Casual dining chains across the U.S. are leaning on value meals and menu updates to keep traffic up in 2025. At Chili’s, that strategy is bringing in customers, even as a recent wave of Reddit posts shows some diners saying they are done with the chain over food changes, pricing, and service.
Reddit posts point to repeat complaints from former regulars
In posts shared in late June 2025, several Chili’s customers used Reddit to describe why they stopped going. The complaints were anecdotal, not a scientific survey, but they repeated a few specific issues: discontinued items, altered recipes, rising prices, and meals that some diners said no longer felt worth the cost.
One user wrote that they went from visiting Chili’s once a week to never again after changes to burgers, Chicken Crispers, ribs, and fajitas. Another said they were “basically done” after the loss of the Original Chicken Crisper, a menu item that has remained a frequent point of frustration in multiple threads.
Other posts focused on smaller menu cuts. In one thread, a diner said a mini molten dessert was no longer available and that a more expensive full dessert, paired with a bad steak experience, ended with a blunt decision: they were done with Chili’s.
The complaints are national, but no location-by-location list is confirmed
The posts cited in these discussions do not point to one single city or state. They reflect comments from online users discussing experiences across different Chili’s locations, and the company has not released a location-by-location list tied to any of the specific menu complaints mentioned in those threads.
One especially symbolic complaint involved chili itself. In a separate Reddit discussion about Chili’s taking chili off the menu, one commenter wrote, “Done with Chilis,” while another said it felt strange for a brand named Chili’s to drop an item so tied to its identity.
At the same time, the online criticism does not show a full picture of chainwide customer sentiment. Other Reddit users praised the 3 For Me meal, which starts at $10.99, along with chips and salsa, burgers, margaritas, and the Triple Dipper.
Chili’s growth and customer frustration are happening at the same time
The tension comes as Chili’s parent company, Brinker International, has reported strong same-store sales growth and said improved food, service, and value have helped bring diners back. Chili’s has also pushed burgers, chicken sandwiches, and other menu items aimed at value-focused customers.
Restaurant Dive reported in 2023 that Chili’s rolled out new Chicken Crisper Combos nationwide, describing them as bigger, crispier, and juicier. For some longtime customers, though, newer versions of familiar items have not replaced the older menu staples they preferred.
For customers, the practical takeaway is simple: Chili’s still has popular value options, but some former fans say the chain no longer matches the meals they remember. Based on the recent Reddit posts, the biggest sticking points remain discontinued favorites, price sensitivity, and whether a visit feels worth the bill.
