"Starter Pack" Half Smoke Sausages + Chili Sauce
Ships Nationwide in U.S.
Not eligible for shipping to CanadaA taste of what put Ben’s on the map! Take your pick from Original, Spicy, All-Beef, Hot Italian, Sweet Italian, and Smoked Andouille Sausages, and pair them up with Ben’s famous chili sauce!
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 serves 6-8 people and includes
- 8 Half Smoke Sausages, your choice (each 4 oz.)
- Arrives in 2 packs. Each pack contains 4 sausages
- Chili Sauce (1 pt.)
Half Smoke Sausage Options Include
- Original
- Spicy
- Hot Italian
- Sweet Italian
- Smoked Andouille Sausages
- Kit ships frozen with ice packs, may thaw in transit.
- Store sausages and chili in the freezer for up to 6 months or in the refrigerator for up to 5 days.
To Serve
Sausages
- Defrost before serving.
- Grill, steam, place in the oven, or cook in hot water. For food safety, cook to an internal temperature of 160°F.
Chili
- Thaw first for best results.
- Place in the microwave or on the stovetop. Heat to a minimum internal temperature of 165°F.
- Original Sausage – Pork, Beef, Water, Salt, Dextrose, Corn Syrup Solids, Flavorings, Sodium Nitrite
- Spicy Sausage – Pork, Beef, Water, Salt, Dextrose, Corn Syrup Solids, Flavorings, Sodium Nitrite
- Hot Italian Sausage – Pork, Water, Fennel Seed, Natural Flavorings, Salt & Spices
- Sweet Italian Sausage – Pork, Water, Fennel Seed, Natural Flavorings, Salt & Spices
- Smoked Andouille Sausage – Pork, Water, Garlic, Onion, Salt, Spice Extractives, Spices & Sodium Nitrite
- Chili Sauce – Water; Ground Beef, Corn Starch, Ben’s Gourmet Chili Spice Blend (Chili Pepper And Other Spices, Salt, Garlic Powder), Onions, Vine-ripened Tomatoes, Cayenne Pepper, Salt
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!
