Chili’s Grill & Bar

The first Chili’s Grill & Bar opened in March 1975 in Dallas. It was founded by Larry Lavine.

The casual-dining Chili’s is now a division of Dallas-based Brinker International Inc., which also owns the Maggiano’s Little Italy full-service brand and the It’s Just Wings virtual brand.

Lavine sold Chili’s to casual-dining pioneer Norman Brinker in 1983. The company went public in 1984.

Chili’s offers a menu of American foods inspired by Tex-Mex staples, including the Big Mouth Burger, fajitas and baby-back ribs, which were popularized in a catchy advertising jingle. The brand’s full-service bar offers the signature Presidente margarita.

Chili’s has a delivery program exclusively with DoorDash. In 2020, parent Brinker expanded its virtual It’s Just Wings brand, first exclusively for delivery with DoorDash, to about 1,100 Chili’s and Maggiano’s units. During the COVID-19 pandemic, Chili’s also enhanced its curbside delivery capabilities.

Brinker owns, operates or franchises more than 1,600 restaurants in 29 countries and two territories.

Headquarters: Dallas

Segment: Casual Dining

Restaurant Segment: FSR American

Number of Locations: 1,232

2020 Sales: $3.21 billion

Annual Growth:

Source: Datassential Firefly 500

CEO: Wyman Roberts

Parent/Group: Brinker International Inc.