Mahaboob Ben Ali, known as Ben Ali, (June 13, 1927 - October 7, 2009) was a Trinidadian-born American businessman and restaurateur. Ali co-founded Ben's Chili Bowl, a landmark restaurant located on U Street in Washington D.C., with his wife, Virginia Ali, in 1958.[1] Ben's Chili Bowl has since attracted presidents, celebrities and politicians.[2]
Ben Ali was born Mahaboob Ben Ali in Trinidad on June 13, 1927.[1] He was the firstborn child of seven[3] in a Muslim family[1]. Ali's grandparents had immigrated to Trinidad from northern India.[1] He was raised in the town of San Juan, Trinidad, which is located east of Port-of-Spain.[1].
Ali moved to the United States in 1945 as a student.[1] Ali, who had studied such poets as Wordsworth, Chaucer and Shakespeare while in Trinidad, originally planned to become a medical doctor.[1]
Ali enrolled at the University of Nebraska, but suffered a broken back as the result of a fall down an elevator shaft while at the school.[1] He spent months recovering from the accident. Following his recovery, Ali attended four separate universities before earning his bachelor's degree from Howard University in Washington D.C.[1]
Due to Islamic prohibitions against consuming pork, Ben Ali never consumed some of his restaurant's popular offerings.[1]
An episode of Man vs. Food was made in tribute to him.