Founded in 1975 and based in Dallas, Texas, Brinker currently owns, operates, or franchises 1,672 restaurants under the names Chili's Grill & Bar and Maggiano's Little Italy worldwide.

[4] In May 2022, Brinker International announced it joined the National Restaurant Association Educational Foundation (NRAED)’s SkillBridge program.

[17] In December 2008, Mac Acquisition LLC, an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital, purchased a majority interest in Romano's Macaroni Grill for $131.5 million.

[3][18][19] In June 2010, Brinker sells On the Border Mexican Grill & Cantina to OTB Acquisition LLC, also an affiliate of Golden Gate Capital.

[26] In July 2024, American rap rock group the Beastie Boys filed a lawsuit against Brinker International for copyright infringement, claiming that the group's 1994 song "Sabotage" had been illegally used to promote the restaurant chain Chili's, which is owned by Brinker, in advertisements on social media starting around November 2022.