A first-half header from Asier del Horno and a second-half effort from Damien Duff made it 12 points from four games this season for the champions.
Tottenham were fuming after striker Mido was sent off in the first half, while Michael Essien escaped with a yellow card for bringing down Edgar Davids.
But in truth Chelsea more than deserved their victory and Tottenham created very little.
The first half could hardly have been more contentious, however, and referee Rob Styles walked down the White Hart Lane tunnel with boos ringing in his ears.
His first major decision came after 21 minutes when Davids was callously hacked down off the ball as he hared towards the penalty area on a Tottenham break-away.
The crowd expected a red card and a penalty but instead they saw Essien only booked and a free-kick awarded on the edge of the area.
Tottenham wasted the free-kick and were left fuming five minutes later when Styles finally remembered where his red card was kept, and brandished it at Spurs striker Mido.
The Egyptian was accused of leading with his elbow as he challenged Del Horno in the 25th minute, leaving the Chelsea left-back writhing on the floor in agony.
Television replays showed that there was contact but arguments still raged over whether it was deliberate.
Without Mido on the field Tottenham, who had made a bright start to the match and gone close through Jermain Defoe, lost their way.
Davids had been outstanding in the opening stages but could do nothing to prevent Chelsea taking the lead after 39 minutes.
It was a simple goal, a Frank Lampard corner finding del Horno 12 yards out and he sent a looping header into the opposite corner of the net.
William Gallas followed the ball in, but his diving attempt to get the last touch made no difference and del Horno was credited with the goal.
Frustrated Tottenham brought on Aaron Lennon at half-time in place of Teemu Tainio but Chelsea very rarely give away a one-goal lead, especially against 10 men, and never looked like doing so this time.
It was just a matter of Chelsea passing the ball around at the back after that, frustrating the White Hart Lane crowd and killing the game as a spectacle.
Tottenham have not beaten Chelsea in a league match since 1990 and have never recorded a Premiership victory against them, so this was always going to be a tough one for them.
But they continued to battle and appealed for a penalty when Lennon was bundled off the ball after a fine run.
Joe Cole was booked, and lucky not to see red, for a studs-up challenge on Stephen Kelly and Chelsea brought on Shaun Wright-Phillips in his place as the atmosphere really heated up after 63 minutes.
Andy Reid was booked for dissent as yet another decision went against the home team, and Davids was also cautioned.
Chelsea brought on Hernan Crespo after 67 minutes and within seconds he almost turned home a cross from close range, only being denied by Paul Robinson - who also saved Wright-Phillips' follow-up.
And they wrapped up victory with a fine second after 71 minutes when Wright-Phillips left Kelly for dead down the right wing and crossed for Duff to acrobatically turn the ball into the net.
The final shot was almost certainly mis-hit but the end result was definitive.
Man of the Match: Asier del Horno
The Spanish international already looks to be another top-class buy from Jose Mourinho. He was comfortable in defence throughout and took his first-half goal well.