Ben's Chili Bowl
1213 U St NW, Washington, DC
Type
Restaurant
Lens
Iconic Food
Why you'll love it
Ben's Chili Bowl is a Washington, DC landmark where half-smokes, chili, music history, and civil rights-era neighborhood memory intersect. It is a CityLens food stop because the restaurant is part of U Street's cultural identity.
Trivia
Ben's opened in 1958 and has served generations of locals, celebrities, and politicians.
Visiting tips
Order a half-smoke with chili for the classic experience. Pair with a walk along the U Street corridor.
Tags
Nearby (within 25 miles)
Ben's Chili Bowl
<0.1 mi away
African American Civil War Memorial
0.2 mi away
Carter G. Woodson Home National Historic Site
0.5 mi away
Mary McLeod Bethune Council House National Historic Site
0.6 mi away
Capital One Arena
1.4 mi away
Ford's Theatre National Historic Site
1.4 mi away
World War I Memorial
1.4 mi away
The White House and President's Park
1.5 mi away
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