Last week, my son and I visited Ben’s Chili Bowl for the first time. We ordered their signature dish—Chili Smokes. It’s a ½ smoke (or half beef, half pork hot dog) with chili, cheese, and onions.
There was seepage. The oversized hot dog had chunks of meat in it. The chili color and texture didn’t inspire hunger when seen.
What do other local reviewers have to say?
Charles: “Sometimes iconic places can lead to high expectations that can be hard to live up to. This place absolutely lived up to the hype! Food was awesome, people were great, history was amazing. If you’re on the fence go for it you won’t be disappointed!”
Kimberly: “The chili had all the charm of prison slop, and the hot dogs tasted like they’d been rescued from a dumpster behind a middle school birthday party. Honestly, I’ve had more memorable meals at a Chuck E. Cheese.”
My review: “Meh. I should have just gone with the hot dogs.”
We went to the H Street location, which has a colorful corner dinner atmosphere. While you eat your meal, you can watch the DC streetcar boondoggle out the window. This hugely expensive, worse than existing alternatives, public transport will stop service in 2026.
Ben’s Chili Bowl is a DC institution, serving up food to regulars since 1958. But it’s not a family-friendly option at these prices (almost $20 for two hot dogs).
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