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8 Essential Cincinnati Chili Parlors

8 Essential Cincinnati Chili Parlors | www.thehungrytravelerblog.com

Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons User Seth Werkheiser

A three way and a cheese coney

I tried Cincinnati chili for the first time during my freshman year of college. I was brand new to Cincinnati and when you meet people in Cincinnati, the first thing they ask is where you went to high school. When they found out I was from out of town, the next question they asked was if I liked Cincinnati chili and if I preferred Skyline or Gold Star.

I quickly realized I needed to try this chili and figure out my answer to that question. After a Cincinnati Bearcats football game, a friend and I ventured to the Clifton Skyline (in my opinion the BEST Skyline) and I ordered a three way and a cheese coney. I remember liking the meal but not loving it. I thought it was okay but wasn’t dying to go back.

8 Essential Cincinnati Chili Parlors | www.thehungrytravelerblog.com

Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons User Mike Willis

The iconic sign at the Clifton Skyline

Well, I’m not sure what happened exactly but I quickly grew to love Skyline and it became one of my staple foods throughout college. I hold Skyline cheese coneys and three ways responsible for the Freshman 15 I gained and not the cheap beer and cafeteria food that causes it for most.

I always find it funny when people hate Cincinnati-style chili. To me, there is nothing to hate about a big plate of noodles, covered in meat sauce, and topped with an obscene amount of cheese. It’s not the most glamorous or prettiest dish, but it’s satisfying and definitely filling. I think you grow to love it with time and it is much easier to enjoy if you don’t think about it as traditional chili, but as a meat sauce used to garnish other dishes.

If you’re looking to try Cincinnati chili for the first time, start with the basics. Order a three/four/five way and a cheese coney. For the uninitiated, a three way is a plate of spaghetti, covered with chili, and topped with a mound of cheese. A four way is a plate of spaghetti, chili, and cheese with beans OR chopped onions (when you order, specify a four way with beans or a four way with onions). A five way has spaghetti, chili, cheese, beans, AND onions. A cheese coney is a small hot dog in a steamed bean topped with chili and cheese. When you order a cheese coney, the server will ask you if you want mustard or onion (I recommend both). If you’re at Skyline and you like spicy food, make sure to order ‘extreme cheese’ which is a habanero cheese blend that I absolutely love.

8 Essential Cincinnati Chili Parlors | www.thehungrytravelerblog.com

Photo Credit: Flickr Creative Commons User Navin75

A plate of cheese coneys

When you sit down, a server will bring bowls of oyster crackers to your table. If you want to fit in with the locals, eat the crackers topped with drops of hot sauce (known as ‘cracker bombs’) as you wait for your food.

For a Cincinnati chili beginner, I think Skyline is the best place to start. After that, consider checking out some of the independent chili parlors on this list. I’ve had a blast trying the different chili parlors around town and getting to know the personalities and quirks of each place. They may all serve similar dishes but they are all very different and worth a visit.

8 Essential Cincinnati Chili Parlors

Check out 8 Essential Cincinnati Chili Parlors

by Jordan Hamons at Mode

What is your favorite Cincinnati chili parlor? Do you have a standard order? Comment below!

Filed Under: Cincinnati, Food, Travel, Uncategorized Tagged With: chili, cincinnati, cincinnati-style chili, gold star, ohio, skyline, Travel

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Comments

  1. Sonja says

    August 16, 2015 at 9:25 pm

    Do any of them serve veggie chili? It's one of my favorite things to make - and love trying other's recipes. Love the old sign at Skyline.
    Reply
    • Jordan Hamons says

      August 18, 2015 at 10:15 am

      Hi Sonja! I am actually not sure if any of them serve veggie chili... that is a good question. Looks like I am going to have to do a little research :)
      Reply
  2. Karen Pruitt says

    August 11, 2016 at 4:48 pm

    Does any resturants in Ga. Or Florida serve any of the chili from there?
    Reply
    • Jordan Hamons says

      August 31, 2016 at 1:40 pm

      From what I hear, there is a Skyline Chili in Naples, Florida. You could always find a Cincinnati Chili recipe online and make it at home! Also, you can sometimes find Skyline in cans in Kroger stores.
      Reply

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The Hungry Traveler by Jordan Hamons is a culinary travel blog about globally inspired cooking and food-focused travel.
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