Ben's Chili Bowl

Ben's Chili Bowl is not just a restaurant — it is a Washington DC institution that has been serving half-smokes and chili dogs from the same U Street counter since 1958. For families visiting DC, eating at Ben's is as essential as visiting the Lincoln Memorial, and the meal costs less than a single museum gift shop purchase.

The half-smoke is the reason to come, and it is a food item unique to Washington DC. This is not a regular hot dog. A half-smoke is a larger, spicier, meatier sausage made with a blend of pork and beef, smoked to give it a distinctive snap when you bite through the casing.

Topped with Ben's homemade chili, mustard, and chopped onions, it is a messy, satisfying, completely unpretentious meal. Kids who eat hot dogs will love the half-smoke. Kids who think they are too sophisticated for hot dogs will love it even more once they taste the difference.

The atmosphere is quintessential American diner — a long counter with stools, booths along the wall, and walls covered with photographs of everyone who has eaten here over the past six-plus decades. Presidents (Obama ate here on inauguration night), civil rights leaders (the restaurant was a gathering place during the movement), musicians (U Street was once known as Black Broadway), and international celebrities all stare down from the walls. For kids studying American history, the photos turn lunch into a visual timeline.

The civil rights history is worth sharing with your children. During the 1968 riots following Martin Luther King Jr.' s assassination, U Street was devastated.

Ben's Chili Bowl was one of the only businesses that survived, feeding both community members and the National Guard troops during the crisis. The restaurant's survival made it a symbol of resilience and continuity for the U Street neighborhood. The mural on the exterior wall depicting prominent African Americans is a photo opportunity and a conversation starter.

Practically, this is counter-service fast food at its finest. Order at the counter, get your food in minutes, and eat at a stool, booth, or standing up if the place is packed. The speed makes it ideal for families — no waiting for a server, no idle time where kids get restless. A family of four eats for $30-$50, making it one of the most affordable memorable meals in DC.

The U Street Metro station (Green and Yellow lines) is directly across the street, making Ben's one of the easiest restaurant stops to add to a DC itinerary. Eat lunch here, then walk U Street to see the neighborhood, or hop on the Metro to your next museum.