Filed under: food, Restaurants & Bars, top-feature
DC’s Famous Ben’s Chili Bowl
Since 1958, Washington DC residents, politicians and celebrities have all been fans of the iconic DC chili restaurant, Ben’s Chili Bowl. The list of VIP’s who have dined at Ben’s includes President Barack Obama, France’s President Sarkozy, Bill Cosby and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., to name just a few.
No trip to Ben’s would be complete without ordering something that includes their famous chili. Chili lovers tend toward the Bill Cosby’s Original Chili Half-Smoke. It’s a favorite of the celebrity comic and has been Ben’s signature dish since the 1960s. It starts with a DC-original, a half-smoke sausage, (a spicy smoked beef and pork hot dog) that’s been grilled until it’s just a bit crispy and charred, giving it a good “bite.” It’s topped with a generous helping of Ben’s beef smooth and richly spicy chili sauce, raw onions and mustard, all served in a steamed bun for just $5.45.
Other classic Ben’s offerings include Chili Con Carne with chunks of ground beef, green peppers and onions, a Classic Pork Chili Dog or the ¼ lb. 100% fresh beef Chili Burger. And for the non-carnivore, try the milder Veggie Chili made with tomatoes, green peppers and onions. For a side, try the Chili Fries covered with meat or veggie chili, or take it up a notch with Chili & Cheese Fries, fries smothered in chase sauce and chili. In case you haven’t noticed, Ben’s food is all about the chili.
The beef chili is mildly spicy but very flavorful, with strong hints of Caribbean spices. The lunch menu also a few other sandwich items (sans chili), while the breakfast menu includes classic eggs, hot cakes, French toast, and a selection of breakfast sandwiches.
To end you meal for desert, if you aren’t already full from the generous servings, try a slice of Ben’s homemade cake with a creamy and smooth milk shake. The cake list changes daily, but watch for the classic Red Velvet, sweet potato or their famous pineapple coconut cake.
The seating at Ben’s is very casual, mostly booths and tables scattered around the several rooms. So if you can’t find a seat at the counter or front booths, just head on back until you find an open table. . . eventually.
Just before his inauguration, President Barack Obama stopped by Ben’s for lunch along with then DC Mayor Adrian Fenty. For a his first Ben’s experience the President ordered a chili dog with cheese fries. After that visit, the famous sign on the counter that stated “Only Bill Cosby eats for free” was changed. It now states “Who eats free at Ben’s: Bill Cosby & The Obama Family.”
In 1958, Ben’s Chili Bowl was opened on U Street by Ben and Virginia Ali, immigrants from Trinidad. At the time, the neighborhood was considered the “Black Broadway” and a “city within a city” as Washington, DC was highly segregated. Top jazz performers from around the country came to DC to play in the numerous area night clubs, including Duke Ellington, Miles Davis and Ella Fitzgerald, many which dined at “The Bowl.”
Since opening, Ben’s has had a rich and interesting history, including being the only restaurant on U Street that remained open during the infamous DC riots of 1968. In its 52 years, the chili recipe, along with counter, booths and stools have remained virtually unchanged.
Ben’s has been featured on dozens of televisions shows including recently the Travel Channel’s “Man vs. Food,” and in the 2009 Russell Crowe movie “State of Play” which was shot the District and featured the lead character, a DC reporter, being a regular at Ben’s. The same year, Bon Appetit food lovers voted Ben’s Chili Bowl in the Top Ten best places for a bowl of chili in the country. They stated:
No reasonable discussion of great chili joints can take place without mention of this U Street institution, open since 1958.
So stop by Ben’s Chili Bowl for a great chili dog any time, but expect a long wait during the lunch hour. . . but relax, it’s worth it.
Ben’s Chili Bowl — 1213 U Street, NW, Washington, DC (map)
Hours - Monday – Thursday 6:00 a.m. – 2:00 a.m., Friday – 6:00 a.m. – 4:00 am, Saturday – 7:00 – 4:00 a.m., Sunday – 11–8. Breakfast is served only until 10:45 a.m.
Nearest Metro Subway Station - U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo – Green line. Ben’s is directly across the street.
Parking – Limited metered street parking is available.
Images – Flickr – storefront, Ben’s dog & fries
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