Chili-Up

I have worked in the FiDi for years and have never gone to Chili Up so when the line was too long at SF Soup Co. I decided to give it a try. I love chili so I thought it would be a good idea for a quick lunch.
I was really disappointed. I got the Hoofless Mushroom chili. There are no mushrooms and not even a lot of beans. In fact for $ 6.80 there is not a lot of anything as the portion is pretty slim. Moreover, the overall taste is so forgettable. I won’t be trying it again. Perhaps the meat chili is better and that is why it gets a decent rating. I guess I back to waiting in the line for the Soup Co.

The bombay chili is so good — so good so good so good, it tastes part Japanese, Indian and Thai.

I used to come here almost religiously back around 2003 – 2006. They make pretty good chili. Now I work a little farther away so I don’t really venture out this far. Still, the other day I grabbed lunch here on my way home to Montgomery BART.
The Chili is still as tasty as ever, though I was disappointed they had run out of Corn Bread that day. Still, the chili tasted good and I love that you can add hot pepper powder to really kick your ass into gear. My mouth was numb by the time I finished my meal.

MOLDY BREAD ALERT!!!
A Co-​worker and I got a few bowls to-​go with some corn bread. Upon returning to the office we started opening the package of the cornbread to notice some green and black mold all over the entire back side of both our servings.
DON’T EAT HERE, UNLESS YOU WANT MOLDY BREAD.
#roadhouse

Hi,
I have been thinking about writing this review since Thursday 7÷12÷20 012 the first and last time I’ll ever visit Chilli-​up. I have been trying to get there and experience a good bowl of chili for the past 4 months but it was always too late in the day because of the closing time. Well, this past Thursday I finally got a chance eat some good chill because of the reviews I’ve been reading. I ordered a bowl of lean meat chilli, the guy ask if I would like rice with or in the chill and I ask if he could put the rice on the side. The woman puts the rice in a plastic bag and the gives me the bowl of chill. I asked if she could put the rice in another bowl because i wanted to eat both separately and she said NO I don’t think so. So I asked for another bowl to put the rice in. The guy suggested a LID for a TO GO bowl. When I new I wasn’t getting what was asked for I pick up a lip on the island counter along with napkins and a fork. Theres were NO spoons. When I poured the bag of rice onto the TOGO lid most of the rice was stuck on the inside so the guy at the counter decided to give me another helping on the TO GO lid i was eating from. Thats when I realized the rice was COLD. I was so insulted it took me this long to remember my password on Unilocal so I can write this review.
By the way when I walked in I was ask if the order was for here or togo. I said it was for here. 2:00pm.
I WILL NEVER GO BACK TO THIS PLACE AGAIN! I HOPE EVERYONE READS THIS BECAUSE IM TELLING EVERYONE I KNOW. I WOULDN’T GIVE THIS A RATING OF STAR DUST!
Peace.

Pretty good Chili! It was actually spicy as they listed — a lot of times in the states I find that people list food as spicy when they’re really not (atleast for my Asian tongue).
I think I got the Lean mean no bean. Can’t remember for sure since its been a week since I went, but it was definitely good.
They give lots of rice, and a side of soft tortillas too. Shared it with another person, was enough to make us both full!
Good ‘snack’/lunch on a cloudy day. I’m willing to go back to Crocker Galleria for this. Only thing — despite the awesome flavor, a liiiitlle bit overpriced. Maybe due to the high SF rent?

I went here today and had the mushroom chili. It was warm and not hot at all, very disappointing. The regular portion was also really small (for $ 7) and I was still hungry after it (and I am pretty thin). So, if you’re contemplating on going here, get the larger size of the chili, at least it will fill you up more.
Result of meal: blah! =)

Porkin it up with:
Pork and Tomatillo Chili
Coooolllldddddd bbbbrrrrrrrr day at the Embarcadero today. Which meant that I would definitely go for some good hot noodle soup. But oh no!!! I have no clue where to get something to warm up my soul.
Wandered around near my workplace for a while, then came upon Chili-​Up. They’re own by a couple of super nice asian folks who made ordering pretty easy.
Decided to go with the Pork and Tomatillo for some hearty meat action. I got the large, which was more than enough for a good lunch. They threw in a piece of cornbread in there too, though it was sadly a bit mediocre.
The chili was amazing though. Maybe it was the cold weather, but this chili sure hit the spot. Mildly spicy (with an option to go spicier with add-​in chili powder) and a very flavorful chili. Not overly cumin-​ed up like most people’s chilis, nor it is too full of beans and what not. A surprise came at the bottom with a heaping spoonful of rice. Not authentic, but still really good to have.
It’s almost like having a bowl of jambalaya in a sense. I would love to come back here again on a cold winter day.

Inside the Crocker Galleria on the top floor if you’re looking for this place…
Ok, I love this place. The staff is super friendly. The chicken and corn chili is what I got and it was hot, delicious, perfect level of spicy, and it came with a square of cornbread which was a nice touch of sweet to balance out my palate. I left here full, happy, and warm. I’ll come here again for lunch even though it’s kind of a walk from work, I just love chili and they have a nice selection to pick from. It’s fast food, don’t be fooled, but it’s definitely real food, and I’d say hearty and nutritious.

I used to go to the chili up at Levis plaza before they closed. I was hooked and ready for some good Chili. I ordered the lean mean no bean. Flavors were good but I was so bummed it was ruined because it wasn’t hot! My food was Luke warm and didn’t even melt my cheese. They really need it to be hot. Also cornbread is not moist, kinda dry.
**Note: Dang this is my 600^th review!

As the name would imply, the chili is pretty good. It may be good, but I wasn’t exactly doing backflips afterward. Cartwheels, maybe. Backflips, no.
Definitely worth trying and part of the go-​to Crocker Galleria lineup for sure. If you’re near Post and Kearny, this is the place to solve your chili fix if that’s what revs your engine.

This spot is a bit hard to find as it’s located not off the street but inthe Crocker Galleria amongst the many food shops. but once you find it. you’ll definitely be coming back! Coworkers and I always head over to this spot when we’re in the mood for something warm and filling.
Yummy! Not a huge chili connoisseur but this seems pretty decent. Good quality meat (no taco bell «meat» here) and you can top it with rice, onions, sour cream. also comes with a side of cornbread.
Try the turkey chili SANS the beans! No dutch oven action tonight: D

Feeling out of the weather? Want something soupy? Tired of chewing food?!
Chili — up is my go to place for chili over rice. So good and so affordable. I usually get the meat with no bean chili, topped with onions and a side of foccaia bread. They have different sizes, I just order the smallest one for less than $ 10.
Yum and will be back!

Not the greatest chili and not the worst chili. Meh. I’ve experienced better described this place really well.
Their spicy chili aren’t very spicy, but they do have chili powder you can add as much as you want on your chili.
There’s usually no line at this place compared to the other places in the food court.

I was an every-​so-​often customer at Chili-​Up for a couple of years, before more good lunch spots opened on 2^nd Street, right by my office, halting the mostly disappointing treks to Crocker Galleria. Back then, Chili-​Up was a solid three-​star joint. And as I always say, an average lunch spot is almost a must-​go when you’re a downtown droid. But now the prices have gone up here, $ 7 for a regular, and the chicken-​to-​rice ratio has gone down. The chili still tastes pretty good, but it’s the equivalent of eating a burrito stuffed with extra rice… it’s just not as enjoyable. At least they didn’t ruin the cornbread…
If you go, I recommend the Ballpark, black bean chicken or the ancho-​turkey. Comes with cheese, cilantro, red onions, a lime and the aforementioned cornbread. Sour cream is another $.50.
Note: if you have any afternoon meetings, you may want to skip the onions…

Dear Unilocal Journal,
To bean or not to bean, that was the question on Monday. However, me no likie the beans because of their sticky skin that clings to my teeth and the yucky paste-​like granules inside. I know they’re supposed to be good for me, journal, but with the cheese, onions, and everything else they serve on top of their chili here I’d be a gas explosion waiting to happen. I decided to only curse myself with onion breath.
My friend asked me to meet here for lunch after class and some window shopping. I never knew there was food on top of the galleria! Nifty. This seemed to be one of the lesser expensive choices and the line was moving way faster than Soup… something something. And I can never resist me some Texas style chili without the beans so it was great when the title «Lean mean no bean» was an option.
They served my meaty chili on top of rice and topped it with everything. Of course I said everything because I was cold and hungry. They did disappear in the back for about two seconds to get my chili… is it out of a plastic bag? Who knows! My tummy didn’t care. When I got my chili there was a supply of different chili powders (just like starbucks cinnamon and chocolate powders) available to douse onto my chili. But philosophy, journal, tells me that I should first taste my food before altering it. It was good enough without the powder but next time I’m going to add a teeny bit more spice.
I would come back again if I’m in the mood for chili. It was fast and the people were pleasant. It’s also great that there’s an outdoor eating area in case someone does get the beans.

Good Chili!
Cooked in plastic bags!!!
I got the «chicken-​chicken sausage» chili with cilantro and rice, and it was pretty tasty, but, as i was ordering i noticed that all their chili was being cooked in plastic bags, now i know taco bell does that sort of thing, or at least used to; but come-​on its TACO BELL, its not $ 6 a plate, and with all the bis-​phenol A talk, and environmental damage of plastics.
Heating up plastic bags full of food to near boiling point just freaks me out. Besides there’s no need for any of it. They can cook/​heat up the chili not in plastic bags, and serve it in biodegradable dishes, and still make a profit.

Pretty satisfying lunch on a cold day. The regular is just enough portions to avoid food coma. The chicken and corn with white beans is my go to choice.

Cheap chili inside a low-​key outdoor mall. I like the Pork & Tomatillo and the fact they post caloric info. $ 5.94 now (pre tax) for a regular bowl. I’d definitely stop by again when I’m in the area.
Cornbread isn’t great, but passable.

Good stuff. Turkey chili was just the right spicy and I love that they give you a nice amount of cheese and cilantro. Cornbread was warm and gritty – the way I like it.
The salad was not so great-​romaine with jicama – and for some reason I got a lot of those little «butts» in there.
The only thing about having chili for lunch is that it has beans = your co-​workers may suffer in the afternoon!

«I’m a believer! I could not leave her, if I tried!»
The «her» in this instance is Chili-​Up, which features a glorious selection of chili options, toppings, and accoutrements. I had the pork, chipotle, and apricot chili, and it came over rice with diced red onions, cheese, cilantro, and lime. I added spicy sour cream for another $ 0.50, for a total of about $ 6.50. They throw in cornbread (or a tortilla, if you prefer) on the side.
The chili was nice and the toppings were appropriate. I would’ve liked some more kick to my chili, but I could’ve added that myself at the «heat» bar. The spicy sour cream seemed like a bizarre gamble (doesn’t spice defeat the cooling purpose of sour cream??), but it paid off in spades — highly recommended. In the future, I’m going to ask them to skip the rice — it’s not particularly good and just doesn’t quite fit. The cornbread was good enough to soothe this hungry beast.
To sum up: good clean chili fun. I’ll be back.