18 Cincinnati-Style Chili Parlors You Should Have Tried By Now

Pepper Pod

703 Monmouth St., Newport
Greasy spoon dining at its best, the Pepper Pod is a Newport legend. Grab a 3-, 4- or 5-Way or something off their all-day breakfast menu. The Northern Kentucky diner was even featured in the movie Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile starring Zac Efron — it was filmed in the Greater Cincinnati area.

Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Ave., Cincinnati
Named one of the “10 Best Restaurants in Cincinnati” by USA Today, there’s no question as to why Camp Washington Chili has been operating since 1940. It is good eats! Despite having ‘chili’ in the name, this establishment offers many chili-free options, including a full breakfast menu plus burgers, sandwiches, salads and even beer. Try the 513-Way, which incorporates Cincinnati's other favorite meat: goetta.

Dixie Chili

733 Monmouth St., Newport; 3716 Dixie Highway, Erlanger; 2421 Madison Ave., Covington
With a location in Newport, another in Covington and one in Erlanger, Dixie Chili has become an integral part of Northern Kentucky culture; each location a local landmark in its own right. Founded in 1929 by “Papa Nick,” Dixie Chili has classic, secret-ingredient Cincinnati-style chili with cheese and onions on spaghetti. Traditionally, Dixie’s offerings are dominated by Wisconsin cheddar, and the garlic is a great counterbalance to the dairy, making it one of the area’s favorite chili joints.

Blue Jay Restaurant

4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside
Since its opening in 1967, the Blue Jay Restaurant has, for the most part, remained the same, boasting a nostalgic image and homestyle eats. As with any good local diner, there’s Cincinnati-style chili in bowls, on coneys and 3-ways, plus classics like all-day breakfast, double decker sandwiches and homemade pie.

The Chili Hut

390 Loveland-Madeira Road, Loveland
Started in 2013, this food truck focuses on Cincinnati-style chili, offering a condensed menu with exactly what customers are looking for. Now with a brick-and-mortar in Loveland, The Chili Hut slings cheese coneys, 2-, 3-, 4-, or 5-Ways and sandwich options for the non-chili lovers. Unique coney options include the Slaw Dog — a cheese coney topped with coleslaw — and the Eden Pork — featuring a spicy mett instead of a hot dog.

Blue Ash Chili

9525 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash; 11711 Princeton Pike, Tri-County
Blue Ash Chili offers a variety of Cincinnati-style chili combinations and double-decker sandwiches at its various locations. The restaurant is known as a favorite of Guy Fieri and his Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives show. The restaurant serves 3-, 4- and 5-Ways, plus a 6-Way, which offers fresh or fried slices of jalapeno.

Empress Chili

7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria
In addition to the usual crop of double-decker sandwiches and ways, Empress offers some zany takes on old favorites: individual chili pizzas with cheesy, saucy fare on dough and the tough-to-pronounce “spagoney,” which swaps out hot dogs for noodles.

Price Hill Chili

4920 Glenway Ave., Price Hill
Generations of West Side patrons have grown up on this iconic, family-owned restaurant’s diverse, fairly priced menu. Having expanded several times over the years, there are now multiple dining areas and a full-service attached cocktail lounge called Golden Fleece. What sets them apart from other chili joints is their liquor license and full menu, which features an excellent Greek salad (with secret-recipe dressing), specialty sandwiches, steaks and all-day breakfast.

Skyline Chili

Multiple locations
A locally based chain of chili parlors founded by Greek immigrants in Cincinnati in 1949. Their Cincinnati-style chili is poured over spaghetti or hot dogs along with chili burritos, fries and baked potatoes. Their vegetarian version is almost as tasty with black beans and rice.

Gourmet Chili

843 Monmouth St., Newport
This unassuming chili spot tucked away on Newport's Monmouth Street serves up all-day breakfast, burgers, gyros and, of course, Cincinnati-style chili. They even offer a small menu of desserts, including baklava.

Pleasant Ridge Chili & Restaurant

6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
This local multi-generational diner has been serving Cincinnati-style chili and American classics for over 50 years. They also offer chili to-go and late-night eats, like french fries topped with everything from chili to cheese to gravy.

Bard's Burgers & Chili

3620 Decoursey Ave., Covington
Calling themselves "the dive that's worth the drive," Bard's has been featured on local news and on the Food Network for its giant Bardzilla food challenge and flash-fried cheese curds. As the name suggests, the eatery specializes in both burgers and chili. Bard's makes its Cincinnati-style chili with local wagyu beef. You can get it in a 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-Way; in a bowl (with or without cheese); and in any iteration of a coney, including a chili cheese sandwich.

The Silver Ladle

580 Walnut St., Downtown
This multiple-time Taste of Cincinnati award winner is a perfect spot to grab lunch downtown. The fast-casual eatery doles out burgers, sandwiches, soups and salad, plus vegetarian and gluten-free options. You can create your own chili concoction with traditional spaghetti as the base or opt for a salad, french fries, burrito or tortilla chips. Chili includes classic Cincinnati-style with beef or chicken as the protein, or a black bean chili. Make it a 3-Way with onions and cheese or add sour cream, jalapenos or black bean soup (yes, this is a topper option). They also have cheese coneys.

Gold Star

Multiple locations
This Cincinnati-chili chain has been around since 1965, founded by the four Jordanian Daoud brothers. The chain serves up coneys, 3-Ways (plus 4- and 5-Ways), double deckers and burgers. They also offer vegetarian chili.

Santorini Family Restaurant

3414 Harrison Ave., Cheviot
This West Side Greek diner serves up gyros, burgers, double deckers and all day breakfast, with a menu section dedicated to "Greek-style" chili — which we all know means Cincinnati-style. Get it served in a 2-, 3-, 4- or 5-Way or in a coney. They also have it in a bowl, on fries or in chili cheese sandwiches.

Mike's Chili & Gyros

2045 S. Erie Highway, Hamilton
Head out to Hamilton for another Greek and chili option. Mike's makes its chili with 95% lean beef and a "secret family recipe." Get the Cincinnati-style favorite in any "way" you choose, or in a coney. They also offer chili cheese sandwiches, which they call a "foney coney."

Lucky Dog OTR

1210 Main St., Over-the-Rhine
Lucky Dog calls itself the "culmination of over 20 years of restaurant experience by founders Ryan Reynolds and Ray Gammouh." Using hot dogs from Queen City Sausage, chili fans can opt for coneys, chili metts, chili cheese sandwiches, regular dogs or even a coney crate (10 for $25). They also serve their signature chili in 2-, 3-, 4- and 5-Ways and even on salad.

J&J Restaurant

6159 Glenway Ave., Westwood
This old-school diner serves huge double decker sandwiches, Cincinnati-style chili, cheese coneys and all-day breakfast at a great price. Tucked into a strip mall, this is a no-frills neighborhood staple with lots of regulars and quick service.

Trotta's Pizza and Drive-Thru

3501 Werk Road, Westwood
BONUS: While not technically a chili parlor, this drive-thru pizzeria serves up a special chili pizza with Cincinnati-style chili and cheddar cheese.