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Ben’s Chili Bowl – A Washington, DC Landmark

Ben's Original Chili Half-Smoke

Ben's Chili Bowl was born in 1958 and Washingtonians have been thankful ever since. Over the past few years, I'd heard it's name associated with stars such as Bill Cosby, and finally decided to see what the buzz was about.

Located in northwest DC, along the U Street corridor, Ben's Chili Bowl has watched the neighborhood around it gentrify and develop in recent years. The Starbucks and metro entrance across the street is a fitting contrast to the historical chili joint which began serving customers when U Street was once known as the “Black Broadway” due to all the jazz clubs. As noted on the history page of Ben's Chili Bowl website:

It was not uncommon to see such luminaries as Duke Ellington, Miles Davis, Bessie Smith, Ella Fitzgerald, Cab Calloway, Nat King Cole, Redd Foxx, Dick Gregory, Martin Luther King Jr., or Bill Cosby at ” the Bowl.”?

Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, DCStepping into the Bowl around noon on a beautiful Saturday afternoon, I wondered whether I'd be in for a wait to get my food. The restaurant had clearly marked instructions to line up, order your food, and pay before taking a seat. It only took a few minutes for me to order and pay, despite the place feeling and looking quite busy. I went with Ben's Original Chili Half-Smoke, a side of fries, and a Diet Coke, which totaled $10.

I grabbed a seat at the end of the counter, by the jukebox which was blaring. A college football game was on TV in the corner, above a small sink. There were giant metal canisters around the sink, and before I could give too much thought to whether employees actually use it, I saw one use it, and refill the towel dispenser to boot. I flipped through a copy of Washington's weekly City Paper, and about 5-10 minutes later, one of the servers brought over my meal.

While it's hard to see in the photo above, there is a jumbo hot dog under all that chili, and it was split in half and grilled further, before the addition of mustard and onions. The potato chips and fries were standard fare, though a nice compliment to the main attraction. Next time I'd skip the fries altogether because the serving was too large for one person. The Chili Half-Smoke is served with plastic utensils, however I was easily able to pick up the bun and eat with my hands (though I did manage to spill chili on my shorts).

Americans know how to make a darn good hot dog, and Ben's is no exception. Despite the slathering of delicious and slightly spicy chili, I was able to taste the flavor of the dog beneath it all, and it was one of the best I've ever had. The atmosphere was lively, with a mix of eat-in and take-out customers rotating through the restaurant. The staff were upbeat and friendly. Their menu offers several vegetarian options, including chili and burgers, and the breakfast options are plentiful.

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Ben's Chili Bowl is located at 1213 U Street NW, Washington, DC (between 12th and 13th Streets), across from the U Street/Cardozo metro station. Phone: 202-667-0909. Hours: Mon-Thurs 6am-2am; Fri-Sat 6am-4am; Sun noon-8pm.

Planning a trip? Go Backpacking recommends:

bathmateus

Wednesday 16th of December 2009

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Stu

Wednesday 19th of September 2007

I dont get the fascination with chilly / chilli / chili here in america, nor the idea that everything in the summer must be slathered in 'bbq' sauce.

I miss my english 'brown sauce', and good mustards (i abhor this yellow american sweet flavourless mustard), mustard has to burn your nose hairs and make your eyes weep like a good Hot English.

I just dont trust hotdogs ;) but I sure have eaten my share of hebrew hotdogs this summer.

nothing beats a sausage in bread! just hold the chilly / chilli / chili.

Stu

Wednesday 19th of September 2007

I dont get the fascination with chilly / chilli / chili here in america, nor the idea that everything in the summer must be slathered in 'bbq' sauce.

I miss my english 'brown sauce', and good mustards (i abhor this yellow american sweet flavourless mustard), mustard has to burn your nose hairs and make your eyes weep like a good Hot English.

I just dont trust hotdogs ;) but I sure have eaten my share of hebrew hotdogs this summer.

nothing beats a sausage in bread! just hold the chilly / chilli / chili.

Mike

Monday 17th of September 2007

I remember hearing this fun fact on 5 Takes: USA (I think): "The Washington Post commented that Ben's Chili Bowl is 'probably the only business on this strip that survived both the 1968 riots and the construction phase of the Metro Green Line.' "

Apparently that entire area has been torn down and rebuilt many times over and Ben's still seems to thrive just as it was so many decades ago.

Sounds like a great meal!

Dave

Monday 17th of September 2007

Wow Mike, impressive memory! I saw the Washington, DC episode too, and can only recall the travel journalists dressing up for Halloween in Georgetown.

Mike

Monday 17th of September 2007

I remember hearing this fun fact on 5 Takes: USA (I think): "The Washington Post commented that Ben's Chili Bowl is 'probably the only business on this strip that survived both the 1968 riots and the construction phase of the Metro Green Line.' "

Apparently that entire area has been torn down and rebuilt many times over and Ben's still seems to thrive just as it was so many decades ago.

Sounds like a great meal!

Dave

Monday 17th of September 2007

Wow Mike, impressive memory! I saw the Washington, DC episode too, and can only recall the travel journalists dressing up for Halloween in Georgetown.

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