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!

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.

I went in , to try the chilli, for the first time, & it was really bland, an when I ate half way down, I started to taste the spice. So it seems their not mixing it good enough,or their not putting enough spice in . I won't be going back.

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.

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.

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.

Nice place that's quite lively and serves up some decent hotdogs. The atmosphere is great and the memorabilia on the wall is very interesting. It's a DC institution so you have to visit at least once.

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.

Last time I came to Ben's Chili Bowl, it was 2017. I had never even heard of the place. I was just like, wow, this is a nice little local place. I hope it does well. In the years since, I've learned that not only does this place do well, it's a national legend that many people go out of their way to eat at. Egg on my face. Anyway, so when I came to visit a friend earlier this year, I decided we had to get Ben's again. The only problem was that our timeline was so tight, we were forced into getting it Uber Eats'd over to our hotel room. So we loaded up the app, and placed our order. I got an Original Half Smoke (Enjoy Ben's Original Half Smoke (mixed pork and beef) served on a warm steamed bun with your choice of condiments. We suggest mustard, onions and our homemade spicy chili sauce). This dog was amazing. Such a nice snap on the bite, a decent size, and good flavor within. The thing doesn't even need to be smothered with excess. I, of course, did smother it, though, which added to the mess and the experience. That mustard was potent, so if you don't like mustard, skip it, but I had to try it as-is. No regrets. Tasted like a legend. I also got a side of Cheese Fries (A generous portion of golden fries, topped with delicious nacho cheese sauce). Classic. Really a lot of fries, and absolutely obliterated with nacho cheese sauce. Just go look at the pic. You're gonna need some napkins. Amazing. Overall, I'm so glad I got to try Ben's again. Even if I missed it, though, I saw that they have a Ben's at the airport now. But I think I'll just keep coming back every time I come back to town.

Iconic. Honestly, if you hate hotdogs and or chili, you probably won't like the food here. There's no denying that, so don't come to boo-boo the food. Come for the history and maybe just eat some fries instead. The Ben's Original Half Smoked (a mix of pork + beef) is what you should order. The half smokes are served in a warm steamed bun and topped with whatever, but they suggest mustard, onions and their house-made spicy chili sauce. I tried both the original and spicy versions of the dog and while both were good, I preferred the original more. I just thought the original dog was just a little snappier. The spicy and chili combo was a very flavorful one, but it was a little too much punch for me. I suggest ordering a bag of regular Ruffles to help break up all the chili. I also shared a small cup of chili which was really nice. Ben's Chili Bowl is such an institution and well worth a visit. It's a perfect pit stop if you're visiting - you can get a lil snack and take in so much history.

The food was ok. 4/10 The service was bad. 2/10 The girl at the counter had an attitude. She git my order wrong and when I asked to please get the correct order, she didn't even respond. She just rolled her eyes and went to get the correct order and handed it to me. Very rude. Overall 2.5/10.

We had to try this chili dog as we saw so many recommendation on youtube. We came around 5:45pm and it wasn't too busy. We ordered at the cashier and they called us at the counter once our order was ready. There were plenty of tables and even at the back of the restaurant too. - half smoked chili dog: the half smoked dog was good. The bun was soft. The chili dog slathered on top was good. - chili bowl: disappointing. It was super salty even the cracker didn't help. The fresh onion gave a good crunch to the chili - chili fries: crispy & well seasoned. The chili on top made it so good.

Came late to get a bite to eat. Lines were long but we had a great meal. This is the place for late night eating. Everything was fresh hot and good. I had the chili dog w fries. It was so bomb. I knew immediately after my first bite this is why everyone comes here. It's hot and crowded but it's a good thing. I can't wait to come back.

You can use Local phone app from Toast to order ahead. Historic place with great food. Personally I like the spicy half smoke and probably should just order 2 instead of with fries or onion rings. I've been coming to the original location for over a decade.

I finally made it to Ben's! When I arrived there was only one person in line a head of us. The staff was nice ans clearly used to the hype surrounding this place because lots of people entered taking photos and videos. I turned around the line was out the door and the place was buzzing with people. I sat in the Cross booth which was very exciting. It was next to the Obama booth and that which was a real show stopper. Now for the food, we'll not much to write home about. The half smoke was so salty I could not have more than one bite. The banana pudding was very runny, similar to pudding when it hasn't fully set yet. The flavor was decent but I didn't enjoy it. I saw the burgers behind prepared to order and I would have preferred a burger because o only finished the fries.

While I loved the family history, Ben's Chili was just okay. The chili definitely has spice, but lacks other essential flavors. I'm a southern gal who lives a good hotdog, and I left meh. Don't take my word for it, people were buying gallons of this chili. Hopefully I just had a bad batch? The fries were delicious.

Best hotdog I've ever had! Also the best chilli cheese fries I've ever had. I could absolutely put this chilli on everything! The wait wasn't too long even though they were extremely busy.

The tradition is deep rooted and so is the reputation. I thought how good could a chili dog be. Omg it was that good. The half smokes are a custom blend link and it is delicious. I opted for potato salad and I was not disappointed. I made my chili spicy and it was perfect. If you are ever near DC, make an effort to come to this original location and get your half smoke all the way.

Guys I am so sad to say that I was not the biggest fan of Ben's Chili Bowl!!! I think the significance in DC is admirable and this spot has truly been able to thrive and become an iconic monument in the district. With that said... I really don't think it is worth the hype. I feel sad saying that! Maybe it's because we didn't do the chili dog (which it's more well known for), but I feel like even so, it should be better? I don't know. The chili with raw onions was lackluster and kind of lacked flavor. There wasn't a sweet heat. It was kind of.. bland? And the hot dog was $9 which is just absurd for a hot dog! Even the Nationals hot dogs are cheaper and that's at a stadium! The chili was also $10 and it was so small!! It is just all around disappointing! The vibe of course is stellar. Who doesn't love the diner like feel and the exterior which is so classic and fun. But it's really not worth the crazy price!!

Yeah so, it's a landmark. So if you go, go because you want to experience history, not because you're looking for mind-blowing food. Their operations are super efficient though, it didn't take long to get through the line at all. It may seem that seating is limited to what you see when you walk in, but that's an illusion. It's hot in that first room, but there's plenty of seating if you walk toward the back. We got the half smoke with chili and a turkey burger. The half smoke was great, but the Chili was meh. I should have just had the half smoke and put ketchup on it. The turkey burger also was cool, not mind blowing.

Overrated. Overpriced. Overweight, I'll be. We came because of the tourist trap. Avoid the tourist trap. Save your $10 - that's how much a chili dog and a bag of chips costs - and spend $1.50 at Costco. You'll have a nicer time :)

Thats the last time we let chatgpt recommend a spot while traveling... If you are driving, there is parking down the alley next to the restaurant. For a Monday evening at 7pm with no crowd, the lady taking our order couldn't be any less friendly. She was very gruff and was too busy scrolling her phone and looking everywhere but at us. A few things we ordered she nodded but we never got. Thankfully we weren't charged for them either. What we DID receive: some veggie dogs with veggie chili and some orders of fries. The veggie dog is probably best plain. The veggie chili was pretty lackluster and devoid of any seasoning. A can of hormel at its best straight out the can... The fries were crisp and salted well. That's about all the nice things I can about this place or the food. Pictures were an afterthought because well. we knew this was going to be a bust.

We were so excited to travel to DC and try the infamous chili that is in all of the recommended videos as a historic establishment. When we walked in, it wasn't too busy, and w were quickly able to get our orders in and find a booth. We arrived at a great time because near the end of our mea, a large line was starting to form. Our booth was clean but compact. We could see all of the photos framed on the walls, including that of MLK Jr and Obama, which helped it feel like we were eating at the same spot history has been made. We could smell the hearty and warm aroma of the chili while hearing the crackling of hot oil for our hot dog and fries. Suffice to say, when we got our order, our mouths were watering and we dug right in. The chili was hot, smoky, and earthy with a bit of spice to it. It paired exceptionally well with the hot dog and on top of the fries. However, while the flavors were great, the portions were surprisingly small. The large chili bowl came out in a bowl we expected for a small. My husband finished it super quick and was still hungry for more. He ate some of my fries along with a few bites of my chili dog, which were an average size. The shocker was that our total came out to be $40. Again, the flavors were great, but we weren't stuffed by the end of our meal. I'm guessing that part of what we're paying for is the historic ambiance. I'd recommend going just once to try it out and say you've been there and to try some good chili, but don't plan on it being your only meal.

Chili dog, chili cheese fries, and banana pudding?!? Can't ask for anything else. Chili was tasty and didn't leave a greasy film in your mouth.

Came in right at opening as a party of four, and quickly ordered. We ordered the original half smoke and spicy half smoke, with the fries and drinks. They do have Gluten-Free hamburger buns, and hot dog buns, they were just out of the hot dog buns when we went. The smokes were great! The chili had a little bit of heat to it but nothing spicy. The original was great, and the spicy was as well with some heat with the first few bites. The inside of the building is absolutely deceiving, thinking it was a small space and reading that they run out of seats quickly, we figured it was just the front section with the seats. They end up with multiple rooms full of seating, and all the famous 'hang-outs' pictures from all the local famous/celebrity people, as well as celebrities like Kevin Hart, Dr. Dre, Denzel Washington, and more, including Barack Obama. The service was pretty good, got the food quickly and were able to get refills as well.

Had to try this place out. Let me start with a warning: the spicy half smoke is SPICY- someone described it as 8/10 spice level and I think that is appropriate. I was able to finish it but had to stop every once in a while and was glad it came with chips. I can usually eat spicy food without any problems but this one was right on the verge of being too spicy. Make sure you check your receipt and your order. They charged me the upcharge for Fritos but didn't give them to me and then tried to charge me again. Stick with the ruffles! They go WAY better with the food. Overall, would I go again? Yes. I'd just get the regular half smoke instead of the spicy one. Place was clean and super empty around 9pm

We ordered a Sinfully good chili-covered hale smokes (smoked sausage) and a bowl of chili with the works. The coffee shake was delish too!

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.

Classic fast bites. Half-smokes (and also hot dogs) and fries smothered in an assortment of tasty toppings like chilli, cheese, and onions. The location has been around for over half a century and hasn't changed much over time. The guy taking our orders was very thorough with details of what we wanted, and the gal preparing our food did it exactly as we hoped.

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.

The half smoke here was so good and I was so excited about trying it that I didn't get to even take a picture of it. This is an old school DC establishment, and it doesn't disappoint one bit. Mrs Virginia was amazing and very hospitable I loved the fact that she's still there interacting with her customers and taking time to speak to everyone. Next time I'm in town I'll definitely be back!

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

A must when visiting DC! The food's pretty much exactly what you'd expect as far as chili dogs, fries, and hamburgers, but the history and service make it extra special.

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.

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.

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.

I get that this place is iconic. Lots of people have visited. Maybe you have to love chili? I'm not a huge chili person, and not a hot dog person so I was going in already not a favorite food. The chili was ok. I won't be thinking about it. It did have great milkshakes. However/ if you are a tourist I'd leave this spot and not go. The neighborhood is not great, and even more so at night. We had a hard time knowing how to order too.

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!

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!

Before my trip to D.C, I watched an informative video about the best places to visit while there. Ben's Chili Bowl was the only place mention in all the videos I viewed. Upon my arrival there I was greeted at the entrance by a kind woman who took our orders after we looked at the menu and gave us our drink cups. The service was seat yourself, and about 10 minutes after ordering is when our food arrived. I ordered pink lemonade and a chili bowl with cheese. The lemonade was very good, however it was a little watery, still refreshing though. The chili was steaming hot when it arrived, as it should be, and tasted excellently made. With a great medium between spicy and average. The atmosphere was nice, it was clearly a family restaurant, because there were several children running around, I'm not complaining about it, but it was obviously a family restaurant. The outside was being redone, which made the entrance a bit difficult to find, but not too difficult. The waiter at the counter would call our number that was assigned to us on our receipt, and then he would bring it to our table. Excellent service. Great food. Nice restaurant atmosphere! What more could you want? 5

The guy running the register was very argumentative, I stopped in first to get food and he was arguing with another employee, and didn't even notice I was waiting. I walked away, but later decided to give it a second chance. He literally yelled someone out the door. I had already ordered food at that point and this happened while I was waiting for it to finish. So very disappointed- I then waited while 5 other people who came in after I did get their food. I saw my food sitting getting cold... I would not recommend.

The restaurant's decor is absolutely adorable. The murals on the side of the building are awesome. Inside, it was fun looking at the photos of the famous people who have dined here. The cashier was very nice and helpful. The half smoke hot dog and French fries were both pretty good. I actually thought that the chili was just ok. My friend really enjoyed his milkshake. I would give this restaurant 3.5 stars if I could.

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.

It doesn't get better than this! Original half smoke with the works, fries and a big old cherry milkshake. The U Street neighborhood has changed a lot but Ben's abides

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

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 wanted to really like this place based on my sisters saying it was great. I ordered the beef hotdog, with chili. Now if I ordered a chili dog, I'd expect more chili than relish! I swear they gave one scoop of chili. Then I ordered 1/2 gallon turkey chili. It wasn't bad but they had it sealed like damn fort knox. To make it worse, the lid didn't fit the container. So, lifting a plastic container, with hot food, makes the container flimsy & can easily spill. The fries, hot, I'm sure are good. Not impressed That might seem petty but if I'm paying $10 for a chili dog, then I want more chili.

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.

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.

It was one of the classic places that you want to check it out when in DC. Chili dogs and burgers were good. Service was good.

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.

You visit here because it is a landmark (see the photo of the street sign) and not for the food. Ordered the specialty (chili) and it was mediocre. Cornbread looking for an adjective. Hamburger, where's an In and Out? Nice dessert selection. Close to the Library of Congress. That's all I have!

Wow! This little D.C. gem was an excellent stop on my adventure today. It was highly recommended by an old college roommate to give them a try; and heck even former US president Obama ate there so it has to be good, right? Yes! That chili was perfect. The flavours were all great. I know now the cheese sauce isn't for me, but it's not bad. We literally couldn't put it down their food was so good. The ladies who took our order were speedy and very nice and the atmosphere is very 50's diner but it's cozy and smells great the moment you walk in.

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!

Cute place with many veggie options. I was fortunate enough to be there at the same time the owner Virginia was. She was so sweet and took pics with the customers. I ended up getting the loaded veggie chili nachos with Tostitos chips as my base. The woman who took my order was very friendly. I couldn't finish the huge portion but the amount that I sampled was really good. I can understand why people find it a cozy food. There's also a lovely mural outside in the alley to the right (coming out of the restaurant).

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.

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.