Chili’s has experienced a surge in popularity with the success of their Triple Dipper and the recent release of their Big Smasher burger. The chain has been focusing on new menu items and advertising campaigns to improve their brand awareness and increase traffic, which seems to be paying off. CEO Kevin Hochman of Brinker International, Chili’s parent company, reported a 3.5% increase in same-store sales in the third quarter, outperforming competitors in the casual dining industry.
The chain attributes this success to a return to television advertising and the launch of their value-focused Big Smasher burger, similar to McDonald’s Big Mac. With burgers being a lucrative sector in the restaurant industry, Chili’s and other casual dining chains are capitalizing on this trend. Executives at Chili’s are highlighting their “core four” menu items, which include burgers, fajitas, Chicken Crispers, and margaritas, with an emphasis on providing value to customers.
We decided to put Chili’s burgers to the test to see if they lived up to the hype surrounding the Big Smasher. We sampled all the full-sized burgers on the menu, ordered as-is, to evaluate their taste and value. Business Insider arranged a taste test with Chili’s Grill & Bar at our local restaurant, with the cost of the meal covered by BI and no influence from the chain on our ranking.
From our taste test, we ranked every Chili’s burger from worst to best, taking into account the flavor and cost of each option. Our goal was to provide an unbiased review of Chili’s burger offerings and help consumers make an informed decision when dining at the chain.