From down-home barbecue joints to cute plant-based cafés, there are some amazing restaurants across America that pride themselves on their house-made chili. Some places specialize in spicy Southwestern-style offerings packed with green chiles, while others dole out Texan classics that are all beef and no beans. But which is the best spot to grab a bowl near you? Here's our pick of the best chili dish every state has to offer.
Click or scroll through our gallery to discover the tastiest bowl of chili in every state, from Alabama to Wyoming.
Our selections are based on genuine user reviews, awards and accolades, and the first-hand experience of our team. They're also regularly checked and updated.
The Blind Mule's house-made black bean chili comes served in a bowl or a cup, or as a topping for chili cheese fries. Packed with peppers, tomatoes, and black beans, the chili is loved by customers, who say it's the best around. Try a cup of it alongside one of the restaurant's well-loved grilled shrimp po'boys.
Hip joint Bread & Brew serves a classic Alaskan-style chili that loyal customers rave about. It's made with Alaskan reindeer sausage and simmered low and slow with green chiles, tomatoes, kidney beans, and a flavorful blend of spices. You can pay extra to get it served in a bread bowl.
As its name suggests, this down-to-earth grill has a Texas theme – and it shows it off with a collection of memorabilia (think flags, road signs, and baseball caps) and a menu of meaty classics. A customer favorite is the TEXAZ RED: house-made no-bean chili topped with cheese and a generous dollop of sour cream. It's available in cup and bowl size, or in a Frito pie.
Purple Cow's locations are best known for their eye-catching desserts and retro decor, but the chain's chili packs a punch, too. It's made in-house, zingy with peppercorns and spices, and topped with cheese, purple onions, and fresh herbs. You can also have it as a topping on your burger or hot dog, if you like.
Chili John's in Burbank has been serving up its signature chili bowls since 1946. You can get versions with turkey, chicken, or lentils, but the original beef chili is the fail-safe option. It's made to a decades-old recipe with a blend of secret spices (you can choose the heat) and served over rice or spaghetti, with or without beans.
There's a reason this Denver hangout has been in business since 1945. Its food – especially the imaginative chili bowls – keeps customers coming back. The highlight is the R&C Pork Green Chili, which has even won awards. It's made in true Colorado style, with tasty hunks of pork, warming green chiles, and tomatoes. There's a veggie version available, too.
The chili served up at The Vanilla Bean Café is another dish that's not short of accolades. The beef is slow-cooked with a bounty of spices – including cayenne, cumin, and chili powder – and chunky vegetables like celery and peppers are thrown in for good measure. It's served in generous portions, and comes topped with tortilla chips, cheese, and scallions. The joint also serves an equally tasty vegetarian version.
Woody's Dewey Beach may be most famous for its incredible crab cakes, but there are some days when only a bowl of the warming, spicy stuff will do. Served with onions, shredded cheese, and sour cream, the chili here is said to be the best around – and it also works great as a side dish if you're ordering from the sandwich menu.
Inspired by the flavors of the Southwest, LoKal's New Mexico chili has been voted the best in Florida, according to the restaurant's menu. Customers say the dish has just the right amount of heat. It comes sprinkled with white onions and Monterey Jack cheese, with tortilla chips on the side.
You can't go wrong with most things on the meat-heavy menu at Fox Bros. Bar-B-Q in Atlanta – but the chili is a firm favorite. It's made with wonderfully tender smoked brisket (only the best certified Angus beef will do), and it comes topped with red onions and cheese. Our suggestion? Mop it up with the restaurant's tasty jalapeño cornbread and crackers.
This Hawaiian chain specializes in comfort food – and its steaming bowl of chili is a menu highlight. It's packed with beef and beans, plus tomatoes and spices, lending it a rich flavor and a deep red color. A simple round of fluffy white rice is the perfect accompaniment.
Like most of the food at Meridian's Goodwood BBQ Company, the chili is a bit like a big, warm hug. Customers describe the dish as 'deliciously smoky,' and it's best enjoyed in a bowl with plenty of cheese – or layered over nachos or a burger. Can't make it to Meridian? There's a second Goodwood BBQ Company in Boise, plus two locations in Utah.
The Windy City may be famous for its Italian beef but, when it comes to chili, it's a veggie option that takes the crown. The Chicago Diner's quinoa chili is spicy and smoky, with plenty of cumin and chipotle peppers. It's served with popping jalapeño corn fritters, plus extras like avocado and sour cream.
Billing itself as 'Indy's original chili parlor,' Nick's opened back in 1974 – and it's easily stood the test of time. Chili is still the menu mainstay, and the joint's recipe is a closely guarded secret. It's named '5-way' for the five elements that make up the perfect bowl: fresh spaghetti, sharp Cheddar, onions, red beans, and, of course, steaming spoonfuls of beef chili.
The chili at this easy-going barbecue joint (with a handful of locations across Iowa) really hits the spot. As the name suggests, the dish has just the right balance of spice and smoke, and it's made with top-quality steak. It's served piled high with jalapeños, cheese, and sour cream.
You can see just how deliciously chunky and tender the meat in Woodyard's burnt end chili is. It's a fabled menu highlight packed with three types of beans and oodles of spices. The restaurant itself has been going strong for more than five decades, and it's even featured on TV shows like Guy Fieri's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives.
Describing itself as a 'neighborhood tradition,' Check's Cafe has been serving a solid menu full of American classics for more than 60 years, and the recipe for its famous chili dates right back to 1944. It's rich and meaty, and best served with 'all the fixins' – that's spaghetti, white onions, and plenty of cheese.
NOLA's Central City BBQ is ultra-hip – and it's got a menu with just as much substance and style. You can't go wrong with the no-bean brisket chili cup, slow cooked and layered with cheese, sour cream, and green onions. It's delicious as a topping on the restaurant's signature fries, too.
The best Maine chili can be found at cool brewing company Sea Dog. It's made with both beef and beans, and finished with plenty of pico de gallo, cheese, and tortilla chips. While it's just fine served from a bowl, it's even better when piled onto a burger with plenty of sour cream and fried onions (as pictured).
The Hard Times Cafe specializes in chili, with four different types on offer: Cincinnati, Terlingua, Texas, and vegetarian. Don't worry if you're not sure which you prefer; the café offers complimentary tastings of all four before you decide. It's served by the bowl with cornbread and a choice of toppings – or, if you feel like something a little different, there's a menu of chili specials and different types of chili mac, including the 3-way chili mac (featuring spaghetti, chili, and cheese).
This Cambridge joint might be a sandwich shop by name, but the chili is the real star of the menu. It's Texas style (that's all brisket and no beans), and it's got a real kick. A hearty dollop of sour cream and a hunk of cornbread will help with the heat.
Dr Rolf's Barbeque has a trio of delicious chilis on offer – and, happily, you don't have to choose between them. Order the chili flight, and you'll get all three: that's white (smoky chicken and beans), green (pulled pork and black beans), and red (smoked brisket, black beans, and pinto beans), plus a cornbread waffle or corn chips on the side.
The chili bowl at The Loon Cafe earns plenty of praise from customers and press alike (and rightly so). It's described as 'a Minnesota-born chili' since the recipe was dreamed up right here – and it consists of beef, beans, veggies, and delicate spices. A hunk of Texas toast on the side is perfect for dipping.
Even on the mammoth menu at Mugshots – which includes burgers, sandwiches, salads, and hot dogs – the joint's signature chili dish stands out. It's a classic slow-cooked beef chili that's finished with heaps of cheese and onions, and it comes either in a bowl as an entrée or in a cup as a side. You can get it over your burger or hot dog, too.
As its name suggests, this no-frills Independence spot is all about chili – and it's got a long history. It started out as a street cart, but it eventually grew to a bricks-and-mortar location in 1919. The tasty chili has been served the same way for a century: by layering carefully seasoned beef over beans. You can choose whether it's dry, soupy (with bean broth) or juicy (with meat juices), and you can top it off with everything from jalapeño relish to ketchup.
Winner of the annual Billings chili cook-off, Pops Tots is a relatively new food truck that specializes in potato tots with a variety of comforting toppings. Its take on a classic chili, spooned over potato tots and topped with grated cheese, also won the People's Choice award – and it consistently receives rave reviews from customers.
Looking for delicious veggie chili in Haymarket? Head to LeadBelly – it's famous for serving its take on the dish with a cinnamon roll, so you'll get the perfect blend of sweetness, smoke, and spice. Meat lovers have the option to add ground beef, chicken, or BBQ pork to the mix.
There are near-endless restaurant choices in Sin City – but the best place to get a hearty bowl of chili is this humble spot, located a few miles off The Strip. Satisfied customers say Mamas Homemade Chili is 'sweet, with a perfect beans-to-meat ratio.'
The Red Arrow Diner has a history that stretches back to 1922, and – now with four locations – it's become something of a New Hampshire institution. The menu is big and filled with standard diner fare, but you can't beat the 5-Alarm Chili (which, as the name suggests, is extra hot). It typically comes smothered in cheese sauce, and customers love it.
This laid-back restaurant has two locations in New Jersey – and it breaks chili tradition, using chunks of chicken rather than standard ground beef. The place has a health-focused ethos, and the lean chili is packed with beans and spices that give it just as much depth and warmth as a more typical dish.
It's easy to find a fantastic bowl of chili in this Southwestern state, but Sadie's offering just nudges into the winning spot. It's made just how you like it: you can choose to have it red or green (with red or green chiles), and with or without beans. It's served with a flour tortilla on the side – and here, it's seen spooned over classic rellenos.
It's another veggie chili win in the Big Apple. Bubby's tongue-in-cheek mission statement is to 'defend the American table' and 'steal grandmothers' recipes' – and we're sure grandma would be proud of the joint's lip-smacking vegetarian chili. It's made with loads of beans and vegetables, and rounded off with sour cream and cheese.
The city of Asheville is achingly hip, and it's got a roster of veggie and plant-based spots to prove it. One of the best, Rosetta's Kitchen, focuses on 'vegan soul food,' serving up an excellent Hearty Chili that's even won awards. It's paired with house-made cornbread and promises to be both 'belly filling' and 'soul warming.'
Scotty's Drive-In is a Bismarck legend, opened back in the 1960s and made famous by signature items like the Rebel Burger. The meaty chili has won the place plenty of fans, too. It's house-made, wonderfully thick and spicy, and especially good when layered over crunchy tortilla chips with bountiful quantities of oozing cheese.
When 'chili' is right there in the joint's name, you know the offerings will probably be great – and Camp Washington has delivered 'over 75 years of chili goodness.' Customers rave about its top-secret recipe. Go all-out and order the 5-way: flavorful chili piled up on spaghetti and beans, topped with plenty of onions and cheese.
Oklahoma City's Iron Star Urban BBQ whips up a solid house-made chili. It's made Texas style, forgoing beans in favor of beef. It comes topped with sour cream and cheese, with a giant cornbread muffin and pickles on the side – and satisfied customers say it's nothing short of spectacular.
Available in both meaty and vegan varieties, the warming and comforting chili at Cheryl's wins rave reviews from customers, who say it's perfectly cooked – with just the right amount of spice. Available as an entrée with sour cream and corn chips, or as a side with a sandwich, it's a real must-try.
The rib-sticking chili at Philly's Race Street Cafe is a meat lover's dream. It's a combination of steak, chicken, and andouille sausage, with filling beans thrown in for good measure, and plenty of cheese on top. It comes surrounded by a circle of tortilla chips, and customers love it.
Trailer park–themed eatery Ogie's serves up some of the best comfort food in town – and diners love its 600 Minute Chili, which combines ground beef, a three-bean blend, pickled jalapeños, cheese, and sour cream. It also serves a veggie version packed with beans, tomatoes, sweetcorn, and rustic onions.
One Hot Mama's dishes up a huge menu of belly-busting American favorites, from ribs and wings to barbecue platters. The joint's brisket burnt end chili is a real must-try; the smoky burnt ends lend the dish a wonderful flavor that keeps customers coming back for more. When it tastes this good, it's no wonder that the dish has emerged victorious in back-to-back local chili cook offs.
There are plenty of reasons to visit this popular Sioux Falls diner: cool retro interiors, a classic, convivial diner vibe, and a menu of American staples. That menu includes a stellar chili that's absolutely loaded with beef, beans, onions, and peppers. Diners eat it in steaming bowls or ladled over spaghetti, and they give it high praise.
Varallo's proudly touts its status as the oldest restaurant in Music City. Its story started with Frank Varallo Sr, who began doling out his chili from a street cart in the early 1900s. It was such a hit that he opened a bricks-and-mortar location in 1907. More than a century later, Varallo's (now under new ownership) is still going strong, and the secret-recipe chili remains popular. Plump for the '3-way' option with spaghetti and tamales, or just get it straight up.
The meat-loving Lone Star State is well known for its chili, which is traditionally served with plenty of beef and no beans. The version at Texas Chili Parlor in Austin follows tradition – with mouth-watering results. Diners say it's nice and spicy, and that it's filled with generous amounts of chunky beef. The red chili comes in varying heat levels, from 'X' to 'XXX,' plus there are other versions to try, including white chili made with pork.
The little city of Ogden has a food scene that punches above its weight, and Cuppa – a charming plant-based café – is one of its stars. The menu, which changes with the seasons, is packed full of veggie delights, and the vegan chili is always a winner when it features. Like the rest of the offerings here, it's made with organic, non-GMO ingredients, including hearty lentils and plenty of spice.
Everything about this Irish-inspired tavern is cozy, including its super-warming chili – perfect for chilly Vermont winters. It's made with chunky rib-eye steak and kidney beans, and the sauce is extra rich and smoky. It's all crowned with loads of sour cream and Cheddar, plus a ring of tortilla chips. Diners love the friendly atmosphere here, too.
Open since the 1980s, the Hard Times Cafe is a veteran 'American Chili Parlor,' and it's still one of the best places in the whole country to get a delicious bowl of meaty stew. Made by simmering finely ground beef with tomatoes and sweet spices like cinnamon, its Cincinnati chili is a real crowd-pleaser. The dish's historic recipe dates back to the 1920s, so you know it's the real deal.
Chili is the bread and butter of this hip hole-in-the-wall joint in Washington's Vancouver. There are plenty of delicious bowls on offer, but the Chili Carlos is the ultimate choice. It's a meat feast made with ham hock, pork shoulder, and chorizo, plus peppers, onions, and filling hominy. You'll get a slice of deliciously sweet cornbread on the side, too.
Maloney's is another sports bar that gets its chili just right. Its tasty offering is loaded with red beans and packed with heat – and that tongue-tingling spice is cooled down with lots of sour cream and cheese. There's a white bean chicken chili on the menu if you fancy something different, too.
Open since 1931, this Milwaukee spot has one aim: to serve delicious slow-simmered chili. The recipe is top secret, but one thing we do know is that it sees a bowl of heavily spiced meat topped with cheese and sour cream. You can order your chili layered over beans or spaghetti, or heaped onto nachos or a hot dog – plus you can customize everything, from the level of spice to how juicy it is.
Customers say the house-made green chili at C85 Branding Iron is the best you'll ever eat. Topped with cheese and chiles, it's a satisfying meal when you're craving something comforting. As well as the fantastic food, regulars also rate the friendly service.
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Last updated by Dominique Ayling.