Cincinnati Chili - A Newcomers Guide
If you have never been to Cincinnati before, you most certainly will have heard of Cincinnati chili by the time or shortly after you arrive. Cincinnati chili is a local favorite, with many different chili parlors around town. Some are chains, some are one-off “mom and pop” places. Cincinnati chili was made popular by Greek immigrants in the area in the early 1900s. It’s a finely ground meat spiced with cinnamon, allspice, and cloves among other ingredients. Contrary to what some say, chocolate is not an ingredient in Cincinnati chili. That is a myth.
But there are things you should know before trying this Cincinnati favorite for the first time.
The first thing to note is, that it’s not chili in the traditional sense. “That’s not chili” is a typical response from people from Texas or, just about anywhere else chili is popular. It’s better to think of Cincinnati chili as a sauce, almost like a bolognese, which is scooped onto various other items to make the complete dish.
The Menu:
The first menu item to consider is the cheese coney. A small hot dog, with chili, cheese and typically served with mustard and/or diced onions. The buns are typically steamed which adds a nice touch.
Then there are the “ways”. These dishes are chili served over spaghetti, and topped with grated cheddar cheese. This is the standard. But there are other items that can be added. The menu typically looks like this regardless of which chili establishment you go to:
3-way: Chili served over spaghetti, topped with grated cheddar cheese
4-way: Chili served over spaghetti, with dark or red kidney beans OR diced onions, topped with grated cheddar cheese
5-way: Chili served over spaghetti, with dark or red kidney beans AND diced onions, topped with grated cheddar cheese
PRO TIP #1: When trying Cincinnati chili for the first time, do not get it to-go. Always eat in restaurant. It’s a much better culinary experience.
PRO TIP #2: When eating a “way”, consider a bib, The chili can be a bit runny and the spaghetti noodles can splash the sauce onto your shirt.
The Cincinnati chili 3-way
The typical Cincinnati chili cheese coney.
There are some other items people have been known to add, like sour cream, but that’s not a standard configuration. Your best bet as a first timer is go with the 3-way and get a coney as a side.
People use Cincinnati chili in all kinds of other dishes, like cincinnati chili dip, which is a layer of cream cheese in a serving dish, topped with chili, onions and cheddar cheese warmed in and oven and served with tortilla chips. Great for parties.
Where to get it:
There are any number of chili parlors in Cincinnati, the largest and most popular being Skyline Chili, and Gold Star Chili. Each chain has its fanboys and its a constant source of local debate as to which is better. There is also Empress Chili, Camp Washington Chili, Dixie Chili, Blue Ash Chili and Pleasant Ridge Chili. Camp Washington Chili has only one store, but a legion of local fans who say it’s the best Cincinnati chili. If you are visiting The American Sign Museum in town you might consider Camp Washington Chili as it’s only a couple blocks from the museum. Some of the other establishments are farther out of the way for ALCON guests to visit.
The closest places to try it near ALCON 2026 are in Covington. There is a Skyline Chili and Gold Star Chili in Covington a few blocks from The Marriott. The Skyline is a brand new store just opened in July with a retro vibe. There is also a new flagship Skyline Chili on Fountain Square downtown Cincinnati that has experimental menu items like Cincinnati chili pizza among others. There is a Dixie Chili in Covington but its about 3x farther from the Marriott than the Skyline or Gold Star.
Closest restaurants:
Travel Time from Marriott:
About 3 minutes (0.6 miles) by car
About 14 minutes (0.6 miles) walking
Public Transport Access:
Yes, the Southbank Shuttle route passes near both locations. Skyline is on the corner of 5th and Philadelphia Streets, Gold Star is a block north of the Skyline at the corner of 4th and Bakewell.
Note: on the Southbanks Shuttle map the Skyline location is shown as Frisch’s Big Boy. The Skyline took over that location in July.
Of course we encourage all newcomers to Cincinnati to give it a try. Just know that it can be a very polarizing dish. People typically really love it, or they really hate it. But give it a try to see for yourself.