Yay! Â I've always wanted to try Mikes Chili becasue of the historical building. Â It' was built in 1939 specifically for Mikes Chili and they've been at it ever since. Â
Yeah, the chili is good and oily. Â They even brag about it on their website. The menu consists of chili, and things like hot dogs and burgers, even steak that come topped with chili.
My boyfriend and I both ordered.....chili!  We both had it topped with cheese, onions and jalapenos.  The waitress was helpful, chatty and cute.  We talked basketball with her before our chili came out, it came out quick and was  just what we were hoping for on a rainy day. Â
Mikes is a great little hole in the wall with plenty of tv's for sports watching and lots of regulars, the place really started to fill up before we left. Â I think 100 years down the road, they'll probably still be serving up nice warm bowls of chili.
I love that they are a family run business, and they keep it simple. Â We will be back for sure.
I am ashamed to admit I came here on a whim because my friend was craving french fries. Just french fries. However, the heavenly smell within convinced me to forego the carbs and order a big bowl of chili with beans (and cheese...and jalapenos...I've never understood this meat-only chili nonsense).
I love chili, I'm picky about my chili, and I've been known to survive on chili for a week at a time. This was pretty damn good chili. And the flavor was enhanced by an ice-cold pint of Manny's.
Extra points for authentic dive-bar ambiance and friendly, helpful (and adorable) bartender/server.
If there is going to be a place that I would say is a dive -- not a hipster pseudo dive, or a faux dive, or even an honest to gods POS, it'd go to Mike's. This place is old. The seats are lumpy and torn. The bar stools well worn. The cleanliness negotiable. The servers a good mix of sassy and friendly. Mike's Chili Parlor -- you are 100% a dive and I like that about you.
Your tap list is limited -- but always something good on tap to choose from. Coming here for a pint after a bike ride on the Burke is really quite wonderful. And those lumpy seats are more comfy than my bike seat, for sure.
The chili itself? Not amazing -- but good. Full of meat, beans, and spice... I liked it. I liked piling my french fries into it. A stupid large bowl was more than enough to share -- but then again I got put off from finishing when I noticed a creepy-crawly making it's way across our table. I'm sure it just came in from the open door (it was a gorgeous day! Get that air flowing), but still. Bugs on the table is a pretty good way to kill my appetite.
I'll come by again. As mentioned it is a great pit-stop on the Burke Gilman, and the chili is tasty and filling when you've been burning those calories. I just hope next time they keep the critters at the door.
We stopped by Mike's today to try the chili, after googling the best chili in Seattle. We ordered the " Big Ass bowl" and paid 13.00 for a not so big bowl of chili!! Â I dont mind paying for overpriced food if it taste good. This chili is greasy because the use cheap meat with a lots of fat and It tasted bland and it was serve not so hot. Â We also ordered an over priced cheese burger for $6. I dont know why Guy's from the Food Network like this place. Â This chili is a poser, never again will go back to this place.
Review Source:My significant-other and I stopped by Mike's the other day, after hearing about it on "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" -- so this is a combined review.
I would give this place three stars. I had the "straight bowl" of chili, with cheese and jalapenos. My sig-other had the "straight bowl" with cheese. She gives it one star (or less, if possible).
The place reminds me of those dark, smokey taverns you used to see in the poorer neighborhoods of Brooklyn, Philadelphia, and Newark. The place definitely has an atmosphere all its own. But very often, the dingiest places have great food (my favorite haunt in college was a sandwich shop called Greasy Tony's).
My Chili-with-Cheese-and-Jalapenos was a bit spicier than the chili you can get at Wendy's. (I thought it was OK.) My significant-other stopped after a few bites, and looked at me with amazement, "Are you _really_ eating that stuff? No, tell me you're NOT eating that stuff! Ack! You must have an iron stomach!"
"Yes -- I'm eating it. It's not too bad! Â Can I finish yours?"
"Oh - - My - - God! Â Here, take it, here here. I want to see you eat this stuff! Â Blecch!"
So I finished hers. Her non-jalapeno version was not as spicy as mine, so I put a little salt on it. Â My significant-other just sat and stared at me, wondering if I had gone crazy.
(I suppose Mike's Chili is a "Guy Thing")
Rude server ( I use the term loosely) the owner Mike Jr I guess gave me grief about plugging my laptop  into his outlet..Like WTF?? I'm dropping $15  for chili (once again I use the term loosely) and beer and that clown bitches about what??.20 cents of electricity??/REALLY???? I never went back and wont go again..Freakin rude service, so so chili...Whatever, Guy should have called that epeisode Diner.s rude fucks and Dives..
Review Source:It's crazy that they only had 2 guys working the entire place. I imagine this would be pretty cozy place to be during rainy game days.
I don't love the decor as it is very manly man decorated bar. Their chili was interesting as it only contained meat with beans as option. It definitely gave some kick in the taste but with a really greasy feeling. It's not horrible but it's not that wonderful either.
Definitely a hole in the wall kind of place and if you've never been, you should check it out at least once as it was mentioned in the Million Things to do in Seattle so it does have it's charms. Oh and chili on everything is pretty awesome.
I know they dont claim to be Cincinnati chili but the style is similar. Having spent a year in Cincinnati and can say that Mikes has a long way to go. to get that amazing Greek Cinci flavor. I got a small bowl and it was not bad. However it was not anything like the oohs an ahs I saw on DDD or in Yelp reviews. If I ever want chili again Ill go in my cupboard and grab a goldstar chili seasoning pack and make about a 1/2 gallon for the same priceof a small cup.
Review Source:I came here, because I've checked out a lot of Diner's Drive-ins, and Dives places, and yes, I know what a "dive" is. Â I was expecting some pretty good chili with no frills. Â I really don't care about the decor...that doesn't affect my dining experience much.
The chili just wasn't good. Â I kept hoping I would like it more as I ate more, but I didn't. Â It is very bland. Â Bagged shredded cheese. Â Canned jalapenos. Â Yuck. Â
2 stars: Â one for the very friendly service. Â One for their fries, which were very crispy.
What is this place? Where exactly is it? I don't really know. We got abandoned by a boat in middle of nowhere Ballard (long story) and found a place to grab drinks before going to out to seek revenge. It was nice.
The waitress was nice, the other customers were nice, and the prices were nice. Everything was about $6-9. Some of the more noticeable items on their menu were (tax included):
- Big Ass Bowl $11.00
- Gallon of Chili $48.00
- Grilled Cheese $54.50
- Abuse FREE
I'm not a big fan of chili, but I'm pretty sure there's better chili out there than this place has to offer. They are also CASH ONLY but there is an ATM. I don't think I'd go out of my way to show off Mike's Chili Parlor to friends, but if I'm ever stranded in Ballard again, I know where to go to take a few shots and get five orders of abuse to go for whoever left me there.
Oh, Seriously?!?
I do not know what drugs people where taking (or not taking) when they told me this place had some of the best chili around, but I am here to spare you all.
Some beans, meat, grease, and water thrown together without the concept of measurement does not make chili. Know what it makes? A mess. Yes, a total mess...with a fair amount of gastric distress hitting you about 25 minutes later.
Unless yours is a stomach made of steel and barbed wire, just make your own chili. It will be much better.
I am honest enough to admit that I am first and foremost not a fan of dive bars. Right off the bat, this place would not appeal to me. That aside, I also did not enjoy the chili... Beans and meat and a spicy red sauce. Meh. Not my kind of chili.
I would have been more excited if there were different types of chili too. Vegetarian? White chili? Etc.
Personally, I think I'm more a beans and cheese and brown sugar flavoring kind of girl.
I really liked this DDD joint - It had a cool atmosphere, friendly waittress, drinks were strong and decent priced, cool crowd, good jukebox, nice flat screen TVs.
That being said, the chili was alright. I think its prob best ON things, such as chili fries, dogs, etc. My dad's burger was pretty good, the fries are double fried and were amazing, and the hot dog was a hot dog - who could mess that up? But the chili was a little greasy, perhaps I shoulda tried it with beans to cut the grease, but over all, a very cool place, and if I lived nearby I'd prob stop in from time to time!
I was about to swear off this place. When I was here a year ago on vacation, I begged my cousin to drive me here because of the DDD. I left unsatisfied and angry at Guy Fieri (as I am 9/10 times after going somewhere he recommends).
On our way to a different restaurant, I point out Mike's Chili Parlor to my bf. Despite having heard the story of my first trip here, he still wanted to go so we made a u-turn and came in for what turned out to be too much food.
+/- burger and fries
+ bowl of chili with no beans, cheese and jalapeno
+ spaghetti and chili
I was very glad we chased down the waitress to specify NO BEANS in the chili. Because if you know beans about chili, you know chili ain't got no beans.
Till the next rainy night Mike.
I don't really do dive establishments... but for some reason, I like this place.  It's a dive. This is a 3 to  3.5 star place for me.  Good, worth eating at, and worth multiple visits.
- cash only
- tiny place
- very friendly people
- sports playing every time we've been there
- Mike's burger is REALLY good, got a little special meaty sauce thing
- I really like the fries, extra crispy, with tartar sauce
- refills on your soda (coke)
- very cheap - $5/burger, $1.50 to add fries to your order
I'm going back - and next time want to try the potato salad. Â I tried a bite of my man's chili... but I don't like chili in general, so I'm not a good judge of what's good or not.
Before you read my review, scan a few of the others. Go ahead, I'll wait....
Hilarious, no? They swing radically from awesome to not-awesome! I find it amusing that most of the folks who hated it heard of it from THAT show. Also, people seem to have glaring misconceptions about what a dive bar is. Ick, the bathrooms were gross!! Oh no, the regulars are annoying!! IT'S A DIVE BAR, FOLKS!! You want gross bathrooms, you shoulda seen the Lake Union Pub...
CHILI: admittedly not mind-blowing, just plain. Plain good, and the shredded onions are a fine garnishment.
ATMOSPHERE: The owner actually converses with people, wait staff is friendly and no-nonsense, place plays some sports on the tv's, nice little deck outside for nice weather. Relaxed.
ATTITUDE: Plenty. Smart-alecky, simple menu.
There have certainly been better chili's in this world, but chili-like people-come in many guises, this one is just Mike's, SO DEAL.
GROSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!!!!!!!!!
1. The chili just is not good. Â You would think since they specialize in chili and have been around forever they would have mastered the craft by now. Â You can get a better chili in a can of Dinty Moore. Â Its basically a pile of hamburger soaking in grease with some onions on top.mmmmhm. Â
2. They only take cash (its 2011 come on)
3. Â I went to the restroom when we were finished eating. Â I walked in..I walked out. Â The health department should make a visit. It was NASTY. Â Ive been in nicer bathrooms in Guadalajara.
If you want to read something gross check out their inspection results from the King County Public Health Restaurant Inspection Report (how are places like this still in business?)
I have lived here 10 years and every time I have passed Mike's I have swore to myself that someday I would visit. Â Last Friday I finally did visit and wow, I can't wait to go back. Â
Mike's is not fancy. Â Mike's is not a "hipster" dive. Â Mike's is a place that serves great chilli, cold beer and you can count on the game being on. Â An honest good local place serving locals for generations. Â It's getting harder to find that here is Seattle.
Thank You Mike.
I was really excited when I got to this place because it was featured on Diner's Drive-Ins and Dives from the Food Network. Â Unfortunately, I only had a mediocre experience after I left there.
I do like the fact that it's an establishment that's been in business for a long time. Â I also like the dive-bar type of feel. Â The staff was also very friendly and the service was great. Â
Of course I had to get their signature dish....the chili. Â They serve it up in a bowl with cheese and onions and some oyster crackers. Â Unfortunately, I found the chili to be a little too oily/greasy, even for chili. Â It felt like I was eating a bowl of grease. I was expecting the chili to burst with exceptional/original flavor but it was not the case. Â I mean, it was good but not great. Â I guess I thought coming in to Mike's Chili Parlor that I'd be greeted with the best chili I've tasted in my life. Â
Still, if you like chili, then give it a try if you haven't already. Â Let me know what you think.
Apparently you either get why Mike's Chili Parlor is awesome, or you just don't. I am extremely happy to say I'm in the first category.
Perhaps the new Ballardites do not know their history, but this is an old Ballard establishment - it's been standing there for generations now (recently weathering the storm of the awful corporate eyesore that is the gargantuan BALLARD BLOCKS building), serving up delicious chili and I hope that it sticks around for just as long in the future. Unfortunately, with the way Ballard is going, it will be a challenge, but I will continue to eat and drink there, to do my part to help it keep around.
Food: Extremely affordable, delicious, mouth-wateringly good chili. I am a big fan of the chili pasta myself, topped high with the works - cheddar cheese, onions, and jalapenos. It's served up with griddled garlic bread that brings me back to the garlic bread my Mom made for us as kids on spaghetti nights.
Is the chili greasy? Sure. People, it's not supposed to be health food. You don't want to eat it every other night. When was the last time you thought ground beef was lean and fat-free? For $4 a bowl you aren't getting filet mignon ground up in there.
It is also a different spin on traditional chili. It's not overrun with the same spices you'll see in a lot of chili. It has its own unique flavor, it's hard for me to describe - there's just something special and tasty about it.
I've always had good service here. I love the waitresses actually - down to earth, sassy, but still friendly - and they always keep those sweet pitchers of Rainier coming!
This is the kind of place that has earned my customer loyalty through good cheap food and beer, great down-to-earth customers and employees, and absolutely no pretension. Mike's Chili Parlor does not pretend to be something it's not - it simply is what is and I love them for it.
This place is a borderline hole in the wall w/ lots of personality. That's definitely how the restaurant made it onto the Food Network's Diners, Dives and Drive Thrus.
During our first trip to Seattle, my boyfriend and I knew that we HAD to try this place out. Upon arriving, we checked out the menu to find that the prices were reasonable and you can order practically anything with chili (ie. spaghetti, fries and more).
So, we came, saw and conquered -- the boyfriend left with a new Mike's Chili Parlor t-shirt but unfortunately I left slightly unsatisfied. Don't get me wrong, it's great chili but certainly not the best. Other than that, the service was great and you should still check the place out for yourself regardless of any Yelp reviews.
P.S. the chili is pretty ground-beef filled. I mean, REALLY filled with a ton of ground beef.
Chili? Check.
Dive bar? Â Check.
Sticky tables? Â Check.
Three stars it is, then. Â First time hitting up Mike's Chili Parlor just came yesterday, after YEARS of living in Ballard.
Chili dog for me, bowl of chili for the hubsters - no beans for either, please! Â Food was good, but as expected, the grease hit our stomachs and felt a bit quesy little bit later. Â Perhaps we should not have had that for the first meal of the day.
So when you're in the mood for some chili doggin', don't hit up the hookers on Aurora, and just come to Mike's Chili Parlor! Â They taste better and don't have any STDs.
Looking for a new career?? Well Mike's Chili Parlor is looking The Few, the Proud....the Gastro Marines!! You'll train harder than you thought possible but if you succeed you'll become part of the proud tradition of those who serve as Gastro Marines.
Take the challenge at Mike's Chili Parlor which is the only chili base in the great US of A, Gastro Marine Corps recruits are transformed. As a Gastro Marine Corp recruiter you'll challenge the limits of your belly!! You'll arrive as a civilian -- ready to leave your old self behind with only one goal: To become a Gastro Marine!
But after Mike's challenge and transformation you'll leave as an official Mike's Gastro Marine!!!!!!!!!
Semper Feed-elis
Ever pump your chili-hole full of beautiful, beautiful love? Ever do it  inside of a classic dive bar?
Nows' your chance champ! Buck up, pull up, and shut up!
Mikes is a true blue (collar) American Classic!
Ask for Mercedes... she'll treat you right!
If it weren't for her, I'd never tried the chili burger with jalapeno relish and onions!
Hardened arteries... mmmmm..... sexy.
I'm with ya Ron C. We also saw this place on the Food Network and were excited to try it when we pulled up outside the cool little brick building with the retro neon sign. There our excitement ended.
We went inside and sat at the bar and the guy behind the counter indifferently took our order. We got to observe what most definitely had to be the locals - a number of old geezers that added some real character to the place. That convinced me the chili was gonna be great but (drum roll please) -- it wasn't. Â
We had the chili fries with everything and the chili burger. The fries were extremely soggy/greasy and the burger just tasted like a mediocre burger with more ground beef on top. The most annoying thing about the place though was that the folks working there are so concerned with chatting amongst themselves, they just about totally ignore you.
We waited for our check for ages, even though we were sitting right there at the counter. The waitress was too busy gossiping with another waitress who'd apparently come for a social call -- and then when we finally got the check and gave her the money, she ambled over and put our change into her tip jar w/out even asking us if we wanted change.
Considering that would've been giving her a 35% tip for downright awful service, we couldn't believe her nerve. We sat there looking at her until she brought the change back and apologized - "Sorry - it's a habit."
I bet.
Kinda yucky, I went here with a co-worker, I didn't make it back to the office, and I was screaming find a bathroom NOW! OH MY GOD, not kidding...I think the food was under cooked. But cool location, secretly hidden, little hole in the wall. Im sure it would be a great place to drive your motorcycle and have a beer. But for the love of god stay away from the chili dog!
Oh by  the way wait staff is nice.
Just got home from a late lunch at Mike's Chili Parlor as featured on Guy Fieri's Diner's Drive ins and Dives. The joint has been around since 1922 and obviously hasn't changed at all, well maybe except for the flat screen they have mounted above the antique bar in the front of the place.
I'm an east coast girl and it instantly reminded me of a place I would find in my home town are of western PA. A place you leave smelling of grease and ciggies, like the local Moose Lodge that my dad has belonged to for years and years, or the "Original Hot Dog Shop" that my grandparents took me to as a child. Â It's a place that is fun because you know you're grandparents ate there too. There was a juke box beside us playing an enjoyable mix of John Melloncamp classics, as well as a pinball machine with a bunch of old crap stuffed behind it. And yes there are big old containers of creamy liquid shortening hanging around.
We sat ourselves down and selected our food choices. I decided on the smallest thing available as I knew the portions are infamously large. It took a while for our doddling waitress to take our order. After she got around to it the wait was at least 20 minutes. Granted the place was full but everything we ordered: 2 chili dogs, 1 cup of chili and a fry, take only seconds to throw together.
My boyfriend was disappointed and kept saying that it was too bland. He also didn't think the hot dog's flavor was very good. I myself received nothing less than I expected from the place, well except for the unidentifiable rubbery thing that i found in my chili (i couldn't decide weather it was from the meat or a piece of rubber band). The flavor was on the bland side, the chili a little watery, and a good bit greasy. Â I made sure to order the onions, cheese jalapenos, and oyster crackers to help jazz it up. Â They definitely helped, but I also had to add a little salt. The fresh cut fries were the best thing there, however they were kind of soggy and dark.
Places like this stay open for a reason....the long standing customers that religiously return for food that leaves them with that nostalgic feeling of the food their mother's used to make eons ago. I left with my once clean hair smelling of ancient sour greasiness. Â Congrats Mike's for staying open as long as you have....I wish you only the best, but wonder what will happen when the depression generation is no around to deliver their vigilant patronage.
Sometimes I just don't get it. Â I have heard people rave about Mike's but I never seemed to make it by there. Â Finally, last night, I went by with my folks and a couple of friends. Â I wish we hadn't.
First, this is a chili house and the chili sucks. Â Just plain sucks. Â Too greasy, not spiced well, no more memorable than a can of Hormel.
Second, the chili dog sucked. Â It was a plain dog on a plain bun with plain chili. Â I could make the same thing by going to QFC and opening a can and boiling a hot dog.
Third, the service was bad. Â There were three tables last night (including mine) and it took about 45 minutes to our food from the time we sat down. Â We were not in a hurry but were very hungry. Â This could happen anywhere, any night, so no big deal. And, despite the snail pace, our server was nice.
Fourth, the space is okay. Â I expected some nice chili memorabilia from over the years. Â No dice. Â The best thing there was a Ms. Pacman table. Â It was awesome and I totally beat my wife playing.
There is one good thing about this place - the fries. Â They are hand cut daily and fried in "Creamy Liquid Frying Shortening." Â No joke, we saw the box of shortening. Â So, the fries taste great but watch your vital signs afterwards.
Finally, I usually do not write terrible reviews.  I generally like most places.  However, I was expecting something similar to Ben's Chili Bowl in DC (<a href="/redir?url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.benschilibowl.com%2F&s=b509f71ca4b6b8112ad8c98db536cb044a81da542f9212265bd0d741ee4ae6f0" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">http://www.benschilibowl…</a>).  That place is awesome.  Instead, I got rookie level chili but big league grease.
In sum, I will not be back under my own will.
A great Ballard institution that I hope stays around forever. Cheap domestic pitchers and a couple micros will easily satisfy most beer drinkers.
The chili is excellent and tastes completely different and better than canned chili. Depending on how spicy you like your chili you might not need any jalapenos on top but the chopped onions, shredded cheese, and oyster crackers complement it well.
Come here on a week night to watch an M's game while the salty sea breeze blows through the windows. A++
Like my car, I feel that I need a personal oil change about every six months or 3,000 miles. And when that time rolls around, my favorite quick-lube is Mike's Chili Parlor, in the northeast shadow of the Ballard bridge.
Mike's unique chili and old-school decor has remained virtually unchanged since I began going there many, many...many years ago.
Their chili is of the meat & bean variety, served with an oil slick that would bring the EPA running with their containment equipment if Mike's was any closer to the ship canal. Back in the day they used to serve their chili with an equal-size bowl of oyster crackers on the side to help soak up the overflow. I believe that the ratio of crackers eaten to chili eaten was so lopsided that they were forced to switch to sanitary little packets of the crackers just to slow consumption.
As the neighborhood surrounding Mike's continues to go upscale I fear that this classic institution, a distinctive, phallic, brick-and-mortar paean to Northwest lighthouses--or maybe the Aztec gods, you decide--will fall to the wrecking ball.
Before that happens, I urge you to motor on over to Mikes to lubricate both your body and your mind. Unfortunately, places as unique as Mike's are almost bound to become victims to the condominimization of Seattle.
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