Chilli India Docklands

Had a short time before my next meeting but was craving Indian food when a colleague recommended Chilli India. The location is very convenient and easily walkable, with plenty of tram services nearby. It’s a simple order–pay–eat setup with a good variety of vegetarian and non-vegetarian options, including different rice dishes, curries, roti, and papad. They even served extra roti & salad when requested. The place has a nice ambience and is well decorated. It was quite busy during lunch time but there was still plenty of seating indoor and outside. It does have a bar, looks to be more popular in the evenings. The only reason I’m giving 4 stars for service is that we had to wait around 20 minutes for the haleem. That said, the food was very tasty and worth the wait.

It was my husband’s very first time trying Indian food and he absolutely LOVED it!! 🥰 Everything at Chilli India was so fresh, flavorful, and just delicious. The spices were perfect and every dish we tried was amazing. Such a great first experience for him!

Every time my wife and I visit the Melbourne Central outlet, we leave feeling genuinely happy; not just because of the food, but because of the people. The greeting is always warm, positive, and accompanied by a genuine smile. We recently visited the Docklands branch and were thrilled to find the exact same level of exceptional service. It’s clear that this isn't accidental; it is the result of excellent training and management. It is rare to find Indian restaurants that prioritize customer experience and etiquette to this degree. It is a refreshing change from the norm to be served by staff who are present, attentive, and truly care about the customer. A salute to the team for keeping the standards so high!"

If you’re looking to enter a food coma of epic proportions, Chili India in Melbourne is the weekend destination for their Unlimited Thali. It’s basically the "final boss" of Indian dining—a never-ending parade of steel bowls that will definitely satisfy those intense spice cravings. While the overall flavors hit the mark, the main course curries (both the veg and non-veg) felt a bit like they were coasting on reputation rather than flavor, lacking that "wow" factor you'd expect from a specialized spot. You can tell the staff are the unsung heroes of the weekend rush; they were clearly running on fumes after serving what felt like half of Melbourne, so the service was a bit more "slow-motion" than "speed-dating." It’s not the place for a quick bite or a high-pressure business meeting, but if you’ve got an empty stomach and the patience of a saint, it’s a solid win for an all-you-can-eat marathon. Just don't expect the staff to do a victory lap for you!

Good experience. This time we the Vindhoo Bhojanam reminded us of the Great South Indian Banquet. The team are very courteous and go over and beyond to give you a great experience. Would love to have a visual of all the items of thaali rather than getting one item at a time on the plate. Food was tasty and worth the trek. As with any thaali, some items were amazing and some items are good, nothing below here. Value for money: $35 per plate is a festive meal but may not drive multiple visits. Overall, good experience good food!!