Ben’s Chili Bowl

Offers warming chili (in a bowl or served on other things like fries or hot dogs) at very reasonable prices. This place is crazy famous, so it’s almost a tourist attraction in itself.

I am happy that Ben’s Chili Bowl finally joined the stadium vendors. Visit early since the lines can get long!

Omg!!! first time there because my wife told me about it and I must say that i was pleased… the place was cleaned and food itself gave me chills it was that good no other words needed. I will return

Is good average chilly you have to try this place for it’s popularity, and the arts is worth the visit alone.

This meal was not going to win me any «health point’s» but after reading other reviewer’s rave about this — when in Rome…
There was definitely a line when I arrived but I did not have to wait long for my chilli cheesy goodness to be placed in my hands. Grabbing extra napkins (and another beer), I headed to my seat before I had my first bite. The bowl is served with a fork and for good reason — it is not the daintiest food to eat and the fork made it easier to get a perfect chili/​cheese/​fry ratio. This dish is a total indulgence and I was reminded of this after each and every bite. Some people go to ball parks for the hot dogs but give me some good chili cheese fries and you have yourself a happy camper.
The cost of this dish was on par for most ballpark foods I have had (read: high) but at least with my experience the fries were fresh and not one of the components was luke warm (which would have made for a very unhappy Unilocaler).

Ben’s Shitty Bowl: I don’t know which was worse, the food or the service. Went there on Aug. 30^th around 6 pm after a long day touring the monuments. We were a group of 5 with 2 little ones and really looking forward to eating here.
We left annoyed and disappointed. The chili did not taste homemade. It tasted like Hormel right out of the can!
The food was served to us without utensils, napkins and it was cold. We had to hunt down our waitress for drink refills, which even with ice, were warm. Odd. Cold food and warm homemade sweet tea.
The only adult male with our party was feeding his 1 year old son when an older guy who had been lurking around the place looking around stopped at our table and began to bombard him with inappropriate questions and a lecture that culminated with him saying «be a father to your kids.» He later pointed to the wall and said he was the owner.
Not once did he ask how was the food or service.
We were rushed the entire time and were made to feel as if we were in the way when we were sitting there waiting to order and when we were preparing to leave with the kids.
I WILL NEVER EAT THERE AGAIN. And I do not recommend it!

Super fast Service, yummy yummy food that’s totally not good for you. The only complaint is that the onions are overpowering, i wouldn’t get them on my dog next time. The chili cheese fries are an indulgence, so i totally went for it. Really impressed with getting people through the line!

It’s okay …
Albeit we to the one in the airport but the chili was just okay. Well priced though!

This review is only for the BCB inside Nationals Park.
I ALWAYS get Ben’s Chili Bowl at Nationals Park because in the grand scheme of ballpark food, this is pretty good. Good, but expensive. And maybe smaller than at the original location? But definitely more expensive than the original location. If you get two half smokes and two Cokes it’s $ 30. To me, the price tag has always been worth it because this wasn’t your average hot dog and it was part of the fun of going to DC for a game.
The last time I went to BCB at Nat’s Park (4÷18÷15) the experience was utterly ridiculous. We got in line behind 3 or 4 other people as they were announcing the starting line up. Plentyyyyyyyy of time to order and get to our seats, right? Wrong. We got our food at the end of the first inning. AN INNING. It took them an entire freaking major league inning to get us two hot dogs and two Cokes. This is MASS PRODUCED food. They aren’t preparing anything gourmet. There was barely a line. AN ENTIRE INNING.
During this inning, I witnessed the most incompetent food service employees on the planet. There was one woman doing all of the serving. The other bozos were standing around, eating fries. Yes, that’s right. I witnessed the «chef» reach into the fry bin (?) and grab fries to eat– hello, health department? It’s hard work standing around watching someone else work — gotta have a snack! The woman doing the serving would pause what she was doing every time a drop of chili or cheese would hit the counter to wipe it up — you’re serving chili, that’s going to happen. Wait till there’s a lull in customers. The guy doing the drinks took literally more than 10 minutes to fill up two Cokes. I’m not exaggerating. I actually timed him.
The only thing that prevented them from getting 1 star is the fact that I actually like the food.
Did I mention it took an ENTIRE INNING (with barely a line) to get our food?!

Obviously, not like the original. But compared to all other ballpark food at this stadium, it ranks averageish.
The quality of the chili is incredibly less than that at the original location. That includes the chili and the dog. The dog seemed to be quite overdone, the chili was relatively flavorless. but like I said, this is compared to the original. As far as ballpark fare goes, it is decent. The cheese fries were pretty bad. Faker than fake cheese on top of elementary school lunch fries. The guy that took my order, no offense, was kind of dumb. Didn’t think they had any trays, despite them being right in front of him. Took him a long time to punch a few buttons on the register, didn’t pour my drink, despite him not even taking anyone else’s order.
I would not come back here the next time I’m at a Nationals game. I’ll opt for a Nats Dog instead.

Ben’s Chili Bowl at Nats Park shrunk the size of the half smokes by half and kept the price the same (8.00)… WTF?

In general I would probably give Ben’s Chili Bowl a solid 4 stars, but location is everything & Ben’s in Nats Park is really as good as it gets for me. Like many baseball fans, hot dogs are standard when going to a baseball game. Since my go to is usually a chili dog, I feel like it’s silly not to go for the better chili & a half smoke when I’m here. Usually it’s my first stop when I enter the park, but if the line’s out of control, I’ll wait until later in the game to go. There are 3 locations in the stadium, but I’ve only been to 2 of them: the one near section 109 and the one in the 300s on the same side of the stadium (3^rd base side if you’re not familiar). Both locations are great & the one in the 300s section really piled on the chili and cheese. Not sure where my fries were underneath it, but I can’t say I was mad about it. Overall I think Ben’s at Nats Park is a great twist on a classic baseball tradition. See ya next time I’m at a game!

Had the chili cheese fries at the Nationals game for the first time… they were delicious! Good spice kick and perfect snack during the game.

Another must in DC!
Bf and I tried this at a Nationals game. He’s not a big fan of chili, but Ben’s is pretty dang good! Just the right amount of spice; and it didn’t give our tummies any issues. It’s $ 8 a bowl, a bit spendy, but that’s stadium food for you. I wish I could’ve tried the half smoke too… Maybe next time!

Pretty good. Not the most amazing thing ever, which is for some reason what everyone seems to say about BCB. I think it must have just been around in D.C. long enough to get the reputation as a must-​try because it’s more an icon than it is good. The chili is very good, nice spice to it – but not the best chili I’ve ever had or even in the top three. The hotdogs are delicious. The fries are skin-​on and tasty, but also pretty standard.
I would say the food in general is a three-​star, A-​OK, rating. So if you’re going to try the original location at U St., it’s worth tasting. But they definitely go down to a «meh» for the Nats stadium location because of how ridiculously expensive they are. Two hotdogs, one cheese fry and two bottles of water — $ 30.50. Also, the workers are somewhat rude and discombobulated.
Pro tip: Don’t pay for chili-​cheese fries if you’re getting a chili dog. They cover the entire bun and everything in chili, which makes the dog tough to eat, but it gives you plenty of excess chili for your fries.

Prob the best Stadium food we got that day. The half smoke fully loaded. Was excellent, very tasty.

I’ve given Ben’s a few chances already at their U Street location to reassure how I really felt about it… when I was intoxicated, when I was sober, and when I was in between — but it just doesn’t cut it for me. Sure, I understand that it’s one of those «must eats» in DC, but to me, there really isn’t anything special or memorable about it. I’ve had it all — the half smoke, the chili cheese fries, the veggie dog, etc. — but it all tastes mediocre to me.
My boyfriend suggested stopping by during the game, and although I’m not really into hot dogs, I’m into chili… and Ben’s definitely doesn’t have the best chili I’ve ever had. For those who haven’t had it, it’s worth trying out to see how it is, but for myself — I didn’t think it was worth trying over and over again.

This evaluation is for Ben’s Chili Bowl at the Washington National’s Stadium, not the regular location. Although it’s not as good as the restaurant it’s among the very best you’ll find at a MLB ballpark.
Being placed at a corner on the ground level and near n main thoroughfare allows it to meet fans demands for a chili dog but doesn’t solve their need to develop a more efficient way to move patrons through the line.
Despite having very limited choices on billboard menu it works just fine for the ball park. If you’re coming to the park for the first time or perhaps the only time then it’s a must stop. Ben’s Chili Bowl is 5 Stars BUT Ben’s Chili Ballpark Bowl is only 4.

Not bad — this little DC gem allows for you to get a little local flavor to offset the bitter pill you swallow when the Nats play unpredictably and lose. A bit of caution, the lines are long and sometimes you will get a skim of chili as if they’re trying to ration the chili through the game.
Pay the price and enjoy the mess!

My buddy and I came to the Nationals game tonight and I knew for sure that I had to try some Bens Chili Bowl. It totally lived up to the hype!
We had to wait in line for about 20 minutes to place our order but it went by quick since there is a tv showing the game right above your head the whole time in line. Got up to the front and placed my order. Half Smoke all the way and an order of chili cheese fries with shredded cheese and onions. That and a Coke came out to $ 19.50. A little steep but you are at the ballpark AND it is a ton of food. Cant complain.
Walked over and found somewhere to put our stuff down and dug in. Ratings of food…
Half Smoke– Freaking delicious! Half beef/​half pork grilled to a nice char. They top this thing with mustard, chili, 2 kinds of cheese (nacho and shredded) and some onions too. The sausage itself was tasty. Hot, spicy… overall amazing. I pussed out and did mine with a knife and fork job after seeing chili cover my buddies forearm (he ate it with his hands). I would definitely get this again.
Chili Cheese Fries– A mound of good fries topped with their chili, shredded cheese and I got onions on top of mine. Really really good combo. Their chili is meaty, pasty, rich and spicy. Its one of, if not the best chili I have had. I gobbled those down too.
This meal should be known as the «I’m not on a diet and I want to grub down» meal. Or «The big mans special». If I had to do it all over again I would order these exact 2 things. The only reason it doesn’t get 5 stars is that it was a tad too messy and it costs a grip. Other than those two things, I highly enjoyed my meal.