Very impressed with this Indian cuisine especially given the overall dearth of non-chain options in the area. I ordered chicken tikka masala ($19.50) and garlic naan ($5.50) for delivery and requested that they put some papadum and chutneys in the bag as I saw that usually it's given as a courtesy at the beginning of the meal. Not only did they graciously include the requested papadum but the meal also came with a very generous helping of basmati rice. The portion size was good - could easily be stretched into two meals - and the flavor of the curry was to die for. The chicken in it was tender and well-cooked. I was also impressed with the garlic naan (also a generous portion of two large slices). Prices are a bit high I suppose, but comparable to other meals in the area. Everything was packaged well and it was delivered efficiently (aware this is largely outside of the restaurant's control, but still). This was a winner delivery experience for sure and I would definitely order again. read more

Hot N Chili - 1. Chicken Tikka Masala and 2. Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Very Good! Really liked the buffet. We assume that ordering off the menu is really the 4.7 range. The service was great too. Small place, but nicely decorated. We will definitely come back either for the buffet or dinner. read more

My family and I were in the area and we were looking for something tasty to eat. Luckily we found Hot and Chili Indian food restaurant. Their food was delicious and the service was good. We will definitely be back the next time we're in the area. We will have to try their other dishes too. If you are ever in the area and are looking for some really good Indian food then you should try this place. Hot and chili Indian restaurant. I think you'll like it too! read more

Hot N Chili - 4. Mango Lassi - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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My Favorite Indian restaurant in the whole world I just love it realistically I wish I could eat there every single night, but I could potentially go broke . The Owner is so humble along with their staff !! there is just no reason why you should not try it. read more

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After seeing the incredible reviews, we had to try it out even though it was off the Main Street in San Clemente. The food was really flavorful, the naan was as good as it could be, and we started off with a cumin seed cracker. But best of all, the people were so kind and gave excellent service. Most people seem to get take out so the restaurant itself wasn't too busy. read more

Hot N Chili - 3. Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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Good food. Variety in buffet. Owner/employee very nice. If I were in the area again, I'd go back.

This place is deserving of its high rating. Like many other reviewed I'm skeptical of this cuisine in this location, but holy moly it was fantastic. Came on 01/08/26 for the lunch buffet and it was well stocked. We were a little concerned since the restaurant was empty, but when we saw the food and the options we decided to stay. The korma and special onion curry as well as the Palak paneer were stand outs. I told my husband it's a good sign when my least favorite dish is the tiki masala because that means the other dishes are amazing. Highly recommend and will be back read more

Food is fantastic. Azeem, the owner, and Sidra, our server were delightful and made sure we were well taken care of. We went three times during our week's stay near San Clemente. read more

Good was excellent , service incredible and the. Ambiance was very good! We will return!

it's okay. we eat a LOT of Indian food and this tastes more like a tomato soup base vs an Indian spiced dish. the meat is also poor quality - most of the meat is not chicken breast and is fatty/chewy. read more

Authentic Indian food in a charming Indian atmosphere, very nice people. My new place, recommended!

Most amazing all you can eat lunch buffet for miles! A large variety and everything is fresh and delicious.

Came here for lunch and didn't expect to stumble upon a lunch buffet. We are new to the area, and we saw that this Indian spot had an almost perfect 5 star review, so we had to come and check it out. The restaurant is decorated with cute decor, and the lady in the front was so sweet. She asked us if we wanted to order ala carte or do the buffet. But when she saw us hesitate, she told us to look at the buffet first, and to let her know after. She was so nice and willing to explain every dish to us if needed. There was a decent selection of food at the buffet, so we decided to try a little bit of everything. For $18.50 AYCE per person, this restaurant automatically deserves 5 stars, as everything was very solid. They even provided us with free naan! In this economy, it is hard to come by any meal that is around this price, so I was pleasantly surprised. Being from the bay area, there are a lot of good indian cuisines up there in norcal, as I have struggled to find anything remotely as good down here in socal. For Socal, this Indian spot is one of the better ones, the staff are all so nice, the price is phenomenal, food is yummy, honestly no complaints!! Would come back in a heartbeat to try thier ala carte menu soon!! read more

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Really good food and the spice levels were all exactly what we asked for. There are no children's portions or menu. We all 3 ate vegetarian dishes. Decent parking Ang plenty of seating. read more

YUM! I found this place through Yelp reviews, and I'm so glad I did! For convenience, we ordered delivery through DoorDash and everything arrived perfectly. We tried the butter chicken, chicken tikka masala, and garlic naan. While everything was delicious, both my husband and I agreed that the butter chicken was the standout dish--it was so flavorful! We'll definitely be ordering again whenever we're craving Indian food. Highly recommend giving this spot a try! read more

The best Indian food I've ever had go to this place. I've been going here for years and taking my kids here ect. how's the best service and best tasting Indian food I've ever had all I want to say to this place is thank you! read more

Very good food, good service and pleasant people, I recommend the chicken tikka Masala

Absolutely delicious Indian food. The butter chicken was amazing probably the best I have ever had and the naan was great. Thank you so much! read more

Hot N Chili is hands down some of the best Indian food I've ever had. Everything tasted incredibly fresh and full of flavor. I tried the chicken tikka masala, lamb korma, and several other dishes -- and every single one was delicious. You can tell they really care about the quality and the ingredients. The sauces were rich and perfectly seasoned, the meats were tender, and nothing tasted overly heavy or greasy. Just really well-balanced, authentic Indian cooking. If you're looking for amazing Indian food, this place is a standout. Highly recommend! read more

Great Lamb Saag and atmosphere. Great service, the garlic naan is also wonderful. The atmosphere is very authentic and serene.

Went to Hot N Chili for my birthday lunch and was so thrilled with the amazing flavors! We will definitely be returning.

We were a large group and loved our meal at Hot N Chili. We ordered many different dishes and it was all excellent.

So far Hot N Chili is my favorite restaurant in San Clemente. Located in Old Town, there's plenty of indoor and outdoor spaces. I had the chefs special and chicken tiki masala and it did not disappoint!! The waiter recommend we try the special, so we had to. The flavors and spices were perfect. I will be back, I can see this easily becoming a go to for me. read more

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Our group shared chicken and lamb tikka masala both of which were amazing with generous proportions. The naan bread and samosas were also great! Staff is friendly and helpful as well. 10/10 would recommend. read more

Amazing food and exceptional service! My husband and I we're on a lunch date and decided to try out this restaurant. Immediately upon entering the door, the amazing aroma of authentic Indian food smelled so good! The lunch buffet allowed me to try new items on the menu and all for $18.50 a person! I am blown away by the friendly and homey service and delicious food. We truly enjoyed ourselves, the food the ambiance and decor. We will definitely be back! read more

Hot N Chili - The lunch buffet!!! - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Feel like getting away? Step into this beautiful and rare gem of India. Walking in, you are met with the aroma of sensual curry. The atmosphere excites your senses. Every corner is finely appointed with art work and tapestries drape the walls. Stella will greet you with a delightful smile and welcome you as if it's her own home. Each dish in the buffet tastes mom-made. The best Sag/paneer I've ever had. Naan is fluffy and perfect. Rice is alive and tiki masala sauce is velvet. Fresh fruit and chai tea will top off the meal. Think you're done? No my friend, time for seconds and thirds! Wake up the body and relax the busy mind. Yes please! Dont forget to pick up earrings and an embroidered shawl. Go all in. Hot N Chilli, namaste! read more

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Cute mom and pops Indian restaurant in San Clemente! The service is awesome, the staff checked up on us and gave us fresh naan bread for the meal! There are fennel seeds at the end of the meal that help for digestion that they explained to us how to eat haha Best spot to eat at after a morning surf session- there is no wait and is all you can eat! read more

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One of the top-rated restaurants on Yelp for a reason. Came in during the buffet on a weekend and was treated to amazing meat and vegetarian options, each dish a banger. My regret is I was too busy stuffing my face to list all the options (of which there were plenty), but whether you're a newbie coming to Indian food or looking for great tasting basics, you'll be covered. (Food 5, Cost 5) The seating area is full of decoration and still gives off a "mom and pop" vibe. For me, a big tell on whether a restaurant takes the extra step is to look at the bathrooms (and the garbage, but not like I had access to that). Bathroom is huge, nice smelling, and also heavily decorated. The only gripe I have is the entrance to the strip mall that HNC is located in can easily be missed and tricky to navigate. For better or worse, I feel that this acts as crowd control. (Ambiance 4.8) At the end of the day, a fantastic solid Indian food choice with a feel that you've found a hidden gem. read more

Hot N Chili - Massive restroom - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

The food is unbelievably good. Single-handedly the best Indian food I've ever had, no question.

Really authentic Indian restaurant! My fiancé and I came here after shopping at the San Clemente outlets. Although we had originally entered the plaza for another restaurant, Hot N Chili caught our eye and after a quick glance at positive Yelp ratings, we made an impromptu decision to eat here. It was perfect too since they had an outdoor dining area and they let us bring our dog with us. We ordered the Chicken Tikka Masala and the waitress recommended the Lamb Karahi from the Chef's Specialties part of the menu. We also ordered garlic naan but they ended up only bringing us the regular naan. While the Lamb Karahi was almost $30, it was a huge portion and by itself, would have been enough for two. With the Chicken Tikka Masala, which was a much smaller portion, we had ample leftovers for dinner. They brought out complimentary bread with three different types of sauces which was nice. Parking lot shared with other stores in the plaza but we had no issues finding a parking spot. We did not go inside but the outdoor dining area was a decent size, although the tables reminded me of park picnic tables. After you receive your check, you're able to pay via your phone which is convenient. Looking forward to coming back next time we're in San Clemente. read more

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Cute little hole in the wall Indian food restaurant. Service was outstanding, food was fragrant just like you would expect with good Indian food, and tasty. Portion sizes were good, everyone had leftovers. I'm glad because it's not the least expensive Indian restaurant I've gone too, prices are a little on the high side but for what you get I feel it's worth it should you go. I love the decor, it's not fancy and makes you feel comfortable. It's always nice to go to a restaurant representing a cultural food and the decor and music also reflect that. I really recommend stopping in Hot N Chili should you find yourself in the area. read more

Indian food changed my life! It was my first time trying Indian and my girlfriend insisted on me trying it so she found this place that had great reviews. It was amazing. We got the samosas for an appetizer, they were really good. They gave us three sauces, mint, tamarind, and yogurt sauce, all complimented the food. I had the butter chicken and my girlfriend ordered the fish rolls masala and we shared garlic naan. So so good we can hardly wait to get hungry again to eat the left overs. Our server was kind and attentive and the decor was pretty. You can see the love that was put into the restaurant by looking at all the small details around the room. Will be coming here again. read more

Hot N Chili - 3. Butter Chicken 2. Garlic Naan 2. Fish Masala 1. Samosa 1. Basmati Rice - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Tried Hot N Chili for the first time on Thursday and it was delicious! Our Waitress Leyha (not sure if i spelled her name right) was so kind and the food came out very fast. The restaurant is smaller and has a great patio which is where we ate and it was so nice for the weather. We had the Samosas, Chicken Curry, and Chicken Tikka Masala as well as garlic Naan and enjoyed all of it! You got to pick your "spice" level which was great for a spicy food lover like me! I would definitely recommend read more

Hot N Chili - 2. Chicken Curry ; 1. Chicken Tikka Masala; 2. Garlic Naan - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

We ordered beef karahi and chicken curry and mango lassi and they all tasted great, good service, friendly staff and nice ambiance! read more

Hot N Chili - 4. Beef Karahi 2. Chicken Curry - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

This restaurant was recommended to us and it didn't disappoint. The service was fantastic, the food was the best Indian cuisine we've ever had. We ordered the naan (incredible and soft), butter chicken and an in-house dish that was cooked in a cast iron wok (the vegetables were so colorful)! We would highly recommend! read more

So good One of the best Indian restaurants Flavorful food great service Definitely will come back read more

Hidden gem! Best Indian food ever! Love their lunch buffet! After surfing is always the best. The service is attentive, nice! The ambiance is beautiful indian design! read more

7/10 for the cooked meat 5/10 garlic nom But Both Main dish Korma sauce & Rice, the flavors were top tier. I have never had rice from an indian restaurant and can smell the fragrance off it . The sauce had me wanting more I left full but I felt so light The service was great and fast the young lady was kind read more

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It's hard to find a good Indian cuisine spot in south Orange County but boy did we find it. We stopped in over the weekend for dinner and we left as extremely satisfied customers. The staff was quick to help and extremely attentive throughout the meal. Anyplace that never lets a cup of water run out is on top of their service to a customer. The place was extremely clean and the food came out hot and fresh. We couldn't get over how great the taste was. I would definitely recommend! read more

Hot N Chili - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

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What did amazing surprise when the menu is almost bigger than the restaurant that serves the items on there. I was pleasantly surprised by trying to vegetarian items out. The first item is paneer, tikka masala. I didn't get it very spicy rice, with some moist and delicious in practically observe the flavor and created some sort of weird harmonize sensation. Every time I took a bite, but it was delicious. The second vegetarian dish was a mixture of sauce vegetables that went right over the rice, and some bread that accompanied it was by far one of the most delicious appetizers, and had in a long time. I got my food to go because the restaurant was full and I didn't regret any of it. I could tell that the people that were dining they were having a wonderful time which is what I would've expected. I really didn't think much of price because I knew I was getting a wonderful value read more

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