Chili's is defying a casual-dining slowdown with growth driven by viral menu hits, a focus on value, and a back-to-basics strategy. Chili's Grill & Bar; Robert V Schwemmer/Shutterstock Chili's is outperforming casual-dining rivals like Applebee's and Red Lobster in sales and traffic growth. CEO Kevin Hochman credits a simple formula: "Marketing brings them in; ops brings them back." The chain's focus on fundamentals and value is driving its turnaround, he told Business Insider. Chili's has pulled off one of the biggest turnarounds in casual dining, and CEO Kevin Hochman says the strategy behind it isn't complicated. The chain has had steady sales growth over the past four years since Hochman took over as president of parent company Brinker International, which also owns the Italian casual-dining chain Maggiano's. "It's two things," Hochman told Business Insider of the company's growth.…