We have traveled to Alexandria for many years and lots of times were on Monday and Tuesday when they are closed. Today was different and was a Sunday in Alexandria. The food and service were amazing. You have to get the chili sampler (it’s free) which also came with cornbread (amazing). We decided to have 3 chilis on the nachos and the Veggie Chili on the Nathan’s Hard Times Chili Dog. We left full and couldn’t eat anything else this trip. We are going to make sure next business trip is when they are open. Looking forward to our next visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Free Chili Sampler Platter, Hard Times Chili Dog
Borys Makov
I was here in January 2004, and still when I want to explain someone how should chili taste, this place is an example)
Merry Nunnally
Delicious vegetarian chili and super chill atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
angelo sanchez
I order some food 1/16/2026. Like always the service was great. Atmosphere was wonderful and the staff always make me feel like home. Got some disheartening news tho because when I walked in the bar was full and I was looking forward to using the table by the jukebox but it wasn’t there the staff had taken the table upstairs. This little table comes in clutch so many times when the bar is full
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Miya Menskey
Texas chilli was veryyy greasy. You will be running to the restroom after eating here. Also waiter with long dreads was not very attentive. Took a break at the back table to eat a piece of fried chicken with a coworker while servicing my table and took his sweet time to return. Don’t waste your money. Chili flavors are good though.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
Robert Brathune
I was visiting my Daughter and Son-in-law for Christmas week in Old Town Alexandria. Every time we talked about lunch or dinner, I said “I have been craving a good Chili Cheese Hotdog! Finally on the last night my daughter googled to see where I might get what I was looking for; she found a review on Hard Times Cafe on King street. My son-in-law and I set out on an adventure. I think we discovered “Hot Dog heaven”! We sat at the bar and proceeded to be pleased. First the heavyset Bar Tender, asked us what kind of chili we like; then proceeded to put down a sample of 4 distinctly different chili choices. We each ordered a Coney Island platter, two chili cheese dogs with fries. I chose the Texas and the Cincinnati Chili my son-in-law had the Texas and one of the other Chili’s. We both greatly enjoyed our choices and were excited about finding such a good and interesting specialty menu. As an aside I came for the Chili Dogs, but the Fries are homemade and to die for. They remind me of 5-Guys Fries, only better. You can bet I’ll be back next time I’m in town. The atmosphere would have been better if there were TV’s where we could have watched Sunday Night football!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Katie Doran
Delicious food and a fun atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
marj1st
We had to go with a group of friends after the Celtic Christmas parade. I've been here twice and regretted my decision both times. The second time I knew enough to order something mild and got the remarkably dry grilled chicken sandwich. Our server was friendly and helpful - a shining star in this dismal experience. She brought us a sampler of the different chili types. The amount of grease in every type of chili is impressive, if not slightly alarming. Go if you must, but be forewarned! Take some Tums with you if you are brave enough to try their famous chilis.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
Lianette Gonzalez
This may very well be the kindest staff I've ever interacted with. Just remarkably sweet people! I felt comfortable right away, and after mentioning that I had never been before they brought me a cute sampler. The Texas chili was the heavy hitter, but they were all great.
It's cozy, it's tasty, it's welcoming, what more could you want.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Dianna Aud
I like the Cincinnati chili mixed with the vegetarian. Really good mix! My friend likes the terlingua chili with cheddar and onions. His head was sweatin' I had a premixed marg and he had a beer. Love Hard Time's
Had the Elvis sliders and hubs had the 3 way with Texas chili. First of all, our server Tiffany was amazing. Second of all, the food was fantastic and the portions were big!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Gary D. Drechsel
Oh my goodness. If you like a quaint, local mom and pop shop than has old neighborhood charm, folks Hard Times Cafe is must visit destination! For sake of clarity, we visited on a Sunday afternoon, so the crowd was down, but believe me, during tge the week, Hard Times Cafe is hopping!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Corn Bread, Cincinnati Chili Spice Box, Free Chili Sampler Platter, Beans, Terlingua Red
William Wilson
Absolutely the best food and service in old town !! Amazing chili and cornbread!! I would recommend this for great prices and excellent food !!
Chris H
Fun place. Really great people and food. Thanks for a fun and belly filling time :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Juliana R
The chili was good, and the food was reasonably priced. I loved that they gave us a chili taster, because I definitely would have gotten a different chili than I ended up getting! The chili tater tots were delicious.
We have traveled to Alexandria for many years and lots of times were on Monday and Tuesday when they are closed. Today was different and was a Sunday in Alexandria. The food and service were amazing. You have to get the chili sampler (it’s free) which also came with cornbread (amazing). We decided to have 3 chilis on the nachos and the Veggie Chili on the Nathan’s Hard Times Chili Dog. We left full and couldn’t eat anything else this trip. We are going to make sure next business trip is when they are open. Looking forward to our next visit.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Free Chili Sampler Platter, Hard Times Chili Dog
I was here in January 2004, and still when I want to explain someone how should chili taste, this place is an example)
Delicious vegetarian chili and super chill atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I order some food 1/16/2026. Like always the service was great. Atmosphere was wonderful and the staff always make me feel like home. Got some disheartening news tho because when I walked in the bar was full and I was looking forward to using the table by the jukebox but it wasn’t there the staff had taken the table upstairs. This little table comes in clutch so many times when the bar is full
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Texas chilli was veryyy greasy. You will be running to the restroom after eating here. Also waiter with long dreads was not very attentive. Took a break at the back table to eat a piece of fried chicken with a coworker while servicing my table and took his sweet time to return. Don’t waste your money. Chili flavors are good though.
Atmosphere: 2
Food: 2
Service: 2
I was visiting my Daughter and Son-in-law for Christmas week in Old Town Alexandria. Every time we talked about lunch or dinner, I said “I have been craving a good Chili Cheese Hotdog! Finally on the last night my daughter googled to see where I might get what I was looking for; she found a review on Hard Times Cafe on King street. My son-in-law and I set out on an adventure. I think we discovered “Hot Dog heaven”! We sat at the bar and proceeded to be pleased. First the heavyset Bar Tender, asked us what kind of chili we like; then proceeded to put down a sample of 4 distinctly different chili choices. We each ordered a Coney Island platter, two chili cheese dogs with fries. I chose the Texas and the Cincinnati Chili my son-in-law had the Texas and one of the other Chili’s. We both greatly enjoyed our choices and were excited about finding such a good and interesting specialty menu. As an aside I came for the Chili Dogs, but the Fries are homemade and to die for. They remind me of 5-Guys Fries, only better. You can bet I’ll be back next time I’m in town. The atmosphere would have been better if there were TV’s where we could have watched Sunday Night football!
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 5
Service: 5
Delicious food and a fun atmosphere!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
We had to go with a group of friends after the Celtic Christmas parade. I've been here twice and regretted my decision both times. The second time I knew enough to order something mild and got the remarkably dry grilled chicken sandwich. Our server was friendly and helpful - a shining star in this dismal experience. She brought us a sampler of the different chili types. The amount of grease in every type of chili is impressive, if not slightly alarming. Go if you must, but be forewarned! Take some Tums with you if you are brave enough to try their famous chilis.
Atmosphere: 3
Food: 2
Service: 5
This may very well be the kindest staff I've ever interacted with. Just remarkably sweet people! I felt comfortable right away, and after mentioning that I had never been before they brought me a cute sampler. The Texas chili was the heavy hitter, but they were all great.
It's cozy, it's tasty, it's welcoming, what more could you want.
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
I like the Cincinnati chili mixed with the vegetarian. Really good mix!
My friend likes the terlingua chili with cheddar and onions. His head was sweatin'
I had a premixed marg and he had a beer.
Love Hard Time's
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Restaurantji Recommends
Had the Elvis sliders and hubs had the 3 way with Texas chili. First of all, our server Tiffany was amazing. Second of all, the food was fantastic and the portions were big!
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 5
Oh my goodness. If you like a quaint, local mom and pop shop than has old neighborhood charm, folks Hard Times Cafe is must visit destination! For sake of clarity, we visited on a Sunday afternoon, so the crowd was down, but believe me, during tge the week, Hard Times Cafe is hopping!
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
Recommended dishes: Corn Bread, Cincinnati Chili Spice Box, Free Chili Sampler Platter, Beans, Terlingua Red
Absolutely the best food and service in old town !! Amazing chili and cornbread!! I would recommend this for great prices and excellent food !!
Fun place. Really great people and food. Thanks for a fun and belly filling time :)
Atmosphere: 5
Food: 5
Service: 5
The chili was good, and the food was reasonably priced. I loved that they gave us a chili taster, because I definitely would have gotten a different chili than I ended up getting! The chili tater tots were delicious.
Atmosphere: 4
Food: 5
Service: 4
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