The Chilli House

This (not so) hidden gem located in the CBD of Hamilton is somewhere you’ll want to put on your to-do list if you are traveling to Hamilton any time soon. With its signature red interior and exterior, murals, and neon lights, it’s a vibrant space, topped off by the background of friendly chatter, clinking cutlery, and attentive staff moving from table to table.

Sichuan street food is the bulk of their menu, making it easy to pop along and share a few plates with your friends so each of you can expand your horizons and try something new. The dumplings and noodles are crowd faves but the menu is ever-changing with the seasons, with plenty of options that will keep you coming back time and time again. With different levels of spice, vegetarian and gluten-free options (as well as the cheeky option of taking home some of their incredible frozen dumplings for a lazy weekday meal), even people with dietary requirements can enjoy the glorious Chilli House cuisine.

Bringing happiness to the Hamilton locals (and beyond) is their biggest priority and they take any feedback seriously, always evolving to bring the best of the best to their customers. You know you’re doing something right when the customers are asking for a bigger space so they don’t miss out on their Chilli House fix, which brings us to our next point: don’t forget to book before you come!