Chili's (144th & Center / 84th & Giles)

[ChadJK]

Chili's (144th & Center)
3202 S 143rd Plz
Omaha, NE 68144
402.333.6303
https://www.chilis.com/locations/us/neb ... ha/omaha-i

Chili's (84th & Giles)
8373 Barmettler Dr Ste A
La Vista, NE 68128
402.592.4900
https://www.chilis.com/locations/us/neb ... vista-relo

Closed locations:

Chili's (132nd & Maple)
13015 Birch Dr
Omaha, NE 68164
402.498.4300
(See viewtopic.php?p=120214#p120214)

Chili's (72nd & Dodge - Crossroads Mall)
7400 Dodge St
Omaha, NE 68114
402.391.2500
(See viewtopic.php?p=100267#p100267)

[ChadJK]

I just wanted to complain that Chili's is getting rid of their Skillet Queso. That is all.

[TheSeventhBrat]

I just wanted to complain that Chili's is getting rid of their Skillet Queso. That is all.

They got rid of their original Chicken Crispers a couple years ago and I haven't been back since.

[Padre]

I just wanted to complain that Chili's is getting rid of their Skillet Queso. That is all.

They got rid of their original Chicken Crispers a couple years ago and I haven't been back since.

As well as the corn on the cob, and the Mexican corn on the cob. The wife was not pleased!

[skinzfan23]

I agree with you both. Loved the chicken crispers, and corn on the cob. Went back once since and the new ones are so greasy and disgusting.

[HskrFanMike]

I agree with you both. Loved the chicken crispers, and corn on the cob. Went back once since and the new ones are so greasy and disgusting.

We used to be regulars at Chilis as well, but that ended when the crispers became Tyson rejects.

[skinzfan23]

Thats crazy that it is 3 people just right here....wonder if they noticed a huge drop off in sales after the change.

[HskrFanMike]

I think they found a new market instead for them.

https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/compani ... r-AA1ycvsm

On an earnings call this week, the growth was attributed not to Chili’s raising prices, but a 20 percent increase in foot traffic over the last quarter. One of the major reasons for the chain's growing popularity are its massively popular $16 Triple Dipper combo, which blew up on TikTok last year with over 150 million posts dedicated to meal. And its Big Smasher Burger, which launched in April as part of Chili’s $10.99 "3 For Me" meal deal, has already become a fan favorite among customers.

[ChadJK]

I preferred the Original Chicken Crispers too. Though, according to guy I spoke with that works there, despite their devout following the Original Chicken Crispers just weren't great sellers. Same with the Skillet Queso. It has some hardcore fans, but overall its sales numbers aren't spectacular.

There are some copycat recipes out there for the Skillet Queso. It's basically a block of Velveeta, a can of your favorite canned chili, some cumin and chili powder, and some milk to thin it out.

I miss their Terlingua Chili. It was a no-bean chili (which I prefer) and it's not easy to find no-bean chili at restaurants. So, I really appreciated that Chili's had one. It was one of their original items and had been on the menu for decades. They got rid of it then people were like, "So, Chili's doesn't have chili anymore?!" So, they brought it back for a short time but they had changed the recipe and it was way too salty and the texture was off, so it flopped and they took it away again.

The Cilantro Lime Carne Asada was also a really decent entrée and one of their "healthier" ones. They quietly removed it several months ago.

Ever since the Triple Dipper and Fried Mozzarella's "Cheese Pull" went viral on social media last year. Cooks at Chili's will tell you that all they do all day long is make Triple Dippers. It was the best marketing campaign ever for them and they had almost nothing to do with it. It's that sort of modern viral buzz that every business hopes to be a part of, but you just can't make it happen. It's got to be organic. I tell people that poop all over Applebee's that Applebee's is just one viral social media trend away from being super popular again.

Way back in the day (90s) I used order primarily from this list of Chili's items: Monterey Grilled Chicken, Grilled Chicken Pasta, Chicken Enchilada Soup, Terlingua Chili, Skillet Queso, and Caramel Apple Tart. There's only one of those things left now.

[ChadJK]

I read Chili's is going to do "retro renovations" to all of its 1200 locations. They're going to do 10% of them per year until they're all done. They're going back to the red leather booths and colorful tile tables.

https://www.cnn.com/2026/07/17/food/chi ... -interview

[cafereef]

I've loved Chili's for years, I've told my wife if they sold their salsa at the store they would crush it lol. (I'm also convinced it would be their demise as that's the reason people to there lol). Anyways, Loved chili's for decades, their fajita's were my favorite, then they changed it to the cowboy butter |expletive| and now the fajita's will never get my attention again. For a short period of time they did the buffalo chicken fajita's with crumbled bacon, and Poblano peppers with blue cheese and ranch with them, man I LOVED those. Then they nixed it, and did buffalo chicken tacos, ok it works, not the same but works, then go rid of those and could get buffalo chicken crispers so I'd order a side of tortilla's, then they got rid of those haha. I can always get crispers plain, side of buffalo, side of tortillas etc and make them myself but I feel like a pain. Point of this, Chili's, like most chains feel they need to change the menu to keep people interested, where this can be true, they also see a massive decline in quality and care of existing menu items that are the reason people come to you in the first place. It's been REALLY rough the last decade I feel for Chili's and their closing stores show it, The last year-2 things seem to be turning around, quality has started to go back to where it once was. Are there better tex-mex/mexican restaurants to go to? Absolutely, but sometimes I just want to destroy multiple orders of endless chips and salsa and be mad at myself later haha.

I wish they would open a third location by my house. in Elkhorn, I'd single handedly keep them in business over the lunch hour haha.

[Louie]

The last year-2 things seem to be turning around, quality has started to go back to where it once was. Are there better tex-mex/mexican restaurants to go to? Absolutely, but sometimes I just want to destroy multiple orders of endless chips and salsa and be mad at myself later haha.

I wish they would open a third location by my house. in Elkhorn, I'd single handedly keep them in business over the lunch hour haha.

Chili's is on a tear in the last couple of years, the lone chain restaurant of its type actually showing increasing YOY profits. Like up 50% since 2022 kind of growth. Whatever choices they've made in the past 5 years have been very strategic, so I'm looking forward to the retro renovations.

[ChadJK]

Chili's is on a tear in the last couple of years, the lone chain restaurant of its type actually showing increasing YOY profits. Like up 50% since 2022 kind of growth. Whatever choices they've made in the past 5 years have been very strategic, so I'm looking forward to the retro renovations.

I'm a little bummed out that half their menu has become some variation of boneless breaded chicken. However, I appear to be in the minority, as it is clear that's all anyone wants to eat anymore. We've devolved back into having the palates of 6 year olds and adult menus are slowly becoming overpriced kids menus.

[Louie]

Chili's is on a tear in the last couple of years, the lone chain restaurant of its type actually showing increasing YOY profits. Like up 50% since 2022 kind of growth. Whatever choices they've made in the past 5 years have been very strategic, so I'm looking forward to the retro renovations.

I'm a little bummed out that half their menu has become some variation of boneless breaded chicken. However, I appear to be in the minority, as it is clear that's all anyone wants to eat anymore. We've devolved back into having the palates of 6 year olds and adult menus are slowly becoming overpriced kids menus.

They gotta do what's working for them.

[ChadJK]

They gotta do what's working for them.

Oh, I get that, but I don't have to like it.

[Louie]

They gotta do what's working for them.

Oh, I get that, but I don't have to like it.

Also true, lol

[omaha79]

Chili's is on a tear in the last couple of years, the lone chain restaurant of its type actually showing increasing YOY profits. Like up 50% since 2022 kind of growth. Whatever choices they've made in the past 5 years have been very strategic, so I'm looking forward to the retro renovations.

I'm a little bummed out that half their menu has become some variation of boneless breaded chicken. However, I appear to be in the minority, as it is clear that's all anyone wants to eat anymore. We've devolved back into having the palates of 6 year olds and adult menus are slowly becoming overpriced kids menus.

Sometimes I feel the same. If I'm going out, I want something new, different, or generally interesting. Something that I either cannot make at home or would struggle to without a ton of effort.

I can eat completely serviceable chicken strips/tenders out of the freezer section of the grocery store in the oven or air fryer.

I just don't get it. Not saying I've never ordered chicken strips, but it's not a go to. It's a middle of the road order when nothing else sounds good and it's hard to justify $12-$17 on chicken strips.

Yet, I have a friend that orders chicken strips probably 75% of the time we go out. He will stare at the menu studying it for 15 minutes like it's some sacred text, and then order chicken strips anyway. I guess it's a comfort thing. Just makes me laugh. To each their own.

[nativeomahan]

I’m one adult who has never ordered boneless chicken strips in a restaurant. I don’t even cook them at home. As an adult I would be embarrassed to order them in public. They belong on a menu for kiddies.

[Padre]

Back in the day, the Chicken Crispers weren’t just chicken tenders. They were something special. I think it was a beer batter, but I don’t know for sure. It also came with an excellent corn on the cob.

Now they aren’t as good, and the corn is gone. So disappointing.

[skinzfan23]

I loved the old chicken crispers. I think the batter was beer batter, but they tasted great.

[ChadJK]

Yes, the Original Chicken Crispers were better. They had a tempura-like batter. You used to be able to order either Original Chicken Crispers or Crispy Chicken Crispers. The dumped the Original Chicken Crispers in October 2022 and then modified (they'd call it "upgraded") the recipe of the Crispy Chicken Crispers in May 2023 and now that's all they serve. I never ordered the Original Chicken Crispers as an entree (I'm not 6), but I'd occasionally get some as one of the options on their Triple Dipper appetizer. Many of my favorite items on their menu are gone now.