Major food chains are reinventing themselves. We ranked their efforts to see who's winning the Great Restaurant Reset.

Tech Insider : Business
Two large billboards displaying a Pizza Hut and Cracker Barrel logos
Brands including Chili's, Starbucks, and Cracker Barrel have undergone revitalization efforts this year.

Getty Images; Tyler Le/BI

Where people are — and are not — eating right now

Tech Insider : Business
Florida, Orlando, Chili's Grill & Bar, restaurant entrance.
Florida, Orlando, Chili's Grill & Bar, restaurant entrance.

Jeffrey Greenberg/Education Images/Universal Images Group via Getty Images

I tried classic cheeseburgers from 4 major chains. Only one stood out as the ideal choice for football season.

Tech Insider : Business, Travel
buffalo wild wings all american cheeseburger
We tried cheeseburgers from four chain restaurants to determine a winner for football season.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Cracker Barrel tried to look forward while everyone else looked back — and it bombed

Tech Insider : Business, Economy, Environment
A composite image of Cracker Barrel logos
The now-scrapped Cracker Barrel logo is seen next to its "Old Timer" logo that will return.

Insider composite

9 tips for making the perfect burger at home, according to Chili's head chef

Tech Insider : Business, Style
chilis chef brian paquette and chilis burger
Brian Paquette, the head of culinary at Chili's, shared his tips for making a perfect burger at home.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I tried Applebee's new Ultimate Trio appetizer combo. It could rival Chili's famous Triple Dipper.

Tech Insider : Business, Style
applebees ultimate trio
Appebee's just launched a new appetizer combo sampler. It could rival Chili's viral Triple Dipper.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

Chili's is on a hot streak — and its CEO says the new ribs are a hit

Tech Insider : Business
A Chili's restaurant and sign
Chili's parent company, Brinker International, reported strong earnings on August 13, 2025.

Justin Sullivan/Getty Images

I ate the same meal at TGI Fridays and Chili's. It's clear why only one is thriving.

Tech Insider
chilis cheeseburger and tgi fridays cheeseburger
TGI Fridays just filed for bankruptcy, while Chili's is thriving. Here's a comparison of the same meal at both restaurants.

Erin McDowell/Business Insider

I compared 3-course meals at Chili's and TGI Fridays. The prices were nearly identical, but the differences in the food were stark.

Tech Insider
intercut photos of meals from chili's and tgi fridays
I had three-course meals at Chili's and TGI Fridays.

Steven John

Beastie Boys Sue Chili’s Owner Over Social Media Ads That Used ‘Sabotage’

Gizmodo

Mike D (Michael Diamond), MCA (Adam Yauch) and Ad-Rock (Adam Horowitz) of the Beastie Boys, group portrait, London, 1993.

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