Maitland, Fla.-based Tijuana Flats filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April and was promptly sold to Flatheads LLC.

Also in April, Portland, Ore.-based ramen chain Boxer Ramen abruptly closed its locations about three months after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy.

In January, Nashville-based hot chicken concept Party Fowl, founded in 2014 and counting six brick-and-mortar locations, filed for bankruptcy protection.

Arby’s franchisee Miracle Restaurant Group LLC, based in Covington, La., filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in June. The company operates 25 locations in five states.

Rubio’s Coastal Grill filed for bankruptcy in June, about a week after abruptly closing nearly 50 locations in California. The company said it is pursuing bankruptcy to facilitate the sale of the 41-year-old business.

Cleveland-based Melt Bar & Grilled, founded in 2006, filed for Chapter 11 protection in June, noting that it was struggling to pay landlords, providers, and vendors.

New York City culinary landmark Gotham Restaurant filed for bankruptcy in July and permanently closed in November after 40 years in business.

Tampa, Fla.-based World of Beer Bar & Kitchen filed for bankruptcy in August, citing rising interest rates, higher rent and operating costs, and a slow recovery from the pandemic.

In July, EYM Pizza LP, a Pizza Hut franchisee operating about 140 units in the South and Midwest, filed for bankruptcy. The franchisee had previously been sued by Pizza Hut for not paying royalties on time.

Orlando, Fla.-based Buca di Beppo, a family-style Italian concept founded in 1993, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in August, citing declining sales, rising costs, continued staffing challenges, and changes in consumer preferences.

Hawkers Asian Street Food, a 15-unit casual-dining chain based out of Central Florida, filed for bankruptcy protection in September “in order to maintain operational control of the company and preserve the integrity of its brand as to protect from an overreaching lender.”

Tender Greens and parent company One Table Restaurant Brands filed for Chapter 11 protection in July. Together, Tender Greens and Tocaya operate about 40 locations, mostly in California.

Rōti Modern Mediterranean is seeking to reorganize after filing for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in August. The Chicago-based fast casual company has 19 restaurants in three states and the District of Columbia.

BurgerFi International, parent company of BurgerFi and Anthony’s Coal Fired Pizza, filed for bankruptcy in September after battling financial challenges for the past several years.

Original Harold’s Chicken of Nevada filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in October. The company operates two locations in the state, one in North Las Vegas, and one in Henderson.

Smokin’ Dutchman Holdings, a Dickey’s Barbecue Restaurants’ franchisee with four locations in Michigan, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in September. In its filing, franchisee Krage Fox blamed the franchisor for imposing “extreme and unreasonable demands upon the financial resources” of his company.

Fired Pie, an Arizona-based fast casual company founded in 2013, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in November.

TGI Fridays filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in early November just days after shuttering nearly 50 restaurants, and months after closing another 39 locations. 

Louisiana Apple, an Applebee’s franchisee with 14 locations in Kentucky, Oklahoma, Indiana, and Arkansas, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in October following a lawsuit issued by one of its creditors.

Oath Pizza — the Boston-based, fast-casual pizza brand — declared Chapter 7 bankruptcy on Oct. 22 and will be liquidating its assets one year after closing all of its corporate locations. The Next Level Pizza-owned small chain estimated that it had under $500,000 in assets and was up to $50 million in debt.

Sticky’s Holdings, parent company of the New York City-based chicken tender concept Sticky’s, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in April, largely citing the pandemic as the reason for its financial troubles.