I finally made it to Chi-Chi's and let me just say... happy hour is doing exactly what it needs to do. First of all, if you're not pulling up between 2-5pm, you're missing the whole assignment. The deals are solid, the energy is right, and the menu actually hits. We're talking tacos, queso, and margaritas flowing, everything you want when you're trying to unwind but still feel a little cute about it. Now let's talk about the real MVP: Ashley behind the bar. Babyyyy... attentive, personable, and just the right amount of "I got you" energy. You can tell she knows her stuff and keeps the vibe going without missing a beat. That kind of service? It matters. And the margaritas?? EVERYTHING. Frozen, on the rocks, flavored, doesn't matter. They're strong, smooth, and dangerously easy to keep ordering. Exactly how a margarita should be. Overall, Chi-Chi's understood the assignment with happy hour. Good drinks, solid bites, and service that makes you want to stay a little longer than you planned. Would I come back? Absolutely. Would I sit at the bar again? Without hesitation. read more

See all

I've been meaning to try this place since it's opened but it's been too busy (which is a great thing for a new restaurant). I finally made a reservation and went to check it out. It's a cool location in the West End, and honestly the decor looks just like the former restaurant did in that spot. Service was good but I was disappointed with the drinks and food. The house margarita was a watery and not very good. The chicken on the fajita had a strange sauce on it, fair and bitter and unnecessary. Sadly if they can't get Mexican staples to taste good, I won't be coming back. read more

See all

What a trip down memory lane! I have fond memories of Chi Chi's past. I wish the reincarnation of the restaurant had included the sweet corn cake. That was my favorite item at the old Chi Chi's, so I was disappointed that it wasn't included on the new menu. For the most part, the items we tried were good; we came for happy hour and the happy hour menu was pretty good! - House Margarita 4/5 ($8); was actually pretty tasty for a house marg - Happy hour beer 4/5 ($5) - Chips and salsa 4/5 (FREE!); house made chips and decent salsa - Queso 5/5 ($7) - Nachos with ground beef 2/5 ($8) - Taco 4/5 ($5); house made flour tortilla was tasty The nachos were the only disappointment. The cheese sauce (as opposed to melted cheese) made them WET and unappetizing. Also, the chips are thinner than I'd like, making the addition of toppings or dip a real problem. Our server, Shelby, was pleasant and attentive. The interior space was attractive, and the high ceilings made the acoustics very good. There was free parking in a ramp nearby. read more

See all

We had a birthday here, for a friend. They were able to accommodate our larger party size. The margaritas were amazing just as good as I remember them and as good as Rojos were. I did really like their fish tacos, they reminded me a lot of Rojos. The good news is is they still have that great rice, do not sleep on it. Get a double order if you can. For the Friends, who remembered Chi chis, they loved the chimichanga and said it tasted just like the ones they used to have. I would say it's great for folks who remember the old restaurant it definitely hits on that nostalgia, it is not the same as it was when it was Rojo. But if you understand that then you will have an awesome experience. read more

See all

Good service and decent Tex Mex food. I enjoyed the birria tacos and cherry lemonade. And was happy that they kept the sweet corn rice from Rojo. read more

I don't know why people rave about this place it's terrible!!! If you want bland food go here. The rice was obviously scooped from premade rice. The nachos were barely edible and looked awful. Service was sub par as well. Good came out but no silverware until we mentioned we needed it. read more

See all

Growing up with Chi Chi's, I couldn't wait to get in here. The space is really great. Warm, festive and welcoming. Our server was delightful and please keep those chips and salsa stocked on our table. LOL The menu choices were smaller than I anticipated and my biggest disappointment...no substitutions. If you order enchiladas, they all have to be the same flavor. Our server said they're working on this but it was a bummer. The little corn cake is delicious and the sweet Spanish rice is a yummy option to try. We enjoyed our dinner but likely wouldn't go out of our way to visit again. read more

See all

I used to dine at Chichi during my college days. Was so happy to hear about them opening up in Westend. This location has free parking ramp and heated underground parking. I met up with my coworker for a belated birthday dinner. Restaurant is easy to find. Reservations are recommended, they are busy. Big restaurant, one side is the bar, otherside is the dining area. I see lots of plants hanging in the ceiling. Free chips and salsa as soon as you sit down. I wasn't too hungry so I decided on the chicken flautas, food is delicious as I remembered. read more

See all

One of my favs when growing up. Maybe it's being an adult now, maybe it's not being there with my grandparents, whatever it was I felt no nostalgia. Thankfully we thought ahead and made reservations. Crazy how busy it was at 5:30 on a Tuesday! Service was average. She was nice but not super attentive. I had a burro and it was lacking in flavor. Husband had chicken fajitas and the chicken was so overdone and dry-like shoe leather. Chips and salsa were good, pretty much what Rojo served. Love that they kept the Rojo sweet rice on the menu- one of my favs. May go back in time to try again but overall left disappointed. read more

Chi Chi's - Chicken Fajitas - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

See all

Loved chichis back in the day and this new one didn't disappoint. Food was good (I got the chimichangas) and spicy strawberry margarita was very good. Service was fast and friendly even with it being pretty busy. Atmosphere was nice and lots of seating. I look forward to going back. read more

See all

I was not in MN when Chi Chi's was around in the 90's, but did live in Texas for several years and was excited to have a new Mexican spot to try in on the west side of the cities. I was unable to make a reservation over 2 weeks in advance, so we opted to try walk in. My group split between 2 tables to get our group in faster. We sat right beside the open concept kitchen were you could see fresh food being plated and taken to the guests. The decor was light and bright, even on a cold morning. We were greeted with fresh warm tortilla chips and salsa and we ordered a queso! I decided on the N/A Margarita, but I really wish the mocktail came in a cocktail glass rather than a pint glass. The fajitas and cheese enchiladas were great - it wasn't my texas texmex but it was a good runner up. Refried beans amazing and I would recommend getting the sweet rice!! read more

See all

I dined here twice over the past few months and it was a mixed experience both times. The service was fast and efficient especially for how busy it was. But the food was just okay. Nothing was very flavorful except for the queso. The Mexican pizza really needed some seasoning in the beef. The fajitas i got the first time were good but nothing special. The second time i got the steak burrito bowl and i was not a fan. The steak had a really weird texture and just looked off, the cheese was gross and the guac was ice cold which made the bowl a weird lukewarm temperature. We all got drinks and they were wayyy too strong! I got the skinny margarita and i got really messed up to the point of it being uncomfortable which never happens from one drink, maybe their hand slipped? My boyfriend also got a different drink and he could barely even drink it because all you could taste was the liquor. read more

See all

We came here for my friend's birthday and had a great lunch! The waitress was patient with our big group. Parking was super easy in the nearby ramps. The atmosphere is fun and upbeat. Food was tasty - we all ordered something different and everyone enjoyed their meal! My favorites were the carne asada tacos, tortilla chips, guac and queso. My only request is to add more salt to the rim on the margaritas :) read more

See all

Happened to be in the Minneapolis area for work when I heard that ChiChi's was back open! Of course, I had to make a quick pit stop to check it out. The ambience and overall vibe were fantastic. It somehow feels modern but still captures that classic ChiChi's charm we all remember. The place was packed for a Sunday night, which was great to see. Service, however, was a little off. Our waitress seemed overwhelmed with too many tables, so things moved a bit slow. I ordered the taco salad and fried ice cream. The taco salad was decent, but not quite what I remembered. I was hoping for that signature ChiChi's dressing, and this one just didn't come close. The fried ice cream, though, was absolutely spot-on. The same crunchy warm coating and perfectly cold center--it was a trip down memory lane. Overall, they've got some work to do, but considering they just reopened a few weeks ago, I'm giving them the benefit of the doubt. If I'm back in town, I'd definitely stop in again to see how things have improved. Right now, it's more about the nostalgia than anything else, but I'm rooting for them. read more

Chi Chi's - Fried Ice Cream - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

See all

The restaurant is large with lots of plants and high ceilings- good for big groups. Free chips and salsa- I thought the salsa was bland. The guac was amazing and unique. Mango gave it an extra special flavor. My husband enjoyed the beef enchiladas and I really liked that steak taco. I will be back. read more

See all

Ok... nostalgia kicked in... needed some Chi Chi's but was very little when I was at this chain in the past so I only have a few memories but they were good (sadly the corn didn't make it on the menu!) It needs to come back!! Please?!? We thought showing up at 2:30 on a Saturday would be slow... wrong! We waited an hour for a table for 2 in the bar area. After being seated at a high top and people were standing/ leaning on our table and in the way of the server station. Not quite the date night we were expecting but the food made up for it. The servers need a stanchion to keep people waiting out of the way. Also so those sitting in the bar area can have a little space. We were told that you NEED to make a reservation to sit on the dining side. Odd because not all the tables were being used over there? Cancellations? Learn from me and make a reservation ahead of time. The interior layout was the same as Rojo but changed somewhat to reflect some of the old Chi Chis flair but modernized. The chips and salsa were great! The homemade chips were thin and crispy. I will be craving these. We shared a house margarita with Prickly Pear. It was well balanced and tasty. Food: Chicken Chimichanga- I was expecting the cheese sauce like other restaurants but surprised I enjoyed the gravy like sauce on it. It tasted like the 90's... Tampico combo plate (3 chicken enchiladas): this tasted like how I remember the smell of Chi Chi's. Not a bad thing but of corn tortillas/ verde and oil. It wasn't my favorite but it was decent. Fried ice cream- this was a MUST and it was exactly as I remember it. The cornflake coating was perfection- it was frozen solid and I was afraid we were going to break the dish or the table chopping into it!! Haha Total: $61 Good value as we brought home leftovers. Plus, the Andes mints on the bill. Perfect touch. Overall happy Chi Chi's is back in MN. Not sure if I need to come back but those chips and fried ice cream might be calling me again! read more

See all

Michelle was an excellent server and answered all of our questions. The location is great with a lot of light, but not overly glaring. Easy parking underneath the restaurant. Nice both seating plus the bar and high top tables are great. The food was awesome. The original salsa and house made chips made for a delightful start. My wife had the cheese enchiladas and loved them. Saying they tasted like the originals from when she worked there 30+ years ago while in college. I had the classic Chimichanga and it was excellent. Glad we have leftovers for another meal. We also had the fried ice cream as a treat and it was excellent as well. read more

See all

Nostalgia is a funny thing. You can never go back to what you remember. Things change and you change as well. Chi Chi's in Richfield was one of our go to places. Everyone loved Chi Chi's because it was a family restaurant and a place for after-work get togethers. We had to make a weekend reservation about a week in advance. Anticipation builds ... then it is the day. We drive the 45 minutes and find that parking was a pain. We stand in line for a few minutes waiting for the restaurant to open. Everyone around us has a Chi Chi's story. Two people drove 1 hour 45 minutes for nostalgia. Chi Chi's delivered. Not the same vibe in the West End as Richfield. We had beef chimichangas and fried ice cream. I had the house margarita vs. the classic one and it was very good. The chips and salsa were great. The thin, crunchy chips were excellent. And the chimichangas were almost as good as I remembered. They were on a high nostalgic pedestal that could never be matched. They are a don't miss. You won't go home hungry. The sweet rice was very good too. The fried ice cream was a hit. But I remember when Chi Chi's used to deep fry their fried ice cream. It was sensational. But there was a problem. They must have used the same fryer as the chimichangas. Sometimes you would receive a chimichanga topped with whipped cream and sauce and other times fried ice cream topped with chimichanga sauce. Those combos did not work well. Service was good, especially since the restaurant was packed. We will be back. Partly for the nostalgia and partly for the great food. read more

See all

We were on our way to Minneapolis from Chicago for the weekend when we heard a news report about ChiChi's reopening a single location in Minneapolis after a 20+ year hiatus. The soonest reservation we could get was for lunch the following Monday, so we decided to stay an extra day and check it out. It was everything we'd hoped for (all our old menu favorites were still there) and more (we met and chatted with Mike, the owner, our server was awesome, and the food, including an updated queso dip with chorizo, was outstanding). And the margaritas (mine was house mango, his was house strawberry) took us back to the many happy hours during our dating and early marriage days in the late 80s! Mike mentioned that he had another location planned in the Minneapolis area, and if both of these were successful he hoped to expand elsewhere in the Midwest. It can't come soon enough for us! Bring it on! read more

See all

The restaurant is beautiful and always very busy. I met a friend here for dinner on a weekday. We had a great waitress and our drinks came out quickly. The menu is pretty nostalgic- obviously had to go with the chimichanga! I forgot how much I love that little heap of corn cake on the plate. It was delicious. My friend got the burrito bowl and said it was decent. Overall a nice place to grab dinner. We will be back. read more

A blast from the past Back after twenty plus years Viva la Chi-Chi's! Chi-Chi's used to be all over the place when I was a youngster. I went to the one in the Midway neighborhood of Saint Paul quite a bit as a teenager. Loved the seafood enchiladas. The chain was completely gone by early 2000's I would guess. They are back with a vengeance! Open in St. Louis Park since October of this year. Completely jammed at 3pm on NYE. Steady stream of people. The seafood enchiladas are as delicious as I remember. Four stars instead of five because the bar is tiny and the beer selection is small. I will be back for the enchiladas! read more

Had to try the "new" Chi Chi's !! We started with chips and salsa, I love that the chips are served warm! The salsa had a good spice. We also got the guac, I love all the toppings, I haven't had mango in my guac before but it was delicious! I got a chicken quesadilla for my main and it was good, lots of chicken! Service was attentive and the ambiance is similar to Rojo. read more

Chi Chi's - Guac - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

OK, I'm going to try to avoid the this isn't the Chi Chi's I grew up with because I don't even remember that one clearly, but I do have fond memories of it! We came here for my stepdaughter's birthday. They don't do birthday stuff, which is fine. They did give us fried ice cream for free though! Tasted great and it's still pretty good! Half decent food. nothing to write home about but better quality than your average Mexican restaurant for sure would we come again if we lived closer probably but if not, it's at least worth the experience one time and if you live closer, maybe you would go more often. read more

Chi Chi's - dining room - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

I personally has a good experience, but a couple family members did not enjoy theirs. I got shrimp fajitas, which were delicious. They were very generous with the shrimp and the dish was well seasoned. My only criticism is that the flour tortillas were a little weird and too thick for my taste. My family members who got the chimichangas were underwhelmed. They said the overpowering flavor of the beef was onion and that the seasoning wasn't great. The chips and salsa were delicious. The service was top notch- our waitor was awesome and so on top of everything. Ambiance was fine- very standard. There is plenty of free parking around. read more

Chi Chi's - Fajitas, chimichangas, chips and salsa - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

They don't even put their fried ice cream in the taco shell bowl anymore which completely ruined the nostalgia. What's the point of reopening as Chi-Chi's without the most iconic food item, made correctly, on the menu? read more

Chi Chi's - A sad fried ice cream missing its taco shell. - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

Chi Chi's is fine. I guess everyone was obsessed with this place back in the day? I'm a transplant so I never had it when it was a thing originally but I heard alot of people talking about it. I went for lunch with a few co-workers. The restaurants layout is cute, the decoration is nice. Service was a little spotty. There were 5 of us, and 2 of the groups orders were messed up and different than requested. Mine was fine but I didn't do any changes or substitutions. This being said the waitresses were super nice and took care of the issues right away. The food.....well the food is actually really well seasoned and pretty tasty but I feel like this place is trying to be a Mexican restaurant. Which it's clearly not. Don't get me wrong, some of the elements were good, the corn tortillas were fresh and tasted great, but the menu makes it clear that this isn't traditional Mexican. Tons of ground beef and cheese, no al pastor, just alot of americanized versions of dishes. That being said the food was decent, just wildly overpriced for ground beef tacos with cheese. The tacos also don't come with salsa so they're kind of dry unless you use the salsa that comes with the chips. All in all I wouldn't boycott this place, but I'm not going to seek it out again. I'd go if I was going with a group that really wanted to go. read more

I wanted to love this place. My husband and I used to go to Chi Chi's when we dated 30 years ago so we are a bit nostalgic. We made a reservation for a Sunday afternoon. It was busy but not chaotic. The hostesses and server were very courteous. There are Pepsi products so I had water and my husband had ice tea. The chips and salsa were good. You can't mix and match with enchiladas so my husband had chicken enchiladas and I had a chicken bowl. Everything was satisfactory. The ambiance was bright and cheerful. There was plenty of space around the tables so you don't feel crowded. read more

See all

Finally got in here after 3 tries. I recommend making a reservation. The place is beautiful. Bathrooms are clean. Service was really good. We had margaritas, the Cadillac and the house margarita with a mango add in. They were great. The food was just OK. I had the chimichanga and my fiance had the queso birria tacos. The ceviche could have had a bit more cilantro and maybe salt. Chips and salsa were great. read more

See all

Absolutely brings back amazing memories for nearly 30 years ago when I would eat at the location in Roseville! The chips and salsa are the exact same which is an absolute home run! Got the Tampico (3 chicken enchiladas) and btw the street corn is outstanding! Service is amazing and great location! Warning make reservations a week in advance! Definitely can't wait to go back and get the famous chimichanga! read more

See all

Like many, I was excited to check out the "return" of Chi-Chi's. Unfortunately, fun atmosphere couldn't make up for decidedly average food and ambivalent service. Food was decidedly average and neither better nor worse than what Rojo had when it was here. Margarita was large and strong, which was a pleasant surprise. I'm sure Chi-Chi's will be a hit, but nostalgia can only go so far. read more

Chi Chi's - House Margarita and Chicken Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

Stopped in on Thursday for lunch. Never thought I'd need a reservation at such an obscure time but I did. We waited to be seated, not too long. Had their spicy strawberry margarita, and their combo meal with 2 enchiladas and a taco. Delicious!!! The sweet rice was delicious too. The chips and salsa the brought out were fresh, warm and delicious as well. The ambiance was cute with the greenery around the place. We will be back for sure. read more

See all

Stopped in with friends to catch up and all of us recalled Chi Chi's from our younger days. The building is part of a shopping complex and there is plenty of underground parking. Service was very good and our server was new, but did a great job. Ambiance felt more upscale than the original Chi Chi's. Margaritas are still their main beverage and 3 out of 4 tried them and liked them. Only complaint was straws were too long for the glass shape. I wish I would have tried the Chimichangas as they're are still listed as a specialty item. We tried a variety of menu items and all were okay. Beans had an undercooked texture to them, but decent flavor. The Spanish rice was not as good as anyone hoped for - room for improvement. Main dishes were okay, again, nothing spectacular, but not horrible either. We'd probably find a different spot for the next get together. read more

Chi Chi's was not good. It probably never was really good, but I had to try it for old times sake. I did enjoy the fried ice cream. read more

Chi Chi's - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

See all

Nostalgia is a crazy thing. The new Chili's was PACKED on the weeknight we went. Reservations recommended! I don't recall too much about the old Chi-Chi's. I hadn't eaten there in about 25. What I do remember is the sweet corn cake which sadly is no longer included :( The food was fine, service was fine. Everything was just kind of ~fine. I can't imagine that the brand will be able to expand much (if that's the plan) or stick around for any length of time. 25 years ago there weren't the abundance of (Tex?) Mexican restaurants that we have now. Maybe I'm more adventurous than most suburban diners but I'd 100% pick a local place over Chi-Chi's. All that being said - go and enjoy a bit of nostalgia. The chips were great! read more

I was excited to try Chi Chi's after so many years and didn't know what to expect. I kept my expectations low, assuming it might feel dated or the food quality might be low. But wow to my surprise it was amazing. We went on Saturday afternoon without reservations to try our luck. The wait was about 30mn. And yes that's about how long we waited. The place was packed. Always fun to see a place lively and buzzing with energy and enthusiasm. The service was fast, servers were well versed , organized and very friendly. Started with the chips and salsa. Yes, the chips are very thin , but they were salty and flavorful and the salsa was much better than I expected. I assumed it would taste like tomato paste, but it actually had fresh flavor in there. It might have been canned but didn't taste like it. I ordered the cheese enchilada plate and carne asada fajitas. Tasted just like I remember, but probably better. The quality seemed a notch above from what I remember 20 years ago. The meat was overcooked, but that was expected here. And the enchiladas were heavy and cheesy, again nothing that you wouldn't have expected. I thought I would come once to check it out, but I think I will go back. Good vibes. Good food! read more

See all

If you have been a fan of Don Pablo's like my family, adjust your expectations. The chicken enchiladas are made with tomatillos, quite tart/sour - green enchiladas were an unpleasant surprise. Also the salsa is quite tart/sour. Prefer refried beans to the whole beans. Wish the enchiladas came with the corn casserole. Order the Chimichangas. TRUST ME. Street corn was the best part of the meal! YUM! Overall - prefer to cook this at home over this place (plus we get more corn casserole & guacamole!) Staff is great. The outdoor seating is Amazing after being inside all winter/cold spring. read more

I've been so excited to try Chi Chi's! I am so happy they returned to MN. I loved it back in the 80's & 90's. We had a reservation so we didn't have to wait for a table. We were immediately greeted by the friendliest server, she was so sweet. I ordered a margarita with grapefruit. Let me tell you, it was strong and delicious. You receive free chips and salsa when you sit down, which is great. The chips are thin and crispy and the salsa was on the chunkier side with mild spice. For my meal, I ordered the El Grande Burro with ground beef. For my sides I chose the sweet rice and asked for beans. The burro was large and stuffed with meat. It's covered in an enchilada type sauce with a little bit of cheese. The sweet rice was different, but good. It's made with condensed milk and corn. I actually really enjoyed it, I was surprised! The beans were average. My only complaint is the food was like warm, at best. I don't know why so many restaurants cannot get this right! Overall, we had a fun and enjoyable dinner. I'd definitely go back. read more

See all

So fun to go back to something nostalgic. Food was good, company was great. Definitely worth the stop. read more

Chi Chi's - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota

Just like old times! Chimichanga with chips and salsa nostalgia! But they also kept their sweet rice a favorite from Rojo. I was sad to see Rojo go. I used to work at Chi Chis in college but couldnt get a discount. Still enjoyed the meal and catching up with friends. Service was good. The decor was fancier than the traditional bright gold painted walls from the 90s. An improvement I'd say. read more

Name of this review: Nostalgia Only Goes So Far. While we had a fun time at Chi Chi's tonight, there is no reason to go back. Ever. The food was as mediocre Mexican-American as is found anywhere, including Taco Bell or Taco John. It was fun to order the chimichanga for old times sake, but it really was mediocre - bland short rib in a fried burrito with a bland red/brown sauce served with Spanish rice that lacked much flavor and red beans that could have come from a can. The shrimp taco was reputed to have spice, but none was evident. The short rib taco had about a tablespoon of short rib. Another nostalgic item - the fried ice cream - was much like the original, but oh how our expectations have changed in 40 years! The tres leches - usually one of favorite Latin desserts, even when only so-so - was terrible and after four of us tasted the large serving, the remainder was left on the table along with most of the (Kemps?) fried ice cream. The chips and salsa were very good, and our server was attentive enough. Very loud on a very busy night. And our booth (rez for 6) really fit 2.9 adults and each side. read more

Chi Chi's - Chimichanga - Mexican Near Me - St Louis Park, Minnesota