After a summer of anticipation, The Yellow Chilli franchise in Fresno has had its soft opening. Photo by Frank Lopez

Celebrity Chef Sanjeev Kapoor’s Yellow Chilli restaurant began its soft launch last week at its new Fresno location, near the corner of North Palm and West Herndon avenues. 

The reservation-only event generated several five-star Google ratings, with diners highlighting the food quality, customer service and atmosphere. 

Chef Kapoor is known internationally for his long-running cooking show “Khana Khazana” — which aired on television in India from 1993 to 2012 and amassed nearly 650 episodes. 

The chef and entrepreneur has created several cookbooks, owns a premier cookware and kitchen appliance brand called “Wonderchef” and co-founded a culinary AI and Machine learning company called “Tiny Chef.”

A sign posted this past summer at the former Piazza del Pane and Blast & Brew location at 799 W Palmdon Dr. teased that a “Masterchef is coming here soon.”

 

On Dec. 20, representatives announced that the restaurant was finally open on Yellow Chilli Fresno’s official Instagram account.

This progress comes after a delay late this summer regarding the location’s franchise agreement, reported the Fresno Bee.

Franchise owners Kamal Kaur and Satvinder Ghotra opened their Fresno location after their previous restaurant — The Yellow Chilli, Buena Park — closed during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Yellow Chilli offers both new-school fusion — like their Pesto Chicken Shorba — and more widely known Indian cuisine — such as their Butter Chicken and Fish Tikka Masala. 

Meat-based dishes are on the menu, but vegetarian-friendly options are also available.

Valley Indian food lovers may visit the restaurant’s website to make reservations.

Kamal Kaur is also the owner of Bubble Bee, a Clovis-based shop known for its boba tea and Korean-style corn dogs — also called Gamja Hot Dogs.