The first Happy Chef Restaurant opened in 1963 in Mankato, Minnesota, and still operates today as the only location. At one time, the chain had over 80 restaurants in the midwest. ] However, consumer tastes shifted in the 1980s towards restaurants offering alcohol and multiple televisions, leaving a single restaurant in operation as of 2015.
Another concept operated by Happy Chef was Ruttles 50s Bar & Grill Restaurants.
