Ben’s Chili Bowl Foundation

I visited here because it’s famous as one of former President Obama's favorite spots. With its long-standing tradition, the interior itself is quite interesting to explore. Their store-made sausages are really special and very unique! The flavor and smell of the spices are quite strong, so it might not be to everyone's taste. But if you're in the area, I highly recommend stopping by!

Super cool atmosphere and nice little slice of D.C history. Overall the food was good but nothing to really write home about, but the history and vibe of the restaurant definitely makes it worth a stop if you’re in the area. The half smoke was delicious, chili cheese fries were fine and the chocolate milkshake was very good and thick.

Awesome place for a quick and delicious food. Historic vibes, tons of celebrities on the walls that paid visits to this place and even the owner was around to check on the tables.

This “Ben’s Chili Bowl” location is absolutely awesome. Great food and great service. We are from Texas and have tried a lot of different chili. The chili at Ben’s is some of the best I’ve eaten. We ate here twice during our four day trip to DC. Mrs Virginia Ali was there both days. She is an absolute legend and a wonderful lady.

These guys are slinging chili smoke’s, burgers, fries, and more. Super friendly staff and they get the food out hot and quick. Tight inside, so it’s best to grab your food and go. Some seating along the wall if you find an empty one. They have table service for parties of 5 or more, all paying on the same check. When visiting Washington, D.C. don’t miss Ben’s Chili Bowl.

I had to try it. It's a DC staple. This place is packed at night with the bar crowd. I got a chili dog, as per tradition. It was good. The hot dog is a hot dog and the chili has some good flavor to it. The best part is just all the memorabilia on the walls. There's so many famous people that have been to Ben's it's really cool.

Must admit that unfortunately it didn't live up to its hype. The food was mediocre and prices were too high for what you get.

Loved the experience but wasn't a fan of the half smokes.

I was told that a visit to DC is MUST include the Original Ben's Chili Bowl on U street in the Shaw neighborhood of DC. What I learned is that Ben's is not just a minority owned restaurant, it is a civil rights landmark. Stepping into Ben's is looking back at a glimpse of history and feeling the sense of community it built. Like a museum, Ben's walls are adorned with framed photographs, of founders, Virginia and her late husband, Ben, taken throughout the past 60 years; or photographs of famous visitors. You can even sit at the table Barack Obama sat! The staff were welcoming, patient and personable. I'm not a big chili or hot dog eater but they took the time to explain the menu to me and recommended items, even though it was very busy. They also have vegan and gluten free options.

Historical? Yes. Touristy? Yes. Has personality? Yes. Diner ambiance? Yes. Half smoke dogs on the grill? Yes. A good brand? Yes. Despite a cold and busy Sunday afternoon, we were in the mood for some chili and so went in the back and easily found a spot at the nearest long table. I forgot that the front booths are a bit tight on space. Good classic soul & RnB playing throughout the entire space helped with our moods in preparation for our meals. Among the three of us, we got the vegetarian chili bowl, the classic chili dog, the turkey chili dog, the vegetarian chili dog, and regular fries. The vegetarian chili bowl, the turkey chili dog, and the classic chili dog were quite good, I could not finish the vegetarian half smoke, unfortunately. It left a mildly bitter taste. Standard customer service, although a couple employees were standouts. It's a plus that they offer varying sizes for their chilis. 3.75 out of 5 stars

Born and raised in the DMV and I have never been to Ben's Chili Bowl! I have been wanting to come for sooo long and finally made it there yesterday. I am never in this area but I decided I just needed to make the effort and I'm so glad I did. I came around 1:30 so it was after the lunch crowd. There was no line and ordering was easy. I got the garden salad, a plain frank, and the chili fries. I think if I lived across the street from this place, I would come get the chili fries every day! I loved the chili (which does have a little bit of a kick but because of the blandness of potatoes, you barely notice the spiciness) and the cheese on the fries. Such a brilliant idea to put chili on everything! But the most wonderful thing about my visit was that I got to meet Mrs. Ali. She just quietly came in after we sat down and asked us how was our New Year. She talked with us for a little bit and let me have a picture with her. She was just absolutely lovely. After she left our table, she said hello to two other gentlemen sitting near us. She offered to take up their trays and they obviously protested and said they could do it themselves. She still helped them. Then she walked behind the counter to do a few things before greeting more customers who just came in. By this time, there was a line as I expected for this Washington institution. Please do stop by the alley and look at the murals. Parking: one hour parking in the alley.

Came late at night but 30 mins before closing time, and got a few eye rolls. I was in town visiting from Hawaii so wanted my spicy half smoke. Good was delicious, just wish the customer service would have been better

I hadn't been back to Ben's in a long time (at least 10 years) but we were in the area and thought it would be a quick option to pop in for lunch. We got a veggie dog and a jumbo beef dog, all the way (mustard, onions, chili) which came with little chip bags. We also got the banana pudding to share and 2 soft drinks. Now this cost us about 46 dollars. It is not inexpensive. 8.49 for a beef hot dog and 10.99 for a veggie dog. And the banana pudding was 10.99 too. Food was good for me but my bf didn't like the veggie chili on the veggie dog. Service was good and there was sufficient dining room space for people walking in to eat. It was consistently busy which is nice. But I don't know if I can justify spending nearly 9 dollars on a hot dog in the future. The banana pudding was good but I don't know if I would get it again.

Great Chili, milkshake and fries Since 1858 - great service. first time there it was fun. We went with a group of us very inexpensive and filling.

This is an iconic restaurant in DC. It has SUPER RICH HISTORICAL clout. The founder was a Trinidadian man of Indian decent, and his wife, who established the place back in 1958. This was the Civil Rights Era of the USA and the place is still there today. For historical reference, check out this summary: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ben%27s_Chili_Bowl We came to try the iconic "half smoke" which is a large sausage link hot dog covered in the Ben's Chili Bowl Famous Chili. It is DELICIOUS! The chili is great and the staff is wonderful. The establishment is always filled with people. There are locals, politicians, tourists from all over the world, and Howard University students here every day and all night. We saw a family from Europe and another from South America, while we were there eating. There are booths up front and the place extends into a larger dining room with room for about 150 people to eat...tables and booths galore. The walls are lined with celebrity, politician, and notable world figures pictures with the founders and their children throughout the years and different eras of American history. They have a soda fountain in the back dining area, which is super convenient for refills as needed. I recommend this place when you are in DC. They have one at the DCA Airport as well. There is also a modern version of it next door called, "Ben's Next Door" which is a bar and bistro type eatery.

I waited far too long to try this place. I'd just assumed the veggie dog and veggie chili would be consolation versions to extract some money from vegans and vegetarians, but I guess that was just my skepticism getting the best of me because both the veggie dog and veggie chili were sublime. Probably the best of each I've ever had. They smartly took the approach of making the veggie chili completely its own thing. The lighting and vibes in there is that of a classic diner. I doubt it's been updated much if at all since 1958. Very busy on a Saturday evening--nearly full. Service and food was quick. For the meat eaters, my friend loved the half smoke he had. I will certainly be a regular going forward, although not TOO regular because, and this is my one gripe, the pricing is frankly very, very high. Nevertheless, this is a classic establishment for good reason!

Ben's Chili Bowl is an institution & when in DC you gotta try it! Ben and Virginia Ali opened Ben's Chili Bowl in 1958. All the famous peeps, both political & celebs, have been here & Ben's has been featured on numerous tv shows. They are known for their half-smokes and they have been a pillar of the Washington, DC community for years. They cook everything old school & the decor has not changed a bit so you literally feel like you have transcended back in time. In recent years they added a location in NATS Park & you can find them stocked on the shelves of your local Giant Food grocery stores or they ship nationwide - just go on the website & order directly from there: benschilibowl.com The food is delicious, the staff is efficient & friendly, the ambiance is unparalleled & it is a must stop if you visit our Nation's Capital.

Walked by this resturant so decided to try grab some takeout. The resturant inside is nostalgic and they have some nice photos of celebrities who have visited in the past. They have a good menu selection, but I noticed prices were not posted on above counter menus. I ordered some cheese fries, a large chilli with cheese and sour cream and the banana pudding. I will say that the banana pudding is very good and the cheese fries were large in size with lots of cheese and also good. There wasn't anything really special that stood out to me about the chilli. In fact I was rather disappointed to find out they forgot the sour cream that I had requested (I also believe they only gave me a small when I ordered a large). I paid over $37 including tax and gratuity, and really didn't think the price was worth it.

We visited this iconic establishment during a recent trip to D.C. I was intrigued by the legendary history of this institution. I literally spent time walking around & admiring all of the photographs and articles on display. I enjoyed learning about the family of the owner and seeing all the marketing items. But more importantly, and quite surprisingly, I was able to meet the actual owner of the establishment. She was in the restaurant, eating and chatting, amongst the customers! Wow! Of course, we ordered some hot dogs and drinks, but the real star is the story behind this historic landmark that has stood the test of time. This was and is an anchor in the community, especially during the Civil rights era of our country. Parking was really hard to find but definitely worth the effort. Don't skip out on this iconic spot!

I happened to travel to DC at a great time because I got to try the banana pudding which isn't a permanent menu item. The banana pudding had biscoff cookies and was light, fluffy, and creamy. It's certainly top 5 best banana puddings I've ever had. The great part is I had a chance to tell the woman behind the recipe, the cofounder Mrs. Virginia. The chili dog itself was good. Not life changing but I'd stop by if I was ever in town again. The ambiance was great. Nice music and you could tell the staff seem like family. I had the chance to chat with the person next to me and it's clear Amazon Prime's Cross is influential in bringing people to Ben's Chili Bowl because we both said it was the deciding factor in us trying it.

Hearing this is a Washington, DC staple, I walked the over a mile trek from my hotel to visit during lunch time. During lunch on a weekday, it was not too terribly busy. I ordered the beef dog, came with chips, and a cookies and creme milk shake. The cost was about $18. I ate inside. My order was ready fairly quickly. The staff was friendly and checked in at my table on how I liked the food. The beef hotdog was delicious. I did not try the chili (I know I should have), but the taste of the hotdog was really good. The milkshake was super thick. It had lots of pieces of cookie in it. It was very creamy and a decent shake for a hot summer day. I liked taking in all the signage within, and it's cool to see the diner counter within since that's not very common.

The Chilli here may just be the best I've ever had. There's a smoky slightly spicy flavor profile that doesn't burn your mouth off. My only regret was not ordering the larger size and that I don't live nearby so that I could get this well everyday. I had the small Ben's Famous Chilli Bowl with cheddar cheese, onions & sour cream. I also had a bit of the Original Half Smoke Dog. Honestly, nothing special about the dog itself but the chilli is just so delicious. I could eat this stuff on the daily. It's also cool to know you're eating at the same place as famous people like all the photos plastered around the walls. Ray Charles & Tina Turner, music royalty. The jukebox playing tunes was just icing on the kick. Service is straightforward. Make your order at the counter, pay, pick up your food and go to your seat. We also saw the co-founder Virginia Ali but she was busy taking photos with people. It goes to show how special this place is.

I lived in Alexandria Virginia from 1980 until 2005. Ages 10 through 35, and had never been to Ben's Chili Bowl. Fast forward to the year 2024, and my family of four traveled from Las Vegas to, Nevada to the DC Metro area. One day we went to the zoo and the family wanted to go somewhere for a late lunch. Enter daddy's suggestion of Ben's Chili Bowl... Arriving by subway was a great idea, very short walk from the train station to the restaurant. The artwork on the outside of the building, I could just stand and stare at it. Inside you'll see an array of pictures of celebrating the celebrities who have been there and the local history. The staff was some of the best we have ever received when going out to eat. Mrs. Ali (owner) was very accommodating for anyone who asked her for a picture. Being a hot July day, she was quick to suggest drinking water and staying hydrated over anything else on the menu. Food was good, ambiance intriguing, staff was awesome. Some may say it's just "another place" to eat. I for one am very pleased to have been there.

Love this place! I love the beef chili dog with a side of chili fries. The workers are always so nice and friendly. The restaurant itself is typical diner style and all of the customers are so different. It's a nice change to see how everyone comes together for some good ol' hotdogs!

If you've read my reviews, you'd know I'm a sucker for a chili dog. Ben's Chili Bowl was our first real meal in DC. It was so good that we came back another 3 more times. I guess the unique part about this spot is that they use spices from Trinidad in their chili. They have a mild one which I had and a spicy one which the hubs loved. I ordered a Chili Cheese Dog which was delicious every. single. time. On one occasion, I ordered Chili Cheese Fries. It tasted a tad bit spicy so I ordered plain Cheese Fries on another sitting. Those hit the spot, granted it was a bit heavy. Hubs ordered the Half-Smoke which was displayed all over the menu. It was supposed to be a spicy chili dog with mustard and other stuff. He loved it. Since we dealt with a heat wave during our stay, hubs and I ordered milk shakes after our meals. It was a nice way to cool down while site-seeing. The strawberry milkshake was delicious. Nothing special... but it hit the spot on those warm evenings. The one con about this spot is that they do not have prices anywhere on their menus. One chili dog was roughly $8.49. I almost wanted a small cup of chili but found out it was also around that price. And the other issue was that sometimes your $8.49 chili dog came with chips. Sometimes it didn't. All in all, I enjoyed my chili dog. We also met the owner who is in her 90s. She was super friendly and swung by twice to see how we were doing and to let us know she was "getting off of her shift for the night." Haha. The restaurant looks small when you enter but has 2 more rooms which contain an ample amount of seating. Definitely a must when you're in DC. Cheers!

The burger is a good fast food burger. I like it. Option to choose the type of cheese which I like. Good size too. The cookies and cream shake is really really good! The order came really quickly! The potato salad is not very good. Dry but that's not so bad... they added what seems to be green onions or something similar in there. Not good. Changes the taste too much. I can handle a dry potato salad, not my favorite, but not with onion, shallots, or chives. The original potato salad would have been much better. Maybe a little creamier too. I would get the burger and shake again! Pass on the potato salad. I cannot review on the cleanliness or ambiance of the place as this was a delivery.

We stopped in Ben's for lunch after visiting the museums. This place is OG and filled with a ton of photos of celebrities including President Obama after his inauguration. We ordered their famous half smoke with chili, jumbo hot dog with chili, chili bowl, and a bacon cheeseburger. Overall the food was good, the chili had a little kick to it. Definitely worth a try if wanting some nostalgia and chili in an OG diner.

Been seeing the YouTube videos for some time now, and knowing the iconic value. So being still new to the DC scene, it was definitely on my list of to do's in my most recent visit. I would have preferred to go in person to take in more of the history, but due to schedule constraints, had to settle for delivery. It definitely lived up to my expectations. It's just a chili dog so one's expectations can't be too lofty. But within the simplicity of what it is, they perfected their craft. Half smoke was snappy and flavorful, and not too salty or oily, which was a concern I thought I might experience. But happily it was not. Chili was smooth with a slight kick of spice, but mild, nothing lingering. Onions chopped fine for a little hint of crunch and flavor in the background. Perfect size and location in the building of this dog. And last but not least, the slight tang of mustard to balance everything out, yet smartly layered below the chili, so as not to takeover the flavor. Order matters. Fries were solid, no complaints there. Thicker cut, natural potato flavor. I'd definitely order or go to Ben's again. Not sure why the low scores, since the menu is basic and there's only so many ways you can elevate a hot dog or burger. Not overrated, although maybe slightly over priced for some.

Grab all of the napkins for this chili half-smoke! I wasn't able to go to the city locations so, had to check out while at DCA. Really friendly and quick staff. I got the spicy chili half smoke and it had a solid level of spice, paired with a solid chili, onions, and mustard. Plenty of seating, while you're waiting for a plane. I used 3 napkins for this chili dog. Casual diner type seating with a few TVs.

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.

The service even on a busy Saturday night was great. The place looked clean and I loved the art work & menu layout although the prices should've been listed. Now food wise all i got was the original hotdogs and it is good but not worth the $10 price tag. I understand it's a staple in the area and has an historic past. But for the price although good just a little high. I do recommend for you to try it for yourself

This place is iconic! We love to go when in DC the half smokes are the way to go!!! So delicious! The staff is super friendly and I love all the pictures of famous visitors. This is a must visit while in DC

Have been wanting to try the half smoke with chili here . Today I finally had some free time . Took the green line and could smell the chili as I was exiting the metro station . Place was very historic and service was fast . I'll be back .

After hearing all our favorite travel and food YouTubers rave over the must-try chili half-smokes at the iconic and historic Ben's Chili Bowl, we made the metro trip out here for an early Thursday dinner. We ordered two chili spicy half-smokes, a small bowl of chili with onions and cheddar, and a chili cheese fries. The chili itself is pretty good - it tastes like homemade chili made from scratch, and I like how finely the onions are diced. It's definitely on the smoother instead of chunky side. I liked the chili half-smokes as well. The layer of mustard and onions add a welcome layer of acidity to the savory chili and dog. The dog itself had decent snap, heat, and flavor, but was a little too salty. The bun, however, didn't seem toasted enough and gets soggy. All the food was great until we had the chili cheese fries. The fries were barely warm, limp, and had zero crunch or seasoning. It was just lifeless starch and some of the saddest fries we've ever had. Overall, the food tastes like how it looks. Might still be worth trying at least once but we feel like it did not live up the hype from online. Another thing is that there are no prices listed anywhere on the menu, and a lot of the items were more expensive than we thought. I know you can just ask the workers, but I wish they were more transparent about the menu prices.

Ben's Chili Bowl hit the spot! We got the chili, chili cheese dog, and chili cheese fries--everything was super good and full of flavor. The service was solid and fast. The area felt a little sketchy, but honestly, the food was worth it. Just keep an eye out, grab some chili, and enjoy!

This is one of my favorite places to hit up for some post-partying indulgence. The burgers, hot dogs, and fries are the perfect cure to the state of being that typically plagues me after partying, lol. You may as well add chili to everything you order. It's "famous" for a reason. I usually end up dipping my burger, dog, or fries in any excess chili from the food that I dared to order sans chili. Service can be a bit slow regardless of how busy they are, so order online whenever possible, even if you plan on dining in.

1st time there n got the two must popular items n didn't disappoint. Will be back next time in DC

Iconic spot in DC that's supposedly a must visit if you're in the area. There was literally someone getting arrested in front of Bens so that was interesting to see. Inside looks the same as when it opened in 1958, so you get to travel back in time with taste and sight. Service could have been better and more patient, but hot dogs and chili fries were good with the chili having bit of a kick. Glad to have passed by and tasted an iconic part of DC.

A DC institution and a must visit spot! I remember coming to Ben's Chili Bowl for the first time 20 years ago and it quickly became one of my favorite spots in town. Any time I visit now, a stop at BCB is a must. When you enter it's a bit of a time warp, having the same vibe it did 20+ years ago. The menu sits above the counter and you order at the counter. The team is very friendly and quick! I went for my old favorite (since it's been 9 years from the last time I was here), the Original Half Smoke with chili, and the meal set with fries and a fruit punch. The nostalgia kicked in with my first bite and it was as I remembered it, delicious and satisfying! When in D, I highly recommend visiting the Smithsonian, the landmarks, and Ben's Chili Bowl! It truly is a Washington landmark!

Washington DC staple that has continued to serve great chili dogs. While this place may not have the most mind blowing chili ever made but the atmosphere/history behind this place makes it worth visiting. So many famous people have visited here including the Obamas and they all have their pictures up on the walls. I also thought the workers were very friendly and efficient. The chili dog had a nice char grill to it. The chili was hearty. The fries are straight cut, not really my favorite but the best they could be given the style of fry. The banana pudding was rich and had plenty of chunks of fresh bananas in it.

This place is honestly a tourist trap and we only visited it because it was an iconic landmark. I understand why so many people have visited though. Who wouldn't want to visit the place where so many famous people have also visited. We got there around opening time so there wasn't really much of a line so we got our food fairly quickly. We ordered at the counter and got the original chili half-smoke and a bowl of ben's famous chili bowl. It was honestly just alright and wasn't anything special. It's exactly as expected.

3 out of 5, and that's being nice. My fiance and I had never heard of Ben's Chili Bowl until we watched the series "Cross" and figured it MUST be good because they were at this spot in every episode lol. The chili here is the taste equivalent of Wendy's chili (I had the veggie chili, he had the beef chili), don't waste your taste buds on a large, the small tells it all. It was literally beans, onions, cheese and sour cream (they charge $1 extra for the cheese and sour cream) and lacked flavor. The fries were fries (we didn't get them loaded, just regular fries). My fiance also had the half smoke with all the fixins and I had the veggie dog, both were "okay". Have you ever been to a school cafeteria on hot dog day? That's what it tasted like. Aside from that, the pink lemonade was fire (very sweet) and the staff were nice. I'm glad we came to support, however, we won't be back.

I mean what can be said about this iconic landmark that hasn't been said before? The service is tremendous! Everyone is so fun and makes for a great dining experience. Absolutely wonderful ambiance. Food is beyond spectacular. There's not a bad thing on the menu.

Saw this place on Somebody Feed Phil and wanted to see it in person. Such a cool historical place. You can tell that many mouths have been fed here with love. Chili was amazing. Burgers were great. People working there were proud to work there- that was obvious. Fun vacation lunch! Neat eating where so many famous people have eaten- including Obama and Jimmy Fallon!

The famous Ben's Chili Bowl needs no introduction. It was pretty busy when I came at about 12pm on a Saturday. The line moves quick, they have a large amount of staff pumping out orders. There's a good amount of seats in the back that of the restaurant, don't be alarmed when you see the front packed with people and think to yourself there's no where to sit! Got the chili hotdog and the chili cheese fries, both were really good! Probably one of the best chilis I've had. It doesn't feel heavy or greasy either! Which makes this place even better! Worth a trek!!!

The only way to really experience new places is by asking the locals, and they led us right to Ben's Chili Bowl. Just a quick hop on the metro, a short walk from the stop, and there it was--vibrant and buzzing with people. Luckily, the line wasn't too long, but it was definitely busy. We grabbed a spot at the counter, where we enjoyed every bite of Ben's classic chili. Meeting the owner was a highlight; she was so welcoming and sweet. The place has an atmosphere full of life, with conversations flowing and walls adorned with photos of celebrities who've dined there. If you're ever in DC, this place is worth a stop!

I'm a huge fan of anything covered in chili so when I passed this restaurant at the airport I decided to pop in and try their chili cheese fries. There are big windows that you can watch the planes come in and out, so definitely a cool spot if you have a layover. The service was fast and friendly. Chili is a bit on the spicy kick side for my taste but still a yummy snack.

I got to try the famous Ben's Chilli Bowl and those spicy half smoke sausages are amazing! I had the spicy half smoke and if you're timid to spicy trust me, it's on a level 8/10 . But I enjoy spicy and the sausages have a nice snap to the outer casing, it literally exploded with juices gushing out unto the table . The half smokes do come with a side of potato chips which I think was a good addition. The inside of the spot feels dated but fitting to the 60+ year old famous Ben's! The service was decent, we had maybe a 15 min wait in a somewhat crowded space

Was in town for a quick weekend visit. Needed something to eat around 9:30 as we hadn't ate all day and my husband said it's a DC staple I had to try. We both had a half smokie dog that comes with the spicy chili, mustard and onions. It was good, however next time I'd probably opt for just a regular wiener. It was my first time having a sausage persay as a hotdog and I didn't love the texture combination. The chili cheese fries where absolutely delicious, a perfect sinful delight lol. The chili has a nice kick and is flavorful. I'd go back next time in town if I had a taste for this. Service is cool, super casual atmosphere what one would expect....

Ben's Chili Bowl really lived up to the hype for me. I came here for a quick bite and to see what it was all about at around 4pm so there was no line and my food came out in only about 5 minutes. The inside and outside were both really cool with some cool paintings, pictures, and classic decorations. I had the hot dog with just chili on it and I really enjoyed it. It was tasty and substantial and for someone who usually passes on a hot dog, I'd love to come back and get another. Overall, I think Ben's was a great spot and definitely a must stop if you're in DC.

I wanted to try this place for my next trip to DC and finally did. So much history here, it's really cool and old school. Hot dogs were delicious, friendly staff, can't go wrong

We have seen this place online a lot so decided to give it a try. We parked half a block away. When you walk in they have a big menu on the wall. The person who took our order wasn't the friendliest but that's okay. I loved that they had a turkey option since I don't really eat a lot of pork. The portions were generous they were not small and it came with chips. I was pretty full. My family of 4 ate for $50. Overall we had a good experience.

One of the best chili bowls I've ever had. Classic diner restaurant even had a juke box. Had a great experience here and I highly recommend! The staff were all very friendly.

Ah yesss! Ben's Chili Bowl was recommended to us by way of "Google search." We were not disappointed. Very friendly staff and their food was delicious! Lively ambience & the prices were definitely right! Lots of seating in the front and the back. We ordered a couple of things from the menu: definitely had the chili bowl with everything on it and a side of fries. That was 10/10. Ordered the popular chili half-smoke. This one was yummy, although it get a little spicy towards the end, still 9/10. The chili cheese fries was fire 10/10 must have of course! Love that they also have vegetarian options too. The only disappointment I would say was parking. A lot of the spots around there were for residents... Unless we were reading the signs wrong. Definitely didn't deter us from getting here though! Come get some chili!

Friendly staff. Told her it was my first time and she broke down the menu. The chili has flavor!!! And the only regret was I had to drive an hour to my hotel with this food coma LOL!!! I would come here again just for the chili options and friendly staff.

A friend of mine came into town and wanted to see some DC staples. Ben's Chili Bowl is steeped in history and a well known DC landmark so she definitely wanted to check it out. TRANSPORTATION: Right of the U Street Metro Stop SERVICE: Very busy but the employees were still very friendly. SETTING: Looked like it had a little bit of a diner setup. Not a huge place by any means but we managed to get seating. FOOD: HALF SMOKE and FRIES: Well, to be honest this was just okay. The chili didn't have a ton of flavor and the fries were a good accompaniment with the hot dog but they are standard fries. OVERALL: My friend wasn't disappointed with going. She got to take a picture with the owner and she enjoyed what she had. While it wasn't spectacular she appreciated being in a place as historic as Ben's Chili Bowl. We agreed we would check out the sister restaurant to see what they had to offer as well.

The half smoke chili dogs were the best I've ever had and the banana pudding was phenomenal! I'm so glad I tried this iconic restaurant.