Ben’s Chili Bowl is essential DC dining. Be prepared: this place is not at all fancy. But the food and the chili is awesome. It’s been on U street for over 30 years and numerous celebrities have stopped in, including Bill Cosby who is rumored to have had a particular fondness for the place. It’s also one of the few remaining vestiges of the old, mostly African-American U Street, which is rapidly changing. Try the classic chili half-smoke and some chili fries and a shake for a satisfying meal (and the slices of cake are not to be missed as well).
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