Is Ben's Chili Bowl Still Open? Best Thing I Ever Ate Update
Best Thing I Ever Ate, Season 10 Washington, District of Columbia
Current status
As of October 2026, Ben's Chili Bowl is listed open on benschilibowl.com, reviewed by our team on September 21, 2026; not yet independently confirmed through direct contact.
What the source shows: Ben's Chili Bowl's own site remains active; news coverage confirms the U Street (1213 U St NW) flagship reopened May 1, 2026 after a nine-month renovation and remains open, corroborated by a Yelp listing updated September 2026. How we decide a status →
- Episode Season 10, Episode 11
- Address 1213 U Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20009
- Website benschilibowl.com
- Show map
© OpenStreetMap contributors © CARTO
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.
The episode
Also in Season 10
Season 10: 65 of 90 still open · 1 renamed, moved or under new owners
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Ep 10CANOE
Open -
Ep 10Herb & Wood
Open -
Ep 10Il Toscano
Open -
Ep 1121 Club
Closed -
Ep 11Donut Man
Open - Open
-
Ep 11Nick & Toni's
Open - Open
Nearest restaurants
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Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Open -
Best Thing I Ever Ate · Food Paradise
Open -
Best Thing I Ever Ate
Open -
Food Paradise
Open -
Food Paradise
Open -
Food Paradise
Open
Before you go: Businesses change fast. Always confirm directly with the restaurant — call ahead, or check its own current website or social media — before making plans around anything on this page.
Sources we checked
- benschilibowl.com https://benschilibowl.com/
We work hard to keep every status accurate and dated, but restaurants change fast and our sources aren't perfect. If something here is wrong — a status, a name, an address, anything — tell us what you're seeing and where you saw it, and we'll check it.
Record btiea-0793 · checked by Cal Marchetti.