Ben's Chili Bowl
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Ben's Chili Bowl is a venerable, casual restaurant located at 1213 U Street in the Shaw neighborhood of northwest Washington, D.C.
Renowned for their chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes, Ben's Chili Bowl was founded in 1958 by husband and wife team Ben and Virginia Ali in what was once a silent movie house. At the time, Washington was officially segregated, and U Street was known as "Black Broadway." Many jazz greats of the day such as Duke Ellington and Miles Davis performing at U Street clubs would stop by. Many other celebrities have visited over the years, including Bill Cosby, who comes regularly when he is in Washington, and Martin Luther King, Jr.
Ben's Chili Bowl has remained open for business through many changes in the neighborhood and has thrived even though many other local businesses closed in the aftermath of the 1968 riots.
Ben and Virginia Ali have been honored by the city for their dedication. They both have been inducted into the D.C. Hall of Fame and the alley adjacent to the restaurant was named "Ben Ali Way". In 2004, the James Beard Foundation named it one of "four locally owned and operated regional restaurants that have withstood the test of time and are beloved in their communities." Ben and Virginia have retired from the restaurant business and have passed daily operations of Ben's Chili Bowl to their sons, Kamal and Nizam.
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