It's way past time to update my review for Dixon's Famous Chili from 10 years ago. My check-in count shows 9 times that I've visited - which seems a bit low, but if true that would be about 90 tacos consumed since I average 9-11 each time I visit and always order the all-you-can-eat taco special. If you think that sounds like a lot, you need to either visit Dixon's yourself or mind your own business! For the first time ever, I ordered their chili dog 2 weeks ago due to binge eating hot dogs over a 2-month time frame just to see if I could find KC's best dogs prior to Independence Day. Did Dixon's make the cut? Well, out of 20 shops visited they were in a 5-way tie for first place! They use a foot-long dog that is grilled then absolutely smothered in their world famous dry all-meat chili. For a small amount extra, I added chopped onions and a small mountain of shredded cheese. As if this wasn't enough, the two greatest condiments were available at the table to add-on to my hearts delight - hot pepper vinegar and chili powder. With the ghost of Harry S. Truman as my witness, I swear that Dixon's is serving THE BEST Chili Dog in America! Period. My biggest concern right now is what to order on my next return trip. The best damn chili dog or my greatest guilt pleasure meal ever, tacos... read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Finally got to stop by Dixon's for lunch. Overall my experience was great. We first got a sample of the chili (dry, soupy, meaty). I ordered the double chili cheeseburger and my wife ordered the taco salad (Monday special). The service was great. I am not the biggest fan of chili but the cheeseburger was great. The price are very fair. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Double chili cheeseburger - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Dixon's Famous Chili was such a comfort food stop and definitely lived up to the local hype for me. I'm usually pretty picky about chili, so I appreciated that they offer a no bean option and let you build it up with all the fixins and sauces you want. That part is a must and deserves serious credit. The whole visit felt welcoming too, from being greeted when we walked in by all of the visible staff, to our waitress making us feel genuinely taken care of. The building is an older diner vibe but I absolutely live for that. We tried the tacos too, and they were really good. Nothing overly fancy, just tasty, filling, and a great deal, especially since they have all-you-can-eat taco specials every day. They also have daily specials, which makes it feel like an affordable place to come back to. Overall, Dixon's is one of those classic local spots that feels worth checking out, especially if you like chili your own way or are into more of a loose meat style. I'll definitely be back for more tacos and chili spaghetti. read more

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Very friendly service! Since we had never been before, we accepted the offer of the free sampler! It was so helpful in understanding that this is not my version of traditional chili! It is a kind of build your own and blend your own chili! Old time diner vibe. read more

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I've been coming here for a while now. I usually get the all you can eat tacos. On my most recent visit I got the taco salad special. It was a great deal for $10 and very filling. I also ordered a slice of chocolate cream pie. It was tough choosing which slice of pie to order because they have a lot of options. There's probably not a wrong choice. The service is fast. The place is always really clean. I hope they're open for another 100 years. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Chocolate cream Slice of Fresh Baked Pie - chocolate cream - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

I've been wanting to try them for awhile, but live ~45 min away so it hasn't been worth the drive just to check it out.... but who doesn't want to check out someplace that's been in business over 100 years? They must be doing something right... we found ourselves in Independence at dinner time, so stopped in with the family. We got a chili dog, a spaghetti-chili, a plain chili, and a 5-pack of tacos. The price was right. $75 all in (we also got a kids meal, 4 deserts, and a beer) for the 4 adults and 1 child was pretty reasonable for all that we got. I enjoyed the "build your own" style of the "chili" (really just loose meat with juice and beans). I think next time I'd probably get the tacos; I tried one and they were as good as any other I've had, and 5 for $10 is dirt cheap.... all you can eat for $2 more is crazy. Though I'm not sure I'll be up for that - 5 tacos is quite a bit of food! :) The deserts were great, the staff was very friendly, and the food was good. I'll definitely be back next time I'm on that side of town. read more

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In bold script it advertises its famous chili, and I, being a lover of chili, and make my own, decided to give it a try. This was my second time, the first being questionable. The second time also questionable. The question being: Does anyone there know how to make chili? I had mine with the spaghetti which was an improvement because it gave it some depth and texture. You can get your chili dry, sort of wet and soaking wet, not by a sauce but seemingly by running it under the faucet. They serve other things there so don't judge just on the chili but try the other flavours. I know I will. I don't give up that easy, especially when it comes to food. Tommy and the tastebuds. Captain Tom read more

After watching the CBS Morning Show Crew brag up the history and deliciousness of the chili, we knew we HAD to try this place. We moved to Independence in July '24, so everything is new and exciting in a new hometown. We finally made it here for lunch on 10 Feb '25. The parking lot was packed for lunch and many tables were at maximum capacity. So many working men enjoying the all you can eat tacos . We ordered the chili with beans with sides of cheese, sour cream and onions. The chili was EXTREMELY mild. In hindsight, we wish we'd gotten the jalapeño relish since we prefer some heat in our chili. Their mild chili powder and the onions were simply not enough for our tastebuds. The beef was prepared PERFECTLY! Tender and we added the savory and the juicy flavors. The servings are VERY generous. And the sides at 15¢ are enough for two adults, in my opinion. We asked for to-go containers for 3/4 of my chili plus a DELICIOUS tamale. Once again, my eyes were bigger than my stomach. The place is comfortable and our server was pleasant and PATIENT with these newcomers. Explaining the menu and all of the options. It's obviously a favorite of the locals. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Cheese, onions and sour cream sides. EXTREMELY generous portions. - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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I have not had Dixon's Chili in almost half a century. It was the same as I remembered. It was my grandfather's favorite and brought back fond memories. The taco salad was large and good. The spaghetti chilibwasbthe special so I had that and it was a healthy sized portion. Their tamales are their chili in a corn wrapping. It was all flavorful and satisfying. The service was friendly and patient. The ambiance is just like I remembered, an old fashion chili joint that knows what they are good at and sticks to it. I recommend a stop in and have a good, reasonably priced meal. read more

finally made it in after years of hearing about it. waitress was very pleasant and very helpful and got us 2 sample plates to try out the meat b4 ordering. OK IMPORTANT so this isn't served as chili. they give u the meat and beans optional and u order it juicy or soupy then add the spices and doctor it up to ur liking. so there's endless possibilities there for flavors. we got the footlong chili dog and slit it. we love the juice (meat grease) and the spicy vinegar on ours. not a big fan of the soupy bean juice. Also have chopped jalapeños, shredded cheese, sour cream, ketchup, chopped onions and more to add in. read more

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As a lover of chili i had to post this. Really don't like to post negative stuff, but the chili was just a joke. Road kill is probably better. When i expressed my displeasure when i paid the guy at check at said "you probably should have asked for a sample". What a sad remark, please go, All for a sample, and laugh in their face. As long as you have a tough stomach Thought I'd add this just to help a little. It's from the McCormick web site for their spice packet, so wouldn't expect anything amazing, but it has to be better than what you (Dixon's) are serving: 1. BROWN meat in large skillet on medium-high heat. Drain fat. 2. STIR in Seasoning Mix, tomatoes and beans. Bring to boil. Cover. Reduce heat and simmer 10 minutes, stirring occasionally. Serve with toppings, if desired. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - This is "Chili" - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This is one of my staples if I'm wanting a quick bit to eat during my business day. The staff is always friendly and the service is fast. Their menu is much more than chili...one of my favorites I'd the chili cheese food (comes regular size and footlong). The flavor is outstanding! They also offer a large burrito, loaded with meat and topped with lots sauce, sour cream ands cheese. Their chili isn't anything special (not on a bad way)...very basic...meat and beans...but the flavor is wonderful. I like to add the peppered vinegar and lots of chili powder, cheese and onions.....mmmm good. They also offer tacos!! Again, nothing different or special, just really good. Love the taco sauce! ALL YOU CAN EAT FOR ABOUT $14... I usually do eight, but I heard the record is 47. I don't think that's on my radar. It has a very casual "truckstop" vibe but in a good way. Definitely a place you need to try at least once, but if you do that, you'll be back. read more

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Place is garbage should be shut down. No flavor. Stinks inside. Very dirty. They also charge per topping. Cheese, onion, etc all cost $1 or more read more

Popular local favorite. A must try place at least once. Not gourmet but just good ole mid-western grub. Long established place that Harry Truman frequented. Waitress was great and didn't mess around. Made a good recommendation to this first-timer. Co-worker (local) had the all-you-can-eat tacos. Nothing special but the locals love these. He ate 6 and said he normally can eat 8. I tried the juicy chili spread (with tamale buried underneath this). Chose two toppings and would have added the onions if not for a meeting after this. Didn't want to have dragon breath. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Juicy Chili with Tamale Spread (chose these toppings) - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Absolutely the best chill around. Wish they expanded if not necessary to surrounding states.

I've heard about this place for years, and was finally in the area so I stopped in. It was everything I had hoped for, a great, intense experience. I was unsure what best to order, and wait person said, "I'll help you, hon." Food was basic and very good. The vibe was amazing, Americana and tradition abounded. I loved the experience! read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Traditional chili - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Great Chilli, served pretty plain and you spice it up at your table. Worth the visit.

Was expecting a very great experience especially since the place is 106 yrs old! It's nothing more than unflavored ground up beef with what appeared as boiled pinto beans. Two packets of ground chilli powder was the only flavor and that's all I could taste. Had to pay extra for the Jalapaño relish, cheese, and onions. Very disappointed! Will not go here again. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Side of building - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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First time trying a chili joint! Not really my go to restaurant but fun to try a local place. The employees were some of the friendliest! Very impressed. Got my order right away and explained everything to a first timer. Ordered the chili tamale, can add on extra topping and additional chili seasoning to create your own perfect meal. Chili was flavorful, I did add additional chili seasoning to get a bit more flavor but enjoyed it. Pretty big portions as well. Also got a chocolate peanut butter pie that was quite tasty. Glad I came! read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Chili with 1 Hot Tamale - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

This place is unique and been in business for over 100 years. Harry Truman used to order Dixon's chili frequently. It has a local cult like following as well as plenty from out of town. Sadly, there is no place like this where I now live (and believe me I've looked). Thus, a priority stop every visit to the area (2-3 times/year). A must visit at least once for all. 5 star on the food - as you cannot get anything like it anywhere. Great Chili but the tacos and burgers are excellent as well. Service is still very good - as it has been the past 25 years I been coming here. read more

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Delicious food and simple, great friendly staff & comfortable environment and make sure to grab napkins! read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - It's a mess but it's delicious!! I think my bag tipped over in the car haha - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

So this was a first for me. Finally gave them a try. The tacos are similar in flavor to another place l I've eaten. They were good for the price! Shells are light and crispy, the meat is not greasy at all and look at all the cheese!!! I'll try other items next time. Waitress was friendly and made sure we never went without. Lots of tables, good lighting, busy but friendly atmosphere. 100+ years in business. Give it a try! Giving it a 5 not based on flavor but the over all experience! Age in business says a lot about a restaurant. read more

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Tried this place for the first time a few days ago and it was good! I got the tamale plate with juicy/soupy chili and got sides of onion, cheese, sour cream, and jalapeño relish. I felt like the tamale kind of got lost so next time I'd probably get that on the side. It was plenty of food for me and I easily could have split it with someone. As several other reviewers mentioned it's kind of its own thing and probably isn't the 'chili' you might expect (not tomato based) but I enjoyed it. I added a lot of toppings to mine and sprinkled on chili powder as I ate it. I'll definitely be back. I want to try their chili dog and their tacos at some point. Service was curt but friendly. I was confused at first about how to order but eventually realized you seat yourself. A waitress took my order and had the food out minutes later and you pay at the front after you eat. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Onion, sour cream, cheese, and Jalapeño relish - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

It's as old school as it comes. Maybe to a fault in some cases but It's also damn cool. The food is good, at least good enough but it's sure not high quality or anything but it's a great old place. Good job! read more

This place is has best taco Tuesday lunch. All you can eat tacos for 12.00!! This place is jumping at lunch and they keep it moving. Wait staff is so nice and fast. It's dinner vibe reminds is a great feeling and I really think everyone knows everyone when they walk in the door. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Round one of all you can eat tacos. - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

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Such a unique chili experience at an iconic KC restaurant. Not your average chili recipe. I tried the wet chili over tamales and it was great. . Great friendly service and explaining the menu options. We will be coming back again read more

Service, ambiance and communication are great, not really impressed with the chili. Possibly the pickles provided may have frost bite. I'm not a chili person much but I've had chili to my liking. The place is clean, the team seems like they work well together. I would return- only if I'm really hungry and missed out on breakfast and having a late lunch. read more

Traveling from Denver to Louisville got us at the halfway mark in Kansas City. Looked on Google to see where to get a quick bite. We're SO happy we stopped here! Established in 1919 with some great history photos on the wall. The chili dog was great! And we also split a huge burrito. Excellent. Had a great chat with 5th generation family member, Samantha. We may be stopping again on the way back home to try their chili spaghetti! read more

This restaurant has been around for over 100 years! Did you also know President Truman was a fan? The service was great and they let you sample the chilli if you have never been. I of course got the all you can eat tacos - it was a great deal and super satisfying. You must drizzle the vinegar and hot sauce in the tacos! We also bought a bottle of the vinegar because we enjoyed it so much! read more

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I really want to give this place a great review but I'm incredibly and violently allergic to cow product (red meat, milk, etc). My family keeps bringing me here knowing I have a severe red meat allergy but the menu never seems to have ANY meat alternative. This review is my attempt to reach out to management or the owner and beg them to add some sort to chicken or Turkey to their menu so I can order something other than pie and water for once every time I join family here! Please guys, LET ME LOVE YOU!!!!! Please add any sort of chicken or Turkey to your menu so I can enjoy it with my family every time I come here pleaaaasseee please please pleaaaaase. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Don't sleep on this classic diner. We stopped in for the tacos. They are offered as plate of three, five or all you can eat. This is available every day. Closed on Sundays. The decor is timeless and hasn't changed in 40+ years. Food is consistently good! We ordered a tamale to take home. Oh my goodness, will be going back just to get tamales!! Wait staff is friendly, service is quick!! Love this local establishment. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Tamale with chili - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Lived here for over 20 years. Pass by it often. I think I'm the only Chinese that stepped through these doors. Lol. Order a tamale covered in chili meat with onions and sour cream. Juicy. It was worth every penny. The service is also top notch. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Chili over Tamale - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Oh, boy, where do I even begin with Dixon's chili in Independence, Missouri? You know you're in for a wild culinary ride when you walk into a place and the first thing you see is a sign that says, "Warning: Chili May Cause Spontaneous Laughter or Uncontrollable Dance Moves." And let me tell you, Dixon's delivers on that promise! First, let's talk about the ambiance. It's like stepping into a time machine and landing in the 1950s, but with a twist. The interior décor is a mesmerizing blend of retro diner meets wild west saloon. You'll find red vinyl booths, vintage posters, and a jukebox that seems to have a mind of its own because it only plays Elvis Presley songs. You'll feel like you're about to embark on a gastronomic adventure through time, and the servers are basically your time-traveling tour guides. Now, onto the chili. Dixon's chili is like the Picasso of chili artistry. It's a masterpiece in a bowl. You have to appreciate the boldness of a place that serves chili in coffee mugs, as if they're daring you to question their chili supremacy. The chili itself is a delightful blend of beans, beef, and a secret concoction of spices that makes you want to high-five the chef. If you can make it through a bowl of this chili without breaking a sweat or chugging your drink, you're basically a superhero. The menu is a hoot, too. They have chili dogs, chili burgers, chili cheese fries, chili omelets, and probably chili ice cream (I didn't ask, but I wouldn't be surprised if they did). It's like they decided to put chili on everything just to see what would happen. And what happens is that you end up with the most unique culinary experience of your life. I'm pretty sure the owners of Dixon's sit around brainstorming new chili combinations just to mess with us, and I applaud them for it. As for the service, it's like being in a comedy show. The staff at Dixon's is not just friendly; they're borderline stand-up comedians. They'll have you laughing so hard you might just snort chili through your nose. If you're lucky, they might even break into an impromptu dance routine, because, as the sign warned, their chili can cause uncontrollable dance moves. In conclusion, Dixon's chili in Independence, Missouri, is a gastronomic adventure that will tickle your taste buds and leave you laughing 'til your sides hurt. It's not just a meal; it's an experience. So, put on your best chili-eating attire (with stretchy pants, of course), grab your sense of humor, and head on down to Dixon's for a bellyful of laughter and some seriously epic chili. You won't regret it, and you might just leave with a few new dance moves under your belt read more

Bland does not even begin to describe what this place calls chili from there description saying seasoned mildly. what it a pinch of salt for the days meats this had zero flavor it was so bad we could not even take but a couple bites before paying and leaving there add one would not even of helped with the flavor .. I got the spaghetti chili and it was dryer then the Sahara desert and just terrible it was not chili was just flavorless meat and flavorless beans on top of noodles My wife got the taco salad and only thing that has any amount of flavor was the sour cream even the chips were lacting in flavor The big red flag should of been there was zero people are age dinning in this place it was all elderly who have lost taste buds They are living off being here for 100 years that's it it's not good it's terrible and Easley worst place to eat in the KC mo area and probably the country if not the world a child could add more flavor to a dish then this place I would give zero if I could biggest waste of money and sad that it's even still open to a bathroom you have to go through the dish washer area getting spraid with water and the safety of not having slip resistant shoes is huge just overall worst dinning experience in the county read more

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This is my second time to Independence, MO in two years and, man, how did I miss this place the first time. This is legit comfort food that even the kids will enjoy. Many were having the all you can eat tacos. Yes....all you can eat tacos every day. I had the Tamale Spread, because I wanted to order like Truman. It was delicious. I would get it again. I ordered it Juicy, but next time I am going soupy. I also got most of the fixings, which added to my enjoyment. This is not a fancy place. This is an old-time family run joint that has a strong and loyal following and has for a long time. This is exactly the kind of place I look for as a tourist and I would recommend this one to anyone headed to Independence. read more

Not sure about the hype and why this place is popular. The chili was bland. I mean very bland. Literally just ground beef snd beans in a thin beef broth. No seasoning that we could taste. That said, we also had some the tamales which were decent. Reminded us of those tamales in Chicago. Not traditional Mexican corn tamales but Red Hot fast food tamales which you can't get in KC read more

The food was good and It was at a reasonable price. The servers were friendly and I can see myself going again. read more

Sorry to say I would not recommend eating due to critters (cockroach) that I found crawling on the floor after finishing my meal. Then to top it off when I brought it to our server's attention, she shrugged it off like it is normal since the building is old. Then she proceeded to hand us our check. read more

Dixon's Famous Chili - Cockroach crawling on floor - Diners Near Me - Independence, Missouri

Love it! Make your own the way you like it, simple and good. I like the natural new juice(greasy) ,ketchup,onions and cheese, lots of chili powder and vinegar read more

I used to work across a parking lot from a Dixon's in North Kansas City. We went there a couple of times a week (at least). That one (as well as all but this one) has closed. I went to Dixon's in Independence craving that old familiar taste - and I FOUND it there! There's NOTHING fancy about Dixon's chili, it's basic, and great. It's not a tomato-based chili, it's seasoned meat. You get to choose between "soupy" (bean juice) and Juicy (meat juice). They have chili power at the table along with peppered chili vinegar. I like to get it with beans (underneath the meat) both juicy and soupy. Load it up with chili powder and a generous splash of the peppered vinegar sauce and DIG IN. It's unlike any chili you may have had anywhere else. You can get it over tamales (really good ones) or over spaghetti (also a great option) or plain. In ANY case, if you enjoy this kind of food, it's f'in OUTSTANDING. Whenever I'm in the KC area, I try to go to Dixon's. It's an old "comfort food" experience that I hope never goes away. read more