Chili's - Vashi, Mumbai

It was high noon. The heat of the summers could be felt in every cell of me body. Even the sea breeze was menacingly hot. We had been traveling for many days without a shore in sight. These were far off seas we had never been to. Tis be the frontier life. However, traveling in the frontier often reveals rewards unheard and lands never seen. This was much farther and much different than any place we had ever been too. However, me lads we overjoyed at seeing land finally. We had arrived at a far off land full of restaurants. However, we wanted our travel to be worth it. We needed a winner. And that's how we discovered Chili's in Vashi.

Feels very western with this modified picture.

Do you feel lucky punk? Well do Ya? Traveling far and wide from Mumbai to Vashi can be a daunting task. And the humid Summers don't make the journey any easier. Having a great experience in Chili's Powai was reason enough for me to travel all the way to Vashi for the Chili's experience there. It was a two hour long journey and and at the end of the day, it was totally worth it. I was in my most skeptical mood when I arrived and the restaurant easily impressed me with its themes and grub.

Chili's Vashi has a mix of energetic and rustic Texan diner themes. I chose my table at a spot which felt very Texan. Chili's Vashi is remarkably different when compared to the Powai outlet. The food court in the mall can get chaotic especially on the weekend and on such times its cool to find refuge in Chili's. Two seaters, Four seaters, Six seaters and communal tables. The establishment has several kinds of tables and can accommodate any group up for grub.

This outlet has recently opened shop and welcomes patrons with several additions to its standard menu.

Since I was a stranger in a strange land, I tried to go sober this time. I decided to hydrate myself with a Fruit Cooler Mocktail and thus came the deliciously red Evolution. This is flavored with Passion fruit and pineapple. Its sweet, tangy and extremely effective against thirst. It restored all my lost energy just like a health portion in a video game. Do note that Chili's does have a large range of wines and drinks for those in the mood for celebrating or partying.


Chili's has one of the largest menus that I have seen. Pastas, Burgers, Nachos, Seafood, Quesadillas, Rice etc. (I could go on for an entire paragraph). Its easy to get lost and in such times do ask the server for help. The service at Chili's is decent. The servers can sometimes appear clueless but they are still professional. They also have this peculiar tradition of going on their knees while taking your order. It can be both pleasing and embarrassing(Dude that's the propose pose) at the times but this seems to be their standard practice all across the world.

To the vegetarian folks out there, a large portion of Chili's grub is veggie so you won't feel left out.

With my grub choices sorted out, it was time to eat.

Boneless Chicken Wings - I really loved this item when I went to Chili's, Powai. So it was only natural for me to order this again over here. Start the meal on a good familiar note as they say. The Chicken Wings go well with the ranch dip provided. The restaurant also wraps these in Honey Chipotle sauce or BBQ Sauce upon request. While these were quite juicy and tasty, I did feel that the salt levels were a bit more than normal. It didn't affect the overall taste or cause an annoyance though. The Ranch dip counters the salt in the chicken pretty well.

Chili's is bringing the real Chicken Wings back. Time to forget the conveyer belt abomination that one eats at food court joints.

Captain : Lad, lets have a fair deal. I'll have the chicken and you can have the carrots. Fifty-Fifty.

Crewmate : That does not sound fair to me, Captain.

Captain : Well it is fair. For me anyway. 

Bolder Nachos looked unlike anything I have ever seen before. True to their name they look like big rough fellas who can thrash up regular nachos. The Cheddar cheese coating the nachos provides em the trademark colors. The plating was very beautiful with the cilantro sauce patterns. Although in terms of taste, the sauce felt a bit dull and like an insignificant background actor in the whole act. A generous amount of Sour Cream was provided which paired well with the Nachos. I loved this item, as I was quite bored of regular Nachos and really wanted to try something new.

Captain : These Boulders would roll over Regular Nachos.

Crewmate : Its Bolder, not Boulder.

Captain : But the latter sounds more fun. 

Crewmate : But its incorrect.

Captain : You are doing a week long duty of deck sweeping, grammar maniac.

Jalapeno Chicken Quesadillas was the item recommended to me when I asked for a good Quesadilla. Quesadillas are my favorite Mexican item and I wanted to see Chili's take on it. Do note that they serve eight pieces per plate, I however asked them to customize it to four in order to save space for more grub. Each piece contained a generous portion of Fajita marinated chicken in quality butter toasted tortillas. Its flavor was further enhanced with Jalapenos and Monterey Jack Cheese.

The sour cream and the pico de gallo(Mexican Salad for laymen) are good pairing options but I think I found the pairing with the chipotle ranch dip to be the best. The dip was so addicting that once I had a bite of the Quesadilla with it, I just couldn't stop.

Turning towards a little diversity, I chose Chipotle Salmon as a main. After all, having only Tacos, Nachos and Quesadilla would have been food stereotyping.

This is a classical Tex Mex fusion. Fish is not something that one often finds in Mexican installations in India. This dish not only appeared appetizing, it was rather sumptuous. The Chipotle is strong on this one. The rice is Chipotle flavored and the creamy sauce provided with the salmon is a smoky Chipotle sauce mixed with cream. Since, the sauce with the salmon is not purely Chipotle, one can sometimes feel the fattiness of the cream. It feels a bit like egg yolk. The roasted Jalapeno Corn salad appears like a strange and vibrant mixture. But a morsel of the salmon coated with the sauce and some rice along with the salad makes a perfect bite.

Mango Chile chicken has a rather confusing name. It refers to the country but the taste positively suggests Chili rubbed chicken breasts. A new addition to their menu under the category of Lighter options, this is one of Chili's relatively less calorie foods. Do note that I said relatively. However, when I go dining outside, I leave my calorie meter at home.

This was definitely the best item of this Chili's experience. It had everything I want in a good dish. It had a balance of meat, greens and carbs. It was plated beautifully. There was so much happening with this dish.
The Chicken breast is marinated with a six pepper blend and coated with a Habanero-Mango mixture. Then topped with diced fresh Avocado. Served with greens and Chipotle rice, this dish has many flavors. The bite begins with a sweet tangy flavor which evolves into spicy-salty as one chews down the morsel. This dish has the potential to be a future crowd favorite.

Captain : Mango and Chicken sound so strange together.

Crewmate : Well the sea does hold many mysteries.

Captain : Indeed, but sometimes strangeness is fun as is this chicken.

Crewmate : But where has the Chicken gone...hey!

Cinnamon Molten Cake is like the distant fancy cousin of Molten Lava cake. It's a new addition to Chili's menu (At the time of this post) and it aims to please. This is quite a treat for the cinnamon lover. A light colored cake filled with Cinnamon cream forms the mountain below. Regular snow is boring but Vanilla Ice cream as snow is awesome. And then its sprayed with cinnamon sugar and wrapped with a ribbon of caramel sauce. This dish was lovingly plated and it tasted as much flavorful. Chunks of cake with cream, a spoonful of Ice cream, a bit of caramel and lots of love may not make the Powerpuff girls but it surely makes an awesome dessert.

Captain : The cake is like gold, the ice cream jewels.

Crewmate : Here it comes.

Captain : Wrapped in Caramel Elixir, this is truly a treasure.

Crewmate : High and Poetic.

Chili's pricing is par with what is expected of quality casual dining places. One might feel that its on the higher side but in an age where Casual Dining restaurants are trending across the nation, its pricing feels quite affordable. That plus the American sized large portions make Chili's well worth the money.

Do note that Tex-Mex is not the same as Mexican. If you live in Vashi or nearby, a trip to Chili's makes a great Tex-Mex experience. Good Food, Decent service and reasonably priced large portions - That pretty much describes Chili's.

The Captain's Score : 8/10

"The Super sized fun is over lads, now back on the seas for a Super sized adventure. "

Map Co-Ordinates
Chili's

2nd Floor, Inorbit Mall,
Sector 30A,
Vashi, Navi Mumbai

-I was invited to sample the grub at Chili's in their first week of operation.-

Chilis - Powai, Mumbai

These were uncharted waters. Dodging an ice berg and a possibly a Kraken, me ship made it to Powai. I took out the map and me compass. I felt, I was a bit lost. I could not spot land anywhere. After a tiring journey which is best described in my other bulky journal, I made it to my destination. A land full of fancy restaurants and grog holes. I stepped in front of me destination and raised my hands in joy. Hurrah! Land Ahoy at Chili's.

It had been a long trip from the Northern suburbs. There I stood staring at Chili's logo. It looked like some kind of a UCO. An Unidentified Chili Object to be precise. Chili's is yet another American chain of restaurants to enter India. It specializes in American food and most notably the Tex-Mex cuisine. But its level of food classifies as Gourmet grade or fine dine. No you have not tasted true Mexican food at Taco Bell's. If you want the real deal and good food, Chili's is a far superior and genuine option.

When I sat down inside Chili's, I only thought of one thing, "The food better be darn good. It has to make up for the long trip." And it was.

Captain : A fine restaurant this be. Its crew be so well mannered.

Crewmate : Captain your eyes are glittering with admiration.

Captain : Shut yer trap lad. I am a man of the sea. My eyes don't shine like an anime character.

Crewmate : (Laughs)

The service was excellent. I had read a few complaints regarding Chili's service but I found no issues on my trip whatsoever. The staff is pleasant and well trained. They handled my table and the ones around me quite well. It is probable that it maybe a bit slower during rush hours but that is excusable.

The restaurant has a grand ambiance. It has a large dining area and a really classy cocktail bar. The bar seems to blend in well with the surroundings. But once you step into or near it, it transports you to an other realm. It feels like you are in a pub and not a restaurant. I really liked the large Margarita sign. Pretty sure it has been clicked a hundred thousand times before but I shall click one for keepsakes anyway. Good memories.

Before my meal began, I had an opportunity to meet with Chef Abhijeet Gomare who is the culinary contact for Chili's South and west India. He is a bit of a celebrity in the culinary world with articles related to him appearing in mainstream media. He told me about Chili's plans and vision for the future. It was a great experience talking to him. When he is not busy coming up with new menus, he is probably busy collecting flyer miles traveling back and forth between Chili's restaurants across many cities.

People from the Western suburbs and Sobo area do not travel to Powai that often. It is often considered too far away but it is quite developed and to some extent even more than Sobo area itself. Chili's was a good reward for my quest to Powai which surprisingly is easy to reach from western suburbs.

Service check, Ambiance check, Time to move on to the (Drum rolls) Food !

Before my appetizers were served, I chose to start with a drink. Anything made at that awesome cocktail bar has to be awesome. I started with Chili's El Presidente Margarita which was a recommended drink. The glass, the appearance and way the drink was served out of a blue mixing tumbler. It made an excellent presentation. The drink was a mix of lime, Brandy and the good ol Tequila. It was tangy, sweet and fizzy. The mixer knew what he was doing. I think it could be my regular for my future Chili trips.
"You ain't had Mexican till you have Tequila pardner."

I chose the Triple Dipper option on the menu as it allowed me to experience most of the non vegetarian appetizers. The Chicken crisper was hands down the MVF (Most valuable Food) among the three. In the picture they are located towards the upper right corner. These are Chicken tenderloins wrapped in flour. Finger licking good and went great with the ranch sauce and honey mustard dips. Although, its best suited to be eaten with Honey mustard.

The item in the Top left corner is Buffalo Wings. It is the big daddy of all chicken wings. Much better than the sham you have at KFCs. It is bony but tasty with the sauces wrapping the deep fried chicken adding a bit of tang to it.

The last item at the south end is the Boneless Chicken wings. Same as the Buffalo wings but no bones and more meat. Good for those of us who don't like to deal with messy bones in their food. These felt juicier than the Buffalo wings. If I had to choose between Buffalo wings and the boneless ones then the latter gets my favor.

They were served with carrot sticks which were part of the combination.

And let me assure you, these were served in large king size portions. It was difficult for me to even finish these alone. Totally worth the money.

Captain : Its so tasty but I cannot finish this.

Crewmate : I often wonder Cappy, Why don't we get the rest of the crew to join us in restaurant trips?

Captain: Ever heard three's a crowd? Imagine that with ten lad.

My main course started with Sweet Mustard seed baby back ribs. I have never had pork ribs before. And this was certainly a large and an overwhelming dish. Served with a Good ol' corn on the cob and french fries. The corn was sweet and juicy. Not something we are used to here in India where Bhuna Bhuta is crispy and salty. The fries were rich and definitely leagues better than what one has at a certain clown themed American burger chain.

The ribs can be a bit of an effort to eat. But its worth it. Juicy Tender meat on ribs coated with Chili's own Barbeque sauce. The sauce is made with mustard seeds, honey and Worcestershire sauce. It is one of the best BBQ variants I have ever had. I am instantly won over by anything with BBQ sauce, so I really loved the ribs. Despite not being a person who likes bones, I found myself enjoying this. The meat was tender and the taste had sunk in quite well. There was not even a single bite that felt dissatisfying.

This item was found on their special event menu which is an ever changing list of items they test with their customers. The best items make it to the main menu while the rest are given a Spartan farewell. I am told that this item is most likely to make it to their main menu but just in case if its not, now would be a good time to have a portion of this because "Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara"

This is a volcano that I would love to see go off. Chili's Molten Lava Cake is one of their most popular desserts. Despite me being on team Cheesecake, I still opted for this on the restaurant's General manager's recommendation. And a great recommendation it was. Soft Chocolate cake filled with rich gooey chocolate lava. Topped with a dollop of Vanilla ice cream and covered with rich chocolate sauce. And the Caramel artwork for presentation.

This item was visibly enticing. Looked like a fine work of sculpted art. The chocolate sauce trickling down the cake ridges was a clever way of enhancing its presentation. Such shame to destroy it and a bigger shame not to eat it ha. The best way to eat it is to have all layers in each bite. That is the way that it is intended to be eaten. If you attack the layers one by one, you will ruin the experience. It is hard but having a bite with the cake, choco lava, ice cream and sauce form the complete alchemy in your mouth and taste great. Definitely Recommended.

Captain : This lad be a true treasure of the culinary sea.

Crewmate : I understand Captain, now please share some with me.

With the dessert gone, it was time wrap things up. The meal was memorable. The people were memorable and I would definitely remember that cocktail bar.

Chilli's can be a little expensive. But it is completely worth it. Their portion sizes are King size and they definitely fill you up. It is one Mumbai's better restaurants and a nice stop for food lovers everywhere. Also, makes it to my list of top five for 2014.

I found this as a nice keep sake. To show future whipper snappers a memento of my First Chili's trip.

Here is a picture of Chilli's first menu when it opened shop in the 70s.

Score 9/10

"We will probably be back here someday lads. But for now, it's back to sea faring for us."

Map Co-Ordinates
Chili's
13, Ventura Building, Hiranandani Business Park,
Central Avenue Road,
Powai, Mumbai

-I was invited by Chilli's to sample their food. Special Thanks go to Anisha Dalal from El sol who arranged the meet.-