Ben's Chili Bowl
| Ben's Chili Bowl | |
|---|---|
Ben's Chili Bowl, Northwest Washington, D.C. | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Established | August 22, 1958 |
| 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 | benschilibowl |
Minnehaha Nickelodeon Theater (now Ben's Chili Bowl) | |
| 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 |
| Designated DCHD | January 11, 1999 |
Ben's Chili Bowl is a restaurant in Washington, D.C., United States, located at 1213 U Street, next to Lincoln Theatre, in the U Street Corridor, also known as the Cardozo/Shaw neighborhood in Northwest D.C. It is known locally for its chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes, and has been part of the U Street neighborhood since its founding in 1958. It was frequented by both police and protesters during the 1968 Washington, D.C., riots, and has been visited by celebrities, such as Anthony Bourdain, Chris Tucker, and President-elect Barack Obama in January 2009.