Im going to bump this topic. I am a total chili snob and have found every chili but my own homemade version sorely lacking. Until now.

I prefer Texas style chili, no beans or vegetables, just a meat and chili stew. I get my chili powder from Penderey's in Texas, I hand cut the meat into 3/8" cubes, simmer it for hours, make a final "dump" of extra chili powder at the end....basically a cookoff contest style chili. What the original poster termed "Cowboy Chili", I think.

I have been going to Heaven on Seven in the Garland Building since the mid-1980s and until today had never ordered their "Texas Roadhouse Chili". WOW! Superb! Incredible rich chili flavor, huge hunks of tender brisket, no ground beef, really thick sauce. Super filling, I could not finish the bowl. I give a couple points off for putting slices of cheddar on top to melt rather than using shredded, but a minor quibble. I submit this as the holy grail of restaurant-made Texas style chili in Chicago!!!

I urge anyone who posted about the lack of true Texas chili in Chicago to give Heaven on Seven's version a try. A bonus is that you get a small bowl of gumbo as an appetizer with your order!

Bumping this old thread...a coworker was asking for restaurant recommendations for chili. It's not something I normally seek out, though I do enjoy both the meat and veggie versions at Tweet/Big Chick's in Uptown. Who has a good bowl of chili in Chicago these days?

There is a sports bar in the South Loop called First Draft, they have amazing chili

The Ramova is good, although certainly pretty different from its antecedent (which was not my style, honestly).