Last week I decided to skip my usual reheated leftovers for lunch, left my office near King’s Island, and headed to Blue Ash Chili’s second location in Mason. The original Blue Ash Chili opened in Blue Ash in 1969 and has been serving Cincinnati style chili, double-decker sandwiches, and breakfast ever since.

Outside

The Mason location opened in 2009 and sits in a strip mall at the intersection of Tylersville and Western Row. Though I’ve never been to the original location, I’m sure it is missing some of the charm of the divey original.

Inside

Once inside it was clear that this location does very well during the lunch hour, as it was packed and nearly every table was full. I found a spot at the small bar counter and was immediately greeted by one of the employees with Zesta oyster crackers and a menu. I ordered the 6-Way, which was featured on Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives in 2010, along with a chili cheese sandwich.

Lunch

Service was not as quick as other chili parlors I’ve been to, but I did have my food in less than 10 minutes. However the portion size was larger than any other parlor I’ve been to. The 6-Way ($6.09) adds fried jalapeño caps to the standard 5-Way (spaghetti, chili, beans, onions, and Cheddar). I loved the addition of the jalapeño caps, as it added just the right amount of spice along with a little extra crunch. The chili was good and there was plenty of it. The chili cheese sandwich ($1.69) on the other hand did not have nearly enough chili on it, but I expect this was just a one time mistake. Overall my first Blue Ash Chili experience was a positive one and I would definitely go back.