Is Mike's Chili Parlor Still Open? Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives Update

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Season 27, Episode 11 Aired October 27, 2017

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured Mike's Chili Parlor in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood in the 'All in the Family' episode (S27E11), which aired October 27, 2017. According to KFFM, Guy Fieri explored the secret recipe behind Mike's long-running chili, served at what the restaurant describes as Seattle's oldest chili house. Mike's Chili Parlor has operated in Ballard since 1922 and remains a cash-only, no-frills establishment, according to KFFM. The Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives locations archive lists an earlier appearance by the restaurant from 2007, with this later episode revisiting the business as part of a family-themed segment.

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, Season 2, Episode 4 Aired October 22, 2007

Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives featured Mike's Chili Parlor in Seattle's Ballard neighborhood in the 'Local Flavor' episode, spotlighting the parlor's chili, a fixture at the north end of the Ballard Bridge. Mike's Chili Parlor has operated at that Ballard Bridge location since 1937 and has stayed under the same family's ownership since, according to local coverage. MyBallard reported on 2026-06-05 that the restaurant was hosting the second annual Mike's Chili Parlor Music Festival that summer, held July 31 and August 1, 2026. A Yelp listing for the business, updated August 2026, showed it active with 456 reviews and posted hours running Tuesday through Sunday, closed Mondays, at 1447 NW Ballard Way. The restaurant's own website, mikeschili.com, was live on 2026-09-07 but displayed only a minimal one-line page with no current menu or ordering information.

Food Paradise, Season 15, Episode 8

Food Paradise's "Bodacious Bowls" episode featured Mike's Chili Parlor, a Ballard institution known for its house chili and its chili-topped hamburger, served from a simple counter-service format. The restaurant has operated at its longtime Ballard Way location near the Ballard Locks for decades. According to My Ballard, reporting on 2018-03-15, Mike's Chili Parlor was set to appear on a Travel Channel food program, consistent with the restaurant's history of television features. This appearance adds to the parlor's record of media coverage tied to its long-running chili recipe, and the 2018 report reflects the ongoing local recognition the parlor has received as a fixture of Seattle's Ballard neighborhood dining scene.