Entry No. 41 — the Cincinnati file — filed under: late-night-eats
Camp Washington Chili
A James Beard Award-winning 1940s retro diner operating 24 hours a day six days a week for night owls, shift workers, and late-night revelers.
The story
Cincinnati chili is already a strange regional religion to outsiders—mediterranean-spiced ground meat slathered over spaghetti and buried beneath a neon-yellow mountain of finely shredded cheddar cheese. While giant corporate chains sanitized the concept for suburban drive-thrus, Camp Washington Chili kept its roots firmly planted on Colerain Avenue, slinging chili to industrial shift workers and night owls since 1940.
It eventually picked up an America's Classics award from the James Beard Foundation, but don't expect white tablecloths or pretense. This is a 24-hour diner operating six days a week where the chili recipe remains a guarded family secret, ladled fast over steaming hot dogs and spaghetti under the hum of bright neon and vintage jukeboxes.
What it's like
Slide into a chrome booth at 2 AM or take a seat at the counter alongside third-shift factory crews, off-duty officers, and late-night revelers. Order the classic 5-way—spaghetti, chili, beans, onions, and enough shredded cheese to hide the plate—and crush your oyster crackers straight over the pile before digging in.
The move: Slide into a chrome-trimmed diner booth at 2 AM under glowing neon lights, drop quarters into the vintage jukebox, and split a steaming 5-way chili piled high with shredded cheddar and oyster crackers.
- 📍 Camp Washington, Cincinnati, OH
- 💸 $
- ⚡ Low-key
- 🌗 Outdoors
Where: 3005 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45225
Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- American Sign Museum — Located less than half a mile away in Camp Washington, it makes a logical prelude before grabbing chili under Camp Washington's own neon signs.
- Esquire Theatre — Catch a late-night indie screening in the Gaslight District before driving down to Colerain Avenue for a 2 AM 5-way.
- Beardo's Curiosities — Browse skull mounts and oddities up in Northside before heading south into Camp Washington for a classic diner meal.
- Linck Brewery Underground Tunnels (American Legacy Tours) — Explore the 1850s beer vaults under Over-the-Rhine, then head northwest to taste Cincinnati's other famous culinary tradition.
Good to know
What exactly goes into a 5-way chili?
A 5-way is served in five distinct layers: a base of spaghetti, spiced chili meat sauce, kidney beans, chopped raw onions, and a heavy mound of shredded cheddar cheese.
What are the operating hours?
It operates 24 hours a day, six days a week (typically closed Sundays). Always confirm current hours before heading out late.
Is there parking available?
Yes, there is dedicated parking right at the diner on Colerain Avenue in the Camp Washington neighborhood.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia · Reddit
last checked: 2026-07-21