Ben's Chili Bowl

Long walk from our hotel, but it was worth it!! Great food! I can see why they are an institution in DC.

Visited in October 2014 and I have to admit, the chili dogs were delicious. Ben’s Chili Bowl, a cornerstone of the U Street community in Washington, DC, was established by Ben and Virginia Ali on August 22, 1958. This iconic eatery, originally housed in the historic Minnehaha Theater at 1213 U Street, has served as a vibrant hub for African American culture and history for over sixty years.

Very popular spot with lots of character and history. Food and Service were both less impressive this time than on previous trips.

This place is fantastic. Classic diner vibe, friendly staff, and the food is amazing. We each had the Original half smoke and an order of chili cheese fries. The half smoke is perfect! Nice smokey flavor to the dog, the chilli has just a bit of kick, and the mustard gave it just the right tang. This is one of those places that takes simple food and perfects it over the years until they absolutely nail it out of the park.

Phenomenal food, atmosphere and staff! So glad we found them on TikTok!

A landmark restaurant and I can see why it so famous because it was really good. I ordered the half smoke with chile the half smoke had a nice crisp crunch and a good taste. The chile was flavorful. The restaurant had a fun vibe. The service was fast and friendly. I had the hamburger at a second location and it was good, but I prefer the half smoke.