I live a block away, and, ever since the inauguaration, its been ridiculous. A random weeknight might be okay, but forget about it on the weekends. I can only imagine what this summer will be like.

I imagine a lot of it is residual Obama-related tourism. I imagine it will taper off eventually.

It has most definitely gotten too busy. Unfortunately that is both good and bad. Good for Ben’s, bad for us. I can’t really say where all the extra traffic is coming from, if it is local DC traffic or if it is tourists but Obama and all the food shows have definitely put them on the mainstream map. If it is local traffic well then that is just going to have to be a fact of life. We wait 2 hours to eat at Matchbox and now we wait to eat at ben’s as well. If it is tourist traffic then I think the perfect solution would be to open a new location near the mall. It would be perfect. Make it an almost exact replica of the original so all the tourists can go and say they ate at Ben’s while at the same time re-directing tourist traffic from the original. (this is something I think they should do anyway but what do I know.)

Regardless, the good old days of catching a half-smoke after some fun on U street and not standing in line for it are over.

Last I must go ahead and stop the haters by saying if you don’t like the style of food at Ben’s than that is fine. It is not going to win any culinary awards anytime soon, but don’t hate. I challenge anyone to find a more authentic half-smoke with chili anywhere. It’s just not going to happen.

Since the economy’s in the toilet, visits to many primary vacation destinations (NYC, Florida) have tapered off because of costs. That leaves places like DC, with all the free crap you can do on the Mall, a more attractive destination. Anyway, I refuse to wait in any line to give people my money. There’s always some place down the street with no line that’s willing to take it. And I always go to Bens on off hours and never have a problem.

And if you want that authentic halfsmoke taste without the wait, pickup a couple of pounds of Mangers halfsmokes from Canales Meats in Eastern Market (they’ve got mild and spicy). Cook them low and slow so you get that signature sausage casing “snap” and the searing hot fat that burns your mouth.

With tax, it’s more like $6.50. But hey, you could always go to Ben’s Next Door and spend twice as much!

Yes.

Me and two friends went down to Ben’s for Opening Day this year. It was lunchtime. There was a line. But we were cool with sitting at the counter and got seats almost immediately after we walked in the door. The food was hot, the drinks were cold, the music was funky, and service was pretty darn good considering the crowd. One of the friends had never been there before and he seemed to enjoy his half-smoke and cheese fries from a DC institution. Sure, Ben’s is no high and fancy five star restaurant, it’s a diner for all intents and purposes and it does diner food well. We go once in a blue moon and that’s enough.

And we also payed a fraction at Ben’s what we would have paid for the same stuff at the ballpark.

Need to open some Gray’s Papayas around DC.

It’s definitely Obama’s fault. Now all the tourists want to go there. I’m sure it’ll die out soon enough, so I can get my chili burger and pink cake w/o waiting in line. I miss the days of just walking in and sitting at the bar.

Dang – Monkey – now I’m going to be lusting for a “snap” of searing hot fat all day!

If you get there early, ~6 PM on a weeknight, there’s no wait. There are definitely a lot of tourists checking the place out these days. The place was also featured in an episode of Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations right around the inauguration, and I’m sure that’s attracting more people too.

Glad I went there in December ….and then slipped and fell on my face (drunk)

Angry Parakeet – yes, State of Play gave Ben’s a good extended scene (lots of fun “identify the DC locale” moments), so if the movie does well it will definitely boost the tourist clientele.

I went there Friday night around 12:30 and didn’t wait more than 10 minutes. Went sometime last summer, around 2:00, and waited an hour.

I have yet to meet anyone who actually likes the way Ben’s taste. I just don’t think it is good. I think its reputation is in someways based on the fact that for many people, the only time they eat at Ben’s is after a night of drinking. Anything is good at that point.

Agree with some of the dissenters here – a Ben’s halfsmoke is not a hotdog. It is the closest thing DC has to “our food”, and it is damn tasty with chili, ketchup, mustard and hotsauce. And pink cake. Don’t forget the pink cake for the love of god.

Grey’s Papaya sucks. Papaya King rules. That is all.

I don’t go to Ben’s in the PM anymore, for many of the above-mentioned reasons. I love the half smokes, but if I have to wait longer than about 15 minutes its not worth it. HOWEVER, you gotta try the breakfast!!! I’ve been trying to pimp the breakfast at Ben’s for the last two years, but nobody else has been hearing me. Same great jukebox, plentiful seating, breakfast foods cooked on the same grill as the lunch stuff (for that extra meaty flavor – try the French Toast with a hint of half-smoke grease!). Plus, the prices are phenomenal…I usually get three pancakes as big as my head, a side of bacon that has to be at least 8-10 slices, three scrambled eggs w/cheese, and a large coffee – all for around $11. Can’t beat that with a stick!

New tangent: if McCain would have been President-elect, what spot in DC would have become the new tourist must-do?

Max – The Heritage Foundation and…that’s pretty much it.

Hard Times does have a great chili dog. I just ate their last night. It was cheap and delicious!

DC needs a Hard Times and a Vienna Inn: cheap chili dogs, cold beer, no lines, zero attitude.

Of course, when that happens, DC will need A LOT more toilet paper.

Its always wierd when you thought as your neighborhood as being funky and now its a tourist destination. Its a good thing overall for all of us that own…..so please I hope the hype continues on Ben’s!! Remember to smile and be nice to the tourists, we are all one at some point!!

OK the valet parking is definitely for Next Door, not the Chili Bowl. If that were true, I’d totally agree with you 2b3s, Ben’s would have jumped the shark.

I am a long-time Petworth resident and a DC native. I have never been a fan of Benś Chili Bowl. Itś never been more than a local greasy spoon to me, despite all the hooplah. Of course, Obamania is the reason for the crowds. It certainly isn’t the food or the service.