7 Cincinnati chili spots you didn't know about

Greetings.

As National Chili Day approaches this Thursday, I'm sharing some recommendations for under-the-radar diners and restaurants that – while not widely considered proper chili parlors – serve very good three-ways, cheese fries and coneys nonetheless.

So, let's get right to it.

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A&A Restaurant, Mount Healthy

A&A owners Angelo and Alexandra Rallis moved to Cincinnati from Kastoria, Greece, in 1955 to be with Angelo’s uncle, who worked at Park Chili in Northside. They later branched out on their own, opening A&A Restaurant in Mount Healthy in the late 1960s. While Alexandra is no longer with us, Rallis, now 96 years old, is still slinging his own recipe of Cincinnati chili, as well as double-deckers and burgers.

7617 Hamilton Ave., Mount Healthy, 513-522-9079

Santorini, Cheviot

This old-school Greek diner is known for its gyro pizzas, Greek salads and breakfasts. But don't sleep on the chili. As I wrote about Santorini last year, "Its old-school vibe fits the criteria of every great diner I've ever known. The coffee is good and cheap, the eggs are always cooked perfectly. The piped-in music – which can range from Tom Petty to "She's Like the Wind"-era Patrick Swayze – is always at the right level and the service is top-notch enough to leave you feeling better about life than you did when you walked in."

Santorini Family Restaurant, 3414 Harrison Ave., Cheviot, 513-662-8080.

Blue Jay Restaurant, Northside

This Northside diner is 56 years old and looks its age in the best way possible. The walls are lined with faux wood paneling. The service is snappy and there are plenty of booths for families to gather together over cheese coneys, burgers, coffee and eggs.

4154 Hamilton Ave., Northside, 513-541-0847.

Madison Diner, Madisonville

The chili at Madison Diner, which is located in the back of the Madison Bowl bowling alley, pays homage to owner Larry Misleh's family’s connection to Skyline. The recipe is a riff of it with a few ingredients added or subtracted. If you're a chili aficionado, you need to put it on your chili bucket list.

4761 Madison Road, Madisonville, (inside the Madison Bowl bowling alley). 513-271-1270, madisondiner.com.

J&J Restaurant, Western Hills

J&J Restaurant is widely (and deservedly) celebrated for its enormous double-decker sandwiches, but it also dishes out three-ways, cheese coneys and chili fries.

6159 Glenway Ave, Western Hills, 513-661-2260.

Bard's Burgers, Covington

Widely known for its creative burgers and poutine, Bard's offers a new-school take on Cincinnati chili that's made with wagyu beef and is a bit spicier than what you might be used to. Order it on a chili burger or on some chili cheese fries.

3620 Decoursey Ave., Covington, 859-866-6017.

Chili Hut, Loveland

In case you somehow missed it, this popular former food truck opened a brick-and-mortar location in Loveland in 2022. Owner Fadi Khalilieh serves his family’s recipe for Cincinnati chili in the form of cheese coneys, three-ways, slaw dogs, paninis and gouda grilled cheese.

90 Loveland-Madeira Road, Loveland, 513-253-7356, thechilihut.com. 

Keith Pandolfi covers food and dining for The Enquirer/Cincinnati.com. Follow his latest dining adventures on Instagram @keithpandolfi or via the At the Table newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Cincinnati chili spots you didn't know about