Are Warm Chips too high of an expectation in 2025?
Is Wanting Warm Chips at a Mexican Restaurant Too Much to Ask?
There are a few simple joys in life that keep me going: the first sip of a cold beer after mowing the lawn, the smell of meat hitting the smoker on a Saturday morning, and—most importantly—the first basket of chips and salsa at a Mexican restaurant.
That’s supposed to be a sacred moment. A moment of connection between diner and establishment. A handshake that says, “Welcome, we’ve got you.” But lately… it feels like that handshake has gone limp.
Because I’m telling you right now—if I get one more basket of stale, cold, mass-produced, bag-tasting chips, I might just lose it.
❄️ Cold Chips = Broken Trust
Warm chips are not a luxury item. They are not an upgrade. They are the bare minimum of hospitality. You wouldn’t serve someone cold fries at a burger joint, right? So why do we accept cold chips at a Mexican restaurant?
The first basket sets the tone. It’s the pre-game. It’s the scouting report for the rest of the meal. If you serve me cold chips, I immediately know that the enchiladas are coming out microwaved and the rice is going to be dry enough to use as kitty litter.
Warm chips say: “We care.” Cold chips say: “We’ve given up.”
🔥 The Perfect Chip Experience
Here’s what I’m looking for—no, here’s what I deserve:
Freshly fried — none of that pre-bagged nonsense. I want to hear a faint crunch echo through the restaurant when someone two tables over takes their first bite.
Lightly salted — not over-seasoned, not flavorless. Just that perfect dusting that glistens in the light.
Still warm to the touch — enough that the basket gives off a gentle heat when it hits the table. That warmth, my friends, is love.
Salsa that bites back — fresh cilantro, diced onion, tomato, a little heat. Not that ketchup-adjacent stuff that tastes like it came out of a Sysco jug.
🧂 The Rant Behind the Rant
Because this isn’t really about chips, is it? It’s about standards. It’s about pride in your craft. If you’re running a restaurant—heck, if you’re doing anything—take pride in the details.
You can tell when someone cares. And you can definitely tell when they don’t. Warm chips are a signal. They tell me that someone’s back there paying attention, doing things the right way.
Cold chips? That’s just laziness in physical form.
🌮 Final Word
So no, it’s not too much to ask. It’s the least you can do. If you’re going to charge me $14.99 for fajitas and $9.50 for a margarita that’s mostly ice, the least you can do is send me off with a basket of chips that remind me why I came here in the first place.
Warm chips. Fresh salsa. A little care. That’s it. That’s the tweet.
