Chili

Chilly weather is chili weather. Here are some meaty bowlfuls.

* Chili John’s: This place, established in 1900, offers its original beef chili and a lower-cholesterol chicken chili, both in three spice intensities. All are served with beans, spaghetti or both. Vegetarians can have “pasta fagioli” (spaghetti with chili beans); “sloppy Johns,” chili sizes and chili dogs are also available. (Chili, $4.25 to $7.25.) Chili John’s of California, 2018 Burbank Blvd., Burbank; (818) 846-3611.

* Maple Drive: Owner Leonard Schwartz uses his spicy chili recipe made famous at 72 Market Street. It’s made from long-simmered pork, beef and bacon with just a few kidney beans thrown in and comes with cheese, sour cream, onions and a moist, spicy, slightly sweet corn bread. (Chili, $10-$14.) Maple Drive, 345 Maple Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 274-9800.

* Saddle Peak Lodge: Chef Alex Scrimgeour’s chili is all meat--a flavorful mix of apple wood-smoked bacon, ground Angus beef and game trimmings (venison and buffalo), with unusual additions such as cocoa powder, freshly brewed coffee and whole bottles of Red Rooster hot sauce. It comes with cheese, onions, pickled jalapenos and fresh corn bread. (Chili, $10.75.) Saddle Peak Lodge, 419 Cold Canyon Road, Calabasas; (818) 222-3888.

* Chili My Soul: Chef-owner Randy Hoffman serves eight to 10 chilis a day on a rotating basis; he has 25 different recipes, including a vegetarian five-bean carnivale (2 on his heat scale of 1 to 10), a curry chicken chili (7), the gunslinger (8; beef, bacon, beans and no onions) and the incendiary demon chili (10+). (Chili, $4.50-$6.95.) Chili My Soul, 4928 Balboa Blvd., Encino; (818) 981-7685.

* Barney’s Beanery: Over the years--and this rowdy landmark has been around for 80--Barney’s has tried all sorts of chili--chicken, turkey, vegetarian--and the experience has only made it a purist. Today, it sells only a straight all-meat chili. It’s served with crackers, onions and salsa, and there are jalapenos at every table. (Chili, $4.75; with beans, $4.25.) Barney’s Beanery, 8447 Santa Monica Blvd., West Hollywood; (323) 654-2287.

* Chasen’s: More than 30 years ago, when Elizabeth Taylor was shooting “Cleopatra” in Mexico, she had 10 quarts of Chasen’s chili shipped to her. Overnight, this mild, fairly unremarkable meat and bean stew achieved mythic status. It’s available at the new Chasen’s in Beverly Hills. (Chili appetizer, $8.75; entree, $16.75.) Chasen’s, 246 N. Canon Drive, Beverly Hills; (310) 858-1200.