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Dining · Top 10

Top 10 Places for Cincinnati Chili in 2027

By Kory White · Updated Oct 2026 · 5 min read
Camp Washington Chili
Direct answer

Camp Washington Chili is the best place for Cincinnati chili: it has been serving since 1940, holds a James Beard Award and is open 24/6, from Monday at 8:00 AM to Saturday at 4:00 PM. For Skyline specifically, the classic pick is Skyline Chili Price Hill (#2), because the chain began in Price Hill in 1949; for a downtown Skyline with a beer and wine bar, go to Fountain Square (#9).

At a glance

#PickChili sinceBest for
1Camp Washington Chili1940The full Cincinnati chili experience at any hour of the week
2Skyline Chili Price HillSkyline began in Price Hill in 1949, at 3822 Glenway AvenueSkyline fans who want the chain’s home neighborhood and a breakfast coney
3Price Hill Chili1962A West Side family restaurant with a 5-way, double deckers and all-day breakfast
4Empress Chili1922, next to the Empress Theatre in downtown CincinnatiTasting the chili that started the Cincinnati style
5Dixie Chili1929, founded by Nicholas D. SarakatsannisLate-night chili in Northern Kentucky, with prices posted online
6Gold Star ChiliRenamed Gold Star Chili in 1965 after the Daoud brothers bought Hamburger Heaven in Mount WashingtonA reliable neighborhood chili stop with an app, rewards and a broad menu
7Blue Ash Chili1969, from the same family recipeMild chili and double-deckers on the north side
8Pleasant Ridge ChiliEstablished in 1964A cheap, cash-only neighborhood coney with a posted menu
9Skyline Chili Fountain SquareSkyline chain founded 1949A downtown Skyline with a beer and wine bar and a party room
10The Chili HutOver a decade out of a food truck, now a permanent shop in CliftonLate-night chili near campus and a signature walking taco

Pick by what you want

Best overall
Camp Washington Chili
Classic Skyline
Skyline Chili Price Hill
Original parlor
Empress Chili
Cheapest posted coney
Pleasant Ridge Chili
Latest night
Dixie Chili

The ranking

1

Camp Washington Chili

Camp Washington Chili
Answrs VerdictThe James Beard-honored parlor that never really closes, Monday morning to Saturday afternoon.
Chili since: 1940Where: 3005 Colerain Ave, Camp Washington, at the corner of Hopple and Colerain StreetsHours: Open 24/6: opens Mondays at 8:00 AM, closes Saturdays at 4:00 PM, closed SundaysHonor: James Beard Award as an American Regional ClassicPrice: Not published

Camp Washington Chili has served chili since 1940 from the corner of Hopple and Colerain Streets, and it holds the James Beard Award as an American Regional Classic. It is open 24/6: it opens on Mondays at 8:00 AM, closes on Saturdays at 4:00 PM and is closed Sundays.

Go ifThe full Cincinnati chili experience at any hour of the week
Skip ifYou want a Sunday chili stop (it is closed Sundays)
Why #1 over #2: It is the only pick here with a James Beard award and it runs from Monday at 8:00 AM to Saturday at 4:00 PM, while Skyline Price Hill closes at 9pm every night.
2

Skyline Chili Price Hill

Skyline Chili Price Hill
Answrs VerdictThe heritage pick: Skyline’s first restaurant opened in Price Hill, and this Price Hill store serves breakfast daily.
Chili since: Skyline began in Price Hill in 1949, at 3822 Glenway AvenueWhere: 3714 Warsaw Avenue, Cincinnati, OH 45205Hours: Mon-Sun 8am - 9pmBreakfast: Now Serving Breakfast Daily 8am-10:30amPrice: Not published

Skyline began in Price Hill in 1949, at 3822 Glenway Avenue; that building was demolished in 2002 and replaced by a new one half a block away. The Price Hill store on Skyline’s location list is at 3714 Warsaw Avenue, open Mon-Sun 8am - 9pm and serving breakfast daily 8am-10:30am.

Go ifSkyline fans who want the chain’s home neighborhood and a breakfast coney
Skip ifYou want a taproom or a late dinner (it closes at 9pm)
Why #2 over #3: It has the chain’s Price Hill roots and daily breakfast, while Price Hill Chili is an independent with its own recipe.
3

Price Hill Chili

Price Hill Chili
Photo: Nheyob / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictA West Side family restaurant that has made the same chili recipe since 1962.
Chili since: 1962Where: 4920 Glenway Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45238Hours: Mon-Thu 8:00 AM - 9:30 PM; Fri, Sat 8:00 AM - 10:00 PM; Sun 8:00 AM - 2:30 PMMenu: Cincinnati chili, cheese coneys, double deckers, Greek salad and breakfast, served all dayPrice: Not published

Price Hill Chili at 4920 Glenway Ave has been a West Side staple since 1962. It serves Cincinnati chili, cheese coneys, double deckers and breakfast all day, and it is open Mon-Thu 8:00 AM - 9:30 PM, Fri and Sat until 10:00 PM and Sun 8:00 AM - 2:30 PM.

Go ifA West Side family restaurant with a 5-way, double deckers and all-day breakfast
Skip ifYou need a late-night chili stop
Why #3 over #4: It posts a full week of hours and serves breakfast all day, while Empress lists no hours.
4

Empress Chili

Empress Chili
Photo: Antony-22 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe 1922 original, still serving its original recipe in Alexandria, KY.
Chili since: 1922, next to the Empress Theatre in downtown CincinnatiWhere: 7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria, KY 41001Claim: Calls itself the First Edition of a Cincinnati traditionOwnership: Still family owned, with no preservatives in the chiliPrice: Not published

Empress Chili says it started in 1922, when Tom and John Kiradjieff began ladling chili from a shop next to the Empress Theatre downtown. It is still family owned and serves its original recipe at 7934 Alexandria Pike in Alexandria, KY.

Go ifTasting the chili that started the Cincinnati style
Skip ifYou want a spot inside Cincinnati city limits (it is in Northern Kentucky)
Why #4 over #5: It dates to 1922, while Dixie Chili started in 1929.
5

Dixie Chili

Dixie Chili
Photo: w_lemay / CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictNorthern Kentucky’s first chili parlor, still run by the founder’s family and open late in Newport.
Chili since: 1929, founded by Nicholas D. SarakatsannisWhere: 733 Monmouth Street, Newport, KYHours: Open until 1 am Monday-Thursday and 3 am on Friday and Saturday (Newport)Cheese coney: $3.193-Way: $7.49 small, $9.39 regular, $11.59 super

Dixie Chili was founded in 1929 by Nicholas D. Sarakatsannis and calls itself Northern Kentucky’s first chili parlor. The Newport shop at 733 Monmouth Street stays open until 1 am Monday-Thursday and 3 am on Friday and Saturday, and its menu lists a cheese coney at $3.19 and a 3-Way at $7.49 small, $9.39 regular and $11.59 super.

Go ifLate-night chili in Northern Kentucky, with prices posted online
Skip ifYou want a Cincinnati city-limits address
Why #5 over #6: It posts prices and stays open until 1 am Monday-Thursday, while Gold Star lists no hours or prices on its home page.
6

Gold Star Chili

Gold Star Chili
Photo: Dwhit110 / CC BY-SA 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe big local chain, with a Ways-and-coneys menu at many locations.
Chili since: Renamed Gold Star Chili in 1965 after the Daoud brothers bought Hamburger Heaven in Mount WashingtonMenu: Coneys, Ways, Deckers, burgers, chicken, loaded fries and saladsDeal: October: any Regular Way for $6 or 3 Cheese Coneys for $6Rewards: Gold Star Rewards app earns free foodWhere: Many locations; the official site lists each store

Gold Star renamed itself Gold Star Chili in 1965, after the Daoud brothers bought Hamburger Heaven in Mount Washington. Its menu is built on coneys, Ways and Deckers, and its home page runs a deal of any Regular Way for $6 or 3 Cheese Coneys for $6 in October.

Go ifA reliable neighborhood chili stop with an app, rewards and a broad menu
Skip ifYou want a one-of-a-kind independent parlor
Why #6 over #7: It has a rewards app and a current $6 deal, while Blue Ash Chili does not publish prices.
7

Blue Ash Chili

Blue Ash Chili
Answrs VerdictA small-town-diner feel and a not-too-spicy family recipe in Blue Ash and Tri-County.
Chili since: 1969, from the same family recipeWhere: 9525 Kenwood Rd, Suite 5, Blue Ash; 11711 Princeton Pike, Tri-CountyHours: Monday - Saturday 10am - 8:30pm, closed Sunday and major holidaysStyle: Not too spicy, served Cincy-style: cheese coneys, 3, 4, 5 and even 6-waysPrice: Not published

Blue Ash Chili has made its chili from one family recipe since 1969. It is not too spicy and served Cincy-style, with cheese coneys and 3, 4, 5 and even 6-ways. Its two restaurants, 9525 Kenwood Rd in Blue Ash and 11711 Princeton Pike in Tri-County, are open Monday - Saturday 10am - 8:30pm.

Go ifMild chili and double-deckers on the north side
Skip ifYou want chili on a Sunday or late in the evening
Why #7 over #8: It has two sites and printed hours, while Pleasant Ridge is cash only.
8

Pleasant Ridge Chili

Pleasant Ridge Chili
Answrs VerdictA cash-only neighborhood parlor with the lowest cheese coney price we found, $3.00.
Chili since: Established in 1964Where: 6032 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati, Ohio 45213Hours: Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 11:00pm; cash onlyCheese coney: $3.003-Way: Small $5.75, large $8.50

Pleasant Ridge Chili at 6032 Montgomery Rd was established in 1964. It is open Monday - Saturday 9:00am - 11:00pm, takes cash only, and lists a cheese coney at $3.00 and a 3-Way at $5.75 small or $8.50 large.

Go ifA cheap, cash-only neighborhood coney with a posted menu
Skip ifYou only carry cards or want Sunday hours
Why #8 over #9: It publishes a $3.00 cheese coney price, which Skyline Fountain Square does not.
9

Skyline Chili Fountain Square

Skyline Chili Fountain Square
Photo: Jason Zhang / CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
Answrs VerdictThe downtown Skyline, open until 10pm daily, with a beer and wine bar.
Chili since: Skyline chain founded 1949Where: 10 Fountain Square Plaza, Cincinnati, OH 45202Hours: Mon-Sun 8am - 10pmFeatures: First-ever beer and wine bar, plus a private party room, large dining room and a dedicated carryout and delivery spacePrice: Not published

Skyline Chili Fountain Square at 10 Fountain Square Plaza is the chain’s downtown stop, open Mon-Sun 8am - 10pm. CityBeat reported that it has the first-ever beer and wine bar, plus a private party room, large dining room and a dedicated carryout and delivery space.

Go ifA downtown Skyline with a beer and wine bar and a party room
Skip ifYou want the chain’s Price Hill heritage
Why #9 over #10: It is open until 10pm daily with a beer and wine bar, while The Chili Hut is closed Monday and Tuesday.
10

The Chili Hut

The Chili Hut
Answrs VerdictA newer Clifton shop that grew out of a food truck and stays open until 3am on weekends.
Chili since: Over a decade out of a food truck, now a permanent shop in CliftonWhere: 127 Calhoun St, Cincinnati, OH 45219Hours: Wed & Thu 11am-2pm, 7pm - 11pm; Fri 11am-2pm, 7pm - 3Am; Sat 7pm - 3am; Sun 12pm-4pm; Mon and Tue closedCheese coney: $4.00Walking taco: $10.00

The Chili Hut spent over a decade serving its family recipe from a food truck and now has a permanent shop at 127 Calhoun St in Clifton. A cheese coney is $4.00 and the walking taco is $10.00; it is open until 3am on Fridays, closed Monday and Tuesday.

Go ifLate-night chili near campus and a signature walking taco
Skip ifYou want chili on a Monday or Tuesday

How we ranked these

We ranked 10 distinct chili parlors on how clearly each one shows what it serves and when, using its own site for opening year, address, hours and prices, plus Clio, Wikipedia, CityBeat and Cincinnati Magazine for history. Because the original search was for Skyline, two Skyline stores are included, and we only state what those sources say about the original 1949 building. Facts are taken from each maker's own published information; check the official site before you buy.

Questions people ask

Which Skyline Chili location is the classic one?

Skyline began in Price Hill in 1949, at 3822 Glenway Avenue. That building was demolished in 2002 and replaced by a new one half a block away. The Price Hill store on Skyline’s own location list is at 3714 Warsaw Avenue and serves breakfast daily 8am-10:30am.

Where can I get Cincinnati chili at any hour?

Camp Washington Chili is open 24/6, opening Mondays at 8:00 AM and closing Saturdays at 4:00 PM. Dixie Chili in Newport is open until 1 am Monday-Thursday and 3 am on Friday and Saturday.

Which Cincinnati chili parlor is the original?

Empress Chili says it all started in 1922, when brothers Tom and John Kiradjieff began ladling their meat sauce from a shop next to the Empress Theatre downtown. Its current restaurant is at 7934 Alexandria Pike in Alexandria, KY.

What does a 3-way mean?

At Dixie Chili, a 3-way is chili and spaghetti topped with aged cheddar; a 4-way adds hand-chopped sweet onion or pinto beans and a 5-way adds both.

Year each chili parlor opened (earliest first) at a glance

Empress Chili1,922 year
Dixie Chili1,929 year
Camp Washington Chili1,940 year
Skyline Chili1,949 year
Price Hill Chili1,962 year
Pleasant Ridge Chili1,964 year
Gold Star Chili1,965 year
Blue Ash Chili1,969 year
Year each chili parlor opened (earliest first), as published by each maker. Picks without a published figure are left off.

Official sites

Sources

Prices, specs and availability change; confirm on the official site before you buy.