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
Read Full Article: www.mashed.com/825318/we-fina...

[@MashedFood]

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

[@palestinabaddie]

Hi

[@NotYourNormalOP]

My fav item at chili’s is not going to chili’s

[@iluvsooubway8008]

Fajitas

[@Blastoff24001aj]

I DEFINITELY love The Chicken Crispers!!! They are so crispy, and they’ve got cool juice-like flavor inside! The Curly Fries are SPECTACULAR!!

[@user-rz8bu6vl8x]

The burgers used to be so good, but they're going down fast 😞

[@michaelf.537]

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

[@jermainemouzon4909]

😂

[@MetalsirenIXI]

Im not rich but I wouldn't call their food "cheap"

[@nickystripe3303]

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.

[@vigal79]

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.

[@50TonSavage]

The cookie skillet isn’t microwaved at least they shouldn’t be the only desert microwaved is the molten cake.

[@Eric-jk3oi]

I'm eating the hamburger right now from GrubHub from Chili's and let me tell you I'm glad I got some extra toilet paper cuz I am going to blow out the toilet. God damn I don't know what the hell. What wrong with this bad boy

[@stinkywinky03]

@@Eric-jk3oibut u kept eating it??

[@Eric-jk3oi]

@@stinkywinky03 Now my last fat shit was at chilli's this past weekend that boy was a 3 flusher. Thought was gonna flood the whole bathroom. honestly probably was a 4 flusher left some skid marks but had to leave the smell was unbearable so left at 3 flushes

[@CoreyL-vd9ts]

The cookie is not microwaved. If the lady in the video said that, It should be redacted. it’s broiled in a 500degree oven

[@charmainemrtnz]

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

[@paulpuglia8480]

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

[@maxinemorris6927]

Yes

[@NotYourNormalOP]

That’s how small town people going out you know

[@stoneysscapes7544]

But the Chicken Parm is so freaking good, crisp and cracking on another level with the salad situation and the 2nd best bread next to Outback Steakhouse....I know I am sure hungry 😋

[@phillipallred5172]

I worked prep in the back, and only a few things like the soups, and ravioli were vacuum sealed and heated up. Noodles cooked in house, chicken cooked to order, and Alfredo sauce was made in house. Meat sauce came from a pack tho, also most vegetables were shipped daily fresh. The salads were the grossest part to me, it's just a small Station by itself "ran" by the servers who deliver your breadsticks. They would neglect that thing ALL day and it would look greasy and disgusting come 7-8pm.

[@GrayWoIf]

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

[@misterclownface]

It is now 3 for 11.99. Went up twice in the last 6-7 months. Was 3 for 10.

[@type2red]

$10.99 here in NC and cheaper than McDonalds and curb side pick up is perfect 👌🏽.

[@kennyftcummings6668]

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

[@edselgreaves6503]

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.

[@paytonconway3726]

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

[@ScottysBackYardBBQ]

ribs too are frozen

[@Ruxify]

Lol, Chili's is nightmarishly expensive now. They have a new steak + shrimp entree that's literally $30.

[@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.

[@gregcowen930]

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

[@davidb8373]

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.

[@robertlott8766]

As a former server and bartender. You squeeze 70 limes to fill that machine.

[@davidb8373]

@@robertlott8766 I make margaritas at home. I didn’t realize I was supposed to use a machine.

[@user-rz8bu6vl8x]

You come out cheaper making your own at home, with your own ingredients. But if eating out, I order shots of tequila with orange juice or lemon/lime drink.

[@Drecofay]

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

[@robbinruffino1201]

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

[@jordangraham3159]

Have you seen the price of that bacon rancher burger? That thing's like $18 when you order through doordash. Granted I know it's more expensive that way if you don't actually go to the restaurant yourself but still. It's expensive as hell

[@Amanda-hn1im]

It's a huge burger

[@ci7210]

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

[@tigrayplea5385]

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

[@axsemotel]

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

[@BlazetheCat-34079]

Chili's has way better Bugers then Texas Roadhouse

[@NapoleonBonaparteMAGA]

Are the burgers frozen?

[@brianmoody2549]

You can tell when food is frozen,the it looks tastes.

[@misterclownface]

I like Chilis, but they are getting worst and worst. Prices are up 20% and they lowered the portions almost by half at least the one near me. Less food for more money. I ordered today and the soups that were almost filled up on a container is now half full. The side items like mashed or loaded potatoes are about 25% less portion and the chicken crispers are smaller in size.

[@user-rz8bu6vl8x]

I totally agree, used to visit my Chili's every week, no more! Terrible drinks, cold food!

[@kaidenhall3223]

Is it tho?

[@nunyabidness5375]

Never been, now I know why

[@david_reynolds3660]

It’s just wings is slop! I tried it here a couple weeks ago while staying at a hotel. The absolute worst wings I have ever had! You can get better wings at a flying J truckstop then you can from Chili’s any day of the week and twice on Sunday!

[@CoreyL-vd9ts]

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.

[@pdiddy828100]

Sounds like disgruntled former employees of chilis lol

[@pootypump7440]

Maybe but the food isn't all that good. Mid.

[@anweringchristians1]

Time to roll to chili’s and chow down with my fkn boyz.

[@Alavachemusic]

As someone who doesn't use microwaves at home I find it really insulting finding out how many of these restaurants are just microwaving your food.

[@temporallabsol9531]

Lmao.

[@rivera5589]

Chilis cheap ? Not the ones here in los Angeles California. Went last week with a coworker only the two of us $65+ including drinks . Yea that’s pricey not goin back there again that’s for sure .

[@GalCharlotte]

That’s not bad. My boyfriend went for lunch, to a pub, last week. Same cost.

[@jimmymorris9278]

That's a lie u doing like u ate a lot

[@davidb8373]

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

[@cutabove9046]

The problem with Chili's isn't the food, it's the service. There isn't any. The servers are too busy chatting with each other or on their phones.

[@Metaljesuslol]

How you gonna expose CHEF MIKE like this?!

[@Egalitarian-bt7kz]

Chili’s is NOT cheap!

[@thecunninlynguist]

relatively to places liek BJ's TGIFriday's etc. it's probably the cheapest. The 3 for 10 or 2 for 25 are goodish deals

[@amandapandakrueger]

They are cheap on their employees as well

[@wttw4942]

Chili's reduced its menu to four trashy items and also further reduced the mediocre level of quality it previously had. I don't know how they were able to go lower! Now it's basically a type of business like Hooters, junk frozen food, weird flappy and skinny tits, and one bigger than the other. The drinks . . ., I can make them a lot better at home, and I suck as a bartender!

[@tobiasgoodman516]

In what world is a $20 burger unbeatable?

[@fadedtimes]

No wonder chilis food tastes so bland and looks overly perfect. It’s all frozen or heated up by microwave

[@billj4137]

So mashed gets all its info from the internet?

[@mikedag1176]

Dining out in America in 2022 is %$##@ EXPENSIVE...I don't care where the hell you go: Taco Bell Is my wife's GO TO fast food. I got her her usual the other day 5 items came to $ 24.00 . For one !! I cook my own shit. Fuck dining out.

[@cresenciocarreon8140]

Chili's is better than Applebee's

[@maemae7063]

I miss this lady voice

[@shaunharn1998]

‘Cheap’??

[@tamara7859]

Hi

[@jamesboswell530]

Chili’s 🌶 isn’t cheap and for that reason and only that reason I’m awarding this video with my downvote 👎 congratulations you’ve earned it Mashed!

[@andersonsystem2]

Lol they reheat it and you pay fir it .

[@RichieLA1]

This is why I don't eat at Chili's. Ugh!!!!!!!!

[@javonwatkins6924]

Chilies is so damm good there sweet tenders the best

[@Softic_69]

Poo

[@safaamortada]

أنا اسمى صفاء مرتضى قناتى بتقدم روتينات بشجعك على شغل البيت بسهولة وبطريقة منظمة ويومياتى أنا اولادى بعشق التنظيف والتنظيم والترتيب وبحب المطبخ وبحب جدا ،♥️ يكون عندى اخوات كتير🌹🤲👋😍،😍🌹،،،

[@stevo6703]

This channel screams "tell me you're detached from reality without telling me you're detached from reality" w its "why these are so 'cheap' " claims. Bunch over middle class snubs writing these scripts.

[@cindiagarrett9451]

I am filing this under 'Disinformation' in my file. Your definition of cheap does not match MY definition of cheap! Perhaps you mean their methods make operations cheap for Chili's, but Chili's is not cheap dining for customers. Kids Eat Free with Adult Entree does not help people who do not have kids or grandkids.

[@davidb8373]

Cry