Half-smoke with chili
Half-smoke with chili is a signature Washington, D.C., street food featuring a spicy, smoked pork-and-beef sausage served in a steamed bun and topped with a generous portion of meaty chili. It's a classic 'half-smoke,' a regional sausage, often garnished with diced onions and yellow mustard.
🍽️ Nutrition at a glance
This dish is high in protein and fat from the sausage and chili, with a moderate amount of carbohydrates from the bun. A typical serving provides a substantial calorie load, roughly in the 450-600 calorie range, along with iron and B vitamins.
Nutrition breakdown
| Calories | 450 kcal |
| Protein | 22 g |
| Carbs | 28 g |
| Fat | 28 g |
| Fiber | 4 g |
| Sugar | 6 g |
| Sodium | 1250 mg |
| Iron | 4 mg |
| Vitamin C | 15 mg |
| Calcium | 80 mg |
| Potassium | 400 mg |
| Vitamin B12 | 2.5 mcg |
| Niacin (B3) | 6 mg |
| Phosphorus | 180 mg |
| Zinc | 3 mg |
Per 1 half-smoke with chili (225 g) · estimated, varies by recipe
💡 What's interesting
The half-smoke is considered D.C.'s official city sausage, a unique link that's spicier and coarser than a standard hot dog. Serving it 'half-smothered' in chili transforms it from a simple street snack into a hearty, iconic meal.
