A style of chili that is unique to Cincinnati though it can be found in random restaurants in other parts of the country. Rather than your standard Texas style chili which is fairly chunky, Cincinnati chili is rather thin and almost sauce like. And whereas Texas chili can be quite hot, Cincinnati chili is generally fairly mild, and sometimes even slightly sweet. This is generally attributed to a secret ingredient of cinnamon and/or chocolate.

Cincinnati is the only city that I know of with a plethora of fast food chili parlors. The main chili restaurants are Skyline, Gold Star, and Empress. Each chain has its own slightly different chili recipe, so patrons tend to latch onto a favorite. Skyline tends to be the most popular, then Gold Star which has a blander chili, and then Empress whose chili is somewhat spicier. Skyline chili restaurants can also be found in other cities in Ohio (Dayton, Columbus, and Cleveland) as well as Indiana, Kentucky and Florida. They also sell the chili frozen, in cans, and as seasoning packets at grocery stores in the Midwest. I have, on occasion, run across a restaurant in some other part of the country that has Cincinnati chili on its menu, but these offerings tend to vary in their adherence to the authentic style.

The origin of Cincinnati chili are somewhat murky, but generally involves the legend of a Greek immigrant who puts his own ethnic spin on the standard chili recipe and opens his own restaurant. The origin is dated usually somewhere in the 1930s through the 1940s and each major chili chain claims that mystical Greek immigrant was its founder.

Aside from the differences in the chili itself, Cincinnati chili also differs from normal chili in its presentation. Cincinnati chili is served over cooked, and drained, spaghetti noodles and with a heaping mound of finely shredded mild cheddar cheese on top. Optionally you can add either chopped onions, kidney beans, or both on top of your chili. Generally oyster crackers are served on the side.

Each variation is know as a 'way':

• One Way - Plain Cincinnati chili in a bowl (Nobody eats it this way, so if you do try ordering it you might be run out of town!)
• Two Way - Cincinnati chili on a bed of spaghetti noodles (The bare minimum you can get away with ordering it. Only acceptable if you're lactose intolerant.)
• Three Way - Cincinnati chili, spaghetti noodles, and a mountain of cheese (The classic way of eating it.)
• Four Way - Cincinnati chili, spaghetti noodles, cheese and either onions of beans (Make sure to specify whether you want it with onions or beans. If you don't, the waitress might ask, or you'll probably get onions.)
• Five Way - Cincinnati chili, spaghetti noodles, cheese, onions and beans (The ultimate)

It is also served as a Coney which is a small hot dog on a bun with chili on top, or a Cheese Coney which is a hot dog on a bun with chili and a heaping helping of cheese. Coney can be ordered with either onion or mustard or both.