Chai 'n' Chilli

Came to this restaurant by chance for brunch! Absolutely best decision of my day! Came here hungry and moody and left with a full stomach and full of happiness ! Highly recommend: -The stuffed Banian bhakri -Matki usal bhakri (both dishes come with millet bread) -vada pav -dabeli -pithala bhakri -Millet roll (healthy for you) -thecha pav And top it off we had a very light desert called shrikhand !

- V -

Visited Chai N Chill with my mum and bestie, and it honestly made our Friday night unforgettable! After such a long time, I finally got to enjoy authentic Maharashtrian food in Melbourne, and it felt like a warm hug from home ????????. We ordered 2 Misal Pav and Thalipeeth — and all three dishes were absolutely phenomenal! The misal had the perfect spice kick, flavour, and freshness, and the pav was soft and delicious. The thalipeeth was beautifully cooked, wholesome, and tasted just like something you’d get in a Maharashtrian home kitchen. Every bite brought so much comfort and nostalgia . One of the highlights was the owner/manager, who is also from Mumbai (Maharashtrian, I’m guessing!) ????????. He was incredibly warm, friendly, and welcoming — the kind of hospitality that instantly makes you feel at home. His energy and kindness truly elevated the experience and added to the authenticity of the place. The vibe of the restaurant was cozy, colourful, and full of charm — perfect for a relaxed evening catch-up. I’m already planning my next visit because there are so many other dishes I’m excited to try! Highly recommend this gem for anyone craving real Maharashtrian flavours in Melbourne.

- Nikki Oza -

Proper Indian street food done right. Ordered the pav bhaji and vada pav, and wow — this is hands down the best pav bhaji I’ve had in Melbourne, and honestly, the best I’ve had in Australia from a commercial kitchen. Rich, buttery, perfectly spiced — no shortcuts, no toned-down flavours. I genuinely didn’t drink any water on purpose just to let the flavours linger — that should tell you everything. The vada pav was equally impressive. Super authentic and instantly transported me back to India street-side eating, which is rare to find done this well here. Poha - again super delicious, I don't usually eat it, but I couldn't stop eating it. Comment from my wife was "I have never tried poha made by her" :D If you’re a Melbourne foodie who cares about authentic flavour over gimmicks, Chai N Chilli is absolutely worth a visit. This is the real deal. Will be back.

- satyam kamboj -

The food is above average but not everything that is why my rating 4. The service is great, smiling faces and relatively fast service comparing the rush. We order: 1. Kacha Aam Sarbat (Raw mango juice) 2/10 - extremely sweet, and over use of elachi powder. No taste of mango at all. 2. Vada pau, and cheese vada pau - 9/10 Yum it it was a bit more spicy it would be 10/10 3. Tethcha pau 4/10 - I was expecting a flavour boom, spicy, nuty, but it was only onion and cheese, nothing else. 4. Puri bhabi thali - 9/10 the puris are soon good, cannot explain. The bhaji again maybe a bit spicy for desi people. 5. Alu tikki chaat - 9/10, yum. 6. Chai - 5/10, I had better chai in Melbourne in multiple places. Comparing the price the taste is not amazing. 7. Rabdi 1/10 - not rabdi at all, it was liquid and extremely sweet.

- samia ferdousi -

Absolutely loved the Maharashtrian food at Chai & Chilli! The flavours were incredibly authentic and instantly reminded me of home. Everything was perfectly spiced, fresh, and full of that comforting, traditional taste that’s so hard to find outside Maharashtra.

- AAKASH VISHWAS JADHAV -

I’ve not had a lot of Indian food before but our experience at Chai N Chilli gave me a whole new appreciation for it. The whole menu is vegetarian with many dishes also being vegan and gluten free. The menu is huge, quite overwhelming for someone unfamiliar with all the dishes but we got a selection of their authentic fare and really enjoyed it. We ordered everything mild which still had a kick but loved that they could alter the spice level to suit preferences. The staff helpfully explained how to best enjoy the dishes and I loved how everything was made from scratch, you could definitely taste the love that went into these dishes. Everything was super flavourful and I discovered a few dishes I really loved and will come back for. Also loved the cute wall art inside the restaurant and how insanely affordable everything was.

- Chasing Pastry -

I’m absolutely obsessed with Maharashtrian food, so imagine my joy when I stumbled upon this gem in Melbourne! This family‑run restaurant serves truly authentic Maharashtrian dishes . There’s a Marathi word for that perfect, genuine kind of spice — zhanzhaneet — and let me tell you, they’ve mastered it. Not the “throw in some chilli flakes and call it spicy” kind, but the real deal. Here’s what we tried from their fantastic menu: • Sabudana Vada with chutney — perfectly crispy and delicious • Vada Pav — spot‑on authentic • Misal Pav and Stuffed Baingan with jowar bhakri — these two were absolute showstoppers! They transported me straight back home to Mumbai… pure soul‑satisfying goodness. • And of course, Puran Poli, the sweetest, most comforting finale to this culinary adventure The kids devoured their Bombay Grilled Sandwich and Paneer Wrap too! For drinks, we enjoyed Kokum Sarbat, Mango Lassi, Chai, and a refreshing Rose Falooda — all delightful. The chef and the entire team are passionate, warm, and genuinely dedicated to bringing authentic flavors to the table. I even had the pleasure of meeting Chef Sonali and her family, who help run this wonderful place — they reminded me so much of the kind‑hearted people back home in Mumbai. All in all, a huge thumbs up from me. If you love Maharashtrian food, don’t miss this spot — it’s a must‑visit for an authentic zhanzhaneet journey down the spice lane! Thank you, Chai n Chilli

- Aarti Mishra -

Authentic Maharashtrian flavors that truly felt like home. I especially appreciated how they served the bhakri fresh and hot after I finished the first one - it made the experience even better. A must-visit for anyone who loves Maharashtrian cuisine.

- Aishwarya Chaporkar -