What not to order at Chili's?

According to a 2023 survey, Americans eat out an average of three times a month, making smart menu choices important for both health and satisfaction. To ensure your next dining experience is a success, it's crucial to know what not to order at Chili's based on quality, taste, and nutrition.

Quick Summary

An analysis of customer reviews and nutritional data reveals specific Chili's dishes to avoid due to poor flavor, quality, or excessively high calorie and sodium content. This guide highlights the most disappointing appetizers, entrees, and desserts that often fail to meet expectations.

Key Points

• Texas Cheese Fries: Avoid this starter due to high calorie and sodium counts, plus frequent complaints about cold temperatures and sparse toppings.

• Ancho Salmon: Customer reviews often report this dish as being dry and overcooked, with an overwhelming sauce that masks the fish's flavor.

• Nashville Hot Crispy Crispers: The 6-count version is a nutritional red flag, containing extremely high levels of calories and sodium, far exceeding daily recommendations.

• Cajun Pasta: Skip this entree if you want authentic flavor; many find it bland and the sauce congealed from sitting under heat lamps.

• Molten Chocolate Cake: This dessert frequently arrives cold and dry instead of warm and gooey, disappointing customers and packing high calories.

• Bacon Rancher Burger: While potentially tasty, this burger is one of the least healthy items, with excessive fat, calories, and sodium.

• Southwestern Eggrolls: Many diners report these eggrolls are oily, soggy, and generally underwhelming in both texture and taste.

Your Guide to Navigating the Chili's Menu

Chili's has been a popular casual dining destination for decades, but not every item on its extensive menu is a winner. Relying on customer feedback and detailed nutritional information, we've compiled a list of dishes that consistently underwhelm or present an astonishingly poor nutritional value. Being a smart diner means making informed decisions, and this guide will help you do just that.

Appetizers That Miss the Mark

Many of Chili's appetizers are known for their hefty calorie and sodium counts, but some also suffer from poor execution. These are best left untouched.

• Texas Cheese Fries: While a tempting start, the Texas Cheese Fries consistently earn poor reviews for being served cold with minimal cheese. Nutritionally, they are a landmine, with the regular size containing 1,800 calories and over 4,130mg of sodium, well over double the daily recommended limit.
• Southwestern Eggrolls: Despite sounding appealing, customer reviews frequently cite these eggrolls as being soggy, mushy, and oily. The execution often falls short of the expectation, leaving diners disappointed.
• Skillet Queso: A staple on the menu, but also a nutritional monster. The Skillet Queso packs over 4,210mg of sodium, before you even factor in the chips. It's a high-fat, high-sodium starter that can derail a healthy meal from the very beginning.

Entrees to Avoid for Flavor and Quality

Some of Chili's main courses promise bold flavors but fail to deliver, suffering from issues with ingredient quality and preparation.

• Ancho Salmon: The Ancho Salmon has been called out for being consistently overcooked and dry, while the ancho chile and cilantro pesto sauce is often too heavy and can mask any salmon flavor that remains. It fails to deliver a quality seafood experience.
• Cajun Pasta: Instead of delivering the zesty, complex flavors of authentic Cajun cuisine, Chili's Cajun Pasta is frequently described as bland and watery. Past reports from employees suggest the sauce is premixed and often sits too long, leading to a congealed mess.
• Sirloin Steaks: Diners seeking a quality steakhouse experience will be let down by Chili's sirloin. Customers often complain about the beef's toughness and subpar quality, with some reviewers noting the portions can also be smaller than advertised.
• Quesadillas: This menu category seems to suffer from inconsistency. Many customer complaints center on burnt tortillas and fillings that are either dried out or overly fatty, with the brisket version being a common offender.

The Unhealthiest Menu Extremes

If you're watching your calorie, fat, or sodium intake, these menu items are your greatest threats. The numbers are staggering.

• Nashville Hot Chicken Crispers (6-Count): Without sides, a six-count of these Crispers contains an eye-watering 1,770 calories and a staggering 6,520mg of sodium. That's nearly three days' worth of recommended sodium in a single dish. Adding the combo sides pushes the count even higher.
• Bacon Rancher Burger: For those who love decadence, this burger might seem appealing, but the nutritional cost is extreme. It boasts 1,710 calories and 2,640mg of sodium before any sides are included. While tasty, it's one of the most caloric burgers on the menu.

Desserts That Don't Satisfy

Ending a meal on a high note is important, but some Chili's desserts fall flat.

• Molten Chocolate Cake: Meant to be warm and gooey, the Molten Chocolate Cake often arrives dry, hard, and cold, with a solid chocolate brick in the center instead of the promised lava. Combined with a hefty 1,180 calorie count, it's a huge disappointment.

Comparison: What to Avoid vs. Better Choices

Feature	What Not to Order	A Better Alternative
Dish	Bacon Rancher Burger	Alex's Santa Fe Burger
Key Flavor Profile	Messy, heavy, excess meat, and fat.	Flavorful, balanced with fresh ingredients and a spicy kick.
Execution Concerns	Can be overwhelmingly meaty; bun struggles to hold together.	Unique and creative; all ingredients come through clearly.
Nutritional Profile	Extremely high in calories, fat, and sodium.	Contains fresh avocado, tomato, and peppers for more nutritional value.
Review Summary	Divisive, with some loving the taste but many put off by the overall heaviness.	Named the favorite burger by multiple reviewers for its creativity and flavor.

Healthier Menu Tips and Alternatives

When dining at Chili's, you can still enjoy a delicious meal by making smarter choices. Opt for grilled proteins over fried options. Ask for dressings and sauces on the side to control the amount. Consider substituting heavy sides like fries with healthier choices such as steamed broccoli or a side salad with a light dressing.

Healthier Alternatives at Chili's:

• Grilled Chicken Salads: Choose a salad with grilled protein and ask for dressing on the side.
• Smarter Side Choices: Substitute fries for steamed broccoli or asparagus.
• Lighter Protein Dishes: Opt for lighter options like the Guiltless Sirloin, though be mindful of the beef quality.

Conclusion

Knowing what not to order at Chili's is a powerful tool for a better dining experience. By avoiding the nutritionally extreme and poorly executed dishes highlighted here, you can steer your meal towards better quality, flavor, and healthier outcomes. The key is to be an informed customer who doesn't fall for every menu promise. Enjoy a better, more satisfying meal by ordering with care and awareness.

For more information on ingredients and allergens, you can check Chili's official FAQ: Chili's FAQ.

Final Thoughts on Your Chili's Order

Making a conscious decision at Chili's, or any chain restaurant, can significantly impact your meal's outcome. The information from countless customer reviews and published nutritional data points to clear winners and losers on the menu. A little knowledge goes a long way in turning a potentially disappointing or unhealthy meal into a delicious and satisfying one. Always remember that what sounds good on paper doesn't always translate into a great dish, and paying attention to nutritional extremes can save you from a calorie bomb.

Key Takeaways for Your Next Visit

• Quality over Quantity: Don't be swayed by large, flashy menu items like the Triple Dipper or oversized burgers that often sacrifice quality for volume.
• Beware the Fried Stuff: Many fried appetizers, including the Texas Cheese Fries and Southwestern Eggrolls, have serious quality and nutritional issues.
• Scrutinize the Steaks and Seafood: Customer complaints suggest Chili's sirloin and salmon are often poorly prepared and low quality.
• Mind the Sodium: Even seemingly innocuous items like Skillet Queso and the Nashville Hot Crispers are loaded with excessive sodium.
• Avoid Dessert Disappointment: The Molten Chocolate Cake frequently fails to impress, arriving cold and dry despite high calories.
• Choose Wisely: Opt for grilled chicken, lighter salads, or well-reviewed burgers like Alex's Santa Fe to ensure a better meal.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which Chili's appetizers are the unhealthiest?

The Texas Cheese Fries and Skillet Queso are among the unhealthiest appetizers at Chili's, with shockingly high calorie and sodium counts.

Is the Cajun Pasta at Chili's any good?

No, the Cajun Pasta at Chili's receives consistently poor reviews for being bland and lacking the authentic spice and flavor of true Cajun food.

Why should I avoid the Molten Chocolate Cake?

You should avoid the Molten Chocolate Cake because many customers complain that it is often served cold and dry, rather than the expected warm, gooey lava cake.

Are Chili's sirloin steaks worth ordering?

No, many diners report that Chili's sirloin steaks are low-quality and often tough. The restaurant is not known for its steak quality.

Are there any healthy options at Chili's?

Yes, for healthier choices, opt for dishes with grilled protein, ask for dressings and sauces on the side, and choose healthier sides like steamed broccoli.

Why are Chili's quesadillas a bad choice?

Chili's quesadillas are often poorly prepared, with common complaints including burnt tortillas and dry or overly fatty fillings.

How can I avoid excessive sodium when eating at Chili's?

To avoid high sodium, stay away from heavily sauced or fried menu items and choose simpler dishes with grilled proteins. Many appetizers and burgers are particularly high in sodium.