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    Ben’s Chili Bowl

    2.4 (21 reviews)

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    Bill W.

    Absolutely Horrible and Way Overpriced ! So a hot dog with chili and fries is $15.50. I know it's DC and inside the Convention Center but let's be real for a second ! The bun broke in half so that tells me it lacks some freshness, the hot dog must have been on the grill or rollers longer because it was somewhat crunchy with no flavor, the fries were decent, crunchy exterior ... The chili is not to write home about, I don't see the WOW factor .. To many decent places to eat outside of the building at a fraction of the price ! Not Recommend !

    Chili Dog.
    Eric W.

    Ben's Chili Bowl now has a location in the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. It's positioned near the main entrance of Hall D and while at Otakon it was always busy. This is not a large location and only has two registers, so expect a wait when ordering. They serve a similar menu to Ben's other locations, but has Pepsi products instead of Coke. Ordered a Chili Dog, but went with only that as the prices here are a little expensive. I received my order in a reasonable amount of time. It was a good hot dog and the chili sauce has the right amount of bite. From seeing the French Fries others ordered, they looked good. Overall, it was worth the stop and it's different from other food options offered in the convention center, but the prices are an issue.

    Entrance to Great Food!
    Keno W.

    Heading back from vacation in The Bahamas.We had a layover in the DC area.I was thinking,man!How can I get me a Ben's Chili half smoke.The famous smoked sausage of the D.C. area.Well guess what...they have a location at Regan National airport. As soon as we landed,I looked at the airport map and made a beeline to Bens Chili bowl. It was busy,however people were being served very quickly.They had burgers, chili (beef,Turkey or vegetarian .I absolutely started with the classic half smoke with mustard, onions and chili on it .The flavor was good! I took a bite into my sandwich and it exploded with juices, which was a good thing.The sausage could've had more seasoning in my mind, but the flavors worked.The chili was thick and hearty,it could have used more salt. The crowd there was great, soccer was on the big screen,pilots,Airport workers and flight attendants were all enjoying their food laughing having a good time before their next flight or final destination. Only issue I had was that one classic half smoke and chili fries cost me $18.42. I know, it's airport food but come on guys... no disrespect. A sausage on a bun?! $18.42? Next time in DC I think I'm going to hit up a local spot like in the heart of town...until next time DC.

    Please note the advertised "SHAKES", which are not actually on the menu!
    Max S.

    I was headed to DC for a conference, and someone suggested that I go to Ben's Chili Bowl, which is apparently a beloved DC institution that has been around for decades. Unbeknownst to my interlocutor, there is now a branch of Ben's located within the Walter Washington Convention Center. I tried it for lunch on the first day of the conference, hoping and expecting to enjoy their burger, fries, et al. Unfortunately, it was a huge and total disappointment. The burgers were made of what tasted like the lowest quality meat I have eaten in years; they reminded me of the public school lunch burgers I ate in the Bronx years ago. The fries were limp and semi-soggy. The strangest part of the meal was that, despite the sign above the counter proclaiming, in huge letters, "Half Smokes - Dogs - Burgers - Shakes", I was informed by the person at the counter that "we don't serve shakes at this branch of Ben's"! Overall, there is no excuse for a burger joint to serve such lame food. I will bump up my score from a 1 to a 2, mainly for the efficient service and convenient (if you happen to be attending an event at the Convention Center) location.

    Dung H.

    Overrated. Too salty. Staff was not attentive, friendly and helpful at all. Pricey for fast food.

    Ordering area

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    7 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    3 months ago

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    11 months ago

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    10 months ago

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    1 year ago

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    1 year ago

    Food took forever to come out and was not that good for how long we waited and he threw up in the bathroom after like wtf vro

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    3 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    5 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    45 min after eating here, I was running to the bathroom with the "BUBBLEGUTS"!!!! Haven't eaten there since.

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    2 years ago

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    3 years ago

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    1 year ago

    We door dashed on a cold snowy day. Great chili dogs, fries and yummy banana pudding. Highly recommend!

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    2 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    4 years ago

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    Unconventional Diner - Lebanese Fried Rice

    Unconventional Diner

    4.4(3.5k reviews)
    0.1 miShaw, Downtown
    $$

    High quality elevated diner food at a reasonable price in DC. Brunch is an option every day before…read more3:45PM. Recommend the corned beef hash. Big chunks of meat, potato with roasted onions and celery, all with a black pepper gravy. Comes with two sunny-side eggs. You will be stuffed. Biscuits are great too. Coffee is solid. Reservations by Resy. Online ordering here https://order.online/store/unconventional-diner-washington-295238

    True to its name, Unconventional Diner is not your average brunch spot - it delivers on fun and…read moreunique dishes (available until 3:45pm). The Tikka dish with fried egg was tasty, but wish paneer or larger protein option was built-in (not an upcharge)! The creamy red Tikka curry sauce, caramelized onions, crispy brussel sprouts, and fried ere tasty and paired well, the dish felt incomplete and something was missing, maybe some paneer or naan? I paid $5 for a side of zesty naan topped with different spices and really wish it came with the dish just came with it. While I was tempted to order the falafel, I couldn't justify shelling out another $5 for another upcharge and spend $10 on them for a total of $26 for just an entree - when these 2 upcharges should have been included in the entree by default. Wish there were more fun vegetarian dishes on the menu. Might come back for drinks and to explore the menu!

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    Unconventional Diner - Space is large, bright, and contemporary.  Reservations recommended.

    Space is large, bright, and contemporary. Reservations recommended.

    Unconventional Diner - Tip-Top Chop

    Tip-Top Chop

    Unconventional Diner - Caribbean Shrimp & Grits

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    The Capital Burger - Our namesake burger is served French onion-style with caramelized onions, Wisconsin Grand Cru gruyère and shallot aioli.

    The Capital Burger

    4.3(1.2k reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    This place is sooo good! Perfect ambiance, the vibe is kind of a modern pub without being dark and…read moredreary, big comfortable booths, plenty of space to not feel like you're part of someone else's conversation. Honestly we were so pleasantly surprised by how good the burgers are! I had the Capital Burger which had such incredible flavor and the burger itself is thick and juicy. Despite having just had a big dinner somewhere else, as I write this, my mouth is watering. My daughter had the wild mushrooms burger and she loved it -- the aioli had the perfect tang to go with the mushroom and Swiss, both burgers were cooked perfectly medium as requested. The old fashioned was just your typical old fashioned with a slice of candied bacon attached to the outside of the glass. We were hoping for something smokier and a little different but it was still a very good Old Fashioned. We shared the chocolate mousse and it was perfection. Yum! If I lived here this would be my new regular spot.

    I'll keep it simple here: the burger was legit. I really enjoyed it and I would definitely order…read morefrom here again. The fries were good too. Plus we had a good time dining outside while the weather was nice. They also made a solid strong old fashioned which i would come back for. Overall good burger, good fries and good drinks. What more can you ask for?

    Photos
    The Capital Burger - Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

    Our Stoli Doli spiked shake is long sought & loudly slurped. Stoli Vodka hand-spun w/rich vanilla ice cream & topped w/candied pineapple

    The Capital Burger - Blue Cheese and Truffle Burger topped with cabernet-braised red onions.

    Blue Cheese and Truffle Burger topped with cabernet-braised red onions.

    The Capital Burger - The Capital Burger offers signature burgers, handcrafted cocktails, local brews and award-winning wines.

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    The Smith - Chicken

    The Smith

    3.9(1.8k reviews)
    0.5 miPenn Quarter
    $$

    We stopped in for Happy Hour. Or as they call it "Martini Happy Hour."…read moreWe enjoyed a dirty vodka martini and a dirty blue Martini - made with bleu cheese stuffed olives and a bleu cheese vermouth. Nicely priced at $12 each. Also served with the cocktails were a bottle of still and a bottle of sparkling water - very welcomed on our August 20,000 step sight-seeing tour. We ordered the $12 shrimp cocktail - 5 decent shrimp with two sauces. The $7 fries were insane! If we're in the area again on this trip, we'll definitely stop in again for Martini Happy Hour.

    Dined in restaurant on a Saturday around 8pm. When I approached the hostess table, she asked "table…read morefor 2?" even though I was by myself. She was most likely on auto pilot and appeared embarrassed when she realized it. I politely smiled and said (confidently), table for 1. We solo diners need to be loud and proud! I digress... Before being seated I found the restroom. I found it odd that it was extremely dim. The main dining room was brighter than the restroom! I also saw the Photo Booth. Interesting addition. $5 for pictures. I was seated at a small round table with two chairs by the window. The restaurant was plenty busy, and I'm just glad I wasn't asked if I wanted to sit at the bar (I didn't). My server Noel brought two bottles of water: still and sparkling. I requested lemon slices, which he brought. And I proceeded to finish the entire bottle of sparkling by the end of the meal...guess I was thirsty! But I appreciated the option of both. I forgot to ask for a straw, but saw them in a container at the register right behind my table, so I got one myself. After ordering I noticed a nearby table had some bread so I asked Noel if they served complimentary bread. He said yes and apologized for not bringing it initially. Not that I needed it, but I don't eat bread with butter often and this was a night out to indulge a bit. There were two slices, nothing special. My food arrived within about 10-15 minutes and looked so scrumptious. I ordered the lamb and short rib meatballs and Brussels sprouts. The meatballs were pretty good, but what made them even better was the tzatziki sauce. I didn't realize the green rice was on one side of the plate until I was almost done. That tzatziki sauce was really all I needed to go with the meatballs. It was cool and creamy to go with the dry, meatiness of the meatballs. I honestly wish there had been more of it! I did not finish the rice, which didn't look super appetizing because of the intense green color. I will say though, I'm not a fan of spicy food but the tzatziki had a kick. I think perhaps due to chopped jalapeños. I tried to avoid them once I realized. The Brussels were delicious! Roasted to perfection, not too charred and not too mushy. I requested the green goddess sauce on the side because I'm not a huge sauce person, but once I tried it, I couldn't stop. Again, the combination of the creaminess of the sauce with the flakiness of the Brussels was a genius pairing. During the meal the beverage manager stopped by. I didn't have any drinks with the meal, but perhaps I will return to see what they have. Noel brought the bill at my request, then brought over the portable device so I could pay at the table. While that process is efficient, it's always awkward leaving a tip when the server is standing right there. Anyhow, overall it was a good experience and a delicious meal!

    Photos
    The Smith - 3/27/25 At the bar!

    3/27/25 At the bar!

    The Smith - Potato Chips

    Potato Chips

    The Smith - Restaurant space

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    The Hamilton - District Wings

    The Hamilton

    3.9(4k reviews)
    0.7 mi
    $$

    The Hamilton - Live…read more Being a fan of both the Grateful Dead and Steely Dan, I paid $40 for general seated admission to see Steeley Dead, performing at The Hamilton - Live. The music venue is located below the Hamilton, a storied dining experience in the 600 block of 14th Street in D.C. Doors would open at 6:30 p.m. for a performance that would begin, right on time, at 8 p.m. I travel alone, and prefer not to join tables, opting instead to sit where single seats are available. The Hamilton - Live offers both: most of the seating is in groups of 4- or 6-seat benches where groups gather, and there are rows of single seats on a slight rise above the forward seating, offering a great view of the stage and the screens above the stage. I arrived around 7 p.m. Within minutes Marie greeted me with a menu and instructions to post a card on a holder at my place, signaling her to stop by to take my order. The menu was eclectic, with sushi, pizza, tacos, salads, wings, cheeseburger sliders, and nachos. There are robust vegetarian and gluten-free selections, and a fully licensed bar. I placed the card in the holder at my seat and Marie returned to take my order: sushi - shrimp tempura ($14), with a can of Nutrl Pineapple ($8) and a double G&T ($23.18). The crowd was gathering, and the attending wait staff were moving with speed, filling orders. My meal arrived in great shape about 15 minutes after I placed the order. Nicely executed sushi! Sound quality in the venue is great, and the restroom was clean and well lit. And as the catalogues of both the Dead and Steely Dan inspire dancing, the dance floor was filled right from the start. The band's vibe was low key and spontaneous, with lots of smiling on the dance floor. Total with a 22% tip was $79 (which included a white Russian nightcap). Reasonable fare for the DMV. Taxi, Uber, and Lyft are readily available from the venue.

    So happy I was finally able to check out the Hamilton!…read more Came here on a solo date and had a great experience. When I walked in, I was greeted by the wonderful staff. The time I came in was when they were getting ready for dinner so I promptly sat at the bar. The menu for the Hamilton is extensive and I was presently surprised at all the options I had. I loved that the sushi was half off and vowed to come back to try it. For this visit, I had the pork chop and the crab fried rice. For an appetizer, I had the crab soup. Everything was delicious and came out promptly. The flavoring of the food was amazing and I had leftovers to take home. I will definitely be back!

    Photos
    The Hamilton - The bar and partial dining area.

    The bar and partial dining area.

    The Hamilton - Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

    Ragu Americana & Rigatoni - delicious, fresh pasta

    The Hamilton - RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

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    RAGU AMERICANA & RIGATONI

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Pulled Pork Nachos

    City Tap House Penn Quarter

    3.9(1.9k reviews)
    0.3 mi
    $$

    At my recommendation, my son and his girlfriend went here after a day of touring in D.C…read more. Apparently, they ordered the blue crab, mac & cheese, and chicken wings. Both reported, it was an outstanding choice. They enjoy the time before they took the Metro back home. There are no complaints about the service, and they didn't really mention what the place looks like. But it could not have been too bad. They did say, it was clean and nice in the 22-year-olds that's a compliment. They also said it was convenient to get to the metro from there.

    I won't be back unfortunately and you should probably keep walking and find something else. Didn't…read morerealize what kind of restaurant this was until I was told to order off an app and then my food would be ran out to me...and that's all you get for customer service. Runners just do that. Run around the restaurant throwing food down on tables and run back to the kitchen. Never checking on anyone to see if they need anything and how the food is. I ordered the SW Salad ($16.50) with a steak add on ($9.00) at medium temp. I also ordered a cup of Clam Chowder ($5.95) as an appetizer. Chowder came out pretty much right on top of my salad, but no big deal. Chowder was decent taste, but only found one clam. Ok whatever. Salad came out looking like a side salad on a large plate with five slices of rare, tough steak. It was so rare, that it was extremely hard to cut through, but again, who was I going to talk to about it. No wait staff would even look my way. I couldn't even get a refill on my water and there is no place in the app to order a glass of water...so that's that. Unfortunately it was just an extremely bad experience for $40. I'll be looking for dinner somewhere else tomorrow night.

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    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Bar

    Bar

    City Tap House Penn Quarter - Pretzel  appetizer

    Pretzel appetizer

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    Ben’s Chili Bowl - hotdog - Updated August 2026

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