"The food wasn't super traditional. It didn't claim to be. You got fajitas, nachos, chimichangas, taco salads in fried tortilla bowls, lots of cheese, big plates, loud colors, and frozen margaritas. And people loved it, especially in suburban areas, where you didn't really have anything like it. Chi-Chi's became the go-to for a night out - fun, casual, with a menu that felt adventurous if you'd never had Tex-Mex. It quickly became one of the most popular restaurant chains in the 1980s."
"It grew fast to over 200 locations at one point, but after a while, it started to fall apart. Ownership changes, other chains showing up, and then in 2003, a big hepatitis A outbreak hit. The whole thing unraveled. They filed for bankruptcy, and by 2004, the restaurants were closed. The chain later faced criticism for cultural appropriation, but it also left behind a wave of nostalgia. Chi-Chi's changed what a lot of people thought Mexican food meant, even if it wasn't traditional."
Chi-Chi's opened in Minneapolis in 1975 and introduced many Americans to Tex‑Mex and Americanized Mexican dishes. The menu emphasized fajitas, nachos, chimichangas, taco salads in fried bowls, large cheesy plates, bold colors, and frozen margaritas, appealing especially to suburban diners. The chain expanded rapidly to over 200 locations and became a popular casual dining option in the 1980s. Financial and ownership problems, competition, and a 2003 hepatitis A outbreak precipitated bankruptcy and closure by 2004. The brand survived in retail food products under Hormel, and family rights holders plan to reopen restaurants under the Chi‑Chi's name in 2025.
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