At a time when cherished chains like Howard Johnson’s and Ground Round linger only in memories, Chi-Chi’s—the iconic Mexican restaurant famed for sizzling fajitas, fried ice cream, and endless chips and salsa—is roaring back to life, igniting nationwide buzz. shuttered nationwide in 2004 after a hepatitis A outbreak and bankruptcy,

the brand that once boasted over 200 locations is now reviving under Michael McDermott, son of co-founder Marno McDermott. The first location swung open its doors on October 6, 2025, in St. Louis Park, Minnesota, drawing packed reservations and crowds hungry for ’90s nostalgia