There is nothing like being on 6th Street in downtown Austin...the people...the bars...the excitement. We finished dinner over an hour earlier than scheduled, so we decided to spend some time on 6th Street. First stop...Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria. It is basically a bar. We were lured in by a bar representative asking us to pop in to celebrate my friend's birthday in their bar. She got a rum and coke, which was made with top shelf ingredients. We also played the ping pong ball and cup game for a while, where you try to throw a ping pong ball into a cup. Needless to say, I smoked the birthday girl...6 v 2 cool shots. We also ran into a group from Ohio who were in town for the Ohio game tomorrow. They all had shirts entitled Ohio but in cursive writing which looked like Orio. Fun experience.... read more

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It's always a blur when we come out here, but the archives (pics and vids) always suggest it was a great time! Too bad I can never remember what happens lol. But clearly something keeps bringing us back! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Dwayne was our bartender. He's so sweet and we enjoyed chatting with him. The drinks and music were perfect. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Bustling cantina, known for some gigantic drinks. Fun music and somewhat friendly bartenders. It's worth swinging by for a drink, and then meandering on to other places. Ambiance is Austin standard for bars/cantina. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Margaritas - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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My sister and I came here our first night in town. It was exactly what we needed. The drinks were strong and the food was good. It's really dark in here but that's the great thing about the ambiance. The staff was friendly and we got everything we needed. I'd come back here if I visit Austin again read more

Service was average at best. They added a 20% tip on my tab and did not tell me, then added an additional $5.00 on top of the additional tip I left. I would stay away from this place. read more

Both nights, my friend & I went here was a vibe. Met some cool ppl. Different DJs each night & they both had the place lit. Spacious, seating inside & out. Bartenders were friendly & attentive. Nice beer selection. Didn't try the cocktails or food. I definitely recommend, so much fun. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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This one is WAY past due, we came here over a weekend of trying new things and going to places we hadn't been, Shana had loved the name of this place for a while but we never managed to get here. We didn't do much, mostly killing time, we had a few drinks, tried some of the food, and listened to the bartender and how awesome he is, that really is the takeaway here. We were pretty early in the evening, as I said killing time between things we had done and plans later in the night. So we were not there at prime time but I really feel we didn't miss anything. There were two bartenders running the place, even that early and not sure if that is normal but only about 4 or 5 people came in over the time we were there and one couple left before ordering anything, the other was someone who worked at another bar or restaurant who seemed to be known to the super Bartender that did most of the talking. She was a go between as he was trying to hook up with her friend or something, I don't know it was all just another aspect of his ego driven story. Ultimately this review is going to be more about the bartender and his tales of adventure and love then the bar itself. John Wick 3 was on the TV, I remember that. The drinks were good, the food was ok. Shana also agreed the food was ok. But the bartender had been everywhere and knew everyone. He was a one man show. It reminded me of the movie Big Fish where we play the part of the son. I grew pretty annoyed early on but Shana was having fun. But as for the place, cool menu, again maybe at the right time it might be something special but I was not impressed, I will admit the "dude bro" bartender soured me a lot on this place. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I didn't even know this place served food, until one of my buddies gave me a fried taco (Flauta). So I went and ordered a Chupacabra Burger, "FLAME GRILLED GROUND BEEF PATTY. HOUSE-MADE SERRANO PIMENTO CHEESE, BACON, PICKLES AND SPICY MAYO ON A TOASTED BUN". The cheese was made oozing all over the place, the bacon was nice and thick. What's not to love about that? The waffle fires were so bomb, I just could hardly eat more than a couple after that fat juicy burger. I was practically in a food coma, totally worth it. Stop by, grab a beer, and a fat snack! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - The Chupacabra Burger w/ a side of Waffle Fries - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Would recommend this place to anyone under 21. Shoutout to the tall middle age white guy that let me and my friends in! We were sure he'd turn our fakes away, but he came through! read more

Food was good, but service to get my food was not! I had the fried avocado and the jerk chicken. My favorite was the jerk chicken. I ordered at the bar but never got my food after the entire rest of the my table did. I had to go talk to the bartender about it and eventually my food arrived. Well after everyone else got theirs. read more

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Best fish tacos ever!!! Don't bother ordering anything else. The Baja fish taco is the most excellent taco I've ever had in the states or Mexico. Oh my god, it's so scrumptious. Came here on new year's day and even tho the place looks like a dive, IMO they serve the best Tex - Mex food in the US I raved about the fish tacos above but the other food on the menu is just as good. It's just if your worried about the stomach real estate I would just gorge on the tacos. As it was we ordered the stuffed jalapeños and the other tacos on the menu. They were also excellent but the Baja fish tacos just gets you in stratosphere nirvana. read more

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You can make Chupacabra work. But they don't put anything really remarkable on the table. * * * Some Sixth Street places have bartenders that make amazing drinks. Some Sixth Street places have awesome food. Some Sixth Street places have nooks and crannies and balconies and interesting places to hang out. Some Sixth Street places (not too many) have terrific music. Usually you have to go to Red River for that. And yes, there are Sixth Street places where you can find someone jaw-droppingly beautiful to take home. (Or someone not-so-beautiful to take home who is willing to compensate with enthusiasm and goodwill.) * * * Chupacabra is just a plain old bar. Nothing is bad, but nothing is really wonderful either. It is a boxy rectangular room. They book terrible musicians. The pours are generous, but the bartending and selection are no great shakes. The food is ho hum. My chips and "queso with everything" was mostly plain old queso with some avocado slices ... and if you looked really hard, two small pieces of tough meat. The chips were technically "fresh" but they had to slide into second base and beat out the throw in order to not be called stale. I was there in the the late afternoon, so I can not tell you what kind of crowd they get at night. But bars in the heart of Sixth Street tend to generate pretty similar crowds ... Generally college kids arriving in multiples mixed in with a smattering of tourists and party-hearty types. * * * What would be the attraction here? Some Yelpers have individual dishes or individual drinks they like. They may have been luckier in their picks than I was. The bar DOES have a nifty patio on the side facing Trinity Street. The north-south spikes that lead into Sixth Street get some interesting human scenery when Sixth Street heats up. This could be a very fine place to get plowed while people watching. The bar DOES have three striking woodcut paintings of half dressed female action figures equipped with impressive weapons. I was facing the TVs and watching ESPN. If I had turned 180 degrees, I would have been looking right at the women. I would have been staring at the deshabille and the giant swords and the giant guns. If you are male and alone and staggeringly drunk, Dreaming of women in shorty shorts who promise a lot of action Is a fine way to pass the late hours. read more

I went bar hopping with friends and this was by far the worst of the night. All of their prices seem to be all over the place and the drinks are expensive for how they taste. We only went in because we saw they had a buy 1 get 1 burger deal outside, but they didn't honor it. They also auto grat 20% for their bad service, definitely watch out! read more

I do like this spot they have great margaritas, good sports on the tv, decent staff, and pretty good music. It's chill fun vibe here but has gotten rowdy on weekends, like people on top of the bar rowdy. Nevertheless it's fun ! read more

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Stopped in for a margarita and there was carbonation in it. Enough said. I think the girl was just a little frazzled so I won't really hold it against them. There were only 3 other people there but I think they just opened for the day. read more

This place is a good time! I can't speak for the food (I've heard you should have their tacos!) but I came on a Wednesday night pretty late for drinks and thought the drinks were great. It was pretty full for a weekday but not overly crowded where you have to push through people to get around. The music they play here was amazing. It's loud and clubby and everyone dances and drinks the night away. Super fun! Docking a star for the bathroom. There is a single unisex stall (I think - this is the only one I had found). I don't mind a unisex bathroom at all but I unfortunately had a bad experience with some other bar-goers in the bathroom AND their only toilet was broken and wouldn't flush which was disgusting. Not to mention just incredibly dirty. We left with the bathroom situation with that being the lowest point of our night. Otherwise, Chupa is a must-visit on 6th street! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Inside - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I had a really good time here. First spot I ate at during my trip to Austin as it was recommended by someone who had been here before. Bar staff was great and the tacos are killer here. Got the fried avocado which was delicious and had a great taste to it. The chupacabra was to die for. The meat literally is so dang tender. The jerk chicken had a mix of sweet in it too that was very unique. All in all a great spot. Check it out! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Fried avocado, jerk chicken and The Chupacabra were all fantastic. - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Wish I could give this place a thumbs up but I can't. I love the name and rough style atmosphere. Local live music is great too. The chips, salsa, guac and queso were decent but served in upright cups that made it difficult to eat. You basically have to pour them out on the tray to eat. Bartender & drinks were fine but you have to order your food at the bar. My main and serious complaint was that the place smells. I'm talking smells that you should never encounter unless your in a public bathroom and even then would be disappointing. This place could be amazing but it needs a serious cleaning and some concern by management to keep it that way. The place probably makes lot's of $$ and they don't care. Oh well. read more

Great little bar with killer food! Service is fantastic and love the live music! Plenty of TVs for sports! But the food wow the food pops! Tacos that are killer, apps that will make your mouth water! The elote is bomb! The jalapeño poppers are huge and delicious! Definitely a winner! read more

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Theres street parking and some private parking around the area but no private parking. The music is way too loud for sure. I could not hear the ppl on the table next to me while we tried to eat and have a conversation. this is set up a bit like a club almost, lots of loud music and dancing. FEND FOR YOURSELF when it comes to ordering you do it with the bartender there is no true wait service here. SO GET YOUR OWN NAPKINS cause nobody will bring them to u. FROZEN STRAWBERRIES MARGARITA- like every frozen drink, way too weak even for me. here they do not make sure it is well made and the drink was too weak and sour. SUPER QUESO - huge! you can definitely share with at least 4 ppl and it is funny how the chips come in a paper bag, the presentation here fells like its for money saving and not for cleverness impact. ORANGE BRISKET TACO- my taco was cold!!! So cold. But super spicy it was disgusting. I couldn't even eat it, and since you do not enjoy table service here I had nobody that noticed my unhappiness with the meal. SIDE OF RICE AND PINTO BEANS - the rice and beans were ok. I could taste that they been on one of those water heaters waiting for me lol. Overall the rice and beans were ok. No way, there is no excuse to serve cold food at all. I'm sorry but. Weak drinks, no table service and cold food.... I cant . They are definitely more worried about being a bar that is very clear. this is not a great place to eat, not even if I am starving and this is the only place open I would not come back here. read more

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Stopped in to grab some drinks and some food after checking into our hotel down the street. First bartender wasn't that helpful when we asked him what he could make with pineapple juice in it. He had a smart ass remark. We ordered some food with our drinks. Drinks were ok. Food was ok. The second bartender that replaced the other guy, was much better. Much more personable. Drinks were better too. read more

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Came for the large 4 person margarita but shared with 2. It was good but the bartender was amazing. He was super welcoming, friendly, and made a great experience. read more

Out of our 4 nights in Austin, this was the final destination for 2 of them. Gigantic margaritas with firecrackers coming out of them?! Need I say more... read more

No better way to welcome yourself to Austin than with overstuffed tacos, 7 dollar ((Strong)) margs and queso. Especially after a long plane ride! I like that you can order single tacos here - if you are hungry you can mix and match and try a bunch. The tacos are so big that one taco and queso split amongst four was enough for us for lunch. We started off with queso - is there anything really not to like? Then it was on to the tacos. I went with a pulled chicken taco topped with cheese and pineapple salsa. The chicken was a little spicer than anticipated, but still super flavorful and delicious. The taco came with a very generous portion of meat. My friends tried some pretty funky tacos and loved them all, one of the tacos at our table even had a strip of bacon on it! Overall, a very good pick on 6th if you want quick tacos and margs that are filling and delicious. Add on great service and Chupacabra really can't be beat! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Chicken taco - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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The tacos were delicious! Live music while I was there. He was doing covers of any kind of music and took requests. Not sure how it is when it's busy since they don't do table service. Definitely recommend. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Drinks while we wait for tacos. - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

The drinks were really tasty at the Chupacabra. I had the hibiscus margarita. I really enjoyed it. The bartenders were super nice and friendly too! Definitely has a cool atmosphere in here! read more

Favorite place on 6th. Margaritas are good. Tacos are good. Bartenders are always great

The bartender was very nice. But the drink wasn't good. The wings were fine but not amazing. It smelled very mildewy. Upvotes for the bartender but that's it. read more

Daughter #2 and I had just left Alamo Drafthouse after watching the 4hr. epic Gone with the Wind. We weren't starving as we'd had popcorn during the movie (the biggest bowl of popcorn she'd ever seen, according to her.) But as we had an hour left on our parking pass, a snack and a drink to wrap up mother/daughter day seemed fitting. We were passing Chupacabra as we headed toward our car. "They have good sangria here," Daughter noted. She's been to Dirty 6th far more than I, so I took her word for it. But before I could even respond, a panhandler offered to give us advice on "where to eat like a local" (which the daughter is. I guess I am too, now, but still learning.) I politely told him we were just getting sangria and we ducked inside. I'd like to interject here for a moment. Austin has a high homeless and/or professional panhandler population. We've lived in other places that do as well, so we've learned how to tell the difference between those who truly need help and those who ask for money for a living. Please use your own judgement and help those you can. Thank you for reading this PSA. Back to the review. Chupacabra is dark inside (I like that.) There is a long bar on one side, high tables on the other and a few tables in the front window. The music is blaring (don't like that.) We decided to sit outdoors on the attached side patio (which was also so loud we had to ask them to turn down the music.) Signs tell you that you have to order at the bar, but they don't tell you where to get menus. Should you sit and wait for a server to bring one? Go directly to the bar? The place was busy but there appeared to be only two women working the bar, delivering food and clearing dishes. They seemed harried. One passed by and asked and asked if we needed menus as she kept walking. I replied yes, then followed her like a puppy as she delivered food, unsure how to get my menu. Growing frustrated, I gave up, sat at a table outside and let the daughter take over. The patio borders a side street and we were seated at a table along the fence enclosing the space. Within minutes, we were approached again for money-twice. We moved to a table closer to the building. It was Happy Hour (everyday at Chupacabra) so we ordered sangrias for $3. I also ordered the chipotle orange taco (sprinkled with pineapple) with habanero sour cream (not nearly as spicy as you would expect), with the "House tortilla", a mix of corn and flour for $5.25. (The menu is in Spanglish, so I wasn't entirely sure what I was getting.) Each were fine, nothing exceptional, but it should be noted that the taco was pretty plentiful, too big for it all too fit in the small shell. The Happy Hour prices (which also include a margarita for $5 and other alcohol) would be reason enough to return if I ever happen to be on Dirty 6th again from 3-5pm, though I wouldn't make a special trip for it. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Sangrias during happy hour are only $3 - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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Cant go wrong. Their wings are great but the sauce on the wings is really good. Not sure the flavor but it was bomb. Servers and bartenders are really friendly and attentive. Just all around good vibes. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We came in after a comedy show because the guy outside said they had $5 margaritas and it looked like a fun place. We sat at the bar and specifically ordered 2 of the $5 margaritas. I gave the female bartender a $20 and got $5 back. When I asked where the rest of my change was she said we were charged a gratuity. Wait, since when is 50% an acceptable tip for 2 basic drinks? Don't go in there, unless you want to be ripped off. read more

Best door guy #dan this bar is legit, heavy pour. They own 6 bars (jackalope, thirty's ! Ect.. ) seems small but most humble Bar I've been too ! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Dan ! - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

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We came in for happy hour! They have sangria, draft margaritas, and Modelos for HH specials. They also have tacos... which are priced at around 5-7 but they are big portions. Their tortillas are made of a hybrid of corn / flour and are all housemade I got Tito's with topo Chico and it was perfect. We also tried the margarita on draft, a bit sweet but tasty The fried chicken taco was really great and the barbacoa was perfectly cooked! Highly recommended for HH and even for a quick drink while bar hopping read more

Desert.Pear.Frozen.Margarita. Our first visit was during SXSW and their menu was limited to quick plates. I can imagine their extended menu would be more versatile. I liked that they gave you the option of pinto refrained beans or a vegetarian friendly black bean refried. I wasn't impressed they served their food on paper plates and plastic cutlery. I'd like to think this was for SXSW, but com'on....that's kinda tacky. Food was decent. It came out as the same time as our margaritas. Its obvious this place is known for their drinks and not necessarily for the food. And I'm okay with keeping that in mind because they have some fun drink options! read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Desert Pear Marg with black beans and rice. Ground beef taco plate - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

I am not one to frequent Dirty 6th, as a matter of fact, I tend to avoid it like the plague of fratsorority 20-something ATX tourist infestation that it is. That being said, like any Austinite who has lived here more than the month (unlike most of the people you find on D6) every now and again I have to serve my semi-annual penance and go to D6 for some event or friend's birthday or to show a visiting friend/relative/perspective AirBnB client what to avoid after their first time here; I just so happen to be in the vicinity for a "special event" this Saturday night. I also usually loathe the parking sitch on D6 because of the lack thereof on top of dealing wall the skunky drunkies on and off the road. I kid you not, but I actually witnessed 2 car accidents on my walk from Red River to the Chupacabra and one very near hit and run on my walk back. The D6 stretch is not for the faint of heart, folks! Why am I telling you all this? Because when I say I'd brave D6 on my next downtown misventure to get another burger here, you know I am not paying lipservice! I was starving because there was not free noms at the "special event" I went to and I was at the point of famine where my primal urges set in and I just want a juicy chunk of meat and a beer and anything that gets in my way will have to deal with the consequences and repercussions. However, thanks to Yelp's new "emoji search function" when I put in the emoji for a burger and a beer the first place to pop up was the Chupacabra (no joke!) and a Godzilla like incident was happily avoided. I was a lil put off initially cuz this definitely had a "Bro Bar" vibe when I entered, but after I was immediately greeted, sat and my really accommodating waitress (who, bless her heart, had the Bro Table next to me) immediately brought me a water and took my order and then immediately brought me my beer, I was impressed! Even when I told her I was on "meter time" (I miraculously found a spot, but the 3hr max goes by quick in D6 time) she even brought me out my tab & took my payment before my burger came out! Speaking of...I had the honey jalapeno cheeseburger (sans the actual jalapenos because my stomach and they are not on speaking terms) and though it took longer to come out than it did for me to inhale it, it was worth the (epically long) wait! This thing was so damn juicy, greasy, honey bacony w/the flavor kick of the jalapeno w/o the pain that I was in carnal lust! Add to that the surprisingly delicious waffle fries ($1.99 upcharge) and I was in horkdown-heaven! The beer was $5 for the pint of Hijack Cream Ale and the burger w/fries came to $10.48, so with the well-earned tip, I walked away dropping $20 and gaining a 5lb food baby, but you always get a little bit of price uptick on 6th and though not what I would usually spend for a burger, fries and a beer, it was not a bad deal comparatively with other places around town. So well done Chupacabra, you have managed to somehow make me hate Dirty 6th a little less tonight. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - The Honey-Jalapeño Bacon Burger & seasoned fries - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Had a margarita (which was ok). However the highlight was a drink I believe called the Texas tornado. There's a 2 drink limit and it's well worth it! It's tasty yet strong. Tried the chupacabra taco and the pork belly taco. My personal favorite was the pork belly taco. Would definately return to eat and drink! read more

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They can't even get food orders right. Avoid. Some heavily bearded waiter guy came over claiming that all orders were delivered and because they saw a piece of tortilla and a basket of rice we got the two tacos ordered when we notified we were missing one. Like seriously it's one taco. Zero appreciation for customer service for group over 6 ppl. Never will return for food or mediocre drinks. Friends had come 2 years ago. Chose to return based on service. Now additional three friends leaving with terrible taste. Should of asked for our tips back read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - They never picked up numbers and are lost. Avoid ordering food. They'll fight back for their $5 dollar taco "they served" - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

We only came by for a margarita on cinco de mayo and weren't disappointed. The drinks were good, though I felt it lacked tequila and could've used an extra shot but the margarita tasted delicious! We sat on the roof and it was easy to people watch on dirty 6th from here! Can't review the food but the drinks and location was fantastic! The restaurant inside smelled a bit old and run down but it didn't bother us sitting outside. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas

Visited Chupacabra last year during SXSW and enjoyed a tasty "taco buffet" meal. This year, however, they certainly don't have their act together! My conference-going troupe and I stopped in today for a quick lunch before our first conference session. We were seated at a patio table immediately, which was good because our first choice for lunch today (The Iron Cactus) had a long wait for lunch. Anyway, to cut a long story short, after ordering lunch, we ended up waiting over 1 hour for our food to arrive! Unacceptable. And, we didn't get a single apology or offer to comp any of our food or drinks. I overheard one of the wait staff suggest there was only 1 cook in the kitchen today. I know that these folks are aware there's a conference in town with over 20,000+ folks, so I'm a little curious why they were unprepared! As for the food, it was a total waste as well. I ordered the el Ray combo, which featured a chicken soft taco and 2 pork enchiladas. Well, the pork on the enchiladas was tough, and the enchiladas were cold-- as if they sat for a long time before being delivered to our table. Another interesting thing that I noticed is that, before when I visited Chupacabra, they served thin and tasty homemade chips with their salsa. Today, however, they served bagged-style chips, which were thick and unappealing. The only good thing that I tasted today was the salsa. I will say that bartender Mike is very nice, friendly, and accommodating. However, the waitress we had today (I don't remember her name) was not good at all. I think it was partly because she was embarrased that our food took so long to get to us, but still. read more

Chupacabra Cantina Y Tacqueria - Good pic of just ok food- it was cold & pork was tough :( Last year was better. Guess I'll give 'em another chance nxt yr - Bars Near Me - Austin, Texas