ST LOUIS PARK, MN (BBQ CRITIC) - Chi Chi's restaurant began in 1975 in Richfield, Minnesota. Founded by restaurateur Marno McDermott and former Green Bay Packers player Max McGee, the franchise grew to 200+ stores and became the most popular Mexican restaurant during this era. Years later, due to a series of events, Chi Chi's closed its last doors in 2004.
Michael McDermott (son of Marno McDermott) owns two Rojo Mexican Grill restaurants in Minnesota. One in St Louis Park and the other in Maple Grove. Rojo was reaching its peak, so Michael came up with a brilliant plan to bring life back to his restaurants by resurrecting his father's dream. He obtained licensed approval from Hormel Foods to use the brand name Chi Chi's, and then created Chi Chi's Restaurants LLC. Channels opened up for investors and new opportunities to franchise.
Michael McDermott (son of Marno McDermott) owns two Rojo Mexican Grill restaurants in Minnesota. One in St Louis Park and the other in Maple Grove. Rojo was reaching its peak, so Michael came up with a brilliant plan to bring life back to his restaurants by resurrecting his father's dream. He obtained licensed approval from Hormel Foods to use the brand name Chi Chi's, and then created Chi Chi's Restaurants LLC. Channels opened up for investors and new opportunities to franchise.
MICHAEL MCDERMOTT
The plan worked! Michael McDermott closed the Rojo St Louis Park location and converted it to a Chi Chi's. The doors opened on October 6th, 2025. The Maple Grove location will eventually follow.
Chi Chi's is back! Now the road trip.
Chi Chi's is back! Now the road trip.
THE REVIEW
My friend Bruce and I worked at Chi Chi's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, during the 80's & 90's. I worked there 10 years. Now 20 years later, we are on our way to visit Chi Chi's in St Louis Park, MN. We knew we arrived when we saw that old familiar red logo on the building that read CHI CHI’S.
I remember Chi Chi’s back in the day. The hacienda style buildings would have a multi-level layout, all decked out with colorful, festive booths and tables. You’d see Mexican decor on the walls, potted plants and hanging sombreros. All surrounded by an aroma of delicious Tex Mex cuisine, and a dining area full of engaging customers. Sudden outbursts of festive birthday celebrations would ensue and everyone joined in. Fun memories, indeed!
I remember Chi Chi’s back in the day. The hacienda style buildings would have a multi-level layout, all decked out with colorful, festive booths and tables. You’d see Mexican decor on the walls, potted plants and hanging sombreros. All surrounded by an aroma of delicious Tex Mex cuisine, and a dining area full of engaging customers. Sudden outbursts of festive birthday celebrations would ensue and everyone joined in. Fun memories, indeed!
The Chi Chi's I worked at in Cedar Rapids, Iowa around 1985 or later.
Chi Chi's in Cedar Rapids, Iowa back in the 80's and 90's
Pins and a watch I earned as an employee of Chi Chi's
Snapshots of me hanging with my Chi Chi's co-workers
Today was a surreal moment in time as we stood outside the restaurant realizing that Chi Chi's really is back. We opened the doors and finally walked in.
The new Chi Chi's is now more modern. There is an open kitchen (that's new and cool) and a spacious open bar/lounge area. They do have plants (a nod to Chi Chi’s), but it is not the same feel as when you walked into an original Chi Chi's. Then again this is 2025, not 1985. I'm sure if the original Chi Chi's had survived, they would have updated their interior anyway to keep things fresh.
What's really important to me is the food and the people.
The new Chi Chi's is now more modern. There is an open kitchen (that's new and cool) and a spacious open bar/lounge area. They do have plants (a nod to Chi Chi’s), but it is not the same feel as when you walked into an original Chi Chi's. Then again this is 2025, not 1985. I'm sure if the original Chi Chi's had survived, they would have updated their interior anyway to keep things fresh.
What's really important to me is the food and the people.
Chi Chi's Dining Room
Chi Chi's Bar & Lounge Area
Chi Chi's Open Kitchen
Chi Chi's wall decor showing a bit of history.
Chi Chi's Restaurant
A very friendly host sat us promptly. Our waiter, Brian, was on top of it. Very attentive and he served up the Chips, Salsa and a side of Roasted Poblano Queso. The chips tasted exactly like I remember (made in-house) and the salsa had a fresh flavor I could eat all day. The Roasted Poblano Queso was definitely an upgrade from the original Chili Con Queso. So delicious!
Chi Chi's Salsa
Roasted Poblano Queso
Corn Tortilla Chips (Made in-House).
THE NACHOS GRANDE
We then ordered the Nachos Grande. Brian gave us the option to choose original style or the stacked. We chose the original. When the Nachos Grande arrived, we were a bit perplexed. This did not look anything like the original. The original Chi Chi's Nacho Grande looked like this...
THE ORIGINAL CHI CHI'S NACHOS GRANDE
Here is the version they call the Original Nachos Grande (BELOW)...
The New Original Nachos Grande
The new Nachos Grande was made with fried flour tortillas instead of fried corn tortillas. We are now feeling a bit frustrated. Then we took our first bite. Guess what? Our disappointment disappeared. A blast of deliciousness came with each and every bite. This Nachos Grande is not like the original, but certainly inspired by it. It still had the refried beans, beef, cheese, and jalapenos. The additional toppings made it burst with flavor!
The New Original Nachos Grande is Impressive!
BEEF CHIMICHANGA
We ordered the Original Beef Chimichangas (my sides were rice and beans, and Bruce ordered Spanish rice and Sweet rice). The sauce had a brown tint instead of a green shade like we got with the original Special Sauce (a blend of mild green chilis, onions, shredded beef and seasonings). It came garnished with sour cream, guacamole and Pico de Gallo. The only thing missing was a small scoop of Chi Chi's Sweet Corn Cake. Hopefully it will be on the next menu update.
The Beef Chimichanga tasted a tad bit different than I remember, but overall it was very good. The beef inside had that same familiar Chi Chi's flavor with green chilis, white onion and seasonings cooked in. Very nice!
The Beef Chimichanga tasted a tad bit different than I remember, but overall it was very good. The beef inside had that same familiar Chi Chi's flavor with green chilis, white onion and seasonings cooked in. Very nice!
The Original Beef Chimichanga
Surprisingly, the Spanish rice tasted way better than the original. Much more flavor. The refried bean's texture and taste was an improvement. The Sweet Rice option tasted more like a sweet dessert of some sort. Bruce preferred the sweet rice and I liked the Spanish rice. I'm still dreaming of that Sweet Corn Cake!
FRIED ICE CREAM
We could not leave without ordering a Fried Ice Cream, probably the most famous item on the menu.
The Original Fried Ice Cream was a handful of French vanilla ice cream balled up and rolled in cinnamon, sugar and a crushed cornflake-like coating. Then dipped in a fryer and placed on flaky flour tortilla. Your topping choices included honey, strawberry sauce or chocolate syrup. Then came the whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry. BAM!
Our Fried Ice Cream came in a bowl topped with honey, whipped cream and a bright red cherry. When I took my first bite, I felt it lacked the sweetness of the original. The flakes here were thicker (not a big deal) and needed a tad more cinnamon and sugar to make this iconic dessert pop! Bruce ended up going back another day with his wife and said the Fried Ice Cream was really good on the second try!
The Original Fried Ice Cream was a handful of French vanilla ice cream balled up and rolled in cinnamon, sugar and a crushed cornflake-like coating. Then dipped in a fryer and placed on flaky flour tortilla. Your topping choices included honey, strawberry sauce or chocolate syrup. Then came the whipped topping and a Maraschino cherry. BAM!
Our Fried Ice Cream came in a bowl topped with honey, whipped cream and a bright red cherry. When I took my first bite, I felt it lacked the sweetness of the original. The flakes here were thicker (not a big deal) and needed a tad more cinnamon and sugar to make this iconic dessert pop! Bruce ended up going back another day with his wife and said the Fried Ice Cream was really good on the second try!
WISH LIST
Chi Chi's will eventually have menu updates. I would love to see them bring back the original Cancun (seafood enchiladas). I did notice Seafood Enchiladas on the menu (it was in a video review on YouTube I saw beforehand and it looked nothing like the Cancun), so I did not order it. Perhaps that was a mistake considering the tasty upgrades I have already experienced.
Diablo Sauce (a spicy pork and green chili sauce) is a must! I would have ordered Diablo Enchiladas instead of a Chimichanga if this was on the menu. I love Diablo Sauce!
Sweet Corn Cake. You are probably tired of hearing me talk about this, but a small scoop should be on almost every plate. In fact, you readers should go on Amazon and order the Chi Chi's Sweet Corn Cake packets (by Hormel Foods). It's easy to make. So moist and delicious! (UPDATE: After this review was published, I heard from other reviewers the corn cake is now back!
Diablo Sauce (a spicy pork and green chili sauce) is a must! I would have ordered Diablo Enchiladas instead of a Chimichanga if this was on the menu. I love Diablo Sauce!
Sweet Corn Cake. You are probably tired of hearing me talk about this, but a small scoop should be on almost every plate. In fact, you readers should go on Amazon and order the Chi Chi's Sweet Corn Cake packets (by Hormel Foods). It's easy to make. So moist and delicious! (UPDATE: After this review was published, I heard from other reviewers the corn cake is now back!
FINAL THOUGHTS
The all new modern version of Chi Chi's may one day become nostalgic for a whole new generation of customers and employees.
It is my hope this Chi Chi's staff will become like family (like ours did in Cedar Rapids) and enjoy all the highs and lows of working together in this fast paced work environment we call the restaurant business.
May those customers sitting at the bar become valued friends in a Cheer's kind of way. That's exactly the way it was at our Chi Chi's.
I remember the old Chi Chi's TV commercial tagline: "Chi Chi's: A Celebration of Food!" The magic of Chi Chi's is not just about food. It's about relationships and the experiences we share together as employees and customers. Family and friends gathering together in a fun and familiar place that makes everyone feel warm, welcomed and appreciated. A perfect place to relax.
If you are looking for the original Chi Chi's, that memory only exists in the past. However, this new twist combining Rojo, Chi Chi's and other new menu creations may be exactly what you need to bring your family together and create a whole new lifetime of memories.
Chi Chi's is not just a celebration of food. It's a celebration of life!
- BBQ CRITIC
It is my hope this Chi Chi's staff will become like family (like ours did in Cedar Rapids) and enjoy all the highs and lows of working together in this fast paced work environment we call the restaurant business.
May those customers sitting at the bar become valued friends in a Cheer's kind of way. That's exactly the way it was at our Chi Chi's.
I remember the old Chi Chi's TV commercial tagline: "Chi Chi's: A Celebration of Food!" The magic of Chi Chi's is not just about food. It's about relationships and the experiences we share together as employees and customers. Family and friends gathering together in a fun and familiar place that makes everyone feel warm, welcomed and appreciated. A perfect place to relax.
If you are looking for the original Chi Chi's, that memory only exists in the past. However, this new twist combining Rojo, Chi Chi's and other new menu creations may be exactly what you need to bring your family together and create a whole new lifetime of memories.
Chi Chi's is not just a celebration of food. It's a celebration of life!
- BBQ CRITIC
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