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DC – a city known for its soul, vibrant diversity, and of course: good food.

In honor of Black History Month, UberEATS celebrates the city’s vibrant culture by highlighting restaurant partner Virginia Ali, co-owner and operator of Ben’s Chili Bowl. Below, she shares the inspiring story of how Ben’s became a beloved institution within the local African American community and a culinary treasure in the DC restaurant scene.

Since opening in 1958, Ben’s Chili Bowl has given its neighborhood the gifts of soul-satisfying food and open-armed community, becoming famous over the years for its half-smokes and loyal patronage from noteworthy figures like Dr. Martin Luther King, Nat King Cole, Duke Ellington, and Barack Obama.

Still a landmark of African-American pride and neighborhood spirit to this day, Ben’s continues to bring people together with its signature chili and Sunday, February 26th from 11 am-11 pm, when you order Ben’s signature chili half-smoke, a majority of the proceeds* will go to Capital Area Food Bank–a non-profit dedicated to fighting hunger throughout the DMV area.

“All the years I’ve been here, I never get tired of seeing people come in and enjoy the food here.”

“I think that Black History Month is really the perfect time for us to teach our young people about our history. During the early years, [Ben’s] was a place where everybody came. Any old evening you could walk in and you might see Cab Calloway or Duke Ellington or Nat King Cole, Dr. Martin Luther King. Rarely did folks come in here and not run into so many friends and neighbors that they knew.”

“We’ve been very active in the community all these years. We’ve always been the place that welcomes everybody. We like to think we treat everybody equally.”

Open your UberEATS app on Sunday, February 26th from 11 am – 11 pm, tap the Black History Month banner and place your order to support local charity, Capital Area Food Bank.

Meals from Ben’s Chili Bowl will be available in: Arlington and areas of Upper NW and NE.

Don’t have the app yet? Download it now or order straight from your desktop.

*Donation to charity of choice will match the amount of total sales – not including tax – and associated booking fee of specified Black History Month menu items.