ORDER
Pick Up
Welcome to Ben's Chili Bowl! Order online for pickup at our U Street or H Street locations. This is often the fastest way to get your Ben's fix, especially during busy times. Search to find your closest pickup location and skip the line!
Delivery
U Street Location
H Street Location
Catering
Our boxed meals and buffet-style catering options are perfect for your corporate outings, family reunions, office events and house parties! Contact us to explore the right option for your event.
Nationwide Shipping on Goldbelly!
Visit Goldbelly.com to ship our half smokes, chili, banana pudding, and meal kits anywhere in the US. Perfect for bringing the taste of Ben’s to your door, or sharing Ben's with family and friends.
Merchandise
Shop Ben's t-shirts and merchandise at HalfSmokes.com! From our classic yellow tee and cozy gray hoodie to coffee mugs and aprons, add to your collection with these must-have items.
Breaking Barriers with Chili: The Story of Virginia Ali
Virginia Ali opened Ben's Chili Bowl on U Street in 1958 with her husband Ben, a Howard University student she had married that year. She was 24. The restaurant became a neighborhood institution and a gathering place for civil rights leaders — and when Washington burned after Dr. King's assassination in 1968, Ben's stayed open.
Over the past sixty-five years, U Street has changed many times. Virginia Ali kept coming to work. She still does, pearls and all, and remains one of the most recognized faces in the city.
Breaking Barriers with Chili tells her story in full. A good read for anyone who loves Ben's, loves DC, or wants to understand what it actually takes to build something that lasts.
Gift Card
Purchase gift cards online ($5-$100), or in-store at our U Street and H Street locations. Perfect for every occasion, including birthdays and holidays!