Famous for

Hot Dog, Washington, D.C.

Half-Smoke Hot Dog

Recommended by Jane & Michael Stern and 16 other food critics.

"It is a taut-skinned smoky link bigger than most hot dogs, firm-fleshed with an unbelievably luscious character. It is especially good blanketed with Ben’s chili, which is thick, peppery, full-flavored and positively addictive. The whole package – sausage, mustard and onions, and a heap of chili all piled into a tender bun – is extremely unwieldy, impossible to eat without lots of spillage; but that’s ok."

Jane & Michael Stern , American pioneer food writers, specializing in books about travel, food, and popular culture, and multiple winners of James Beard Awards

Side Dish, Texas

Chili Cheese Fries

Recommended by Jane & Michael Stern and 25 other food critics.

"A huge, sloppy and addictive plate of French fries topped with Ben's alluring dark chili and school-bus-orange cheese makes one heck of a naughty meal... or a good side dish for two or three or four people to share with their half smokes."

Jane & Michael Stern , American pioneer food writers, specializing in books about travel, food, and popular culture, and multiple winners of James Beard Awards

Also serving

Burger

Chili Burger

Recommended by Jane & Michael Stern and 7 other food critics.

Stew

Chili con Carne

Recommended by Dan Myers and 2 other food critics.

Recommendations

"A huge, sloppy and addictive plate of French fries topped with Ben's alluring dark chili and school-bus-orange cheese makes one heck of a naughty meal... or a good side dish for two or three or four people to share with their half smokes."

on Chili Cheese Fries

"D.C.'s half smoke sausages vary depending on where you buy them, but none are more iconic than Ben's chili-topped variety."

on Half-Smoke Hot Dog

"It is a taut-skinned smoky link bigger than most hot dogs, firm-fleshed with an unbelievably luscious character. It is especially good blanketed with Ben’s chili, which is thick, peppery, full-flavored and positively addictive. The whole package – sausage, mustard and onions, and a heap of chili all piled into a tender bun – is extremely unwieldy, impossible to eat without lots of spillage; but that’s ok."

on Half-Smoke Hot Dog

"Ben's tasty chili works equally well on their burgers."

on Chili Burger

"Another Ben's winner is the chili-cheese fries, smothered in the same chili and a gooey nacho-like yellow cheese. The fries are fresh and good, but could be crisper to withstand the liquidy onslaught, yet the more I ate the more I couldn't stop. They are strangely addictive and a real crowd pleaser."

on Chili Cheese Fries

"In-the-know customers order chili cheesefries."

on Chili Cheese Fries

"Oh, there are lots of other half-smokes around Washington, but it wouldn’t be hard for me to believe that this one is king of the hill."

on Half-Smoke Hot Dog

"Whatever they’re doing, they’re doing right: We loved the snappy pop, the crunchy onions, the spicy kick. And it comes with potato chips."

on Half-Smoke Hot Dog

"DC legend Ben’s Chili Bowl has been around since 1958. Try the iconic half-smoke (half-pork, half-beef smoked sausage) topped with Ben’s homemade chili sauce."

on Half-Smoke Hot Dog

"Those in the know don’t just order "dogs," they get the half-smokes, a half-pork, half-beef smoked sausage which is a native D.C. specialty supposedly invented by Ben Ali, the original proprietor, whose sons took over the restaurant after his death."

on Half-Smoke Hot Dog