Ben's Chili Bowl (Washington DC) We had Ben's Chili Bowl on our list. With over 4,000 reviews, I was shocked to see a place so popular have under 4-stars on yelp. Ben's Chili Bowl has been around since the last 50's. If a local busy can stay open this long, they're doing something right. I had their Jumbo Beef Chili Dog and Fries. I don't do spicy, and their chili has a kick to it. I found myself sweating even though it was 40 degrees outside. The chili was good, the dog was okay, and the fries were perfect. If I'm ever back in town, I think I'm going to have their Chili & Rice. And of course, I'm not skipping on their fries. There was a line when we arrived, and it goes by so quickly. Food was served even quicker. Be prepared, know what you want, and tip the cashier.
Syeda Israth Wahid
I order a spicy half-smoke, chilli cheese fries, and a milkshake. The food was good but they were really slow in bringing it out. The food took 30 minutes, and I got the milkshake in 25. I was order 397 and they were calling out 409 when I got mine so they definitely skipped me. I planned to eat in but they packed it to go too, so I just took it and left. One of the employees, acting cashier, was sympathetic and kept checking in with the kitchen asking where my food was. I appreciate his effort but it wasn't a good experience overall.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Matt Finn
Had to try something from this famous establishment. Good eats!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Half Smoked Sausage
Michael Benner
Cool historic location, and the food was great! Not recommended, tho, for a healthy or vegetarian meal, lol.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chili Fries, Half Smoked Sausage
jesse molloy
The half-smoke is the best chili dog I’ve ever had
Esther Ricks Hill
For four people $100.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Half Smoked Sausage
Wayne J
I ordered the online pack that included Ben's half smokes and spicy half smokes with the chili. The ordering process was streamlined and fast and the food arrived on ice, ready to go. It was very good and I felt good supporting a long standing black owner business! I found out about Ben's on a segment from Andrew Zimmers show on the Cooking Channel and it prompted me to look them up and read more.The next time I'm in DC I will stop by and visit in person. The mail order was a little expensive, but I didn't mind supporting!
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Original Chili, Half Smoked Sausage
Erika Lee T.
Some of DC's best casual food. Their grill is seasoned to perfection. The half smoke is good, but the real star is the show is the burger. I will always come here for that delicious Ben's sauce. I also got the Oreo milkshake and it was good, but I would've liked the Oreo prices to be smaller instead of having a bunch of big pieces left over at the end.
Katia Nardone
A leap into the past in the history of Chili, in the faded colors of the place contrasting with the bright colors of the murals. We ate here on recommendation...great advice! Quick and easy service, there are plenty of seats. A good smell of Chili welcomes you, we tried the two symbolic dishes of the place, the Chili Half Smoke and the Chili Bowl.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Maayan Y.
Definitely part of your historic tour of DC. It was a fun experience and food was OK for fast food service! Staff was friendly. Lots of seating for a quick meal, bar seating available. Casual vibes. Overall fun place to check out but wouldn't go back a second time just for the food
Finally tried this iconic dc staple after all my 25 years of living in the DMV and I gotta say , I've definitely missed out! The halfsmoke was delicious and the cheese fries hit !
Ruben Rosario
I want to start out by saying that I do not like Chili Dogs at all, and yet my wife, who's been to D.C. before, was insistent that I get a Chili Dog from Ben's Chili Bowl.She got a bowl of chili, I got a chili dog and we both split an order of fries. This is hands down one of the best chili dogs in existence, but it's also one of the best things to grab when in D.C. The half-smoke dog, with some onions, mustard and chili just truly tasted great!If you're in D.C. and you want to try something worthwhile, it's definitely worth going to Ben's Chili Bowl.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bowl of Chili, Half Smoked Sausage, Fries
Harry Smith
I honestly stumbled across this Washington staple and I’m more than happy I did. Super busy weekend but it was more than worth the wait! Got the spicy half smoke and let’s just say I should’ve gotten 2! Can’t wait to go back next time I’m in the city!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Jennifer Ramsey
This is the first time I have something negative to say about Ben's.I hate salt, but for the first time when eating fries, I wanted some. The chili tasted more like ketchup. The only positive part of the food was the half-smoke.Service was so slow I almost fell asleep at the counter waiting.I will no longer take out-of-town guests there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
Dia H.
I used to live walking distance from those places, and would go there weekly. Made a recent visit and I was utterly disappointed. Everything was awful. From the cheese fries to the turkey dog with cheese and veggie chili. It's become too commercialized! Done
Ben's Chili Bowl (Washington DC) We had Ben's Chili Bowl on our list. With over 4,000 reviews, I was shocked to see a place so popular have under 4-stars on yelp. Ben's Chili Bowl has been around since the last 50's. If a local busy can stay open this long, they're doing something right. I had their Jumbo Beef Chili Dog and Fries. I don't do spicy, and their chili has a kick to it. I found myself sweating even though it was 40 degrees outside. The chili was good, the dog was okay, and the fries were perfect. If I'm ever back in town, I think I'm going to have their Chili & Rice. And of course, I'm not skipping on their fries. There was a line when we arrived, and it goes by so quickly. Food was served even quicker. Be prepared, know what you want, and tip the cashier.
I order a spicy half-smoke, chilli cheese fries, and a milkshake. The food was good but they were really slow in bringing it out. The food took 30 minutes, and I got the milkshake in 25. I was order 397 and they were calling out 409 when I got mine so they definitely skipped me. I planned to eat in but they packed it to go too, so I just took it and left. One of the employees, acting cashier, was sympathetic and kept checking in with the kitchen asking where my food was. I appreciate his effort but it wasn't a good experience overall.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 1
Had to try something from this famous establishment. Good eats!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Half Smoked Sausage
Cool historic location, and the food was great! Not recommended, tho, for a healthy or vegetarian meal, lol.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Chili Fries, Half Smoked Sausage
The half-smoke is the best chili dog I’ve ever had
For four people $100.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Recommended dishes: Half Smoked Sausage
I ordered the online pack that included Ben's half smokes and spicy half smokes with the chili. The ordering process was streamlined and fast and the food arrived on ice, ready to go. It was very good and I felt good supporting a long standing black owner business! I found out about Ben's on a segment from Andrew Zimmers show on the Cooking Channel and it prompted me to look them up and read more.The next time I'm in DC I will stop by and visit in person. The mail order was a little expensive, but I didn't mind supporting!
Food: 4
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Original Chili, Half Smoked Sausage
Some of DC's best casual food. Their grill is seasoned to perfection. The half smoke is good, but the real star is the show is the burger. I will always come here for that delicious Ben's sauce. I also got the Oreo milkshake and it was good, but I would've liked the Oreo prices to be smaller instead of having a bunch of big pieces left over at the end.
A leap into the past in the history of Chili, in the faded colors of the place contrasting with the bright colors of the murals. We ate here on recommendation...great advice! Quick and easy service, there are plenty of seats. A good smell of Chili welcomes you, we tried the two symbolic dishes of the place, the Chili Half Smoke and the Chili Bowl.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Definitely part of your historic tour of DC. It was a fun experience and food was OK for fast food service! Staff was friendly. Lots of seating for a quick meal, bar seating available. Casual vibes. Overall fun place to check out but wouldn't go back a second time just for the food
Restaurantji Recommends
Finally tried this iconic dc staple after all my 25 years of living in the DMV and I gotta say , I've definitely missed out! The halfsmoke was delicious and the cheese fries hit !
I want to start out by saying that I do not like Chili Dogs at all, and yet my wife, who's been to D.C. before, was insistent that I get a Chili Dog from Ben's Chili Bowl.She got a bowl of chili, I got a chili dog and we both split an order of fries. This is hands down one of the best chili dogs in existence, but it's also one of the best things to grab when in D.C. The half-smoke dog, with some onions, mustard and chili just truly tasted great!If you're in D.C. and you want to try something worthwhile, it's definitely worth going to Ben's Chili Bowl.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Bowl of Chili, Half Smoked Sausage, Fries
I honestly stumbled across this Washington staple and I’m more than happy I did. Super busy weekend but it was more than worth the wait! Got the spicy half smoke and let’s just say I should’ve gotten 2! Can’t wait to go back next time I’m in the city!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
This is the first time I have something negative to say about Ben's.I hate salt, but for the first time when eating fries, I wanted some. The chili tasted more like ketchup. The only positive part of the food was the half-smoke.Service was so slow I almost fell asleep at the counter waiting.I will no longer take out-of-town guests there.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 2
Service: 1
I used to live walking distance from those places, and would go there weekly. Made a recent visit and I was utterly disappointed. Everything was awful. From the cheese fries to the turkey dog with cheese and veggie chili. It's become too commercialized! Done