Food

Ben's Chili Bowl

1213 U St NW

Washington, DC

Directions

Type

Restaurant

Lens

Iconic Food

About this place

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.

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

More to Explore in Washington

Anacostia Park

Washington, DC

Belmont-Paul Women's Equality National Monument

Washington, DC

Capitol Hill Parks

Washington, DC

Civil War Defenses of Washington

Washington, DC

Constitution Gardens

Washington, DC

Dwight D. Eisenhower Memorial

Washington, DC

Fort Dupont Park

Washington, DC

Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial

Washington, DC

Related Collections

NHL Arenas

Landmarks · 35 places

MLB Stadiums

Landmarks · 30 places

Top 10 Burgers In the World

Iconic Food · 10 places

Destination Hot Dog Stands

Iconic Food · 8 places

Great Literary Homes

Stories · 6 places

Ben's Chili Bowl

About this place

Trivia

Visiting tips

Tags

Nearby (within 25 miles)

More to Explore in Washington

Related Collections

Related Experiences