Ben's Chili Bowl facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ben's Chili Bowl |
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Ben's Chili Bowl, Northwest Washington, D.C.
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | August 22, 1958 |
| Current owner(s) | Virginia Ali |
| Food type | American |
| Dress code | Casual |
| Rating | Yelp:    Zagat: 22 out of 30 (Food) |
| Street address | 1213 U Street, NW |
| City | Washington, D.C. |
| Coordinates | 38°55′02″N 77°01′44″W / 38.9172°N 77.0288°W |
| Website | |
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Minnehaha Nickelodeon Theater
(now Ben's Chili Bowl) |
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U.S. Historic district
Contributing property |
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| Built | 1909 |
| Built by | District Amusement Company |
| Architect | P.A. Hurlehaus |
| Architectural style | Renaissance Revival |
| Part of | Greater U Street Historic District (ID98001557) |
| Significant dates | |
| Designated CP | December 31, 1998 |
Ben's Chili Bowl is a famous restaurant in Washington, D.C., United States. It's located on U Street and is known for its delicious chili dogs, half-smokes (a type of sausage), and milkshakes. Since it opened in 1958, Ben's Chili Bowl has been a special part of the U Street neighborhood. It's a place where many people, including celebrities and even presidents, love to eat.
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History of Ben's Chili Bowl
Ben's Chili Bowl was started on August 22, 1958. It was founded by Ben Ali, who came from Trinidad, and his fiancée, Virginia Rollins. They got married just seven weeks after opening the restaurant. The building they chose used to be Washington's first silent movie theater, called the Minnehaha, which opened in 1911.
At that time, U Street was a lively area known as "Black Broadway". Many famous jazz musicians like Duke Ellington and Miles Davis would visit Ben's Chili Bowl when they performed nearby.
Surviving Tough Times
In April 1968, the U Street area faced difficult times after the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr.. During these events, a civil rights leader named Stokely Carmichael asked Ben to keep his restaurant open. The Alis got special permission to stay open past curfew. Ben's Chili Bowl became a safe place, feeding both police officers and people involved in the protests. Ben even wrote "Soul Brother" on the front window to show it was a friendly place for everyone.
Many businesses closed during this period, and the neighborhood struggled for years. But Ben's Chili Bowl stayed open. Ben and Virginia's son, Kamal, said that the restaurant was like a neighborhood barbershop where people would gather and chat. The local community helped protect the restaurant.
Later, the construction of the U Street Metro station across the street also caused many businesses to close. But Ben's Chili Bowl remained open, serving food to the construction workers. It's one of the few businesses that survived both the 1968 events and the long Metro construction. The Metro and safer streets eventually helped the neighborhood become lively again.
Modern Changes and Legacy
In 2007, Ben's Chili Bowl and other local businesses decided to use 100% wind energy. This was a step to help the environment and also made good business sense.
In 2008, a second Ben's Chili Bowl opened at Nationals Park, a baseball stadium. It offers a smaller menu than the original location.
Sadly, Ben Ali passed away in 2009 at age 82. He and Virginia had already passed the daily running of the restaurant to their sons, Kamal and Nizam. The mayor of Washington, D.C., called Ben's Chili Bowl "one of the greatest treasures in the District of Columbia."
In 2009, Ben's sons also opened a new restaurant next door called Ben's Next Door. It offers a wider menu but still serves all the classic Ben's Chili Bowl items.
Famous Customers and Recognition
Ben's Chili Bowl attracts all kinds of people, from students to business people. It's known for its diverse customers.
Celebrity Visitors
One of the most famous regular customers is comedian Bill Cosby. He first started visiting in 1958 when he was in the Navy. He even took his future wife to Ben's on dates. A sign in the restaurant used to say that Bill Cosby was the only person who ate for free. In 2008, the sign was updated to include "the Obama family" after then-President-elect Barack Obama visited. A large mural featuring Bill Cosby was on the building from 2012 but was removed in 2017.
Many other famous people have visited, including actor Chris Tucker and musician Bono. When journalist Ted Koppel retired from his news show Nightline, he held his farewell party at Ben's.
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Politicians often visit Ben's Chili Bowl when they are running for office in D.C. Even international leaders have heard of it! In 1998, a former D.C. mayor met the Mayor of Accra, Ghana, who asked, "Is Ben's Chili Bowl still there?" In 2010, the French President Nicolas Sarkozy and his wife reportedly enjoyed two half-smokes each during their visit.
Ben's in Movies and Books
Ben's Chili Bowl has been featured in many movies, like The Pelican Brief and State of Play. It has also appeared in "dozens of TV shows." A short film called Breakfast At Ben's was almost entirely filmed inside the restaurant. The virtual reality project Traveling While Black, which explores racism, also used the restaurant as a main filming spot in 2019. Ben's has even been a setting in novels for fictional meetings.
Ben and Virginia Ali were honored by being added to the D.C. Hall of Fame. In 1999, the alley next to the restaurant was renamed "Ben Ali Way" to celebrate their contributions.
What People Say About Ben's
In 2004, the James Beard Foundation recognized Ben's as one of the "down-home eateries that have carved out a special place on the American culinary landscape." Food writers have praised its "sensational" half-smokes and "addictive" chili. In 2009, Bon Appétit magazine named Ben's one of the country's top ten "Best Chili Spots." While most reviews are positive, a 2016 The Washington Post review gave it one star.
Images for kids
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A colorful mural on the side of Ben's Chili Bowl.
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See also
In Spanish: Ben's Chili Bowl para niños
- List of James Beard America's Classics
