Food U Street, Washington, DC
Ben's Chili Bowl
A place to eat in U Street, Washington, DC, budget-friendly ($) and worth about 45 minutes. Best time to go: Late night.
Why go
U Street landmark since 1958, known for the chili half-smoke.
It is one of 10 curated places we feature in Washington, DC, alongside 5 sights, 2 places to eat and 1 activity. The closest of our other picks is Off the Record, 1.2 mi away as the crow flies. At about 45 minutes, it slots neatly between bigger plans.
- Type
- Food
- Neighborhood
- U Street
- Price
- $
- Time needed
- 45 min
- Best time
- Late night
Nearby
Our closest curated picks, including 4 beyond Washington, DC. Distances are straight-line, not walking or driving.
- 1Off the Record
Low-lit basement bar in the Hay-Adams hotel across Lafayette Square from the White House.
Drinks · National Mall & Downtown · 1.2 mi straight-line - 2Old Ebbitt Grill
Washington's oldest saloon, founded in 1856, with mahogany bars and an oyster bar a block from the White House.
Food · National Mall & Downtown · 1.3 mi straight-line - 3Old Ebbitt Grill
Historic saloon next to the White House, known for its oyster bar.
Food · 1.3 mi straight-line - 4Round Robin Bar
Circular, green-walled bar inside the Willard, a meeting place for Washington politicians for generations.
Drinks · National Mall & Downtown · 1.4 mi straight-line - 5Willard InterContinental
Grand 1901 hotel on Pennsylvania Avenue, two blocks from the White House and a walk from the Mall.
Stay · National Mall & Downtown · 1.4 mi straight-line - 6Round Robin Bar
Circular bar in the Willard hotel where the mint julep came to Washington.
Drinks · 1.4 mi straight-line
On these curated routes
Ben's Chili Bowl is a stop on our Capital Cities Corridor route. Open it to see the full day-by-day plan.
More places to eat in Washington, DC
Another curated place to eat in Washington, DC. See the full Washington, DC guide.
When to go
Average daily highs in Washington, DC run from 40°F in January to 88°F in July; June is usually the wettest month. For Ben's Chili Bowl itself, we suggest: Late night.
Modelled monthly averages for Washington, DC from NASA POWER, not a forecast. Full Washington, DC weather by month.
Getting there
Map links open a live search for Ben's Chili Bowl, so hours and directions come straight from the map app.
- Address
- 1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA
- Coordinates
- 38.91717, -77.02876
- Destination
- Washington, DC, District of Columbia
- Website
- benschilibowl.com
Ben's Chili Bowl: quick answers
How much time do you need at Ben's Chili Bowl?
Plan on about 45 minutes at Ben's Chili Bowl. That is our curated estimate for a typical visit; groups that linger will want more.
When is the best time to visit Ben's Chili Bowl?
Our pick: Late night. Insider tip: Order the original chili half-smoke.
Where is Ben's Chili Bowl?
Ben's Chili Bowl is at 1213 U St NW, Washington, DC 20009, USA, in U Street. The Google Maps and Apple Maps links on this page open it for directions.
Which TripsCircle routes include Ben's Chili Bowl?
Ben's Chili Bowl appears on Capital Cities Corridor, a curated route you can open on TripsCircle and plan with your group.
Add Ben's Chili Bowl to your crew's plan
Save it to a shared TripsCircle itinerary, settle the timing with a quick poll, and split the costs with everyone going to Washington, DC.
Plan Washington, DC
- Washington, DC travel guide 10 places
- Best time to visit Washington, DC weather by month
- Washington, DC to Baltimore 35 mi straight-line
Lists & regions
Also in Washington, DC
Curated recommendation, not live listing data. Confirm hours, prices, bookings and access before you go.