile relleno from the sandwich. i live in indiana we have hardee's restaurants which are carl's jr. you may be able to see where they sell these sandwiches at www.raybernfoods.com try it and see what you think. enjoy, cheryl

I've noticed a lot of the posts mention the Carl's...

2009-01-22T21:35:17.054-08:00

I've noticed a lot of the posts mention the Carl's Jr restaurants being near Market Baskets. The first one I ever went to was in New Port Beach....next to Market Basket....off the coast highway past the Lido area. We loved it. I miss the hotdogs and the frispos...maybe they will come back..they brought back the steak sandwich. I don't go there much...the six dollar burgers are all they have now...I also miss the salad bars.

Ok so maybe I'm remembering the Sunshine Broiler b...

2008-11-20T19:47:15.544-08:00

Ok so maybe I'm remembering the Sunshine Broiler but I remember going to a Carl's Jr sit down restaurant. I remember going there as a little kid and getting spaghetti and spumoni ice cream. Where the heck in the OC was that???

yeah so uh, they brought back the steak sandwich, ...

2008-11-14T20:26:27.804-08:00

yeah so uh, they brought back the steak sandwich, garlic sauce excluded, as a special promo, ate one yesterday and damn was it tasty..

I just had 2 California roast beef sandwiches, for...

2008-11-08T18:17:50.615-08:00

I just had 2 California roast beef sandwiches, for a limited time only 2 for five dollars! I used to eat these in the 70's when I worked there.

too bad the california roast beef sandwiches are d...

2008-11-06T10:05:27.755-08:00

too bad the california roast beef sandwiches are dogshit.

I live in Fullerton and I remember all of those ta...

2008-10-30T21:16:37.254-07:00

I live in Fullerton and I remember all of those tasty items from the old menu. Carl's isn't what it used to be. I wish that they would bring back the salad bars, all-star chili dogs, the old fish sandwiches and crinkled fries. Maybe I'm a little nostalgic, but I'd like the old logo with the burger and drink in hand.
Some day I'll open my own Carl's and try to bring all of that back!

I just drove past a Carl's Jr. on Saticoy and Winn...

2008-10-30T16:13:25.220-07:00

I just drove past a Carl's Jr. on Saticoy and Winnetka in the San Fernando Valley, and they had a sign offering two California Roast Beef sandwiches for $5.

I worked at Carl's Jr #116 on Haster & Katella and...

2008-09-24T17:14:12.020-07:00

I worked at Carl's Jr #116 on Haster & Katella and was actually a "Hostess" that served the dinners around '84! I remember the crispiritos, frispos (they were the best!) potato wedges, steak sandwiches, hot apple pies and roast beef sandwiches! There was a Taco de Carlos next door for a short time (now Del Taco and still standing). The only Carl's I had the hot dogs was at the City Shopping Center, what a treat! I had forgotten about those tomato wedges. I miss the old Carl's Jr, now the paper feels greasy. Such memories. Must say, they have the BEST onion rings still!

"- they also use to make a delicous steak sandwich...

2008-09-22T22:40:37.420-07:00

"- they also use to make a delicous steak sandwich topped with 2 onion rings. They'd put this garlicy sauce on it..."

These were my faves! My mom & I would go shopping and then head to Carl's Jr where we'd both get the yummiest steak sandwich ever... and yeah, those crinkle fries were something else, too! Oh, the good old days... I wish they would bring these back... even if it was a limited promotional special. mmm... so good! I worked at CJ my jr. yr. in HS, but they had stopped selling them by then - so bummed!

I will always remember going to Carl's Jr, as a ki...

2008-08-21T14:41:19.500-07:00

I will always remember going to Carl's Jr, as a kid in the 80's. The fries were my absolute favorite, and the little square cup of catsup. I would get a huge bag of them. Me and my family sometimes sit around and talk about how good the food use to be and how we could go for some of carl's jr fries. Yummy! Nothing taste like it use too. How sad!

I remember the steak sandwich whichI still yearn f...

2008-05-06T16:15:25.099-07:00

I remember the steak sandwich which
I still yearn for now and again.
I grew up in Anaheim in the seventies, so hearing all the familiar streets is making me homesick. I lived close to Sunkist and Lincoln and now live in Georgia. Hardees does not compare to Carls Jr. The onionrings were
my favorite side with just a little
ketchup. Yum!

I never met Carl but I did meet one of his sons an...

2008-04-08T14:06:40.924-07:00

I never met Carl but I did meet one of his sons and maybe his brother(?).I worked at Carl's Jr. in the early '80s and there was a Taco de Carlos next door.After they closed down (some other fast food Mexican chain took over)we started making the Crispiritos at the Carl's Jr.I still remember the hot, crispy, cheesy goodness.
Thanks, Carl, for the memories!