Main
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Second Helping
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Veg
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Chili
Hot with spaghetti and beans
food
Chili
interior
tables and chairs in a restaurant
My finished food
interior
Chili
pasta dish, pasta, food
Yummm
I love supporting local. Since 1931!
tacos
Real Chili Lunch
outside
Fritos pie. If you want Fritos just get a chili bowl with Fritos on the side. It's better than this!
Spicy chili
Front of Real Chili
Spaghetti and chili with hot sauce and cheese
Menu at Real Chili downtown Milwaukee
Medium chili mixed up with a side of Fritos. Bomb!
Chili with Spaghetti, Cheddar Cheese and no Beans
Chili cheese dog with onions hidden
interior
outside
Stacey B.
Nov 25, 2024
W.O.R.S.T. chili EVER! (Hard stop)I swear it was two weeks old and left to simmer until it was just this side of dust! What a terrible thing to do to really great Chicago Vienna Hot Dogs! DISGUSTING! I've lived in this neighborhood for years, walked past the place innumerous times but never stopped in. Today, my birthday, it was chilly, misty rain, so I figured: Great Chili weather! Stopped in, ordered two chili dogs, one for me, one for my adult son. Took them home, only a block and a half walk away. Opened it up and worried.It was so dark that it was nearly black. So dry it literally crumbed off the dog. So, I figured; "Ok, maybe if I just add some shredded cheese that'll be better, right?" I thought to myself. Settled in and took a bite. The lovely "snap" of the Vienna beef dog on a classic Rosen's poppy seed bun...utterly ruined by this dry, angry, overcooked crust that was supposed to resemble chili. Yeah, no. I had to scrape off the crust and just added mustard to my lovely Vienna beef dog. The chili, however was a crime!Oh! And the reason I didn't add toppings at the shop? A DOLLAR EACH! $1 for Onions, $1 for Cheese, $1 for Sour Cream (not sure why anyone would put sour cream on a hot dog...but after that experience maybe).I cannot fathom anyone actually "enjoying" that crap! Bad enough a simple hot dog, bun and a couple tablespoons of dusty crust is $5.50!
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Fei R.
Oct 11, 2024
Real chili, real not good! They used to be good. I hope they do something about their chili. I'm not sure if the owner is still the same one. The chili meat is so dry, and it's over price. I hope they can improve it because this spot holds many people's memories.
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Erika G.
May 11, 2023
HOW have I not been here before?! I'm FROM Milwaukee, I lived there until my late 20s. NO matter, I went there last week, and now I know. The chili is GREAT. Looks like a diner, the chili gets dished up right away with your choice of toppings - sorta like Cincinnati chili, but I LOVED it.We also had a Chicago dog, and since we live in Chicago - I can give them props. It was LEGIT. Coupla beers, and we're out the door.Super reasonable price for a late night nosh.
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Mitchell O.
Oct 13, 2023
Friendly place, chili as expected. College area, so very informal ambiance. Prices way too high. Ground beef and spaghetti noodles.As close as you can get to the original Chili John's in Green Bay.
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Joseph H.
Nov 3, 2023
Went to this place a few months ago, doubting much has changed since.I thought was odd that the chili looked black. First thoughts were that it was sitting on the burner on all day long or overnight. Ended up ordering the chili dog and it was completely meh. Actually it was the worst chili I've ever had.Employee at the counter was a pretty slow at figuring things out. I had to repeat myself a few times.I think its obvious, I won't be back. A tourist trap known on tv shows that's not worth it.
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Nicole C.
Jul 10, 2023
This place has been around forever! My dad used to take us here when we were kids & hanging out downtown, now my husband & I stop by whenever we're visiting Milwaukee! You're not going into a luxurious restaurant & it's not updated in the decoration/cosmetic department, but you're here for the food. It's a very laid back place with very casual & kind service. The menu isn't big but what can you expect? It's a place for Chili! I knocked down a star because, I'm guessing due to inflation, the prices are getting a little high. I think I paid $12 for a small bowl of chili & some cheese last weekend. Otherwise, this place is worth stopping by! It may not look like anything special in the bowl, but the flavor will surprise you. There are two locations; this is the bigger & arguably better one.Fun fact; my parents used to have a restaurant (before I was even on this planet) & won second place for Milwaukee's Best Chili...they were beat out by Real Chili! I love my mom's chili but this place definitely deserves to be #1.
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Megan S.
Dec 28, 2023
I started writing this review years ago when I was in college and for some reason never finished it.When back yesterday because I was in the area and decided to stop here. Terrible choice. My original review was 4 stars and it is now updated to 2.This Milwaukee Institution has died. Nothing has changed here as far as the ambience which I guess gives it nostalgia but the chili has declined drastically - it's now a bowl of oily, salty slop and the hot has no heat.And the prices are insane. $15 for an eat in 1 1/2 portion of hot. Portion sizes got smaller too. Noodles overcooked, beans undercooked. Want that to go? Tack on a few more dollars. Need toppings? $1 a piece. $1 for 1 1/2 tablespoons of sour creamOr a bullet ramekin of some chopped onions. Bring back the original recipe and quality. Heck even consider shutting down and just selling frozen portions to Sendicks or something like Chili John's in Green Bay did
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Liam B.
Mar 9, 2023
Super friendly staff and a low key atmosphere for a quick and easy bite. I had a Chicago dog and a Chili Dog - both were good however the Chili Dog only had meat on it that was a little dry, maybe just an off day or maybe that's how it's served. Anyways the chili with all the beans and other stuff mixed looked really good so I'll try that next time.
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Matt G.
Jan 28, 2023
The greatest bowl of chili in the world- no exaggeration. A must have place every time I am in Miwaukee
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Jake M.
Sep 16, 2024
This was recommended to us when traveling. Not for me. So greasy. Overpriced for a small cup. Chili was almost black. The best thing I had there was the oyster crackers and the service. I had to go back and order a plan hotdog. The hotdog was undercooked and chewy. I had to get food at another spot afterwards. I'm not sure what it was but our whole group was in pain after this. There wasn't enough pepsid in the world to stop it.
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