What an experience! I'd driven past this place countless times but never stopped in until now -- glad I finally did. The ambience is fantastic: a well-designed space with a nice layout of tables and booths, and the bar area has a cozy vibe with a solid drink selection. The Bay Area has no shortage of restaurants, but most lean South Indian, so it was refreshing to find Yellow Chilli offering a menu that spans both North and South Indian dishes -- and the flavors were outstanding across the board. Every dish we ordered hit the spot. The naans were perfectly made, and the biryani was spot on too. The one letdown was dessert -- the kulfi was watery and flaky, and the rabdi lacked texture and flavor. That aside, everything else easily earns 5 stars. Don't skip the shahi tukda. For 8 people, the bill came out to about $25-$30 per person. read more

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We went here to celebrate a birthday and made sure to mention the occasion in the reservation notes. Unfortunately, at no point during our dinner did anyone acknowledge it. I eventually had to approach the staff myself and ask if they could bring out a birthday dessert, which I was more than willing to pay for if needed. It was a little disappointing to have to request something that had already been noted with the reservation. The food was good, but the service could have been much better--especially for a restaurant of this style and price point. Overall, the experience was fine, but the service didn't quite match the level I expected. read more

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Filthy restaurant. I was in their restroom and employees will walk in to use urinals and not wash hands. You want diarrhea, dysentery then this is the place to be. Forget Sanjeev Kapoor name. This place doesn't follow basic sanitation rules! I wanted to complain about this but there was no manager on site. Just the waiters were running things. Later the manager wanted to talk to me over phone! Would not even bother to come to the restaurant after a serious violation was reported! Who knows what are the health and cleanliness standards in their kitchen when they don't consider this to be serious enough for a manager/owner to come back in restaurant to handle the situation. read more

This visit didn't quite live up to expectations. The food was overall just okay--nothing particularly memorable--and the service felt rushed and a bit disorganized. There were a few mix-ups with orders, and at times the pacing was off, which made the experience feel less smooth than it could have been. The ambiance is casual and straightforward, which works fine for a quick meal, but it doesn't necessarily make up for the inconsistencies in service and flavor. For comparison, I've had a much better experience at Khazana (sister location from the chef), where both the flavors and service felt more polished and cohesive. There's definitely room for improvement here, especially in coordination and execution. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Aam panna - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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We set our reservation for 7pm on Valentine's Day and arrived on time. The place was well filled and folks were on a waiting list. I cannot say how long any one group waited, but I saw a table of 8 seated from their number, so I assume reservations are useful, but not required. When we left around 8:15, the people waiting had increased. I think it took longer to get asked if we had a reservation than to actually be seated, and given queue, I don't think it was unreasonable. We were seated and given a food menu. We looked it over but knew we works have to ask some questions. We were given a cocktail menu and I ordered The Lime in the Coconut and The Husband ordered the Smolokai Mai Tai. Both were delicious - balanced, refreshing, and I will definitely have to try more. I explained my food sensitives and our waitress returned with an informational menu supplement with gluten, onions/garlic, and vegan options. It didn't pull out dairy, but it was very helpful in sorting out my options. I decided to risk a little and we ordered the Half Lawrence Road Tandoori Murgh then I ordered Puran Singh da Tariwala Murgh and he ordered Rajasthani Laal Mass, garlic naan and we split some rice (saada chawal). Yum!! I am glad we went with a half order of the tandoori, as we had plenty of leftovers and no room for dessert, despite my legendary sweet tooth. We each went for medium spice and I am glad. It was delicious but didn't overpower me. Finally, the ambiance: we were seated on the bar side. There are large screen TVs on the wall playing several things. I personally don't like tv during dinner, but some may consider that a feature. There was a nifty mural on the wall of people having a good time. It was different than the rest of the decor, which was both modern and classy. It may be the other side of the restaurant, without the bar, lacks the TVs, but I didn't see it. The music's fairly loud but there are high ceilings and decor that I suspect helps a bit sound dampening. Overall, we had a great time. The waitstaff was helpful, the food and drinks were delicious, they even gave us a red rose and took a picture of me giving it to him. I plan to return for lunch (which I think they offer) a see how the goes. Overall, if you like Indian food, then I recommend this place. read more

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I am happy to be able to upgrade my rating of the yellow chili in Santa Clara. I had just eaten at the Danville location the weekend before. The food is also very good. While Amber India retains a warm spot in my heart, this restaurant is only a mile from our home so we always reach it first and decide to stop here. Last time I was here, however, the service alters. Not so this time. Dishes were cleared and order is taken promptly. I'm giving five stars on all counts, however I will echo a point made by other others, which is that the menus could do with a refresh of the material they are looking a little raged and stained, and remind me of the genteel poverty of the old Gaylords Since prices have almost certainly gone up from opening it's odd. The menus seems so worn. And finally, while I did not order it at this time, I will say that the rosewater Gulab jammin for dessert is excellent And on this visit I had the Rajasthani Lamb, and my daughter and wife ordered a couple of vegetarian dishes which I name in the pix. Dry January meant we all had nonalcoholic beverages. I have a Peru drink which is guava based and though I'm not known to like fresh guava, this was pleasantly sweet without being unctuous :-) The space itself is nice with booths and tables, and also a bar in a separate room. The light fixtures impressed me enough to share with a designer I know there are many misspellings so I will be coming back to edit this review. Curse you Siri smiley. read more

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Our recent dining experience alongside a party of four was rendered utterly exceptional, attributable in no small measure to the flawless stewardship of our server, Prerna. From the moment we were seated, her conduct exemplified an astute grasp of hospitality--balancing intuitive attentiveness with an unhurried, reassuring presence. She navigated our collective preferences with remarkable empathy and discernment, ensuring every detail of our service was executed seamlessly. It is rare to encounter an individual who so effortlessly combines technical finesse with genuine warmth; Prerna transformed an ordinary gathering into a genuinely memorable culinary evening." And once more thankyou prerna read more

Everything was extremely tasty. The paneer, shrimp and garlic naan was very well done. First time at this gem and I am glad that I know about it as I expect to be back again the next time I'm in town. Service was attentive and portions are just right. read more

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The Yellow chilli restaurant by Sanjeev kapoor is a fine dining Indian restaurant. This place is full of flavours and uniqueness in their dishes. One of best fine dining Indian restaurants in the bay area. I would highly recommend this place to everyone.Must try their main course menu.I have tried their all the entree and chef recommended main course. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

This place was on my radar for a long time but couldn't go as my wife wasn't too happy when she went there. We went as a small set of guys and it seems like an ok restaurant. Maybe it's grown old and needs a facelift or upgrade in the menu. For a slightly expensive place they should start with redoing the menu cards as they are worn and look dated / well used. The service staff are good but look tired or need a pay raise. The food comes fast and so that's not the issue. They check on you for water, refills etc. We had a few drinks and they make them like you want. The apps are good. The sampler is efficient but the spring roll doesn't seem to have a place there. We tried the daal, kofta and dum alloo. The dum alloo was not any close to the og dum alloo. The others were a little on the sweeter side and needed extra chillies to beat the sweet. Overall it was an ok dining experience. For something like a Sanjeev Kapoor restaurant we expect a little more. read more

menh for sham savera their signature dish, I did not care for the gravy or the ball a bit. Paneer lababdar was good. Lachcha parantha was completely burned, they didnt feel bad serving this piece of carcinogen. ugh just adding etra dollars to the price doesnt make it good or the place good. Sanjiv Kapoor, as such copies recipes from all other cuisines without giving credits ever, very underwhelming. read more

The Yellow Chilli - burnt bread - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

The Yellow Chilli is one of my regular spots when I want a reliable Indian meal with good vibes, especially for garlic naan and Murgh Survedaar. Vibe & seating: The ambience is pleasant and it works for both families and corporate team outings. Parking is easy, with plenty of space, which makes it convenient. Pro tip: Weekends are busy. I always call ahead to check for a table and the wait time, and it saves a lot of hassle. What I actually recommend ordering (the winners): * Peru Pyala: my go-to drink here * Murgh Survedaar + garlic naan: the star of the place, honestly a "come here for this" dish * Lal Mussa Dal with rice: comforting and a great combo * Shahi Tukda: best dessert on the menu if you're craving something sweet What to skip / be aware of: Most appetizers are pretty basic. Bhatti ka Zinga is good, but it feels overpriced for what you get. In general the menu leans pricey, and beyond my go-to items, it can be a hit or miss. Service: No major complaints. Not exceptional, but not bad. Bottom line: go for the ambience and stick to the standout dishes. If you're expecting every item on the menu to be a home run, you might be disappointed. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Kasundi Paneer Tikka - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Sanjeev Kapoor was (and still is) the OG celebrity chef in India. For decades, he has been revered as the chef who made Indian cooking - particularly North Indian cuisine - mainstream in Indian media through his cooking show Khana Khazana and later through his Food Food channel. These days, plenty of Indian-origin chefs have surpassed his achievements in terms of Michelin stars, Instagram-worthy dishes, and online followings. But for many of these chefs themselves, SK has been a role model. And if you ask the parents of anyone who grew up in India in the '90s who their favorite chef is, chances are they'll say Sanjeev Kapoor. I give this background because, surprisingly, if you go purely by Yelp reviews or online buzz, The Yellow Chilli doesn't get much attention these days. So when my family and I finally tried the Santa Clara location today, I was left wondering why I had wasted so many years on the long list of other North Indian restaurants in the Bay Area instead of coming here sooner. The food was classy without being pretentious. Just good old nostalgic North Indian flavors. We were a party of five and ordered a variety of dishes: Murgh Angaar Bedgi (chicken kebab), Paneer Tikka and Avocado Salad, Bhalla with crackling spinach, Desi Chicken Manchow soup, Khichdi, Bhuna Gosht (goat), garlic naan, paratha, and Dum Gosht Biryani (goat). Everything - except the bhalla dish - was fantastic. The kebab, bhuna gosht, and biryani, in particular, stood out. The meat was tender and succulent, and the flavors were spot on. The ambiance was more cozy than opulent, and the service was prompt. Shoutout to Raja, our server, who was helpful and friendly throughout our dining experience. Definitely recommend - we'll be back to try more from the menu! P.S.: I took off a star because the dahi chaat was underwhelming, and we struggled to get the beer we wanted since the draft options listed on the menu were out of stock. read more

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Our server James went above and beyond (007 style) to serve our large party and has made our evening unforgettable. Please have caramel cheesecake next time for me James! Also - excellent food and drinks. Lamb shanks are must haves. Bread basket is to die for. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Our server James (Bond) - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Got a chicken tikka avocado salad to go. Service was top notch, friendly, fast and professional. My salad was very, very good, fresh, well proportioned and very tasty. read more

Food was amazing. Ambience was great. Service was very quick and price was very reasonable.

We tried all the star items there. The chili guava was a little too spicy but was good. The sham savera and the dal makhani were excellent. The breads were a little on the drier side but not too bad. The dessert- rabdi kulfi was very good. The papaya salad was great too. It's not too crowded. I think the waiter forgot one of our orders - chettinad chicken which need to be reminded. But we were full so it worked well for us. Unfortunately we didn't take a photo of everything but they look pretty standard. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Veg Mixed Platter for 2 - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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First timer- We enjoyed the cuisines, the service and ambience . The server assigned to us was awesome, and she participated in light conversations with us around beer variety. The service was on time and food was hot. We were visiting out family and would go back again. Dishes tried- raberi, ice cream, ras malai, murgh noormahal, shaam savera, naans, murgh tikka, mocktails and everything was delicious read more

Like the shyam savera - their best and most innovative dish and naan basket. The methi paneer is okay. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Harippa Paneer Tikka - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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Food: We asked our indian friends to order for the entire table, so there was an assortment of many different things to try! Everyone seemed to really enjoy the tandoori and desserts which was clearly made fresh to order. I asked for the shrimp curry which was pictured with beautiful large prawns. The prawns were delicious however smaller than what was pictured. Disappointly, the curry had no flavor. I also asked for extremely spicy and they didn't complete the request. I recommend asking for their thai chilli peppers on the side. That kicked it up to kinda the spice-level I was seeking. The thai chillies randomly came with my friends request for extra red onions. I happily grabbed those. The chicken Briyani was the table favorite! read more

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Went to Yellow Chilli with my family. We had the following appetizers: Chanachor garam, vegmanchow soup, and hadippa paneer tikka. Both apps were flavorful and channa chor was nice and crispy. The green chutney that came with it was also a nice touch. We had the following main dishes: shaam savera, puransingh ka tariwala murgh, kebab vegetable wala. Our favorite was shaam savera! The sauce was so good and the paneer was so soft. We also had different types of naan to go with it as well as the onion chilli roti. Overall the food was great and will be coming back. Also, shout out to our server James who helped us decide between dishes and drinks. He was also very friendly and funny. Thank you for tolerating my dad's jokes, James! read more

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We went on a Friday night and it was busy. I suggest getting reservations if your dinner is after 8. This restaurant has a brand name to hold since a celebrity chefs name is attached and it does that really well. Only thing I would suggest is updating the cutlery or the service dishes for the appetizers, the current ones took me back to early 2000s. We start with Manchow soup and it was pretty good. The portion size is well and tastes decent. Our family got cocktails and they were okay, better daze was sweet. For appetizers we got channa chor garam tikki and Harripa paneer tikka - they were 7.5/10. Not bad but nothing exciting. The favorite dish was in the mains - Shaam Savera. The cottage cheese with spinach and the tomato gravy just comes together so well. Definitely get that with garlic naan! The chicken dish - Purang Singh ka tariwala murgh was 7/10. I dint have the dhaba feel as the name suggests. The kebab walk Sabzi was decent 8/10- a little on the heavier side. The place is done well ambiance wise and service was great! Shot out to James! I will be back again! read more

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Grew up watching Sanjeev Kapoor on TV and was excited to try his restaurant. Somehow never made it till recently. Loved everything about it-right from the service, the food and vibrant decor. We got the appetizer sampler for 4 which w a s the only slightly okish thing we got. The sham several kofta, veg biryani,pyaz mirchi roti and bread basket all were on point. The stuffed gulab jamun was fun to taste but it's very sweet and big so get it only if in a group. Service was extremely nice and courteous-very much like what I'm used to from restaurants in Mumbai. Will defi visit again. read more

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I went with my family to celebrate a birthday hoping that the food would be good. None of the dishes we ordered were worth the price we paid for it. First we ordered veg appetizer platter and the panner in it was hard as a rock. The chicken appetizer was okayish but had a weird smell. The signature shaam savera was a huge disappointment as it was soo apparent that the curry was premade with tomato paste. The naans were the only saving grace. Do yourself a favor and avoid this place. The ambience is good, the service was good too, but the food quality and taste was just bad. read more

The food was very bland, the "lalla mussa" dal was hot creamy, very diluted and not at all what it used to be! The shaam savera kofta was bland too and very hard for some reason The service was pretty careless as well, we got the bland tasting food after having to repeatedly follow up with the waiter Bad service, bad food! The quality has dropped exponentially! And a waste of money as well. read more

Ambiance is nice and service is really good as well as food . Made reservations earlier as it's usually busy .

I liked the good quality, especially dahi kebab and chettinad chicken. We also ordered veg biryani which more of tasted like tava pulao, butter chicken which was just okay, the flavour did not come out that great, but other chicken main course items were good. What I did not like: The plates that I received looked really old and had so many scratches on it. I got it changed, looked dirty.. did not expect in this restaurant. Most of the Service staff seemed unwelcomed. Need improvement here. Drinks... they just tasted like sugar with some flavoured water. Example I ordered Aam Panna... it just tasted like mint + some flavour + sugar read more

I enjoy coming here for their traditional flavors & nostalgia! Sanjeev Kapoor is one of India's iconic chefs and we grew up watching his food show, Khana Khazana every Sunday afternoon. This time we went there to celebrate our friend's birthday & made reservations in advance. We were seated in their beautiful, yellow themed dining room. They have cocktails, mocktail & and a decent wine selection. Our waiter explained us popular items here and we ordered few of his suggestions in addition to our favorites such as Kacche Kele Ke Kebab, Chanajor Garam Tikki, Hara Masaley ka bhuna paneer, Murgh Angaar, Kabab wali subji, Rajasthani Laal Maas, and Peshawari naan. It was a great experience! YC Ambiance is modern, service is friendly & food is great! This restaurant is a bit pricy but it's worth it. Would definitely recommend you try it! The Yellow Chilli by Chef Sanjeev Kapoor Review: Ambiance:10/10 Service:9/10 Food:8/10 Music:9/10 Seating: bar & indoor seating (few outside tables) Parking: Ample parking available : $30-$50 #global_fooddiva read more

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Was there for a birthday party a couple weekends ago. Everyone had ordered mocktails so I asked to get one too. Requested the server girl who just delivered a drink to the person next to me to bring me a same one. Half an hour went by, nothing happened. I saw her fetch drinks to others. When I saw her standing on the counter, I approached her to check about my drink. She cheekily said - oh we are out of it. The staff next to her asked her which drink it was; hearing the name they contradicted her and made me one. The girl was not apologetic or anything like that. These people don't understand what service means. Not recommended read more

I was really excited to give this restaurant a try because it is well-known and whatnot. My overall opinion after dining here is that it is overhyped. The service was really slow, which was weird because I kept noticing tables sat after us were getting their food before us. We got the tandoor chicken, bread basket, daal, vegetable briyani, mango lassi, and a paneer appetizer. Our bread basket came out last, after we had already eaten most of our meal, which was disappointing. The tandoori chicken was kind of dry, which surprised me. The best thing about the meal was the mango lassi. Our server was also not attentive, we were never offered water refills nor did they come speak with us regarding the food or to let us know they were still working on our order. For the price point, the food is not better than The Mynt in San Jose on Saratoga Ave. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

Love the food and service. Always a hit when I visit Yellow Chilli. Will definitely Go back!!!! read more

The Yellow Chilli - Kebab - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

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The food and the ambience is pretty great, it was surprisingly packed on a Tuesday early Dinner. We ordered the chefs recommendations and they all turned out pretty great, the spice level is just right. The service is extremely fast too. Ample parking near the restaurant read more

The Yellow Chilli - L Murgh Angar Bedgi Shaam Savera Lalla Mussa Dal - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

We recently moved to neighborhood and the place is within walking distance. Food was average. Nicely done but nothing extraordinary to go with Chef's name brand. We ordered a few vegetarian dishes and a bread basket. We had Kulfi for dessert. It was crystallized and not soft. Tasted alright though. Service was very good. Our waiter Raj was cheerful and prompt. Ambience was average. It was little noisy even around 6 pm. All in all worth a visit but will probably not repeat. read more

Ambience is 4/5, Food is great and also drink options and many. Would recommend someone trying Indian food for the first time. Service is also good. Servers can explain each dish in detail. read more

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Murgh survedaar- 5/5 (delicious!) Shaam savera- 4/5 (paneer dumplings, there is no flavour in the paneer though, the gravy is delicious) read more

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We visited Yellow Chili for dinner the day after Christmas, and it was my first time there. The restaurant was smaller than I expected and not very busy. We ordered samosa chaat, Amritsar fish pakora, butter chicken, and rogan ghosht. The appetizers were fresh and flavorful, and the rogan ghosht had a nice spicy kick just as requested. The butter chicken was good as well. The interior felt a bit dated, and while there were quite a few staff around, only one or two were actively serving. Overall, it was a good meal. Worth trying if you're in the area or craving Indian food, though it didn't quite stand out enough to draw me back. read more

The Yellow Chilli - Amristari Fish Pakora - Indian Near Me - Santa Clara, California

We had a wonderful dinner tonight for my daughter's 13 birthday. It was our first time and our waiter Raja spent extra time with us reviewing the menu. We got soup, salad, entrees and a free slice of birthday cake. The flavors were wonderful. read more

I am a huge Indian food guy. My dad was raised in England and always claimed English Indian food to be superior. We'll. This place changed that. This place is incredible. You can tell it is a legit restaurant by the Indians enjoying the food. Always a good sign. The ambiance is modern restaurant vibes. Needs about a thousand more blinking chili lights to make me feel at home. The servers were respectful and knew the menu back to front identifying dishes with gluten. read more

Food was great, service was great, we had Raja as our waiter. He spoke some Tagalog with my family, made us feel right at home!

The service here was excellent--friendly, attentive, and prompt. However, the rest of the experience fell short. The ambience didn't live up to expectations, and the food was disappointing. For an Indian restaurant, the quality and taste of the dishes were below average. The flavors felt off, and the presentation lacked the vibrancy and care you'd expect from a place like this. It's unfortunate that the food and atmosphere didn't match the level of the service. There's definitely room for improvement in both taste and presentation to truly reflect the restaurant's potential. Chicken chettinad was the only dish that tasted good. read more

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