1851

The idea for <a href="http://rubysfranchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-rubys-diners-dedication-to-high-quality-made-from-scratch-food-is-a-key-differentiator-in-the-restaurant-industry-12191" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ruby&rsquo;s Diner</a> came in 1981 after Doug Cavanaugh returned from a long run on the beach. Cavanaugh had just moved back to his native Southern California after successfully restoring and running a restaurant on Nantucket Island. One evening, he was brainstorming new business opportunities with his father when he remembered that he had seen a dilapidated old building at the end of Balboa Pier&mdash;a sight that he frequently passed while jogging along the beach. With his father&rsquo;s encouragement, Cavanaugh decided to take advantage of an opportunity that was sitting right in front of him&mdash;it was time to restore that run-down building into a vibrant and bustling restaurant.

With three employees and a simple menu of hamburgers, hot dogs and malt shakes, that old building eventually became <a href="https://rubys.1851franchise.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=how-rubys-diners-dedication-to-high-quality-made-from-scratch-food-is-a-key-differentiator-in-the-restaurant-industry-12191" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Ruby&rsquo;s Diner</a>, and its goal was to bring back the diner-style charm of the 1940s. But beyond the big band music, the candy stripe costumes and the kitschy diner d&eacute;cor, customers quickly fell in love with Ruby&rsquo;s for one simple reason&mdash;its dedication to serving up really good food. From griddle-style cheese burgers to malt-shop milkshakes, it&rsquo;s clear that the brand&rsquo;s original mission continues to fuel the restaurant&rsquo;s success every single day.&nbsp;

Using a homemade brioche bun, the highest quality beef, real cheese, freshly sliced tomatoes and sauces made from scratch, Ruby&rsquo;s boasts some of the best burgers in the industry. That same attention to detail extends to everything else on the menu, too. Ruby&rsquo;s was one of the first chains in the United States to adopt trans-fat free oil. Their milkshakes are whipped up with special ice cream, Hershey&rsquo;s syrup and top-quality malted milk. And all of their dressings are still made from scratch.

&ldquo;The moment someone tastes our food, they have that &lsquo;a-ha&rsquo; moment. They realize what makes Ruby&rsquo;s Diner so special,&rdquo; Cavanaugh said. &ldquo;That type of in-house detail just isn&rsquo;t there anymore for a lot of restaurants. It&rsquo;s uncommon to put that much care in the food you serve. Those are our key differentiators. Our complete dedication to quality has gone a long way in making the brand noteworthy. It&rsquo;s what set us apart the first day we opened our doors, and it&rsquo;s what sets us apart as we&rsquo;ve grown.&rdquo;

But don&rsquo;t be fooled by the tradition that Ruby&rsquo;s Diner was built on&mdash;the brand isn&rsquo;t afraid to innovate either. By approaching its menu with a consumer mindset, Ruby&rsquo;s Diner has tweaked and revamped its menu to evolve alongside changing trends. For example, Ruby&rsquo;s Diner was one of the very first restaurants to sell a garden burger and one of the first to boast a vegetarian menu. The restaurant also introduced turkey burgers to its menu long before people were even familiar with the healthier riff on the American classic.

Nearly 35 years later, it&rsquo;s clear this combination of old-school meets new-school has worked in Ruby&rsquo;s favor. Ruby&rsquo;s Diner can be found throughout the country, with more than 35 restaurants across California, Nevada and Texas, including mall, casino and airport locations. Now, backed by a commitment to provide only the very best for its guests, Ruby&rsquo;s is continuing its strategic growth in the Southern California market and beyond through an unparalleled franchising opportunity.

&ldquo;When I talk to people, they all have a story about the time they dined at Ruby&rsquo;s. Whether they love our burgers or our milkshakes, they have memories here,&rdquo; Cavanaugh added. &ldquo;There are now people coming into our restaurants with their families, and they&rsquo;ll tell me about how they grew up eating Ruby&rsquo;s. It&rsquo;s an incredible thing to see&mdash;and it&rsquo;s a testament to the care we put into the entire Ruby&rsquo;s experience.&rdquo;&nbsp;

How Ruby’s Diner’s Dedication to High-Quality, Made-From-Scratch Food is a Key Differentiator in the Restaurant Industry

1851 Franchise

Since its inception more than 35 years ago, Ruby’s Diner’s dedication to quality has gone a long way in making the brand noteworthy. 

This brand page has been paid for by 1851. Content within this page that is paid will showcase a Sponsored icon. This means the brand has engaged 1851 FRANCHISE to write the content. Content without the Sponsored Icon is aggregated media placements the brand earned. Questions can be sent to editorial@1851franchise.com

how-rubys-diners-dedication-to-high-quality-made-from-scratch-food-is-a-key-differentiator-in-the-restaurant-industry

Mosquito Squad Plus

How This Marine Corps Veteran Found Freedom and Purpose With Mosquito Squad

how-this-marine-corps-veteran-found-freedom-and-purpose-with-mosquito-squad

Spadea Lignana Franchise Attorneys

How The DeFelice Brothers Turned a $10,000 Loan Into an Award-Winning Franchise With Help From Spadea Lignana

how-the-defelice-brothers-turned-a-10000-loan-into-an-award-winning-franchise-with-help-from-spadea-lignana

Caring Transitions

How This Gilbert Entrepreneur Found Purpose Helping Families Through Life’s Transitions

how-this-gilbert-entrepreneur-found-purpose-helping-families-through-lifes-transitions

USA Ninja Challenge

Where Passion Meets Purpose: USA Ninja Challenge Gives Franchisees the Power to Change Lives

where-passion-meets-purpose-usa-ninja-challenge-gives-franchisees-the-power-to-change-lives

SweatHouz

From Finance to Wellness: Natalie Siewers’ Path to Leading SweatHouz in Northern Virginia

sweathouz-franchise-northern-virginia-natalie-siewers

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Thursday 1851 Franchise Agg - NASAA’s Noncompete Push

NASAA’s Noncompete Push Puts Franchise Growth on Uncertain Ground

franchise-noncompete-nasaa-advisory-reasonableness-standard

How a Steady Economy Could Help Franchisors Plan Their Next Move

how-a-steady-economy-could-help-franchisors-plan-their-next-move

Bed Bath & Beyond - Franchise Expansion - Retail Strategy - 1851 Franchise

Bed Bath & Beyond Launches Franchise Model as Part of Comeback Strategy

bed-bath-beyond-franchise-expansion-retail-strategy

Senior Entrepreneurship - Franchising - 1851 Franchise

Senior Entrepreneurship Is Rising — And Franchising Is a Key Outlet

senior-entrepreneurship-franchising-silver-startups

U.S. Government Shutdown - Impact on Franchises - 1851 Franchise

Government Shutdown Stalls SBA Loans: How the Shutdown Could Impact Franchises

government-shutdown-impacts-sba-loans-tourism-franchises

image of franchise deep dive from 1851 franchise on doody calls franchise authority brands

DoodyCalls Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

doodycalls-franchise-deep-dive

image of mellow mushroom deep dive into financials article from 1851 franchise

Mellow Mushroom Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

mellow-mushroom-franchise-deep-dive

Shoot 360 Aims for the Topgolf Model, Using Elite Basketball Tech to Appeal to Players '7 to 70'

shoot-360-franchise-growth-tech-basketball-brad-butterworth

How goGLOW Turned Clean Beauty Into a Scalable Franchise and Why It’s Accelerating Now

goglow-clean-beauty-tanning-franchise

A Practical Playbook: Who To Call First When Franchising Your Business

franchising-your-business-who-to-call-first

NJCAR v. Ford - New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

New Jersey Supreme Court Limits Standing Under Franchise Practices Act

new-jersey-franchise-practices-act-njcar-v-ford

image of jerome hanway from right at home Las Cruces, New Mexico 1851 franchise franchisee spotlight

Jerome Hanway Is Building His Right at Home Franchise Around His Mission To Serve

right-at-home-franchise-las-cruces-jerome-hanway

Power Eats: Smoothie King Rolls Out Food Nationwide To Fuel Franchise Growth

smoothie-king-food-menu-power-eats

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025 - 1851 Franchise

Top Early Childhood Education and Child Care Franchises for 2025

early-childhood-education-child-care-franchises

How Ruby’s Diner’s Dedication to High-Quality, Made-From-Scratch Food is a Key Differentiator in the Restaurant Industry

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS