Whether it’s because of changing trends, increased rents, or the after-effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, many legendary restaurants have closed in the past few years. Diners and burger joints may come and go, but the truly special ones stick around forever in the hearts of regulars. From beloved fast food chains that once rivaled McDonald's to fancy fine dining spots that were once thriving celebrity haunts, these are the iconic restaurants that have closed forever.

Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the legendary US restaurants that have closed for good – counting down to the most missed of all.

Our ranking is based on the popularity of each restaurant during its heyday and its continued positive reputation now that it's closed. This list is unavoidably subjective.

28 much missed US restaurants that are gone forever