You might want to do a search for chili parlors--it's not my fave and most of it is chain stuff. I would say Gold Star is #1 chain. Empress was small group of restaurants but the locales might be dicey.

No one should want to go to price Hill but I guess they do--I wouldn't.
Few areas near the zoo are suspect--as are some UC neighborhoods.
Stay around Newport Levee but don't stray to far into the hillbilly streets--can't miss'em--cars that wouldn't make the cash for clunkers and wife beaters is standard dress code!
Jungle Jims--How could I neglect to mention it??? OMG--it's a MUST-DO for me--every six months or so.
http://www.campwashingtonchili.com/
touted as an original