Servers at Chili’s are begging customers to cool down the Mie Big Dipper trend, which doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon.
Three Fingers of Chili is exactly what it sounds like. You can choose from three appetizers, including wings (boneless or bone-in), chips, sliders, Southwestern egg rolls, fried mozzarella, and cheese fries, as well as three dips to dip them in.
Prices vary by location (usually seem to be less than $20), but people generally think this is a good deal considering the amount of food you get.
In a viral video posted by Zoey Lynn (@_.999lynn), two Chili’s servers can be seen rocking back and forth on the floor with their heads in their hands, burnt out and anxious for their shifts to end. It seemed like it was.
The video featured superimposed text that read, “How do we feel about the triple dipper trend,” and the words, “I don’t know who to bash,” played over it.
And I’m also interested in what caused this trend.
The Chilean three-finger trend has garnered well over 30 million views on TikTok with dozens of videos ranging from popular creators like @dylan.mcarthur to ordinary people doing mukbangs in their cars.
This deal has been in the works for years, so it’s unclear what sparked the Three Drops craze. The food deal has become so popular that Zoe Lin says her store now has lines of people coming just for it.
Zoe Lin explained in the comment section, “It would take 1 hour and 47 minutes, which is more than this fry cook and 4 fryers could keep up with.”
Last year, some consumers turned away from fast food restaurants like McDonald’s and Wendy’s in favor of fast-casual spots like Chili’s and Applebee’s.
One woman said she now prefers going to Chili’s over Wendy’s because the prices are the same but she gets a bigger profit. Another said Applebee’s and McDonald’s prices are about the same in her area, and there are no truly “cheap” food options anymore. And one fast-food official said current prices are alienating the working-class customers it targets.
You see, fast food prices aren’t what they used to be. Instead of being able to get something cheaper at a fast food restaurant, customers found themselves paying higher prices for meals that were not of the highest quality.
According to research by Finance Buzz, menu prices have increased by an average of 39% to 100% over the past 10 years. This is much higher than the inflation rate at the time.
@_.999lynn There shouldn’t be a line at Chili’s 💔
♬ Original sound
Of all fast food restaurants, McDonald’s has seen the biggest price hikes, with the price of its most popular menu items doubling. Popeyes, Taco Bell and Chipotle were close behind.
Most people in Zoe Lynn’s comments section said they knew about the triple dipper deal long before it became a thing, but were also upset about its newfound popularity.
“I love the Triple Dipper, but I haven’t been to Chili’s since I saw it go viral. I know it’s going to be crowded. I’m going to wait until the hype dies down and try it again.” I’m going to start,” one commenter wrote.
The Daily Dot has reached out to Zoe Lynn for comment.
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*First published: May 13, 2024 at 10am CDT
Stacey Fernandez
Stacey Fernandez is a freelance writer, project manager, and communications specialist. She worked at the Texas Tribune, the Dallas Morning News, and was in charge of social media at the New York Educational Trust. Her favorite hobby is finding hidden gems in her thrift store. She loves good audio books and is also a chocolate lover.