Cincinnati chili is a thin Mediterranean-spiced meat sauce poured over spaghetti as a 3-way, or with beans (4-way) and onions (5-way). Cinnamon, allspice and cocoa season the meat.
Invented in 1922 by Macedonian immigrant brothers Tom and John Kiradjieff at the Empress chili parlor on Vine Street, next to the Empress burlesque theater. The Kiradjieffs adapted a Mediterranean meat stew to American spaghetti as a way to stretch budgets. Camp Washington Chili (1940), Skyline Chili (1949) and Gold Star Chili (1965) made it a regional staple. Camp Washington won the James Beard America's Classic award in 2000.
3 editor picks for Cincinnati chili in Cincinnati, ranked by editorial score. All Cincinnati signature dishes · Cincinnati chili across every city.
Camp Washington Chili ★ 4.7
camp-washington · 3005 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225
Camp Washington on Colerain Avenue in Cincinnati's Camp Washington has been the 24-hour chili counter since 1940, and a James Beard America's Classic winner.
Skyline Chili Clifton ★ 4.4
clifton · 290 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45220
Skyline Chili on Ludlow Avenue in Cincinnati's Clifton is the Clifton Skyline location open since 1966, with the regional 3-way chili and the cheese coney.
Gold Star Chili ★ 4.1
mt-washington · 2231 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45230
Gold Star Chili on Beechmont Avenue in Cincinnati's Mt. Washington is the regional chili-parlor chain since 1965, with the 4-way chili and the cheese coney.