Blue Ash Chili in Ohio

In June of 2025, my wife, son, and I were on vacation in Ohio. My wife checked the internet to see what foods Ohio is known for. The one that caught our attention was Cincinnati Chili.

Cincinnati-style chili is characterized by a thin, meat-sauce consistency rather than a thick stew. It features a distinct Mediterranean-inspired spice blend—often including cinnamon and cocoa—and is typically served over spaghetti or hot dogs with large mounds of shredded cheddar cheese.

Flavor Profile: The chili is generally described as not too spicy, with some noting a slightly sweet or savory, sometimes herbal, undertone.

Signature Dishes: Popular options include 3, 4, 5, or 6-ways (chili, spaghetti, cheese, onions, beans), with the 6-way adding jalapeño bottle caps for a kick.

Blue Ash 3-Way

My wife found a restaurant called Blue Ash Chili. Turns out it was featured in Guy Fieri's show Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives. My son went with the 3-Way, which is chili served over spaghetti and topped with shredded cheddar cheese. I ordered the Chili Cheese Corndog, which is a corndog covered in chili, diced onions, mustard, shredded cheddar cheese, and topped with jalapeños. I ordered mine without the jalapeños.

Everything was delicious! If you are ever in Ohio, make sure you try Cincinnati chili.