I Never Visit Cincinnati Without Stopping at Skyline for a Chili Cheese Sandwich

For being a relatively small city, Cincinnati, Ohio, has multiple claims to culinary fame. From the French-pot style ice cream at the legendary sweet shop Graeter’s to sticky-sweet BBQ ribs at Montgomery Inn, whenever I visit my hometown, I have a long list of must-eats. But one dish rises above the rest when it comes to culinary staples in the Queen City: Skyline Chili. 

Skyline was started by the Lambrinides family in 1949, Greek immigrants who brought a unique concoction of spices to their chili recipe. Naming the restaurant after their view of the Cincinnati skyline, the Lambrinides slowly made a name for themselves in the Midwest culinary scene, becoming a mainstay of Sunday dinners and quick business lunches.

In fact, Skyline inspired a bevvy of Cincinnati-style chili restaurants, with many neighborhoods around the city having their very own one-off chili joints. From Price Hill Chili to Dixie Chili and Empress Chili, which was dubbed the official first chili restaurant in the city. The debate of Skyline versus Gold Star, another chili chain, is also one for the ages. Most Cincinnatians will agree that Skyline reigns supreme over Gold Star, but you will find the odd resident who prefers the latter. 

It’s a rite of passage for native Cincinnatians to stop for Skyline at least once (if not five) times while they’re visiting home. Whether I only have a few hours in Cincinnati or an entire week, you can bet I'm stopping for my usual. While everyone has their regular order, from a three-way with chili, spaghetti, and a mountain of cheese, to the classic cheese coney, my personal favorite is a little unorthodox. 

There’s just something about the combination of chili and hot dog that leaves me feeling queasy. Maybe it’s the strange mixture of meats. Whatever it is, it led me to develop a hankering for a lesser-known Skyline dish (a vestige of my childhood): the chili cheese sandwich. Starting with a standard hot dog bun, the famous neon-orange shredded cheese is the first ingredient before chili joins the party and is then topped with a small mountain of, you guessed it, more cheese. From here, you can also opt for mustard and onion. Personally, I proceed to douse my chili cheese sandwich with a healthy, if not questionable, amount of their special brand of hot sauce.

My order goes a little something like this. A Dr. Pepper, the classic appetizer of oyster crackers and hot sauce, two chili cheese sandwiches, and ends with a grand finale: a York peppermint patty. Anything more or less would be sacrilege. 

The menu does extend beyond different combinations of chili, hot dogs, and spaghetti, with even more obscure favorites like the chilito, Skyline’s chili and cheese, wrapped in a tortilla. You can also add spaghetti for a true carb bomb, or sour cream for a little zing. Sky Fries are another crowd pleaser and are fried fresh to order. You can get these topped with chili and cheese (of course), but I prefer them plain and crispy. For those who aren’t a fan of chili in general, Skyline’s Greek salad and wraps are also surprisingly good. 

While there are certainly born and bred Cincinnatians who have never tried Skyline, popping in for a chili cheese sandwich is a must-do in my personal opinion. Plan your own trip to Cincinnati with Only In Your State’s AI-powered itinerary planner.