From down-home barbecue joints to cute plant-based cafés, restaurants across the States serve wonderfully warming bowls of chili. You'll find spicy Southwestern-style offerings packed with green chiles and Texan classics that are all beef and no beans. Here's our pick of the best chili dish in every state.
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.
With three joints across Alabama (in Huntsville, Hoover, and Birmingham), MELT is all about updating American-style comfort food classics with creative spins. The menu is bursting with imaginative grilled cheese sandwiches, and its cheese-smothered chili is a triumph too. Made with no beans, it's rich and meaty, and it's pictured here alongside a tempting-looking chicken Parmesan sandwich.
Hip joint Bread and 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 spot-on 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 that's shown 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 Homemade Chili, made without beans and topped with cheese and a generous dollop of sour cream.
Purple Cow's locations are best known for their eye-catching desserts and retro decor, but the chili packs a punch too. It's homemade, zingy with peppercorns and spices, and topped with cheese, onions and fresh herbs. You can also have it as a topping on your burger or hot dog.
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 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 chilies, and tomatoes.
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 veg like celery and pepper is thrown in for good measure. It's served in generous portions, and topped with tortilla chips, cheese, and scallions. They also serve 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 Southwest, LoKal's New Mexico chili has been voted the best in Florida, aaccording to their menu. Customers say the dishhas just the right amount of heat. It comes sprinkled with white onions and Monterey Jack cheese, and is served with a side of tortilla chips.
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 (with only the best certified Angus beef) and is topped with red onions and cheese. Perfect mopped up with the restaurant's jalapeño cornbread and crackers.
This Hawaiian chain specializes in comfort food, with its steaming bowl of chili being a menu highlight. It's packed with beef and beans, plus tomatoes and spices that lend it a rich flavor and a deep red colour. A round of fluffy white rice is the perfect, simple accompaniment.
Just like most of the menu, the chili at Meridian's Goodwood BBQ Company is 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.
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 BBQ joint (with a handful of locations across Iowa) really hits the spot. As the name suggests, the dish is 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 been featured on top 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 onion, 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 slow-cooked, no-bean brisket chili cup, layered with cheese, sour cream, and green onions. It's delicious as a topping for 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 there's a menu of chili dishes like the 3-way chili mac (spaghetti, chili, and cheese). There are also restaurants in Alexandria, Fredericksburg, and Springfield.
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. 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 on the side.
The chili bowl at The Loon Cafe earns plenty of praise from punters and press alike – and rightly so. It's described as 'a Minnesota-born chili' since the recipe was dreamt up right here and it consists of beef, beans, and veggies with 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 – its signature chili dish stands out. It's a classic beef chili that's slow-cooked, finished with heaps of cheese and onions, and served in a bowl 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. Its first incarnation was as a street cart, until a restaurant opened in 1919. The tasty chili has been served the same way for a century: with carefully seasoned beef layered over beans. You can choose it dry, soupy (with bean broth) or juicy (with the meat juices), and top it off with ingredients from jalapeño relish to humble ketchup.
Small and simple restaurant the Old Salt Outpost may have a limited menu of three burgers, beef fat fried potatoes, one salad, a chili and selection of sauces but it's a menu of perfection, according to customers. Regulars especially rate the beef brisket chili with stewed tomatoes and peppers, and a dollop of sour cream. There's also a menu of delicious cocktails.
Head to LeadBelly for a top-notch vegetarian chili. It's famous for serving 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, shaved ribeye or BBQ pulled pork.
There are near-endless restaurant choices in Sin City, but the best place to get a hearty bowl of chili is this humble spot a few miles off The Strip. You can choose an 8oz or 12oz (227g or 340g) bowl of Mamas Homemade Chili, which is staisfied customers says 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 grub, 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, or it's seen here spooned over classic rellenos.
It's another veggie chili win in the Big Apple. The 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 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 homemade 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 is also a firm favorite too. It's homemade, wonderfully thick and spicy, and is especially good when layered over crunchy tortilla chips with bountiful amounts 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: moreish chili piled up on spaghetti and beans, and finished with lashings of onions and cheese.
Oklahoma City's Iron Star Urban BBQ whips up a solid homemade chili. It's made Texas-style, forgoing beans in favor of all beef. It comes topped with sour cream and cheese, with a giant cornbread muffin and pickles on the side.
A huge bowl of pinto beans topped with Cheddar and served with tortilla, the popular Chile Bowl at Portland’s Pepper Box Cafe comes with either New Mexican red or green chili sauce. There’s extra chorizo and pork carne adovada available for the meat-lovers or you can add squash and avocado.
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. Surrounded by tortilla chips, customers love it.
Julian's draws Providence's cool crowd, with its industrial-chic décor and chilled-out vibe. The menu – which is focused on brunch – is ever-changing, and the seasonal chili always pleases customers: they say the dish, with shoestring tortilla chips, avocado and fresh herbs, hits just the right spot.
One Hot Mama's dishes up a huge menu of belly-busting American favourites, from ribs and wings to barbecue platters – and the brisket burnt end chili is the perfect option for the cooler months. The smoky burnt ends lend the dish a wonderful flavour and it's a proud winner of local cook-offs. It's garnered rave diner reviews too.
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 like 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.
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.
The Hard Times Cafe is a veteran 'American Chili Parlor', opening back in the 1980s, and it's still one of the best places in the whole country to get a delicious bowl of meaty stew. Their Cincinnati Chili is a crowd-pleaser: finely ground beef is simmered with tomatoes and lifted with sweet spices like cinnamon. The 1920s recipe comes from Greek immigrants.
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 with it too.
Another sports bar that gets its chili just right, Maloney's offering is loaded with red beans and packed with heat. And that tongue-tingling spice is pared down with lots of sour cream and cheese. There's a white bean chicken chili on the menu if you fancy something different too.
This Milwaukee hot spot is entirely focused on delicious chili, which it has been dishing up since 1931. The recipe for the slow-simmered chili is top-secret and sees a bowl of heavily spiced meat topped with cheese and sour cream. You can order it layered over beans or spaghetti, or heaped onto nachos or a hot dog.
Customers say the homemade green chili at C85 Branding Iron is the best you'll ever eat. Topped with cheese and chiles, it's a satisfying meal on cold days. As well as the fantastic food, regulars also rate the friendly service.