Fearless Fave Five: Where to Buy a Bowl of Good Texas Chili

With colder weather arriving, I've been craving some good ole Texas red chili. But I don't feel like standing over the stove making my famous Dragon's Breath Chili, because it takes too long to create my masterpiece. So I've decided to dine out.

First, let's settle the battle of the beans. Traditionally, beans are NOT used in chili in Texas; adding them to the dish is considered sacrilegious. Although the state legislation doesn't specifically categorize beans in chili as illegal (but I think they should be). Yes, Texas Chili is the official State Dish of Texas, proclaimed into law in 1977.

Get our free mobile app

For the traditional bowl of Texas chili to be classified as "real, honest-to-goodness, and unadulterated", a bowl of "Texas Red" has to come completely free of any beans, period. End of discussion. Furthermore, corn, rice, and any other filler are not allowed. If the extra "additives" are used then, my thought is, it is no longer chili but rather a stew.

Even the popular TV show "Yellowstone" has a character from the 6666 Ranch pose the question at the dinner table: "Who puts beans in chili?"  The room was divided. However, the law is the law and it states that there have never been beans in chili.

The following resolution was introduced in the House of Representatives of the State of Texas, which was adopted by the Senate, the Texas Legislature officially proclaimed chili as the state dish of the Lone Star State in 1977 “in recognition of the fact that the only real ‘bowl of red’ is that prepared by Texans.” The legislation goes on to state that “one cannot be a true son or daughter of this state without having his taste buds tingle at the thought of the treat that is real, honest-to-goodness, unadulterated Texas chili.”
Source: Inside Hook.com

I asked our listeners. They responded with a quick and decisive answer, "There are no beans in chili." Then I asked another question, "Where in Abilene can you get a good bowl of chili?" The listeners responded with "at my house", meaning their humble abodes. That aside, several restaurants were named.

Here are my five favorite places to buy real Texas (beanless) chili:

So if you're cold and craving a bowl of Texas Red, just look at the photos and pick one. Happy eating, y'all.