TV Restaurants

Is Ben's Chili Bowl Still Open? Update (Washington, DC)

Open reported

As of September 2026, Ben's Chili Bowl is listed open on benschilibowl.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Primary source
benschilibowl.com ·

Last verified

What the source shows: The business's own website, checked 2026-09-08, displays a 2026 copyright notice, active online ordering, and text stating the original U Street location remains open.

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What happened after Best Thing I Ever Ate?

Ben's Chili Bowl is a Washington, D.C. counter-service restaurant on U Street known for its half-smokes and chili, that appeared in a legends-themed episode of the show. The business describes itself on its own website as a Washington landmark operating since 1958. A check of that website, benschilibowl.com, on 2026-09-08 found the site displaying a 2026 copyright notice, an active online-ordering and delivery system, and a note that the original U Street location remains open. The site also lists additional locations, a retail grocery line, and group and catering services. No independent third-party source was checked for this record, so the finding rests on the business's own current site content rather than external confirmation.

Featured on Best Thing I Ever Ate

Season / episode
Season 10, Episode 11
Original air date
Not confirmed
Episode title
Genuine Legends
What was featured
Washington DC half-smoke and chili landmark featured in a legends episode
Role
Featured restaurant
Name on the broadcast
Ben's Chili Bowl

Frequently asked questions

Is Ben's Chili Bowl still open in 2026?

As of September 2026, Ben's Chili Bowl is listed open on benschilibowl.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

What happened to Ben's Chili Bowl after Best Thing I Ever Ate?

Ben's Chili Bowl is a Washington, D.C. counter-service restaurant on U Street known for its half-smokes and chili, that appeared in a legends-themed episode of the show. As of September 2026, Ben's Chili Bowl is listed open on benschilibowl.com, reviewed by our team on September 7, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.

Where is Ben's Chili Bowl located?

1213 U Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009. That is the address on the record as of September 7, 2026.

What season and episode of Best Thing I Ever Ate featured Ben's Chili Bowl?

Season 10, Episode 11 of Best Thing I Ever Ate. The episode is titled “Genuine Legends”.

Every status on this site carries a confidence label and a date, and names the source it rests on. Read the Editorial & Corrections Policy for what each label means and how quickly we act on corrections. The questions above are generated from this record's own published fields — we never publish a question we cannot answer from the data.

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Visit info

Address
1213 U Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009
Venue type
restaurant
Official website
benschilibowl.com

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Record btiea-0793 · last verified .