Chez Chili serves a focused selection of Szechuan cuisine characterized by the bold integration of numbing peppercorns and aromatic dried chilies. The menu centers on authentic preparations that prioritize intense heat and complex spice profiles essential to this regional culinary tradition. Patrons encounter a variety of stir-fried dishes, slow-cooked meat preparations, and vibrant vegetable offerings that emphasize textural contrast and authentic seasoning techniques. Every plate reflects a commitment to the fiery essence of Szechuan gastronomy, utilizing high-quality ingredients to achieve profound depth of flavor. The dining room maintains a functional aesthetic, allowing the robust spice levels of the food to serve as the primary focal point for diners. This establishment operates as a destination for those seeking a direct and uncompromising encounter with traditional Chinese culinary heat.
Chez Chili is widely regarded as a standout destination in Montreal's Chinatown for authentic, flavorful, and generously portioned Chinese cuisine, particularly specializing in Sichuan and Hunan styles. Guests frequently praise the restaurant for its fresh ingredients, consistent quality, and efficient, friendly service that makes it a popular choice for both quick lunches and social family-style dinners. While the basement setting provides a cozy, lively atmosphere, some diners suggest arriving early to avoid potential wait times. Although most experiences are highly positive, a few reviews note occasional inconsistencies in spice levels or service pacing during peak hours, yet the overall consensus remains that it is a must-visit spot for those seeking delicious, reliable, and reasonably priced meals.
I had an amazing dining experience at Chez Chilli. Every dish we ordered was fresh, flavorful, & cooked to perfection. The sizzling beef was incredibly tender & juicy, served with perfectly caramelized onions in a rich, savory sauce that was packed with flavor. The stir-fried beef dish was equally delicious, with just the right balance of seasoning & freshness.
The mixed vegetables were crisp, vibrant, & cooked just enough to retain their natural sweetness, making them a perfect complement to the richer dishes. Even the noodles were well-prepared, with great texture & authentic wok flavor.
The portions were generous, & everything arrived hot & beautifully presented. The quality of the ingredients & attention to detail were evident in every bite. The service was friendly, attentive, & efficient, making the overall dining experience even more enjoyable.
If you're looking for authentic, delicious Chinese cuisine with generous portions & excellent service, I highly recommend Chez Chilli. Whether you're dining with family or friends, it's definitely a restaurant worth visiting. I'll certainly be coming back to try more of their menu!
The service was very slow. The dishes came out one at a time, to the point where we had already finished eating one dish before the next arrived. It made the whole meal feel disconnected & unsatisfying.
Unfortunately, most of the dishes were overly salty as well.
What really disappointed us was the customer service. When we politely mentioned that the food was too salty, the server responded with'So?'. In addition, when we asked what was the hold up with the food, the lady server said'it's in the kitchen' which came across as dismissive & unprofessional.
Overall, the experience was unpleasant, & I would not recommend this restaurant.
A lively, cheerful spot tucked into a big downstairs space, where the energy is always buzzing. Dishes come out on large sharing plates, set on lazy Susans so everyone can dig in together - it feels social right away. The food strikes a nice balance: authentic flavors mixed with familiar crowd-pleasers, all done really well. It's the kind of place where you can keep it simple with a solid beer or wine, or go fun with a canned pina colada.
Great food! Lots of flavour & authentic. Lots of garlic & sauteed goodness, major downside is that they make you give them a 5 star review to get their deal on a free Coke. Attention to service is average at best. Quoting the server'give us five star review'. Some of the dishes had too much ginger if you're not into that but the fried shrimp was excellent 👌🏽
used to come here pretty often, but after this last visit, I'm done.
The food has seriously gone downhill. What used to be a decent spot is now completely inconsistent - the same dishes taste different every time we come. One day it's acceptable, the next day it's bland, greasy, or just off. At this point, it feels like there's no consistency in the kitchen at all. For a restaurant that expects repeat customers, that's a major problem.
But honestly, the bigger issue is the way this place is run.
There's a short male staff member who appears to be the owner, & he clearly has a habit of treating customers differently depending on how he judges them. If he thinks a table is'worth more,' his attitude suddenly changes. It's very obvious, & it makes the whole experience uncomfortable.
What pushed this to a 1-star review was what happened with the seating. Two white customers came in about 5 minutes after us, & the owner personally chose to seat them at a large table, even though they only ordered 2 dishes. Meanwhile, there were two of us, & we ordered 4 dishes, but the owner still put us at a small, cramped table. That wasn't an accident, & it wasn't a space issue - it was the owner's decision. If you're going to run a restaurant, at least treat customers fairly instead of making your favoritism so obvious.
On top of that, the owner keeps coming over to the table again & again, asking unnecessary questions & interrupting people while they're trying to eat, but he doesn't actually do anything helpful. Instead of improving the service, he just makes the experience more irritating. Hovering around customers is not good hospitality - it's just intrusive.
Ironically, the actual servers were much better than the owner. The short female server was warm, attentive, & kindly refilled our water, & the male server was polite & helped pack up our food. The service staff were doing their jobs well. The problem is clearly with the person in charge.
To make it worse, the whole restaurant was filled with a strong greasy smoke smell, which made the entire place feel stuffy & unpleasant.
So overall:
the food is noticeably worse than before
the taste is inconsistent from one visit to the next
the owner personally gave later-arriving customers a large table while squeezing us into a small one
obvious favoritism in both seating & attitude
constant interruptions from the owner that add nothing to the dining experience
greasy smoke smell throughout the restaurant
There are way too many good restaurants in this city to waste time on a place run like this. Won't be coming back.
