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.
Great service & quick to get our food out. General Tao chicken was good & crispy but heavily breaded. Broc & beef was delicious as were spring rolls. Dumplings & chicken fried rice were ok.
Apr 4, 2026
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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.
Expérience très désagréable. Le serveur (homme avec des lunettes) a un comportement inacceptable. Il parle aux chauffeurs Uber d'une manière méprisante & agressive, comme s'ils ne méritaient aucun respect. C'est choquant de voir ça dans un établissement censé être professionnel. Franchement, si vous n'êtes pas capable de respecter les gens, vous ne devriez pas être en contact avec des clients.
Follow the amazing smells down the staircase into the open dining room. It's worth it. We went for a late lunch on a Monday & didn't have to wait but would have… so good! We shared a soup & two entrees & it was a lot of food. DELICIOUS!!! Merci, Chez Chili!
It is simply delicious. I went with my family to eat. We had a table immediatly since it was a monday. We ordered Pineapple chicken stir-fry, dumplings & fried rice with veggies. Everything was good. I just wished there would be more juice in the dumplings. The chicken was crispy & the flavor was rich. Every ingredients of the pineapple chicken worked harmouniously. Perfecty, I would say. I really hate when the dishes taste like different ingredients mixed together. It's the same for the other dishes. We got served the chicken in few minutes after ordering. Honestly, I don't even know how they managed to make fresh & delicious pineapple chicken like that in just a few minutes. Maybe we arrived little bit after the chicken was made. I don't know. It's a mystery. I really liked the ambiance. I also liked the fact that people were'nt loud there. There is truly no flattery in my words. It is is truly good there. I wish I could taste more. I'll surely come back.
