Ben's Chili Bowl

Ben's Chili Bowl is a restaurant in Washington, D.C., United States, located at 1213 U Street, next to Lincoln Theatre, in the U Street Corridor, also known as the Cardozo/Shaw neighborhood in Northwest D.C. It is known locally for its chili dogs, half-smokes, and milkshakes, and has been part of the U Street neighborhood since its founding in 1958. It was frequented by both police and protesters during the 1968 Washington, D.C., riots, and has been visited by celebrities, such as Anthony Bourdain, Chris Tucker, and President-elect Barack Obama in January 2009.