Signature Chili Con Carne
Heat & Eat
Ben’s legendary chili is spicy, savory, and great on its own or as a condiment for all of your hot dogs, half smokes, burgers, and fries! It’s just like the chili sauce that adorns Ben’s half-smoked, but with added beans.
DC has no shortage of historic landmarks, but when it comes to restaurants, Ben’s is right up there with the greats. Since its founding in the U Street Corridor by Ben & Virginia Ali back in 1958, it’s become a landmark not just for its signature offering – a thick, spicy, smoky “half-smoke” sausage doused with a family-recipe chili sauce – but for its venerable history as a civil rights icon. Today, Ben’s Chili Bowl isn’t just a DC legend; it’s one of the most famous restaurants in America. It’s still run by Virginia along with her and Ben’s sons Nizam and Kamal, and not much has changed since it first opened all those decades ago: locals and tourists alike still line up for a half-smoke that’s been griddled to a deep golden-brown, with its signature snap and unique flavor that’s unlike any other sausage out there.
This package includes your choice of 4 or 6 pints of Chili Con Carne
- Each pint serves 1-2 people
- Kit ships frozen with ice packs, may thaw in transit.
- Store chili in the freezer for up to 6 months or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To Serve
- Thaw first for best results.
- Place in the microwave or on the stovetop. Heat to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
- Chili Con Carne – Kidney Beans (Dark Red Kidney Beans, Water, Sugar, Salt, Calcium Chloride, Disodium Edta (To Preserve Color)), Ground Beef, Water, Green Bell Peppers, Diced Onions, Ben’s Gourmet Chili Spice Blend (Chili Pepper And Other Spices, Salt, Garlic Powder), Corn Starch, Onions, Vine Ripened Tomatoes, Seasoned Salt (Salt, Sugar, Spices (Including Paprika, Celery Seed, Turmeric), Onion, Corn Starch, Garlic, Extractives Of Paprika & Natural Flavor)
Home of DC's Famous Half-Smokes Since 1958
Ben’s Chili Bowl has long been celebrated in television, print, film, and digital media as a Washington, D.C. cultural icon. It has been featured on major shows like No Reservations, Man vs. Food, The Oprah Winfrey Show, Good Morning America, The Daily Show, and CBS Sunday Morning, and has even appeared in films including The Pelican Brief and State of Play.
The restaurant has welcomed generations of presidents, politicians, musicians, and celebrities—from Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald to President Barack Obama, Kevin Hart, Serena Williams, and Bono. Its walls and murals display decades of notable visitors, underscoring its deep roots in the city’s culture, community, and history.
Home of DC's Famous Half-Smokes Since 1958
DC has no shortage of historic landmarks – The White House and the Lincoln Memorial, to name a couple – but when it comes to restaurants, Ben’s is right up there with the greats. Since its founding in the U Street Corridor by Ben & Virginia Ali back in 1958, it’s become a landmark not just for its signature offering – a thick, spicy, smoky “half-smoke” sausage doused with a family-recipe chili sauce and topped with mustard and onions – but for its venerable history as a civil rights icon. Back during the 1968 riots that devastated the neighborhood, for example, Ben’s was the only restaurant permitted to stay open past curfew, feeding activists, police officers, and firefighters alike.
Today, Ben’s Chili Bowl isn’t just a DC legend; it’s one of the most famous restaurants in America. It’s still run by Virginia along with her and Ben’s sons Nizam and Kamal, and not much has changed since it first opened all those decades ago: locals and tourists alike still line up for a half-smoke that’s been griddled to a deep golden-brown, with its signature snap and unique flavor that’s unlike any other sausage out there. It’s not just a restaurant; it’s an experience – and it’s shipping nationwide!
