Ben's Chili Bowl @ Washington DC

Ben's Chili Bowl is so famous in Washington DC until it is recognized as one of the famous landmark in Washington DC. Chili is a local slang meaning chili with meat. Not chili sauce! This restaurant became so popular as it is frequented by many notable historical figures such as Barack Obama, Martin Luther King, Jr., Nat King Cole, Miles Davis and Bill Cosby. The must order dish here is their Chili Half Smoke (a quarter pound half pork and beef smoked sausage on steamed bun) with mustard, onions and chili sauce. In this shop, there is even a signboard mention that only two persons can eat for free. They are Barack Obama & Bill Cosby.

Taste:7/10(Moderate. Spicy, juicy and tender sausage. However this is not the best available hot dog. The chili gravy is ok).
Price:6/10(Moderate. Half smoke original USD5.70 and with additional 10% tax. The price is higher compared to hot dog that you can get from the street trolleys).


So many sausages. Looks good.

This is what I ordered. Half Smoke Original. The sausage is spicy, juicy and tender. The taste is however just normal.

This is what makes the hot dog good & famous. The chili gravy.

Home of famous hot dog.

Its long queue.

This restaurant is a landmark by itself.

This is the restaurant. The side wall showing both President Barack Obama and comedian Bill Cosby.

Coordinate/GPS: 38.917166,-77.028733
Address: 1213 U Street NW, Washington DC 20009.
Metro Station: U Street. Located just opposite the road of U Street metro station exit.
Phone: 202-667-0909
Hours: Mon-Thu 6 am - 2 am; Fri-Sat 6 am - 4 am; Sun 11 am - 11 pm
Website: www.benschilibowl.com