Chili's is ready to bring its burgers, fajitas and baby back ribs to more communities across the United States as the restaurant chain builds on a major sales turnaround. Brinker International, Chili's parent company, plans to add 20 to 30 restaurants a year through fiscal 2029 as part of a broader growth strategy. The company expects its restaurant count to increase 2% to 3% annually and, according to The Independent and Restaurant Drive, which cites Brinker Chief Financial Officer Mika Ware, it has identified as many as 300 potential sites for future locations.
The expansion comes after five consecutive years of sales growth. Sales at Chili's restaurants open for at least a year have climbed 71% over that period, Chili's leadership announced at Brinker International's 2026 Investor Day presentation on Sept. 17. Customers are also visiting Chili's more often.
Weekly visits increased from about 3,400 per restaurant in fiscal 2023 to 4,200 in fiscal 2026, while average annual sales per restaurant rose from about $3.3 million to $5 million, Ware said, according to the Independent. USA TODAY reached out to Brinker International on Sept. 23 for additional comment and information, but has not received a response. Chili's is looking beyond its traditional markets as it searches for opportunities to add restaurants.
The chain has identified California, Texas and Florida as some of its strongest markets; however, it is also targeting the Carolinas, Georgia, Virginia, Washington, D.C., and Ohio, according to Restaurant Dive. Washington state is one example of a market where Chili's sees room to grow. The company has just one streetside restaurant there, while its closest competitors have roughly 35 to 40 locations, Ware said.
Brinker CEO Kevin Hochman said during the Sept. 17 Investor Day presentation that Chili's has fewer restaurants in the state than its two closest competitors, which together have about four times as many locations there. The company is also pursuing a "small town strategy," looking beyond major suburbs and metropolitan areas, Restaurant Dive reported. In expensive markets such as the Northeast, Chili's could convert existing restaurants or acquire smaller chains to gain access to real estate.
Brinker has attributed Chili's turnaround to changes in value, food and service, including its "Better Than Fast Food" campaign. The company has invested about $180 million in front-of-house improvements, brought back bussers, added handheld ordering devices and updated kitchen screens, Aaron White, Brinker's chief people officer, said, per Restaurant Dive. Chili's also reported a 5.6% increase in same-store sales during the fourth quarter of fiscal 2026.
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