Black and white photo of a group of people standing in line outside Ben's Chili Bowl on a city street, with brick buildings in the background.

OUR STORY

Our History

Colorful graphic featuring black and white photos of three people, with the caption 'Ben Ali, Founder' in a blue banner.

Since 1958, Ben's Chili Bowl has been more than a restaurant—it’s a cornerstone of Washington, D.C.'s community and culture. Ben Ali, born in Trinidad, West Indies, came to Washington to realize the American Dream. With his new love Virginia Rollins, they set off to build something extraordinary on U Street.

During the D.C. riots in 1968 following Dr. Martin Luther King Jr’s assassination, Stokely Carmichael obtained special permission to keep Ben's open after curfew to provide food and shelter for those working to restore order. Ben’s donated food to the March on Washington and the Poor People's Campaign. Ben’s was a meeting place for the movement. When Metro construction threatened to close businesses in the late 1980s, Virginia Ali and one associate kept us open through years of disruption.

Our walls tell the story—covered with photos of famous visitors, including President Barack Obama, Dave Chappelle, many civil rights activists like Martin Luther King Jr., John Lewis and countless community leaders. Ben Ali Way, the alley next to our U Street location, was officially renamed in 1999 to honor our founder. In 2004, Ben’s received James Beard Award recognition and has been featured everywhere from CNN to Netflix's "Somebody Feed Phil" and “Cross” on Prime Video.

Ben's Beliefs

A man sitting in a restaurant holding a burger, with people and framed photos on the wall behind him, and a woman wearing headphones in the background.

Group of people at a store opening event for Ben's retail launch at Giant Foods grocery stores, including an elderly woman holding a hot dog, with a sign behind them that reads "PRODUCE."

A smiling elderly woman in a white shirt with a pearl necklace, yellow earrings, and a name tag, standing in front of a red background with books. Text overlay reads: 'Breaking Barriers with Chili,' 'December 08, 2023,' 'Book Release: Virginia Ali, "

A joyful elderly woman with gray hair, wearing a white blouse, a pearl necklace, and gold earrings, smiling and winking against a dark background with golden lights. Text on the image announces Virginia Ali's 90th birthday celebration on December 17,

Group of four people standing together in a decorated room, celebrating Virginia Ali's 89th birthday with a fundraising event for the Ben's Chili Bowl Foundation on December 17, 2022.

Inside Ben's Chili Bowl, a celebration with a cake, cupcakes, flowers, and two people posing for a photo, including a man holding a bouquet, to mark 64 years of the business on August 22, 2022.

Two people, a man with dark hair and sunglasses and a woman with gray hair and sunglasses, smiling and shaking hands in front of a food stand with signs for Ben's Chili Bowl, thick shakes, and smoked foods.

A mural featuring portraits of American figures, including a woman with the American flag design on her clothing and a man with dreadlocks, along with skyline imagery in the background. The mural is accompanied by an overlay text describing the unvei

A young girl receiving a bag from a worker at a Ben's restaurant during the pandemic, with a sign for thick shakes in the background.

A crowd gathered outside a new restaurant opening on H Street, decorated with balloons and signage, with emergency vehicles present.

Grand opening of a Ben's Chili Bowl restaurant at DCA with red, yellow, and white balloon arch, and some people inside the restaurant.

A portrait of an elderly man with glasses, smiling and wearing a yellow shirt. The image has text overlay mentioning the date October 07, 2009, and the note 'Ben Ali Passes Away,' indicating it's a tribute to Ben Ali, who is remembered fondly.

President Barack Obama smiling and greeting people at a diner or restaurant, engaging in handshakes during a visit on July 10, 2009.

Sign for Ben's Chili Bowl restaurant inside a restaurant or food court area with customers standing in line.

Interior of a bar with wooden decor, multiple TVs mounted on the wall, and a counter with bar stools. The caption reads 'December 26, 2008 Ben’s Next Door Opens.'

A bronze medal with a portrait of an elderly man with a bald head and bow tie. The medal has engraved text around the edge: 'JAMES B. FOUNTAIN NATIONAL AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE.' The image includes a caption in yellow text: 'June 20, 2004 Ben's receives

Street sign reading 'BEN' with an overlay text indicating the date January 19, 1999, and that the alley next to The Bowl is renamed 'Ben Ali Way.'

A woman giving a speech in front of a microphone at Ben's 40th anniversary celebration on August 22, 1998, with four people standing behind her, and a banner that reads 'Ben's' in the background.

Construction site of Metro's Green Line in front of The Bowl, showing workers and buildings from 1989.

Black and white historic photograph showing a soldier standing on a street during the 1968 D.C. Riots. Buildings with damage are visible in the background. The image includes text about the riots, dated August 4, 1968, mentioning special permission g

Black and white photo of civil rights activists, including Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., protesting during the March on Washington on August 28, 1963. The protesters are holding signs and speaking passionately.

A black and white photo of a crowd of African American people protesting, holding signs that say 'CC' and 'Poor People'. The caption says this took place on May 30, 1960, during the Poor People's Campaign, where Ben's Chili Bowl donated food to parti

The photo shows the exterior of a restaurant with signs indicating hot dogs, subs, and chili bowls, with a large announcement stating that Ben's Chili Bowl opened for business on August 22, 1958, on U Street.

Ben’s Today

An elderly woman smiling inside a fast food restaurant, leaning on the counter with her right hand, with employees working behind the counter.

A woman in a white shirt cooking hot dogs on a grill with a bun nearby, standing in front of a yellow sign that says 'HOT DOG' in the background.

Today, we're proud to continue this legacy while sharing our merchandise nationwide through HalfSmokes.com, and our famous food through Goldbelly. With D.C. locations at U Street, H Street, Reagan National Airport, Dulles Airport, the Washington Convention Center, Nationals Park, Northwest Stadium, plus retail products in all 166 Giant Foods stores plus select Costco locations, Ben's reaches more families than ever.

Our beloved 92 year old matriarch, Virginia Ali, continues to lead the way, embodying the values that make Ben's special: treating people the way you want to be treated.

A crowd of people waiting outside Ben's Chili Bowl, a historic restaurant in Washington, D.C., known for chili and burgers, with signage and a colorful mural on the building.

Four people, three women and one man, standing behind a counter at a fast-food restaurant named Chili Bens, with menu signs in the background.

Three men working in a fast food kitchen, cooking food on grills, with a menu visible above them.

Street view of a building under construction with scaffolding and workers, with a sign for a business called 'Celt Smoke,' and construction barriers in the foreground.

A small restaurant with signs advertising chili bowl, hot dogs, and subs, featuring a window service counter and storefront signage.

A man smiling and gesturing with his hand while speaking at a podium outdoors in front of a mural of two smiling people. The mural is painted on a brick building with signage for Ben's. The sky is cloudy.

Black and white photo of a man and a woman smiling at a wedding, with a bride and groom miniature figurine on her dress, and an art piece with a crying face hanging on the wall behind them.

Four people with dark skin and afro hairstyles outside a brick building with a storefront, two men standing and two women sitting in a pink dune buggy with a clear windshield, one woman wearing glasses, in an urban setting.

Black and white photograph of a vintage city street with theater and storefronts, cars parked along the curb, and pedestrians walking on the sidewalk.

Barack Obama shaking hands with a man at a counter inside a fast food restaurant, smiling and engaging with others around him.

A man with glasses, a beard, and wearing a gray knit hat and a black blazer stands in front of a restaurant called 'The Chili Bowl.' He is making a peace sign with his right hand and wearing a black T-shirt with colorful text and a red heart pin. Ins

Three people, an older woman and two younger men, standing outside a yellow and red Chinese restaurant called Ben's Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C. They are smiling and posing for a photo.

An elderly woman in a yellow blazer standing next to a young man in a blue suit with a cane, inside a fast-food restaurant with a red and yellow menu board in the background.

Two men smiling and sitting at a restaurant table, with one man having his arm around the other. The man on the left is wearing a black shirt, and the man on the right is wearing a black leather jacket and a graphic T-shirt with a fire and lion desig

Two smiling people standing in front of a mural of a man holding a cup. The person on the left is a man with a mustache, wearing a black shirt. The person on the right is a woman with short dark hair, wearing a white textured blouse and a necklace wi