Cali Chilli
Quick info
About Cali Chilli
Cali Chilli is an Indian fusion restaurant in Downtown Los Angeles that gives familiar American dishes an Indian twist, operating from a space on South Los Angeles Street. Much of its range comes from a menu of about 70 items spanning mains and desserts, with formats that sit between a modern Indian restaurant and a bar and grill. Tandoori Mushrooms anchor the savory side, while Panna Cotta closes meals as a dessert option. The setup supports several modes at once, including family dining, fine dining, and a cocktail bar. Reservations are advised for peak times because the space serves multiple dining formats.
Good to know
- ReservationsAccepts reservations
- ParkingFree multi-storey car park · Free parking lot · Paid parking lot
- AccessibilityHas wheelchair-accessible car park · Has wheelchair-accessible entrance · Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Good for kidsGood for kids · High chairs available · Family friendly
- DietaryServes vegetarian dishes
Reviews
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vindaloo, pot pie, indian fusion and ambiance.
What reviewers say
Reviewers most often mention vindaloo, pot pie, indian fusion and ambiance.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently highlight the Indian fusion dishes as the core draw, with the Butter Chicken Pot Pie, the Vindaloo, and the Shrimp and Grits singled out as favorites, and several note the food is flavorful, fresh, and well presented. The paneer pot pie, Tellicherry Shrimp, Garlic and Chive Naan with chili oil, and the vegetarian seekh kebab also come up as standouts, with the pistachio kulfi mentioned as a strong finish. The atmosphere earns praise for being vibrant, warm, and beautifully designed, with a modern twist on traditional Indian elements. A recurring caveat across multiple reviews is uneven service: diners describe slow seating, long waits for drinks and orders, and having to follow up more than once, even when the restaurant is not busy. One reviewer notes the dahi sev puri was underwhelming for the price, and another found the lamb chops oily and not as described. Several suggest the menu feels limited but well executed, and a number of reviewers say they would return or recommend the spot.
Customer Review Summary
Diners consistently highlight the Indian fusion dishes as the core draw, with the Butter Chicken Pot Pie, the Vindaloo, and the Shrimp and Grits singled out as favorites, and several note the food is flavorful, fresh, and well presented. The paneer pot pie, Tellicherry Shrimp, Garlic and Chive Naan with chili oil, and the vegetarian seekh kebab also come up as standouts, with the pistachio kulfi mentioned as a strong finish. The atmosphere earns praise for being vibrant, warm, and beautifully designed, with a modern twist on traditional Indian elements. A recurring caveat across multiple reviews is uneven service: diners describe slow seating, long waits for drinks and orders, and having to follow up more than once, even when the restaurant is not busy. One reviewer notes the dahi sev puri was underwhelming for the price, and another found the lamb chops oily and not as described. Several suggest the menu feels limited but well executed, and a number of reviewers say they would return or recommend the spot.
Featured reviews
- Parita P
“The food here was genuinely excellent—everything we tried was full of flavor and beautifully prepared. The vegetarian seekh kebab stood out in particular, and the pistachio kulfi was a perfect way to end the meal . The ambience is also lovely, with a warm and inviting vibe that makes the space feel special. That said, the service left something to be desired. It was quite slow, likely due to how busy the restaurant was, but we had to follow up on our orders more than once, and even getting seated took longer than expected. Overall, this is a restaurant that truly delivers on food and atmosphere, but improving the service would make the experience much more enjoyable.”
- teedancing
“This is a true find in downtown. Indian food served with some style and a little punch of modernism. You will not be disappointed. The only reason I gave four stars in service is because the owner needs to understand that he has to hire …”
- Ishita Singh
“The ambiance made it seem amazing but I was disappointed. The servers seemed to be confused about our orders. Food tasted good until we got the dessert. Lamb chops were oily and not out of tandoor (definitely not ‘sizzling’). Pot Pie was …”
- Ivy Ebanks
“This restaurant was amazing! They have a beautiful lush space with plush chairs and bohemian colors. It was lunch time so not super busy which was nice. Giri was kind and attentive and made sure I had everything I needed. I would definitely dine here again as there were so many great options on the menu, but I really liked what I got. For my appetizer, I got the parmesan truffle fries. It comes with ketchup that you can serve with a little spoon to avoid double dipping if you’re sharing. For my entrée, I ordered the vindaloo which I was really happy about because it has a red curry and I’m a sucker for curry. I was a little sad because I wanted the saffron basmati rice that came with another dish but to my surprise, the vindaloo came with it as well. The food was flavorful and filling, and everything came out in a timely manner. This place sits in between historic downtown LA and little Tokyo, a six minute walk from the historic Broadway, Metro station very centrally located and a good spot for lunch or dinner.”
- Adnan Karim
“CaliChilli redefines fusion dining by blending traditional Indian spices with global culinary styles. The interior is beautifully designed, reflecting traditional Indian culture. Soft Indian music and instrumental melodies played in the …”
Hours
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Highlights
“Vibrant restaurant that gives familiar American dishes an Indian twist.”
- Has fast service
- Popular for popular for lunch
- Popular for popular for dinner
- Popular for good for solo dining
Amenities
- Has Wi-Fi
- Has wheelchair-accessible car park
- Free parking lot
- Accepts reservations
- Has no-contact delivery
- Offers takeaway
Show more amenities
- Serves dine-in
- Family friendly
- Serves vegetarian dishes
- Has bar on site
- Casual
- Offers kerbside pickup
- Offerings· 8
- Serves alcohol
- Serves beer
- Serves cocktails
- Serves coffee
- Serves comfort food
- Serves small plates
- Serves spirits
- Serves wine
- Highlights· 1
- Has fast service
- Family-friendly· 2
- Good for kids
- High chairs available
- Dining options· 7
- Serves brunch
- Serves lunch
- Serves dinner
- Has catering
- Serves dessert
- Has seating
- Has table service
- Facilities· 1
- Has toilet
- Parking· 3
- Free multi-storey car park
- Paid parking lot
- Paid street parking
- Service options· 1
- Offers delivery
- Popular for· 3
- Popular for lunch
- Popular for dinner
- Good for solo dining
- Atmosphere· 1
- Trendy
- Crowd· 3
- Good for groups
- LGBTQ+ friendly
- Popular with tourists
- Accessibility· 3
- Has wheelchair-accessible entrance
- Has wheelchair-accessible seating
- Has wheelchair-accessible toilet
Location
How Cali Chilli compares to nearby indian restaurants
- Cali Chilli · This shop4.6236 reviews
Mentioned in reviews: vindaloo, pot pie, indian fusion
- 1,789 reviews0.1 mi
Mentioned in reviews: butter chicken samosas, coconut curry mussels, fish moilee
Cali Chilli This shop | BADMAASH Downtown LA | |
|---|---|---|
| 4.6(236) | 4.1(1,789) | |
| Price | $30–50 | $20–30 |
| Distance | — | 0.1 mi |
| Open today |
How this listing is sourced
Hours, contact details, and amenities are sourced from publicly available business data and re-checked regularly. Listings are ranked independently — no paid placement.