Chi-Chi's Restaurant Resurrection: What Idaho Needs To Know

If you love Chi-Chi’s, this might be the best news of the decade for you. If you are under 20 years old then you’ll be much less excited - but it’s still cool news.

Chi-Chi’s is a Mexican food chain restaurant that closed all of its locations nearly 20 years ago due to a deadly Hepatitis A outbreak linked to their food. 4 people died and more than 600 reported sickness due to tainted salsa in 2003.

Since nobody likes their food to make them sick or risking life for a bowl of complimentary chips and salsa, the chain filed for bankruptcy and closed all of its restaurants.

Chi-Chi's Restaurant Set To Make A Comeback But Will They Come to Idaho?

Chi-Chi’s was big in the Midwest, but Idaho had a location in Boise at 1455 S. Capitol Blvd. That property is now occupied by the Marriott Towne Place Suites, so if the rumors are true and Chi-Chi’s is making a comeback they’ll have to find a new home.

Credit Google Street View

In an article from PRNewswire, they discuss the plans to bring the iconic restaurant back to life. The son of the founder of Chi-Chi’s has been working on an agreement to gain the rights to use the Chi-Chi’s name on physical restaurants, with some expected to open in 2025.

If you weren’t alive during the Chi-Chi’s heyday, the brand name might still be familiar to you as pointed out by TheFW. Chi-Chi’s salsa has remained available on store shelves which is rather ironic considering their salsa was the cause of the demise of the restaurant chain.

Credit Hormel Foods/Canva

Revival of Chi-Chi's: From Hepatitis Scare to Possible New Beginnings in Idaho

No location announcements have been made, so we'll have to wait and see if Idaho makes the list in 2025 or a later year.

The report says the new restaurants will retain the original Chi-Chi’s restaurant experience with modern influences. Thanks to things never dying on the internet, you can see the old menu from Chi-Chi’s below.