Before you read my review, scan a few of the others. Go ahead, I'll wait.... Hilarious, no? They swing radically from awesome to not-awesome! I find it amusing that most of the folks who hated it heard of it from THAT show. Also, people seem to have glaring misconceptions about what a dive bar is. Ick, the bathrooms were gross!! Oh no, the regulars are annoying!! IT'S A DIVE BAR, FOLKS!! You want gross bathrooms, you shoulda seen the Lake Union Pub... CHILI: admittedly not mind-blowing, just plain. Plain good, and the shredded onions are a fine garnishment. ATMOSPHERE: The owner actually converses with people, wait staff is friendly and no-nonsense, place plays some sports on the tv's, nice little deck outside for nice weather. Relaxed. ATTITUDE: Plenty. Smart-alecky, simple menu. There have certainly been better chili's in this world, but chili-like people-come in many guises, this one is just Mike's, SO DEAL. read more

Review based on chili alone. I was excited to try this place because I saw it on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives but was disappointed with the chili. Just didn't have much flavor. I wasn't expecting much but I guess I left underwhelmed, even if it was cheap. Great dive bar though! read more

If your looking for a tasteless bowl of grease this is your place!!! Wow how did Triple D make it to this place with the food they serve. Wendy's chili is sooooo much better. read more

Sorry guys -- yes dive -- eeeeeeeeeeeeeeewwwwwwwwwwww chili -- or was it just slop! My wife and I were watching Diners, Drive Ins, and Dives on the Food Network. We were planning a trip to the Space Needle just after Christmas 2008 anyhow -- so we thought why not. We set the navigation in the King Ranch and ended up in a converted industrial area all in new construction, and there standing in the dust, this old decrepit diner from the 20's or 30's -- Mike's Chili Parlor. What the hell was I thinking? It was a Friday afternoon and the place was somewhat packed for the size of a sheet of plywood! The waitress was nice in greeting us (as she could smell us as tourists as we walked in the front door). I ordered the chili dog & a bottle Budweiser-- and it still makes me cringe as I write this review. The wife ordered a small pint of chili. Now we all know that this place is supposed to be a dive, but the whole idea of the TV show is to promote the food as being the best. From now on the Dives portion of the show is off limits for us because of this experience -- lies! Back to Mike's: The microwave heating of all the chili should have been the first warning -- was not even warm. The second warning was charging for sides of poorly cut jalapenos, raw onions, shredded cheddar cheese (cheesy enough for us). I would still like to see the sucker that would buy like +$30USD a pail of the slop to take home with him. I made better chili when I was five years old and have the pictures of my siblings getting their stomach pumped at Vancouver General Hospital to prove it. We ate, we paid, we tipped, and bowed out gracefully. My wife talked to me a few days later.........as we changed our vows to never again. Needless to say the wrecking ball in that area of Seattle missed one sheet of plywood that should have been hit before all the others. I don't usually write reviews in a negative nature if I at least got some value for my money, but in this case we've been duped! read more

I should have listened to other Yelpers like Steve B, but curiosity got the better of me after seeing Mike's featured on Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives and also the fact that it was right next to my gym. I tried a bowl of their chili plain - add cheese, onions, jalapenos, and the price goes up by 50%. The chili was surprisingly bland - definitely showed some restraint in spices but chili is one dish where I would like to see a little more liberal use of spices. The consistency was also very watery and oily. The hand cut fries were better and a meal in itself - large cut and a generous serving for a $1.50 (to add fries to any dish). Like any dive bar in Seattle, Mike's has some microbrews from Hales, etc., but a $2 draft of Rolling Rock is the way to go here. Overall, Mike's may be a good dive bar, but I'm not too sure about their chili. read more

Just got home from a late lunch at Mike's Chili Parlor as featured on Guy Fieri's Diner's Drive ins and Dives. The joint has been around since 1922 and obviously hasn't changed at all, well maybe except for the flat screen they have mounted above the antique bar in the front of the place. I'm an east coast girl and it instantly reminded me of a place I would find in my home town are of western PA. A place you leave smelling of grease and ciggies, like the local Moose Lodge that my dad has belonged to for years and years, or the "Original Hot Dog Shop" that my grandparents took me to as a child. It's a place that is fun because you know you're grandparents ate there too. There was a juke box beside us playing an enjoyable mix of John Melloncamp classics, as well as a pinball machine with a bunch of old crap stuffed behind it. And yes there are big old containers of creamy liquid shortening hanging around. We sat ourselves down and selected our food choices. I decided on the smallest thing available as I knew the portions are infamously large. It took a while for our doddling waitress to take our order. After she got around to it the wait was at least 20 minutes. Granted the place was full but everything we ordered: 2 chili dogs, 1 cup of chili and a fry, take only seconds to throw together. My boyfriend was disappointed and kept saying that it was too bland. He also didn't think the hot dog's flavor was very good. I myself received nothing less than I expected from the place, well except for the unidentifiable rubbery thing that i found in my chili (i couldn't decide weather it was from the meat or a piece of rubber band). The flavor was on the bland side, the chili a little watery, and a good bit greasy. I made sure to order the onions, cheese jalapenos, and oyster crackers to help jazz it up. They definitely helped, but I also had to add a little salt. The fresh cut fries were the best thing there, however they were kind of soggy and dark. Places like this stay open for a reason....the long standing customers that religiously return for food that leaves them with that nostalgic feeling of the food their mother's used to make eons ago. I left with my once clean hair smelling of ancient sour greasiness. Congrats Mike's for staying open as long as you have....I wish you only the best, but wonder what will happen when the depression generation is no around to deliver their vigilant patronage. read more

Great place. Great chili, great ambience. Miller High Life pony bottles. All the things I look for in a place.

Been a long time customer and fan of this iconic establishment. For decades Mike's has maintained a consistent staff, great food, cold beers and great prices! recently, within the last few months, my experiences have been mediocre at best. Personally it's always been about customer service and appreciation wherever I choose to patronize. The food keeps me coming back but their new staff (chef/bartender) is as unfriendly and seemingly they only get cordial when it's close out/tip time! There are other establishments serving bar food, but there's only one Mike's and I'm just hoping that their staff gets an attitude adjustment - and learns to be nice to all customers - not just their selected favorites. read more

Sometimes I just don't get it. I have heard people rave about Mike's but I never seemed to make it by there. Finally, last night, I went by with my folks and a couple of friends. I wish we hadn't. First, this is a chili house and the chili sucks. Just plain sucks. Too greasy, not spiced well, no more memorable than a can of Hormel. Second, the chili dog sucked. It was a plain dog on a plain bun with plain chili. I could make the same thing by going to QFC and opening a can and boiling a hot dog. Third, the service was bad. There were three tables last night (including mine) and it took about 45 minutes to our food from the time we sat down. We were not in a hurry but were very hungry. This could happen anywhere, any night, so no big deal. And, despite the snail pace, our server was nice. Fourth, the space is okay. I expected some nice chili memorabilia from over the years. No dice. The best thing there was a Ms. Pacman table. It was awesome and I totally beat my wife playing. There is one good thing about this place - the fries. They are hand cut daily and fried in "Creamy Liquid Frying Shortening." No joke, we saw the box of shortening. So, the fries taste great but watch your vital signs afterwards. Finally, I usually do not write terrible reviews. I generally like most places. However, I was expecting something similar to Ben's Chili Bowl in DC (http://www.benschilibowl.com/). That place is awesome. Instead, I got rookie level chili but big league grease. In sum, I will not be back under my own will. read more

I couldn't stop laughing during my visit. This place is hilariously perfect in its oddity. After helping a friend move we naturally wanted a beer and a patio. Mike's Chili Parlor has both. And when in Rome - eat Chili. The Chili is the meaty kind and because I'm a pig - I went chili fries. The large is PLENTY for two people to share as a meal, three as a side. Add cheese, add Jalapenos, add it all. I think the real perk of this place is the location. Tons of parking and a fantastic open, sun drenched patio?! You don't find that in Seattle very often. Note: CASH ONLY! Cheap beer, good company and the great outdoors? Soak it up. read more

If you dislike what Ballard has become in 2019, you have a lot of opportunities to take action: --Send a message to outsiders by dumping pickled herring on the windshield of any car with an Amazon bumper sticker. --Try to forget by moving to South Seattle and only returning to Ballard during the Lutefisk eating competition every July. --Build your base of knowledge by asking your friend's Swedish grandfather to lend you some books about vintage wooden fishing vessels. But the easiest solution to Ballard nostalgia syndrome? Pack your strongest heartburn medication and go to Mikes. read more

This place is a borderline hole in the wall w/ lots of personality. That's definitely how the restaurant made it onto the Food Network's Diners, Dives and Drive Thrus. During our first trip to Seattle, my boyfriend and I knew that we HAD to try this place out. Upon arriving, we checked out the menu to find that the prices were reasonable and you can order practically anything with chili (ie. spaghetti, fries and more). So, we came, saw and conquered -- the boyfriend left with a new Mike's Chili Parlor t-shirt but unfortunately I left slightly unsatisfied. Don't get me wrong, it's great chili but certainly not the best. Other than that, the service was great and you should still check the place out for yourself regardless of any Yelp reviews. P.S. the chili is pretty ground-beef filled. I mean, REALLY filled with a ton of ground beef. read more

Two stars- I have definitely had better chili. I've had better chili too many times to count, really. The flavor is nice, but there are a few things I'd like to mention: FIrst: there is a quarter inch of grease on the top of every bowl of chili served. The cook can't drain the fat from the beef in preparation of adding it to the chili? What the hell? Ladle off the grease later? Ladle it out of the serving bowl, maybe? It is disgusting. It's not "juice", it's not "broth"- it's grease, man! Get it the hell out of the chili! Please! Also, I could swear they had meat free chili years ago. I could swear there were a couple of types of chili available. Since you can make many kinds of chili, and it would be easy to feature meat-free chili (I'm a struggling vegetarian) I don't know why they wouldn't want to offer that in a place that is defined by chili. This place really needs to step up their game. You can be a dive with great food, you can get by with a swanky place with lame food. What you can't do is succeed with a dive with lousy food, and that's what Mike's is right now. Two stars and the second one is for potential. read more

Apparently you either get why Mike's Chili Parlor is awesome, or you just don't. I am extremely happy to say I'm in the first category. Perhaps the new Ballardites do not know their history, but this is an old Ballard establishment - it's been standing there for generations now (recently weathering the storm of the awful corporate eyesore that is the gargantuan BALLARD BLOCKS building), serving up delicious chili and I hope that it sticks around for just as long in the future. Unfortunately, with the way Ballard is going, it will be a challenge, but I will continue to eat and drink there, to do my part to help it keep around. Food: Extremely affordable, delicious, mouth-wateringly good chili. I am a big fan of the chili pasta myself, topped high with the works - cheddar cheese, onions, and jalapenos. It's served up with griddled garlic bread that brings me back to the garlic bread my Mom made for us as kids on spaghetti nights. Is the chili greasy? Sure. People, it's not supposed to be health food. You don't want to eat it every other night. When was the last time you thought ground beef was lean and fat-free? For $4 a bowl you aren't getting filet mignon ground up in there. It is also a different spin on traditional chili. It's not overrun with the same spices you'll see in a lot of chili. It has its own unique flavor, it's hard for me to describe - there's just something special and tasty about it. I've always had good service here. I love the waitresses actually - down to earth, sassy, but still friendly - and they always keep those sweet pitchers of Rainier coming! This is the kind of place that has earned my customer loyalty through good cheap food and beer, great down-to-earth customers and employees, and absolutely no pretension. Mike's Chili Parlor does not pretend to be something it's not - it simply is what is and I love them for it. read more

I'm with ya Ron C. We also saw this place on the Food Network and were excited to try it when we pulled up outside the cool little brick building with the retro neon sign. There our excitement ended. We went inside and sat at the bar and the guy behind the counter indifferently took our order. We got to observe what most definitely had to be the locals - a number of old geezers that added some real character to the place. That convinced me the chili was gonna be great but (drum roll please) -- it wasn't. We had the chili fries with everything and the chili burger. The fries were extremely soggy/greasy and the burger just tasted like a mediocre burger with more ground beef on top. The most annoying thing about the place though was that the folks working there are so concerned with chatting amongst themselves, they just about totally ignore you. We waited for our check for ages, even though we were sitting right there at the counter. The waitress was too busy gossiping with another waitress who'd apparently come for a social call -- and then when we finally got the check and gave her the money, she ambled over and put our change into her tip jar w/out even asking us if we wanted change. Considering that would've been giving her a 35% tip for downright awful service, we couldn't believe her nerve. We sat there looking at her until she brought the change back and apologized - "Sorry - it's a habit." I bet. read more

This place has it all: dive ambiance; a brilliant twist on bar food; and friendly waitstaff that know their regulars. You literally can't ask for more from a dive. Will definitely be back multiple times. The only down side is that it took me 4 years of living in Seattle to discover this gem. read more

Chili? Check. Dive bar? Check. Sticky tables? Check. Three stars it is, then. First time hitting up Mike's Chili Parlor just came yesterday, after YEARS of living in Ballard. Chili dog for me, bowl of chili for the hubsters - no beans for either, please! Food was good, but as expected, the grease hit our stomachs and felt a bit quesy little bit later. Perhaps we should not have had that for the first meal of the day. So when you're in the mood for some chili doggin', don't hit up the hookers on Aurora, and just come to Mike's Chili Parlor! They taste better and don't have any STDs. read more

WARNING: THIS IS NOT CINCINNATI CHILI This is browned & seasoned ground beef with a LOT of water. The place looks like it could be really cool from the outside. On the inside it has no character, it's dirty, and they only take cash. The service was incredibly slow. I will never go back! Pound for pound it's cheaper to just order Skyline chili on Cincy Favorites Online. read more

Wowee-wow-wow! We came here last night because a friend-of-a-friend was in town for a few days, and where else would you take someone who's new to Seattle? There are few places that capture the essence and culture of the Emerald City as well as Mike's. I've never seen so much chili in one spot in my life. Chili burgers. Chili dogs. Chili-chili. Chili fries. Chili "meater", whatever that is. You can buy chili by the pint, quart, and gallon (but you have to bring your own container for that). Oh yeah. And you can get a grilled cheese. But as far as I could tell, everything else on the menu had chili on it in some form. My hamburger, for example, had a delicate layer of chili juices (skimmed from the top of the Vat-o-Chili, I'm sure) spread on the bun. Plus a not-so-delicate layer of mayo, but that's beside the point. Tasted fine, I just wasn't expecting it. The fries were a little wilted. Not delicious. But, you know, it's unique. Service was OK; the waitress messed up a few orders but then comped one of our pitchers to make up for it. Try this place at least once, especially if you want to impress first-time visitors! read more

I have lived here 10 years and every time I have passed Mike's I have swore to myself that someday I would visit. Last Friday I finally did visit and wow, I can't wait to go back. Mike's is not fancy. Mike's is not a "hipster" dive. Mike's is a place that serves great chilli, cold beer and you can count on the game being on. An honest good local place serving locals for generations. It's getting harder to find that here is Seattle. Thank You Mike. read more

This place is not all what it is hyped up to be. First it is harder then hell to find because its literally a shack out in the middle of BFE Ballard. I had the chili and lets face it folks, I make better chili than these people do. I should open up a chili parlor across the street you people would be floored if you think this chili is good. read more

Been here several times, terrible service every time but it was my boyfriends birthday we sat on the patio. Server came out asking for our ID's he presented his temporary, as well as his not expired ID with a hole punch. She said she wouldn't accept the ID on his birthday when we had been in a week before and obviously well over 21. She needs to get her liquor license updated and educated on Washington's acceptable forms of ID. A non expired if with a hole punch and temporary ID is a valid form of identification. Anyway, won't be back. Chili's alright but so many other options that don't come with the cigarette smelling staff. Actually had a waitress come up and asked me my order while she was on the phone ha. read more

What a dive! Mikes Chili Parlor is a dive bar that has been serving beer and greasy chili since 1922. It was also featured on Diners, Drive-ins and Dives. Working in Ballard and hearing conversations about it, I decided to give this place a try. They have a decent menu of food and beer. The options include hamburger with chili, chili fries, chili on spaghetti, and straight up regular chili. You can also add toppings for an additional fee including cheese, jalapeños, onions. I have tried the chili in spaghetti, regular chili and beer. The chili is electric orange, watery and super greasy, barely any meat if any at all, and beans. I definitely do not recommend ordering just the regular chili, but it tastes a little better when served as a topping. The chili spaghetti was okay after I added the onions and cheese for more flavor and crunch. My coworkers joke that it is not a good idea to eat here during lunch break, because you will likely have to be in the bathroom the rest of the afternoon. It is better to wait to eat here for dinner then go home to suffer in peace. The service is fair, the waitress takes your order and brings out the food with little wait. They are cash only and the prices are cheap. Have fun! Get your pepto ready! read more

Kinda yucky, I went here with a co-worker, I didn't make it back to the office, and I was screaming find a bathroom NOW! OH MY GOD, not kidding...I think the food was under cooked. But cool location, secretly hidden, little hole in the wall. Im sure it would be a great place to drive your motorcycle and have a beer. But for the love of god stay away from the chili dog! Oh by the way wait staff is nice. read more

I don't really do dive establishments... but for some reason, I like this place. It's a dive. This is a 3 to 3.5 star place for me. Good, worth eating at, and worth multiple visits. - cash only - tiny place - very friendly people - sports playing every time we've been there - Mike's burger is REALLY good, got a little special meaty sauce thing - I really like the fries, extra crispy, with tartar sauce - refills on your soda (coke) - very cheap - $5/burger, $1.50 to add fries to your order I'm going back - and next time want to try the potato salad. I tried a bite of my man's chili... but I don't like chili in general, so I'm not a good judge of what's good or not. read more

Grease pools on top of bland meat = best chili? No... Good atmosphere and novelty pricing for a larf.

AMAZING chili. I had the Cheese burger covered in Chili and then the Cheese burger with no bread Extra Chili. If I am ever in the neighborhood again I will be stopping by. read more

It seems like the number of places that still have old Ballard flavor are dwindling faster than developers can capitalize on the hype. I've lived in Ballard for twelve years and can't really tell if retrospect is rose-colored or if I'm just remembering how awesome Ballard used to be. Mike's Chili Parlor erases this confusion and replaces it with (I swear to the PTB) the best chili in Seattle. If you don't have Doc Brown's Delorien, get a bowl with the works and a pitcher of Rainier to gain insight into what Ballard used to offer. My lady loves the chili on pasta or fries, but I think Motown's motto applies here. Keeping it simple with the original 1903 recipe, served the 1903 way supports this most amazing business that turned down a blank check from those damned developers. And don't even think of the dine-and-dash: there's bars on the bathroom window. read more

chili underwhelmed. nice service and will forever remember the joint, but when it's a "chili" parlor, it better have some killer chili.

I wish I could separate food and service. Our first and most likely last visit, burger, and chili dog were great, the chili pasta was very greasy. The reason we won't be back is the server ! Very rude, and unfriendly! read more

I really wanted to like this place. I live nearby, and had never visited. Then, it was featured on the Food Network, and I decided to give it a try. I went with my wife, and we ordered different items (I can't remember what). This is without question the worst chili I have ever been served. I honestly cannot understand how this place has existed so long. I'm also baffled by the mostly favorable reviews here. I would chalk my experience up to bad timing and give it another try, but I can't bring myself (or my wife) to another visit. read more

Meh. The chili was barely above room temperature. Disappointing. Chili should be hot with steam coming off it. Hot enough at least to melt the cheese. Doubtful that I'll be back... read more

I'm not a fan of that Guy Fieri dude, so I could care less about Diners, Drive-Ins, and Douchebags. I also don't know nothin' about no Cincinnati-style chili, so I can't give a chili-connoisseur opinion on the stuff on this joint. I will say that the chili at Mike's is saucier and less spicy/smoky than your typical chili. Instead, it's got a sweet quality to it (which, I was told by my dining companions, is a hallmark of Cincinnati chili). So, yeah, don't come here expecting a big fat bowl of spicy, beany, Texas-style chili. The chili at Mike's is good, but it could use a little somethin-somethin'. I don't know what exactly, but the flavor could use a little more depth. I had my chili on top of spaghetti and cheddar cheese which my Ohioan dining companion called "Chili Three-Way," a phrase that makes me giggle like a twelve year old boy... y'know, the way the word "titmouse" does. The spaghetti to chili ratio was kind of disappointing, though -- too much pasta, and not enough sauce at the bottom to dip the accompanying garlic bread into. The large portion is enough for two meals, and the leftovers were great for scarfing later that night after an evening of drinking and carousing. We also split the fries, which were nothing to write home about -- overdone, and not much by way of salt or other seasoning. Service was pretty good, and the food's cheap (less than $10 per dish, except for the Grilled Cheese, which the menu states is something like $55. I don't know why.). Don't forget to bring cash, because they don't accept credit cards. There's an ATM in the back, but I'm not a fan of those sketchy 3rd party machines. read more

If I'm honest, I much prefer my own chili... but I've got a soft spot for the greasy spoon style stuff they serve up at Mike's. Yes, there's a lovely orange sheen on it and yes, everything the serve it on will be soggy within 17 seconds of them pouring the chili on it. If you're eating chili at what amounts to a neighborhood dive bar, you should be happy for getting exactly what you were looking for. Craft chili with saffron kisses and panko breaded zucchini blossoms, it is not. AND THAT'S A GOOD THING. The bartenders are also exactly what a place like this should have. Aloof, quick with a pour and always willing to chat about whether or not Hollywood should or shouldn't have made a second and third Death Race. For the record, we all agree they HAD to. If you don't agree, Mike's probably isn't the best place for you. read more

Bummer I had such high expectations. Some of our family from back home said they saw Mike's on tv, so we had to go see what all the hype is about. Awesome chili, please. I made better chili when I was a kid. It is way overpriced and boring. The other food I saw coming out of the kitchen was not making me excited to get my chili. I would not recommend this place to anyone for food, beers- yes. Cash only. I do give them props for not selling out and standing strong in the face of corporate America. Congrats! read more

It's a little expensive. Not very charming. The regulars that hang out there are annoying. The wait staff is not very attentive. All of these factors wouldn't bother me so much if the chili was good, but it isn't. The chili here is NOTHING SPECIAL. Don't believe the hype. read more

The chili here flat out sucks & I'll challenge anyone who says otherwise! It's greasy as anything and not in a good way. A date (who claimed she loved the chili) took me here, neither of us finished our bowls. Thinking we may have just not been in the mood we took the leftovers to go. By morning the grease had separated & congealed into a pinkish thick slimb layer on top and stunk up her fridge. We did not try to reheat. I give this place 2 stars only out of respect for it's gritty "Old Ballard" credentials. Way to not sell out, now learn to make chili! read more

I really wanted to like this place, but sadly, it didn't do anything for me. I first heard about it on Diners Driveins and Dives, and figured it would be a nice little low key spot with good food. While that's partly true, I really wasn't feeling it. Its a great place to get a beer with a few friends, but I think the chili is WAY over hyped. You would think with the name "chili parlor" that the chili would knock your socks off, but sadly its mediocre at best. Next time I'm craving chili, I'd rather save a trip to Ballad and make it myself. read more

I am ashamed to admit I came here on a whim because my friend was craving french fries. Just french fries. However, the heavenly smell within convinced me to forego the carbs and order a big bowl of chili with beans (and cheese...and jalapenos...I've never understood this meat-only chili nonsense). I love chili, I'm picky about my chili, and I've been known to survive on chili for a week at a time. This was pretty damn good chili. And the flavor was enhanced by an ice-cold pint of Manny's. Extra points for authentic dive-bar ambiance and friendly, helpful (and adorable) bartender/server. read more

Do you like chili the way it was meant to be made? Do you ask if there are beans in a chili and get disappointed when they say "yes"? Do you like to add spice till you sweat and your nose runs? Do you love to support local shops that have been in business for decades? Do you feel more comfortable in a dive bar than a restaurant? Then why are you still reading this and not on your way to Mike's? read more