After a 20-year hiatus, Chi-Chi’s Mexican restaurant is reopening its doors.
In 2003, the company filed for bankruptcy as hundreds of people fell ill and three people died after eating at the restaurant, according to a lawsuit. Today, the founder says Chi-Chi’s is stronger than ever. The first location opened on Oct. 6, in Minnesota’s St. Louis Park with original and new menu items, according to PR Newswire.
“Chi-Chi’s is back stronger than ever,” Michael McDermott, founder of Chi-Chi’s Restaurants, said in a statement.
“We’re bringing back the food, energy, and fun that people love, now with a fresh twist for a whole new generation.
New menu items include:
Chi-Chi’s Original Chimichanga: A deep fried burrito filled with beef, chicken, short rib, or red chili and served with guacamole, sour cream, pico de gallo, rice and beans.Quesabirria Tacos: Three corn tacos filled with slow cooked beef, oxaca cheese, onions, cilantro and consommé dipping sauce.Seafood Enchiladas: A combination of shrimp and crab, smothered in Chi-Chi’s lobster cream sauce served with sour cream, guacamole, beans and rice.Manchego Burger: Wood grilled angus beef, topped with Manchego cheese, pico de gallo, avocado, chipotle mayonnaise served with fries. Original Nachos Grande: House tortilla chips topped with refried beans, ground beef, melty cheese and jalapeños.El Burro Con Queso: A burrito filled with ground beef or shredded chicken, cheese, chili con queso and ranchero sauce served with beans and choice of rice.
Chi-Chi’s filed for bankruptcy in October 2003 after a hepatitis A outbreak at one of its Pennsylvania locations due to contaminated green onions served to customers, according to Marler Clark, the food safety law firm that represented families in a lawsuit.
Three people died and more than 540 people fell ill. The company agreed to compensate the people who got sick as a result of eating at the restaurant, according to Marler Clark.
Chi-Chi’s was founded in 1975 and had more than 200 locations across the country, according to AP News.
The St. Louis Park location is only the first of many opening with additional locations planned in the future, according to the release.
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Dining and Cooking