We Finally Know Why Chili's Is So Cheap

Sometimes you just need some comfort food, and when that craving hits, Chili’s is a great place to go. Not only do they have good food, but the prices are unbeatable. You might want one of their famous fajitas or a juicy burger, but regardless of your taste, you can always find something delicious to eat.

But how exactly does Chili’s keep their food prices so low? Is it some special magic that they cast on their menu items? Alas, the reality is far more mundane. Whether it’s thawing soups from frozen bags, mixing their signature margaritas from a mix, or implementing hiring practices designed to retain employees, we finally know why Chili’s is so cheap.

#FastFood #Restaurants #Money

Lots of frozen food | 0:00
Chili's uses the microwave | 1:17
Margarita mix | 2:13
Kraft Macaroni & Cheese | 3:14
Chili's hires lots of employees… | 4:04
But doesn't pay them much | 5:35
Virtual brands are business boosters | 6:42
Chili's prioritizes takeout orders | 7:55
It's embraced third-party delivery | 9:18
Cutting menu items cuts costs | 10:20
Big portions at small prices | 11:28

[MashedFood]

What is your favorite item to get at Chili's?

[michaelf.]

I wish I was affluent enough to think Chilis was cheap lol

[paulpuglia]

Same as Olive Garden it all their food is pre cooked and made in a factory it's vacuum packed and froze so you're buying a expensive TV dinner

[nickystripe]

My husband and I are two retired teachers in Texas. Since Texas is 48, 49, or 50 in teacher pay and probably last an teacher retirement and I don’t remember the exact statistic, but for us Chili’s is a nice meal out. We don’t care that it’s cheap. It taste good. We have been to restaurants that use canned vegetables instead of frozen, and we really hate that. I won’t go to a restaurant that serves canned vegetables at a restaurant price. Anyway, there is nothing wrong with Chili’s and anybody with half a brain knows that any place that has so many menu items hast to use frozen foods. I just wish that they would get there small dessert shots back that they used to have a long time ago. All of their desserts are too huge.

[vigal]

I generally like this restaurant. I’ve never really had an issue there. Every time I go, I usually get their skillet queso dip. At first I was reluctant to try something like that, but the first time I tried it I loved it and I got hooked.

Okay so the desert she mentioned are microwaved. Let’s be honest, I’m not gonna throw a big cookie together and then throw ice cream on top of that at home am I? No, not really.

[GrayWoIf]

I mean the 3 for $10.99 is a great deal for the amount of food you get

[charmainemrtnz]

It works for me. Nothing bad to say about Chili’s.

[kennyftcummings]

The shade thing on the no fresh ingredients in the marg thing is absolutely hilarious, almost 90% of bars do it and I’m from Hawaii it’s just not sustainable there’s to much people to not make it with reg sour mix

[edselgreaves]

I don't live in the US and Chili's is so expensive here in my country that most people stopped going to it lol. It used to be okay once in a while back in the 90s & early 2000s, but almost everyone finds a better way to spend their money than go to Chili's now. Last time I been there was in 2016 to do a group celebration with my colleagues after work, and that was mainly because Chili's was up the road. We all stayed half an hour then decided it was pointless to remain any longer because we couldn't afford more than one plate each and a couple of drinks. And this was for old people and young people, so income disparity wasn't the issue, it just made more sense to use the money on your kids or for grocery shopping.

[paytonconway]

As a busser at Chili's I can confirm every bit of this info to be true.

[SandmanFightingSys]

The Kraft Mac and cheese thing is bullsh*t. Their Mac noodles come in large bags uncooked ( dried pasta ) and the cheese comes in huge bags. The pasta is cooked, seasoning is added to the pasta then the cheese is added.

[davidb]

So, they mix a powder with triple sec and tequila to make a margarita. There are only three ingredients in a margarita. In other words, Chiles is too cheap to use real lime.

[gregcowen]

You’re eating/drinking at chili’s, sorry ya don’t get to complain!!! I mean, let’s be real; you know where you are; don’t have high expectations

[robbinruffino]

Things have changed since this video: the 3/$10 is down to 1 side, the chicken strips are small and they got rid of the onion petals, even though they were popular

[axsemotel]

"Cheap"? One chicken sandwich is 26 dollars in my country

[tigrayplea]

who said chilly are cheap. Where i live we can't offer to buy chilly . It is very expensive .

[ci]

Probably the cheapest chain restaurant in my area

I've worked in the Chili's kitchen as a job shadow for school. It's frozen but it's cheap and tastes good.

Yeah they microwave rice and fresh broccoli

[CoreyL-vdts]

You can tell whoever wrote the script for this video and the armchair chef comment experts dont know a lot about cooking or the restaurant industry in general. Just because something is frozen, prepped, or partially cooked doesn’t mean low quality. People trying to compare the frozen Mac or soups to tv dinners likely have little to zero culinary knowledge. Chilis has these products pre prepped and partially cooked in large batches to reduce on waste and overhead. The wings btw are pre baked and then cooled every morning and then dropped in the fryer to crisp for ~4 minutes before tossing in sauce. The idea that prep = bad food is ridiculous especially considering that chilis is a huge chain restaurant and growing rapidly since 2020. I know a lot of people were upset that they discontinued the original crispers but the new recipe is still pretty good and by comparative their “shrinkflation” isn’t half as bad as the rest of the nation. The crispers aren’t frozen btw they are battered and made to order. At least at my location.

[davidb]

Don’t eat at any restaurant that has a six page menu.

[Drecofay]

The way she said "it's made with a mix" made her sound like GlaDOS