Chili Verde - Mexican Paradise Found Right Here in St Petersburg

This Newcomer is Getting Attention

The food at Chili Verde is awesome. Awesome as in I think about it even when I am not there. Awesome in that I think about it even when I have leftovers in my fridge.

Awesome in that I check my leftover container multiple times to make sure no one in the household is stealing bites. (Or worse, eating all of it!)

Just go knowing there’s no memorable atmosphere, no famous chef, no killer margaritas and no hour-long wait. Just authentic food you may never forget.

How I Found It

Ironically, my journey to Chili Verde started at VIP Lounge in Treasure Island. After yet another trip to VIP where the wait was an hour or more in the middle of a weekday afternoon, Terry and I took to Yelp and Google. We were starving and we wanted Mexican. Now. Deciding that both Agave and Chili Verde sounded like solid options, we let the direction the car was already headed make the decision for us. Chili Verde it was.

We drove onward, me chattering on about how it must be new because I drive that way all the time and I couldn’t place it. We arrived at the appointed location and turned left into…a former gas station?

You know what I’m talking about. Once a gas station in appearance, always a gas station in appearance. And not what I was expecting. But my stomach, 170+ reviews on Yelp and almost 700 – yes, seven hundred – reviews on Google with an average rating of 4 1/2 stars suggested we give it a shot.

My Trifecta – Enchiladas Verdes made with ground beef, steak and chicken quesadilla and those beans!

And what a shot it was. I had the Enchiladas Verdes made with ground beef. I love enchiladas – chicken enchiladas, cheese enchiladas, spinach enchiladas, seafood enchiladas – you get the idea. If you love enchiladas you’ve probably tried them every way imaginable. Enchiladas to me always seem decadent. Lots of cheese, usually.

The Enchiladas Verde

Chili Verde’s Enchiladas Verde are different. Maybe it is the delicate corn tortillas that seem as though they were made seconds before moving on to the their enchilada destination. Maybe it is the generous smothering of the light verde sauce. Maybe it is the delicate unmelted grated cheese on top of the mound of shredded lettuce piled on top. After almost a dozen servings of this same dish, I’m still not sure. But trust me, it’s good.

Accompanying the enchiladas are rice and beans. I’m not a huge rice fan, but I usually end up eating it all.

Now for the beans. I love beans. Whole, refried, churro-style, black, pinto, you name it. These are quite decadent and I have taken to ordering an extra side. I want to know and don’t want to know how they’re prepared. I’m afraid my nutritionist might not approve…

Close-up of the enchilada goodness

The Quesadillas

Equally delicious but definitely heavier and more filling are their quesadillas. We usually get the steak-chicken combo, and get an extra to take home nosh on.

This is the combo steak-chicken quesadilla with everything

Steak combo quesadilla – In case the first photo didn’t snag you

The Tacos

The tacos are little bits heaven. Traditional Mexican street tacos with tortilla, meat, onions and cilantro. If you want tomatoes, lettuce etc you can ask for it American style.

They’re sold individually, but I bet you can’t eat just one. Order 3 and try the Barbacoa. It is truly moist, flavorful and tender.

St Pete Foodies named Chili Verde one of the 10 Best Places to get tacos in St Petersburg Florida in 2018. https://stpetersburgfoodies.com/restaurants/best-places-in-st-petersburg/10-best-taco-places-in-st-petersburg-fl-2018/

Barbacoa Tacos – looks pretty healthy to me!

Insider Tip: Yep, it used to be a gas station

Whatever you do, don’t let that deter you.

Hmm. I wonder what this used to be?

In 2018 St Pete Foodies included Chili Verde as a notable newcomer on its list of the 10 best St Petersburg restaurants list. Since my personal favorites Red Mesa Restaurant and VIP Lounge are on that list I knew they were on to something. But I was already on to Chili Verde. And so were a couple of my friends! When I was so gracious to share my Chili Verde discovery with a couple fo so-called friends, guess what? They already knew.

My dream at present is to make it there some day before 10 am, so I can try the Chilaquiles.