When it comes to Cincinnati chili, IMHO, Gold Star is as good as it gets. The hot dogs are well cooked, the chili has the perfect spice and the cheese tastes fresh. (Other coney companies who will not be named, have cheese that's stale, dry and tastes like card board.) Whether it's just for a snack or whether you needing to get full, Gold Star is the place to go.
(4)
Bruce B.
What good on a cold rainy day? Chili! I am from Chicago and I have had both Skyline and now Gold Star. While both were good I think I prefer Gold Star. The service here was great the food came quickly and hot. I certainly will bring my out of town friends here next time I too am back. Way to go cinci! Really good!
(4)
Adrienne S.
Worst Customer Service I have EVERRRR had! I ordered a Gorita today for lunch and when I got back to work to eat my food I realized the sandwich I was craving was made incorrectly and it was gross! They forgot the cheese and chipotle ranch. The customer service was.great at that time as I had called when I got back and the person I spoke to.was apologetic and told me she would leave a credit for me to get a free Gorita. When I went to claim.my Gorita the staff acted as if she never left my credit and was BEYONDDD rude. I do not recommend this place as they will mess up ur food and tell you they will fix.it only to.leave you with an overly rude staff, a nasty meal, and wasted money. I would never recommended this Gold Star!!!!
(1)
Sarah A.
Cincinnati chili. You either love it or you hate it. Cincinnatians have an ongoing battle of which is better.. Skyline or Goldstar? I love them both. BUT PERSONALLY, I think Goldstar is better. Make sure you add the very very hot sauce and dig in!
(5)
p l.
Ordered the chili cheese fries, 4 coneys and 2 3-ways....all were ok.
(3)
Christine J.
I was visiting Cincinnati and visited this Gold Star Chili after trying Skyline down the street. Service here was quick. One of the bus drivers I met on my trip said he preferred Gold Star over Skyline. I think I can understand why. The chili is quite a bit thicker, and it doesn't have Skyline's puddle of water at the bottom of the bowl. However, I didn't like the spice blend as much - it was a little too overpowering. Anyway, I think it's still a good rendition of the Cincinnati style chili though.
(4)
Michael B.
Of all the Cincinnati-style chili places, Gold Star is my least favorite. I can't believe the popularity Gold Star enjoys. All I can figure is that they have a great marketing department. The wieners at Gold Star are too mushy, like Vienna sausages. The buns always seem like they bought them from a day-old bakery. The Chili has a weird taste to it. If you order a "coney crate", which is ten cheese coneys lined up in a cardboard carrying case, you will get very little chili and very little cheese on your coneys with this discounted special. They hastily throw this thing together and you can tell. You get what you pay for. Gold Star always has been and always will be a cut-rate johnny-come-lately imitation of real Cincinnati-style Chili.
(2)
Karina M.
I only slightly prefer Gold Star over Skyline, but I prefer this particular Gold Star to all others. With a 24-hour drive-thru, this chili parlor serves up 3-,4-, and 5-ways with a side of craziness anytime of day or night. The drunken throngs attack this place as soon as the bars close, so it pays to skip last call in favor of a quick coney. If chili spaghetti and coneys aren't your thing (but how could they not be?), then try one of Gold Star's burritos. I love the chili beef burrito with the topper (chili, cheese, sour cream).
(5)
Melanie B.
My 100th review on Yelp!!... is a review of a fast food chili joint in Covington, Kentucky. Touche! So, before going to see Calabrese at Mad Hatter (see review #98), we stopped in to Gold Star because my haute cuisine chef friend said I *had* to try to Coney dogs here. One of my friends insisted that Skyline is better, but Gold Star won out (and even won over my Skyline-loving friend, who decided they're about the same). I did indeed get the Coney dogs - three little baby chili dogs. They were really good, particularly the cinnamon flavor in the chili. I also tried one of my friend's chili spaghetti stuff (the three way? say that without giggling...), which was interesting... but definitely not bad. I mainly love the idea of this place, which seems (as an outsider) so unique to the area and to the southern heartland experience.
(3)
Nicole L.
Wow, this place is good! My husband and I were a bit hesitant to try it since the last time we were in the area (Cincinnati to be exact) we tried Skyline Chili and it completely and totally sucked. But GoldStar Chili is way better. We shared a 4-way and a crispy chicken burrito; both were yummy. It's not healthy food by any means but vacation calories don't count anyway. ;)
(4)
Grace E.
I love Gold Star so much it borders obsession, and I come to this location at least once a week. More recently, I've found myself forced into consistently reviewing my order to ensure everything has been included. Ordering unsweetened ice tea and receiving sweet tea is something I've become very used to (from every place I frequent), and I understand mistakes are bound to happen. However, last week I ordered a cheese coney with a 4-way and had to drive to the location a second time to get the coney. I came again today, and cheese was somehow not included with my 4-way (as we all know, cheese is a critical part of Cincinnati-style chili). I will not be coming here again, which I say with great sadness due to the fact that the only way to keep me away from Gold Star is if both my legs were broken. They did a good job finding another reason (besides broken legs) to persuade me not to return. The one and only good thing I have to say about this location is the staff is friendly--bumping my review from 1 star to 2. DON'T PULL AWAY FROM THE WINDOW WITHOUT REVIEWING YOUR ORDER unless you like driving through a maze of one way streets to make a second trip for the same order.
Takes Reservations : No Delivery : No Take-out : Yes Accepts Credit Cards : Yes Good for Kids : No Good for Groups : Yes Attire : Casual Noise Level : Very Loud Alcohol : No Outdoor Seating : No Wi-Fi : No Has TV : No Waiter Service : Yes Drive-Thru : Yes Caters : No
Rene T.
When it comes to Cincinnati chili, IMHO, Gold Star is as good as it gets. The hot dogs are well cooked, the chili has the perfect spice and the cheese tastes fresh. (Other coney companies who will not be named, have cheese that's stale, dry and tastes like card board.) Whether it's just for a snack or whether you needing to get full, Gold Star is the place to go.
(4)Bruce B.
What good on a cold rainy day? Chili! I am from Chicago and I have had both Skyline and now Gold Star. While both were good I think I prefer Gold Star. The service here was great the food came quickly and hot. I certainly will bring my out of town friends here next time I too am back. Way to go cinci! Really good!
(4)Adrienne S.
Worst Customer Service I have EVERRRR had! I ordered a Gorita today for lunch and when I got back to work to eat my food I realized the sandwich I was craving was made incorrectly and it was gross! They forgot the cheese and chipotle ranch. The customer service was.great at that time as I had called when I got back and the person I spoke to.was apologetic and told me she would leave a credit for me to get a free Gorita. When I went to claim.my Gorita the staff acted as if she never left my credit and was BEYONDDD rude. I do not recommend this place as they will mess up ur food and tell you they will fix.it only to.leave you with an overly rude staff, a nasty meal, and wasted money. I would never recommended this Gold Star!!!!
(1)Sarah A.
Cincinnati chili. You either love it or you hate it. Cincinnatians have an ongoing battle of which is better.. Skyline or Goldstar? I love them both. BUT PERSONALLY, I think Goldstar is better. Make sure you add the very very hot sauce and dig in!
(5)p l.
Ordered the chili cheese fries, 4 coneys and 2 3-ways....all were ok.
(3)Christine J.
I was visiting Cincinnati and visited this Gold Star Chili after trying Skyline down the street. Service here was quick. One of the bus drivers I met on my trip said he preferred Gold Star over Skyline. I think I can understand why. The chili is quite a bit thicker, and it doesn't have Skyline's puddle of water at the bottom of the bowl. However, I didn't like the spice blend as much - it was a little too overpowering. Anyway, I think it's still a good rendition of the Cincinnati style chili though.
(4)Michael B.
Of all the Cincinnati-style chili places, Gold Star is my least favorite. I can't believe the popularity Gold Star enjoys. All I can figure is that they have a great marketing department. The wieners at Gold Star are too mushy, like Vienna sausages. The buns always seem like they bought them from a day-old bakery. The Chili has a weird taste to it. If you order a "coney crate", which is ten cheese coneys lined up in a cardboard carrying case, you will get very little chili and very little cheese on your coneys with this discounted special. They hastily throw this thing together and you can tell. You get what you pay for. Gold Star always has been and always will be a cut-rate johnny-come-lately imitation of real Cincinnati-style Chili.
(2)Karina M.
I only slightly prefer Gold Star over Skyline, but I prefer this particular Gold Star to all others. With a 24-hour drive-thru, this chili parlor serves up 3-,4-, and 5-ways with a side of craziness anytime of day or night. The drunken throngs attack this place as soon as the bars close, so it pays to skip last call in favor of a quick coney. If chili spaghetti and coneys aren't your thing (but how could they not be?), then try one of Gold Star's burritos. I love the chili beef burrito with the topper (chili, cheese, sour cream).
(5)Melanie B.
My 100th review on Yelp!!... is a review of a fast food chili joint in Covington, Kentucky. Touche! So, before going to see Calabrese at Mad Hatter (see review #98), we stopped in to Gold Star because my haute cuisine chef friend said I *had* to try to Coney dogs here. One of my friends insisted that Skyline is better, but Gold Star won out (and even won over my Skyline-loving friend, who decided they're about the same). I did indeed get the Coney dogs - three little baby chili dogs. They were really good, particularly the cinnamon flavor in the chili. I also tried one of my friend's chili spaghetti stuff (the three way? say that without giggling...), which was interesting... but definitely not bad. I mainly love the idea of this place, which seems (as an outsider) so unique to the area and to the southern heartland experience.
(3)Nicole L.
Wow, this place is good! My husband and I were a bit hesitant to try it since the last time we were in the area (Cincinnati to be exact) we tried Skyline Chili and it completely and totally sucked. But GoldStar Chili is way better. We shared a 4-way and a crispy chicken burrito; both were yummy. It's not healthy food by any means but vacation calories don't count anyway. ;)
(4)Grace E.
I love Gold Star so much it borders obsession, and I come to this location at least once a week. More recently, I've found myself forced into consistently reviewing my order to ensure everything has been included. Ordering unsweetened ice tea and receiving sweet tea is something I've become very used to (from every place I frequent), and I understand mistakes are bound to happen. However, last week I ordered a cheese coney with a 4-way and had to drive to the location a second time to get the coney. I came again today, and cheese was somehow not included with my 4-way (as we all know, cheese is a critical part of Cincinnati-style chili). I will not be coming here again, which I say with great sadness due to the fact that the only way to keep me away from Gold Star is if both my legs were broken. They did a good job finding another reason (besides broken legs) to persuade me not to return. The one and only good thing I have to say about this location is the staff is friendly--bumping my review from 1 star to 2. DON'T PULL AWAY FROM THE WINDOW WITHOUT REVIEWING YOUR ORDER unless you like driving through a maze of one way streets to make a second trip for the same order.
(2)