How popular isChili's?
In September 2026, people searched for Chili's by name about 6.7 million times in the United States, an 18.1% decrease from the previous year. These searches made up 17.6% of all United States casual dining chain searches, placing Chili's second out of ten chains. When we asked both ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews about casual dining chains, Chili's appeared in all answers and was the fourth most recommended of the ten.
Chili's is the second most searched of 10 competitors and the fourth most recommended in AI answers.
Texas RoadhouseShare of searches 19.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 2nd
Chili'sShare of searches 17.6%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 4th
Buffalo Wild WingsShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
Olive GardenShare of searches 13.1%Mentioned in 3 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations 3rd
Applebee'sShare of searches 11.8%Mentioned in 0 of 3 AI answersPlace in AI recommendations –
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Top casual dining chains in ChatGPT and Google AI Overviews
In three ChatGPT questions, Chili's appeared in all three answers. Chili's is the fourth most recommended of the ten.
Most recommended by AI
Brands get a higher ranking if they are mentioned earlier in the answers.
Mentioned by AI
Each dot is one answer, filled in when that answer mentions the brand.
- Texas Roadhouse3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Chili's3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Olive Garden3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
The Cheesecake Factory3 of 3Named in 3 of 3 ChatGPT answers
LongHorn Steakhouse2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Cracker Barrel2 of 3Named in 2 of 3 ChatGPT answers- Buffalo Wild Wings0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
- Applebee's0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
Red Lobster0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
TGI Fridays0 of 3Named in 0 of 3 ChatGPT answers
See every answer about casual dining chains
3 answers
Asked ChatGPT
“Which casual dining chain is the best in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“What are the best sit-down restaurant chains in the US?”
Asked ChatGPT
“Which restaurant chain in the US is best for a family dinner?”
Searched Google, AI Overview
“sit down restaurants”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Searched Google, AI Overview
“casual dining restaurants”
Google showed no AI Overview for this search.
Not named in any answer:
Brands are shown in the order each answer named them. The survey took place in United States on October 22, 2026.
Which casual dining chains compete with Chili's?
Share of searches by month for Texas Roadhouse, Chili's, Buffalo Wild Wings, Olive Garden, Applebee's, LongHorn Steakhouse, The Cheesecake Factory, Cracker Barrel, Red Lobster. The figures are in the table below the chart.
View monthly share of searches table
| Month | Texas Roadhouse | Chili's | Buffalo Wild Wings | Olive Garden | Applebee's | LongHorn Steakhouse | The Cheesecake Factory | Cracker Barrel | Red Lobster | TGI Fridays |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Oct 2025 | 20.6% | 18.4% | 13.8% | 11.2% | 12.3% | 7.5% | 6.2% | 5% | 4.1% | 0.83% |
| Nov 2025 | 22.8% | 20.5% | 12.6% | 10.3% | 11.2% | 6.9% | 5.6% | 5.6% | 3.8% | 0.76% |
| Dec 2025 | 23.6% | 17.4% | 13% | 10.6% | 11.7% | 7.1% | 7.1% | 4.8% | 3.9% | 0.78% |
| Jan 2026 | 23.8% | 17.6% | 13.1% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 3.9% | 0.79% |
| Feb 2026 | 23.8% | 17.5% | 10.7% | 10.7% | 11.8% | 8.8% | 7.2% | 3.9% | 4.8% | 0.79% |
| Mar 2026 | 24.1% | 17.8% | 10.9% | 10.9% | 11.9% | 8.9% | 6% | 4% | 4.9% | 0.8% |
| Apr 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.6% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 0.75% |
| May 2026 | 23.7% | 17.5% | 10.7% | 8.7% | 14.3% | 8.7% | 5.8% | 3.9% | 5.8% | 0.79% |
| Jun 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.6% | 8.3% | 5.5% | 4.5% | 5.5% | 0.75% |
| Jul 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.5% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 0.74% |
| Aug 2026 | 22.6% | 16.6% | 12.4% | 10.1% | 13.5% | 8.3% | 6.8% | 4.5% | 4.5% | 0.74% |
| Sep 2026 | 19.6% | 17.6% | 13.1% | 13.1% | 11.8% | 7.2% | 7.2% | 4.8% | 4.8% | 0.79% |
| Rank | Brand | Share of searches | Estimated monthly branded searches | vs prior month | Share change |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1, held 1st | 19.6% | 7.5M | -18.2% | -3 points | |
| 2, held 2nd | 17.6% | 6.7M | 0% | +1 points | |
| 3, moved from 4th to 3rd | 13.1% | 5M | 0% | +0.8 pointsmoved from 4th to 3rd | |
| 4, moved from 5th to 4th | 13.1% | 5M | +22.2% | +3 pointsmoved from 5th to 4th | |
| 5, moved from 3rd to 5th | 11.8% | 4.5M | -18.2% | -1.8 pointsmoved from 3rd to 5th | |
| 6, held 6th | 7.2% | 2.7M | -18.2% | -1.1 points | |
| 7, held 7th | 7.2% | 2.7M | 0% | +0.4 points | |
| 8, held 8th | 4.8% | 1.8M | 0% | +0.3 points | |
| 9, held 9th | 4.8% | 1.8M | 0% | +0.3 points | |
| 10, held 10th | 0.79% | 301K | 0% | 0 points |
19.6%
Held 1st. 7.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -3 points.
2.
Chili's17.6%
Held 2nd. 6.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +1 points.
13.1%
Moved from 4th to 3rd. 5M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.8 points.
13.1%
Moved from 5th to 4th. 5M estimated branded searches, +22.2% vs prior month. Share +3 points.
11.8%
Moved from 3rd to 5th. 4.5M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.8 points.
7.2%
Held 6th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, -18.2% vs prior month. Share -1.1 points.
7.2%
Held 7th. 2.7M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.4 points.
4.8%
Held 8th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
4.8%
Held 9th. 1.8M estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share +0.3 points.
10.
TGI Fridays0.79%
Held 10th. 301K estimated branded searches, 0% vs prior month. Share 0 points.
Compare popularity between Chili's and its closest rivals
Every comparison with Chili's
9 comparisons
How has branded search demand for Chili's changed in the United States over the last 12 months?
3 findings
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, estimated monthly branded searches for Chili's in the United States fell from 8.2M to 6.7M.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chili's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States decreased from 18.4% to 17.6%.
- Across the 12 months ending September 2026, Chili's’ share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States peaked at 20.5% in November 2025 and was lowest at 16.6% in July 2026.
How did search popularity change for United States casual dining chains in September 2026?
6 changes
In September 2026, Buffalo Wild Wings overtook Applebee's to rank 3rd among casual dining chains in the United States, with 13.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Olive Garden overtook Applebee's to rank 4th among casual dining chains in the United States, with 13.1% of the searches.
In September 2026, Chili's gained share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 16.6% to 17.6%.
In September 2026, Texas Roadhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 22.6% to 19.6%.
In September 2026, Applebee's lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 13.5% to 11.8%.
In September 2026, LongHorn Steakhouse lost share of searches among casual dining chains in the United States, from 8.3% to 7.2%.
How are Chili's’ branded searches counted?
2 search terms
Brandwave collects information about searches that people make online using Chili's’ name. When viewed over time, estimated search volumes for these branded terms can be used to understand whether interest in the brand is growing, holding steady, or fading.
- chili's
- chilis
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