Bens Chili Bowl

Em Hall

Celebration of Virginia Ali's 90th Birthday Friends and family from near and far recently gathered in celebration of the 90th birthday of Virginia Ali, the beloved matriarch of Ben’s Chili Bowl. With moving tributes, beautiful musical performances, and many moments of laughter and joy, the evening honored a true icon of DC. Special thank you to Celebrity Chef and TV Personality Carla Hall and Chef and Restaurateur Alexander Smalls for emceeing the evening, and to Mayor Muriel Bowser… (truncated)

Em Hall

DATE: TUESDAY, AUGUST 22nd TIME: 12:00 NOON PRESS CONFERENCE, FOLLOWED BY CELEBRATION AT 1:30PM PLACE: BEN’S CHILI BOWL, 1213 U ST, NW Ben’s Chili Bowl began as a dream of Ben & Virginia Ali, and with their $5,000 life savings, the young couple first opened the doors of their now iconic restaurant on August 22, 1958. For over 65 years, Ben’s has been a staple in Washington, DC serving locals, celebrities, presidents, and tourists from around the world. All of us at Ben’s are humbled… (truncated)

Em Hall

On August 22, 2023, Ben’s Chili Bowl will turn 65 years young. But it’s not just a birthday for Ben’s. It’s a celebration of DC’s African American history, culture, and character. It’s a celebration of our city’s resilience. DC’s people have a long history of bouncing back from hard times. Our Black community is front and center in this story, and Ben’s is a perfect case study - a study in our quest for freedom and its ongoing re-definition. From the 1770s, DC’s Black population str… (truncated)

Em Hall

Ben's Chili Bowl is excited to announce that our world-famous Chili and Half Smokes are now available in the prepared food sections and hot bars in Giant stores throughout Washington, D.C., Maryland, Virginia, and Delaware! This first-of-its-kind retail distribution partnership for Ben's brings our Original and Spicy Half Smokes, Chili Con Carne, Turkey Chili, and the secret Chili Sauce that cannot be purchased anywhere else, so customers can enjoy our favorite family recipes in the… (truncated)

Em Hall

Over the past 63 years, Ben’s Chili Bowl has had the honor of welcoming countless guests, whom we now consider to be family. With all the ups and downs that we’ve experienced, we’ve always had a lot of fun with our community. We have so many wonderful memories! In recent years, we thought it would be nice to do a Ben’s song that reflects the true spirit of DC culture, and as ideas were being tossed around, many friends and guests reminded us that two things are integral parts of DC:… (truncated)

Em Hall

Em Hall

Acclaimed Restaurateur to be honored at the RAMMYS Capital Achievement Reception Restaurant Association Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) today announced restaurateur Virginia Ali will be honored with the 2019 Duke Zeibert Capital Achievement Award at a reception on Monday, April 29 at 5pm. This is one of the twenty-one awards presented during the RAMMY Awards season and is named in honor of legendary Washington restaurateur Duke Zeibert. The honoree is selected by RAMW’s Executive Com… (truncated)

Em Hall

Thank you to Grubhub for featuring Ben’s Chili Bowl in an exclusive video this Black History Month! By 1955, DC became the first major American-city majority Black.  Our city was an inviting destination for African Americans fleeing a hostile South during the Great Migration.  By 1960, we became the first major American-city voting majority Black.  There was no stopping Black progress by the early 1960s when civil rights leaders in The Student Non-Violent Coordinating Committee (SNC… (truncated)

Em Hall

April 15, 2019—Washington, DC —Traveling While Black, directed by Academy Award Winner Roger Ross Williams, will have its Washington, DC premiere during this year’s Washington, DC International Film Festival on April 28 and April 29 (filmfestdc.org). Traveling While Black is a 20-minute 3D, 360-degree virtual reality documentary filmed in Washington’s iconic Ben’s Chili Bowl restaurant. The VR experience will immerse the viewer in the long history of restricted movement for Black Am… (truncated)

Em Hall

On August 22 this year Ben’s Chili Bowl will turn 60.  But it’s not just a birthday for Ben’s.  It’s a celebration of DC’s African American history, culture and character.  It’s a celebration of our city’s resilience. DC’s people have a long history of bouncing back from hard times.   Our Black community is front and center in this story and Ben’s is a perfect case study – a study in our quest of freedom and it’s ongoing re-definition. From the 1770s, DC’s Black population struggled… (truncated)

Em Hall

Ben's Chili Bowl co-founder Virginia Ali reflects on the last 60 years of upheaval, uplift and community building in the heart of Washington D.C., via USA Today

Em Hall

You will be missed and forever loved… Ben’s Chili Bowl and its extended family in our community are devastated by the news of the passing of our friend Chef Anthony Bourdain. Anthony had visited Ben’s on numerous occasions bringing his keen intellect, humor, wit and critique of our Half-Smoke, which he loved. After biting into a half-smoke for the first time, he quipped, “What is this? This is a different animal altogether. It tastes good.” Anthony Bourdain lived and loved the motto… (truncated)

Em Hall

The Ben’s Chili Bowl Family is heartbroken to announce the loss of our beloved friend, brother, mentor, father-figure, and historian extraordinaire, Mr. Marshall Brown. After a life filled with hard work, service, activism, struggle, political empowerment through campaign management, Marshall was recruited by us to serve as host, ambassador, and historian for Ben’s Chili Bowl. Although he was “semi-retired” at the time, Marshall greeted, embraced, wowed, and befriended countless tou… (truncated)

Em Hall

The chili cheese dogs at Ben's Chili Bowl are a DC staple. Visitors also stay for the milkshakes and the good vibes! via INSIDER

Em Hall

Larry visits the DC institution Ben's Chili Bowl which is celebrating its 55th birthday. He talks about the history and what makes the place so special with Ben's son and wife.