Ben's Chili Bowl

The most famous Black-owned restaurant in DC doesn’t make the best food in the city, but we never pass up the chance to grab a half-smoke at Ben's Chili Bowl anyways. Inside, you can scan through the photos of visitors from across the decades scattered around the restaurant that tell the history of both Ben's and "Black Broadway." Prepare to wait in line to get some food, which you can eat at the counter or, if you're lucky, at one of the few red booths. There are also some tables in the back that can seat bigger groups. Get the original chili half-smoke with all the fixings, and make sure you ask them to split it. It comes with ridged potato chips, but you can always swap for an order of fries instead.

photo credit: Reema Desai

photo credit: Reema Desai

photo credit: Reema Desai

photo credit: Reema Desai