Camp Washington Chili
| Camp Washington Chili | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Exterior of Camp Washington Chili in 2019 | |
 Interactive map of Camp Washington Chili | |
| Restaurant information | |
| Owner | John Johnson |
Previous owners | Steve Andon and Fred Zannbu |
| Food type | American |
| Location | 3005 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, Hamilton, Ohio, 45225, USA |
| Website | campwashingtonchili |
 | This article needs to be updated. The reason given is: John Johnson has died. (October 2025) |
Camp Washington Chili is a Cincinnati chili parlor founded in 1940 by Steve Andon and Fred Zarnbus in the neighborhood of Camp Washington, near downtown Cincinnati, in southwestern Ohio. A well known Cincinnati landmark,[1] the parlor is located at 3005 Colerain Avenue, and was run by longtime owner John Johnson until his death in October 2025[2]. It is now run by his daughter, Maria Papakirk[3] The restaurant left its old location and moved to a site a few lots away in 2000, after being told to vacate by the city in order to widen Hopple Street.[4] Their new location is modeled after a 1950s-style diner. The restaurant is open 24 hours a day every day but Sunday.
In 2011, Camp Washington Chili was featured on a Cincinnati episode of the Travel Channel's Man v. Food Nation.
Reception
[edit]
In 2009, food writers Jane and Michael Stern wrote of Camp Washington Chili that "when we crave the best, there is just one place to go."[5] In a New York Times interview, the Sterns declared it the best maker of Cincinnati five-way chili.[6] In 2014, Travel + Leisure named it one of "America's Best Chili(s)".[7] Bon Appétit named it one of "The Best Chili Spots."[8] In 2000, the chili served by the restaurant won an "American Regional Classic" James Beard Foundation Award.[9][10] CBS News in 1985 named it "the best chili in the nation."[11] The restaurant has been featured by HGTV, the Huffington Post, Forbes, and Every Day with Rachael Ray.[12][13]
In popular culture
[edit]Blues musician Lonnie Mack wrote a song entitled "Camp Washington Chili".[14][15][16]
See also
[edit]References
[edit]- ↑ Sheridan, Margaret (January 4, 1985). "Cincinnati-style chili parlor - A sweet success". Chicago Tribune. p. 16.
- ↑ Weiter, Taylor; Null, Alex (October 17, 2025). "'We lost a legend' | Camp Washington Chili owner Johnny Johnson dies". WCPO 9 Cincinnati. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
- ↑ staff, Adam Clements, WKRC (October 1, 2025). "Camp Washington Chili patriarch celebrates 90th birthday milestone". WKRC. Retrieved July 7, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) - ↑ Perry, Kimball (February 22, 1993). "Camp Washington Chili going, but bigger one will replace it". Living. The Cincinnati Post. p. 1B.
- ↑ Stern, Jane and Michael (2009). 500 Things to Eat Before it's Too Late:and the Very Best Places to Eat Them. Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. p. 245.
- ↑ "Questions For... Jane and Michael Stern". The New York Times. May 31, 2006.
- ↑ Saladino, Emily (March 6, 2014). "America's Best Chili". Travel + Leisure. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ↑ Knowlton, Andrew (March 1, 2009). "The Best Chili Spots". Bon Appétit. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ↑ James Beard Foundation America’s Classics Award Winners
- ↑ Martin, Chuck (June 23, 2000). "Last order's up at original Camp Washington Chili". The Cincinnati Enquirer. Archived from the original on November 1, 2000. Retrieved August 9, 2007.
- ↑ "Bun Voyage, Camp Washington Chili". Cincinnati Enquirer. July 9, 2000. p. 21.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: deprecated archival service (link) - ↑ "Media Coverage". CampWashingtonChili.com. Retrieved January 14, 2016.
- ↑ "How Camp Washington Chili Became A Cultural Staple Of Cincinnati". Forbes. Retrieved February 14, 2026.
- ↑ Metcalf, Allan A. (2000). How We Talk: American Regional English Today. Houghton Mifflin. pp. 98. ISBN 0-618-04362-4.
- ↑ Shortridge, Barbara Gimla; John R. Shortridge (1998). The Taste of American Place: A Reader on Regional and Ethnic Foods. Rowman & Littlefield. p. 54. ISBN 0-8476-8507-1.
- ↑ Simonds, Dawn (2004). Best Food in Town: The Restaurant Lover's Guide to Comfort Food in the Midwest. Emmis Books. p. 145. ISBN 1-57860-146-0.
External links
[edit]39°8′15.21″N 84°32′16.02″W / 39.1375583°N 84.5377833°W
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