Introduction
Chili’s is a popular restaurant chain that has been around for decades. But did you know that there are some secrets that Chili’s doesn’t want you to know? From hidden menu items to calorie counts, there are some things that Chili’s would rather keep to themselves. In this article, we’ll reveal 10 secrets that Chili’s doesn’t want you to know. So if you’re a fan of Chili’s, read on to find out what you’ve been missing!
10 Secrets Chili’s Doesn’t Want You to Know
Chili’s is a popular restaurant chain that serves up classic American fare. But there are some secrets that the restaurant doesn’t want you to know. From hidden menu items to calorie counts, here are 10 secrets Chili’s doesn’t want you to know.
1. The Hidden Menu
Chili’s has a hidden menu that is not listed on the regular menu. This menu includes items such as the Quesadilla Explosion Salad, the Ultimate Bacon Burger, and the Big Mouth Bites. To access the hidden menu, you’ll need to ask your server for it.
2. The Calorie Counts
Chili’s doesn’t list the calorie counts of its menu items, but they are available online. If you’re watching your calorie intake, it’s important to know how many calories are in the dishes you’re ordering. You can find the calorie counts of Chili’s menu items on their website.
3. The Allergen Information
Chili’s doesn’t list allergen information on its menu, but it is available online. If you have food allergies, it’s important to know what ingredients are in the dishes you’re ordering. You can find allergen information for Chili’s menu items on their website.
4. The Gluten-Free Options
Chili’s has a variety of gluten-free options, but they are not listed on the menu. To find out which dishes are gluten-free, you’ll need to ask your server. Chili’s also has a gluten-free menu available online.
5. The Secret Sauces
Chili’s has a variety of secret sauces that are not listed on the menu. These sauces include the Cajun Ranch, the Honey-Chipotle, and the Creamy Jalapeno. To access these sauces, you’ll need to ask your server for them.
6. The Free Appetizers
Chili’s offers free appetizers with the purchase of an entree. These appetizers include chips and salsa, queso, and guacamole. To get the free appetizers, you’ll need to ask your server for them.
7. The Happy Hour Deals
Chili’s has a happy hour that offers discounted drinks and appetizers. The happy hour deals are not listed on the menu, but they are available online. To take advantage of the happy hour deals, you’ll need to visit the restaurant during the designated happy hour times.
8. The Kids’ Menu
Chili’s has a kids’ menu that is not listed on the regular menu. The kids’ menu includes items such as mac and cheese, chicken tenders, and mini burgers. To access the kids’ menu, you’ll need to ask your server for it.
9. The Take-Out Options
Chili’s offers take-out options that are not listed on the menu. To order take-out, you’ll need to call the restaurant or order online. Chili’s also offers delivery through third-party services such as DoorDash and Grubhub.
10. The Loyalty Program
Chili’s has a loyalty program that rewards customers for their purchases. The loyalty program is not listed on the menu, but it is available online. To join the loyalty program, you’ll need to sign up on the Chili’s website.
Chili’s has been around for a long time—longer than Applebee’s, Olive Garden, and many other chain restaurants with fun kitschy atmospheres and hard-to-resist appetizers and drinks. The beloved brand is synonymous with Big Mouth Burgers, sizzling fajitas, and salt-rimmed margaritas. But did you ever stop to think about why your grilled chicken fajitas always come out audibly sizzling?
When you do stop to think about Chili’s, its famous baby back ribs with barbecue sauce are likely the first thing that comes to mind. But if your main reference point is that popular jingle, you may not be aware of the chain’s lesser-known secrets. Before heading out to your neighborhood location, catch up on these secrets Chili’s doesn’t want you to know. (Related: After you’re done reading, swing back by to learn the 11 Secrets Texas Roadhouse Doesn’t Want You to Know.)
Fun fact: Chili’s was founded in Texas, but Texas Roadhouse wasn’t founded in the Lone Star state. According to The Daily Meal, entrepreneur Larry Lavine was so inspired by a Texas chili cookoff that he developed his own recipe and decided to open a sit-down restaurant in Dallas that served chili and burgers. At the time, there was nothing like it . . .
While the famous chili remains on the menu, Chili’s is also recognized today for its burgers, fajitas, and ribs.
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The fajitas are required to audibly sizzle as they leave the kitchen—just as they did back in 1984. Back in the day, this was known as the “fajita effect,” according to an excerpt from The Sonic Boom posted on Medium. Once a fresh batch made its way through the dining room, additional orders would reportedly start to pour in from patrons.
But how exactly do they do it? Reddit user r/slackador writes, “When all the other food is ready, the server tells the cooks to send the fajitas out. The cook puts all the meat and stuff on the skillet, squirts ‘sizzle sauce’ all over it (soy sauce, oil mostly) so that the sauce begins to boil and steam, and the fajitas are then IMMEDIATELY brought out to the table before they calm down.”
Indeed, a fellow Redditor corroborated the accuracy of the story. It’s show biz, folks!
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In 1994, Chili’s became the #1 seller of margaritas in the U.S., a title that the chain still holds. According to Vine Pair, part of Chili’s quest to make the perfect margarita is making sure its El Presidente is “hand-shaken exactly 25 times as the server walks it to your table.” While no one quite knows why, cocktail enthusiasts theorize that 25 times is enough to signal to guests that everything is well-blended (and to put on a show, of course!).
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After the “Liquor by the Drink” law was passed in April 1971, restaurants in the Lone Star state were finally allowed to serve liquor to patrons in glasses in addition to beer, according to Texas Monthly. Restauranteurs, like Chili’s founder Larry Lavine, jumped at the chance, according to Vine Pair. “Our idea was to create a place that was cool enough where you could get a great burger and a margarita at dinner as well as lunch,” he previously recalled.
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Chili’s installed tablets on tables in 2013 to make it easier for customers to order when their server wasn’t right there. According to The Atlantic, one effect of these readily accessible tablets is that customers tend to spend more—sometimes up to 20% more. (Keep in mind, images of the chain’s desserts pop up as customers eat their entrées.)
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Steve Carell was a famous fan of Chili’s, so much so that he even worked the chain into a few episodes of The Office. Most notably, The Dundies episode took place at the chain restaurant. However, Carell seemed to turn on the brand in a spoof he did of Lebron James’ “The Decision.” Appearing with Paul Rudd in a 3-minute video, Carell announced his tough decision to switch to Outback Steakhouse.
Chili’s fired back with a tweet and Facebook post calling on fans to defend the restaurant. Outback ran with it, and shared the video on its YouTube Channel.
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While some things are microwaved at Chili’s, the majority of the menu items are not. “Every station has two microwave ovens on it,” claims Redditor user r/TheReverendBill. “Fried food is cooked in fryers; grilled food is cooked on a grill. Soups are frozen in a heavy plastic pouch that is either dropped into a pot of simmering water or microwaved, I can’t remember. Hot desserts are microwaved.”
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Steer clear of the Quesadilla Explosion Salad, which has 1,400 calories and 95 grams of fat. (FYI, that’s more than only two of the Big Mouth Burgers on the menu.) Chili’s Bacon Rancher Burger is the most caloric burger, with 1,780 calories and 128 grams of fat. Keep in mind, this is all before that side of fries and 25-times shaken margarita. Do yourself a favor, and take some time to consult the calorie counts before ordering.
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Chili’s is famous for its baby back ribs, which were introduced back in 1986. A half rack of the Original BBQ flavor will set you back the least amount of calories (710), while a full rack of the Honey-Chipotle BBQ ribs has a whopping 1,520 calories and 106 grams of fat. The ribs are also easy to make at home, but they do take time to prepare—here’s the recipe from ABC News.
The ribs get baked for 2 1/2 hours in a low 275°F oven after they get rubbed with the signature sauce. Then they’re finished on a hot grill—and slathered with even more sauce until charred.
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Chili’s once had a widespread breakfast menu, but it was discontinued back in 2018. However, some locations around the world still serve breakfast, particularly ones inside airports.
But what exactly is on the menu? The location at Chicago O’ Hare offers Breakfast Tacos (750 calories), Cinnamon French Toast (960-1160 calories), a Sunrise Burger (1520 calories), and more. (Best to stick to something a little lighter unless you’re planning to exercise later in the day.)
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