Chili's Grill & Bar

Financing

Chili's caps an epic comeback with 31% same-store sales growth

The casual-dining chain has ridden value meals and social media buzz to three straight quarters of double-digit growth. It showed no signs of stopping.

Leadership

Brinker International CEO Kevin Hochman is named RB's 2025 Restaurant Leader of the Year

Hochman’s selection by the editors of Restaurant Business recognizes the astonishing growth at Chili’s Grill and Bar, which lapped the casual-dining competition last year.

The casual-dining chain is upgrading one of its signature menu items with fresher ingredients and a new presentation in hopes of selling more fajitas.

Sales of the viral appetizer are up 70% year over year, powering the casual-dining chain to another quarter of double-digit same-store sales growth.

An attack on the Big Mac and a pair of viral TikTok trends helped make Chili’s cool again. Now the challenge will be keeping it that way.

The Bottom Line: Restaurant companies need to get consumers back in the doors. That could require lower margins, even if investors don’t like it.

The casual-dining chain wrapped two full years of turnaround with the Big Smasher burger and Nashville Hot Mozz driving in new guests.

The main operation of Brinker International said traffic jumped 5.9%, in part on the strength of drawing first-time guests. Investors were still not pleased.

A viral TikTok sensation, Nashville Hot Mozz, gets an extra kick of heat and lands on the menu at Chili’s Grill & Bar.

The casual-dining chain was one of the tech company’s first customers and is reigniting the relationship after a four-year interlude.

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