It’s almost time to eat chili and win prizes, Cincinnati.

The inaugural Cincinnati Chili Week is happening Monday-Sunday, Feb. 19-25 and will feature $5-$7 deals on 3-ways, 4-ways, coneys, chili cheese fries, chili dip and more.

The official Cincinnati Chili Week app is available in both the Apple Store and Google Play. It’s designed to help diners find participating restaurants and their deals, stay up-to-date on Chili Week happenings and track meals. Using the app will also help you earn points toward winning Chili Week prizes.

You can win two ways: Check in at four or more locations to automatically be entered to win a grand prize of $300 in gift cards, as well as a free Jolly Plumbing, Drains, Heating & Air Jolly Home Plan for a year. You can also win $300 in gift cards, a free Jolly Plumbing, Drains, Heating & Air Jolly Home Plan for a year and a year of BOGO ways and be named the Biggest Chili Lover in Cincinnati by collecting more points than anyone else.

Keep scrolling to see some of the $5-$7 meal deals happening during Cincinnati Chili Week.

More info: cincinnatichiliweek.com

No. 2 Best Chili (Chain): Gold Star Multiple locations Photo: Provided by Gold Star
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 burgers, grilled chicken, hot dogs, fries, coleslaw and salad. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Empress Chili 7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria The first splattering of Cincinnati chili can be traced back to two brothers: Tom and John Kiradjieff, immigrants from Argos, Orestiko, a town in the now-Northwestern region of Macedonia-Greece. James Papakirk, a first-generation immigrant from Greece, now owns the brand. 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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Fifty West Burger Bar 7605 Wooster Pike, Columbia Township SPECIALS: Ohio Chili – Free “Ohio Style” – Cincinnati chili, onions, house mustard and shredded cheddar on single burger ($7), double burger ($9.50) and flat-top dogs ($6). Chili Cheese Fries – Crinkle-cut fries, shredded cheddar, green onion and American Lager beer cheese. ($6) Photo: Provided by Fifty West Brewing Company
Frosthaus 115 Park Place, Covington SPECIAL: Spaghetti Eis 3-Way – A twist on the classic German treat, the 3-Way Spaghetti Eis is made with vanilla ice cream shaped to look like spaghetti noodles, a chocolate and crispy cereal chili topping, hand-grated yellow chocolate “cheese” and cookie oyster crackers. Photo: Provided by Frosthaus
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. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Braxton Brewing Co. Barrel House 5 Orphanage Road, Ft. Mitchell SPECIALS: Chili Cheese Tots – Tater tots smothered in queso and Cincinnati-style chili. ($5) Cincy Taco – All-beef hot dog topped with Cincinnati chili and shredded cheese, wrapped in a flour tortilla. (2 for $6) Chilito – Large flour tortilla stuffed with Cincinnati-style chili, shredded cheese and topped with lime crema. ($7) Photo: Provided by Braxton Brewing Co.
The Chili Hut 390 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland SPECIALS: 3-Way & a Coney Deal – Guests will receive one FREE cheese coney with any 3-way, 4-way or 5-way purchase. Limit of one cheese coney per order. The Eden Pork Deal – Cheese coney made with a hot Queen City mett topped with The Chili Hut’s signature chili and freshly shredded cheese. ($5) Photo: Provided by The Chili Hut
Grub Local 8 W. Seventh St., Covington SPECIALS: Chili Cheese Smash Slider – Local beef, diced onion, yellow cheddar, mayo, mustard, UrbanStead quark and Cincy-style chili ($6) Chili Cheese Fries – Seasoned fries, white Whiz, Cincy-style chili, cheddar, green onion and pickled Fresnos ($7) Chili Cheese Dip – Tortilla chips, Cincy-style chili, UrbanStead quark, cheddar, onions and pickled Fresnos ($7) Photo: Provided by Grub Local
By Golly’s 714 Lila Ave., Milford SPECIALS: Bowl of By Golly’s homemade chili – Simmered to perfection for hours, resulting in a rich and savory medley of flavors with peppers, onions, kidney beans, ground beef and 50 ounces of Yuengling. ($5) Chili Cheese Loaded Waffle Fries – Crisp waffle fries smothered in homemade cheese sauce, bacon, green onions and drizzled with homemade buttermilk ranch and topped off with homemade chili. ($7) Photo: facebook.com/bygollys
No Freakin’ Way Challenge Blue Ash Chili (9565 Kenwood Road, Blue Ash, 513-984-6107; 4200 Aero Drive, Mason, 513-492-9650; 11711 Princeton Pike, Tri-County, 513-873-4663 The Feat: Conquer an 8-pound plate of Cincinnati-style chili ($39.99) The Time Frame: 60 minutes Two and a half pounds of spaghetti. Two and a half pounds of premium chili. Two pounds of shredded cheddar cheese. A pound of jalapeño caps. That’s a lot of chili, and you’ll need to clean your plate to conquer Blue Ash Chili’s No Freakin’ Way challenge. The restaurant is known just as much for its eclecticism — the flagship Blue Ash store channels an old-fashioned diner with classic records lining the walls — as it is for its Cincinnati-style chili served 3, 4, 5 or 6 ways; the latter was even featured on Guy Fieri’s Diners, Drive-ins & Dives in 2010. But if six ways (a standard serving of spaghetti, chili, cheese, onions, beans and sliced jalapeños or fried bottle caps) just doesn’t cut it, the No Freakin’ Way Challenge takes things to the next, larger level. Eighty-three people have attempted the challenge — including Josh Denny of the Food Network’s Ginormous Food — but only five have won. Not even Denny was victorious. Photo: Hailey Bollinger Photo: Hailey Bollinger
Lucius Q 1131 Broadway St., Pendleton Sporting a modern industrial vibe, Lucius Q’s mission of “peace, love & BBQ” aims to bring everyone together with the help of their menu of authentic barbecue, Southern-style sides and a variety of craft beers, cocktails and spirits. The meat comes from Avril-Bleh and is smoked low and slow over oak and cherry wood. Get it on a sandwich, featuring bread from local bakeries, or by the pound with a side of their creamy mac ‘n cheese or flavorful collard greens. Photo: facebook.com/luciusq
Oakley Pub & Grill 3924 Isabella Ave., Oakley SPECIAL: Chili Cheese Sandwich – Two Cincinnati-style chili cheese sandwiches with Oakley Pub & Grill’s hearty house-made chili served in New England rolls with mustard, onion, shredded cheddar and a side of hot sauce. ($7) Photo: Provided by Oakley Pub & Grill
Champions Grille 3670 Werk Road, Green Township SPECIALS: All specials feature Empress Chili – $2 coneys; $5 Empress queso; $6 chili cheese fries; $6 ways (all of them). Champions will also offer 20% off all remaining Empress options. Photo: facebook.com/ChampionsGrille
Mezedes 6405 Branch Hill-Guinea Pike, Loveland SPECIALS: A bowl of chili with cheese for $5; 3-ways for $7; and chili cheese fries for $7 Photo: Provided by Mezedes

Katherine Barrier is a graduate of the University of Cincinnati’s journalism program and has nearly 10 years of experience reporting local and national news as a digital journalist. At CityBeat, she...