While Washington, DC, grows more and more impressive as a fine dining destination, with more of that in future entries, we also take considerable pleasure in the more folksy sort of eating. One of the classic spots for that is Ben’s Chili Bowl, a fixture on U Street since 1958, and now in the midst of a neighborhood that’s humming with new shops and restaurants. It boasts the patronage of plenty of politicians and stars, and these days, you can see everything from punk to suits.
The signature dishes are the chili dog and the chili half-smoke, the latter being a sausage that’s smaller than a Polish but coarser than a hot dog. It’s a Washington specialty, difficult to find if you go very far from the District. They’re sometimes found in a spicy version, although not at Ben’s, where the spice comes from the tasty, pepper-laced chili that’s poured over the sausage and bun. The usual mustard and chopped onion also are present. Some Washingtonians defined the half-smoke to us as "a spicy hot dog;" others as "just another hot dog."
Coming into Ben’s, the grill in the front window is the center of the action, a few steps from the equally busy counter area where orders are placed. Though the room seems small at first glance, there are more seating areas farther back–this is actually an old movie theater. Orders are brought to the table.
The chili burgers are good, and have been lauded in national publications and blogs like A Hamburger Today. But it’s the half-smokes that make us grin.
Ben’s closes at 2 a.m. Monday through Thursday, 4 a.m. Friday and Saturday, and 8 p.m. on Sunday, the only day they don’t do breakfast. And, yes, you can get a bowl of chili or a half-smoke for breakfast. Naturally.
Ben’s Chili Bowl
1213 U St., NW, Washington, DC
1-202-667-0909
Metro: U Street/African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Mon.-Sat., Lunch & Dinner Sun
Credit cards: None
Wheelchair access: Poor
Smoking: No
Entrees: $4-$7
And a few updates on a couple of old favorites:
After the terrible fire, Eastern Market is in the process of rebuilding. Meanwhile, it’s relocated in a temporary structure across the street. We’ve written about Market Lunch before, and we were glad to see it’s made the move, along with several of the vendors.
The fabulous crab cakes are still there for both breakfast and lunch–as you can see, we checked–and here’s a chance to try scrapple, if you’ve never had it. Scrapple, a Philadelphia-born side dish, is meat scraps ground up and mixed with cornmeal, cooked and poured into a loaf pan, sort of a polenta meat loaf. Slices are fried up to go with eggs. The taste is delicate, but with a little richness at the same time. Worth investigating, we think.
We can’t imagine why a visitor would pass up either of those or the blue buckwheat pancakes found weekends only, but the other specialty item is the Brick, a sandwich that packs an egg, melted cheese, fried potato slices and crisp bacon into a hamburger bun. And we thought Crown Candy was a cardiologist’s best friend….
The market is still great, although smaller; the weekend outdoor market and the arts and craft fair also continue.
Market Lunch
225 7th St., SE, Washington, DC
1-202-547-8444
Metro: Eastern Market
Breakfast & Lunch Wed.-Sun.
Credit cards: No
Wheelchair access: Fair
Smoking: No
Entrees: $4-$10
And the great Florida Avenue Grill, another of our favorite spots for breakfast and other soul food, continues to give a warm welcome and offer biscuits that fly off the plate. We wrote about it here.
It’s not fancy, but it’s real. When we left this time, the man at the cash register smiled and reminded us that they’re now open very late, "two or so, so when you’re out partying, don’t forget about us, now."
Florida Avenue Grill
1100 Florida Ave., NW, Washington, DC
1-202-265-1586
Metro: U St./African American Civil War Memorial/Cardozo
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner Tues.-Sat., Breakfast and Lunch Sun.
Credit cards: All major
Wheelchair access: Poor
Smoking: No
Entrees: $7-$13
Comments
2 responses
Great entry! Both Ben’s Chili Bowl and Eastern Market were favorites during our years in DC. The cheese shop at the market was fantastic. And Columbia, MO is undertaking an effort to build their own market pavilion. Hooray.
this place so good i cant stand it makes my toes curl when i eat it!!!!