Monterey Chicken shown in photo is topped with BBQ sauce, tomato, cheese and applewood smoked bacon. Served with mashed potatoes with black pepper gravy and seasonal veggies (subject to change)

How's the food? It is quite tasty, and includes quite a few calories. You can stick with salads & soups, but that isn't what Chili's is known for. To get a gestimate of their prices, a special that ran in 2010 offered two entrees for $20, no beverage, etc.

Fortune Magazine called the company that owns Chili's (Brinker's) the World's Most Admired Food Services Companies in 2009. FORBES Magazine named it one of the 400 Best Companies in America between 2002-2007.

Chili's Grill & Bar is a restaurant chain founded by Larry Lavine. In 1975 Chili's opened its first location, a converted postal station on Greenville Avenue in Dallas, as a fun burger joint with a popular happy hour. The following year it was renamed Chili's, Inc. By the early 1980's there were close to 30 Chili's locations featuring similar Southwest decor and an affordable, American menu.  In 1983, Lavine sold Chili's, Inc. to Norman E. Brinker, formerly with Pillsbury restaurant group. He joined the company and under his leadership, it went public that same year.  In 1991, to encompass a growing restaurant portfolio, the name was changed to Brinker International, Inc. Dallas-based Brinker International, Inc.

Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy are its two brands. While the restaurant has offered franchise opportunities, no such opportunities existed in the U.S. at the close of 2010, according to the official Brinker website.

The Menu

Chicken options include Monterey Chicken and Margarita Grilled Chicken, plus several types of Chicken Crispers in original, extra crispy and spicy --Tossed in a new sweet & smoky sauce. Served with corn on the cob,  fries and ranch dressing.

Cajun pasta is Penne pasta with creamy garlic Alfredo sauce with Cajun spices and topped with tomatoes and green onions.

Remember that Chili's started with burgers? Here are some burgers Avocado burger, Shiner Bock BBQ Sauce burger, traditional, mushroom-swiss burger, peppercorn, jalapeno smokehouse bacon burger, Southern Smokehouse bacon burger and bacon burger.

Sandwiches include Turkey, Steak, Pull Pork, and Santa Fe Chicken Wrap.

Chili's includes salads, soups, appetizers, kids' foods,  full cocktail bar, casual, comfortable, carpeted floors, vinyl booths, tables & chair options, and in each restaurant one signature upside down picture on the wall.

California Locations - see Chilis.com

Chico
Yuba City
Roseville (2)
Sacramento (3)
West Sacramento (1)
Fair Oaks
Folsom
El Dorado Hills
Rancho Cordova
Elk Grove
Rohnert Park
Vacaville
San Leandro
San Bruno
Oakland
Fremont
Union City
Concord
Pittsburg
Antioch
Union City
Manteca
Tracy
Modesto
Livermore
Pleasanton
San Ramon
Modesto
Turlock
Morgan Hill
Cupertino
Mountain View
San Jose (4)
Milpetas
Gilroy
Santa Cruz
Salinas
Los Banos
Fresno
Visalia
Tulare
Hanford
Bakersfield
Paso Robles
Arroyo Grande
Barstow
Lancaster
Palmdale
Santa Clarita (2)
West Hills
Encino
Simi Valley
Oxnard
Thousand Oaks (2)
Monrovia
Laverne
Glendora
Northridge
Victorville
Redlands
San Bernardino
Fontana
Rancho Cucamonga
Moreno Valley
Beaumont
Riverside
Corona
Hemet
Lake Elsinore
Murrieta
Temecula
Mission Viejo
Aliso Viejo
Irvine
Foothill Ranch
Orange
Huntington Beach
Los Angeles
Inglewood
Manhattan Beach
Torrance
Carson
Lakewood
Buena Park
Downey
Montclair
Chino Hills
West Covina
City of Industry
Diamond Bar
La Habra
Whittier
Pico Rivera
Cypress
Long Beach
Yorba Linda
El Centro
Oceanside
Vista
Escondido
Encinitas
San Diego (7)
Chula Vista (2)
Poway
La Mesa
Santee

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