CaliChilli - Unauthentic Indian Restaurant

True to its name — unauthentic, but a pretty decent take on fusion Indian food. We tried a variety of dishes after seeing this place all over social media. While it didn’t feel like traditional Indian cuisine, the flavors were enjoyable in their own way. Worth a one-time visit if you’re in the mood for something different.

This was, without a doubt, one of the best meals I've ever had. The pani puri poppers were so creative and delicious. The sticky ribs were to die for! My husband loved his steak. We will definitely be making this place a regular stop.

Love the fusion menu! I highly recommend the chai martini! The pani puri appetizer was a creative presentation. Eggplant lasagna rich and delicious. Biryani was good too. Can’t wait to come back to try more dishes and desserts!

We have been searching for a while for a eclectic Indian restaurant where your taste buds would take you on a diverse tour of India’s culinary landscape! CaliChili defines that! The balance of spices was exquisite in the dishes we tried, lamb chops and the chicken rendang stood out! And all washed down with fab cocktails like Ayurveda! All so Unauthentic! Give it a shot!

CaliChilli was far beyond my expectations for Indian food! It was phenomenal! The food, and service were wonderful! Fusion style desi food that will make you want to recreate these dishes in your own kitchen! The classic burrata saag paneer, the vegetable dum Biryani, and the old school chicken tikka were some of the most flavorful and delicious items we ordered on the menu.

I’ll be honest, I didn’t post/take too many pics of the food because there are already plenty in other reviews, and also because I forgot to because I was too busy scarfing down the delicious food. Took the wife for lunch on a Thursday. Made a reservation, probably not necessary, but just in case. Long story short, we’re making this a go to when we’re in the mood for “Indian” food. We had the cauliflower fritters, Lamb Vindaloo and the Truffle Chicken Tikka. The surprise dish was the truffle chicken, it was perfectly cooked, the inside was still tender and moist. Another great surprise were the cocktails, I had a Mississippi Masala (yum) and two drinks I asked the bartender to make up, did not disappoint. Had a great time, and like I said we’ll definitely come back.

Great food, great vibe. Everything we ordered was delicious with a decent portion size. Eggplant Lasagna and chai tiramisu are a must try. The flavors are spot on, and the drinks have a modern twist with subtle indian flavors. Getting reservation was a breeze, and parking was easily available. Nice spot for special occasions or taking out friends and family. Would definitely visit again.

Def an unauthentic Indian cuisine experience. Service from the waiting staff can be improved. Food is creative, tasty, and well presented. Love the vibe, somewhere in between chic n casual. Also, I love the Indian twist on their cocktails!

I haven't had the chance to eat within the restaurant but have ordered pick up a few times. I keep forgetting to take pictures but can 150% say with confidence that the good is fire! I've had the eggplant, the beef ribs, the salad...each time just as amazing as the last. Last time, the team at Chili also helped me carry the order to my car since we ordered so much. Great service. The restaurant itself is really nice. Although i have not ate inside there yet, the environment is welcoming

This was a great find. The restaurant looks non description from the outside. Inside feels completely different from how it looks from the outside. Food was great. The garden salad was so delicious, I will definitely order it again. I'm not a fan of Indian food but this place was good. I like how they put "Unauthentic Indian food" on the menu. The wait staff was great - answering all the questions and very patient. We learned they open for breakfast but under a different name and no Indian food during breakfast hours but the typical breakfast items are in the menu. Will return to try to breakfast and other items on the menu.

I am very sad to be driving away from this restaurant right now. It was arguably the best food of my entire life and I am worried that I will never find it again bc I do not live here. Service was great. Food came out super fast but the quality was incredible. I suck at describing food but just order everything I list below and you will be happy: We had garlic naan, cauliflower fritters, butter chicken pot pie, short ribs, and the classic chicken tikka. I am so full but I am so happy. My gf and her mom loved it too Oh and the bar was beautiful I might sneak back over there later and order a cocktail. Do not tell my gf

We really enjoyed this restaurant, and so happy it's in our neighborhood. The food is great and not too spicy. The service is good, and it's quiet and quaint. We tried the lamb dish pictured, and the filet Mignon. Both were excellent. We will be back to try more

It is a great restaurant for special occasions. Outstanding service! Michelin star attention to detail and professionalism. We loved most of what we got. I believe some of the spices could have been more complex or had more of a wow factor. Also, I understand the presentation and the precision of fine dining. We just felt the portions could have been a bit bigger based on the price point. We got the Butter Chicken Pot Pie ($26), which was fun to look at, but functionally wasn't very fun to eat. Flaky pastry falling off that could be eaten separately but wasn't designed to necessarily be eaten with the chicken and sauce. The chicken could have been more savory and juicy. The Lobster Moilee ($49) was an even heftier price tag, and was just enough for 1 person and not really enough to share. I also had a Mango Passion Fruit Rose Lassi and it was delicious ($6). Appreciated the many zero proof drink options. It was my birthday, so they brought out an amazing birthday dessert that I wish I took notes on. A mix of savory and sweet ice cream with exotic spices is all I can say. Maybe some cardamom in there. Either way, I felt special. Great atmosphere, great service, a fancy experience. Just prepare to have a decent check and the portions are somewhat smaller than I expected. TIP: Call ahead and make reservations. They do get booked. We went as soon as they opened on a Sunday afternoon and luckily they had 1 table left or we wouldn't have been able to just walk in.

I think it's a blessing that we have a rich Indian culture here in Los Angeles. We all probably needed a high-end, fusion-esqe Indian Restaurant like Cali Chilli. The food and service are great and the options are bountiful, but if I want authenticity and a better price point, I have a million options in LA. You are getting ambiance and quantity as well as quality, so don't get me wrong - it's an awesome spot for a special night.

Long Beach's popular Appu's Cafe is closed on weekends, we got pretty lucky looking up this Michelin Star spot. AMBIANCE: Parking: Street parking, it's a unique corner plaza-esque area, despite a block party, we didn't have any issues finding parking. Seating: Inside seating, both bar and group seating is available. Space for maybe 50 people total Vibes: You're probably more in the hidden gem spots of Long Beach. Parkview plaza has some great events. The space itself is a place for everyone but moreover lowkey highend and great place to impress others or treat yourself. They have some televisions playing different channels to keep you distracted or just enjoy the chillhop music playing in the background. FOOD: Pani Puri Flight (Recommend) This is a take on their street snack - puri (hallow fried bread), with potatoes, chickpeas and pani (spiced water). A delicious bite with a good crunch and spice. The presentation and concept is something different too. After filling the puri with the pani, drinking the remainder of the liquids was like drinking a healthy juice. Garlic & Cheese Kulcha (Recommend) Whatever you order you will need some extra bread (kulcha) to enjoy with the sauce. I had quite the decision paralysis so I thought about what flavors were included in my other dishes. The garlic had a great flavorful kick and the cream cheese was not too excessive. Vindaloo - Lamb (Recommend) You have different choices to complement this flavored curry (recommend). The vindaloo wasn't too spicy but did have a good kick and really flavored, it complemented the lamb. The lamb could be delicious by itself but the curry added great flavors to it. The meat pretty much fell right off the bone! Cali Chili Powerhouse (Recommend) Lovely, just lovely. Saffron flower, green cardamom tea with milk and decorated with almonds and pistachios. A sweet and soothing drink. If you can't do a dessert then enjoy this delight. CUSTOMER SERVICE: Manass was great! Friendly and professional TL; DR OVERALL: 5 Stars. I can see why this place a Michelin star. Creative menu, delicious food, reasonable price, and a pleasant vibe. I thank Chef Mural Manjunath for bringing his talents Long Beach for helping boost the representation on Indian food. TIPS: * Save that sauce for any of your future meals! * Free drink if you check-in on Yelp * They have three different menus so plan accordingly

This can qualify as a special occasion restaurant which i havent done much since covid. My husband has been too busy with work so i treated my self today. Who wouldnt want to be fed by a michelin star chef?? Food is definitely well balanced. The daal is pretty delicious and the naan is tasty but more of a shareable item. The menu is unique in the sense staples are considered "sides". The decor is modern euro bar with classic elements. Parking has downtown whittier vibes, easy to find during the day. Don't expect 5 star service, they wait for you to flag then down instead of checking in with you.

The food is amazing! We started with the cauliflower fritters, which were very tasty. Next time I will try the Puri Poppers. My main dish was the Butter Chicken Pot Pie which was soooo delicious. The puffed pastry was so light and airy. The butter chicken was tender and spiced just right. My friend had the Bharta Lasagna which was also very tasty but very filling. The garlic naan was also very light and crispy. I highly recommend this inauthentic Indian food/fusion restaurant. I can't wait to visit again to try something else.

Had heard about the food from friends who raved about the butter chicken pot pie. It was truly amazing. The pani puri poppers were so good we thought about ordering one more. But for us the main dish was the lamb biriyani. The presentation makes it even better

Delicious, not traditional indian but still traditional flavor. Chicken pot pie is a must, but whatever you get make sure to get the Naan bread as well.

Not just some of the best Indian fusion food in all of LA but also a cool and vibey joint! We had been dying to try Cali Chili for ages and finally committed to driving down to Long Beach on a Friday night. Parking was plentiful and free in the sleepy little main street-esque area but once we got inside the vibe was popping! We ordered the following: Pani puri poppers: 9/10 just as fun as they look! Bursts of texture and flavor in one bite Butter chicken pot pie: 10/10 so fun and definitely the dish we came for! Large portion so be sure to share with family/friends! Dum biryanis: 10/10 so flavorful and aromatic, similarly a large portion Will definitely be back for their brunch service as well!

Came on a Monday evening after running some errands. Was craving Indian and my go to was closed. I made a reservation just before popping in using Yelp and although I didn't need it the feature is nice to have. They were accommodating to my party if 3 (stroller included) and were able to make a wonderful drink for the Yelp check in offer (although different from what was listed.) We were also pleasantly surprised with Restaurant week and opted in for one of the prixe frixe menus and other items off the regular menu. The restaurant is a mix of Indian fusion cuisine which I found really neat! The masala pot pie was my fave because it was what my taste buds were after on that particular evening. A close second was the paneer. If you're looking for a unique dining experience with a twist on Indian. I definitely recommend checking out Cali Chili.

The service was friendly and very helpful. The ambiance is very cozy. It would be great for the family and a date. The food was so delicious, I can't wait to go again.

My husband and I came to this gem for date night and really enjoyed our experience! The menu here is Indian fusion and there are so many unique dishes on the menu that I haven't seen anywhere else. We ended up ordering the pani puri poppers, butter chicken pot pie, and the truffle chicken tikka with sides of the garlic naan. I loved the unique flavors of everything and thought that it was all really good. The presentation for everything was also on point. Out of everything, my favorite dish was the butter chicken pot pie and would recommend ordering this!! Make sure you check in on yelp because they give you a free mango lassi which was so yummy!! The ambiance here is so nice and gives off modern and trendy vibes. The place was crowded and a lot of the tables were full when we came, so it would probably be worth it to get a reservation if you can! Service was really good and we were checked up on often. Overall, I really enjoyed my dinner here and would recommend checking it out!

I only found out about this place because we had come to their breakfast offering in the morning. It's called Pancake but it's inside Cali Chili. I was very confused at first but looking inside and being told the story, I knew I had to come try it out for dinner. We arrived with no reservation because it was just a whim decision. There was only bar seating available so we took that. The bar is beautiful to look at. We were attended by the bartender almost immediately. I had already decided before getting there what I wanted so immediately placed my order. We got the butter chicken pot pie, naan, rice and their mushrooms. I had never tried butter chicken before but now I must say I am a fan. Being a lover of pot pies, this was just a perfect combination for me. Will definitely be back for this. They also have these amazing cocktails that come with their own mini show. Need to try those as well.

STEPH JUDGEMENT: Tasty Indian fusion food in a stylish but comfortable setting. Our first visit was a weeknight dinner with another couple who'd never been there before either. We did make reservations, which seems to be a must here, as it's very popular. Our server was super-friendly and was great throughout the evening (I wish I could remember his name!). We ordered to share: Truffle Cheese Kulcha (like a cheesy naan--it was so good!) Cali nachos (vegetarian version, very tasty) Citrus salad (good, but a bit too overdressed for my taste) Cauliflower fritters (good, but kind of pedestrian) Eggplant Bharta lasagna (smoky tandoor roasted mashed eggplant layered on paneer) - a rich, cheesy delight and my favorite dish of the evening They had a free mango lassi with checkin deal that the hubby took advantage of, and we also had the amazing flaming smoky cocktail served tableside. Everything was delicious but pretty rich, so be warned. On our second visit the hubby and I decided to do a date night here and foolishly didn't make reservations because we were there early and it was a weeknight. Luckily there was still plenty of space at the bar so we just opted to sit there. We could order from the full menu at the bar, so we had: Pani Puri Poppers (puffed puri bites of charred chicken or potatoes paired with mango & mint dressing) - tasty, but could get a little messy pouring the dressing into the puffs Tandoori Mushrooms (lightly spiced, creamy marinade, tandoor roasted) - I loved this, but must be a mushroom fan Classic Saag Paneer - we wanted to try some more traditional Indian dishes and this did not disappoint! Dairy Daal (clay oven slow cooked rich buttery black lentils) - very tasty The service wasn't quite a personable as on our first visit, as the bartender was very busy making all the drinks and didn't seem to have much time for niceties and chitchat, but good experiences overall, and we are fans! Definitely looking forward to our next visit.

The impact the minute you step in the door, POW! Visually stunning! Greeted by a beautiful brass bar with top shelf alcohol. Friendly staff guided us through a fusion Indian menu. As my friend's neighbor stated," the butter chicken pot pie is f#%^*ing delicious! Yes! It was! Saucy flavorful butter chicken served PIPING HOT! Crispy puff pastry dome is the perfect foil to accompany the chicken. The citrus salad with honey mustard dressing visually stunning with spring lettuce & baby spinach. Perfect raspberries & blueberries strewn on top. Honestly, it's been awhile since I've had a salad where every single ingredient was PERFECT. Not overly dressed, dry super fresh greens, & perfect fruit. A total winner! Shared the saffron rice (fluffy with subtle spices). The garlic butter naan & mint paratha hot & crisp right out of the tandoor. We asked for mint chutney which was delicious as well. Almost forgot the puri poppers. Although I've been to many, many Indian restaurants, I've never had anything like this! 6 shooter glasses with cilantro, mango & coconut sauces. Topped with a mini puri garnished with micro greens & a pomegranate seed. Pour a bit of the sauce into the puri cavity & pop it n your mouth! A really fun (but slightly messy) appetizer. Oh and it tasted great too! Just need to decide when I can make it back here to try the other menu items. Plus, we were here for lunch. Really need to try some of the signature cocktails. It's SUPER busy in the evening. Even during the week! The manager strongly recommended calling the restaurant a few days ahead to secure a reservation. Calling more so than the reservation app works best. Since the app tends to accept reservations even though the spots may actually be full up. It's located on Viking, the cute little side street off Carson & Bellflower. He did mention a sister restaurant in Tustin which serves traditional Indian food. While this is "modern" Indian, the flavor profiles of the dishes are true & authentic.

Really great food! Went with my dad on a Thursday night and the place was full. Ordered way too much, but everything was great. Shout out to the lamb dum biryani and the chicken pot pie. Both really good and flavorful. I would probably skip the lentils and mushrooms so I could have eaten more of the lamb and chicken. Garlic naan and rice were good too! We ordered the saffron and pistachio ice cream, it was mild but really delicious. Servers were nice, a little slow with the drinks, but they were busy and I never mind settling in longer before ordering. Would definitely go back again.

Came here to try the popular butter chicken pot pie, but also ordered other stuff of course. Seabass - super salty; we could not even eat it (and I usually eat very salty) Chorizo kulcha - nothing special Lamb biryani - rice was harder than I like and it was rather bland Butter chicken pot pie - this was the best dish of the night, but not spectacular Vanilla creme brulee - decent dessert, the vanilla is kind of boring, but they get their top hardened sugar part right

Man oh man...I'm a happy camper. My experience started with the manager/owner. What a sweet man. So personable. I got the cheese and garlic bread. It was just ok until she gave the mint chutney. That elevated it. Then when I dipped in my food...AMAZING lamb biryani was insane. The lamb was sooooo tender. I was worried when I saw the bone in the bowl after the reveal but it fell right off. It was perfectly seasoned and the rice was amazing. The yogurt sauce was good. My bf liked it a lot. The butter chicken pot pie was stand out. Sweet. And super generous with the chicken which was surprising. I see why people suggest getting rice with it. We also regretted not getting it but used the rice from the other dish and the bread. It's hard to know which dish was better. It's gonna be hard to stray from these dishes moving forward Drink: Sweet Rapture- very sweet and not alcohol forwards. Good though Loved it! Also I usually don't like Indian food and haven't had in at least 3 years. It's a once in a blue moon thing...until now!!!

We recently dined at Cali Chilli - We had a good time and some of the items we tried were really good ! Butter Chicken was v good. The appetizers were great - We got Lamb Seekh Kebabs and Chicken Tikka - Both were v Good. In our previous visit there, we tried Biryani and it was v good ! We did not like Steak - The vindaloo gravy just did not go with it and had a very overpowering taste. Overall - We had a good experience !

Cali Chilli is one of the best restaurants in Long Beach. With the tagline "unauthentic Indian food" you can expect really fun fusion food with a lot of flavor when you dine here. So far everything we have tried has been a huge hit: butter chicken pot pie, pani puri poppers, chicken rendang, and beef short rib. All were amazing, and you have to save room for one of the best desserts ever, the chai tiramisu. The bar is also beautiful and they have some really fun and cool cocktails like tamarin martini, mango margarita, and the Mumbai mule. Everything is a hit here!

Delicious food. It's difficult to find tasty vegetarian food that has an Indian spice level. This meets the standards. It's creative lovely flavors and wonderful Eggless naan. Service is very hospitable, attentive, and the servers are happy It was a very busy Friday night, but still the servers had to kept their cool and were smiling. The interiors are modern and up-to-date. You can dress up or dress down. It would be perfect anyways. They have two niche seating arrangements for 5 to 6 people. You get that with reservations. They have Indian brand alcohol available on the menu, which was a pleasant surprise. They can work on the menu and make the font a little bigger. onions or mint chutney is not complementary. The prices are higher than average. It would be nice to have it included. Overall, definitely five stars, and would surely recommend and go back there again and again

Okay, the name sort of threw me. Somehow it sounded so, you know, Tex-Mex or something. But my friend looked it up and told me it was actually Indian, and had great reviews, so I thought "why not?" and we went over. Blown away. We were greeted friendlily and service was great all night. The recommendations were flawless, the food delicious, honestly maybe the best Indian food I've had outside of London... everything was creative and interesting and so fricking tasty. The cocktails were spectacular. Honestly, the best meal I've had in Long Beach, and in my top five for the whole Southern California region. So it's a cute setting, comfy, with friendly service and amazing food. Highly highly highly recommend!

The management here is disappointing. We had a reservation and they did not accommodate us. They claimed that they "could not find our reservation or could not accommodate us." Customer Service was extremely poor and I will not encourage other people to come here if this isn't their first priority. I would give this zero stars if that was an option on yelp. Customer service is 100% key in making a restaurant business successful and unfortunately, they failed miserably. The manger was not willing to accommodate or take accountability for failing their paying customers. Down below you will see proof of our reservation that they "did not see." This is my response to Praveen: Hello Praveen... You just proved my point. When we spoke with you or your staff on the phone, you were not willing to help in any way and claimed that you "could not find my 6 pm reservation" yet in your response you acknowledged you had my 6pm reservation. I understand that I should have been on time, but I cannot control the traffic and you are fully aware that there are other customers who run late and call to notify you or your staff about the same situation. At the end of the day, there was no apology given and you denied that I didn't have a reservation at 6PM. There is a big lack of communication on your part and sadly you would think that you would want to ensure better quality service and hospitality for a customer (like myself) to experience a cuisine that is claimed to be good. However, part of making it good also means great customer service and satisfaction, which you failed to do so. Some acknowledgement on your mistake would have been appreciated.

We went to Cali Chilli when they first opened (before they had their liquor license) based on the hype around the Michelin Star Chef. At the time, we loved the food, but service was a little slow and obviously there was no opportunity to have cocktails or alcoholic drinks. The other week we decided to come back again now that they have been open for a little while and were approved for a liquor license. Overall, we had a great time, but the service was still slow. It seemed like they did not have enough people working there and so everyone was doing all of the jobs and there wasn't really a specific server assigned to each table. Drinks were also slow to come out and the bartender seemed backed up (I ordered wine and my boyfriend ordered an old fashioned). In terms of the food, we ordered way too much for two people and had to take a lot of leftovers home! We started with the garlic and cheese kulcha, which was good, but we previously had tried the truffle cheese kulcha and wished we had ordered that again instead. For small plates we had the calamari & French beans, pani puri poppers (chicken), and the parmesan truffle fries. The calamari and French beans is a great price for the amount of calamari that you get and the poppers are fun, small, and come with a few delicious dipping sauces (the mint was our favorite). We could have done without the parmesan truffle fries. It's a lot of fries, but lacked in flavor. The truffle seemed to be in the grated parmesan cheese, so the taste was very faint and overpowered by the fries. For mains, we ordered the butter chicken pot pie with a side of saffron rice and this was definitely the stand out dish of the night. We loved the butter chicken, creatively served as a pot pie. The rice was a necessary addition because there is a lot of sauce to soak up. We also ordered the Beef short rib, which was super tender with a hint of spice. You could tell it was slow cooked. To be honest though, we probably could have done with just the one main to split between the two of us and ended taking home almost the entire short rib dish. Overall, a good experience and we will be back again! We just hope the service will improve.

I went on a Wednesday night for date night & it was easy to get seated. I would say it seems like the servers are still working out certain timings because it took some time before we were able to order as they were trying to time food delivery to other tables (likely because this is during DineLA week). I ordered a puri bites, pot pie & some garlic naan. I could pass on the appetizer but it was interesting! I liked the mango shot a lot. The pot pie was really good- curry was super flavorful & the flakey crust was the perfect texture. I do wish I had asked for it spicier. The garlic naan was also really good as well! This was enough for 2 people. I'd definitely go back just to try their more traditional dishes instead of their mainstream popular ones despite it being on the more expensive end.

Indian food to the LBC! We started with the pani pani poppers and cauliflower fritters. These little bites were crispy, packed with flavor, and the perfect way to kick off the meal. But the true hero of the night? The butter chicken pot pie. Seriously, this dish was pure magic. Rich, creamy butter chicken encased in a golden, flaky crust--absolutely to die for. And here's a tip: make sure to get EXTRA rice and naan. You'll want to savor every last bit of that delicious sauce. The atmosphere was chill and welcoming, and the staff were super friendly and attentive. They also have amazing cocktails with an Indian twist to it, which were all pleasant. If you're looking for a spot with amazing food and good vibes, Cali Chilli is a must-visit. Can't wait to go back and try more!

Wow. What a meal. Lengthy review incoming. My sister discovered Cali Chilli on social media, and on a whim, we decided to book a reservation for my birthday brunch. The idea of a restaurant serving fun twists on classic Indian dishes (we saw a post about the butter chicken pot pie) was enough to entice us. The restaurant was pretty unassuming on the outside on a Sunday morning. However, upon entering your eyes will instantly be drawn to the huge outstanding bar and clean, modern, yet inviting seating areas. We started off with some mimosas, of course - my lychee one was sweet and delicious and just strong enough! Since it was our first time visiting Cali Chilli we were tempted to go overboard on appetizers, but settled on two varieties of kulcha (Indian stuffed bread). We tried the truffle cheese and jalapeño cream cheese, and both were insanely delicious. I could've eaten the entire portion of both. The bread was so soft and both fillings were gooey, cheesy, spicy, truffle-y heaven. Now onto the entrees. My brother said his truffle chicken tikka was "life-changing." My lamb vindaloo was bursting with flavor, and the shank itself was fall-off-the-bone tender. The potatoes were a welcome and delicious addition to the curry. VERY generous portion, and the leftovers were just as good the next day. The butter chicken inside of the butter chicken pot pie was easily in my top three best I've ever eaten. Butter chicken is one of my favorite dishes and I've tried a lot of it over the years. Cali Chilli's is so rich and complex in flavor. The chicken is tender and the curry itself is an amazing silky texture. I will 100% be back and getting this again next time! The eggplant lasagna was a sleeper hit for sure. I LOVE eggplant and this dish made it the star while also incorporating so many different flavors I'd never had together before. It worked so well with the paneer and that unctuous curry. Also incredible the next day if you have leftovers. The chai tiramisu was very tasty, I'd say it was just as good as a traditional coffee tiramisu and much lighter. It was the perfect end cap to our spectacular meal. We were all stuffed by this point, but my mom let slip that it was my birthday and the lovely waiter brought out ANOTHER dessert afterwards, which was so sweet and thoughtful! If you couldn't already tell, I'm a big fan of this restaurant. I also need to mention how wonderful the staff was. They were happy to help with menu suggestions and were so friendly. Cali Chilli deserves all the hype and I can't wait to come back.

Wonderful little restaurant with great service! Everyone was so friendly and helpful. The puri poppers were so unique and fun to eat. The garlic naan is the best I've ever had and I've had a lot of garlic naan.

Brittany from Shipmates recommended that I try this restaurant out. So, I promptly headed out here. I was the first person in after they opened at 5 PM. I sat at the bar with Bartender "Sai" and ordered their most popular items Sai recommended. The Spice Fry Cocktail Sai made for me by itself makes this a 10 star restaurant for me! The presentation, and the taste on this warm cocktail was out of this world!! Butter Chicken Pot Pie is a must get item. The taste in the sauce is unique. The Puff Pastry adds a genuine mystery to the dish Cauliflower was bomb. Ribs were unique. Mushrooms were delicious. All and all, an exceptional spot! I definitely recommend. I will be back soon.

Wow. Wow. And wow. This was the best Indian food Ive everr had. Delicious. Mango margarita was delicious, a touch of cinnamon. Service was great, food came pretty quick. Butter chicken pot pie was delicious

Manas helped us and was really amazing. There were a couple other amazing ladies that took care of us that didn't prefer to be named. All the service we received was great. The chef was really nice too! Props to that man who made our experience one to remember. From the drinks, to each of the dishes my wife and I had a great experience here. We started with the Old School Chicken Tikka. This had great flavor. Seasoned perfectly and the cilantro mint lime sauce on the side was delicious too. Next came the Tandoori Mushrooms. These are basically amazing stuffed mushhrooms with a creamy marinade. Then we had the Beef Short Ribs. The meat was super tender and had a rich, flavorful kashmir curry sauce. Last up was the Lobster Moilee. Creamy. Perfectly grilled and be sure to have the delicious pepper hiding underneath if you are looking for that heat kick! Dessert was the classic Kulfi which is a pistachio and saffron ice cream. Delicious! Craft cocktails were also delicious. Give this place a try. You won't regret it!

This place. . . omg this place. . . THIS PLACE!!! it's been months since I've been there and I am still raving about it. 1st you won't realize that it's a beautiful place and that you're in Long Beach. 2nd the service by waiters and the Management was super. They are nice, considerate, funny, and oh-so-helpful. Thumbs all the way up. 3rd MOST IMPORTANTLY. . . the food!! the Butter chicken pot pies, the appetizer, the soda they made . . . WOW!! this all gave them that extra start (If I can give them one) oh wait the DESSERT. . . it was an ice cream that I said tasted like colors lol. A definite MUST!!

We dined last night and ordered from Dine out LB menu to sample the menu as a friend of ours has not been here. We all enjoyed our dishes from the appetizer to dessert. The dishes are executed well with not overwhelming Indian spices . Nice and friendly service as well.If you have not tried it, this is the perfect time and you will not be disappointed.

What a disappointment! My wife and I have heard great things about this local spot and we have been meaning to check it out, so we made reservations for her birthday on Monday night... that was a mistake. Cali Chilli presents itself as an upscale pan-asian concept with an emphasis on Southeast Asian / Indian flavors in an unassuming location. Unfortunately, they could not deliver on that promising premise. We should have noticed the first red flag early-on, our server could not answer any question about cocktails and referred us to the (slightly overwhelmed but trying his best) bartender. Fine, we think, maybe she's young and knows nothing of alcohol and the bar isn't far away. So we go to the bar and find out they are out of the ingredients for their two signature cocktails, so we ordered two others ... then the waiting started. After about 15 minutes we finally got our drinks, they were fine, good but not great. At this time, the server had not returned to take our order (apparently too busy filling togo orders and fixing her mistakes with table next to us). Another 15 minutes went by and she finally returned. We managed to order a round of appetizers and the short ribs after she gave us some conflicting and confusing answers about food allergies (thankfully the menu is well labeled). We intended to order more, but we never saw our server again. The one server for the 9 tables at the restaurant just disappeared. After nearly an hour, we got our short ribs, which, like the drinks, was good but unremarkable. The bartender ran around trying to hold everything together since the other server could not. Fed up and bored at that point, we had to chase him down to get our check. No recognition of my wife's birthday, no apology for the collapse of service. We left annoyed and still hungry after 2 hours and about $100. We will not be back.

We had a completely delicious celebration bruch at Cali Chilli. Cali Chilli brands itself as an "inauthentic" Indian Restaurant and with dishes such as nachos, truffle chicken, and eggplant lasagna it most surely is adventurous. Drinks were fun, place was intimate, service friendly and on-point. Our party tried butter chicken pot pie, stuffed naans of each variety, eggplant lasagna, lamb chop, Truffle chicken, Truffle parmesan fries, and several desserts. All amazing. Price point is on the high side, so check the menu ahead of time. I think its worth it for sure. Portions are very generous as well.

Everything we ate was delicious! My only complaint was I'm not sure how clean it is. The restaurant could be but the window which I was next to was filthy inside and out. But the food was amazing!

I love trying new food and this spot was on my list. If you watch asmr like I do, maybe you've heard of pan puri. This place by far humbled me and made me want to expand my taste buds. I cannot wait to come back and try other things in the menu. The vibe when you walk inside is not what I expected at all. It was 100x better than I thought and service was greats! Thank you for awesome experience

I am so glad I found my new foodie friends... this place is elevated Indian and man they are good. Not everything was a hit but almost everything was extra special ... Highly recommend this place.

We had the chorizo kulcha, tandoori chicken (boneless & wings/ drumsticks), Lamb biryani (in pot pie) and kulfi. Everything was absolutely amazing. Best Indian fusion food I've ever had - it was THAT good! The boneless chicken was so tender and succulent / the chicken just melted in your mouth (didn't even need to chew it) and was very tasty. Kulfi was so very tasty - flavor bomb of rose, cardamom and various types of different spices. I'd absolutely visit here again for a special occasion.

This is the second time coming to this place after their soft release, they have finally worked out their kinks and its bomb! Not your authentic Indian restaurant but very similar to modern Indian restaurants from india/Dubai/Singapore. The dum biryani is very flavorful and has the traditional table side style and we loved their truffle oil chicken Tikka (best dish). Lamb vindaloo had authentic flavors with a twist - instead of potatoes cooked with it, they add bakes spiced potatoes to it (interestingly it worked and complimented well). Cocktails are also very well made and pairs well with the food. Will definitely add this to my recurring spot to go when we are in long beach Also don't forget to check in for a refreshing rose mango Lassi Food -5/5 Authenticity -4/5 Service-5/5 Ambience- 5/5

My husband and I came here for a double date with our friends on a Friday night in August. I'd heard about Cali Chilli as a good Indian fusion restaurant and had long wanted to try it. I made a reservation about a week before coming. There is a lot of street parking available nearby but no valet. We got here around 6 pm on a Friday night and were seated immediately even though the rest of our party hadn't yet arrived. The outside of the restaurant looks a bit odd and nondescript, but the interior is dark and chic. It's a little bit too dark in here for my liking though. Our server was very upbeat and enthusiastic. We had everything we needed as soon as we needed it. My husband got the butter chicken pot pie while I had the tandoori mushrooms. My tandoori mushrooms came out looking like a long sushi roll covered with sauces. These were just okay. I didn't like eating them very much and looked on enviously while my husband gobbled up his chicken pot pie, exclaiming how good it was. My friends enjoyed their food. I'm not sure I would recommend this restaurant as a spot worth going out of the way for, but I think it's a good option if you are in Long Beach and looking for a non-traditional Indian restaurant.

I recently had the pleasure of dining at Cali Chilli, sad I did not get photos, but at the same time, not sad because the experience left me thoroughly impressed. This gem of a restaurant, specializing in Indian cuisine, offers a delightful fusion of flavors that make it deserving of wider recognition!! The bar adds a special touch to the overall dining experience. The ambiance strikes the perfect balance between trendy and cozy, making it an ideal spot for a date night or an evening with friends and family. We began with the Butter Chicken Pot Pie, a unique and delicious twist on a classic favorite. The Chicken Tikka was a flavor explosion, perfectly spiced and tender. The Garlic and Chive Naan served as the ideal accompaniment, adding an extra layer of satisfaction to the meal. The staff at Cali Chilli demonstrated a genuine passion for providing an exceptional dining experience. Kudos to the team for their warm hospitality. Cali Chilli is a hidden gem that deserves to be discovered. I wholeheartedly recommend this restaurant to anyone seeking a culinary adventure. I look forward to returning to Cali Chilli to explore more of their tantalizing menu. This is undoubtedly a place that deserves to be bustling with patrons who appreciate fine food and a welcoming atmosphere!!

My daughter is in town. She always like to try new restaurants. I've been eyeing Cali Chilli since it first opened. It's modern cuisine with an Indian flair. I made reservations at 7:00 PM thru OpenTable. We decided to order small plates to share. We started with the calamari. Light and crunchy. Second plate was the cauliflower fritters. Third dish was the Tandoori Sea Bass. Our fourth and final dish was the Eggplant Bharta Lasagna. We ordered a side of garlic naan. All dishes were excellent. We agreed our favorite dish was the Eggplant Bharta Lasagna. Side note: their garlic naan was the best we tasted. DJ's rating: 4.75/5.00 Would I come back? Definitely Yes. There's a few other dishes we would like to try.

Indian food with a twist! We had a reservation, but it still took about 30-45 minutes to be seated. I think we were seated in order of arrival rather than by reservation times. There's really no place to sit and wait, so we at the bar and twiddled our thumbs. The interior is not reflective of the exterior and other places on this street. You'll be surprised! It's cozy and simplistic inside! There are 2 semi-private nooks right in front of each window. So cute! The first thing I noticed was the bar. Below the counter is lit with changeable colors. It was blue when we were there. The bar area is classy looking! When we were eventually seated, it was at the back in the corner. It's a great table for a romantic or quiet dinner. What it wasn't good for was taking pictures of my food!! There is no light near the table, except for a candle. So I had to use my flash, which was not my first choice. Chef Manjunath Mural has garnered four Michelin Stars. He has created fantastic dishes. For example, the Dum Biryani and Butter Chicken Pot Pie are unique for Indian dishes! I love a good Mango Lassi, so I tried this Mango Passion Fruit Rose Lassi ... it really tasted great! However, the glass was full of ice and contained very little lassi! Please leave the ice out!! We started out with the Pani Puri. The first one I tried was the green one (mint) and then the White one (original). The last one was orange (mango) and it was my favorite! We also enjoyed the Butter Chicken Pot Pie. In my opinion, it could have used some rice on the side. We didn't know, so we didn't order any. Some of the chicken we got seemed like it wasn't fully cooked. The Puff Pastry on top was delicious and flaky! We got the Chorizo Kulcha, which was flavorful! My preference would be to have it cooked a tad bit longer... the underside was a bit too soft and collapsed when trying to pick it up. While there were subtle changes I'd like, I would still like to come back to try more items! The concept of some of the dishes is innovative!

Food is great but don't come here if you're looking for authenticity. It's more modern and a little Americanized but tasty. It is a little pricey though

Ambiance is lovely, slightly dim but lit by beautiful decor and elegant atmosphere. We were seated in this lovely alcove by the front window that reminded me of a reading nook and it was private and perfect for our birthday celebration with my bf. Service was attentive and water is served in a decanter so we don't constantly need someone to top off our water. Food is "inauthentic Indian" as described by our server. I would skip the kulachi bread since it tasted like a quesadilla with far too much cheese imo. Definitely try the pani puri poppers since that was the highlight of dinner. I've always wanted to try this dish so this was a great introduction. Excellent flavor and fun recipes to eat. Loved the eggplant bharta lasagna, and the lamb vindaloo. Lamb was fall off the bone tender and delicious. Order with a side of rice for perfection. Did not enjoy the truffle chicken tikka- it tasted like rotisserie chicken with an Alfredo cream sauce. ( not what I had in mind but my bf liked it! Saying it reminded him of something his mom would make referencing cream of mushroom chicken ) They also had some unique and tasty cocktails! Would return for pani puri poppers and to try some other dishes!