Ben’s Chili Bowl: 50 Years of a Washington, D.C., Landmark

From the days when U Street was hailed as Black Broadway to the current revitalization and gentrification of the new millennium, Ben’s Chili Bowl survived it all. On August 22, 1958, West Indian immigrant Mahaboob Ben Ali and his fiancee, Virginia Rollins, saw their dream realized as they opened a hot dog and chili shop on U Street. They never imagined that Ben’s would become world renowned or such a beloved restaurant in the nation’s capital. Today visitors to U Street will find a diverse and eclectic mix of residents, music venues, trendy shops, and, of course, the Bowl. The images in this book provide a look back over the 50-year history of Ben’s Chili Bowl, U Street, the Ali family, and the patrons who have helped define Ben’s as a vibrant cultural landmark.