U Street
Ben's Chili Bowl
Washington, D.C., 20009, United States
Up until very recently, the only VIP deemed worthy of a free meal at the Ali family chili shrine was longtime devotee Bill Cosby, who made the venue a national destination when he held a press conference there in the 1980s. The latest inductee into the eat-for-free club is Barack Obama, who stopped by to inhale the must-order Chili Half-Smoke a few days before his inauguration (he paid—and added a generous tip). Invented in 1958, this signature snack comprises a smoked pork-and-beef sausage tucked into a toasty steamed bun and comes topped with mustard, onions, and (of course) spicy chili sauce.
Insider Tip: Though they're not as well-known, breakfasts at Ben's are worth a trip across town. The big plates of eggs, hotcakes, and corned-beef hash all come with sides of home fries, grits, and piles of crispy fried apples.
Insider Tip:
Though they're not as well-known, breakfasts at Ben's are worth a trip across town. The big plates of eggs, hotcakes, and corned-beef hash all come with sides of home fries, grits, and piles of crispy fried apples.
