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Ben's Chili Bowl Info
Amenities
From the business
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Identifies as Black-owned
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Identifies as veteran-owned
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Identifies as women-owned
Service options
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Curbside pickup
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No-contact delivery
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Delivery
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Takeout
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Dine-in
Highlights
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Fast service
Popular for
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Breakfast
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Solo dining
Accessibility
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Wheelchair accessible entrance
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Wheelchair accessible parking lot
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Wheelchair accessible restroom
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Wheelchair accessible seating
Offerings
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Coffee
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Comfort food
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Late-night food
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Quick bite
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Small plates
Dining options
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Lunch
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Dinner
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Catering
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Dessert
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Seating
Amenities
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Restroom
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Wi-Fi
Atmosphere
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Casual
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Cozy
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Historic
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Trendy
Crowd
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College students
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Family-friendly
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Groups
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LGBTQ+ friendly
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Tourists
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Transgender safespace
Planning
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Usually a wait
Payments
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Credit cards
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Debit cards
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NFC mobile payments
Children
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Good for kids
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High chairs
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Kids' menu
Parking
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Free parking lot
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Free street parking
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Paid street parking
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Parking
Other
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Identifies as Black-owned
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LGBTQ+ friendly
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Identifies as veteran-owned
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Identifies as women-owned
Best WLM Reviews
Went here for lunch after sightseeing in DC and the iconic chili hot dog was pretty good! I also enjoyed the banana pudding which tasted perfect. I like how the restaurant is decorated throughout with the history of it. This is the original location of Ben’s Chili Bowl that opened in DC so if you want the most authentic experience, go here. Highly recommend!
I was back in DC for work and decided to hit up a DC landmark. Ben’s Chili Bowl has been in this DC neighborhood since 1958 and it has been putting out some of the best chili dogs or as they call them half smokes and this delicious banana pudding. Another cool part about this family restaurant is all of the memorabilia and photos on the walls of celebrities and dignitaries that have visited. It almost feels like a right of passage, whether you are visiting or live in the metro. They have different spice levels of the chili, so don’t worry that it’s going to be too hot for your taste buds. This is the quintessential old-school diner vibe so it is a little tight quarters inside, but the staff is very friendly and I’ve always felt the fellow customers are even accommodating to make space for everyone. In the back of the restaurant, there’s quite a bit more room if you have a bigger party.
♿️– it’s a little tight to get around, but if you need assistance, the staff is very helpful. There’s also more room in the back section of the restaurant for seating.
♿️????️- while there is on street parking, I would recommend taking the bus or Metro and being dropped off right there. There is a bus stop very close and the U St., Metro station elevator comes out right across the street from the restaurant.
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.
Iconic place, be sure to visit when in DC. Chili, nacho, dogs, milk shakes, fries, onion rings, any goes. Not pricy, lines out the door move quick, lots of seating in the back of restaurant and in front. Pics of celebrities adorn the wall. Nice ambiance inside. Makes a great memory to carry with you when you’re just a passing traveler.
Orders of chilli hotdog, mustard with fries.
Report was fries were good.
Gave it a 3 out of 5. The visit was mostly about it being a landmark visited by Former Pres. Obama for my parents.
Not something they would go back for.
There are three sections for seating.
???? Music is definitely LOUD which makes for an even louder environment. The further back you go the noise is more muffled.
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!
Overall food was decent. Fries with chili and cheese were above average and milkshakes were excellent. Where it failed was the burgers. Probably one of the most average hamburgers I have ever had and I find it comparable to McDonald's. I didn't have it I was told their half smoke was delightful.
I am giving it a 3 as it is apparently well-known but was fairly average in my perspective.
I'm updating this to 4 stars because after our meal 90 year old owner, Virginia, took time to talk to us and tell us all about her and the restaurants history that is rich and pivotal in the black community of the area. Amazing conversation with her and if you can you should visit with her!
What is there to be said that hasn’t already been said before? Amazing, fabulous, delicious! Yes, yes and YES! Living in the local area we get spoiled by hometown royalty and Ben’s Chili Bowl is second to none. We’re been too the location at DCA - Washington Reagan National Airport, and it’s ok. Today we took our boys to “The Mothership” located on U Street in the heart of Washington, DC. You walk into the restaurant and you’re greeted like family. There is no other way, and it’s not an act. The entire staff were friendly, courteous and true professionals. We had the pleasure of getting chicken tenders and fries for the kiddos and Chili Dog with onions, mustard and topped off with Ben’s Chili and fries. The food was SO fresh, and the fries were HOT! The vibe of the restaurant was truly family with a mix of home. We will come back to Ben’s Chili Bowl in the near future, and our entire family cannot wait. Thanks you to everyone working at Ben’s Chili Bowl for the amazing work they do!
Quick Facts About Ben's Chili Bowl
Today
Opening Hours
| Monday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
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| Tuesday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Wednesday | 11:00 AM - 09:00 PM |
| Thursday | 11:00 AM - 11:00 PM |
| Friday | 11:00 AM - 04:00 AM |
| Saturday | 11:00 AM - 04:00 AM |
| Sunday | 11:00 AM - 10:00 PM |
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