Chili's Restaurant Expansion 2029 Adds Up to 30 New Locations

Chili's is set to expand in a major way. Chili's Restaurant Expansion 2029 plans call for the beloved fast casual chain, known for appetizers, baby back ribs, fajitas and margaritas, to add 20 to 30 restaurants to its footprint over the next several years, according to an announcement from the company this week.

Brinker International, Chili's parent company, said the chain's restaurant count will see an increase of 2 to 3 percent annually. Full details on the brand are available through Chili's official website. As many as 300 potential sites have been identified for future locations, according to Restaurant Dive.

Where the Growth Will Happen

California, Texas and Florida remain Chili's strongest existing markets. "California, Texas, Florida, have been really strong markets for us, and that's where we have the most Chili's," CFO Mika Ware told Restaurant Dive, which also reported that Chili's is targeting expansion into the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Ohio as part of its next growth phase.

The company is also pursuing what it describes as a "small town strategy," looking beyond major suburbs and metropolitan areas for new locations, according to Restaurant Dive. That approach signals a deliberate shift toward markets that larger casual dining chains have often overlooked in favor of denser, higher-traffic areas.

A Turnaround Years in the Making

Kevin Hochman, President and Chief Executive Officer of Brinker International, framed the expansion as the product of a multi-year transformation effort. "Over the past four years, we've worked hard to transform Chili's into a stronger business that delivers an exceptional experience for our guests, makes it easier and more rewarding for our team members, and delivers superior shareholder returns," Hochman said.

He continued: "As we enter the next phase of growth, we know what works: serving great food at an incredible value, delivering excellent hospitality, and creating experiences that keep guests coming back. We will continue to invest in those areas while adding additional investment for remodeling our estate and building more new Chili's. Chili's has never been more relevant. We are excited to keep building on this momentum and introduce more guests to the #1 casual dining brand, all while delivering value to our shareholders."

A Nostalgic Redesign Rolls Out Alongside Growth

Alongside its expansion plans, Chili's has been rolling out a nostalgia-heavy restaurant redesign across the country, bringing back the brand's signature red booths, tile tabletops and wacky artwork that longtime customers will recognize from earlier eras of the chain. Other noticeable changes include the return of neon features and whimsical murals on the walls, giving remodeled locations a distinctly retro feel even as the company pushes into new markets.

A Chain on the Rise

Chili's expansion comes at a moment when the chain describes itself as more relevant than ever, betting that a combination of value-driven pricing, hospitality and nostalgic design will continue to draw guests as it grows into smaller markets and previously underserved regions. That kind of steady, values-driven growth mirrors patterns playing out across the broader restaurant industry, even as individual markets like Cape Cod see their own local dining scenes shift and change, as recently reported in Cape Cod's restaurant news this season.