3-Way
Spaghetti topped with Skyline's secret-recipe chili and a mound of shredded cheddar cheese.
Nutrition Facts
* The % Daily Value (DV) tells you how much a nutrient in a serving of food contributes to a daily diet. 2,000 calories a day is used for general nutrition advice.
Skyline Chili
Cincinnati chili, the foundation of the 3-Way, has unique roots. Immigrant brothers from Macedonia, Tom and John Kiradjieff, seeking their fortune in the US, experimented with Mediterranean spices and flavors to create a chili unlike any other in the American landscape. They aimed for a sauce palatable to the local American tastes, leading to a distinctive sweet and savory profile. This "chili parlor" concept evolved into Cincinnati's iconic chili scene, where the 3-Way became a defining dish.
The 3-Way and Cincinnati chili are deeply ingrained in Cincinnati's cultural identity, representing a unique culinary tradition and a source of local pride.
Chili Parlors
Cincinnati is home to numerous chili parlors, often locally owned and operated for generations, each offering their unique variations on the classic recipe. These parlors are community gathering places.
Ordering Style
The 'way' system (2-Way, 3-Way, 4-Way, 5-Way) dictates the ingredients added to the spaghetti, with each 'way' representing an additional topping (chili, cheese, onions, beans, hot sauce).
Regional Identity
Cincinnati chili is often seen as a defining food of the region and is a point of discussion and curiosity for those unfamiliar with it. It represents the city's unique culinary landscape.
The 3-Way is a symphony of contrasting textures and flavors: savory, slightly sweet, and cheesy.
The dish features a base of spaghetti, typically cooked al dente. The Cincinnati chili, distinct from Tex-Mex chili, is a thin, broth-like sauce flavored with a blend of spices including cinnamon, cloves, allspice, and sometimes chocolate. It lacks the kidney beans and chunks of meat characteristic of other chili styles. A generous mound of shredded cheddar cheese, usually mild or medium, provides a sharp, creamy contrast to the savory and slightly sweet chili and the neutral spaghetti.
Cheese Preference
While mild or medium cheddar is typical, some prefer a sharper cheddar for a more pronounced cheese flavor. The cheese is usually shredded very finely.
Hot Sauce
Many add a dash of hot sauce (vinegar-based or chili oil) to enhance the spiciness, although the chili itself is generally mild.
Eating Technique
A fork and knife are often used to cut through the layers of spaghetti, chili, and cheese, ensuring a balanced bite.
DIY
While visiting a chili parlor is the best way to experience 3-way, Skyline Chili cans can be purchased from many grocery stores to make the chili at home.
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