Chinatown staple hit with $5K in health violations

Chez Chili, a popular Sichuan and Hunan restaurant tucked below street level on Rue Clark in Chinatown, was ordered to pay $5,000 in fines from Quebec's Ministère de l'Agriculture, des Pêcheries et de l'Alimentation du Québec (MAPAQ) across two violations.

Inspectors cited the restaurant for failing to keep its premises, equipment, and utensils clean, and for failing to keep the space free of contaminants and animals—a category that explicitly includes insects, rodents, and their droppings. Both violations stemmed from an inspection on September 9, 2025; judgments were issued June 8, 2026.

Chez Chili's earlier record includes a $1,000 fine from October 2025 for failing to cool perishable products promptly, and a $2,000 fine from December 2023 for the same cleanliness violation. Combined fines total $8,000.

Despite the violations, Chez Chili maintains a 4.5-star rating across more than 2,700 Google reviews, placing it among the better-rated spots in the neighbourhood. Most customers praise the Szechuan cooking, service, and friendly staff. Some reviewers, however, have noted quality concerns in recent visits.

MAPA fines are issued by the Montreal Municipal Court and published in the provincial food safety registry. The violations listed do not necessarily reflect current conditions at the establishment, as issues are often corrected before a case is resolved in court.