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Private company

Hard Times Cafe

Restaurant in Virginia, United States

Hard Times Cafe (sometimes Hard Times Cafe & Cue) is a restaurant chain serving chili and other foods, primarily in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area. Hard Times has been recognized in several publications, including USA Today, AOL's City's Best, Zagat's "Top 20 Area Restaurants" from 2003 to 2008, and several others.2 Wikipedia text CC BY-SA 4.0

Last updated Oct 21, 2026.

Overview

1980Founded1

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Hard Times Cafe in Old Town Alexandria, VA
Photo: OhanaSurf, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons4

Hard Times Cafe (sometimes Hard Times Cafe & Cue) is a restaurant chain serving chili and other foods, primarily in the Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. area. Hard Times has been recognized in several publications, including USA Today, AOL's City's Best, Zagat's "Top 20 Area Restaurants" from 2003 to 2008, and several others.2

The story

The first Hard Times Cafe was opened in Old Town Alexandria in 1980 by Jim and Fred Parker.

On September 21, 2011, Hard Times Cafe opened at Washington DC's Verizon Center sports (now Capital One) arena, home of the Washington Capitals, Wizards, Mystics, Georgetown Hoyas, concerts and events. Hard Times Cafe operated two locations on the Verizon Center's lower level concourse—a permanent stand at section 112 and a portable stand at section 119—offering fans a chance to enjoy chili macs, nachos, veggie nachos, chili tots, wings, and chili dogs. Until closing after the 2015 season, Hard Times also had a location at Nationals Park.

From Wikipedia’s article on Hard Times Cafe (chain restaurant), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Products and brands

Menu

Hard Times serves appetizers, burgers, and salads, but they are generally known for their chili. There are four types of chili available:

Texas Chili

Cincinnati Chili

Terlingua Red

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Vegetarian Chili

Locations

The original location is still in business today, in Alexandria, Virginia. There are a total of 4 locations:

Additionally, Hard Times has had former locations that have subsequently been closed at the following sites:

From Wikipedia’s article on Hard Times Cafe (chain restaurant), shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.3

Timeline

  1. 1980Founded Founded1

Sources

The numbers on this page point here. Each one links to the record it came from.

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