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The Best (Non-Chain) Chili in Greater Cincinnati, According to Our Readers

By on Tue, Jun 4, 2024 at 3:36 pm

Every year, CityBeat publishes the Best Of Cincinnati®, wherein readers and staffers alike pick which bars are the booziest, which people are the coolest and which shops are your best bet for dropping a pretty penny. Cincinnati and chili go together like oyster crackers and hot sauce (another Cincinnati delicacy). That makes it no surprise that there are a ton of restaurants in the Queen City with delicious chili on the menu, whether you want a good, old-fashioned Cincinnati-style chili heaped on top of spaghetti and drowned in cheddar or more traditional, BBQ-style chili. As for our readers, keep scrolling to see the places they enjoy frequenting for this savory goodness.
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No. 9 Best Chili (Non-Chain): The Chili Hut (Temporarily Closed) 390 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland Must-Try Chili Dish: Eden Pork coney: A spicy mett topped with Chili Hut’s signature chili; you can also add coleslaw.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 9 Best Chili (Non-Chain): The Chili Hut (Temporarily Closed)

390 Loveland Madeira Road, Loveland
Must-Try Chili Dish: Eden Pork coney: A spicy mett topped with Chili Hut’s signature chili; you can also add coleslaw.
No. 10 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Lucius Q 1131 Broadway St., Pendleton Must-Try Chili Dish: Chili Cheese Fries: Lucius Q’s savory Brisket Chili atop a plate of fries, perfect for sharing.
Photo: facebook.com/luciusq

No. 10 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Lucius Q

1131 Broadway St., Pendleton
Must-Try Chili Dish: Chili Cheese Fries: Lucius Q’s savory Brisket Chili atop a plate of fries, perfect for sharing.
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No. 8 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Melt Revival 4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside Must-Try Chili Dish: Vegetarian 3-Way: Melt’s Cincinnati-style black bean chili over spaghetti and topped with white cheddar. A vegan option is also available.
Photo: facebook.com/MeltRevival

No. 8 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Melt Revival

4100 Hamilton Ave., Northside
Must-Try Chili Dish: Vegetarian 3-Way: Melt’s Cincinnati-style black bean chili over spaghetti and topped with white cheddar. A vegan option is also available.
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No. 7 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Pig Candy BBQ 5901 Kellogg Ave., California Must-Try Chili Dish: Brisket Chili Dog: A smoked all-beef hot dog topped with mustard, onions and brisket chili.
Photo: Provided by Pig Candy BBQ

No. 7 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Pig Candy BBQ

5901 Kellogg Ave., California
Must-Try Chili Dish: Brisket Chili Dog: A smoked all-beef hot dog topped with mustard, onions and brisket chili.
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No. 6 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Bard’s Burgers & Chili 3620 Decoursey Ave., Covington Must-Try Chili Dish: The Chili Craig: A chili burger dressed to order.
Photo: Facebook.com/Bardsburgers1

No. 6 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Bard’s Burgers & Chili

3620 Decoursey Ave., Covington
Must-Try Chili Dish: The Chili Craig: A chili burger dressed to order.
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No. 5 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Empress Chili 7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria Must-Try Chili Dish: As this is the mother of all Cincinnati chili parlors, go for a classic way or coney.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 5 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Empress Chili

7934 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria
Must-Try Chili Dish: As this is the mother of all Cincinnati chili parlors, go for a classic way or coney.
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No. 4 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Zip’s Cafe 1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout Must-Try Chili Dish: A bowl of Zip’s famous chili.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 4 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Zip’s Cafe

1036 Delta Ave., Mt. Lookout
Must-Try Chili Dish: A bowl of Zip’s famous chili.
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No. 3 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Price Hill Chili 4920 Glenway Ave., West Price Must-Try Chili Dish: Coney Island: A grilled hot dog on a bun with their signature chili, mustard and fresh-chopped onions.
Photo: Marci Rhodes

No. 3 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Price Hill Chili

4920 Glenway Ave., West Price
Must-Try Chili Dish: Coney Island: A grilled hot dog on a bun with their signature chili, mustard and fresh-chopped onions.
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No. 2 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Pleasant Ridge Chili 6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge Must-Try Chili Dish: Home fries (or regular fries) with chili, cheese and Pleasant Ridge Chili’s famous gravy.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 2 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Pleasant Ridge Chili

6032 Montgomery Road, Pleasant Ridge
Must-Try Chili Dish: Home fries (or regular fries) with chili, cheese and Pleasant Ridge Chili’s famous gravy.
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No. 1 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Camp Washington Chili 3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington Must-Try Chili Dish: 513-Way: Goetta, chili, onions and beans; you can get it by itself or on top of spaghetti.
Photo: Hailey Bollinger

No. 1 Best Chili (Non-Chain): Camp Washington Chili

3005 Colerain Ave., Camp Washington
Must-Try Chili Dish: 513-Way: Goetta, chili, onions and beans; you can get it by itself or on top of spaghetti.
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