Chaplin's Chili is a restaurant started by Tom Chaplin. It was the first iteration of the Chaplin's Chili brand.^[1] After Levinsons Acquisitions purchased the brand from Chaplin, they began expanding to new locations with an expanded menu. Chaplin, unhappy with the changes, left the new company and returned to the original restaurant with his proprietary chili recipe, while the new locations were forced to rebrand to Chaplin's Soups and Subs.^[2] Between Feburary 2016 and March 2018, Chaplin's Chili sued Levinsons, resulting in the Chaplin's Soup and Subs brand returning to Chaplin's Chili.^[3] Tom Chaplin was eventually forced out of the company, going on to found Foodman's Dream Catering, as Chaplin's Chili retained the rights to the “Chaplin's” name.^[4]

The name and logo of the restaurant led to confusion, with some believing that the restaurant was named after famed movie actor Charlie Chaplin.