Ben’s Chili Bowl

Ben's Chili Bowl has been serving U Street since 22 August 1958, when Ben Ali and Virginia Ali opened it as newlyweds with a small amount of savings. It occupies a building that started life as the Minnehaha, an early silent cinema, and it has become one of the best-known places to eat in the city, the kind of restaurant locals take visitors to on their first night.

The food is simple and the menu is built around two things: the half-smoke, a sausage that is closely tied to Washington, and the restaurant's chili. Most people order a half-smoke topped with chili, with chili fries or chili on its own on the side. It is filling, inexpensive comfort food rather than anything refined, and it is best eaten at the counter or in a booth with the noise of U Street outside.

The restaurant has a long history in the neighbourhood. During the unrest of 1968 the Alis were given permission to stay open past the curfew, and they fed police, firefighters and activists. Barack Obama ate here as president-elect in January 2009, ten days before his inauguration.

The original U Street restaurant is open from 11am to 11pm Sunday to Thursday, and from 11am until 4am on Friday and Saturday, which makes it a popular stop after a night out in the area. You order at the counter, and you can also order online for collection. Expect queues at weekends and late at night; mid-afternoon on a weekday is usually quieter.

It suits budget travellers, families and anyone curious about local food culture. A visit takes 30 to 45 minutes. If you are short of time, order online and collect, then eat on the move; the menu is designed for food that travels well.

U Street Metro station is directly across the road, which makes this one of the easiest restaurants in the city to reach. Ben's also runs a second restaurant on H Street NE and outlets at Reagan National and Dulles airports, but the U Street original is the one to visit. U Street has plenty of bars and music venues nearby, so it fits well before or after a night out.