When it comes to Indian cuisine in the Frisco/Plano area, there’s a diverse range of choices, but when it’s brought to you by a top star Indian Masterchef judge, Sanjeev Kapoor, the stakes for taste, style, and comfort are definitely raised.  

Yellow Chili is a newly opened restaurant in Legacy West, with unique twists on traditional items native to the Indian subcontinent that takes one to the busy and vibrant streets of food stalls in India. The only downside: the price.

Friendly service greets diners from the start to finish, which makes the food from the menu even more enjoyable. 

The Mixed Veg Platter was a mix of all the appetizers and was composed of the Karaba Subz Rol, the Chana Jor Garam Tikki, and two different types of Paneer Tikka. The Paneer Tikka was just cottage cheese, cooked and flavored in different ways, but the Chana Jor Garam Tikki, a fried patty with chickpea filling, was pleasant but surprisingly foreign to even my taste buds. The Karaba Suz Roll unfortunately was tasteless without being paired with the green chutney.

The fancy plating deceived the homely flavors that were encompassed within it but it was the two chutney’s, accompanying the plate, that brought the dish to life. For a pricey appetizer selection, the portion sizes seemed to fall within the unfortunate stereotype of “small size, big bucks” that tags along with fancy restaurants. Fortunately the spice level was moderate for all the appetizer dishes, but that wasn’t the case for the main meals that followed.

The Shaam Savera and the Paneer Do Pyaaza were two different variations on a traditional Paneer dish(cottage cheese). Trying a unique twist on regular paneer, the Shaam Savera has cottage cheese, wrapped in dried spinach, sitting in a bowl of tomato and onion gravy. While the dish did have some room for spice moderation, the Paneer do Pyaza was definitely not for the faint of heart. Coupled with onions, peppers, tomatoes and a variety of flavors, the spicy taste that might be normal for some, may have people  reaching for a glass of water to quench the thirst. 

Wanting to end the night on a sweet note, try the classic Indian dessert, a gulab jamun, but the fun twist? It’s size. Gulab Jamun is fried balls of dough, flavored with rose syrup, and encased within a thin sugar syrup for moisture. The gulab jamun itself was very soft, but the unusual surprise of gulkand (a preserve of rose petals) made it a memorable way to end the night. 

For fine dining that presents native Indian flavors and styles as if you’re in India yourself, Yellow Chili is the place to go, only if you don’t mind spending quite a bit. With the price and portion size being the only downfall, this restaurant is perfect for those who need an elegant yet vibrant dining experience that brings the taste of India to Texas.