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Sweet Chili Cafe
Category: Restaurants Indonesian Indonesian
5438 Victoria DriveVancouver, BC V5P 3V8
Neighbourhood: Kensington-Cedar Cottage
(778) 371-8092
- Price Range:
-
$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Attire:
- Casual
- Good for Groups:
- No
- Good for Kids:
- Yes
- Takes Reservations:
- No
- Delivery:
- No
- Take Away:
- Yes
- Waiter Service:
- Yes
- Outdoor Seating:
- No
- Good For:
- Dinner
- Alcohol:
- No
- Noise Level:
- Quiet
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
8 reviews for Sweet Chili Cafe
8 reviews in English
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Review from Louise G.
Oh sweet chili!!!
Delicious food. So very very delicious. And the service is warm a friendly. I'm a huge fan of this place. Everyone should try it, starting with their roti.
Dishes so authentic and delicious. Weekend buffets if you have good appetite and want to try a selection of dishes.Listed in: 365-Day Challenge - Review A…, Healthier Choices, Food Porn, There and Back Again, Victoria Drive
2 Previous Reviews: Show all »
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3/14/2010
By far, the best roti canai bread in town! A must-go for Guyanese and Trinis suffering from the… Read more »
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Review from BB H.
Burnaby, BC
3/5/2012
I would love to support such a local and very unique type food BUT having had Indonesian food in Singapore and here in Vancouver, this is extremely bland at best. We read reviews here on Yelp! but methinks people are more in love with the concept than the actual taste. Pleasant enough woman runs the place so I do hate to give her place a bad review but I can only go by the taste.
The satay was good. Tea was quite good. The noodle and rice dishes had no taste. Literally no taste. Blander than bland. Save yourself a trip and stick to Banana Leaf.
I'll also add service was very slow (which is fine if the food was spectacular but it wasn't). -
Review from Paul E.
Vancouver, BC
9/19/2011
Sweet Chili is an excellent, friendly and great value place. On a recent trip we shared a roti to start, followed two Nasi Rames (a combination of two rice tables): one was lamb curry and chicken satay, the other was vegetarian curry and beef curry.
The roti was outstanding - not at all greasy, and with just the right amount of crumbly pastry and a curry sauce that had me trying to get every last drop out of the bowl.
The rice tables were also very good, with everything being fresh, full of flavour and with just the right amount of spice. The vegetarian curry was probably the stand out dish, mainly due to what was easily the most flavourful and best textured tofu I've ever had. The meat curries were not far behind in their quality, being tender, very tasty and expertly cooked.
The chicken satay was probably the least impressive, with the satay sauce being everything it should, but the chicken not quite cutting it - nice, but not as fresh as everything else.
Everything came to just shy of $40, including a generous tip for the friendly and helpful service. -
Review from Anne R.
Vancouver, BC
1/25/2011
My boyfriend's mom, who has been to Indonesia, enjoys going to this place so much that she took a few business cards, one of which we ended up being given. We have not been to Indonesia, and the closest cuisine we had eaten was at Tropika. Sweet Chilli was an instant hit. Very quaint place to eat at, and the owner (who also helps cook) makes you feel right at home. We tried the Gado-Gado ($7.50), the absolutely delicious Laksa Ayam ($7.95) and the Nasi Goreng Jawa ($8.50). Great value for your money.
The owner does not have a liquor license yet, but makes up for it with fabulous non-alcoholic drinks. Boyfriend had a very refreshing fresh-squeezed lime soda, and I tried a strawberry smoothie which was tasty.
The owner also seems quite involved in the wedding scene in Vancouver, as evidenced by volumes of articles and photographs on the walls.
We would certainly visit again when in the mood for Indonesian. Apparently they have an all you can eat buffet on Saturdays! -
Review from Marc D.
Vancouver, BC
9/16/2009
* Welcome home *
The owner is really welcoming here and very chatty. She really makes you feel at home.
When you walk through to the back to use the washroom the kitchen kind of looks like a home kitchen as well! Most of the appliances are the home variety you might find at a local appliance shop.
The roti canai was really good here. It was wonderfully flaky with just the right chew inside. Not at all greasy. The curry dip that came with it was quite mild, but this was a very nice dish overall.
I had the nasi rames which included a choice of two mains as well as a small salad and steamed rice. I opted for the nasi rendang (beef curry), and the nasi gulai kambing (lamb curry). The owner asked how spicy and I said "spicy." I think she still factored down the spice though as it was fairly mild overall. I think if you want a spice kick here you might have to stress that. I'm sure she would be happy to provide it if you make it clear you want it.
The beef was definitely better than the lamb. The beef was nice and tender. The curry had nice complex flavours. The lamb was not as tender as the beef, and perhaps could have stewed a bit longer to get to its best tenderness. But the curry was also richly flavourful.
I got to sample a bit of the laksa ayam as well from across the table and it was a very different version from what I've had elsewhere. Doesn't seem like the specialty of the house, let's say. It wasn't bad - but I probably wouldn't order it on a future visit.
Overall a very pleasant dinner in a very home-like atmosphere. I get the impression that the owner runs the place because she wants to have fun with it, not because she needs to run it for financial reasons. That comes through in a very comfortable feeling overall where you feel like a welcomed guest in her home.Listed in: Mary had a little lamb, and I…, Thanks, Yelp!, Vancouver…
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Review from Melanie D.
9/3/2011
What a delight. A great find. Delicious. We were hoping to end our vacation with a great and inexpensive meal. Ta-da! Sweet Chili is this tiny restaurant with a gracious owner. The flavors were wonderful. The food fresh. I ordered a lamb curry-- perfect. My husband had the satay and he was happy as can be. The roti was delicious too. She will also make you fresh sauces/ spicy cooking sauces to purchase. Now how lovely is that.
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Review from Clay U.
7/15/2009 1 photo
I am headed for the airport from North Vancouver and I realize I have time to stop for a bite on the way, so as not to endure "airport" food. Out comes Yelp on the iPhone and based on the previous review I pull over and jump into the Sweet Chili Cafe.
It is on the early side for lunch and the place is empty, but it is definitely clean and cozy. There is a list of daily lunch specials on the wall and the owner, Angeline is talking with a contractor in the back room. I sit down where I can be seen, not a hard task in a small place with 6 tables and peruse the menu.
It is nice mix of Indonesian and Thai dishes. Angeline, a sweetheart, sees me and immediately heads out to the dining room. After a brief conversation I ask her what she recommends. She sizes me up and offers the Red and Green Chicken Curries and the Nasi Rendang, the "Signature spicy beef curry stew on rice". I can't resist the Signature Dish and she asks if I want it mild, medium or spicy? I look at her and with a tilt of the head and a smile I reply, "Spicy?" She is not convinced I can handle spicy so she says I will do it medium spicy and offer you some chili sauces if it is not spicy enough.
The plate comes with a perfect lunch sized portion of the beef stew, a mound of steamed white rice and a nice salad of mixed spring greens, shredded green cabbage and shredded carrots that was perfect for balancing out the heat. The Nasi Rendang is filled with wonderful full flavor, tender and lean. It has a little burn but not enough to get those beads of sweat rolling off the back of my neck. Angeline asks if I would like to try any of the chili sauces and of course I must.
She has 4 different preparations on a tray. Two look like your standard chili or chili and garlic preparations and two seem more custom. She points at one and says it is the house special and made, I believe, with chilis and a crab preparation. I take some of that and some of a deep dark red chili sauce. The house special was definitely a winner. Spicy and tangy with a complex flavor profile.
Needless to say I thoroughly enjoyed the meal. Just the right size for a lunch that will not leave you feeling stuffed. Angeline was a gracious host. I will definitely return on my next trip to Vancouver. -
Review from Raymond O.
Vancouver, BC
Updated - 7/16/2009 7 photos
ROUND 2!
True to my word, we came back within the week. Once again we find Miss Angie tending to her patrons - a family of six this time - by catering to ensure their comfort. We sit ourselves at the end table nearest the door. The air conditioning hasn't been functioning since the landlord has shut it off by request of the next-door tenant who is somehow affected in some strange way. Something is brewing. But I digress.
I've read good reviews from the article of the Satays and Beef Rendang. I decided to venture elsewhere. Silly me.
Roti Canay - $2.95. Flaky outside. Chewy inside. Served with spiced yellow curry dip. As good as it gets.
Nasi Rames - $10.50. This is the last entry of the rice dish selection which is a combo item and allows a choice of any two main entree from the rice selection. I chose the lamb curry (Nasi Gulai Kambing) which is a fragrant curry, and the green curry chicken (Nasi Kari Ayam) which is a curry composed of coconut and Thai basil. It was served in one plate with a side of house salad and a cup of rice. The portion was just right. For LA prices, this should be an overwhelming size. In this case, it's what I come to expect in Vancouver already.
Both meat items were tender and tasty. I chose the safe side of having it prepared mild. Besides, what's the Sweet Chili Cafe name if not for the different kinds of chili sauce offered by the counter to spice things up to your liking.
Pad Thai Vegetarian - $7.95. Why is it when your high expectation has been met that the last dish falls short? I'm not an expert and I don't know the proper recipe, but this didn't tingle my taste buds the way her other dishes provided.
Es Cendol - $3.50. This coconut dessert drink still doesn't disappoint. My burning tongue was aching for it and she had to make it from scratch, again. Taste was palm sugar sweet with a hint of salt. Presentation was top notch and I will have to come back here if only for this.
Service? It's Angie Tan. Need I say more.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/12/2009 First to Review
This place is truly hole-in-the-wall goodness. There are 6 tables. The owner, Angeline Tan, was… Read more »
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