Chi'Lantro

Update: the management reached out to me and remade my order. The food was much better this time, and I greatly appreciate the customer service. Not many restaurants would do that. Original: I love the chi’lantro locations in Austin and used to go all the time. Unfortunately the Houston location does not compare. The food is poorly prepared, smaller portions, and of lower quality. The 1/2lb of wings (pictured) were tiny and only weighed 5oz. They were missing the spicy mayo sauce too. The kimchi fries (I didn’t take a picture) were low on sauce, had no sriracha or cilantro, the soy glazed chicken was bland, and overall just not nearly as good as the Austin locations. Very disappointing.

I got the K’pop chicken bowl and a side of kimchi fries. Food was great! Definitely a good place to grab a quick bite/lunch. This was my first time here and I liked that there were pre-built bowls on the menu. I was worried I’d make a wrong selection by building my own bowl. I tried this and was surprised on how much I enjoyed it! Staff was very friendly and knowledgeable of the menu. The vibe was chill - nothing fancy. The vibe/layout reminds me of chipotle. Also parking was free which is a plus considering it’s the Heights.

I used to really enjoy eating here, but lately the quality has been disappointing. Yesterday’s meal was probably my last. My bowl had only a few pieces of old lettuce, and I even found a strange object in my salsa, which completely ruined my appetite. Unfortunately, this place has gone from being a favorite to feeling very mediocre.

First time here and got the Korean braised BBQ pork with magic sauce and I devoured it so quick. Delicious and way better than chipotle. I’m never going back there after this

I’ve always loved the bowls here, but decided to try the "ssam" tonight. VERY disappointing. It’s 75% rice, super dry & fell apart when I bit into it, and I found maybe 2 pieces of each topping I selected. Also, I clearly ordered queso and got a cup of guacamole. This quickly and unfortunately changed my opinion on one of my favorite spots in Austin.

Chi’Lantro is like a Korean version of chipotle. It’s different from its food truck version. You can still get their kimchi fries and add steak (it’s steak in bulgogi sauce, not American style steak) and it tastes just like it did years ago (delicious)…. but for a higher price. I got the tofu bowl and it was pretty good! I would recommend it. And the kimchi fries are great too. Interior is nice and clean, bright lighting and open spaces, staff isn’t rude. Some die hard food truck OGs might not like it "because Chilantro changed" but as a newbie, I like it. Like I said, it’s like a Korean chipotle where you can make your own bowl or burrito (called a Saam).

The combination of spices was excellent. We will certainly return. The service was exceptional. The tacos were generously portioned. The K-pop music was enjoyable. The steak was delectable.