Was disappointed the original is closed for renovations, but had a great experience here from start to finish.
A guy outside - security or maybe just on break - saw I have a limp and a cane and opened the door for me which is always nice.
Guy at the counter was patient and friendly about making recommendations.
Now, the chili fries came out with no chili - I didn’t realize until after I took the photo and started eating, but the counter guy was very apologetic and brought me fresh ones without taking the originals - which were still pretty warm – away. Then he saw me starting to eat the originals after I finished the replacements with chili, and he offered to give me more chili for those originals. Hell yeah. Talk about making it right!
And then, there’s a loop of history/media coverage of Ben’s that they play with sound on the TVs, which was a very cool experience. It elevated the whole eating experience watching the history and media coverage of the place as I ate!
And the food was bomb.
Other staff was very friendly and helpful too. Brought my food to my table when they saw my disability instead of making me walk up to the counter to get it, which I had no problem doing, but it was just nice. And then another staffer offered to take care of my dirty tray for me.
A++
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Nikki
I have such a special memory tied to this place, I took photos there back in February 2025 for my school art show, and they came out perfect for my 60s-themed fashion project. That series actually won Best Photography for my AP photo art show! The classic vibe of Ben’s Chili Bowl made it all come together so naturally.
And of course, I absolutely love Ms. Virginia Ali, she’s such a kind and inspiring person, and the soul of this DC landmark.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Debby Lee
Food was good but service was lacking. As first timers from out of state, didnt get much from the cashier about history of the place or what was good here. She just pointed at the menu above.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Kristi Pearce
Awesome food, people and atmosphere as usual. And I got to take my son and husband here for their 1st time. They loved it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Chris Palma
Those half smoked hot dogs were something else! Delicious in every way. It certainly lives up to the hype.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Rachele Ford
Food not that great atmosphere is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Ryan Ryan
Not really sure what all the hype is about, but yeah. 🤷🏿♂️
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
koldo Ruiz de gauna
“Today at Ben’s Chili Bowl, the young woman who brought our order to the table at 3:40 p.m. was very kind. We’re definitely going to speak highly of this place — the food was great and her service was excellent.”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ronald Ryan
Ok so food WAS great but now burger meat is bigger preformed school type and tastes like it..not great. Chili is good. So maybe stay away from the burgers and get the dogs.
Used to love this place. I see your updating old place awesome!!! Needed the space n updates. Just look towards fat burger or spelunkers for insight on your burger meat to make your place awesome
Prior review Takes 36 minutes to get fast food when there was no wait.....Worst service now ... DONT MAKE A MISTAKE AND PRE TIP ON YOU CARD LIKE I DID YOU WILL REGRET IT
Why go now it's run by people who don't care about service or food quality. They dance and play and lose your order and leave you sitting there. Days of awesome food and happy to go here are gone. They are to busy arguing and playing and not caring.
Didn't fill my order for 36 minutes.
Ok so went here after eating at the convention center bens chili bowl. Had to come here to the original because the service and food was so bad. Convention center bens said there was chili on the burgers and there wasn't and the service was bad and the food was bad as well. I told the people I was with bens is awesome don't judge it by what we had at a weird location. So we went to the main first location. Sigh.... They left us sitting for 36 min without giving us our food. They lost our order while the workers all danced and played and talked and argued amongst themselves. We waited we finally said something thinking they were cooking or something and they said they would see. Then no saying anything, no appoligies or notice they just started making it. No update nothing but was very obvious.
Food wasn't the Greatest. Fry's were hard and burger bun se med hard (old?)
Anyway I was a huge fan for years but this was a huge let down from both locations.
Sigh, I will miss the bens I knew.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
Illya Brown
My wife Michele and I had the honor and privilege to meet Ms. Virginia, whom founded Ben's Chili with her wonderful husband all those years ago. She came from the back dining area and made a bee line over to sit and speak with us. I will never forget the experience. She gave us a history lesson on the area, her life and family. As well as some great advice on just life. I will never return to DC without stopping in and checking on Ms. Virginia. Now about the food, it was everything good you ever heard about it. I see why President Obama loved the place. And her Banana Pudding (omg). I'm glad my momma don't read reviews. And her staff, the gentleman that helped us was the best. Personable, professional and just made us feel right at home. If you visit DC without stopping by Ben's Chili, then you really haven't seen DC...
My wife and I came to visit Washington DC and had to check out Ben’s Chili bowl from everything we heard. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner in person, Virginia Ali, and chatted with her a little. The chili bowls were delicious and I loved the milkshake
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
K.A
The low rating is mainly due to the lackluster French fries and Ben's half smoke. The French fries were rather cold at some parts and the half smoke was mild. I felt like I was robbed. Could have gone to McDonald's and Costco and came out ahead and been fuller.
The only highlight was the Oreo milkshake, which is absolutely delicious.
Be forewarned that there are charges for additional things added to the fries. I had to remove cheese and few things to get it to the price point I wanted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Marty Wiese
Ben's is currently in a temporary store front across the street from the original restaurant (under renovation).
ViziSites Info
Ordered delivery so can’t comment on inside the establishment. I’m not sure where the good reviews come from, and I assume they are fake after trying this place. The food is terrible. So gross that I couldn’t even eat half of it and threw the rest away. This is even after not eating all day and being extra hungry and looking forward to a hearty meal. Ordered a half smoke, cheese fries, and burger. Highly disappointing and would never recommend it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
Matthew Lydick
The goal was chili, and the half smoke was so good! But the surprise star of the show was the banana pudding. It was so decadent. Visiting with Ms. Virginia was also a joy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Half Smoked Sausage, Fries And, Original Chili
Was disappointed the original is closed for renovations, but had a great experience here from start to finish.
A guy outside - security or maybe just on break - saw I have a limp and a cane and opened the door for me which is always nice.
Guy at the counter was patient and friendly about making recommendations.
Now, the chili fries came out with no chili - I didn’t realize until after I took the photo and started eating, but the counter guy was very apologetic and brought me fresh ones without taking the originals - which were still pretty warm – away. Then he saw me starting to eat the originals after I finished the replacements with chili, and he offered to give me more chili for those originals. Hell yeah. Talk about making it right!
And then, there’s a loop of history/media coverage of Ben’s that they play with sound on the TVs, which was a very cool experience. It elevated the whole eating experience watching the history and media coverage of the place as I ate!
And the food was bomb.
Other staff was very friendly and helpful too. Brought my food to my table when they saw my disability instead of making me walk up to the counter to get it, which I had no problem doing, but it was just nice. And then another staffer offered to take care of my dirty tray for me.
A++
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I have such a special memory tied to this place, I took photos there back in February 2025 for my school art show, and they came out perfect for my 60s-themed fashion project. That series actually won Best Photography for my AP photo art show! The classic vibe of Ben’s Chili Bowl made it all come together so naturally.
And of course, I absolutely love Ms. Virginia Ali, she’s such a kind and inspiring person, and the soul of this DC landmark.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food was good but service was lacking. As first timers from out of state, didnt get much from the cashier about history of the place or what was good here. She just pointed at the menu above.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 3
Awesome food, people and atmosphere as usual. And I got to take my son and husband here for their 1st time. They loved it!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Those half smoked hot dogs were something else! Delicious in every way. It certainly lives up to the hype.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Food not that great atmosphere is
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 2
Service: 4
Not really sure what all the hype is about, but yeah. 🤷🏿♂️
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
“Today at Ben’s Chili Bowl, the young woman who brought our order to the table at 3:40 p.m. was very kind. We’re definitely going to speak highly of this place — the food was great and her service was excellent.”
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Ok so food WAS great but now burger meat is bigger preformed school type and tastes like it..not great. Chili is good. So maybe stay away from the burgers and get the dogs.
Used to love this place. I see your updating old place awesome!!! Needed the space n updates. Just look towards fat burger or spelunkers for insight on your burger meat to make your place awesome
Prior review
Takes 36 minutes to get fast food when there was no wait.....Worst service now ...
DONT MAKE A MISTAKE AND PRE TIP ON YOU CARD LIKE I DID YOU WILL REGRET IT
Why go now it's run by people who don't care about service or food quality. They dance and play and lose your order and leave you sitting there. Days of awesome food and happy to go here are gone. They are to busy arguing and playing and not caring.
Didn't fill my order for 36 minutes.
Ok so went here after eating at the convention center bens chili bowl. Had to come here to the original because the service and food was so bad. Convention center bens said there was chili on the burgers and there wasn't and the service was bad and the food was bad as well. I told the people I was with bens is awesome don't judge it by what we had at a weird location.
So we went to the main first location. Sigh.... They left us sitting for 36 min without giving us our food. They lost our order while the workers all danced and played and talked and argued amongst themselves. We waited we finally said something thinking they were cooking or something and they said they would see. Then no saying anything, no appoligies or notice they just started making it. No update nothing but was very obvious.
Food wasn't the Greatest. Fry's were hard and burger bun se med hard (old?)
Anyway I was a huge fan for years but this was a huge let down from both locations.
Sigh, I will miss the bens I knew.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 3
Service: 3
My wife Michele and I had the honor and privilege to meet Ms. Virginia, whom founded Ben's Chili with her wonderful husband all those years ago. She came from the back dining area and made a bee line over to sit and speak with us. I will never forget the experience. She gave us a history lesson on the area, her life and family. As well as some great advice on just life. I will never return to DC without stopping in and checking on Ms. Virginia. Now about the food, it was everything good you ever heard about it. I see why President Obama loved the place. And her Banana Pudding (omg). I'm glad my momma don't read reviews. And her staff, the gentleman that helped us was the best. Personable, professional and just made us feel right at home. If you visit DC without stopping by Ben's Chili, then you really haven't seen DC...
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
My wife and I came to visit Washington DC and had to check out Ben’s Chili bowl from everything we heard. We had the pleasure of meeting the owner in person, Virginia Ali, and chatted with her a little. The chili bowls were delicious and I loved the milkshake
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The low rating is mainly due to the lackluster French fries and Ben's half smoke. The French fries were rather cold at some parts and the half smoke was mild. I felt like I was robbed. Could have gone to McDonald's and Costco and came out ahead and been fuller.
The only highlight was the Oreo milkshake, which is absolutely delicious.
Be forewarned that there are charges for additional things added to the fries. I had to remove cheese and few things to get it to the price point I wanted.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 3
Service: 5
Ben's is currently in a temporary store front across the street from the original restaurant (under renovation).
Ordered delivery so can’t comment on inside the establishment. I’m not sure where the good reviews come from, and I assume they are fake after trying this place. The food is terrible. So gross that I couldn’t even eat half of it and threw the rest away. This is even after not eating all day and being extra hungry and looking forward to a hearty meal. Ordered a half smoke, cheese fries, and burger. Highly disappointing and would never recommend it.
Atmosphere: 1
Food: 1
Service: 1
The goal was chili, and the half smoke was so good! But the surprise star of the show was the banana pudding. It was so decadent. Visiting with Ms. Virginia was also a joy.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
Recommended dishes: Half Smoked Sausage, Fries And, Original Chili
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