After eating at Hard Times chili for all these years, I finally got to try Cincinatti chili IN CIncinatti. It's an interesting chili with different spices and it's a bit more watery here than I expected. That said, I had a three way - chili over spaghetti with cheese. It was tasty. Did it blow my mind? No, but I'd stop by if I lived in the area. I also tried the little hot dogs - and they are small. If it's your meal, get at least three. They were good as well. Just good, fast food. They get a plus for having a bar area so you can see them making the food and their amazing way they put the chili on the hot dogs --- such skill. read more

If you read National Geographic as a kid, you probably remember reading the articles about how rather primitive villages found beetles or salamanders or frog brains to be delicacies. And you thought, "well, maybe if I grew up in that village, I'd like that since it was considered tasty and everyone else ate it." Perhaps that's the case with Skyline: people in Cincinnati love it, but as an 'import' I can't decide whether it's unequivocally vile or perhaps mildly redeemed in the sense that it's cheap and easier to find than salamanders. Skyline's deal is simple: sloppy chili on slightly underdone spaghetti with a wretched amount of flavorless cheese. In fact, billboards advertise the '150% more cheese' as a selling point: sorry Ohio, but that's not a 'plus'. That's an affront to human dignity, and it's the strongest reason we have for arguing against universal healthcare (too much cheese... self-caused obesity... get it? Eh, whatever). The chili is, despite being different, kind of good - it's more of a meat-sauce than what someone from the north thinks of chili: no bread bowls, no beans, no ski lodges and definitely not a lot of heat. 'Cincy-style' chili is kind of a tomato-based mole-inspired concoction that's worth exploring, although Skyline's meat quality is better left unexamined. In conclusion: If civilization dissolved and we were roaming all over Southern Ohio, Mad Max style, I'd probably drive my ATV into the Skyline lot and raid the kitchens for some nourishment. But, in today's non-apocalyptic world, if I'm going to get fast food I'll steer over to a franchise that offers something on the menu with at least some lettuce or tomato, and less intestine-blocking cheese. read more

When I went vegetarian about 10 years ago, I was worried about cravings for only two foods: pepperoni and Skyline chili. I don't miss pepperoni. But Skyline...? There's still that hankering. But thank the Lambrinides Brothers for the beans & rice! It has the same spices as the chili, and you can get it on a four way. Chili parlors are what Cincinnati has instead of diners. I'm sure it seems strange to the outsider (especially the odd application of the word 'chili' and the omnipresence of spaghetti), but hey. Whatever it is, it tastes good. And chili parlors, like diners, fill a need. Drunk? Lost all your body's protein, electrolytes & liquids to an alcohol binge? Have some spaghetti with 'chili' and pink lemonade. Voila! You're revived enough to make more mistakes. Skyline has table service, and they almost always bring your food in under one minute. Perhaps this is because the cooks can hear you as you order and are less than two arms lengths from your waitress at all times, but who cares? It's nice. The waitresses will certainly call you honey or darlin.' Don't be frightened. They mean to be nice, and this is precisely the type of woman that you want to like you. Oh, and don't laugh at the businessmen at the bar wearing plastic bibs. You'll identify yourself as an outsider. read more

No. Skyline chili is not chili, it's a watery meat sauce. Whatever you order ends up being smothered under a pound of cheap processed cheese. The watery meat sauce is definitely an acquired taste -- a taste that I will never acquire. Chili shouldn't require spaghetti either. I mean seriously, wtf. Cheap chili cheese dogs though, which don't taste very good. Order at least 3 coneys because these are pretty small, and also soaked because of the watery sauce. Aside from the food issues, the service is fast and friendly, and this location is pretty clean. Skyline Chili, Gold Star Chili, Camp Washington Chili... these meat sauces all taste identical, not a difference between any of them. Some of the locations are just cleaner and in safer locations than others. read more

Best place to eat Skyline Chili: Service is excellent and fast, and parking is free in lot behind the restaurant. Cheese coneys, 3- or 4- or 5-way chili, greek salad -- you really can't go wrong here. If you're not familiar with Cincinnati-style chili, be warned that it's a little peculiar: Basically it's mild, watery beef chili with cinnamon and other spices, ladled overtop steam-table spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar cheese, onions and/or kidney beans. If you're an "al dente" pasta snob, or expecting Texas-style chili, you might do a double-take at Skyline. But it's a delicious Cincinnati staple that, like a great rock 'n' roll band, amounts to more than the sum of its parts. This is where you should give it a whirl. read more

This location is terrible. Their hours are an absolute lie. They say they close at 1 but we showed up at 10:40 and they told us they couldn't seat us because the dining room was closed. The hours on the door still say they close at 1 but apparently they've been closing at 10:30 for over a year. Would be nice if they would update their hours so people like us wouldn't drive out of their way to go to one of the only seemingly open late night skylines. read more

Worst skyline experience ever. The only good part was that the waitress checked on us periodically. When we entered, the manager asked us how many there were in our party. We said 2. He then pointed to the back of the restaurant and said there was a table in the back for us. Upon ordering drinks, we were told that there was not going to be much ice for our drinks. I then ordered a Pepsi and it was flat. I switched to a Sierra must and revived 3 small pieces of ice. I Had a cheese coney and a 3-way. The coney bun was not completely steamed, leaving a dry edge. The 3-way had very little chili on it. So little that the actual plate was still dry when I was halfway finished. I could only eat 2/3 of it because the remaining spaghetti was completely without chili and I would have had to eat just spaghetti and cheese. Horrible. I have been to over a dozen Skylines and if this had been my first experience, I would never have been to one again. read more

I'd like to think that I keep up with current events. And because I think I'm fairly informed, I figured I would know about most major conflicts that were happening in the world. But I was wrong. There is a low scale battle raging in Ohio. And its not over gangs or drugs or ideology, but chili. The battle lines are pretty clear. Locals have chosen which side they support. Mimicking the Walgreens/CVS store placement strategy, nearly every Skyline Chili has a rival Gold Star Chili across the street, paws up and ready to duke it out for Chili supremacy. Both are purveyors of delicious bowls of sodium infused bean, cheese and meat goodness, served locally over a bed of spaghetti. But I'd have to say that Skyline wins out. Their chili is slightly sweet, very unique. And they atmosphere is more akin to a Denny's than a fast food joint with friendly Ohio folks serving you. And while the restaurant itself wasn't anything remarkable, I give Skyline 4 stars. Because any restaurant that defines itself by the chili it serves is a restaurant after my own heart. Fight on, Skyline... read more

Went here after a very long day with my husband. It was nowhere near closing time and the restaurant was almost empty. Therefore, there should have been no reason our waitress practically rushed us out the door. Never introduced herself and got impatient when we didn't know what we wanted after literally two minutes of sitting down and glancing at a menu. After we finished our food I considered ordering something else before we got back on the road but never got the chance because our waitress slammed our check down on the table and stormed off. Perhaps we were interrupting her texting over by the grill, but I was not a happy camper. The host at the front register was very pleasant! read more

I live in San Francisco now...and I still have a constant supply of skyline chili in my kitchen haha. I try to get everyone I know to try it! For the people not from Cincinnati...I would say you have a 96 percent chance of loving it - the other 4 percent of you are going to take a few bites and then feel weird. hahahaha. I took skyline dip to a potluck last week and it was a hit! here's the link for the recipe: http://www.skylinechili.com/recipes.php can someone please open a franchise on the west coast?!!? read more

VEGETARIANS BEWARE! This place turned me from being a 15 year vegetarian to eating meat again. NO JOKE. I couldn't believe it myself. I don't even know how it happened. I walked in the door from out of town, then BAM!! I blacked out for 20 mins, only to awaken and find my self sitting in a crappy beige chair at a crappy round beige table and looking down at the remnants of what used to be 2 chilitos. Now I'm hooked. I actually purchase it from Cincinnati and have it shipped to Virginia. I need help. read more

AGAIN, OUT OF TOWNERS TAKE NOTE: Cincinnati Chili isn't "real" chili. It is what it is. BBQ is different wherever you get it. Texas brisket is nothing like Memphis ribs. Imagine a Texas rube going to Memphis and saying, What to hay? This isn't BBQ. Or a New Yorker eating Chicago Pizza, What to hay? You can compare Skyline to Gold Star or to Empress or to Washington Chili or to Dixie Chili (all local). You can't compare it to anything else. Notice how many foreigners feel like they can post without reading any else's review? read more

Don't be fooled by the name, this isn't chili, in fact, I'm not sure this counts as food. Yeah, you're right, I'm not from Cincinnati, but guess what, if this is what your fine city has picked as it's trademark food, then I'm glad I'm not. New York style pizza, Philly cheese-steak, those are specialty food. This is plate of spaghetti covered in a chili / sugar mixture (so called sweet chili) and then covered by more cheese than I'd put on a large pizza. Sweet Jesus... read more

Everyone is entitled of their opinion but if you're waxing negative about Skyline because you visited from out of town and tried it once blah blah blah... seriously check yourself. Skyline is an institution in this city and if you do not like it basically one can surmise "you're not from 'round these parts are yuh?" The stuff may fall in line with being an acquired taste but as far as I am concerned, besides my family, this is what I miss most about Cincinnati. I acquired the taste at birth. My first stop when I get to Cincinnati is not my house but Skyline Chili. I have my mom ship me cans of this stuff out west so I can share the goodness that is Skyline Chili with my west cost compatriots. Sure everyone starts out skeptical, but after a few tastes there is no turning back. Skyline dip (which consists of a bed of cream cheese covered with skyline chili and cheddar cheese) is a necessity at our weekly dinner parties. If we have a get together and I happen to be between chili shipments, the congregation is quite disappointed. They've come to expect this delicacy at our gatherings. If you're visiting, try it. You may not like it at first but believe me, give it half a chance you will be hooked! Five stars! The place just kicks arse! read more

BEST skyline EVER!! Hands down this is the best skyline in the entire city. This amazing landmark is open every single night till 4 am, which leads me to believe if I ever get hungry, it's skyline time! All joking aside, the staff is the absolute best and friendly every single time. Sitting at the bar makes the experience am even that much better, and iconic. I personally recommend to young and old to try the cheese fries. Crispy, straw fries with a heaping pile if skyline cheese: what could be better?!!! Well... One thing makes it even beytet: free parking! Park in the skyline lot out back and swing by the booth to get your colored stick. Once you checkout at skyline, exchange your stick for another color and voila: free parking. Def check this place out, why wouldn't you?! read more

Skyline Chili - Fast Food Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

If you're going to eat/try skyline, this is the one you want to be at. Order: Regular 3 way Cheese Coney (no onion or mustard) Black Beans and Rice w/ Cheese (w/ fries, a potato &/or spaghetti) Chili-Cheese Burrito Order it all. Do it. Also a great place to eat drunk, since they are open later than most places; and because it's even better when drunk. read more

I did an internship back around 96 and 97 at Procter & Gamble in Cincinnati and was introduced to Skyline Chili. Throw out all preconceived notions of what Chili means to you since Cincinnati Chili is quite different. It's spaghetti with some meat sauce on top with a ton of shredded cheese on top of that. Optionally, you can add onions and beans. So, that equates to either a 3-way, 4-way, or 5-way. You can also have these mini hot dogs topped with the chili. There was one within walking distance of the HQ, and I stopped by at least once a week. I think it's one of those love-it or hate-it type places. I loved it. And so, I found something that I really missed about Cincinnati. Otherwise, it's not the town for me (no offense!). read more

Is there any better way to punctuate late night (or early morning) events in "Porkopolis" than sharing a 3-way inverted (with extra cheese), a couple of Coney's and then a quick jaunt over to Graeters (around the corner from this particular Skyline) for their world-class ice cream offering? These Bohemian pleasures may well be the modern-day equivalent of the traditional, reflective "celebratory cigarette"; they're certainly as addictive. ...don't think so?...the burgeoning, world-wide mail order business for these Cincy delicacies says otherwise... (Or you can just ask any UC grad--as midnight "Skyline Runs" are part of the Bearcat curriculum.) read more

Honestly, it's difficult for me - a non-Cincinnati resident - to see what all the hype is around this place. I mean it's pretty good, but nothing mind blowing. The various dishes made of chili are tasty. But - honestly - how difficult is it to make spaghetti, meat, sauce, and cheese tasty? What would you have to do to combine those and come up with something that's not tasty? The shakes are also tasty but - again - what would you have to do to make a milkshake not tasty? Still, this is a solid experience. The restaurant is very clean, the service is attentive, and the food is tasty...but I think once is enough for me. read more

I am generally not a fan of chain restaurants, but I must say that the chili at Skyline is remarkable. There's something in the herbs and spices being used (fennel? chocolate?) that gives this chili a complex, dimensional flavor. The habanero read more

IMHO, The best Skyline in the city. Why, when a Skyline is a Skyline? First, their tolerance of UC students trying to stay warm while spending 5 bucks and studying for two hours with free refills (I can attest personally to this one); a semi-surreal experience on weekends due to quite diverse clientele at varying levels of inebriation; and just a little extra zip in their chili than the suburban locales. Their speedy feet deliver your food in about one minute, and the atmosphere pretty much rocks with continuous chatter and motion, whether it's lunch or late-night or in between. A Clifton Skyline meal can indeed be an experience. Try it at midnight on a Friday or Saturday; it's like being tossed onto a movie set. The Best of all the Skylines for the character it exudes and the characters it endures day after day, the Clifton Skyline is an institution. Gimme my 3-way juicy and 2 chili cheese no mustard please. read more

There was way too much mustard on the Coney dogs I was so overpowered I started to choke otherwise the experience was great went to the skyline on old Troy Pike in Huber heights Ohio read more

Been coming down to this place every time I'm in Cincinnati from Virginia. Few block's from my friend's pad. Good 3 way chili here. Simple and elegant delicacy. :-) read more

Skyline Chili - Fast Food Near Me - Cincinnati, Ohio

Two cheese coneys no onion or mustard, funnel fries, and a diet mountain dew, please. By far one of my favorite places to eat, and definitely my favorite Skyline location. Nothing's better than a midnight run to the Ludlow Skyline. The staff is always very friendly and fast, and it's pretty cheap for a decent amount of food! I definitely recommend the funnel fries - they're not on the menu, but they're delicious! read more

I was just talking with a friend of mine in Cinci, and reminiscing about when I lived in Clifton as a student ('97 to '02), and thought I'd post here. I actually wrote this a couple years ago for a different forum, but I've edited it a bit for yelp (and I hope it's still relevant): ------------------ I love this location - it's open till 3 or 4 in the morning (Skyline is great after a night of drinking.) It's popular around campus, so if you go after the bars close on a weekend, they have a Cincinnati police officer working the door/acting as a host - you'll often have lines waiting outside to get in. Once inside, it's pleasantly crowded (and in the winter a bit humid/steamy), and this is where the real personality comes in. You have quite a few regulars, both students and locals, along with the great staff, many who have been working their for ages. (Squeaky, one of the waitresses, is the first that comes to mind.) This location is one that hasn't been modernized with the fancy, touch screen computers and displays over the prep area. The waitresses call out orders just like a classic diner, so you'll hear them call out things like "4 cheese on 2" and "5-way inverted and dry." (Inverted is where you have it with the cheese under the chili under the noodles, and dry is where they'll take the plate, put spaghetti on it, put the chili on, stick another plate on it upside down, and drain out the juices/grease/flavor . . .) It's amazing how the prep people keep up with all the chaos of the orders being called out. ------------------ Hell, when I was back in the Dayton area for my 10 year high school reunion, I specifically drove down to Cinci, just so I could go to this Skyline. (I think they may have modernized a bit with the touch screens, but still, the 4-way, heavy onion, and two cheese coneys, yes, yes (mustard and onion for those who aren't familiar), were exactly as I remember them. Hell, I'm craving them now as I type this . . . *sighs* read more

So everyone knows about Skyline by now and I won't got into details as so many other reviews already had. I just wanted to point out that this Skyline on Ludlow is the oldest standing Skyline in it's original location. The manager said it was #3 total but the first two have been torn down. You can see the history by the classic sign hanging outside. I had a friend up from Tennessee and wanted to give her her first Skyline experience and lucky for us we were coming from the Zoo and stumbled on this location. The sign is what hit it off for me and we walked in and sat by the window and watched the city do it's thing. Parking in the back, I messed up my order twice but our super sweet waitress Tammy didn't bat an eye and corrected it for us with a smile on her face even after I apologized 15 times. You can hit many Skylines around the area but if you want a quick bit of history of the chain, head to the Ludlow location. read more

"Whenever you're feeling good and hungry, that's skyline time!" No truer words have ever been sung. My mouth is literally watering right now thinking about a Skyline 3-Way. You can't explain the awesomenss of Skyline, it just IS. If you come here after bars, you will not be disappointed with the diverse crowd or the impeccable service. The volume they do third shift has to be off the charts, because they are always full, and they get you in and out and turn the tables in about 16 minutes. read more

If you think Skyline Chili serves chili, then you are being conned. I have given it several tries, but it has been, and still is horrible. Nothing but week old spaghetti. The sauce is not sauce, but something inedible. You can get beans. onions, and cheese on the side. Anyone who cooks good chili knows that simmering the beef and tomato base, with the onions and beans, adds to the flavor. I do not think that there is even a tomato base added to Skyline. The cheese is terrible and will not melt. I swear I have never seen fake cheese until now. The whole idea is basically noodles. A total rip off. People, if you want good chili without the bother, and cheap, than just buy a can from store, and serve it over noodles!!!! Wake up!!! Skyline is TERRIBLE!!! read more

Skyline is one of my favorite things about Cincinnati. It reminds me of what a different place this is. You can walk in at noon on a weekday and find legitimately gorgeous girls sitting at a table BY THEMSELVES, eating 2 chili cheese dogs. That would NEVER happen in Manhattan or Chicago. A 9 walks in here and eats chili alone. A 7 in new york is aghast at the thought of eating chili, much less Skyline chili and wouldn't be caught DEAD in a joint like this. Locals will hate me for saying this, but the chili is awful. I'm unfairly measuring this against "real" chili, a la Texas or anywhere else in the country. Cincinnati chili is really sloppy joes/meat slurry without any spices. BORING. That doesn't change the fact that it amuses me to no end and I will continue frequenting Skyline for more observations in the social experiment I'm conducting. read more

Three words and they are all yuck. I tried this because I had heard about the Cincinnatti style chili several years ago at the Western & Southern tennis tournament and it was appalling. It's like some kind of weird soup poured over spaghetti. I would be horrified if this is what my city was known for. Egads. I can't imagine who would eat this by choice? As noted in my other review, this is what you feed livestock--so not fit for human consumption. read more

We went to one of the older ones on Clifton by UC. The food is exactly the same as any of their other locations. I came from Cleveland and we have a few in town now. Service was very fast. We had our meals within about 2 minutes of ordering. Even McDonald's isn't that fast. read more

Angela tells me to try this out because it's an iconic thing of Cincinnati. So I give this a try on a really rainy day. I sit at the bar and the the waitress and I talk about the menu. I tell her I'm from CA and she first asks if I like onions and beans. Yes, I do. So she recommends the 5-way and a Coney. I agree and not long after my meal comes. So what's a 5-way? You start with spaghetti, put chili on top and then layer it with a ton of cheese. And of course onions and beans are mixed in with the chili. My waitress also asks me if I want to try the spicy habanero cheese on top. Sure I say. Well, it's really not too impressive-I mean the whole thing, not just the habanero cheese. Sorry Cincinnati. Another customer said to me that it was an acquired taste. No. He's wrong. Because the concept of putting all these ingredients together is actually a pretty good one. But here's the problem. The chili is terrible. Tastes like some generic chili you get from a can. It's the #1 problem. And really the problem with practically almost all chilies across the States. They're terrible. The only good to great chili you'll ever eat are at chili cook-offs. Why restaurants can't seem to get chili recipes even vaguely the same as what you eat at these cook-offs, is completely beyond me. I mean, you go and eat at a restaurant called Chilis and their chili is terrible. Seriously? So Skyline Chili isn't any different. The chili is terrible. And it being a small chain, I'm pretty sure the chili does get delivered in a can. A very big can. Now the next big ingredient is the cheese. The cheese is some mass produced stuff. I'm not even sure if it's real cheese-may be the fake cheese that's more oil than milk. Whatever it is, it's terrible. And finally the last main ingredient is the spaghetti. I walk out thinking that with really fine quality chili and cheese, the spaghetti should be made al dente and would compliment the other ingredients really well. So is this an acquired taste? No, not if you like drunk food then this is perfect. read more

This was my homespot when I lived in Clifton. It is still the same! I had the chilli with cheese and no spaghetti. My preference is stronger spices and more tomato. But this spot is authentic. read more

For years, I've dined at Clifton Skyline, but recently had a fantastic experience while entertaining out-of-town guests who were sampling their first Cincinnati chili. Our server, Erin, was patient with us as I explained the menu and signature items for my friends to try. The food arrived quickly and was delicious as always. Before the first bite, I took some photos of my friends and their dishes as a memento. Erin kindly came over and offered to take a photo of all of us at the table. It was a wonderful way for our group to remember the dining experience while visiting the Queen City. My compliments to Erin for being a fun, attentive, and exemplary server! read more

My boyfriend (a Cincy native) has told me that Skyline is part of the Cincy trifecta, along with LaRosas and Graters. Florida people don't really eat chili, it's too hot for it, but he was dying to get me to go and start building my Cincy palate. I gatta tell you it's not what I thought it would be. First I had the 3-Way: spaghetti noodles with chili and cheddar cheese shredded on top. Which you're supposed to cut like a lasagna not twirl! It was good but I wasn't a fan until I had the chili cheese fries. I love them. And in reality what's not to love when you got fresh cut fries soaking up all that sauce and the cheese melting on top. I realize I was spoiled once we went to another location and I asked, heeeey! Wheres the guys working in the middle. Turns out the one in Clifton is the original and if you're going to have your first Skyline experience its best to go where it all started. read more

Skyline is the FIRST place I visit upon return to Cincinnati--even before I stop home! I even have cans sent here so my Boston friends can enjoy the yumminess that is skyline. from the crackers and hot sauce to the dr. pepper on tap to the extremely speedy service this place is perfect in every way (in my humble opinion..). i pretty much always get an inverted 3 way (spaghetti, cheese THEN chili).. but I have recently added cheese coneys to my order... mmm mm did i mention skyline is pretty much the best munchie food ever? read more

Every region of America has a go-to greasy food. Californians have burritos. New Yorkers have pizza. Southerners have fried chicken. And I've recently discovered that mid-westerners living in Cincinnati have Skyline Chili. The chili served here definitely doesn't fit the archetype of most chilis. It's actually much lighter -- easy on the flavors with a hint of cinnamon, heavy on mild cheese, beans optional. I'm not a big fan of punch-you-in-the-face foods with heavy spices, so this is definitely my type of chili. I ordered the three-way (chili over spaghetti), which was surprisingly decent. Skyline definitely goes overboard with the shredded cheese, but fixing that is just a matter of scooping it onto an unfolded napkin for others to consume. It'd definitely hit the spot late at night when you're looking to get your greasy grub on, but it doesn't make as much sense anytime else. read more

Skyline Chili...one of the things that makes me love Cincinnati. This restaurant is a staple in Clifton and the Gaslight District, convieniently located near the University of Cincinnati, Good Samaritan Hospital, and other attractions in the area. Free parking, prompt service and good food. This place is a classic. Try this particular location if you haven't. read more

I wasn't highly impressed by the place or by the food. I also thought their Coney was going to be a lot larger too. The chili was ok, but not amazing either. Service is very quick though. read more

Skyline Chili is proof that God loves me. Everyone must have a 5 way and a cheese coney at least once in their life. I am pretty sure this is in the 1,001 Things to Do Before You Die book. It's not? Well, it's totally the 1,002nd. If you can't get to a brick and mortar Skyline, then do the next best thing and order some cans of chili. While it pales in comparison, at least you can have a little taste of why I would give up pretty much everything before I gave up my Skyline. read more