Chilis and TGI Fridays are in a full-blown mozzarella stick feud.
Last week, TGI Fridays unveiled its new menu with a post on X: New menus out. mozz sticks hit harder. happy hours calling. lifes good. The next day, the chain appeared to throw shade at its fast casual rival, Chilis Grill & Bar.
new menus out. mozz sticks hit harder. happy hours calling. lifes good.— TGI Fridays (@TGIFridays) May 13, 2025
“Somebody tell [chili pepper emoji] to stay in their lane,” TGI Fridays posted on May 14. “Yall are not mozzarella stick people. We are. Thats it. Thats the tweet.”
Chilis clapped back by sharing a screenshot of the post: “@ us next time Also, we honestly didnt know you were still open. Congrats!
@ us next time… also, we honestly didnt know you were still open. congrats! pic.twitter.com/t32gxjNivm— Chili's Grill & Bar (@Chilis) May 15, 2025
Plot twist: the original tweet wasnt even real. It was part of a marketing stunt pulled off by Chilis. The gag is this wasnt even a real tweet, TGI Fridays admitted in a reply to a commenter.
the gag is this wasn't even a real tweet — TGI Fridays (@TGIFridays) May 16, 2025
Even so, the jab likely stung. TGI Fridays has only 85 restaurants left in the U.S., down from about 270 at the start of last year. Its parent company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late 2024, blaming the pandemic for ongoing financial struggles. Just last month, the chain closed another 30 locations.
“OMG, I think I just witnessed a murder,” one X user wrote. Another added insult to injury: “they closed the Fridays near me.and opened another chilis” Chilis responded: “was probably for the best.”
was probably for the best— Chili's Grill & Bar (@Chilis) May 16, 2025
Fans also dredged up a 2021 lawsuit against TGI Fridays over its frozen mozzarella sticks, which were found to contain cheddar instead of mozzarella. Do they actually contain mozzarella now or nah? one person asked.
Refusing to back down, TGI Fridays proposed a showdown. Is the cheese pull challenge accepted or nah?? the company asked.
is the cheese pull challenge accepted or nah?? https://t.co/fDHmZiIbrj— TGI Fridays (@TGIFridays) May 15, 2025
So Team Chilis or Team Fridays?
