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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Had a great lunch at this restaurant that my wife had book marked!. The parking situation here is no joke no fault to them. We were greeted by this sweet young hostess/waitress whom was very helpful in helping us make out food choices which I'm a big Chicken Vindaloo lover & at one of my friend's uncles restaurants make a delicious but dangerously spicy vindaloo. So she explained the spicy levels available which I loved when I received my Vindaloo served up with rice & I also ordered garlic naan that went great with my chicken vindaloo which hay I'm Mexican so that naan was used just like a tortilla & dang! Complete delicious meal! I loved my meal & if in the area I would come eat here again!. read more

Hot N Chili - 5. Chicken Vindalu - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

Friendly service. The restaurant itself had a very odd smell inside & my stomach was feeling unwell so we opted to sit outside. I ordered the Dal Soup because of my stomach along with samosas. Both were good! My husband had chicken vindaloo. He enjoyed it. The medium spicy wasn't hot. Now we know. I'd return when in the area. read more

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So yummy!! The food is fantastic, big portions and probably the best Indian food I have had in Southern California. Excellent service in a traditional setting. The family that runs this place Is very friendly and they always remember us any time we come in. read more

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Insanely delicious. Had the The Paneer Tikka Masala and garlic Naan... perfection! I'll be back. read more

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I love this place!! Great service and amazing quality food. I came in looking for a lunch special not the full on buffet and she offered a $10 chicken tikka masala plate with rice and salad. It was a huge serving size and I left very full and satisfied! Parking is in the Old Town San Clemente lot so not too many spaces especially during a busy hour but across the street along Avenida Miramar there is an overflow parking lot with many spaces. Their mango lassi is also delicious read more

Hot N Chili - $10 lunch special 2026 - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

We ordered tandoori chicken, butter chicken, okra, and naan. Food came w/ rice. Everything was delicious.

Really good food and portion sizes. Plates come with rice. Very flavourful and nice and attentive service! I recommend it! read more

Hot N Chili - Rice, garlic naan, 1. Beef Curry and 3. Butter Chicken - Indian Near Me - San Clemente, California

The people that work at Hot N Chili are all heart...so much love when you visit. So far I've had the butter chicken, samosas, and a spicy rice with chicken...to which I'm forgetting the name of! All sooo good! Buttery samosas, perfectly spiced rice (not too hot so you can't taste your food, but so flavorful!), and the butter chicken with rice melted in my mouth! I also love the location of this restaurant...it's perfect in that it's off the larger streets with a cute patio for people to enjoy the food while eating. And if you're with someone and disagreeing on what you want to eat, there are a number of little restaurants in the same area! Hot N Chili also have a GREAT price on their all you can eat buffet! You get to try all the things they have in the buffet and load up on the things you love most!! read more

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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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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The goat Karahi was one of the best dinners I've had in years. Came in for my birthday and was rewarded with an excellent meal with my friends. Super grateful! read more

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

I love palak paneer and Hot N Chili served one of the best i have ever had. 10/10 food and 11/10 service

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

Walked by & am very thankful they let me use their restroom after asking 3 other businesses. Came back and tried their food it was delicious. Be ready for the heat but also had something for my kiddos. Thank you very much. read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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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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So yummy and such kind people that are so sweet and patient in how they interact we everyone!! So warm and such comforting food that you can never go wrong with ANY dish on the menu read more

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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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