The massive amount of National level food world hype around this place, in the form of inclusion on many "Best restaurants in the Country" lists throughout 2023, combined with a reservation here capping off an epic tour through the great state of Arizona, resulted in the underwhelming dinner here going down as one of the years relative culinary disappointments. While there were a couple of dishes I quite enjoyed, they were sadly outnumbered by the one's that fell completely flat. Perhaps not surprisingly considering the place evolved from a food truck, that the two dishes I really enjoyed, a Huitlacoche Quesadilla, and especially a Green Chorizo Vampiro, both wonderfully flavorful and enveloped in perfect house made corn tortillas, seemed to be the dishes most likely to have been preserved and directly transported from the food truck menu. Unfortunately the remaining dishes, which would seem much more likely to have emerged only after the progression to the full restaurant, all uniformly disappointed. Yucca fries were hard and brittle, as were the chicken skin chicharron's adorning a soggy Caesar salad drowning in way too much cheese. A skirt steak special was tough and nearly flavorless. The location in the kitschy vintage motel on the margins of gritty Downtown Phoenix is unquestionably unique and cool. Unfortunately, this along with the massive hype seemingly resulted in a general too cool for school attitude and vibe that permeated the entire place to a very off putting degree, especially in combination with the extremely uneven and underwhelming meal. read more

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I love a new hot spot with new, creative food and cocktails and Chilte nailed it on all fronts. It's a small, hip place attached to a downtown hotel. It's close to rosevelt and the van B so they nailed the location too. Again, I'm loving central Phoenix and definitely the trendy vibe as you get closer to downtown. Service? Outstanding.. our waitress wore a big smile and made us feel very welcome. We went early and I'm glad we did since it was packed by 7. There are some outdoor tables available, but my fellow Phoenicians, like myself, are sick of the cold, so inside it was. The food was excellent. The pasta verde with shrimp, broccoli and huitlacoche was delicious and filling. We sampled the oysters and they had a wonderful zip and freshness to them. Honorable mention to the beautiful ceramic dishes and very eclectic decor and of course a versatile cocktail selection including some of my new favorite mezcals (try the Carreno!) A great new spot with a hardworking staff that should look forward to their future success! read more

Chilte - Oysters! - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Make a reservation... we had one for 2 weeks before we could get in. Not a ton of seating. Originally requested a seat outside but once I looked at Google maps, opted to sit inside because the outdoor seating is right next to the street. Unfortunately the only seating was available "at the counter" which is literally a counter where your view is watching people walk in and out of their motel rooms .... Very awkward. Probably would be fine seating for 1 or 2 in a party but we had 4 and it was just really uncomfortable. The bartender was also our waiter which I found kindof odd because he was busy and only checked on us once. My 2 friends had the house margarita and said they were fabulous. Very small menu - we ordered their appetizer the bartender recommended and it was good but nothing special (I forget the name but it was green verde something). The other couple we were with had their filet special and enjoyed it. My husband and I had the barrias tacos. He had the flour tortilla and I had the corn. The corn tortilla was very greasy but the meat was delicious. Like I said VERY small menu. If you think this is a place you can get some chips/salsa/guac think again they don't have them. But overall the food was enjoyable. Make a reservation. Glad we tried it but not a place we will seek out over and over again. read more

I was very excited to try Chilte but it was a total let down. The hostess was pretty rude, we could only sit outside due inside being full. It's a cool restaurant inside but not the best area on the patio with a number of homeless people. Our server we had was very nice however. Finally maybe it's me but the food was just too out there for me. I totally understand being creative but there was nothing that stood out. We had the fries, and quesadillas to start and split the Carne Asada as an entree. The Carne Asada had a market price next to it so I was anticipating something big and delicious. What I got was a paper thin steak that was mostly fat. We did have 3 cocktails which were all pretty good but the last thing I would say is we had two apps 3 drinks total and split an entree our bill was $180 which I was very surprised by. read more

I was in town for the holidays and had read about this place in a magazine. If you don't eat pork or beef; you may be challenged to find something but everything we had was really good. read more

Chilte - Yuca Frites - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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I have driven friends and family to great distances over the years to eat the food that Chilte offers. Whether they were just starting or serving high-demand lines at their food truck, Chilte always delivers. We visited last Wednesday night for a cute lil date night and had our favorite hot chicken sandwich, fries, and a bottled coke. If we were drinkers, we would have definitely had a drink or two. The flavor layering sets this dining experience lightyears ahead of all the other hot chicken sandwiches we've consumed over the years (which is embarrassingly a LOT haha). The pricing of our meal reflects the quality and care put into every dish. I write this review as a break between homework assignments on a Sunday morning. That being said, it is a cozy location to have some coffee and light pastries in the day. The Prickly Blend drip coffee and Guava Danish was a perfect way to start my day. This place is so much more than food. We're so happy to witness the progress of such a kind and intentional pair living out their dreams. When you take a moment to look around, you can tell this place has a lot of personal touches and elbow grease. Thank you, Chilte. I'm looking forward to this being my new regular homework hideout and occasional date night spot. read more

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I've eaten in a lot of great restaurants but this is the BEST I'VE EVER HAD. Creative dishes. Subtle infusions of spices and daring combinations. The MSG featuring the Tomahawk Pork Chop is indescribable. Our small plates were beyond good. The Mole' with the flautas- wow! Cocktails recommended by our server were all excellent. Our server, Q, was one of the best I've ever experienced. He knew every dish and his descriptions left me wanting to try everything. A fantastic experience. I was stunned to see a couple empty tables as we left around 7:30pm. I am anxious to come back. Someone needs to help Chef LT expand. Chilte is an experience you won't forget! read more

There were 6 of us and everyone was delighted with the food. It was delicious and had beautiful presentation. I'll go again definitely.

I had the mystery item on the menu because the server pushed it so hard, yet didn't give a price when describing it. She also didn't say I would be getting the tomahawk Pork Chop @$75! Normally when describing a menu item without a price, they'll give a price. I should have asked... Unless you could read between the lines, the menu was really hard to interpret. I ordered a drink (Martini) and it was the furthest thing from what I ordered @$16. My bill without desert or coffee was $124.00! what? They also put a $3.50 ser charge for their employees health insurance on the bill. The food was really good, but worth $124? I would probably go back and try something else, but steer clear of the mystery items, and particular server, and have a beer. read more

The corn tortilla has sands in it, I had to go wash my mouth to avoid tooth injury. Pay the price for the ambiance, but don't expect anything from the food. read more

SHADY automatic gratuity and "employee benefits" surcharge added to bill - adding 28.5%! For a group of 6, they imposed an automatic and required 25% gratuity, which was calculated on the TAXED total bill and not the pre-taxed subtotal, and THEN added a 3.5% surcharge for "employee benefits". The restaurant was busy and loud, the server told us it was the bartender's first night working and drinks took a long time to be delivered. The overall service was not great, and I believe the standard 18-20% gratuity would have been generous. The food and drinks were good, but not worth the level of service and these shady billing practices. We will not be returning to this restaurant. read more

Elegant, great service, and the food was fantastic! Some of the best high-end Mexican food I've ever had. Highly recommend. read more

Chilte - Chocolate cake with a pistachio salted caramel. 10/10 - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

The Egyptian has been years in the making, but the addition of Chilte has made it worth the wait! A new experimental twist on Mexican classics is a welcome change, along with a menu that is changed regularly, you'll be hard pressed to become bored. Atmosphere: Modern, Hip, and Comfortable. From the retro furniture, to the colorful wall art, this whole place is a vibe. Service: A+, Our server was friendly, knowledgeable and helpful. He answered all of our questions and gave great recommendations. Several others stopped by to check on us and chat throughout the meal. Food: My it was love at first bite! I had the "Chef Sangwhich" which was their take on a spicy chicken and was blown away. The heat of the sauce, crispo of the veggies all flowed together on a soft, warm bun. Perfection! As neighborhood locals, we are so thrilled to have such a quality spot to relax and unwind. We'll definitely be coming back! read more

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We got a reservation quickly an hour before we arrived. Once open the line went quickly. We were promptly seated and waited on. The food was delicious. We tried 3 things and all were good. read more

Love the ambience and the workers are so swell! Food is absolutely 10/10 and dessert is even better! Will definitely be going back

The Pork Tomahawk is overrated and at $75.00 hugely overpriced! Also, the spacing of the appetizers could use a LOT of improvement. I will try Chilte again but not any time soon. read more

Nice inside, nice service and a gluten free vegan pop tart. All good, looking forward to coming back to explore the menu read more

Chilte - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

Tasty and unique drinks! We had the carajillo and ponche marg. Carajillo was similar to an espresso martini with a bit of an orange aftertaste. We got the mole as an app which was very flavorful and crunchy. Pretty large portion for an app. For dinner we split the smashy burger and Birria tacos. The burger was EXCELLENT. Best burger I've had in a long time - highly recommend. Birria tacos had a great flavor with the perfect amount of spice but were unfortunately kind of cold when we received them. The restaurant itself is very cool and has a great ambiance but the service was just okay. read more

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First time experiencing the amazing food at Chilte. Lived up to all the hype. We shared plates with the guidance of our warm and helpful server. The four of us went away loving Chilte. Highly recommend. read more

Restaurant sits with the Egyptian Motor Hotel. Just had an appetizer, and it was delicious! The waiter was pretty awesome, he went over the whole menu which isn't very large and told me about some of his favorites. I thought about the posole, but I just couldn't see myself paying 50 something dollars for a bowl of pork posole. I would definitely have an appetizer at this restaurant and stay here again. read more

Chilte - Just the menu! - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Service is terrible. Music too loud. Menu too limited. Smashy Burger was flavorless. Maybe fine for those with eclectic tastes but I thought it was terrible . Would not recommend. read more

Food was very flavorful and brave! Service was outstanding thanks to Erin! And the ambience is very calm yet social! Highly recommend!

My husband found Chilte on a hot restaurant list - maybe Eater? - and we were excited to try it for a date night. It's a cute spot in an interesting part of town. The menu is small but it changes seasonally. We happened to be there on the first night of the new summer menu. We ended up ordering probably half the items offered, all to share. Everything was good, with only one dish (I think it was called the black and red, or something like that) being a bit off for us. Favorites were the tacos birria and green chorizo vampiro. The seasonal mole flautas, which were potato-filled, were also tasty. The thing is, it's expensive. And while it was probably somewhat elevated compared to lower end Mexican spots around town, I'm not sure it was a $200 meal with just one cocktail each and minimal leftovers. Tasty...just not that tasty! read more

These guys served me one of the best meals I've ever had. The flavors are so full, so unexpected. I had the pork shank thinking, "I know what that's gonna be like" and boy was I wrong. Cue a wild parade of amazing and unexpected flavors and textures. Really elegant and well put together. One of the best meals I've had out in years. The cocktails were on point, it is intimate inside, the servers were very personable. Can't wait to go back. read more

Another trip to Phoenix & of course we had to drop in on chef and the crew at Chilte. As expected the food, service and atmosphere were great. Photos to follow, promise. Keep it going guys, dining at Chilte has become one of the highlights of our travels. read more

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This was my first time here. It was my daughter's birthday and we had reviewed the menu in advance. As the consummate foodie, she was impressed with the selection. They did not disappoint - the service was great, wonderful friendly atmosphere and the food was everything we hoped for and more. we started with a cocktail, El Verde Peligroso - a recommendation since one of us was a gin drinker and the other vodka - suitable for either. Then we shared a Santa Quesadilla with Huitlacoche - a new discovery for me, but fabulous. Topped that off with a Pozole Recado with a pork tomahawk. The mole was beyond good. And then for dessert, the best Tiramisu I have ever had. we left stuffed, but happy and vowing to return soon. read more

From the moment you hear the words "hello friends", you know you are in the right place. Brunch was delicious we had the French toast and fried chicken and the potato tacos. Every bite was perfectly seasoned. Give this place a try, you won't be sorry. read more

The food, service, and vibes were fantastic. We will definitely come back and bring friends!

Went for a light bite but ended up satiated! Mole flight with bone marrow and lamb pops, and oysters with pineapple mignonette were the highlights and we also tried the mushroom empanada and cheesecake. All well prepared and delicious. Our server wasn't very eloquent or helpful but the food and ambiance made up for that. This little gem made us feel like we were on vacation. read more

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I've brought friends, family, out of towners - basically anyone that I can convince to say yes! Chilte food NEVER disappoints. Gracious service, incredible ambiance and food that doubles as art. You're coming here for a journey into Mexican inspired cuisine, not bean and cheese burritos & enchiladas - so get that straight before coming here with expectations of commercialized Mexican food. Cannot recommend this place enough!! read more

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Wow ! From the first glance of this unique retro Motel on West Grand ave. Here in Phoenix my thoughts were awaken by the cool funky looks from the outside but once you step foot into the Restaurant CHILTE your senses are tingling with anticipation of authentic taste of Mexicos best off the streets foods. Stopped in to enjoy a nice glass of wine and something simple to nibble on but was entranced by the fresh taste of Macha pepinos in a sweet spicy macha salsa. = Heaven ! Service is amazing and the Chef owner couple of Lawrence and Aseret are the most humbled humans on this planet. Their commitment to quality and simplicity of their foods are above any expectations across the valley and state. I believe that once you try this one of a kind collection of amazing dishes here at CHILTE you will return with friends to enjoy all over again ! Great place Great food and Great people like Chef Lawrence and amazing First Lady Aseret ! Respectivamente, Ric López read more

Chilte - Beautiful Humans Aseret & Lawrence - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Life changing food -- not lying! Vampiro may have been the best thing I've ever eaten. Can you say taco de birria? Seriously -- unbelievable. Mole= delicious. Mussels = ridiculously good. Service = 6 stars on a 5 star scale. I almost don't want to share how good it is because I'll never get in again. read more

Amazing food, very interesting flavors. A real foodie experience. Great service and definitely worth the money!

This review is long overdue. I have enjoyed the simple pleasure that is Chilte since it was just two people, chasing their dreams-along with the support of maybe a few hundred (perhaps 1,000) followers-all from the [dis]comfort of a 10' x 10' tent and a couple of outdoor grills. Since first discovering Chilte, I have been privileged to be able to watch this labor of love grow from that tent that withstood many a sweltering Arizona summer and monsoon rain; into a food truck that secured its owners private events and VIP bookings at music festivals-along with what grew into thousands of followers, insane pick-up lines, and 10-minute sell-outs. Now, by sitting in the permanent location in beloved Downtown Phoenix, my front-row seat to watching the owners of Chilte chase their dreams has moved out of the heat, sun, wind, dust, and rain into a mid-century-modern-inspired vibey hangout spot that was recently named one of the best restaurants in the NATION. Ambiance: The restaurant is attached to the recently renovated and reconceptualized Egyptian Motor Hotel. There's a small patio space in front of the rest of the restaurant, separated by floor-to-ceiling glass doors which really open up the space. The decor is very eclectic: The furniture is mostly mid-century modern, while the art that hangs on the walls is just as rebellious as the concept of chasing your dreams is. While sitting on the patio, one can enjoy ambient lighting from the large sign above. For it facing a street, I actually didn't hear too much traffic noise at all. Drinks: There are many drink options to select from, some of which are named after popular Latin songs. I ordered two Como La Flor's, and Selena was singing in my head the rest of the evening (because I'm lightweight). One of our friends ordered a drink that we all really liked. Though, I can't quite remember the name of it. I think our server had said that it was very earthy, but that's the best I have for you all. Food: The ingredients are high quality, sourced locally when possible, and the flavors actually balance out with one another. If you want a large menu full of basic food options, you should definitely go somewhere else. If you want menu items that are purposeful, intentional, and infused with cultura, stick around Chilte and catch a vibe. So far as the actual food is concerned, I'm going to let my pictures do most of the talking because they are worth so much more than I could ever say about them. However, the chicken torta was delicious. It was larger than the size of my head! The torta comes wrapped in a bag at the bottom of it so that you don't drip it all over the place. You know when they have the forethought and intention to put a drip bag on your torta, that it's going to be ridiculously juicy and a journey to enjoy (which I'm pleased to say that it was). There were multiple times where there was no being "nice" about it; I just had to shove my face into it, rip my daggers for teeth into it, and eat it. My friends and I all giggled at how much I resembled a toddler with the amount of food leftover on my face after taking a bite!! Every bite I could eat was incredibly worth it. I couldn't finish it at all. The fries that came with it are amazing. I believe I got potato fries with mine. However, if you should ever have the chance to see the yucca fries on Chilte's menu; please stop what you're doing and order them. They are just far superior to the potato in my opinion. One of my friends ordered the bolognese and another had birria tacos. My friends liked their food a lot. Not a single bit of the bolognese was leftover at all. The birria tacos are what has made Chilte (and a lot of other restaurants) so popular because of its trending. So, I don't feel like I need to tell you that this should undoubtedly be the first thing you try from Chilte if you are there for your first time. Service: The service was pretty good. Glasses were full of water the whole time, plates were cleared quickly, and there wasn't too much distraction from hanging out with my friends. I'm so happy to see Chilte in its permanent home. When you are considering where to go for your next date night, hang out with friends, party, or anything else-Chilte should be at the top of your list. read more

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I finally tried Chilte during my last visit to Phoenix and it was an enjoyable experience! I love how they spice things up with their unique menu. Everything they offer gives off an eclectic vibe, which is also reflected in the ambience of the restaurant itself. For starters, we got the Yuca Frites and Seasonal Quesadilla. Then we got the Black Pink (Chilean Prawns), Birria Taco Grande, and the Chorizo Pastor Burger. We switched plates among our group so we could try a little bit of everything. I also had a Prickly Pear mocktail for my drink. The Guava Tart (cheesecake) for dessert was heaven in my mouth. I love cheesecakes and LOVE guava so this was the perfect combination for me!! If I HAD to pick, my top 3 favorites from our meal were the quesadilla, the prawns, and the cheesecake. But overall, everything tasted great! This place is a must-try for anyone who lives around Phoenix (or is visiting, like I was). I wish I lived in the area so I could try out different items from their menu all the time! read more

Chilte - Guava Tart - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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Grabbed coffee here this morning. Service was fast and friendly! Very cute interior. Did not realize they also have a bar and serve food so will definitely be back!! read more

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We were incredibly disappointed with our experience for the special New Year's eve dinner. Given all the hype about this place we expected to have a delicious meal. We did not. The service was good and I did like the ambience of the restaurant, but there were several things that were quite disappointing. First, the main courses were a big letdown. We ordered the prime rib and the Branzino and both were lacking. We ordered rice as a side and for some reason the rice wasn't cooked properly for the kitchen to be able to serve it. Rice? Ok no rice, instead we had a choice of truffle fries or creamed greens which seemed not the accompaniment to what was supposed to be a festive special meal. More like pub food and not in any way were these good pub fries. The fish was served with an overly complex heavy dried tomato and caper sauce that overwhelmed the meal. I did not finish the fish and I was quite hungry. The prime rib was served extremely rare, blue. While my wife ate it she had to overcome the flavors of the "lamb neck" sauce. It was just a big piece of meat, no veggies. There was a creamed greens side that was again too many different flavors going on. Just a bit of mashed potatoes would have made sense. The blueberry cheesecake was fine, the foie gras sauce on the flan quite weird and I ate maybe a third of it. While the service was fine, cocktail and wine were interesting, it wasn't nearly the special experience we had hoped for. I think the restaurant tried for a steakhouse experience when it should have gone with the strengths that made this place popular. And with our bill coming in over $300 and leaving with the strong sense of don't believe the hype, we were muttering never again as we made our way home. All in all Chilte really missed the mark this night. read more

Chilte is conveniently located in the Egyptian Motor Hotel in downtown Phoenix. The restaurant is quaint & definitely a vibe. The food is eclectic & is an elevated Oaxacan influenced. The attendants were all so nice & helpful. I even asked about what food to suggest. read more

Chilte - Chilte is located below the Egyptian Motor Hotel. If you stay at the hotel, how convenient is it to have breakfast, lunch or dinner? - Mexican Near Me - Phoenix, Arizona

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This place is such a miss unfortunately. I was hoping it would be everything it seems to be but it wasn't. I only tied the steak and the mole rolled taquitos. Don't order this maybe try something else but the flavors of the mole was not authentic and the steak should not even be on the menu. I love what they are doing with the community and I hope to see them step up. read more

Just ok. The lamb mole was outstanding. Although everything else we ordered they were either out of or out of a component of the dish. We dined at 6pm on a Saturday. What we did end up ordering was relatively tasteless, lackluster. Service was good. read more