10 Ordering Mistakes You're Probably Making At Chili's
Since 1975, Chili's has been a popular chain restaurant serving all-American favorites like fajitas, cold drinks, and the famed chicken crispers. However, like many chain restaurants, Chili's menu has continued to expand and change over time. These advancements offer guests more meal choices than at the restaurant's inception (Chili's was initially touted as a burger establishment).
Still, it can also bring some uncertainty about ordering into the mix. What if you order the wrong thing or pick something underwhelming since there are so many options?
Luckily, we have a solution to your ordering woes. We have compiled 10 ordering mistakes you are probably making at Chili's (and spoiler alert, number six might blow your mind!). Whether you only go to Chili's for dessert or prefer to sit at the bar for hours with friends, we have ordering secrets you won't want to miss. Now, pass us a margarita, will you?
1. Not using your My Chili's Rewards
It can be easy to forget to use a rewards program every time you eat somewhere, but you're likely leaving money (and food) on the table when you don't remember. The My Chili's Rewards program has free registration, and signup can be completed in under five minutes on the website. And with the tableside tablet, you can even sign up for the rewards program while you're in the restaurant. What could be simpler than that?
Wondering why you should bother? As a My Chili's Rewards member, you can get free chips and salsa with every order over $5 (to-go or in the restaurant). Additionally, you'll get a free dessert of your choice on your birthday.
To access your rewards, simply download the Chili's app or wait for a text or email. The texts or emails will alert you when you have a reward to use. Plus, you'll even get perks like free meals, appetizers, and drinks when you eat at the restaurant frequently.
2. Selecting broccoli or Mexican street corn as a side
Although some people swear everything at Chili's is microwaved, it isn't true. According to a Redditor called Drag0nV3n0m231, an employee at Chili's, sides like Mexican street corn and broccoli are microwaved, but plenty of others are actually cooked or fried. The broccoli and corn are akin to the frozen veggie bags in the freezer aisle of your local grocery store. Although there isn't anything wrong with frozen or microwaved food, most usually want something a little fresher when eating out.
If you're looking for a side that is made to order, consider choosing something like the french fries. These are initially frozen but are dropped in a hot vat of oil to be fried immediately upon ordering, per the same Chili's line cook.
Not in a fry mood? Consider checking out one of Chili's many other sides, which include: black beans, mashed potatoes, asparagus (for an upcharge), mac and cheese, Mexican rice, regular corn, and coleslaw.
3. Not asking for the gluten-free and vegetarian menus
Do you have special requests due to allergies or diet preferences? No problem! Chili's even has a separate menu detailing all the options for gluten-free and vegetarian guests. Additionally, this menu shows which common allergens are in each menu item, as well as how the item is prepared. This is great for anyone concerned about their food's potential interaction with allergens. When it comes to gluten-free foods, "Chili's and Outback are heaven ... as far as large chains go," Redditor (and gluten-free reviewer) Beautiful-Offer-3238 explained in a post.
However, Chili's does make a disclaimer that those with severe allergies (like those that can go into anaphylactic shock over cross-contamination) should avoid all foods cooked on the grill or in the fryer. This is because they cannot guarantee the safety of these foods since plenty of other meals are cooked using these appliances. If you have any questions or concerns, check with your local Chili's restaurant for additional information.
4. Not ordering a lava cake for dessert
If you spend too much of your time googling how to make a lava cake at home (and then failing miserably), go to your local Chili's instead! Their molten lava cake has been a menu staple for years, and has decadent chocolate cake with a hard chocolate shell coating the vanilla ice cream.
Think of a Dairy Queen dipped cone. You'll get a satisfying crunch from the chocolate, and the cold creaminess of the vanilla ice cream. Occasionally, your waiter or waitress may even drizzle caramel sauce on the delicious cake (just ask nicely)! And if you get this sweet treat to go, you can still enjoy the ice cream (they give it to you in a separate container to prevent melting), but know that it won't have the chocolate shell.
Craving something else sweet? Chili's also offers a warm chocolate chip cookie skillet (which is delicious), and slices of traditional, New York-style cheesecake.
5. Not taking advantage of specials
If you've been going to Chili's for years, you may recall the glorious 2 for $20 meal, which included two full-sized entrees, an appetizer, and dessert all for $20. Unfortunately, Chili's no longer offers this deal (which makes sense due to inflation). Luckily, they've replaced it with another great special: the 3 for Me.
The 3 for Me starts at $10.99 (and can go up if you choose items that add additional charges), and includes one entree, a non-alcoholic drink, and an appetizer to enjoy. You can pick between 10 different popular entrees including various types of chicken crispers, pasta, a burger, or a quesadilla.
Additionally, if you go at lunch time, there are a variety of specials to enjoy. In fact, you can get a lunch entree for as little as $10, which is essentially just a smaller portion of what you'd get at dinner time. If you're short on time and need a quick lunch during the work day, this is the ideal place to get a filling meal at a reasonable price.
6. Getting your alcohol only at the bar
Bring the party home or to your next gathering with Chili's alcohol to-go menu! Enjoy favorites like the Presidente Margarita in individual or gallon sizes (some states restricted). The gallon size is reportedly around $40 depending on your location, and makes between 20 to 25 drinks contingent on your pour. It is worth noting that you have to purchase at least one food item to enjoy the to-go alcohol, so keep this in mind before ordering.
This is a great way to get enough alcohol for a party without worrying about purchasing all the additional mix-ins. Additionally, you can grab an appetizer (or a big portion of chips and salsa) for your party to fulfill the must order food criteria.
You can also order individually-packed drinks if you just want one or two (versus enough for a party). Chili's will give you one small bottle of liquor in a plastic bag along with the needed add-ins. Additionally, they'll give you a sealed to-go cup with the remainder of the pre-made mix (and sometimes ice if you ask).
7. Not asking about drink specials
Occasionally, Chili's has not-so-secret specials that include drinks crafted with specialty ingredients at an affordable price. The latest promotion is the margarita of the month, which includes a unique margarita for just $6. Each month, the promoted drink changes. For example, the month of March's drink was the Lucky Jameson, which featured whiskey, Jameson, tequila, and triple sec. For February, Chili's pulled out all the stops for lovebirds with the Grand Romance Rita, which included blackberry, tequila, Grand Marnier, and sour mix. In the month of April, the Cheers to Patrón is the margarita of the month. The drink includes Patrón, triple sec, and the pre-made sour mix from Chili's all for $6.
Additionally, Chili's also has happy hour specials that in some locations includes things like $3 Bud Lights, $4 Modelos, $5 house wine, and $6 Sangria or Strawberry Margaritas. Essentially, if you need a place to get drinks with friends on a budget, Chili's is the ideal spot thanks to their marg of the month and happy hour drink specials.
8. Getting a dressing other than ranch
The ranch at Chili's is known to be good, and even the employees themselves think so. Spoiler alert: The ranch is actually made on-site and doesn't come totally prepackaged like a lot of their other sauces and dressings do.
"Basically we mixed up a giant bucket with mayo, powdered buttermilk, and a seasoning pack from the corporate kitchen," a Reddit user called I_Want_My_Babyback, who is also a former line cook at Chili's, explained when asked how the ranch was made. "The trick is buttermilk — just not too much," added the same Redditor.
Need some help picking the best pairings from the menu? We're partial to the quesadilla or original chicken crispers with a side (or four) of delicious ranch. And no, it doesn't taste like the boring, pre-made Hidden Valley ranch you get in bottles at the grocery store — it tastes like Chili's themselves scooped the ranch from a magical well. Are we being dramatic? Maybe, but the ranch dressing is really worth trying out next time you're at Chili's.
9. Ordering seafood
Every restaurant has a type of food they prepare really well and take extra time to make sure they get it right. Sometimes these restaurants even specially-source this item to make sure it is perfect every time. Seafood is not that type of item for Chili's.
"I do not recommend the seafood," shared I_Want_My_Babyback, a former line cook at Chili's, on Reddit before adding, "You're at a chain restaurant, and one that sells themselves as a Tex-Mex grill. Are you really expecting decent seafood in this situation?" This same person shares that items like the baked seafood pasta and salmon should also be avoided.
Instead, we recommend choosing something from the menu like the fajitas or chicken crispers, which are a Chili's specialty and made to order. You will have a better meal and likely will not be bemoaning your dinner selection. No dry meat or seafood with these selections!
10. Forgetting to use the tablet at the table
Since 2014, Chili's has utilized tablets to make serving customers quicker and more efficient. Ready to pay your bill? You don't need to wait for your server, as you can pay with your credit card right from the table. Still hungry for more? You can even order another round of drinks or other food without flagging down a staff member.
Additionally, you can sign up for the free Chili's reward program to earn perks like complimentary appetizers or kid's meals right from the table. And if you're looking to have a little fun while sipping your drink on a date night, play one of the hundreds of games available at your fingertips.
Unfortunately, these games are pay-to-play, so you might not want to let your five-year old run wild with the tablet. Some of the games cost as much as $8 per five plays, although some are notably cheaper. Still, it is a fun addition to the restaurant experience that both adults and kids alike can enjoy.