A blast from the past - the Return of Chi-Chi's!

[luvmarypoppins]

We would go when we visited fil in the next state. I remember getting the enchilada Cancun. It was pretty popular there at the time.

 

[Micca]

When they opened in my hometown it was packed, and the lobby was always filled with people waiting for a table. I enjoyed eating there, I wonder how the quality will be compared to other chain Mexican restaurants.

 

[Cadiewampus]

Seems like they closed a lot longer ago than 2004

 

[AppleDumpling]

We had Chi Chi’s in the area. It was good, but we preferred El Torito’s. I’m thinking both have been gone since sometime in the 90’s.

 

[sarahann77]

Loved Chi Chis. Excited and hope they come back to Ohio. They're old spot near me is now available. I've tried many of our local mexican and haven't found anyone close to their enchiladas I loved. I'm sure it's americanized in comparison but so are many others. Our local places have done some shady things with tip charges so we don't frequent any of them.

 

[hertamaniac]

We had a Chi-Chi's. I enjoyed their fried ice cream with the honey poured over top.

 

[Cannot_Wait_4Disney]

Is Chi-Chi's supposed to be like El Torito? I remember hearing about Chi-Chi's Restaurants but I didn't have any where i'm at. I never knew they were making a comeback but my family used to go to Mexican restaurants with my relatives when we would visit some of my relatives in Texas. But we would eat at Pancho's Mexican Buffet all the time. Did you ever eat at a Pancho's Mexican Buffet? They were like Chi-Chi's Restaurants and had great tasting food as well

At one time, they were very similar. Though the outbreak did them in, they were in real trouble before then. Bad management, and high turnover led to inconsistent quality even by fake Mexican food standards. Many locations became a haven for underage drinking. And the rise of fast casual fake Mexican food, and the rise of far more authentic Mexican food to be had would have done them in anyway. These days, I can find something far more authentic in any medium sized or larger city and in the majority of small cities also. I really have no desire to go back to a Chi Chis. Well ok maybe for a 20,000 calorie deep fried salad.

 

[NYCgrrl]

Don’t think there was a Chi Chi’s in NYC. There’s a lot of chains we don’t get.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

Don’t think there was a Chi Chi’s in NYC. There’s a lot of chains we don’t get.

I think all of their NY locations were upstate. I know we had a several in NJ. Some were farther south...like Cherry Hill area. The closest one to me in my NJ days was Woodbridge, but I think there were also ones in East Brunswick and the Secaucus, NJ location would probably have been the closest/most accessible to NYC.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

I loved Chi-Chi's back in my NJ days. We didn't really have much in the way of Mexican restaurants and the ones near us were always packed. I remember being a little scared to try the food, thinking it might be spicy. We didn't have any near us in our part of FL and I'm nearly positive they never made it to TX (which makes sense when you consider the competition).

 

[AppleDumpling]

I think all of their NY locations were upstate. I know we had a several in NJ. Some were farther south...like Cherry Hill area. The closest one to me in my NJ days was Woodbridge, but I think there were also ones in East Brunswick and the Secaucus, NJ location would probably have been the closest/most accessible to NYC.

There were a few on Long Island.

 

[TiggerTrigger]

There were a few on Long Island.

That makes sense...a lot of suburban living to support the locations.

 

[NYCgrrl]

There were a few on Long Island.

That makes sense. The man grew up in LI and waxed nostalgically about a lot of places he couldn’t eat at in Manhattan.

 

[Forevermarypoppins]

https://www.yahoo.com/news/chi-chi-mexican-restaurant-chain-003410518.html

I probably won't be making any road trip plans to head to Minnesota, but I have some fond memories of Chi-Chi's (at least prior to their Hep A outbreak )

WE were just talking about Chi Chi's on Thanksgiving Day. what a coincidence.
Matrgarita Tuesdays and that cheese sauce with chips!!! Those were good times!

 

[SandyinMonterey]

My husband told me about this a couple of days ago (with much happiness!). Had a Chi-Chi's in the town I grew up in. Loved their chimichangas. I just hope they come to the state I live in now.

 

[Kennywood]

I am super excited by this news! Hopefully, one of the restaurants will open nearby.

Chi-Chi's was a family-favorite restaurant of ours. Although my dad could easily pronounce "chimichanga", he enjoyed saying that he was going to order a chewy-chewy-gum-gum. Lol

By the way, Chi-Chi's had a really good pizza appetizer!

 

[JBRB828]

That was my oldest sons first job. My DH would pick him up after his evening shift and my son would show us the wad of cash he made.
I hope it come to NJ!!

 

[eandt]

Ok can we get the old time Pizza Huts back now? The tables, the checkered cloths, the red cups … I want it all back!