Skyline Chili

There is not much more to say apart from what others have already said. This place is pretty solid. For those who are not familiar with Cincinnati style chili, it is a little different from Texas style chili. Finely ground beef sauce with hints of chocolate and cinnamon. Traditionally served over a bed of spaghetti and then topped with cheese, lots of cheese. This is known as a «3-​way» in Cincy chili speak. Get your mind out of the gutter.
You can also get the chili and cheese topping on top of a hot dog; known as a «Cheese Coney.» You can also get the toppings on top of fries, in the form of a burrito, in a bowl, etc. my two favorite forms are the 3-​way and cheese coney. I get both with onions on top (which makes the 3-​way into a 4-​way) and «Xtreme» which is Skyline speak for subbing mild cheddar cheese with habanero cheese. Me likey.
For those who are uninitiated (like I was when I first moved to Cincinnati eons ago), it was an acquired taste at first but I became a fan after a while. The easiest way to start your Skyline journey may be to start with the Coney.

I would give this place 5 stars on the service alone, but the food was good too! I had the 3 way and a cheese coney as recommended by Melanie when she found out it was my first time at a Skyline. The staff was great and even gave me a goodie bag because it was my first time. I will definitely be back! Kudos!

Since being back in Ohio, I’ve learned to LOVE Skyline again. I hadn’t been there in years and came to this location over a year ago for an Elite Unilocal event. I’ve been back a few times after that. The staff is friendly and the food is excellent! I mean, it’s not complicated food… but is so good!
I generally get a regular 5-​way with 2 chili dogs (since they’re small). Been wanting to try some other stuff, but always end up getting the same thing. But oh well.
Love this place and can’t wait to go back! YUM!

I love, love, love this skyline location! I love skyline too but this shout out is to the employees at this particular location. Lets be real, you either love skyline or really don’t like it. The food here is prepared well and tastes like perfect skyline. However, the servers and managers are exceptional! So nice, friendly, helpful. They go out of their way to make you feel welcome. The place is clean and nice. I come to town from California 3 or more times a year and when I get out of the airport… this is where I head to get my fix. Almost every time… one of these employees recognizes me and makes me feel welcome again. This location rocks!

by far the worst food I have ever had, lowest quality hot dog you can find that is an unnatural white color with «chili» that resembles baby diarrhea… I don’t know how locals like this stuff but anyone not from Ohio thinks this is just garbage… btw chili isn’t supposed to be runny like its ragu pasta sauce.

We enjoyed 4 ways and 3 ways. My sister and I split a cheek salad. Kat was a marvelous waitress. Jake, the manager on duty, was very friendly and greeted our table. We enjoyed the goodie bag for being a first timer. We will return and wish there was a Skyline in Sevier County Tennessee.

Recently stopped in while in town. Since moving, haven’t eaten at this location in 18 years. As for the food, well, it’s Skyline… I don’t need to elaborate as the food was predictable. But the staff? Friendliest staff I’ve encountered in a restaurant (and I eat at some fancy shmancy restaurants.)

Two of us came for lunch. He ordered 2 cheese coneys and regular 5 way all with extreme cheese. I ordered 2 cheese coneys with extreme cheese and no mustard. Also ordered plate of spaghetti with extreme cheese and onions ONLY — no chili. Both of us had Pepsi to drink. Oyster crackers were plentiful .
Service great and food delicious!

Great and friendly service. Everything comes out quick, including refills. My go-​to skyline.

The first time I walked into this skyline location a few years ago was only the second time I had been to a skyline ever. My wife was shopping nearby and I needed to kill some time. I figured I would go in to ask if they had a vegetarian chili option. What happened next was the difference between good and great service.
First off, I walked in and was immediately greeted by several employees behind the counter. I asked my intended question and to my surprise, I was offered a free sample of their infamous 3-​way chili, with veggie black bean chili! Although we were on our way out to dinner at the time, I graciously accepted. That experience set the tone of this Ohio chili chain for me.
Not surprisingly, I took my wife back there a short time later and we each enjoyed a black bean and rice vegetarian 3-​way, which includes spaghetti noodles, the veggie chili, and a generous amount of shredded cheddar cheese on top.
I enjoy the fact that this item is listed on the menu and not hidden or shrouded in mystery, as some chain restaurants tend to do with their vegetarian options. I’ll also note here that although they do not have veggie dogs (suggestion box?), they do offer a «veggie sandwich» which is a chili cheese dog without the dog and of course the veggie chili. It’s actually worth trying! I would get it again for a quick snack.
Last night, after running errands for several hours with our two small daughters, we picked a couple of veggie 3-​ways to go. We do live a good 25– 30 minutes from this location, but my wife was quick to remind me of last time I brought some home and well it warms up.
So we went for it. The girls had already eaten, so we thought we were in the clear. As soon as my 1 year old had a look and a sniff, she was begging for some. She loved it!
But the best part? Our food was still warm by the time we drove home, unpacked the kids, put one to bed, and sat down. And the cheese, which they package separate for you when you order to go, melted perfectly on top!
Nothing but good experiences here. We both agreed that next time we need something quick on the go for the whole family, it’ll be skyline chili.

These past few months has been such an improvement here. The staff and management make you feel like friends. I look forward again to going there (as we do a lot). Love the cheese right? So thanks to all of you for making this a fun and relaxing place to eat!

The staff is amazingly friendly and I always have a good time. I’m from the East Coast, so Cincinnati chili took some getting used to, but I’ve learned to love it. Anyone visiting Ohio should at least give it a try and the staff at this location will make it a fun experience no matter what.

Second time I ever tried one of these hotdogs. I hated it the first time. I tolerated it this time. Maybe they’re just making them wrong when I show up? Everyone raves about them but I just dont get it. I’ve heard you either love them or hate them, and if you hate them they’re just making them wrong. Idk.
I tried it with the hot sauce this time, like they suggest, which made it much better but only tolerable to eat for me. The chili needs the heat, simple. It’s horrible without it, even if you dont like heat you would agree it needs it. The hot dogs are still my issue. They taste like soggy disgusting nasty… they’re boiled I guess… or steamed… they have no consistency other then squishy. Hot dogs need to be firm and the skin needs to pop like elastic, not squish. Eww…

This was described to me as «one of the best Skylines outside of Cinci.»
The staff is great, the food — always good.
I don’t care what your opinion on chili is, Skyline? Always a good time.

Fast and friendly service in the drive through on every visit. Prices are very reasonable. Good selection on menu and food is consistent. I am hooked!

I stop by a Skyline Chili at least twice a week for a Five-​Way and a Cheese Coney. The Habanero Cheese adds to the taste. Each Skyline location features good food and great service.

The food here is TERRIBLE, easily the worst meal I’ve ever paid to eat. I ordered the Chili 3-​way. The chili had no flavor, and was watery and runny, and it had a ton of cheese on top… like an entire block of grated cheddar cheese, which in turn melted and turned the entire dish into a pile of watery flavorless cheese goup. Our waitress was nice enough, but she brought bibs to us (yes, bibs, like a baby wears)…when we said no thanks, she still INSISTED that we wear the bibs… I went along with it and took it off when she left, and when she came back she got slightly disgruntled, to say the least. The only positive here I can think of is that we got our food fast, very fast. Too bad that doesn’t matter when said food isn’t fit to eat. I will not be coming back here.

For the uninitiated, Skyline serves Cincinnati chili, a meat sauce that you could probably put on just about anything but which they mercifully restrict to hot dogs (coneys) and pasta (2-​way… 3-​way adds cheese, 4-​way adds onions, etc.) Everything comes with oyster crackers. Brilliant.
This is the most underrated fast food going and if you haven’t already, do give them a try. This is the closest to my house and they have never let me down for a quick, delicious, cheap meal.

A tourist. I’ll come clean. ‘Twas on the way back to the airport and I said, «WAIT! I haven’t had skyline yet!». Thank you fancy phone and Interwebs on said fancy phone for finding this location pretty close to the airport.
— Pretty much everything I had hoped for
— Cheesy, flavorful, not-​too-​greasy, chili-​y goodness on top of spaghetti
— If you don’t want bad breath, don’t get onions (they use a lot)
— I think maybe I saw salads on the menu — AND I LAUGHED
— You can’t eat here often — unless you dig your own grave
— Great service (didn’t know it was sit-​down)
— The chili has some rather overwhelming hints of cinnamon (and cardamom?)…both of which I love but I don’t feel like they have a big place in this kind of chili (and don’t match with cheddar cheese).
Anyway — I loved it and am so glad I finally got to experience Skyline.

Not bad, not bad at all!
This Cincinnati-​based restaurant chain has successfully introduced their original chili and spaghetti recipe into America’s mainstream fast food industry. As far as fast food goes, this is a great change of pace.
The dining room décor is retro much like an old-​style diner. It’s a bit noisy because of all the tile, but it definitely adds energy to the ambiance. Their chili is not as dangerously spicy as some chilis are concerned, so don’t worry. It won’t kill you. Their pasta leaves a little to be desired. It’s thick spaghetti and usually a bit overcooked, but they pour so much chili, beans, onions and cheese over it that you really can’t tell.
I prefer my 5-​Way Chili & Spaghetti inverted. That’s right — served upside down. It’s not as messy and easier to enjoy. I highly recommend it. I also like their Coneys — small hot dogs smothered in cheese and/​or chili. Good stuff. For a slightly healthier choice, I love their Greek Salad. I usually get the dressing on the side, because too much dressing can ruin any salad.
If you’re looking for a real change of pace in the fast food arena, Skyline Chili is a great option. There’s something on the menu for everybody. Oh yeah, I forgot about their hot sauce. It is truly amazing and makes my taste buds rise to the occasion every time!