I completely agree. Those were the days. I miss Chi-Chi's. That seafood chimi was to die for. Plus the atmosphere was fun. To this day, after dining at many different Mexican-style restaurants since the passing of Chi-Chi's, I haven't found a seafood chimichanga like the one Chi-Chi's made.
@@lindabaron4584 Wasn't that fabulous? Nobody did them like Chi-Chi's, that's for sure. My new favorite Mexican spot does a pretty good shrimp chimi, but it's not the same.
I remember that last time I ate at a Chi Chi's Restaurant in Charleston, West Virginia in the mid 90's. I was on a date night with my wife...lost her to cancer in 2011' two weeks before our 23rd wedding anniversary. I can still remember what she wore that night. Damn!!!
Unbelievably we had a Chi-Chi`s in my small hometown of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. There was also a Toy`s R Us sharing the same parking lot. Decades later I can still vividly see and experience the fun we had in my mind`s eye. God, I miss the 80s!!
I loved Chi Chi's and miss the warm corn chips and salsa served when you sat down at the table... it had a nice atmosphere and the margaritas were the best.
I worked at Chi Chi’s Pointe Claire in Quebec1992-96. My husband and I love to note that if I hadn’t worked there we would never have met. And we know MANY couples that were created through Chi Chi’s staff who are still together :)
It's like this channel dug into my brain, stirred up all my happy 70's/80's childhood memories and is now regurgitating them to me via Recollection road and courtesy of the google algorithm.
Anyone that knows me knows their dead If they ever expose me to one of those tacky birthday things in the restaurant. So I definitely feel your pain I can imagine actually having to do it
Didn't the birthday person get a free fried ice cream or something like that? It seems to me that while leaving the resteraunt after my OLDER brothers birthday dinner (years ago), I recall telling him that I gladly would've paid for his desert, if only to keep those poor servers from having to go through that embarrassing routine again! I'm pretty sure he still has the picture of himself wearing the sombrero too.
You always have great content! Don't know how you put out so many videos. It must take a lot of times research and produce your videos. Chi-Chi's was a favorite I enjoyed.
The second I saw the name, I could hear the sizzling skillets coming out of the kitchen. This one hit my childhood bone. So many good family memories of Saturdays at the mall followed by dinner at Chi-Chis in Pittsburgh.
I am from Connecticut but my mother is from Pittsburgh. We would travel to Pittsburgh twice a year, and I remember hitting up Chi-Chi's on a few occasions. It was always in the outer suburbs near some mall that we drove to like Century 3 or Ross Park, and Waterworks. Nonetheless, I have fond memories of Point Breeze, and being a rascal in Frick Park and Homewood Cemetery.
Tues. nights were margarita nights. They might have been 1/2 price or whatever. I used to go every week, sit at the bar, drink margaritas, and eat free chips and salsa all night. It was great.
I worked at one in Tacoma Washington. It was my first job as a teenager. I was the apps (appetizer) guy. Was there from the grande opening onwards. Was very popular place to eat. Never a slowdown in the apps department. It was very stressful as a teen. I remember actually having nightmares about making the appetizers. Always good for a chuckle when I think back on that job.👍😺
I wondered what happened to Chi Chi's. Back in the 70s I did the plumbing in the restaurant that was built in Springfield, Va. They did a phenomenal business for years after they opened. A couple of the owners were ex-NFL players. Never knew why they failed.
Thanks for this video! Definitely one I wanted to see made. I’m from MN originally and Chi-Chi’s was a place I always enjoyed frequenting. Sad to see them fade out.
This is perhaps my favorite defunct restaurant chain. I absolutely loved Chi-Chi’s “Celebration of Food.” Authentic Mexican or not, their food was awesome. Way better than chain food had any right to be. And that greasy sweet corn bread in a cup stuff was so amazing just dropping a mention of it into a conversation with friends would necessitate an immediate lunch trip to Chi-Chi’s. I went there every single birthday (for my free b-day serving of Mexican fried ice cream along with a side of clapping and singing). Here in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area they had at least a dozen locations through the 90s. So sad when they closed.
When my mother graduated from nursing school, got a job, and we were finally a "two income household" so we were now "rich" enough to eat somewhere other than home or McDonalds, this was our special place to go every Friday night. First time I ever got to eat chips and salsa and fried ice cream--delicacies that I never knew existed in the Mexican restaurant world beyond the usual taco and burrito from Taco Tico
I LOVED ChiChis, especially the seafood chimichangas and their frothy frozen drinks, which you could get by the pitcher. I even ate at one in London, in the early 1990s.
I worked at one (Beaverton, Oregon) in the early 80's as a busboy and bar back. One of the best restaurant jobs I ever had. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane!
I sincerely appreciate all of your “Recollection Road” videos. So many have memories and meaning to me. I had never heard anything about the founders, but I remember Max McGee. I’m not sure that Taco Bell and the likes were ever competition for Chi Chi’s. Taco Bell has been around since the mid 60’s, at least in New Mexico. The great thing about Chi Chi’s was the quantity of food of every dish. Wow! They put others to shame. The food was definitely less spicy than genuine Mexican or TexMex but many people preferred it that way. In Oklahoma and Texas we had Chi Chi’s, El Chico, El Charito, Monterey House as well as Two Pesos, plus local family places. They served more genuine Mexican food but the quantity was less. The atmosphere at Chi Chi’s was great as was the service. Always enjoyable dining. It seems many good restaurants do really well for years and then they lose customers to “the new place”. The food poisoning was unfortunate and unforgivable. I really miss Chi Chi’s (Two Pesos and most of the El Chico and El Charito’s are gone too) 😞
I remember going in with my family in '79. I heard music of soft playing guitar, assuming it was Mexican music, but it turned out to be Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"!!
We had a Chi-Chi's in Fayetteville, NC, 1980's/90's. Loved going there and had a couple birthday parties there when I was a child. The building is still there - Super Chinese Buffet now.
I used to walk thru that entrance like I was a conquistador! & after just two margaritas, I truely got the Mexican experience!! , then a darn cop pulled me over, , ,
This was such a great place to go for dinner and drinks with friends... Their food was always excellent in my experience. Their margaritas were excellent. Service was always great. Atmosphere was extremely comfortable. I miss this place dearly. On the border and Chevy's' are half-decent substitutes, but there's only a few peppered across the northeast.
I guess there isn't much to their story, is there? Chi-chi's was my husband and my favorite Mexican restaurant and we were broken-hearted when they closed. We've never found another Mex restaurant we've liked as much ever since. But I did score a Chi-chi's margarita glass at a vintage store a few weeks ago, so I'm thrilled to still have a little piece of it. And their salsa from the supermarket is my favorite kind.
I had one of their hand-painted bar stools for about 30 years after our local Chi-Chi's closed. Just passed it on last year when I moved. The staff painted the stools in many wild colors. Who remembers?
My friends and I used to go there on Friday nights after our last college classes. When I moved to Seattle the manager gave me the recipe for my favorite spinach quesadillas. 25 years later I still love to make them. I loved that place 😁
Thanks for the great video We had Chi Chi's in Maryland and Virginia, it's amazing 18 years goes so fast, we went to eat at Chi Chi's in multiple locations over the years in the 1980s & 1990s
THat Chi-Chis in the second picture was walking distance from my house where I grew up when the ice was frozen in the winter. I loved their lunch buffet.
Growing up in Albany NY I remember Chi-Chi's for birthdays and special occasions. My parents were very frugal so we didn't eat out much but we got to pick a restaurant on our birthday and my sister and I almost always picked Chi-Chi's. We would also go on Christmas eve before Church because my mom didn't want to cook and usually also on my Dad's birthday in April. So many memories.
Loved their chimichangas! The building they occupied still stands and has been several different restaurants over the years. Wish they were still around.....
Loved this place...ours had a great lunch buffet... the guys and I had many a lunch in our local one just outside Princeton NJ... I miss the good times!
I remember going to Chi-Chi’s with friends all the time in the 80’s. They had the best food, good atmosphere, good times! That location is now an Olive Garden in Austin, TX.
We had some Chi-Chi's even up here in Canada. I the small town where I live (on the south shore of Montreal), there were no bars. So on frriday or saturday nights, when we wanted a drink, we went to Chi-chi's, order some food and more than a few strawberry margaritas. I don't remember the food at all, but I remember the margaritas!
Another great video, thank you!!❤❤ I don't know if you did these already I looked through your videos and didn't see them but if you didn't maybe you could do a video on Two Guys, Jamesway and Bradley's they were stores that I remember in New Jersey way back in the day...😁😁
Oh, yes, Chi-Chi's. I used to go here all the time back when I was a kid. Then, they closed and Don Pablo's (Which was mostly in the Midwest, I believe) became my favorite Mexican chain restaurant.
Great video. The reason they went out of business in Canada though was completely different and pre-dated their U.S. demise. Thinking of doing a short video on it later this week.
I bartended at the first Chi-Chi's in Richfield MN(suburb of MLPS) when they changed over from the Left Guard, a steak/seafood restaurant. It was a great time back then. Great memories.
My parents used to take us to Chi Chi's with some frequency where I grew up. I remember being excited every time. I wish they were still around so I could take my kids there.
Loved, loved, loved this place. There was only 1 in New Castle county Delaware. Unless you got there for an early lunch, that place was always packed!! I think that branch opened in the early eighties. Had a few birthdays there as a kid. Thanks for posting this. I had forgotten why they closed, now I remember the rumors.
We had a Chi-Chi’s here where I live in Huntsville, Alabama. They’ve been gone for years. I liked the food and atmosphere. It was next to our indoor mall, Madison Square, which is also gone.
I have not been to Huntsville for a long time, but do remember eating @ ChiChis after shopping @ Madison Square. Loved Parisian which I know is gone too.
When I was a young, broke touring musician (as opposed to an old, broke touring musician) we would go to Chi-Chi’s on our Sundays off on tour. We couldn’t afford to both eat and drink so we would sit in the lounge and eat the free nacho chips and melted cheese/salsa and drink beer. The bartender didn’t care as long as we kept drinking-so we would literally have unlimited nachos and dip for dinner! 😂 Ah, to be 19 again.
Had a lot of good memories of going out to Chi Chi’s with the girls and a few dates, with my now husband from England. My local Chi Chi’s was in Timonium, Maryland. I really enjoyed their margaritas!
LOL I remember going with a bunch of friends to Chi Chi's one evening after spending most of the day at a nearby pub. We were ravenous and rowdy. One of my buddies secretly went up to our waiter and told them it was my brothers birthday, even though it was months away. If you recall, they brought out a serving of baked ice cream with a lit candle and every waiter/waitress in the place (like 10 - 15) surrounded the "birthday boy/girl" while they sang :"Happy Birthday OLE! Happy Birthday OLE! Happy Birthday from Chi Chi's, Happy Birthday OLE!" it took years for my brother to forgive us. Twas worth every Peso OLE!
Loved the one in Muncie Indiana as a Ball State student. The dorms didn't serve meals on Friday nights so it was a reason to go out and I'd do the Chi-Chi's there on McGalliard Road quite often. Anyone remember how they would sing Happy Birthday to the tune of Glory Glory Hallelujah? And the fried ice cream, yum!!
Have fond memories of Sunday’s watching Browns games at the Raleigh NC Chi Chis it was the browns backers club for years. I remember they would bring out chicken wings at halftime so good!!!
I remember eating chips and salsa at Chi-Chi's on my graduation night of high school. I drank way too much, and threw up everything in front of hot chicks.. I couldn't eat salsa for over 10 years.. Love the memories.
We would mess with our friends every time we went there by telling the waiter it was their birthday. Then they would start singing Happy Birthday, clapping, come out and slap a sombrero on them, and then snap a poloroid picture. I still have some of those pictures and enjoy laughing at them when I see them.
I used to love eating at Chi-Chi’s in the 1980s in the Norfolk area, such a treat, never got a bad meal, sad to see them go, never did come across one after leaving the Tidewater region.
Just the other day I bought a jar of Chi-chis salsa and I was thought to myself it had been ages since I went to a Chi-chis. Today I stumble across this channel/video and now I have my answer. Wow how time flies!
Funny, just the other day I was making taco meat and used some Chi Chi's seasoning packet. It was pretty good. But I had totally forgot this was a big restaurant chain at one time. I've never eaten at a Chi Chi's, despite living in MN my whole life lol. Our family just always went to other smaller and local places. R.I.P. Cannon Ball off of 52 in Cannon Falls. Loved their cheese curds.
I feel like it happened at Taco bell too. Maybe it was something else around the same time frame. They just pulled green onion off the menu and swept it under the rug.
I grew up in Minnesota and went a number of times from the 80s til the early 2000s. It was enjoyable and the food was generally good. The one called Chevy's was quite popular for a while also, kind of similar.
Which location(s) do you remember going to? I went to the Burnsville location as a kid and loved it. I never went to a Chevys, but I do remember them being popular. I think the best Mexican restaurant I went to in Minnesota was Ol' Mexico in Woodbury. The building itself was spacious with huge private, half circle booths so many people in a party could sit together. Very cozy and classy atmosphere for a Mexican style restaurant.
I went to the downtown one and another one not at, but relatively close to Rosedale. I never went to that place in Woodbury though I think I knew about it. Sounds nice.
It was my favorite restaurant when I was little. Chips and salsa, enchiladas, and FRIED ICE CREAM... Yum... But I remember how they got worse and worse. The last time my family went to one all the food was cold in the center when we got it and the place was deserted.
I can still taste that fried ice cream like it was yesterday. Please bring back the 80’s and 90’s for eternity..
I completely agree. Those were the days.
I miss Chi-Chi's. That seafood chimi was to die for. Plus the atmosphere was fun. To this day, after dining at many different Mexican-style restaurants since the passing of Chi-Chi's, I haven't found a seafood chimichanga like the one Chi-Chi's made.
You can still get fried ice cream. Normally Japanese steak houses have it. That stuff is awesome
@@Linda7647 that seafood chimi was my favorite too.😊
I agree, and throw in the 70s while we're at it. 👌💕😍
@@lindabaron4584 Wasn't that fabulous? Nobody did them like Chi-Chi's, that's for sure. My new favorite Mexican spot does a pretty good shrimp chimi, but it's not the same.
I remember that last time I ate at a Chi Chi's Restaurant in Charleston, West Virginia in the mid 90's. I was on a date night with my wife...lost her to cancer in 2011' two weeks before our 23rd wedding anniversary. I can still remember what she wore that night. Damn!!!
So sorry to hear. God bless you!
@@GospelGirl1Cor15 thank you...that's very sweet of you.
Wow, so sad. Sorry about your hurting.
@@gli7utubeo thank you.
God bless you my friend
Unbelievably we had a Chi-Chi`s in my small hometown of Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. There was also a Toy`s R Us sharing the same parking lot. Decades later I can still vividly see and experience the fun we had in my mind`s eye. God, I miss the 80s!!
The home of Kitchener Leslie, the railroad cop who beat hobos to death?
I loved Chi Chi's and miss the warm corn chips and salsa served when you sat down at the table... it had a nice atmosphere and the margaritas were the best.
I worked at Chi Chi’s Pointe Claire in Quebec1992-96. My husband and I love to note that if I hadn’t worked there we would never have met. And we know MANY couples that were created through Chi Chi’s staff who are still together :)
I worked there from 99-04. I was there until the bitter end. Sad days. Met lists of lifelong friends.
Went there for my birthday many years ago, got a sombrero -- it has been well over 20 years, but I still have it.
Yes! Yes! Yes! This was the BEST Mexican restraunt! I miss them terribly!
It's like this channel dug into my brain, stirred up all my happy 70's/80's childhood memories and is now regurgitating them to me via Recollection road and courtesy of the google algorithm.
I loved Chi-Chi's! I used to go there a lot and the food was always so good! Never a bad experience. Loved the strawberry margaritas!
Worked there in the very early 90s. Great experience and made a friend for life. We all hated singing the birthday song btw lol
Omg I worked at Applebee’s in the early 2000’s and the bday song was THE WORST.
Indeed and I hated it having being sung to me.
Anyone that knows me knows their dead If they ever expose me to one of those tacky birthday things in the restaurant. So I definitely feel your pain I can imagine actually having to do it
Didn't the birthday person get a free fried ice cream or something like that? It seems to me that while leaving the resteraunt after my OLDER brothers birthday dinner (years ago), I recall telling him that I gladly would've paid for his desert, if only to keep those poor servers from having to go through that embarrassing routine again! I'm pretty sure he still has the picture of himself wearing the sombrero too.
@@johniii8147 I'm right there with you! I also feel bad for the people that have to go through those routines day after day.
I wish I could go to Chi-Chi's again.
Go to Germany they have 3.
Me too!!
Me too.
I worked at one for 2 years...in the parking lot of "the Super Mall" in Huntsville AL...wow was it "the place to be"
@@andrefecteau Why were you out in the parking lot?
You always have great content! Don't know how you put out so many videos. It must take a lot of times research and produce your videos. Chi-Chi's was a favorite I enjoyed.
The second I saw the name, I could hear the sizzling skillets coming out of the kitchen. This one hit my childhood bone. So many good family memories of Saturdays at the mall followed by dinner at Chi-Chis in Pittsburgh.
I am from Connecticut but my mother is from Pittsburgh. We would travel to Pittsburgh twice a year, and I remember hitting up Chi-Chi's on a few occasions. It was always in the outer suburbs near some mall that we drove to like Century 3 or Ross Park, and Waterworks. Nonetheless, I have fond memories of Point Breeze, and being a rascal in Frick Park and Homewood Cemetery.
There was one in Monroeville too
@@SweatLaserXPThere was one in Monroeville too
Thanks for solving the mystery of the disappearance of Chi Chi's. I loved that place!
Went there a lot with my family as a kid. Really liked the food and atmosphere and it was always packed.
Tues. nights were margarita nights. They might have been 1/2 price or whatever. I used to go every week, sit at the bar, drink margaritas, and eat free chips and salsa all night. It was great.
We did the same in Charlotte.
I know right 😀
Same!
Yamo
Atlanta! 😋
I use to work here back in 1996,it was my first job as a teenager fresh out of youth detention
I worked at one in Tacoma Washington. It was my first job as a teenager. I was the apps (appetizer) guy. Was there from the grande opening onwards. Was very popular place to eat. Never a slowdown in the apps department. It was very stressful as a teen. I remember actually having nightmares about making the appetizers. Always good for a chuckle when I think back on that job.👍😺
I wondered what happened to Chi Chi's. Back in the 70s I did the plumbing in the restaurant that was built in Springfield, Va. They did a phenomenal business for years after they opened. A couple of the owners were ex-NFL players. Never knew why they failed.
I remember that particular Chi Chis. I have very fond teenage memories of it.
When my mother and I moved to Springfield from TX in 87, I ate at Chi Chis for the 1st as a Teenager. Loved the seafood chimichangas
I celebrated my 21st birthday at Chi-Chi’s in Louisville some 38 years ago, and I still remember the Chimichanga and big margaritas! Great memories!
Yes and yes Girl.
Thanks for this video! Definitely one I wanted to see made. I’m from MN originally and Chi-Chi’s was a place I always enjoyed frequenting. Sad to see them fade out.
This is perhaps my favorite defunct restaurant chain. I absolutely loved Chi-Chi’s “Celebration of Food.”
Authentic Mexican or not, their food was awesome. Way better than chain food had any right to be. And that greasy sweet corn bread in a cup stuff was so amazing just dropping a mention of it into a conversation with friends would necessitate an immediate lunch trip to Chi-Chi’s.
I went there every single birthday (for my free b-day serving of Mexican fried ice cream along with a side of clapping and singing).
Here in the Minneapolis-St. Paul metro area they had at least a dozen locations through the 90s. So sad when they closed.
When my mother graduated from nursing school, got a job, and we were finally a "two income household" so we were now "rich" enough to eat somewhere other than home or McDonalds, this was our special place to go every Friday night. First time I ever got to eat chips and salsa and fried ice cream--delicacies that I never knew existed in the Mexican restaurant world beyond the usual taco and burrito from Taco Tico
I LOVED ChiChis, especially the seafood chimichangas and their frothy frozen drinks, which you could get by the pitcher. I even ate at one in London, in the early 1990s.
I worked at one (Beaverton, Oregon) in the early 80's as a busboy and bar back. One of the best restaurant jobs I ever had. Thank you for the stroll down memory lane!
Beaverton, lol...
2:45 I loved that big 80's hair.
My worst hangover was from drinking pitchers of Chi-Chi's margaritas. Those were the days!
On the rocks on Wednesday happy hour. 4 too 5pm. Buy a pitcher get one free. Ugh.
I know right 😀
They still make the pre made cocktails ill never forget the long Island iced teas and orange cream cocktails
i loved Chi-Chi's . one of my all time favourite restaurants .
I sincerely appreciate all of your “Recollection Road” videos. So many have memories and meaning to me. I had never heard anything about the founders, but I remember Max McGee. I’m not sure that Taco Bell and the likes were ever competition for Chi Chi’s. Taco Bell has been around since the mid 60’s, at least in New Mexico. The great thing about Chi Chi’s was the quantity of food of every dish. Wow! They put others to shame. The food was definitely less spicy than genuine Mexican or TexMex but many people preferred it that way. In Oklahoma and Texas we had Chi Chi’s, El Chico, El Charito, Monterey House as well as Two Pesos, plus local family places. They served more genuine Mexican food but the quantity was less. The atmosphere at Chi Chi’s was great as was the service. Always enjoyable dining. It seems many good restaurants do really well for years and then they lose customers to “the new place”. The food poisoning was unfortunate and unforgivable. I really miss Chi Chi’s (Two Pesos and most of the El Chico and El Charito’s are gone too) 😞
We rescued a little dog named Chi Chi. Her ashes are on the top shelf of the computer desk with our daughters.
@@Biblesmakegoodkindling amen 💗
So very sorry
Sorry for your losses
I remember going in with my family in '79. I heard music of soft playing guitar, assuming it was Mexican music, but it turned out to be Led Zeppelin's "Stairway to Heaven"!!
2:41 Oh, those 1980s perms...
We had a Chi-Chi's in Fayetteville, NC, 1980's/90's. Loved going there and had a couple birthday parties there when I was a child. The building is still there - Super Chinese Buffet now.
Went there many times.
My grandma's dog was named Chi Chi. I never told her the name translates literally to "titties".
Look up what it means to the South Americans and you'll wonder why it was ever used for a restaurant name!
They could've converted the retaurants to strip clubs and kept the name.
tell titties I said hey
@@GreatBeyond74 my friend cat was named chi chi’s
@@timmmahhhh Chi Chi was the nickname of the wife of one of the restaurant's founders; they absolutely knew what it meant.
My mothers youngest uncle owned a franchise CHI CHI'S In Southern California in the 1980's..He retired (2009) just in time before it went under..
Sounds suspicious
I used to walk thru that entrance like I was a conquistador! & after just two margaritas, I truely got the Mexican experience!! , then a darn cop pulled me over, , ,
All chi chi’s were closed by 2004.
@@Das_Vert Yes ..most franchise restaurants did ..but the independent one in Walnut Ca. my uncle had closed in 2009...
This was such a great place to go for dinner and drinks with friends... Their food was always excellent in my experience. Their margaritas were excellent. Service was always great. Atmosphere was extremely comfortable. I miss this place dearly. On the border and Chevy's' are half-decent substitutes, but there's only a few peppered across the northeast.
This was always our go to place . We loved there food. We miss it so much
The refried beans were always left under a heat lamp too long and had a crust on top. Didn't help their image.
As a kid growing up in WI in the 70's and 80's I loved Chi Chi's. I always got the chimichanga. Good times.
I LOVED Chi Chi's!!!!!....Loved the Chicken Chimichanga!!!...then came Hep A.
I guess there isn't much to their story, is there? Chi-chi's was my husband and my favorite Mexican restaurant and we were broken-hearted when they closed. We've never found another Mex restaurant we've liked as much ever since. But I did score a Chi-chi's margarita glass at a vintage store a few weeks ago, so I'm thrilled to still have a little piece of it. And their salsa from the supermarket is my favorite kind.
I had one of their hand-painted bar stools for about 30 years after our local Chi-Chi's closed. Just passed it on last year when I moved. The staff painted the stools in many wild colors. Who remembers?
My friends and I used to go there on Friday nights after our last college classes. When I moved to Seattle the manager gave me the recipe for my favorite spinach quesadillas. 25 years later I still love to make them. I loved that place 😁
I loved Chi-Chi’s. Great place, great food and the fried ice cream was to die for 😋
I still grieve the loss of Chi-chi's. 😢
Totally. Such good memories.
As do I....😥
Good news! They’re coming back.
Pollo Magnifico I remember it well and still miss that meal after all these years. Best fried ice cream 🍨 ever!!
I never knew that they were an actual place to eat ,,, ive only known the name from the salsa I've bought !!!
Wow !!!!
Thanks for the great video
We had Chi Chi's in Maryland and Virginia, it's amazing 18 years goes so fast, we went to eat at Chi Chi's in multiple locations over the years in the 1980s & 1990s
I still buy the "restaurant style" salsa, my favorite.
Yupp
@@surfstarcc1 👍
Do you think it’s just what you remember? I worked there for years and I don’t think any of the store products taste like the salsa I loved.
@@Das_Vert IDK, but their restaurant style is my favorite compared to the others. I don't like the thick mushy ones.
Chi Chi's on 494 before hockey games at Met Center in Bloomington, MN.
We made it a habit to hit the Chi-Chi's in Burnsville, MN. in the 1980s.
First time we ever tried fried ice cream!
Chi-Chi’s was definitely a staple of success Lincoln, NE. I do have good memories dining there. Glad I missed the onion ordeal albeit.
THat Chi-Chis in the second picture was walking distance from my house where I grew up when the ice was frozen in the winter. I loved their lunch buffet.
Growing up in Albany NY I remember Chi-Chi's for birthdays and special occasions. My parents were very frugal so we didn't eat out much but we got to pick a restaurant on our birthday and my sister and I almost always picked Chi-Chi's. We would also go on Christmas eve before Church because my mom didn't want to cook and usually also on my Dad's birthday in April. So many memories.
Loved their chimichangas! The building they occupied still stands and has been several different restaurants over the years. Wish they were still around.....
Loved this place...ours had a great lunch buffet... the guys and I had many a lunch in our local one just outside Princeton NJ... I miss the good times!
I remember going to Chi-Chi’s with friends all the time in the 80’s. They had the best food, good atmosphere, good times! That location is now an Olive Garden in Austin, TX.
Surprised they just didn’t tear the building down that’s a really old building for Texas
A Chi-Chi's had the best mexican food in Austin? I find that hard to believe!
@@MikeBrown-ii3pt exactly that’s funny
We had some Chi-Chi's even up here in Canada. I the small town where I live (on the south shore of Montreal), there were no bars. So on frriday or saturday nights, when we wanted a drink, we went to Chi-chi's, order some food and more than a few strawberry margaritas. I don't remember the food at all, but I remember the margaritas!
Another great video, thank you!!❤❤
I don't know if you did these already I looked through your videos and didn't see them but if you didn't maybe you could do a video on Two Guys,
Jamesway and Bradley's they were stores that I remember in New Jersey way back in the day...😁😁
Happy hour was great, free chips and salsa, $1 drafts
Oh, yes, Chi-Chi's. I used to go here all the time back when I was a kid. Then, they closed and Don Pablo's (Which was mostly in the Midwest, I believe) became my favorite Mexican chain restaurant.
Great video. The reason they went out of business in Canada though was completely different and pre-dated their U.S. demise. Thinking of doing a short video on it later this week.
I bartended at the first Chi-Chi's in Richfield MN(suburb of MLPS) when they changed over from the Left Guard, a steak/seafood restaurant. It was a great time back then. Great memories.
My parents used to take us to Chi Chi's with some frequency where I grew up. I remember being excited every time. I wish they were still around so I could take my kids there.
The can at 00:52, the one in the center, is a Chevy Citation. I used to own one. Mine was a 2.8 litre V-6. Fun to drive.
I remember the commercials making that out to be "the station wagon of the future" in 1980.
one of our favorite places back in College
Margaritas and fried icecream after Roller skating.
Loved, loved, loved this place. There was only 1 in New Castle county Delaware. Unless you got there for an early lunch, that place was always packed!! I think that branch opened in the early eighties. Had a few birthdays there as a kid. Thanks for posting this. I had forgotten why they closed, now I remember the rumors.
Canada here. I loved Chi Chi's. Was my go to restaurant for my birthday. Still remember my fav dish. Seafood enchiladas.
We had a Chi-Chi’s here where I live in Huntsville, Alabama. They’ve been gone for years. I liked the food and atmosphere. It was next to our indoor mall, Madison Square, which is also gone.
I have not been to Huntsville for a long time, but do remember eating @ ChiChis after shopping @ Madison Square. Loved Parisian which I know is gone too.
I loved them. Miss them.
When I was a young, broke touring musician (as opposed to an old, broke touring musician) we would go to Chi-Chi’s on our Sundays off on tour. We couldn’t afford to both eat and drink so we would sit in the lounge and eat the free nacho chips and melted cheese/salsa and drink beer. The bartender didn’t care as long as we kept drinking-so we would literally have unlimited nachos and dip for dinner! 😂 Ah, to be 19 again.
Had a lot of good memories of going out to Chi Chi’s with the girls and a few dates, with my now husband from England. My local Chi Chi’s was in Timonium, Maryland. I really enjoyed their margaritas!
We had a "Chi-Chi's" in my hometown of Enfield, CT.
It became an Outback.
During the 80s I liked Chi-Chi's in Jacksonville, FL.
I broke my Salsa cherry, at chi-chis!
LOL I remember going with a bunch of friends to Chi Chi's one evening after spending most of the day at a nearby pub. We were ravenous and rowdy. One of my buddies secretly went up to our waiter and told them it was my brothers birthday, even though it was months away. If you recall, they brought out a serving of baked ice cream with a lit candle and every waiter/waitress in the place (like 10 - 15) surrounded the "birthday boy/girl" while they sang :"Happy Birthday OLE! Happy Birthday OLE! Happy Birthday from Chi Chi's, Happy Birthday OLE!" it took years for my brother to forgive us. Twas worth every Peso OLE!
Loved the one in Muncie Indiana as a Ball State student. The dorms didn't serve meals on Friday nights so it was a reason to go out and I'd do the Chi-Chi's there on McGalliard Road quite often. Anyone remember how they would sing Happy Birthday to the tune of Glory Glory Hallelujah? And the fried ice cream, yum!!
I loved going to chi chi's as a kid
There is currently a great Chi Chis in Luxembourg in the old square.
Have fond memories of Sunday’s watching Browns games at the Raleigh NC Chi Chis it was the browns backers club for years. I remember they would bring out chicken wings at halftime so good!!!
I remember eating chips and salsa at Chi-Chi's on my graduation night of high school. I drank way too much, and threw up everything in front of hot chicks.. I couldn't eat salsa for over 10 years.. Love the memories.
We would mess with our friends every time we went there by telling the waiter it was their birthday. Then they would start singing Happy Birthday, clapping, come out and slap a sombrero on them, and then snap a poloroid picture. I still have some of those pictures and enjoy laughing at them when I see them.
Chi-Chis was a big deal in Louisville. I can still smell the churros from the location in Bashford Manor Mall.
I used to love eating at Chi-Chi’s in the 1980s in the Norfolk area, such a treat, never got a bad meal, sad to see them go, never did come across one after leaving the Tidewater region.
My family would go to the one at Six Flags Mall in Arlington TX.
Didnt know Texas had ChiChi’s. You sure that wasn’t an El Chico?
Just the other day I bought a jar of Chi-chis salsa and I was thought to myself it had been ages since I went to a Chi-chis. Today I stumble across this channel/video and now I have my answer. Wow how time flies!
Used to go there after football games in high school in the 80’s. So fun! I loved their fried ice cream and have never found it anywhere else!
I loved the drink, ChiChi and have recreated it a few times but never perfect. And the chimichangas were to die for, yummm. Greatly missed!!
I remember sitting in the bar at the Greenwood Indiana ChiChis. You could serve yourself all the chips, salsa and queso you could eat. Love ChiChis!
Funny, just the other day I was making taco meat and used some Chi Chi's seasoning packet. It was pretty good. But I had totally forgot this was a big restaurant chain at one time. I've never eaten at a Chi Chi's, despite living in MN my whole life lol. Our family just always went to other smaller and local places. R.I.P. Cannon Ball off of 52 in Cannon Falls. Loved their cheese curds.
There was one here in suburbs of Vancouver Canada. By my childhood house in Surrey. Great place. The pre meal chips were the BEST!!
My late sister worked at Chi-Chi's while in high school
They never recovered from the onion debacle . I luv that place.
I just now searched what that was about. Interesting.
It was already going downhill before then it was just a final nail
I remember when the Hepatitis incident happened. Refused to eat there after that.
I feel like it happened at Taco bell too. Maybe it was something else around the same time frame. They just pulled green onion off the menu and swept it under the rug.
Happened in my hometown. We were all devastated. 😢
Sad thing the and others buy products in good faith but pay the price if the product is no good..................
Anyone remember the BIRTHDAY SONG at Chi-Chi’s? “Get up on the chair!Get up on the chair!” 😆
I grew up going to the chi-chis in deptford NJ as a child once and a while
I loved the nachos
used to work there during the day.........who remembers the birthday songs??
Had one in Montreal. Loved it
I grew up in Minnesota and went a number of times from the 80s til the early 2000s. It was enjoyable and the food was generally good. The one called Chevy's was quite popular for a while also, kind of similar.
Which location(s) do you remember going to? I went to the Burnsville location as a kid and loved it. I never went to a Chevys, but I do remember them being popular.
I think the best Mexican restaurant I went to in Minnesota was Ol' Mexico in Woodbury. The building itself was spacious with huge private, half circle booths so many people in a party could sit together. Very cozy and classy atmosphere for a Mexican style restaurant.
I went to the downtown one and another one not at, but relatively close to Rosedale. I never went to that place in Woodbury though I think I knew about it. Sounds nice.
I used to love chi chi’s !😁 why do all good things go under???
All good things are eventually destined to go under, you, I and everyone will go under someday. Nothing in this world lasts forever..😁
It was my favorite restaurant when I was little. Chips and salsa, enchiladas, and FRIED ICE CREAM... Yum... But I remember how they got worse and worse. The last time my family went to one all the food was cold in the center when we got it and the place was deserted.
Chi-Chi’s was AWESOME!! we had one in NY 😢
Our Chi Chis turned into a Hollywood video. The building is still there, with that iconic architecture.