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Monday, November 9, 2026Nov 9

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Dining Review: Chi-Chi’s in downtown Chattanooga puts a modern Mexican spin on chicken

The Chicken Bowl ($11) at Chi-Chi's Charred Chicken is piled high with chicken, rice, black peans, shredded cheese and pico de gallo on a bed of lettuce.
The Chicken Bowl ($11) at Chi-Chi's Charred Chicken is piled high with chicken, rice, black peans, shredded cheese and pico de gallo on a bed of lettuce.

Chi-Chi’s Charred Chicken opened a year ago on Market Street, billing itself as “Mexican with a Southern twang” and offering a filling south-of-the-border meal not typical of other Mexican restaurants in town. After reading many positive reviews online, I decided to see what all the fuss was about.

THE MENU

Unlike most every Mexican restaurant in the Chattanooga area, you won’t find pork, seafood or beef on the menu. One look at the name is a dead giveaway. It’s all about grilled — rather, charred — chicken. But the chicken comes in so many incarnations, giving you so many choices — including sandwiches, salads, nachos and wings — that other proteins are hardly missed.

(READ MORE: Growing Mexican restaurant chain El Jinete opens in shuttered O’Charley’s on Hixson Pike)

THE DISH ON DINING