‘So Just Go To Twin Peaks? Got It’: Texas Hooters Waitresses Share What Changes Are Coming To Menu, Their Uniforms

Two Hooters servers have gone viral after sharing the changes coming to their location in a TikTok. The women, Elena Cano and Chelsea, say in a video posted to Cano’s account (@lennie_boo) that the Downtown Dallas location they work at burned down a year ago, and they are now doing retraining.

These changes, most of which focus on “image,” are as follows:

Jewelry

Before: Prohibited with limited exceptions, like for an engagement ring.

Now: One necklace, three bracelets, three earrings on each ear, and three rings on each hand are permitted—but no anklets.

Tattoos

Before: Did not need to be covered.

Now: If it’s bigger than a server’s palm (not including fingers; that’s cheating), it needs to be covered up. Prohibited on legs.

Hair

Before: Accessories permitted if they match a server’s hair color.

Now: Cannot be half-up, half-down. It has to be all up or all down. “Braids to the scalp” (like cornrows) are prohibited. Box braids are allowed. If a server wears a single braid, it must be in a ponytail. Accessories are not permitted, even if they match a server’s hair color. Highlights that are not the server’s natural color or not permitted. If a server’s roots are a different color than the rest of their hair, the roots cannot be more than half an inch outgrown.

Makeup

Before: Unspecified.

Now: Servers’ makeup looks must have at least five components: foundation, mascara, a lip color, blush, and brows. No dramatic makeup like colorful eyelids, extremely long and full eyelashes, heavy eyeliner, and dark lipstick is permitted. “They want the girl next door look,” Chelsea says.

Nails

Before: Unspecified.

Now: Nails can’t be more than half an inch past a server’s fingertip. Attachments like rhinestones or charms are prohibited.

Undergarments

Before: Unspecified.

Now: Bras must match a server’s skin tone. If a server changes skin tones in the summer, they should have a bra that matches that shade. Bras cannot be white, even if the server is wearing a white uniform. (White bras can show under white shirts, so this is understandable.)

Uniforms

Before: Black uniform available. Crop top uniform available. Cheeky shorts.

Now: Black uniform retired. Crop top retired. Remaining acceptable shirts are white tank, short sleeve, or long sleeve. Shorts are longer. They were briefly “super cheeky” but are now longer than the original shorts that preceded the controversial cheeky ones.

Vending Machines

Before: Snack vending machine available.

Now: Snack vending machine no longer available. Vending machines now only contain pantyhose. Cano notes that pantyhose with runs are unacceptable, and they need to be replaced immediately. (This is not new.) She advises it’s best to have a few spare pairs rather than having to buy a new pair from the vending machine.

Menu

Before: Ranch is complimentary with wings. Wings come with sides. Spicy Garlic, Garlic Habanero, Garlic Parmesan, and Lemon Pepper, Chipotle, Honey Sriracha, and Ghost Pepper are available as wing sauces. Burgers come with fries. The only burger available is the Build Your Own Burger. Mac and cheese is available as a side. Lowest number of bone-in wings available is six.

Now: Ranch must be ordered separately. Wings do not come with fries or any other side. Spicy Garlic, Garlic Habanero, Honey Sriracha, and Ghost Pepper are no longer available. Garlic Parmesan and Lemon Pepper are only available as dry rubs. Chipotle is now Honey Barbecue Chipotle. 911 sauce is back. Burgers come with potato salad or coleslaw. New burgers include the Twisted Texas Melt, Big Western Barbecue Burger (“Kind of the same burger, just on different buns”), Turkey, Bacon Blue Cheese, and Mushroom Swiss. Mac and cheese can only be ordered from the kids’ menu. Lowest number of bone-in wings available is eight. Oysters are back.

When Are These Changes Taking Place?

The changes went into effect on Aug. 11 when the Downtown Dallas location reopened. Cano and Chelsea encourage viewers to visit them.

Are These Changes Coming To Every Hooters?

It seems that some of the more specific changes Cano and Chelsea mention have yet to be reported on. However, there is information on some changes that customers can expect.

After filing for bankruptcy in March, Hooters is attempting to revitalize, or “re-Hooterize,” itself. Part of this plan includes bringing back “traditional” orange shorts in place of the bikini-style bottoms some stores had adopted. “I don’t think you’re going to see a bunch of butt cheeks hanging out,” Neil Kiefer, a lawyer close to Hooters’ founders, told the Wall Street Journal.

Regarding the menu, part of Kiefer’s effort involves slathering butter over 70% of menu items—and upgrading butter to Grade A across all locations.

Mashed reports other menu changes, namely focused on standardization across all locations. As a restaurant that was mostly franchise-owned and operated until the bankruptcy filing (and has become entirely franchised since), there have long been inconsistencies in item availability at different locations.

For instance, the brand’s Original sauce was not previously available at all locations, but it will be now.

As more than half of the chain’s menu items contain the sauce, its new ubiquity may mean major changes to kitchens that weren’t already using it. The brand is also trying to focus on quality over quantity, so in addition to using real Grade A butter, the company says it may cut down menu sizes in some cases to make them more “manageable.”

The chain is looking to be more appealing to families and couples, and part of this means reinvesting funds to make locations cleaner, more modern, and more welcoming across the board. Additionally, staff, particularly those working in the front of house, will be retrained.

‘Yeah, I’ll Keep Going To Pluckers Instead’

Viewers in the comments section of Cano’s video were not happy about the changes.

One who’s a little late to the party wrote, “Hooters will be going bankrupt with these rules. Sorry. Keep your resume updated. Good luck.”

A second said, “Wings not coming with ranch is crazy and burger with no fries is criminal…”

Another said their experience at the Downtown Dallas location was abysmal. They wrote, “It’s was horrible experience.. we went on Friday!!! No more sliders with fries.. everything is an upgrade.. no more wet sauce everything is dry..”

Cano responded, “Not everything ! sorry you didn’t have a good experience , come back and ask for lennie ill take care of yall.” The commenter appreciated this offer.

Other commenters said these rules were not new.

One said, “When I worked there all of these things were already rules. Hooters got way chill about image standards after I quit.”

A second wrote, “When I worked at hooters we had all these rules but nobody enforced or followed them lol.” Cano responded, “That part lmao.”

Another hinted that changes aren’t exclusive to the Downtown Dallas location.

They said, “Girl i work at hooters in el paso we’re having a meeting for our new changes are y’all’s hours the same?!” The aspiring lash technician does not appear to have posted any information about the changes coming to her location to her account.

BroBible contacted Cano via TikTok comment and direct message. It contacted Hooters via press email and the Downtown Dallas location via Facebook direct message.